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What are Avios and why should you care about them? In this episode, the Points Talk Squad is joined by points expert Devon Gimbel of Point Me to First Class to break down everything you need to know about Avios. You'll learn how these points work, how to earn them, and why they can be such a valuable part of a points and miles strategy. Devon explains how Avios programs differ from other airline loyalty programs, how to transfer and use Avios across different programs, and strategies for finding valuable redemptions. She also shares common mistakes, how to think about award pricing, and ways to decide when Avios are the right choice for your travel goals. Whether you're new to Avios or looking to get more value from your points, this episode will help you understand how this unique points currency fits into your overall strategy. You'll learn how to approach earning and redeeming Avios so you can take advantage of more flight options when planning future trips. You can find links to resources mentioned in this episode plus the transcript here: pointstalksquad.com/192 If you're looking for even more Points Talk®, featuring the latest news in points, miles, and credit cards, behind-the-scenes insights, and a monthly Ask Us Anything episode—subscribe to Points Talk® Premium: https://pointstalk.supercast.com/ Ready to get started with NEARLY FREE travel? Click here for the exact offers we would sign up for this month: https://pointstalksquad.lpages.co/bestoffers/ Points Talk® is also on YouTube! You can watch this episode here: youtube.com/@pointstalksquad Let us know what you want to hear on the podcast by sending us a DM on Instagram: instagram.com/pointstalksquad
Avios is one of the most valuable—and most overlooked—airline currencies in the points and miles world. In this episode, Deanna from The Points Fly Girl shares how to use Avios to book incredible award flights on airlines like British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Finnair.You'll learn how to transfer credit card points to Avios, find award availability, avoid costly taxes and fees, and uncover some of the best sweet spots for flights to Europe and beyond. Whether you're just getting started with points and miles or looking to maximize your next redemption, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you travel farther for fewer points.Mentioned in this Episode:ThePointsFlyGirl.comFollow Deanna on TikTokFollow Deanna on YoutubeRakuten- Mary Ellen (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS)Rakuten- Joanna (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS)Find Us On Online:Sign Up for the Y! Wonder Travel NewsletterMary Ellen | JoFacebook GroupAffiliate Links:Mary Ellen's Fetch (Use code MARYELLEN!)Joanna's Fetch (Use code JOANNALYNN)Relief Band - Use code WONDERLAND for 25% off!Seats.AeroComfrt.com 15% OFFCardpointersHalara (use code "Wonderland" for 10% off)Our Favorite Credit CardsWe may receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards
Chelsea and James discuss the mayhem that was the BA Avios waiting queue! They also chat about free days to visit the Louvre, SAS flights, and Chelsea's desire to revisit the Eureka Children's Museum!Reminder, we're now on YouTube! Head over to @holidayexpertshow to catch the latest episodeDownload SAILY in your app store and use our code HOLIDAYEXPERT at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/holidayexpert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are our favorite USA destinations? If you go for the AA elite status as your Hyatt milestone benefit, when does the AA status expire? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on June 3rd, 2026.(00:43) - Why does BILT still have “Coming Soon” for Blacklane and Blade BILT Cash redemptions after nearly 6 months? Sure feels like many of us are gonna have a glut of expiring, unusable BILT Cash at year's end… *sigh*(03:04) - What do you guys do for internet access on your phones when traveling abroad…pay for international service through your carrier, purchase a VPN, something else I maybe don't know about? HahaSee our GigSky posts here: https://frequentmiler.com/tag/gigsky/(11:41) - Curious what each of you would say are your top favorite Hyatt stays? I want to book a couple hotels for next year before Hyatt continues their devaluation rollout.(17:44) - A question on credit card travel protections. If you use different credit cards for different parts of your trip (e.g., one for flights, another one for hotels, maybe a third for car rentals)(19:04) - I'm now at 4/24, so I want to apply for the 100K Chase Sapphire Preferred card for myself. Is being an authorized user on the card you want to apply for have any negative consequences?(20:25) - How does the Hyatt Milestone (100+ nights) reward for AA Platinum status for a year work? Does it give you LP to top you up to Platinum status? What's the process after that to earn Platinum Pro? (21:13) - Sorry if this has been asked before…..is there going to be another live podcast?? I really want to go if there will be another one! My vote is Omaha ;) Center of the country and not too far for anyone(22:10) - Do you have any advice for upgrading from Club World to First class on British Airways? Can it be done with Avios, or cash? You guys are the best!!! Thanks for all you do.(24:08) - On your latest coffee break, if you go for the AA elite status on your Hyatt milestone, when does the AA expire?Find our recent coffee break here: https://frequentmiler.com/which-hyatt-milestone-reward-should-i-pick-coffee-break-ep113-7-7-26/(27:08) - Do you have any tips for how to get a Business card NLL offer from Amex?(31:40) - Then my question would be what are your favorite USA destinations? Wouldn't that be a fantastic podcast?See Stephen's post about underrated US destinations here: https://frequentmiler.com/6-underrated-states-to-visit-for-a-domestic-vacation/(36:30) - What's the summer /2026 challenge ? Can we get India involved as a destination/layover /Stopover?(36:52) - For Stephen and Tim — looking for their thoughts on the BILT ecosystem currently and how they use the new 2.0 cards See the podcast episode where Greg and Nick shared their thoughts on Bilt here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-palladium-review-6-month-checkpoint-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep364-6-26-26/(43:46) - Have any of you personally interacted with EES yet? How long was the delay leaving the eu? Is it less when leaving a smaller airport on a direct flight to a US destination?(46:13) - Would love to hear the teams experience with the Atmos Summit card and reaching status.(50:00) - Greg, what's the update for the Citi saga?(51:29) - Do you use any app to manage and monitor all the credit cards and their benefits or just use excel sheet?(56:00) - Stephen did you try the clam pizza?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “swappin' back n' forth” by up @ nightMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network
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Episode 174 of the Award Travel 101 podcast focused heavily on Hyatt's newly announced award chart changes and how travelers can adapt to them. Cameron Laufer and Mike Zaccheo explained that Hyatt is replacing its traditional fixed categories with a more dynamic five-tier structure across eight hotel categories, resulting in noticeable increases for many properties. Standard award rates are rising roughly 17–38%, while some peak pricing jumps could reach as high as 67%. Although a handful of properties decreased in price, far more increased, especially luxury hotels. The hosts discussed examples like Park Hyatt Siem Reap remaining at 15,000 points per night while Secrets Punta Cana increased slightly from 29,000 to 30,000 points. They also noted positives, including free night certificates remaining valid at top-tier pricing and expanded booking windows for elites and cardholders, while questioning whether Hyatt may quietly shift more nights into higher pricing tiers over time.The episode also covered several loyalty program updates and transfer partner changes. Hilton launched a summer promotion offering 2,000 bonus points for shorter stays and 4,000 for longer stays, while Kimpton introduced its seasonal secret password promotion. The hosts highlighted major transfer partner shakeups, including American Express removing Etihad as a transfer partner in the U.S. They also reviewed transfer bonuses ending soon, including bonuses from Amex to Hilton, Chase to Southwest, and Capital One to Qantas. In the “highlight post” segment, they addressed a listener frustrated with having 193,000 British Airways Avios, emphasizing that Avios become much more valuable when used through partner airlines such as Iberia, Qatar Airways, Finnair, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, while reminding listeners that Avios are easy to keep active with occasional account activity.The hosts wrapped up with personal trip updates and practical award travel advice. Mike shared several upcoming trips, including Napa Valley, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Paris, detailing how he pieced together premium cabin flights and hotel stays using a mix of American Airlines, Alaska, Air France, and Hyatt points. Cameron discussed rebooking a tour through a shopping portal for significant cashback and planning logistics for an overnight arrival in Athens after a long economy flight. The episode concluded with a “tip of the week” focused on organizing complex award itineraries using tools like spreadsheets and TripIt to track reservations, monitor schedule conflicts, and simplify “gardening” award bookings over time.Episode Links:Hilton Summer PromoKimpton Secret PasswordAmex drops EtihadHyatt ChangesWhere to Find UsThe Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.
In Episode 40 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca discuss a Frugal Flyer exclusive limited-time offer on the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite and their upcoming Miles & Points meetup in Edmonton on June 27th. The hosts discuss RBC's 30% Avion to Avios transfer bonus, current RBC Avion card welcome offers, and redemption examples, plus the new ability to book Philippine Airlines with Qatar Avios. Aeroplan has partnered with Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty to offer Aeroplan points and Status Qualifying Credits on rental car bookings, and in addition to offering Hertz status for elites and cardholders of specific credit cards. Additionally, Rove Miles has a 25% transfer bonus to Aeroplan, Amex US has a 20% transfer bonus to Hilton, the Korean Air and Asiana merger has a confirmed date, and Amex is ending Etihad transfers on both sides of the border. The episode wraps up with a listener question about how to best stay in the loop about miles and points transfer bonuses.
Do any of the luxury hotel booking platforms (like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®) allow booking for others? If you are hotel chain agnostic, should you have a hotel credit card? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on May 6th, 2026.(00:16) - I have 14999 Delta Sky Miles and need one more lousy point to be able to book an award ticket. I can transfer 1000 points from Amex, but that seems like a waste. I tried to convince Delta support to comp me a point, but they were seemingly unable to help. Any suggestions (other than getting the Delta Amex card)? (04:03) - If you have complete flexibility to position to any airport in Europe to fly home to the USA, are flexible on arrival airport in the USA/Canada/Mexico, and time wasn't a constraint, but you would like a good points redemption in J (not first), where would you position to and which airline would you book on? (08:39) - If you are hotel chain agnostic, should you have a hotel credit card? (12:24) - Question on 5/24 if over, are there any data points on the United or Southwest business card? (14:38) - Should we now value Membership Rewards points higher than Chase Ultimate Rewards points? I'd rather have an American Express Platinum Card® than a Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card at this point. Would you guys disagree? (19:50) - Do any of the luxury hotel booking platforms (e.g., Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®, The Edit by Chase Travel℠, etc.) allow booking for others? (22:57) - At what cash back rate do you prefer cash over miles/points (excluding when you are working on a welcome offer)? (27:50) - Do you think we'll finally see an Ultimate Rewards Hyatt transfer bonus in the future? (30:15) - Question - Greg has mentioned a few times about being able to pay for the fees on British Airways with Avios, as a card benefit. I can't seem to see how to make that work. Any more details? (34:43) - For airlines that allow a stopover on an award flight, has your experience required a phone call reservation, or have you booked a stopover online? (37:03) - Can I apply corporate codes when booking hotels through Rove? Can Rove act like a shopping portal? Get corporate rates and Rove miles. (39:00) - Is it possible to product change the old aviator if I've had it for less than a year now that it was product changed? I know banks frown upon this before the first annual fee posts. (40:58) - Barclays American Airlines card transferred to Citi. What would be the best course of action to get the welcome offer on the Citi American Airlines card now that I have one, but haven't previously gotten the welcome offer? (44:01) - Does the FM team know if I make a reservation with the 25k Atmos Summit Companion certificate, and later cancel the reservation before the original expiry, if the certificate is returned and can be reused? (44:38) - Can I use Hyatt points for suite upgrades with cash booking through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®? (45:49) - What's each team member's biggest regret in their points and miles journey?Mentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network
In today's episode, Nick owns up to his mistake: Yes, you can lock in Hyatt prices with Points Advance. Then we'll talk about paying rent with the Alaska Atmos Summit card, and which points programs are trending up or down. Mea culpa(01:23) - Oops: Nick made a mistake about Hyatt Points Advance in the originally published version of our Question of the WeekFind the (now edited) Question of the Week here: https://frequentmiler.com/can-i-save-points-on-a-hyatt-award-with-a-date-change-trick-question-of-the-week-ep2-5-4-26/Learn more about Hyatt Points Advance here: https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-points-advance/Giant Mailbag(05:44) - Ben discusses paying rent with the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® CardFind our podcast episode about big bonuses for huge spend here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-bonuses-for-huge-spend-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep356-5-1-26/Card News(09:10) - Chase Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card/Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card application rule changes(13:32) - Barclays JetBlue Premier MastercardRead more about the Barclays JetBlue Premier Mastercard here: https://frequentmiler.com/JetBluePremier/#GotoAwards, Points, and More(15:20) - Rove adds Aeroplan as transfer partnerRead more about Rove adding Air Canada Aeroplan as its newest transfer partner here: https://frequentmiler.com/rove-miles-adds-air-canada-aeroplan-as-its-newest-transfer-partner/(17:10) - How to combine Citi ThankYou accounts (and what might be getting in your way)Learn more about combining your Citi ThankYou accounts here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-combine-citi-thankyou-accounts/(22:43) - Qatar is limiting Avios redemptions in terms of who you can redeem forMain Event: Transferable Points Changing Fortunes(25:36) - "Trending up" doesn't mean it is now a better program than one "trending down". It might be, but it also might just be closing the gap a little.(26:54) - Programs we think are trending down...(41:07) - Programs we think are staying about even(44:32) - Programs we think are trending up...Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkFrequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/
Episode 171 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks and Cameron Laufer, opens with a practical community highlight: a traveler facing a broken in-flight entertainment system on a United Premium Plus flight. The discussion reinforces that while compensation isn't guaranteed, notifying a flight attendant can often result in goodwill gestures like bonus points. The hosts then run through a packed news segment, including Chase transfer bonuses to Flying Blue and Marriott, an elevated 150,000-point sign-up bonus for the Sapphire Reserve, and new restrictions around Sapphire card eligibility. They also cover new IHG credit card offers, Flying Blue Promo Rewards for discounted domestic routes, and a standout Amex-to-Hilton transfer bonus of 20%, setting the stage for the episode's main focus.Angie and Cameron share personal updates on credit card strategies and upcoming travel, highlighting the constant balancing act of hitting minimum spend, maximizing free night certificates, and navigating issuer rules like Chase's 5/24. Angie details several trips in progress—including Morocco, Ireland, and domestic travel—while optimizing points, credits, and cash savings (like rebooking a rental car for significant savings). Cameron notes upcoming plans to Aruba and possibly Everest Base Camp, alongside ongoing points-earning strategies.The main topic dives into the best Hilton redemptions, with a focus on maximizing value through free night certificates, transfer bonuses, and strategic point usage. Angie highlights outsized value at luxury properties, including SLH hotels charging upwards of $2,000 per night, while Cameron breaks down real-world redemption comparisons showing how transferring Amex points (especially with bonuses) or even buying Hilton points can yield strong value—often 2–3 cents per point equivalent. The episode wraps with a tip of the week encouraging listeners to take advantage of transfer bonuses for programs they regularly use and a simple troubleshooting trick: switching browsers can resolve common issues like errors when transferring Avios between accounts.Episode Links:Chase to Flying Blue Transfer BonusChase to Marriott Transfer BonusNew Sapphire Reserve BonusElevated IHG Card BonusesFlying Blue May Promo AwardsAmex to Hilton Transfer BonusWhere to Find UsThe Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.
What are some unusual cards you find yourself using? What are your least favorite airline websites? Which dead cards do you miss the most? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on April 8th, 2026.(01:10) - What are some unusual cards you find yourself using? (08:27) - Did the FM team partake in the British Airways shopping portal promotion for 250x Avios at Kate Spade? I think it's a runner for deal of the year. (11:28) - What's your favorite and least favorite airline loyalty website to use? (18:25) - With all the recent and pending devaluations, what hotel reward program, if any, would you recommend for someone who generally only stays in hotels for a week or two each year? (23:12) - I have tried getting a Capital One Venture X but they keep denying me. I have opened 3 personal and 2 business cards in the last 9 months. The last was Dec 31st. What do you think I should do? (25:04) - Does the FM team have any success with credit card reconsideration with Bank of America (business cards)? Any tips? Thank you! (26:51) - Have anyone's thoughts changed on the Bilt Palladium since they started using it? I have tried doing the math to see if it's worth it, but not sure I did the "bilt math" correctly See Tim's post about the Bilt Palladium card here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-2-0-rewards-you-most-when-you-spend-less/(30:22) - See our previous episode about Hyatt properties here: https://frequentmiler.com/which-hyatts-will-you-book-before-the-award-chart-changes-ask-us-anything-ep84-3-4-26/And see our former episode about how many credit cards we have here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-many-credit-cards-does-the-frequent-miler-team-have-ask-us-anything-ep-63/(31:05) - What airline loyalty top status is it worth pursuing? (34:19) - Tim, do you use Atmos Summit to rent cars overseas. Greg should update Auto Rental post to compare Bank of America Atmos Summit to compare to the othersSee our guide to Ultra premium card travel protections here: https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/(37:18) - Do authorized users get the same discount on United award flights as the primary cardholders? (38:14) - Does the Atmos give status points when paying rent on Bilt platform? (38:33) - The latest collectibles card episode was interesting, are there any dead cards that you particularly miss?See the collectibles podcast episode here: https://frequentmiler.com/credit-card-collectibles-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep352-4-3-26/(43:56) - How many Thank You points are you gonna transfer to Preferred hotels before devauationl? I'm thinking about 500k TYP or more Read Greg's strategy here: https://frequentmiler.com/preferred-hotels-worth-4x-transfers/(46:04) - Does United give elevated offers if you open a bank account? (47:03) - If all airline miles were dynamic the same way Delta Skymiles were (ie around 1-1.5 cpp), would you still play the points and miles game and which cards would you actually find rewarding on spend? (51:33) - Which programs are best for not showing phantom availability?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “swappin' back n' forth” by up @ nightMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
Have you ever seen a points deal that looked too good to be true? 250 Avios per dollar spent. 240 American Airlines miles per dollar. Those kinds of multipliers make you do a double-take and for good reason. Deals like these are as enticing as they are uncertain. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Sujatha Murali to talk about what I call points earning unicorns—rare, outsized opportunities where the upside can be enormous, but the outcome is far from guaranteed. We break down how to think through the risk versus reward when these deals appear, the psychological traps that make them so hard to resist, and the framework we use to decide whether to jump in or sit one out. Sujatha and I walk through real examples, including my decision to take advantage of the Simply Miles deal that netted me over 1.1 million American Airlines miles, and our decisions around the recent Kate Spade 250x Avios opportunity. We discuss how to evaluate whether you can actually use the points you're considering buying, the importance of reading terms and conditions even when you're excited, and how to build your own decision-making process. If you've ever wondered whether one of these deals is the opportunity of a lifetime or just a really expensive mistake, this episode gives you a framework for thinking it through. Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/points-earning-unicorns-risk-reward Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy
(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure) Geobreeze Travel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. ➤ Free points 101 course (includes hotel upgrade email template)https://geobreezetravel.com/freecourse ➤ Free credit card consultations https://airtable.com/apparEqFGYkas0LHl/shrYFpUr2zutt5515 ➤ Seats.Aero: https://geobreezetravel.com/seatsaero ➤ Request a free personalized award search tutorial: https://go.geobreezetravel.com/ast-form If you are interested in supporting this show when you apply for your next card, check out https://geobreezetravel.com/cards and if you're not sure what card is right for you, I offer free credit card consultations athttps://geobreezetravel.com/consultations!Timestamps:00:00 Chase Avios Bonus Overview00:09 Find Finnair Awards Fast01:22 Verify Phantom Availability02:45 Finnair Sweet Spots Math04:02 Iberia Deals Search Method05:28 Iberia Pricing Comparison07:13 Air Lingus Bonus Warning08:22 Air Lingus Booking Headaches11:00 Move Avios Between Programs11:57 British Airways Bonus Reality13:35 Link Accounts and Transfer Tips15:04 Qatar Note and Wrap UpYou can find Julia at: ➤ Free course: https://julia-s-school-9209.thinkific.com/courses/your-first-points-redemption➤ Website: https://geobreezetravel.com/➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel/➤ Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards➤ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravelOpinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content of this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.
