Award Travel 101

Latest Episodes:

Marriott Bonvoy And The Struggle Bus Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

"The blogs are being told policies before Marriott reservation agents even know whats going on and certainly before front desk agents. No one knows what’s going on.”

The Marriott and Starwood merger has been anything but smooth and leadership of the combined portfolio continues to display tone deaf responses to loyal customers. This week Richard and Ed Pizza discuss the continuing struggles of the new Marriott Bonvoy program, how it got to where it is, the current state of trying to be a Marriott Bonvoy loyalist and what Marriott can do to right the ship.
Show Timestamps

1:12 — Happy Travel Day
2:21 — Bonvoy Merger Disaster
3:51 — Problems attaching award certificate for an award night? Points advance bookings and more
5:19 — Marriott is broken master thread
6:55 — New Bonvoy Co-branded card discussion
7:34 — Marriott's tone deaf responses
10:33 — Has anyone never needed a passport to make a hotel reservation? Probably not
18:07 — What could Bonvoy and Lolo Jones have in common?
20:18 — “Bonvoyed”
24:00 — Is there hope? What Marriott needs to do to improve

Today's Guest
Ed Pizza founded the Pizza In Motion blog on the Boarding Area network. He's considered one of the preeminent voices in the loyalty program space and is a successful entrepreneur.
Resources

Marriott Is Broken #MasterThread in Award Travel 101
Bonvoyed.com
Contact Marriott

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

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How To Win Your Battle With Points and Miles Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

“Three days after you leave the hospital with a broken back, and chemo, and serious multiple myeloma, you decide you're going on this around-the-world trip?”
The Award Travel 101 community is built around sharing and learning knowledge on how to travel the world with points and miles. A side effect of the community has been the stories of people that meet and interact every day and their stories made possible by a Facebook group. This week we introduce you to Mr. Ike Stanfield of Texas who is currently battling aggressive multiple myeloma cancer. In February 2019, Ike posted to Award Travel 101 that he was cashing in his points and miles and taking a solo trip around the world to Singapore, Delhi, and Doha in first and business classes.
During the show, Ike walks us through some of his daily battles that might delay his determination to see his bucket list destinations. Despite the fact that Ike broke his back just one week before he was supposed to leave for his trip, he persevered through pain and surgery and still completed his around the world points and miles trip. Make sure to listen to his inspiration and words of wisdom as he walks us through each part of his two week adventure.
Show Timestamps

3:30 — Meet Ike
8:45 — Ike's health diagnosis
12:30 — Ike's around the world itinerary
17:00 — Getting treated well at the Hilton Singapore
19:30 — “What did you reflect on while you were there?”
22:30 — Ike's advice for those facing challenges
28:30 — Ike's words of wisdom

Resources

Contact Ike
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

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.

Intro to the Award Travel 101 Podcast Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to the Award Travel 101 Podcast!
Founded in 2013, the Award Travel 101 Facebook group teaches members how to travel the world using points and miles. Today, our community of over 50,000 people from around the world share, teach and learn how to travel anywhere on any budget. More than just a recap on award travel news and strategy, the Award Travel 101 Podcast offers a glimpse into the stories and lives of our AT101 community members.
For our very first episode, you'll get to learn more about Award Travel 101 founder Richard Kerr. From falling in love with travel after moving overseas as a teenager, to joining the Navy. Find out how starting a family lead to learning how to maximize award travel redemptions and eventually running a Facebook group as his full time job!

Where to Find Us