Frequent Miler on the Air

[Update: The wrong episode was initially loaded. This update includes the correct episode.]. Wondering how to find those elusive business class awards? Greg and Nick discuss the tricks in their toolbags. 00:28 Giant Mailbag 1:48 Mattress running the numbers: Daily Getaways https://frequentmiler.com/daily-getaways-2022-first-2-weeks-of-offers-announced/ Are any of these deals worth speculatively buying? Our analysis: 3:46 IHG points for half a cent each 4:35 Hilton points for half a cent each 4:47 Wyndham points for 1.17c each 5:30 Best Western at 0.55cpp 6:38 Choice points for 0.52cpp 8:35 Marriott gift cards for 20% off Hyatt points 11:31 #3Cards2Continents3Updates https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/ 23:34 Awards we booked this week 27:00 What crazy thing....did London Heathrow Airport do this week? 30:18 Main Event: PLEASE tell us how to find business class awards. 1:11:17 When is Ask Us Anything? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Want to travel all around the world in business class for about as many points as most people use for a simple round trip to Europe? This show has the tips you need to book the famed ANA Round the World award -- and reasons why you might want to consider paying a few more miles and booking your trip via Air Canada Aeroplan instead. 1:25 Giant Mailbag: About those Virgin Atlantic awards . . . https://frequentmiler.com/virgin-atlantic-opens-award-space-gates-enhances-air-france-mile-value/ 3:45 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/ 5:45 What crazy thing...did Marriott Bonvoy do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/bonvoyed-again-what-marriott-gives-it-can-take-away/ 8:41 Awards we booked this week 14:45 Main Event: How to book round the world awards 15:27 ANA Round the World https://frequentmiler.com/tips-for-booking-anas-round-the-world-award/ 40:40 Using Air Canada Aeroplan to achieve similar goals 53:25 How do you handle an early morning arrival at London (or in general)? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Virgin Atlantic has promised to open up at least 12 award seats on every flight. This has led to unprecedented award availability. Here's how to make the most of it. 1:27 Giant Mailbag: How to log into hotel wi-fi with a Chromebook 4:44 3 Cards 3 Continents 3 Updates Stephen cashes out 50K Membership Rewards Greg exchanges 40K ThankYou points for 56K Avios Nick needs to cancel his first booking 14:59 Mattress Running the Numbers: Biltmore Arizona 18:35 Awards we booked this week (St Pancras, London) 23:07 Main Event: Virgin Atlantic releases award floodgates 45:53 Question of the week: Are Marriott SNAs worth anything anymore?

Got to cancel your card but don't know what to do with your points? Here are your best options. 00:58 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 updates 17:31 Giant Mailbag: Comments from live stream draft audience https://frequentmiler.com/drafting-the-dream-results-who-got-which-cards/ 21:32 What crazy thing . . . did the Curve credit card do this week? 26:05 Main Event: Where to park your transferable points https://frequentmiler.com/brex-it-what-to-do-with-100k-brex-points/ 28:37 Air France / KLM Flying Blue 33:16 Emirates? No. 33:50 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 37:26 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer? No, 37:50 Virgin Atlantic 40:07 Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar) 43:05 Air Canada Aeroplan 48:03 Avianca LifeMiles 54:12 Qantas? (nope) 54:26 Our favorites 58:22 Question of the Week: What's your favorite brand of luggage? How about your favorite piece of travel-related gear? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

You're planning a dream trip to 3 continents; which 3 credit cards would you choose for the best combination of welcome bonuses and card benefits? This week, we talk strategy for our upcoming draft -- because once one of us makes a selection, the other two will be left scrambling to strategize the next move. 1:25 Giant Mailbag 2:38 Awards we booked this week Link to the SimplyMiles deal we referenced: https://frequentmiler.com/incredible-the-240x-simplymiles-deal-is-being-honored/ 11:22 Mattress running the numbers: Marriott Homes & Villas stacking deals https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-homes-and-villas-stay-five-nights-get-2x-points-and-free-night-award/ 18:40 Main Event: Drafting the Dream: Strategies for drafting the best 3 card, 3 continent dream trip https://frequentmiler.com/challenge-3-cards-3-continents-buckle-up/ Link to read about the previous 40K to Far Away challenge: https://frequentmiler.com/40k-to-far-away-afterglow-help-us-design-the-next-40kfaraway-challenge/ 51:09 Post Roast https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-should-i-keep-it/ 54:21 Question of the Week: Is there a downside to having multiple car reservations and deciding at the counter which update is best? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Yes, you can continue to march on the Amex point parade even after you've signed up for all the cards. 00:53 Giant Mailbag: What's the best loyalty program outside of the United States? 4:18 Mattress running the numbers: Magazines.com stacking deals https://frequentmiler.com/magazines-com-citi-offer-giving-15-on-20-spend-stack-with-aa-portal-simplymiles-or-40x-rakuten/ 9:08 What crazy thing did....Curve do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/is-the-curve-card-ready-for-prime-time-hint-not-yet/ 14:25 Main Event: Amex end game 15:52 No Lifetime Language offers (NLL) 19:26 A "lifetime" may be shorter than you think https://frequentmiler.com/bending-amexs-lifetime-rule/ 22:50 Downgrade / Upgrade path 26:11 Ways to earn more points with your existing cards (first up: referrals) 31:11 Authorized user / Additional cardholder bonuses https://frequentmiler.com/20k-membership-rewards-bonus-with-new-authorized-user-and-2k-spend-targeted/ 34:07 Pay Over Time bonuses https://frequentmiler.com/amex-20000-mr-for-enrolling-in-pay-over-time-check-link-to-see-if-youre-targeted/ 41:04 Retention Offers https://frequentmiler.com/a-well-timed-retention-offer-yields-18-75x-without-a-new-account/ 44:45 Post roast Nick Roasts Marriott https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-award-booking-adventure/ 48:21 Greg Roasts Nick https://frequentmiler.com/the-hidden-cost-of-point-transfers-should-you-take-advantage-of-that-transfer-bonus/ 53:09 Question of the Week: I got an Amex authorized user bonus. How long do I need to keep the AU accounts open? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

00:50 Giant Mailbag https://www.allegiantair.com/military-discount https://www.caesars.com/myrewards/promotions/caesars-rewards-salute-card 5:13 What crazy thing.....double feature! First up: Virgin Atlantic takes away calendar view (but we've got ya covered) https://frequentmiler.com/the-virgin-atlantic-monthly-award-calendar-still-exists-heres-how-to-find-it/ 8:03 What crazy thing...did Germany do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/germany-offering-monthly-train-tickets-for-9-euro-june-july-august/ 11:22 Mattress running the numbers: Is the 50% transfer bonus from Chase to Marriott a good deal?  https://frequentmiler.com/50-transfer-bonus-from-chase-ultimate-rewards-to-marriott-bonvoy/ 18:20 Main Event: Keeper features of ultra premium cards https://frequentmiler.com/which-premium-cards-are-keepers/ 39:01 Question of the Week: Is it worth spending toward Delta elite status to get my family upgraded? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music Credit: Annie Yoder

A brief summary of this episode

00:45 Giant Mailbag: Double Feature 9:29 Mattress running the numbers double feature. First up: IHG status match https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-one-rewards-status-challenege-get-free-platinum-status-upgrade-to-diamond-with-15-nights/ 16:20 A Sunbaskets stack https://frequentmiler.com/sunbasket-mypoints-simply-miles-citi-stack-80-profit-1000-aadvantage-miles-and-8-meals/ 21:30 Main Event: Finding impossible awards 22:09 Step 1: Know your availability windows 30:25 Delta One to Europe 45:46 SeatSpy to hunt out availability https://frequentmiler.com/lie-flat-to-hawaii-how-to-use-seatspy-to-find-saver-awards/ 50:35 JetBlue Mint Class to London https://milenomics.com/2022/02/booking-jetblue-mint-with-emirates-miles/ 54:22 ANA first class 1:00:53 Singapore Airlines premium cabins 1:04:55 Question of the Week: Am I more likely to get rid of the Amex pop-up with a different device or by thawing my credit? Join our email list: frequentmiler.com/subscribe Music credit: Annie Yoder

Seeking stackery for savings on flights, hotels, rental cars, parking, hotel food, and more? On this week's show, Greg and Nick talk about surprising ways to save on your upcoming trips. 1:36 What crazy thing did Hyatt do this week? 7:57 Mileage running the numbers: Is it worth spending to keep Air Canada Aeroplan elite status? 13:54 Main Event: 17 Surprising ways to save on travel 14:42 Ways to save on gas: Gift cards at the supermarket, Walmart+, Speedy Rewards, and more https://frequentmiler.com/walmart-members-now-save-10c-per-gallon-at-walmart-exxon-mobil-murphy-gas-stations/ https://frequentmiler.com/getupside-2000-bp-gas-stations-added-now-covers-atlanta-chicago-more/ 21:30 Save on hotels: Greyhound road rewards, best rate guarantees, Capital One Spring, buying points, shopping portal return https://frequentmiler.com/best-rate-guarantee-guide/ 33:08 Save on Hotel food: Kids menu, Uber Eats, discounted gift cards 38:28 Flights: same-day change, companion tickets, Alaska companion ticket https://frequentmiler.com/save-money-or-miles-on-flights/ https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-airlines-companion-fare-guide/ https://frequentmiler.com/travel-companion-tickets/ https://frequentmiler.com/skiplagging/ 53:25 Save on airport parking 56:05 Save on rental cars: rent from a dealership, Autoslash to rent or track, rent a Uhaul https://frequentmiler.com/surviving-the-car-rental-apocalypse-by-stepping-outside-the-box/ https://frequentmiler.com/the-american-express-platinum-hertz-benefit-has-saved-me-over-1000-yr-on-rental-cars/ 1:09:06 Question of the Week: Which airline programs allow holding an award ticket to avoid phantom award space? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder