As travel becomes more expensive, travel hacking is becoming increasingly popular. Today, many people are leveraging frequent flyer programs, credit card rewards, and other loyalty programs to save hundreds, if not thousands, on their trips. But what is travel hacking, and how do you start? is a travel hacker who has made it his mission to help others discover the joys of traveling the world without breaking the bank, and he now expounds on what travel hacking is. Shawn Younai Shawn Younai is a travel hacker, the founder of AllCreditFixing.com, and a cyber security expert. Shawn has visited over 40 countries and knows how to maximize credit card points and save lots of money on travel. He is widely known for his Instagram, , where he shares tips on how to make money work for you and creative ways to travel cheaper. @creditandcars : Vested Interest Disclosure This story was distributed as a release by Ascend Agency under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program . here Shawn currently has a __ __where he helps people travel smart and grow their passive income. The program includes flight hacks, how to save more, and get free upgrades on Close Friends, an Instagram feature that allows you to grant followers special permission to view private stories. mentorship program on Instagram Q: What is travel hacking, and who is a travel hacker? A: Travel hacking is about using various available resources to find creative ways to save money on travel and maximize the value of your overall experience. It can be frequent flyer programs or even credit card rewards. When you master this art, you become a travel hacker. Q: What benefits do travel hackers get? A: There are many benefits of being a travel hacker. For one, you get to save lots of money and time by utilizing creative strategies. Travel hacking is all about traveling smart, which means cheaper flights, better hotel rates, and access to exclusive discounts. Additionally, travel hackers can often use reward points from credit cards and airline loyalty programs to get free flights, upgrades, and other perks. Q: How has travel hacking been for you, and what challenges have you encountered, if any? A: Travel hacking has greatly helped me with my traveling. It has changed my perspective on touring the world, and now I can go anywhere without breaking the bank. So far, I have been to over 40 countries. About challenges, my biggest obstacle has been keeping track of changes to credit card and loyalty programs because credit card issuers and airlines frequently tweak their rewards programs and privileges. To combat this, I read industry news and blogs, keep up with current events by regularly checking the websites of the credit card companies and airlines with which I have accounts, and read blogs. It can also be hard to meet minimum spending requirements. But I figured out methods to complete the spending with manufactured spending to qualify for a sign-up bonus from a credit card; you frequently need to spend a certain amount within a specific time limit. I do this by budgeting ahead of time and making sure to meet the bare minimum. Q: Finally, How can one become a travel hacker? A: Becoming a travel hacker requires research, patience, and a willingness to think outside the box. But it is not as complex as it was some years back. As people become familiar with the term, there are more tips and tricks. I have a that focuses on travel hacking, starting, and making the most out of it. I would also love to build an app that explains the best methods for obtaining rewards and benefits. mentorship program on my Instagram Q: What is one way of flying for free? A: Well I can not disclose much but I can tell you that there is a process called credit card churning, this is where you obtain a credit card for points then downgrade. This can be done with Chase. So you would acquire the chase Saphire reserve then acquire the 60 or 80 thousand points then downgrade the card after one year to the chase freedom with no annual fee. You will acquire 60,000 points, along with a $300 travel credit for $550. Essentially paying $250 for 60,000 points. Those points would be worth a one way business class flight pretty much anywhere in the world. You never want to close a card because this will greatly affect your average age on your credit and hurt your score.
