Money Management

Booking business class every time you fly might seem impossible — or extremely expensive. Learn how you can do it without spending a fortune. [[{“value”:”

It’s been said that the biggest downside of flying business class is that you’ll never want to go back to economy. That was definitely my experience. After my first international flight in a business-class seat, I wanted to have that every time.

Always flying business class probably seems expensive. These seats usually cost several times more than economy. On international flights, it’s common to see business-class prices of $3,000 or more.

But some frequent travelers are able to do it, without spending a ton of money. They tend to follow a few key habits to make it happen.

1. They pay for some or all of their tickets with miles

When somebody always flies business class, they’re typically able to do it for one of two reasons: They could have enough money to where a more expensive ticket doesn’t make a dent in their wallet. Or, they’re paying for a lot of their airfare with miles, not cash.

Those expensive business-class seats often get much more affordable when you’re paying in airline miles. For example, earlier this year, my wife and I flew to France. Business-class seats would have cost $3,106 each. They were also available for 77,000 miles plus $262.50 in taxes and fees each, which I happily paid.

If you shop around, you could find business-class seats for 50,000 to 80,000 miles, or sometimes less. Taxes and fees vary, but can be as low as $5.60.

You may be wondering how you’ll earn all those miles. The first step is signing up for a frequent flyer account with any airlines you use so you can earn miles on your trips. But there’s also a way to earn miles much more quickly.

2. They use travel credit cards for their everyday spending

The fastest way to earn miles is with travel rewards credit cards. Instead of only earning miles when you travel, you can earn them on all your credit card spending.

There are a couple of different types of travel cards you can use. Airline credit cards are tied to a specific airline and its frequent flyer program. For instance, if you get a Delta Air Lines card, you’ll earn miles you can use with Delta.

Those cards can be good if you always fly with the same airline. But I prefer travel cards with transferable rewards. These let you transfer your points/miles to the card issuer’s airline partners. With some cards, you’ll be able to send your rewards to over a dozen airlines. This gives you far more booking options, since you can use your rewards with so many carriers.

Several credit card companies offer this type of travel card. The most popular options are cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Capital One Venture Rewards programs.

3. They start shopping for airfare well in advance

Flight prices go up and down. The sweet spot for booking is generally one to three months in advance for domestic flights and two to eight months in advance for international flights, according to flight deals site Going.

Whether you’re paying in cash or miles, you’ll have a better chance of getting a deal if you give yourself plenty of time to find a ticket. That’s especially true with business-class seats, since there are fewer of these available.

If you start searching several months in advance, you can set up low price alerts. You can book when you think you’ve found a good deal. And if prices drop later, you can probably cancel your ticket and rebook at the lower rate. One of the advantages of booking business class is that changes and cancellations are often free. Check with the airline you’re using to make sure of that.

It’s easier than you’d expect to get a seat at the front of the plane. If you use travel credit cards, book with miles, and start shopping ahead of time, you could travel in business class more often — or even every time you fly.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has positions in Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

DoorDash could be a valuable side hustle, especially if you put a lot of time into it. Read on for a closer look at how much you could earn. [[{“value”:”

If you have a car and spare time on your hands, you may have thought about driving for DoorDash to make a little extra cash. But as with most side hustles, there are costs associated with it. You’ll give up your free time, and you’ll be putting more wear and tear on your vehicle, so you want to make sure your DoorDash income will be worth the effort.

According to the company, “What you make as a Dasher depends on where, how much, and what time of day you choose to earn.” But that doesn’t tell us a whole lot. So let’s break down DoorDash pay a little further.

How DoorDash pays its drivers

DoorDash delivery drivers, also known as Dashers, can receive up to three types of pay while they work:

Base pay: This is guaranteed, and the rate depends on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the offer. You’ll be able to see this rate before you accept the offer.Tips: Customers may tip you at any point. This isn’t required, but many customers do include a tip. Drivers keep 100% of their earned tips.Promotions: DoorDash runs three kinds of promotions that can result in additional earnings. They are:Peak Pay: The Promos tab of your app will identify Peak Pay opportunities, which pay more than the average offer.Challenges: You can earn money by completing challenges, like finishing a certain number of deliveries within a certain time period.Delivery Streaks: This can give you additional money for completing consecutive orders while on a dash.

A lot depends on when you choose to work, where you’re located, and whether you go after the promotions when they’re available. If we’re talking about averages, Dashers usually earn about $17 per hour, according to Indeed. But that’s the national average. Those in larger cities could see higher rates.

