This Traveler Booked a Journey to Safe Twin Citizenship Completely on Factors—This is How They Did It

Like many second-generation People, Katherine Fan grew up in the US however was intently linked to her household’s tradition. “My mother and father are from Taiwan, and it’s the place I’ve visited essentially the most exterior of the U.S.,” she mentioned. 

The Austin-based private finance editor had traveled to Taipei dozens of occasions. Nonetheless, Fan’s most up-to-date two-week journey to the Taiwanese capital late final yr had a novel function—to lastly safe twin citizenship. 

For years, Fan had been desirous to make her relationship with Taiwan really feel extra “official.” Since she lived and labored within the U.S., strict residency necessities made it practically inconceivable. However in 2024, these restrictions had been relaxed, and she or he utilized as quickly as she may. 

The ultimate step within the course of required visiting the nation in individual. 

Because of a big stash of bank card factors, lodge factors, and airline miles, Fan paid practically nothing for the once-in-a-lifetime strategy of finalizing her Taiwanese citizenship. In truth, Fan left Taiwan together with her model new passport. Right here’s how she made all of it occur.

How She Booked It 

For Fan, the factors redemptions included round-trip enterprise class tickets from the U.S. to Taipei, together with two nights at a lodge. (She stayed with household for almost all of the journey.) 

If Fan had paid for all the things in money, the overall journey price would’ve been round $6,700. As a substitute, her out-of-pocket bills landed at nearly $150, in taxes and charges. 

Flights

Fan’s journey to Asia was booked on the final minute. She reserved her flights, which included enterprise class on Delta Air Strains, EVA Air—one of many two largest airways in Taiwan—and Austrian Airways, about two weeks earlier than departure. 

The important thing for Fan was discovering award availability, which is why she waited to safe her tickets. Her secret weapon for this? Leveraging seats.aero, a service that mechanically sends customers an electronic mail when particular award flights that you just’re fascinated by turn out to be obtainable. (This software is much like how one can set Google alerts for upcoming flights, however particular to factors and miles.)

To ebook the primary flight, a Delta route from Seattle to Taipei, Fan transferred 60,000 American Specific Membership Rewards factors to the SkyMiles program, “topping off” an present 34,000 miles already in her account. She secured this one-way journey within the ultra-private Delta One Suites for 93,500 miles and $5.60 in taxes. 

To return again to the U.S., Fan had a prolonged journey east via Europe. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile redemption, she mentioned. “Since I needed to get loads performed on brief timelines throughout this journey, attending to lie flat to and from Taipei helped tremendously.” 

Fan redeemed 87,500 Air Canada Aeroplan factors for an EVA Air enterprise class seat from Taipei to Vienna; the 2 airways are companions. She then linked onwards on Austrian Airways enterprise class from Vienna to New York, touchdown in JFK. The reservation required $150 in taxes and charges. To acquire the Air Canada Aeroplan factors, she transferred factors from Chase Final Rewards via the corporate’s easy-to-use on-line portal. 

Lodge

Lastly, Fan’s two-night lodge keep was secured mere days earlier than check-in. She booked the Sheraton Grand Taipei for 39,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening over New Yr’s Eve. (The going money price on the time was practically $500 per evening.) 

“Taipei is among the few locations on this planet that genuinely will run out of rooms at main lodge chains in case you do not plan forward,” Fan cautioned. “If I did not have backup locations to remain, I might have booked considerably sooner.” 

Whereas Fan loved the comforts of enterprise class and bonding with cousins on the Sheraton to ring in 2025, most significantly, factors and miles had been in a position to assist her finalize her Taiwanese citizenship. 

“It is significant to me as an grownup to have a tangible authorized connection to my nation of heritage, particularly now,” Fan expressed. 

A Factors and Miles Tip for Vacationers

It’s the small purchases that may actually assist increase your factors and miles balances over time, Fan instructed T+L. She is persistently accumulating factors in her day-to-day actions, and that is actually one of many best methods to rack up factors.

“I am an enormous proponent of utilizing purchasing portals like Rakuten for incomes factors,” she mentioned. There are dozens of on-line purchasing portals, permitting you to earn bank card rewards, airline miles, lodge factors, or money in your purchases. 

Rakuten is one such website, and it allows you to earn money again, or American Specific Membership Rewards factors, whenever you store on-line.

Have a feel-good factors and miles story you need to share with T+L readers? E mail me at thechrisdong@gmail.com.