Changes in IHG Elite Program

Get your pen and paper and get ready to play along and see if you can beat the blogger as Nick tries to score at least 75,000 points revealing 10 tricks for spending fewer points on your flight and hotel awards.

00:00 Intro

01:52 Giant Mailbag

04:05 Card Talk: Amex Platinum card changes

10:51 Mattress running the numbers: Stand Up to Cancer and earn 50x

https://frequentmiler.com/american-airlines-earn-up-to-50x-aadvantage-miles-with-cancer-research-donation/

14:15 Award Talk

14:20 IHG suite upgrades now apply on award stays

16:41 Finnair is joining Avios

https://frequentmiler.com/finnair-to-start-using-avios-in-early-2024/

19:49 Main Event: 10 tricks for spending fewer points for flights and hotels (gameshow edition)

21:19 How can a person get 1.5 cpp for travel booked directly with travel providers?

https://frequentmiler.com/us-bank-real-time-mobile-rewards-what-works-where/

23:52 How can you get 2 cents per point buying flights with Amex Membership Rewards points?

26:29 Describe two tricks that guarantee lower award prices by flying farther

https://frequentmiler.com/avianca-lifemiles-awesome-mixed-cabin-award-pricing-first-class-for-less/

https://frequentmiler.com/cathay-pacific-asia-miles-mixed-cabin-award-pricing-first-class-for-less/

28:59 Name three ways to incur lower surcharges when flying BA

https://frequentmiler.com/british-airways-adds-option-to-use-more-avios-less-money/

https://frequentmiler.com/business-class-to-london-for-less-with-this-asia-miles-hack/

33:59 How is it possible to fly within Europe for as few as 4,000 points one-way? 

https://frequentmiler.com/air-france-klm-across-europe-for-less-sweet-spot-spotlight/

36:32 How can fly business class across the Atlantic Ocean for 55k United miles?

40:38 Name three ways to pay for a regular room award stay but confirm a suite instead

https://frequentmiler.com/incredible-hyatt-suites-bookable-with-points/

43:31 What type of lodging would cost me 67,500 points per night?

https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-vacasa/

45:43 How could one pay avg of only 67.5 pct of the original award cost for a hotel? (32.5% off)

50:11 How could one pay 55% fewer points for a hotel award?

54:49 Bonus: What are Delta miles worth in SkyClub for premium drinks?

56:42 Question of the Week: What if any are the best ways to book Airbnbs or 2 hotel rooms with points at a reasonable rate?

Music credit: Annie Yoder