As you know, I’m always on the lookout for talented individuals to contribute to the website, and I’m very pleased to introduce you to Alex Dushkin as the newest member of the writing team here at Prince of Travel.
Since first meeting Alex at the Montreal Miles & Points Event 2019, I’ve been impressed by how quickly he’s been able to pick up the core ideas in our space since starting out just a few years ago as a recent arrival in Canada.
In particular, he’s demonstrated a real knack for “being the data point we want to see” in his earning and redemption efforts, which is always a trait that I value highly in Miles & Points practitioners.
Based in Montreal, Alex will be writing for Prince of Travel at a fairly regular pace, supporting myself and Josh in our daily efforts to bring you all of the news, analysis, and discussion from the Miles & Points landscape. Alex’s arrival will also allow us, as a team, to focus some more energy on building new projects and features for the site.
Without further ado, I’ll let Alex introduce himself to the Prince of Travel community in his own words. Expect to see his debut later this week.
Hello! My name is Alex, and I am delighted to join the Prince of Travel team as a content creator.
My journey with Miles & Points began in 2019, about a year after I moved to Canada as an international student. When I accidentally stumbled upon Ricky’s blog while trying to find ways to go to Japan on a budget, it seemed like travelling the world in luxury for next to no out-of-pocket cost was too good to be true – a dream, no less.
Two years and 23 American Express cards later, I came to value many opportunities that this hobby provides.
I got to engage with an awesome community that is ready to help me discover the game, but yet let me develop my own strategy and engage my creativity. I found my passion for aviation photography, which is now an indispensable part of my life. I got to visit many places across Canada and the United States, fly in the best airplane seats, and stay in luxurious hotels.
With Prince of Travel, I hope to share the knowledge I acquired so far, as well as motivate people to explore the world of credit card welcome bonuses and loyalty programs.
I believe they provides limitless opportunities, regardless of salary, occupation, or social status – one only has to look well enough to find what satisfies their aspirations. No matter if it’s earning enough points for a first business class flight across the world or for a short hop to admire the beauty of North America, award travel can make it happen.
For me, the realm of Miles & Points is one that asks for constant leaps of faith. Pushing that “Apply” button again and impatiently waiting for the outcome, going through the hoops of getting a first US credit card.
Spending hours on end with Aeroplan agents to get that trip of a lifetime ticketed, or debating with a reconsideration agent for the highest once-in-a-lifetime welcome bonus.
Smiling at the comments of friends who don’t want to believe that it’s real just because you mention the word “credit card”, and convincing your partner to embark on this journey with you.
The excitement of the game, the ups and downs, the approvals, rejections, calls, trips, tickets, takeoffs, landings, cramped economy seats and luxurious suites with mountain views are all what drive me to continue earning and burning.
Giving up my disbelief and diving deep into Miles & Points against all odds reshaped my life in ways that go past aspirational travel. I am grateful to the Prince of Travel team for letting me contribute to getting more and more people aboard their next flight when the skies reopen. But for now, I’ll see you in the next post!