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It's Black Friday, which means Jen from Deals We Like is back to give us the scoop.  Here are some of the latest Black Friday deals from Jen: Gearing Up For Black Friday Spin to Win Amazon cash $40 Bonus For Online Shopping We're also answering a listener question about Marriott credit cards.  What's the right decision for folks who hold Marriott credit cards right now? Don't forget that you can leave us a voicemail or text us at (571) 293-6659‬. Listen for your question on a future show! Shoot us an e-mail (ed@pizzainmotion.com) or you can tweet me and Richard if you have questions. And, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and ask your question there. If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience!

Wondering how to earn more points towards travel? Trying to decide which travel credit card is the best fit for your family? This week we chat with points and miles expert Jennifer Yellin about the best travel credit cards for families. Kim and Tamara also talk about the changing travel restrictions in Europe, the Caribbean, and cruises. Note that since this podcast was recorded, Italy has also dropped its testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers. About Jennifer Yellin Jennifer Yellin is the founder of Deals We Like, where she helps her readers travel on a deal. She writes about everything travel related, such as travel credit cards, travel rewards (points and miles) and travel destinations. Jennifer is also a freelance writer for CNN Underscored and The Points Guy where she writes on similar travel topics. Jennifer loves traveling to beach destinations and embracing ski trips with her family. How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card for your Family For family travel, you need to book early if you are looking to use points since they are popular times to travel and you need more seats than if you are traveling solo When choosing a credit card to start using points there are some that are very easy to redeem points, like Capital One which allows you to earn points and then use the points eraser to erase the travel charge on your credit card. Others, like Chase Ultimate Rewards, you transfer your points to airline or hotel programs to use your points. You can get better value that way but it takes a little more work There are also airline or hotel specific cards that provide certain perks, like a free night certificate or free baggage, that can be valuable if you are able to fully utilize it Also look at the annual fees and make sure you are getting more value than you are paying in annual fees The Hyatt card will help you earn Globalist status, which will provide nice perks like room upgrades. See our episode about the best hotel loyalty programs Southwest is a popular card for Southwest fliers that can earn the Companion Pass (see our episode about flying families for free) The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great card but wait to sign up until they have a very good sign up bonus. Points transfer easily on a one-to-one basis and you can even book through their travel portal. They have a partnership with Southwest and OneWorld Alliance members like American and British Airways If you transfer 1-to-1 to Hyatt, you will get more value out of your points then transferring to Marriott If you do decide to have multiple cards, make a note of which cards give more points for specific categories (e.g. gas, travel, supermarket) and put a piece of tape or label on each card and write on it which category to use that card for If you have a specific trip in mind, find out what hotel you want to stay at and then look at signing up for that hotel brand credit card and sign up when there is a good bonus (unless a card like Chase has a better welcome offer) You can also sign up for credit cards in you and your partner's name or a personal and business card to get multiple sign up offers if you have a specific trip in mind When you want to use points for a family, it can be hard to find enough free seats for everyone. Just keep in mind that if you book separately you may end up separated if they reshuffle the flights but you can try to get the itineraries linked to avoid this If you have status, you probably want to buy a ticket for the person with status and use points for the rest Expert Flyer is a membership website that helps you find special award availability For international airlines, it also helps to use an award booking service to help find flights to a specific destination, these usually cost about $150-200. Usually you don't pay unless you can book You can use Point.me (used to be Juicy Miles) where you put in your itinerary and the system will provide you with options that you can book and that is a less expensive service because it is automated When you transfer points, it can take 24-48 hours for the points to show up in your account and you can't book until they are available. You can Google how long it takes to transfer points between specific programs Once you transfer points from your credit card to an airline or hotel program, you can switch them back to the credit card so be sure you want to use them To earn additional points, sign up for every shopping portal available such as eBates/Rakuten (for cash back or points), some have Chrome Extensions to remind you to purchase through the portal. Most mainstream ecommerce sites will earn you points There are also a lot of sign up bonuses around big shopping weekends Cashbackholic will show you which shopping portals offer the best rates/points offers EV Rewards will also compare for you Always look at the targeted offers that are sent to you from your credit card companies to earn extra points or cash back Buy gift cards through shopping portals, put purchases on credit card and have others pay you back for group dinners, class gifts, etc. Never sign up for a credit card without a sign up offer Southwest currently has a good offer for earning a Southwest Companion Pass Make sure you can always easily meet the minimum spend requirements when signing up for a new card If you are applying for a mortgage or a loan soon, don't apply for a new credit card, but otherwise it won't hurt your credit score Cancel cards when you are no longer getting value, but you can also call and see if you can get a fee waived or reduced If you have applied for 5 or more Chase cards in 24 months, you can't get approved for a new card and Amex offers are usually once in a lifetime but you may be able to get it once they roll off your credit card in seven years or so Full Episode Transcript [00:00:00.190] - Kim Tate Stay tuned to find out how you can charge your way to free travel. [00:00:15.450] - Announcer Welcome to Vacation Mavens, a family travel podcast with ideas for your next vacation and tips to get you out the door. Here are your hosts, Kim from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara from We 3 Travel. [00:00:29.890] - Kim Tate Tamara. It's kind of a fun intro today because I feel like we're going to share some happy news for a change that's happening. Do you want to kick us off and start talking about some changes that are happening in the travel space lately? [00:00:41.710] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. I mean, just overall, I think everyone feels a whole lot better than they did a month ago, for sure. And I know traffic to my website showing that people are more interested in international travel than they have been, for obvious reasons. But it's just so nice to be on the side of things where it's like things are getting better. [00:00:58.670] - Kim Tate We have good news. Yeah. [00:01:00.680] - Tamara Gruber But as you guys know, we're planning a spring break trip coming up very quickly, and we've been keeping everything crossed that everything goes okay. But we saw just actually, I just saw very recently, I think it was on February 12 that France has lifted their testing requirement to get into the country. So it's just like one of these hurdles that I can check. I can just cross off like, okay, the day before, how am I going to get the test that I need? And is it going to come back in time depending on how things are there or they're going to shut now that things are better, they're closing some testing centers. What's the best way to get this test that they need? So it's just like one of those hurdles that I don't have to go through now. And it's just it's such a relief. And also because Hannah had COVID in early January, I was actually going to get her tested to see if she's still testing positive. Do I need to get the doctor's note and go through that whole thing? And so as restrictions are lifted, it's just so nice to have one less thing that you have to do as you're getting out the door, and then one less thing that could kind of screw up the road. [00:02:11.860] - Tamara Gruber Obviously, you could still get sick, but hopefully you would know that versus like, oh, no, you're actually asymptomatic. Not that we want to be traveling asymptomatically, but you know what I mean? So I'm just encouraged that there are a number of European countries that are lifting their testing requirements at the same time, though, I should say that is for people that are fully vaccinated and different countries have different rules about full vaccination. Like, for example, for France, you need to also be boosted if it's been more than seven months since your second shot or your only shot if you're like me when it was Johnson, Johnson. So you need to follow still those kind of guidelines and all of the rest. But at least on the testing front, it's one thing. So, yeah, so France lifted it. The UK has lifted that, Ireland has lifted it. Spain lifted it. And I've seen that both Portugal and Greece have lifted it for the EU. And so my matter of time before they lift it for the US as well. And part of it might be like the US still has the requirement that people need to test, including US citizens, on entry into the US. [00:03:24.420] - Tamara Gruber So it might be one of those things where it's like, well, if you lift it for us, we'll have it for you kind of thing. But yeah, at least I mean, right now we're still going to have to get tested in France to go into Italy. But at least we know that that's pretty easy to do. Like, there's tons of pharmacies around and it's cheap and readily available and fast turn around. So I'm not as worried about that. And then I actually just ordered some testing kits from EMED, which is what you and I used when we were in Portugal because it's the proctored self testing that is accepted for return to the US. [00:04:00.540] - Kim Tate And it's instant. Yeah, it's really good. [00:04:02.170] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. [00:04:03.870] - Kim Tate That horrible one day window that the US enacted, which I hope they're going to reedit that now that Omicron is calming down because that one day is a big ask. [00:04:13.080] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's definitely and I was worried about like, oh, if we're in Italy, I know I can get tested, but will the turnaround be in time? So I just felt like bringing these along is going to be the easiest scenario. We just do that in the room and we'll be all set. So positive news on my friend. And I know you've been paying attention to some other stuff going on, so you have some positive news, too. [00:04:34.640] - Kim Tate Yeah. Well, we're headed out on a cruise for spring break, and we're getting numerous emails that keep coming in because cruises are really volatile right now with the way they're changing. A lot of them went back into even a lockdown. They canceled a lot of cruises in January. And now I think things are loosening up, and so that's kind of opening up options. And so I think that for cruising, just know that cruising is back. Cruises in general have always been, as we talked about in that episode a while back, they're pretty obsessed with cleanliness and germs because of other things like norovirus that they've had issues with. So just know that cruising is back. And so if that's an option. The other thing that I like about cruising is because we're doing a Caribbean cruise and because you come in and out of a US Port, you are waived from a lot of those testing requirements that if you were just flying directly into a Caribbean Island. So there is some benefit to that. Just know that some of the Caribbean Islands also are editing what they're requiring. And I know that, for example, I believe it's the Bahamas and maybe even Aruba, if you're vaccinated, you no longer have to submit a PCR test. [00:05:41.530] - Kim Tate You can take a rapid test. Of course, it has to be a proven rapid test. You can't just take one of the Amazon ones and take a picture of it. It has to be like the EMED ones that you're talking about. But I think for some travelers, those are way easier than, like you said, making appointments and going in through a drive through or some kind of testing site. And then that stress over. Will I get the results in time, especially if for us out here, the Sundays really throw us off because they don't run the results on Sundays and do the testing. So if you need it, you kind of have to either wait for Monday or you have to go Saturday and hope that process works. So I just know that for us, it's kind of a big thing to keep an eye on. And I do think, like you that things are relaxing, and I think everybody's ready to get back to travel. So I feel like a lot of us traveled over the past year anyways, but it's becoming more accessible for people who maybe don't want the cost or the stress of testing. [00:06:35.070] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. I mean, I've talked to a couple of people recently. They were like, oh, I just paid $100 for a test, and then they dropped it the next day. The cost for a family to have to deal with that kind of testing is considerable. It's huge. [00:06:51.000] - Kim Tate Well, our in laws won't come visit us from Canada because they're a family of five and they didn't come last summer because even after the border opened, they can't pay for five test times $150 or whatever. It just was cost prohibitive. [00:07:06.880] - Tamara Gruber So, yeah, I like to be an optimist, and it's been hard for a couple of years. And I know things can change and all of that, but it is just nice to see positive news, positive things happening. And I'm excited. I'm excited for where all of our travels are going to take us this year. [00:07:26.130] - Kim Tate I definitely think that it's exciting and I think that it's people I mean, governments are seeing that the travel restrictions and the testing isn't necessarily catching it. It's still spreading like wildfire all throughout the country. I think that's a bigger thing. Like, I'm fully into watching things, but the fact that obviously Omicron moved through multiple countries, it really shows that we kind of all just need to get back to living and do our responsible parts. [00:07:54.940] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. Well, speaking of getting back to living, I think everyone has been thinking of the trips that they want to take. And so we've been trying to have some episodes that addressed some of that, like some of that inspirational dream travel and today we're going to talk to really a credit card expert, and she's going to help us figure out ways to earn our way to those dream trips using credit cards. So I'm very excited to kind of find some new strategies after talking to her today. [00:08:26.090] - Kim Tate Yeah, definitely. Jennifer is a true expert. So let's get talking to her. [00:08:38.270] - Tamara Gruber We are here this week with Jennifer Yellin. She's a travel and credit card expert, founder of travel site Deals We Like, and a freelance writer for The Points Guy and CNN Underscored. So, Jennifer, I feel a little bit odd to have such an expert here today, but welcome. [00:08:52.970] - Jennifer Yellin Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. [00:08:55.340] - Tamara Gruber Well, we get a lot of questions about credit cards and strategies. And there are always some of our favorite episodes, and people always have different advice. So it's really nice to talk to, like, people with different viewpoints and experience. But before we get into really talking about what credit cards families should be using to earn points, I was hoping you could inspire us a little bit with some of the trips or flights that you've been able to book using miles and points. Sure. [00:09:21.790] - Jennifer Yellin Absolutely. So this past two years, like many of you, probably has been a little bit of a pause in staying at home. But just more recently, my family was actually able to take our first trip since the Pandemic started to Aruba, and we were able to book that fully on points, utilize our JetBlue points. And with JetBlue, it's really cool that if the flight goes down in price, you can cancel now with your points and rebook it. So I was able to do that a few times and really get that price down really low. Booking with points, even during the Christmas time period, it was pretty awesome. And then we stayed at the Hyatt Regency there right on Palm Beach and used points as well. And my husband actually has global status, which is their top tier status. So we are able to apply a suite upgrade. And we're confirmed into a two bedroom suite. And my kids had their own bunkbed room, which I thought was so cool. [00:10:11.020] - Kim Tate That's amazing. That's definitely like a dream. Good job on that, because I know those suite rewards are kind of difficulties sometimes. I hear they are. [00:10:19.280] - Jennifer Yellin I mean, it wasn't available right away. I had a check online daily, maybe hourly leading up to it. And probably about two weeks before our trip. [00:10:26.930] - Kim Tate It opened up nice. [00:10:28.700] - Jennifer Yellin That was good. [00:10:29.960] - Kim Tate That definitely sounds good. I know Tamara was in Aruba, too, but I think those are the dream trips that everybody thinks about when they can do points on Airlines and hotels. So Unfortunately, I get overwhelmed at that aspect of, like, how to redeem. And so I have a whole bunch of points, but they're all just sitting in my account doing nothing for me. So I had a friend who's in the point space once say to me, what do you hate free money? Because you're not using your points. So I know that that's a good thing when you can use them. [00:10:57.520] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. Family travel, specifically points kind of early because we always are booking during the popular Christmas break, spring break time frame. And that's when everyone books early. So right now I have a bunch of trips planned for December break. Clearly, I'm not taking them all, but booking them right when the war calendar opens up has allowed like a word availability to be booked and it's easier to come by. [00:11:22.660] - Tamara Gruber That's a good tip. [00:11:23.840] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. As long as I can cancel them, I'm good. I probably have like four different trips. [00:11:28.850] - Kim Tate Yeah. It becomes you have to have a spreadsheet to manage it sometimes. [00:11:33.110] - Kim Tate Well, what do you think is some of the so let's start off by talking about what you think some of the criteria is for people to look for when they're choosing a credit card to start earning points because there are a lot of options and I know kind of what I'm thinking and what other people have said. So in your opinion, what should people look at? [00:11:50.580] - Jennifer Yellin I think it kind of depends. There's two types of credit cards out there in the points space. Forget about cash back, but there's those that allow you to easily redeem your points. Like capital One is the first one that comes to mind. You book your flight and you can kind of use your points to wipe away the charge. [00:12:10.730] - Kim Tate Like the eraser or something. [00:12:12.510] - Jennifer Yellin Exactly. Like at a very easy rate. You don't have to worry about award availability. Like you were saying that you don't want to deal with if the flight is available. The hotel is available on points. As long as you can book it with cash, you can use your points. Then there's one like the Chase Ultimate Rewards, which kind of has a few different programs, actually. But those are where you can redeem your points to various hotel and airline programs by transferring your points. But that takes kind of some motivation, I guess it takes some effort and work and you need to kind of learn the programs, but then you could actually get something of better value. So it kind of depends on what your personality is. [00:12:53.540] - Kim Tate Right. And then, of course, there's also, like specific airline credit cards, like Delta or I have an Alaska card just because it gives me some perks. But it's funny because on Alaska I still book with my Amex because Alaska pays three times, but Amex pays five times. So it's kind of funny how you have to think about that stuff. [00:13:10.330] - Jennifer Yellin Absolutely. Other things I look for is I try to keep my annual fees low because I have a decent amount of credit cards. But are there perks that come with a credit card, like a free night certificate? So like Hyatt offers a free night certificate. It's capped at a category four, but I always find that that helps pay for the annual fee and actually allows me to come out ahead. So are there any of those other bonuses or perks that you'll utilize? [00:13:35.210] - Tamara Gruber I used to have a Marriott card, and I felt like sometimes I ended up not always using that voucher for the free night because then you would look at it and when I wanted to book, it was only like $100, $150. And you're like, oh, I'm going to save it for something else. And then it never ended up happening with all these things you definitely have to stay on top of make sure you're using the perks and the bonuses that you get. Right. [00:13:58.270] - Jennifer Yellin Definitely. Because if not, you could be spending a good amount on just fees where you're really not worth it. [00:14:04.160] - Tamara Gruber I mean, I totally admit that we've had the Capital One venture card for years and years, and the Holy Racer thing is just super simple. [00:14:12.670] - Kim Tate Yeah. That's what Paul likes. He loves that one. Just for the ease of it. [00:14:16.910] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. And we've also been using a higher credit card. And even though we're not getting the best value every time you make a purchase, it helps us earn global status, which, as I've mentioned before, is like their top tier status. So by earning that status, because every time you spend, I think $5,000 on the card, you get two nights towards status. So that, combined with staying at hotels, allows us to use that and then kind of get these awesome perks. So you kind of got to look at the pros and cons of every car and see what works best for you. Whenever anyone asks me, my simple answer sometimes is it depends. [00:14:51.780] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. We talked to who is Ed Pizza, right. A few months ago, Kim, and he was really recommending Hyatt as a great program for families. So I'm glad that you brought that one up and like ways to kind of maximize that because their point redemption is certainly much more generous than, as I mentioned, the Marriott card. [00:15:11.380] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. Ed and I are big Hyatt people for sure. [00:15:15.100] - Tamara Gruber Well, it sounds like you gave a couple of good starter cards for someone that's interested in travel but maybe doesn't have any particular destination in mind, or they just want to be able to use it, like travel generally. I know some people are like, really into Southwest, do everything Southwest. We had somebody on that talked about that in the past. But are there any other kind of starter cards that you would recommend for someone that doesn't want to be loyal to a particular brand or a particular airline? [00:15:43.570] - Jennifer Yellin Sure. Yes. If you don't want to be loyal and you kind of want to be agnostic and have to diversify your portfolio, I guess the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great card. I wouldn't say the sign up bonus is as high as it has been over the past year. So if you're not in a rush, you might want to hold off. But that is a good program where it's simple. They have really good transfer partners such as Hyatt, United, JetBlue, and then once you get more into it, you can explore some of the international airline partners as well. But it's simple. Everything transfers as one to one, and you can kind of figure out what your needs are and then transfer to the program. Or you can book through their travel portal. I think it's run by Expedia. It's the exact same process as booking as any other Expedia hotel you would or Air flight. And you can utilize your points that way, too. It's at a fixed value, so they offer a good amount of opportunities. [00:16:37.550] - Tamara Gruber And are they one that has a really broad portfolio of Airlines? I remember I used to do that a lot with Amex, and then they had gotten rid of a lot of their partners and we kind of dropped Amex for a while. Some still have limited partnerships with the one to one transfers. [00:16:55.310] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah, I think they have a broad number of transfer partners. It's on the airline front, off the top of my head. United JetBlue, British Airways, which a lot of people will book domestically. You can book their British Airways points using on American Airlines, so they're a partner. So it's really easy to travel domestically even with an international airline. And then there are some other international carriers, too, in Southwest actually is one of them as well. So I think they have a good amount. There are definitely ones that are better than others just because of not all points are pretty equal. So if you transfer one to one to Hyatt versus one to one to Marriott, Hyatt points are 20,000 Hyatt points is probably equivalent to 60,000 Marriott points. So it's slightly different when you're transferring in a one to one rate. You want to get the best value. I'd say. [00:17:45.920] - Kim Tate Yeah. I think that it's good to mention that you do have to be mindful of the transfer partners because that is where you can get into. There's a whole it's kind of like couponing, right? Where the people who are like those extreme couponers, they knew everything and they could stack stuff. And I think that people who really get into this are good at stacking stuff because it's like, oh, I know for a fact that British Airways has really high taxes. So maybe you want to fly Air Lingus into Ireland and then get to there's little things like that that you learn over time. But it is nice to have the multiple transfer partners knowing that you can kind of optimize the way the credit cards work for you. Do you have any tips? Because I know this is a big thing in the point space about deciding if you do decide to have multiple cards, how do you decide what expenses to put on each card? [00:18:29.730] - Jennifer Yellin So I have many cards, probably too many, but I kind of look at category bonuses. So some credit cards will give increased payout for gas, some will for restaurants, some for travel, supermarkets, your common purchases. And so I kind of lay it out and I actually have what's it called tape with Sharpie written on which one to use for various types of purchases. And that has helped, but that can definitely get overwhelming. I'd say if you don't want to be overwhelmed, you're probably better off with a credit card like the Capital Adventure that just offers you two points for every dollar you spent. It doesn't matter what you're purchasing. If you're buying a toy for your child, purchasing travel, going to grocery store, anything, it's the same return. So it really depends on maybe your personality and how much you want to spend on this. But if you're willing to put in the effort, you can definitely maximize every single purchase you make. But it will require a few different credit cards. [00:19:35.410] - Tamara Gruber I like that tip, though, of like putting a little note on them in some way because I have a terrible memory when it comes to numbers. And so I could see myself having a spreadsheet somewhere that says use this one for gas and this one for that. But until it becomes like routine and a habit, I would be like which 01:00 a.m. I supposed to use again. So like a little tip, right? [00:19:56.480] - Kim Tate So many people in the point space on the groups, a new quarter comes around and they change out and they have those label makers like the Dymo label makers, and they put them on their cards, which card to use? And they do it for their spouses too. That maybe aren't into it as much because sure enough, I think of that. I'm like, which one do I want to use for dining? What do I want to pay here? [00:20:24.450] - Tamara Gruber I'm thinking like when you use Apple Pay or you do online and your card saved, you can name them. Usually just name it like Amex or Visa. You could name it like grocery store, dining, gas. [00:20:36.650] - Kim Tate All the gas probably isn't needed online. [00:20:39.090] - Tamara Gruber So that kind of covers some of the general travel. I know some people have some dream trips in mind. Like say, okay, I want to go to the Maldives or I want to go to Tokyo. Like what is a good strategy to get me to a particular destination? Is that better to then look at a specific card for the airline? That might be best for that? What would your approach to that kind of scenario be? [00:21:05.080] - Kim Tate Absolutely. [00:21:05.600] - Jennifer Yellin Whenever I give anyone advice, I always actually find it's easier for me to help them when they have a specific trip in mind, because then you can have a strategy for that particular destination. So I know it was a few years back, but a friend of mine wanted to go on our honeymoon to the Maldives. Like you had mentioned, it's definitely a quite extensive adventure. So this is a prime opportunity to use your points and miles. And I said, well, the Hyatt actually has a great property there get the highest credit card. I can't remember what the actual bonus was at the time, but right off the bat, it was either two or three nights free at the Maldives. This was many years ago when before the point rates went up a little bit. But that was probably a $3,000 in savings. So I think if you know exactly where you want to stay, let's say it's the Hyatt, then look to see what the Hyatt credit card is offering at the time. Look to see what maybe the Chase Sapphire Preferred is offering at the time, since you can transfer the Hyatt and see which one is going to give you a better welcome offer for that particular destination in mind. [00:22:07.650] - Kim Tate Yeah, I know we were planning a trip to Tokyo, and Japan Airlines is a partner with Alaska, and Alaska is my airline of choice here in Seattle. And so that was easy for me because I was kind of banking those miles and I got the Alaska card because my status gives me free bags, but I was able to get free bags for my kids as well. And all that. And those points really helped in the way get us our Tokyo flights that we didn't get to use, but still there. [00:22:32.320] - Tamara Gruber You got them? [00:22:33.530] - Kim Tate Yeah. [00:22:33.910] - Jennifer Yellin I did something similar last year about probably eleven months ago. I knew I wanted to go to Hawaii over this past December break. We didn't go, therefore, we went to Aruba. But I purposely just got the Alaska credit card purely for them, based in Boston. Boston. I don't think I've actually ever flown Alaskan Airlines in my life, actually. But there was a points available I saw. So I immediately applied for the credit card and both my name and my husband's name. And actually I applied for the personal credit card and the business credit card in both of us. And I knew that immediately would give us both a one way flight there. And I already had American Airlines booked on the way home with points. So I applied for that card for that one specific destination. I now have all these Alaska airline miles, and I know that I'll just use them at another point of time to hopefully go to Hawaii again. [00:23:21.250] - Kim Tate Yeah. [00:23:22.350] - Jennifer Yellin So I did that myself, too. [00:23:24.870] - Kim Tate So let's talk about we talked about booking flights and using points because this is something that I've struggled with a lot. When you are for a family, when you are wanting to use points, do you think it's easier to just always search for four tickets? Say you're a family four. Tamara is a family, three, whatever you are, your whole family search for tickets with those points? Or do you think it's better to be willing to pay for some and get tickets for some? Because I know that I've struggled with that, especially because as a status person, I almost want to buy my ticket, which is what I did for our spring break. I bought my ticket and I use points on my family's three tickets because now I'll earn miles on that trip and they don't care about anything else. So do you have any tips about that for using points with a family? [00:24:10.340] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah, we actually do the same. We fly JetBlue a lot now. And my husband had status and actually they extended his status. So he still has his status, which actually isn't worth as much anymore. But we'll pay for his ticket and then use the points to purchase tickets for myself and my two kids. And then Jeff, who allows you if you call them and the tickets are booked within a few minutes of one another, they'll kind of link them kind of for you. So that's a strategy we use with JetBlue and Southwest. There's no capacity control. So as long as there's a paid ticket available, you can go ahead and use your points. It doesn't matter, unlike some other Airlines. But with other Airlines, sometimes I do recommend just looking at one ticket at a time, because if there's one or two tickets, you could do that. The only problem is when you're booking with multiple itineraries. And sometimes if there's schedule changes, the Airlines aren't as helpful, I guess is the right term to keep families together, necessarily if they are booked on separate itineraries. So that's just one thing to keep in mind if you're booking under multiple reservations. [00:25:15.090] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, we've actually had that happen to us a number of times. We used to travel on points much more often and we were separated. And it's one of those things that especially when you book far out in advance, they tend to reshuffle flights fairly often and equipment, and so you can easily get moved around. And it's something I'm sensitive to because I have a child who is now older, but when she was younger was also a nervous liar. So there's, like, no way I would have wanted her separated from me. I think it's a good tip to say call, tell them to link the PNR numbers on the itinerary, but it's definitely not foolproof. So if it's something that you're concerned about, definitely something to keep in mind. [00:25:59.070] - Jennifer Yellin Right. And my thought is if I'm willing to pay for two or three of the passengers and I'm probably willing to pay for all of them and then use the points at another time, I personally like to book with everything either paid or points just to keep everything clean. [00:26:15.750] - Kim Tate And I know that when you do talk about just for people who are maybe a little more intermediate or advanced well, if they're advanced they already know this. But I know that a lot of people use Expert Flyer, which is a website. You can actually pay a yearly membership fee. I think it's like $49 a year. $99 a year. I don't remember what it is. And they somehow have some magic API that looks for special award availability that's coded a certain way. And so if you are trying to play a game, I know some people set up like alerts so that if they're watching a specific flight or a specific destination, they can kind of if an award ticket becomes available, they can hurry and log in and book it. [00:26:57.950] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah, absolutely. That is one good technique. And another thing I've kind of found helpful at times is using an award booking service. I know that seems silly from someone who kind of knows as well, but specifically with international Airlines, it can be beyond overwhelming. And they have all the tools and they have the same API's. And I don't know what they do in the background, but sometimes they're able to find ways that you didn't think of to go ahead and book an award internationally using partner programs. And it can actually save you points. So if you have points on one Airlines, but then also points in a flexible program like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which awards you ultimate reward points, you actually could potentially transfer your points to a program and then book your itinerary for less points than booking with another program. So there's so many different things to know, I guess, when it comes to that. But there are services out there. [00:27:53.490] - Kim Tate Yeah. Do you have any? Because I know a friend that I kind of met once that's in the space. And at one point when we were looking at Japan and I was trying to decide if I was going to do it myself and he charged like 150 or something to do it for you. But do you know what those typically charge or what? Is there a top one or two that you know by name that you could mention? Sure. [00:28:15.120] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. That price point sounds about right. But then there are other services that have kind of come out over the past few years. So one is Point me, it used to be called Juicy Miles, and instead of them actually booking it for you, you can kind of like Expert Flyer in a sense, somewhat. You put in your itinerary and it kind of lists out all these different options for you. So it's all system process. There's no one physically doing it for you. And that's a much less expensive option. I think that you can charge a monthly fee or maybe just you can do it a one time or even a seven day trial period. I think so. Those are some good options, too, because it's less expensive. But it will give you all these international Airlines that you do in point programs that you probably didn't even know existed. And how to book. The only problem is some of them are a little bit more challenging to actually transfer to and book. But by quick Google searching, there's, like everything out there that you can figure out on how to transfer points and everything. It's time consuming. [00:29:16.410] - Jennifer Yellin It's really time consuming. And sometimes, I don't know, it might be easier. [00:29:19.740] - Kim Tate That's what I'm saying at this point. I would pay someone $250 to do it for me because I do know how time consuming. [00:29:26.970] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. And usually you don't pay unless it works. Right. [00:29:30.550] - Kim Tate Unless they get it for you. [00:29:31.880] - Jennifer Yellin Right. If you're not happy with it, no harm. [00:29:34.500] - Kim Tate Yeah, that's good tip. And I think also just a heads up for some people realize that a lot of these, like, I know Amex and Ultimate Rewards, a lot of their transfer partners take 24 to 72 hours for the points to kick into your account, which can be a big issue, especially if you're like, oh, this airfare just became available. Now I have to transfer the points, but then you're waiting there two, three days. I'm hoping that they hit your account so you can buy that award ticket. It's very stressful. I actually did that for Alaska to get our Japan tickets. I needed like 50,000 more and I had to transfer some. And I was like, oh, my gosh, please get in my account before these disappear. [00:30:09.750] - Tamara Gruber That's a really good point. [00:30:11.620] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. If you like Google also, I don't know why has it, but if you Google, like, time to transfer points from one program to another, there's so many experts out there, points people that have kind of taken all the data and put it all together. So some of them are instant. Some of them could even take seven days. But you could probably get a good inkling based on what these other people have put together. [00:30:35.190] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. Well, it's one of these spaces where there are so many experts, but trying to sort through it all on your own is definitely confusing. That idea of being able to hire someone to help you. And thinking about that, I'm such an advanced planner, you kind of want to be like, oh, well, I'm probably going to use this. I'll just switch the points over now, but then you can't switch them back. [00:30:58.030] - Jennifer Yellin That is a good tip. Once you transfer points out of, like, Capital One or City or American Express Chase, I think those are the three main ones. They're in that program of choice. They are not going back in. So once flexible, points are no longer flexible. [00:31:12.770] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. One way. [00:31:14.020] - Jennifer Yellin Yes. [00:31:15.690] - Tamara Gruber Well, we talked a little bit about some ways that you can maximize kind of your earning potential through these. But maybe we can just touch on that a little bit more deeply because I feel like it gets challenging for families that don't have someone that's like a real road warrior that's traveling a lot to kind of build up points simply from travel. So obviously you need to find other ways to earn those points. So maybe you can just touch on a few of those strategies. [00:31:41.670] - Jennifer Yellin Absolutely. So one major way is to sign up for every single shopping portal. Ebates is one that's always advertised and that will give you cash back, although you can now have those points go into American Express. But similar to ebay, you can sign up and receive points to American Airlines or United Alaska. All the Airlines have their own shopping portal. So all you have to do is Google Alaska Airlines shopping portal and it'll bring you up. And a lot of them even have those widgets on your computer where every time you go to a site, if you were to Gap.com, it'll pop up and say kind of give you a reminder, remember to shop through the Alaska Port. I don't know if that. [00:32:22.620] - Kim Tate Yeah, the extensions. Like the Chrome extensions. Yeah, exactly. And I think Ebates, just so everyone knows