Podcasts about frequent miler

Book airfare through credit card portal or direct? Frequent Miler reader Mike wrote in with this question:American Express Platinum cards give you 5x points for direct bookings to airline flights. However, most airlines give you 3x to 5x for using their own co-branded cards for those same flights. Direct bookings give you more options if things go sideways (e.g., flight cancelations that require a rebooking). Or would prefer 8x Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards multiplier? If you use Amex or Chase, you have to deal with an online travel agency to re-book replacement flights. Do you prefer Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, over direct bookings versus that airline's own co-branded card, and why?We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we've turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.Mentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's podcast we see how Wells Fargo Attunes out, we'll talk about the PAZE craze (and why it pays to pay with PAZE), and Greg convinces Nick that a $395 Wyndham card is a good idea.Giant Mailbag(01:37) - Deya has a success story about Chase price matchFind our Best Rate Guarantee coffee break episode hereCard News(07:07) - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card refresh is out(08:48) - Read more about Resy credit changes(14:33) - A new collectible is born: Wells Fargo Attune card no longer accepting applicationsCrazy Thing(18:19) - Chase erroneously emails about Ink Plus 5X(20:55) - Capital One Shopping: -0.25% AccorAwards, Points, and More(27:43) - Learn more about the PAZE $10 back, 10 times per card opportunity hereFind a Clover map here(34:55) - Citi ThankYou 50% transfer bonus to ACCORMain Event: Wyndham's intriguing new card lineup(39:46) - Wyndham refreshed its card line up...(41:13) - Changes to current cardsRead more about the card changes here(51:55) - Wyndham Earner Premier card (NEW)Learn more about the Wyndham Earner Premier card here(1:05:28) - Should you care about Wyndham Rewards?Learn how to value Wyndham points hereSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about how the New Sapphire Preferred® card wows, but the new Chase to Hyatt transfer rate breaks our hearts. Giant Mailbag(01:18) - Read more about stacking Chase Instacart deals here or learning to love Instacart credits here(04:33) - Elliot talks about getting into the Instacart game(05:58) - Christine found a great Instacart stackCrazy Thing(07:47) - IHG Targeted offer: 0K points every 0 nightsBonvoyed(08:53) - Wells Fargo ends point sharing (Sep 25)Read more about Wells Fargo changes here(12:30) - Greg rants about points brokersAwards, Points, and More(18:28) - United Pooling apparently now allows partner awards(20:22) - Alaska Airlines CFO hints at BOA point transfers(23:31) - Gondola: flight autosave(27:49) - Learn more about the Chase / Paze Promo hereMain Event(35:15) - Transfer ratio to Hyatt dropping to 4:3 (except for Sapphire Reserve® cards)Read more about this change in Hyatt transfer ratio here(52:50) - Is there any upside?(54:45) - Possible to-dos (if you care about Hyatt 1-1 transfers)Find our "Which Premium Cards are Keepers?" resource hereLearn more about Hyatt milestone spending here(1:08:02) - Learn more about the refreshed Sapphire Preferred® card here(01:09:53) - Lots of good stuff (effective 6/15)(01:15:42) - And some bad stuff (effective 10/1 for pre 6/15 cardholders)Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, Greg shares the story of how Citi shut down his accounts and what's next for him. (What will he do without his beloved Prestige card?) Read more about Greg's situation with Cit here.Giant Mailbag(01:06) - Russel discusses how Barclays American Airlines card is not a way back to Citi(02:57) - Flyguy talks about also being shutdown by Citi for paying the bill from multiple checking accounts in a single cycleBonvoyed(04:53) - American Airlines blocking close-in domestic award availability to partners here(07:58) - Alaska Airlines: Increased partner award fees & no points or status points on saver fares here(13:36) - What are Hilton points worth? Find out here(21:00) - Hyatt reasonable redemption value previewAwards, Points, and More(23:26) - Vacations by Marriott here(28:42) - World of Hyatt to launch early access bookings for elites and cardholders June 30th.(30:01) - Credit card referral offers(32:53) - Learning to love Instacart credits hereMain Event: Life after Citi(37:25) - Greg's shutdown storyRead more about Greg's situation with Cit here(52:12) - There was a brief window to transfer points(58:40) - Globe Card (from Aviator Silver) opened shortly after shutdown(1:03:41) - What's lost and what to do about it(1:07:51) - Citi's unique transfer partners(1:11:42) - AA status: Will pursue AK status instead(1:14:38) - Priority Pass restaurants: US Bank Altitude Connect(1:16:58) - Grocery(1:23:44) - DiningSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler Beginner's Guidehttps://frequentmiler.com/start-here/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? Frequent Miler reader Keith wrote in with this question:I tried to transfer 560K points to Air France to snag a redemption. had previously transferred about 280k points from Amex to KLM, I thought for sure the points would have similarly come through with Chase. Sadly, the points took 4 days to transfer, and I missed my booking window. Looking back, should I have spread my point transfers across different currencies to lower the transfer risk? I could have also covered the transfer using Capital One or Amex points. How do you balance speed with lowering the risk that your points will miss their intended purpose?We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we've turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.Mentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Today's episode will provide a whole grab bag of tips for how to find those impossible award bookings for your award travel goals.(02:32) - Here's a grab bag of techniques, and keep in mind it's often necessary to use multiple(03:09) - Be flexible!(06:48) - Look towards the end of the booking schedule: use points that can book farther out(08:26) - Positioning flights(20:59) - Programs that reserve more space for their own members(22:22) - Programs that reserve more space for elite members/cardholders(24:17) - Programs that allow more awards for more points(26:47) - Married segment logic awards (e.g. san-lax-tyo available, but lax-tyo not available)(35:07) - Consider programs that allow a stopover(39:04) - Award tool Alerts(41:44) - Paid flightsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler Beginner's Guidehttps://frequentmiler.com/start-here/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Points Boosts? Frequent Miler reader Bryant wrote in saying...With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card providing 8X points on travel and hotel, doesn't it always make sense to book through Chase and get the multiplier? That being said, what then is the best way to utilize the points to maximize their value?We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we've turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.Mentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

As more and more people get into the points & miles game, we're seeing an acceleration of devaluations. Opportunities to earn points disappear. Point prices go up. Transfer ratios go down. Is this the beginning of the end?Will the points game survive?Giant Mailbag(00:46) - Gil has a warning story about being Bonvoyed by Bonvoy... BoundlessMain Event: Will the points game survive?(06:28) - Devaluations keep hitting(14:14) - Positive trends that we're seeing at the time of this recording (May 1 2026).(15:15) - Doing this for 15 years(17:37) - Enjoying elite status(21:10) - Earning points getting easier(27:54) - New opportunities to earn transferable points keep appearing(29:00) - Point transfer opportunities are often increasing(30:26) - Using points sometimes improves(31:28) - Airlines(38:37) - HotelsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

My credit card application was declined. Now what?We get this kind of question a lot. And the truth is, credit card application strategies may vary by bank.For example, you can read our Complete Guide to credit card application rules (by bank) here. Let's say you have a letter that says there were too many new accounts, too much available credit, not enough usage of existing credit, etc. Then what? Don't forget that you can always call and ask for reconsideration...We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we've turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.Mentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

We talk a lot about the ultra-premium credit cards with expensive annual fees, but there are plenty of people interested in credit cards with more modest annual fees. Luckily, there are some great $95 credit cards that can be supplemented with fee-free cards for a great travel rewards strategy. Giant Mailbag(01:20) - Melissa writes in with a question about locking in Hyatt prices before May 20th(04:48) - Jonathan writes in offering a few key data points to update our Hyatt points advance article, which you can find hereCard News(08:48) - American Express adds $300 in ChatGPT credits on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Business Gold Cards(12:40) - See our updated resource for the best cards for Priority Pass hereCrazy Thing: Priority Pass Restaurants(16:04) - Priority Pass RestaurantsAwards, Points, and More(18:02) - Mastercard Launches Mastercard Airport Dining Experience (‘Taste By/Of Priceless' Airport Lounges)(22:13) - JetBlue and United Unlock Reciprocal Loyalty Benefits(25:51) - Read Nick's post about Citi Travel for rental cars here(30:49) - Read more about Sixt offering prepaid fuel for $49.99 for rentals in the US for Sixt ONE members here(34:31) - Points Path Pro now shows United discounted cardholder pricing(36:23) - Read more about how to keep airline miles and hotel points alive hereMain Event: Best $95 travel credit card combo(37:37) - We'll focus on which combination of credit cards might make sense for someone to use, but we'll stick to a $95 annual fee budget. We'll focus on transferable points and include cash back that can be converted to transferable points(40:27) - Capital One(42:21) - Chase(47:54) - Citi(52:03) - Wells Fargo(56:07) - Other considerations(1:01:05) - Best Mixed-Bank $95 Wallet(1:10:40) - Nick's pick for best $95 wallet(1:13:39) - Greg's pick for best $95 walletSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkFrequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/

