Frequent Miler on the Air

Want piles of American Airlines miles? Here are your best strategies for amassing a massive amount of miles in the valuable AAdvantage rewards program. 00:00 Intro 01:03 Award Talk 01:04 Booking The Signature at MGM Grand via Airbnb https://frequentmiler.com/hacking-las-vegas/ 07:10 Roame.Travel adds JetBlue 08:07 Seats.Aero helps Greg find Qsuites availability 09:28 Giant Mailbag: Laddering flights 12:40 Giant Mailbag: Can I transfer Ultimate Rewards to American Airlines miles at a rate of 2:1 right now? 16:10 Card Talk: American Airlines cards 16:55 Citi AAdvantage MileUp card https://frequentmiler.com/aamileup/ 19:17 Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select https://frequentmiler.com/aaplat/ 22:50 Citibusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select card https://frequentmiler.com/aaplatbiz/ 23:31 Citi AAdvantage Executive card https://frequentmiler.com/aaexec/ 28:14 Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red https://frequentmiler.com/aviatorred/ 30:24 Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Silver https://frequentmiler.com/aviatorsilver/ 36:16 Barclays Aviator Business https://frequentmiler.com/aviatorbiz/ 38:36 Main Event: Amassing American Airlines miles 38:40 Credit card strategies 49:47 AAdvantage Shopping Portal 53:06 SimplyMiles 56:48 Rewards Network AAdvantage Dining 57:38 Hotels: Rocketmiles / BookAAHotels https://frequentmiler.com/best-way-to-earn-aa-miles-status-via-hotel-bookings/ 1:00:36 Hotel partnership with Hyatt https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-american-airlines-partnership-now-live-link-your-accounts-now/ 1:02:46 Car Rentals 1:04:10 Shell partnership 1:04:40 Banking: Bask Bank & Citi Checking bonus 1:10:36 Question of the Week: How can you value Hyatt points more highly than Chase Ultimate Rewards points? https://frequentmiler.com/what-are-hyatt-points-worth/#How_can_Hyatt_points_be_worth_more_than_Ultimate_Rewards Music credit: Annie Yoder

Frequent Miler often focuses on determine value in the most objective ways possible, but this week Nick and Greg take a very subjective look at each of the major programs, sharing our thoughts about whether each is trending up or trending down.  Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:05 Giant Mailbag 06:50 Card Talk: Chase Sapphire Preferred https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-preferred-complete-guide/ 19:17 What crazy thing....double header   19:32 What crazy thing....did Hyatt do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-is-being-shady-with-terms-of-latest-promotion/ 22:30 Aeroplan 27:24 Award Talk: British Airways Business Class with AA miles 29:40 Free MSC Cruise https://frequentmiler.com/our-experience-booking-a-free-msc-cruise/ 34:35 Seats.Aero adds Emirates 36:08 Main Event: Loyalty program changing fortunes 36:31 American Airlines 40:26 Delta 41:46 Southwest 43:13 United 46:37 Virgin Atlantic 48:27 Alaska 50:50 IHG 54:57 Hyatt 56:06 Marriott 59:20 Hilton 1:00:25 Wyndham 1:02:34 Choice 1:02:58 Radisson Americas 1:04:46 Question of the Week: What's your strategy regarding speculative bookings? Music credit: Annie Yoder

