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
With a good deal of countries and continents under their belts, Greg and Nick have picked up some great tips for your international trips when it comes to packing your bag. This week we are currently on our #3Cards3Continents worldwide trips -- and with this episode you'll be able to imagine what we have in our bags.
5:04 Main Event: Packing tips for worldwide travel
07:43 A travel wallet in Greg's travel backpack
09:43 Get a good-quality bagpack / bag that is your go-everywhere bag
12:03 That backpack should have a lot of zippered pockets
13:13 Things you should keep in that backpack (A small carabiner for water bottle or sanitizer on backpack, small poncho, extra set of chargers that stay in travel bag, earbuds, snacks, at least one pen)
16:50 Single charger for laptop and phone and battery pack / earbuds / etc
23:12 Quick-dry clothes
27:04 Puffy jacket that collapses into itself
27:52 Hoodie with many pockets for flights on low cost carriers
28:37 Toiletry kit always fully-stocked
31:00 backup phone
From dirt-cheap awards to Hawaii to nearly-free airport parking and the best free airport tours worldwide, this week we discuss the top travel hacks learned from past frequent miler challenges as we prepare to set off on our latest such challenge.
3:00 Giant Mailbag
8:30 3 Cards 3 Continents 3 Updates
https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/
20:22 Main Event: Top travel hacks learned from past Frequent Miler challenges
20:33: 7.5K miles to Hawaii
https://frequentmiler.com/7-5k-each-way-to-hawaii-with-turkish-miles-and-smiles/
25:13 United Excursionist Perk
https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-and-understanding-united-excursionist-perks/
31:16 Czech Airways from Prague to Seoul
32:14 Hong Kong to London for 12.5K miles
35:00 Free airport tours and hotels
https://frequentmiler.com/the-best-stopover-deals-worldwide/
37:50 Trip to New York for $19 per day / cheap airport parking
https://frequentmiler.com/my-19-new-york-city-challenge/
41:40 Manual bookings through Avianca LifeMiles
https://travellingtheworld.boardingarea.com/2016/09/book-lifemiles-awards-not-available-online/
https://frequentmiler.com/when-lifemiles-com-shows-no-availability-try-a-manual-booking/
Want ultra-luxury perks like lounge access and elite status at a bargain-basement price? This week, Greg and Nick discuss how to get the most bang for your buck by maximizing annual credits on your ultra-premium credit cards.
1:21 GIant Mailbag
5:47 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates
https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/
15:22 Awards we booked this week
19:45 What crazy thing....did Amex do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/12-transfer-bonuses-from-amex-membership-rewards/
30:00 Mattress Running the Numbers: Craftsy through SimplyMiles https://frequentmiler.com/stack-craftsy-offers-for-small-profit-4050-american-airlines-miles-loyalty-points/
37:34 Luxury Perks for Free (After Rebate)
38:46 Capital One Venture X card 46:50 Amex Platinum Card
1:24:22 Amex Business Platinum
1:38:55 Amex Hilton Aspire card
1:46:44 Question of the Week: Is it worth transferring speculatively (given the transfer bonuses available) if you know which programs you often use?
Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Hyatt's top-tier Globalist elite status is easy to want, but it seems difficult to get. This week, we talk hacks to get you there faster.
1:14 Giant Mailbag
4:30 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates
https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/
14:22 What crazy thing....did IHG do this week? 18:39 What crazy thing...did Nick do this week?
25:30 Awards we booked this week
29:46 Mattress running the numbers: Buying Hyatt points for 1.68c per point
33:38 Main Event: Elite status Hyatt Hacks
https://frequentmiler.com/shortcuts-to-hyatt-elite-status/
38:30 World of Hyatt Credit Cards
43:56 Promotions (Current promo = double elite nights with new business card and current Bonus Journeys)
49:40 Challenges
56:50 Partnerships (SLH, MGM)
1:02:58 Hosting meetings
1:04:32 Mattress runs
1:09:37 Friends & Family
1:14:01 Is it worth going after Globalist status given Guest of Honor, ways to book suites, and Hyatt Prive?
https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-get-top-tier-hyatt-elite-benefits-without-status/
1:25:23 Question of the Week: Are nonrefundable rates more attractive if using a card with good travel protections?
1:05 Giant Mailbag: How to find and book awards on Virgin Atlantic's website
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIh2Bosgas8&lc=Ugw-T8OXIc04QG7G0cp4AaABAg
3:41 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 1 update
https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/
9:58 Awards we booked this week 1
9:16 Mattress running the numbers: Winc Wines AA Loyalty Point Mileage Run
https://frequentmiler.com/stackable-aadvantage-offer-2500-miles-and-4-bottles-of-wine-for-10/
22:41 What crazy thing....did Marriott Bonvoy do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/rumor-mid-tier-marriott-cards-may-be-coming-next-month/
26:26 Main Event: New Marriott Cards are Coming (Probably) https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-gregs-bountiful-bevy-of-brilliant-predictions/
1:07:22 Question of the Week: How can I find Hyatt properties by category or location?
https://frequentmiler.com/want-to-see-hyatts-full-footprint-theres-a-map/
Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Our two favorite Amex transfer partners offer access to a wide array of awards that make for fascinating possibilities, whether great award chart values or flexible routing rules or a lot more. This week, we debate which is best from a wide range of angles.