In today's episode, Nick owns up to his mistake: Yes, you can lock in Hyatt prices with Points Advance. Then we'll talk about paying rent with the Alaska Atmos Summit card, and which points programs are trending up or down. Mea culpa(01:23) - Oops: Nick made a mistake about Hyatt Points Advance in the originally published version of our Question of the WeekFind the (now edited) Question of the Week here: https://frequentmiler.com/can-i-save-points-on-a-hyatt-award-with-a-date-change-trick-question-of-the-week-ep2-5-4-26/Learn more about Hyatt Points Advance here: https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-points-advance/Giant Mailbag(05:44) - Ben discusses paying rent with the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® CardFind our podcast episode about big bonuses for huge spend here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-bonuses-for-huge-spend-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep356-5-1-26/Card News(09:10) - Chase Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card/Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card application rule changes(13:32) - Barclays JetBlue Premier MastercardRead more about the Barclays JetBlue Premier Mastercard here: https://frequentmiler.com/JetBluePremier/#GotoAwards, Points, and More(15:20) - Rove adds Aeroplan as transfer partnerRead more about Rove adding Air Canada Aeroplan as its newest transfer partner here: https://frequentmiler.com/rove-miles-adds-air-canada-aeroplan-as-its-newest-transfer-partner/(17:10) - How to combine Citi ThankYou accounts (and what might be getting in your way)Learn more about combining your Citi ThankYou accounts here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-combine-citi-thankyou-accounts/(22:43) - Qatar is limiting Avios redemptions in terms of who you can redeem forMain Event: Transferable Points Changing Fortunes(25:36) - "Trending up" doesn't mean it is now a better program than one "trending down". It might be, but it also might just be closing the gap a little.(26:54) - Programs we think are trending down...(41:07) - Programs we think are staying about even(44:32) - Programs we think are trending up...Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkFrequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/

Amex has been refreshing its credit cards lately, but the American Express® Gold Card changes are more like a slight touch up. (00:37) - What's changed?(04:02) - What's the same?(05:25) - What do we think?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Can I save points on a Hyatt award with a date change trick? Frequent Miler reader Matt wrote:I recently succeeded in changing a Hyatt award stay to avoid cancelling and forfeiting the Hyatt points. I'm wondering if that could be a strategy to leap past the upcoming changes to the World of Hyatt program. For example, I would create a reservation using points at a Hyatt property now and change the date later for a stay that is currently not bookable because it is more than 13 months away. Has anyone successfully used this strategy in previous years when category changes were announced, avoiding the need to make up point differences due to the associated program changes at that time? I understand that this is highly prospective and perhaps wishful thinking, but it could mean a sizeable savings in Hyatt points!We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we've turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.Mentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, we'll talk about how Chase Point Boost is going bust, how Avianca sucks some life out of LifeMiles, and rewards for spending BIG.Giant Mailbag(01:16) - Mike says "I have a subscription to Award Wallet Plus, and it has a “Merchant Category Lookup Tool,” where you can enter a merchant name and it will give the related merchant category name..."Find our Wells Fargo Journeys Forward episode 354 here(05:50) - Visit frequentmiler.com/awardwallet hereUpgrade to AwardWallet Plus for 6 months (one time upgrade only): Click the down arrow next to your name within AwardWallet, and click “Upgrade Using a Coupon”, then enter: FrequentMiler (this will only work for those who have never upgraded before)Card News(07:18) - Royal Caribbean launches two new credit cards: Royal One and Royal One PlusCrazy Thing(10:20) - Finnair 18 month expirationMattress Running the Numbers(17:37) - Buy Marriott Points for as low as 0.89 cents eachBonvoyed(21:33) - Chase Points Boost goes BustRead more about Chase Points Boost going bust hereRead more about Chase reducing redemption rates here(35:46) - Air Canada Aeroplan devaluationLearn more about Aeroplan devaluing their award chart here(38:58) - Avianca LifeMiles changesAwards, Points, and More(45:31) - Wells Fargo adds transfer partner: Cathay Pacific (Autograph, Autograph Journey)(47:16) - See our Instant Gift Card Deals post hereMain Event: Best Bonuses for Huge Spend(49:47) - Today we'll focus on cards that earn big rewards after really big spend ($50K or more)(52:24) - Bilt cards $50K: Platinum status(56:49) - Marriott Bonvoy® Brilliant® American Express® Card $60K(1:02:15) - Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card $60K (100K Companion cert)(1:09:00) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card $75K(1:15:17) - Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card $120K:(1:17:13) - The Business Platinum Card® from American Express $250K(1:23:43) - Aeroplan® Credit Card $1M: Free award companion for the rest of the calendar year and all of next year with $1 Million spendSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler Beginner's Guidehttps://frequentmiler.com/start-here/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Does product changing ruin trip protections? Frequent Miler reader Jay P wrote in saying:"I used my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to book a flight and hotel for a future trip. Now, I would like to product change my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card before that trip. Are there any negative impacts if I product change before travel?"We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Starting this week, we're turning the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.Mentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, we'll talk about Amex Platinum shutting down paths for earning Delta airline fee credits, Google Hotels adding price drop alerts, and all the many paths that still exist for free cruises in 2026.Main Event: Cruising for freeGiant Mailbag(01:07) - Greg gets corrected about Bilt point accelerator vs Rent Day...Crazy Thing: Capital One Shopping(03:27) - Capital One brings Gmail to a crawlRead more about the unfortunate Capital One slow gmail issue hereBonvoyed: Amex Airline Fee Reimbursements(08:48) - Delta tricks are deadRead our resource for Amex airline fee credits and what still worksAwards, Points, and More(13:15) - Google Hotels adds price tracking(17:02) - Melio (pay bills with credit card)Learn more about Melio here(19:01) - Chase Travel℠ Points Boost increased to 2.5cpp for a few select propertiesRead more about Chase Travel℠ Points Boost increase here(21:21) - Guide to booking Preferred Hotels with points (Updated)Find our updated resource for booking Preferred Hotels online here(25:24) - Tools for finding point-bookable events (auctions and buy it now)Visit the discover tools Pointsevents.com and Pointauctions.comMain Event: Cruising for free(29:33) - Learn more about cruising for free in 2026 here(30:44) - There are three main options for free cruises in 2026(31:08) - Land-based casino loyalty programs & matches(36:26) - Why do casino elite statuses matter for free cruises?(49:00) - Cruise line direct match opportunities for “free” cruises(1:07:09) - Gambling on board might yield a free cruiseSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's podcast episode, we'll watch as Capital One ventures into business, we'll discuss the best of the best award search tools, and we'll talk about how Wells Fargo is on the upswing.Giant Mailbag(01:00) - Nate has a tip to add to our Free checked bags via credit cards podcast Ep353Card News(04:41) - Capital One Spark Miles rebranded to Venture BusinessLearn more about the Capital One Spark Miles rebranding to Venture Business hereCrazy Thing: Choice Privileges(09:42) - Choice doubled points to Air France/KLM Flying BlueRead more about the Choice Privileges transfer bonus hereBonvoyed: AA(13:03) - AA bonvoys elite members flying basic economyRead more about American Airlines doing away with basic economy for elite members hereAwards, Points, and More(16:42) - We've updated our resource "Which award search tool is best?"Find our "Which award search tool is best" resource here(26:05) - Amex changes referral limits to 5 per year, per cardRead more about American Express' referral limit changes here(29:01) - Wells Fargo adds new transfer partner: Wyndham 1 to 2Read more about Wells Fargo's new transfer partner hereMain Event: Wells Fargo journeys forward(31:13) - Wells Fargo Rewards was a 3rd tier transferable points program(31:46) - That's starting to change...(32:46) - Wells Fargo Rewards advantages(34:09) - Transfer partners(37:22) - Wells Fargo rewards credit cardsLearn more about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card hereLearn more about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card here(43:50) - Wells Fargo cash back cards(54:45) - WeaknessesQuestion of the Week(58:07) - Nick wonders... if Greg had the capacity to spend towards one single elite status, which would it be?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how Rakuten doubles select credit card signup bonuses, JetBlue polishes its previously lackluster Premier card, and how to avoid paying those increasing checked bag fees. Giant Mailbag(00:58) - Rick asks about EU regulation 261Read our post, "$700 richer: My easy UK261 claim experience with United Airlines" hereCard News(04:09) - JetBlue Premier Mastercard ($499)Read more about the JetBlue Premiere Mastercard hereAwards, Points, and More(07:04) - Rakuten offering bonuses on select Bank of America cardsLearn more about the Rakuten bonus hereOr learn about the Rakuten referral here(11:33) - Rove adds Virgin Atlantic (and changes url to rove.com)Main Event: Free checked bags via credit cards(13:15) - Learn more about free checked bags via credit card here(14:35) - General info about free checked bags(16:34) - Strategy for infrequent flyers of a particular airline. Example: you don't usually fly Delta, but you have one flight coming up...(22:15) - Which airlines require paying with a specific card to get free checked bags?(24:20) - How many travel companions get free checked bags?(27:08) - Do you get free checked bags on international trips?(29:42) - Cheapest card for free checked bags by airline(31:48) - Other ways to get free checked bags(40:21) - Carry-on insteadQuestion of the Week(44:55) - Turbotax has a higher fee for paying with a credit card. Is there a better way to pay with a credit card when filing with Turbotax?Read more about paying taxes with a credit card here: https://frequentmiler.com/pay-taxes-via-credit-card/Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In this episode, we'll talk about how United credit cards make United miles more valuable, how Southwest discount codes make Southwest points more valuable, and we'll take you on a ride through a classic card show discussing credit card "collectibles".Giant Mailbag(01:34) - Justin: I was annoyed to discover I couldn't change the frequent flyer number on my upcoming award booking from my Atmos number to my AAdvantage number, which would have made me and my girlfriend eligible for Oneworld Emerald perks...Learn more about Alaska not allowing frequent flyer number changes on award tickets hereCard News(05:33) - United cards now unlock better earnings on paid flights, 10%/15% discount on award flights, and more Polaris business class saver awardsRead more about recent United changes here(10:46) - Amex card offersLearn more about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express hereLearn more about the American Express® Business Gold Card here(16:18) - Amazon Business Amex moving to US Bank(17:59) - Southwest cardholder discount codesRead more about Southwest discount codes hereMattress Running the Numbers(20:28) - Hyatt/Under Canvas cardholder promoLearn more about the Hyatt 2K promo here: https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-promo-earn-2k-bonus-points-per-night-at-under-canvas-properties/Awards, Points, and More(27:32) - National Car Rental's One Two Free Promo ReturnsLearn more about National Car Rental's One Two Free promo here: https://frequentmiler.com/national-car-rentals-one-two-free-promo-returns/(29:27) - Transfer bonusesLearn more about transfer bonuses here: https://frequentmiler.com/current-point-transfer-bonuses/Main Event: Credit Card Collectibles(35:00) - Citi® AAdvantage® Globe has us predicting the next credit card collectibles(35:44) - Find our Coffee Break Ep35 here: https://frequentmiler.com/predicting-the-next-credit-card-collectibles-coffee-break-ep35-12-3-24-podcast/(36:56) - Citi collectibles(53:36) - Chase collectibles(59:54) - Bank Of America(1:01:25) - Capital One(1:06:15) - US Bank(1:14:46) - Almost collectiblesQuestion of the Week(1:28:42) - Do you have suggestions for how to preemptively link loyalty accounts to Chase, Capital One, or Amex without needing to transfer points?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about who we would want to buy JetBlue, how Amex missed the mark with its new business card, and the key to preserving our loyalty if Hyatt "mile-stone-ifies" elite benefits.Giant Mailbag(02:16) - Adam: Why does the Aviator Silver card list as $199 annual fee on other sites across the internet, except for yours?Learn more about the Aviator Silver card hereCard News(04:33) - New: American Express Graphite™ Business Cash Unlimited CardLearn more about the American Express Graphite™ Business Cash Unlimited Card hereAwards, Points, and More(09:03) - JetBlue is looking for a buyer that can clear regulatory approval: United, Alaska, or Southwest(16:16) - Bilt authorized user updates, transfer partner updates(22:31) - Bilt using Points Path Learn more about Bilt changes here(25:17) - Wyndham points sale: Buy Wyndham points for as low as 0.65 cents each thru May 1(25:51) - MealMaxxer, a cool map tool for finding stacks with Resy, inKind, Bilt Dining, and moreLearn more about MealMaxxer hereMain Event: The bright side of Hyatt's (potential) Globalist shake-up(28:59) - Learn more about Hyatt may be shaking up Globalist status here(33:40) - Greg's glass-half-full take: Not as bad as many fear & several positives(38:15) - Greg's 1 huge key assumption(40:37) - The potential negatives(46:38) - The potential positives(48:42) - Nick's reactionQuestion of the Week(56:56) - With more and more merchants adding additional fees for credit card processing, do you consider if it's best to use a debit card?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Note: This episode can be viewed with video on Youtube/Spotify. Summary In this episode, Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle welcome back Nick from The Frequent Miler to discuss the latest strategies in the award travel world. Nick breaks down his family's massive undertaking of the JetBlue 25-for-25 promotion, his nuanced take on the Hyatt award chart changes, and his favorite tools for finding the best flight redemptions, including a surprising hack for Southwest Airlines. Key Points From This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction Tom and Trevor welcome back Nick. Brief catch-up on Nick's recent travel adventures since his last appearance. 0:43 – The JetBlue 25-for-25 Family Challenge How Nick completed the challenge for his entire family of four. The logic behind securing 25 years of airline status for his young children. Strategy: Using Amex Membership Rewards points and the Business Platinum 35% rebate to fund the flights. Leveraging partner bookings like Etihad Guest for high-value JetBlue redemptions. 7:16 – Hyatt Award Chart Changes: To Panic or Not? Nick's take on the recent devaluation: Why Hyatt remains the strongest hotel currency despite the hit to top-tier redemptions. The strategy of speculative bookings for "bucket list" properties like Park Hyatt Kyoto before price hikes. Comparing the rising cash rates of luxury hotels to the increasing point requirements. 18:25 – Aeroplan and the Current State of Flight Awards The pros and cons of Air Canada's Aeroplan, including their massive partner network. The frustration of dynamic pricing with partners like United. The difficulty of finding award space to Asia in the current travel climate. 23:14 – Advanced Award Searching & The "Condor Hack" Using Alaska Airlines to book Condor with a stopover in Frankfurt en route to Bangkok. Nick's favorite tools: AwardTool, Seats.Aero, and the Points Path Chrome extension. Autopilot: A new tool for automatically repricing paid flights for credits. 29:16 – Southwest Airlines Strategies & IT Glitches The shift to assigned seating and the impact on Southwest's value proposition. A bizarre IT glitch: Why Nick's 8-year-old son could see award seats that Nick (a premium cardholder) could not. The benefits of the Southwest Priority and Performance Business cards. 36:00 – Family Travel: World-Schooling & The Librea Tar Pits Nick's experience homeschooling his kids for a quarter while traveling to the Bahamas, Los Angeles, and French Polynesia. The educational value of travel: From the aquariums in Atlantis to prehistoric history in LA. 41:40 – The Casino Status Match & Free Cruises How Nick turned casino status matches into 14 free cruises. Reviewing Margaritaville at Sea: Why it's surprisingly great for families despite its budget reputation. Pro Tip: Using the casino "cage" for organic spend/cash advances on cruises. 51:00 – Lifemiles & Flying Blue Subscriptions Is the LifeMiles+ subscription worth $20/month? (Hint: The 10% discount and free cancellations might be). The new Flying Blue subscription model and whether it's worth it for promo awards. Keywords Hyatt award chart, travel hacking, JetBlue 25 for 25, Family travel, Aeroplan, Southwest Airlines

