In Episode 108 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Angie Sparks and Maria Fung discuss a variety of topics related to points and miles. They highlight a Facebook post from Ruby, who used over 1 million points for a family trip to Florida and Legoland, despite acknowledging it wasn't the best redemption value. Angie also shares news about a new Amex transfer bonus to Hilton Honors points, Avianca devaluing its LifeMiles program again, and Citi's best-ever offer on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Maria mentions various hotel promotions and encourages listeners to follow their Facebook group or the Award Wallet blog for updates.The hosts then share their personal experiences with credit card applications and bonuses. Angie talks about her partner's struggles with getting approved for an Amex Biz Gold card and their success with a Southwest card. She also mentions her son's first credit card approval and upcoming travel plans. Maria provides an update on her Citi AA Business card and Amex MR strategy, as well as her recent self-care trip to Japan. She emphasizes the importance of last-minute redemptions, points diversification, baggage allowance, and knowing alcohol import rules. The episode wraps up with trip updates and key takeaways for maximizing points and miles for travel.Links to Topics DiscussedAmex MR Transfer Bonus to Hilton HonorsAvianca Lifemiles DevaluationCiti AAdvantage Platinum Card Enhanced BonusWhere 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!

Episode 107 of the podcast focuses on skiing with points, featuring hosts Cameron, Joe, and April. They kick off the episode with a discussion on an interesting WSJ article about the extreme lengths people go to reserve pool chairs at resorts. The news segment highlights current point transfer bonuses, including Chase’s 30% bonus to Virgin Atlantic and Amex’s 15% bonus to Avianca Lifemiles, as well as a limited-time 100K offer for the United Business Card. They also touch on ZorkFest, an upcoming event on the intersection of casino rewards, travel, and loyalty programs. The hosts share their recent credit card bonuses and milestone achievements, with Joe discussing his Hyatt 110-night milestone and Cameron’s attempt to secure the BOA Alaska Airlines Business Card.The episode’s main feature dives into strategies for skiing on points, covering season passes like Epic and Ikon, hotel and flight redemptions, and planning tactics. Cameron emphasizes spreadsheet tracking for the best pass deals, while April shares her experience with Alaska Airlines’ free ski passes. The hosts discuss top ski destinations, including Utah, Colorado, Vermont, Europe, Japan, and Canada, detailing how to use points for flights and hotel stays. The tip of the week comes from Joe, who reminds listeners of the "why" behind award travel—using points not just for luxury, but to create meaningful experiences, like funding his daughter's summer violin program through Hyatt points.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Bonus to Virgin AtlanticAmex Membership Rewards Transfer Bonus to LifemilesUnited Business Card Increased BonusWhere 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!

In Episode 106 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Mike Zaccheo is joined by fellow community member Charlie to discuss how award travel fuels adventure. Fresh off their whirlwind European microstates trip, they recount their experiences visiting some of the smallest and most fascinating countries in the world, including Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein—all made possible through strategic use of points and miles. From lie-flat seats on transatlantic flights to luxury hotel upgrades and rental cars for border-hopping, their journey showcases the power of award travel to create unforgettable experiences.Before diving into their adventure, they cover the latest in airline loyalty programs, including the new JetBlue Premium Card, Virgin Atlantic’s status match offer, and United’s updated status challenge. Charlie also shares some impressive recent redemptions, from an Amex Gold 200k offer to Citi AA Business approvals. They wrap up with a valuable tip—book early and book often—emphasizing how planning ahead for flexibility and in some cases pivoting at the last possible minute helped one of them score Lufthansa First Class and other premium redemptions for their ambitious travels.Links to Topics DiscussedNew JetBlue Premium CardVirgin Atlantic Status MatchUnited Status MatchWhere 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!

In this episode moderators Eric Holly and Maria Fung take over hosting duties where they focus on the challenges and strategies of traveling with teenagers, a topic both moderators are familiar with as parents of teens at home and in college. They discuss how family schedules have changed over the years and how they’ve adapted their travel planning to accommodate busy school calendars and personal preferences.The episode also covers the latest updates in travel rewards. Hyatt’s Bonus Journeys promotion is back, offering 2X and 3X points on stays through March 2025. Lufthansa is introducing new A380 routes, including its first-ever service to Denver, and Choice Privileges has partnered with Westgate Resorts to expand booking options. Japan Airlines is also increasing U.S. service, meaning more availability for award seats. Additionally, Maria and Eric share insights into their current credit card bonuses and strategies for maximizing points.When discussing family travel, both moderators reflect on how they involve their teens in trip planning. Maria shares how her family now splits up for certain trips due to conflicting schedules, while Eric highlights the importance of aligning flights when traveling with a college student. They also revisit their favorite travel memories—Maria’s 21-day European adventure and Eric’s Northern Lights experience in Norway—while acknowledging the challenges, such as planning multi-generational trips or managing long-haul economy flights with restless kids. The episode concludes with their Tip of the Week, emphasizing the importance of using travel tools to find the best flight and hotel deals efficiently.Links to Topics DiscussedQ1 Hyatt Bonus JourneysChoice Privileges Adds Westgate ResortsCiti AA BusinessCiti Double CashWhere 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!

In Episode 104 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Mike Zaccheo and Eric Holly discuss the importance of utilizing shopping portals, highlighting a post by a member who earned 50k points through CapitalOne shopping. They also cover news such as United's high buy-up offers for elite status, the shutdown of the Dosh App, and Chase's new bonus promotions for co-branded cards. Additionally, they mention the recent FlyingBlue devaluation, which saw increases in award redemptions for economy, premium economy, and business class.The hosts share personal updates on the bonuses they received and their travel plans. Eric talks about his recent Bank of Hawaii card acquisition and upcoming trips, including a family weekend in St. Pete, an anniversary weekend in NYC, and a graduation trip to Paris and London. Mike discusses his European Microstates adventure and a bachelor/bachelorette party in Nashville. They also highlight popular New Year's travel destinations such as New York, Sydney, London, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro, each known for unique celebrations and festivities. Finally, Eric shares details of his trip to Chile, including stays in Vina del Mar, Easter Island, and Santiago, with a focus on maximizing loyalty points and rewards.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!

In this episode, Angie and Anthony Cave dive into the latest in travel news, personal updates, and tips for making the most of your points and miles. The highlight post of the week is Scott's review of Secrets Papagayo in Costa Rica, a Hyatt all-inclusive, where snorkeling and diverse dining options stood out. Angie and Anthony also discuss the new U.K. Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement starting January 9, Delta’s partnership switch from Lyft to Uber, and updates on Hyatt, including a lucrative new business card offer and promotions like double elite night credits for Under Canvas stays.The conversation shifts to personal travel updates, with Angie prepping for a Slovenia trip inspired by its recent popularity and Anthony planning visits to Japan, Vienna, and Taiwan on award travel deals. The main feature delves into budget travel, where Anthony highlights how airline status and deal-hunting elevate the economy experience, sharing examples like mistake fares and fast-track status matches. Angie offers a different perspective, focusing on flexibility, leveraging credit card perks, and prioritizing trip-specific hotel locations over brand loyalty.Wrapping up, the hosts share practical tips, like checking wheretocredit.com for maximizing airline miles on cash flights, and remind listeners of ongoing deals like American Airlines' 10x miles promotion for wildfire relief donations.Links to Topics DiscussedUK Electronic Travel Authorization now required Costs £10 and reports are that it is quick and easyEarn 10X AA Miles for Red Cross CA wildfire relief donationsDelta Announces Rideshare Partnership Going Form Lyft to UberChase World of Hyatt Business Card Enhanced OfferVenetian Las Vegas Now Part of the World of HyattHyatt Under the Canvas PromotionsAirline Status Match Fast TrackWhere 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!

