Podcasts about Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic takes to the sky and upends the aviation industry, but the new venture also throws Richard Branson into battle with one of Britain's biggest corporations.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/business-movers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's episode is a little different—and a lot of fun. Jess, Pam, and Alex are joined by Traci for a special game of Would You Rather!? – Points Talk Edition. Traci challenges the squad with a lineup of delightfully diabolical travel questions designed to reveal where they really stand when it comes to their points and airline preferences, personal travel quirks, and loyalty trade-offs. From Business Class Woes to Economy Wins The episode kicks off with a tough one: would you rather have a lie-flat seat in business class next to an annoying stranger, or an entire economy row to yourself? At least one of the squad's answers will probably surprise you! Individual Perks vs. Points Value: Globalist or the Award Chart? Next, Traci challenges the group with Hyatt's ultimate tradeoff: would you rather have lifetime Globalist status or a guaranteed fixed award chart for 20 years? Is there dissent or do Alex, Jess, and Pam all come down on the same side on this one? Real-Life Dilemmas and Points Preferences From there, the questions get personal: Learn about Alex's secret grocery-store card confession. Would Jess rather stay at a Park Hyatt in a city she doesn't like (Venice) or a Holiday Inn Express in a city she loves (Tokyo)?  Would Alex rather have her beloved Southwest® Companion Pass or 600,000 Hyatt points?  Would Pam choose only domestic luxury travel or international budget travel if she could only choose one?  Tough Transfers & Redemption Realities The squad also weighs in on (and disagrees about) transferring highly valued points with or without bonuses. Nice Problems to Have They also daydream about future loyalty-program changes they'd love to see, like new Citi cards, United partnering with a second bank, and Capital One adding Alaska as a partner. (A girl can dream!)   The Great Collectibles Debate: Ducks or Houses? The episode ends on a light note, with the squad picking which flight souvenirs they'd rather have (rubber ducks or Delft houses) and which ones they'd be more likely to try to get permission to pinch.  This episode is full of laughs, strong opinions, and lots of travel daydreaming. Hit play now and see which “would you rather” choices you agree with—and which ones you totally wouldn't!

In This Episode:   This episode brings you the latest in aviation news. ANA is implementing AeroSHARK riblet technology on its Boeing 777-300ER fleet to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. In safety news, an Air India A320 attempted to take off from a taxiway at Goa's airport due to crew issues, and a Royal Thai Police Twin Otter crashed near Hua Hin after take-off, killing all six on board, with reports of engine failure. Major power outages disrupted flights at airports across Spain and Portugal. Lufthansa is using AI software 'Tray Tracker' to reduce in-flight meal waste. Route changes include Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, and Pegasus Airlines canceling or not resuming flights to Tel Aviv. Finnair plans to furlough pilots due to reduced use of their aircraft by Qantas. Brussels Airport canceled all departing flights due to a general strike. Looking to space, Amazon's Project Kuiper successfully launched its first 27 satellites for global internet. In the U.S., Republicans proposed a $15 billion plan to modernize air traffic control. Delta Air Lines will re-route Airbus deliveries to avoid tariffs. Joby Aviation completed its first piloted eVTOL transition flight. We also note that helicopters are battling wildfires near Cape Town and the importance of understanding personal values.     Listen & Subscribe:     Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcast   Spotify: Spotify   YouTube: YouTube         Would You Like To Support The Podcast?   Enjoying Bryan Air? Consider supporting the podcast through Patreon for exclusive content and perks!   Patreon: Bryan Air Patreon Supporters     Stay Connected:     Website: bryanroseveare.com   LinkedIn: Linkedin   Instagram: Instagram   X (formerly Twitter): X     Thank you for tuning in to Bryan Air!  

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love discusses Kanye West's ban from Twitch just seven minutes into his first live stream for making inflammatory remarks. He also covers the return of 4Chan following a significant hack, and IBM's announcement of a $150 billion investment to enhance its quantum computing capabilities and green data center infrastructure. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic is experimenting with OpenAI's operator AI agent to enhance its website's booking process, showcasing innovative uses of AI in customer interactions. 00:00 Kanye West Banned from Twitch 01:25 4chan's Resurrection and Controversies 02:38 IBM's $150 Billion Tech Investment 05:14 Virgin Atlantic's AI Experiment 07:33 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

In This Episode:   Join us for a comprehensive look at the latest developments shaping the global aviation landscape. We delve into significant airline network expansion, including Virgin Atlantic's new routes to Seoul and Riyadh and flyadeal's strategic order for its first widebody aircraft to bolster its international reach. Explore the ongoing impact of US-China trade tensions on major manufacturers like Boeing, affecting aircraft deliveries and influencing fleet decisions for airlines such as Air India. We also highlight a new major cargo alliance between Saudia Cargo and China Cargo Airlines aimed at strengthening logistics ties. Plus, get updates on workforce dynamics, from air traffic control staffing challenges and pilot hiring trends to surprising research on pilot beards and recent operational incidents and policy changes affecting the passenger experience.     Listen & Subscribe:     Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcast   Spotify: Spotify   YouTube: YouTube         Would You Like To Support The Podcast?   Enjoying Bryan Air? Consider supporting the podcast through Patreon for exclusive content and perks!   Patreon: Bryan Air Patreon Supporters     Stay Connected:     Website: bryanroseveare.com   LinkedIn: Linkedin   Instagram: Instagram   X (formerly Twitter): X     Thank you for tuning in to Bryan Air!  

CHASE SAPPHIRE 100K OFFER!!! (major thanks for using our links!)Premium economy offers a valuable middle ground between business class and economy, giving families significantly more comfort without the high price tag of business class tickets.• Premium economy on Air France features better seat recline and footrests• Cabin arrangement is typically 2-4-2 with approximately 40-48 seats• Passengers receive amenity kits with essentials like earplugs, socks, and toiletries• Kids get special activity boxes with puzzles and games• Access to one business class lavatory with premium skincare products• Flight attendants offer additional snacks and treats throughout the flight• Self-service refreshment station available for drinks and snacks• Booked five tickets using 150,000 Amex points transferred to Virgin Atlantic (with bonus)• Total taxes and fees were approximately $1,700 ($350 per person)• For a family of five, booking requires strategic seat selection• Particularly worthwhile for flights over seven hours• Award availability is typically better than business class• Excellent option for daytime flights when everyone is awakeIf you get value from our podcast and want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card with its limited-time 100,000 point bonus offer, please consider using our referral link (above).

If you just got 100K points from a brand new travel rewards card, you should know a few things to help make sure you're earning even more points, saving money, and getting great value. Plus we'll also look at "Amex referral reformatory rescinded" and how to earn points on RENT with any credit card. (01:30) - One reader shares a success story using the "email the GM" strategy... (03:37) - Capital One Venture X Business Card: Up to 350K Miles Read our review of the Capital One Venture X Business Card here. (06:55) - Amex referrals back for many (referral reformatory rescinded) (09:48) - Two Hawaiian cards in one day (my quick experience) (17:23) - Synchrony reintroduces Cathay Pacific card (21:06) - Bilt now offers rewards when you pay your rent with non-Bilt credit cards (26:48) - Virgin jacked up fees on KLM/ Air France then backed off (31:03) - Frontier Elite Gold status for $40 (35:22) - 30% transfer bonus from Citi to Virgin Atlantic thru May 17 Main Event (36:39) - Read our FAQ about this card here. (38:45) - Earn more points (59:09) - Save money (1:09:49) - Redeem points for great value (1:17:33) - DON'T TRANSFER TO... (1:20:50) - World of Hyatt credit card gives an additional Hyatt category 1-4 free night certificate with 15K spend in a calendar year. But with recent Hyatt category changes, is it still worth spending towards that goal? Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Time stamps are listed at the bottom of the notes! A recent sad story is a cautionary tale for why you should carry a carbon monoxide detector when you travel. Virgin Atlantic has hiked the fees they charge with award tickets. Does this make them a bad option for award redemptions? A listener of the show checks in with a really good value using Hyatt's new "elite for a day with AA" benefit. Lastly, United launched some really interesting new routes. #virginatlantic #carbonmonoxide #hyatt #americanairlines #frequentflyer If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. See More: https://milestogo.boardingarea.com/ Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/  

Send us a text Joining me on today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Simon Rolfe, director of 10 International and co-founder of Sea Change, an eco-friendly wine company that directly supports global ocean conservation projects. After living with his family on the coast of Australia, Simon, who previously worked in investment banking, saw first-hand the damage being done to the ocean. He helped found Sea Change in 2018, with the mission to turn the tide against plastic pollution. Sea Change wines are all vegan, they have no plastic wrap around the all-natural cork, the label paper is sourced from certified sustainable forests and made partially from grape waste, and a donation from every purchase supports the work of the company's global marine charity partners.Since inception, the company has raised over €600,000 through its partnerships with charities, including Ocean Generation, Sea-Changers and the Olive Ridley Project. In 2023, Sea Change won Luxelife's ‘Most Eco-Friendly Wine Brand in the UK' and it won the Innovation Award at Gatwick Diamond Business Awards. You'll find its wines online and at the Natural History Museum, The Fat Duck and on Virgin Atlantic flights. Find out more at seachangewine.com or follow @seachangewine on Instagram. With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly.Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

After an unforgettable trip to London, sharing all the practical tips on booking it on points and miles. From what inspired the trip and how this wasn't planned as far in advance as I usually book, to how we used points and miles to book flights on Virgin Atlantic for 60k round trip, plus bid to upgrade to upper class, booked an amazing suite at the Hyatt Regency Churchill in London using the family rate plan. Plus, reminding you that you deserve nice things, great trips, and to live a life that feels good. _______________________ Get $30 on Rakuten HERE Best Ever Offer on card used for booking hotel stays at Hyatt HERE For links to my favorite cards for points and miles click HERE For Information About The Lift Library click HERE Want to join in the Free Best Body Beautiful Life Master Class Join HERE Click HERE for the Show Notes. Connect with me on Instagram - @dorothymcgatlin Connect with me on Facebook - Dorothy McGatlin If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review - it means the world to me + helps the show reach more people! Let's support each other!

