Frequent Miler on the Air

In today's episode, listeners weigh in on Nick's pick for "best Hyatt Place breakfast", Hyatt breaks up with one airline and ties up with another, and we review Chase's refreshed Air Canada Aeroplan card.

(01:15) - Which cards did our contestants pick for the Wild Card challenge?

Learn more about the ongoing challenge here

(09:02) - In our Hidden Gem Awards Ep373, Nick said Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport had the best breakfast in the world... but do people agree?

(14:24) - Marriott Amex Offer: Spend $450 & get $200 back (targeted)

Learn more about this targeted offer here

(17:06) - US Bank adds Avianca LifeMiles as transfer partner

(18:28) - Rove adds Copa Airlines as transfer partner, launching with 40% transfer bonus through September

Learn more about Rove adding Copa here

(20:13) - Hyatt dissolves partnership with AA

Read more about Hyatt's ending partnership with American Airlines here

(22:27) - Hyatt adds partnership with Delta: https://newsroom.hyatt.com/DeltaAirLines

(24:39) - Amex Bonvoy Business Card is coming

(26:48) - Chase Sapphire Reserve enhances DoorDash benefit

Learn more about this enhanced benefit here

(29:34) - Chase IHG Premier Business anniversary free night certificate will increase to 50K points in 2027

(31:16) - Chase return protection success

(35:54) - Atmos Summit $60K spend

(38:25) - New Cardmember Offer

(39:54) - The changes that really matter

(52:20) - Quick summary of the good stuff and bad stuff

(53:35) - Nick and Greg: Never got the card before. Is it worth it now?

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Greg has just returned from a short trip to RiverView Ranch in Montana - probably the single most aspirational points stay available in the United States. Now, he'll tell us all about it.

(00:46) - RiverView Ranch Retreat & Western Adventures

Learn more about Hilton's flexible date calendar here

(02:45) - Cancelation fees

(03:28) - How to get free night certs

Read: How to maximize your Hilton cards (with upgrades and downgrades) here

(04:45) - Greg's pre-trip report

(12:28) - Greg's trip report

(14:49) - King Suite

(19:04) - Dining

(21:10) - Activities

(26:19) - Wildlife

(26:34) - Checkout

(27:52) - Review

(29:43) - How does it compare to Ventana Big Sur?

(31:17) - How does it compare to Necker Island?

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

What to do when your credit limit is too low? Kris reached out with the following question about managing a low credit limit:

On your recent podcast, you mentioned that banks don’t like you to cycle cards. I just got approved for the new Capital One Venture Business card, and upon approval, found out that they had given me a credit limit of $2000. This obviously is going to make it very difficult to make the minimum spend for the sign-up bonus, and obviously can’t if I don’t cycle the card. I did try to call and request an increase and pointed out that I have a personal Venture X with a credit limit of $50,000 that is paid off fully every month. I asked for a credit increase and offered to decrease my Venture X credit limit, but was declined.

(00:57) - What is credit cycling?

(02:38) - Why is cycling generally inadvisable?

(03:55) - Is cycling ever OK?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 1pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

On today's episode, we'll talk about why Air Canada to Hyatt 2-to-1 transfers can be a good deal, how we won big on a 240x deal, the 250x deal that got away, and much more.

Our apologies for Nick's lower-quality audio this week! We're working to fix it!

(01:04) - Josh: Is the Hyatt/Aeroplan deal good for Canadians?

(07:54) - When we took big risks to earn big miles...

(08:04) - Nordstrom 36X (2012)

(15:32) - Convert 90K SPG points into a 7 night Marriott stay + 120K Southwest points + Companion Pass for 2 years (2017)

(19:43) - Marriott Travel Packages (2018)

(23:40) - Iberia 90K (2018)

(27:54) - Conservation International 240 AA miles per dollar (2021)

(34:40) - Amex 20% transfer bonus to Hawaiian Airlines (2024)

(39:28) - SAS: Fly 15 SkyTeam, earn 1M SAS Miles (2024)

(44:50) - JetBlue 25/25 (2025)

(48:42) - Kate Spade 250X via British Airways portal (2026)

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

New York is an expensive city. Today, we'll talk about tips to make it more affordable using points, credit card benefits, and smart stacking.

(00:52) - Flights: No one-size-fits-all option here, but consider...

(05:47) - Favorite points hotel options

(17:47) - Saving money on stuff to do

(20:21) - Saving money with credit card benefits

(27:24) - Tips for what to do while you're there

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

How can I maximize my bookings through The Edit by Chase Travel℠? Reader Rob wrote in with three questions about this.

(00:16) - What is The Edit by Chase Travel℠?

(01:16) - Does the person on the card have to stay on the property, or can they book for someone else?

(02:48) - Can you book before December 31st to take advantage of the stackable credits for select chains, but USE the credits for a hotel stay into the following year if you “pay now”?

(06:32) - Do you lose the free breakfast if you book back-to-back stays of 4 nights but 2 separate reservations?

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

In this episode, we'll hear about the "best ever" Hyatt Place breakfast, we'll talk about where Greg should go after Berlin, and share lesser-known sweetspot awards like flights to Europe from 90 points and Scandinavian hotels from 500 points!

(01:08) - Paul asks: "Is there another way to status match Flying Blue elite status or do we have to wait until it opens up again for US residents?"