In episode 33 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca share practical ways to get strong value from small leftover points balances through unique flight and hotel redemptions. They cover Flying Blue Promo Rewards (often costing 18,750 miles to Europe in economy class), Virgin Atlantic's 6,000-mile East Coast–London option (with high fees), and Atmos Rewards partner sweet spots for short-haul Porter/American flights (costing 4,500–7,500 miles). They also discuss American Airlines and Aeroplan dynamic pricing (including occasional ~6,000-point deals), booking WestJet via SkyMiles or Flying Blue with favorable change and cancellation policies. Plus, Iberia's seasonal Toronto–Madrid service offers excellent value (available for 16,000 Avios economy or 34,000 points in business off-peak) in addition to several frequent flyer programs that offer free or almost free stopovers to help you visit additional destinations for minimal cost. For hotels, they recommend using Marriott points in cheaper regions like Southeast Asia/Middle East, topping up small balances via Amex-to-Marriott transfers, leveraging World of Hyatt's fixed award chart (from 3,500 points), transferring or sharing hotel loyalty program points with others, and niche Wyndham uses, including cash+points quirks and Wyndham Experiences.
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Send us a text✨ Lufthansa Miles&More haut wieder einen raus!Bis zum 28. Februar 2026 gibt es 50% Bonus auf das erste Bundle&Go-Paket – bis zu 250.000 Meilen pro Jahr (Bonus exklusive).Ich erkläre kurz & klar,• ob sich der Deal lohnt,• wie die Preise in EUR / GBP / USD aussehen• und warum Lufthansa die Meilenpreise um 11% erhöht hat.Ideal für alle, die regelmäßig Prämienflüge bei Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian & Co. buchen und wissen wollen, ob jetzt der richtige Zeitpunkt zum Meilenkauf ist.
In a hobby full of rules, Avios prove to be an exception—and understanding how they work can unlock some of the best award flight opportunities available. In this episode, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about Avios, the points currency used by British Airways, Qatar, Finnair, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and several other airlines. One crucial aspect of Avios that makes them unique among points currencies is their ability to move between partner accounts, which creates opportunities you won't find anywhere else. Listen in as I walk through what makes Avios so versatile, how to earn them strategically, and how to use their transferability to access better award pricing. I also cover British Airways' Points Boost feature that lets you buy Avios at a fraction of the usual cost, and share practical tips on setting up accounts, avoiding surprise fees, and finding the best value for your award flights. Whether you're brand new to Avios or looking to squeeze even more value from these programs, this episode will show you how to think strategically about one of the most powerful—and underutilized—points currencies in award travel. Get full show notes and transcript: www.pointmetofirstclass.com/avios-guide-transfers-sweet-spots Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy
Episode 157 of the Award Travel 101 podcast features Angie Sparks in conversation with Tim Qin, founder of the award search tool Roame.Travel. The episode opens with a timely highlight from the Award Travel 101 community, where a member used a Roame alert to snag ANA First Class for 108,000 Avianca miles—award space that no other search tool caught. Angie then runs through the latest news, including Iberia's 40% off award promotion (making Europe reachable for as few as 9,600 Avios), elevated welcome offers on IHG credit cards, and a brief mention of the newly announced (and somewhat confusing) Bilt 2.0 redemption options.In the “bonuses and updates” segment, Angie shares recent card application adventures in her household, including abandoning a complicated Bilt Palladium application and dealing with a frozen credit report on a Wells Fargo Autograph Journey application. She also outlines her current strategy to earn a Hilton Free Night Certificate and extra United miles by timing large insurance payments. On the travel front, Angie discusses the challenge of sorting through conflicting information on Swiss train passes, while Tim checks in with his own updates.The main topic dives deep into Roame.Travel, with Tim explaining what inspired him to build the tool, how its vision has evolved, and what differentiates it in an increasingly crowded award search space. They discuss how Roame can be especially powerful for casual users through alerts and streamlined searches, upcoming enhancements, and current limitations—such as airlines the tool doesn't yet support, including British Airways and Cathay Pacific. The conversation gives listeners a clear sense of where Roame fits into the award travel ecosystem and how to get the most value out of it.Episode Links:Iberia PromoIHG Welcome OffersBilt Cash Redemption OptionsWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.
Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!
Watch Us On YouTube! Thanks to Thrifty Traveler for sponsoring this episode! Visit ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium and use code GO20 to save $20 on annual memberships. In this week's episode of the Miles to Go podcast, Ed is joined in person by Julian Keel from Points Path with Richard Kerr checking in fresh off a Disney cruise. We kick things off with the breaking news everyone in our Slack community has been waiting for: Was Julian really reinstated by Uber… and did it last more than one ride? Then Richard gives a brutally honest review of his Disney Dream holiday sailing—including the chaos of a packed holiday sailing. We also dig into: • A targeted Frontier elite status offer that can get you to Gold or even Platinum (with companion benefits) for far less than you'd expect • Whether United quietly walked back their close-in award surcharge, and why United miles keep losing value • Why American and Alaska are increasingly where the sweet spots are hiding for North American awards • Some insane Thrifty Traveler Premium business class deals, like Delta One to Australia and Avios to Europe that lined up perfectly with Bilt Rent Day's 100% transfer bonus • Julian also shares some news from Points Path Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/
*SPOILER ALERT* If you haven't watched the Vegas vlog then watch it on our Youtube channel...Listen in to Sam and Pete dissecting their trip to Vegas from the one and only Bellagio Hotel. Who organised the best day? What went on after hours? All will be revealed…And remember if you want your everyday to pay for your holiday, then search Avios to start collecting today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week's Quick Hits, DeAndre Coke brings a packed update of travel and points news, holiday promotions, and crucial year-end reminders for cardholders and travelers.He kicks off with an update on the growing WhatsApp community, introducing a new Business Points Hub for entrepreneurs to exchange insights on the best credit cards for advertising, expenses, and travel. DeAndre also reminds listeners that entries for the 100th Episode Giveaway close at midnight on December 1st. From there, he dives into key industry news — including Chase's new pop-up restrictions for Ink Business cards, a massive 175K Chase Sapphire Reserve preapproval offer, and Rove's Black Friday 4–5x promotion at giftcards.com. DeAndre also covers Hilton, IHG, and Kimpton holiday promos, Built's 100% Avios transfer bonus, and Preferred Hotels' 35K-point deal.He wraps up with a look at Thrifty Traveler Premium's Black Friday discount and CardPointers' 50% off lifetime offer, both invaluable for travelers looking to save money, earn rewards, and optimize card benefits heading into the new year.Key takeaways: New community chat: Business Points Hub launches for entrepreneurs in the WhatsApp group.Holiday shopping tip: Use portals like Rakuten, Capital One, and American Airlines for bonus points.Year-end credits: Use Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and other expiring benefits before December 31.Chase updates: New pop-up jail introduced for Ink cards; 175K preapproval offer on Sapphire Reserve.Rove rewards: 4–5x points at giftcards.com during Black Friday weekend.Built Rent Day: 100% Avios transfer bonus on December 1 for elite members.Hotel promos: Preferred Hotels 35K-point bonus, Kimpton's “Life of a Kimpton Guest” phrase for perks.Black Friday steals: Thrifty Traveler and CardPointers launch major annual discounts.Click here to enter the 100th episode giveaway or visit www.boldlygo.world/giveawayInterested in Financial Planning?Truicity Wealth ManagementResources:Our RoveMiles referral linkMaximizing Your Rewards: How to Use Shopping Portals to Boost Your Points & MilesBook a Free 30-minute points & miles consultationStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksCard
AD | In this episode of the SheerLuxe Podcast, Charlotte Collins sits down with travel lovers and seasoned explorers Billie Bhatia and Nicky Kelvin for an inspiring conversation in partnership with the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card. Together, they share the stories, lessons, and little luxuries that make travel so rewarding. From Nicky's life-changing Kilimanjaro climb to Billie's epic road trip across America, the two reflect on the moments that sparked their love for adventure. They chat about their different travel styles - Nicky's fast-paced, frequent-flyer lifestyle versus Billie's slower, more immersive approach - and the experiences that have shaped their view of the world. The trio also discuss the power of collecting Avios, the art of packing (or not packing), and how to make the most of every journey - whether it's a long-haul escape or a weekend away…To learn more about the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, search ‘BA Amex Premium Plus'. Representative 136.4% APR variable. Your rate may vary depending on your circumstances. Annual fee applies. Terms apply. 18+. Subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply to Avios redemptions. Spend a minimum of £15,000 in a Cardmembership year to get a Companion Voucher. Voucher valid for 24 months, in any cabin. Rewards flights are paid for with a fixed Avios and Cash amount.Subscribe For More | http://bit.ly/2VmqduQ Get SheerLuxe Straight To Your Inbox, Daily | http://sheerluxe.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
AD | In this episode of the SheerLuxe Podcast, Charlotte Collins sits down with travel lovers and seasoned explorers Billie Bhatia and Nicky Kelvin for an inspiring conversation in partnership with the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card. Together, they share the stories, lessons, and little luxuries that make travel so rewarding. From Nicky's life-changing Kilimanjaro climb to Billie's epic road trip across America, the two reflect on the moments that sparked their love for adventure. They chat about their different travel styles - Nicky's fast-paced, frequent-flyer lifestyle versus Billie's slower, more immersive approach - and the experiences that have shaped their view of the world. The trio also discuss the power of collecting Avios, the art of packing (or not packing), and how to make the most of every journey - whether it's a long-haul escape or a weekend away…To learn more about the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, search ‘BA Amex Premium Plus'. Representative 136.4% APR variable. Your rate may vary depending on your circumstances. Annual fee applies. Terms apply. 18+. Subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply to Avios redemptions. Spend a minimum of £15,000 in a Cardmembership year to get a Companion Voucher. Voucher valid for 24 months, in any cabin. Rewards flights are paid for with a fixed Avios and Cash amount.Subscribe For More | http://bit.ly/2VmqduQ Get SheerLuxe Straight To Your Inbox, Daily | http://sheerluxe.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
AD | In this episode of the SheerLuxe Podcast, Charlotte Collins sits down with travel lovers and seasoned explorers Billie Bhatia and Nicky Kelvin for an inspiring conversation in partnership with the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card. Together, they share the stories, lessons, and little luxuries that make travel so rewarding. From Nicky's life-changing Kilimanjaro climb to Billie's epic road trip across America, the two reflect on the moments that sparked their love for adventure. They chat about their different travel styles - Nicky's fast-paced, frequent-flyer lifestyle versus Billie's slower, more immersive approach - and the experiences that have shaped their view of the world. The trio also discuss the power of collecting Avios, the art of packing (or not packing), and how to make the most of every journey - whether it's a long-haul escape or a weekend away…To learn more about the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card, search ‘BA Amex Premium Plus'. Representative 136.4% APR variable. Your rate may vary depending on your circumstances. Annual fee applies. Terms apply. 18+. Subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply to Avios redemptions. Spend a minimum of £15,000 in a Cardmembership year to get a Companion Voucher. Voucher valid for 24 months, in any cabin. Rewards flights are paid for with a fixed Avios and Cash amount.Subscribe For More | http://bit.ly/2VmqduQ Get SheerLuxe Straight To Your Inbox, Daily | http://sheerluxe.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week's Quick Hits, DeAndre Coke dives into some of the most significant updates in the travel and points space. He breaks down Chase's massive new welcome offers on Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited, which can unlock up to 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points. DeAndre also covers a long-awaited upgrade to the Avios ecosystem, where a new platform now makes transfers between British Airways, Iberia, Qatar, Finnair, and Aer Lingus seamless and instant. Hilton's fast-track Diamond promotion through Hilton for Business is highlighted as a new path for elite status, while Hyatt Regency promotions continue to add value for frequent travelers. The most significant update of the week is the refresh of the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards, bringing higher fees but also enhanced benefits, including expanded Fine Hotels & Resorts credits, new Resi dining credits, and added lifestyle perks like Lululemon. Finally, he shares valuable community-sourced tips for paying taxes with business credit cards more efficiently and sets the stage for exciting giveaways coming with the podcast's 100th episode.Key takeaways: Chase Ink offers: New 90,000-point bonuses on Ink Business Cash and Ink Business Unlimited after meeting spend requirements.Avios transfer upgrade: A new system makes transferring Avios between programs, such as BA, Qatar, Iberia, and Finnair, seamless and instant.Hilton fast-track: Complete 10 Hilton for Business nights by December 15 to earn Diamond status through 2027.Amex Platinum refresh: Personal and Business Platinum annual fees increase to $895, but new perks include $600 in Fine Hotels & Resorts credits, Resi dining credits, and Lululemon credits.Business Platinum boost: Large spend categories and $5,000+ purchases now earn 2x points instead of 1.5x.Centurion lounges: The new Amex app introduces waitlist features for lounges, plus improved tracking for welcome bonuses.Hilton devaluation: Top-tier properties now cost up to 250,000 points per night, raising the bar for aspirational stays.Alaska changes: Alaska's Atmos Rewards program is scaling back partnerships with LATAM and Singapore Airlines.Tax payments hack: Paying estimated taxes via PayPal with a business card can reduce fees to 1.85%.Resources:Our WhatsApp Community Group InvitationInk Business Card Referral LinkHyatt status for AA elites (register by October 31)Book a Free 30-minute points & miles consultationStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupInterested in Financial Planning?Truicity Wealth...
In today's podcast episode, Kathy tells us why the Frequent Miler team challenges are her favorite time of the year, and we discuss how transfer bonuses have already changed the 100K Vacay game.Giant Mailbag(01:50) - Two listeners share their experiences with the recent cancellation of the Honolulu to Boston route through Hawaiian Airlines.(09:11) - One listener tells us the annual challenge is her favorite time of the year...JetBlue 25/25 Update(11:33) - Nick and his family have 20+ destinationsCard News(16:55) - Updated guide to ultra-premium credit card travel protectionsMattress Running the Numbers(23:52) - Rovemiles promoBonvoyed(31:07) - Bummer: Alaska losing award partnerships with LATAM and Singapore on 10/1(33:40) - Avios transfers between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus are suspendedAwards, Points, and More(37:32) - Bilt status match to Virgin Voyages(40:00) - GHA Discovery (hotel program) status match from many hotel/airline/cruise programs: https://frequentmiler.com/gha-discovery-hotel-program-status-match-from-many-hotel-airline-cruise-programs/Main Event: 100K Vacay: Resetting the odds due to transfer bonuses(45:12) - Challenge overview(50:02) - 100K Vacay Schedule announced(57:15) - Original Odds (without knowing about transfer bonuses): 1. Tim, 2. Stephen, 3. Nick(1:01:42) - Planning Phase Transfer Bonuses(1:29:46) - Original prediction: (re: Nick) I can almost guarantee that he's going to make some 100K magic happen in a way that no one can predict. Despite the odds, I'm betting Nick will take home the crown. What's the new prediction?Question of the Week(1:36:53) - Should we change the RRV for Alaska and Chase based on the things they've recently lost?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
Today we are talking about what happens when you turn left on the airplane and fly business class! Now that Kim and Tamara have flown business class on many airlines including Delta One, Aer Lingus, TAP Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Condor, Avianca, and others. Whether you are booking on points or paying cash, there are some things that you need to know first. Episodes Highlights Research what aircraft is flying the route you are looking to buy because the business class can vary dramatically depending on the plane and the layout Keep in mind that the airline can still change the aircraft after booking The airline will provide you with the aircraft type and should list if it is a lay flat seat or a suite You can also research how often the aircraft is switched out Also look at YouTube plane reviews for the specific route that you are looking at booking You may want to splurge on business class on longer flights, for example longer than eight or nine hours Consider if you have an overnight flight, you may want to upgrade to business class Keep in mind that if the flight is leaving in the early evening, it may still be hard to sleep Also, dinner service can really cut into your potential sleep time so on a shorter flight (e.g. from the east coast to Europe), it may not be worth it If you want to book with points, you can also use a paid service or use paid apps to try to find the best reward flights If you are booking on points, keep in mind that you still need to pay taxes and fees on most flights and some airports (such as London Heathrow) are very expensive If you have Avios points, you can move them to different programs but other partner programs you can combine Business class is different than first class. Many airlines don't have first class, such as Qatar or Delta, but others have first class, business class, premium economy, and economy When you are traveling business class, you have access to the priority lane for checking your bags Some airports offer a priority security lane as well When traveling business class, you have access to the airline lounge (if available in the airport) You also get to board early and they will typically bring you a welcome drink Keep in mind that your under-the-seat space is limited in business class and some airlines or aircraft set ups have better storage than others The airline will also provide you with a small amenity kit with a sleep mask, moisturizer, lip balm, and other items They will also provide you with a comfy blanket and pillow and some will make up your bed for you Our favorite business class experiences include Qatar, Turkish Airlines, and JetBlue Mint Our favorite lounge experiences have been the Virgin lounge in Heathrow, the Business Class lounge for Turkish Airlines in Istanbul, and the Garden in Doha, and the British Airways lounge Related Episodes How to choose your seat on the airplane What to know about airline fees Airport travel tips
Send us a textDer erste Swiss Airbus A350 mit Swiss Senses Kabine fliegt nun auch auf Kurzstrecken in Europa – z. B. nach Prag, Düsseldorf und Palma de Mallorca.
Andy Bush (Absolute Radio, Guestimators) joins the gang this week, to discuss Magic Mike, Avios, and Andy talks about his absolutely wild stag-do. Check out Andy on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/andybushradio/ Get the Patron-exclusive second part of this episode (over 35 mins of bonus content) on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132996382/ Follow us online to get Glue-related clips and updates: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glue.factory.pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gluefactorypodcast BSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gluefactorypod.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/gluepodcast
In this episode of Quick Hits, DeAndre Coke unpacks the latest developments in the points and miles space—from sweepstakes to shocking benefit changes. He highlights a massive 1 million-mile Capital One sweepstakes in partnership with The Points Guy, as well as a record-high 175,000-point welcome offer from American Express. DeAndre also explains how it looks like ZilMoney is back with the ability to process credit cards for payroll, after a long awaited hiatus.But it's not all good news: DeAndre breaks down the loss of the 35% rebate on the Amex Business Platinum and previews a major overhaul coming to Amex cards this fall. He also outlines current transfer bonuses between programs, such as Amex-Hilton, Chase-Marriott, and Avios, and provides practical advice on when these transfers make sense. It's a fast, insightful roundup of what's happening now in the rewards world—and what savvy travelers should watch out for next. Learn more about how processing a credit card for payroll works hereKey takeaways: Capital One Sweepstakes: The Points Guy is giving away 1 million Capital One miles to one lucky winner.Historic Amex Offer: Amex Personal Platinum is offering a record-high 175,000-point welcome bonus.Business Platinum Downgrade: Starting September 18, the 35% Pay with Points rebate will be limited to your selected U.S. airline.Amex Card Refresh Coming: A major overhaul for Platinum and Business Platinum cards is expected this fall, likely including higher annual fees.Transfer Bonus – Amex to Hilton: Up to 25% bonus on transfers, boosting the typical 1:2 ratio to 1:2.5.No Hard Pull on Amex Apps: You can view approval status and bonus offers without triggering a hard credit pull.More Amex Changes Coming: Expect more statement credits, added complexity, and potential card design updates.