Snap reflections on our Leaders Meet: Innovation event this week in London, with Craig Hepburn, Art Basel's Chief Digital Officer, and former Virgin Atlantic, McLaren and Chelsea FC Chief Marketing Officer, Claire Cronin.Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan are on location at 180 Studios on The Strand to reflect on two days spent with C-suite leaders from across sport, discussing the biggest global trends - artificial intelligence, the global economy and climate change - with the help of outside of sport perspectives, from the worlds of music, retail, media and technology.They're joined by a couple of experts fresh off the stage - Craig Hepburn assesses how the sports industry is tackling artificial intelligence, while Claire Cronin offers her reflections on the two days and her conversation with Waitrose Executive Director, James Bailey.

“We've worked with partners like AcelorMittal… and oil and gas refineries. Emissions that would've been destined for the atmosphere are piped into our bioreactor and our magnificent microbes turn that gas into ethanol. When we pull out that ethanol, we can send it a lot of different places. You can go to On, Adidas, Athleta and buy products made by these mighty microbes from steel mill emissions. We actually flew a Virgin Atlantic flight from Orlando to London with 50 percent of the fuel in that plane made from our ethanol.” Zara Summers on Electric Ladies Podcast  Addressing the climate crisis involves confronting some enormous challenges, from decarbonizing aviation to reducing fashion's carbon footprint. Fortunately, technology and innovation provide an opportunity to make significant strides forward. Meet LanzaTech, a company turning carbon dioxide into the raw materials and energy we need for our lives. Listen to Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer at LanzaTech, as she explains how the company is harnessing the power of nature's oldest metabolism, the mighty microbe. This innovation is turning greenhouse gases into everyday materials like shoes and clothing, sustainable aviation fuel for our jets, and even fish feed! You'll hear about: How LanzaTech transforms captured industrial emissions into valuable materials and fuels. The global brands working with LanzaTech (and how you can spot fabrics made from recycled emissions). How the technology is driving a circular economy in fashion and textiles. The uses of LanzaTech's protein-rich biomass in food and feed. Plus, advice on making a career transition. “Just jump in. Because even if it crashes and burns, it's experience and you learn no matter up and down inside it. But if you keep doing the same thing you've always done, you're robbing yourself of those opportunities. Even small risks – putting your hand up for a project where you might know 20 percent of what it takes to do it. Gosh, isn't that the best way to motivate yourself to learn something new?”  Zara Summers on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: Autumn Hustins, Finance Director at Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), a waste-to-energy plant converting agricultural and food waste into electricity. Björk Kristjánsdóttir, COO/CFO of Carbon Recycling International, on turning CO2 into valuable products. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, a state program deploying innovative climate solutions. UN Climate Week discussion on how some creative women are making sustainable fashion a reality, moderated by Joan Michelson. Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation, on sustainability and social responsibility on the runway. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! Join us at The Earth Day Women's Summit on April 22, 2025, in Dallas, Texas! Register today with the code “EDWS” for the Women's Summit and a special rate.  Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review!  Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

There are some creative ways to use airline miles to fly further with less miles. In other words, you can see more and spend less. We'll talk about these fun tricks in today's episode. (01:00) - The validity of Etihad Guest Miles will be extended by 18 months based on qualifying member flight activity. We thought this means you have to credit paid flights to Etihad to extend your miles...but is that true? (04:20) - How do you handle domestic positioning flights? See our "Tips for booking positioning flights" episode 253 here. (09:30) - Amex targeted referral +5 points on travel & transit (11:21) - Learn more about Amex multi-referrals here. (11:27) - Amex Membership Rewards: You don't need a credit card to transfer to some partners Read more about this here. (15:10) - Chase: 80% transfer bonus to IHG through 4/30 (18:26) - Transfer bonuses (21:14) - Updates to popular award tools (22:56) - National Car Rental's One Two Free Promo Returns (27:43) - Virgin Atlantic jacks up Delta One surcharges departing Europe to more than $1,000 one-way Read more about dumping fees when booking Delta One here. (31:05) - Cautions about skiplagging / hidden city ticketing, etc... (37:34) - Married Segment Logic (42:23) - Start to End Distance Based/ Zone Based Award Pricing (47:25) - Mixed cabin award pricing (51:53) - Multi-partner awards (52:57) - Read Nick's post about Air Canada's United devaluation relief with multi-partner awards here. (58:59) - Creative routing (1:04:40) - Should people wait to get the other Hawaiian Airlines credit card (if they have one of the personal Hawaaiin credit cards already)? (There are two different consumer Hawaiian Airlines cards - one with Bank of Hawaii and one by Barclays (though confusingly both are issued by Barclays)). 

Send us a textAlaska Airlines vergibt derzeit im Rahmen einer Promotion ganz unkompliziert den MVP Status (was dem Oneworld Ruby Status entspricht) – und zwar sofort nach Registrierung, ohne dass du vorher einen einzigen Flug absolviert haben musst. Der Status ist dann für 180 Tage gültig.Eigentlich richtet sich die Aktion an Mitarbeiter der University of Washington, jedoch funktioniert der Link zur Promo-Seite aktuell auch ohne passende E-Mail-Adresse – das heißt: Status sichern ist möglich, aber auf eigenes Risiko. Es besteht die Möglichkeit, dass Alaska später Accounts prüft und zurückstuft oder sperrt.⚠️ Hinweis: Wer das ausprobiert, sollte sich bewusst sein, dass es sich um einen nicht offiziell bestätigten “Trick” handelt. Du nutzt ihn also auf eigenes Risiko – aber für alle Statusjäger und Vielflieger ein spannender Hack.#AlaskaAirlines, #MileagePlan, #OneworldRuby, #Vielflieger, #StatusHack, #StatusFastTrack, #LoungeAccess, #TravelDeal, #EliteStatus, #MilesAndPoints, #Flugstatus, #Reisetipps00:00 Willkommen zu Frequent Traveller TV01:20 Lufthansa und UFO: Tarifvertrag Teilzeit02:32 Virgin Atlantic und Probleme beim Transatlantikverkehr04:52 Einreise in die USA und die Handykontrollen11:12 Digitale Ankunftskarte für Thailand13:30 Alaska Airlines und der One World Ruby Status Match // Fast Track15:27 bester Hotelstatus16:28 Fragen des TagesTake-OFF 31.03.2025 – Folge 071-2025Stammtisch Termine: https://FQTWorld.as.me/meetupKanalmitglied werden und exklusive Vorteile erhalten:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQyWcZxP3MpuQ54foJ_IsgQ/joinHier geht es zu eurem kostenlosen Consulting Link - https://FTCircle.as.me/Damit Du von unserem Wissen profitieren kannst, kannst du ein mindestens 60 minütiges und vor allem auf dich zugeschnittenes Punkte, Meilen, Status Coaching buchen. Nach dem Call bekommst du ein Jahr Zugang zu dieser Gruppe und zahlst so nur 10 Euro pro Monat und kannst sofort profitieren. Hier ist nun der Link zu deinem neuen Punkte, Meilen und Status Deals.MY SOCIALSWhatsApp - https://wa.me/message/54V7X7VO3WOVF1FACEBOOK | Lars F Corsten - https://www.facebook.com/LFCorsten/FACEBOOK | FQT.TV - https://www.facebook.com/FQTTVFACEBOOK | FTCircle - https://www.facebook.com/FTCircleTWITTER | Lars F Corsten - https://twitter.com/LFCorstenINSTAGRAM | Lars F Corsten - https://www.instagram.com/lfcorsten/LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lfcorsten/Clubhouse - @LFCorsten

Er heerst paniek op de beurs. Niks lijkt president Donald Trump meer te kunnen stoppen. In de aanloop naar wat hij 'Liberation Day' noemt blijft hij alleen maar wilder om zich heen slaan. Eerst was het nog een beperkt aantal landen dat te maken zou krijgen met zijn wederkerige importheffingen. Alleen de grootste uitbuiters van de Amerikaanse economie zou eraan moeten geloven. Maar nu belooft Trump iedereen ermee te bestoken. Paniek is er ook bij analisten. Goldman Sachs bijvoorbeeld. De zakenbank verlaagt voor de tweede keer dit jaar het koersdoel voor de S&P 500. En het verhoogt juist de kans op een recessie. Of die Trump-cessie er komt en hoe erg wij de sjaak zijn, dat vertellen we je in deze aflevering. En dan hoor je ook de reactie van de ECB. Voorzitter Christine Lagarde wil in de toekomst zo min mogelijk te maken hebben met de uithalen van Trump en pleit daarom voor economische onafhankelijkheid. Je hoort wat daar voor nodig is. En we hebben het nog over ING. De bank zou een overname op het oog hebben in Italië. Daar staat de Banca Popolare di Sondrio in de verkoop. En volgens Italiaanse media overweegt ING om erop in te gaan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Er heerst paniek op de beurs. Niks lijkt president Donald Trump meer te kunnen stoppen. In de aanloop naar wat hij 'Liberation Day' noemt blijft hij alleen maar wilder om zich heen slaan. Eerst was het nog een beperkt aantal landen dat te maken zou krijgen met zijn wederkerige importheffingen. Alleen de grootste uitbuiters van de Amerikaanse economie zou eraan moeten geloven. Maar nu belooft Trump iedereen ermee te bestoken. Paniek is er ook bij analisten. Goldman Sachs bijvoorbeeld. De zakenbank verlaagt voor de tweede keer dit jaar het koersdoel voor de S&P 500. En het verhoogt juist de kans op een recessie. Of die Trump-cessie er komt en hoe erg wij de sjaak zijn, dat vertellen we je in deze aflevering. En dan hoor je ook de reactie van de ECB. Voorzitter Christine Lagarde wil in de toekomst zo min mogelijk te maken hebben met de uithalen van Trump en pleit daarom voor economische onafhankelijkheid. Je hoort wat daar voor nodig is. En we hebben het nog over ING. De bank zou een overname op het oog hebben in Italië. Daar staat de Banca Popolare di Sondrio in de verkoop. En volgens Italiaanse media overweegt ING om erop in te gaan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen Now to 105 Future Now Podcast Our latest lunar lander, Blue Ghost, has just completed it’s 2 week moon mission, accomplishing 100% of it’s goal to deploy 10 different payload experiments, studying everything from the lunar dust to testing GPS signals and drilling deep into the regolith!  Not to be outdone, the Webb telescope has revealed CO2 in the atmosphere of distant exoplanets, orbiting the HR 8799 system, 130 light years from Earth. Could this be a life signature? Grok 3 helps us explore the possibilities more deeply, as well a new strange blue photograph of Mars with its moon Deimos in transit.  And there is news on Helium 3, mined from the Lunar surface, possibly the future fuel that will allow us to expand from a planetary to a solar system wide economy! Mining the future fuel Helium 3 from the surface of the moon Back on Earth, Silicon Valley engineer Mark Rober pits the camera-based full self-driving mode of a Tesla vs the Lidar-based auto-drive seen in Waymo vehicles. Which is better, and which survives the Wiley Coyote test?  And good news for our local eVTOL company, Joby Aviation for securing a London airport-to-airport route for their aircraft with Virgin Atlantic!  And we simply must share with you the latest discoveries of of Elon’s DOGE..Enjoy! Joby Aviation teams up with Virgin Atlantic

We break down exactly how we booked our entire family of five for a two-week European adventure across Paris, Barcelona, and Madrid using points and miles. This trip demonstrates how strategic credit card usage, elite status benefits, and advance planning can transform an expensive dream vacation into an affordable reality.• Booked 5 economy seats on Air France for 85,000 Flying Blue miles with 25% discount for kids under 11• Leveraged Hyatt Globalist status to secure club access and connecting rooms at multiple properties• Used suite upgrade awards to enhance accommodation experience for the family• Booked high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid using the Omio app • Secured premium economy return flights through Virgin Atlantic using 150,000 transferred Amex points• Communicated with hotels 6-8 weeks in advance to confirm connecting rooms and family accommodations• Used free night certificates and airline credits to minimize out-of-pocket expenses• Total cost under $2,000 for round-trip flights to Europe for a family of fiveIf you have questions about planning your own family trip using points and miles, find me on Instagram and say hello! I'm happy to answer them.

It's Thursday, March 13th, 2025. This is Nelson John, let's get started.  1. Saudi's Riyadh Air Eyes India for Expansion Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new airline, sees India as a key market, with CEO Tony Douglas calling it “super important.” Set to begin operations this year, the airline is in early talks with Air India and IndiGo for potential partnerships. Riyadh Air plans to connect Saudi Arabia to over 100 destinations by 2030 and has already partnered with Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Delta. With a fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A321 neos, the airline is tapping into India's booming aviation market, where Indians form the second-largest expat group in Saudi Arabia. Notably, 16% of Riyadh Air's staff are Indian. 2. Estée Lauder, DPIIT to Boost India's Beauty Startups India's beauty and personal care startups are set for a major push as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) partners with US cosmetics giant Estée Lauder. Through its BEAUTY&YOU India initiative, the collaboration will offer funding, mentorship, and global industry access, with a special focus on women-led startups. India's beauty market is expected to grow from $7.43 billion in 2025 to $9.69 billion by 2034. “This is a first-of-its-kind initiative,” said Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT. With India boasting the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, this partnership could drive innovation and scaling opportunities for beauty entrepreneurs. 3. India's IT Stocks Plunge Amid Growth Concerns India's top IT firms—TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra—saw their stocks fall up to 4.28%, erasing ₹75,414 crore in market value. Brokerages Morgan Stanley, Kotak Institutional Equities, and Motilal Oswal flagged concerns over sluggish IT spending recovery in FY26-27. High interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and vendor consolidation are slowing discretionary tech spending. “We see a transition phase where IT spending is reprioritized, moderating growth,” noted Morgan Stanley analysts. Despite these headwinds, Nasscom projects the IT industry to cross $300 billion by March 2026, implying 6.2% annual growth, though analysts remain skeptical. 4. Gold's Surge Raises India's Sovereign Gold Bond Liabilities As gold prices soar and equities struggle, the Indian government faces rising liabilities on its Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme, which ties payouts to gold's market price. Gold has outperformed equities since 2015, rising 3.46 times its value, while Nifty 50 has declined. ₹2.39 trillion has already been paid under gold-related schemes since 2017, with another ₹1.4 trillion budgeted for 2024-26. With 132,000 kg of gold equivalent set for payout between 2025 and 2032, a prolonged gold rally could strain government finances, making this a key issue for policymakers and investors. 5. Wendy's, Rebel Foods to Open 500 Locations in India by 2028 Rebel Foods will invest ₹100-150 crore to expand Wendy's footprint in India, targeting 500 locations by 2028. The expansion leans heavily on cloud kitchens, which will account for 70% of new openings. Currently, Wendy's operates in 200 locations, with 185 cloud kitchens and 15 offline stores. India's quick-service restaurant (QSR) market is growing at a 23% CAGR, but profitability remains challenging due to inflation and competition. Rebel Foods CEO Ankush Grover expects the IPL season to boost sales. Rebel Foods, which runs over 450 cloud kitchens across India, the Middle East, and the UK, recently raised $210 million from Temasek to fuel expansion.

Patrice Gordon is a multi-award-winning professional renowned for her leadership expertise, honed through senior roles at British Airways, Royal Mail, and Virgin Atlantic. Transitioning from Commercial Finance to Commercial Partnerships, she successfully led the largest transatlantic airline joint venture.Driven by a deep curiosity about psychology and human behaviour, Patrice became an executive coach to empower individuals and organisations. Recognising the central role people play in organisational success, she founded her consultancy, Eminere, offering Executive Coaching, Group Coaching, and innovative Reverse Mentoring programmes designed to remove barriers and foster belonging in the workplace.Patrice is also a published author, with her book, "Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace," released in November 2022 by Hachette (US) and Little Brown Book (UK), further cementing her position as a leading voice in organisational development and inclusivity.This Episode CoversHow reverse mentoring can break down generational barriers and enhance innovation within businesses.The surprising impact of psychological safety on workplace dynamics and team effectiveness.Why traditional leadership styles may hold back organisational growth—and how to evolve them.Real-life insights from Patrice's experience managing high-profile commercial partnerships at top airlines.Practical strategies leaders can use to genuinely promote diversity, belonging, and inclusion.LinksWebsite: Patrice GordonSocial media: Instagram, LinkedIn

Guest: Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO of Boom Supersonic“Passion and drive trumps knowledge and experience,” says Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl. Long before he was running Boom — which earlier this year successfully tested the world's first privately-developed supersonic jet — he was enabling “the world's most obnoxious spam cannon” at Groupon, or designing a barcode-scanning game for retail shoppers.But eventually, Blake found the courage to be more audacious and do something closer to his lifelong love of aviation. He began educating himself about things he had never thought to learn, and tapping his LinkedIn network to get intros to the smartest people in the industry. “If you imagine yourself on like the day of IPO, 99 percent of what you needed to know to get to that day, you didn't know on day one,” he says. “So, why not take 99 percent to 99.5 percent, and work on the thing you really want to exist, even if you don't know anything about it yet?”Chapters: (01:07) - Blake on Boom's beginnings (01:52) - Breaking the sound barrier (05:23) - Concorde's legacy (09:36) - Navigating regulations (12:08) - Boomless supersonic flight (16:48) - The test flight (20:11) - Day-of nervousness (24:26) - Carrying passengers (26:55) - Cost & wi-fi (30:19) - “No middle seats” (32:35) - Hard tech (36:48) - What if Apple made a plane? (39:08) - Blake's career journey (43:29) - The risk of failure (49:12) - Finding the courage (52:49) - Balancing life with Boom (56:42) - Learning how to build a jet (01:00:20) - The power of LinkedIn (01:02:38) - Y Combinator Demo Day (01:08:24) - Richard Branson (01:11:38) - Dividing yourself (01:14:19) - Being a focused dad (01:20:05) - Exuberance vs. fear (01:24:15) - Hiring slowly (01:27:17) - What “grit” means to Blake Mentioned in this episode: Chuck Yeager, ChatGPT, the Apollo program, Elon Musk, SpaceX and Falcon 1, Boom Overture, Starlink, Boeing, Airbus, iPhone, Jony Ive, Uber, Airbnb, Anduril, United Airlines, American Airlines, Eclipse Aviation, Tesla, Scott Kirby, Mike Leskinen, Inktomi, Yahoo!, Amazon, Pelago, Google Ads, Kima Labs, Barcode Hero, Groupon, iPad, Eric Schmidt, Steve Jobs, Khan Academy, Sam Altman, Loopt, Virgin Atlantic, Paul Graham, Michael Seibel, Ashlee Vance, Bloomberg, Hacker News, Jared Friedman, Sen. Mark Kelly, SV Angel, Ron Conway, Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Gulfstream, Jeff Bezos, Jeff Holden, and How It's Made.Links:Connect with BlakeTwitterLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com Learn more about Kleiner PerkinsThis episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

Adam is joined by the guest hypnotist and anxiety expert Howard Cooper.   Howard discusses how being an anxious teenager, having ineffective therapy, and a TV executive that dismissed his work with clients led to a mission to prove that rapid change works.  They discuss NLP, the dark underbelly of personal development and the surprise at learning that two high profile UK hypnotherapists were living in the same small town without knowing.  For more information on Howard visit:  https://rapidchange.works/   More Info on Howard:  Howard Cooper is one of the UK's leading 'Rapid Change' therapists. Known for helping people to create RAPID shifts in their thinking, Howard rejects the notion that deep and lasting change needs to take a long time. Drawing on a variety of psychological tools, Howard has supported over 2,500 individuals over the past 23 years on an international level, regularly bringing about transformational changes to their lives. He has made multiple appearances as the anxiety expert on BBC Morning Live, sharing his expertise with a national audience. His practical, dynamic and innovative approach has helped people from all walks of life and ages overcome intrusive personal phobias, anxieties and issues that they have often suffered from for years, offering his clients a new lease of life. He is the creator of "The Willingness Ladder®", a versatile therapeutic technique that he's taught to over 300 therapists around the world, and the author of "The Rustle of Leaves", a children's book designed to help very young children (4-9) discover how we can become anxious about things that pose no threat. In addition to his personal therapy work, Howard is a very popular and entertaining presenter on a range of topics relevant to society today and has a huge following amongst his peers through his podcast. He spent almost two years as the lead psychological presenter on Virgin Atlantic's critically acclaimed 'Flying Without Fear' course, and also appeared as the expert on fear of flying on Channel 4's documentary 'Fear of Flying: Caught on Camera'. He has also contributed to other media appearing on the BBC, in The Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Sun, CEO Magazine, just some of the media who have documented his successful ability to help people change quickly. Qualifications Hypnotherapist (GQHP), NLP Master Practitioner, Design Human Engineer, Thought Field Therapist, Registered with the CNHC (Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council), 19+ years of clinical experience, Psychological Illusion Model Trainer Adam's course Hypnotic Wealth can be found here: https://www.adamcox.co.uk/hypnotic-wealth.html  Coming Soon - The Hypnotists's Secret Circle: Adam will soon be launching a new low-cost membership to access his entire hypnosis archive without the intro, outro, and explanation and an exclusive community only for members. In the meantime you can secure a free sleep download here: https://tr.ee/MCuZqKPnEg  Adam Cox is one of the world's most innovative hypnotists and is known for being the hypnotherapist of choice for Celebrities, CEO's and even Royalty. To book a free 30-minute consultation call to consider working with Adam go to: https://go.oncehub.com/AdamCox Adam's rates for hypnotherapy in pounds and US dollars are here: https://www.adamcox.co.uk/hypnotherapist.html  You can contact Adam at adam@adamcox.co.uk Further information on Adam is here: https://linktr.ee/AdamCoxOfficial  Tags: Adam Cox, the hypnotist, NLP, asmr, hypnosis, hypnotherapy, hypnotist, stress, sleep, worry, meditation, guided meditation, hypnotism, anxiety, hypnosis for abundance, hypnosis for confidence hypnosis, Guest Hypnotist Howard Cooper

Gedanken flippen: Die Kunst, Probleme in Chancen zu verwandelnGedanken flippen, auch bekannt als "Flip Thinking" oder "Omdenken" auf Niederländisch, ist eine kreative Denktechnik, die darauf abzielt, Probleme in Chancen zu verwandeln. Hier sind einige zentrale Aspekte und Vorteile dieser Methode: Akzeptanz der Realität: Der erste Schritt im Flip Thinking ist die Akzeptanz der Realität, wie sie ist. Anstatt gegen Probleme anzukämpfen, akzeptiert man sie und nutzt ihre Energie, um neue Möglichkeiten zu schaffen26. Probleme als Gelegenheiten: Flip Thinking transformiert Probleme in Möglichkeiten, indem es Frustrationen in Quellen für Wachstum und Innovation verwandelt. Es fördert Resilienz, Anpassungsfähigkeit und kreatives Denken2. Beispiele für Flip Thinking: Ein Unternehmen, das mit Diebstahl von Salz- und Pfefferstreuern auf Flügen konfrontiert war, fügte "Gestohlen von Virgin Atlantic" hinzu, um sie in kostenlose Werbung zu verwandeln. Ein Museum, das mit einem Einsturz zu kämpfen hatte, machte daraus eine beliebte neue Ausstellung2. Vier Fragen zur Bestimmung der Flip-Thinking-Möglichkeiten: Was ist das Problem? (Klar definieren) Ist es wirklich ein Problem? (Dringlichkeit/Bedeutung bewerten) Bist du das Problem? (Deine Rolle untersuchen) Ist das Problem die Absicht? (Nach versteckten Chancen suchen)2 Strategien zur Umsetzung von Flip Thinking: Es gibt verschiedene Ansätze, darunter: Liebe-Strategien: Akzeptanz, Geduld und das Gute in anderen sehen. Arbeit-Strategien: Ausdauer, Anstrengung und systematisches Problemlösen. Kampf-Strategien: Für feindliche oder wettbewerbsorientierte Situationen. Spiel-Strategien: Kreativität, Humor und Änderung der Spielregeln2. Akzeptanz und Warten: Manchmal kann das Warten auf die Entwicklung einer Situation zu unerwarteten Chancen führen. Geduld kann zu besseren Ergebnissen führen als sofortiges Handeln2. Umkehrung und Verbündung: Zwei effektive Strategien sind die Umkehrung eines Problems in ein Talent oder die Verbündung mit dem Problem, um es zu nutzen4. Kulturelle Wurzeln: Flip Thinking hat seine Wurzeln in der niederländischen Kultur, die Wasser als Verbündeten statt als Feind betrachtet. Diese pragmatische Herangehensweise hat zur Entwicklung von Omdenken beigetragen6.FazitFlip Thinking ist eine kraftvolle Methode, um mit Problemen umzugehen, indem man sie als Gelegenheiten betrachtet. Durch Akzeptanz, kreatives Umdenken und die Anwendung verschiedener Strategien kann man nicht nur Probleme lösen, sondern auch persönliches Wachstum und Innovation fördern. Es erfordert Übung und Geduld, aber die Ergebnisse können das Leben bereichern und neue Perspektiven eröffnen.

Episode 107 of the podcast focuses on skiing with points, featuring hosts Cameron, Joe, and April. They kick off the episode with a discussion on an interesting WSJ article about the extreme lengths people go to reserve pool chairs at resorts. The news segment highlights current point transfer bonuses, including Chase's 30% bonus to Virgin Atlantic and Amex's 15% bonus to Avianca Lifemiles, as well as a limited-time 100K offer for the United Business Card. They also touch on ZorkFest, an upcoming event on the intersection of casino rewards, travel, and loyalty programs. The hosts share their recent credit card bonuses and milestone achievements, with Joe discussing his Hyatt 110-night milestone and Cameron's attempt to secure the BOA Alaska Airlines Business Card.The episode's main feature dives into strategies for skiing on points, covering season passes like Epic and Ikon, hotel and flight redemptions, and planning tactics. Cameron emphasizes spreadsheet tracking for the best pass deals, while April shares her experience with Alaska Airlines' free ski passes. The hosts discuss top ski destinations, including Utah, Colorado, Vermont, Europe, Japan, and Canada, detailing how to use points for flights and hotel stays. The tip of the week comes from Joe, who reminds listeners of the "why" behind award travel—using points not just for luxury, but to create meaningful experiences, like funding his daughter's summer violin program through Hyatt points.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Bonus to Virgin AtlanticAmex Membership Rewards Transfer Bonus to LifemilesUnited Business Card Increased BonusWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!

In Episode 106 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Mike Zaccheo is joined by fellow community member Charlie to discuss how award travel fuels adventure. Fresh off their whirlwind European microstates trip, they recount their experiences visiting some of the smallest and most fascinating countries in the world, including Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein—all made possible through strategic use of points and miles. From lie-flat seats on transatlantic flights to luxury hotel upgrades and rental cars for border-hopping, their journey showcases the power of award travel to create unforgettable experiences.Before diving into their adventure, they cover the latest in airline loyalty programs, including the new JetBlue Premium Card, Virgin Atlantic's status match offer, and United's updated status challenge. Charlie also shares some impressive recent redemptions, from an Amex Gold 200k offer to Citi AA Business approvals. They wrap up with a valuable tip—book early and book often—emphasizing how planning ahead for flexibility and in some cases pivoting at the last possible minute helped one of them score Lufthansa First Class and other premium redemptions for their ambitious travels.Links to Topics DiscussedNew JetBlue Premium CardVirgin Atlantic Status MatchUnited Status MatchWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist. Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!

Sue Stockdale interviews Ricky Ellcock, a man who defied significant challenges to excel in two remarkable careers: professional cricket and aviation. Raised in impoverished conditions in Barbados, Ricky's journey saw him overcoming racial and socio-economic barriers. His ingenuity as a child, along with his resilience in facing career-ending injuries, led him to become Virgin Atlantic's first Black 747 captain. Ricky shares his experiences of culture shock at an elite English boarding school, fighting through debilitating injuries, battling depression, and ultimately redefining success. His story is one of humour, humility, and relentless determination to achieve one's dreams, and serves as a powerful inspiration for aiming high despite the odds.About Ricky EllcockCaptain Ricky Ellcock was born in 1965 in Redman's Village, St Thomas, Barbados. He attended Combermere School, Barbados before gaining a scholarship to Malvern College, Worcestershire, England at 15 years old. Ricky made his first Class debut as a 17 year old fast bowler for Worcestershire CCC before being selected for the England cricket team at 24. A major back injury and two unsuccessful back operations was to ultimately end his cricket career.He retrained in 1993 as a pilot at the British Aerospace Flying College and gained his MSc in Air Transport Planning and Management at The University of Westminster. Ricky joined Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1997 as their first black pilot and would go on to take command of the Boeing 747-400 (Jumbo) from 2005 until 2015 before switching to command the 787-900 (Dreamliner).Connect with Ricky Ellcock via LinkedIn: Website: and find out about his book Balls to FlyTime Stamps02:08 Ricky's Early Life in Barbados04:07 Cricket Career and Challenges06:23 Cultural Shock and Education in England12:04 Injuries and Setbacks in Cricket20:00 Transition to Aviation and Overcoming Depression24:32 Becoming Virgin Atlantic's First Black 747 Captain32:18 Health Challenges and Writing a BookKey Quotes Everything that I saw was new. I'd never worn a jacket. I'd never seen a colour TV or a toaster. At 16 years old, I could probably bowl a ball, near enough 90 miles an hour.My dad said  black people don't fly aeroplanes.  I think every professional sportsman has to be dedicated. You have to have a major work ethic..Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Read our Impact Report and if you would like to support us then Buy Me A CoffeeProducer: Sue Stockdale  Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we explore how treasurers navigate extreme crises. From cyberattacks and corporate fraud to the impact of COVID-19, Matt Cornwall shares firsthand lessons in crisis management, leadership, and the evolving role of treasury operations.Matt Cornwall is a seasoned finance professional with over 25+ years of experience, transitioning from Chartered Accountant to Treasurer just before the global financial crisis. He has held key treasury roles at companies like Virgin Atlantic and Travelex, where he managed through a cyberattack, financial fraud, and the pandemic. Matt is now Head of Treasury Operations for EMEA at Chubb, the world's largest property and casualty insurer.Expect to LearnThe Unexpected Path to Treasury: How Matt transitioned from accounting to treasury, and why he never looked back.Surviving a Cyberattack: The inside story of the Travelex ransomware attack and how Matt's team managed operations with no systems.Crisis Leadership: Strategies for leading a team through uncertainty, from cyberattacks to global pandemics.Treasury and Technology: How modern treasury operations rely on technology, and what happens when it all fails.Lessons in Resilience: What Matt learned about communication, leadership, and adaptability during the toughest period of his career.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps[00:00:00] - Introduction & Treasury Career Trends[00:00:57] - Meet Matt Cornwall: From Accounting to Treasury[00:03:45] - The Role of Qualifications in Treasury[00:05:37] - The Travelex Cyberattack: A Real-Life Crisis[00:10:46] - Managing Treasury Without Systems[00:14:13] - Unexpected Challenges Beyond the Cyberattack[00:27:08] - Financial Fraud at the Parent Company[00:30:52] - The COVID-19 Impact on Treasury Operations[00:39:09] - Leadership in Crisis: Communication & Trust[00:47:40] - Life After Travelex: Matt's Current Role at Chubb[00:49:32] - Closing Thoughts & How to Connect with MattFollow Matt Cornwall on Socials: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cornwall-6447521/ Website: https://www.chubb.com/us-en/ Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website: https://corporate-treasury-101.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/86645197/admin/dashboard/ Follow Hussam & Guillaume:Hussam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-ali-6bb69186/ Guillaume on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-jouvencel/ Gha Marketing Website: https://ghapodcast.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Get $100 off any AFP product, including their CTP Exam Prep Platform, using our discount code! Find this and More on our partner's page

Transfer bonuses are one of the best ways to stretch your points further, and in this episode we're breaking down everything you need to know about them. From understanding how they work to sharing the bonuses we've taken advantage of, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you maximize your rewards and travel more for less. What Are Transfer Bonuses? Pam explains that what transfer bonuses are and how big a difference they can make in your redemptions.  For example, a recent American Express bonus to Virgin Atlantic offered a 40% increase, turning 100,000 Membership Rewards into 140,000 Virgin Atlantic miles.  When to Use Them While transfer bonuses can be tempting, Alex emphasizes the importance of having a plan. Speculative transfers (moving points without a specific booking in mind) can leave you stuck with miles you don't need if your plans change. The takeaway? If you're new to points, only use transfer bonuses when you know you'll use the miles. Stacking Bonuses for Maximum Value Jess shares how stacking transfer bonuses with existing airline or hotel promotions can unlock even more value. And Alex highlights Flying Blue's monthly promo awards and child discount, which allow you to save even more by pairing discounted flights with transfer bonuses. Hotel Transfer Bonuses Jess dives into the hotel side of transfer bonuses, highlighting the best options and the ones that might not be a good deal. Our Favorite Transfer Bonus Wins Each of us shares a recent win: Pam: Transferred 100,000 Amex points to Virgin Atlantic with a 40% bonus, booking a round-trip business class flight to London for just 58,000 miles and $600 in fees. Alex: Used a 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue to book business class flights to Morocco with her mom and sisters for just 55,000 points each way. Jess: Took advantage of a Capital One transfer bonus to Virgin Red, then Virgin Atlantic, to book a KLM flight for nearly 50% fewer points. Transfer bonuses are an incredible way to maximize your points and miles, but timing and planning are everything. Whether you're saving for a luxury business-class flight or looking to reduce the cost of a family vacation, these promotions can make a big difference. Check out our blog for monthly updates on the latest transfer bonuses, and start planning your next big adventure!   Links: Subscribe to Points Talk Premium: https://pointstalk.supercast.com/ Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad Transfer Bonuses and Sales on Points & Miles January 2025 - Travel Mom Squad   Episode Minute By Minute: 00:30 – Introduction: What are transfer bonuses? 01:15 – Pam explains how transfer bonuses work 10:30 – When to use (and not use) transfer bonuses 15:00 – Stacking bonuses for flights and hotels 21:30 – Jess's Hilton strategy and hotel transfer tips 27:55 – Favorite transfer bonus wins from Pam, Alex, and Jess 35:00 – Final thoughts on maximizing transfer bonuses

Andy Harmer speaks to Celebrity Cruises, Giles Hawke (VP & MD UK, Ireland & EMEA) as he teases what's coming for their latest edge class ship Excel, the importance of business partners and their “Destination Unknown” incentive launched in conjunction with Virgin Atlantic & Royal Caribbean. Giles shares what his 18 months have been like since he joined Celebrity Cruises.

A decade on the air and in the air, thank you all for your loyalty (we don't offer Tier Points).Loyalty is what we start with, as British Airways shakes the world of revenue based loyalty with a rather abrupt shift (meh it was coming, says Alex, whilst Paul defends BA), but what program should we now put our miles in?!Alex flies to peak pollution Delhi with Virgin Atlantic, to meet his brothers (and his Attache brother, Greg). He then goes to New York via Helsinki with Finnair, an airline that wants you to believe a 330 is a 350, but that he'd fly again and again.IFE privacy and self-consciousness, that's a thing (is it for you all you too?)Paul finally narrates the pinnacle of air travel, the best First Class in the world (no contest!), 12 hours in supreme zero-gravity comfort aboard the Emirates 777 First (he touches all the buttons, creates a night club in the sky in one cabin, a hotel in another).Is the middle seat the best option? You might need binoculars to believe it.Again, thank you all for tuning in every time we release a show (including the crazy ones binge-listening to the entire catalogue of episodes!).Happy flying until our next episode (When? Like at airports, patience is a virtue haha) —Follow us, and comment on: Instagram - Bluesky - Threads - Mastodon - Twitter/XComment on each episode, and rate us, on SpotifyReview, and rate us, on Apple PodcastsComment, like, review, and rate us, on FacebookComment on YouTube (there's no video, just audio!)Search for "Layovers" on any podcast service (some direct links are on our website)If we're missing one, or if you have any feedback, let Paul know on Instagram - Threads - Mastodon - Bluesky - Twitter/X

In today's episode we'll discuss what's up with Hilton gift cards, we'll intensely debate Virgin Atlantic award charts, cover 2 different points millionaire promos, then finally, we'll tell you how to earns tons of rewards through shopping portals. (01:29) - One reader reports on their success with the Southwest Companion Pass with just one of the Southwest business cards when it had the elevated 120k offer. Read more about the companion pass here. (04:29) - Chase Bonvoy Bold: now features Chase's Pay Yourself Back benefit. (08:36) - Citi changed transfer rates to Flying Blue to 1.25 (temporarily) (11:38) - Qantas devaluation Aug 5th Check out our Complete List of Transferrable Points Partners here. (18:30) - SAS Eurobonus Millionaire update (22:49) - Chase Travel giving away 1 million Ultimate Rewards points to 10 winners (24:12) - Virgin Atlantic still has award charts (32:43) - Westgate Resorts now bookable w/ Choice Privileges (35:15) - Portal Overview (43:00) - Our favorite shopping portals (starting with Rakuten) (55:54) - Portal Myths Learn more about common shopping portal myths here. (1:12:08) - Stacking Opportunities For more stacking ideas, check out The Art of Extreme Stackery | Ep231 | 12-2-23 here. (1:13:43) - Learn more about card linked offers here. (1:15:26) - Gift Cards (1:16:32) - Learn more about buying gift cards at discount (e.g. Pepper) here: https://frequentmiler.com/instant-gift-card-deals (1:18:05) - Super Stack Example (1:24:26) - What's the deal with Hilton Gift Cards?

Best-selling author, behavioural scientist and hypnotist Paul McKenna explains the powerful role that manifestation can play in business success and debunks some myths. From Sir Richard Branson's game-changing Virgin Atlantic vision to practical exercises that rewire your brain for achievement, McKenna shows how "manifesting" is simply strategic planning in disguise. In this episode, you will learn how to harness this science-backed approach to overcome challenges, fuel innovation and achieve your biggest goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Air travel is, relatively speaking, very safe and efficient. But few are aware how many runway incursions, near collisions, etc., occur every year regardless of the political nature of government and its policies. When incidents do occur, we tend to blame those in charge which results in a serious issue being politicized by both sides - one denies and one exaggerates. Of focus, a single incident makes common problems seem uncommon and air travel more dangerous. However, there is some legitimate concern to be had with the FAA's new hiring guidelines, which include providing employment to the following problems: “hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism.” Although not every air-incident can be blamed on stupidity - as they are usually the results of laziness, honestly missed details, exhaustion, etc. - other cases can be directly linked to Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, such as United 767-300ER (where the First Officer was a fired flight attendant enrolled in the DEI Pilot Training program), United Airlines 777 which plummeted to within a few hundred feet of the ocean after take off from Hawaii (where the pilot clearly didn't know what they were doing), and the recent Alaskan Airlines 737-900 MAX incident where a door blew off mid flight because bolts were missing from assembly (partly the fault of Spirit Aerosystems Engineering, a company concerned first and foremost with DEI, and partly Alaskan Airlines' fault for having flown the new plane with emergency pressure warnings going off). There is no word if the flaming Atlas Air Boeing 747-8 cargo plane with a soft-ball size hole in its engine, or the Virgin Atlantic flight with missing wing screws, are relatable. What is certain is that United, Alaskan, Delta, Spirit, and Southwest, are more concerned with how the public views their DEI policies than they are the public's perception of safety. One should wonder why all of these supposedly competing companies chose to adopt the same slogans and imagery. Perhaps United chose the DEI route because their CEO dresses in drag, and wants 50% of new hires to “be women or people of color.” It just doesn't make any sense that when “qualification” is used as a baseline for hiring, defenders of DEI say that blacks, for example, have trouble becoming pilots because of education and discrimination, despite 3.4% of pilots being black already (out of a population of 14% US) - as if black people inherently are uneducated and legally restricted from becoming pilots in a predominantly white county. This itself is racism! When you look at people like Sam Britton and Pete Buttigieg it becomes clear we are dealing with an ideological cult that puts public safety last, even the perception of it, in favor of sexualized and racialized policies that violate all basic standards of equal protection in the United States.-FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKWEBSITEPAYPALCashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tst-radio--5328407/support.

Starting with a layover in Vegas, we spent a week traveling around Marrakesh, Morocco and ended in Paris. This was my first time on Air France & KLM (booked with Virgin Atlantic miles), which were both decent business class products. I also had a few mishaps on the way including multiple traffic violations from the Moroccan police, almost denied boarding for losing my paper boarding pass, and forgetting to select seats, but it still turned out to be a great trip.For a full library of the podcast and a link to the private Slack group, head over to Patreon.com/churninglife.

There are a lot of things in the points and miles world that kind of come to a head at the end of the year, so you'll want to know what you should be taking care of here at the end of 2024. And of course, read our end of year checklist for 2024 here. (01:30) - What happens when a Choice Rewards hotel booking has no record of your reservation, but the points are missing? (07:32) - Preferred Hotels now bookable with iPrefer points (16:34) - Amex 40% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic (21:31) - Earn elite status (23:05) - Do you have enough MQDs for Delta elite status? Check out our post here. (24:48) - Remember to time your SouthWest companion pass properly Read our Complete Guide to the SouthWest companion pass here. (28:37) - Marriott Bonvoy: Easiest option is Bonvoy Brilliant, but you can read about the many other options here. (44:11) - Use airline incidental credits by December (47:42) - Platinum $200 calendar year. See Amex airline fee reimbursements. What still works? (56:19) - Apply for cards with annual credits (57:47) - Transfer / pool points (1:02:19) - Redeem points or miles for annual rebates (1:03:48) - With the Caesar's Diamond status match ending, is there anything Wyndham Earner Business card-holder's should take advantage of now? Read more about this status match ending here. 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 Heads

If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Watch us on YouTube!  Richard and Ed got to join Summer Hull (Mommy Points) at the Evermore Resort in Orlando, FL. They came away very impressed. The visit had them wondering if this is now the best place to stay offsite at Disney World. The 8 acre lagoon in the center of the resort will convince a lot of folks why this is the right place to be. Next up, we discuss the new Disney World Lightning Lane system. Richard and Ed had a pretty painful experience, though it was saved by one key hack that you can use to make your Disney World park experience much less stressful. Lastly, we recap what might just be the mileage deal of the year, where folks scored business class flights to Europe on Virgin Atlantic for less than 30,000 miles/points one-way (and reasonable surcharges)! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. See More: https://milestogo.boardingarea.com/ Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/

From struggling in school because of his dyslexia to starting a magazine at just 15, Richard Branson has always found ways to turn his challenges into unique opportunities. Even his iconic airline started as a joke when he was stranded in Puerto Rico after his canceled flight. He hired a plane, wrote "Virgin Airlines" on a blackboard, and offered seats to other stranded passengers. Soon enough, Virgin Atlantic was born. In this episode, Richard shares his incredible journey with Ilana, highlighting key lessons on embracing risk, staying resilient, and using challenges to fuel growth and innovation. Sir Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, spanning airlines, cruises, hotels, health, entertainment, and space travel. Known for his adventurous spirit and bold pursuits, he has not only transformed industries but also used his influence to champion global humanitarian causes. In this episode, Ilana and Richard will discuss: - Surviving British boarding school  - Quitting school at 15 to launch a magazine - Partnering with people who share his vision - The joke that led to the creation of Virgin Airlines - Building the world's largest independent record label - Facing risk with excitement, not fear - Tackling world problems as an entrepreneur - Saving hostages from Saddam Hussein's regime - Forming a peacekeeping council of global elders - Pushing through the toughest days - Dyslexia as a superpower for thinking differently - And other topics…   Sir Richard Branson is a serial entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, which includes more than 40 Virgin companies operating in 35 countries. At just 15, he dropped out of school and started Student magazine, which focused on youth culture. He went on to launch Virgin Records, signing iconic artists like Mike Oldfield and the Sex Pistols. Known for his bold ventures, Branson started Virgin Atlantic in 1984 and Virgin Galactic in 2004. Through Virgin Unite, he leads philanthropic efforts by using business to drive positive change globally. Connect with Richard: Richard's Website: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson  Richard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbranson/  Richard's Twitter: https://x.com/richardbranson Resources Mentioned: Richard's Audiobook: Losing and Finding My Virginity: The Full Story: https://www.amazon.com/Losing-Finding-My-Virginity-Story/dp/B0CW8BS7W7  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure) Geobreeze Travel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.  ➤ Free LIVE training to maximize your points https://geobreezetravel.com/webinar   ➤ Free points 101 course (includes hotel upgrade email template) https://geobreezetravel.com/freecourse   ➤ Free credit card consultations https://airtable.com/apparEqFGYkas0LHl/shrYFpUr2zutt5515   ➤ Seats.Aero: https://geobreezetravel.com/seatsaero   ➤ Request a free personalized award search tutorial: https://go.geobreezetravel.com/ast-form If you are interested in supporting this show when you apply for your next card, check out https://geobreezetravel.com/cards and if you're not sure what card is right for you, I offer free credit card consultations at https://geobreezetravel.com/consultations! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Virgin Atlantic Update 01:09 Flying Delta economy for fewer points 04:30 Flying in a lay flat business class seat 09:40 Flying to Europe 15:10 Flying to Africa 19:35 Flying to Asia 27:40 Outro You can find Julia at:  ➤ Website: https://geobreezetravel.com/  ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel/  ➤ Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards  ➤ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel   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. The content of this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

If you learn a few advanced tricks, you can book awards for less miles than you'd think, and for better products or flights than you might think as well. (01:07) - About our Coffee Break: Earn miles while saving and paying for college | Coffee Break Ep31 | 10-28-24 | Podcast See episode 31 of Coffee Break "Earn miles while saving and paying for college" here. (01:36) - Giftcards dot com added fee - it still seems to be earning GCdotcom rewards, but might not last (02:14) - One reader says as of 2024, you can rollover 529s into Roth IRAs. Learn more about our ongoing challenge at https://millionmilemadness.com (05:44) - Quick recap SAS Eurobonus allows points pooling (Read more about SAS points pooling here.) (06:52) - Stephen is all booked! Read Stephen's Million Mile Madness journal here. (08:35) - Read Nick's Million Mile Madness journal here. (11:36) - Greg: "Speed and Style" Read Greg's Million Mile Madness journal here. (17:05) - Marriott Homes & Villas promo: Stay 2+ nights & spend $1k+ to earn 30K bonus points Read more about the Marriott Homes & Villas promo here. (18:24) - Choice enhances program in 2025 Read about Choice Privileges improvements coming in 2025 here. (20:19) - Virgin Atlantic's dynamic award pricing is live Read more about Virgin Atlantic's dynamic award pricing here. (23:03) - United increasing elite requirements for 2025 (24:41) - DOT Refund Rule (26:56) - JetBlue's excellent status match Find our episode about JetBlue's status match here. (27:39) - Last minute bookings/changes (29:53) - Same day changes (32:09) - What is Skiplagging? (35:37) - Mix cabins for lower prices (39:25) - Start to End Distance based pricing (43:37) - Weird pricing (45:50) - Distance based award tricks... (51:59) - Avoid sucky programs (1:01:33) - How can I time an Amex Platinum consumer card downgrade to gold card in order to get maximum credits from each, and what happens if I upgrade again later... would I get the benefits again?

We hear from participants at this year's Cranky Dorkfest, the U.S. Marine Corps flew the XQ-58A Valkyrie drone with four F-35B fighters, American Airlines flew a B787 from Dallas to Brisbane in a 15 hour and 44-minute flight, a pair of corporate flight attendants are suing their employer, airlines are reacting to flight restrictions over Russia, and the Portland Jetport is replacing the firefighting foam with something more environmentally friendly. Also, a self-propelling ionic thrust wing, an exploding satellite, and thoughts on DB Cooper from an expert parachutist. Cranky Dorkfest 2024 Brian Coleman recorded interviews at Cranky Dorkfest on September 14, 2024: Melissa - Why she keeps coming back. Her husband is former military mechanic. Benny - A first-timer with a unique Boeing airplane-related telephone number. Jvan - He took home last year's brick mosaic. This is his 3rd year participating. Matt Sauchelli - He's shooting with a Nikon mirrorless camera and a long lens. Ben Grenuchi and Heather - From NYCAviation. Ian Petchenik - Director of Communications at Flightradar24 the live, global flight tracking service. Also, the co-host of AvTalk podcast. Brett (Cranky) Snyder. The man behind it all. For Those Who Didn't Attend, Here's What You Missed at Cranky Dorkfest This Weekend Aviation News Marines score aviation firsts with F-35 squadron, drone test and more A Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie drone completed a test flight last week at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Col. Derek Brannon, branch head for the Cunningham Group, deputy commandant for aviation said “The flight focused on the use of tactical data links to enable digital communication between the XQ-58A and an airborne four-ship of F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and other joint aircraft.” XQ-58A Valkyrie, courtesy AFRL. The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a low-cost, high-performance, reusable unmanned air vehicle developed through an Air Force Research Laboratory partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. This vehicle is an example of an “attritable” aircraft designed to be used for several missions, but built at a cost that permits it to be a combat loss. American Airlines' longest flight set to be one of the most tracked in the world The American Airlines inaugural flight from Dallas to Brisbane in Australia was heavily followed on Flightradar24. Director of Communications Ian Petchenik said people worldwide “are especially keen to watch the livestream of the landing.” The Boeing 787-9 (N825AA), flight AA7, made the trip in 15 hours and 44 minutes covering a great circle distance of 13,363 KM. See Flight history for American Airlines flight AA7. Overworked Private Flight Attendants For Co-Founder of The Home Depot Claim ‘Inept' Colleagues Kept Their Jobs Because They Were in ‘Romantic Relationship' With Boss Two private flight attendants filed a lawsuit claiming they were overworked while working for the co-founder of The Home Depot, while “inept” co-workers had romantic relationships with their bosses. The two FAs, who quit their jobs, said they sometimes worked 26 days per month and around 90 hours per week. Why It's Harder Getting to China As a result of the war in Ukraine, non-Chinese airlines are no longer entering Russian airspace, so some are discontinuing service to China, or reducing frequency. Demand for flights to China is down, and the cost of avoiding Russian airspace in time and fuel is significant. Virgin Atlantic is dropping its flight connecting Shanghai to London, LOT Polish Airlines is suspending its Warsaw-to-Beijing flights, and SAS plans to stop direct flights between Copenhagen and Shanghai. Chinese airlines are adding capacity. PFAS-free firefighting foam coming to jetport The Portland (Maine) Fire Department plans to replace the AFFF firefighting foam used at the Portland International Jetport with PFAS-free foam.

On today's bonus destination special episode we are bringing to life one of America's most iconic destinations, its capital city and somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime - Washington DC.Now, when you think of Washington, DC, what comes to mind? The towering obelisk of the Washington Monument? The sprawling grandeur of the Lincoln Memorial? The iconic steps of the U.S. Capitol or the regal beauty of the White House, framed perfectly by the National Mall? These landmarks are like touchstones of American history, and all within walking distance. But they also offer a striking juxtaposition to what DC is today: a city that is constantly evolving, modernising, and embracing diversity at every corner.DC is a city bursting with energy. Colourful neighbourhoods like Georgetown with its cobblestone streets and boutique shops, and the trendy U Street Corridor, once known as 'Black Broadway,' where jazz music still pulses in the air are wonderful to stroll around. And it's really grown into a bit of a culinary hub, too. From Ethiopian spots in Adams Morgan to Michelin-starred restaurants pushing boundaries in neighbourhoods like Shaw, DC has become a real food lover's city. For those travelling on a budget, there are so many free experiences on offer in the city. Whether you're exploring the Smithsonian museums, taking a stroll along the National Mall, or taking in the city's beautiful green spaces, DC will leave you with unforgettable memories, without draining your wallet.DC will host WorldPride 2025 and the city will become a global hub of celebration, inclusivity, and pride, welcoming visitors from around the world. To help guide us through the city, I'm joined today by Ryan Bos, head of the Capital Pride Alliance. Even if you're listening after the glitter of WorldPride has settled, don't worry—this episode is packed with tips and insights that will make your visit to DC memorable at any time of year.Destination Recap:Smithsonian Museums The White House Capitol Building National Air and Space Museum National Museum of American History National Gallery of Art National Museum of Natural History Annie's Paramount Steakhouse ThreeFifty Bakery and Coffee Bar Ben's Chili Bowl – The original Ben's Chili Bowl is located at 1213 U Street NW, in the U Street Corridor area of the Northwest quadrant.National ZooThomas Jefferson MemorialNational Arboretum If you enjoyed this episode and feel inspired to visit DC, then head to washington.org 5 Nights Washington DC from £1,439ppTravelbag offers 5 nights staying at the 4* Washington Hilton from £1,439pp including direct return flights from London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic. Selected Departures in May and June 2025. Book by 30th November 2024. Price based on two adults. To book, Call Travelbag on 0203 393 9620 or visit www.travelbag.co.uk. All packages subject to availability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast episode, strategist David Ocamb, delves into the AT101 community's identity and the challenges people face in the points and miles hobby. Key news includes Alaska Airlines' changes to its upgrade policies, opportunities for luxurious travel to Europe, and Virgin Atlantic transfer bonuses. The highlight feature focuses on Ocamb's research project on the AT101 community. The study aimed to understand the community better through surveys and interviews, revealing key findings, such as feelings of imposter syndrome among members. The majority of respondents feel they know less than other members, especially when comparing their travel experiences. Social media influences perceptions, with many feeling left out due to influencers' luxurious lifestyles. Interestingly, the community is predominantly female, which David and Joe take pride in. The project will continue to track trends and insights in future surveys.Where to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist. Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!

In this Quick Hits episode, DeAndre Coke breaks down the latest travel news, focusing on valuable transfer bonuses for points and miles enthusiasts. He highlights a current transfer bonus from Chase to Virgin Atlantic, explaining how it can lead to major savings for travelers booking flights with Delta, a partner of the Virgin Atlantic and … Read More Read More

Alaska Airlines is making some big changes in 2025! We'll talk about why we think these changes are exciting...(and will share an exciting announcement of our own!)  (01:20) - Greg was recently curious about if the Hawaiian Miles personal card would be getting elevated offers and one reader says the answer is yes! Check your emails for higher offers! Listen to our episode about the Hawaiian / Alaska merger here: https://frequentmiler.com/podcast-alaska-hawaiian-airlines-wedding-planning-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep269-8-23-24/ (03:25) - Fly 15 SkyTeam airlines (and credit to SAS or redeem SAS miles) by end of year and get 1 MILLION MILES... you all had ideas for us related to this challenge... (05:29) - Greg's post "Catching up on 2 weeks of big miles & points news" (Read the post here: https://frequentmiler.com/catching-up-on-2-weeks-of-big-miles-points-news) (07:04) - For the first time ever, the FM team will do 2nd challenge within 1 year...and we want you to participate! Read more about our newest challenge here: https://frequentmiler.com/start-your-engines-for-frequent-miler-million-mile-madness/ (19:47) - Alaska / Hawaiian transfers live (22:28) - Spirit Airlines adds free WiFi and ditches award fees for Free Spirit members. (23:56) - Virgin Atlantic to go to dynamic award pricing - companion and upgrade vouchers may become more usable (28:33) - Choice Privileges max award pricing for Preferred Hotels reduced from 118k to 87k. Only 9 out of 310 are currently priced 80K or higher. Meanwhile, 68 properties are priced 30K or lower. (30:43) - Bilt adds Accor Live Limitless and TAP Air Portugal as transfer partners. (36:18) - Marriott & Aeroplan launch reciprocal status match opportunity. (42:42) - Huge mostly positive changes to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan coming 2025... Read more about the changes to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan here: https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-mileage-plan-updates-earn-status-with-award-flights-credit-cards-shopping-portal-spend-more-other-changes/ (43:03) - Earning Elite Status with Alaska Airlines (53:59) - Mileage Plan Milestones (1:04:46) - Other changes (1:13:11) - Some more negative changes (1:15:14) - Summary of our assessments (1:17:46) - Someone wrote in asking if the Alaska changes change our mind about whether it makes sense to earn Alaska miles when paying rent through Bilt

In today's episode, we'll look at how Nick booked his baller family of 4 a round-the-world adventure featuring Taylor Swift in Europe, a free Mediterranean cruise, tropical beaches in Mauritius, and DisneySea in Japan! (01:28) - Beware of agents erroneously telling you your free night certificate is not applicable at SLH properties! (05:30) - What is this segment even about? (And how should you evaluate opportunities?) (11:42) - Amex airline fee reimbursements Learn more about airline fee reimbursements here. (19:05) - Read more about Nick's incredible trip here. (22:22) - Getting to Europe on JetBlue in Mint (business) class via Qatar Avios Read how to book JetBlue Mint via Qatar Avios here. (27:25) - Getting around Europe (35:04) - “Free” MSC cruise from Venice to Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, and Italy Read how to get free cruises through casino status matching here. (39:45) - Venice to Paris: Air France Business Class via Virgin Atlantic for 9,000 points + ~$22 each (45:19) - Big Air Canada Aeroplan award from Paris to Japan (1:01:40) - Train to Tokyo (1:10:49) - Tokyo to Hawaii to New York (1:24:45) - Amex Gold card now has a coupon for a $7 Dunkin' credit. Does it work for Baskin Robins too?

Twenty Minute Travel has now joined the MtM Podcast feed! You can catch this show each week right here in addition to the regular MtM Podcast or watch it on Youtube!  Episode Description This week Chase was in the news a lot for a number of different reasons. To start, they added Air Canada lounge access for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. This is a good perk, but it has a huge downside. Chase also released their Q4 spending offers on cards with targeted deals giving 5-7X back on grocery and more. Finally, Chase also has newly increased offers on Sapphire Preferred and the World of Hyatt credit card. The latter is giving 5 free nights as a welcome offer. Is this better than points?   In other news after 5 years of ownership, American Express has announced they are killing off LoungeBuddy. RIP. We also discuss: a fire at Newark airport, the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, 2025 trending travel destinations, Virgin Atlantic going revenue based, the search for Ramada's "CEO" and the new show we are launching on this channel.   Episode Guide 0:00 Newark can't have nice things 0:36 You can be Ramada's new “CEO” 3:15 Amex's 2025 trending travel destinations 5:07 Hyatt Place paid breakfast spreading? 8:17 Sapphire Preferred's new 60K offer with a twist 9:47 Hyatt's new 5 free night welcome offer 11:37 Sapphire Reserve adds Air Canada lounge access 13:10 Amex shutting down LoungeBuddy 14:49 Lucrative targeted Chase spending offers for Q4 16:23 Virgin Atlantic revenue based redemptions - Good or bad? 17:58 Mark visiting the Albuquerque Balloon Festival 19:14 Our new show coming to this channel Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel - You can also find the show along with our sister show MTM Travel in the combined MTM Travel feed. More info here. This week Chase was in the news a lot for a number of different reasons. To start, they added Air Canada lounge access for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. This is a good perk, but it has a huge downside. Chase also released their Q4 spending offers on cards with targeted deals giving 5-7X back on grocery and more. Finally, Chase also has newly increased offers on Sapphire Preferred and the World of Hyatt credit card. The latter is giving 5 free nights as a welcome offer. Is this better than points? In other news after 5 years of ownership, American Express has announced they are killing off LoungeBuddy. RIP. We also discuss: a fire at Newark airport, the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, 2025 trending travel destinations, Virgin Atlantic going revenue based, the search for Ramada's "CEO" and the new show we are launching on this channel. Episode Guide: 0:00 Newark can't have nice things 0:36 You can be Ramada's new “CEO” 3:15 Amex's 2025 trending travel destinations 5:07 Hyatt Place paid breakfast spreading? 8:17 Sapphire Preferred's new 60K offer with a twist 9:47 Hyatt's new 5 free night welcome offer 11:37 Sapphire Reserve adds Air Canada lounge access 13:10 Amex shutting down LoungeBuddy 14:49 Lucrative targeted Chase spending offers for Q4 16:23 Virgin Atlantic revenue based redemptions - Good or bad? 17:58 Mark visiting the Albuquerque Balloon Festival 19:14 Our new show coming to this channel About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar.  Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.

We've been talking a lot lately about unique uses for Citi ThankYou points  such as transferring to Leading Hotels of the World, but how do you accumulate these points? That's what we'll talk about in today's episode of Frequent Miler on the Air. (01:20) - During Ask Us Anything, Greg said that Amex to Hilton transfer bonus would have to be 70% to match standard Chase to Hyatt transfer value. One reader thought of a situation where a 1.7 cents per point value could be reached via Bilt to Virgin Atlantic 125% transfer bonus for Platinum members. Watch our recent Ask Us Anything here. (07:53) - Hilton Aspire resort credit-eligible hotel list shrinks Read more about the Hilton Aspire resort credit eligible hotel list changes here. (09:29) - Targeted 120,000 Membership Rewards points Business Platinum upgrade offers Read more about the 120K Membership Rewards points Business Platinum upgrade offers here. (13:36) - Venture X and Venture X Business Cards: Hertz President's Circle status NOT ending 12/31. Read more about the Venture X card here, and the Venture X Business Card here. (14:50) - What crazy thing did Nick and Greg do? (They missed the 70K Hawaiian card bonus change to 50K, hours before discussing it on the podcast.) (15:10) - Listen to our conversation about the Alaska / Hawaiian merger here. (17:21) - What crazy thing did Barclays do? (21:15) - Targeted IHG double elite night credits on up to 2 stays through 12/31/24 (Read more here.) (28:01) - Wells Fargo Rewards® points now transfer to Virgin (29:02) - Targeted Avianca LifeMiles sale - 200% bonus (through MONDAY 9/30) (Read more here.) (31:46) - AA Targeted promo to get Loyalty Points when spending AA miles (32:37) - Melio business bill payment service now has paid membership tiers Read more about Melio here. (35:28) - Pepper Rewards adds point history and pending point information Learn more about Pepper here. (39:23) - Spirit updates, including removing redemption fees and free wifi for Gold members (40:55) - ThankYou Rewards quick overview and basics Find out about unique rewards you can get with ThankYou points here. (46:23) - Welcome bonuses Learn more about the Strata Premier card here. Learn more about the Double Cash card here, and the Custom Cash card here. (50:54) - Earn through spend... (1:01:02) - Targeted Bonuses (1:02:44) - Retention Bonuses (1:07:19) - 2 person (or "2 player") strategy (1:10:10) - A reader won 50K American Airline miles from a work event and is considering accumulating more...

On this episode, Heather talks about the anxieties her next flight is bringing to the surface. We all remember Ovaries on a Plane, and Heather is back on the same VA flight but this time to see Taylor Swift in London. She has not received her seat assignment so fingers crossed she gets a different seat than the last time. She takes voicemails from listeners who have been locked up in Portugal and others who are getting messages from their ex's dog's instagram, but it is one question that strikes Heather and brings up fond memories of her Dad, and her queen Joan Rivers.Episode Sponsors:Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase at drinkAG1.com/absolutely. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ABSOLUTELY and get on your way to being your best self.For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code ABSOLUTELYNOT.Go to Quince.com/absolutely for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.Get 50% off your first box of fresh, healthy food at TheFarmersDog.com/ABSOLUTELY. Plus, you get FREE shipping!Visit creamcheese.com for recipe inspiration and so you can start adding Philadelphia to your recipes at home!Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.