00:51 Giant Mailbag: Watch out for "free" award cancellations 6:36 Mattress running the Numbers: 14K Wyndham points with a 3-night stay 12:07 Awards we booked this week 19:38 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates 32:42 Main Event: Which is the best Amex transfer partner -- Air Canada Aeroplan or ANA? 34:48 Transfer time 39:28 Award Charts 44:58 One-way awards 49:24 Fuel surcharges 55:32 Partner airlines 1:01:32 Stopovers 1:04:30 Award space for their own members 1:06:32 Change fees 1:08:10 Mileage Expiry 1:12:19 Lap infant fees 1:20:23 Question of the Week: Is Plastiq ever worth it for the 2.85% fee? Join our email list: frequentmiler.com/subscribe Music credit: Annie Yoder
Friends don't let friends pay full price for hotels. Here are some of the tools we use to slice and dice the price of lodging.
00:44 Giant Mailbag: Pop-up averted over the phone
4:14 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates
https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/
15:34 What crazy thing....did Marriott Bonvoy do this week? When it says you can't use suite night awards, maybe that's not true . . .
23:45 Mattress running the numbers: Buying IHG points for 0.5c each
https://frequentmiler.com/buy-ihg-points/
28:53 Main Event: Extreme hotel savings
29:40 Buying points on sale 36:45 Specialty rates
40:46 Card-linked offers (Chase Offers, Amex Offers, SimplyMiles, etc)
https://frequentmiler.com/card-linked-programs-the-networks-they-run-on-aka-which-programs-stack/
43:44 Portals
49:14 Membership sites (Capital One Spring, Greyhound, etc)
https://frequentmiler.com/capital-one-spring-priceline-save-hotels/
52:25 Hotels.com stacking
54:25 Best Rate Guarantees
1:01:16 Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle
1:03:48 Wyndham business to Caesars to Free room
1:05:12 Follow sites for deeply discounted prices
1:07:20 Question of the Week: Do you have an update on American Airlines Loyalty Points?
https://frequentmiler.com/american-airlines-loyalty-points-game-update-halfway-through-whos-in-front/
Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
Music credit: Annie Yoder
Want to sleep cheap in the city that never sleeps? Using hotel points can save you a boatload on your next New York City vacation, but not all award options are created equally. This week, Greg and Nick discuss your best bets.
00:58 Giant Mailbag Double Header (First up: IHG welcome bonus free night not top-off-able)
03:56 Marriott free night certificates extendable after all 9:39 What crazy thing...did IHG do this week?
14:39 Mattress running the numbers: Locking in the 20% back Marriott offer for good rates in the future and abroad
21:27 Awards we booked this week
25:33 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates
30:20 Main Event: The best free nights in the Big Apple
31:38 Hilton
38:00 Hyatt
45:50 IHG
51:35 Marriott
1:03:25 Choice
1:07:46 Wyndham
1:09:33 Radisson
1:14:48 Can you get off a cruise ship early to fly home?
Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
Music credit: Annie Yoder
As we plan for our 3 Cards, 3 Continents dream trips, we can't quite have it all. There have been dreams we've had to put on hold for future trips and this week Greg and Nick discuss a couple of those fantastic trips they hope to take one day but couldn't fit into this challenge.
00:45 Giant Mailbag: Chase reconsideration success
4:00 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates
https://frequentmiler.com/tag/3cards3continents/
16:45 What crazy thing.....did IHG and Chase do this week?
https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-premier-140k-welcome-offer-free-night-certificate-cant-be-topped-off/
21:08 Awards we booked this week
25:03 Main Event: The dream trip that got away
27:30 Greg's free night certificate wish list
https://frequentmiler.com/best-uses-for-marriott-free-night-certificates/
33:24 Nick's tropical paradises lost
https://frequentmiler.com/aeroplan-plans-for-future-dream-trips/
56:52 Question of the Week: What's the strategy for a person with high business spend?
[Update: The wrong episode was initially loaded. This update includes the correct episode.]. Wondering how to find those elusive business class awards? Greg and Nick discuss the tricks in their toolbags.
00:28 Giant Mailbag
1:48 Mattress running the numbers: Daily Getaways
https://frequentmiler.com/daily-getaways-2022-first-2-weeks-of-offers-announced/
Are any of these deals worth speculatively buying? Our analysis:
3:46 IHG points for half a cent each
4:35 Hilton points for half a cent each
4:47 Wyndham points for 1.17c each
5:30 Best Western at 0.55cpp
6:38 Choice points for 0.52cpp
8:35 Marriott gift cards for 20% off
Hyatt points
11:31 #3Cards2Continents3Updates
https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/
23:34 Awards we booked this week
27:00 What crazy thing....did London Heathrow Airport do this week?
30:18 Main Event: PLEASE tell us how to find business class awards.
1:11:17 When is Ask Us Anything?
Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/
Music credit: Annie Yoder
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