See our Shortcuts to Flying Blue elite status here

(03:19) - Kevin writes in with some miles and points success stories

(05:12) - Rove enhancements (out on Friday 8/28)

(09:11) - Citi 25% transfer bonus to LHW through 9/19

(10:41) - LH multi-city via Aeroplan

(13:25) - Hyatt Place AMS

(16:51) - Greg's Berlin trip

(21:24) - Lodging

(21:51) - Cottages.com for 15K Wyndham points/bedroom/night

(23:14) - Preferred Hotels starting at 20K Choice/night

(25:59) - Nordic / Scandinavian hotels w/ Finnair Avios

Learn how to use Finnair Avios to book Scandinavian hotels here

(30:15) - Flights: Star Alliance flights for 3.5K econ, 7K biz (under 600 miles)

(32:27) - Air France business class to Europe with NO surcharges

(36:06) - British Airways business or first class with low surcharges

(43:06) - Royal Air Maroc: US to Morocco for 17.5K econ, 50.5K Biz w/ Finnair Avios

(45:38) - Use Virgin Atlantic miles to fly around Europe and Northern Africa starting at 4K one-way

Learn more about Air France KLM across Europe here

(50:02) - North America to Europe for 90 points via Lufthansa Miles & More

(55:54) - Delta short-haul 5K Flying Blue miles

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Just by having the right United credit card or elite status, you'll have wide-open United Polaris award availability!

Read about United's amazing cardholder award availability here

(01:20) - Polaris

(02:00) - Define Saver

(02:38) - Better Saver Polaris availability for both cardholders & elites, and additional award discounts require card

(03:31) - Example North America to Europe

(05:38) - Research and findings

(15:12) - The April cliff...what is it and why is April significant?

(17:07) - Nick & Greg's thoughts/analysis: Is this a one-time thing to get people to sign up for United cards?

(22:02) - Is Nick going to jump on the United cardholder bandwagon?

Learn more about the Best United Cards here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-united-card/

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

How to handle Citi cards in 2-player mode now that point sharing is dead? "GH" wrote in with this question recently, wondering:

Paraphrasing and simplifying: My old plan was to keep a single Strata Premier card for myself, a Double Cash card for player 2, and multiple Custom Cash cards across both. Now that Player 2 can't move points to me, I need a new plan. Should Player 2 get a Strata Premier card to enable 1-to-1 point transfers, or should we give up on Player 2 holding any Citi ThankYou cards?

(00:53) - What does "player 2" mean and what does this question mean?

(03:09) - What is the best 2-player strategy for earning Citi points?

(06:46) - What is the best 2-player strategy for earning Citi points if you're starting from scratch?

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

On today's episode, we'll talk about the many ways to shortcut Flying Blue elite status and why you might want to.

(00:50) - Credit cards we're considering | Coffee Break Ep118 - Credit cards we're considering

Crazy Thing: Citi - Greg announce

(03:32) - Citi ThankYou Mastercard

Learn about Citi's retailer cards here

(09:12) - 50X AA miles for Stand Up for Cancer donation

Learn more about this here

(14:49) - Flying Blue to increase Standard award prices and introduce Light and Flex award fares

Learn about Flying Blue's Light and Flex award fares here

(23:42) - Greg- Bilt adds new Bilt Cash Options (Learn how to use Bilt Cash to book Blade rides here)

(34:08) - Tim - Cardpointers: automatic "smart add" feature for Amex Offer priority (https://frequentmiler.com/workarounds-for-adding-amex-offers-to-multiple-cards-appear-to-be-dead/Learn some workarounds for adding Amex offers to multiple cards which appear to be dead here: )

(38:16) - Atmos 100K companion cert caveats (Learn all about Atmos Companion Awards here: https://frequentmiler.com/atmos-global-companion-awards-guide/)

(52:35) - Learn shortcuts to Flying Blue elite status here: https://frequentmiler.com/elite-status-via-the-air-france-klm-credit-card/ And why is Flying Blue status interesting?

(58:57) - How Flying Blue elite status works

(1:03:29) - Normal way to earn XPs

(1:09:24) - Shortcuts

Learn about Flying Blue Status Match (US residents version) here: https://frequentmiler.com/flying-blue-status-match-for-us-residents/

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

With Tim based in Seattle, he's very familiar with the Alaska Atmos Rewards program. Today he's joining Greg to talk about some of the pros and cons of the program.

(00:54) - Pro: Free to move points to others with an Atmos Summit card or a Hawaiian card

(01:26) - Pro: Free stopover on most one-way awards.

(02:14) - Pro: Award changes are free and easy

(02:33) - Pro: Excellent award chart sweet spots (short-haul US, US-Oceania/Asia/South America, intra-Alaska).

(04:06) - Pro: Relatively easy to acquire elite status

(05:39) - Pro: Award flights booked through Alaska can earn status points based on distance flown, including partner awards

(09:05) - Pro: Many partners beyond oneworld

(11:20) - Pro: Various companion certificates can be very useful

(15:34) - Con: Less robust route network than competitors like Delta, United, and American.

(15:34) - Con: Atmos still doesn’t allow awards with multiple partners outside of American, British Airways, and Finnair (although more are expected to be added this year).

(20:25) - Con: $20 Partner award booking fee unless you have Summit card

Subscribe and Follow

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

What's so great about Air Canada Aeroplan? We received this question from Dana:

I have 300,000 points stuck in Aeroplan, and they will expire in the next year. Instead of transferring more points in or purchasing points to keep them active, I just want to use them. I would like to use them for business class flights to or from Europe. I am flexible on positioning from ORD or the West Coast and want to just get anywhere in Europe. I would even do premium economy on the way back to the US. Most of the "good" redemptions I see are flying through the Middle East or other ridiculous itineraries that would take 18-24 hours to get to Europe. And more direct flights are on Air Canada metal and hundreds of thousands of points. Not worth it in my mind. I am only looking for 2 seats. I like to book a year out, but even looking close in, there's nothing. Everyone always says Aeroplan is a great program, but I'm not seeing it. What am I missing?

(01:43) - Advantages of Air Canada Aeroplan:

(03:13) - Disadvantages of Air Canada Aeroplan

(04:46) - What is Dana missing

(05:15) - Use an award search tool

Learn about award search tools here

(16:22) - Set award alerts

Subscribe and Follow

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

On today's episode, we'll share a reminder to check your credit card travel portal if you're renting a car. Nick will share tips about renewing passports, and we'll see how the Altitude Reserve has added 4 - no, 2 transfer partners.

(01:26) - Podcast failed to download Friday evening and most of Saturday, so now we're experimenting with a release schedule to drop podcasts during working hours

(04:39) - Mitsu: Regarding booking rental cars through CREDIT CARD portals

(11:09) - Targeted IHG promo: Earn double elite night credits (limit 10 bonus elite nights)

Read more about this targeted IHG promo here

(14:31) - Multi-card trick appears to be dead

(18:24) - Miles, points, and more changes

(19:23) - Amex adds 350+ FHR/THC added in 2026

(20::58) - Select Tock restaurants available for Amex Resy credits as of 9/15

(23:16) - Avios.com award calendar

Read more about the Avios award calendar here

(28:25) - Greg: Overcoming Virgin award booking snafu

(34:38) - Nick: trying to book a cruise cabin for a family member

(38:06) - Greg: SAS award booking snafu

(46:43) - Nick: Online passport renewal data point

(50:05) - Read about rental car loyalty programs here

(51:56) - Altitude Reserve card is a collectible, but has been a bit of a dud until now

(52:54) - Altitude Reserve Before Dec 15 2025

(56:25) - After Dec 15, 2025

(1:02:54) - Altitude Reserve Now

(1:13:54) - Questions for Nick and Greg

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Even though we have lots of credit cards, we've always got our eyes on a few more. In today's episode, we'll talk about some of the credit cards we've been keeping on our radar.

(00:58) - Hidden gem credit cards Greg's considering

(08:28) - Other cards Greg's considering

Read how to maximize your Hilton cards (with upgrades and downgrades) here

(11:42) - Nick's nearer-term credit card considerations

(19:45) - Cards Nick is considering from Hidden Gems Credit Cards podcast

Subscribe and Follow

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

How do you handle travel when you are traveling with friends who don’t play the game? How would you rank the premium economy cabins? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on August 5th, 2026.

(00:46) - How do you handle travel when you are traveling with friends who don’t play the game? Do you adjust your plans to cheaper options to make it more affordable for them? Do you cover any portion of their travel with your points?

(05:31) - Excluding automobile coverage, must one use a specific credit card to get non-automobile insurance coverage? (i.e., which credit cards can you get travel coverage just by having the card?

Read our resource about travel protections here: https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/

(06:55) - ​​Which credit cards have certificate/award claw-backs if you have a merchandise return credit to your card? Hotel credits? What about other cards?

(09:18) - How far out does your card strategy for new SUB’s typically go into the future? And do you stray if a shiny big bonus appears on one you did not plan for?

(13:01) - What is your breakeven point if it's only 15K economy but 75K business, would you go with economy for 60K savings? Why did you choose your answer?

(18:28) - With the changes in the Chase Ink train and Chase being more flexible with accepting applications after 5/24, I've gotten 2, is it time to rethink the 5/24 strategy? How do you navigate being over it?

​(20:33) - Looking to spoil my wife and 3 teens with a business class long flight. I'll fly from anywhere to anywhere. I simply () want 5 business class seats on one long flight. Where would you look?

(25:34) - ​​Should I apply for Robinhood Gold? I got an invite via Credit Karma

(27:23) - For the new challenge announcement on today's Coffee Break, where do we submit listener ideas?

Check out our Wild Card announcement here (https://frequentmiler.com/the-2026-team-challenge-wild-card-coffee-break-ep117-8-4-26/) and comment your own ideas for obstacles and power-ups here (https://frequentmiler.com/2026-wild-card-challenge-help-us-design-our-obstacles-and-power-up-decks)

(29:41) - Who spent too much time at Costco today?

(32:16) - ​​I don't see you guys talking much about sweet spots to South America (more specifically Brazil). I am struggling to find good routes with reasonable amount of points…

Read more here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-ways-to-get-to-south-america-using-points-and-miles/

(36:28) - How would you rank the premium economy cabins you have used? Who has the best upgrade from regular economy, and why? Which have the closest to business class experience?

(41:15) - ​​Is Nick's background real? Just saw cars passing by

(42:26) - ​​Do y'all ever get credit card fatigue? I've been churning on and off for a couple of years. Wanting to just sit tight for a bit.

(48:18) - Thinking of this having to fly with a stroller wild card, what was the weirdest or most cumbersome thing you had to fly with?

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 – “swappin’ back n’ forth” by up @ night

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

In today's podcast episode, a listener leverages a tip from last year's team travel challenge to book Virgin Atlantic premium economy for less; we look at a crazy use of AI, and analyze the updated AAdvantage® Executive card.

(01:07) - The 2026 Team Challenge: Wild Card! (See our Coffee Break Ep117 travel challenge announcment here: https://frequentmiler.com/the-2026-team-challenge-wild-card-coffee-break-ep117-8-4-26/)

Submit your ideas for obstacles and power-ups here: https://frequentmiler.com/2026-wild-card-challenge-help-us-design-our-obstacles-and-power-up-decks

(04:56) - Peuv leveraged a Virgin Atlantic premium economy tip learned from last year's 100K Vacay travel challenge

Learn more about last year's 100K Vacay challenge here: https://frequentmiler.com/annual-team-challenges/#100K

(08:58) - Discover cardholder promo: Earn 15% cashback on first stay booked on Capital One Travel (up to $200 cashback)

(10:04) - Capital One adding a $100 hotel credit to the Venture Rewards card?

(13:12) - Here's a professional response that acknowledges the question, lets the client know you're looking into it, and buys you some time...

(15:56) - Roame now supports EVA (only 1 passenger)

See how to book EVA awards here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-book-eva-air-infinity-mileagelands-awards/

(19:59) - Earn 50K Alaska Atmos Rewards points when getting a mortgage through Rate.com

Learn more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/earn-50k-alaska-airlines-miles-when-getting-mortgage-through-rate-com/

(21:47) - Accor Gold and Platinum members can status match

(26:00) - Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive changes launch August 23rd: https://frequentmiler.com/citi-aadvantage-executive-card-changes-are-coming-higher-fee-more-benefits/

(26:28) - What's not changing

(27:56) - Increased annual fee

(29:32) - New coupons

(37:28) - Increased Lyft credits

(38:59) - Increased AA portal earnings

(41:44) - More Loyalty Point Boosts

(43:30) - Elite Status

(51:17) - World Legend rather than World Elite

(52:54) - Final thoughts

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Every year, the FM team does a team challenge where we compete to see who can make their points & miles go farthest. We're calling this year's challenge "The Wild Card Challenge". In today's episode we'll give you the high-level overview of what it's about! (Don't worry, we'll give you even more granular details soon!)

(00:41) - What are the FM team challenges

Learn more about past challenges here: https://frequentmiler.com/annual-team-challenges/

(01:24) - Why do we do these?

(03:39) - Who's participating this year

(04:41) - Introducing: The Wild Card Challenge

(08:08) - High level about this challenge

(10:48) - How do the contestants feel?

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Which Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are best? Podcast listener "FlyerDad" asked us this question recently, writing:

Marriott points are truly the most valuable airline currency given the number of programs they transfer to. But I have never heard you guys discuss who their most valuable transfer partners are, as you do for all the other transferable currencies. Would you consider a podcast on the "forgotten" but most valuable transferable reward points in the game?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

In today's episode we'll talk about how Amex has added a valuable new hotel partner, Seats.aero has added useful new tools, and we'll discuss the many ways to amass a Membership Rewards fortune.

(00:59) - Ross: Another hidden gem card?

(04:51) - JetBlue & Air Canada add basic fares to premium cabins

(06:27) - Your Lifemiles+ free award changes/cancellations may end sooner than you think

(08:55) - Amex adds new transfer partner LHW

(16:28) - Philippine Airlines flights now bookable with Alaska Atmos Rewards (Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/philippine-airlines-flights-now-bookable-with-alaska-atmos-rewards-book-biz-class-from-75k-points/)

(17:48) - United transcontinental business class from 27K miles for cardholders

(19:14) - Seats.aero has added a few new tools for Pro members

(24:00) - Nick's experience with The Edit by Chase Travel℠

(26:26) - Amex Membership Rewards are suddenly interesting again

(31:03) - Sign Up Bonuses

(41:26) - Two Player Mode

(43:55) - Read about multi-referrals here: https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-value-from-amex-multi-referrals/

(48:31) - Amex offers

Learn about Cardpointers here (https://frequentmiler.com/cardpointers/) or Savewise here

(50:01) - Rakuten Shopping

Learn about Rakuten referrals here: https://frequentmiler.com/rakuten-best-ever-5k-membership-rewards-50-referral-bonus-for-both-sides/

(53:21) - Category bonuses

This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

The Robinhood Platinum card now live for invited members, so in today's episode, we'll see how it compares with another Platinum card, the American Express Platinum Card®.

(00:17) - Robinhood Platinum card is now live for invited members...

(00:50) - Here are some of the basic details of the card

(01:22) - How is this card different from the American Express Platinum Card®?

(03:27) - 5X categories

(04:28) - Airport lounge access

(04:49) - Elite status

(16:56) - How is the Robinhood Platinum Card better?

(19:11) - How is the American Express Platinum Card® better?

This podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmiler

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

How do you decide whether to buy flights with cash or miles? Follower Owen asked this question recently, saying:

"On the podcast you guys often say that you rarely book flights with cash. I find that, especially when booking domestic flights, I often can’t get amazing value from my points (let’s say <1.5cpp). As a result, I tend to hoard my points for those big outsized value redemptions (international business class, Park Hyatt stays, etc.) so I end up booking the flight with cash. How do you think about these situations, especially when you have less flexibility around dates? (Let’s say you’re traveling for an event, or just traveling during peak season). How much do you value the extra flexibility that comes with booking with points? At what point do you decide you have plenty of points so redeeming for lower value isn’t the end of the world?"

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

In today's podcast episode we'll talk about Seats.aero enhancements, The Amex Green mystery, and credit cards that are rarely talked about but worth a look.

(00:46) - Mea Culpa re Marriott/Japan Airlines

(05:11) - Amex Green card intrigue

(10:44) - Nick's Bilt hotel experience

(15:29) - Chase offers: new terms about "abuse", which you can read about here

(17:56) - Transfer up to 60K points between Wyndham & Caesars through 9/11/26, which you can read about here

(21:24) - Citi may be adding JAL as a transfer partner, which you can read about here

(24:57) - Singapore Airlines now requires minimum of 1K miles to search for award flights which you can read about here

(27:49) - Qatar walks back restrictions for some elites, which you can read about here

(29:30) - Delta status match terms/condition I didn't know about

(31:50) - Seats.aero enhancements, which you can read more about here

(36:59) - Gondola updates

(40:27) - Reader Elliot gave us a request: "I've got a number of favorite credit cards that I virtually never hear talked about"

(41:12) - The favorites rarely discussed and what we think

(51:08) - Rakuten American Express® Card and what we think

(59:00) - The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges Mastercard Select and what we think

(1:02:07) - Casino cards like the MGM Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, Unity™ by Hard Rock Mastercard® Credit Card and Caesars Rewards® Visa Signature® Card (and what we think)

(1:09:02) - Which hidden gem cards did Elliot miss?

(1:10:36) - Can we name any other card that gives you 2 free checked bags? Read more about free checked bags via credit cards here

(1:15:52) - Others?

(01:32:57) - Check out our Best Offers Page for a database of credit card offers 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 – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Greg's been thinking through how to handle the recent shutdown of his Wells Fargo checking account. Worried the shutdown would eventually impact his credit cards, he had to make a decision about where to transfer his points...

(01:30) - Greg's Wells Fargo shutdown

(08:54) - Reader tip

(13:03) - Nick's advice

(16:20) - Greg's decision

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Does being an authorized user affect your eligibility for a new credit card offer? Reader Mike emailed us with this question:

My wife has the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and I am an authorized user. Now, I want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for myself. Is being an authorized user on the card you want to apply for have any consequences?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

In today's episode, we'll talk about how Wells Fargo shut down Greg's checking account, we'll ask "Did Marriott devalue again?", and we'll look at the many ways to turn hotel status into airline status.

(01:12) - Rick shares a note about Bilt Cash at Walgreens

(04:25) - Chase Freedom Flex® dropping foreign transaction fees, but also losing cell protection

(06:22) - Capital One Shopping: 95% back at Instacart (new members)

(12:05) - Rove adds Qantas

Read more about Rove adding Qantas as a transfer partner here

(13:30) - Choice points on sale through July 20

(14:21) - Greg's Wells Fargo shutdown

Learn more about Greg's Wells Fargo shutdown here

(24:58) - Nick's Sapphire Reserve® Exclusive Tables Blunders

(31:07) - FHR Las Vegas observances

(35:10) - Marriott devaluation... or not?

Read Stephen's thoughts about the supposed devaluation here

(37:43) - How to apply Marriott free night certs to upgraded rooms

Learn more about this here

(42:29) - First up: New Airline + Hotel partnerships

(42:58) - Read more about the Hyatt / Aeroplan partnership here

(53:00) - Read more about Marriott and Japan Airlines here: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-japan-airlines-launch-deeper-partnership-earn-bonus-points-get-status-match-earn-status-points-more/

(1:01:00) - Key hotel/airline match-ups (and other hotel/airline tie-ups)...

(1:16:35) - Special topic: Airline hotel portals

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Bonvoy is the program we love... to hate. Having said that, we'd be lying if we said there were no redeeming features of this program. In this episode, we'll talk about the pros and cons of the Marriott Bonvoy program.

(00:58) - Pros

(06:53) - Cons

(11:50) - See our resource (or "matrix") for determining which Marriott card you may be eligible for 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 – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

What are our favorite USA destinations? If you go for the AA elite status as your Hyatt milestone benefit, when does the AA status expire? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on June 3rd, 2026.

(00:43) - Why does BILT still have “Coming Soon” for Blacklane and Blade BILT Cash redemptions after nearly 6 months? Sure feels like many of us are gonna have a glut of expiring, unusable BILT Cash at year’s end… *sigh*

(03:04) - What do you guys do for internet access on your phones when traveling abroad…pay for international service through your carrier, purchase a VPN, something else I maybe don’t know about? Haha

See our GigSky posts here: https://frequentmiler.com/tag/gigsky/

(11:41) - Curious what each of you would say are your top favorite Hyatt stays? I want to book a couple hotels for next year before Hyatt continues their devaluation rollout.

(17:44) - ​​A question on credit card travel protections. If you use different credit cards for different parts of your trip (e.g., one for flights, another one for hotels, maybe a third for car rentals)

(19:04) - ​I’m now at 4/24, so I want to apply for the 100K Chase Sapphire Preferred card for myself. Is being an authorized user on the card you want to apply for have any negative consequences?

(20:25) - How does the Hyatt Milestone (100+ nights) reward for AA Platinum status for a year work? Does it give you LP to top you up to Platinum status? What’s the process after that to earn Platinum Pro?

(21:13) - Sorry if this has been asked before…..is there going to be another live podcast?? I really want to go if there will be another one! My vote is Omaha ;) Center of the country and not too far for anyone

(22:10) - Do you have any advice for upgrading from Club World to First class on British Airways? Can it be done with Avios, or cash? You guys are the best!!! Thanks for all you do.

(24:08) - On your latest coffee break, if you go for the AA elite status on your Hyatt milestone, when does the AA expire?

Find our recent coffee break here: https://frequentmiler.com/which-hyatt-milestone-reward-should-i-pick-coffee-break-ep113-7-7-26/

(27:08) - ​​Do you have any tips for how to get a Business card NLL offer from Amex?

(31:40) - ​​Then my question would be what are your favorite USA destinations? Wouldn’t that be a fantastic podcast?

See Stephen's post about underrated US destinations here: https://frequentmiler.com/6-underrated-states-to-visit-for-a-domestic-vacation/

(36:30) - ​What’s the summer /2026 challenge ? Can we get India involved as a destination/layover /Stopover?

(36:52) - ​​For Stephen and Tim — looking for their thoughts on the BILT ecosystem currently and how they use the new 2.0 cards ​​

See the podcast episode where Greg and Nick shared their thoughts on Bilt here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-palladium-review-6-month-checkpoint-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep364-6-26-26/

(43:46) - Have any of you personally interacted with EES yet? How long was the delay leaving the eu? Is it less when leaving a smaller airport on a direct flight to a US destination?

(46:13) - Would love to hear the teams experience with the Atmos Summit card and reaching status.

(50:00) - Greg, what's the update for the Citi saga?

(51:29) - Do you use any app to manage and monitor all the credit cards and their benefits or just use excel sheet?

(56:00) - Stephen did you try the clam pizza?

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 – “swappin’ back n’ forth” by up @ night

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

On today's podcast episode, if you couldn't get enough of Basic Economy, don't worry! Delta has introduced Basic Business. We'll share a potential trick for getting 25,000 AA miles for free, and talk about Credit card Travel Credits: which are worthwhile and which are worthless.

(01:10) - Joaquin says, "One thing I haven’t considered before listening to you was to monitor the price of a hotel or flight after booking to cancel and rebook it if the price drops."

(07:40) - Delta introduces Basic Business (and Premium Select, and First)

(13:54) - Delta Stays is better than Greg thought

Read more about Delta Stays here

(17:23) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card OpenTables

(20:38) - Hilton expands partnership with Explora Journeys (luxury cruises)

(23:27) - Many premium cards come with travel credits to justify their annual fees.

We rank them...

(24:31) - General travel credits

(26:16) - Airfare & Airline Fee credits

(32:03) - Hotel credits

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Greg earned a 3-night Hyatt milestone reward, which means he's faced with a choice of what to pick. He's got 90 days to pick that reward, but he's whittled away a lot of that time and now just has a few weeks left to decide.

(01:22) - 30 Night milestone rewards

(02:10) - Pick One: 2K Next Stay Award

(03:30) - Club Access Awards (2)

(04:22) - $25 FIND Experience Credit

(06:14) - 2 Preferred Seat Coupons on American Airlines

(07:19) - What should Greg pick?

(10:23) - Which Hyatt milestone rewards are best at each milestone?

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? Reader "LR" sent us the following question:

"I was intrigued by a recent post about schedule changes in another group that I follow. This particular person noted that anytime United or AA makes a schedule change of any type, you can change your flight at no additional cost to your preferred route. Sometimes you may even have flexibility within several days of the original flight. So my question is, is this a tactic that you all use if you book flights far in advance? Pick the cheapest award price from one city to another, and then hope for a schedule change in order to change it to your preferred route? And then on an even more complicated note- have any of you had success following a schedule change, of changing from a flight in “first class (non-lay-flat seats)” to a different flight on “Delta One” or AA’s “flagship business” or United Polaris (etc, all of which have lay-flat seats)? I assume these are considered different classes and would require a fee upgrade. I’m trying to book flights home from Hawaii next March, and I’m wondering if this kind of tactic may work."

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

On today's episode, we'll see how the 5x airline card saga continues, Nick will give us more reasons to use the Southwest app, we'll hear some exciting news about Frontier, and we'll dive deep into Hyatt's devaluation.

(01:06) - More comments about our comments about there being "No airline cards offer 5x or more"

(03:41) - Points Boost is sometimes different between Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card & Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card

(07:22) - Lifemiles+ eliminates free cancellation benefit for new subscribers

(11:35) - Alaska Wallet funds can now be used for AS companion fares again

(12:20) - Rove adds Frontier as a transfer partner

Read more about Frontier being added as a Rove transfer partner here

(15:30) - Nick's Southwest notes

(21:18) - Hyatt recently introduced new award charts. We dug into the numbers...

Read more about the changed value of Hyatt points here

(22:20) - 1. Median point value dropped ~10%

(23:10) - 2. Cherry-picked value dropped <10%

(24:34) - 3. It could have been much worse

(26:31) - 4. It will probably be much worse next year

(27:46) - 5. Points more valuable with certain brands

(30:37) - 6. Points less valuable with certain brands

(32:14) - 7. Points are less valuable at high end

(34:27) - 8. Points are more valuable at low end

(35:54) - 9. Many cities offer excellent value

(39:45) - 10. Singapore offers surprisingly poor value: 1.0

(40:47) - 11. Worst and best values barely budged

(41:52) - 12. Mr & Mrs Smith not as bad as we thought

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

When it comes to transfer bonuses, conventional wisdom has been not to transfer unless there's specific use in mind. But sometimes the bonus is too good to ignore.

(00:16) - Conventional wisdom: don’t transfer without specific use in mind. But...

(01:19) - With Bilt 2.0, earning hundreds of thousands of Bilt points is not so difficult anymore

(04:11) - So which bonuses are worth doing for airline programs?

Transfer bonuses where Greg & Nick disagree (or both said maybe)

1. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
2. Air France-KLM Flying Blue
3. British Airways Avios
4. Avianca LifeMiles
5. Cathay Pacific Cathay
6. Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank
7. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
8. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Transfer bonuses Greg & Nick would NOT do

1. Etihad Guest
2. Emirates Skywards
3. TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go

(26:15) - So which bonuses are worth doing for hotel programs?

Transfer bonuses Greg & Nick would definitely do

1. Hyatt
2. Accor

Transfer bonuses where Greg & Nick disagree (or both said maybe)

1. I Prefer

Subscribe and Follow

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

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

How are you using AI for trip planning? Frequent Miler reader Jared wrote in:

I recently asked the Bilt Neighborhood Concierge AI which weekends a particular Bilt Home Away from Home hotel (Kimpton Journeyman) had availability between August and December. It gave a useful and seemingly accurate response. Have you recently found any other good uses of Bilt's or other AIs?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

In today's episode, we'll talk about Qatar's crazy new rules if you want to redeem rewards for friends & family, how Wyndham is going to devalue (but it might not be so bad), and we'll take a look back at the first 6 months of Bilt 2.0: The good, the bad, and where things stand now.

(01:13) - Gary Leff has a couple of minor interesting notes on our recent ‘question of the week’ podcast episode

Find our recent Question of the Week episode here

(07:51) - Want to use Qatar Avios to book flights for friends or family? Good luck!

Read more about this Qatar Avios restriction here

(15:36) - Learn more about Wyndham Rewards new award pricing here

(19:43) - Learn about Bilt adding I Prefer 1:2 here

(23:24) - Learn more about the Hyatt / Under Canvas Promo: 15% points rebate on award stays here

(28:59) - Necker Island has new award pricing: 250K per night for 2 adults

(35:08) - Random tips from Nick

Main Event: Bilt Palladium Review: 6 month checkpoint

(41:16) - Background: Bilt changed card issuers and moved from 1 card to 3

(51:39) - Palladium card details

(54:10) - Bilt Elite Status details

(55:41) - Bilt Cash details

(1:01:48) - Nick's Review

(1:10:49) - Greg's Review

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

When you have multiple family members working together to earn travel rewards, it becomes more important to share and combine points. So which programs are best for this ability to share?

(02:07) - Why Transferable Points matter

(05:07) - Why transferable point sharing matters

(07:20) - Read more about Citi discontinuing points sharing here

And read about Wells Fargo's end to combining points here

(08:04) - Transferable points ranked from worst to best for points sharing

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

Book airfare through credit card portal or direct? Frequent Miler reader Mike wrote in with this question:

American Express Platinum cards give you 5x points for direct bookings to airline flights. However, most airlines give you 3x to 5x for using their own co-branded cards for those same flights. Direct bookings give you more options if things go sideways (e.g., flight cancelations that require a rebooking). Or would prefer 8x Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards multiplier? If you use Amex or Chase, you have to deal with an online travel agency to re-book replacement flights. Do you prefer Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, over direct bookings versus that airline’s own co-branded card, and why?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

In today's podcast we see how Wells Fargo Attunes out, we'll talk about the PAZE craze (and why it pays to pay with PAZE), and Greg convinces Nick that a $395 Wyndham card is a good idea.

(01:37) - Deya has a success story about Chase price match

Find our Best Rate Guarantee coffee break episode here

(07:07) - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card refresh is out

(08:48) - Read more about Resy credit changes

(14:33) - A new collectible is born: Wells Fargo Attune card no longer accepting applications

(18:19) - Chase erroneously emails about Ink Plus 5X

(20:55) - Capital One Shopping: -0.25% Accor

(27:43) - Learn more about the PAZE $10 back, 10 times per card opportunity here

Find a Clover map here

(34:55) - Citi ThankYou 50% transfer bonus to ACCOR

(39:46) - Wyndham refreshed its card line up...

(41:13) - Changes to current cards

Read more about the card changes here

(51:55) - Wyndham Earner Premier card (NEW)

Learn more about the Wyndham Earner Premier card here

(1:05:28) - Should you care about Wyndham Rewards?

Learn how to value Wyndham points here

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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

Chase has been slowly rolling out a Best Rate Guarantee for Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders who book hotels through Chase Travel℠. We'll talk about what that means in today's episode.

(00:51) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Background

(03:07) - The basics of the Best Rate Guarantee

(07:25) - Nick's experience

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Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about how the New Sapphire Preferred® card wows, but the new Chase to Hyatt transfer rate breaks our hearts.

(01:18) - Read more about stacking Chase Instacart deals here or learning to love Instacart credits here

(04:33) - Elliot talks about getting into the Instacart game

(05:58) - Christine found a great Instacart stack

(07:47) - IHG Targeted offer: 0K points every 0 nights

(08:53) - Wells Fargo ends point sharing (Sep 25)

Read more about Wells Fargo changes here

(12:30) - Greg rants about points brokers

(18:28) - United Pooling apparently now allows partner awards

(20:22) - Alaska Airlines CFO hints at BOA point transfers

(23:31) - Gondola: flight autosave

(27:49) - Learn more about the Chase / Paze Promo here

(35:15) - Transfer ratio to Hyatt dropping to 4:3 (except for Sapphire Reserve® cards)

Read more about this change in Hyatt transfer ratio here

(52:50) - Is there any upside?

(54:45) - Possible to-dos (if you care about Hyatt 1-1 transfers)

Find our "Which Premium Cards are Keepers?" resource here

Learn more about Hyatt milestone spending here

(1:08:02) - Learn more about the refreshed Sapphire Preferred® card here

(01:09:53) - Lots of good stuff (effective 6/15)

(01:15:42) - And some bad stuff (effective 10/1 for pre 6/15 cardholders)

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

In this episode, we'll discuss Wells Fargo's Premier version of the Autograph Journey card, only available to Wells Fargo Premier clients.

(01:04) - Almost identical to Autograph Journey, but this one is targeted to WF Premier customers

Learn more about the Wells Fargo Premier Autograph Visa Infinite card here

(02:09) - Advantages over the Autograph Journey

(05:52) - Only available to Wells Fargo Premier clients

(07:00) - Greg's experience

(09:33) - First impressions

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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

How has SAS Eurobonus award availability been in the months since the Million Mile Madness challenge? What’s the single best card for your "player two"? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on June 3rd, 2026.

(00:38) - How many backup flights do you have booked at any one time, and how many fees does that incur?

(04:43) - Has Greg tried/considered applying for a Discover card as a way to get “in” with Capital One since he has been unable to get approved for Capital One cards in the past?

(06:05) - ​How has SAS Eurobonus award availability been in the months since the Million Mile Madness challenge? Any regrets?

Learn more about the Million Mile Madness challenge here.

(09:15) - ​​Given all the hotel devaluations which now includes Hyatt, which hotel points would you recommend accumulating? Seems every chain wants lots of points for a room.

Learn about the decreased Hilton point value here

(16:01) - What’s a single best card for "P2" (player two)?

(23:24) - Should Chase Rapid Reward credit card holders EVER book something above Choice fares if you don't care about the multiplier?

(26:11) - How do you redeem Bilt cash for grub hub, walgreens and the $25 dining?

(32:47) - Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card annual fee just posted today but still haven’t received the free night certificate. I was planning to downgrade to surpass, when can I expect it, if it takes more than 30 days will I still get annual fee refund?

(34:36) - ​​I want to fly Cathay Pacific First Class between Chicago and Hong Kong, either way or both works. I’m extremely flexible and can probably come up with enough points in any currency. How do I find it?

Find our "Which award search tool is best?" resource here

(36:57) - ​I'm applying for my first mortgage soon. While my credit score is fine, I'm a bit worried about having to explain my long laundry list of credit card accounts thanks to this crazy hobby. Should I be?

(41:24) - ​​So what are your favorite choices for virtually undiscovered islands similar to Koh Kood that lack the crowds but still have things to do

(50:38) - What airline programs should be avoided due to poor customer service? I try to book when flights come out, which means there are often schedule changes that can be a problem/opportunity.

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 – “swappin’ back n’ forth” by up @ night

In today's episode, Greg shares the story of how Citi shut down his accounts and what's next for him. (What will he do without his beloved Prestige card?) Read more about Greg's situation with Cit here.

(01:06) - Russel discusses how Barclays American Airlines card is not a way back to Citi

(02:57) - Flyguy talks about also being shutdown by Citi for paying the bill from multiple checking accounts in a single cycle

(04:53) - American Airlines blocking close-in domestic award availability to partners here

(07:58) - Alaska Airlines: Increased partner award fees & no points or status points on saver fares here

(13:36) - What are Hilton points worth? Find out here

(21:00) - Hyatt reasonable redemption value preview

(23:26) - Vacations by Marriott here

(28:42) - World of Hyatt to launch early access bookings for elites and cardholders June 30th.

(30:01) - Credit card referral offers

(32:53) - Learning to love Instacart credits here

(37:25) - Greg's shutdown story

Read more about Greg's situation with Cit here

(52:12) - There was a brief window to transfer points

(58:40) - Globe Card (from Aviator Silver) opened shortly after shutdown

(1:03:41) - What's lost and what to do about it

(1:07:51) - Citi's unique transfer partners

(1:11:42) - AA status: Will pursue AK status instead

(1:14:38) - Priority Pass restaurants: US Bank Altitude Connect

(1:16:58) - Grocery

(1:23:44) - Dining

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

There have been some negative changes coming out of Citi that we'll be talking about in today's podcast episode.

(00:43) - Citi Custom Cash® Card discontinued for new applications, but it may still be possible to product-change to it

You can read more about this discontinuation here.

(01:16) - Citi Custom Cash® Card details

(04:23) - Citi had been on a roll...

(04:42) - Citi points have been declining in value

You can read about some of the negative Citi changes here

(05:16) - But still has excellent options

(06:33) - Is it worth going out of one's way to get Citi Citi Custom Cash® Card while it's available for product changing?

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

Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? Frequent Miler reader Keith wrote in with this question:

I tried to transfer 560K points to Air France to snag a redemption. had previously transferred about 280k points from Amex to KLM, I thought for sure the points would have similarly come through with Chase. Sadly, the points took 4 days to transfer, and I missed my booking window. Looking back, should I have spread my point transfers across different currencies to lower the transfer risk? I could have also covered the transfer using Capital One or Amex points. How do you balance speed with lowering the risk that your points will miss their intended purpose?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

Today's episode will provide a whole grab bag of tips for how to find those impossible award bookings for your award travel goals.

(02:32) - Here's a grab bag of techniques, and keep in mind it's often necessary to use multiple

(03:09) - Be flexible!

(06:48) - Look towards the end of the booking schedule: use points that can book farther out

(08:26) - Positioning flights

(20:59) - Programs that reserve more space for their own members

(22:22) - Programs that reserve more space for elite members/cardholders

(24:17) - Programs that allow more awards for more points

(26:47) - Married segment logic awards (e.g. san-lax-tyo available, but lax-tyo not available)

(35:07) - Consider programs that allow a stopover

(39:04) - Award tool Alerts

(41:44) - Paid flights

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

The World of Hyatt new award charts are live now, and we have thoughts! We'll give our first impressions in this episode, and you can read more about the new award charts here.

(00:25) - World of Hyatt's new award charts are live

(01:44) - Where it hurts the most

(04:05) - It's not all doom and gloom

Read more about our first impressions here.

(11:55) - Analysis

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

Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Points Boosts? Frequent Miler reader Bryant wrote in saying...

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card providing 8X points on travel and hotel, doesn’t it always make sense to book through Chase and get the multiplier? That being said, what then is the best way to utilize the points to maximize their value?

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.

As more and more people get into the points & miles game, we're seeing an acceleration of devaluations. Opportunities to earn points disappear. Point prices go up. Transfer ratios go down. Is this the beginning of the end?

(00:46) - Gil has a warning story about being Bonvoyed by Bonvoy... Boundless

(06:28) - Devaluations keep hitting

(14:14) - Positive trends that we're seeing at the time of this recording (May 1 2026).

(15:15) - Doing this for 15 years

(17:37) - Enjoying elite status

(21:10) - Earning points getting easier

(27:54) - New opportunities to earn transferable points keep appearing

(29:00) - Point transfer opportunities are often increasing

(30:26) - Using points sometimes improves

(31:28) - Airlines

(38:37) - Hotels

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

Blogging on the road is pretty easy, but podcasting from the road is a different story. In this episode, we'll talk about how.

(01:12) - Internet issues

(05:39) - Microphone issues

(14:27) - Improvised laptop stands

(19:38) - Lighting issues (dark hotel rooms, cars, etc.)

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

My credit card application was declined. Now what?

We get this kind of question a lot. And the truth is, credit card application strategies may vary by bank.

For example, you can read our Complete Guide to credit card application rules (by bank) here. Let's say you have a letter that says there were too many new accounts, too much available credit, not enough usage of existing credit, etc. Then what? Don't forget that you can always call and ask for reconsideration...

We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to mailbag@frequentmiler.com.