About Greg Stone
Greg got bitten by the travel bug at a young age while traveling with his Dad on business trips to Asia. He took over the family business in 2012 and uses it to maximize his loyalty points earning.
His obsession with earning and burning loyalty rewards points allows him to travel over 100 days every year, often in-style on some of the most coveted business and first class products.
You can see more of Greg’s travels on Instagram.
Countries Visited: 35
U.S. States Visited: 9
Highest Hotel Status: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Highest Airline Status: Virgin Australia Platinum
Favorite Alliance: I’m not aligned to any Alliance and, as such, this doesn’t dictate what airlines I fly. I prefer to share the love around to as many airlines as I can!
Favorite First Class: Singapore Airlines new Suites
Favorite Business Class: Qatar Airways Qsuites
Best Redemption Value: 148,000 Kris Flyer Miles for a $15,000 flight in the new SQ suites
Favorite Redemption Points: American Express Membership Rewards
Top 3 Cards in Wallet: Amex Business Platinum, Amex Platinum, Amex Velocity (Australia)
Countries Visited
U.S. States Visited
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Greg's Latest Articles
See More ArticlesTurkish Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class Review [IST > DPS]
Airline: Turkish Airlines (TK) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 (TC-LLA) Flight #: TK66 Route: Istanbul Airport (IST) > Ngurah Rai International-Bali (DPS) Date: October 31, 2019 Duration: 12hrs 50min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 30-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 8A Miles Used: 71,000…
Delta Air Lines Airbus A220 First Class Review [DFW to JFK]
Airline: Delta Air Lines (DL) Aircraft: Airbus A220-100 (N112DU) Flight #: DL1197 Route: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) > New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Date: October 25, 2019 Duration: 3hrs 25min Cabin & Layout: First Class, 12-seats, 2-2 config Seat(s):…
Delta Air Lines Airbus A220 Economy Class Review [LGA to DFW]
Airline: Delta Air Lines (DL) Aircraft: Airbus A220-100 (N119DU) Flight #: DL1004 Route: New York-LaGuardia (LGA) > Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) Date: October 23, 2019 Duration: 3hrs 52min Cabin & Layout: Economy Class, 97-seats, 2-3 config Seat(s): 18A Miles Used:…
The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Nusa Dua, Bali – Review
Hotel: The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Nusa Dua, Bali Booked Room: Deluxe Garden View Upgraded Room: 1 Bedroom Executive Suite Loyalty Program: Marriott Bonvoy Date: October 31, 2019 Nights: 4 Points: 130,000 Marriott points Paid Value:…
British Airways Boeing 747 Club World Review [LHR to DXB]
Update: British Airways retired its 747 fleet in October 2020. Club World, BA’s international business class product, is still available on the 767, 777, 787, and A380. Airline: British Airways (BA) Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 (G-BYGA) Flight #: BA109 Route: London…
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Review [JFK to LHR]
Airline: Virgin Atlantic (VS) Aircraft: Airbus A350 (G-VLUX) Flight #: VS138 Route: John F. Kennedy International (JFK) > London Heathrow (LHR) Date: October 29, 2019 Duration: 6hrs 39min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 44 seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 9A Points…
Fiji Airways Airbus A350 Economy Class Review [NAN to SYD]
Airline: Fiji Airways (FJ) Aircraft: Airbus A350 (DQ-FAI) Flight #: FJ911 Route: Nadi International Airport (NAN) > Sydney Airport (SYD) Date: December 13, 2019 Duration: 4hr 30min Cabin & Layout: Economy Class, 301-seats, 3-3-3 config Seat(s): 52A Miles Used: 50,000…
Fiji Airways Airbus A350 Business Class Review [SYD to NAN]
Airline: Fiji Airways (FJ) Aircraft: Airbus A350 (DQ-FAI) Flight #: FJ910 Route: Sydney Airport (SYD) > Nadi International Airport (NAN) Date: December 10, 2019 Duration: 3hr 45min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 33-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 20A Miles Used: 50,000…
Qantas Boeing 747 Premium Economy Review [SYD to HND]
Airline: Qantas Airways (QF) Aircraft: Boeing 747 (VH-OJU) Flight #: QF25 Route: Sydney Airport (SYD) > Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) Date: September 1, 2019 Duration: 9hrs 25min Cabin & Layout: Premium Economy, 36-seats, 2-4-2 config Seat(s): 38A Miles Used: None Typical…
Qantas Boeing 747 Business Class Review [HND to SYD]
Airline: Qantas Airways (QF) Aircraft: Boeing 747 (VH-OEH) Flight #: QF26 Route: Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) > Sydney Airport (SYD) Date: September 6, 2019 Duration: 9hrs 30min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 58-seats, 2-3-2 and 2-2 configuration Seat(s): 6K Miles Used:…
BLADE $195 Helicopter Continuous Airport Transfer Review [JFK to NYC]
Airline: BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc. Aircraft: Bell 407 (N403TD) Flight #: 1:20 p.m. Route: John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) > Manhattan West 30th Street Date: October 25, 2019 Duration: 8 minutes Cabin & Layout: 6 passenger seats: 1 front,…
Qantas Airbus A330 Business Class Review [BKK to SYD]
Airline: Qantas Airways (QF) Aircraft: Airbus A330-300 (VH-QPF) Flight #: QF24 Route: Suvarnabhumi Airport – Bangkok (BKK) > Sydney Airport (SYD) Date: June 26, 2019 Duration: 9hrs 15min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 28-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 4K Miles Used:…
Oman Air Boeing 787 Business Class Review [MCT to BKK]
Airline: Oman Air (WY) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 (A4O-SI) Flight #: WY817 Route: Muscat (MCT) > Bangkok (BKK) Date: June 25, 2019 Duration: 6hr Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 30-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 11K Miles Used: None – paid fare Cash…
Oman Air Airbus A330 Business Class Review [FRA to MCT]
Airline: Oman Air (WY) Aircraft: Airbus A330-300 (A4O-DD) Flight #: WY116 Route: Frankfurt Airport (FRA) > Muscat International Airport (MCT) Date: June 24, 2019 Duration: 6hr 40min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 20-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 10K Miles Used: None…
Finnair Airbus A350 & A321 Business Class Review [BKK to HEL to BCN]
Airline: Finnair (AY) Aircraft: Airbus A350 and A321 (OH-LWF and OH-LZM) Flight #: AY142 and AY1653 Route: Bangkok (BKK) > Helsinki (HEL) > Barcelona (BCN) Date: June 19, 2019 Duration: 10hr 20min + 4hr Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 46-seats,…
Etihad Airways Airbus A380 Business Class Review [AUH to SYD]
Airline: Etihad Airways (EY) Aircraft: Airbus A380 (A6-APG) Flight #: EY454 Route: Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) > Sydney Airport (SYD) Date: May 16, 2019 Duration: 14hr Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 70-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 10K Miles Used: 139,000…
Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Business Class Review [MUC to AUH]
Airline: Etihad Airways (EY) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 (A6-BLE) Flight #: EY6 Route: Munich (MUC) > Abu Dhabi (AUH) Date: May 16, 2019 Duration: 6hr 5min Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 28-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 6K Miles Used: 139,000 Virgin Australia…
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Star Alliance Lounges [Reviewed]
Before jetting off on Singapore Airlines’ new A380 from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), my partner and I were faced with the decision of which of the 4 Star Alliance airline lounges to visit in the new Queen’s Terminal 2 complex:…
Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Review [SIN to DUS]
Airline: Singapore Airlines (SQ) Aircraft: Airbus A350-900 (9V-SMK) Flight #: SQ338 Route: Singapore (SIN) > Dusseldorf (DUS) Date: September 22, 2018 Duration: 12hr 34min Cabin and Layout: Business class, 42-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 19F Miles Used: 105,000 KrisFlyer miles per…
Qatar Airways Airbus A350 Business Class Review [DOH to GVA]
Airline: Qatar Airways (QR) Aircraft: Airbus A350-900 (A7-ALN) Flight #: QR99 Route: Doha (DOH) > Geneva (GVA) Date: January 26, 2019 Duration: 6hr 45min Cabin and Layout: Business class, 36 seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 5K Miles Used: 110,000 Asia Miles…
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 First Class Review [SIN to SYD]
Airline: Singapore Airlines (SQ) Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (9V-SNC) Flight #: SQ241 Route: Singapore (SIN) > Sydney (SYD) Date: October 3, 2018 Duration: 7hr 40min Cabin and Layout: First Class, 4-seats, 1-2-1 config Seat(s): 1A Miles Used: 148,000 KrisFlyer (including a…
Find out about other members of the team
Alex Miller
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
Andrew Kunesh
Former Content Contributor
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.
Brandon Brunner
Former Content Contributor
Brandon was born and raised in California and really didn’t travel much growing up, even outside of his own state. While attending college, he was constantly looking to find the cheapest fares to any destination abroad, and quickly learned about the motto- “Chase the fare, not the destination”. Luckily, his first international flight was to Costa Rica (under $300 roundtrip) where that “Pura Vida” lifestyle (and Imperials) hit him hard, and he knew he had to see more.