Today we'll talk about how Chase is breaking up the family (rule), we'll discuss whether American Express is high when introducing "as high as" offers, and we'll talk about how Chase has made the Chase Sapphire Reserve card harder to explain and harder and recommend.(01:27) - How to move Avios between British Airways, Qatar, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Finnair(04:56) - Major refresh coming to The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express "later this year"Read more about this here.(10:53) - The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ending 35% points rebate on business & first class flights except for selected airlineRead more about this here.(13:03) - It seems American Express and Delta may be working on an even more premium card(15:10) - Chase launching business version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card Monday June 23.Find our Coffee Break episode 59 "The real Sapphire Reserve for Business" here.(16:20) - Removing Sapphire family rule, expanding 48 month rule & allowing new cards without welcome offersLearn more about this here.(20:39) - Chase Travel℠ portal ending 1.5c & 1.25c redemptions, replacing with Points BoostRead more about this here.(24:28) - Mesa Homeowners Card now transfers to Air Canada Aeroplan & SAS EuroBonus(26:52) - Gift of College Cards now sold at Stop & Shop(29:47) - Jetblue status matchRead more about this here.(31:10) - Good Flying Blue business class award availability to/from Europe(32:13) - Transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott BonvoyMain Event: Sapphire Reserve: More costly, coupony, and complicated(34:01) - New Chase Sapphire Reserve card summary(40:57) - Unchanged perks(41:42) - New perks(44:53) - Unchanged coupons(45:38) - New coupons(1:04:52) - Old vs new(1:14:36) - Chase Sapphire Reserve card timeline(1:29:30) - Is there a way to game this into one more lower Annual Fee? If for instance we requested changing the billing cycle, could we move it up so it gets billed on Oct 25th and thus is $550?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
How would we use that 100K bonus, and which vacation home rental platform has the best value? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on May 7th, 2025.(03:54) - Hi! Q for Stephen: what's your credit card strategy now that you've moved? For everyone: If you lived outside the US but could still have US credit cards, which cards would you keep?(06:45) - Last month, y'all outlined how many cards you open each year- often 12-20. How many do you close each year?(10:23) - I don't know if I really want to know this answer (haha) but did anyone have luck with Atlantis after the Wyndham/Caesars status match deal went dead earlier this year?(12:47) - Any news when we can book Philippine Airlines with Alaska miles? Any ideas to get more Alaska miles to book Philippine Airlines tickets?(17:21) - Am going to book an Air France award ticket. Fees are $400+. If I use Amex Plat for this, will I get 5x? Will I get trip protection/insurance?(18:38) - What is the best use of the recent 100K Chase point offering in terms of Flights overseas? Read our Best Use of Chase Ultimate Rewards points resource here. (30:32) - Can you explain the expiration date reset if merging Avios from other programs with different expiration dates? Read our Avios expiration dates post here.(32:14) - I was just bumped from an SQ J ticket that was booked as part of my RTW itinerary. Do you guys know what kind of compensation to ask for? They offered $525 USD and a Garuda Flight(34:18) - Do authorized users of Ink Preferred or Sapphire be able to transfer points to their airline accounts?(35:25) - Is the option to get both personal Hawaiian cards now dead? (I have both, but P2 does not have both yet)(36:16) - Would Chase allow me to hold multiple Ritz Carlton cards simultaneously? If yes, how?(38:07) - Which vacation home rental program do you recommend for its value?(43:28) - Anyone get/use the Mesa card?(45:03) - Any hidden gems in Puerto Rico that you guys would recommend? I have a trip coming up later this year that I haven't planned much for(46:26) - What's the most memorable reaction you've seen from someone experiencing miles and points who wasn't used to it(47:17) - Which cards does Greg actually use for travel and dining as opposed to the one-off benefits?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “swappin' back n' forth” by up @ night
Episode 115 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Mike Zaccheo, features Joe Petrovic's recent return from his second trip to Japan within a year. The "Post of the Week" highlights Maria, a moderator, who utilized the concierge service of her legacy Ritz Carlton card to secure restaurant reservations in Seoul despite language barriers. This episode underscores leveraging unique credit card benefits for hassle-free travel planning.Among the discussed news topics is the record-high bonus offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, ideal for new travelers, and tightened product change rules by Citi, limiting flexibility in switching between card families. Other highlights include updated bonus categories for Chase Freedom and Citi Custom Cash cards and Loganair's adoption of Avios currency, making their often-expensive short flights more accessible.The episode's main feature dives into Joe's spring trip to Japan to practice Japanese and experience cherry blossom season. His meticulously planned itinerary included flights and luxurious hotel stays leveraged through credit card points and perks. Notable highlights of the trip include exploring Okinawa, Osaka, and Tokyo, indulging in cultural and natural sites like Naminoue Beach, the Umeda Sky Building, and cherry blossom viewing spots.Finally, the podcast wraps up with travel tips, emphasizing tools like Google Maps and translation apps, learning basic phrases in the local language, and planning extra time to navigate. Whether for seasoned travelers or beginners, the episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring travel tales.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Sapphire Preferred Record High OfferCiti Tightening Product Change RulesRotating Quarterly Bonus Categories ResetScottish Airline Loganair Adopts Avios CurrencyWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!
A few years ago American Express introduced this kind of model for their Platinum card where they increased their annual fee, but attempted to make up for it by offering a whole collection of credits and rebates that could be valuable if you did the work to make use of them and happened to have natural needs for them. In other words, these new benefits felt a lot like coupons, thus introducing the nickname for these kinds of card benefits. Now, United seems to be taking a page from American Express' book by "couponizing" their credit cards. (02:02) - Denbigh writes in about our "getting started with points and miles" episode saying "Thank You for an episode worth the time, even for an experienced practitioner." Find our Getting started with points & miles episode 298 here. (4:02) - As previously reported, Southwest is planning reduced earnings on paid flights, expiring flight credits, charging for checked bags, and changing the value of points (04:50) - Point value changes already taking place Read more about the variable points values here. (07:23) - Other Info revealed in Southwest's recent video Read more about their updates in that video here. (12:05) - No-go for Capital One / Discover acquisition. DOJ doesn't like it Read more about this DOJ decision here. (12:56) - Citi (seemingly) no longer allowing product changes between card families (15:53) - Greg apparently never got credit for one of his 15 flights... (19:38) - Air France / KLM saver availability from the US stinks (24:23) - Bilt April Rent Day: Up to 100% bonus to Avios (27:59) - Wyndham point sale not as fixed as we thought (thru April 15) Find our Wyndham's Excellent Point Sale episode 50 here. (29:00) - Six United cards have increased annual fees, decreased benefits (slightly) and added "coupons" (30:32) - Summary of changes (45:45) - New Card Line-Up Overview (46:28) - "Coupon" Deep Dive (1:01:04) - If you still want a United card, which is best? Read more about which United card is best here. (1:05:42) - Which club card is best? (1:08:27) - How do you manage the fear of account shut-down? Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
What do we think are the best hotel programs for outsized value? Have we noticed some of the same Alaska Airlines quirks that our listeners have? What have our experiences with the EVA Air program been (if any)? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on March 5th, 2025. 00:40 - What's the most meaningful miles and points trip you've had? 03:16 - Inspired by Nick's “falling in love with Alaska” post… Let's play a miles themed version of the old FMK game (the acronym will make sense in a moment, Carrie!) We'll call it lust, marry, kill rather than the original name. Between Alaska, Aeroplan, and Avios, which is your torrid love affair, which would you settle down with, which ends up left behind? 05:47 - What's the teams thoughts on how long this Amex to Hawaii to Alaska gravy train will last? 10:56 - Were any of the frequent milers effected by the recent Amex shutdowns? 12:55 - Any tips to reduce/avoid parking fees at airports? I live far enough away that Uber or shuttles are just as much(or more), so is there anything I'm not thinking of? 17:15 - Which airlines offer lie flat seats from the eastern half of the USA to Hawaii with at least some availability via points at a reasonable cost? 19:21 - I don't have any business spend so I'm hesitant to apply for business cards and use it for personal expenses. Is it legal/allowed to put personal spend on business cards? 21:28 Is the 15% Delta Amex discount a real discount or Delta increased the redemption rate before the discount is applied. Their miles seem to be $.012/mile after the 15%. Is their miles really that bad? 24:01 - hey everyone! have any of you ever booked an award flight with EVA? so many quirks to that program but 75-80k to Asia is a good deal. Would love to hear any if your experiences if you have. Thanks! 28:29 - what's up with Alaska's phantom award availability? I've noticed this especially with AA, award space will show in Alaska, sometimes other partners, then Alaska won't ticket. And on Alaska - have you noticed Alaska semi-dynamically pricing AA routes? IE award chart says route should be 7.5k but all routes instead price at 10k or 12.5k? 33:50 - if I took a retention offer to keep amex gold. Will amex take back points if I take an upgrade to platinum offer? 34:31 - I received an offer for the Caesars no annual fee card. with 5000 spend in three months giving me diamond status. Am I crazy for wanting to get it for the free parking, no resorts fee, and food credit 37:45 - When checking if a layover will offer enough time, how can I know in advance if I may be forced to pickup + recheck my bags? Either with a single or multiple carriers? 38:56 - I'm trying to potentially book a Maldives trip with Hilton FNC but I'd like to connect there in style on Qatar and/or Emirates. Considering free night certificates only last a year and flights often are best booked a year out, how would you navigate a trip where flights and hotels might both be high demand options or timelines 44:25 - Which hotel rewards program would you say lately offers the highest probability for outside value? To me, it's not close I believe Hilton shines in this respect. 51:45 - Have you ever gotten weird looks from the clerk while buying gift cards? 55:03 - I found lots of availability at a SLH thru Hilton. Four nights bookable, but when I went to 5 nights, availability vanished. Is the hotel playing games to avoid 5th night free? Any workaround ideas
Episode 110 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks with Cameron Laufer, covers a range of travel reward topics, from hotel loyalty programs to new credit card offers and companion pass deals. They highlight a discussion about maximizing hotel points for international stays, with Hyatt standing out for high-tier status benefits and Hilton offering strong resort options. They also review recent promotions, such as Chase's 20% transfer bonus to Avios, new Hilton Amex card offers, and Frontier's new Companion Pass for Platinum and Diamond members. Additionally, Angie shares insights into a now-expired JetBlue transfer bonus and personal experiences with credit card applications and spending strategies.The main feature of this episode compares award travel search tools based on recent findings from Frequent Miler. They discuss several options, including Point.me, Seats.aero, PointsYeah.com, Roame.travel, and Award Tool, outlining their strengths, pricing, and unique features like real-time searches, cached results, alerts, and multiple airport search capabilities. While no single tool is perfect, they emphasize choosing one based on travel habits and preferred airlines. Cameron closes the episode with a tip for booking domestic flights—purchasing the cheapest same-day flight and leveraging schedule changes to switch to a more desirable option for free.Chase to Avios Transfer BonusNew Hilton Amex OffersFrontier Companion PassWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!
Send us a textLinking the Travel Industry is a business travel podcast where we review the top travel industry stories that are posted on LinkedIn by LinkedIn members. We curate the top posts and discuss with them with travel industry veterans in a live session with audience members. You can join the live recording session by visiting BusinessTravel360.comYour Hosts are Riaan van Schoor, Ann Cederhall and Aash ShravahStories covered on this session include -"No more tiers" - easyJet tries to lure some of the unhappy British Airways frequent flyer customers with discounts on their own corporate loyalty program.The Flight Centre Travel Group increased their underlying profit by 7% in 2024, boosted with a 2% increase in corporate travel transaction values. American Express Global Business Travel also reported a 10% overall increase in total transaction value in Q4 2024, resulting in a solid financial performance from the TMC.... whilst it seems different in the UK, for some. A report released by The Advantage Travel Partnership and Travelogix suggests the average TMC transaction value declined for a 3rd year in a row, being 6.8% lower in 2024. Qantas also reported on record earnings, posting a 11.2% profit jump for 2024.Qatar Airways receives approval for their desired 25% stake in Virgin Australia.The Expedia Group reaches an agreement with Southwest Airlines, making them the first major OTA to offer the airline's content.The South African domestic airline Airlink increases their alignment with Qatar Airways and can now be paid for in Avios.The Australian OTA Webjet.com.au agrees to pay AUD 9m fine and court costs relating to alleged misleading online sales practices and fee disclosures.Etihad might become the first Gulf carrier to go public in 17 years. It is currently seeking an investor to aid it's IPO ambitions. flydubai posts record profits of $674m for 2024.You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.comThis podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360. Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!Support the show
Would you pay more for fully refundable rewards? What do you do with pets when you travel? These questions and more came up in our Ask Us Anything, Live Ep72, originally broadcast live on 2-5-25. (04:31) - Who were our most-helpful followers for the Million Mile Madness challenge? These followers will be eligible for prizes for their help! (13:31) - How would you structure your credit card strategy with a P2? See our podcast episode about 2-player strategies here. (17:45) - Frequent Miler is by far my favorite travel blog. What blogs do you follow and why? (19:47) - Any tricks to apply for 2 cards in 1 day? I feel like I read a post on how to do this but I can't find it now. Find our credit card application rules by bank here. (24:02) - are you guys surprised at how many people completed the challenge? (25:00) - I know Greg went big with Alaska transfer, I'm curious how big the rest of the team has gone? And do any of you think the merger and Amex transfer will cause a devaluation soon? (28:32) - Any word yet on Chase's 1 million point giveaway winners (that ended last week)? (29:13) - any thoughts on aeroplan 25 status match from Marriott Titanium? could be interesting for booking economy award tickets for upgrades on long haul flights? (30:47) - Marriott & Hilton appear out of favor with you these days. Hyatt remains your favorite but If you don't or can't stay at Hyatt, what is now your hotel chain of choice between IHG, Choice, Wyndham or? (33:34) - new SW companion pass promo (personal card, 4K spend in 3 months): is this just through end of 2025? Seems like a great opportunity to try.I can make that spend in a week! (34:32) - have any of you ever had to transfer airports in Taipei. i have a 4-hr layover during which i have to travel between airports with a carry-on. is that even possible? (36:24) - What are the best opportunities for long haul business class availability for 4 "when schedule opens?" With 4 travelers and bound by school schedules I want to book ahead but it's getting very hard. (38:37) - Thoughts on the recent update to Citi's T&Cs on welcome bonuses for their strata premier when product changing. Seems like it's a blow against churning (40:26) - How much more are you willing to pay for award ticket that is fully refundable? I find myself going for AA or United flights even though UA may be cheaper on LifeMiles for example (45:23) - really curious... do any of you have pets? what do you do with them when traveling? (51:48) - How often do you folks buy points? I recently started buying IHG, Hilton, Avianca, and Avios points when they are on sale, and find it a great alternative for folks with low spend. (53:36) - any awesome hotel redemptions coming up for you guys? Subscribe and Follow
On today's episode the fellas chat about how to get the Southwest Companion Pass with just one card, whether or not your Marriott points just became more valuable, and how to get great value out of Capital One miles. (01:17) - One of our younger readers talks about a huge award booking success, all achieved without pro award booking tools. (05:40) - Quick overview of the Million Mile Madness challenge Watch our Ask Us Anything, Live here. Rewatch the entire Million Mile Madness Challenge in one video here. (10:27) - Get Southwest Companion Pass through 2/28/26 Learn more about this here. (13:25) - Frontier Platinum status fast track: Earn 20k Elite Status Points by 4/30/25 Learn more here. (18:46) - Transfer bonuses (21:13) - Earn 20x Avios on hotel bookings & 15x on car hire (book by 2/24/25) Learn more about this here. (23:58) - Use JetBlue points to book TAP (25:04) - Refreshing posts about award booking tools (30:50) - Are Marriott points more valuable? Learn more about the value of Marriott points here. (33:54) - My experience applying for the UK's electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Learn more about the UK ETA here. (36:15) - Capital One Miles usually worth exactly 1 cent each (37:21) - Get more than 1 cent per mile via transfer partners (38:49) - Real-life examples... (49:04) - Cardholder exclusives (51:00) - Capital One cash back can be converted to miles (53:08) - Which flight reward search tool is best if I need specific dates and locations?
Send us a textAustrian Airlines hat heute ihre neue Non-Schengen Lounge bei den G-Gates am Flughafen Wien enthüllt. Mit modernem Design, mehr Privatsphäre und einem Hauch österreichischer Gemütlichkeit bietet die Lounge Platz für 180 Gäste – ideal während der Terminalbauphase bis 2027.
Send us a textLinking the Travel Industry is a business travel podcast where we review the top travel industry stories that are posted on LinkedIn by LinkedIn members. We curate the top posts and discuss with them with travel industry veterans in a live session with audience members. You can join the live recording session by visiting BusinessTravel360.comYour Hosts are Riaan van Schoor, Ann Cederhall and Aash ShravahStories covered on this session include -Qatar Airways pax can now earn Avios points on Deutsche Bahn with DB rail bookings made using a QR flight number.The South African airline Airlink creates a codeshare with Qantas. I find this interesting as recently QR took a stake in Airlink.The intentions of QR to invest in Virgin Australia become a reality, with the news they will own a 25% stake.Southwest Airlines gets an interesting shareholder in the form of the original IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal, who bought $100m worth of shares in the airline.Lufthansa Group blames .... Lufthansa. During a recent media briefing, group CEO Carsten Spohrt referred to LH as the “problem child” within the company's diverse airline portfolio.Spirit Airlines are considering a possible chapter 11 bankruptcy approach. Ryanair will eliminate paper boarding passes.Extra StoriesYou can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, iHeart, Pandora, Spotify, Alexa or your favorite podcast player.This podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360. Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!Support the show
This time Tim was on vacation, but the rest of the Frequent Miler crew got together on YouTube for another Ask Us Anything, Live. (On the first Wednesday of every month, we host a live YouTube to answer your points and miles questions in real time!) (00:30) - How did TeamLabs "Borderless" compare with "Planets"? Read more about our TeamLabs experience here. (04:57) - What are your thoughts on new U.S. bank smartly credit card? (07:08) - Hi team! If I downgrade my Ritz card to get the Amex Brilliant sign up bonus, then upgrade again to the Ritz card, will that affect my Ritz 85k certificate? Anything to be careful of so I don't lose the 85k Ritz certificate? (08:56) - What is one place (non-US) destination that has a bad reputation for tourists and doesn't deserve it or alternatively is very overrated? (16:45) - Hi Greg, I was 0 for 3 on my CC applications for Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Personal, Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Biz, and Bank of America Sonesta. Did you have better luck with your CC applications? (18:16) - Any suggestions on how to improve odds on getting targeted for useful Amex? offers? (20:28) - I want to stay at Hilton Tokyo Bay for Fam of 5 - Disneyland and Disney Sea…. what card should I get first? Are there specific rules to follow like Marriott? (26:04) - I have big spend coming up, capacity for ~20k in spend, but I can't get business cards. Any recommendations on sign up bonuses/big spend bonuses? Read more about who can apply for business cards here. (27:57) - Have you ever had issues with gift card fraud? How would you deal with it? (31:13) - What parts of Japan besides Kyoto and Tokyo do you enjoy (33:07) - How much of a transfer bonus from Amex to Hilton would you find to be on the same level as the normal 1:1 transfer from Chase to Hyatt? (34:38) - I have United Silver, is booking basic economy on United and/or Star Alliance partners still going to give me the free checkin luggage? (35:34) -What's the best bet for a new card or downgrade to keep Amex points when cancelling a Gold? My husband has a Business Platinum and it's too hard to get all the benefits/offsets for a second one. (39:16) - What is the best use of Avios after all the short-haul devaluations? (40:16) - What is your favorite hotel ecosystem for long term commitment? (42:42) - Nick, I got the surpass on July 31 and close to meeting spend. want to work towards the 15k spend for 2nd free night certificate but need to pause since I got approved US Bank Altitude Reserve. Will spend in 2025 before anniversary count? (44:13) - What's your best guess on how long the JetBlue status match offer will be active? I have JetBlue cash flights booked in October (domestic) and December (Mint to London). Trying to time it right. (45:24) - Can't book JetBlue economy via Qatar? I tried using the article for finding mint via Qatar using ITAmatrix. I used “P” fare class for economy Got the calendar, but Qatar website doesn't show the flights. (47:44) - what's the best award booking using Lufthansa miles without the exuberant taxes and best way to find availability? (49:43) - Planning trip to Ghana or Kenya next June. Would like to use Flying Blue and Qatar to stop in Ams and Doh. Is it worth it to transfer points now hoping award prices come down closer to the trip? (51:17) - Why don't you guys have a (paid) service for your subscribers to help make award bookings? I've been following for almost a couple of years. I know you teach us to do it on our own, but... (54:36) - NICK and Greg shared an amazing video about finding award availability on Jetblue and booking via Avios. I believe They used Matrix.Ita. Is there a way to find united availability using same process Watch the JetBlue Mint via Qatar how to video here. (56:25) - Should I go for the Hilton Surpass now for the 150k sign up bonus that I can find via incognito browser or wait for a better offer? Subscribe and Follow
We love Chase Ultimate Rewards primarily because of the ability to transfer to partners (and we specifically love the ability to transfer to Hyatt.) Chase Ultimate Rewards is actually one of the best ways to get Hyatt points, in fact. We'll talk more about amassing Chase Ultimate Rewards (and why you would want to) in this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air. (01:18) - A reader experiences an issue with a price on his Etihad award that was not as advertised... (08:43) - Read more about the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card here. (10:21) - Read more about the U.S. Bank Smartly credit card here. (19:47) - Read our Guide to Credit Card Application Rules by Bank here. (21:29) - Double Elite Night Credit on Marriott Homes & Villas (Targeted, Book by 9/20, stay by 12/31) Read more about the double elite night credit here. (32:34) - 30% transfer bonus from Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors (thru 9/30) (33:24) - Reminder: 30% transfer bonus from Amex Membership Rewards to Avios (thru 9/30) (33:40) - 20% transfer bonus from Capital One to Air France / KLM Flying Blue (thru 9/29) (35:20) - Preferred Hotels now up to 118,000 Choice points (not long ago 55K max!). Read more about great value preferred hotels, bookable with Choice points here. (40:03) - We all know that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are super valuable... Learn more about Chase Ultimate Rewards sweet spots here. (41:55) - How to get the Chase Ultimate Rewards points... (42:04) - Chase Ultimate Rewards welcome bonuses Read more about Chase's best credit card sign up offers here. (42:22) - What are the rules for applying for Chase cards? (What is the 5/24 24 month, 48 month, etc): See our Complete Guide to Credit Card Application Rules by Bank here. (42:59) - There are lots of Chase cards available... Again, you can learn more about Chase cards here. (45:29) - Which Ink Business card is not like the others (and will not earn you points that can be transferred to partners)... (48:59) - Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards via referral bonuses (51:06) - 2 Player Mode for Chase Ultimate Rewards (54:28) - What can you earn as you spend on Chase cards? Learn more about spending options here and here. (1:05:12) - Chase's shopping portal (and other miscellaneous ways to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points) (1:07:12) - When does it make sense to credit paid flights to a different airline's frequent flyer account (within the partner airline)? (1:10:23) - Learn more about our 40K to Far Away challenge here. (1:11:59) - Learn more about wheretocredit.com here
Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel This week we got hit with a ton of devaluations making this game more "fun" than ever! It started with American Express limiting cash outs on Schwab Platinum cards to 1 million points per year. You can redeem more than that, but you won't want to. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also hopped in with negative changes of their own. Goodbye Avios sweet spots and cheap Delta redemptions! In other news Hyatt added yet another brand as they integrate more European hotels into their portfolio. We also discuss getting stranded by Frontier Airlines, how to save 40% or more off of Amazon and why the Japanese 7-Eleven experience will soon be coming to the United States! Episode Guide: 0:00 Top 3 places to visit if you don't have any money 0:48 Amex makes big changes to popular cash out option 2:47 Best options and strategies for cashing out Amex points 4:20 How to save big money on Amazon with your credit card points 6:31 Virgin Atlantic devalues Delta One redemptions - Huge fuel surcharges! 8:38 What you should do now with your Virgin Atlantic miles 9:23 7-Eleven Japan experience coming to the United States 12:19 British Airways devalues many popular awards 13:53 Losing all of the Avios sweet spots 15:00 Hyatt adds yet another new brand 15:50 Why this new brand is great for Brand Explorer rewards 17:11 How Hyatt has really expanded their presence in Europe 18:01 Getting stranded by Frontier 20:04 How miles & points can help you when you are stranded while traveling About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.
The Amex Platinum card has had great welcome bonuses for a while now, but it's a very expensive card. Are there reasons to keep the card once the annual fee comes due? That's what we'll discuss in today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode. (01:36) - Online chat for immediate Avios refunds? (Mailbag) (05:26) - Wells Fargo Attune Card (Card Talk) Read more about the Attune card here. (17:49) - Hyatt promo: Earn 1k bonus points + double elite nights at 15 Florida properties (Mattress Running the Numbers) (23:46) - Virgin kills Delta One deal (Award Talk) (28:39) - Interesting notes about Spirit awards (Award Talk) Read more about Nick's Spirit discoveries here. Read more about the Amex Platinum card here. (34:25) - Become elite (37:01) - Enhance your travel experiences (40:57) - Earn $200 back on prepaid hotel bookings each year (44:28) - Earn $200 in Airline Fee Credits each calendar year (46:08) - Use $200 in Uber credits each calendar year (48:53) - Get $20 per month back in rebates on select digital entertainment services (51:27) - Earn up to $100 per year in rebates at Saks Fifth Avenue (55:18) - Get Walmart+ for Free (56:53) - Earn 5x for airfare and prepaid hotels (57:21) - Refer friends (1:05:37) - Hyatt dummy-booking offer... why is no one talking about this offer?
