Frequent Miler on the Air

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

There are lots of great sweet spots that are exciting in theory are nearly impossible to actually book. This week, Greg and Nick discuss *practical* sweet spots -- the ones they have booked & you can, too. 1:25 This week's disclaimer 4:16 Mattress running the numbers: Is it worth mattress running to get 2x, 3x, or 4x IHG points. 10:12 Main Event: Practical sweet spot awards First up: Delta One to Europe for 50K 14:12 Star Alliance business class to Europe 17:32 Ability to book short flights cheaply 22:58 Using Iberia Avios for business class between Spain and the Eastern US 26:48 Qatar Qsuites via American Airlines miles or Avios 30:18 ANA Business Class to Japan / Asia 34:57 Hyatt awards 37:57 Vacasa vacation rentals via Wyndham Rewards 43:09 Choice privileges points for Nordic Choice properties 44:37 Capital One points for great Major League Baseball tickets 47:56 Question of the Week: I transferred points for what turned out to be phantom availability. Am I stuck? What could I have done differently? Join our email list: frequentmiler.com/subscribe Music credit: Annie Yoder

Would you rather earn 120K Chase Ultimate Rewards points or 160K Amex Membership Rewards points? It turns out that the answer may not be as simple as you think. 00:48 Giant Mailbag: Newcomer to the show books round the world with ANA. 2:45 What crazy thing . . . did Nick do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/cashing-out-why-nick-is-dumping-a-chunk-of-points-today/ 10:38 Mattress Running the Numbers: Nordic Choice 2-month pass https://frequentmiler.com/nordic-choice-hotels-offering-all-you-can-stay-deal-this-summer/ 18:32 Main Event: 120K Chase points vs 160K Amex points. Which is better? 53:29 Host Roast 54:44 Question of the Week: Is it worth playing the AA Loyalty Game to move on from Gold to Platinum? Music credit: Annie Yoder

United recently offered business class seats to many destinations around the world for 60K miles each way. Was it a great deal that everyone should have booked? We each share our thought process with this kind of deal and why one of us booked it and one of us didn't. 1:07 Giant Mailbag: The Capital One Venture X travel credit might not be so easy to use on a hotel after all 4:14 What crazy thing...did Nearside Debit Card do this week? 8:16 Mattress Running the Numbers: Is the Wyndham 5x deal worth a mattress run to earn Vacasa nights? https://frequentmiler.com/great-new-wyndham-promo-earn-up-to-5x-points-on-one-stay-by-5-31-22/ 15:12 Dissecting the deal: 60K awards to New Zealand and beyond https://frequentmiler.com/united-offering-60k-biz-class-awards-to-many-locations-worldwide-4-seats-in-many-cases/ https://frequentmiler.com/transfer-partner-master-list/ 48:00 Question of the Week: How can I leverage the Southwest Companion pass into elite status with other airlines? Join our email list: FrequentMiler.com/Subscribe Music credit: Annie Yoder

Is the new IHG One Rewards set to top Marriott Rewards? While it won't dethrone Hyatt atop the loyalty rewards mantle, IHG One is looking surprisingly strong. 1:38 Giant Mailbag: Is the Apple card a better beginner card? 6:15 What crazy thing . . . did Caesars Rewards do this week? The un-matched get rematched. https://frequentmiler.com/hail-caesars-revoked-caesars-rewards-diamond-statuses-are-being-reinstated/ 8:24 Mattress Running the Numbers: Hyatt status fast-track https://frequentmiler.com/get-hyatt-explorist-status-free-shortcut-to-globalist-status-targeted/ 16:48 Maint Event: Marriott vs IHG https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-one-rewards-new/ https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-earn-2-years-of-ihg-club-lounge-membership/ 1:12:35 Question of the Week: Is there a trick to finding Qatar availability? https://frequentmiler.com/avios-sweet-spots-for-award-tickets-british-airways-iberia/ Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ Music credit: Annie Yoder