Award Travel 101

Latest Episodes:

Chicago Seminars; Second City, but First in Points and Miles Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

We are less than a month away from this year’s Chicago Seminars, the oldest and largest gathering of points and miles aficionados. Joe and Mike talk about the event and give a preview of lectures both Joe and I will be giving. There is also a survey
Also discussed are strategies to prepare for a potential Alaska and Hawaiian airlines merger now that the USDOJ has green lighted the deal. Lastly should we be putting more focus on the Marriott Bonvoy program and it's mid-tier Platinum status? Our moderator Maria thinks so.
Links to Topics Discussed

Increased Ink welcome offer coming to an end
Choice Hotels Adds New Sweet Spot Rewards starting at 5k points
Bilt Rewards Hawaiian Airlines Transfer PartnershipPermanently Ends
How To Create a Travel Rewards Credit Card Strategy for Families
Podcast Episode 19 - The Tools of Travel
Visit the Chicago Seminars site for tickets. Use code MikeZCS10Discount for $10 off
Award Travel Survey Date to be compiled and presented at Chicago Seminars.

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions!
Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Out to SEA Meetup Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Meetups are one of our favorite aspects of this hobby which allow us to interact in person with those who share our same passion/obsession. Angie and Mike are fresh off the latest Award Travel 101 meetup in Seattle where they interreacted with almost 50 other members of the community. They detail the experiences of the weekend and reiterate the benefits of attending meetups and how sometimes it's nice to converse with others who suffer the same affliction as you.
Links to topics discussed

Fontinebleau Las Vegas Status Match
Current Capital One Spark Business Offer
5 issuers raise Global Entry credit to match fee increase
Qatar Avios Devaluation, significantly affects American and Alaska domestic US award.
Amex announces forthcoming Centurion Lounge in Salt Lake City (SLC)
Photos from the OUT to SEA meetup in Seattle (Award Travel 101 Facebook Group)

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Meet The Mods - April Rose Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

As part of our "Meet The Mods" series Mike talks with April about her background, travel style and of course love of Hyatt. They also discuss the nuances of being native New Yorkers where it's seemingly required to vacation in Florida nearly every year. Further discussion ensues about important credos such as " book early, book often" and "the phone eats first."
Links to Topics Discussed

Hyatt Promos
Hyatt Fast Track, trough AA status match
Enhanced offers on Amex Bonvoy Cards
Rooms.aero compared to other hotel award search engines

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

How to Talk to Muggles Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

If you have been around this space for awhile you'll inevitably run into issues dealing with "muggles" or those unwise in the magical arts of award travel. Angie and Mike talk about the type of muggles we meet and how to best converse with them without sounding like a crazy person.
Links to topics discussed

Under the Canvas Joins World of Hyatt (Correction: Under the Canvas properties are located NEAR, National Parks, not within their boundaries.)
Flash” 70% transfer bonus from Chase to Marriott (through August 15)
Amex MR 30% Transfer Bonus to Avios
Amex MR 20% Transfer Bonus to Hawaiian
"Pepe Silvia" It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Around-the-World Adventures Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

This week Mike talks with Joe who has just logged his latest entry in his "Summer of Travel" logbook by traveling Japan Air Lines Business Class JFK to Toyko, intra-Asia flights to Korea and back. Then the culmination of Etihad business and first class from Tokyo to Abu Dhabi back to JFK. Hyatt and FHR stays throughout.

Links to Topics Discussed:

Southwest Eliminating Hallmark Open Seating Policy, plus other changes in the works.
Amex Gold Card Changes, $75 AF increase, more "coupon book" credits
World of Hyatt, how most of Joe's hotel bookings were made
Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Program, where some other bookings were made through.

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Meet The Mods - Cameron Laufer Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

Angie talks with new moderator and Ohio native Cameron about his background, travel style and favorite trips. He details his passion for travel for both himself and to show his family the world and how points and miles made it all possible.
Links to topics discussed:

Temporarily can not can book AF/KLM through Virgin (until August)
New Amex Centurion Lounge at DCA
Elevated Capital One Venture Welcome Offer- 75k +$250 statement credit for $4k spend.
Charles Schwab Amex Platinum Cash Out Limit Changes

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Life Changes Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

In this week's episode Mike and Angie discuss some of the recent hotel card offers then get into the main feature of handling major changes in their life such as a new house and a new job and how it affects their award travel strategy.
Links to Topics Discussed in This Week's Episode:

Chase Ink Preferred 120k Offer
IHG Premier Card 5 Free Night Award offer
Chase Bonvoy Bold mediocre refresh
Chase Sapphire Reserve giving 3 months of Bonvoy Gold status... meh
Hilton rolls out 400 more SLH properties. Some good deals are to be found
Double points on stays at Hyatt Place/Hyatt House

Post of the Week
Member David talks about mobile phone service abroad.

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Halfway Point - Where Have We Been, Where are We Going? Jul 12, 2024

Show notes

It's now July, and we're more than half-way through 2024. In this episode, we're reviewing what we've done through the year to this point, along with some of the trips and places we've been able to book thanks to Award Travel!
Post of the week

From this long-time community member, Joe. Have you heard of this guy? Do you take time to recharge with your significant other?
News

Virgin targets another Award Sweetspot
BA Executive Club Stealth Devaluation
Flying Blue Calendar Trick
Bask Bank AAdvantage Bonus
- see post in Award Travel 101 community where I broke down "the math."

For a full transcript of topics, visit the AwardWallet Blog

Where to Find Us

The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us at 101@award.travel
Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
Reserve tickets to our April 2027 Meetup in Nashville now. award.travel/bna2027

Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Our Airport Lounge Obsession Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

Award Travel 101 moderator, digital nomad and foodie Anthony Cave talks with Mike about his background, what got him into award travel and how he found living a nomadic life was more cost effective and fulfilling.
Later on Mike and Anthony discuss their love of airport lounges, their most/least favorites and the best ways to access them.
Links to news and topics discussed:

Flying Blue status match for U.S. residents
Alaska status match until the end of 2025
Chase Freedom Flex Q3 Bonus Categories
More Escape Lounges Join Priority Pass
Spacious Delta One Lounge at JFK T4 is Open
Capital One Lounge Coming to JFK
Strawberry Hotels Summer Pass
Qatar Airlines Card

Best Lounge Cards:

Chase United Club- Best for Star Alliance fliers plus some great perks
Citi AAdvantage Executive - Best for oneworld fliers
Amex Platinum - Amex Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs and Priority Pass
Capital One Venture X - Most cost effective way to get a Priority Pass membership plus access to the handful of Capital One lounges

Where to Find Us