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
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Greg & Nick discuss:
Topics: -#StayCaytoFarAway: results are shaping up to be quite a surprise including a huge comeback and surprising (to us) finish
-Should we launch a podcast version of our live show?
-Travel News & Thoughts: Will Iceland be a safer destination than parts of the US? What are the options we're talking about domestically?
-A cool tool for finding award availability
00:00:47 Reader Feedback: Ask Us Anything. Should it be a pod?
See: https://youtu.be/fmHjqJWMdaw
8:58: What crazy thing did Citi do this week?
See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citi-shows-points-earned-with-each-thankyou-card-transaction/
15:54 StayCay to Far Away
See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/tag/staycaytofaraway
38:39 Travel News & Thoughts: International & Domestic, including: -Iceland's plan to test tourists for COVID-19 -Greg's canceled Hyatt reservation -Nick's comfort with being home -United business class to Europe (See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/europe-2021-united-business-class-awards-wide-open-book-for-45k-w-turkish/)
55:43 Finding award availability: SeatSpy
See: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/seatspy-founders-deals-ending-soon/
1:08:41 Question of the week: Is the Best Offers page clear enough? How could we make it more user-friendly?
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Like, subscribe, and comment! Links to related content below.
Greg and Nick discuss:
-Qatar Airways's amazing flexible ticket promo. What's exciting, what's not, and is it ethical to game it? See related post here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/qatar-airwayss-amazing-promo/
-Hilton's watchful eye: Did the claw back Greg's points in response to his post, or is it coincidence? Readers weigh in, we respond. See related post here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hilton-finally-claws-back-my-points-are-they-watching-me/
-Transferable points report card: Did Greg rate Capital One too low? See related post here: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/transferable-points-programs-compared/
All that and particularly interesting reader feedback and question time this week. Timestamps and links to related content:
4:03 Reader feedback about wanting to use affiliate links Related content: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/how-frequent-miler-the-business-will-survive-covid-19/ 9:46 Qatar's crazy promotion: How it works and what parts of it are actually notable (and which aren't) Read more: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/qatar-airwayss-amazing-promo/ 17:38 Are there ethical implications to taking advantage of the Qatar deal? 27:56 Is Hilton watching Greg? Readers have voted - do they think Greg's clawback was a coincidence or connection? What do we think? Read more: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hilton-finally-claws-back-my-points-are-they-watching-me/ 41:02 Transferable points report card: Is Capital One as bad as Greg rated them? Nick argues for better grades. Read more: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/transferable-points-programs-compared/ 1:04:29 Question of the week: Are the banks keeping tabs on whose links we use? Will they hold it against you if you apply through a particular blogger or referral?
See http://thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe for more from FM.
Greg and Nick discuss:
-Aeroplan mileage sale: Crazy deal, or crazy customers? Is Greg getting even crazier?
-Amex's different strategy for our northern neighbors: what they've got that we don't and whether or not we think they'll do something similar in the US
-Spa Week deal: I said this deal stinks and if you didn't click through to the post you might have missed Greg's comment about why it could be great. With Mother's Day around the corner, this could be worth pursuing
All that and more. Timestamps:
00:23 Reader feedback
4:01 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? ("Expiring" points after a product change - that won't really expire)
10:02 What crazy thing did Hilton do this week? 13:39 Aeroplan promotion: Points on sale May 7-13
18:40 Did Greg buy miles? Is he thinking about it? Should anybody buy? Why or why not?
23:52 Why were so many people buyers? Has our hobby gone mad?
25:13 We're always buying miles by giving up cash back to accept points.
26:51 Greg is going to transfer to Air Canada for elite status. Why??
31:55 Greg makes a prediction. We all know how he's doing with predictions this year.
32:26 Amex throws Canada a bone. What's with that? It's not Canadian Express. Will they increase redemption value stateside as well?
40:38 A deal that stinks...but doesn't. This is why you should click through and read the comments.
48:23: Question of the Week: Which card for groceries in August?
Chase & Citi surprise, but Amex delights in their benefit refresh. Hear Greg & Nick talk about:
-Cards newly offering bonuses on groceries -Overhaul of Amex card benefits. Did Amex take the Platinum cards from zero to hero? -Which card wins: in several battles throughout the episode, we talk which card to use and why -Do the changes make any cards must-haves now?
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Timestamps: 00:27 Reader feedback. Pop quiz. 5:37 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? 8:46 Chase now bonusing groceries 14:07 3x CSP or 6x Marriott? 17:30 Is it worth buying GCs online to earn grocery bonus? 21:22 Is this all Chase is going to do? 23:31 Amex enhancements card-by-card 24:14 Consumer Platinum refresh 27:22 Is it worth sacrificing cell phone insurance to get the Platinum wireless service credit? 30:44 Business Platinum refresh 38:10 Greg says Personal over Business. Nick disagrees. 41:00 Hilton refresh 48:05 12x hilton vs 5x Chase vs 3x Chase 50:31 12x Hilton vs 4x Amex 51:26 Amex Green card refresh 54:42 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant refresh 1:00:36 Delta consumer cards: Bum deal 1:03:12 A retraction from Nick 1:06:17 Revisiting Greg's bold satement 1:11:10 Question of the week: Which ultra-premium cards are now must-apply? Which is #1? #2?
Subscribe here and visit: thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe for more from FM.
This week Greg and Nick discuss:
-Citi's latest crazy move. --Do recent developments on the credit card scene signal us to stop applying? -Greg places to travel in the USA --Our favorites from StayCay week 1 -And more!
Timestamps: 00:28 Reader feedback: Should the "pod" have its own post?
4:35 A new segment: What crazy thing has Citi done this week?
6:40 Emirates sweet spots
11:24 American Airlines: The most customer-unfriendly airline? A new round of shut downs and increased bag fees.
15:40 Is here a new sheriff in town? Is he patrolling other programs?
17:54 Amex clawbacks unfair given COVID-19
21:25 Chase is tightening the belt. Will other issuers? Should we stop applying for Chase cards? What about other issuers?
31:10 Travel: What are the resorts that most excited Greg from his series this week?
47:42 StayCay Week 1 wrap up
1:02:17 Question of the week: Should one cancel a Virgin Atlantic award and transfer points to Hilton out of fear that Virgin Atlantic will shut down?
Subscribe here & at http://thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe. This week, Greg and Nick discuss:
-Frequent Miler site redesign: initial reader outrage, immediate adjustments, and how it is better today.
-Hyatt credit card promo: How much spending will Greg do toward Hyatt Globalist with this promo?
-Southwest: The response to the pandemic and the opportunity that may exist for converting "other" points to Southwest.
-StayCay to Far Away Challenge: This year the newly-expanded Frequent Miler team takes on an at-home set of video challenges. Early polling suggests an unexpected frontrunner.
Timestamps:
1:17 Reader feedback: Our redesign (including our discussion about the redesign)
12:07 World of Hyatt credit card promo: Is it worth spending toward status? How much will Greg do?
23:04 Southwest's response to COVID-19
31:12 Potential opportunity to convert other credit card points to Southwest.
41:38: StayCay to Far Away: What the new challenge is and who the early front-runner is.
57:35 Question of the week: Should you proactively convert Citi Double Cash rewards to ThankYou points?
1:02: Tag question: Is the Double Cash worth a 5/24 slot?
This week, Greg & Nick discuss:
-A face mask you already own
-Projects happening behind the scenes at Frequent Miler
-The Citi Premier changes and how they position Citi to have a killer 2-card combo
-Choosing travel protection or more points when booking paid travel
All that and more!
See below for timestamps and links:
2:16: Greg's DIY Face Masks
5:27: Reader Feedback
8:42: Subscribe, please
9:10: Team FM project: New Theme
14:45: A new challenge (Link to old challenge: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/40k-to-far-away-news/)
19:34 A new competitor
21:29: Big changes coming to Pemier Link to read more about the changes: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citi-adding-grocery-stores-restaurants-to-3x-category-3x-travel-structure-changing/)
35:37: Greg's curses AA frequent flyers
39:32: Question of the week
Greg and Nick discuss:
-How COVID-19 is impacting the business of Frequent Miler in a major way and what we and you can do to weather the storm.
-Awesome news from Hyatt
-Simon $1K VGCs are how online, but are they worth it?
