Frequent Miler on the Air

The best card for a student or young professional just starting out on life's journey and the path to valuable rewards for spend isn't necessarily clear-cut, but on this week's show we discuss the options we would be most likely to recommend -- and why one probably stands out over the rest for a large segment of the market. 1:09 Giant Mailbag double feature. A cool trick for Caesars and Wyndham and a reader thank-you. 5:10 What crazy thing . . . did Greg the Frequent Miler do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/which-credit-card-offers-the-best-free-night-certificates/ 12:14 Mattress running the numbers -- err, lounge running the numbers with the Royal Air Maroc status match. https://frequentmiler.com/get-oneworld-status-with-royal-air-maroc-status-match/ 19:35 Main Event: The single best starter card 21:10 Discover It Student card https://frequentmiler.com/discover-it-student-good-grades-20-per-year/ 26:24 Freedom cards https://frequentmiler.com/cff/ https://frequentmiler.com/cfu/ 32:37 Citi Double Cash https://frequentmiler.com/dc/ 37:53 Citi Custom Cash https://frequentmiler.com/customcash/ 41:15 Bilt Mastercard https://frequentmiler.com/is-the-bilt-card-worth-it-who-should-consider-it-is-it-the-ultimate-starter-rewards-card-on-nicks-mind/ 1:01:12 Question of the Week: Looking for flexibility in United award tickets Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Did you know that your Ultimate Rewards points can still transfer to Amtrak? Or that Citi ThankYou points can become British Airways Avios? This week we talk about ways to wave your magic wand and convert your points creatively. 1:18 Giant Mailbag: Award availability disclaimers 5:33 Confession Time! 9:36 What crazy thing...did British Airways do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/qatar-airways-now-using-avios-book-qsuites-to-from-doha-for-70000-avios-each-way/ 12:22 Mattress running the numbers: Are the IHG cards worth big spend? https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-premier-cards-worth-big-spend/ 33:54 Main Event: Magical Point Conversions First up: JetBlue to Amtrak https://frequentmiler.com/opportunity-missed-dont-forget-about-that-jetblue-to-amtrak-conversion/ 38:04 The Avios Collection 42:30 Wyndham to Caesars Rewards or vice versa https://frequentmiler.com/how-i-saved-my-wyndham-points-from-expiry/ 44:33 Hyatt-->LATAM / Aeromexico 49:40 Chase, Citi, Capital One, or Bilt to Hilton https://frequentmiler.com/transfer-partner-master-list/ 56:51 Question of the Week: What hotel card combo do you recommend for free nights? https://frequentmiler.com/manufacturing-free-nights-hyatt-hilton-marriott/ Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

A brief summary of this episode

1:07 Giant Mailbag: What about Wyndham? 5:52 Mattress running the numbers: Wyndham promotion for up to 5x points https://frequentmiler.com/great-new-wyndham-promo-earn-up-to-5x-points-on-one-stay-by-5-31-22/ 9:30 What crazy thing double header! What crazy thing . . . did Greg do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/approved-for-venture-x-am-i-nuts-on-my-mind/ 14:44 What crazy thing . . . did American Express do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/huge-gold-card-offer-earn-90k-points-and-up-to-250-in-statement-credits-with-qualifying-activity/ https://frequentmiler.com/150k-platinum-card-offer-via-referral/ 26:32 The Main Event: The Curve Card promises, but can it deliver? https://frequentmiler.com/curve-is-here-and-its-real-it-wont-rule-them-all-but-itll-rule-player-2s-wallet/ 55:00 Post Roast: Why didn't Nick tip Greg off to his strategy for the Curve card? 1:00:22 Post unroasted https://frequentmiler.com/approved-for-venture-x-am-i-nuts-on-my-mind/ 1:01:02 Question of the Week: Is this a good strategy to replace the Sapphire Reserve? Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Booking award flights can be difficult, frustrating and time-consuming -- but it doesn't have to be. This week, we talk about the challenges of booking the best flight awards and how to overcome them. 00:56 Giant Mailbag 2:29 What crazy thing....did American Airlines do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/gregs-american-airlines-loyalty-point-progress/ 10:50 Mattress running the numbers / Mileage running the numbers https://frequentmiler.com/2200-aadvantage-miles-and-6-meals-for-34-with-green-chef-and-chase-offer/ 14:43 Main Event: How to find the best flight awards 20:29 Individual airline miles 22:15 The Kayak-like tools for award flights https://frequentmiler.com/point-me-a-kayak-like-tool-for-flight-awards-has-launched-try-it-out-for-free/ https://frequentmiler.com/taking-award-logic-for-a-test-drive/ 32:22 Expert Flyer 40:27 SeatSpy https://frequentmiler.com/seatspy-an-awesome-tool-for-finding-ba-and-virgin-award-flights/ 47:10 How do you know an award flight is a good deal? 50:44 What about booking through bank travel portals? 59:15 Question of the Week: Can you get the Venture X card if you already have two Capital One personal cards? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Which cards do we flex for grocery, gas, travel, and everywhere else? Greg and Nick discuss the cards they use for each category and why. 1:04 Giant Mailbag: About that Amex pop-up . . . 4:00 What crazy thing . . . did Qatar do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/qatar-airways-changes-qmiles-adios-hello-avios/ 8:54 Mattress Running the Numbers: Marriott drops award charts https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-ditches-award-chart-march-29th-top-properties-to-go-up-by-30k-certificate-top-off-coming-in-april/ 17:44 Main Event: Which is the best card to use? Which card is best for.... 26:30 Grocery 34:29 Gas 41:34 Dining 49:33 Travel 59:22 Warehouse stores 1:02:30 Online shopping 1:08:29 Everywhere else 1:22:34 Post roast 1:24:10 Question of the Week: Is it still worth upgrading to the Ritz card? If I do, am I eligible for a new cardmember bonus on the Marriott Boundless card? https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-card-eligible/ Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

With many great Hyatt properties moving out of range of free night certificates, is it finally time to step off the bandwagon of Hyatt fandom? This week we discuss what will change, what won't, and where we go from here.  00:32 Giant Mailbag: Confession Time 06:11 What crazy thing did....Barclays do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/caution-wyndham-business-card-reporting-as-a-personal-card-to-credit-bureaus/ 9:39 Mattress running the numbers: Which Sam's Club deal is better? https://frequentmiler.com/40-back-on-sams-club-membership-via-dosh-stack-with-amex-offer/ 16:58 Main Event: Is it time to step off the Hyatt bandwagon? https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-announces-2022-award-category-changes-its-a-doozy/ https://frequentmiler.com/best-hyatt-category-1-4-hotels-resorts/ 42:43 Post roast 45:24 Question of the Week: Does credit card CDW cover loss of use? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Discussion on avoiding Amex's pop-up prison, troubles with Amex referral offers, and the benefits of Delta elite status. Tips on maximizing rewards, using retention offers, and building up Citi ThankYou points.

Getting the best deal on an award ticket is rarely done by going to one airline's website and searching round trip. Greg & Nick discuss the artistry that goes into building a masterpiece of a booking. 1:28 Giant Mailbag 5:57 What crazy thing did Radisson do this week? 10:17 Mattress Running the Numbers: Should you product change to the IHG Premier? https://frequentmiler.com/its-time-for-a-new-ihg-credit-card-strategy/ 26:58 Main Event: Award Booking Artistry 31:47 Mixing and Matching Airlines on a single trip 33:38 Look at other International Gateways 36:30 Look at using partner miles 39:11 Throw-away return tickets 43:42 Skiplagging https://frequentmiler.com/skiplagging/ 47:25 Nested Trips 51:27 Alaska stopover rules https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-airlines-companion-fare-guide/ 53:41 United Excursionist Perk https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-and-understanding-united-excursionist-perks/ 56:37 Leveraging off-peak pricing 1:00:00 Upgrades 1:03:48 Post Roast 1:09:47 Question of the Week: What's up with the American Airlines eShopping portal? https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-earn-american-airlines-loyalty-points-without-flying-cheat-sheet-to-play-the-elite-status-game/ Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

1:06 Giant Mailbag 9:37 What crazy thing did . . . Aeromexico do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/expanded-delta-award-availability-via-aeromexico/ 15:50 Mattress Running the Numbers Triple Header https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-offering-up-to-35000-point-bonus-with-intercontinental-ambassador-renewal-or-enrollment/ https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-promotion-earn-1000-bonus-points-per-night-doubled-elite-nights/ https://frequentmiler.com/radisson-rewards-americas-stay-3-nights-earn-30000-points/ 29:35 The Hotel Loyalty Rollercoaster https://frequentmiler.com/excited-about-ihg/ https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-card-changes-new-biz-card-higher-earning-top-up-certs-with-points-more/ 1:02:31 Post Roast 1:04:41 Question of the Week: What counts as American Airlines Loyalty Points? Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder