Frequent Miler on the Air

As it nears the end of the year, it's time to assess Hyatt elite progress. In today's Frequent Miler on the air podcast episode, we'll focus on how to bridge the gap to the next level of Hyatt status. But we'll also talk about United & JetBlue tying their knot tighter, and how Wyndham's crappy coupon book doesn't add up.

Giant Mailbag

(01:21) - "We just wanted to say how much we have enjoyed the 100K Vacay challenge..."

Card News

(04:42) - Hawaiian card's $100 annual companion discounts & 50% companion discounts now redeemable on Alaska flights...

Citi is out with a new mid-tier card called the AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® with a $350 annual fee. We expected a lot from this card, but found it ultimately disappointing.

(00:50) - Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® basics

(02:04) - Perks, coupons, and elite boost

(04:44) - Is this the replacement for Barclays $195 Aviator Silver card?

(06:31) - Hear our discussion about the Barclays Aviator Silver card here

(14:15) - Which card is better? (Or which card is for which kind of motivation?) 

(18:06) - There are folks earning status through AA hotels - could the Globe...

On today's Frequent Miler on the Air Podcast we'll discuss how to fly with 1 free human companion and 1 pet companion for a full year, or how to fly with a free human companion for two years, or how to get 350,000 points and elite status for 25 years!

Giant Mailbag

(01:15) - "I wanted to share some insights on the Mesa card based on my experience..."

Learn more about the Mesa Homeonwers card here.

100K Vacay Challenge

(07:36) - Stephen won both judges' vote and the popular vote!

(09:05) - Tim posted...

(00:49) - Background of Frommer's Travel guides and Frommer's Travel Show

(04:25) - What makes Frommer's Travel guides different from other guides and travel websites?

(05:39) - How is AI changing the landscape of travel guides?

(08:01) - Hidden gems with free activities may not get the presence on Google that places with paid activities will

(09:47) - When did Pauline get interested in joining her father's business?

(11:45) - Frommer's NYC 2026 Guide

(13:42) - Dynamic pricing for the city's top attractions

(15:49) - When does a sightseeing pass make sense?

(16:53...

This podcast was recorded live on October 8th, at 9 pm ET during our 100K Vacay Annual Challenge final livestream. In that livestream we did our final scoring of Nick and Stephen's trips and crowned the 100K Vacay winner! You'll hear that livestream now, as part of this podcast episode.

(You'll notice some audio quality issues with Nick's mic this week - our apologies!)

Giant Mailbag

(00:39) - "Hi Greg. I know your 100K Vacay trip was meant to set the benchmark, but I would love to read a post of a trip you would...

Last week, Greg completed his benchmark trip using 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points for an incredible vacation in Malta. Shortly after he returned, Tim, Nick and Stephen set out to try and out-shine his trip using 100K of the transferable points they chose to compete with. Unfortunately Tim's trip came to an early end due to an unavoidable need back home, so Nick and Stephen were left to tackle the challenge themselves. With a return deadline by the October 8th 9pm final live check-in, our more than half way finished.

This podcast episode features the full midstream...

Greg's benchmark trip is done, and that means it's time for the 100K Vacay team challenge to begin! In this episode, you'll get a chance to listen to the kick-off live stream that aired on October 1st at 9 pm Eastern Time and reviewed all the things that went well (and could have gone better) with Greg's 100K Vacay benchmark trip to Malta.

(01:14) - Here's the timeline of the challenge (starting with the October 1st live kick off).

(03:14) - What is 100K Vacay?

(03:54) - What's the deal with Greg's benchmark trip? Why isn't he...

In a recent episode, Greg and Nick talked about their favorite travel gear. In this episode, we're featuring all the cool travel gear we learned about from all of you in your responses to that episode!

Favorite travel gear from the Giant Mailbag

Listen to the episode "Our favorite travel gear | Ep323 | 9-12-25" here

(01:28) - "For packable backpacks, Matador makes ultralight, water-resistant, packable packs. They’re pricey, but the build quality is excellent. They can usually be found on sale during Black Friday."

(02:44) - Cincha Travel belt - this can se...

In this episode, we'll talk about how Citi is showering us with transfer bonuses, then we'll talk about the incredible uses for Japan Airlines miles. Now that Capital One is making transfers available to Japan Airlines (in addition to Bilt, which has already been offering this), it's worth talking about what you can do with those miles!

Giant Mailbag

(01:42) - "I'm a YUGE fan of ya'll. I'm an Army National Guard member that puts in just enough active duty time to get Servicemembers Civil Relief Act benefits (waived annual fees). So I have so many...

We find the coupon book trend fairly tedious and frustrating, but we've had to admit that American Express has sort of won this game by offering "coupons" and perks that are actually compelling. But since many of us don't really like the coupon book approach at all, does that make Capital One the winner since they haven't done much with the coupon book strategy at all? 

Capital One wins the coupon book wars by not playing

(00:21) - Coupon Book Wars

(04:08) - But many consumers don't want to play the coupon book game

In today's episode, we'll talk about the secret to a happy points & miles marriage, chasing "The Infatuation" credits, Hilton's 250K devaluation, and everything you need to know about the refreshed $895 Platinum cards: (Including The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express). We thought this annual fee might be all bad news, but these cards are shockingly compelling!

Giant Mailbag

(01:30) -"I was wondering if you would be so kind and encourage my wife “Lindsey” to try and use the correct card for purchases on the next podcast."

Card N...

Duration: 01:21:10

When you're at the gas station filling up, which credit card should you be using for that purchase? We used to value Wyndham points around 1 cent each, which made the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card, which earned 8 points per dollar at gas stations, a clear winner. But recent data has bumped that value down to about .7 cents, making it less of an obvious choice. So, which card should you consider for buying gas instead?

(01:19) - Citi Custom Cash® Card 5x (7.5%), up to $500 per billing cycle

(02:34) - American Express® Business Gold Card 4x (6.2%)

(03:53) - Wy...

In today's podcast episode, we're sharing our favorite travel gear (like Nick's Japanese nail clippers), and we'll explain why a UK power adapter is especially useful, and why we carry backpacks in our backpacks.

Giant Mailbag

(01:18) - One reader writes in about their first big redemption

(03:14) - Preferred Hotels & Resorts safari lodges, bookable with iPrefer points, hiccups and all

Read more about Preferred Hotels & Resorts with points here.

(07:28) - Mother and son plan a 9-country, 1-month itinerary booked on points

Main Event: Our favorite travel gear

What are you spending on annual fees? What's the holy grail of first-class suites? We answered these and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on September 3rd, 2025.

(00:37) - As banks tighten up on credit card approvals, I’m sure many have received a denial for “lack of recent installment loan information.” Has anybody taken out a loan to improve their odds? To me, it makes sense to take out a loan where interest is

In today's podcast episode, Kathy tells us why the Frequent Miler team challenges are her favorite time of the year, and we discuss how transfer bonuses have already changed the 100K Vacay game.

Giant Mailbag

(01:50) - Two listeners share their experiences with the recent cancellation of the Honolulu to Boston route through Hawaiian Airlines.

(09:11) - One listener tells us the annual challenge is her favorite time of the year...

JetBlue 25/25 Update

(11:33) - Nick and his family have 20+ destinations

Card News

(16:55) - Updated guide to ultra-premium...

Back in June, Chase released an updated version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. Those who already had the card before that date found themselves in a sort of limbo with the old features of the card, and with new features set to trigger on October 26th. If that's you, here are some things you may want to do to prepare for that upcoming transition.

(00:21) - An updated Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card was introduced on June 23, 2025. Anyone who obtained their Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card before that is in a transition state through October 26

(01:00) - Features bef...

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about Frontier's Million Mile Match, we'll get tripped up by The Seattle Seahawks 12s, and we'll debate which loyalty program is better: American Airlines' AAdvantage program or Alaska's Atmos program.

Giant Mailbag

(01:26) - Lisa gives us an update about the question of whether or not she had a no-show fee when she cancelled her 2 LifeMiles flights.

Mattress Running the Numbers

(05:05) - Frontier Match your Miles

Read more about Frontier Match your Miles here.

Bonvoyed

(13:13) - Wyndham/Vacasa

...

Duration: 01:22:17

Alaska's out with a new premium card: The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card. In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about what we like and dislike about it.

Alaska’s intriguing premium rewards card

(00:31) - Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card quick details

You can read more about this card here: https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-summit-visa-premium-card-heres-the-details/

(02:19) - Points sharing: Share your points with up to ten additional Atmos™ Rewards members.

(06:00) - What's not to like? (the ~bad stuff)

(07:31) - The good stuff...

(10:23) - Nick's take: Is it righ...

In today's podcast episode, we unlock the LifeMiles mystery, look at Etihad's magical mystery refund policy, and examine 7 surprising oddities of Alaska's new rewards program, "Atmos". 

Giant Mailbag

(02:02) - LifeMiles cancellations

Card News

(11:23) - Chase will be ending the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards Points to Emirates Skywards as of 10/16/25.

(15:20) - 400 properties added to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection

Awards, Points, and More

(18:20) - Nick: Canceling Etihad awards

(29:38) - Accessing the Admirals Club with Strata Elite passes

(32:36) - F...

Another day, another premium credit card is making changes - this time, we've heard rumors that the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cards are both getting increased annual fees and other changes.

$900 Platinum card. Worth it?

(00:24) - Expensive changes are coming for Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cards

(01:47) - Some changes on the coupon side of things have leaked...

(03:55) - Perks that appear on both cards (business and personal)

Read our post on what works for your airline incidental fee reimbursements here.

(05:31) - Perks on...

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about whether or not Hertz will put Nick in jail, how Greg's British Airways flight was saved by Delta, and Marriott's "Brilliant" potential new business card line-up.

Giant Mailbag

(03:02) - Catch Greg on these podcasts: Chris Hutchins / All the Hacks: Top Airline & Hotel Transfer Partners to Maximize Your Points

(03:42) - Point me to first class (Devon): What Credit Card Points Are Really Worth in 2025

(04:18) - Many people wrote in with examples of where an International Driver's Permit is required (Japan, Italy, etc)

See...

Is the Grand Hyatt Kauai worth 45K? We answered this and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on August 6th, 2025.

(00:42) - How do you typically like to get around a city that you’re visiting, especially internationally? Are you more likely to take a taxi or Uber to get to places, take public transit, or do you prefer to just walk everywhere?

(05:43) - To circumvent Hilton’s minimum length of award stay requirements (e.g., WA Pedregal) — has anyone tried booking more nights than needed, then asking Hilton to remove...

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about Bonvoying Barclays, we'll discuss which Premium cards are keepers, then share everything we know about car rentals. 

Giant Mailbag

(01:08) - One listener tells us how he Bonvoyed Barclays

Main Event: The Rental Car Game

(04:09) - Why don't we talk much about car rentals?

(06:23) - Always join the car rental program and attach your number

(11:37) - Car rental status via credit card

(14:20) - Which rental car elite statuses matter?

(22:06) - Status matching

(26:50) - Earning free r...

Citi now offers a way to transfer points 1 to 1 to American Airlines, which has many predicting an AA devaluation is on the horizon. In this podcast episode, we'll discuss this concern.

(00:44) - Why are we so excited about transfers to American Airlines?

(04:06) - A devaluation assumes a flood of AA miles, but... Citi points are not that easy to get in bulk, but even if there are many more AA miles out there, is that reason for devaluation?

(04:56) - Here's what we think...

(15:35) - But wait...did AA devalue already?

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how US Bank is bonvoying grandfathers and US Bank's plans to add transfer partners. We'll also talk about who the Citi Strata Elite card is good for.

Giant Mailbag

(01:40) - This listener has tips about their strategy when a flight becomes available for a lesser mileage price...

Card News

(05:50) - Citi now offers transfers to American Airlines from Strata Elite, Prestige & Strata Premier

(07:23) - Now transfer from most Citi cards to most ThankYou partners (even from Custom Cash)

(09:41) - Citi...

Citi's new $595 card may or may not be right for you, but a 100K bonus is hard to resist, especially now that Citi transfers to AA. The 100K bonus isn't the only offer out there right now, though, so we'll talk about how to make sure you can apply for the Strata Elite 100,000 point offer specifically. 

How to apply for the Strata Elite 100,000 point offer

(00:18) - Citi's new $595 card may or may not be right for you, but 100K bonus is hard to resist, especially now that Citi transfers to AA

(01:30) - Who q...

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about how JetBlue bonvoyed Nick, how Accor bonvoyed Greg, and finally, two new transferable points programs and a new credit card that allows us to earn transferable points.

Giant Mailbag

(00:58) - "I've noticed that you love to be underwhelmed by the Amex Green card. In your recent episode about travel cards, it seemed like you couldn't contain your boredom with it, despite its valuable 3x Amex points for all types of travel ... A major benefit that you may have overlooked is constant Amex Offers from travel providers, which I've...

Today, we'll talk about how to make sure you don't lose your points when you cancel a credit card. Since this varies by bank or points-type, we'll discuss tips for each situation.

Do you lose your points when you cancel your credit card?

(00:37) - Airline and Hotel cards... no, you won't lose your points.

(02:32) - Bank cards... yes, you could lose your points.

(03:48) - Chase solutions

(06:10) - Amex solutions

(09:27) - Citi's weird rules

(12:17) - Capital One solutions

(16:06) - Quick summary

Visit h...

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how Bilt is going cardless (but with more cards). We'll see how Etihad is making unfavorable decisions, vying for our Bonvoyed of the year "award", and we'll talk about which credit card is the best for all kinds of travel expenses (since the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card might night make sense for non-flight, non-hotel travel expenses anymore.) 

(Correction Note: The 3x transit category that we mentioned on the Autograph Journey and Autograph cards is only on the Autograph card.)

Giant Mailbag

(01:16) - "In a recent episode, Gr...

We’ve been gradually telling the “origin stories” of each team member in Frequent mIler. Today, we’ll talk about how Stephen came to join Frequent Miler.

Frequent Miler origin story - Stephen's story

(01:04) - When did Stephen first get into the points and miles travel hobby?

(04:41) - Stephen remembers the stackable IHG promo codes

(05:39) - Stephen's wife helped him pull the trigger on some early credit cards like the US Airways credit card with a bonus after just one purchase

(07:54) - Stephen recalls his earliest credit cards (which he has n...

On this podcast episode, we find out that Turkish has killed their million mile promo, we talk about Ritz card rumors, and we shed some light on how Greg's uncle can redeem his transferable points for cash.

Giant Mailbag

(01:30) - One reader tries to convince Greg to do the JetBlue 25 for 25 promotion

Mega Airline Promo Updates

(04:53) - Turkish kills their 6 continent, 1 million mile promo

Find out more about that promo in our previous podcast episode here. (Or read our post about it here.)

(09:09) - Etihad tries to...

This Ask Us Anything, Live first aired on July 2nd, 2025

(00:51) - From Ryan - Nick you probably know Turkish airline rewards redemptions better than anyone else in the world. Would you recommend to your loyal readers (like me!) to do the Turkish 1MM Challenge?

(04:17) - If you find yourself points and miles bankrupt, at 5/24, and in Amex pop-up jail what can one do to get enough points to take a nice trip?

(06:08) - What’s the FM team’s thoughts on buying groups to hit massive spending limits for sign up bonuses?

(0...

Since this episode was filmed from a plane, you'll notice it doesn't have the same audio quality you're used to. Thanks for your patience and please enjoy!

(00:23) - The Dunkin' / JetBlue promo for 3 months of Mosaic 1 status and Dunkin' Boosted status

Read more about the JetBlue / Dunkin' plane here.

(01:18) - Uh oh...an equipment swap! 

(01:59) - What do you need to do (and did Greg do it wrong?)

(02:51) - Why Greg decided to fly the Dunkin' plane despite having no intentions to do the JetBlue 25 for 25 promotion

(04:39...

In today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode, Greg bypasses 5/24, Nick flies a donut plane towards earning status and 350,000 miles, and we run the numbers on Turkish's million mile promo.

Giant Mailbag

(01:58) - Virgin Atlantic substantially increases fees on award tickets. But one door closes, another opens.

Read more about Virgin Atlantic increasing fees on award tickets here.

Card News

(04:17) - Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card approved over 5/24

Bonvoyed

(09:46) - Chase Ink Business Premier®: Effective October 7th, 2025, you will be eligible to receive referral bonus awa...

What are "Chase points boosts"? In this episode, we'll explain and evaluate this new system for establishing the value of Chase Travel ℠ bookings.

(00:21) - Explaining a few confusing elements

Learn more about this here.

(03:30) - Chase points boosts (flights)

(04:50) - What does a points boost mean for flights?

(09:19) - As far as flights are concerned, is this a good change?

(13:59) - Chase points boosts (hotels)

(14:08) - The Edit hotels

(18:41) - As far as hotels are concerned, is this a good change?

Vi...

JetBlue is offering 350,000 points plus 25 years of elite status if you fly JetBlue to 25 destinations before the end of the year. Today we'll look at that promotion a little more closely, but we'll also hear from a "nerdy dad", and will hear about some crazy credit card approvals. 

(01:04) - John the Nerdy Dad sends a shoutout to his teenage kids

(03:36) - Chase Sapphire Preferred offer

(04:59) - Chase Sapphire Reserve now available through referrals

(07:32) - Chase approves despite user selection of "no" on the popup

(12:21) - Citi ThankYou transfer bonuses t...

Updated new cardmember bonus offers just came out for the newly-refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve card (consumer version) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business. Everyone's talking about it...but are they worth pursuing for everyone?

You can read more about these offers here.

(00:52) - Chase Sapphire Reserve welcome offer: 100K points + promo credit good for up to $500 towards a single Chase Travel℠ booking after $5K spend in 3 months

(02:01) - There are some things to keep in mind about that $500 promo credit

(07:20) - Is this worth pursuing for some people?

(11:12...

Today we'll talk about how Chase is breaking up the family (rule), we'll discuss whether American Express is high when introducing "as high as" offers, and we'll talk about how Chase has made the Chase Sapphire Reserve card harder to explain and harder and recommend.

(01:27) -  How to move Avios between British Airways, Qatar, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Finnair

(04:56) - Major refresh coming to The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express "later this year"

Read more about this here.

(10:53) - The Business Platinum Card® from...

Chase is out with new details about their Sapphire Reserve for business card...and there are a few ways our predictions from last week were way off. Today, we'll talk about how we were wrong about the Sapphire Reserve for Business card.

The real Sapphire Reserve for Business

Find our predictions episode here: https://frequentmiler.com/predicting-the-sapphire-business-card-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep310-6-13-25/

(01:03) - $795 fee, free employee cards, and earning rate details...

(02:32) - Major perks of the card

(06:51) - Major "coupon-like" credits of the card

Visit giftcards.com/reservebusiness here.<...

*Our apologies for the occasional connection issues with Nick's audio*

What the heck does "Mattress Cycling the Hyatt Numbers" mean? We'll find out in today's episode. We'll also talk about using online chat with Hyatt to get your way, and we'll predict the details of the new Chase Sapphire Business card.

(01:25) - Did we just beat a Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast?

Listen to Tim's origin story episode here.

(02:51) - You can now move your Chase credit lines between cards online

(05:26) - Capital One Spark Cash: $1500 after $15K in 3 months. $95 annual...

What do you do when you don't have enough hotel miles? And why aren't we letting all 100K Vacay competitors use Chase points? We answered these and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube which first aired on June 4th, 2025.

(07:36) - ​​What is your favorite all inclusive you've stayed at? I've been to Punta Cana but want to try other locations.

(10:14) - Do you keep the points when you PC Wells Fargo cards? For example if you PC to the no longer available Visa signature card can you then use the...

On today's Frequent Miler on the Air, we look at 2 cards offering 5 free nights, we recall the 5 ways we've been Bonvoyed recently, and we announce the 2025 Frequent Miler team challenge! 

(01:41) - We learn how to pronounce Dugroz

(02:53) - "...any tools or shortcuts you use to quickly size up a biz class product without opening 6 tabs and a YouTube black hole? I know equipment swaps happen, but I’d love to avoid turning every redemption into a minor research thesis."

(09:05) - Best Offers Card Exploration Tool (Beta)

Try out our card exploration too...

Greg and Nick recently both flew the same Etihad First Class route between Paris and Abu Dhabi in the first class apartments. Greg flew the morning flight from Paris to Abu Dhabi and Nick flew the reverse, an evening flight. Which one was a better experience?

(00:51) - Why did Nick pick the evening flight that he picked?

(01:40) - When using American Airline miles, availability is tough.

(03:40) - What makes Etihad first class apartments special?

(06:33) - Greg thinks the route isn't long enough to enjoy all the perks if you're also trying...

Today we learn that we're all wrong about Wyndham, we discuss some miscellaneous tips to save on flights, we hear from someone who's traveling the world one day at a time, and much more...

(03:07) - "I got the Chase Ink Cash last summer and immediately tested to see if YouTube TV would qualify for the 5x Ultimate Rewards points. ...it didn't."

(05:07) - Use Walmart scan and go and it may code as an online grocery expense for 3x on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

(08:05) - One listener opened a card to get a...

We've been gradually telling the "origin stories" of each team member in Frequent mIler. Today, we'll talk about how Tim came to join Frequent Miler.

(00:52) - How did Tim get started in miles and points?

(02:12) - Around 16 or 17, Tim and his brother planned out a series of roadtrips to try to see beyond their Midwestern home.

(06:24) - To prepare for his honeymoon years later, Tim volunteered for medical research studies to raise money. His goal: take his new wife to the top 5 places she wanted to see. (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France...

This week we'll lean about the "ultimate life hack", we'll gripe about how we're being Bonvoyed every which way, and we'll debate: is the points and miles game dead?

(01:14) - Listeners respond to our "Points for the next generation" podcast Ep306 with some great life hacks...

You can find our "Points for the next generation" podcast Ep306 here.

(08:53) - Nick's schedule change story

Read more about Nick's schedule change story here.

(16:17) - The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Find our guest appearance on the Blackjack Apprenticeship podcast "AP Life...

Without warning, Hilton increased its top standard room rate for many hotels, which follows a big increase in December last year. Most increased around 5K points, but some much more, especially at the high end.

(00:27) - Hilton increased top standard room rate for many hotels, which follows a big increase in December last year

(05:23) - A few examples for high end properties impacted

(06:30) - How serious of a devaluation is this?

(13:56) - Have we lost faith with Hilton?

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points an...

In today's episode we'll talk about how you can still book Emirate first class awards, we'll discuss Spirit Airlines is going premium, and we'll look at how you can prepare your kids for points and miles.

(01:29) - Does anyone else feel like American Express' customer service is above and beyond the rest?

(09:33) - Chase Instacart benefits on many cards

(17:07) - Buy Marriott Points for as low as 0.89 cents each (or maybe lower)

Read more about buying Marriott points here.

(23:33) - Emirates restricting first class availability to elite members from 5/12/25<...

How would we use that 100K bonus, and which vacation home rental platform has the best value? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on May 7th, 2025.

(03:54) - ​​Hi! Q for Stephen: what’s your credit card strategy now that you’ve moved? For everyone: If you lived outside the US but could still have US credit cards, which cards would you keep?

(06:45) - ​​Last month, y'all outlined how many cards you open each year- often 12-20. How many do you close each year?

(10:23) - ​​I don’t know if...

Takeaways:

In today's episode, we'll talk about how The Standard is coming to Hyatt...(but we're too old for it). Nick will enlighten Greg about the fact that Air France flies to French Polynesia, and we'll talk through our recent award booking stories.

(01:24) - A correction about the Delta Business Gold card (with a $150 hotel credit, not $200 as mentioned in the episode).

(02:23) - Would a speculative Discover Miles card be worth it for the 3x everywhere for the first year, with the chance that those all become transferable to C1 miles when the merger goes through?<...

In today's episode, we'll talk about why we like the Rakuten shopping portal and also discuss a great new trick Rakuten has up its sleeve...

(00:42) - What is a shopping portal?

(01:15) - Choose cash back or Amex Membership Rewards points (must link Amex card)

(02:55) - Great refer-a-friend promos ($40/4K)

(04:08) - Frequent 10x, 15x, 20x promotions

(04:43) - Portal includes travel sites like IHG, Marriott, Choice, Hertz, Avis, Expedia, some airlines

(05:13) - Double dip with hotel / car rewards / airline miles etc.

(06:38) - In-store offers

(07:08...

In today's episode, we're schooled about Wells Fargo cards, we learn about earning points on your mortgage, and we talk about how you can take the sting out of Southwest's customer unfriendly changes.

(01:03) - Listeners give us more ideas about making a great Wells Fargo Wallet

Find our episode "A World-Class Wells Fargo Wallet" here.

(08:20) - Mesa Homeowners Card: Earn transferable points on mortgage payments

(14:20) - Goldbelly no longer selling $10 gift cards (minimum is $25)

(16:06) - Read about maximizing your "coupon" credits from American Express here.

(16:15) - Capital...

There are credit cards that help make your points actually more valuable, just by having the credit card on hand. You can find all of the cards discussed on this show on our Best Offers page. 

(00:40) - United: Discounted awards, ability to upgrade

(01:38) - Delta: 15% discount

(01:54) - JetBlue 10% rebate

(02:20) - Aeroplan: 1.25 PYB, better award pricing

(02:55) - Avianca Lifemiles Elite: Comes with Lifemiles+ Lite (10% discount on awards)

(04:09) - Spirit points pooling

(04:58) - IHG: 4th night free (& 10% back old card)

(06:00...

We tend to ignore Wells Fargo cards because there are so many other great credit cards out there, but they actually do have some compelling cards out there. In today's episode we'll discuss which ones you might want in your wallet.

(01:47) - Re: Clarifying our "Beyond 100K Sapphire Preferred" episode, which you can read more about here.

(19:33) - Bigger Capital One VentureX Business Card offer via private banker

Listen to the podcast episode about the public Capital One VentureX Business card offer here.

(22:49) - Citi decreasing redemption rates on emirates starting 7/27<...

The Capital One Venture X Business card is out with a massive welcome bonus of 750K points...but the devil is in the details. Is this card really worth it?

(00:27) - Capital One Venture X Business card details

Read our Capital One Venture X Business card review here.

(03:47) - The welcome bonus is broken down into two pieces: 150K after $30K in 3 months, then 200K after $200K ($170K more) in 6 months

(04:52) - What's the total earnings with 2x for spend?

(05:25) - Is it worth it?

Visit https://fr...

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...

On a recent podcast episode, we talked about all the important considerations when you're just getting start in the points and miles game. But in this episode, we'll go one step further and talk about which credit cards you might want to consider as someone just getting started.

(00:10) - Listen to our "Getting started with points & miles" Ep298 here.

(01:12) - Some of the things you might ideally look for are: great welcome bonuses, transferable points, a good way to use points without transferring, and maybe a card that's good for everyday spend...

(02:00...

In this episode, we highlight the credit cards that are becoming "collectables", we had a heated debate about "Strawberry season", discuss changes from ANA and Alaska Airlines, and share tips for saving on your domestic flights.

(01:29) - Delta Sky Club access with multiple American Express platinum cards in your name...

(06:40) - [Expired] Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K (Read more about this offer here)

(07:58) - United Business 125K ...

(08:59) - Citi Rewards+ no longer available new OR for product changes

(12:05...

How can you find rooms for 4 in Scotland? Is Bilt worth it if your rent's only $1500? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on April 2nd, 2025. (03:29) -  ​​If you guys could only have cards from one issuer, which would you choose?

(11:09) -  ​​What's your thought on how long the us bank 4% card could stay alive?

(12:04) -  Do you guys have a comprehensive list of when each type of point expires? For example United Travel Bank expires 5 years after purchasing, Hyatt points i think expire 2 years if no activity et...

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 targ...

There's been a trend where credit card issuers increase annual fees on rewards cards, and attempt to make up for it by adding credits and rebates for somewhat random things (which often require a lot of mental effort and organization to put to use.) Today, we'll speculate how far this trend is going to go...

(01:03) - Recent history of couponization

(05:51) - Expected refresh of Platinum card

Check out the Coffee Break episode 47 where we discussed an expected refresh here, or read more about even more refreshed Platinum card predictions here.

(06:43...

A few years ago American Express introduced this kind of model for their Platinum card where they increased their annual fee, but attempted to make up for it by offering a whole collection of credits and rebates that could be valuable if you did the work to make use of them and happened to have natural needs for them. In other words, these new benefits felt a lot like coupons, thus introducing the nickname for these kinds of card benefits. Now, United seems to be taking a page from American Express' book by "couponizing" their credit cards.

(02:02...

Wyndham is having an excellent point sale that lasts until April 15th (2025). Read more about it here or listen to this episode for details. 

(01:15) - Wyndham point sale: Through April 15th, if you buy 3,000 or more points, you get up to an 80% bonus.

(01:47) - Simultaneously, all 3 Wyndham Earner cards have increased welcome bonuses

Learn more about the increased bonuses for all 3 Wyndham credit cards here.

(02:55) - Vacasa Vacation Rental

Learn about Wyndham and Vacasa here.

(05:55) - Wyndham Grand

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get upd...

Winning the game doesn't have to be hard. Points & miles is like complicated board game -- seems overwhelming at first. But the rewards for winning are incredible. In today's main event we'll show you how to get started.

(02:09) - Tyler writes in about success with Chase travel insurance

Read more about Chase Sapphire Reserve & Ritz-Carlton cards' excellent travel protections here.

(03:58) - Bilt rent payment method is changing - read more about it here.

(07:27) - Chase biz cards: Pre-approved offers showing when logged in - read more about it here.

(09:43...

(00:10) - In this episode we talk about the airline rewards programs and hotel rewards programs that seem to be changing in value. Some of them are going up in value and some are going down. 

(00:42) - Alaska Mileage Plan miles are going up in value

(02:08) - Southwest points are going down

Listen to our episode about these Southwest changes here.

(02:45) - Avianca Lifemiles are going down

(04:43) - Hilton points are going up

(06:12) - Hyatt points are going down

(10:36) - Which transferable points are going up o...

Bilt Rewards is a program that became famous for giving you rewards for your rent payments, but these days there are many ways to earn Bilt rewards. In this episode, we'll pay special attention to how you might want to use your Bilt points.

(01:15) - John writes in with a correction for Nick's statement that there's a "zero percent chance" the tax payment won't count toward the bonus.

(06:57) - Andrew writes in about applying for an Amex card by opening up a Private Browser and searching for the card there can bring up a higher...

What do we think are the best hotel programs for outsized value? Have we noticed some of the same Alaska Airlines quirks that our listeners have? What have our experiences with the EVA Air program been (if any)? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on March 5th, 2025.

00:40 - What's the most meaningful miles and points trip you've had?

03:16 - Inspired by Nick’s “falling in love with Alaska” post… Let’s play a miles themed version of the old FMK game (the acronym will make sense in a momen...

Starting May 28 of this year, Southwest will be making some major changes to the things we've known and loved. For example Most people will be losing free checked bags on Southwest starting May 28 of this year, they'll be introducing basic economy, flight credits will now expire (after 6-12 months depending on what type of fare you bought) and the value of points will become much more variable.

(01:49) - Commenter Brad says: "I’m an accountant who completely understands the math of cutting expenses or raising revenues to increase profit... I don’t understand, though, what the business stra...

In today's episode we'll talk about how American Airlines out-crazies Citi, Southwest out-bonvoys Marriott, and we'll talk about what we think are the 5 best award search tools that make it much easier to find those coveted awards.

(01:25) - One reader shares their concerns about tax payments made by an American Express card not counting towards sign up bonus spending.

(05:28) - Read more about paying taxes with a credit card here and check out our podcast Episode239 about paying taxes to earn rewards.

(05:45) - Capital One Venture X Business cards have a Rideshare Protection...

Word on the street is the Amex Platinum card is going to be "refreshed" which may mean new benefits, new cost, new rebates, and more. In this episode, we'll make some predictions about what we might see.

(01:06) - Predicting the Refreshed Platinum Card annual fee

(02:55) - Earning rate change?

(04:04) - Coupon changes?

(06:49) - Will the airline incidental fees credit change?

(11:57) - Perk changes?

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 o...

Hilton credit cards come loaded with perks that CAN BE worth more than the card's annual fee IF you use them well. On today's show, we discuss how we use these credits.

(01:06) - Hilton points for the win that all starts with the Venture X credit card promo to enter into the special access raffle to buy Taylor Swift tickets.

(06:24) - This person was trying to use up a $200 Hilton resort credit for themself and their player 2 account, booking on December 31st for a date beyond the expiration.

(09:39) - Hilton has a bad...

With a $350 annual fee, the Delta Platinum credit card is not cheap. But like most of these more expensive cards, it comes with perks and credits that help off-set that cost. Since Greg has this card, we'll find out how he makes use of these various perks and credits.

Learn more about the Delta Platinum card here and the Delta Platinum Business card here.

(00:15) - $350

(00:55) - 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only)

(02:22) - Annual $2,500 MQD Headstart

(04:49) - Companion ticket each year upon card...

On this week's episode, we talk about our Capital One mistake, how Uber has tried to "Bonvoy" us, and the many ways we use our Platinum credit card credits.

(01:27) - OOPS: Capital One doesn't transfer to JetBlue like we implied

(02:33) - BUT...then this week Capital One announced they ARE adding JetBlue as a transfer partner, (but at horrible rates)

(05:24) - Hotel transfer bonuses, yay or nay?

(10:29) - Uber adding 1.5% charge to rides abroad – here’s how to avoid overpaying

Read more about this Uber change here.

(14:37) - Ho...

The American Express Gold Card has a $325 annual fee, but it offers up to $424 of value in credits. Here we'll talk about how we make sure to put those credits to use.

Read more about maximizing American Express credit card rebates and credits here.

(01:07) - $325 annual fee

Find out more about the Amex Gold Card here.

(01:19) - Category bonuses

(01:42) - How do Greg and Nick use those category bonuses?

(03:12) - Up to $424 in credits (or as we like to call them, "coupons").

(03:28) - Resy: $50 semi...

Would you pay more for fully refundable rewards? What do you do with pets when you travel? These questions and more came up in our Ask Us Anything, Live Ep72, originally broadcast live on 2-5-25.

(04:31) - Who were our most-helpful followers for the Million Mile Madness challenge? These followers will be eligible for prizes for their help!

(13:31) - How would you structure your credit card strategy with a P2?

See our podcast episode about 2-player strategies here.

(17:45) - Frequent Miler is by far my favorite travel blog. What blogs do y...

On today's episode the fellas chat about how to get the Southwest Companion Pass with just one card, whether or not your Marriott points just became more valuable, and how to get great value out of Capital One miles.

(01:17) - One of our younger readers talks about a huge award booking success, all achieved without pro award booking tools.

(05:40) - Quick overview of the Million Mile Madness challenge

Watch our Ask Us Anything, Live here.

Rewatch the entire Million Mile Madness Challenge in one video here.

(10:27) - Get Southwest...

We love how Hilton incorporates partners like SLH and Autocamp for example. But there are things we don't love about Hilton too. Today we'll talk about the ways they could win our loyalty.

(00:00) - We love how Hilton incorporates partners: SLH and Autocamp for example

(00:25) - But here's what we don't love...

(04:18) - Greg's suggestions for Hilton

(05:04) - Hilton's meaningful milestone benefits start way too late (at 40 nights)

(06:36) - Milestone benefits of early check-in certificates would really wow us

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated o...

On this episode, we'll talk about a crazy new premium credit card, we'll debate double elite night hotel promotions to see if they're mattress run worthy, talk about a nice new way to use JetBlue points, and discuss how to double your rewards with a partner.

(01:15) - One reader writes in about booking their family with roundtrip business class flights to Australia for Christmas and New Years!!!

(05:00) - New JetBlue Premier Card...

Learn more about the premier card here.

(12:13) - IHG Premier offer up to 170K after $4K spend in 3 months<...

World of Hyatt has been a favorite amongst points and miles enthusiasts for years. You can use your points for excellent properties at typically excellent values and the elite benefits are actually valuable. But...they're far from perfect, especially more recently. Not to worry - we have some suggestions for what they can do to get back on track.

(00:10) - Has been a great program for years

Read our Hyatt wishlist here.

(02:20) - Long term problem: limited number of hotels

(04:29) - But they've killed a lot of the progress they'd made...

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...

Greg and Nick have a LOT of cards between the two of them and they can't possibly carry all of them in their real-life physical wallets. What happens instead is that they tend to rotate the cards in their wallets based on what the current bonuses are, whether or not there are cards they're trying to reach a spend requirement on...and...whether or not they can find the physical card. In this episode, they'll cover the major real-life spend categories and which cards they're carrying for those purposes. (01:19) - Which cards do Greg and Nick carry for Grocery...

In this episode, Greg and Nick will look at 4 ways to access Delta Sky Clubs, they'll reveal a hot reader tip for a free stay in Atlantis in the Bahamas, and they'll discuss the Air France / KLM Flying Blue devaluation. Check out the full episode below.

(01:28) - It seems like a lot of people are running into issues lately with using the $200 platinum credit for Fine Hotels and Resorts. 

(07:03) - United TravelBank glitch (now resolved) [Reported on Reddit]

(09:50) - Air France KLM Flying Blue award prices increase by 15-25% to/from Europe

In today's podcast episode Greg and Nick will talk about the things they wish Marriott would add to their program to make it a really great program. They argue these things shouldn't even have to cost Marriott that much to implement.

Read more about our Marriott Bonvoy Wishlist here.

(01:24) - Fix the Platinum Elite free breakfast benefit

Find our resource for figuring out whether or not you get free breakfast here.

(05:00) - Clear Nightly Upgrade Awards from the time of booking

(08:21) - Remove the 15K limit on free night...

There are a few ways now where you can earn elite status on airlines entirely through hotel stays! This is sort of a new development that we're excited to discuss in today's podcast.

(01:32) - Whoops: Forgot United offers elite earnings on award tickets (UA flights only)

Find episode 288 here.

(04:09) - IHG Choice Benefit annual lounge membership trick worked this year

(05:58) -  One reader finds a way to get an offer to upgrade back to Amex Platinum for 50K bonus points after 2K spend.

(08:03) - Alaska Biz Card 70K offer is...

You can book Preferred Hotels with Choice Privileges points, (which has a 1:2 transfer rate from Citi Thank You points), or Preferred Hotel points (which has a 1:4 transfer rate from Citi Thank You points). There are reasons to book with one points over another, but is this worth doing? Greg's recent experience booking a Preferred Hotel with Choice points can help shed some light on the question.

(01:24) - The Seagate Hotel & Spa Delray Beach Florida

(01:48) - Different booking options...

(05:17) - Booking experience...

(12:17) - Hotel stay experience (the good and bad)

...

(00:00) - It's a new year and we're excited about all the "point-y" things happening for us in 2025! Give this episode a listen to find out what we're looking forward to.

(01:07) - One reader's interesting experience disbanding a United miles pool highlights a possible hack and brings up a few questions.... Learn more about miles-pooling here: https://www.united.com/en/us/mileageplus/miles-pooling/

(04:17) - Can a pool leader leave a miles pool?

(04:35) - Can I leave a miles pool after joining?

(07:25) - Chase United card devaluation: TravelBank credits instead of statement...

The Smartly Credit Card (with opportunity for up to 4% cash back everywhere) has us wondering...when should you value cash back over other points and miles or transferable currency rewards?

(00:26) - Smartly Credit Card: Up to 4% cash back

Learn more about the Smartly card here.

(01:21) - Using 2x everywhere points card is like buying points for 2 cents each

(05:12) - So, is cash the final answer? No!

(09:07) - So what's the ideal strategy?

(13:36) - Learn more about the Hyatt milestone spending here.

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/s...

What are the best miles and points deals we've seen in 2024, and which deals came out above the rest? In today's episode of Frequent Miler on the Air, we'll decide what we think the best miles and points deal of 2024 was.

(01:05) - Feedback about Greg's "Frequent Miler’s 2024 State of the Business Report"

Read Greg's "Frequent Miler’s 2024 State of the Business Report" here.

(08:12) - Additional datapoints regarding possible Atlantis stays for after February 1st

(12:14) - Greg's Marriott Mattress Run

(20:48) - Capital One Offers

(26:18) - Easily extend Nation...

In today's episode, we're going to be considering the Alaska / Hawaiian credit card strategy and asking the question: which card should you get now, if any?

(01:38) - Current lineup of Alaksa / Hawaiian credit cards

(02:17) - Learn more about the Bank of America Alaska Consumer card here: https://frequentmiler.com/AS/

(02:34) - ...and the Bank of America Alaska Business card here: https://frequentmiler.com/ASbiz/

(02:46) - Learn more about the Barclays Hawaiian Consumer card here: https://frequentmiler.com/HA/

(03:15) - ...and the Barclays Hawaiian Business card here: https://frequentmiler.com...

Today we'll take a look back at the year and talk about what loyalty programs have done to us instead of for us. This is for the loyalty grinches!

(01:07) - Revisiting a question we'd answered previously about whether or not several domestic flights a month would be enough for earning status.

(06:18) - One reader has some information to share about the Atlantis property they booked now (before their Caesar's Diamond status disappears) for a stay in the future...

Read more about booking the Atlantis hotel here.

(10:12) - Flying Blue: Sends emails sayi...

Us Bank's Smartly Visa Signature card has no annual fee but also no welcome bonus. Even so, because of a benefit from their savings account which can increase earnings on the card, it's worth a discussion on today's Card Talk episode.

(00:21) - What are the basics of the U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card

Learn more about this card here.

(01:06) - You can increase earning with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and have certain amounts deposited w/ US Bank...

(02:53) - You'll need a Smartly Savings Account

(04:13) - B...

Alaska has announced that a premium card is coming in the Summer of 2025. They've given us just little bits of information so far, but in this episode, we'll talk about what those details are.

(01:03) - Pre-register by 12/31/24. Get 500 miles now, 5K extra miles later if/when you sign up for card.

(01:44) - Basic details...annual fee of $395 and earn Global Companion Award Certificates

(05:20) - Receive waived award ticket fees ($12.50 partner award fee, not surcharges)

(05:42) - Earn 3x miles on eligible foreign purchases

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get up...

In this episode, Greg and Nick review some of the hotel and flight awards that stood out for each of them in 2024 so they can determine the best of the best for their 2024 award travels.

(01:06) - Bilt buy house benefit correction

See the previous episode where Greg talked about the Bilt buy house benefit here.

Read more about the Bilt Buy House benefit here.

(02:42) - Greg's latest experience booking Preferred hotels with Choice points

See the previous episode here.

(10:17) - Greg: "You’re a SAS EuroBonus Millionaire!”

Citi recently announced that they will become the exclusive issuer of American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards in the United States, starting in 2026. What does that really mean for points and miles enthusiasts, and how can we take maximum advantage? (Or shall we say "AAdvantage"?)(

Read more about the AA / Citi news here.

(00:26) - Citi will become the exclusive issuer AAdvantage credit cards in the U.S. starting in 2026.

(01:41) - We wonder if maybe AA will become a transfer partner of Citi ThankYou Rewards

(02:54) - We wonder if maybe Citi will create...

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...

There are credit cards out there which are not available new, but are still supported for those who already have them. In this episode, we have a prediction about a few cards that will soon be this kind of "collectible" card.

(00:26) - What is a credit card collectible?

(01:20) - Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card Learn more about the Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Card here.

(02:15) - Citi Prestige Learn more about the Citi Prestige card here.

(04:43) - Capital One Venture One card

(08:02) - Ritz Card Learn more...

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we're chatting about the 10 "Frequent Flyer-ish" things we're thankful for!

(01:01) - A reader shares all the ways their recent trip was impacted by Frequent Miler tips!

(02:58) - It in the hands of SAS now!

(05:50) - Wyndham Biz drops Caesar's match

Read about changes to casino status-matching for free cruises here.

(09:38) - Avianca LifeMiles Elite Card: Up to 120K miles

Read more about this card bonus here.

(12:10) - Bonvoy Brilliant cardholder “Luxury Experience Rate” at participating properties

Read more abou...

Greg, Nick, and Stephen are spent the last two weeks competing to satisfy the SAS EuroBonus Millionaire promo with the most style, affordability, and speed. If you've been following along by reading their journal posts, you know that this was a much harder task than they bargained for and they relied on reader input along the way. We've got some cool prizes planned for the reader who was most helpful including certificates to cover five free Hilton hotel nights and more! But to determine that winner, we need your help deciding which traveler achieved the goal with the most...

Rewards credit cards are often most valuable for their welcome bonuses, but many of them also have very valuable perks just for having the card. So which credit cards have the best perks for a variety of categories? (Learn more about all the best current credit card offers here.)

(00:40) - Best airport lounge benefits?

(07:34) - Best Automatic Elite status

(10:45) - Best award discount/rebate

(12:59) - Best Automatic Free Night (no spend required)

(15:57) - Best Companion Ticket

(18:45) - Best miscellaneous perk

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to...