it's called Racketon. Now, if you're confused about that. No, it's okay. You're good. I still think of them as ebay. So I wanted everyone to yes. [00:32:35.800] - Jennifer Yellin Ebay was definitely a softer name. So every time you make a purchase online, there's no reason not to earn points unless it's more of a boutique store. But with your mainstream stores, even if you're only earning one point per dollar spent that's one point more than you would have earned otherwise. And sometimes if you sign up for their emails, if you spend $200, earn $1,000 bonus. They have these types of bonuses all the time, especially around the holidays, Black Friday, even randomly, the long holiday weekends, like Memorial Day, Labor Day, big shopping weekends, and just sometimes out of the blue. So there's ways to really accrue a lot of miles from home. [00:33:17.530] - Kim Tate Absolutely. [00:33:18.420] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. [00:33:18.790] - Kim Tate That's one of my favorite tips. I do that a lot and I really like it. And there's these websites now, the one I use the most is like Cashback Holic. And they'll compare. So if you're going to you're like, okay, I'm about ready to buy. I'm going to book this Marriott stay. You can type in Marriott and it'll show you like who, because I belong to Racketon and Top Cashback and I can compare those two. I try not to get into too many of them, so I mainly use those two. But I'm like, oh, Top Cashback is 6%. Racketon is only four. I'm going to go to Top Cashback so you can get really nerdy and kind of compare them also. [00:33:49.190] - Jennifer Yellin Oh, totally. Absolutely. And EV Rewards is another one that will also compare for you is great. [00:33:57.090] - Tamara Gruber I totally admit that. I completely suck at this. I don't use any of these. And every time you read about it, you're like, oh yeah, I should do that. And I just get excited if I actually learn how to use one of the bonuses on my credit card, like get $50, $50. [00:34:16.510] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah. And another thing you want to do, I mean, this is separate from the shopping portal is I remember I think it was the last time I received an email from Barclaycard. And they are the bank with JetBlue. And it was like ridiculous offer spent $2,000 on your card over three months and earn I think it was 40,000 points. It was a targeted offer. I got it. My husband didn't. I was like, all right, moving all my spent to my JetBlue card for the next few months. Right. And they're just paying attention just helps you earn these increased offers. So there's definitely ways from home without flying to earn points and miles. [00:34:55.990] - Kim Tate I've definitely been getting better about when I'm about ready to either go on a trip or go shopping with my girls or something along those lines. I log into my Chase and my Amex accounts online and I look because they have an offer section because you have to add them to your card. [00:35:09.740] - Jennifer Yellin Yes. [00:35:10.010] - Kim Tate And I don't think people always realize that. So if it's like, oh, Levi's is having a deal, I add it to my card because maybe they're going to want Levi's jeans while we're on back to school shopping or, oh, guess what? Hilton is doing this special. If you spend if you stay two nights, you get whatever the case may be. And I don't think people do that enough. But it's a good way to really I think if you want to get serious about it, you should log in often to the offers page because they reset every month. [00:35:34.850] Yeah. [00:35:35.740] - Jennifer Yellin Every day you're going to laugh. But American Express offers used to update every day at three in the morning. And I'm not joking. And so when my kids were small and I was up in the middle of the night non stop, I was like, so excited. And that was part of my daily routine. Some people have their morning coffee. I would look at my American Express offers. I'm not even kidding. That's awesome. Daily. But I will say it used to be you could add them to every single American Express credit card you have. I can't remember when, but a few years ago, it's now just one per account. So it's not as generous as it used to be. But I used to check them every single morning. And I'd saved thousands of dollars this way because it's not earning points. Well, actually, there are offers that you can earn points, but some of them are cashback. So now there's either cash back or increase point offers. So it depends on the offer and the type of card you have, because some cards might have it somewhere, but they're really great way to earn points or offset your purchases. [00:36:33.850] - Kim Tate And like you said, so many are targeted. Like Tamara got this offer for a Marriott offer at one point on her Amex and mine. I didn't have it and I'm convinced it's because I had the Amex Marriott card. [00:36:42.870] - Tamara Gruber I don't know. [00:36:44.830] - Jennifer Yellin You'll never know. And sometimes you can even I remember I can't remember the exact offer, but it was like grocery stores and I spend $500 getting $100 offer, something like that. And I wasn't going to make $500 purchase in once because sometimes it's on a single purchase. So I just bought a $500 gift card there and then just use the gift card over the course of my shopping fees. So there are ways to kind of I don't know if scheme the system is the right term, but play the game. [00:37:13.460] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. I mean, I do what you do, Kim, is when I'm shopping online, I'm like, wait, that might have an offer. Let me look. But the other thing with the gift cards is just simply like gifts, right. We give gifts and I buy gift cards for people all the time. And it's just like if it's something that you're spending anyway, just find a way to use to earn points on it, right? [00:37:34.430] - Jennifer Yellin Absolutely. Or be the one to pay the bill at the restaurant and have everyone to Mo you buy the class gifts or anything like that. Like everyone wonders why I'm always a class mom. It's to accrue all the money and then I can put all the purchases on her credit card. [00:37:49.320] - Tamara Gruber Love it. [00:37:49.910] - Jennifer Yellin Little things like that. [00:37:51.290] - Kim Tate Well, I know another big way to maximize points is with sign up bonuses. So could you give any final tips for people that are thinking of getting a new card, anything they should know about sign up bonuses or things to watch for, and then wrap it up with any final tips that you think people need to know about credit card points? [00:38:07.580] - Jennifer Yellin Absolutely. So one thing you want to make sure of is when you sign up for a credit card, make sure it doesn't have to be the best offer because you might be waiting around for a year for the best offer. But make sure it's a really good offer. I know we were speaking before and you said you apply for an offer that was like half of what it typically is. So when you see an offer, make sure it's a good value and it's going to provide you with enough points that you'll be happy with that. Even if a better offer comes along in a month or two. Pay attention to best offer. Some banks, actually, if you apply within a few weeks or maybe even a month, if you call them up and say this better offer just came out, will you match it? They may or may not match it for you, but it's always worth a try. You never know. Some banks have kind of different fools and they change every so often also. But if you're looking for a credit card right now and specifically for family travel. The Southwest Credit Card actually has one of the best offers where you'll earn the Southwest Companion Pass. [00:39:05.500] - Jennifer Yellin I don't know if you guys have discussed the Southwest Companion Pass much on the podcast, but it's definitely one of my favorite travel features. And it allows someone to fly with you for free in a limited number of times. I've been a passholder for the past 13 or 14 years at this point. And it's like the most amazing thing ever. So that's one of my favorite offers right now. If you live in a Southwest hub, if you don't live near Southwest, then it's not worth it. [00:39:33.520] - Kim Tate And I'll chime in and just say that we did cover quite extensively about that Southwest offer and stuff with Lynne and that's episode 181. If anybody wants to go back and listen to that awesome. [00:39:43.960] - Jennifer Yellin Yes, she's an expert and everything's Southwest as well. So that's one thing right now, credit card offers are changing all the time. I think Marriott just came out with something last week, United as well. So it's like hard to even keep track. But sometimes even just like Googling best credit card offers from the experts. You'll get pages, but make sure it's really the best and not just them pushing you on the best when it might not be. [00:40:11.950] - Kim Tate Yeah, I definitely think that I've done that where especially if I have a big purchase, like, oh, I'm buying a new camera or we're about ready to take a big trip and I'm going to be putting a lot of charges. I kind of go and I say, okay, best credit card offers for March 2022 or whatever. And of course, it's the points guy, nerd wallet, upgraded points. [00:40:31.310] - Tamara Gruber Like all those guys. [00:40:32.280] - Kim Tate And so it's kind of good to just read through those and kind of see which ones are popping up. And they definitely, you'll know, because it's not just an offer. Like they'll write a whole article about this amazing offer is one of the best we've seen lately, that sort of stuff. [00:40:45.640] - Jennifer Yellin Right? Absolutely. And also just another tip is make sure you can meet the minimum spend requirements. Some of the credit cards are 1000 $2,000 in three months, six months. But the Capital One Venture X card right now, for example, is like, I think it's $10,000. So that might not be obtainable for most families. [00:41:04.130] - Kim Tate Exactly. [00:41:04.910] - Jennifer Yellin So it just makes it something you can do. [00:41:07.420] - Kim Tate Those business cards can sometimes have really high spends. Because I've looked at doing a business card, sometimes I'm just like, there's just no way I can spend that right now. [00:41:15.240] - Jennifer Yellin Right. [00:41:16.170] - Kim Tate Although I know that's a whole other expert level of people who do credit or gift card buy and resell to do that. So that's a whole other level. [00:41:24.990] - Jennifer Yellin Yes, it is. If you're interested in that, go to Greg at the Frequent Mile or he is crazy when it comes to this. But awesome attitude. [00:41:32.530] - Tamara Gruber One of the things that I'm thinking about. As I'm listening to you guys, I'm thinking about what I have an upcoming trip where I'm going to be spending a lot of money and some of that's already on one of my credit cards. But maybe I should look into what bonuses are up right now. But it makes me think about when you want to churn your cards. And we obviously talked about signing up, you and your husband for a card and signing up for this card in that card. And it's like, at what point are too many cards? Like too many? Like, how long do you keep it before you get rid of it? Are there considerations to think about in terms of your credit or just eligibility for future cards? That just to make people aware of? [00:42:10.930] Sure. [00:42:11.520] - Jennifer Yellin So as long as you're responsible with your credit cards, for the most part, credit cards are not going to hurt your credit. I mean, you'll see people who have 50 credit cards and they still have these awesome 800 credit scores. If you're applying for a mortgage to get a house in a few weeks, don't apply for a credit card right now. Right. So there's definitely or even any loan I wouldn't recommend applying for a credit card. Wait. And then go and get it. In regards to when you should cancel, if you're not getting value out of your credit card, cancel it's not going to hurt you or downgrade to a no annual fee. For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire preferred card and you find that the $95 annual fee is not worth it anymore, first of all, call and see if they'll do something for you. A lot of times they might say, okay, if you spend $1,000, we'll give you a $95 credit. You just never hurt. I know. Last year I think I ended up getting about $500 back from American Express amongst a lot of my credit cards. I know COVID played a hand in that. [00:43:16.470] - Jennifer Yellin But always call and see. And if not, then see if there's a car that you can downgrade it to, and then there won't be a Ding on your credit report. I mean, it also depends on what your current credit score is. And sometimes you might get a Ding, but it will go back up in a few months. So there's a few factors depending on. [00:43:34.050] - Kim Tate Yeah, it's like ten point Ding, and it does pop right back up because we've had that opening up a credit card kind of opens up. [00:43:40.310] - Jennifer Yellin Gives you more credit, which creditors like, too. [00:43:43.520] - Kim Tate So opening up credit cards is not a bad thing unless you're applying for a big mortgage. They don't like to see your capital, your accessibility too high, right? [00:43:53.510] - Jennifer Yellin Absolutely. And then Chase also has Chase and American Express have different rules in place. So I'm not sure if you've discussed Chase is 524. [00:44:01.800] - Kim Tate Yeah, we talked about that. [00:44:03.530] - Jennifer Yellin So you've applied for five or more cards. Usually they're personal cards, but sometimes they throw business cards into it, too. Chase will automatically not approve you for another credit card. I've seen some reports that that might be changing, actually. So we'll kind of see what happens over the next few months. But that's one thing to keep in mind. It's five or more cards in 24 months, I think I said. And then American Express also doesn't allow you to get the welcome offer for I believe it's like once in a lifetime, but once it falls off your credit report, they might not know. So might be like seven years. So those are things to kind of keep in mind. That's why you want to apply when the offer is the best, because if it's not and you're going to be losing out on points if a new offer comes around and then you're not able to get it and you're no longer a card holder. [00:44:48.390] - Tamara Gruber I have one more question for you, because now I'm just going to use you as my personal source for information if you want to get an additional card for someone in your family. So, for example, I have a 17 year old that we've been waiting till she turns 18 to get a credit card for her. And we've been debating like, do you get her own credit card or do we put her on one of ours? Do we get another one of the capital one cards? Any tips for if you're adding somebody in your family, maybe a first card? Is there any advantage, like kind of getting points from them versus kind of setting them up on their own? [00:45:24.660] Sure. [00:45:25.100] - Jennifer Yellin So just remember, if someone is an authorized user, you're responsible for all of their credit card habits. So if the credit card bill is not paid or if anything happens, it kind of can hit you. So just something to keep in mind with teenagers. But I actually personally don't know a lot about the high school age and what credit cards you can and cannot apply for for that age. I'm not there yet, fortunately. But setting someone up as an authorized user, I think some credit cards you can maybe do as early as 13, you can add them on. And that actually helps them as well build their own credit score. So it's always a great thing to get add on authorized users if they're not eligible to get their own credit card. And then when they are to get them, there are various student credit cards, and a lot of times those comes with $300 spend limits or very low thresholds that you might want for your child. But yeah, definitely getting them set up will only help their credit score, which can then ultimately help them in their 20s to apply for a credit card. [00:46:26.470] - Jennifer Yellin That will be useful. But there are a lot of student credit cards out there that do give you points and miles. [00:46:32.810] - Kim Tate They do come with a really high annual fee or not annual fee interest rate. Normally, that's the only bad thing. We actually added my husband and my daughter, both as authorized users with my Amex Platinum Tamara, because of the lounge access. So now, especially if they're changing it, we're going to get Mia. And that'll be my maxed on three, because with Amex Platinum, you get three authorized users for $175 total. So you pay the $175 and then they get all the lounge benefits as well. Are they changing the lounge that you can no longer guests unless you spend like $75,000 starting in January of 2023? I think you don't get anywhere. Is that right, Jennifer? I think that's right. [00:47:15.840] - Jennifer Yellin That I don't know. [00:47:17.100] - Kim Tate Okay. [00:47:17.820] - Jennifer Yellin Sorry. [00:47:18.780] - Kim Tate No, you're fine. [00:47:19.580] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah, but I will say that the expensive credit cards a lot of times you have to pay to add an authorized user, but no annual fee or low annual fee credit cards. Usually you can add a few authorized users for no fee. [00:47:33.380] - Kim Tate Great. Well, one of our questions that we ask all of our guests is what do you wear when you travel? So do you have any favorite brands that you want to tell us about when you travel? [00:47:41.020] - Jennifer Yellin Sure. I travel as comfortably as possibly. And I also wear my everyday clothes, which consists of black as leader pants, which is side pockets, like those leggings. And then you can put your cell phone or any cars. Side pockets are a necessity. Once I found them, like two years ago, I can never go back. And sneakers or flip flops, depending on the weather. Nothing fun and exciting. [00:48:05.480] - Tamara Gruber Well, you're brave wearing flip flops on the plane. [00:48:07.370] - Kim Tate My feet are always freezing. [00:48:09.230] - Jennifer Yellin Yeah, that is a good point. It depends on the length of it's. Just like an hour flight that's going to be different. But you're right. I used to travel for work every single week for many years. And I would always be traveling like those high heels and hated every second of it. I would get off the plane and go straight to the client site for the week. And now I just want to be comfortable. [00:48:28.770] - Kim Tate And everyone has those little packable ballet flats that you can just pop in and out. Yeah. [00:48:34.610] - Tamara Gruber I'm happy, though. So work travel days are behind me, too. And just like work dress in general has changed. [00:48:41.210] - Jennifer Yellin Oh, yeah. I got rid of all of my stuff, never going back. [00:48:44.640] - Kim Tate Good. [00:48:45.030] - Tamara Gruber Well, can you remind our listeners where they can find you online or learn more about points? [00:48:51.120] - Kim Tate Absolutely. [00:48:51.940] - Jennifer Yellin So you can find me at my blog Deals We Like. You can also find me on Twitter or Facebook. Everything is at Deals We Like. And then also I'm a freelance contributor at the Point Sky and CNN Underscore. So I have some great articles there as well. That where you can learn more about credit cards, family travel, anything in the points and miles world. [00:49:10.850] - Tamara Gruber Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge with us. It's always really great when we can get an expert on and just kind of brainstorm some ideas. Hopefully people will have something new that they can try to get them a little bit closer to their next kind of dream trip. [00:49:25.130] - Kim Tate Thanks for having me. It was great chatting with you. [00:49:27.320] - Announcer Thanks. [00:49:27.630] - Tamara Gruber You too. [00:49:31.850] - Kim Tate Well, as always, thanks for joining us for another week here and I have a little request. Tamara, I was looking at our podcast page the other day and I noticed that we were almost at 100 reviews. We are really close so I'm going to do a little bag from all of our lovely listeners and ask you guys if you're willing if you love our show, if you would leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app, the one I looked on was Apple podcast. But wherever you're at or listen to us, if you'd leave us a positive review, we'd love it. We love hearing from you guys and I'd love to see that switch to 100 reviews. [00:50:05.780] - Tamara Gruber That would be great. I know we've been at this for almost six years and actually by the time it comes out it will be six years and we're just really bad about asking for reviews. We definitely appreciate it. I know some podcasts every day it's like the first thing that you hear is like leave us a review but we would appreciate it. We'll give you shout outs online. We'll read them especially if they're nice, but even if they're not nice, we will read them mindful of it but otherwise stay tuned because next episode we're going to be talking about sustainable travel and I think that is also on a lot of people's minds as we're getting back out there and how to be responsible and thinking about things in a more sustainable way. So join us next time talk to you again soon. Bye.

