DISCLOSURE: VINCEAROUNDTHEWORLD.COM IS NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED ONE. THESE ARE OPINIONS BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS. I RECOMMEND YOU DO MAKE THE NECESSARY VERIFICATION TO MAKE SURE THAT TRAVEL HACKING IS SUITABLE FOR YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. HAPPY TRAVEL HACKING AND BON VOYAGE!

This article will help you to avoid wasting your time visiting millions of different websites and provide you with all the essentials of travel hacking for Canadians. Start today and fly free as quickly as possible.

Free flight in 15 minutes? You probably think I’m crazy. Just another crazy dreamer or the internet with an utopian claim, an outrageous view that can not be applied to my life.

Not so fast! How do you think I left to go around the world? I’m not a millionaire hahaha.

What is the travel hacking?

Travel hacking is a legal and involves working within the framework of existing rules established by the airlines, loyalty programs, credit cards and hotels, and using them to your advantage to get free trips, including flights, accommodations, special insurance, and access to airport VIP lounges around the world.

Basically, the trip points or miles are used to travel for free!

Similar to couponing but with rewards of several hundred dollars instead of $2. Rather than accumulating coupons, you accumulate miles or points that can be exchanged for airplane tickets. So here’s the deal – it is possible to earn enough points / miles Amex, Aeroplan etc. for a free flight in less than 15 minutes… and that is travel hacking!

Most of you already know a point or program called Airmiles. Unfortunately it is pretty rotten, because with this program you will travel only once every 15 years. I promised 15 minutes, so if you already have an Airmiles card and want to travel sooner than the next decade get rid of it and get something better!

I discovered travel hacking and left immediately to go around the world!

I was able to fly from Montreal to Chicago for $ 120, from Chicago to Bangkok for $ 242, from Singapore to Tokyo for only $ 38, from Tokyo to Seoul for $ 15, and then Seoul to Bangkok for 15$. This is for quick flights and includes meals, and luggage fees. It is very comfortable and I always waited for my flight in the luxurious VIP lounges of Priority Pass with free alchohol, rather than sitting on an uncomfortable plastic chair with 1 million fellow travelers, drinking bad 10 dollar coffee and using poor WiFi. Here is a an example of a Priority Pass VIP Lounge:

Is it difficult being a travel hacker?

It’s easy to earn free flights and hotel rooms provided you are financially responsible and of course, while not necessary, having a good credit record helps.

For people who want to jump straight into the game without having to analyze the countless options available or do hours of research, like me, the following offers a basic plan and the best stuff to start immediately and do it well.

If travel hacking becomes a hobby, it’s good to follow my blog devoted to the subject. Since the miles programs, and points programs or welcome bonus credit card rules, airline and promotional offers are constantly changing.

For now, let’s keep things simple.

Technique # 1 Basic travel hacking for free

The slowest way to travel hack may seem unattractive at first, but this is not the case! This is a technique which might be slower than technical credit cards but can get you 60,000 points / miles in 15 minutes (see technique # 2) and is better than doing nothing!

The best free program is currently the Aeroplan Program to earn miles. Just order the free reward card on www.aeroplan.ca and started on earning rewards! To accumulate as many points as possible, always go shopping with the partners associated with the program. (Example: Esso, Pharmaprix, Air Canada … etc). It’s simple; when you need fuel, bring your Aeroplan card and go to somewhere, like Esso, that gives you points. When you start travel hacking Technique # 2 with credit cards you can double your points using a Aeroplan credit card. Or with an American Express card you can convert Amex points to Aeroplan points.

WARNING! NEVER use your Aeroplan points for anything other than airline tickets. While you have the ability to redeem points for gift cards, movie tickets or a free coffee machines, none of this is as good of value as what you get when you redeem your points for airline tickets or hotel rooms.

Examples of transactions you can do with your Aeroplan points on the website Aeroplan.ca:

Montreal – Las Vegas roundtrip 25,000 miles
• Montreal – Vancouver roundtrip 25,000 miles
• Montreal – Cancun roundtrip 40,000 miles
• Montreal – Miami return 33,500 miles
• Montreal – Shanghai go- return with 58 300 miles
• Montreal – Amsterdam roundtrip 60,000 miles
• Montreal – Paris roundtrip 60,000 dots * presently there is a flash sale 15,700 miles *

Remember, you might be able to get a better deal if you have some flexibility in your flight dates! Quick tip: Flights from Ontario generally cost less points! Also note that this example can sometimes be much cheaper in points and sometimes much more. The examples used are all regular price … that’s why it’s important to plan ahead and be flexible in your dates.

ND: Note that Aeroplan will lose a commercial agreement with Air Canada in 2020, so use your points before just in case.

Technique # 2 Travel hacking with credit cards

This is by far the fastest way to have enough points or miles for free flights, hotel rooms and other goodies related to travel. Credit cards are just the base of the best programs for travel hacking. But you have to start now, because it takes a minimum of 3 months before your planned trip and in some cases up to 10 months.

You probably use every day debit cards which offer no advantages. Start making all your regular purchases with travel hacking credit card and get rewarded in travel points to travel this year or later. But remember to pay your balance at the end of the month (when your statement comes out) to avoid interest.

Now you have transformed everyday purchases into gifts for yourself rather than gifts for Interact. Yes, yes Interac makes money with your trades … why not keep this money for yourself? But never use a credit card that offers you nothing! So, your debit card should go to the same place as your Airmiles card… forgotten and in the past.

If you want to travel quickly, the only way to get tens of thousands of miles for free flights without having to do your grocery shopping 10 million times at IGA with your old rotten airmiles card, is to register for credit cards offering Miles, Amex and Aeroplan points. BUT CAUTION, that not all credit cards or all miles or points systems that are interesting and above all you do not want to have 50 credit cards. I present below the best cards for travel hacking right now.

In order to get a free trip with a new credit card and utilize travel hacking technique, remember that using credit cards like this is like a game. You should only play if you can do these two things:

Pay your entire credit card bill each month to avoid interest
Be financially responsible

If you already have a current debt on your credit card, does it make sense to get another credit card and further into debt? The answer is no! I’m not a financial advisor and I do not pretend to be, but travel hacking is done to make traveling free and to save money, not to create debt. But rest assured, there are other travel hacking techniques which don’t involve using credit. It’s just a lot longer to get free flights, but better late than never, and better late than debt (see Technique # 1) J

When it comes to making purchases by credit card, start cautiously. Get a free flight or two and make sure that the additional responsibility of your new credit cards is not a burden.

After that, you can step up your game, by increasing the number of credit cards and order new cards with 4 or 6 months … BUT NEVER order more than two credit cards if you do not always pay your monthly balance to avoid affect your credit and debt ratio. But if you can then have fun and indulge yourself in maps and places. After all, what’s the point of earning these free flights if you can not financially afford to go on trips!

Of course, pair your credit card to a free point card Aeroplan (Tip # 1) to double your points and have a chance to shop with your AMEX point or Aeroplan your free airline tickets on Aeroplan.ca or AMERICANEXPRESS.ca to fid the best deals that will be the most cost efficient in points.

Which credit card to choose?

There are two types of credit cards for travel hacking. Some are free and others include a fee. Some offer welcome bonus points redeemable for free flights and others help save on conversion rates.

The cards with annual fees or dues are usually the best choice because they immediately offer a ticket to almost anywhere in the world and many more benefits thanks to their premium welcome and special insurance.

Contrary to the free cards which often offer welcome bonuses that can be used for shorter distance flights such as a return flight Montreal – Las Vegas or huge savings on conversion rates.

Many people I talked to have a card with cash back (world elite). It’s interesting if you do not want to travel because the rewards are tiny in comparison to the value of miles / travel points. It’s up you to decide if you want to travel or not.

In my blog I especially recommend American Express and Visa because right now they offer the best programs. (Take note that not all cards of the same banner are interesting or good) and periodically MasterCard also offers good programs. When this is the case you will see Mastercard on my blog.

Presently in 2018, the two best points programs are the Amex points and Aeroplan points. Also note that Amex points can be converted to Aeroplan points for a 1:1. These are the points that can allow you to travel faster and to further destinations.

Also note that Vince Around the World is constantly negotiating with various partners to obtain exclusive bonuses which you can find on my website. It’s my pleasure!

Top 3 Canadian credit / payment cards with an annual fee that offer free flights.

The best of all is the American Express Platinum(annual fee of $ 699 and $ 5000 purchase to do with the card in the 3 first months / $ 416 per week for 3 months): ideal if you wish to travel a lot in the next 11 months. The $699 seems daunting, but if you rationally analyze the advantages of the card, it is clearly the best choice by far the one which will cost you the least if you are traveling.