(00:00) Intro: There are a multitude of ways to fly to Hawaii using miles and points (and even many ways to get a deal on cash tickets). On this week's show, we discuss ways to fly to Hawaii from around the US from as few as 10K or 13.5K points each way. (01:06) New FM intro (03:22) Card Talk: Sonesta World Mastercard https://frequentmiler.com/sonesta/ -Card Details -What are points worth? (16:00) What crazy thing . . . did Marriott and Starbucks do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/link-marriott-starbucks-accounts-to-occasionally-earn-double-stars-minimal-bonus-points/ (19:51) Mattress running the numbers: Wyndham Rewards Hotel Pass https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-rewards-selling-30-night-hotel-pass/ (27:48) Award Talk (27:55) New Reasonable Redemption Value for Hotel Points https://frequentmiler.com/what-are-hyatt-points-worth/ (30:29) Aeroplan promotion with Miles4Migrants) https://frequentmiler.com/earn-7500-aeroplan-points-with-a-100-miles4migrants-donation/ (34:19) 15% transfer bonus from Citi to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles https://frequentmiler.com/citi-thankyou-offering-15-transfer-bonus-to-cathay-pacific-asia-miles/ (27:03) Enterprise Rent-A-Car Status Match https://frequentmiler.com/enterprise-status-match-giving-status-through-february-2026-match-from-hotel-airline-car-rental-programs/ (30:29) Amex referral bonuses now as high as 45,000 points for targeted cardholders https://frequentmiler.com/amex-referral-bonuses-now-as-high-as-45000-points-per-referral-up-to-100k-per-year-per-card/ (42:44) Main Event: Best Ways to fly to Hawaii https://frequentmiler.com/best-ways-to-fly-to-hawaii-from-the-us-mainland/ (43:04) Cash deals (43:30) Delta companion certificates (44:55) Alaska Companion Fare (46:13) Southwest Companion Pass (47:32) Vacation packages (49:15) Award deals: Economy (49:24) United flights via Turkish Miles & Smiles for 10K each way (50:48) Finnair Avios for American Airlines (15K) or Alaska Airlines (13.5K) (52:52) Alaska Mileage Plan for Alaska from 15K (53:35) Singapore Krisflyer for central/Western US to Hawaii (13-14K) (54:33) Using Alaska miles to fly AA for 17.5K from Dallas and west coast (55:32) Use United to fly United from 11.1K from the west coast (56:42) Aeroplan for 12.5K from the west coast to Hawaii on United (58:00) Qatar Avios for 13K one way from the west coast (59:00) Flying Blue for Delta from 18K (59:16) Virgin Atlantic for Hawaiian Airlines for 20K each way from the west coast (1:00:16) JetBlue for Hawaiian Airlines for 20K each way from the west coast (1:00:48) American Airlines miles for AA from 20K each way (1:01:39) Southwest Airlines when cash fares are cheap (1:02:00) "First class" flights to Hawaii with miles (1:02:57) Turkish miles for United: 15K miles each way (1:05:35) Finnair Avios for American Airlines" 38K miles each way (1:07:00) Alaska Miles for Alaska from 40K miles each way (1:07:21) Hawaiian miles to fly Hawaiian: 40K one way or upgrade from 25K. Possibly more availability with status or as a cardholder. (1:09:25) Virgin Atlantic miles to fly Hawaiian: 40K one way from the west coast (1:09:48) Alaska Mileage Plan for American Airlines: 35K one-way from as far east as Dallas (1:10:10) Air Canada Aeroplan for United for 25K from the west coast (1:10:50) Qatar Airways Avios for American or Alaska for 38,750 Avios from the west coast (1:11:50) Example for how to find award availability (1:19:33) Question of the Week: Is reselling a good low-energy way to generate points? Music credit: Annie Yoder
(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure) ➤ Sign up for free coaching through the newsletter https://geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching/ ➤ Free points 101 course (includes hotel upgrade email template) https://julia-s-school-9209.thinkific.com/courses/your-first-points-redemption ➤ Free credit card consultations https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenTa65r0Or2YY_tG6Jh_H13MAXIyVrOhBBHo6n7bcYgvTYWg/viewform ➤ Seats.Aero: geobreezetravel.com/seatsaero Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Using Avios on American 03:47 - Using Avios to Fly Aer Lingus 09:07 - An Avios sweet spot (Iberia) 13:27 - Using Qatar Avios 21:10 - The most recent addition to avios (Finnair) 25:07 - The Ultimate Avios Hack! Transferring and sales 29:02 - Outro ===== You can find Julia at: ➤ Free course: https://julia-s-school-9209.thinkific.com/courses/your-first-points-redemption ➤ Website: https://geobreezetravel.com/ ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel/ ➤ Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards ➤ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel Geobreeze Travel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as milevalue .com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress .com to learn more.
In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. This episode (66) was streamed live on April 3, 2024 and can be viewed in full here: Frequent Miler Live: Ask Us Anything Here are all the questions asked during this episode (with timestamps) (00:30) - Read more about how to find Qatar QSuites award space here. (07:12) - Hey Greg, Did you notice that there were some QR flights that were available thru jetblue but NOT british airways? (08:17) - Do any of you use the app Flighty? If yes, any improvements you want them to make? (10:19) - Hello! Is there a reason so many credit cards are dropping Priority Pass? (12:45) - what program do you have the strongest love/hate relationship with? (17:20) - Which ways of booking business/premium econ domestic flights have the best availability at a reasonable cost? I'm trying to make longer positioning flights more comfortable for 2-5 people (18:55) - what's the best way to pay for my 28 day Marriott stay, CSR, Ritz, or Hyatt for getting Globalist status? thanks Read Stephen's post about long-term hotel stays in states where you may not have to pay taxes: https://frequentmiler.com/staying-30-nights-in-a-hotel-you-might-not-have-to-pay-the-taxes/ (21:12) - Nick, on a podcast you said you were going to pick-up the Brilliant even without the SUB. Would you not consider temporarily product changing your Ritz card(s) to be eligible for the SUB? (22:55) - Any favorite resources for finding interesting things to do in a country? I have several destinations that I want to visit for 1-2 things I know about, but would need more to fill the trip (27:07) - I earned a bunch of Capital One points hoping to use them one day on Turkish, but with the devaluation what do you think some other good uses are? Read our Capital One Complete Guide Read our Capital One Sweet Spots post (30:26) - I have a question how can I book Swiss rail Pass? I've tried everywhere and I just can't find it. Is there a way to use any airline points or just pay cash for that? (32:19) - Several Airlines use Avios and they may have different expiration policy. Can I transfer from one to the other to avoid expiration? Thanks! (35:09) - can the amex 10+ referral multiplier stack? (36:12) - When applying for a second Ink card, is it similar to the initial application or you have to explain to Chase that the new card is for a different business? (37:15) - Greg and Nick both said they would prefer Alaska miles over AA miles. I heard their reasons why but can you all name any sweet spots with Alaska? after the last two devaluation great deals are missing Read the post about Alaska Award Chart, Winners, Losers, and Sweet Spots here (40:16) - About to apply for the Venture X & I'm curious if u know anything about the black box that is their approval algorithm. Specific DPs? (41:24) - can you reiterate some best practices to limit the risk Amex not treating tax payments as eligible spend for the signup bonus? (44:30) - With the Robinhood card, and the USBAR, wouldn't it make more sense to buy points vs getting points on a card? (45:40) - Cruise questions. It seems that Caesars status alone is no longer enough for cruise matches and they ask for other offers so trip to AC is a must? I that correct? If so, better to wait until July 1st? (50:42) - As someone who just started the point game. Am I too late with all the devaluation going on? I started with Amex and working on the Amex points game now. (54:08) - Is there a way to avoid an airline in google flights explore tab? There's an option to toggle in the regular flights tab but not in the explore tab. (54:50): Which one of these humans is the frequent miler? (56:26) - How can I keep my Hawaiian Points from expiring? I recently cancel my Hawaiian credit card (56:59) - Who has flown the most miles? Visit this link to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media. You'll find all other Frequent Miler on the Air episodes here.
In some ways Marriott can be the Frankenstein's monster of rewards programs. There's lots of good stuff about the program...and lots of bad stuff too, all sloppily sewn together. (01:36) - More advice about how to pronounce "Qatar"! (Mailbag) Read our post on how to pronounce "Qatar": https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-pronounce-qatar/ (08:46) - Ritz Carlton Card (Card Talk) Read more about the Ritz Carlton card here: https://frequentmiler.com/yes-the-ritz-card-is-now-the-best-value-marriott-card/ (21:41) - Alaska wants you to pay to see ads (Crazy Thing) (25:00) - Buy Choice points with 50% bonus (0.69c per point) (Mattress Running the Numbers) Read more about the Choice points discount here: https://frequentmiler.com/buy-choice-points-with-30-discount-0-69cpp/ (33:20) - United to offer family mileage pooling (Award Talk) (37:45) - Chilean airline JetSmart to adopt American's AAdvantage loyalty program later this year (Award Talk) (40:47) - Finnair points are now Avios (but there doesn't yet appear to be a way to move them to BA, Iberia, etc.) (Award Talk) (43:59) - JetBlue is cancelling routes (Award Talk) (46:56) - Wells Fargo autograph journey now live 1 to 2 choice (Award Talk) Main Event: Mastering Marriott's Madness (48:39) - Huge number of hotels worldwide (nearly 9,000) This post can help you find out if you're eligible for the various Marriott cards: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-card-eligible/ (52:36) - Bonvoy Basics Read our complete guide to Marriott Bonvoy here: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-complete-guide/ (1:04:25) - Earning points See the best credit card offers here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-sign-up-offers/ (01:09:42) - Earning free night certificates (01:10:30) - Earning elite status Listen to our Easy Marriott elite status episode here: https://frequentmiler.com/easy-marriott-elite-status/ Read: Shortcuts to Marriott Elite status https://frequentmiler.com/shortcuts-to-marriott-platinum-elite-status/ (01:14:57) - Questions about paying for rent with the Alaska card via Bilt... with high rent of $3600/mo, which card should I use...Alaska with the fee or Bilt without the fee? (Question of the Week) to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit - "Ocean Deep" by Annie Yoder
Avios is the rewards currency for British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar, and soon Finnair. This means it's worth some attention. On this week's episode, we discuss how you can earn, use, and maximize this reward currency. Here are some of the topics you'll find in the episode... (01:41) Player Two chimes in (Mailbag) (03:37) Chase British Airways Visa Signature® Card (Card Talk) Learn more about this card: https://frequentmiler.com/ba/ (09:30) Turkish award search shows random non-partner flights (Crazy Thing) (13:30) Best Western: Stay Twice & Earn Free Night Voucher (Mattress Running the Numbers) Read more about this: https://frequentmiler.com/best-western-stay-twice-earn-free-night-voucher/ (17:37) Turkish devalues (Award Talk) Read more about this: https://frequentmiler.com/turkish-might-be-demolishing-its-award-chart/ (22:03) SLH ditches Hyatt for Hilton (Award Talk) Read more about this: https://frequentmiler.com/small-luxury-hotels-slh-ditches-hyatt-for-hilton/ (26:10) Bilt announces milestone rewards (Award Talk) Read more about this: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-introduces-unrewarding-milestone-rewards/ (31:50) Referral points don't count towards Bilt status, h/t Chris from All the Hacks (Award Talk) (32:58) Mastering Avios, the rewards currency for BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar, and (soon) Finnair (Main Event) Read all about Avios here: https://frequentmiler.com/complete-guide-to-avios-british-airways-iberia-and-aer-lingus/ (33:22) Earning Avios (34:30) Moving Avios between programs Read more about this: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-transfer-avios-between-aer-lingus-ba-and-iberia/ (40:52) BA Household Accounts (42:40) Using Avios Read more about using Avios with Jet Blue: https://frequentmiler.com/jetblue-mint-to-the-caribbean-for-26000-avios-where-and-how-to-find-it/ (01:03:37) How do you plan acitivites? (Question of the Week)