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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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?
(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
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.
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
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)
(19:59) - Earn 50K Alaska Atmos Rewards points when getting a mortgage through Rate.com
(21:47) - Accor Gold and Platinum members can status match
(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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
(48:31) - Amex offers
Learn about Cardpointers here (https://frequentmiler.com/cardpointers/) or Savewise here
(50:01) - Rakuten Shopping
(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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
