Frequent Miler on the Air

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

00:51 Giant Mailbag 5:09 What crazy thing....did the Waldorf-Astoria Maldives do this week? 9:45 Mattress Running the Numbers: Is 129x Hilton points worth a mattress run? https://frequentmiler.com/earn-7500-hilton-points-when-staying-at-hilton-properties-in-las-vegas/ 15:02 Main Event: Disputing the Indisputable Best Offer https://frequentmiler.com/now-125k-15x-platinum-via-resy/ https://frequentmiler.com/settling-for-350k-amex-points-with-one-new-card/ 41:02 Post Roast: Are Marriott 50K free night certificates worth more or are 40K certificates worth less? https://frequentmiler.com/what-are-marriott-bonvoy-points-worth/ Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

00:31 Giant Mailbag: The highs and lows of Passing the GUC 10:00 Mattress running the numbers: A Radisson promo that really is mattress-run-worthy. 15:50 Main Event: Marriott fans the rumor flames 45:41 Question of the Week: Could you use US Bank Altitude Reserve points to pay for your Maldives sea plane transfer? Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

Greg and Nick recorded this week's episode in the air on the way home from the Maldives. With crystal clear waters, show-stopping sunsets, and fantastic service still fresh in mind - and while flying in the comfort of KLM business class during recording - the answer to the title question still wasn't an easy one. See the discussion for more. Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder

This week Greg and Nick discuss the challenges they have faced in navigating protocols and requirements for a major international trip. See more here: https://frequentmiler.com/guc-trip-update/   Music credit: Annie Yoder

00:27 Giant Mailbag: Is the Hilton Surpass the better choice for Hilton Diamond status in 2021?   3:10 Mattress Running the Numbers: If you're spending for a Hilton free night certificate in 2021, should you finish off the spend for Diamond status?   10:14 What crazy thing...did Citi do this week?   13:55 Main Event: A deluge of transfer bonuses   https://frequentmiler.com/wow-12x-membership-rewards-transfer-bonuses-aeroplan-avios-virgin-atlantic-more/   https://frequentmiler.com/stacking-lifemiles-bonuses-new-domestic-theory/   https://frequentmiler.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-transfer-points-to-airline-and-hotel-programs/   43:01 Post Roast: Is the Capital One transfer bonus to Air France a poor deal?   https://frequentmiler.com/20-transfer-bonus-to-flying-blue-from-capital-one/   48:17 Question of the Week: What are you excited about in September?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6iMWd2BlXM&t=561s   Subscribe to our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/   Thanks for watching or listening!   Music credit: Annie Yoder