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Ian Snyder

Freelance Writer
Distance Traveled in 2026
Visited in 2026

Ian Snyder has had a passion for award travel ever since entering the miles and points world over a decade ago. He enjoys using them to see places both near and far, whether he’s traveling solo, with friends, or with his kids. Especially well versed in frequent flyer programs, Ian understands their intricacies and often is able to maximize his points using the best award deals.

Ian is closing in on 30 countries visited, which may seem like too few for someone who loves to travel as much as he does. But he also loves life in rural Northern California, and returning home from a trip is its own reward. More than anything, Ian wants to demonstrate that extraordinary travel is possible for the ordinary family. He loves helping his friends and family with their own award travel.

Travel Summary
Amex Refer a Friend Program: Earn Bonus Points or Cash Back on Card Referrals
Amex Refer a Friend Program: Earn Bonus Points or Cash Back on Card Referrals
3

American Express allows Card Members to refer their cards to others in exchange for bonus points, miles, or cash back. While there’s an annual cap on the number of referrals you can send, that limit resets each calendar year. In this post, we’ll break down how Amex referral bonuses work and how to generate personalized links to share with family and friends.

Ian SnyderHarrison Pierce
Ian Snyder & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions [2026]
Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions [2026]
128

Wondering which credit card you can apply for next? Issuer rules vary widely — and much of the information out there is incomplete or unpublished. This guide breaks down major bank credit card application restrictions, including Chase’s 5/24 rule and which issuers expect you to have a checking account. We’ve compiled what’s known, plus community data points, all in one place.

Ian Snyder
Ian Snyder

Reviewed by JT Genter

Why Starting With Chase Cards Matters if You’re Under 5/24
Why Starting With Chase Cards Matters if You’re Under 5/24
1

If you're new to the points and miles hobby or looking to dive deeper after just dipping your toes in, you'll want to develop a solid earning strategy. This applies to both welcome offers and ongoing rewards. To do so, you need to understand the rules and restrictions card issuers have in place. With Chase offering so many lucrative bonuses, we recommend designing your credit card strategy around their 5/24 rule. Here's how you best do that, and the potential cost of ignoring this unwritten rule.

Ian Snyder
Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Your Comprehensive Guide to the Hilton Honors Program
Your Comprehensive Guide to the Hilton Honors Program
21

Hilton Honors is an excellent hotel loyalty program, thanks to the ability to quickly rack up points from stays and promotions, a suite of excellent co-branded credit cards, and a solid elite program. In this post, you'll learn how to earn and redeem points for top value, the benefits of getting Hilton's elite status, and some shortcuts on how to get it. Let's look at everything Hilton Honors.

Ian SnyderMark Jackson
Ian Snyder & Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Chase Transfer Partners: A Complete Guide to the Best Way To Redeem Ultimate Rewards
Chase Transfer Partners: A Complete Guide to the Best Way To Redeem Ultimate Rewards
42

While you can get decent value by using Ultimate Rewards points directly for travel through the portal, Chase transfer partners unlock even greater savings that can’t be attained with other redemption strategies. In this guide, we'll cover the :chase_partners_total: Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners with examples of maximizing your savings for any type of trip.

Ian SnyderSenitra Horbrook
Ian Snyder & Senitra Horbrook

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Why the Perks of Gold Medallion Make It Delta's Elite Status Sweet Spot
Why the Perks of Gold Medallion Make It Delta's Elite Status Sweet Spot
2

Of the four Delta SkyMiles elite tiers you can spend your way to, Gold Medallion shines brightest as the program's elite status sweet spot. From bonus miles to complimentary upgrades to free luggage and more, there are good reasons why you should set your sights on Gold if you want Delta status. Here's why Gold Medallion is Delta's elite status sweet spot.

Tyler GlattIan Snyder
Tyler Glatt & Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Toni Southam

The Best Ways to Avoid Paying High Fuel Surcharges When Booking Flights With Avios
The Best Ways to Avoid Paying High Fuel Surcharges When Booking Flights With Avios
40

Better known as fuel surcharges, finding out that an award flight in a premium cabin also requires you to pay $1,000 round-trip in additional fees can feel like a punch to the gut. British Airways is arguable the one carrier that is most well-known for these fees. Thankfully, there are a few ways to redeem Avios that avoid or reduce fuel surcharges to a more tolerable level.

Ian SnyderMax Prosperi
Ian Snyder & Max Prosperi

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Citi Travel℠ Portal Guide: How To Earn and Redeem ThankYou® Points for Flights, Hotels, and More
Citi Travel℠ Portal Guide: How To Earn and Redeem ThankYou® Points for Flights, Hotels, and More
2

The Citi Travel℠ portal is one of several ways you can redeem Citi ThankYou® Points. It doesn't offer the same value as the array of transfer partners, but it does have the upside of letting you use your points for flights on all major carriers. It also gives you a one-stop shop for booking many aspects of your trip. Here's everything you need to know about it.

Ian SnyderHarrison Pierce
Ian Snyder & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Delta Platinum Amex Card Review: Great Delta Travel Benefits That Offset the Annual Fee
Delta Platinum Amex Card Review: Great Delta Travel Benefits That Offset the Annual Fee
30

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card presents substantial value for cardmembers who can take advantage of the perks and benefits the card offers. However, the annual fee is a turn-off to some, and you'll need to regularly use the card's benefits to justify it. Our full review can help you decide if this is the right card for you.

Ian SnyderGabriela Milton
Ian Snyder & Gabriela Milton

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

How To Redeem Amex Membership Rewards Points — And Which Options Offer the Best Value
How To Redeem Amex Membership Rewards Points — And Which Options Offer the Best Value
3

Have Amex points and wondering what to do with them? From luxurious business class flights to poor-value gift cards, not all redemptions are created equal. This guide breaks down the best (and worst) ways to redeem your American Express Membership Rewards points—including sweet spots with ANA, Virgin Atlantic, Iberia, and more — so you can get the most value from every point.

Ian SnyderCameron Laufer
Ian Snyder & Cameron Laufer

Reviewed by Toni Southam

Which Credit Card Should You Use to Pay Airline Award Taxes and Fees? Here are the Top Options.
Which Credit Card Should You Use to Pay Airline Award Taxes and Fees? Here are the Top Options.
11

Picking the right card to pay award taxes and fees could be the difference between being covered for a weather interruption or medical emergency or having to pay out of pocket. Plus, some cards allow you to earn bonus points on your taxes and fees that you can put toward a future flight. Here our picks for which cards to use to pay for award taxes and fees.

Ian SnyderHarrison Pierce
Ian Snyder & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Marriott Annual Choice Benefits: Best Options for 2026
Marriott Annual Choice Benefits: Best Options for 2026
0

If you accrue 50 or 75 Marriott elite night credits in a calendar year, you'll be rewarded with a Marriott Annual Choice Benefit, one of the best perks of hitting these thresholds. Rather than an ongoing status benefit, you'll have a one-time selection from a list of options. The choices range from suite upgrades and Free Night Award to extra Elite Night Credits and even a $1,000 discount on a hotel brand mattress.

Ian Snyder
Ian Snyder

Reviewed by JT Genter

The Best Ways To Earn JetBlue Points
The Best Ways To Earn JetBlue Points
33

JetBlue might not have the massive route network of a legacy carrier but, its TrueBlue frequent flyer program offers great value for a revenue-based loyalty program. You can redeem TrueBlue points on any JetBlue flight with paid seats available, letting you enjoy the unique in-flight service offered by the carrier. While it's easy to redeem points, it's also quite easy to earn JetBlue points. Here are the best ways earn with the airline.

Ian Snyder
Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Allie Johnson