In today's podcast episode, we'll share 3 ways to improve your Google Wallet, we'll see how Marriott Bonvoyed us again, and Nick will explain how he would spend $115K.Giant Mailbag(01:24) - Mark shares how to arrange the card order in Google Wallet(03:30) - Rick & Heather share another way to arrange cards in Google Wallet(03:55) - Raj shares a way to set a card as default, and customize the nickname of a card on Google Wallet (which Raj uses to specify the rotating category for a card)Card News(05:46) - IHG Biz 200K OfferLearn more about the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card here(12:25) - New/updated resource: Best credit card purchase protectionsSee our Best credit card purchase protections resource here(19:44) - Citi ThankYou Points about to end points-sharing between cardholders?Read more about this hereBonvoyed by Bonvoy(25:04) - Read more about Marriott card eligibility hereLearn more about the Marriott Bonvoy® Brilliant® American Express® Card hereLearn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card hereAwards, Points, and More(28:39) - Rove Miles: Redeem Rove Miles for a paid stay at a loyalty-eligible rate and earn hotel pointsRead more about redeeming Rove miles here(31:43) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card / Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card Price Match GuaranteeLearn more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-travel-offering-price-match-guarantee-for-hotel-bookings/(36:52) - Delta's 20-minute baggage guarantee[40:14:26]Main Event: How to best spend $115K....asking for a friend(40:16) - A large capacity for spend could mean many welcome bonuses(43:20) - The contenders(43:34) - Learn more about The Business American Express Platinum Card® card here: https://frequentmiler.com/AmxPlatBiz/#Goto(46:19) - Learn more about the Chase World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: https://frequentmiler.com/WOHBiz/#GotoLearn more about the Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card: https://frequentmiler.com/WOH/#Goto(48:27) - Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card here: https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-american-express-surpass-card/#Goto(49:49) - Learn more about the Caesars Rewards® Prestige Visa Signature® Card here: https://frequentmiler.com/CaesarsRewardsPrestigeCard/#GotoLearn more about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card here: https://frequentmiler.com/VentureX/#Goto(51:43) - Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card here: https://frequentmiler.com/CSR/#Goto(53:02) - Our thoughtsQuestion of the Week(1:10:57) - How might investments enhance the points and miles game?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast episode, we see that Marriott tops off their top-offs, Aviator Silver cards become unique collectibles, and we'll talk about the best ways to earn and redeem Rove Miles.Giant Mailbag(01:07) - Diana shares some thoughts regarding a recent podcast episode, Speed up US entry with Mobile Passport Control | Coffee Break Ep96 | 3-10-26See the Coffee Break Ep96 here.Card News(03:34) - Barclays Aviator to Citi transition April 2026Learn more about the Barclays Aviator transition to Citi here(12:44) - Robinhood Platinum Credit CardRead more about this card here(15:39) - Southwest companion pass offers ending March 19th 7am ETMattress Running the Numbers(17:22) - Leading Hotels of the World points sale: Get up to 100% bonusLearn more about the Leading Hotels of the World points sale here(21:42) - Read Nick's post about family-friendly Leading Hotels of the World properties hereAwards, Points, and More(24:18) - Marriott making it possible to redeem up to 25K + FNC (up from 15K).(27:59) - You can now add Marriott gift cards to your Bonvoy account (both in-app & on website)Read more about adding Marriott gift cards to your Bonvoy account here: https://frequentmiler.com/you-can-now-add-marriott-gift-cards-to-your-bonvoy-account-both-in-app-on-website/(30:44) - Amex to fold Tock into Resy in Summer 2026Read more about Amex's plans with Tock here: https://frequentmiler.com/after-purchasing-tock-amex-to-fold-it-into-resy-in-summer-2026/(34:08) - Spirit Airlines paid status upgrade: Higher status from $79Learn more about Spirit Airlines' paid status upgrade here: https://frequentmiler.com/spirit-airlines-paid-status-upgrade-higher-status-from-79/Main Event: Rove Miles: Transferable Points w/out a credit card(39:54) - What is Rove?(42:43) - How to earn Rove MilesLearn more about Rove Miles here: https://frequentmiler.com/rovemiles/(56:22) - How to use Rove Miles(1:00:53) - Rove Miles adds Japan Airlines, launches with 50% transfer bonus through 3/31Read more here: https://frequentmiler.com/rove-miles-adds-japan-airlines-launches-with-50-transfer-bonus-through-3-31/And read Nick's post about JAL opportunities here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-uses-of-japan-airlines-mileage-bank-miles/(1:02:23) - Rove adds SAS as new transfer partner with 20% transfer bonus through 4/8.Read more here: https://frequentmiler.com/rove-adds-sas-as-new-transfer-partner-with-20-transfer-bonus/(1:04:28) - Other good transfer partnersQuestion of the Week(1:14:19) - Why don't you write about the quality of the airline or hotel itself?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In this episode, we'll talk about the tools that can help you earn more rewards, organize your points & rewards, and spend your points wisely.Learn more about the tools we use here(01:52) - General / Misc Tools(25:57) - Flight Trip Planning(39:23) - Hotel Trip Planning(45:31) - Car Rentals(50:28) - TrainsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about stacking dining credits, give a caution aboutgifting Marriott free night certificates, and will resurrect expired Southwest credits.Crazy Thing(00:57) - Southwest shows different seatmap availability to different passengersRead more about Nick's experience with Southwest's assigned seating hereAwards, Points, and More(04:10) - Alaska Vacations adds discounts, VIP perks for elite membersRead more about this here(07:05) - “Free” Norwegian cruise for Caesars Diamond Elite membersRead more about this here(10:26) - Recent breaking news... Hyatt devaluationFind out more about the Hyatt devaluation here(14:43) - Wyndham Rewards added as new Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partnerRead more about this here(16:17) - Bilt has launched a transfer bonusRead more about this here[28:03:23 ad]Main Event: Gems from our Giant Mailbag(28:05) - Bridget says: DEN is an airport that has the security reservation program (DEN Reserve)...(29:44) - Chaim says: For Resy and Sapphire Reserve® Exclusive Tables credits you can buy gift cards online for lots of restaurants that trigger the credit. Therefore, you can bank up multiple hundreds of dollars, and then when it works with your plans, you can splurge on an amazing dinner or two...(32:47) - Mark says: I just finished listening to the January 2 podcast. With regards to your answer for the question of the week about which cards you keep in your digital wallet, I recently discovered something about Apple wallet specifically that might be of use, at least to Greg since he is the only one of you using Apple...You can catch that episode here(36:16) - Nathan says: I just listened to episode 343 and wanted to share a data point regarding the $500 Gift of College gift cards...You can catch episode 343 here(39:29) - Mike says: If you look up IHG Destined One Night On Us, there's no result directly from IHG, but multiple hotel booking agents' websites reference a stay x nights get 1 night free promotion for participating hotels. For example: https://bonvivant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Q3-IHG-Destined-Stay-Pay-Promo-HFP.pdf(44:42) - Panayot says: Convert expired SWA credit to a LUV voucher...(48:51) - Tracy says: I have a data point relevant to your episode on gifting points and miles...Catch that episode here(52:19) - Melissa says: Thanks so much for the article on the pitfalls and warnings booking via I Prefer hotels...Hear some of the pitfalls of booking via iPrefer here and read more about using Citi points for I Prefer here(53:44) - Amalan says: Just sharing a couple of good data points from a quick weekend trip to Chicago...(55:27) - Jefferson says: Thanks to the FM team!Question of the Week(57:33) - Is there a formal appeal or consideration process when Citi declines for high amount of unused credit?Find out more about Citi application tips hereSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In this episode, we'll talk about how Chase wants you to stay Calm and give a WHOOP, we'll talk about how Bank of America wants you to be a millionaire, and how United wants you to get its credit cards.Giant Mailbag(00:45) - Doug: Parking at a Bilt Neighborhood Parking garage on Hyatt award stayCard News(03:15) - It may be possible to product change US Bank Altitude ReserveRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/psa-it-may-be-possible-to-product-change-altitude-reserve-and-maybe-get-some-of-the-fee-back*NOTE* Shortly after we recorded, we learned that existing earning rates for Bank of America cards will last longer than we thought: Doctor of Credit has learned some positive news regarding changes for existing Preferred Rewards members: they will retain their current status until 3 months after their first anniversary date post-November 1, 2026. For example, if your anniversary date is 10/1, your 3-month clock won't start until 10/1/27, and you will keep your current status level through 1/1/28 (provided you meet the current qualification requirements). That's a bit of a band-aid on a broken leg, but it's a much better timeframe than what we originally thought.(07:26) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offers (MUST ACTIVATE OFFERS)Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-cardholders-can-get-a-free-calm-premium-annual-subscription/(08:37) - WHOOP: Get $359 back after purchasing one year of WHOOP's Life Membership (expires 5/12/2026.)Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-cardholders-can-get-a-free-year-of-whoop-fitness-wearable/(10:45) - Bilt appears to be honoring 5x offer for manyRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-cards-being-frozen-5x-not-being-honored-bilts-response-pound-sand-its-tpgs-fault/Bonvoyed(17:30) - Bank of America Preferred Rewards changesRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/negative-bank-of-america-preferred-rewards-upcoming-changes-lower-bonus-rewards-higher-eligibility-requirements/Awards, Points, and More(24:56) - FYI: How to pay taxes by credit card (Video)Watch a video about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-pay-taxes-by-credit-card-video/(26:43) - United Travel Bank may no longer trigger airline incidental creditsRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/united-travel-bank-may-no-longer-trigger-airline-incidental-credits-but-dont-panic-yet/(29:53) - 40%...

