Hi, I’m Scott! I’m guessing some of you are here after reading this article on the decline of airline elite benefits (also in the local Seattle Times). Thank you for your interest in my blog, and allow me answer a few of your questions. Yes, I got a PhD in Neurobiology last year, completely unrelated to anything I talk about here. No, I don’t have a “normal” job yet, but I am looking. I don’t really want to do research, and breaking into the business side of science is tough. In the meantime, I decided to take a hobby I enjoy and see what I could make of it.
What is travel hacking? Nothing illegal, I assure you. A hacker is simply someone who knows their way around the system and can make it do things most people didn’t know were possible. My schedule as a graduate student was flexible, but my financial resources were limited. I had to figure out how to make the most of that situation. Now I’m in the midst of planning a two-week honeymoon to Southeast Asia this fall — traveling in business class and staying in five-star hotels — including a suite with it’s own pool. All for under $2,000.
Many of you probably came for the summary tables comparing elite status with each of the major U.S. airlines. You can follow the link to learn more, and I’ll be sure to update it tonight (not much has changed).
Who We Are
My articles are usually on the kind of travel you actually pay for: how to make it cheaper, more convenient, and more rewarding. There’s no one reimbursing me, but in 2013 I expect to fly over 140,000 miles and spend over 60 nights in hotels. Usually I fly United Airlines and stay at Hyatt, but I’m adding Alaska Airlines and Starwood to my list. Feel free to contact me at scott@travelcodex.com or on Twitter by following @Travel_Codex.
Amol is another writer who initially wanted to know how much do editors make and nowadays contributes to Travel Codex. You’ll find he often flies with Delta and American and puts greater focus on earning miles for free award travel. We complement each other nicely. You can contact him on Twitter by following @PointstoPointB.
And of course, feel free to subscribe to the blog’s RSS feed for daily updates on new posts, or check out some of the most popular posts by using the links below.
Best of Travel Codex (formerly Hack My Trip)
- Introduction to Using ITA Matrix
The best way to search for flights, from beginner to advanced users. - Understanding Airline Inventory
How does an airline price its fares? Is there a better price? - Introduction to Fuel Dumping
Learn how the pros book international flights without fuel surcharges. - Stopovers and Open Jaws on United Airlines
Discover how to include multiple destinations on one award ticket. - Delta Award Tips: Case Study with Open Jaws
Use open jaws to book one way award tickets on Delta Air Lines. - All about the AAdvantage Explorer Award
This award chart lets you book complicated itineraries with fewer miles. - How to Game Elite Status Matches
Use matches and challenges to acquire elite status with multiple programs. - Recommended Travel Credit Cards
The top travel rewards cards I recommend for frequent flyers.
