Frequent Miler on the Air

Does two years of free companion travel and points to cover more than $1500 in airfare sound good to you? Southwest Companion Pass Open Season has officially begun and this week we discuss strategies to take advantage of one of the best deals in domestic (and Mexico/Central America/Caribbean) travel. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 1:00 Giant Mailbag: Is the Alaska Airlines Visa worth it anymore? 4:00 What crazy thing....did Chase do this week? 6:42 What crazy thing double header! What crazy thing...did Greg the Frequent Miler do this week? 9:54 Awards we booked this week -Nick: Business class summer 2023 to Europe on Air France under 50K per passenger, from Europe for 25.5K per passenger in business class https://frequentmiler.com/25-5k-business-class-brussels-to-new-york/ https://frequentmiler.com/peak-summer-4-business-class-seats-on-air-france-including-to-brussels/-Greg: Marriott frustrations over website eerrors and free night certificates 15:37 Mattress running the numbers: Should you transfer speculatively to Aeroplan? https://frequentmiler.com/wow-30-transfer-bonus-to-aeroplan-from-ultimate-rewards/ 25:05 Main Event: Southwest Companion Pass Open Season https://frequentmiler.com/increased-southwest-consumer-card-offers/ 29:34 What are the rules for earning the Companion Pass and why is now the time to earn it? https://frequentmiler.com/complete-guide-southwest-companion-pass/ 30:58 Timing of the credit card bonuses 37:35 Can I just pick any do cards? 43:22 Is there an ideal two-card combo? 49:53 Are we going to go for it? 56:39 Question of the Week: Is it worth joining a paid group for tailored award travel guidance? Music credit: Annie Yoder

Wondering how to leverage points, miles, and credit card benefits for a family of four or more? This week, we discuss how to enhance your family award travel. 1:30 Giant Mailbag https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-next-challenge-what-should-it-be/ 6:06 What crazy thing.......did Frontier do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/frontier-gowild-all-you-can-fly-pass-coming-soon-take-unlimited-flights-for-12-months/ 12:44 Awards we booked this week https://frequentmiler.com/free-royal-caribbean-cruise-match-offer-kids-sail-free-stack-parlay-that-carnival-offer/ 18:51 Points for family travel https://frequentmiler.com/business-class-for-4-or-more-finding-multiple-seats-for-family-award-travel/ 19:25 Lap infant tickets https://frequentmiler.com/lap-infant-award-tickets-for-less-new-aeroplan-fee-is-25-cad-or-2500-miles-all-classes-of-service-partners/ 24:31 Award availability for families 28:18 Flexible stopover 32:30 Companion Tickets https://frequentmiler.com/travel-companion-tickets/ 39:03 Vacation packages https://frequentmiler.com/booking-a-flight-its-worth-checking-vacation-packages/ 42:00 Lodging - Vacation rentals (Vacasa) https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-vacasa/ 47:42 Airbnb 51:27 Hyatt suite awards https://frequentmiler.com/finding-extreme-luxury-in-hyatt-premium-suites/ https://frequentmiler.com/my-misadventures-with-a-hyatt-premium-suite-award/ 54:00 All-suite brands 57:38 All-inclusive resorts 1:02:25 Choice Privileges 1:03:46 Rental Cars (National Executive) 1:05:12 Corporate codes 1:08:37 Airport lounges 1:11:57 Question of the Week Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe Music by Annie Yoder

With one card sporting a $95 annual fee versus a price tag of $550 per year for the other, you might think that the answer here is easy, but it turns out that there's a lot to discuss between these two top travel cards. 1:25 Giant Mailbag 3:59 What crazy thing...did Radisson Hotels do this week?6:07 Mattress running the numbers: Transfer your points from Radisson international to Radisson Americas https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-move-radisson-points-to-radisson-americas-now/ 9:22 Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Sapphire Preferred: Which is better? https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-vs-preferred/ https://frequentmiler.com/bwi-airport-now-has-a-priority-pass-restaurant-good-news-for-southwest-fliers/ 49:10 Question of the Week: Which cards have a Priority Pass that includes restaurant access?

Why would anyone want to pay $400 or more for a credit card? This week, Greg and Nick discuss some of the cards on the market that *may* be worth it and which perks would need to matter to you to make them worth the price of admission. 00:46 Giant Mailbag: ANA's friendly change 4:55 What crazy thing....did Air Canada Aeroplan do this week? 9:51 Awards we booked this week: Greg's United award change to New Zealand and Nick's Marriott booking near Disneyland Paris 24:23 Why pay $400 or more for a credit card? 27:09 Capital One Venture X 33:45 Amex Platinum card 35:33 Amex Business Platinum 37:40 Chase Sapphire Reserve 39:41 US Bank Altitude Reserve 41:35 Amex Delta Reserve 43:28 United Club Infinite 46:10 American Airlines Executive Card 47:28 Chase Ritz-Carlton 50:00 Amex Bonvoy Brilliant 55:51 Amex Hilton Aspire card https://frequentmiler.com/maximize-hilton-resort-credit/ 1:00:38 Question of the Week: What can you do for phone access abroad? (Testing Holafly) Music credit: Annie Yoder

All of the best "What Crazy Thing" segments in one place 0:32 Introducing new segment: "What crazy thing did Citi do this week?"1:33 Citi be 5x crazy3:09 Triple header: Everyone wants in3:48 Crazy Chase Hyatt offer4:16 Time to rename to "What crazy thing..."5:12 AA overpromises and underdelivers6:14 Choice fails to roll out terrible deal7:35 Hilton randomly gives out free nights8:19 Greg is now Natalie9:18 Nick's family launders their money (order)11:33 Capital One shuts Greg down12:56 Nothing says ultra-premium like Walmart13:46 Greg receives credit card bill due 52 years ago15:12 Amex tells Greg he is dead16:07 Greg attempts to kick the Capital One football again20:29 A virus has infected gift cards

How far can you really travel on just 3 credit card welcome bonuses? It turns out you can check multiple items off of a bucket list without breaking a sweat. This week, we discuss our favorite highlights from the three 3 cards, 3 continents trips.  03:40 What crazy things . . . has Marriott done this week? 24:02 Pop quiz for Nick 27:25 Main Event 28:46 What was our strategy with our cards? 29:00 Nick's cards 30:59 Greg's cards 36:11 Favorite moments of each others' trips 36:54 Stephen's favorite moments 40:51 Nick's favorite moments 49:35 Greg's favorite moments 1:02:56 Question of the Week: What would Greg change for future challenges?

Having just wrapped up our #3Cards3Continents trips, this week we discuss the sweetspots realized during our journeys and how you can leverage them as well or better in your future travels. 00:57 Giant Mailbag 6:58 What crazy thing . . . did Nick do this week? 11:23 Main Event: Sweetspots realized 11:34 Stretching the Aeroplan award chart 19:50 ANA Round the World Awards 29:05 Turkish for intra-European business class awards for a better experience 32:30 Taking AAdvantage of Middle East to/from Asia sweet spot (40K business / 50K business -- and getting the first class lounge for the business class price) 38:15 Crazy Qatar business class award price: 6K Avios in business class for ~5hrs (no longer available) 40:57 Choice Privileges for Nordic Choice 48:37 Build your own sweet spot with transfer bonuses Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe Music credit: Annie Yoder

With a good deal of countries and continents under their belts, Greg and Nick have picked up some great tips for your international trips when it comes to packing your bag. This week we are currently on our #3Cards3Continents worldwide trips -- and with this episode you'll be able to imagine what we have in our bags. 5:04 Main Event: Packing tips for worldwide travel 07:43 A travel wallet in Greg's travel backpack 09:43 Get a good-quality bagpack / bag that is your go-everywhere bag 12:03 That backpack should have a lot of zippered pockets 13:13 Things you should keep in that backpack (A small carabiner for water bottle or sanitizer on backpack, small poncho, extra set of chargers that stay in travel bag, earbuds, snacks, at least one pen) 16:50 Single charger for laptop and phone and battery pack / earbuds / etc 23:12 Quick-dry clothes 27:04 Puffy jacket that collapses into itself 27:52 Hoodie with many pockets for flights on low cost carriers 28:37 Toiletry kit always fully-stocked 31:00 backup phone

From dirt-cheap awards to Hawaii to nearly-free airport parking and the best free airport tours worldwide, this week we discuss the top travel hacks learned from past frequent miler challenges as we prepare to set off on our latest such challenge. 3:00 Giant Mailbag 8:30 3 Cards 3 Continents 3 Updates https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/ 20:22 Main Event: Top travel hacks learned from past Frequent Miler challenges 20:33: 7.5K miles to Hawaii https://frequentmiler.com/7-5k-each-way-to-hawaii-with-turkish-miles-and-smiles/ 25:13 United Excursionist Perk https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-and-understanding-united-excursionist-perks/ 31:16 Czech Airways from Prague to Seoul 32:14 Hong Kong to London for 12.5K miles 35:00 Free airport tours and hotels https://frequentmiler.com/the-best-stopover-deals-worldwide/ 37:50 Trip to New York for $19 per day / cheap airport parking https://frequentmiler.com/my-19-new-york-city-challenge/ 41:40 Manual bookings through Avianca LifeMiles https://travellingtheworld.boardingarea.com/2016/09/book-lifemiles-awards-not-available-online/ https://frequentmiler.com/when-lifemiles-com-shows-no-availability-try-a-manual-booking/

Want ultra-luxury perks like lounge access and elite status at a bargain-basement price? This week, Greg and Nick discuss how to get the most bang for your buck by maximizing annual credits on your ultra-premium credit cards. 1:21 GIant Mailbag 5:47 3 Cards, 3 Continents, 3 Updates https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-2022-team-challenge-3-cards-3-continents/ 15:22 Awards we booked this week 19:45 What crazy thing....did Amex do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/12-transfer-bonuses-from-amex-membership-rewards/ 30:00 Mattress Running the Numbers: Craftsy through SimplyMiles https://frequentmiler.com/stack-craftsy-offers-for-small-profit-4050-american-airlines-miles-loyalty-points/ 37:34 Luxury Perks for Free (After Rebate) 38:46 Capital One Venture X card 46:50 Amex Platinum Card 1:24:22 Amex Business Platinum 1:38:55 Amex Hilton Aspire card 1:46:44 Question of the Week: Is it worth transferring speculatively (given the transfer bonuses available) if you know which programs you often use? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder