Frequent Miler on the Air

The American Airlines SimplyMiles deal to earn 240 miles per dollar donated to charity was ultimately honored, but when we recorded this week's episode we didn't yet know it would be. We looked back at how we handled it in terms of what we published (and didn't), how much we donated, and our takeaways for next time. 00:50 Giant Mailbag: A personal story 4:27 Giant Mailbag #2: A glance back at some predictions 7:32 What crazy thing...did Chase do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/chase-launches-ink-business-premier-in-branch/ 12:32 Matress running the numbers: When does the new Chase Ink Business Premier make sense? 18:47 Main Event: 240x Post-Mortem https://frequentmiler.com/incredible-the-240x-simplymiles-deal-is-being-honored/ https://frequentmiler.com/5x-on-simplymiles-offers-awesome-deals/ https://frequentmiler.com/american-airlines-simplymiles-complete-guide-common-questions-answered/ 55:50 Post Roast 56:55 Question of the Week: Can you use Amex's Plan It feature to split payments and trigger two Fine Hotels & Resorts credits on a a single hotel stay? Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Are you ready for the end? This week we talk about your to-do list to make sure you reap all the rewards you are due before the ball drops on New Year's Eve. 1:35 Giant Mailbag 5:46 What crazy thing did American Express do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/becoming-undead-and-grabbing-over-250000-points/ 9:57 Mattress running the numbers: Is the new Hyatt Bonus Journeys worth a mattress run? https://frequentmiler.com/new-hyatt-bonus-journeys-promo-earn-2022-points-per-2-nights-bonus-points-for-hyatt-cardholders/ 18:15 Main Event: Preparing for the end (of the year) https://frequentmiler.com/end-of-year-checklist-for-2021/ https://frequentmiler.com/amex-airline-fee-reimbursements-still-works/ 1:01:25 Post Roast 1:04:35 Question of the Week: Can I use mobile check-in to pick up cheap elite nights? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Air Canada's Aeroplan rewards program has unveiled a new credit card for the U.S. market. And, surprise... the card seems custom built for "gaming"! Ready to play? 0:01:00 Mailbag Double header Mea Culpa: Wyndham 10K, JetBlue pooling 00:05:00 Mattress Running the Numbers: Swagbucks 0:09:20 Main Event: Aeroplan encourages gaming. Ready player 1? 0:56:13 Post Roast: Nick is sad that Greg picked Richard Branson over him 0:57:23 Question of the week: Why earn cash back instead of transferable points?

This week we discuss whether we should stop ignoring Spirit Airlines and start booking that Big Front Seat everywhere we go (domestically). 01:09 Giant Mailbag & Confession Time https://frequentmiler.com/10-years-of-frequent-miler/ 5:12 What crazy thing...did American Express do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-value-from-amex-multi-referrals/ 09:05 Mattress Running the Numbers: Should we mattress run the stacking Wyndham promotions? https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-earn-25-gift-card-when-staying-2-nights-earn-twice-stack-with-other-offers/ https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-earn-10000-bonus-points-when-booking-2-night-weekday-stays-check-in-sun-wed/ https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-rewards-stay-4-nights-get-7500-bonus-points-limit-2-bonuses/ 18:46 Main Event: Should we stop overlooking Spirit? https://frequentmiler.com/delta-vs-spirit-on-gregs-mind/ 1:00:25 Post Roast: How do you refer someone to the fantastic Resy Platinum offer? 1:04:40 Question of the Week: What are your thoughts about Amazon pulling Visa in the UK? Might that happen here? Will battles like this lead to a reduction in rewards from credit cards? Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

The Amex +4 referral offer stacks on top of existing bonus categories to make for some great deals. How can you trigger this deal easily and what are some good ways to maximize it? We discuss everything you need to know. 00:39 Giant Mailbag https://frequentmiler.com/10-years-of-frequent-miler/ https://frequentmiler.com/40kfaraway-stretching-the-boundaries-of-possibility/ 7:51 What crazy thing did Greg the Frequent Miler do this week? 13:27 Mattress running the numbers: Is it worth indirectly buying Membership Rewards points for 0.9c per point? https://frequentmiler.com/rakuten-earn-90-90x-on-lifelock-stack-with-20-from-lifelock-chase-offer/ 19:12 Main Event: Is the Amex +4 referral deal the deal of the year? https://frequentmiler.com/new-amex-referral-offer-get-4x-on-up-to-25k-spend-when-you-refer-a-friend/ https://frequentmiler.com/amxplat/ https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-value-from-amex-multi-referrals/ 43:17 Question of the Week: Is the Rewards+ a good downgrade option from Citi Premier? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Capital One has access to some incredible sweet spot awards, but there are also some sour spots that you would be missing if you gave up other award programs to go all-Capital One miles. We also analyze a targeted Hyatt promo, answer the question of the week, and more. 00:44 Giant Mailbag 2:14 What crazy thing did...Hyatt do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/caution-dont-accidentally-use-a-hyatt-1-7-certificate-for-a-category-4-stay/ 6:17 Mattress Running the Numbers: Who should mattress run Hyatt's targeted promo for 30K points after 10 nights? https://frequentmiler.com/targeted-hyatt-earn-5k-points-every-2-nights-12k-points-every-5-or-30k-points-every-10/ 12:12 Main Event: Our favorite Capital One Sweet Spot Awards 13:12 Vacasa https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-vacasa/ 14:49 Turkish https://frequentmiler.com/turkish-miles-smiles-complete-guide/ 17:54 Cathay Pacific https://frequentmiler.com/toward-hacking-asia-miles-the-unified-oneworld-award-chart/ 21:24 Avianca LifeMiles https://frequentmiler.com/avianca-lifemiles-sweet-spots/ 24:00 Iberia https://frequentmiler.com/avios-sweet-spots-for-award-tickets-british-airways-iberia/ 25:42 Air Canada Aeroplan https://frequentmiler.com/air-canada-aeroplan-guide/ 28:48 Air France Flying Blue https://frequentmiler.com/air-france-klm-flying-blue-sweet-spots-for-award-travel/ 31:14 Emirates Skywards 32:38 Etihad https://frequentmiler.com/etihad-guest-sweet-spots/ 34:14 Capital One Sour Spots: What's missing? 34:33 ANA 37:13 Virgin Atlantic for ANA First Class 38:25 Virgin Atlantic for Delta business class to Europe 39:08 Hyatt 39:38 Choice Privileges thanks to Citi's great transfer rate 42:28 Question of the Week: Chase Ink Business Preferred wasn't instantly approved. Should he call? Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

1:21 What crazy thing....did X1 do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/x1-card-review-up-to-4x-everywhere-its-here-its-real/ 6:33 Mattress Running the Numbers: Is it worth spending $8K for a Hilton free night certificate if targeted? https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-free-night-certificate-offer-with-just-8k-spend-targeted/ 11:58 Main Event: Capital One's Venture X: Will it bury the competition? https://frequentmiler.com/capital-one-venture-x-card-a-strong-new-ultra-premium-contender/ https://frequentmiler.com/huge-if-true-convert-capital-one-cash-back-to-miles-by-moving-rewards/ 48:47 Post Roast https://frequentmiler.com/build-your-amex-point-fortune-up-to-620k-points-with-25k-spend/ How to refer someone to almost any Amex card: https://youtu.be/Tx4o3X7TgMQ https://frequentmiler.com/is-it-time-to-ditch-all-of-your-marriott-credit-cards/ 57:41 Question of the Week: Is 50K World of Hyatt points appropriate compensation for missteps? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

1:05 Giant Mailbag 2:56 What crazy thing . . .triple header! 3:15 What crazy thing . . . did Amex do recently? https://frequentmiler.com/waves-of-amex-shut-downs-this-week/ 4:53 What crazy thing . . . did Cardless do this week? 6:46 What crazy thing . . . did Amtrak do this week? 8:53 Mattress running the numbers: How to lock in the Marriott Amex Offer discount https://frequentmiler.com/50-back-on-200-with-new-marriott-amex-offer-targeted-enrollment-required/ 13:44 Main Event: Citi doubles your Choice https://frequentmiler.com/citi-adds-choice-privileges-to-thank-you-transfer-partners-better-than-11/ https://frequentmiler.com/the-worlds-best-preferred-hotels-bookable-with-choice-points/ 43:42 Question of the Week: Is $15K spend on a World of Hyatt credit card a no-brainer? Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

1:23 Giant Mailbag 6:04 Mattress running the numbers: Is it worth spending $15K on the JetBlue Plus card to get Mosaic status? https://frequentmiler.com/jetblue-mosaic-status-with-15k-spend-from-10-1-to-12-31/ 10:17 Main Event: Our favorite sweet spot awards -Turkish Hawaii https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-book-united-flights-using-turkish-miles-smiles/ -ANA RTW https://frequentmiler.com/tips-for-booking-anas-round-the-world-award/ -ANA to/from Asia https://frequentmiler.com/ana-mileage-club-sweet-spots/#Asia-2 -ANA Star Alliance to Europe for 88K RT https://frequentmiler.com/ana-mileage-club-sweet-spots/#Europe-2 -ANA First Class booked via Virgin Atlantic https://frequentmiler.com/best-uses-for-virgin-atlantic-points/#North_America_Europe_or_Australia_to_Japan_ANA_First_Class -Ibera 34K biz to Europe https://frequentmiler.com/avios-sweet-spots-for-award-tickets-british-airways-iberia/#Europe_from_34K_one-way_via_Iberia -Flying Blue Promo Rewards https://frequentmiler.com/air-france-klm-flying-blue-sweet-spots-for-award-travel/#Flying_Blue_Promo_Rewards -Virgin Atlantic for flying Air France Premium Economy https://frequentmiler.com/best-uses-for-virgin-atlantic-points/ -Redeeming Marriott points for Alaska miles to/from Asia -Asiana 40K each way to Europe in business or 50K in first class -Choice Privileges for Nordic Choice https://frequentmiler.com/free-hotel-breakfast-dinner-at-nordic-choice-clarion-collection-sweet-spot-spotlight/ Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

1:07 Giant Mailbag 3:56 What crazy thing...did American Express do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/amex-platinum-adds-walmart-and-soulcycle-benefits/ 9:21 Mattress Running the Numbers: The Weak Link in Marriott's Week of Wonders 14:55 Main Event: Chase Battles for the Middle https://frequentmiler.com/new-world-of-hyatt-business-credit-card-launches/ https://frequentmiler.com/manufacturing-hyatt-status-with-the-new-business-card/ 41:30 Post Roast Greg's roast of Nick: https://frequentmiler.com/now-11-capital-one-improves-transfer-ratio-for-almost-all-airline-programs/ Nick's roast of Greg: https://frequentmiler.com/manufacturing-hyatt-status-with-the-new-business-card/ 52:23 Question of the Week: How do you know which transactions are qualifying as a small business? https://frequentmiler.com/yes-your-new-platinum-card-is-earning-10x-where-appropriate/ (note that this is about the previous set of bonus categories, but it shows you where to look) Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder