Frequent Miler on the Air

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Greg & Nick discuss:

Reader feedback: You can't take my Joy of Free Ricardo's comment: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/is-it-now-irrational-to-hold-ultimate-rewards-points-on-nicks-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2263474

See also: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/why-the-worst-rewards-are-the-best/

9:16 Baby in business class debate (feedback rekindles an old discussion) Greg's old post: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/the-baby-in-business-class-debate/

Nick's response: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/why-travel-with-a-baby/

11:02 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? Benefits added are too little, too late. See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citi-joins-the-party-5x-prestige-online-3x-groceries-on-premier-starts-now/

18:05 Exciting opportunities in Aeroplan/Etihad partnership

See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/etihad-partners-with-air-canada-opportunities-abound/

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/aeroplan-etihad-sweet-spot-first-class-to-australia/

36:13 How Chase introducing a customer-friendly use of points ironically takes away the Joy of Free

See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/is-it-now-irrational-to-hold-ultimate-rewards-points-on-nicks-mind/

52:56 IHG 4th Night Free: Good enough to upgrade the old credit card or consider applying for a new one?

See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ihg-sweet-spot-dynamic-pricing-4th-night-free/

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Greg & Nick discuss:

-Chase COVID enhancements to CSR and CSP

-Should anyone consider redeeming Chase points at 1.5c each for groceries? Is it only for those who are cash-strapped - or should more people think about this option?

-Confession time, question of the week, and more

Timestamps & links:

1:58 Confession Time: Greg's Airline Incidental Sin

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/amex-airline-fee-reimbursements-still-works/

10:50 Why Nick doesn't like Early Bird Check-in

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/complete-guide-southwest-companion-pass/#Early_Bird_CheckIn

14:21 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? (Er - What didn't they do?)

17:12 Chase's big new COVID offer

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/wow-chase-responds-with-new-covid-benefits-on-csr-and-csp/

22:44 Is redeeming points for 1.5cpp a good deal?

35:13 Does it make sense to sign up for the CSR now?

37:46 Upgrade to the CSR now?

41:18 How about the Ritz card? Will Chase do anything for us?

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ritz-fee-credits-what-works/

48:43 Capital One's forgotten COVID enhancement

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/capital-one-adds-restaurant-and-streaming-redemptions/

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/capital-one-brings-back-some-travel-gift-cards-including-special-offers/

53:26 Question of the week: Can you double-dip Chase grocery rewards with an upgrade?

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Greg & Nick discuss:

Topics: -#StayCaytoFarAway: results are shaping up to be quite a surprise including a huge comeback and surprising (to us) finish

-Should we launch a podcast version of our live show?

-Travel News & Thoughts: Will Iceland be a safer destination than parts of the US? What are the options we're talking about domestically?

-A cool tool for finding award availability

00:00:47 Reader Feedback: Ask Us Anything. Should it be a pod?

See: https://youtu.be/fmHjqJWMdaw

8:58: What crazy thing did Citi do this week?

See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citi-shows-points-earned-with-each-thankyou-card-transaction/

15:54 StayCay to Far Away

See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/tag/staycaytofaraway

38:39 Travel News & Thoughts: International & Domestic, including: -Iceland's plan to test tourists for COVID-19 -Greg's canceled Hyatt reservation -Nick's comfort with being home -United business class to Europe (See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/europe-2021-united-business-class-awards-wide-open-book-for-45k-w-turkish/)

55:43 Finding award availability: SeatSpy

See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/seatspy-founders-deals-ending-soon/

1:08:41 Question of the week: Is the Best Offers page clear enough? How could we make it more user-friendly?

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Greg and Nick discuss:

-Qatar Airways's amazing flexible ticket promo. What's exciting, what's not, and is it ethical to game it? See related post here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/qatar-airwayss-amazing-promo/

-Hilton's watchful eye: Did the claw back Greg's points in response to his post, or is it coincidence? Readers weigh in, we respond. See related post here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hilton-finally-claws-back-my-points-are-they-watching-me/

-Transferable points report card: Did Greg rate Capital One too low? See related post here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/transferable-points-programs-compared/

All that and particularly interesting reader feedback and question time this week. Timestamps and links to related content:

4:03 Reader feedback about wanting to use affiliate links Related content: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/how-frequent-miler-the-business-will-survive-covid-19/ 9:46 Qatar's crazy promotion: How it works and what parts of it are actually notable (and which aren't) Read more: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/qatar-airwayss-amazing-promo/ 17:38 Are there ethical implications to taking advantage of the Qatar deal? 27:56 Is Hilton watching Greg? Readers have voted - do they think Greg's clawback was a coincidence or connection? What do we think? Read more: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hilton-finally-claws-back-my-points-are-they-watching-me/ 41:02 Transferable points report card: Is Capital One as bad as Greg rated them? Nick argues for better grades. Read more: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/transferable-points-programs-compared/ 1:04:29 Question of the week: Are the banks keeping tabs on whose links we use? Will they hold it against you if you apply through a particular blogger or referral?

See http://thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe for more from FM.

Greg and Nick discuss:

-Aeroplan mileage sale: Crazy deal, or crazy customers? Is Greg getting even crazier?

-Amex's different strategy for our northern neighbors: what they've got that we don't and whether or not we think they'll do something similar in the US

-Spa Week deal: I said this deal stinks and if you didn't click through to the post you might have missed Greg's comment about why it could be great. With Mother's Day around the corner, this could be worth pursuing

All that and more. Timestamps:

00:23 Reader feedback

4:01 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? ("Expiring" points after a product change - that won't really expire)

10:02 What crazy thing did Hilton do this week? 13:39 Aeroplan promotion: Points on sale May 7-13

18:40 Did Greg buy miles? Is he thinking about it? Should anybody buy? Why or why not?

23:52 Why were so many people buyers? Has our hobby gone mad?

25:13 We're always buying miles by giving up cash back to accept points.

26:51 Greg is going to transfer to Air Canada for elite status. Why??

31:55 Greg makes a prediction. We all know how he's doing with predictions this year.

32:26 Amex throws Canada a bone. What's with that? It's not Canadian Express. Will they increase redemption value stateside as well?

40:38 A deal that stinks...but doesn't. This is why you should click through and read the comments.

48:23: Question of the Week: Which card for groceries in August?

Chase & Citi surprise, but Amex delights in their benefit refresh. Hear Greg & Nick talk about:

-Cards newly offering bonuses on groceries -Overhaul of Amex card benefits. Did Amex take the Platinum cards from zero to hero? -Which card wins: in several battles throughout the episode, we talk which card to use and why -Do the changes make any cards must-haves now?

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Timestamps: 00:27 Reader feedback. Pop quiz. 5:37 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? 8:46 Chase now bonusing groceries 14:07 3x CSP or 6x Marriott? 17:30 Is it worth buying GCs online to earn grocery bonus? 21:22 Is this all Chase is going to do? 23:31 Amex enhancements card-by-card 24:14 Consumer Platinum refresh 27:22 Is it worth sacrificing cell phone insurance to get the Platinum wireless service credit? 30:44 Business Platinum refresh 38:10 Greg says Personal over Business. Nick disagrees. 41:00 Hilton refresh 48:05 12x hilton vs 5x Chase vs 3x Chase 50:31 12x Hilton vs 4x Amex 51:26 Amex Green card refresh 54:42 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant refresh 1:00:36 Delta consumer cards: Bum deal 1:03:12 A retraction from Nick 1:06:17 Revisiting Greg's bold satement 1:11:10 Question of the week: Which ultra-premium cards are now must-apply? Which is #1? #2?

Subscribe here and visit: thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe for more from FM.

This week Greg and Nick discuss:

-Citi's latest crazy move. --Do recent developments on the credit card scene signal us to stop applying? -Greg places to travel in the USA --Our favorites from StayCay week 1 -And more!

Timestamps: 00:28 Reader feedback: Should the "pod" have its own post?

4:35 A new segment: What crazy thing has Citi done this week?

6:40 Emirates sweet spots

11:24 American Airlines: The most customer-unfriendly airline? A new round of shut downs and increased bag fees.

15:40 Is here a new sheriff in town? Is he patrolling other programs?

17:54 Amex clawbacks unfair given COVID-19

21:25 Chase is tightening the belt. Will other issuers? Should we stop applying for Chase cards? What about other issuers?

31:10 Travel: What are the resorts that most excited Greg from his series this week?

47:42 StayCay Week 1 wrap up

1:02:17 Question of the week: Should one cancel a Virgin Atlantic award and transfer points to Hilton out of fear that Virgin Atlantic will shut down?

Subscribe here & at http://thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe. This week, Greg and Nick discuss:

-Frequent Miler site redesign: initial reader outrage, immediate adjustments, and how it is better today.

-Hyatt credit card promo: How much spending will Greg do toward Hyatt Globalist with this promo?

-Southwest: The response to the pandemic and the opportunity that may exist for converting "other" points to Southwest.

-StayCay to Far Away Challenge: This year the newly-expanded Frequent Miler team takes on an at-home set of video challenges. Early polling suggests an unexpected frontrunner.

Timestamps:

1:17 Reader feedback: Our redesign (including our discussion about the redesign)

12:07 World of Hyatt credit card promo: Is it worth spending toward status? How much will Greg do?

23:04 Southwest's response to COVID-19

31:12 Potential opportunity to convert other credit card points to Southwest.

41:38: StayCay to Far Away: What the new challenge is and who the early front-runner is.

57:35 Question of the week: Should you proactively convert Citi Double Cash rewards to ThankYou points?

1:02: Tag question: Is the Double Cash worth a 5/24 slot?

This week, Greg & Nick discuss:

-A face mask you already own

-Projects happening behind the scenes at Frequent Miler

-The Citi Premier changes and how they position Citi to have a killer 2-card combo

-Choosing travel protection or more points when booking paid travel

All that and more!

See below for timestamps and links:

2:16: Greg's DIY Face Masks

5:27: Reader Feedback

8:42: Subscribe, please

9:10: Team FM project: New Theme

14:45: A new challenge (Link to old challenge: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/40k-to-far-away-news/)

19:34 A new competitor

21:29: Big changes coming to Pemier Link to read more about the changes: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citi-adding-grocery-stores-restaurants-to-3x-category-3x-travel-structure-changing/)

35:37: Greg's curses AA frequent flyers

39:32: Question of the week

Greg and Nick discuss:

-How COVID-19 is impacting the business of Frequent Miler in a major way and what we and you can do to weather the storm.

-Awesome news from Hyatt

-Simon $1K VGCs are how online, but are they worth it?

-Going live: get notified the next time we're live on YouTube.

Read more at thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe

Timestamps:

1:36: Reader feedback: Clarifying Citi application rules

7:12: How Frequent Miler makes money and will survive the COVID-19 crisis despite big hits to income

18:20: A very special thank you

32:00: What can readers do to support Frequent Miler given the current environment?

36:36: Good news: Hyatt keeps Greg's wrong prediction streak alive and now I've caught his bug.

44:33: More news: Now register to buy $1K Simon Visa gift cards online, but is it a good deal?

57:52: We were live and will be again. Join us. Subscribe.

1:03:43. Question of the week: Are gift cards FDIC-backed? Should we be concerned about holding them right now?

Greg and Nick debate whether to cash out points rather than waiting to use them for travel. We also debate whether to sign up for cards now while great offers remain or wait for something better to maybe come along.

Timestamps:

1:30: Coronavirus preparation 6:37 Reader feedback: is it time to cash out points? 10:53: How many points are "enough" per passenger before you consider cashing out? 14:38: Are airline miles safe in the current environment? Are there any we should burn right now? 21:54: What will be the impact of hotels in the aftermath of coronavirus? 25:18: Whoops! A disconnection leads to a moment of chatter about how to avoid this in the future. 27:13: Is this a good time to sign up for credit cards? 30:00: Co-brands 30:17: Cash back cards 30:33: Ink Cards 31:24: Nick disagrees: Travel offers won't increase 33:33: Greg agrees that Nick is partially right: Offers may not increase, but we may see the return of "try before you buy" or extra credits and reduced spend requirements. 36:57: Nick disagrees: Cash back offers may increase after all 40:35: Will the Ink no-fee cards see increased offers? 44:30: Where do we stand so far? 47:10: Should we be afraid of points being devalued because of the coronavirus crisis? 53:54: Greg's counter-argument against airline credit cards today. 55:26: Greg challenges Nick's assertion that travel cards are worth considering right now? 55:48: Greg admits that Nick is right. 59:05: Greg disconnects! 1:00:30: The ten second explanation of what Nick said while Greg was disconnected. 1:01:00: Are transferable currency cards worth considering now? One defintiely is! 1:04:50: Question of the week x 2.5. 1:06:00: First of 2.5 questions of the week: what counts as a direct deposit? 1:09:50: Second question of the week: Halfway to the Companion Pass. Abort now or continue? 1:11:26: Nick shows why Greg was totally wrong -- with a little help from Greg! 1:14:25: Related Southwest question: Should those with Southwest points look for ways to cash out now? 1:17:57: Greg admits Nick is right....AGAIN. 1::20:00: Greg needs an intervention about cashing out some points.

Greg and Nick discuss:

-Is this a good time to book future travel? We obviously don't know when "safe" will be, but maybe this is a good time to book for the future?

-Is it ethical to take advantage of the current no change fee policies?

More:

-Should we cancel or downgrade annual fee credit cards? We can't travel now, we don't know when we'll be able to travel again. When is it time to cut the cord on expensive credit cards with benefits we can't use?

-How should people handle the travel industry's customer service collapse? Many people are reporting huge wait times, finger pointing (e.g. "call the airline" no "call the OTA"), wrong information.

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Timestamps (thanks to Screaming Lincolns on Youtube):

3:15 Is it really free? (Hotel Free Night) 5:13 Free Nights vs Award Flights w/Fuel Surcharges 10:50 Points/Miles Great Value Discussion 13:31 Main Topic: When to book travel? 15:56 June 1st??? 18:18 British Airways Refund Trick [Hat Tip to Gary Leff at View From The Wing] 22:23 Spend all miles now??? 23:00 Ethical Issue: Change Waivers 28:18 Where in the world would you like to be quarantined? 31:32 Greg's Travel Plans 34:06 Cust Svc/Changing Policies 39:09 Southwest's Travel Funds Extension 41:12 Credit Card Downgrades [Hat Tip to Grant Thomas at Travel With Grant] 43:30 Downgrade Strategy 53:41 What's in your wallet, NOW??? 58:42 Nick's Morphosis :) 1:00:35 F-Bomb Averted :( 1:03:35 Question of the Week: Extending United Airlines Voucher 

Greg and Nick discuss the fallout from last week's F-bomb. Greg introduces THREE feedback segments AND offers up a bonus update about Hotel Slash. Nick discusses customer friendly updates from the major hotel chains. Should we take advantage of these changes to seek elite status this year?

Timestamps courtesy of Screaming Lincolns on YouTube:

2:51 1st Feedback - SW points DON'T expire 4:33 2nd Feedback - Greg's Hertz points 5:43 3rd Feedback - Timestamps 8:20 Thanks a lot Jerry! 9:20 Hotel Slash Update - no points or elite nights :( 11:35 Toilet Paper Panic 13:18 Travel Company Cancellation Policy Updates 15:31 Hyatt Loyalty Discussion 17:35 Marriott Loyalty Discussion 23:40 Lower Elite Hotel Status Requirements? 32:01 IHG Free Night Certs 34:15 Manufacturing Spend for Hyatt Elite Status? 35:41 Greg's Travel Plans 37:14 Nick's Travel Plans 38:15 Meow 40:23 Points/Miles vs Cashback Discussion 42:44 Better Credit Card Bonuses coming? 43:00 Meow (2) 48:38 Covid's effect on MS 51:19 Simon Mall VGC Stock 53:30 No F-Bomb :(

Nick takes issue with Greg's comparison between the Amex Platinum and Sapphire Reserve cards. Does he have a point?

We also discuss Hyatt Prive, Coronavirus, and more.

Unfortunately Squadcast crapped out on us during recording and so we had to convert the much lower quality video sound to audio for this podcast.

This week, Greg and Nick discussed:

-Reader feedback that makes Greg re-evaluate his CSR valuation

-Why SeatSpy is exciting and our hopes for it long-term

-The ethics of using HotelSlash: Will they help us get a deal, earn rewards, and support them at the same time?

-How Turkish Miles & Smiles is making Citi great again

-The aim of Frequent Miler Insiders

Are the Marriott credit cards back on the chopping block after Greg's research this week, or are the 35K and 50K free night certs worth the fees? Watch us debate that, discuss a true 4th night free benefit you may be missing, and more.

Timestamps courtesy of audience member Screaming Lincolns:

3:01 FM to go (meet ups) 8:50 Confession time (Greg's Delta Cancellation Fees) 14:16 Greg's Marriott free night certificate analysis 16:48 Nick's retort 19:14 Greg's 50K free night certificate analysis 21:18 Greg's methodology issue 25:07 50K certs' decline for aspirational properties 33:36 How much would you pay for 50K cert? 47:20 Sapphire Reserve's 4th night free w/SBE properties 53:47 Possible points accrual with Sapp Res 4th night benefit? 56:44 Pay 3 get 4 Hyatt nights possible? 1:01:11 (NO-GO) Piggyback Free Night Cert w/Marriott's 5th night free (NO-GO) 1:04:36 Reader Question (FM's Reasonable Redemption Values Page updates)

In this week's FM on the Air, Greg and Nick discuss:

- The Rakuten Visa no longer earns 3X for gift cards. Is the card dead to us?

- Alaska joins OneWorld. How bad is that?

- Virgin Atlantic partners with Air France & KLM. We highlight the sweet spot awards that are now possible.

Following the latest Marriott Bonvoy devaluation, we're all feeling like we've been Bonvoyed yet again. Greg and Nick discuss whether it's time to get rid of our Marriott credit cards and to stop pursuing Marriott elite status.

Also: A path to easy Delta Platinum status and why none of us are carrying the Chase Freedom Unlimited...though one of us might be soon.

This week, Greg and Nick discuss:

-What to do with a Marriott Travel Package certificate that is nearing expiration.

-A great first class deal, the mistake Greg made in the booking process, and more regarding that new JAL first class route.

-This week's juicy main topic: our unfiltered thoughts on Juicy Miles.

When the cat's away the mice will play: with Greg on vacation this week, hear Nick and Frequent Miler contributor Stephen Pepper discuss:

-Reader feedback: why we re-publish some old posts

-What's it like to take a 5-year road trip?

-A couple of years in, what would Stephen change?

-What has surprised him the most about this journey?

-Would Stephen recommend this lifestyle for others?

All that and more in this week's episode.

This week, Greg and Nick Discuss:

-Chase's no-notice elimination of the Ritz discount airfare benefit: why Greg thinks this might be good news.

-Is DoorDash DashPass a good benefit on the CSR? Was Nick right to value the CSR's DoorDash credit at full value?

-Hacking Asia Miles: How to fly first class for less and when and where it might be worth it.

All that plus reader feedback, the question of the week, and more.

Greg and Nick discuss the Chase Sapphire Reserve: 

-Are the new benefits with Lyft and DoorDash exciting? -Is it worth the new $550 annual fee? -If we had to pick one ultra-premium card, would this be it? Why or why not?

All that plus reader feedback, confessions of a points & miles sinner, and more.

Greg and Nick confess their miles & points sins and review their predictions for 2020. Example: Will Chase raise the Sapphire Reserve annual fee this year? Greg says no, but Nick says yes. Here's why...

Greg and Nick discuss their picks for the best and worst happenings in the points & miles world in 2019. Join us to hear our opinions about Citibank, Marriott, AA, Turkish, Simon Mall, and more.

This week, Greg and Nick discuss:

- A new way to bypass 5/24

- How to protect yourself when stitching together flights from multiple airlines

- Marriott elite nights via meetings are gone. How does this influence our elite status plans for 2020?

- Price protection from Rakuten

This week, Greg and Nick discuss the current waves of American Airlines AAdvantage account shutdowns, whether or not churners are responsible for devaluations, and why Greg is helping his son become a miles millionaire before a technical glitch leaves us short of this week's full intended discussion.

Greg and Nick discuss:

-AA Web Specials now apply to business and first class. Nick explains why that might not be good news.

-Hyatt moves to peak and off-peak award pricing. Nick calls it a devaluation. Greg argues that there's good news here.

-Kiva turns out to have higher default rates than Greg expected. Is Kiva dead to the miles & points community? We explain why we're still Kiva-ing along

This week Greg and Nick discuss:

-Black Friday / Cyber Monday Deals

-How to increase credit card spend without going broke

-Bank account bonuses (easy money!)

-Marriott meetings: an easy way to get 10 elite nights

After we prove mathematically that Greg too often says "um," Greg and Nick move onto weightier topics: - Should we have published the controversial Chase links post? Why did we? - Managing your credit card portfolio. How do you know which cards to get and to keep? How do you get cards that are no longer available? How do you keep points alive when you cancel?

Greg and Nick discuss:

- The $8K per night private island that is now part of the Marriott chain

- Amex's War on Gaming. How does that change Greg's Delta plans?

- The Business Platinum devaluation. Is it a good thing in disguise? 

-The Mint Coin deal. How Nick ramped it up. Good stuff to know for any deal that is limited by household.

Greg & Nick discuss:

- What is Frequent Miler all about? Why we're different. - The awesome Hilton Aspire deal. Did Greg go for it? - A bit of Virgin Atlantic awesomeness - Airbnb: Will we ever use it again after THE article?

On this week's Frequent Miler on the air, listen in as Greg and Nick discuss why we write about the deals we do, what you need to consider for your CNB exit plan, which card is a no-brainer for most (and why it's not for Greg), 5,000-mile award tickets to New Zealand and more. 

This week Greg and Nick discuss the newly revamped Amex Green card.  It's actually a very interesting partial answer to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.  More interesting though is the possibility of easily picking up 45,000 Membership Rewards points.

Next we discuss SoFi Money.  Here's how to get free money quickly.  Not kidding.

Finally, we talk about manufacturing spend with the Citi Double Cash card.  How awesome is 2X everywhere uncapped?

Greg and Nick discuss favorite moments, lessons learned, and other final thoughts on the 40K to Far Away challenge.

What happens when you get bitten by a different kind of travel bug, why Citi has us seeing Double, and how we're handling last-minute prep for the #40KFaraway challenge, mere days away from beginning.

Plans for how to earn hundreds of thousands of miles, a hot sweet spot to come, the miles we'd buy speculatively, and more.

Greg surprised Nick with a pop quiz. We also discuss Emirates sweet spots, Google Fi headaches, and more.

This week Nick is vacationing in Bora Bora. On our weekly FM on the Air, he compares the Conrad to the St Regis Bora Bora. Which is better? He also talks pros and cons of Hawaii vs. Bora Bora. Next, we talked vacation packages and shared tips for getting the most out of them. Finally, I talked live with a Delta Vacations rep to find out if the SkyMiles deal of the year has been extended (it has!).

Today we discuss Hawaii, if a Citi card is worth a 5/24 slot thanks to Turkish, and what surprised Greg when he read my post about Stephen winning the #40KFaraway challenge.

Fixing an AAward disaster, what to do now to prep for the Marriott changes, stacking sweet spots and more.

Is that new IHG offer worth a 5/24 slot? Is it worth forgoing award stays for a year just to accumulate a ton of IHG points? Those questions answered, plus how to fly to Asia in biz class w/ a stopover in Hawaii for 47.5K miles and how Capital One could take the CSR down.

What do you do when your positioning flight gets canceled hours before you are due to fly 15 hours away on an award ticket? Why are the changes to Amex airline fee reimbursements a total non-issue? Which niche credit card might Greg open thanks to Simon Malls? Should we increase the Reasonable Redemption Value of ThankYou points because of Turkish Miles & Smiles? See us debate those topics and more.

When Nick went on vacation, he sat by the pool. This week, Greg's been on vacation -- but Greg has been prepping for #40Kfaraway with a *50-mile hike*. Speaking of $40Kfaraway, what could Stephen be plotting? Do we have any clues? That and more in this week's Frequent Miler on the Air.

Greg & Nick of Frequent Miler discuss whether or not the upcoming sale of $1,000 Visa Gift Cards at Simon Malls is a big deal, how that compares to manufactured spending at shopping malls, and why you want to find United 5K flights.

Find out more about the absolute cheapest way to get to Hawaii on points and listen in as we discuss our dilemma: to publish, or not to publish?

Greg and Nick debate the 40K to Far Away challenge. Who's going to go the farthest in the most style?

Greg and Nick discuss multiple options for booking ultra-premium suites with points. Also: Is there any value to booking hotels through Citi anymore?

Greg and Nick debate: If you could only have one card, what would it be? Capital One Venture? Chase Sapphire Reserve? A cash back card?

We also discuss:

• New credit cards (Sonesta & Marriott)
• Transfer bonuses
• More

Listen now.

Greg and Nick debate:

• Amex Gold (great or not?)
• 25K Hawaii Marriott (transfer points from Chase? NO!!!)
• Marriott Bonvoy (Is it time to give Marriott a break?)
• Capital One's latest transfer bonus (good enough to transfer prospectively?)
• And we both love tap-to-pay.

Listen now.

Nick and Greg debate:

• Marriott gift cards
• When cash is better than points
• Platinum card devaluation (with Priority Pass restriction)
• The benefits of using Qantas to book AA flights
• Does it make sense to manufacture Delta elite status?
• And more.