In today's podcast, we'll talk about why you might not want to toss out that United credit card mailer, how Bilt has led us to coin a new term, and how Calala Island wants to pay you to book with points!Private Island ultra-all-inclusive barefoot luxury: $2,500 rebateGiant Mailbag(01:21) - Vijay: Using BOA Premier $100 airline fee creditRead more about Amex Airline fee reimbursements hereCard News(05:18) - Fast track to United Silver status with targeted new card offersRead more about the fast track to United Silver status hereMattress Running the Numbers(07:20) - Marriott Earn 2,500 bonus points per stay + 1 bonus elite night per brandRead more about the new Marriott promo hereLearn some shortcuts to Marriott elite status hereBonvoyed: Bilt(12:33) - TBD about denied mortgage paymentsRead more about various Bilt issues here(18:14) - Should we introduce the term "Biltvoyed"?Awards, Points, and More(21:42) - Nick's EU261 compensation claimRead more about Nick's EU261 copensation claim here: https://frequentmiler.com/finnair-flight-booked-with-alaska-atmos-rewards-eu261-claim/(25:38) - Instacart and United team upPrivate Island ultra-all-inclusive barefoot luxury: $2,500 rebate(30:00) - Calala Island: Private island with only 6 villas. All inclusive. "Barefoot luxury" "Ultra-all-inclusive"(37:00) - Two Big Buts...(38:53) - Read about getting to Calala Island here: https://onemileatatime.com/how-to-get-to-calala-island/(43:03) - Derrick Dye at Travel on Points: Read a review about this property here: https://travel-on-points.com/review-calala-island-a-nicaribbean-luxury-property/(47:09) - Is Calala Island worth it?(52:54) - Are we going to visit?(57:41) - Is this a luxury hotel point farms?Read about One Mile at a Time's "Point Farm" concept here: https://onemileatatime.com/insights/hotel-points-farms/Question of the Week(1:09:02) - A question about travel insurance: what do I need on the front end (especially in terms of documentation) to prepare for contingencies?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in