We're back with the latest travel news and how to plan the perfect Cape Cod vacation. News links: MGM Resorts lost $1 Billion last quarter United Airlines offering the craziest 10% discount we've seen Most Marriott credit cards offering 10 miles per dollar on dining and gas station charges American Express Platinum customers are getting a $200 travel credit And, AMEX Platinum folks can get $100 in free gear from Dell. Then, Jen from Deals We Like joins us to help plan the perfect Cape Cod vacation, including how to use points for some pretty nice getaway spots! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us attract more listeners! Hope you enjoy the show! If you have a suggestion for a future show find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and let me know what you’d like to hear about!

What the heck do you do right now with a credit card that earns a bunch of bonus points for travel? We’re talking about that in depth today. If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us attract more listeners! Pretty much all the banks are jumping on the bandwagon of new bonus categories during the pandemic. Jen from Deals We Like joins us today to help rearrange your wallet to maximize your earning right now. And, a brief reminder to make sure you’re getting enough value out of your credit cards to keep paying those annual fees. Especially on the premium cards, there’s no sense paying $400 or $500 a year if you’re not getting the bang for the buck. **Side note: We're still waiting for Jen's Instacart to post to her Chase Sapphire Reserve, as noted in the episode. If you have a suggestion for a future show find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and let me know what you’d like to hear about! Hope you enjoy the show!

Not going anywhere at the moment means that you might also forget to notice your passport is close to expiring. Or, perhaps you want to renew it a bit earlier/faster than you would normally. Tiffany Funk from One Mile at a Time shares some best practices on getting a passport quickly. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like chats with Ed about ways you can still save, even when off the road. Such as 20% off streaming apps and DoorDash! Links Tiffany Funk SoFi offering 20% cash back on Netflix, Disney+, Door Dash and more 20% discount at Amazon, up to $50 off — working on gift card purchases too!

There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and changes to travel loyalty programs! Have you heard? There are more changes coming to Marriott Bonvoy and not to be left out, the same goes for World of Hyatt. Tune in to hear Ed chat with Jen Yellin from Deals We Like about all these updates to both programs. Which properties are moving up or down categories? How can you lock in rates ahead of time? Are there new "sweet spots" on the award chart? They tackle all this and more!LinksMarriott Adds Capacity Controls To Limit Awards At Many HotelsWorld of Hyatt Annual Category Changes Coming SoonNowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

The "biggest ever" credit card bonuses keep coming! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like fills us in on how to maximize benefits of the new IHG credit card offer. Nikki Solano knows Costa Rica. She just put the finishing touches on a guide book to help you plan your trip. We're giving away copies of that guide book to help you plan a great trip to Costa Rica. You can also check out her blog where she shares tips on how to save money and plan the right Costa Rica trip for you.  Listen in to this segment where Nikki talks about her love for Costa Rica and why it should be high on your destination list. LinksBest Offer Ever: 140,000 IHG Points with the IHG Credit Card NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

We've all faced the decision of whether to go pick up our take out food or have it delivered. Is it worth the added cost of delivery fees? What you might not realize are the hidden costs of food delivery services. Even if the Chase Sapphire Reserve card gives you statement credits for DoorDash. Tune in to hear Richard Kerr from TPG chat all about how delivery apps might cost you more than 50% more than if you just pick it up (or order with the restaurant directly)! Jen Yellen from Deals We Like is back with her (almost) weekly segment tackling Hilton's newest points promotion!LinksCritical Points: The Hidden Costs of Food Delivery AppsStart Taking Advantage of the Hilton Honors Points Unlimited PromoNowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

This week, tune in to an extended chat with Jen Yellin from Deals We Like! She and Ed chat about their favorite hotel chains for family travel. They share which status tiers are worth it for each brand in addition to some helpful tips and tricks on how to maximize those elite benefits!Links: https://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/hotel-chain-best-benefits-for-my-family-hilton-vs-hyatt-vs-marriott/ https://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/earning-the-most-amount-of-points/ NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

It turns out that a lot of y'all enjoy cruising. So much so that some of our most listened to segments were all about cruises! This week Andrea Rotondo from The Points Guy joins Ed to chat all about the best luxury cruise lines out there.Have you heard the news? Southwest Airlines is offering their biggest credit card offer EVER! Our friend Jen Yellin from Deals We Like walks through the steps on how to earn this bonus for only $5k in spend over 6 months! Links: https://thepointsguy.com/author/arotondo/ https://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/southwest-credit-card-personal-bump/NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

A quick note: For some reason this didn't publish yesterday. Most likely user error.  My apologies. NowBoarding, your daily travel news in 7 minutes or less. This is your host, Ed Pizza, bringing you the latest travel deals and travel news you need to know Monday through Friday. No more worrying about missing out on the best deals. Give us a couple of minutes every day and we’ll give you what’s going on in the world of travel. A quick side note, thanks to Daniel for sending some feedback my way last night. I’m going to try to make an effort to give you guys a bit more of each story as I share the news. I’m trying to balance keeping the show short so you can tune in easily every day with making sure I’m delivering enough valuable information. Please keep the feedback coming! Look for links to all of today’s stories in the show notes on whatever podcast platform you’re listening. And, please share the show with a friend! First up this week is word of a strike in France for transportation workers. This could obviously affect your airline travel, since Air France union ground crew workers are supposed to strike. Air traffic controllers are said to be a part of it, which would make matters much worse. And, this strike is also supposed to affect rail workers. Train is a great way to get from airports like Charles-de Gaulle to downtown Paris. And, I’ve taken the train to get to smaller cities outside of Paris. If you have a trip planned soon, it’s time to start thinking of backup plans. Next up is the news that BankDirect will start sending 1099s for the miles you earn with their banking product. BankDirect has been around for ages. It’s a way to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on your banking. The program is not as lucrative as it once was, but it’s still a reasonable way to earn a few miles. There are competing opinions on how bad the change from BankDirect is. One Mile at a Time thinks it’s not worth the hassle, while View From The Wing thinks this is a small cost and still a viable way to earn some miles. One of the more popular cash back apps, Dosh, is offering a $30 cash back bonus for hotel bookings right now. This is on top of the regular cash back you’d receive on a Dosh booking. Deals We Like has more details on this easy way to pick up cash if you’re planning a hotel stay in the near future. Richard Branson is no longer interested in selling his controlling stake in Virgin Atlantic to Air France-KLM. This was essentially a way for Delta to gain a majority control in the airline through a series of different transactions. It’s unclear how much this cost Richard Branson, or how mad Delta is. But, it’s highly likely this is better for frequent fliers than if Delta had control of the award charts. Finally, today is the first day of United Airlines new upgrade system, PlusPoints. The system offers more flexibility to elite travelers for the upgrades they receive. PlusPoints replaces the Global Premier Upgrades and Regional Premier Upgrades, also referred to as GPU and RPU for us nerds. This is likely to be a positive change, adding a bit of flexibility for travelers. However, unless United loosens their hold on inventory, this will likely end up as a non-event for most travelers. That’s a full wrap on today’s travel news. If you’ve got a piece of travel news that you think I should feature on NowBoarding, you can e-mail me at ed@pizzainmotion.com, or find me on social media, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And, you can find me blogging daily at pizzainmotion.com. And, since we’re still getting started on this new format, you can do me a big favor and leave me a review on whatever podcast platform you’re listening to. Reviews and ratings are a huge part of what helps us reach a larger audience. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please tell a friend. That’s your travel news in 7 minutes or less. I hope you’ll join us again on a future flight!

NowBoarding, your daily travel news in 7 minutes or less. I’m your host, Ed Pizza, and I bring you news on the latest travel deals and travel news you need to know Monday through Friday. No more worrying about missing out on the best deals. Give us a couple of minutes every day and we’ll make sure you’ve got the best info. Plenty of Black Friday stuff to talk about today. There are so many travel deals out there right now. No matter how you like to travel, there’s a deal for you. If you’re looking for one place to follow on Black Friday to get the full picture, check out the Black Friday command center at Deals We Like. You can find a link to it in the show notes. If your Black Friday plan was to do all your shopping on Amazon, you may be targeted for an offer to save $60 if you make all your purchases through the Amazon App. Miles to Memories has all the details. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, there’s an unbelievable price on the MacBook Air right now. I’m used to paying $1,000 or more for these machines for my employees. Today, we’re seeing a price under $700. And, if you stack all the available offers out there, you might be able to get it under $600. For those of you who may not be ninja wizards when it comes to redeeming miles and points, you probably shy away from airline programs you don’t know much about. No Mas Coach lays out the reasons why you should be thinking about Asiana Club. I’ll give you one example to consider. United charges 60,000 miles one-way in business class from North America to Europe, unless you get stung by their new close-in booking fee, or their new dynamic award charts. Asiana will sell you that same business class seat for 40,000 miles. Definitely worth looking into, especially if you have a bunch of Marriott Bonvoy points. Thinking about planning a family cruise? Cruise expert Gene Sloan breaks down the price comparison between Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Our family enjoys cruising, with multiple cruises on Royal and Disney. Without doing the math, I was pretty sure Disney was much more expensive than Royal Caribbean. Gene has all the math to back that up. Two quick hits to finish us off. TAP Portugal has a 20% off Black Friday coupon that runs all weekend. If you’re located near a US destination for TAP, they can be a great way to get to Europe. With their Western European hub in Lisbon, they can be a great connecting point to the rest of Europe. Lisbon is also an incredible city and a great place to build in a stopover. And, if you’re into playing the lottery on Black Friday, Expedia and Priceline have free shots at big discounts. Expedia is giving away a limited supply of 75% off coupons if you book through their app. And, Priceline is giving away mystery coupons, with some being 99% off a hotel stay. Jen has all those details in her master post on all the Black Friday travel deals. You’ll find that in the show notes. That’s a full wrap on today’s travel news. I hope you guys will let me know what you think of the new show format. It’s going to be a lot of work to put together a daily show, but I’m committed to it if everyone finds it valuable. If you’ve got a piece of travel news that you think I should feature on NowBoarding, you can e-mail me at ed@pizzainmotion.com, or find me on social media, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And, you can find me blogging daily at pizzainmotion.com. Hey, since we’re still getting started on this new format, you can do me a big favor and leave me a review on whatever podcast platform you’re listening to. Reviews and ratings are a huge part of what helps us reach a larger audience. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please tell a friend. That’s your travel news in 7 minutes or less. I hope you’ll join us again on a future flight!

