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
United Mileage Plus is an extremely popular program, but how can you get the best value out of the miles? This week, we talk about using flexible awards to your advantage, cheap intra-European awards, the Excursionist Perk, and a lot more.
00:00 Intro
01:20 Giant Mailbag #1: Can we get a Delta-free podcast?
02:35 Giant Mailbag #2
03:48 What crazy thing . . . did Delta do this week?
https://frequentmiler.com/deltas-window-seat-shop-of-horrors/
06:46 Card Talk: United Quest card
https://frequentmiler.com/uaq/
11:33 Mattress Running the Numbers: Citi transfer bonus to Accor Live Limitless
17:34 Award Talk
18:00 Bilt adds Marriott as a transfer partner
https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-added-as-bilt-rewards-transfer-partner/
19:40 Marriott's secret award chart
https://frequentmiler.com/marriotts-secret-award-chart/
23:03 Marriott Choice Benefit changes
https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-say-quiet-part-out-loud-with-new-upgrade-award-enhancements/
https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-choice-benefits-now-give-1000-off-mattress-bed-rather-than-40/
29:24 Book JetBlue with Qatar Avios
https://frequentmiler.com/book-jetblue-including-mint-with-qatar-avios/
https://frequentmiler.com/uh-oh-did-qatar-create-a-new-jetblue-award-chart/
35:56 Main Event: Wringing value from United Miles
37:00 First up: the bad stuff
40:20 Higher award prices, but not bad value
41:40 Best uses of United miles
41:46 Dynamic pricing can work in your favor
44:35 Free changes and cancellations
48:55 Cheap intra-Europe flights (from 6K miles)
50:04 Sao Paulo to/from South Africa for 50K miles in business class
50:40 Fly across the length of Africa for less than 25K in economy or 50K in business class
52:15 United Excursionist Perk
https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-and-understanding-united-excursionist-perks/
https://frequentmiler.com/saving-thousands-of-miles-with-united-excursionist-perk/
https://frequentmiler.com/united-excursionist-perk-maps-visualize-regions-to-optimize-awards/
https://frequentmiler.com/leveraging-the-united-excursionist-perk-to-save-miles/
57:42 Question of the Week: Will a bank extend the minimum spending requirement period?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
American Airlines miles can be used to fly some of the fanciest airlines in the world. They can also be really handy for buying domestic flights to/from non-American Airlines hubs. On this week's episode, we discuss some of our favorite ways to get awesome value out of American Airlines miles.
00:00 Intro
01:23 Giant Mailbag
03:50 Card Talk
03:55 New Citi Application Rule
https://frequentmiler.com/possible-citi-5-day-rule-causing-denials-for-too-many-inquiries/
07:04 Plastiq news
https://frequentmiler.com/plastiq-once-again-accepts-amex-cards/
11:28 Card Talk: Delta Reserve cards
https://frequentmiler.com/dlrsv/
https://frequentmiler.com/dlrsvbiz/
22:46 What crazy thing . . . did Dollar Dig do this week?
26:55 Mattress Running the Numbers: Capital One Premier Collection promotion
https://frequentmiler.com/amazing-deal-get-200-off-capital-one-premier-collection-potentially-free-hotel-stay/https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-find-hidden-capital-one-premier-collection-hotels/
31:15 Award Talk: Hyatt / Mr & Mrs Smith promo
42:17 Main Event
42:30 How do you earn American Airlines miles?
44:51 Using miles for American Airlines flights
44:52 Close-in bookings
48:28 Flying from non-AA hubs
50:14 "Roll the dice" flights
52:16 American Airlines partner awards
53:07 North America to Africa (Great for Qatar Qsuites)
55:55 Europe to the Middle East (Great for Etihad apartments)
58:19 Middle East / India to Asia (Great for Etihad first or Qatar Qsuites)
1:00:08 Africa to Africa (get a lot of Qatar biz for a low price)
1:02:53 Asia to South Pacific
1:05:11 American Airlines partners
1:14:17 Question of the Week: Have I opened too many new accounts? Should I slow down?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Did you know that it is possible to get the same credit card that you have had before and get the new cardmember welcome bonus again? In fact, in some cases, you might be able to open a second of the same card that you currently have and get the bonus again. This week, we discuss the rules by issuer.
00:00 Intro
01:45 Giant Mailbag
05:01 Card Talk: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
https://frequentmiler.com/DLplat/
https://frequentmiler.com/DLplatbiz/
17:37 Mattress Running the Numbers
17:41 Bilt Rent Day
https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-november-rent-day-up-to-150-transfer-bonus-to-emirates-skywards/
27:23 Award Talk
27:36 Air France KLM Flying Blue reduces award prices
33:50 Vacasa vacation rentals devalued
https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-vacasa/
36:53 Main Event: When can you get the same card (and welcome bonus) again?
38:35 Amex
45:46 Bank of America
50:08 Barclays
53:21 Capital One
53:32 Citi
53:48 Chase
1:00:44 Question of the Week: What's up with award space from the West Coast?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Delta has walked back their elite status changes in a big way. Long-term elites and credit card enthusiasts have come out as good as gold. Has Delta gone too far and made elite status too easy to earn and keep?
00:00 Intro
01:37 Giant Mailbag
02:56 Hilton credit card changes
https://frequentmiler.com/big-changes-to-hilton-aspire-and-surpass-cards/
https://frequentmiler.com/amxhiltonaspire/
https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-american-express-surpass-card/
23:23 What crazy thing . . . did American Express do this week?
25:01 Award Talk
25:09 Citi adds Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club
https://frequentmiler.com/citi-adds-leading-hotels-of-the-world-as-a-transfer-partner-51/
https://frequentmiler.com/citi-adds-a-new-path-to-luxury-hotel-stays/
30:30 Avianca LifeMiles
35:08 Main Event: Delta's flip-flop
36:04 Delta SkyClub Access changes
39:40 Changes to Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs)
42:24 MQD Headstarts
53:27 Accommodations for long-term elites
53:49 Rollover MQMs to buy status extensions
56:04 Million Miler Status
59:49 Is Delta now making elite status too easy?
1:07:48 Question of the Week: What's the best way to earn credit card rewards on student load repayments? -miles for college
Music credit: Annie Yoder
American Express has a the largest stable of rewards credit cards on the market, but which Amex cards are must-have cornerstones of your wallet? The answers aren't universal, so this week we discuss the Amex cards that could make the cut and who should keep them.
01:23 Giant Mailbag
05:05 What crazy thing . . . did JetBlue do this week?
https://frequentmiler.com/jetblues-mosaic-founderscard-benefit-is-this-a-joke/
13:52 25% transfer bonus from Amex to JetBlue
https://frequentmiler.com/amex-membership-rewards-25-transfer-bonus-to-jetblue-250250/
16:42 Award Talk
16:52 JetBlue is enhancing their elite program for 2024 and beyond
17:45 New JetBlue Signature Perks
19:37 Mosaic 4 members will be able to give Mosaic 1 to another member
20:27 Booking the BLADE helicopter transfers for Mosaic 4
23:21 JetBlue credit card approvals
24:28 AAdvantage Aviator card approvals
https://frequentmiler.com/barclays-aviator-red-now-up-to-75000-miles-with-two-purchases/
26:34 Main Event: Must-have Amex cards
27:40 Transferable points cards
27:44 Blue Business Plus card
https://frequentmiler.com/amxbbp/
30:16 Amex Gold Card
https://frequentmiler.com/amxgoldcard/
32:34 Platinum card
https://frequentmiler.com/amxplat
36:18 Amex Everyday card
https://frequentmiler.com/amxed/
38:50 Amex Green card
https://frequentmiler.com/amxgreen/
40:45 Pick one Membership Rewards card
43:21 Amex Hotel cards
43:27 Amex Hilton Aspire card
https://frequentmiler.com/amxhiltonaspire/
45:51 Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business card
https://frequentmiler.com/spgbiz/
47:23 Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card
https://frequentmiler.com/spglux/
52:33 Hilton Surpass card
https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-american-express-surpass-card/
55:20 Which is the one Amex hotel card for you?
56:33 Airline cards
57:00 Delta Gold cards
https://frequentmiler.com/dlgold/
https://frequentmiler.com/dlgoldbiz/
57:32 Delta Platinum cards
https://frequentmiler.com/dlplat/
https://frequentmiler.com/dlplatbiz/
59:18 Delta Reserve cards
https://frequentmiler.com/dlrsv/
https://frequentmiler.com/dlrsvbiz/
1:02:22 Which Delta credit card
1:04:27 Question of the Week #1: Is credit card cell phone insurance worth it if you have Apple Care?
1:06:07 Question of the Week #2: For American Airlines partner award bookings, which airlines are not shown on the AA.com website. Can you search Aeroplan's website? Can you call to book more than 331 days in advance?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Buying groups can be a highly effective way to increase credit card spend and earn big rewards, but they can also be a perilous path toward problems. Greg and Nick discuss what they are, why you might want to use them, and why they may not be right for you.
00:00 Intro
00:47 Giant Mailbag
08:30 Card Talk: Amex Business Gold card
20:37 What crazy thing . . . did Marriott phone reps do this week?
https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-rules-for-extending-free-nights/
25:48 Award Talk: Capital One "Move Rewards" is back
https://frequentmiler.com/huge-if-true-convert-capital-one-cash-back-to-miles-by-moving-rewards/
28:32 Award Talk: JetBlue status match update
https://frequentmiler.com/digging-into-jetblues-amazing-status-match-for-delta-elites/
31:07 Main Event: Buying groups: Big risks / big rewards
42:26 How buying groups operate
45:55 Some common risks
https://frequentmiler.com/a-buying-group-deal-gone-wrong/
58:30 Is it ethical?
1:12:34 Question of the Week: I got the Citi Premier card and forgot to meet the spending requirement, so I never received the bonus. If I close the card and apply new, would I be eligible for the bonus?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Want to get elite treatment at hotels without investing the time and effort in enough nights for elite status? Instead of spending fifty or sixty nights a year in hotels with one brand, you can simulate status with some simple tricks.