Brian Graham
Former Content Contributor
Brian’s first ever airplane ride was in a private turbo-prop jet. He was merely an intern boy trying to make a good impression, but it turns out the plane made an impression on him.
Carissa Rawson
Senior Content Contributor
Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.
Caroline Lupini
Former Content Contributor
Caroline Lupini always enjoyed traveling, but it became her goal to do as much as possible after a 3-week trip around Europe in 2011. In March 2014, Caroline left her job and embarked on nearly full-time travels.
Charlie Page
Former Content Contributor
Charlie is a Senior First Officer and has been an airline pilot for nearly 15 years. He currently flies long-haul on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after 10 years buzzing around Europe on the A320. He got into travel and aviation from an early age, fortunate enough to be taken on some great family holidays.
Cherag Dubash
Content Contributor
Cherag was born in a family associated with aviation and was hooked on to planes since the age of 3, the time he undertook his first flight on an Airbus A310 from Mumbai to Dubai.
Chris Hassan
Social Media & Brand Manager
Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.
Christine Krzyszton
Senior Finance Contributor
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Christy Rodriguez
Travel & Finance Content Contributor
After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.
David Slotnick
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in New York, David still remembers his first flight when he was only four years old: a U.S. Airways trip from New York-La Guardia to Palm Beach, Florida. He formed his love of travel around that and other family vacations, including to England at age eight and Namibia when he was 13. During college, a four-country trip around Europe with a friend cemented his passion for seeing the world.
Erin Miller
Content Contributor
An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.
James Larounis
Senior Content Contributor
James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.
Jarrod West
Senior Content Contributor
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
Jeff Brownson
Former Content Contributor
Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.
Katie Seemann
Senior Content Contributor
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.
Kellie Jez
Director of Operations & Compliance
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s compliance operation.
Lindsey Olander
Former Content Contributor
Currently based in New York, Lindsey spent her childhood in Connecticut dreaming of far-off places. Her first flight was to Disney World at age 11. Her second flight was for a high school field trip to Italy, though travel as a career didn’t stick until she studied abroad in London during college and discovered the true power of her passport. Since then, she’s worked as a travel editor at Jetsetter and Travel + Leisure, where she reported on everything from African safaris to hot hotel openings to, yes, Disney World.
Lori Zaino
Content Contributor
Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and more, and loves to muse about points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.
Lukas Picton
Former Content Contributor
Lukas escaped his hometown south of Sydney and moved to the big smoke immediately after high-school, but the bright lights of the city weren’t enough, and he soon set his sights on more exotic international destinations and has been in love with travel ever since.
Michael McHugh
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Ryan Smith
Content Contributor
Ryan has been on a quest to visit every country in the world and plans to hit his final country in 2023. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.
Spencer Howard
Former Content Contributor
Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.
Stella Shon
Compliance Editor & Content Contributor
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.
Stephen Au
Senior Content Contributor
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Susan Wright
Former Finance Contributor
While writing about finance and insurance isn’t something that keeps most people awake at night, it is what Susan Wright has focused on for more than 25 years. As a financial copywriter, Susan has an eye for money-related details such as credit and savings, and she loves to pass along helpful information to consumers. Susan holds 11 financial industry designations (including CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, ADPA, CITRMS, CIPA) as well as several licenses.
Jessica Merritt
Editor & Content Contributor
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.
Nick Ellis
Editor & Content Contributor
Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to leverage the perks of each.
Victoria M. Walker
Senior Content Contributor
Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Travel With Vikkie” newsletter.
Chris Dong
Editor
Chris is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on timely travel trends, points and miles, hot new hotels, and all things that go (he’s a proud aviation geek and transit nerd). Formerly full time at The Points Guy, his work can now be found at AFAR, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Washington Post, and Lonely Planet, among others
Juan Ruiz
Compliance Editor & Content Contributor
Juan has been involved in credit cards, loyalty, travel, and personal finance for more than 10 years. He has worked for several outlets including The Points Guy and Forbes and was previously Editor-in-Chief at Money Under 30.
Daniel Ross
Senior Content Contributor
Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points Guy, and more.
Michael Y. Park
Editor
Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.
Ashley Onadele
Content Contributor
Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.
Amar Hussain
Senior Content Contributor
Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.
Ehsan Haque
Content Contributor
Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.
Keri Stooksbury
Editor-in-Chief
With years of experience in corporate marketing and with a nonprofit, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and reviewing thousands of UP articles in the process.
UP's Bonus Valuation
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.