Big credit card intro bonuses are the fastest way to supercharge your miles and points balances, but how can you meet the minimum spending requirements for multiple new cards per year? Here are 13 ways to increase your spending with no cost or low cost. 1:41 Announcements. Tim Goes Full Time https://frequentmiler.com/no-joke-tim-goes-full-time-at-frequent-miler/ 3:10 Monthly Ask Us Anything 5:42 See Nick live at FTU Washington DC https://frequentmiler.com/come-see-nick-at-ftu-signature-washington-dc-on-5-6-23/ 13:02 Card Talk: Amex Bonvoy Brilliant Card https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant-guide-and-review/ 23:36 Award Talk -Marriott now allows online point transfers 25:38 Helping Maisie book a last-minute business class award to Europe 29:03 Using a soon-expiring IHG Free Night Certificate 32:49 Spirit Status Challenge Update 41:23: Main Event: 13 Ways to increase credit card spend (and get most of it back) 41:41 #1: Don't take "No credit cards" at face value 43:50 #2 Pay your taxes https://frequentmiler.com/pay-taxes-via-credit-card/ 45:42 #3 Pay bills that don't ordinarily accept a credit card with services like Plastiq and Melio https://frequentmiler.com/melio-pay-business-bills-by-credit-card/ 48:05 #4 Fund college savings or pay student loans https://frequentmiler.com/miles-for-college/ 50:14 #5 Make loans through Kiva https://frequentmiler.com/why-i-love-kiva-for-earning-rewards-and-doing-good/ 55:08 #6 Coordinate events with friends 55:54 #7 Pay bills for friends or family 57:06 #8 Fund new bank accounts https://frequentmiler.com/us-bank-up-to-a-600-bonus-when-opening-a-new-checking-account/ 1:00:28 #9 Buy and sell merchandise https://frequentmiler.com/us-bank-up-to-a-600-bonus-when-opening-a-new-checking-account/ 1:03:53 #10 Buy and sell gift cards 1:07:27 #11 Buy Visa and Mastercard Gift Cards https://frequentmiler.com/best-options-for-buying-visa-and-mastercard-gift-cards/ https://frequentmiler.com/manufactured-spending-complete-guide/ 1:13:07 #12 Reload reloadable cards 1:16:32 #13 Gambling on riskier business 1:23:31 Question of the Week: How can I use the Hilton Aspire $250 resort credit without staying at a resort? Music credit: Annie Yoder

Award travel unlocks an incredible world of possibility. Where will it take you? This week, we talk about how award travel can unlock more travel and more luxury than you may imagine if you're new to the hobby. We also discuss an opportunity to unlock Hyatt elite status that is only available through 4/1/23.  Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:07 Award Talk: Expedia destroys the value of Hotels.com reward program https://frequentmiler.com/huge-devaluation-of-hotels-com-rewards-new-one-key-program-only-giving-2-back/ 07:48 Card Talk: World of Hyatt Credit Card https://frequentmiler.com/woh/ 18:19 Mattress running the numbers: Bilt promotion to fast track to top-tier Hyatt Globalist status https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-globalist-fast-track-through-bilt-rewards-for-rent-day/ https://frequentmiler.com/should-you-mattress-run-the-bilt-x-hyatt-promotion/ 37:01 Giant Mailbag 42:21 Main Event: The World Unlocked https://frequentmiler.com/my-100000-vacation-year-on-nicks-mind/ https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-get-53-free-nights-of-vacation-from-a-single-credit-card/ 1:19:42 Question of the Week: You send too many emails. You don't send enough emails. What should I do?