In this episode, we'll take Hyatt on a mattress run, we'll answer "Is Tyler crazy for liking the Bilt Paladium card?", and Nick disagrees with our entire main event!Giant Mailbag(01:07) - Tyler disagrees with all the negative feedback that the Bilt program is getting(06:01) - Read more about Greg's thoughts on Bilt changes hereCard News(08:18) - Atmos Ascent ($95 card) offerLearn more about the Atmos Ascent card here(10:24) - Southwest consumer card offers: Companion Pass + bonus pointsLearn more about the Southwest consumer card offers hereMattress Running the Numbers(13:08) - Hyatt's overlapping promosLearn more about the Hyatt Bonus Journeys hereLearn more about the Hyatt House / Hyatt Studios promo hereBonvoyed(21:00) - Chase makes it harder to track Ink Business Cash® 5x spendingLearn more about this hereAwards, Points, and More(22:09) - Capital One: 30% transfer bonus to Japan Airlines Mileage BankRead about Japan Airlines sweet spots here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-uses-of-japan-airlines-mileage-bank-miles/Learn more about the transfer bonus here: https://frequentmiler.com/30-transfer-bonus-from-capital-one-miles-to-japan-airlines-mileage-bank/See our podcast episode 325 "Sweet-spot awards courtesy of Japan Airlines" here: https://frequentmiler.com/sweet-spot-awards-courtesy-of-japan-airlines-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep325-9-26-25/(25:26) - Citi is still allowing product changes between AAdvantage and ThankYou point cardsLearn more about Citi no longer allowing product changes between AAdvantage and ThankYou point cards here: https://frequentmiler.com/is-citi-no-longer-allowing-product-changes-between-aadvantage-and-thankyou-point-cards/(29:03) - Rove "Built Better" promoRead more about the Rove "Built Better" promo here: https://frequentmiler.com/rove-built-better-promo-7x-on-hotel-stays-bonus-earnings-free-miles/Main Event: Battle of the $350 airline cards: AA, Delta, United (and Alaska)(32:40:09) - Comparing $350 airline cards: AA, Delta, United (and Alaska)(35:33) - Earnings on spend(40:25) - All offer standard airline card perks such as free checked...

In today's episode, we discover that not all heroes have capes, some redeem rewards! We learn a trick for extending Southwest flight credits, and we tell all: how we increase our credit card spend.(01:06) - See our podcast episode 197, "13 ways to increase credit card spend" hereGiant Mailbag(01:37) - Mike: We can be heroes...just for one dayListen to our episode about sharing miles and points here(03:58) - Brent: Charitable givingListen to our podcast about rewards from giving hereCard News(09:15) - Bilt quietly removed eBay & Facebook Marketplace as exclusionsRead more about this hereMattress Running the Numbers(10:39) - Bilt Rent Day transfer bonus to AccorAwards, Points, and More(19:21) - Southwest credits are valid for 60 months in some situations(23:22) - JetBlue 25for25 stats(29:16) - Capital One Shopping Home Page Bonus OffersRead more about Capital One Shopping home page bonus offers hereMain Event: How we increase spend to earn big card bonuses(32:55) - See our podcast episode 197, "13 ways to increase credit card spend" here(33:57) - Today, we'll describe the ways we (Nick and I) increase spend in real life(34:15) - About paying fees(37:43) - Pay taxesRead about paying taxes via credit card here(45:23) - Use a service to pay bills that don't ordinarily accept a credit card, like PlastiqLearn more about Plastiq here(52:07) - MelioLearn more about Melio here(53:49) - Fund college savings or pay student loansLearn about miles for college here(1:01:12) - Make loans through KivaLearn about Kiva here(1:03:40) - Pay bills for friends or family(1:07:10) - Fund new bank accountsLearn more about funding a bank account with a credit card here(1:11:52) - Buy and sell merchandiseLearn about buying groups here(1:13:13) - Buy and sell gift cardsLearn about buying and selling gift cards...

In today's episode, we'll talk about a trick for getting great value with Delta miles, which has returned, how flying Emirates first with points has gotten harder, and the hard truth about how we have too many cards (and what to do about it).Giant Mailbag(01:52) - Using AAdvantage miles to book JetSmart and other tips for South America travelCard News(04:10) - Air France/KLM Flying BlueRead more about Air France KLM flying blue here(15:38) - Capital One Venture Rewards: 75K + $250 travel after $4K spend(18:35) - Bilt Cash details revealedCatch up on how Bilt bungled the rollout hereBonvoyed(21:06) - Qantas Nerfs Emirates First Class AwardsRead more about this hereAwards, Points, and More(23:34) - Delta trick lowering award prices by booking flights to/from Mexico, working once again(25:20) - Alaska $99 Companion Fares can be used with the multi-city tool on the regular booking engine again(26:35) - American Airlines Awards flying Aer Lingus Now Available OnlineMain Event: Discarding our card collections(28:14) - Find out which premium cards we think are keepers here(31:41) - Greg's thoughts about keeper cards(35:25) - $795 Sapphire Reserve® Card Example (read more about our thoughts here)(57:45) - $325 American Express® Gold Card example(1:04:44) - $895 American Express Platinum Card® example(1:14:58) - Cards Greg and Nick have discarded recentlyQuestion of the Week(1:24:08) - American Express® Gold Card with 4x dining vs Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card with 3x dining + status... which one is worth it?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how JAL awards can be changed, we'll talk about the Amtrak USA Rail Pass, and we'll discuss Bilt 2.0: Half-baked, confusing, but potentially very rewarding.(At the time of this recording, running ad for Bilt on the audio-only version of this podcast. Despite that, all opinions expressed here are our own. We will always tell you what we believe, good or bad.)Giant Mailbag(01:27) - JAL Mileage Bank awards can not be changed (but they can be cancelled for a reasonable feeSee Nick's post about the best uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles hereSee our podcast episode 325 "Sweet-spot awards courtesy of Japan Airlines" hereAwards, Points, and More(04:38) - Like MaxFHR but for The EditLearn more here(06:02) - Amtrak USA Rail Pass for $250 (usual: $499)(08:37) - Saks has filed for bankruptcy(11:53) - United MileagePlus Status Match ChallengeLearn more about the United MileagePlus Status Match Challenge hereMain Event: Bilt 2.0Learn more about Bilt 2.0 hereAnd find our opinion on Bilt 2.0 here(14:42) - The transition from old to new(19:36) - 3 Bilt Cards(20:52) - 2 rewards currencies...(22:20) - Is Bilt Cash valuable?(27:02) - More card details(29:49) - What do we know about Bilt Cash?(41:17) - Card Reviews / who are they for?(1:04:15) - Find out some answers to frequently asked questions here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-2-faq/Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In today's episode, we'll talk about a Universal Theme park hack, how to fix airport lounge overcrowding, and the best ways to share points, miles, and other rewards.Giant Mailbag(01:01) - A clever theme park hackCard News(05:44) - Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 5, 50K Free Night Awards welcome offer is back.Read more about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offer hereBonvoyed(09:15) - Hyatt Globalists report receiving far fewer points for expired certificatesAwards, Points, and More(12:41) - Atmos Rewards Communities are comingRead more about Atmos Rewards communities here(18:31) - Rakuten 5K/$50 Bonus extended to 3/31Read more about this Rakuten 5K/$50 bonus here(21:13) - Get two years of Hilton Gold or Diamond with elite status match(23:37) - Radisson Rewards launches shopping portal with up to 30% bonus earningsLearn more about the Radisson Rewards shopping portal here(25:17) - Margaritaville at Sea: Quick mention of the casino match offer for the cruise crowdRead about Nick's experience with Margaritaville at Sea hereMain Event: Best ways to share rewards w/ friends and family(30:22) - Read our "Sharing is Caring" post here: https://frequentmiler.com/sharing-is-caring-the-best-programs-for-sharing-points-and-miles/Read how to gift hotel points, free night certificates, and award nights here: https://frequentmiler.com/gift-hotel-points-free-night-certificates-and-award-nights-booked-with-points-rules-by-program/(31:30) - Moving credit card points to others(36:58) - Moving, sharing, or pooling Airline miles(43:31) - Moving or sharing hotel points(48:06) - Book flights for others(50:48) - Book hotel nights for others with points or free night certsQuestion of the Week(59:04) - With overcrowding at Airport lounges, what would you do to fix this?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In this week's podcast episode, we'll talk about stacking 2025 and 2026 JetBlue elite perks, how you can use Visa cards you already own to get free international roaming, and we'll predict what's coming to points & miles in 2026.Giant Mailbag(01:09) - "I certainly admire the continued approach to display only the best offer even if it is not the affiliate link, but I may suggest that you consider showing both options for readers. I am happy to support the site and would likely be willing to choose an inferior offer in many cases, should it be beneficial to the site."(04:45) - What to do when Chase Sapphire Reserve® Exclusive Tables removes a restaurant without notice...See a list of Sapphire Reserve® Exclusive Tables here(07:28) - A Sapphire Reserve The Edit credit success story...(11:02) - A 25for25 challenge success storyAwards, Points, and More(16:45) - Visa Signature / Infinite GigSky benefit (Nick's experience)Learn more about the GigSky free eSIM opportunity hereMain Event: Our 2026 points forecast: coupony with a chance of acquisitions(21:31) - New credit cards(37:21) - Card refreshes(55:31) - New transfer opportunities(1:09:35) - Mega promos(1:17:27) - Devaluations(1:25:01) - Misc other(1:32:10) - Guaranteed PredictionsQuestion of the Week(1:33:50) - What's in your digital wallet? Do you keep all of your cards in your digital wallet?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about last-minute uses for dining credits, AA bonvoying us, but too late to earn a Bonvoyed award, and we pick 2025's Deal of the Year. Giant Mailbag(01:24) - PSA for Dining credits(04:17) - Vote for your favorite soon: polls close 12/31You can vote here.(04:52) - Our Bonvoyed of the year picks(05:14) - The People have spokenBonvoyed(11:02) - AA: No more miles or Loyalty Points on Basic Economy fares with American AirlinesRead more about this here.Main Event: 2025 Deal of the Year(13:58) - Last year's "Deal of the Year" (2024)(17:58) - 2025 Candidates for "Deal of the Year"(18:15) - Airline & Hotel DealsRead more about Japan Airlines here.(19:23) - Learn more about Nick's JetBlue 25 for 25 journey here.(20:23) - Learn more about Wyndham's promo here.(21:11) - Credit card dealsLearn more about the Alaska Atmos Summit card here,(23:19) - Learn more about the American Express Platinum cards here.(27:50) - Learn more about the targeted American Express Business Platinum offer here.(28:48) - Learn more about the (now dead) Rakuten deal here.(30:55) - Learn more about the Citi Strata Elite recovery here.(33:43) - Learn more about Citi's addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner here.(35:36) - Other dealsLearn more about the Rakuten portal, earning Bilt points here.(37L17) - Our picks for "Deal of the Year."Question of the Week(45:12) - Anyone having trouble using Hyatt Suite Upgrade awards when using a third party like The Edit by Chase Travel℠ or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts®?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this...

People often ask how a site like ours makes money. In this episode, we'll talk about how we do (and don't) make money talking and writing about miles and points. (00:35) - We have a team of 5, 4 of whom are full-time(01:06) - Greg's been doing this full time since 2012(01:55) - Display ads(05:42) - Miscellaneous affiliate links(06:51) - Credit card affiliate linksYou can see our Best Offers page here, where we display the best credit card offers, regardless of our affiliate income(12:40) - New: Podcast adsVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In this episode, we talk about how Rove matches your Mesa, we talk about whether or not you should buy IHG Diamond status, and we announce this year's picks for Bonvoyed of the Year.Giant Mailbag(01:09) - Changing names on reservations/workarounds for using the Fine Hotels and Resorts the Hotel Collection benefitMattress Running the Numbers(03:59) - IHG Lock in 2026 Diamond status by buying points (targeted)Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-offering-opportunity-to-buy-back-or-increase-status-for-2026/Bonvoyed(12:52) - Chase re-edits The Edit by Chase Travel℠: 1.65x boostsAwards, Points, and More(16:12) - Rove: Match Your Mesa (up to 5,000 free miles)Main Event: The 2025 Bonvoyed Awards(18:36) - What are the Bonvoyed Awards?(20:03) - 2024 winner(21:11) - 2025 Honorable mentions(21:55) - 2025 Contestants(40:05) - Nick's Pick: Southwest(44:36) - Greg's Pick: Sapphire Reserve® RefreshQuestion of the Week(50:02) - Any last-minute ideas for using Hilton resort credits?Mentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In this episode of Revolutionizing Your Journey, DeAndre Coke sits down with points-and-miles legend Greg Davis Keene (Greg the Frequent Miler) for an inspiring conversation about his evolution from tech professional to one of the most respected voices in the award travel world. Greg reflects on the early travel moments that ignited his passion, the accidental beginnings of the Frequent Miler blog, and the turning points that transformed a hobby into a full-time career.The episode dives deep into Greg's philosophy on trust, transparency, and evaluating deals with both intuition and data. He recounts some of his most memorable redemptions — including an extraordinary week on Richard Branson's Necker Island, booked for 1.2 million Virgin Atlantic points — and shares what it felt like to be greeted by Branson himself upon arrival.Greg also offers practical advice for newcomers, emphasizing the power of transferable currencies, learning from inevitable mistakes, and staying curious as the loyalty landscape evolves. This episode blends wisdom, storytelling, and strategy — a masterclass from one of the best in the game.Key Highlights:Greg's beginnings: A spontaneous trip to Australia sparked his lifelong love of travel and his curiosity about maximizing rewards.Discovering elite status: A work trip that included surprising perks changed everything and led Greg deeper into points and miles.Starting Frequent Miler: What began as a simple resource for friends became one of the industry's most trusted blogs.Authenticity first: Greg prioritizes consumer value over affiliate incentives — the foundation of his community's trust.Evaluating opportunities: His approach blends intuition with analysis to identify real-world value.Memorable redemption: Greg booked a whole week on Richard Branson's Necker Island for 1.2 million Virgin Atlantic points.Once-in-a-lifetime arrival: The Necker Island team greeted them with champagne on a speedboat, followed by Richard Branson welcoming them personally.Learning from mistakes: Missteps are part of the journey; each provides insight into better strategies.Advice for beginners: Focus on transferable points, start small, and take action even if you don't feel entirely ready.Resources:Book a Free 30 minute points & miles consultationStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupInterested in Financial Planning?Truicity Wealth ManagementSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)Travel...

In this week's podcast, we'll talk about how Citi Travel hides thousands of hotels, we'll describe our favorite flights from 2025, and we'll find out who on the FM team is willing to book a 3.5 rated hotel...Giant Mailbag(01:51) - Hyatt Elite Status Hack See episode 334 "Super Stacking Stories " here.Bonvoyed:(07:07) - Citi Travel blocking hotel bookings in Egypt, UAE, Malaysia, and Indonesia (and maybe other places?)Bonvoyed runner-ups(10:15) - PSA: Wyndham book and cancel trick may appear to extend points, but then they may expire anyway(13:02) - Turkish Airlines devalues Miles & Smiles redemptions for US flights(17:52) - British Airways devaluation Dec 15(18:54) - Capital One transfer ratio to Emirates will reduce to 1,000:750 (Jan 13)Awards, Points, and More(20:35) - Citi loses Aeromexico as transfer partner 1/25/26(22:13) - Omni Hotels & Resorts added as Mesa transfer partner(26:36) - Delta Leaves SkyMiles Status Requirements Unchanged For 2026, and Delta Choice benefits changes for 2026(34:36) - United cardholders can earn 2x on rent with Bilt (3% fee applies)(36:58) - Accor → Flying Blue 30% xfer bonusThe lowest hotel ratings we're willing to book(40:51) - What were our favorite flights that we took with points and miles in 2025?(50:17) - What are the FM team's thoughts on the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card / Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card train derailing? It seems like the so valuable pool to earn our sweet Hyatt points is drying up.(51:35) - A lot of good Bonvoy'ed options this week. Capital One/Emirates, Turkish, and British Airways... rank them from least worst to worst.(55:52) - Do you have any insight on the United business partner awards between the US and Europe? I'm attempting to book via Aeroplan, but availability seems to have vanished.(57:40) - ​​How the heck do I know what's actually going to earn rewards with the new Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card? Does Chase give MCC codes?(59:16) - Are any of y'all nervous flyers?(1:03:02) - Have you guys ever thought about visiting every single country in the world using points/ miles as much as possible?(1:10:51) - Do you have insight into what Sapphire status gives with Alaska when someone is flying with Alaska or another oneworld partner?(1:17:28) - What would you value more….achieving Bilt Platinum status or ATMOS Gold status (I live in Charlotte, an AA hub)?(1:20:10) - ​​Aloha! In yesterday's coffee break, you spoke about the great deals you found. How do you find when a great sweet spot becomes available? Are you setting alerts for 20+ locations? Scouring every day?(1:23:56) - Now that the Turkish sweet spot to Hawaii has died, are there any other sweet spots worth seeking out in the Turkish program?Read Nick's best use of Turkish Miles and Smiles here.(1:26:18) - How long is too long to spend comparing hotels on websites like flyertalk or reading reviewsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the...

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about the many things we got wrong last week (oops!), how Etihad is sinking to a new low, and we'll reminisce about our extreme stacking adventures. Giant Mailbag(01:06) - Things we got wrong last week in episode 333 "Elite Benefit Battle: Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG"(02:47) - Read about how to earn up to 250K Alaska miles per year hereCard News(07:47) - E*Trade account now qualifies for American Express Platinum Card® Exclusively for Morgan Stanley (Read more about this here)(11:36) - A trick for finding Chase pre-approved offersBonvoyed(14:53) - Etihad's disloyalty program makes their awful cancellation policy even worseAwards, Points, and More(19:49) - Nick's Aeroplan cancellation storyMain Event: Super Stacking Stories(23:10) - Revisit episode 231 "The Art of Extreme Stackery" here(24:29) - Shopping portalsLearn more about shopping portal signup bonuses here.(25:37) - Greg's story: The original Million Mile Madness(38:55) - Nick's storyQuestion of the Week(52:37) - Nick has Mosaic 1 status from completing the JetBlue 25 for 25 challenge. When he reached status, he was able to pick a Choice benefit. Should he take the points or shoot for the higher level of status?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

In today's Frequent Miler on the Air podcast, we'll look at United's cardholder discount, Hilton's Diamond Reserve status, and we'll rank the perks of hotel elite benefits from Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG.Giant Mailbag(01:13) - "I just spent the day in Nice and Monte Carlo and I have you to blame..."Bonvoyed(03:30) - United increases prices for close-in award bookingsRead more about United's increased prices for close-in award bookings here.Awards, Points, and More(06:08) - Bilt/Rakuten: Read more about earning Bilt points with Rakuten here.(08:36) - Add your Passport to your Apple Wallet(11:11) - Hilton Diamond ReserveRead more about Hilton Diamond Reserve status here.(19:57) - Read more about Greg's opinion about how Hilton's Diamond Reserve status disappoints here.Main Event: Elite Benefit Battle: Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG(23:52) - Free breakfast, lounge access, suite upgrade certificates, guaranteed late check-out: which program has the best benefits?(24:20) - Primary shortcuts(30:36) - Comparing Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott for free breakfast(40:21) - Comparing Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott upgrade certificates(50:43) - Comparing Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott lounge access(58:05) - Comparing Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott, 4 PM Late check-out guaranteedQuestion of the Week(1:03:54) - Are there banks that let you refer to a lesser card if you have the more premium card?Learn more about Amex multi-referrals here.Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Forgetting travel credits, letting points expire, missing credit card bonuses—sound familiar? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing 1 simple strategy to stop leaving money on the table and start maximizing every mile and perk you already have: simplify by conducting a card audit.I'll walk you through how to decide what cards to keep, to close and to set aside, so you can take a big sigh of relief!Plus, I'm giving you my free "5 Ways to Simplify Your Travel Rewards Strategy" guide. Text SIMPLIFY to 844-403-2263 to grab it. If you're tired of DIY-ing this alone and want a proven system that takes the guesswork out of flying free, join hundreds of families inside Families Fly Free at familiesflyfree.com/join.Because you can't recall the memories you never make...

In this episode, we'll talk about Virgin's double-or-nothing bad math promo, how to fly to Europe for 88 miles, and how to earn more rewards while charitably giving.Giant Mailbag(00:56) - A fun story about Mariner tickets from a Capital One deal where the seats were almost too good.Read more about Capital One Cardholder Exclusives Major League Baseball tickets hereCard News(04:56) - Venture X offers. Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business Card here(08:48) - Learn more about Melio here(09:34) - Learn how to pay taxes via credit card here(10:07) - Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card(11:47) - Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card have added some concerning language to terms in the application flowLearn more about the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card here (https://frequentmiler.com/CIBU/#Goto), and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card here (https://frequentmiler.com/CIC/#Goto).(15:19) - Chase offers Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card & Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card cardholders 1.5cpp for Apple products through Dec 7Crazy Thing: Virgin shopping portal(16:18) - Read more about Virgin's shopping portal here: https://frequentmiler.com/virgins-shopping-portal-is-using-wyndham-math-for-its-double-points-promo/Bonvoyed(19:14) - SAS DevaluationAwards, Points, and More(22:53) - Wyndham gifting elite status bump or 5x rewards through the end of the year(Learn more about this Wyndham elite status bump here: https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-giving-status-upgrade-for-all-members-or-50x-earnings-for-existing-diamond-members/)(24:22) - Air France calendar now includes partners(25:49) - Lufthansa Miles & More: economy flights to Europe for 88 miles + ~$200(27:03) - Consider using our Rove link here: frequentmiler.com/rovemiles/(30:21) - Jetblue 25/25 tracker (read more about the Jetblue 25/25 tracker here: https://frequentmiler.com/jetblue-has-added-a-25-for-25-progress-tracker-see-where-you-stand/)(33:27) - Greg's experience canceling a Preferred Hotel booked with/ Choice(38:47) - (Targeted) Capital One Shopping offering up to 25.5% cashback on British Airways flights (read more about this targeted offer here:...

In today's episode of the Frequent Miler on the Air podcast, we'll talk about the Bilt card 2.0 that's coming, we'll reveal a trick for finding Air France award availability, and talk about 5 ways to super-stack your hotel bookings.Giant Mailbag(01:08) - Air France Availability on JAL searching tipCard News(06:09) - Bilt card 2.0 (replaces current Bilt card)(08:21) - Citi now allows product changing via online Chat(09:53) - United debit card now live (Read more about the United debit card here)Crazy Thing(14:50) - Insane Capital One Shopping 70% back at TripAdvisor (airport transfers Bora Bora, lights viewing, considered a couple of $900 private boat tours with 70% back!).Read more about this here.Bonvoyed(22:28) - Aeroplan is bringing back points expiration on 11/30/26(23:43) - Problems combining Chase Ultimate Rewards points keep spreadingRead more about this here.Awards, Points, and More(28:28) - Rove Miles adds Lufthansa Miles & More as a transfer partner(30:55) - Choice Privileges revamping rewards program in early 2026Main Event: 5 rewarding ways to book paid hotel stays(33:16) - Credit card portals + coupons(35:05) - Capital One Shopping loop(37:54) - Super Stack(41:11) - Rove Miles(45:17) - The Intercontinental Ambassador Weekend Trick(50:51) - Read more about this here.Question of the Week(51:41) - When you have multiple Fine Hotels + Resorts® credits, can you book more than one room, and how?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

In this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air, we'll reveal a trick for booking 2 people at single-person award rates, Wyndham & Vacasa are breaking up and breaking our hearts, and we'll talk about how to triple dip towards thousands of dollars in credits.Giant Mailbag(01:11) - Our listener uses a second browser to grab two seats at a low price...Card News(04:56) - Wells Fargo Autograph & Autograph Journey: Transfer 1 to 1 to JetBlue(07:49) - PSA: Grandfathered Sapphire Reserve cardholders (pre June 23): start using your new coupons. (Read more about this here)(08:58) - Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card has a limited-time Turo benefit; $30 per rental, up to $180 in the next 12 monthsCrazy Thing(11:47) - Hilton makes their crappy promo slightly less crappyMattress Running the Numbers(14:41) - Hyatt: Earn 3K bonus points per night at Hyatt Vacation Club properties(Read more about this here)Caution: Resort fees are NOT waived for Globalists at Hyatt Vacation Club properties(Read more about this here)Bonvoyed Triple Header(20:07) - T-Mobile ends autopay discount workaround for credit cards (re: Biz Plat $10/mo credit) (Read more about this here)(24:22) - Increased Air France / KLM Flying Blue taxes and fees ($489 one-way departing Paris)(Read more about this here)(26:40) - Wyndham/Vacasa endingRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-rewards-vacasa-partnership-ends-december-1st/Main Event: Triple dipping credit card coupons(33:46) - Double dip vs Triple dip vs Trip dip variation(38:14) - When cancelling/downgrading, the annual fee may be refunded/waived depending on when you cancel or downgrade:(41:20) - Read more here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/annual-fee-refund-rules-for-each-card-issuer/)(41:40) - Amex Consumer Platinum examples...(44:02) - Coupons are not really worth face value(47:45) - Chase Sapphire Reserve examples...(50:30) - Citi Strata Elite examples...(54:37) - Delta SkyMiles® Platinum examples...Question of the Week(58:32) - Is there still value in keeping the Bilt credit card?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

#252: Chris and Nick share strategies to make family travel affordable and stress-free with points and miles. They cover how to find multiple award seats, book business class for families, and their best tips for traveling with kids, from managing jet lag and delays to finding family-friendly hotels, must-have travel gear, and more. Nick Reyes is a writer at Frequent Miler and co-host of the Frequent Miler On The Air podcast. He is an avid traveler who's been to 60+ countries and loves collecting points and miles. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/family-travel-nick-reyes Partner Deals Upwork: Free job posting to find, hire, and pay top freelance talent Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Nick Reyes: Frequent Miler | X | Podcast A $50,000+ family trip to Europe, booked with miles and points Kids in business class: Saving miles on child award tickets Guide to Airline Companion Tickets How to book Hyatt suites How to book Vacasa Vacation Rentals with Wyndham points Booking Cottages.com via Wyndham Rewards Nick's 2025 casino status strategy for free cruises Grand Hotel Victoria on Lake Como ZIPAIR RideSafer Travel Vest Mobile Passport Control (MPC) HotelTonight AutoSlash ABCmouse Travel Strollers: Babyzen Yoyo | gb Pockit ATH Podcast Ep #166: Best Award Search Tools for Booking Flights with Points & Miles Ep #167: Best Tools for Booking Hotels with Points & Miles Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:58) What People Get Wrong About Families Traveling Using Points (02:53) Nick's Luxury Family Trip to Europe with Points (06:30) Things to Consider When Booking Multiple Award Seats (09:45) Booking Award Seats in Economy vs. Premium Economy (13:55) Flying in Business Class with Kids (17:55) Splitting Up the Family in Different Award Flights (20:29) Buying Extra Economy Seats for More Space (23:27) Prioritizing Sleep on International Flights (28:43) Nick's Approach to Jet Lag (30:47) Airline Discounts for Kids (33:41) How Lap Infant Pricing Works (36:36) The Best Airlines for Traveling with Kids (39:08) Pooling Airline Miles with Children (41:50) Leveraging Companion Passes/Fares for Family Travel (45:06) Using Carry-On Vs. Checking Bags with Kids (46:19) Accessories for Traveling with Young Kids (50:28) Managing Delays and Other Irregularities When Traveling with Kids (53:16) Why Lounge Access Is a Game Changer (55:05) Fast Tracking Airport Entry with Kids (57:11) Tactics Nick Uses to Book Hotels Internationally for His Family (01:01:08) Booking Rooms with Points vs. Cash (01:04:07) Emailing Your Hotel for an Upgrade (01:05:44) Benefit of Having Kids Clubs at Hotels and Resorts (01:07:53) Tips and Tricks to Book Vacation Rentals (01:09:54) Transportation Tips When Traveling with Kids (01:12:55) How Cruises Changed Nick's Travel Game (01:17:31) Other Family Travel Tips & Tricks (01:20:40) Planning Activities Around Your Kids' Interests (01:23:07) Unusual Must-Haves for Trips with Kids (01:25:22) Top Kid-Friendly Travel Destinations (01:27:42) Where to Find Nick & His Work Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor's Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As it nears the end of the year, it's time to assess Hyatt elite progress. In today's Frequent Miler on the air podcast episode, we'll focus on how to bridge the gap to the next level of Hyatt status. But we'll also talk about United & JetBlue tying their knot tighter, and how Wyndham's crappy coupon book doesn't add up.Giant Mailbag(01:21) - "We just wanted to say how much we have enjoyed the 100K Vacay challenge..."Card News(04:42) - Hawaiian card's $100 annual companion discounts & 50% companion discounts now redeemable on Alaska flights. Learn more about this here.(07:53) - Citi launches new $350 American Airlines AAdvantage Globe credit card, which you can read more about here.(09:13) - United Debit Card Coming (to join SouthWest & Wyndham debit cards)(13:40) - American Express Business Gold® adds $150 Squarespace CreditBonvoyed(15:27) - Wyndham Rewards Insider (More about it here)Crazy Thing(17:22) - Wyndham's Bad MathAwards, Points, and More(21:21) - United & JetBlue: Now reciprocal earn & burn is live(34:18) - JetBlue Mosaic changes (Learn more about them here)(40:35) - Bilt Rewards updates(44:34) - Learn more about Bilt's doing away with Milestone Rewards, which you can read about here.(47:45) - Chase offering 25% transfer bonus to Southwest through Nov 6Main Event: Hyatt: End of year elite planning(50:23) - Why we care(53:32) - Elite levels and Milestones(1:09:00) - Shortcuts(1:13:50) - Learn more about World of Hyatt adding double elite nights to welcome offer here: https://frequentmiler.com/world-of-hyatt-credit-card-temporarily-adds-extra-elite-credit-to-offer/(1:16:33) - Stack with other promos. Ex: Earn 3x Hyatt points on 2+ night stays for 90 days after registration (targeted) (Learn more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/earn-3x-hyatt-points-on-2-night-stays-targeted/)(1:20:29) - Nick's plans(1:24:09) - Greg's plansQuestion of the Week(1:34:44) - How do you evaluate whether positioning is worth it?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