-Going live: get notified the next time we're live on YouTube.
Read more at thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe
Timestamps:
1:36: Reader feedback: Clarifying Citi application rules
7:12: How Frequent Miler makes money and will survive the COVID-19 crisis despite big hits to income
18:20: A very special thank you
32:00: What can readers do to support Frequent Miler given the current environment?
36:36: Good news: Hyatt keeps Greg's wrong prediction streak alive and now I've caught his bug.
44:33: More news: Now register to buy $1K Simon Visa gift cards online, but is it a good deal?
57:52: We were live and will be again. Join us. Subscribe.
1:03:43. Question of the week: Are gift cards FDIC-backed? Should we be concerned about holding them right now?
Greg and Nick debate whether to cash out points rather than waiting to use them for travel. We also debate whether to sign up for cards now while great offers remain or wait for something better to maybe come along.
Timestamps:
1:30: Coronavirus preparation 6:37 Reader feedback: is it time to cash out points? 10:53: How many points are "enough" per passenger before you consider cashing out? 14:38: Are airline miles safe in the current environment? Are there any we should burn right now? 21:54: What will be the impact of hotels in the aftermath of coronavirus? 25:18: Whoops! A disconnection leads to a moment of chatter about how to avoid this in the future. 27:13: Is this a good time to sign up for credit cards? 30:00: Co-brands 30:17: Cash back cards 30:33: Ink Cards 31:24: Nick disagrees: Travel offers won't increase 33:33: Greg agrees that Nick is partially right: Offers may not increase, but we may see the return of "try before you buy" or extra credits and reduced spend requirements. 36:57: Nick disagrees: Cash back offers may increase after all 40:35: Will the Ink no-fee cards see increased offers? 44:30: Where do we stand so far? 47:10: Should we be afraid of points being devalued because of the coronavirus crisis? 53:54: Greg's counter-argument against airline credit cards today. 55:26: Greg challenges Nick's assertion that travel cards are worth considering right now? 55:48: Greg admits that Nick is right. 59:05: Greg disconnects! 1:00:30: The ten second explanation of what Nick said while Greg was disconnected. 1:01:00: Are transferable currency cards worth considering now? One defintiely is! 1:04:50: Question of the week x 2.5. 1:06:00: First of 2.5 questions of the week: what counts as a direct deposit? 1:09:50: Second question of the week: Halfway to the Companion Pass. Abort now or continue? 1:11:26: Nick shows why Greg was totally wrong -- with a little help from Greg! 1:14:25: Related Southwest question: Should those with Southwest points look for ways to cash out now? 1:17:57: Greg admits Nick is right....AGAIN. 1::20:00: Greg needs an intervention about cashing out some points.
Greg and Nick discuss:
-Is this a good time to book future travel? We obviously don't know when "safe" will be, but maybe this is a good time to book for the future?
-Is it ethical to take advantage of the current no change fee policies?
More:
-Should we cancel or downgrade annual fee credit cards? We can't travel now, we don't know when we'll be able to travel again. When is it time to cut the cord on expensive credit cards with benefits we can't use?
-How should people handle the travel industry's customer service collapse? Many people are reporting huge wait times, finger pointing (e.g. "call the airline" no "call the OTA"), wrong information.
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Timestamps (thanks to Screaming Lincolns on Youtube):
3:15 Is it really free? (Hotel Free Night) 5:13 Free Nights vs Award Flights w/Fuel Surcharges 10:50 Points/Miles Great Value Discussion 13:31 Main Topic: When to book travel? 15:56 June 1st??? 18:18 British Airways Refund Trick [Hat Tip to Gary Leff at View From The Wing] 22:23 Spend all miles now??? 23:00 Ethical Issue: Change Waivers 28:18 Where in the world would you like to be quarantined? 31:32 Greg's Travel Plans 34:06 Cust Svc/Changing Policies 39:09 Southwest's Travel Funds Extension 41:12 Credit Card Downgrades [Hat Tip to Grant Thomas at Travel With Grant] 43:30 Downgrade Strategy 53:41 What's in your wallet, NOW??? 58:42 Nick's Morphosis :) 1:00:35 F-Bomb Averted :( 1:03:35 Question of the Week: Extending United Airlines Voucher
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