The travel rewards we want most | Ep233 | 12-16-23
Dec 16, 2023
auto_awesome
The hosts discuss their dream travel rewards including Air France La Premier, Emirates new First Class, Lufthansa New First Class, New Singapore Suites, Turkish business class nonstop Detroit to Istanbul, Etihad Apartments, Qatar Qsuites, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Post Ranch Inn, Virgin Limited luxury safari camps, Intercontinental Khao Yai, Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace, Am SLH property in Santorini, a luxury safari camp, and a Celebrity or Norwegian cruise. They also mention booking American Airlines flights with Membership Rewards points and using partner miles for American Airlines flights.
The Intercontinental Khao Yai in Thailand offers a unique experience as it is a luxury hotel converted from an old train.
The Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace in Oman is known for its picturesque setting and palatial ambiance, making it a desirable place to stay.
The integration of Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties with Hyatt opens up the potential to stay at incredible properties like post ranch hand in California or Virgin Group properties in Africa.
Deep dives
Intercontinental Kao Yai in Thailand and Albusan Palace in Oman
I'm excited to stay at the Intercontinental Kao Yai in Thailand, which is a luxury hotel converted from an old train and offers a unique experience. Additionally, I'm looking forward to staying at Albusan Palace, a Ritz Carlton property in Oman, known for its picturesque setting and palatial ambiance.
Santorini SLH properties
I have my eye on one of the SLH properties in Santorini to experience the beauty and charm of the island. Staying in one of the white buildings with a cliff view would be an unforgettable experience.
Luxury safari camp
I'm also intrigued by the idea of staying at a luxury safari camp to enhance my wildlife experience. Although I initially enjoyed my stay in Kruger National Park in South Africa, I am curious to try a different and more luxurious experience.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties (contingent on Hyatt integration)
Lastly, I am eagerly anticipating the integration of Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties with Hyatt. This opens up the potential to stay at incredible properties mentioned in their catalog, such as post ranch hand in California or the Virgin Group properties in Africa, which were previously only bookable with high amounts of Virgin points.
Booking American Airlines flights with partner airlines
There are multiple ways to book American Airlines flights with partner airlines using Membership Rewards points. One option is to use Qantas, which is a major airline and a one-world alliance partner. Qantas offers a decent award chart for shorter flights, making it a good choice for booking American Airlines on short itineraries. Other Membership Rewards transfer partners that can be used to book American Airlines flights include British Airways, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, and Etihad. Each program has its own award chart and redemption rates, so it's recommended to compare the options and choose the one that offers the best value for your desired flight.
The value of using points.com and other tools
Using tools like points.com can be beneficial for discovering unique redemption options. Point.com allows you to search for award flights and shows deals like using Qantas points to book American Airlines flights. It's important to note that different tools may support different partner programs, so it's worthwhile to explore options like British Airways Avios or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles separately through their respective websites. Additionally, other transferable currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Points offer similar options to book American Airlines flights through partner airlines. Taking advantage of these tools and exploring all the partner programs can help maximize the value of your points and enhance your award travel experience.
It's fun to daydream about the flights and hotels we'd love to book with miles and points. This week, Greg and Nick discuss the redemptions they would most like to make if the stars aligned.
00:00 Intro
01:33 Giant Mailbag
06:38 Card Talk: Air France / KLM Flying Blue World Elite Mastercard
https://frequentmiler.com/afklm/
15:45 Main Event: The rewards we want the most
16:35 Greg: Air France La Premier (first class)
18:54 Emirates "new" First Class
19:30 Lufthansa New First Class (if it ever comes to be)
20:04 New Singapore Suites
22:13 Turkish business class nonstop Detroit to Istanbul
23:56 Nick: New Singapore Suites (on a long route!)
25:01 Etihad Apartments
27:18 Qatar Qsuites
28:29 NOT Air France La Premier
39:49 Hotel awards we want
39:54 Mr. & Mrs. Smith
40:32 Post Ranch Inn
41:29 Virgin Limited luxury safari camps -- via Mr. & Mrs. Smith
47:28 Intercontinental Khao Yai
48:20 Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace
49:36 Am SLH property in Santorini
51:02 A luxury safari camp
53:46 A Celebrity or Norwegian cruise
56:24 I wasn't aware that there is a way to book American Airlines with Membership Rewards points. What are the options?
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
