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✈️ Get 4 months of free United elite status
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What if I told you there was a way to get free seat upgrades, checked bags, and some extra bonus points on your next United flight?
You'd probably ask "how much is this going to cost me? Am I going to have to spend a thousand dollars with United? Do I need to sell my soul to the travel gods? Please tell me this isn't another credit card offer..."
It is none of those things, and the way to do it is simple; download an app and click a few buttons. That's it.
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Until November 1st (next Tuesday), you can unlock 4 months of United Silver or Gold status, with the option to extend that status by completing certain requirements.
This is all thanks to our friends over at Bilt Rewards, as part of their November "Rent Day" promotion for next month.
Here is how you can do this:
- Download the Bilt app (free for everyone),
- Sign up for a Bilt Rewards account (also free, no credit card required)
- Link your United MileagePlus account (in the Bilt app)
- New Bilt members will get automatic United Silver status
- Bilt Silver, Gold, or Platinum members (which refers to status achieved by spending on the Bilt card) will unlock free United Gold status
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So just by signing up for a free Bilt account, you can unlock United Silver elite status, which comes with some meaningful benefits such as free checked bags, upgrades, priority check-in, and bonus points on cash bookings.
The best part is that you also have the option to extend that status through January 2024 by completing the following requirements:
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For United Silver members: Earn 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) and four premier qualifying flights (PQFs).
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For United Gold members: Earn 2,000 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) and six premier qualifying flights (PQFs).
That is a pretty sweet deal. Much like previous elite status offers that I've shared with you, there's really no reason not to sign up for this deal. Even if you have a single United flight booked in the next four months, you might as well get some sweet perks. Even if you have no flights booked, sign up just in case you end up booking a trip 3 months from now.
If you couldn't care less about United, you should also sign up for a free Bilt Rewards account. That's because Bilt lets you earn points (which can be transferred to numerous airlines and hotels) just for paying your rent. If you sign up for the Bilt Mastercard (which has a $0 annual fee), you can earn points on all of your day-to-day spending to supplement those rent points. On the first of every month, you also earn DOUBLE points on that spending.
If you're still reading this far down, thank you. But also, what are you waiting for?? Go sign up for Bilt, download the app, and get that free United elite status. Remember to link your accounts before the end of the day on November 1st.
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🏨 Hilton offers Diamond status extension
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Back in 2017, Hilton launched a one-time status extension for Diamond members. Essentially, this allowed Diamond members to extend their status if they had a year of unusually low qualifying nights or points for one reason or another.
The program was put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic but will be making a return in 2023. Here are the requirements to be eligible for this program:
- You must currently have Diamond status that expires in March of 2023
- You must have held Diamond status for at least 3 years (not consecutively)
- You must have earned 500,000 lifetime points OR Spent 250 nights at Hilton hotels since becoming a member
If the criteria above apply to you, you can extend that status on a one-time basis if you haven't filled the normal requirements to extend your status organically.
Your reasons for not organically extending status could be anything from falling ill, staying at home to take care of your kids, or even pandemic-related travel restrictions.
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The extension isn't currently live, but the official page on Hilton's website lets you submit your email address to be notified when the program goes live in 2023.
Overall, this is great to see. It's yet another sign that hotel and airline programs are going back to pre-pandemic ways.
Considering the number of ways you can earn Hilton status (signing up for co-branded credit cards, staying a certain number of nights, or earning a certain number of points), this makes Hilton status a little bit more enticing.
Hilton also has some amazing promotions going on right now, making this the perfect time to shift allegiances to a hotel program that will guarantee you an extra free year of top-tier status... if you're able to achieve it in the first place 😉
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🦝 The raccoons living in our airports
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If you live in Toronto like me, you'll know that our city has been named the "raccoon capital of the world."
Basically, raccoons invaded the city back in 2002 when outdoor organics (compost) bins became popularized. Now, over 100,000 raccoons live in the massive city... and people love them. So much so that Torontonians have even held streetside funerals for unlucky raccoons that saw their beautiful lives tragically cut short.
Raccoons are a regular part of our daily life. It's totally normal to see them hanging out on a street corner, chilling on your roof, and especially rummaging through your garbage bins.
What's slightly less normal is finding them in an airport...
But it's not unheard of. In fact, there have been numerous instances of entire raccoon families living in Toronto's international airport.
A few years ago, a baby raccoon was spotted running around the airport terminal while its mother was spotted a few hours later peeking out of the ceiling, presumably looking for her child:
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Earlier that same year a raccoon was spotted hanging out around baggage claim, also in the ceiling of Toronto's airport. Rather than being grossed out or afraid, Canadians are typically very happy to see their furry Toronto friends pursuing their passion for travel.
But Toronto isn't the only airport that raccoons are calling home. Earlier this week, a raccoon was spotted popping out of a wall to steal some snacks at Philadephia's airport.
Anyway, I love raccoons. I think they're super cute and I don't think I'd mind seeing them hanging out in the airport.
I wonder if the airport lounge attendant would let me use my guest passes on them so they wouldn't have to keep stealing food... hmmm...
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That's all for this week. I don't know about you, but I can't stop watching that video of a raccoon stealing Twizzlers... it's just so cute.
Do you think raccoons are cute? Are you going to sign up for free United elite status? I hope I already know the answers to both of those questions, but let me know anyway by responding to this email or reaching out on social media.
Have a happy, healthy weekend everyone 💕
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