Frequent Miler on the Air

This week: With Hyatt's generous overlapping offers, Nick is thinking of going big. Will he book a 30 night stay? Also: Chase is out with huge signup offers. Should we grab what's there now or wait for even better? 00:23 Giant Mailbag: An earnest defense of Best Western 04:20 What Crazy Thing Did Citi Do This Week? 07:02 Mattress running the numbers: Should Nick book a 30 night stay? Analysis of Hyatt's promos: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-bonus-journeys-q4-2020-promo/ 22:20 Should Nick book with Points or Cash? Testing the spreadsheet Worksheet: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-cash-or-points-worksheet/ Avoid taxes on long stays: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/staying-30-nights-in-a-hotel-you-might-not-have-to-pay-the-taxes/ 42:05 Main Event: 80K in the hand or 100K in the bush? Should you go for those 80K offers now or wait for a potential 100K offer? Details about 80K offer: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/chase-sapphire-preferred-80k-offer-should-you-go-for-it/ Will Chase match 60K to 80K? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/will-chase-match-the-sapphire-preferred-60k-offer-to-80k/ 56:40 Question of the week: How to spend $20K? Best Big Spend Bonuses: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/best-big-spend-bonuses/

Greg and Nick analyze Hyatt's latest COVID inspired promotions. They're sweet! How will the others respond? We put down our bets. 00:37 Mailbag (HSBC $600 deal) 3:56 Crazy Citi thing: (not crazy but noteworthy) 5:23 Mattress Running the Numbers (Wyndham) https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/book-2-night-stay-at-wyndham-vacation-clubs-resort-for-7500-points-total-timeshare-presentation-required/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/wyndham-timeshare-presentation-survival-guide-get-your-no-face-on/ 10:49 Nick's Labor Day Weekend Surprise 14:20 Main Event - Hyatt comes out swinging https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-launching-excellent-new-promo-3x-4x-points-plus-double-elite-nights-but-in-an-unexpected-way/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-offering-up-to-25-points-rebate-on-award-nights-free-parking-dining-bonus-points/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hacking-hyatt-prive-for-the-win-in-new-york-city/ 32:22 What will the others do? Marriott? Hilton? IHG? 34:25 Post Roast - "Chase Sapphire: What's Next?" 40:17 Question of the Week (or not)

In light of the coming Chase Freedom Flex and enhancements to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, is the Sapphire Reserve the king of the Ultimate Rewards wallet, or should you save money with the lower fee of the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred? Greg and Nick discuss that, airline change fee changes, and more. This week's timestamps may be added after publication. Music credit: Annie Yoder

1:02 Mailbag: Nick closes the loop on Capital One and offers Confession Time 7:13 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-21/bofa-customer-opens-mobile-app-and-finds-an-extra-2-45-billion 9:50 Mattress Running the Numbers: Is the Marriott status challenge worth mattress running? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/marriott-instant-status-match-challenge-from-ihg-hilton-hyatt-and-accor/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVurTjC6afE&t=1933s 19:28 Main Event: Pandemic Vacation Take 3 https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/miraval-berkshires-resort-my-failed-attempt-to-double-dip-deals/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/madison-beach-hotel-curio-collection-by-hilton-bottom-line-review/ 51:40 Question of the Week: Does opening credit cards affect your insurance rates? Don't forget to like & subscribe for more! Go to www.TheFrequentMiler.com/Subscribe. Music credit: Annie Yoder

00:45 Reader Feedback: Greg's trip to Ventana Big Sur 4:26 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? A $900 million mistake 8:46 Mattress Running the Numbers: Targeted Marriott promotion for a free night cert after one paid night 16:24 Main Event: Searsiously? Did Sears make Citi more valuable? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/on-my-mind-shop-your-way-gift-cards-are-a-big-deal/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/shop-your-way-gift-cards/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citi-double-cash-complete-guide/ 43:24 Post Roast: Greg roasts Nick's ommissions. (Nick roasted Greg during the Main Event) https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/the-case-against-citi-thankyou-points-on-nicks-mind/ 52:32 Question of the Week: What is the best credit card for accelerating retirement savings through manufactured spending? Don't forget to like and subscribe! See: TheFrequentMiler.com/Subscribe for our email list, Facebook group, Twitter, etc. See: TheFrequentMiler.com/CardTalk to volunteer for a credit card intervention Music credit for intro/outro: Annie Yoder

0:33 Reader feedback: A change in our ratings 4:57 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? Ritz-Carlton edition. 9:41 Mattress Running the Numbers: Choice 50K promo at all-inclusive resorts https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/get-50k-choice-points-free-night-with-500-all-inclusive-booking/ 21:41 Quick Hits: Southwest Travel Funds to points conversion: Do it or not and why? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/southwest-travel-funds-conversion-live-its-a-great-deal/ 28:16 Quick Hits: Get 10K miles from United MPX 32:42 Quick Hits: An easy 20K Aeroplan miles, almost for free 36:08 The new Aeroplan: What's changing and why you may or may not be excited https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/the-new-aeroplan-award-chart-first-reaction/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/air-canada-aeroplan-guide/ 58:11 Post Roast: Greg picks at Nick's post https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/no-annual-fee-wallet/ 1:04:54 Post roast: Nick picks a few bones with Greg https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/lap-infant-award-tickets-for-less-new-aeroplan-fee-is-25-cad-or-2500-miles-all-classes-of-service-partners/ 1:11:20 Question of the Week Music credit: Annie Yoder

00:51 Reader feedback: Nick's confession time Related post on product changing Capital One cards: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/capital-one-product-change-dilemma/ 9:44 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/someone-in-ihg-marketing-was-having-a-laugh/ 17:02 Mattress Running the Numbers: Is it worth transferring Ultimate Rewards to IHG for easy elite status?  https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/top-tier-status-via-chases-ihg-transfer-bonus/ 29:05 Main event: Do credit card category bonuses matter much? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/nicks-wallet-completely-revamped-in-6-months/ 47:20 Post Roast 54:33 Question of the Week: When does it make sense to diversify into a third currency? Should this reader go after ThankYou points? Don't forget to like and subscribe!

Links and timestamps:   00:42 Reader Feedback: An interesting Amex Clawback data point For background: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/amex-going-clawback-happy-for-grocery-store-spend/ 8:43 What crazy thing did....Greg do this week? 12:32 Mattress Running the Numbers: Intercontinental Ambassador now includes a free 40K night cert with a paid stay. Is it worth a mattress run? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ihg-buy-renew-ambassador-membership-then-stay-once-get-40k-free-night-certificate-cert-expires-4-30-21/ 27:20 The Main Event: Business Credit Card Offers https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/on-my-mind-pandemic-best-credit-card-offers/ 34:06 Is everyone else tightening up as much as Chase? 40:27 Post Roast: Are the "World's Best" really any good? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/points-bookable-hotels-resorts-in-the-continental-united-states/ 50:45 Greg roasts Nick's Freedom post https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/freedom-vs-freedom-unlimited-does-it-matter-which-one/ 53:23 Question of the Week: If you already have an Amex Gold card, is it worth sacrificing a 5/24 slot for a Freedom or Freedom Unlimited? Don't forget to comment, like, and subscribe! Closing music credit: Annie Yoder

Links & timestamps below! Go to thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe for more. 00:18 Reader feedback: Abbas wants to know hot we book hotel rooms for 4 people. 7:15 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? Issuers clamping down. 9:23 Confession time: How Greg might have lost a boatload of Citi points 10:58 Mattress running the numbers: Is the Cambria promo for 20K points after 2 stays worthwhile? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/choice-privileges-book-2x-cambria-stays-earn-at-least-20000-points/ 19:18 Booking family vacations: Big suites, vacation rentals, etc. https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ways-to-book-vacation-rentals-using-rewards-points/ 42:15 Post Roast: Greg rips me for my failure to take a stand https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/capital-one-product-change-dilemma/ 48:00 Turnabout: Greg's top picks for Hyatt suites were in pretty random spots. https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/the-most-exciting-hyatt-suites-bookable-with-points/ 55:10 Question of the Week: Is the Platinum card worth its annual fee?

For links to more, see the posts included with the timestamps below: 00:21 Reader feedback: Is the Blue Business Plus not a better deal than the Premium Rewards card with Platinum Honors for most customers? 3:13 Correction: Greg says Blue Business "Cash", but he means Blue Business "Plus" 10:49 Hyatt adds suite booking online: Is this a win? Who loses https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-allows-booking-suites-online-with-points/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-offering-up-to-25-points-rebate-on-award-nights-free-parking-dining-bonus-points/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/bogo-miraval-offer-stacking-with-25-back/ 32:13 Mattress Running the Numbers: Is it worth mattress running Marriott Platinum https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/marriott-bonvoy-7-nights-to-platinum-what-to-do/ 54:29 Post Roast: Nick already toasted Greg, so Greg tries to swing back. 1:07:22 Question of the Week: Which Hyatt credit card offer is better?