Stay ConnectedEarn miles without flying. Frequent Miler is all about getting the most out of the loyalty game. You can easily earn hundreds of thousands of points and miles without traveling, then learn how to use those points towards luxury travel.
In this podcast, Frequent Miler founder Greg, and senior author Nick debate current topics in the points & miles world.
Copyright: © Frequent Miler
In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about Bonvoying Barclays, we'll discuss which Premium cards are keepers, then share everything we know about car rentals.
(01:08) - One listener tells us how he Bonvoyed Barclays
(04:09) - Why don't we talk much about car rentals?
(06:23) - Always join the car rental program and attach your number
(11:37) - Car rental status via credit card
(14:20) - Which rental car elite statuses matter?
(22:06) - Status matching
(26:50) - Earning free rental days
(40:27) - Rental Car Savings
(48:57) - Avis First
(51:54) - Do you need anything special to rent cars internationally?
(57:02) - Any favorite programs or programs you avoid?
(1:04:47) - What should you do if you're an intermediate player, trying to go from one or two credit cards to five or six, or seven to ten?
(1:10:58) - Read more about which premium cards are keepers 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
Citi now offers a way to transfer points 1 to 1 to American Airlines, which has many predicting an AA devaluation is on the horizon. In this podcast episode, we'll discuss this concern.
(00:44) - Why are we so excited about transfers to American Airlines?
(04:06) - A devaluation assumes a flood of AA miles, but... Citi points are not that easy to get in bulk, but even if there are many more AA miles out there, is that reason for devaluation?
(04:56) - Here's what we think...
(15:35) - But wait...did AA devalue already?
Read One Mile at a Time's post here: American AAdvantage Business Class Award Devaluation? Sort Of…:
(16:24) - More than two years ago, AA published "starting at" prices for its own flights. Mostly, though, the starting at prices stayed as they were with previous saver award pricing.
(17:15) - Now, though, "starting at" seems to be closer to American Airlines' published intentions from a few years ago...
(18:29) - BUT... mix in another carrier to get the partner award chart
Read more about this 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 – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how US Bank is bonvoying grandfathers and US Bank's plans to add transfer partners. We'll also talk about who the Citi Strata Elite card is good for.
(01:40) - This listener has tips about their strategy when a flight becomes available for a lesser mileage price...
(05:50) - Citi now offers transfers to American Airlines from Strata Elite, Prestige & Strata Premier
(07:23) - Now transfer from most Citi cards to most ThankYou partners (even from Custom Cash)
(09:41) - Citi Strata card now available
(12:16) - U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve: Major changes expected in December.
(18:21) - US Bank bonvoys grandfathers (Smartly card sends updates to those previously grandfathered into old 4% term)
(22:38) - Inn at Bay Harbor leaving Marriott
(23:42) - JetBlue & TAP Air Portugal split up as of 9/30
(24:50) - Greg earned Alaska EQMs for his flight to London
(26:53) - Nick's JetBlue 25 for 25 update post
Read more about Nick's JetBlue 25 for 25 journey so far here.
(27:50) - Another JetBlue 25 for 25 update
(30:00) - Branch Offer: 100K after $4K of spend in 3 months
Read more about the Citi Strata Elite offer here.
Or, read our Citi Strata Elite Q&A post here.
(31:45) - Application rules, basics, and earning rate...
(39:32) - Credits and benefits
(47:31) - Mini experiment: Citi Travel Hotels vs. Hotels.com
(48:45) - What happens to Citi Prestige customers?
(49:58) - Do Citi Travel hotel bookings earn hotel points and elite credit?
(53:33) - Quick Review: What do we think about the card's earning rate and perks?
(57:47) - What do we think about the card's coupons?
(1:01:37) - Does this card deserve a place in an all-ThankYou wallet?
(1:09:41) - Does this card deserve a place in a mixed-earning wallet? (For example, would this be your 3X card?)
(1:12:54) - Advice regarding authorized users. What do you do about authorized user cards showing up to Chase as contributing to your 5/24 status?
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
Citi's new $595 card may or may not be right for you, but a 100K bonus is hard to resist, especially now that Citi transfers to AA. The 100K bonus isn't the only offer out there right now, though, so we'll talk about how to make sure you can apply for the Strata Elite 100,000 point offer specifically.
(00:18) - Citi's new $595 card may or may not be right for you, but 100K bonus is hard to resist, especially now that Citi transfers to AA
(01:30) - Who qualifies for this offer?
(02:22) - The public offer is only 80K points after $4K of spend in 3 months, but the 100K point offer (after $4K of spend in 3 months) is easy to get if you have a Citi branch near you, or even if you call a branch and ask for an email with the link...
(04:36) - Creepily, Greg did not even have to provide his email address...
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 – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about how JetBlue bonvoyed Nick, how Accor bonvoyed Greg, and finally, two new transferable points programs and a new credit card that allows us to earn transferable points.
(00:58) - "I've noticed that you love to be underwhelmed by the Amex Green card. In your recent episode about travel cards, it seemed like you couldn't contain your boredom with it, despite its valuable 3x Amex points for all types of travel ... A major benefit that you may have overlooked is constant Amex Offers from travel providers, which I've combined with the 3x on the Green card for a lot of value."
Catch Episode 315 here.
(05:43) - Citi Strata Elite. Here's what we expect...
(08:59) - Southwest card offers...
(15:09) - Citi to Accor 1 to 1
(17:54) - Capital One brings back baseball tickets, but shuts out Venture X cardholders
(21:08) - JetBlue's 25% off sale with code SAVE25...but "fares booked with SAVE25 will not be counted towards 25 for 25"
(24:15) - Bilt transforming travel portal
(30:52) - JetBlue Mosaic first impressions
(35:11) - Escape lounge SJU and The Beekman Tower NYC
(38:51) - Greg's experience with Accor Live Limitless
(46:26) - Greg's experience flying American Airlines with Alaska miles
(50:22) - Why we care so much about transferable points
(52:50) - Rove Miles
(1:00:58) - Consider using our referral link here.
(1:01:33) - Mesa
(1:08:55) - Rakuten American Express® Card
Learn more about the Rakuten American Express® Card here.
(1:17:21) - A rep says you can only use an Alaska Credit Card to book companion fare flights... this is a problem when a companion fare cancellation goes to your Alaska wallet (which then can't be used for a new companion fare according to this new policy.) What gives?
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
Today, we'll talk about how to make sure you don't lose your points when you cancel a credit card. Since this varies by bank or points-type, we'll discuss tips for each situation.
(00:37) - Airline and Hotel cards... no, you won't lose your points.
(02:32) - Bank cards... yes, you could lose your points.
(03:48) - Chase solutions
(06:10) - Amex solutions
(09:27) - Citi's weird rules
(12:17) - Capital One solutions
(16:06) - Quick summary
Visit 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 – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how Bilt is going cardless (but with more cards). We'll see how Etihad is making unfavorable decisions, vying for our Bonvoyed of the year "award", and we'll talk about which credit card is the best for all kinds of travel expenses (since the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card might night make sense for non-flight, non-hotel travel expenses anymore.)
(Correction Note: The 3x transit category that we mentioned on the Autograph Journey and Autograph cards is only on the Autograph card.)
(01:16) - "In a recent episode, Greg and Nick talked about checking flights you already have booked to see if the [award] price has gone down..."
Find our free checked bags via credit card resource here.
(07:01) - Citi Strata Elite to be launched in the third quarter of 2025
(08:14) - Bilt switching from Wells Fargo to Cardless next year; adding two premium cards
(11:06) - Alliant cashback card changes to flat 1.6% everywhere on 9/1
(12:15) - Etihad makes award changes & cancellations even more confusing and punitive
Read more about Etihad adding award fare buckets and increasing change fees here.
(17:06) - Greg easily booked a Preferred Hotel with points transferred from Citi
(21:11) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card 3x grandfathered until Oct 26. Airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages...
(23:26) - So what should our broad travel card be now? Here's what we're looking for...
(24:13) - What about Chase's other cards?
(27:45) - Travel cards that didn't make the cut due to narrow definition of travel
(29:35) - Travel cards that almost made the cut
(31:49) - Broad "Travel" definition cards
(42:36) - What's our pick?
(48:32) - What's the best strategy to go about closing cards with the intention of opening new ones? This listener offers the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card as an example.
Read our complete guide to credit card application rules 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
We’ve been gradually telling the “origin stories” of each team member in Frequent mIler. Today, we’ll talk about how Stephen came to join Frequent Miler.
(01:04) - When did Stephen first get into the points and miles travel hobby?
(04:41) - Stephen remembers the stackable IHG promo codes
(05:39) - Stephen's wife helped him pull the trigger on some early credit cards like the US Airways credit card with a bonus after just one purchase
(07:54) - Stephen recalls his earliest credit cards (which he has noted in a spreadsheet, of course!)
(09:35) - In 2016, Stephen and his wife decided that (in two years), they would start a roadtrip to every state in the US. They prepared by piling up on hotel credit cards.
(11:30) - When did Stephen get into gift card reselling?
(14:29) - How did Stephen get involved with Frequent Miler?
(15:36) - Stephen remembers being excited that Frequent Miler had linked to his website! He was also very active in the Frequent Miler Insiders Facebook group.
(16:51) - Stephen remembers being invited to write for Frequent Miler to help cover Nick's paternity leave. He wasn't sure it would cooperate with the roadtrip he was about to begin, but his wife helped encourage him to go for it! (A Frequent Miler author theme).
(18:23) - Nick talks about how he came to recommend Stephen as his paternity leave coverage. Stephen's useful posts in the Frequent Miler Insiders group made him the first person Nick thought of.
(19:62) - How did Stephen become the "king of stacking"?
(22:21) - Stephen talks about how his time at Frequent Miler has been.
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 – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
On this podcast episode, we find out that Turkish has killed their million mile promo, we talk about Ritz card rumors, and we shed some light on how Greg's uncle can redeem his transferable points for cash.
(01:30) - One reader tries to convince Greg to do the JetBlue 25 for 25 promotion
(04:53) - Turkish kills their 6 continent, 1 million mile promo
Find out more about that promo in our previous podcast episode here. (Or read our post about it here.)
(09:09) - Etihad tries to make their promo relevant
(13:20) - JetBlue promo(s)
Learn more about the JetBlue 25 for 25 promo here.
Learn about the Dunkin' promo here.
(21:25) - Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (new offer)
(22:17) - UBS Visa Infinite: increased fees, increased benefits
(28:01) - Rumor: Is the Ritz card going to increase fee to $695 on Aug 1? Apparently not...
(36:31) - Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan seems to be having a spat of hacked accounts
(38:49) - Porter Airlines now bookable using Alaska Airlines miles. Prices start at 4.5k/6k
(41:03) - The premise...
(43:23) - Brokers? Please no. Explicitly allowed options only will be discussed today
(46:00) - American Express Membership Rewards
(53:06) - Bilt Rewards
(55:53) - Capital One Miles
(57:18) - Citi ThankYou Rewards
(1:01:01) - Chase Ultimate Rewards
(1:06:35) - How can you book a JetBlue flight with Etihad miles to an airport Etihad claims doesn't exist?
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
This Ask Us Anything, Live first aired on July 2nd, 2025
(00:51) - From Ryan - Nick you probably know Turkish airline rewards redemptions better than anyone else in the world. Would you recommend to your loyal readers (like me!) to do the Turkish 1MM Challenge?
(04:17) - If you find yourself points and miles bankrupt, at 5/24, and in Amex pop-up jail what can one do to get enough points to take a nice trip?
(06:08) - What’s the FM team’s thoughts on buying groups to hit massive spending limits for sign up bonuses?
(09:05) - I have the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles Select Business Credit Card. I'm canceling my Venture X. Do I have to move points to the Spark Miles Select before canceling to retain the points?
(09:57) - OK, still confused about the Chase Sapphire Reserve if I got the Chase Sapphire Preferred with 100K 2 months ago do I still qualify for the "new" bonus if I haven’t hit the bonus yet?
(13:22) - Are you surprised that the multipliers on the refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve card didn't change more substantially? Particularly the dining staying the same compared to 4x on American Express® Gold Card and 5x on Citi Prestige.
(14:42) - For the JetBlue 25 for 25, you can't do multi city points bookings on one PNR. Will sequential one ways be protected if you follow the multi-city ticket between one-ways?
(17:54) -With all the funny business that Hertz is starting to pull on phantom damage being charged by AI, are you/would you still rent from them?
(23:25) - Have we heard any updates or ETA on the new Alaska Premium card?
(24:12) - Is booking Mr & Mrs Smith via Hyatt more expensive than booking direct? A property hinted they prefer guests to book direct than 3rd parties, including Hyatt. Suggesting that Hyatt is a 3rd party.
(26:17) - Would love to know from the team, what's the best first class product you each have ever flown?
(33:06) - With the changes to Southwest, how does using a flight credit to pay the taxes and fees on a points booking affect its flexibility?
(34:52) - With half of the year gone by, what’s on track so far to win the bonvoyed award of the year?
(38:24) - You all say Chase Ultimate rewards points are great for Hyatts. What are each of your top 3 Hyatt Properties in Asia and Europe
(42:13) - Booked a flight from Lisbon to Atlanta on Delta. KLM was the carrier even though it was ticketed on Delta. I can't get them to give me my SkyMiles. Any ideal how to get these posted?
(44:43) - Has Nick set up a professional mic on arm inside a car??
(46:20) - Does The Edit by Chase Travel℠ and Amex FHR make hotel elite status obsolete?
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
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