In this episode hosts Angie and Mike discuss strategies for maximizing rewards in 2025. They highlight a community post from Marc, a member who successfully earned 1.4 million points by patiently following advice to apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. The hosts also share notable updates in the travel rewards world, including changes to Aeroplan’s “Pay Yourself Back” program, Alaska Airlines’ elite status retention challenge, and promotions from Marriott Homes & Villas and their Eat Around Town program.For their 2025 strategies, Angie and Mike review their current credit card portfolios and identify areas for improvement. Angie plans to close several cards to reduce annual fees, open new cards to fill gaps, and maximize her credits and points earnings. Her focus will be on building transferable points balances and utilizing card benefits more efficiently. Mike outlines a similar plan, focusing on keeping key Chase and Amex cards while potentially exploring more Citi cards. He also plans to leverage cards to maintain Hyatt Globalist and AA Executive Platinum status. He also laments his stranded Singapore Airlines Miles and hope to find an adequate use to book travel with them this year.Both emphasize the importance of maximizing bonus categories and ensuring all credits are used to avoid lapsing benefits.The episode wraps up with a practical tip from Angie on using the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) credit available through Amex Platinum cards. She recommends using a tool called MaxFHR.com to find affordable properties where the credit can be applied, making it easier to take full advantage of this often-overlooked benefit.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Aeroplan Card Pay Yourself Back ChangesAlaska Airlines Elite Status ChallengeMarriott Homes & Villas Bonus PointsMarriott Eat Around The Town PromoSingapore Krisflyer MilWhere 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!

The discussion dives into effective card strategies for booking stays on platforms like VRBO and Airbnb. Tips include leveraging cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and watching for airline promotions to rack up bonus points. The hosts emphasize the importance of diversifying points and miles, comparing it to financial asset management. Personal stories illustrate how spreading points across programs unlocks more travel options. They wrap up with a fantastic travel blog recommendation for planning outdoor adventures.

Mike and Angie recap an exciting year in the world of award travel. This milestone episode kicks off with a look at the lively community debate over a 47-hour Amtrak ride from Chicago to Miami—a no-go for most but sparking dreams of scenic sleeper-car journeys through the mountains. The hosts also dive into current travel deals, including Frontier's GoWild! Pass, IHG's double points promo, and Alaska Airlines' ski getaway perks. Don't forget to check out the latest transfer bonuses from Amex, Chase, and Marriott before the year ends!Mike and Angie reflect on their personal travel wins and challenges this year. Mike shares highlights like earning 1.6 million points through new cards, including the Amex Business Gold, and embarking on trips to Australia, Italy, and Toronto along with meetups in San Antonio, Seattle and Chicago. Angie recounts her creative use of travel funds and miles for family and international adventures, including a business class trip to India. While Angie faced a few travel disappointments with canceled trips, she made the most of domestic travel using companion passes and free night certificates.To wrap up, they reflect on the tools that make award travel possible, from AwardWallet and TripIt to trusty spreadsheets. Whether you're tracking elite statuses, maximizing credit card perks, or planning your next dream getaway, this episode is packed with insights and tips to help you make the most of your points and miles in the coming year. Happy travels, and here's to an exciting 2025!Links to Topics DiscussedFrontier GoWild! Pass IHG PromosAlaska Airlines Alpine GetawaysAmex Business GoldYear End ChecklistWhere 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!

In Episode 99 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, Mike Zaccheo and Justin Walter dive into exciting travel updates and tips. Highlights include member Paul’s recommendation to explore European Christmas markets, featuring Vienna’s charm. News about Chase Freedom’s Q1 2025 5x categories, Virgin Red’s link to Virgin Flying Club for bonus points, and status match opportunities for Delta and Hilton elites was discussed. Southwest also announced the sale of A-List status, offering perks like priority boarding and same-day flight changes.In the main feature, Justin recounts his recent 6-night family trip to Europe, managing the logistics of traveling with seven people, including his sister-in-law’s first international journey. He secured United Polaris business class tickets, enjoyed the Polaris lounge at ORD, and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Churchill in London with upgraded suites and stellar service. The family explored iconic attractions earning bonus points through Rakuten for ticket purchases. They wrapped up the trip with a positioning flight to Amsterdam.  While Justin and his travel companions had a smooth return flight to the U.S., his parents faced a different experience. Their itinerary was hit by a lengthy delay, resulting in an unplanned overnight stay in Chicago. This situation served as a reminder to stay calm and make use of available resources when irregular operations (IROPS) occur. On a positive note, they successfully filed a UK261 claim to compensate for the inconvenience. Justin concludes with practical family travel tips—plan your transportation, bring portable strollers, and use Uber for ease. Plus, Justin’s tip of the week encourages listeners to jump on outstanding offers when you see them, like we did with the NLL Amex Business Gold recently.Links to Topics DiscussedChase Freedom Q1 2025 CategoriesLink Virgin red to Virgin Flying Club for 4000 pointsAA Announced 2025 Loyalty program changesDelta Status for Hilton Diamond membersWhere 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!