Frequent Miler

The Amex Gold Card is about to change. In this episode we’ll review the current details for this card, the changes we predict to see, and whether those changes are good or bad. (01:05) – Current card details Learn more about the Amex Gold Card here (02:13) – What’s (allegedly) changing? (04:50) – What might…

There are a bunch of hotel credit card offers that are bigger than usual right now, some of them pretty surprising. That’s what we’ll discuss in this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air. (01:20) – Booking Hilton stays with a mix of points and a free night award – just watch for a 3…

(01:37) – Carrie saw Greg speak at Chicago Seminars in 2013 – the topic was Million Mile Madness. (02:10) – The next summer (2014) Drew and Carrie were invited to the “Ann Arbor Art Fair Do”. While in Ann Arbor, they met Greg for kayaking. (05:02) – Over the next few years, Carrie periodically did…

Hilton has brought on their partner Small Luxury Hotels of the World which has been a bit more exciting than we expected it would be. In today’s Frequent Miler on the Air episode we’ll discuss more. (01:07) – a note about the alliteration in “pop-up prison” vs “pop-up jail” (Mail Bag) (02:56) – IHG Premier…

In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind.  (01:25) – How do I know how much my points and miles are worth (and are…

The Amex Platinum card has had great welcome bonuses for a while now, but it’s a very expensive card. Are there reasons to keep the card once the annual fee comes due? That’s what we’ll discuss in today’s Frequent Miler on the Air episode. (01:36) – Online chat for immediate Avios refunds? (Mailbag) (05:26) –…

Sonesta is a hotel chain with more than 1100 properties that we haven’t paid much attention to until Tim wrote a recent post about the Sonesta Travel Pass, a program that sort of came out of nowhere. In this week’s Coffee Break episode, we’ll chat more about why you shouldn’t siesta on Sonesta! (01:24) –…

Amex has long had rules against getting a new welcome bonus for a card you’ve had before. Now, they’ve expanded those rules to include “families” of cards. In this episode we’ll help you navigate this confusing and tedious concept. (01:31) – With pointsyeah a reader found an interesting redemption for ANA first class… but found…

On a previous Coffee Break episode, we talked about the Frequent Miler origin story – Greg’s story. This week, we’ll learn about Nick’s origin story with the Frequent Miler team. (00:47) -Super quick recap of next 5 years from the start of the blog Greg posted a “Help Wanted” for full time employee, which you can read…

(00:00) Intro: There are a multitude of ways to fly to Hawaii using miles and points (and even many ways to get a deal on cash tickets). On this week’s show, we discuss ways to fly to Hawaii from around the US from as few as 10K or 13.5K points each way. (01:06) New FM…

(00:00) The Wall Street Journal reported friction in the relationship between Wells Fargo & Bilt. What was reported and what do we make of the details? Find out in this episode of Coffee Break. (01:16) What the Wall Street Journal Article says (02:01) Digging into article details a bit about the Bilt / Wells Fargo…

Greg and Nick have been consumed with last-minute travel the last week and a half so it’s great timing for them to summarize 10 important tips for last-minute award travel. (01:17) – Standing ovation for the annual challenge! (Mailbag) (06:43) – Annual Challenge recap and overview Watch the Stage 1 recap video here: https://youtu.be/bMt_NfuuINI?feature=shared Watch…

Greg and Nick are busy returning home from a jam-packed week competing in our 2024 annual team challenge “Flying by the Seat of our Points”. For this coffee break episode, we’ve highlighted a portion of the final livestream from Kuala Lumpur where the team reflects on the highlights (and lowlights) of their individual journeys. You…

This episode is a little different because Greg and Nick are busy competing with eachother for the Flying by the Seat of our Points Challenge! If unfamiliar, every year we put together a team travel challenge designed to force us to reach challenging and entertaining goals with our points and miles, and showcase what can…

(00:00) – You know that sinking feeling when you know things are going wrong? With a brand new travel challenge just launched last night, we’ve got our past travel challenge snafus in mind. Coffee Break: Our worst travel challenge moments (02:53) – 40K to Far Away Learn more about the 2019 40K to Far Away…

Nick has loved LifeMiles for a long time but Greg has traditionally been less convinced. Recent changes make Greg curious to hear more about Nick’s long-time love of LifeMiles. Can Nick convince Greg to become a fan? (01:33) – On Ep 255: Strategizing Hilton cards, credits, and free nights, Greg’s podcasted plan left people with…

You know we’re fans of Hyatt…but some of their recent behavior has been downright painful! That’s what we’ll discuss in today’s Coffee Break episode. (01:28) – Hyatt introduced Category 8, claiming it would only be for SLH (03:05) – Introduced peak pricing (04:26) – As feared, they moved Hyatt properties into that Category 8 (04:43)…

Everybody loves a one-size-fits-all answer, but today we’re discussing which cards are best for which kinds of purchases: grocery, dining, gas, travel, Costco… Sure you can just keep one card in your wallet and earn on that card exclusively, but many of us switch it up depending on what we’re purchasing. That’s what we’ll discuss…

Sometimes points and miles wag the points-collector dog… which is to say, sometimes the hobby changes your travel behavior. In episode 11 of Coffee Break, we’ll talk about how. (01:40) – Rent day date nights (Greg) (03:32) – Going to baseball games / event tickets (Nick) (06:54) – Helicopter into NY (Greg) (09:15) – Vacationing…

Hilton’s SLH partnership is stirring up some excitement over Hilton, even for people like Greg who haven’t bothered with Hilton cards for awhile, so this week we’re discussing Hilton credit cards, credits, and free nights. (02:07) – We forgot about Qpoints last week… (Mail Bag) (05:10) – Citi Strata Premier (Card Talk) (10:33) – Citi…

In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. This special episode (67) was streamed live on May 8, 2024 and introduces our 2024 annual…

Some credit cards offer extra perks or progress toward elite status for big spenders. On this week’s episode, we talk about which of those bonuses might be worth the spend. But before we get into that, this episode is full of news you can use and tips to keep in mind in regular segments like…

Nick just came back from a weekend in Toronto at the Toronto Travel Summit. In today’s Coffee Break episode, he’ll share 4 cool things he learned there.   (2:00) – Air France is working on upgrades using miles that sounds like it might be very reasonable. (07:30) – Aeroplan intends to bring back family pooling…

Sometimes you book an award ticket that requires you to do some positioning in order to catch that flight – for instance if the flight doesn’t depart from your home airport. There are a few best practices to keep in mind when booking these “positioning flights”, which we’ll discuss in today’s Frequent Miler on the…

Today’s Coffee Break episode was inspired by a recent email we got asking… how did Frequent Miler get started? Since our Coffee Break episodes are 20 minutes or less, we started but telling Greg’s side of the Frequent Miler origin story. (01:47) – in 2011 Greg first learned about this points and miles hobby when…

There are many ways to book luxury hotels (credit card points, hotel points, etc) and this can be a great way to stay in some amazing luxury accommodations you’d never justify paying cash for. We’ll dive into this today. (01:43) – Please share an experience when a positioning flight had not gone to plan, perhaps…

Until recently, Hyatt had a relationship with Small Luxury Hotels (SLH), but it was recently announced that Hilton will now be the one integrating SLH hotels. We’ll talk about what that looks like in this week’s Coffee Break episode. (0:58) – Background: What is SLH? Read more about this SLH update here: https://frequentmiler.com/fantastic-updates-about-hiltons-integration-of-slh/ (02:15) –…

American Airlines status isn’t as easy as it used to be, but there are some shortcuts for those who think they’ll be flying American Airlines enough to really want it. We’ll discuss those shortcuts in this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air. (00:58) – Reader, Matt has been frustrated by Bilt’s customer service… (Mailbag)…

Tragically, United appears to to be blocking saver award space from Star Alliance partner bookings. In this coffee break episode we’ll talk about what that means. (0:59) – Overview of United’s recent changes Read more about these United changes here.  (01:09) – Why it matters (07:11) – Research findings – what we’ve found out digging…

We don’t talk about IHG One Rewards program much, but it may be a more valuable program than you think, especially if you keep our 10 tips in mind. Listen for more!  You can find Greg’s interview on the All the Hacks podcast here: https://www.allthehacks.com/greg-frequent-miler-flight-award-tools/ (03:42) – Reader Jeff (featured on last week’s giant mailbag)…

In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. This episode (66) was streamed live on April 3, 2024 and can be viewed in full…

What is the best Capital One Miles card? (01:35) – Pop quiz for Nick about filling in the gaps of a reader’s trip report (Giant Mailbag) (13:32) – Jetblue’s Peak and off-Peak pricing… for checked bags (Crazy Thing) Read more about Jetblue’s peak and off-peak baggage pricing here: https://frequentmiler.com/jetblue-increasing-checked-baggage-fees-will-now-have-peak-off-peak-pricing/ (17:55) – Alaska Airlines offering up…

Recently Nick wrote about a new credit card from Robinhood that will apparently offer a flat 3% back on most purchases. On this coffee break episode, we speculate as to whether or not this is too good to last. (0:30) – Robinhood Gold Card (and Gold membership) (02:37) – Read more about Robinhood Gold, the…

A number of high end credit cards give you Priority Pass membership. Full Priority Pass offers access to airport lounges, restaurants, and experiences (e.g. Be Relax Spa, Minute suites, Game Space etc), which can be pretty useful. But which of the current pathways to this membership is the best, (especially if you’d still like access…

Choice Privileges has made it easier to book their Preferred hotel partners, finally providing a way to book these online with your Choice points!  (02:41) – Overview of Preferred Hotels bookable online with Choice Points Read about how to Preferred Hotels are now bookable online with Choice Points: https://frequentmiler.com/preferred-hotels-now-bookable-online-with-choice-points/ (04:22) – What’s the best ways…

In some ways Marriott can be the Frankenstein’s monster of rewards programs. There’s lots of good stuff about the program…and lots of bad stuff too, all sloppily sewn together. (01:36) – More advice about how to pronounce “Qatar”! (Mailbag) Read our post on how to pronounce “Qatar”: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-pronounce-qatar/ (08:46) – Ritz Carlton Card (Card Talk)…

Bilt is gaining Alaska as a transfer partner…but it’s losing American Airlines as a partner in June. This has Greg and Nick asking…which miles are better? We love talking about points and miles all day, every day. That’s why we’ve decided – in addition to our full-length Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episodes, we’re…

In today’s episode of Frequent Miler on the Air, we’ll talk about different “hidden” opportunities to find great award availability when you otherwise strike out trying to find international lie-flat awards, for example.    (01:13) – Advantage shopping portal vs AAdvantageHotels…when do these bookings’ miles post…check in date or purchase date? (Mailbag)   (05:36) –…

In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. This episode (65) was streamed live on March 6, 2024 and can be viewed in full…

Award program changes often sting, but remember that those storm clouds often have a silver lining. On this week’s episode, we discuss the bright spots in the most recent hotel and airline program devaluations (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:45) Giant Mailbag triple-header!  See episode 244 for more details about Platinum cards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDh7EUEsf2Y (00:01:50) Schwab bonus with $10mil…

We love talking about points and miles all day, every day. That’s why we’ve decided – in addition to our full-length Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episodes, we’re going to share a little something to enjoy during your Tuesday coffee break too. Not a full hour of discussion and analysis like you’ll find on…

American Express has four different Platinum cards, all with a $695 annual fee. In this episode Greg and Nick not only help differentiate these Platinum cards from one another, they also pick out which one is best (or which is best for which kind of need.) (01:30) – Data point on calling for reconsideration for…

Back in January, Nick saw that Bilt was going to have a huge transfer bonus to Aeroplan (one of his favorite mileage programs)…but he didn’t have a Bilt card yet. With luck on his side though, he suspected he could get the card and get over 100K Aeroplan miles in just a matter of days….

On episode 243 of Frequent Miler on the Air, Greg and Nick dissect the different factors that make a transferable program “the best”. Use the timestamps below to navigate to each individual topic within the episode.  (Our apologies for the continued audio issues with Nick’s mic.) (01:38) Uni Portable Toll Transponder (Mail Bag) – Find…

We love talking about points and miles all day, every day. That’s why we’ve decided – in addition to our full-length Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episodes, we’re going to share a little something to enjoy during your Tuesday coffee break too. Not a full hour of discussion and analysis like you’ll find on…

In this episode, Greg gives Nick a lesson in which Delta credit cards are best (and which are best for a smattering of different goals.) His ultimate conclusion might surprise you. (While Greg schools Nick on this topic, you may notice that Nick’s audio is a little subpar. We apologize for this and we’re troubleshooting…

Avios is the rewards currency for British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar, and soon Finnair. This means it’s worth some attention. On this week’s episode, we discuss how you can earn, use, and maximize this reward currency. Here are some of the topics you’ll find in the episode… (01:41) Player Two chimes in (Mailbag)…

In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. This episode (64) was streamed live on Jan 31, 2024 and can be viewed in full…

On this week’s Frequent Miler on the Air, Greg and Nick talk about some game-changing transfer bonuses that have got them thinking…”The Bilt card ain’t just for renters anymore” (00:00:00) – Start (00:01:12) – Giant Mailbag (Bilt transfer bonuses are bogus) (00:04:18) – Card Talk (Big changes to Delta Credit cards…) (00:13:29) – Crazy Thing:…

On this episode, Greg and Nick discuss the question of whether or not you can pay your taxes with a credit card. (Spoiler – you can!) 00:01:35 – Using ChatGPT to squeeze $300 from the Ritz-Carlton card (Giant Mailbag)  Read More: https://frequentmiler.com/ritz-fee-credits-what-works/ 00:10:57 – Capital One Spark Cash Plus: 2% Everywhere (Card Talk) Read more:…

Full details of the Marriott and MGM partnership are out and can only be accurately described as “a match made in Bonvoyland”.  00:00 Intro 01:38 Turkish Airlines status match is back! (Giant Mailbag) Turkish Airlines status match (get 1-2 years of Star Alliance Gold with very reasonable requirements) 04:36 Amex Platinum 150K offer is back!…

Whether you want to earn airline elite status from the comfort of your couch or switch alliances without starting from scratch, this week we talk about how you can score shortcuts to get the status you want. 00:00 Intro 02:28 Giant Mailbag 02:51 Greg-a-culpa 04:43 Nick-a-culpa: Air France actually does have an award chart Air…

Each member of the Frequent Miler team made predictions for what will happen in loyalty news and credit cards in 2024, but this week we review which of those predictions we think are absolute hogwash and which you can bet your bottom dollar will happen in 2024. 00:00 Intro 01:30 Giant Mailbag 10:42 Award Talk:…

Between those deals we have identified and those highlighted by readers, which was the single best deal of 2023 in the points & miles space? This week, Greg and Nick consider the contenders and crown a champion.  00:00 Intro 01:14 Giant Mailbag 05:45 Card Talk: Amtrak Preferred Card Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard 10:24 What…

As we close out 2023, we take a moment to honor those loyalty programs that have dishonored their own members with the biggest snafus, most member-unfriendly changes, or other painful devaluations.  00:00 Intro 01:58 Giant Mailbag 04:51 Card Talk: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy & Bountiful cards https://frequentmiler.com/bonvoybevy/ https://frequentmiler.com/bonvoybountiful/ 10:41 What crazy thing . . . did…

It’s fun to daydream about the flights and hotels we’d love to book with miles and points. This week, Greg and Nick discuss the redemptions they would most like to make if the stars aligned. 00:00 Intro 01:33 Giant Mailbag 06:38 Card Talk: Air France / KLM Flying Blue World Elite Mastercard Air France KLM…

The year 2023 has seen our travels take us all over the world. This week, we look back and discuss our favorite award redemptions of the year 2023 and of all time. Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:35 Giant Mailbag 04:10 Travel Talk 04:28 Alaska wants to buy Hawaiian Airlines 12:00 EU261…

Extreme Rewards via Extreme Stacking: Stack portal rewards, category bonuses, and much more to take your shopping to the next level. 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:42 Giant Mailbag 00:02:36 — Backpack tip 00:03:09 — Nordic Choice 00:06:00 — AutoSlash for the win 00:06:52 — Schwab debit card rocks 00:08:12 — Open Hotel Alert to the rescue 00:08:57…

“Free” up your companion by powering up to Companion Pass status. The timing is right, but be sure that you time the bonuses properly to score free travel for a companion for almost all of next year and all of the year after. 00:00 Intro 01:45 Giant Mailbag Best Credit Card Offers for February 2025…

Maximize your charitable giving by earning a great return while doing good in the world. From ways to give without causing your favorite charity to incur processing fees to ways to earn thousands of points for your donation, this week we talk about how to do your charitable deeds (better). 00:00 Intro 01:13 Giant Mailbag…

United Mileage Plus is an extremely popular program, but how can you get the best value out of the miles? This week, we talk about using flexible awards to your advantage, cheap intra-European awards, the Excursionist Perk, and a lot more. 00:00 Intro 01:20 Giant Mailbag #1: Can we get a Delta-free podcast? 02:35 Giant…

American Airlines miles can be used to fly some of the fanciest airlines in the world. They can also be really handy for buying domestic flights to/from non-American Airlines hubs. On this week’s episode, we discuss some of our favorite ways to get awesome value out of American Airlines miles. 00:00 Intro 01:23 Giant Mailbag…

Did you know that it is possible to get the same credit card that you have had before and get the new cardmember welcome bonus again? In fact, in some cases, you might be able to open a second of the same card that you currently have and get the bonus again. This week, we…

Delta has walked back their elite status changes in a big way. Long-term elites and credit card enthusiasts have come out as good as gold. Has Delta gone too far and made elite status too easy to earn and keep?  00:00 Intro 01:37 Giant Mailbag 02:56 Hilton credit card changes  https://frequentmiler.com/big-changes-to-hilton-aspire-and-surpass-cards/ https://frequentmiler.com/amxhiltonaspire/ https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-american-express-surpass-card/ 23:23 What…

American Express has a the largest stable of rewards credit cards on the market, but which Amex cards are must-have cornerstones of your wallet? The answers aren’t universal, so this week we discuss the Amex cards that could make the cut and who should keep them.   01:23 Giant Mailbag   05:05 What crazy thing…

Buying groups can be a highly effective way to increase credit card spend and earn big rewards, but they can also be a perilous path toward problems. Greg and Nick discuss what they are, why you might want to use them, and why they may not be right for you. 00:00 Intro 00:47 Giant Mailbag…

Want to get elite treatment at hotels without investing the time and effort in enough nights for elite status? Instead of spending fifty or sixty nights a year in hotels with one brand, you can simulate status with some simple tricks.  00:00 Intro 01:52 Giant Mailbag 06:08 Card Talk: Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit…

You don’t need airline elite status to get elite-like treatment. This week, we discuss how to get the perks without the loyalty and how to think about the costs associated if you decide to stay on that hamster wheel. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:42 Giant Mailbag 04:47 What crazy thing . ….

Delta wants dollars: this week we discuss the massive changes coming to the Delta Sky Miles elite status program and what it means for flyers and cardholders alike. 00:00 Intro 01:24 Giant Mailbag 04:26 What crazy thing . . .did Citi do this week? 06:10 Mattress running the numbers 6:23 American Airlines elite status fast…

Citi’s ThankYou program gets lets attention than other major bank rewards point programs, but it has some unique strengths that deserve your attention. This week, Greg and Nick determine whether and for whom Citi can be an awesome option. 00:00 Intro 00:47 Giant Mailbag 03:38 Mattress Running the Numbers 03:40 Marriott Homes & Villas promo…

Want a companion to fly with you for free? There are many different companion tickets on the market, but some are far better than others. This week, we discuss which ones are worth it, how to get them, and they they are special. 00:00 Intro 01:08 Giant Mailbag 03:33 What crazy thing . . ….

