Reading Time: 3 minAny devoted music fan will tell you that nothing matches the ability to see an artist live.
As blockbuster global tours returned after the pandemic — from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé — a clear trend emerged among devoted fans. People were criss-crossing the globe to watch shows IRL. And it’s driven an entire travel phenomenon known as “tour tourism.”
I, too, became one of those individuals who journeyed thousands of miles for a concert. Earlier this summer, I planned a trip around a London tour date for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour.
I was already going to be in Europe in mid-June for work, so my flights from the U.S., in premium economy, were already taken care of. (More on how I scored a one-way upgrade below.) So I only needed a hotel night or two in London and the concert tickets themselves.
Here’s how I was able to maximize my experience — from earning points on the show, leveraging a free hotel stay from a credit card benefit, and using my airline status for an upgrade.
One of the most practical ways to earn points and miles is by leveraging online shopping portals for items you’d be purchasing anyway. And yes, that can even include big-ticket items.
Not only is it possible to earn points on concerts, but I also found prices for Beyoncé’s shows were far more affordable abroad than they were at home. (In fact, this has been a reason why “tour tourism” has proven to be so popular.)
Instead of going to purchase tickets directly, I started at an online shopping portal first. From there, I searched for the merchant (I used reseller Vivid Seats), clicked through to their website, and then made my purchase as I normally would.
One of my favorite shopping portals is Rakuten, which lets you choose whether to earn cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points. For the privilege of witnessing Beyoncé, I also earned 2 Amex points per dollar on the portal purchase. (And another Amex point per dollar earned with the credit card I used.)
The NoMad London, a luxurious boutique hotel in the heart of the city, is a Hilton-owned property. I’d been wanting to stay at the five-star stunner for quite some time, and a trip to London in mid-summer seemed like an opportune moment.
Cash rates hovered around $900 per night, but I didn’t pay a single penny for the room. That’s because the high-end Hilton credit card comes with a yearly free night certificate at any Hilton-associated property in the world (“standard” award availability is required). I cashed in my certificate for the one-night stay at the NoMad.
My return flight from London to New York was booked in Delta’s premium economy cabin (which the airline calls “Premium Select”). Thanks to my Delta Diamond status, every year, I’m granted a handful of Global Upgrade Certificates, which can be used on a one-cabin upgrade, pending availability. That even includes long-haul international flights.
I confirmed my upgrade from Premium Select to Delta One, and I traveled back to the U.S. in style. Not a bad way to spend the day after a Beyoncé concert.
