Frequent Miler on the Air

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?

Subscribe, like, & comment. Links to more info in the timestamps below. thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe 2:43 Reader Feedback....or rather storytime with Greg. https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ventana-big-sur-hyatt-bottom-line-review-awesome/ 13:10 What crazy thing has Citi done this week? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/5x-restaurants-with-chase-sapphire-reserve/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/covid-credit-card-enhancements-ultimate-guide/#Gas 21:18 Mattress Running: Hyatt's awesome new promo looks very good theoretically. Is it really that good? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/on-my-mind-hyatts-awesome-promo/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hyatt-offering-up-to-25-points-rebate-on-award-nights-free-parking-dining-bonus-points/ 32:49 Is it worth getting the Hyatt credit card if you already have some Hyatt travel plans during the promo window? Note: The extra 10 elite nights from the credit card are available if you are approved by 8/31/20 31:51 Is it worth mattress running a Category 1 hotel if you're seeking Hyatt elite status? 41:36 Amex clawbacks: What happened and Greg's key theory about Amex's relationship with MS https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/amex-going-clawback-happy-for-grocery-store-spend/ 49:33 Picking points 51:04 Is it ever worth using a 2x everywhere card if you have a 2.62% back card? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/why-2x-everywhere-cards-arent-in-my-wallet/ 58:16 Nick wrote a post about picking one transfer partner from each program for all of your points. Greg picks at Nick's picks. https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/pick-a-single-transfer-partner-from-each-program/ 1:07:02 Nick picks back at Greg's Membership Rewards pick 1:12:41 Does purchase protection move the needle? Do you use this info? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/pick-a-single-transfer-partner-from-each-program/ 1:20:58 Question of the Week: Thank You points were shared with me and used to book a flight that is now canceled. What happens on the refund?

Subscribe and give us a like if you enjoy this episode. Timestamps and links below. 00:30 Reader Feedback: Were we too hard on IHG? 9:30 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? Our post about the minimum spend extension: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/citis-turn-use-prestige-credit-at-supermarkets-restaurants-more-time-to-meet-spend/ Report of no extension: https://grabamile.boardingarea.com/2020/06/citiextension2020/ 16:21: Chase adds temporary benefits Link: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/chase-summertime-bonuses-on-sapphire-reserve-and-preferred/ 30:23 Is the Radisson 5K promotion worth mattress running? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/radisson-rewards-earn-5000-bonus-points-per-stay-through-end-of-2020/ 39:19 Is this a good time to collect points for future travel? Related post about manufacturing free nights: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/manufacturing-free-nights-hyatt-hilton-marriott/ 48:03 Card Talk Commercial Intervention https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/traveling-with-six-credit-cards-for-four-a-card-talk-intervention/ 52:20 Is this a good time to book future travel given waived change fees and increased availability? 2 credit cards for a European vacation: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2-credit-card-guide-european-adventure/ First class availability post: https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/book-the-worlds-best-first-class-now-fly-next-year/ 1:02:20 Question of the Week: When can you get a Capital One bonus again? What should Nick do about a Capital One upgrade offer?

Like, subscribe, & comment! Links in timestamps below. 00:38 Reader Feedback: Facebook comments & changes to our group 8:31 Pandemic Vacation: How does Greg feel about it in hindsight? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/pandemic-vacation-is-it-safe/ 21:57 IHG Points: Are they now worth more? Did Greg's methodology make sense? Is basing RRVs just on big city US redemptions a reliable way to determine the RRV? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/what-are-ihg-points-worth-now-that-they-have-dynamic-pricing/ 38:18 Is manufactured spending dead? Gift Card Mall portal changes https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/giftcardmall-cap-reduced-from-60k-to-2k-for-cash-back/ 41:22 Plastiq becomes a bad play https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/another-hit-to-ms-plastiq-fees-increasing-to-2-85/ 47:44 MS time machine: a trip down memory lane. First up: US Mint coins 50:00 Vanilla Reloads 51:55 Visa Gift Cards Got PINs 52:42 Load Bluebird with VGCs 54:46 Golden Age of Redbird 1:00:19 Flipping the script: Easy purchase, but tough liquidation

Like & subscribe! Links in the timestamps below. 3:28 Reader Feedback 5:25 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? 9:44 Why Greg wrote the Juneteenth / Black Lives Matter post and why he did it now. https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/hopeful-juneteenth/ 15:15 Marriott's big move: Free elite night credit https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/marriott-gifting-elite-night-credit-dropping-many-redemption-rates/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/which-marriott-elite-benefits-apply/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/covid-19-hotel-flexibility-policies-compared-for-future-trip-planning/ 40:25 How much are the suite night awards worth? How many points would you use to bridge the gap? (Is it worth mattress running for status or benefits?) 45:08 If you had Titanium last year, is it worth going after Titanium again for the extra choice benefit? 52:25 If you have Platinum now, how far should you go to get Titanium? 1:00:09 Hyatt Milestone benefit https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/which-hyatt-milestone-reward-should-i-pick/ 1:14:13 Question of the Week: Will elite status extensions count

Like, subscribe, & comment! See timestamps for links to content below: Greg & Nick discuss: 1:12 Feedback time: Rakuten Visa rant https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/earn-6-cashback-on-rakuten-visa-at-grocery-stores-restaurants-mobile-wallet-purchases/ 8:00 What crazy thing did Citi do this week? 11:52 Economy class to Africa: The best deals are cheaper than flights to Europe https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/best-ways-to-get-to-africa-using-miles-economy-class-edition/ 15:09 Premium Economy: Vanished Air France award space https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/book-air-france-klm-with-virgin-atlantic-miles/ 21:55 Business Class: ANA's super sweet award chart https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/269000-ana-miles-expire-in-5-months-what-to-do/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ana-strengths-and-sweet-spots/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ana-now-charges-10-of-mileage-for-lap-infants/ 39:43 First class: The world's best, now bookable for next spring https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/book-the-worlds-best-first-class-now-fly-next-year/ 48:25 Are you tempted to transfer points to book this stuff? 54:16 Do the best Kimpton hotels in the US excite you? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/best-kimpton-hotels-united-states-canada/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/kimpton-ihg-platinum-experience-kimpton-muse/ https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/grocery-store-diamond-new-emirates-suites-from-new-york-ppp-enhancements-and-more/ (for a link to road trip post) 1:02:33 US Bank releases Altitude Go https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/us-bank-launches-altitude-go/ 1:07:41 Question of the Week: Which business cards are "easy" to get right now? https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/complete-guide-to-plastiq-credit-card-payments/