Get ready for an extended segment with one of our favorite guests, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like! This week we're talking all about Black Friday deals. How to score cheap travel AND how to ensure you're maximizing all the points you can earn with holiday purchases.LinksRoundup of Every Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday PromotionsGearing Up for Black Friday and Cyber Monday: 6 Tips to Get the Best DealsDeal Alert: Another 25% off Already Discounted Amazon Devices with Amex Membership Reward PointsBlack Friday Comes Early with IHG — Save up to 25% off!Deal Alert: $30 off a $60+ Purchase at Amazon by Using Just 1 Amex Membership Reward Point!Even More Savings on Your Amazon Credit Card — 20% Back for Amazon Prime Credit CardmembersNowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

We get started today with a Delta flash award sale.  These are some excellent prices.  Boston to London in Economy class for 18,000 miles round-trip?  Or, Seattle-Tokyo round-trip for 34,000 miles.  Two awesome values for you SkyMiles.  I’m eager to see if they do some more business class award flash sales for Black Friday again this year. While we’re talking Black Friday, be sure to check out the 40% off worldwide sale at Booking.com.  You have until December 2nd to take advantage of these deals. And, one more hit on Black Friday.  Be sure to check out the Black Friday master post from master deal guru Jen at Deals We Like. She has everything Black Friday firmly under control.  You’ll find a link to her Black Friday HQ in the show notes. Point me to the Plane is pointing out the fact that if you’re flying this week, you might be going hungry.  There’s a catering strike planned for 17 airports in the US for Tuesday, November 26th.  Big airline hubs like Newark, Chicago, Dallas and Denver.  You may want to pack a snack or pick up lunch in the airport.  Heck, given the current state of most airline catering, you’re better off picking up food in the airport anyway.  My motto?  Never rely on the airlines to feed you. It frequently ends in disappointment. There’s a new travel gadget that frequent travelers are going bonkers over.  If you’ve got bluetooth headphones and you travel, you need this.  Check out the show notes for a link. We wrap up today’s episode with news of a class action settlement against Wyndham hotels.  If you stayed at a Wyndham hotel in the past 9 years, you might be entitled to some cash back in your pocket.  Make sure you check into this to get your share of this settlement. If you’ve got a piece of travel news that you think I should feature on NowBoarding, you can e-mail me at ed@pizzainmotion.com, or find me on social media, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And, you can find me blogging daily at pizzainmotion.com Since this is a new show format, you can do me a big favor and leave me a review on whatever podcast platform you’re listening to. Reviews and ratings are a huge part of what helps us reach a larger audience. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please tell a friend. That’s your travel news in 7 minutes or less. I hope you’ll join us again on a future flight!

What's the deal with Marriott Bonvoy award pricing? If you haven't heard, along with many of the other changes made to their loyalty program, came the addition of On-Peak and Off-Peak pricing. What does that mean to you? Well, the price of your room can change even after you book it! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like shares a recent experience on why it's a good idea to check your reservations. On this occasion, the prices dropped - but that's not always the case! Ed also answers a few listener questions, especially a few regarding that recent American Airlines web special deal to New Zealand and Australia!LinksMarriott Off-Peak Date Success: Double Check Your Upcoming ReservationsWhat Do You Think Of Yesterday’s Crazy Award Deal To New Zealand? NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Feel like all your friends are enjoying the beautiful blue lagoons of Iceland? Thinking about planning a trip to the island known for its dramatic landscape? You're in luck - today we've got Tamara Gruber from We 3 Travel and The Vacation Mavens podcast. An expert on Iceland, she shares her best tips and tricks on how to explore this country without breaking your wallet. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like this week shares some exciting news from Frontier as they announce rolling back (yes, you read that right!) change fees!LinksPlanning a Trip to Iceland20 Iceland Travel TipsIceland BudgetsIceland ItinerariesFrontier Change Fees: $0 For Flights 60+ Days OutNowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

When one thinks of traveling by train, it's easy to overly romanticize with idea of beautiful sights, sleeping cabins and dining cars. Melanie Lieberman from The Points Guy shares her recent experience traveling from New York City to Montreal, Canada by train. Tune in to her her take on what its like to travel 13 hours by train with lackluster WiFi, limited cafe car selections and more. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back with yet another great deal from Hyatt - this time for those who hold one of their credit cards.LinksWhy didn’t I fly? 13 hours on Amtrak from New York to Montreal $50 Statement Credit at Hyatt Place and Hyatt House HotelsMelanie on TwitterNowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

We woke up this morning to a big change about the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass.  The most valuable airline benefit in the US is now tougher to earn!  They also eliminated the expiration of Rapid Rewards points.If we're talking Southwest Airlines, that means my friend Jen from Deals We Like is on the show with us.  Links to what Jen and I wrote about Southwest earlier today:Huge (Negative) Change to Earning the Southwest Companion Pass Southwest Raises The Price Of Their Valuable Companion Pass! 

For those living in the Northwest, Alaska Airlines has become a big player post Virgin America merger and with new partners like Singapore Airlines. Today Ben and Jon Nickel-D'Andrea from No Mas Coach share their take on what makes this carrier and their program, Mileage Plan, special. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back to chat, what else? Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? It's THAT time of year. Tune in to hear how she's using minimum spend bonuses to get Companion Passes for all of 2020 and 2021!LinksNo Mas CoachSecuring my Southwest Companion Pass for 2020 and 2021NowBoarding's Latest Episode Talking About Alaska Airlines' new partnership with Singapore AirlinesSpeaking of NowBoarding...Don’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

This week, Zach Honig from The Points Guy, joins Ed to chat all about Premier 1k, United Airlines' top elite status level. As part of a series discussing top status levels of the "Big 3", they dig into the perks and benefits they find valuable and why Zach leans to choose United over Delta or American Airlines. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back this week with details on a great transfer bonus from AMEX.LinksAmazing Deal! 40% Bonus for Transferring Membership Reward Points to British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus PointsZach Honig from The Points GuyDon't Wait! One Of The Best Promotions Of 2019 Gets Extended Another WeekThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashAutoSlash's mission is focused and clear: to help you get the best possible rental car rate, and then to share their expertise with you so you have the best trip possible. They take the same flexible rates you find on the rental companies’ own sites and then apply the best coupons to them. Sometimes the savings are modest. A lot of times they’re big. Sometimes they’re massive. They do in minutes what it would take you hours to do. And they do it all for free.NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

On this week's episode, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back to chat all about the newest IHG credit card promotion! Tune in to hear how to easily earn and best "burn" 125,000 points - the best ever ever sign up bonus they've offered! Darren Murph from The Points Guy is also back on the show to chat all about the benefits of Delta Diamond elite status and how they stand out from their fellow US legacy carriers.Links125,000 Points! Truly the Best Ever Offer for the IHG Premier Credit CardDarren Murph - The Points GuyThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashAutoSlash's mission is focused and clear: to help you get the best possible rental car rate, and then to share their expertise with you so you have the best trip possible. They take the same flexible rates you find on the rental companies’ own sites and then apply the best coupons to them. Sometimes the savings are modest. A lot of times they’re big. Sometimes they’re massive. They do in minutes what it would take you hours to do. And they do it all for free.NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

We're going deal hunting this week and who better to lead the way than Jen Yellin from Deals We Like! She joins guest host Ed Pizza this week to chat about maximizing bonus miles on back to school shopping, Amex offers and a recent promotion on purchasing Hyatt points.Today's GuestDeals We Like was started in January 2011 by Jennifer Yellin. The blog became part of the well known travel network BoardingArea in June 2011 and became a featured blog just a month later. Almost every post is written by Jen with the occasional guest blogger. In just four years, Deals We Like is now read by over 65,000 people a month across 150 different countries.LinksNew Promotion: 40% Bonus on Purchasing Hyatt Points... A Great Way to Save Money!Earn 8,000 Bonus Miles for Your Back to School ShoppingMany New Amex Offers to Save Money!Thanks to Our SponsorFly smarter by receiving premium flight deal alerts straight to your inbox from Thrifty Traveler Premium. This includes mistake fares, tailored deals from your selected departure city and even Delta SkyMiles Flash Sale alerts. Sign-up today and try it for free.

We're just over one year away from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, so that means it's time to start planning how to best use points and miles to get there! Summer Hull AKA Mommy Points from TPG Family shares some of her best tips and tricks for how to plan a trip to the Olympics. Jen Yellen from Deals We Like shares all the news on Southwest's newest business credit card and how you can pair it with a personal card to easily score a Companion Pass through all of next year!LinksAttending the 2020 Olympics in TokyoNew Southwest Performance Business Credit Card + 80,000 Point OfferThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashAutoSlash's mission is focused and clear: to help you get the best possible rental car rate, and then to share their expertise with you so you have the best trip possible. They take the same flexible rates you find on the rental companies’ own sites and then apply the best coupons to them. Sometimes the savings are modest. A lot of times they’re big. Sometimes they’re massive. They do in minutes what it would take you hours to do. And they do it all for free.NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back this week with all the info you NEED to know to prepare for Amazon Prime Day! Find out how to get pre-Prime Day deals, extra discounts by redeeming as little as one Amex Membership Rewards point, and more. Our latest "10 Minutes or Less" segment features Darren Murph from The Points Guy. When it comes to visiting Key West, FL, he's got some AWESOME tips. Tune in to find out on how to save money on your hotel, why driving from Ft. Lauderdale can be better than flying and how to get on an exclusive island for just the price of lunch!LinksBest Amazon Prime Day Deals for 2019 — Deals We LikeThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashAutoSlash's mission is focused and clear: to help you get the best possible rental car rate, and then to share their expertise with you so you have the best trip possible. They take the same flexible rates you find on the rental companies’ own sites and then apply the best coupons to them. Sometimes the savings are modest. A lot of times they’re big. Sometimes they’re massive. They do in minutes what it would take you hours to do. And they do it all for free.NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

It's Summertime, the livin' is easy and you can once again score lawn seats for concerts with Hilton Honors points! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back this week with info on Hilton's repeat summer promotion. For as little as 5,000 points you can get tickets to shows at amphitheaters in 30 cities across the US! We've also got Gary Leff from View from the Wing chatting with Ed all about the recently announced Hyatt and American Airlines partnership. Tune in to learn how to maximize your earning potential and how to find out if you're qualified for a status match with either program.LinksHyatt-American Airlines Partnership Miles Posting QuicklyHyatt’s New Partnership With American Airlines Is Live! Activate Now Redeem 10,000 Hilton Points for Two Free Concert Tickets this Summer!Thanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashAutoSlash's mission is focused and clear: to help you get the best possible rental car rate, and then to share their expertise with you so you have the best trip possible. They take the same flexible rates you find on the rental companies’ own sites and then apply the best coupons to them. Sometimes the savings are modest. A lot of times they’re big. Sometimes they’re massive. They do in minutes what it would take you hours to do. And they do it all for free.NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Think that Southwest Airlines is the only carrier out there that offers "free" flights? Think again! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like joins us this week to walk through Frontier Airlines' Friends Fly Free offer. Disney expert Leslie Harvey from Trips With Tykes has got the latest scoop on how to maximize your trip to Batuu - when you visit Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland. Ed updates us on his missing United miles and an important lesson to remember when renting a car this summer.LinksBuy One Get One: Frontier Airlines “Friends Fly Free” is Here to Stay!Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Tips & Touring Strategies from Opening Day at Disneyland 11 Fun Facts About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at DisneylandAn Early Look at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland United Airlines Takes a Bite Out of MeThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashAutoSlash's mission is focused and clear: to help you get the best possible rental car rate, and then to share their expertise with you so you have the best trip possible. They take the same flexible rates you find on the rental companies’ own sites and then apply the best coupons to them. Sometimes the savings are modest. A lot of times they’re big. Sometimes they’re massive. They do in minutes what it would take you hours to do. And they do it all for free.NowBoarding: The Official BoardingArea PodcastDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

If you haven't tuned in to the Award Travel 101 Podcast, their host Richard Kerr was recently Bonvoy'd. Well, turns out that this week was Ed's turn to feel some stings from a loyalty program. The culprit this time? United. Ed dives into the whole mess and how he lost 9 hours on the phone and is over 170,000 miles lighter. Jen Yellen from Deals We Like has an awesome promotion from MasterCard to get a discount on Airbnb Excursions - even if you're not staying in an Airbnb! Seth Miller from PaxEx.Aero and the Dots, Lines and Destinations podcast chats with Ed about all things new US airlines getting more slots at Haneda International Airport!LinksSuccess! Big Savings with AirBnB ExperiencesDelta, United Win Big in Haneda Slot AllocationThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon’t forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast – with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week’s latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Don't ask Ed, but what's more magical than just a trip to Hawaii? A trip to Disney's Aulani Resort! Located on the west coast of Oahu, Aulani pairs all the beauty of Hawaii with the magic of a Disney vacation. Leslie Harvey from Trips with Tykes shares her review and best tips after a few trips there with her family. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like checks in on her favorite topic - Southwest Airlines! Tune in to hear the latest 60,000 point promo being offered on all their cards.LinksDisney Cruise vs. Disney Aulani: Which Vacation is Right For Your Family?Aunty's Beach House at Disney's Aulani Resort: All Your Questions AnsweredSouthwest Credit Card Offer: Now Earn 60,000 Points on All Four CardsThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

It's that time of year, again! Open those browsers and get your mouse clicking finger ready for the U.S. Travel Association's annual Daily Getaways. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like chats with Ed about all the different offers available for this year. Find out which ones are worthwhile trying to get and which you might want to pass on. Joe Cheung from As The Joe Flies and Disney Deciphered is back to talk about his recent trip to Tokyo DisneySea!Links7 Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling2019 Daily GetawaysAs The Joe Flies' Tokyo DisneySea PicturesDisney Deciphered Tokyo DisneySea Trip ReportThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

There's a certain amount of planning that goes into any trip, especially if you're going on a cruise or visiting a Disney theme park? Planning for a Disney Cruise? There's plenty more you want to know. Summer Hull AKA Mommy Points from TPG Family shares her experience taking the family on their first ever cruise on the Disney Cruise Line's Dream. Ed's got a promotion that involves buying points - yes, you heard that right! Last but not least, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has the low down on Hilton's Summer 2019 Double Points promo.LinksIHG Rewards Points On Sale Today. Should You Buy? The Answer Might Be Yes. Dreaming on the Seas: A Review of Disney Cruise Line’s DreamHilton’s Double Points Promotion Returning This Summer Thanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Spencer Howard from Straight to the Points and God Save the Points joins us this week to help answer a listener question! Jeanette and her boyfriend have been enjoying booking economy flights on points, but now they are looking to step up their game. Using a variety of different currencies, they are looking to fly to Japan in 2020 in either Business or First Class. Tune in to hear Spencer's expert take on how they can best book this trip! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has a great offer from IHG that expires today and shares her best tips for this program.LinksYes You Can Get the New IHG Card Even If You Have the Old OneThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Ed still hasn't been to Hawaii, but that doesn't mean he's not looking to learn and share all the different ways you can get there! Leslie Harvey from Trips with Tykes one of our resident Hawaii experts shares her experience flying Southwest Airlines from Oakland to Honolulu! Our "It's a Big Deal" this week is a great airline transfer bonus. Jen Yellen from Deals We Like has all the info you need on a promotion offering bonus British Airways Avios when you transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards.LinksSouthwest to Hawaii Flight ReviewChase Ultimate Rewards First Transfer Bonus to British Airways AviosThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

This week Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has all the details on recent changes made to Wyndham Rewards' award charts. Tune in to learn about new tiers and which of their brands stayed put versus those that have increased or decreased point redemption rates. A listener has a question about which credit card is best to earn points for a trip to Europe and Ed takes a moment to reflect on this weeks' fire at Notre Dame.Show NotesWyndham's New Award ChartThanks to our Sponsor!AutoSlash

The big news this week is United's decision to transition away from award charts to dynamic pricing. How will this affect you? Ed's got the pros and cons. Jen Yellen from Deals We Like has a great Hyatt status match offer and Gilbert Ott from God Save the Points fills us in on Paribus, a new website that makes sure you get the lowest price for your hotel room.LinksGilbert's post on ParibusParibusHyatt Status Match & ChallengeThanks to Our Sponsor!AutoSlashDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

Say "Aloha" to a BRAND NEW segment we're rolling out this week! Summer Hull AKA Mommy Points from TPG Family is back to offer everything you need to know about Hawaii in 10 minutes or less! It's been a while since there were some enticing Amex offers out there. Well, you best believe that Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has the scoop on recent news of multiple Hilton Amex offers. Leslie Harvey from Trips with Tykes returns to geek out with Ed on Disney! This time she's got a great overview of two Disneyland Resort properties. Links10 Things to Expect on Southwest Flights to Hawaii5 Different Hilton Amex Offers - Save $275!Disneyland Hotel vs. Disney's Grand Californian: Which is Right for Your Family?Disney Deciphered PodcastDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast - with a NEW show format! Tune in for a recap of the week's latest news, deals and top posts on BoardingArea!

This week Ed offers some insight on the news surrounding the 737 MAX and why you should have no concern flying 737s that aren't grounded. Jon Nickel-D'Andrea from No Mas Coach shares a review of a recent first class trip they took to Maldives. Lee Huffman from Bald Thoughts and the We Travel There podcast chats about how this show helps you better travel like a local. Jen Yellin from from Deals We Like has news on the highest credit card sign up bonus ever offered from Delta. Show NotesEd's post on the 737 MAXJon's post on their big trip to the MaldivesJen's post on the Delta credit card sign up bonuesWe Travel ThereEd's post on AirbnbDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

We always love hearing about new ways to earn and manage points and miles! This week Michael Trager of TravelZork is on the show to talk about a new app called Wayfarer Points! Tune in to learn how you can do more than just track ALL your loyalty programs but also compare how you rank with friends! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like gives us the scoop on some big changes coming to the Wyndham Rewards program.Show NotesTravelZorkWayfarer Points - use promo code WFPPIZZAJen's post on Wyndham RewardsDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

This week we've got a new guest on the show! Jason Steele from The Points Guy and founder of CardCon shares some expert tips on what to do if you're not immediately approved for a credit card. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like fills us in on some great news regarding recent updates to Frontier Airlines' latest "Kids Fly Free" promotion. Lastly, Spencer Howard from God Save The Points and Straight to the Points shares his latest award travel finds - and how getting creative pays off when looking to book 4 or more award tickets at the same time.Show NotesJason's post on being denied a checking accountJason's posts on The Points GuyCardCon 2019Jen's post on Frontier Airlines "Kids Fly Free" promotionSpencer's Awards Alert Email NewsletterDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

This week Seth Miller from PaxEx.Aero chats with Ed all about Airbus' announcement that they will end production of the A380. Jen Yellen from Deals We Like has the 411 on a hotel promotion that you might actually want to chase after. Be sure to keep an ear out for a giveaway from our friends at Bluffworks! Ed wraps up this week's episode with an easy but ofter overlooked tip on how to match airfare prices in TF2P.Show NotesSeth's post on the A380Jen's post on Hyatt's newest promotionBluffworksDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

Episode #53 officially means Miles to Go has hit its first anniversary! One full year of weekly episodes full of all the travel tips, news and reviews you can't afford to miss!Besides some surprises thanks to Producer Mike and friends of the show and the House of Miles team, Ed's got a chock full episode for y'all this week!Jen Yellen from Deals We Like shares more info on Plastiq with a promo that can help you earn some major miles with expenses that usually require a check! We've got Lesley Harvey from Trips with Tykes, back on the show with her ultimate guide to Hawaii's Big Island. Last but not least, a new guest on the show, Carrick Buss from Along for the Trip shares insights and tips on family friendly trips to Mexico!Show NotesLeslie's post on Hawaii's Big IslandJen's post on Plastiq's current promotionCarrick's post on family friendly trips to MexicoDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

This week we've got a double dose of Jen Yellin from Deals We Like! She joins Ed on the show for not one, but two great deals you can't miss out on! First, she's got the lowdown on how to take advantage of a status match on Southwest Airlines. Second, find out how she saved hundreds on hotels simply by buying (yes, buying) points! Seth Miller from Pax.Aero is back to discuss all things new and retrofitted United planes. Have you heard? They're adding MORE first and business class seats to the fleet and rolling out a totally "new" regional plane, the Bombardier CRJ-550.Show NotesJen's post on purchasing Choice Hotel pointsJen's post on purchasing World of Hyatt pointsJen's post on purchasing Hilton Honors pointsSeth's post on the new CRJ 550Don't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

Imagine getting a notification confirming a change to your account, or worse, that you just redeemed your hard earned points and miles, when you didn't. That's what happened to Andy Luten from Andy's Travel Blog recently when his American Airlines AAdvantage account was hacked and over 140,000 miles were stolen! This week he shared with Ed the steps one needs to take to ensure justice is served and your points and miles are returned!Jen Yellen from Deals We Like has a great offer for anyone who is a frequent Amtrak rider. Their newest promo can score you a free RT ticket with as little as three paid rides! Last but not least, we welcome Nick Ewen from The Points Guy for a lively discussion on why he's sticking with Marriott in 2019.Show Notes & LinksAndy's blog post on his hacked AAdvantage accountJen's blog post on Amtrak's newest promoNick's blog post on sticking with Marriott in 2019Don't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

We're celebrating M2G's 50th episode with two of our favorite guests and another book giveaway! First up is Stephanie Rosenbloom, travel writer at the New York Times and author of Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude. Tune in to hear about her take on slow travel, solo travel, style, design, and the ways technology can help or hurt our experiences. Be sure to listen for how to win a signed copy of her book!If you're planning to hit the slopes this season, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has the scoop on free ski lift passes for Alaska Airlines passengers. Critical Points columnist Richard Kerr from The Points Guy and Award Travel 101 is back! This week he chats with Ed about what travel loyalty programs are getting right.Show Notes & LinksStephanie Rosenbloom's HomepageAlone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude on AmazonJen´s post on Free Ski Lift Passes for Alaska Airlines PassengersRichard's column on What Travel Loyalty Programs Are Getting RightDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

Welcome to Now Boarding: The Official Boarding Area Podcast!Each week one of Boarding Area's talented crew of bloggers will jump in the cockpit with "Captain" Ed Pizza, host of Miles to Go and blogger at Pizza in Motion. On each NowBoarding flight, you'll get a chance to learn more about the folks behind your favorite travel blogs. How they got into blogging about flights, hotels, credit cards and other deals; their favorite destinations and preferred credit cards and loyalty programs.In a first for Now Boarding, Ed chats with a spousal blog and points partner! You´re probably more than familiar with Jen Yellin from Deals We Like. Well, meet her husband, Mr. Deals himself, Adam Yellin! Tune in to learn about how using points and miles helped Jen and Adam maintain a long distance relationship. Ed puts Adam´s memory to the test: quizzing him on his biggest points mistakes and his best miles redemptions. Last but not least our lighting round of questions will highlight Adam’s favorite credit card, hotel and airline programs and the one destination still on his bucket list. Show NotesDeals We LikeDon't forget to check out the Miles To Go Podcast where we bring you the latest travel news, tips and tricks each week to help you save money and travel better.

On a special episode of Miles to Go, we're featuring an extended length interview with Jen Yellin from Deals We Like! She and Ed chat all things about Southwest Rapid Rewards and their current credit card offers. Travel with kids? You'll want to hear about how to score a Companion Pass through 2020!Links to Jen's BlogsEarning the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass for Two YearsSouthwest Airlines Companion Pass FAQFly 2 for 1 with the Southwest Airlines Companion PassDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

Ed's been under the weather this week, so for the first time ever, we've got a few "Best of" Miles to Go segments on the episode!First up is Ed's interview with Richard Kerr from Award Travel 101 and The Points Guy going through his list of things he’d change about some of the the industry’s top (or largest) loyalty programs. Followed by Stefan Krasowski of Rapid Travel Chai with some of his best tips and tricks on how you can go on safari for under $100 a day! Ed's conversation with Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is new this week...she's got the low down on Discover it 5% Cash Back Categories for 2019.Show Notes & LinksRichard’s list of things loyalty programs should improveStefan’s Awesome Presentation on Planning Trips to AfricaJen's post on Discover it 5% Cash Back Categories for 2019Don't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

This week, we welcome Tiffany Funk back to the podcast from One Mile at a Time.  She's helping walk us through the addition of Royal Air Maroc to the oneworld alliance and why it's a good thing for folks holding on to American Airlines AAdvantage miles.  Jen Yellen stops by from Deals We Like to tee up some great AMEX offers to help cover the annual fees on your cards.  And, we wrap up this week with Mike LaRosa from Coworkaholic.  He got a chance to test out the brand new American Airline Premium Economy product on an international flight. Don't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

On Ep. 41 we’ve got an extra long segment with our favorite deal expert, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like talking about all things Southwest Airlines in addition to how you can score a Companion Pass for close to two years! Before that, Nick Reyes from Frequent Miler joins us for the first time on M2G to share all the changes coming to the Citi Prestige card. Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Show Notes & Links 1:50 - Intro to Nick Reyes from Frequent MIler 5:30 - Biggest changes to the Citi Prestige card 11:53 - Alternatives to Citi Prestige 16:10 - Why it’s a great time of year to get a Southwest Airlines card 24:30 - Why you will love the Companion Pass 29:15 - TF2P Citi Prestige to add 5X dining & airfare; limit 4th Night Free Southwest Credit Card with Increased 60,000 Points! Now is the Best Time for the Southwest Credit Cards to Earn the Amazing Companion Pass! Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we’re all thankful for many things, Black Friday deals are sometimes too good to not make that list. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is a Black Friday Expert, Guru, Maven...just all around Master of deals on deals. Tune in to hear her top tips for scoring great Black Friday discounts and point earning opportunities. Ed’s also on location at Dallas Love Field, to chat with Jonathan Clarkson, Southwest Airlines new Managing Director of Marketing, also overseeing their award winning Rapid Rewards program. In their discussion, there’s some great insights shared on this beloved loyalty program. Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Show Notes & Links 2:30 - Ed’s interview with Jonathan Clarkson 9:20 - Southwest’s changes to Early Bird Boarding 13:20 - Black Friday - Jen’s favorite time of year 29:45 - TF2P Jen’s Black Friday Tip #2 (AMEX) Jen’s Post on Credit Card Price Protection Jen’s Black Friday Tip #3 (Shopping Portals) Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

Jefferson Graham offers a guide to Black Friday deals for products he reviewed here on #TalkingTech.

This week’s episode is all over the place...figuratively and literally! Miles to Go Producer Mike LaRosa AKA The Coworkaholic is checking off not one, but two M2G firsts: Dialing in from Amsterdam (our first interview from someone there) doing so, while on a boat! He and Ed chat about his recent American Airlines Executive Platinum status match challenge. It’s quite an American Airlines themed show as they also discuss the news around AA’s new award “web specials” & Ed interviews Uli Das, Executive Director of the newly renovated C.R. Smith Museum located next to DFW. Our episode certainly wouldn’t be complete without our friend Jen Yellin from Deals We Like with news on Marriott’s updated “mini-mega” promotion. Last but not least, Ed's TF2P this week covers a question from Allison, a listener who’s looking for advice on how best to diversify earning on transferrable credit card partners. Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Show Notes & Links 2:33 - Intro on Mike’s recent AA Executive Platinum status match challenge 9:00 - AA’s new award “web specials” 15:47 - Marriott’s updated “mini-mega” promotion 22:07 - Interview with Uli Das, Executive Director of the C.R. Smith Museum 30:24 - TF2P Mike’s blog post on completing an AA Executive Platinum status match challenge View from the Wing’s blog post on AA’s new award “web specials” Jen’s blog post on Marriott’s updated “mini-mega” promotion C.R. Smith Museum Website Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

We’ve got a super sized episode this week to provide you with miles and points talk to heart’s content! Gary Leff from View from the Wing is back for a great conversation with Ed all about the differences in loyalty program lifetime status benefits. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like chats about Southwest Airlines Early Bird Check In. We welcome Anders Lindstrom, Director of Communications, USA for Norwegian Air to chat about their newest routes to and from Canada! Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Show Notes & Links 2:45 - Ed’s conversation with Anders Lindstrom of Norwegian Air 11:40 - New route news for Florida too! 16:30 - Norwegian Air’s partnership with UNICEF 22:40 - Southwest Airlines Early Bird Check In and Refundable Fares 31:10 - Conversation with Gary Leff about Lifetime Elite Status 52:30 - TF2P Norwegian Air’s New Routes from Canada Jen’s blog post on Southwest Airlines Early Bird Check In Gary’s post on how American Airlines can improve their Lifetime Status benefits Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

Ed’s got an extended interview with Brett Snyder, AKA Cranky Flier. Founder of Cranky Concierge, Brett’s an expert in air travel solutions, having worked for airlines such as USAir and United. His insider experience offers great insight on why travelers are now paying for things like preferred seating or basic economy. They even tackle the topic of hidden city booking and the measures airlines are taking to crack down on frequent offenders. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has the scoop on the latest hotel brand to offer a status match promotion. Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Timestamps 4:11 - The problem that is preferred seating fees 6:20 - The lowdown on basic economy fares 13:50 - The history behind economy plus and upselling seats in coach 17:10 - American’s new “policy” for rebooking delayed or cancelled flights 24:15 - “Hidden City” ticketing and new ways airlines are cracking down 34:05 - Wyndham’s new status match promotion 38:49 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Brett’s blog on preferred seating Brett’s blog on basic economy Brett’s blog on hidden city ticketingCranky FlierCranky Concierge Jen’s blog on Wyndham’s status match Skiplagged Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

Zach Honig from The Points Guy joins us again this week, this time recapping his recent trip to Chad in partnership with Norwegian Air, benefitting UNICEF. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like has the lowdown on how to score an extra 25,000 points when signing up for the new AMEX Gold card. Plus, they also now offer it in a new color. Last but not least, Jon Nickel-D’Andrea from No Mas Coach shares his best tips and tricks on how to maximize your miles when booking award flights to Hawaii! Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Timestamps 2:00 - Zach Honig from The Points Guy recapping his recent UNICEF trip6:30 - Preparing for travel to Chad12:00 - Different ways to donate to UNICEF16:50 - AMEX now offers a “Rose” Gold card18:00 - How to score an extra 25,000 points for AMEX Gold sign up bonus22:32 - Maximizing your miles going to Hawaii32:00 - The benefit of booking separate tickets to the West Coast33:40 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Zach’s blog post on his UNICEF trip Jen’s blog post on the new AMEX Gold Sign Up Promo Jon’s blog post on how to maximize your miles to Hawaii Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

We’re not quite done reviewing over the recent changes United has made to their Premier 1k program. This week United Airlines expert Zach Honig from The Points Guy is back on the show to review over the increase of their Premier Qualifying Dollars requirement and devaluation of their upgrades. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like fills us in on the latest news from National Car Rental - complimentary status for everyone - no need to have top status with any other competitor! Be sure to tune in so you don’t miss out on this easy (and free) deal! We’ve also got a new type of segment this week: Ed chats with friend and author Linnea Hartsuyker on how travel influences and inspires storytelling. At the end of the interview, find out how to win a signed copy of her newest book, The Sea Queen! Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.comNo-Jet-LagTimestamps 3:30 - Author Linnea Hartsuyker on her new book, The Sea Queen6:45 - Which comes first: The idea for the story or the inspiration from travel?14:30 - How to win a signed copy of The Sea Queen15:30 - This week’s It’s A Big Deal: National Car Rental status offer18:45 - More on the United Premier 1k changes24:20 - Will there be more upgrades if there’s less Premier 1k members?31:00 - TF2P Show Notes & Links The Sea Queen by Linnea HartsuykerJen's post on National Car Rental Status OfferZach's post on United Premier 1k Changes Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts We Travel There

We’ve got a chock full episode this week featuring Scott Mayerowitz of The Associated Press and host of the Getta Outta Here podcast, chating with Ed about what it’s like to transition from being a business traveler to a family traveler! Matthew Klint from Live and Let’s Fly joins us in bemoaning the recent changes United has made for it’s Premier 1k top tier passengers. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back this week with the latest low down on Amex offers. Thanks to our Sponsors! BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Timestamps 03:13 - Changes to United’s Premier 1k Status 06:00 - How Premier Qualifying Dollars differ on United vs. American 10:30 - Impacting how you earn Premier Qualifying Dollars on Discounted First Tickets 14:30 - Swapping Regional Premier Upgrades vs. Global Premier Upgrades 22:20 - It’s a Big Deal with Jen from Deals We Like 27:30 - Chatting with Scott Mayerowitz from the AP 29:17 - Changing Phases of Family Travel 33:30 - How Family Travel Will Impact How You Book Hotels 43:18 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Matt’s blog post on United Premier 1k Changes Jen’s blog post on recent Amex Offers Scott’s podcast: Get Outta Here Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts Vacation Mavens

If you’re a regular listener, you know that Ed is a “Disney Dad”. So much so that TODAY (9/26/18) he’s attempting to ride all 49 attractions in all 4 Walt Disney World parks...in one day! Why? He’s raising money for Give Kids the World. There’s still time for you to make a pledge to donate: more info here. Going with the Disney theme, our first interview this week is with Joe Cheung from As the Joe Flies, the Saverocity Observation Deck podcast, the Disney Deciphered podcast...among others. He’s filling us in on all things Disney Cruises! The pros, cons, what to look out for and how to score some great bookings on points and miles. Our favorite deal expert, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like is back this week with an easy way to get status matches from Hilton through 2020! Our last segment is with Trevor Mountcastle from Tagging Miles. Australia is his favorite country to visit, so he shares his favorite sites as Ed starts planning his family’s big trip down under next summer! Thanks to our Sponsor! No-Jet-Lag Timestamps 00:35 - Help Give Kids the World with a $1 pledge 05:25 - Booking a Disney Cruise with Points! 09:00 - The BEST thing about Disney Cruising 13:30 - How to go cruising with an infant 19:01 - How to score a top tier Hilton status match 24:00 - Australia To-Dos and Must Sees 35:45 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Make a pledge to donate to Give Kids the World as Ed attempts the Parkeology challenge! Joe’s Blog: As The Joe Flies Joe’s Disney podcast: Disney Deciphered Saverocity’s podcast: Observation Deck Joe’s tips on booking a Disney Cruise with points Jen’s blog post: How to score a Hilton status match Trevor’s top sights to see in Sydney, Australia Check Out One of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts Dots, Lines & Destinations

Welcome to Now Boarding: The Official Boarding Area Podcast! Each week one of Boarding Area's talented crew of bloggers will jump in the cockpit with "Captain" Ed Pizza, host of Miles to Go and writer of Pizza in Motion. On each NowBoarding flight, you'll get a chance to learn more about the folks behind your favorite travel blogs. How they got into blogging about flights, hotels, credit cards and other deals; their favorite destinations and preferred credit cards and loyalty programs. On Ep. 013, Jen Yellin of Deals We Like joins Ed to chat about her expert knowledge of Southwest Airlines & how her folks helped fuel her love of travel hacking by taking bumps off flights for vouchers! Tune in to hear about the changing ways to earn points when going from business travel to family travel. If there’s a way to earn points or miles, Jen knows it and also how to maximize those hard earned status benefits! Thanks to our Sponsors! Norwegian Air No-Jet-Lag Show Notes Deals We Like Jen’s latest blog on earning the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass

This week we’re getting an extra long dose of our favorite deals expert, Jen Yellin from Deals We Like! She joins Ed in reviewing over all the major hotel promotions available this fall. Don’t forget - you always want to register for them...no matter what! Following that, Tiffany Funk from One Mile at a Time is back to go over all the various hotel credit cards that you should (or should not be) carrying in your wallet! Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com No-Jet-Lag Timestamps 02:04 - Jen from Deals We Like is back with hotel promos! 08:10 - Make sure you register...learn from our mistakes 15:04 - One of Ed’s favorite travel podcasts (besides this one or NowBoarding!) 15:50 - All about hotel credit cards 21:00 - Annual Fees vs. Free Nights vs. Status Spend Credit 27:15 - Ensuring you maximize the rewards and night credits you are given 34:20 - TF2P Show Notes & Links All the latest deals as found on Deals We Like Check out all the hotel credit cards referenced by Tiffany, here Check Out One of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts Dots, Lines & Destinations

The big SPG/Marriott merger is almost upon us and there’s still a lot of unknowns about how it will all shake out. Richard from Award Travel 101 joins Ed this week to tackle some of the updates regarding sign up bonuses for both the new co-branded Amex and Chase credit cards. If you currently have either of the existing cards in your wallet, you’re gonna want to listen up! Jen from Deals We Like fills us in on how Hilton Honors members can score tickets to some great concerts for less points than you’d think. We cap off the episode with Dominic of The Short Final who shares some valuable lessons he learned trying to pay for gas to fill up his rental car in Europe. It’s more complicated that you’d think! Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 02:41 - Who is or is NOT eligible for the new SPG and Marriott credit card sign up bonuses 07:00 - Some extra hoops SPG and Marriott business credit card holders will have to jump through 10:44 - Why the SPG Amex has lost ⅓ of it’s value in your wallet. 16:50 - Cheap concert tickets thanks to Hilton Honors 21:00 - First problem with paying for gas in Europe? Just trying to pay! 23:40 - When paying for gas in Europe with cash... 25:30 - The difference between gazole, diesel plus and gasolio? 29:30 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Richard’s blog post on the new SPG/Marriott credit cards Jen’s blog on Hilton Honors’ Concert Tickets Promotion Dominic’s blog post on fueling up in Europe Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts Disney Deciphered Dots, Lines & Destinations

This week’s episode kicks off with an update from Becky of sightDOING on how much she was able to score in flight delay compensation thanks to EC 261 - the European Union’s passenger rights regulation she taught us about last week. Jen from Deals We Like shares the five things you want to know about Hyatt’s 10% Rebate Promotion. We cap off the episode with Kimberly of Stuffed Suitcase and Vacation Mavens - A Family Travel Podcast for an awesome review of her Alaskan cruise on the brand new Norwegian Bliss. Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 01:20 - Update from Becky on how much she got from her flight delay compensation claim 03:30 - When getting compensation, do you take the cash, the voucher or the points? 09:00 - The five things you need to know about Hyatt’s 10% rebate promotion 11:40 - The ONE thing you need to do for the Hyatt promo... 14:10 - Our first cruise review! 20:00 - Norwegian’s new options and pricing for specialty dining 25:00 - What’s it like being on such a big ship? 27:05 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Becky’s Blog & Update Jen’s Blog on Hyatt’s 10% Rebate Promotion Kimberly’s Awesome Review of the Norwegian Bliss Kimberly's Podcast: Vacation Mavens - A Family Travel Podcast Check Out Some of Our Favorite Travel Podcasts Disney Deciphered Dots, Lines & Destinations

This week our episode kicks off with Seth from PaxEx.Aero who joins Ed in doing a deeper dive on the new Airbus A220. Jen from Deals We Like fills us in all about Wyndham’s Free Night After 2 Stays Promotion (and how to best prepare if they cut it short again). If you are flying within Europe or on a flight departing from Europe, you want to tune in to our interview this week with Becky from sightDOING. She shares everything you need to know about EC 261 - the European Union’s Flight Compensation Regulation. Knowing these passenger rights will ensure that you get paid for applicable delays or cancellations. Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 04:16 - Trivia Time! What was JetBlue’s original name? 08:00 - Airbus’ “Air Space” Design 18:13 - What happens if Wyndham pulls their promo early (again)? 20:50 - What is EC 261? 24:00 - What IS and IS NOT covered by EC 261… 26:00 - Available resources to help you get your maximum compensation Show Notes & Links Seth’s posts on the new A220 Jen’s post on Wyndham’s latest Free Night promo Becky’s Blogpost

We’ve got a chock full episode this week with two of our favorite regular contributors and a sneak peek review of Walt Disney World’s new Toy Story Land! We start off with Summer Hull from Mommy Points filling us in on all the details about Hyatt’s new credit card. Following that, this week’s “It’s a Big Deal” is courtesy of Jen Yellin from Deals We Like with an AMEX promotion that can score you $100 free on Amazon, just in time for Prime Day! The hosts from the podcast Disney Deciphered, Joe Cheung from As the Joe Flies and Leslie Harvey from Trips with Tykes dial in to give us their take on the main attractions and food offerings available at Toy Story Land. We wrap up the episode with Ed’s Final Two Pennies, all about the most important thing to keep in mind when redeeming those hard earned points and miles. Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 3:00 - How to “stack” extra elite status credits with the new Hyatt credit card 9:50 - How to get the “best of both worlds” booking full service hotels at only Category 1 redemption rates 18:10 - $100 for free on Amazon thanks to this latest AMEX promotion 25:00 - Is the new Slinky Dog Dash worth the wait? 34:40 - Food “hits and misses” at Woody’s Lunchbox 37:30 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Summer’s post on the new Hyatt credit card Jen’s post on the Amazon AMEX promotion Disney Deciphered Podcast Leslie’s full review of Toy Story Land

Part of this week’s episode is being recorded from my family’s summer trip to Orlando. Joining Ed for our first segment is the entire Pizza Family. Michele, Cat and Charlie share their reviews of Pandora - The World of Avatar, including the rides Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey and info on the ultimate Avatar souvenir: the Banchee! The Big Deal this week brings back Jen Yellen from Deals We Like with a great Southwest A-List status match promotion. Speaking of bringing back favorite guests, Summer Hull from Mommy Points is also back to chat about hotel kids clubs, how to find the hotels that have cheap (or free) options and which ones are worth $50 for three hours of babysitting?! Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 0:40 - The Pizza Family’s Review of Pandora - The World of Avatar 6:00 - Difference between Flight of Passage vs. Na’vi River Journey 7:35 - The Banshee: a very special (and pricey) toy 10:20 - Southwest Airlines new A-List status match 14:45 - What you need to know about re-booking flights for this promo 17:30 - What’s the deal with kids clubs at hotels? 25:30 - Should you feel guilty for having your children go to kids clubs? 27:45 - TF2P Show Notes & Links The Pizza Family’s Review of Pandora - The World of Avatar Jen’s post on the Southwest A-List status match Summer’s post on seven points hotels with free kids clubs

Ep. 016 kicks off with Angelina Aucello from Angelina Travels and I recapping last week’s opening of United’s newest Polaris Lounge at Newark. Jen Yellin from Deals We Like walks us through various Amex promotions including Hilton and a slew of retailers. Our interview this week comes to you from NYC recorded in the beautiful offices of The Points Guy, where Emily McNutt, their News Editor chats with Ed all about British Airways’ third attempt to buy Norwegian Airlines. Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 0:50 - United’s newest Polaris Lounge at Newark 15:00 - New Amex promotions...first up: Hilton 18:00 - And 10% back (up to $100) at a variety of retailers 21:00 - The latest on British Airways’ attempts to buy Norwegian Airlines 34:00 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Ed’s review of the Polaris Lounge at Newark Angelina’s review of the Polaris Lounge at Newark Jen’s post on Amex’s Hilton promotion All of Jen’s great Amex deal posts Emily’s post on IAG’s bid for Norwegian

Episode 015 is chock full of deals, tips, news and reviews this week! First up, some news and notes on recent access policy changes to the Amex Centurion Lounges. Our newest guest, Gilbert Ott from God Saves the Points, shares his tips on how to find the best hotel rates online. Our weekly It’s a BIG Deal brings our friend Jen Yellin from Deals We Like back to talk about how you can earn major points by using a credit card for big payments that usually require a check. Lastly, Spencer Howard from Straight to the Points is back with a review of how you can get “Around the World” on just one Amex sign-up bonus! Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 1:20 - Changes to Amex Centurion Lounge Access Policy 5:40 - Do these changes make you want to drop your Amex card? (p.s. - we want to hear from you!) 7:19 - How to maximize your award redemption with BookYourAward.com 9:10 - Finding the best hotel rates...the difference between public vs. private pricing 13:00 - The lowest price vs. loyalty program qualifying nights/dollars/perks/stays 17:00 - Loopholes to avoid and apps that help you guarantee the best rate 19:30 - What’s Plastiq and how you can earn points by paying bills that usually require checks 25:00 - New MasterCard promotions when paying through Plastiq 29:30 - “Around the World” trip for just 125,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points 33:00 - Don’t forget the super cheap fares that help you hop around Europe 36:00 - The real lesson here is more than just this trip 40:55 - TF2P Show Notes & Links Ed’s Blog: Pizza in Motion Gilbert’s Guide to Finding Low Hotel Rates DoNotPay.com All of Jen’s Posts on Plastiq Spencer’s Post: "Flying Economy Around the World for Less than 125,000 Membership Rewards Points" Spencer’s Post: “You Earned 125,000 Membership Rewards Points! Now What?!”

This week we’ve got a jam packed episode with news, reviews and deals! Spirit Airlines announces they’re adding WiFi to all their planes by 2019. We get a review of Norwegian Premium Economy from Seth Miller of Wandering Aramean and PaxEx.Aero. Jen from Deals We Like this week uses a personal example on why sometimes it makes sense to buy points for this week’s “It’s a BIG Deal”. Angelina Aucello from Angelina Travels tells us all about her recent family friendly and affordable trip to Jacksonville, FL. The Final Two Pennies asks the questions: Are you maximizing your spending and when is it time to re-evaluate what’s in your wallet? Plus, don’t forget to listen for how to score an Amazon.com gift card just for booking a flight! Thanks to our Sponsors! Gogo In-Flight Internet BookYourAward.com Timestamps 01:50 Seth’s review of Norwegian Airlines Premium From Ft. Lauderdale to Copenhagen 5:00 Bidding on an upgrade for Norwegian Premium from Copenhagen to JFK 6:30 Spirit Airlines Adds WiFi 13:00 Long flights on seats with less padding leads to our first “tuchus” 20:30 - Why purchasing points can make sense...sometimes 25:40 - This super smart way how to avoid paying for a resort fee 27:30 - “Off the beaten path” family vacation destinations like Jacksonville, FL 36:00 - The Final Two Pennies: How to maximize your spend and re-evaluate the cards in your wallet as programs change. Show Notes & Links Wandering Aramean PaxEx.Aero Seth on Instagram Deals We Like Homepage Deals We Like: Ten Best Things For Families at the Hyatt Cancun Deals We Like Twitter Angelina Travels Angelina Travels: Jacksonville - An Affordable, Family-Friendly Florida Beach Destination Angelina Travels Instagram

For Ep. 011 we’re back to our normal show format. First up is a discussion with Spencer from Straight to the Points on how to book airfare for your dream Hawaii trip with award points. Jen from Deals We Like returns for our favorite segment. This week she’s got an overview of current hotel promotions. Following that is part two of Ed’s conversation with David Feldman. This week he provides a great comparison of Qantas vs. American Airlines and why he switched programs. Ed’s Final Two Pennies this week talks about what customer loyalty looks like. Thanks to our Sponsor! Gogo In-Flight Internet Timestamps 0:20 - Back to our normal show format: Intro to Ep. 011! 2:25 - Booking a dream trip to Hawaii with award points 5:40 - Comparing different point conversion rates and how to earn or transfer 10:45 - How much is your time worth? Putting in a little work to find better flights 15:50 - A new Marriott/SPG aligned promotion 18:25 - The sky’s the limit for Hilton’s Double Points promotion 23:00 - Why are you loyal? Is it Stockholm Syndrome? 25:00 - Qantas vs. American Airlines 32:00 - How David made the shift from programs 35:00 - Scoring Qantas Premium Awards 41:15 - TF2P: How the Freddie Awards show what customer loyalty really looks like Shownotes Spencer’s blog post on booking tickets to Hawaii using Singapore Krisflyer Miles on Alaska Airlines All of Jen’s Recent Hotel Promotions! More info on David Feldman & Catchit Loyalty List of 2018 Freddie Awards Winners! Email us your travel questions! Whether it’s: How to Earn. How to Burn. Which program is best for your objectives or simply destination suggestions! Email Ed at ed@pizzainmotion.com

TEN EPISODES! WooHoo! So in honor of that milestone, taking the show off the rails! First up: A deeper dive into the SPG/Marriott merger. Summer Hull from Mommy Points has some great tips on what changes are happening so you can optimize the new earning potential for the SPG Amex and changes to award tiers and point conversion rates. We’ve got heaps of Aussie listeners (Australia is #3 out of our top 10 countries for downloads!) so we’ve invited fellow Australian (and Qantas expert) David Feldman to walk us through the Platinum One program and share which One World partner he now flies on. Jen from Deals We Like is back - yay! - with this week’s It’s a BIG DEAL! This week we’re chatting about the new Southwest Airlines promotion. The Final Two Pennies: taking a moment to discuss the safety of air travel and our first legitimately funny outtake. Thanks to our Sponsor! Gogo In-Flight Internet Timestamps 0:23 - Taking the show off the rails (again)... 1:00 - We’re still talking about the SPG/Marriott merger and this week focusing more on credit card strategy 2:50 - Immediate changes to the earning potential for the SPG Amex 5:00 - Why a $450 annual fee isn’t exactly a bad deal 8:25 - First impressions on the new award charts and how to shift your strategy to keep finding the best value for your points 11:08 - We’ve got a ton of Aussies listening! So here’s David Feldman from Down Under! 14:00 - What’s the benefits of Qantas Platinum One? 20:00 - International upgrade benefits 23:55 - What are “soft benefits”? 25:20 - A little about about David Feldman 26:00 - Jen from Deals We Like is back! 30:30: - TF2P Shownotes Summer's SPG Blog Post Catchit Loyalty Ed’s Blog Post About Southwest 1380

We’re changing up the format this week! First up, Seth Miller from PaxEx.Aero is back for an extended discussion with Ed all about United Polaris: the ever changing passenger experience, lounge delays, service changes and slower than expected seat upgrades. Our big deal of the week with Jen from Deals We Like is the upcoming change to the IHG Credit Card and how you can still score a free night certificate before it’s too late! Summer from Mommy Points rounds out our episode by filling us in on the latest confusion at TSA security checks about removing snacks (yes, like peanuts or raisins) from your bag! Don’t forget to stay tuned til the end of The Final Two Pennies for this week’s secret phrase to win a Gogo In-Flight Internet prize pack! Thanks to our Sponsor Gogo In-Flight Internet Timestamps: 0:20 - Seth Miller is back and he joins Ed in commiserating all about “What the Deal” is with United Polaris 2:30 - The most recent changes to the Polaris “soft product” 6:18 - What’s the difference between “soft” vs. “hard” product? 11:10 - How to win a Gogo In-flight Internet prize pack 18:45 - What United Polaris might look like a year from now 25:00 - What business travellers really want 27:10 - The big changes to the IHG credit card 33:13 - TSA’s new issue with snacks 36:20 - Potential ripple effect of new TSA focus on raisins and peanuts 42:20 - Ed’s Final Two Pennies: Recap of Spring Break & the Gogo In-flight Internet Secret Phrase Notes: Summer's Photo & Tweet of TSA Snack Bin Example

We've got a double dose of Jen from Deals We Like this week! She knows the Southwest Airlines' Companion Pass inside & out and shares her expert insight with us. Her big deal this week is the current promotion run by Upside, which includes some FREE Bose headsets!. Seth from PaxEx.Aero & Wandering Aramean serves up a deep dive into the history of in-flight WiFi, why it seems like it takes forever for upgraded equipment and speeds and what the future of it looks like. Thanks to our Sponsors Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/News&Notes with Seth Miller 1:15 - Before you skip forward to the In-Flight WiFi segment (this show is pre recorded...cats out the bag!) - Seth clarifies why he was floundering and sounding like an absolute moron (his words, not ours) 2:10 - The $10k travel voucher for a broken seat 3:35 - VDB vs IDB with a related tangent about air travel consumer protections 9:50 - Debating the time limit of a storm and what The difference between Voluntary and Involuntary Denied Boardings & the science behind how much you can get based on your ticket price and length of delay 13:53 - What’s the Gogo secret phrase going to be? 14:20 - Seth Miller tells us EVERYTHING about WiFi in the sky! 16:20 - Why does it take so long to get WiFi on planes? 19:43 - A brief technical history of in-flight WiFi 26:00 - Bandwidth hogs - the known and unknown 33:15 - Jen from Deals We Like talks about Upside (and free Bose headsets!) 39:27 - All about the Southwest Companion Pass (and more Jen from Deals We Like - Woo Hoo!) 51:00 - TF2P - It’s Not a Rant...& Gogo's Secret Phrase

Gary Leff from View from the Wing is back for Ep. 005 chatting with Ed about travel news of the week: the first fatality caused by an accident involving an autonomous Uber and Hyatt Place quietly testing out eliminating free breakfast for most guests. Followed by, on a lighter note, his expert tips on how to book award tickets like a pro. Jen from Deals We Like spots a transfer bonus for Avios from various hotel programs. Lastly, Andy Luten from Andy’s Travel Blog shares his recommended photo gear and some tips for taking great photos. Thanks to our Sponsors Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 0:00 - Gary Leff from View from the Wing is back this week for news and notes as well as with expert tips on award booking! For more info check out his other site, BookYourAward.com... 1:00 - First fatality due to an accident involving an Uber autonomous car 5:45 - Hyatt Place testing out eliminating free breakfast for most guests 12:40 - The first thing about Award Booking... 15:50 - Why the airlines really want you to use those miles 17:50 - The amount of time you need to plan a dream award booking 22:05 - What newbies need to know 24:10 - Which carrier sites to find the best awards for other carriers/alliance partners 30:00 - Jen from Deals We Like sharing the current transfer bonuses available between Marriott Rewards and British Airways Avios 36:55 - Travel Photography Tips from Andy Lutton of Andy’s Travel Blog 39:00 - Andy’s go to travel gear 42:30 - What you want your photo to say 47:15 - Top Two Tips 54:07 - The Final Two Pennies: Why you ALWAYS book those insanely cheap tickets & Gogo's Secret Phrase

This episode we're joined by Angelina Aucello from Angelina Travels and The Points Guy, tackling sad news of yet another United Airlines PR crisis, the benefits of using Chase Pay and the new Chase Freedom Q2 Category Promo. Later on she'll share her experience flying to SE Asia with two kids under the age of five and her review of (and awesome Marriott redemption for) the new Ritz-Carlton Langkawi. What's a ZorkFest? Well, Michael Trager of ZorkFest 2018 gives us a preview of this awesome travel loyalty AND casino loyalty event taking place in Las Vegas this coming Memorial Day weekend. Jen from Deals We Like offers insight on the upcoming post Marriott/SPG merger Amex and Chase credit card and the latest (and possibly the last?!) SPG Amex for Business 30k point bonus. Last but not least we bid adieu to the short lived Amazon and JetBlue partnership. Thanks to our Sponsors Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 1:00 - New Chase Freedom Categories for Q2 2:25 - Benefits of Chase Pay 3:39 - Another United Airlines PR Crisis 9:00 - What's a ZorkFest? 22:30 - Today's Big Deal: SPG Amex for Business 30k Point Bonus 26:27 - The Difference Between Business & Personal Credit Cards 28:14 - New Amex and Chase Cards Post SPG/Marriott Merger 30:30 - Flying Long Haul to SE Asia with Kids Under Five (IN ECONOMY!!) 32:50 - Comparing Properties, Crushing an Award Redemption & Maximizing Transferable Points (Ritz-Carlton vs. Marriott vs. SPG) + 5th Night Free Award Booking 33:55 - Kid's Clubs on Property 38:20 - Marriott's Flights & Nights Packages 42:48 - The Final Two Pennies: RIP Amazon & JetBlue Partnership Links: Angelina Travels Angelina on The Points Guy Chase Freedom Q2 Category Promo (Source: Nerdwallet) Chase Pay ZorkFest 2018 (Ticket promo code: zorkpizza) SPG American Express for Business 30k Point Bonus Angelina's Review of Ritz-Carlton Langkawi Marriott's Flights & Nights Packages Update on Amazon/JetBlue Partnership (Source: One Mile at a Time) Gogo Secret Phrase Giveaway Page

This episode we're talking with Summer Hull from Mommy Points about Walt Disney World's "Early Morning Magic", Hyatt's new partnership with Oasis Luxury Home Share and some fun Caribbean comparisons of the new Grand Hyatt Baha Mar & the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Jen from Deals We Like is back to teach us about mattress runs and talk about the current Wyndham promotion. After that we welcome Mike LaRosa from Coworkaholic to report on his experiences with United Airlines' "new" Polaris Business Class, albeit just the "soft" product. Thanks to our Sponsors Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 0:51 - Hyatt's new partnership with Oasis Luxury Home Sharing 4:30 - Walt Disney World's "Early Morning Magic" Package 9:15 - Summer's "Caribbean Comparison" of two new Hyatt properties 26:48 - Today's Big Deal: Learning about "Mattress Runs" and a new Wyndham promotion 34:07 - United Airlines' Polaris Business Class review 53:48 - The Final Two Pennies - More negative videos of airline employee behavior/This week's Gogo secret phrase Links: Mommy Points Homepage Hyatt's new partnership with Oasis Disney World's "Early Morning Magic" Summer's Sneak Peek of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Summer's Video Review of the Park Hyatt St. Kitts Jen's take on a "Mattress Run Worthy" Wyndham promotion Coworkaholic Homepage United Airlines Treating Customers Poorly Gogo Secret Phrase Giveaway Page

This episode kicks off with guest Seth Miller from Wandering Aramean talking (or perhaps commiserating) with Ed about the state of airports in America with focus on recent announcements about Chicago O'Hare, JFK and LaGuardia. After that, Seth sticks around to give us the low down and ins and outs on Premium Economy across various carriers. Jen from Deals We Like comes back to talk about creative ways to use shopping apps to earn extra points and miles. Our last segment is an interview with the host of the Travel Like a Boss podcast, Johnny FD. A well known "digital nomad", he's spent the last 10 years building passive revenue generating businesses which allow him to literally travel "like a boss". Thanks to our Sponsors Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 0:21 - Ed and Seth talk about the current state of airports in America 10:33 - Seth shares the low down on "Premium Economy"/> 30:00 - How to use shopping apps to earn extra points and miles 35:16 - Interview with digital nomad and host of theTravel Like a Bosspodcast 51:00 - The Final Two Pennies/This week's Gogo secret phrase/Next episode sneak peek Links: Wandering Aramean Deals We Like Homepage Travel Like a Boss Podcast Nomad Summit 2019 Gogo Secret Phrase Giveaway Page

Welcome to the first episode of Miles to Go! What better way to celebrate our inaugural episode then by talking to Gary Leff of View from the Wing about his experience on American Airlines' inaugural 737 MAX flight? We're also joined by Jen Yellin from Deals We Like on the current wave of hotel promotions you might not know about. Lastly, Jeanne Marie Hoffman from Le Chic Geek gives us her best tips and tricks when planning a trip to Las Vegas. Thanks to our Sponsors: Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 0:23 - Meet your host, Ed Pizza! 5:50 - American Airlines' inaugural 737 MAX flight 21:55 - Current Hotel Promotions 28:56 - Las Vegas Tips & Tricks 42:13 - The Final Two Pennies/This week's Gogo secret phrase/Next episode sneak peek Links: Gary's 737 MAX Blog Post Deals We Like Homepage Le Chic Geek Homepage Gogo Secret Phrase Giveaway Page