Get your pen and paper and get ready to play along and see if you can beat the blogger as Nick tries to score at least 75,000 points revealing 10 tricks for spending fewer points on your flight and hotel awards. 00:00 Intro 01:52 Giant Mailbag 04:05 Card Talk: Amex Platinum card changes 10:51 Mattress…

Don’t settle for mediocrity – get great value from your credit card points by utilizing some of our favorite techniques to save big on both economy and business class airfare and hotels ranging from simple to simply luxurious. 00:00 Intro 00:48 Giant Mailbag: Trouble with the Schwab debit card and a workaround 06:14 What crazy…

Big wins start with solid strategy. This week, we talk about which cards you must have before you start applying with reckless abandon as well as which cards you should probably be considering that are all likely limited by the 5/24 rule. If you play your cards right, you can easily end up with all…

There are more than 8 million points and miles available via new credit card welcome offers. Here’s how to score millions of points in your household. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:45 Giant Mailbag 09:05 Card Talk: JetBlue Plus and JetBlue Business Cards https://frequentmiler.com/b6plus/ https://frequentmiler.com/b6biz/ 15:37 What crazy thing . . . happened…

If you’re flush with Delta SkyMiles, don’t flush them on poor redemptions — instead, listen to this week’s show and learn how you can squeeze good value out of your SkyMiles. One quick update: During our Award Talk segment, we discussed the ability to book Starlux via Alaska Airlines, but that availability and pricing got…

If you’re a loyal American Airlines AAdvantage customer, does this card make sense with the new structure?  00:00 Intro 00:42 Giant Mailbag #1 01:45 Giant Mailbag #2 03:41 What crazy thing . . .did Delta Airlines do this week? 06:13 Award Talk 06:15 MGM and Marriott to partner from October 2023 https://frequentmiler.com/mgm-to-partner-with-marriott-bonvoy-from-october-2023-onward/ 10:40 Air Canada…

It takes two to tango — and you can dance your way to plenty of points and miles to make those dream trips happen twice as quickly when you play the game with a partner. This week, we talk tips and strategies for collecting rewards with a travel partner. 00:00 Intro 00:33 Giant Mailbag 02:18…

Ever wonder how you can possibly snag a reservation at a high-demand property that never seems to have award availability? This week, we discuss the tools you can use to make those impossible awards happen.   00:00 Intro   01:10 Giant Mailbag: Don’t Hilton free night certificates have a big drawback?   04:25 Card Talk:…

On this week’s show Greg and Nick discuss the huge advantage of flying business class over economy or premium economy (and how airline miles make that possible at a reasonable cost), and debate the next step: is it worth paying more miles to fly international first class instead of business class? 00:00:48 Giant Mailbag00:03:14 What…

You can get Marriott Platinum status with as few as 10 nights actually spent in Marriott hotels per year with the right strategy. This week, Greg and Nick discuss easy paths to Marriott Platinum and Titanium status. 00:00 Intro 00:45 Giant Mailbag: The Bilt card’s hidden bonus 03:28 Lessons learned from traveling as a group…

What did the judge think of each team’s decisions? In this week’s episode, Greg and Nick quick-fire recap the Party of 5 trip and Greg shares his view as to what each team did best and which things didn’t go according to plan. https://frequentmiler.com/party-of-5-frequentmiler-challenge-daily-update/ For full Party of 5 coverage, see: https://frequentmiler.com/tag/party-of-5/ 00:00 Intro 01:35…

Four Seasons has a repiutation for elegance and luxury, but Hyatt has a lot of fans in the award travel community. Which hotel “wowed” in Macau? Listen for our thoughts. 00:00 Intro 00:52 Challenge update 08:25 Manila to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific Business 09:52 What crazy thing . . . did the Curve Card…

The 2023 Frequent Miler team challenge is on. This week, Greg and Nick discuss what we’ve learned from past challenges and why we can’t wait to see what is happening right now.00:00 Inro 00:00 Intro 01:20 Giant Mailbag 07:34 Card Talk: Business Platinum card https://frequentmiler.com/amxplatbiz/ https://frequentmiler.com/200000-membership-rewards-amex-business-platinum/ 24:50 Main Event: Conquering the impossible 26:02 Million Mile…

Here are ways to maximize your return on high levels of spend with low levels of effort. 00:00 Intro 00:29 Giant Mailbag 01:56 Giant Mailbag #2 How to create cross-brand Amex referrals 04:25 Card Talk: Bank of America Premium Rewards card Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Bank of America cards: awesome with Platinum Honors…

United steeply increased the cost of award tickets this week and as a result, United miles are worth less. Fear not — you have many great options for booking Star Alliance awards moving forward. This week, we discuss your alternatives. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 00:36 Giant Mailbag: Citi premier *does* have purchase…

Do Citi’s unsung heroes make up the quintessential credit card quartet? Greg and Nick discuss the Citi card combo you might want to consider. 00:00 Intro 00:49 Giant Mailbag: Citi updates application rules 04:18 What crazy thing . . . did Hilton do this week? 08:52 Mattress running the numbers: IHG Timeshare offer for 3…

Amex Membership Rewards points can be incredibly valuable when used properly toward flights (with airline transfer partners), but they are awful for those looking to redeem for gift cards. This week, we discuss how you can get so much more value with award travel than you will via redemptions like gift cards, Amazon purchases, etc….

Bilt Rewards is the real deal. With a great set of transfer partners and ways to earn points whether or not you rent or have the credit card, this program just keeps getting better. This week we discuss why you shouldn’t sleep on Bilt Rewards. 00:00 Intro 01:04 Oops! 01:06 Oops: You need 40K AA…

Want piles of American Airlines miles? Here are your best strategies for amassing a massive amount of miles in the valuable AAdvantage rewards program. 00:00 Intro 01:03 Award Talk 01:04 Booking The Signature at MGM Grand via Airbnb https://frequentmiler.com/hacking-las-vegas/ 07:10 Roame.Travel adds JetBlue 08:07 Seats.Aero helps Greg find Qsuites availability 09:28 Giant Mailbag: Laddering flights…

Frequent Miler often focuses on determine value in the most objective ways possible, but this week Nick and Greg take a very subjective look at each of the major programs, sharing our thoughts about whether each is trending up or trending down.  Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:05 Giant Mailbag 06:50 Card…

Big credit card intro bonuses are the fastest way to supercharge your miles and points balances, but how can you meet the minimum spending requirements for multiple new cards per year? Here are 13 ways to increase your spending with no cost or low cost. 1:41 Announcements. Tim Goes Full Time https://frequentmiler.com/no-joke-tim-goes-full-time-at-frequent-miler/ 3:10 Monthly Ask…

Award travel unlocks an incredible world of possibility. Where will it take you? This week, we talk about how award travel can unlock more travel and more luxury than you may imagine if you’re new to the hobby. We also discuss an opportunity to unlock Hyatt elite status that is only available through 4/1/23.  Join…

Instead of saving money for years to visit Hawaii, save your money and get your flights and hotels covered with just two new credit cards. This week, we talk about how to scratch Hawaii off your bucket list with ease and your best options to make it happen. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro…

Since Samuel L. Jackson and Jennifer Garner won’t stop asking, this week we discuss what’s in OUR wallets (and why). Find out which cards the two of us carry regularly for each of the major expense categories.  Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe 00:40 Giant Mailbag 03:02 Card Talk: Hilton Aspire 12:55 Award Talk 13:04 Alaska Devalues JAL awards 17:00 Southwest…

The margin between the most and least rewarding hotel loyalty programs is probably smaller than you expect — and which one is best for you often depends on variables like your status or which card you use. This week, we discuss which programs offer you the most bang for your buck. 00:00 Intro 00:45 Giant…

Hyatt’s 2023 category changes mark a devaluation in the eyes of many, but this week we talk about the good news to be gleaned from the latest list and how Hyatt can get back in our good graces in a more meaningful way. Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe 00:00 Intro 00:49 Giant Mailbag 1:45 Card…

A $95 credit card could currently get you 4 (or more!) ocean cruises. This week, we talk about how to set the process in motion and why it could be a great deal. 00:00 Intro 00:50 Giant Mailbag 3:05 Card Talk Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card 11:52 Mattress running the numbers & What crazy…

There are a lot of great tools for collecting and spending points and miles. This week, we talk about the ones we use most often to maximize our mileage.  00:00 Intro 00:45 Giant Mailbag: Tips from the comments on a fixing a failed attempt at a Platinum triple dip https://frequentmiler.com/fixing-a-failed-platinum-triple-dip/ 05:50 What crazy thing….double header!…

Long the laughing stock of the award travel world, recent findings in analyzing award redemption opportunities show that Delta SkyMiles is striking back against popular perception. With a new award discount for cardholders that looks to be as advertised and international business class deals connecting the dots outside of the US, it is possible to…