Dashers are typically paid weekly through a direct deposit to their checking account, though there is an option for daily pay if you’re willing to pay a small fee. Those with the DasherDirect Business Prepaid Visa Card also have the option to get instant deposits for no fee as well as 2% back on gas purchases.

How to increase your pay

There are several things you can do to maximize your pay as a Dasher, including:

Work around mealtimes: This is when most customers will be in need of your services, enabling you to pick up several orders in a row. Special events, like major sports games, can also be a great time to make some extra cash.Position yourself in a popular area: Station yourself near popular restaurants so you can fulfill orders more quickly.Take advantage of promotions: Check the Promos tab of the app every time you log in so you don’t miss out on opportunities to earn additional pay.Be prompt and professional: Delivering high-quality service may increase your odds of getting tips from customers.Leverage your earnings history: Your DoorDash app tracks your earnings history over time. You can use this information, along with knowledge of when and where you worked on those particular days, to figure out which times and places tend to result in the biggest paydays.

Like any side hustle, your pay is probably going to be a little unpredictable, depending on your availability and the demand for your services. But driving for DoorDash is flexible, so you can always try it out and see how you like it. If it’s not for you, you can throw in the towel and check out other side hustles instead to see if any of them can grow your savings account balance even faster.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Kailey Hagen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

Sometimes you need to pick where to splurge when you travel. See how to choose between flying business class or staying in a five-star hotel. [[{“value”:”

Adding a little luxury to your vacation is always exciting. Most people don’t have an unlimited travel budget, though. You might need to decide where to spend extra and where to go with a more affordable option.

Two of the biggest travel upgrades are flying business class and staying in a fancy, five-star hotel. Both can be amazing experiences, and both can cost thousands of dollars. Deciding between them is often a tough call, so keep reading to find out how to do it.

Consider when the flight is and how long it will last

Business class flights offer plenty of bells and whistles, but the biggest perk is how much more comfortable they are than economy. If you’re flying overnight, or if it’s a long flight, then a business-class seat makes a huge difference. You may be able to arrive well-rested and enjoy the first day of your trip instead of spending it catching up on sleep.

That’s especially valuable on shorter trips. If you have four or five days at your destination, you probably don’t want to spend one of them resting.

A business-class seat isn’t as important if you don’t need to rest on the plane. For example, if your flight is from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., you might be able to hit the ground running whether you spend those five hours in economy or business class. In that case, you could get more bang for your buck, or for your travel rewards, from a nice hotel.

Think about how much time you’ll spend at your hotel

Five-star hotels generally have better aesthetics, service, and amenities than other hotels. These are all great benefits. But how much they matter depends on the type of trip you want and how you like to travel.

Maybe you want a relaxed trip where you spend a lot of time at your hotel. If so, it makes sense to book a room at an upscale property with a spa where you can get a massage, access to a pool, and quality dining options for eating out or ordering room service.

On the other hand, some people like to have their days full of activities when they travel. And if you’re going to be out and about for most of each day, spending more money for an expensive hotel could be a waste.

See if the better hotels have any key advantages over cheaper locations

It’s also worth looking at where you’d stay if you don’t book a five-star hotel. At many destinations, there are good accommodation options at several price ranges. Although a budget hotel or a vacation rental may not be as luxurious, they work fine as a place to stay.

But there are situations where more expensive hotels can have a big impact on your trip. These hotels may have far more amenities or the most convenient locations. One of the examples I’ve experienced firsthand is at beach destinations.

In some of these cities, the best hotels are right next to the beach in easy walking distance. They may also have private beach areas that hotel guests can use, with comfy chairs and food and drink service. Personally, I find this much more enjoyable than lugging supplies out to a crowded public beach area. For me, that’s a reason to splurge on a better hotel.

Choose the one that adds the most to your trip

You can’t really go wrong when choosing between business class and a five-star hotel. Either one will improve your travel experience. It’s just a matter of figuring out which one will improve your trip more.

If you have a long flight where you’ll need to rest, or you won’t be spending a ton of time at your hotel, then business class is the best choice. But if it’s a short flight or you want a nice place to stay, a five-star hotel is probably the way to go.

When in doubt, ask yourself which of the two gets you most excited, and you’ll have your answer. And if you’re trying to afford experiences like these more often, look into credit cards that earn travel points, as these can help you save quite a bit of money on luxury airfare and hotels.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More