Award Travel 101

Episode 148 of the Award Travel 101 podcast focuses on maximizing points and cashback during Black Friday shopping while also covering the week’s key award-travel news. Angie and Cameron open with a community highlight about stacking rewards on large purchases—using new credit cards for signup bonuses, checking card-linked offers, comparing shopping portals, and leveraging gift-card category bonuses at grocery or office-supply stores. They also touch on programs like Wayfair Professional that sometimes unlock extra savings or rewards opportunities. News updates include a 40% Amex-to-Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus, Frontier’s extended Go Wild Pass, expanded Air France Flying Blue saver availability for elite members, and an elevated $40 TopCashback referral bonus.The hosts also share their personal points wins and trip planning. Angie is using a new Citi Strata Elite card to cover property taxes and wrap up a United Gateway spending tracker, while Cameron is evaluating Citi and Chase cards for various family members and prepping for future Southwest Companion Pass timing. Travel planning includes Angie’s upcoming Uruguay trip and Cameron’s multi-stop itineraries for Greece and Thailand, including discussions about award pricing, hotel options, and routing strategies on carriers like Qatar, ANA, and JAL.The main topic—Black Friday shopping—dives into stacking card offers, elevated Rakuten rates, Capital One Shopping deals, Visa gift-card plays via Rove, and portal comparisons using tools like Cashback Monitor. Cameron and Angie outline the best credit cards for holiday spending across different categories and offer strategies like buying gift cards in bonus categories to boost points. They also share must-have travel items recommended by the AT101 community, such as portable fans, chargers, Airfly adapters, and CO₂ detectors. The episode wraps with a tip of the week: using Thrifty Traveler’s credit-card benefits tracker to manage annual credits across multiple cards more effectively.Episode Links:Amex to Virgin 40% Transfer bonusFrontier Go Wild PassAir France Award Space for ElitesTop Cash Back LinkAmazon Black Friday DealsWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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 147 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks with guest Jake Futerfas, dives into maximizing Aeroplan, Air Canada’s loyalty program. Jake, a long-time community member and Aeroplan expert, shares insights on why Aeroplan stands out, how to accumulate points, and the best redemption strategies. The discussion covers sweet spots, partner redemptions, and benefits of the Chase Aeroplan card, including earning toward elite status and leveraging eUpgrades and Priority Rewards to offset dynamic pricing. Jake also highlights perks for United flyers and offers a practical tip: always carry your Global Entry card when flying from Canadian airports with U.S. preclearance.Listeners are reminded to monitor year-end deals like transfer bonuses, status matches, and point-buying promos. The episode emphasizes strategic planning for both earning and redeeming points, especially with Aeroplan’s flexibility and partner network, making it a valuable resource for travelers looking to optimize their rewards.Where to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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 and Joe share their adventures from Chicago Seminars, a rewarding event that raised nearly $32,000 for charity this year. They discuss essential tips for dealing with phone theft during travel and highlight exciting travel news, like IHG's 100% points bonus and elevated offers for various credit cards. The dynamic duo reflects on notable speakers, networking opportunities, and lessons learned from flight disruptions. Plus, they encourage newcomers to explore future meetups, ensuring everyone feels welcomed in this passionate travel community.

This episode features Mike Zaccheo and Angie Sparks diving deep into the world of credit card statement credits and how to maximize them. The episode begins with a highlight post from member Karen, who detailed her inspiring solo round-the-world trip at age 60, showing how miles, points, and determination can unlock life-changing travel. In news, the hosts cover Flying Blue’s November Promo Rewards offering discounted redemptions from North America to Europe, a 20% Capital One transfer bonus to British Airways, Wells Fargo adding JetBlue as a transfer partner, and a major announcement that Rove Miles will soon support Lufthansa’s Miles & More—its first European transfer option.Angie shares her latest booking spree, spending 1.3 million points to plan a Switzerland and Istanbul trip, while Mike talks about arranging a Key West getaway for family. They also discuss their travel plans for Chicago Seminars weekend. The main topic focuses on using all available card credits—daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual—across popular cards like the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, Hilton Aspire, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. They break down credits covering everything from Uber, dining, and streaming to resort stays, airline fees, and portal bookings, emphasizing that these perks can dramatically offset annual fees when used strategically.Links to Topics DiscussedFlying Blue Promo RewardsCapital One to British Airways Transfer BonusWells Fargo to JetBlue Transfer BonusCredit Card Statement Credit ListingWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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.

Join experienced miles-and-points enthusiasts James He and Eric Holley as they explore the merits of JetBlue's ambitious "25 for 25" challenge, which earned them 350K points and long-term Mosaic status. They discuss strategies to navigate recent airline changes, including the JetBlue-United partnership and the KrisFlyer devaluation. The dynamic duo also shares insights on spending tactics, tips for status matching, and how they optimized their travel plans, all while balancing costs and logistics. Perfect for any travel hacker!

This week, Mike Zaccheo and moderator Justin Walter dive deep into Delta SkyMiles after highlighting an inspiring post from Karen, a solo traveler in her 60s who completed a 3-week, around-the-world business- and first-class trip using 326K AA and Virgin miles plus $8.2K in cash for a journey valued at ~$22K. Her itinerary spanned NYC, Tel Aviv, Paris, Tokyo, and Phoenix, with smooth connections, Hyatt stays on points, and carry-on-only travel. She earned 38K miles back and proved that with planning, persistence, and a good points strategy, major bucket-list trips are possible at any age.In the news, Citi launched the new AAdvantage Globe Mastercard, while Hyatt refreshed its personal card offer . JetBlue announced Mosaic status changes for 2026—more benefits for top elites but fewer perks for lower tiers—while SkyTeam expanded lounge access to 70+ domestic lounges, excluding Delta’s own Elite Plus members. The main topic explored how Delta SkyMiles has evolved into a dynamic, spend-based loyalty program where Amex partnerships play a key role. Although miles never expire, the lack of an award chart creates unpredictable pricing, making partner bookings (Air France, Virgin Atlantic) and flash sales the best value opportunities. The hosts discussed Delta’s Medallion tiers, MQD rules, and the shifting role of Sky Clubs as Amex access limits tighten, noting that Delta increasingly positions itself as a “premium brand.” Their advice: always compare award prices across partner programs before redeeming and also evaluate miles vs cash prices.Links To Topics DiscussedNew Citi AAdvantage Globe CardHyatt Credit Card Offer with Double Elite NightsJetBlue Elite Status ChangesSkyTeam Elite Lounge Access ChangesWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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 142 of the Award Travel 101 podcast features Angie Sparks joined by guest Carissa Rawson, Director of Travel and Marketing at Rove Miles. The highlight post celebrated member Debbie’s generosity in gifting a Napa Wine Train voucher she couldn’t use, which another member, Lisa, gave to her father-in-law for his 89th birthday. News included Citi Strata Elite’s 100K public offer, elevated cash-back offers on Capital One’s Quicksilver and Savor cards, and a potential new partnership allowing Rakuten users to earn Bilt (and thus Hyatt) points. Angie also mentioned the usual round of transfer and purchase bonuses shared via the AwardWallet blog.In the main topic, Carissa discussed Rove Miles, a new flexible travel currency not tied to a credit card, explaining how it works, its benefits compared to traditional booking methods, and how it integrates with loyalty programs when booking hotels. Angie also gave a quick trip update about awaiting P2’s decision on whether to include Istanbul on their way to Switzerland, and the episode closed with Carissa’s tip of the week about Choice points and a reminder that the long-awaited AT101 merch store is now open.Links to Topics DiscussedSignup for a Rove Miles account (affiliate link)Citi Strata Elite New Public OfferCapital One Increased OffersBilt Rewards - Rakuten PartnershipWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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 141 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Mike Zaccheo with Angie Sparks, opens with the “highlight post” about the demise of the popular Red Aviator “Sub for a SUB” card—long favored for its easy single-purchase American Airlines miles bonus. The news roundup covers major developments: the completion of the Hawaiian-Alaska merger and Alaska’s award chart updates, elevated Chase Ink offers and limited-time Hilton Amex bonuses Angie also reviews several active transfer bonuses.In personal updates, Angie notes her Atmos bonus posting, Aviator annual-fee payments pending, a Hilton Surpass FNC spend met, and plans to downgrade her Ritz card. Mike reports no new activity since his Atmos and Citi Strata Elite bonuses. Angie also shares exciting travel news: booking saver business-class seats from Dallas to Istanbul via a Citi-to-Turkish transfer for her upcoming Switzerland trip, while Mike outlines firmed-up details for his 2026 Japan journey—Singapore’s LAX-NRT fifth-freedom flight, five nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo using a suite upgrade, and a return on JAL booked through a Capital One transfer bonus.The main segment centers on Angie’s family reunion and leaf-peeping trip through New England, where she splurged on Alaska First Class (75 k miles for four tickets) and balanced multiple travel-portal, Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt redemptions worth $2.2 k in cash value. She leveraged credits across Capital One, Citi, and Amex for lodging, dining, and rental cars, plus AA lounge access. Her takeaway: though scenic, the trip involved excessive driving, heavy traffic, and limited dining availability. The “Tip of the Week” urges listeners to review unused credits before year-end.Links to Topics DiscussedAtmos Rewards Award Chart ChangesNo Fee Chase Ink Business Card OffersHilton Amex OffersCredit Card Transfer Bonuses SummaryWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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 140 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Mike Zaccheo and Cameron Laufer cover a range of topics from heartwarming uses of points to travel industry updates and destination planning. They open with a moving story from a community member who used 18,000 AA miles to fly an old friend across the country for emotional support—highlighting how miles can offer more than just luxury travel. Mike and Cameron then discuss notable credit card updates, including new Capital One transfer partners like Qatar Airways and Japan Airlines (with a 30% bonus), and question whether the $895 Amex Platinum fee is worth it given the long list of credits offered. Transfer bonuses from Citi and Amex are also covered, and they touch on current promotions like Chase Freedom’s Q4 5x categories.The main segment dives into Cameron’s recent trip to the Dolomites in Italy. He provides a detailed rundown on how to get there using points and miles from various programs—highlighting Emirates’ fifth-freedom JFK–Milan route, and Star Alliance partners like United and Lufthansa. For accommodations, they explore luxury hotel options using programs like I Prefer, Marriott, and portals from Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One. Ground transportation tips emphasize renting a car over relying on trains and buses. Cameron wraps up with Dolomites-specific advice like reserving parking at Tre Cime, getting to Seceda early, and hiking resources, making this episode both informative and personal.Episode Links:Capital One new Transfer PartnersCapital One To JAL Transfer BonusOther Transfer BonusesAmex Platinum DetailsChase Freedom Q4 5x CategoriesWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. 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.

The Miami meetup brought together 82 travel enthusiasts for a fun-filled weekend. Discussion sparked on whether carrying cash is still necessary when traveling, revealing mixed opinions. Big changes in the Amex Platinum card were unveiled, including a fee hike but enhanced benefits. The new Southwest business card offer could secure a valuable Companion Pass. Attendees enjoyed social gatherings, a hot chicken challenge, and enlightening sessions on AI trip planning and spending strategies.