[Definitive Guide] The Textbook for Land Milers and Point Enthusiasts | A Summary of All Articles to Make Family Trips "Free"
"I want to go on a trip, but the budget..." "I want to save miles, but I don't know where to start."
This page is a table of contents that systematically organizes the "complete know-how for land milers and point enthusiasts" that I have written to solve those problems.
Mile activities are not just about saving money. It is an asset-building technique where just 'knowing or not knowing' can dramatically change the number of family memories you have in a few years.
Please follow the roadmap below and start reading from the sections that interest you.
Step 1: Mindset and Big Picture (Start Here)
Before diving into minor techniques, let's first grasp the "winning strategy" and the "big picture." Article 2, in particular, is the most important article for ending your indecision about choosing a card.
1. Everything About Land Milers: Making Family Trips Come True for Free
[Must-Read/Big Picture] This is a basic article explaining the "5 Pillars" of land miler activities.
The explosive power of sign-up campaigns
Consolidating daily payments
Utilizing point sites
Transferring common points
Benefits for parenting households. How to combine all of these—please start here.
2. The Concept of "Opportunity Cost," the Most Important Factor in Choosing a Card
[Most Important Article/Strategy] This is an article you should read before wondering, "Which card is better?" What is the "opportunity loss" that is more frightening than a 0.5% difference in return rate? This is the core article of this blog that will change your philosophy on choosing and combining cards.
Step 2: "Offensive" Techniques for Massive Accumulation
How do you actually save miles? I will teach you the "two-sword style" of both explosive accumulation and steady, step-by-step accumulation.
3. Land Miler Activity 1 | Smartly Earn Miles with Credit Card Sign-up Campaigns!
There are moments when issuing just one card is better than flying dozens of times. This is the "campaign strategy" for earning a large amount of miles at once.
4. Land Miler Activity 2 | Revealing the Contents of an Expert's "Real Wallet"!
Proof is better than argument. I am revealing the combination of main and sub cards that I actually use.
5. Land-Miler Activity 3 | My Family's Strategy of Attacking with a "Small but Elite" Group
A "non-possession" mileage strategy, rather than "non-possession management," to prevent things from becoming unmanageable by trying to do too much. This is a way of thinking to simply aim for high returns.
6. Everything About the Drugstore Economic Zone: The Era Where Miles and Points Are Earned at Pharmacies
Drugstores account for a large portion of household expenses, such as daily necessities and groceries. These are techniques for double-dipping on "T-Points + Miles" and more.
7. Electronic Money Strategy for Land-Milers: Maximizing Miles by Linking Credit Cards
PayPay, d-Barai, JAL Pay, ANA Pay. I will explain how to link electronic money and code payments with credit cards to double-dip on points through both charging and usage.
8. [Must-See for Land-Milers/Definitive Edition] Complete Strategy for JAL Special Stores vs. ANA Mile Plus!
"Which is more profitable for convenience stores?" "What about gas stations?" I will compare and conquer the optimal solutions for daily life for both JAL and ANA fans.
Step 3: The Iron Rules of "Defense" to Prevent Missed Opportunities
This is slightly geeky but extremely important knowledge to prevent the tragedy of "I thought I saved them, but they didn't accumulate!" or "I lost money on fees!"
9. The Full Picture of Credit Card Usage Excluded from Miles and Points Part 1: Annual Fees and Electronic Money Charging Edition
"I paid a high annual fee but didn't get points," or "Zero return even after charging." I have organized the cards and items that have such pitfalls.
10. The Full Picture of Credit Card Usage Excluded from Miles and Points Part 2: Taxes, Public Utilities, and Unique Items Edition
Automobile tax, fixed asset tax, and public utility charges. These are opportunities for high-value payments, but in reality, there are cases where points are halved or excluded. Please be sure to check before paying.
11. The "Hidden Disparity" in Foreign Transaction Fees
Did you know that when you use a card for overseas travel or international online shopping, the exchange fee varies by card company? This is a story about "hidden costs" where a difference of a few percent can lead to significant losses.
Step 4: The "Expiration" and "Exit" Strategy for Miles
Accumulating miles is not the end. "Using" them is part of the land-miler activity. This is wisdom for preventing expiration and flying on airplanes in the most cost-effective way.
12. Miles: From the Era of "Saving" to "Manipulating Expiration": The Optimal Solutions for ANA and JAL to Break the 3-Year Wall
The "3-year expiration" barrier of Japanese airlines. I will reveal the method to break through this and keep your miles indefinitely.
13. The Battle Against Mile Expiration: A Thorough Comparison of Foreign Airline Mileage vs. Japanese Mileage (JAL/ANA)
If you want to be freed from the "fear of miles expiring," foreign airlines are also an option. I have compared the pros and cons of each.
14. Rethinking: The Value of "United Airlines (UA) Miles" for ANA Domestic Flights
Is the rumor true that "if you are flying ANA domestic, it is actually more cost-effective to use United Airlines miles than ANA's own miles"? I will verify the truth and how to utilize them.
15. Pay Attention to "User Registration" for ANA Award Tickets: How the Limit Fills Up Before You Know It and Differences from Other Companies
When using award tickets for family travel, "user registration" is a common stumbling block. This is a preparation guide to ensure you don't panic when you go to book.
Which stage are you at right now?
If you are just starting out, please begin by reading these two articles: "Article 1: Everything About Land Miles" and "Article 2: Opportunity Cost." From there, your travel style should change.
If you have any questions or points you would like to know more about, please feel free to leave a comment!