Ehsan Haque

3 days ago | upgradedpoints.com | Ehsan Haque

With some extra expenses on the horizon, I applied for 2 Barclays-issued credit cards: the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and the Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®. After last year’s Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger, miles can be transferred interchangeably between the 2 loyalty programs. However, this news means that the current Hawaiian Airlines credit cards will eventually be phased out — so I wanted to apply for both cards before they’re no longer available.

5 days ago | upgradedpoints.com | Ehsan Haque

Bangkok, the bustling metropolis and capital of Thailand, has so much to offer travelers. From world-class nightlife to incredible night markets to historic temples, Bangkok is a must-visit destination. The city keeps bringing me back — my most recent trip was my sixth visit in the last 4 years. However, this was my wife’s first time. For our last night in the city, I wanted to book a luxury hotel — and fortunately, Bangkok has many of them.

2 weeks ago | upgradedpoints.com | Ehsan Haque

Hong Kong is one of the most amazing places on Earth. With its magnificent skyline, iconic street food, neon-lit markets, and world-class shopping, Hong Kong has something to offer everyone who visits. Although I have been to Hong Kong numerous times, my April 2025 trip would be my wife’s first time, and I wanted to stay at a luxury hotel to make our last night there special. Fortunately, Hong Kong has many luxury hotels.

2 weeks ago | upgradedpoints.com | Ehsan Haque

Beijing, the political and cultural capital of the People’s Republic of China, is an incredible city with much to offer. It perfectly blends ancient history and modern innovation, where centuries-old traditions seamlessly intertwine with rapid urban growth. I got to know the city well on my one and only visit back in 2015, when I was living in China. In fact, Beijing was the very first major city outside of the U.S. I’d ever visited by myself.

3 weeks ago | upgradedpoints.com | Ehsan Haque

The IHG Hotels & Resorts chain is one of the largest in the world, with more than 6,300 properties across 19 hotel brands worldwide. The chain has many well-known brands, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, but it also has some luxury brands, including Six Senses, Regent Hotels, and InterContinental Hotels and Resorts. The IHG One Rewards loyalty program offers a relatively straightforward approach to earning elite status and points.