Award Travel 101

In Episode 119 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Mike and Maria kick things off with a community highlight from Paul, who shared his unique travel ritual of getting haircuts abroad to experience local culture. This sparked a lively discussion, with other members mentioning grocery stores, tattoos, children’s books, and grooming services as ways to engage with destinations more deeply. The hosts then dove into news: Chase's 100K Sapphire Preferred offer is ending soon, Alaska Airlines added Philippine Airlines as a partner, Amex and Chase paused Emirates transfers temporarily, and Hyatt launched a lucrative promo for Under the Canvas stays.The main feature covered “Disappearing Sweet Spots” amid ongoing devaluations in award charts. While many programs have raised prices or introduced dynamic pricing (like JAL and Lufthansa), there are still valuable redemptions to be had. ANA’s RTW awards remain competitive, and Cathay Pacific has been reliably releasing premium cabin awards despite eliminating its chart. Maria emphasized the importance of diversifying points currencies to navigate future changes. The episode closed with a timely tip: use Rakuten’s 15% Big Give Week and the AA shopping portal to stack points on Mother’s Day purchases.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Sapphire Preferred Elevated OfferAlaska Adds Philipine Airlines as a Booking PartnerChase & Amex Pause Transfers to EmiratesHyatt Under the Canvas PromoMaria Points The Way - Cathay & JAL ChangesWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

In Episode 118 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, host Mike Zaccheo is joined by moderator April Rose. The episode begins with the "Post of the Week," highlighting a discussion on whether obtaining a Real ID before the May 7 deadline is worthwhile, given that some licenses don’t expire for years. Commenters suggested alternatives such as carrying a passport or a Global Entry card for compliance. The news segment covers updates like Bilt Rewards adding Southwest as a transfer partner, reciprocal checked bag benefits for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines cardholders, and Citi’s devaluation of transfer rates for select loyalty programs.The episode’s highlight feature addresses a sensitive topic—managing travel points and miles after the passing of a loved one. Mike and April delve into the policies of different loyalty programs, providing a guide for transferring points, including required documentation and potential fees. They also explore creative ways to honor a loved one’s legacy using points, such as taking trips to places they cherished or donating miles to charity. To prepare for such situations proactively, they suggest enrolling in family sharing programs across various airlines and hotel chains. The episode concludes with a tip from April: travelers can text TSA for inquiries on acceptable items when flying.Links to Topics DiscussedBilt adds Southwest as a transfer partnerBilt Rent Day promotionsAlaska-Hawaiian reciprocal bag benefitsCiti reduces transfer ratiosTSA Rules on cremated remainsText TSA for infoWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Angie Sparks is joined by special guest Steve Harms, a seasoned award traveler and recent retiree, to explore how retirement reshapes points and miles strategies. Steve shares his journey into the hobby starting in 2020, diving headfirst into earning transferable points, amassing over a dozen cards, and navigating credit card rules like 5/24. He also outlines his wife Cindy’s more cautious but strategic participation, especially given her role as a caregiver for her parents. The couple’s travel patterns and card usage evolved significantly due to caregiving responsibilities and then Steve’s retirement in 2024. Their planning now revolves around minimizing annual fees, maximizing retention offers, and selectively product-changing cards to continue earning bonuses without increasing financial burden.The main focus of the episode is how retirement impacts travel rewards strategy. Steve recommends applying for high-AF cards and meeting spend thresholds before retiring, when income is more predictable. Post-retirement, tighter budgets mean being more selective, relying on retention bonuses, using tools like CardPointers, and even incorporating cash-back strategies or bonus purchasing to fill gaps. He also shares insights into managing healthcare costs without employer group insurance—touching on COBRA, Medicare, and supplemental plans. For retirees, cards like the no-AF AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard (3% on gas and drugstores, 2% on medical) can be especially valuable. A listener SOS from “Credit Card Jail” also prompted discussion on getting creative with less common banks and targeting no-lifetime-limit Amex offers. Finally, Angie shares a TSA PreCheck tip for fixing boarding pass issues when booking with partner airlines—proving a little persistence can pay off.Where to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

In Episode 116 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Angie and Cameron dive into key travel news and updates, including a lively community discussion sparked by a member seeking solo travel advice for women. Recommendations ranged from safe bets like Switzerland and Singapore to more debated destinations like Morocco, Mexico City, and Cape Town. In news, SkyTeam announced lounge access policy changes that include tighter time restrictions and stricter guest access, while Qatar introduced a new “QSuites Guarantee” to compensate for aircraft downgrades. Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines are offering point purchase bonuses. Lastly, ANA is phasing out its ultra-cheap round-the-world ticket but now allows one-way awards, opening up new opportunities with low surcharges and excellent value.The highlight segment focuses on the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Angie and Cameron explore its unique characteristics, like the lack of bank transfer partners, but also its strengths—such as cheap domestic awards and valuable partner redemptions. They also break down the Loyalty Points system and status tiers, which offer incremental rewards from 40K points upward. Earning strategies include credit card bonuses, shopping portals, AA Hotels, and Bask Bank. The episode wraps with a tip from Cameron on consolidating Southwest flight credits before upcoming program restrictions, helping travelers simplify redemptions and maximize their leftover funds.Links to Topics DiscussedSkyTeam Lounge Access Policy "Enhancements"Qatar Q-Suites GuarenteeAlaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines Buying Points Bonus OffersANA Eliminating Round-the-World TicketBask Bank AAdvantage Miles EarningWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Episode 115 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Mike Zaccheo, features Joe Petrovic's recent return from his second trip to Japan within a year. The "Post of the Week" highlights Maria, a moderator, who utilized the concierge service of her legacy Ritz Carlton card to secure restaurant reservations in Seoul despite language barriers. This episode underscores leveraging unique credit card benefits for hassle-free travel planning.Among the discussed news topics is the record-high bonus offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, ideal for new travelers, and tightened product change rules by Citi, limiting flexibility in switching between card families. Other highlights include updated bonus categories for Chase Freedom and Citi Custom Cash cards and Loganair's adoption of Avios currency, making their often-expensive short flights more accessible.The episode's main feature dives into Joe's spring trip to Japan to practice Japanese and experience cherry blossom season. His meticulously planned itinerary included flights and luxurious hotel stays leveraged through credit card points and perks. Notable highlights of the trip include exploring Okinawa, Osaka, and Tokyo, indulging in cultural and natural sites like Naminoue Beach, the Umeda Sky Building, and cherry blossom viewing spots.Finally, the podcast wraps up with travel tips, emphasizing tools like Google Maps and translation apps, learning basic phrases in the local language, and planning extra time to navigate. Whether for seasoned travelers or beginners, the episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring travel tales.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Sapphire Preferred Record High OfferCiti Tightening Product Change RulesRotating Quarterly Bonus Categories ResetScottish Airline Loganair Adopts Avios CurrencyWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

In Episode 114 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Angie Sparks and Mike Zaccheo take listeners behind the scenes of what it's like running a large Facebook community dedicated to points and miles travel. They kick things off with a viral post about Tampa International Airport's humorous rebranding inspired by its iconic flamingo statue, Phoebe. The episode covers major updates in the travel and credit card world, including widely disliked changes to United’s credit card portfolio, the return of National Car Rental’s One Two Free promo, and various hotel promotions from Hyatt and Accor. Angie shares her recent Atlanta trip booked with points and previews plans for a fall leaf-peeping road trip.The heart of the episode focuses on the daily grind (and occasional chaos) of moderating a massive Facebook group. While most members are helpful and enthusiastic, the hosts explain the challenges of dealing with repeat questions, Facebook's finicky search and tagging systems, and limitations placed by certain banks that restrict how their products can be discussed. They also talk about how the group earns money—mostly through affiliate links and AT201 memberships—and encourage members to support the group by using their links and participating more actively. They wrap up with a reminder not to rely too heavily on autopay and to always double-check credit card payments.Links to Topics DiscussedUnited Airlines Card Portfolio OverhaulNational Card Retnal One, Two, free promotionHyatt 777 Bonus and other current promotionsAccor Live Limitless bonus point promotionWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