Instead of saving money for years to visit Hawaii, save your money and get your flights and hotels covered with just two new credit cards. This week, we talk about how to scratch Hawaii off your bucket list with ease and your best options to make it happen. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 00:56 Giant Mailbag: IHG Suite Upgrade Clarification 04:36 Frequent Miler Challenge Update https://frequentmiler.com/party-of-5-frequent-milers-2023-team-challenge/ 13:46 Card Talk: Wyndham credit cards https://frequentmiler.com/wyndhamearner/ https://frequentmiler.com/wyndhamearnerplus/ https://frequentmiler.com/wyndhamearnerbiz/ 29:00 What crazy thing....did Citi do this week? 32:51 Mattress running the numbers: Wyndham portal promotion https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-shopping-portal-math-strikes-again/ 39:08 Wyndham points on sale https://frequentmiler.com/buy-wyndham-points/ 43:02 Award Talk: A multi-night stay on Hyatt free night certificates 45:21 Award Talk: Marriott bookings before the gloves come off 50:28 Main Event: Doing Hawaii with points https://frequentmiler.com/hawaii-vacation-book-flights-and-hotels-with-credit-card-points/ 56:38 How to get award flights to Hawaii https://frequentmiler.com/best-ways-to-fly-to-hawaii-from-the-us-mainland/ 56:37 Book with miles directly with the operating airline (AA Web Specials, Delta and United flash sales) 1:03:03 Partner awards: United via Turkish Miles & Smiles https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-book-united-flights-using-turkish-miles-smiles/ 1:07:55 Partner awards: British Airways for Alaska or American 1:08:10 Partner awards: Air France and Virgin Atlantic for Delta 1:08:48 Tools for searching for award flights https://frequentmiler.com/which-award-search-tool-is-best/ 1:11:21 Hawaiian miles to upgrade from economy to business class 1:12:38 Lodging 1:13:23 Wyndham 1:13:45 Book Vacasa rentals with Wyndham points https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-vacasa/ 1:17:04 Wyndham points for Wyndham timeshare properties 1:21:46 Hyatt points for Hawaiian accommodations 1:23:35 StayWithPoints 1:28:50 Is Hilton worth it? What about Marriott? 1:34:23 Timeshare deals 1:38:49 Question of the Week: Why is Greg's wallet so full of Citibank cards? Music credit: Annie Yoder

Since Samuel L. Jackson and Jennifer Garner won't stop asking, this week we discuss what's in OUR wallets (and why). Find out which cards the two of us carry regularly for each of the major expense categories.  Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe 00:40 Giant Mailbag 03:02 Card Talk: Hilton Aspire 12:55 Award Talk 13:04 Alaska Devalues JAL awards 17:00 Southwest Wanna Get Away Plus for the win 20:05 Nick’s quick hit Award Talk triple header 20:15 LifeMiles Manual Booking success 22:41 Hotel Nyack 23:38 MGM “Free” stay 25:22 Main Event: What’s in our wallets? 27:38 Greg’s Travel spend card 28:40 Greg’s dinning card 29:50 Greg’s grocery card 31:06 Greg’s gas card 32:10 Greg’s Office Supply card 32:50 Greg’s Apple Pay card 34:52 Greg’s Everywhere Else card 40:33 Nick’s Travel card 43:07 Nick’s dining card 44:04 Nick’s gas card 45:15 Nick’s Office Supply card 46:21 Nick’s Google Pay card 47:08 Nick’s Pharmacy card 48:20 Nick’s Everywhere else card 49:48 Greg’s Debit card 53:14 Question of the Week: What’s the best program for suite upgrades — and what can you do to increase your chances of an upgrade? Music credit: Annie Yoder

The margin between the most and least rewarding hotel loyalty programs is probably smaller than you expect -- and which one is best for you often depends on variables like your status or which card you use. This week, we discuss which programs offer you the most bang for your buck. 00:00 Intro 00:45 Giant Mailbag: Inking success 05:45 Card Talk: IHG Premier and IHG Premier Business cards https://frequentmiler.com/ihgprem/ https://frequentmiler.com/IHGBusiness/ 12:35 Award Talk 12:37 ANA First class awards via Virgin Atlantic devalued https://frequentmiler.com/ana-first-class-virgin-atlantic-devaluation/ 17:11 Etihad First Class apartments booked https://frequentmiler.com/etihad-first-apartment-review-simply-awesome/ 22:35 What crazy thing....did Amex do this week? The Points Parade marches on https://frequentmiler.com/now-150k-200-or-90k-200-awesome-offers-out-on-platinum-and-gold-cards/ https://frequentmiler.com/amex-membership-rewards-sweet-spots/ https://frequentmiler.com/cross-brand-amex-referrals-possible/

Hyatt's 2023 category changes mark a devaluation in the eyes of many, but this week we talk about the good news to be gleaned from the latest list and how Hyatt can get back in our good graces in a more meaningful way. Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe 00:00 Intro 00:49 Giant Mailbag 1:45 Card Talk: Chase Ink Business Cash card https://frequentmiler.com/cic/ 12:37 Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam 18:40 What crazy thing . . . did Choice Privileges do this week? 22:00 Mattress running the numbers: Is Wyndham's new promo worth a mattress run? https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-promo-stay-3-consecutive-nights-earn-15k-points-2-nights-for-7500-points/ 28:38 Main Event: Bright spots in Hyatt's 2023 devaluation https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-category-changes-for-2023-not-a-pretty-sight/ https://frequentmiler.com/best-hyatt-category-1-4-hotels-resorts/ 58:48 Question of the Week: Will that bill in congress end credit card rewards as we know about it? Music credit: Annie Yoder

A $95 credit card could currently get you 4 (or more!) ocean cruises. This week, we talk about how to set the process in motion and why it could be a great deal. 00:00 Intro 00:50 Giant Mailbag 3:05 Card Talk https://frequentmiler.com/c1v1/ 11:52 Mattress running the numbers & What crazy thing....did Hyatt do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-promo-earn-3k-points-every-2-nights-500-points-every-2-nights-in-select-cities/ 19:33 Greg almost books Qantas First Class 22:10 Main Event: How to turn a $95 card into four ocean cruises https://frequentmiler.com/wyndhamearnerbiz/ https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-cruise-for-next-to-nothing/ https://frequentmiler.com/holland-america-cruise-match-program-possible-free-cruise-offer/ https://frequentmiler.com/tips-for-new-cruisers-from-new-cruisers/ https://milestalk.com/the-status-match-merry-go-round-explained-using-both-hotel-and-casino-status-match-opportunities-year-after-year/ 57:44 Question of the Week: Pop quiz -- which chains offer compensation when you get walked? Music credit: Annie Yoder

There are a lot of great tools for collecting and spending points and miles. This week, we talk about the ones we use most often to maximize our mileage.  00:00 Intro 00:45 Giant Mailbag: Tips from the comments on a fixing a failed attempt at a Platinum triple dip https://frequentmiler.com/fixing-a-failed-platinum-triple-dip/ 05:50 What crazy thing....double header! 05:58 What crazy thing . . . did Capital One do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/capital-one-including-global-entry-reimbursement-on-1099s/ 12:03 What crazy thin . . . did Virgin Voyages do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/capital-one-including-global-entry-reimbursement-on-1099s/ 17:23 Mattress running the numbers: New Hilton credit cards https://frequentmiler.com/increased-hilton-card-offers/ 25:48 Main Event: Travel Hacker's Toolkit 26:10 Managing Points: Award Wallet 29:39 Earning miles and points 29:45 Best Offers Page https://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-sign-up-offers/ 32:56 Travel Freely https://frequentmiler.com/take-the-stress-out-of-credit-card-bonus-hunting-travel-freely/ 35:23 Tools for meeting minimum spending requirements 35:41 Kiva https://frequentmiler.com/why-i-love-kiva-for-earning-rewards-and-doing-good/ 36:51 Paying taxes https://frequentmiler.com/pay-taxes-via-credit-card/ https://frequentmiler.com/best-category-bonuses/ 40:34 Referral bonuses https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-value-from-amex-multi-referrals/ 42:10 spending points 42:22 Flight tools (First up: Flight Connections) 44:49 Google Flights and airline websites https://frequentmiler.com/find-great-business-class-fares-google-flights/ 50:28 Point.me and Award Logic https://frequentmiler.com/point-me-vs-awardlogic/ 58:00 Seats.Aero https://frequentmiler.com/seats-aero/ 1:01:17 Expert Flyer 1:03:30 Award Nights 1:04:38 Award Mapper 1:06:16 Stay with points https://frequentmiler.com/staywithpoints-find-hard-to-get-hotel-awards/ 1:08:56 Car Rentals https://frequentmiler.com/shopping-for-car-rentals-comparison-results/ 1:15 Google Maps, Google Flights, Google Hotels, Blog Reviews 1:20:54 Question of the Week: On a partner award, do you always check in with the operating carrier? Music credit: Annie Yoder