It has no pre-set credit limit, it offers 50 000 miles Amex (60,000 miles if you use my link: Click here to get 10 000 points Amex bonus and order the card ) .This allows you to already be entitled to a return flight to Europe from Montreal, even for Asia if you shop around a little.

Access to Amex fixed premium for flights to purchase tickets with your points in periods where the tickets are very expensive, such as Christmas for the same price as the very economic periods.
200$ Canadian per year renewed every January in credit for travel hotels, flights or car rental.
Insurance that gives you 1,000$ if your flight is delayed more than 4 hours and 1,000$ more if your luggage is too late (which is very common). Like me, you’ll wish your flights are delayed. Hahaha!
Travel insurance for 15 days of half a million dollars.
Full insurance if you rent a car abroad
A free unlimited subscription to Priority Pass Prestige (value of 399$ USD / year), which provides access to VIP Lounges of 1000 airports around the world.
Purchases made with the card doubles the warranty on the item bought.
International Concierge Service, 24/7 with a toll free number.
Insurance of 2,000$ for theft in your hotel room/hostels. This is especially great because it allows you to make a profit on the annual fee of a minimum of 600$. A nice little gift over 600$ just like that and then you get 1250 per dollar spent with the card … it’s HUGE! You probably with get more than one free trip per year, especially if you use your card more Free of Aeroplan point! ($ 200 travel credit minimum $ 600 + dot + 499 $ priority pass – $ 699 annual fee = $ 600 profit)

Order a platinum map via this link: click here and get 10 000 miles AMEX bonus for a total of 60,000 courtesies Vince Around The World or click the link to read more on the map: order or read more on the card

The second best card with an annual fee is the American Express Gold Reward(annual fee of $ 150 and $ 1500 purchase to do with the card in 3rd month / $ 125 per week for 3 months): Ideal for everyday life, it offers 25,000 miles, a flight will be free in North America or the return of your annual fee.
Click to order the card

You might get 85,000 points in 30 minutes if combined with the Amex Platinum card using my referral links be more than 3 times round trip Montreal-Vegas!

The American Express Gold offers:

1 point per dollar spent and 2X peak on eligible travel purchases.
It also offers $ 75 per year of beauty treatments, spa, restaurant or massage from hotels 330 Amex partners (Attention these are not cheap hotels).
It also offers travel insurance to $ 500,000 for 15 days
A delay insurance of your flight or luggage that offers $ 500 .This makes for an especially interesting card in that you are eligible to an excellent welcome bonus of 25,000 points, and a low annual contribution. So, if you plan to travel only once within the next 11 months and you want to turn your daily shopping into free airline tickets this card is for you! If you plan to travel more than 2 times, consider the Platinum or better- do like me and order both! click here to order the Amex Gold or read more on the card

The third best card with an annual fee is TD Aeroplan Platinum or Infinite(annual fee between $ 89 and $ 120). It is not as advantageous as American Express, but this is the best card to use where Amex is not accepted. Thankfully, Ales is now accepted everywhere! With the TD Visa Platinum or Infinite Aeroplan you will be allocated according to your annual salary:

If you make less than $ 60,000 per year, take the Platinum at $ 89 per year which will offer 10,000 Aeroplan points 1 point per $ 1.50 spent anywhere and 1 point per $ 1 spent on groceries or gasoline. If you use your free card Areoplan (# 1 trick), you double your points at Esso and Pharmaprix.
If by chance you make more than $ 60 000 per year order the TD Aeroplan Infinite for $ 120 per year which will offer 15,000 Aeroplan points 1.5 point per $ 1 spent on groceries and gasoline and 1 point per $ 1 spent anywhere. With this card too, if you use your free card Areoplan (Tip # 1) you will double your points at Esso and Pharmaprix.

This is NOT the best card of travel hacking for the moment, it is rather the American Express great champions, but this is the BEST plan B for a few places that do not take Amex. I recommend you use the TD Website, since I have no affiliation with TD.

The best free credit cards:

Unfortunately, there is no free card for now in 2018 which is worth mentioning here. I will update this section in early February 2018. In the meantime, if you have not already, order your Aeroplan card free point on Aeroplan.ca

This is my introduction to travel hacking, now you can find regular new articles about travel hacking on my blog to always have more free trips! I hope this will help you travel like I do.

IMPORTANT

Talk to me in the comments or in private message if you have any questions or comments, I would be extremely pleased to help you! And it is through your questions I can improve my website, this article and most importantly help you travel cheaper!

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