In Episode 113 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Mike Zaccheo is joined by Angie Sparks to cover recent travel news, community highlights, and updates in the points and miles world. The featured post of the week sparked lively discussion in the Facebook group, where members shared their post-travel routines—from immediately unpacking to leaving bags untouched for days or even storing them in the garage to avoid bedbugs. The news segment touched on Cathay Pacific’s upcoming award chart changes, Chase’s all time high IHG Business card offer, American Airlines' status match targeting dissatisfied Southwest elites, and a slew of ongoing buy points and loyalty promotions.Angie and Mike also discussed recent personal wins and upcoming trips, including Angie’s plans using the Companion Pass and Mike’s booking for Phoenix and a stay at the Hyatt Regency Times Square. The highlight feature focused on Hyatt's shifting loyalty program—once a favorite but now facing scrutiny due to changes like the loss of SLH, the addition of peak/off peak pricing, and the re-categorization of over 150 properties, many moving up in cost. Are these changes enough to finally make us persue loyalty elsewhere? Or will we (mostly Mike) forever drink from the World of Hyatt Kool-Aid pitcher?They wrapped up with a tip encouraging listeners to attend local points and miles meetups to exchange knowledge and discover new travel hacks, emphasizing the value of in-person community connections.Links to Topics DiscussedCathay Pacific Award Chart ChangesChase IHG Busines Card OfferAmerican Airlines Instant Status Pass for Southwest "Elites"Hyatt Annual Category ChangesWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Episode 112 of the Award Travel 101 podcast features host Mike Zaccheo and guest Brandyn Osborne, a passionate traveler, entrepreneur, and board gamer. They first met in the Charlotte (CLT) Centurion Lounge, sparking Brandyn's involvement in the Award Travel 101 community. Brandyn shares how his wife's inspiration led him to discover award travel, culminating in a memorable business-class honeymoon trip to New Zealand and Fiji using credit card sign-up bonuses. The conversation also explores his professional journey in gaming and how award travel helped him connect with gaming friends worldwide, eventually forming his business, Conhorde.The duo discusses recent travel news, including Southwest Airlines' controversial decision to eliminate free checked bags starting May 28 for most passengers. They touch upon credit card offers such as Chase Freedom Q2 bonus categories and Brandyn's strategic card usage to maximize rewards. Trip updates include Mike's St. Kitts adventure, hiking Mt. Liamuiga, and Brandyn's UK and European travels for work and personal interests. Brandyn emphasizes how gaming conventions shaped his career, offering tips on affordable travel for enthusiasts using points, while stressing the importance of accountability and supportive travel partners. The episode highlights practical advice and the intersection of passion and savvy travel strategies.Links to Topics DiscussedSouthwest to Charge For Checked BagsChase Freedom Flex Q2 Bonus CategoriesChase Ink Business Card ComparisonVenture X Business vs Amex Platinum BusinessConhorde - Brandyn's BusinessWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Episode 111 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks with guest Joseph Petrovic, covers key updates in the world of points and miles. They discuss a travel hack to avoid costly airline upgrades by using schedule changes instead. In industry news, Southwest has reduced reward rates, Etihad is offering up to a 40% transfer bonus until March 2025, and Singapore Airlines is celebrating 10 million KrisFlyer members with bonus miles and a 20% discount on select award flights.Angie and Joe also share recent travel and credit card updates. Angie rebooked her return flight from Croatia to avoid an overnight layover, while Joe optimized his Japan trip by securing multiple flights and award hotel stays. He also saved points by rebooking a Bonvoy stay at a lower rate. Their credit card strategies were a major focus—Angie manages 53 cards with over $8,000 in annual fees and plans to close 10 to save costs, while Joe, with 50 cards, offsets fees through tax strategies and benefits, making his collection cost-neutral.To wrap up, Joe highlights ExpertFlyer as a valuable but often overlooked tool for securing first and business class upgrades on airlines like Alaska, American, Hawaiian, and Korean. While many tools have emerged in the award travel space, ExpertFlyer still provides an edge for certain travelers. The episode offers valuable insights into maximizing award travel, staying flexible with bookings, and making the most of credit card benefits.Links to Topics DiscussedSouthwest Slashes Earn RatesHotel Program to Etihad Guest Transfer BonusSingapore Airlines Krisflyer PromosWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

Episode 110 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks with Cameron Laufer, covers a range of travel reward topics, from hotel loyalty programs to new credit card offers and companion pass deals. They highlight a discussion about maximizing hotel points for international stays, with Hyatt standing out for high-tier status benefits and Hilton offering strong resort options. They also review recent promotions, such as Chase’s 20% transfer bonus to Avios, new Hilton Amex card offers, and Frontier’s new Companion Pass for Platinum and Diamond members. Additionally, Angie shares insights into a now-expired JetBlue transfer bonus and personal experiences with credit card applications and spending strategies.The main feature of this episode compares award travel search tools based on recent findings from Frequent Miler. They discuss several options, including Point.me, Seats.aero, PointsYeah.com, Roame.travel, and Award Tool, outlining their strengths, pricing, and unique features like real-time searches, cached results, alerts, and multiple airport search capabilities. While no single tool is perfect, they emphasize choosing one based on travel habits and preferred airlines. Cameron closes the episode with a tip for booking domestic flights—purchasing the cheapest same-day flight and leveraging schedule changes to switch to a more desirable option for free.Chase to Avios Transfer BonusNew Hilton Amex OffersFrontier Companion PassWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT and the waitlist is exhaused but stay tuned for news about our next meetup! Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.