00:00 Intro
01:52 Giant Mailbag
06:08 Card Talk: Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit cards
https://frequentmiler.com/as/
https://frequentmiler.com/asbiz/
https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-airlines-companion-fare-guide/
20:10 What crazy thing....did Delta do this week?
https://frequentmiler.com/delta-may-walk-back-some-of-their-recently-announced-changes/
26:09 Award Talk: Alaska and JetBlue status matches for Delta elites
https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-airlines-offering-status-match-to-draw-disappointed-delta-frequent-flyers/
https://frequentmiler.com/jetblue-offering-very-generous-status-match-to-delta-elite-members/
33:56 Award Talk: PointsYeah improvements
38:23 Main Event: Roll your own hotel elite status
41:02 Preferred Partner Hotel Booking programs
https://frequentmiler.com/getting-the-elite-experience-without-elite-status-via-luxury-partner-programs/
45:18 Hyatt / SLH partnership
49:04 Earning more points for paid stays
55:21 Room upgrades
https://frequentmiler.com/how-best-to-book-hyatt-luxury-suites/
1:11:38 Free Breakfast
1:13:28 Is elite status worth it?
1:18:43 Question of the Week: What kind of manufactured spending is safe?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
You don't need airline elite status to get elite-like treatment. This week, we discuss how to get the perks without the loyalty and how to think about the costs associated if you decide to stay on that hamster wheel.
Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
00:00 Intro
01:42 Giant Mailbag
04:47 What crazy thing . . . did Amex do this week?
06:46 Mattress running the numbers: Aeroplan cardholders can get 4th night free with points
https://frequentmiler.com/aeroplan-offering-4th-night-free-on-hotel-stays-but-its-very-poor-value/
09:55 Card Talk: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card
https://frequentmiler.com/usbar/
https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/
22:35 Award Talk
22:37 Choice Privileges sweet spot awards
https://frequentmiler.com/a-sweet-spot-hotel-and-a-rookie-mistake/
25:27 Greg finds an award not on the search tools
28:21 Finnair via Avios
32:02 Main Event: Roll your own airline elite status
32:30 Basic run-down of earning status through flight or credit card spend
https://frequentmiler.com/earn-elite-status-aa-vs-delta-vs-united/
37:48 Do we need elite status at all? How can we be treated elite?
57:53 Why might you actually want airline elite status?
1:04:45 Are the benefits of loyalty worth it? Who should pursue it?
1:09:36 Question of the Week: I accidentally purchased $6500 in United miles while booking an award. I can ask them to reverse the purchase, but is it worth the risk of the ticket getting canceled?
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Delta wants dollars: this week we discuss the massive changes coming to the Delta Sky Miles elite status program and what it means for flyers and cardholders alike.
00:00 Intro
01:24 Giant Mailbag
04:26 What crazy thing . . .did Citi do this week?
06:10 Mattress running the numbers
6:23 American Airlines elite status fast track for some Hyatt elites
10:25 Hyatt Globalist fast track for AA Platinum Pro & Executive Platinum members
https://frequentmiler.com/new-american-airlines-hyatt-status-match-get-globalist-with-20-nights/
17:51 Wyndham Shopping Portal Promo
19:54 Award Talk: Now book Star Alliance awards on Turkish Airlines website again
26:23 Main Event: Delta breaks up with its loyal customers (It's not you, it's Delta!)
https://frequentmiler.com/deltas-2024-elite-program-it-aint-pretty/
31:01 How do you earn MQDs in the newly-announced program?
36:00 No more rollovers
37:45 January 1, 2024 SkyClub access changes for cardholders
https://frequentmiler.com/delta-announces-big-sky-club-access-changes-for-2024-and-beyond/
40:08 Feb 1, 2025 SKyClub access changes
44:12 Who is the winner here?
46:11 What will be the best ways to get SkyClub access moving forward?
48:06 How did Greg do on his predictions?
57:51 What will Greg do about Delta elite status now?
1:06:16 If you're close to Million Miler status . . .
1:07:45 Question of the Week: Better rewards or more peace of mind?
Citi's ThankYou program gets lets attention than other major bank rewards point programs, but it has some unique strengths that deserve your attention. This week, Greg and Nick determine whether and for whom Citi can be an awesome option.
00:00 Intro
00:47 Giant Mailbag
03:38 Mattress Running the Numbers
03:40 Marriott Homes & Villas promo
04:45 Wyndham points on sale for less than 1cpp
08:27 Buy Finnair Plus points
12:44 Award Talk
12:46 Now transfer Virgin points to a friend with low flat fee
15:04 Air France to deepen partnership with Etihad
17:45 Rooms.aero launches
21:22 Main Event: Citi's awesome rewards program
22:56 High-level view of positives and negatives
24:14 Citi's ThankYou credit cards'
https://frequentmiler.com/typremier/
https://frequentmiler.com/dc/
https://frequentmiler.com/TYRewardsPlus/
https://frequentmiler.com/customcash/
31:55 Citi's unique-ish transfer partners
38:30 Other useful Citi partners
51:34 Question of the Week: Downgrade strategy from Sapphire Preferred to Freedom
Music credit: Annie Yoder
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