On today's Frequent Miler on the Air Podcast we'll discuss how to fly with 1 free human companion and 1 pet companion for a full year, or how to fly with a free human companion for two years, or how to get 350,000 points and elite status for 25 years!Giant Mailbag(01:15) - "I wanted to share some insights on the Mesa card based on my experience..."Learn more about the Mesa Homeonwers card here.100K Vacay Challenge(07:36) - Stephen won both judges' vote and the popular vote!(09:05) - Tim posted his full itinerary here: 7 nights in London and Norway for 100,000 points: Mountains, fjords and ferries Card News(10:02) - 5K bonus points for Atmos Summit card waitlisters extended(11:59) - Citi Strata Elite 100K offer now public ($6K spend required)Learn more about the Citi Strata Elite offer here.Bonvoyed(13:02) - Alaska tanks the utility of its “Famous Companion Fare”(16:55) - No notice: Atmos changes award chart for Alaska & Hawaiian flightsRead more about this no-notice change here.Awards, Points, and More(19:15) - Alaska Atmos to improve earn rates on premium cabin partner bookingsLearn more about this here.(25:04) - Rove launches Loyalty Eligible hotel stays; earn both Rove Miles & hotel pointsLearn more about this here.And consider signing up for Rove to get 500 free miles here.(31:53) - United Mile Play offersLearn more about new targeted United Mile Play offers here.And read about Nick's recent experience here.(35:47) - Rakuten: Best Ever 5K Membership Rewards / $50 referral bonus for both sides [Extended to 12/31]Learn more about this here.(37:54) - Rumor: Rakuten:Bilt(39:36) - UseYourCredits: Track coupons, use their handy mapsLearn more about the handy maps here.(42:18) - Find Preferred Hotels bookable with points (New interactive map!)Find the interacitive map here.Main Event: 5 cool points & miles opportunities expiring soon(45:31) - Buy United miles for 1.36 or 1.44 cents each (or keep your Wyndham points from expiring) [Act fast: Oct 21]Learn more about

This podcast was recorded live on October 8th, at 9 pm ET during our 100K Vacay Annual Challenge final livestream. In that livestream we did our final scoring of Nick and Stephen's trips and crowned the 100K Vacay winner! You'll hear that livestream now, as part of this podcast episode.(You'll notice some audio quality issues with Nick's mic this week - our apologies!) Giant Mailbag(00:39) - "Hi Greg. I know your 100K Vacay trip was meant to set the benchmark, but I would love to read a post of a trip you would have done if you were competing for real to beat the other contestants. I'm sure you could have had an amazing trip that blew the other contestants away."Main Event(02:55) - Overview of challenge and rules(09:58) - Greg's benchmark trip, highs and lows(11:48) - Stephen's highest highs and lowest lows(18:15) - Nick's highest highs and lowest lows(33:03) - Here are some of the things you all flagged as dubious(38:13) - Flight deals revealed(47:09) - Other airport tricks revealed(55:11) - Hotel deals revealed(1:07:54) - Crowning the 100K Vacay winner!Questions of the Week(1:34:04) - If it weren't for this exact challenge, would you have wanted to do the trip you did? Would you recommend your exact itinerary to the rest of us?(1:37:30) - What is the hand that lost Nick the poker tournament?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Greg's benchmark trip is done, and that means it's time for the 100K Vacay team challenge to begin! In this episode, you'll get a chance to listen to the kick-off live stream that aired on October 1st at 9 pm Eastern Time and reviewed all the things that went well (and could have gone better) with Greg's 100K Vacay benchmark trip to Malta.(01:14) - Here's the timeline of the challenge (starting with the October 1st live kick off).(03:14) - What is 100K Vacay?(03:54) - What's the deal with Greg's benchmark trip? Why isn't he being judged?(06:26) - Greg's benchmark trip - what was it and how did he do?(28:20) - Greg's final totals for his trip and why he scored himself a B+You can read Greg's trip journal here.(35:43) - How do our competitors feel? What are they confident about, and what are they less confident about?(53:08) - How do Nick and Stephen feel about the fact that Tim's already hit the ground running?(1:00:35) - Redemption on VS in Europe is distance-based, not considering layovers (something you advocated). Is it worth the extra time to save some miles due to layovers in AMS or CDG?(1:03:01) - How did you end up in Business Class on Air Serbia? I never even heard of it before.(1:04:29) - How was the breakfast at the Hyatt Centric Malta? Did they have local food?(1:04:27) - Did any of your trips take advantage of mileage transfer bonuses?(1:05:32) - How was the breakfast at the Hyatt Centric Malta? Was there local food?(1:06:25) - Was there anything you would do differently?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

In this episode, we'll talk about how Citi is showering us with transfer bonuses, then we'll talk about the incredible uses for Japan Airlines miles. Now that Capital One is making transfers available to Japan Airlines (in addition to Bilt, which has already been offering this), it's worth talking about what you can do with those miles!Giant Mailbag(01:42) - "I'm a YUGE fan of ya'll. I'm an Army National Guard member that puts in just enough active duty time to get Servicemembers Civil Relief Act benefits (waived annual fees). So I have so many luxury cards I get FAR more value from the cards than I do from my Guard paycheck.Ya'll have been a key factor in deciding to stay in the National Guard, so 'Thank You For Your Service'."100K Vacay Challenge Update(04:06) - By the time this airs, Greg will be heading to his destination for his Benchmark Trip. As a reminder, he's setting the bar for the rest of the challengers with a trip showcasing how far 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points can go. (Once he's back, Tim, Nick, and Stephen will attempt to match or outdo his trip with alternate transferable points currencies.) Read more about that here!Card News(09:34) - Spirit Travel More credit card holders now get 2 free checked bags (Read more about this update here)(11:11) - Amex will exclude gift cards from Hilton credits starting in 2026(12:28) - Southwest debit card (Read more about the Southwest debit card here)Read the View from the Wing article here.Awards, Points, and More(14:42) - Air France / KLM Promo: Earn 10,000 bonus Flying Blue miles when flying from the US to any destination served by Air France or KLM.(18:16) - Avianca LifeMiles Award Sale(20:19) - Transfer bonuses(24:50) - Rove Miles transfer bonus (Use our referral link here.)(27:25) - Capital One added transfer partners and also has some transfer bonusesMain Event: Sweet-spot awards courtesy of Japan Airlines(30:18) - How to get JAL milesLearn more about the Best Uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles here(32:01) - The Bad News(33:05) - Japan Airlines Mileage Bank 36-month hard expiration policy(34:30) - Family restrictions on award redemption(35:58) - Carrier-imposed surcharges(36:19) - JAL Mileage Bank awards can not be changed (but they can be cancelled for a reasonable fee)(36:56) - Best uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank(42:54) - Japan Airlines partner awardsQuestion of the Week(1:10:20) - Buying points isn't usually a good value unless you have a specific redemption in mind, but what about Atmos for 1.66 cents per point? (Especially with Rove miles?)Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder