Frequent Miler on the Air

Greg and Nick debate whether to cash out points rather than waiting to use them for travel. We also debate whether to sign up for cards now while great offers remain or wait for something better to maybe come along. Timestamps: 1:30: Coronavirus preparation 6:37 Reader feedback: is it time to cash out points? 10:53: How many points are "enough" per passenger before you consider cashing out? 14:38: Are airline miles safe in the current environment? Are there any we should burn right now? 21:54: What will be the impact of hotels in the aftermath of coronavirus? 25:18: Whoops! A disconnection leads to a moment of chatter about how to avoid this in the future. 27:13: Is this a good time to sign up for credit cards? 30:00: Co-brands 30:17: Cash back cards 30:33: Ink Cards 31:24: Nick disagrees: Travel offers won't increase 33:33: Greg agrees that Nick is partially right: Offers may not increase, but we may see the return of "try before you buy" or extra credits and reduced spend requirements. 36:57: Nick disagrees: Cash back offers may increase after all 40:35: Will the Ink no-fee cards see increased offers? 44:30: Where do we stand so far? 47:10: Should we be afraid of points being devalued because of the coronavirus crisis? 53:54: Greg's counter-argument against airline credit cards today. 55:26: Greg challenges Nick's assertion that travel cards are worth considering right now? 55:48: Greg admits that Nick is right. 59:05: Greg disconnects! 1:00:30: The ten second explanation of what Nick said while Greg was disconnected. 1:01:00: Are transferable currency cards worth considering now? One defintiely is! 1:04:50: Question of the week x 2.5. 1:06:00: First of 2.5 questions of the week: what counts as a direct deposit? 1:09:50: Second question of the week: Halfway to the Companion Pass. Abort now or continue? 1:11:26: Nick shows why Greg was totally wrong -- with a little help from Greg! 1:14:25: Related Southwest question: Should those with Southwest points look for ways to cash out now? 1:17:57: Greg admits Nick is right....AGAIN. 1::20:00: Greg needs an intervention about cashing out some points.

Greg and Nick discuss: -Is this a good time to book future travel? We obviously don't know when "safe" will be, but maybe this is a good time to book for the future? -Is it ethical to take advantage of the current no change fee policies? More: -Should we cancel or downgrade annual fee credit cards? We can't travel now, we don't know when we'll be able to travel again. When is it time to cut the cord on expensive credit cards with benefits we can't use? -How should people handle the travel industry's customer service collapse? Many people are reporting huge wait times, finger pointing (e.g. "call the airline" no "call the OTA"), wrong information. Please subscribe! http://thefrequentmiler.com/subscribe Timestamps (thanks to Screaming Lincolns on Youtube): 3:15 Is it really free? (Hotel Free Night) 5:13 Free Nights vs Award Flights w/Fuel Surcharges 10:50 Points/Miles Great Value Discussion 13:31 Main Topic: When to book travel? 15:56 June 1st??? 18:18 British Airways Refund Trick [Hat Tip to Gary Leff at View From The Wing] 22:23 Spend all miles now??? 23:00 Ethical Issue: Change Waivers 28:18 Where in the world would you like to be quarantined? 31:32 Greg's Travel Plans 34:06 Cust Svc/Changing Policies 39:09 Southwest's Travel Funds Extension 41:12 Credit Card Downgrades [Hat Tip to Grant Thomas at Travel With Grant] 43:30 Downgrade Strategy 53:41 What's in your wallet, NOW??? 58:42 Nick's Morphosis :) 1:00:35 F-Bomb Averted :( 1:03:35 Question of the Week: Extending United Airlines Voucher 

Greg and Nick discuss the fallout from last week's F-bomb. Greg introduces THREE feedback segments AND offers up a bonus update about Hotel Slash. Nick discusses customer friendly updates from the major hotel chains. Should we take advantage of these changes to seek elite status this year? Timestamps courtesy of Screaming Lincolns on YouTube: 2:51 1st Feedback - SW points DON'T expire 4:33 2nd Feedback - Greg's Hertz points 5:43 3rd Feedback - Timestamps 8:20 Thanks a lot Jerry! 9:20 Hotel Slash Update - no points or elite nights :( 11:35 Toilet Paper Panic 13:18 Travel Company Cancellation Policy Updates 15:31 Hyatt Loyalty Discussion 17:35 Marriott Loyalty Discussion 23:40 Lower Elite Hotel Status Requirements? 32:01 IHG Free Night Certs 34:15 Manufacturing Spend for Hyatt Elite Status? 35:41 Greg's Travel Plans 37:14 Nick's Travel Plans 38:15 Meow 40:23 Points/Miles vs Cashback Discussion 42:44 Better Credit Card Bonuses coming? 43:00 Meow (2) 48:38 Covid's effect on MS 51:19 Simon Mall VGC Stock 53:30 No F-Bomb :(

Nick takes issue with Greg's comparison between the Amex Platinum and Sapphire Reserve cards. Does he have a point? We also discuss Hyatt Prive, Coronavirus, and more. Unfortunately Squadcast crapped out on us during recording and so we had to convert the much lower quality video sound to audio for this podcast.

This week, Greg and Nick discussed: -Reader feedback that makes Greg re-evaluate his CSR valuation -Why SeatSpy is exciting and our hopes for it long-term -The ethics of using HotelSlash: Will they help us get a deal, earn rewards, and support them at the same time? -How Turkish Miles & Smiles is making Citi great again -The aim of Frequent Miler Insiders

Are the Marriott credit cards back on the chopping block after Greg's research this week, or are the 35K and 50K free night certs worth the fees? Watch us debate that, discuss a true 4th night free benefit you may be missing, and more. Timestamps courtesy of audience member Screaming Lincolns: 3:01 FM to go (meet ups) 8:50 Confession time (Greg's Delta Cancellation Fees) 14:16 Greg's Marriott free night certificate analysis 16:48 Nick's retort 19:14 Greg's 50K free night certificate analysis 21:18 Greg's methodology issue 25:07 50K certs' decline for aspirational properties 33:36 How much would you pay for 50K cert? 47:20 Sapphire Reserve's 4th night free w/SBE properties 53:47 Possible points accrual with Sapp Res 4th night benefit? 56:44 Pay 3 get 4 Hyatt nights possible? 1:01:11 (NO-GO) Piggyback Free Night Cert w/Marriott's 5th night free (NO-GO) 1:04:36 Reader Question (FM's Reasonable Redemption Values Page updates)

In this week's FM on the Air, Greg and Nick discuss: - The Rakuten Visa no longer earns 3X for gift cards. Is the card dead to us? - Alaska joins OneWorld. How bad is that? - Virgin Atlantic partners with Air France & KLM. We highlight the sweet spot awards that are now possible.

Following the latest Marriott Bonvoy devaluation, we're all feeling like we've been Bonvoyed yet again. Greg and Nick discuss whether it's time to get rid of our Marriott credit cards and to stop pursuing Marriott elite status. Also: A path to easy Delta Platinum status and why none of us are carrying the Chase Freedom Unlimited...though one of us might be soon.

This week, Greg and Nick discuss: -What to do with a Marriott Travel Package certificate that is nearing expiration. -A great first class deal, the mistake Greg made in the booking process, and more regarding that new JAL first class route. -This week's juicy main topic: our unfiltered thoughts on Juicy Miles.

When the cat's away the mice will play: with Greg on vacation this week, hear Nick and Frequent Miler contributor Stephen Pepper discuss: -Reader feedback: why we re-publish some old posts -What's it like to take a 5-year road trip? -A couple of years in, what would Stephen change? -What has surprised him the most about this journey? -Would Stephen recommend this lifestyle for others? All that and more in this week's episode.