Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

Gary Leff, a frequent travel industry commentator and the voice behind View From the Wing, joins to share his vast knowledge on airline loyalty programs. He discusses the evolution of these programs, shedding light on the changing landscape of upgrades and the value of mid-tier status. Family travel takes center stage as Gary offers practical tips for traveling with kids and highlights the deeper emotional connections that travel fosters. He also hints at the future of personalized experiences and the potential of emerging loyalty strategies.

Festivus 2025 Episode 70: Show Notes Keywords Festivus, travel, airlines, loyalty programs, grievances, travel stories, miles, points, travel achievements, travel miracles Summary Our Annual Festivus Tradition continues! In this episode, we celebrate Festivus with special guest JT Genter, discussing our travel experiences. We air our grievances with airlines and loyalty programs, we share our feats of strength and celebrate our Festivus miracles. Break out your festivus pole and join us as we reflect on the past year. Key Points From This Episode: 00:00 Intros 03:53 Airing of Grievances 28:18 Feats of Strength 56:42 Festivus Miracles 01:11:44 Wrapping Up

Trevor and Thomas share their strategies for planning an unforgettable guy's trip. They emphasize award searching techniques, especially using multi-city codes on Seats.aero. Discover their breakthrough moment that led them to Malta, along with amusing lounge experiences at London Terminal Three. They recount the challenges of booking flights last minute and the lesson of maximizing rewards. Their discussion on different mile valuations adds depth, showcasing the creativity behind crafting spontaneous journeys!

A family Mediterranean cruise adventure unfolds, featuring Delta One luxury and the Allure of the Seas. Destinations like Barcelona and Sorrento offer a blend of culture and chaos, with standout moments including a private boat tour of Cinque Terre. Dining experiences provoke discussion, particularly a service recovery that turned dining disappointments into comped meals. Milan surprises with protests, but highlights emerge from relaxed touring and another luxurious flight home. Travel tips and the joys of exploration balance beautifully with the intricacies of family travel.

In this gripping conversation, Michael Rubiano, an experienced traveler and luxury travel advisor, recounts his unexpected journey through political unrest in Kathmandu. Rather than a leisurely trip, he faced life-threatening challenges, witnessing protests and fires from his hotel room. Michael shares intense moments, including the professionalism of Hyatt staff during the lockdown and his harrowing attempts to reach the airport amidst chaos. His story reveals the fragility of travel, highlighting resilience, adaptability, and the human connection in times of crisis.

Join a seasoned traveler as he shares his family's journey through luxury air travel, including an unexpected upgrade to Swiss First. Dive into the stunning features of Emirates' Game Changer 777 and the A380 First Class with showers and bars. Discover how strategic bookings and innovative tactics can unlock aspirational travel experiences. From unforgettable stopovers in Dubai and Doha to insights on the best lounges and dining options, this conversation is a treasure trove for travel enthusiasts!

In this episode, travel hacker Justin Vacula shares his expertise on maximizing travel value through loyalty programs and gambling strategies. He discusses casino credit cards, comparing MGM and Caesars, and provides tips on timing card applications to earn status. Justin unveils the concept of a 'phone army' to boost MyVegas rewards and highlights the perks of Vegas travel, likening it to Disney for adults. He also emphasizes the importance of informed choices in loyalty programs and offers insights into his journey of pursuing travel hacking full-time.

Epic Guys Trip 2.0 with Geoff and Joey Episode 64: Show Notes. Buckle up, because in this episode of Travel Stories, Geoff and Joey are back to share their recent epic guys’ trip to watch Formula 1 in Montreal with TK and Trevor! Listening in, you’ll hear us break down the three different race days, the types of tickets, our experiences of practice day and qualifying day, and so much more! We delve into what seats we think are the best and how to navigate the food situation before discussing whether we would return or not. We even share our dinner experience at Au Pied de Cochon. Finally, you’ll hear about our interesting trip out of Montreal by train. You don’t want to miss this one, so be sure to tune in now!  Key Points From This Episode: [00:44] Welcoming Geoff and Joey back to the show to host. [02:23] Why TK, Trevor, Geoff, and Joey went to Montreal recently.  [04:02] An explanation of what happens at a Formula 1 racetrack. [05:46] A breakdown of the different Formula 1 ticket styles. [08:41] What our experiences were like on Friday, practice day.  [15:36] Qualifying day, the incredible seats we had, and the food at the race.   [26:44] Whether we will go back to F1 Montreal or not, and what the Hyatt was like.  [32:20] Our dinner experience at Au Pied de Cochon: what we liked and didn’t like.  [36:05] What it was like to travel out of Montreal by train. Quotes: “You can have any experience you like at an F1 race and curate it to your desires and your budget.” — Geoff [07:57] “I actually liked our seats on Saturday the most [and they] didn’t have hospitality.” — @joeyredmond [10:39] “I think Montreal was really great value, and for me, one of the best ways to dip my toe into the Formula 1 experience.” — @TktweetsKim [28:18] “The food was good, I thought the overall experience was good, [and] the wifi was strong. Sometimes we take that for granted on trains.” — @tmount [37:30] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X  Joey Redmond Joey Redmond on X Liberty Media Au Pied de Cochon The Milenomics Podcast Network

An Icelandic Cruise Episode 63: Show Notes In mild protest against our usual summer holiday trend, Tom decided to go on a big trip, and today, we unpack everything he experienced on his Icelandic cruise aboard the Holland America Rotterdam. We begin with Tom’s transatlantic flight in economy (the horror!) before learning about local transport options when traveling from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. Tom goes on to deliver an overview of the Holland America cruise line as we hear about the on-board food quality, housekeeping and safety protocols, how they live entertainment measures up against Royal Caribbean’s benchmark, and everything you need to know about the Holland America casino. We also unpack multiple chance encounters Tom had with familiar faces, as well as his highlights from the ports and tourist attractions he visited. To end, Tom details his journey home on a low-cost carrier airline, and Trevor offers a sneak peek into his upcoming cruise on one of the Mediterranean’s largest vessels.       Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] How Tom’s summer trip began with a transatlantic flight in economy to Amsterdam.    [06:43] Getting to port: How he traveled from Amsterdam to Rotterdam.    [15:16] An overview of the Holland America Rotterdam.   [16:18] Food quality on board, how the main dining room works, and housekeeping protocols.  [20:18] How the live entertainment measures up against the Royal Caribbean benchmark.   [23:01] Chance encounters with familiar faces, sharing points and rewards, and gift cards.  [29:21] Highlights of the Holland America casino. [33:48] The ports and attractions Tom visited, starting with Norway and ending in Iceland.   [45:08] Departing from Keflavík International Airport on a low-cost carrier.  [48:40] Tom’s final thoughts on Holland America, and a peek at Trevor’s upcoming cruise.  Quotes: “For a six-hour flight across the Atlantic, the economy experience was not bad at all. It was very reasonable and pretty comfortable. Lately, all my transatlantic flights have been economy, one stop over the Atlantic, and they’ve been working out so far.” — @TktweetsKim [05:18] “The quality of food was very high, and we only did complimentary food; we didn’t go to any specialty restaurants.” — @TktweetsKim [16:48] “One of the things that always separates a cruise experience from almost any other vacation experience [is] the ability to have a meal at the same time, with the same waiter, [and] at the same table. You get this feeling like you’re a local by the second or third day.” — @tmount [17:51] “The live music was good, and if you’re a music lover, you’ll probably find something to enjoy. [However], if you’re looking for an ice show or acrobatics or a Broadway musical, I don’t think you’re going to find it on Holland America.” — @TktweetsKim [21:58] “I’m so glad I didn’t have to buy too much in Iceland because everything is expensive there.” — @TktweetsKim [42:21] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Holland America Rotterdam KLM Royal Dutch Airlines  Winmatch365 Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges  Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport  JetBlue  Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast  Princess Cruises Norwegian Fjords Cruises  Celebrity Cruises  Carnival Cruise Line  Royal Caribbean Cruises  Episode 33: Cruise Loyalty with Traveling Well for Less' Debra Schroeder  Port of Rotterdam Ålesund City & Surroundings  Akureyri, Iceland | Arctic Wonders on a European Cruise  Mývatn Nature Baths  Goðafoss Waterfall  Ísafjörður, Iceland | Wild Westfjords on an Iceland Cruise  Keflavík International Airport  Icelandair  WOW Air  The Ritz-Carlton Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X  The Milenomics Podcast Network

Episode 62: Show Notes Friend of the show, Han Chicago, is fast becoming one of our most frequent and favorite guests, and today he joins Trevor and Tom to reminisce about his recent transatlantic trip. First, Han walks us through Ben Schlappig’s Lufthansa debacle before explaining how another travel aficionado, Matthew Klint, influenced his itinerary for his transatlantic Memorial Day weekend trip. Then, we learn why Han travelled not once but twice across the Atlantic on the same trip, how airlines change aircrafts without alerting passengers causing booking and seating complications, why flying economy across the Atlantic is a better option now than ever before, the ins and out of the Delta One Lounge at JFK, and Han’s short stay in London. Trevor, Tom, and Han all share similar negative experiences of the Frankfurt airport, and after trying to ascertain why Frankfurt is one of Europe’s least pleasant airports, they all agree that Lufthansa First Class is better in the air than on the ground. We also discuss the new T5 train at O’Hare International Airport, what American Airlines is getting wrong with their new 787 flagship seats, the standout moments from Han’s transatlantic journey, and everything that our guest has planned for the near future. To end, we unpack Boeing’s never-ending woes, Han’s final thoughts on JetBlue’s transatlantic product, and what the future of aviation may hold in terms of Business and First Class layouts.     Key Points From This Episode: [0:00:00] Han Chicago shares important travel news about Ben Schlappig and Lufthansa.    [0:10:00] The way Matthew Klint influenced Han’s transatlantic Memorial Day weekend trip.   [0:15:21] How one transatlantic trip became two, and being “Qatared” onto a lesser aircraft.     [0:18:17] Why transatlantic trips in economy are more appealing today than ever before.    [0:20:40] The Delta One Lounge at JFK, a short London stay, and travelling from Heathrow.  [0:32:50] Frankfurt versus Munich, and comparing aircraft to address airline inconsistencies.  [0:43:16] Han’s highs and lows from his time at Frankfurt airport.    [0:55:15] Why Lufthansa First Class is a better in-air experience compared to on the ground.  [1:02:28] Landing at O’Hare, the new T5 train, and American Airlines’ 787 flagship seats.    [1:10:35] The flight from Frankfurt to Munich and other standout moments from Han’s trip. [1:14:20] Acquisitions and everything else our guest has planned for his future.   [1:16:42] Unpacking Boeing’s persistent woes. [1:22:48] Han’s review of JetBlue’s transatlantic product.   [1:29:24] The future of aviation: A new era of Business and First Class products. Quotes: “The devil’s in the details on some of these partner programs.” — @tmount [0:16:14] “Guys, to me, [the Delta One Lounge at JFK] is one of the best lounges in the US, and it can rival a lot of lounges overseas, too.” — @hanchicago [0:20:54] “I’m trying to fly all the A380s on all the airlines that still fly them. After Lufthansa, the only one I think I have left now is Korean [Air].” — @hanchicago [0:31:43] “Frankfurt is one of the least pleasant airports in Europe. Considering you’ve got Charles de Gaulle and Heathrow included there, that’s saying something.” — @TktweetsKim [0:44:57] “Luckily, I made all my connections. So many times, I could’ve missed something; something could’ve gone wrong. That’s definitely happened to me on these kinds of [trips before], but Memorial Day weekend, it all worked out.” — @hanchicago [1:02:12] “I’m always looking for that special feeling. And I have to say, as much as we started this episode off about bagging on Lufthansa for this and that, I would say that they deliver that [feeling] for me.” — @hanchicago [1:10:48] “It’s turbulent times for us in the world, on various fronts.” — @hanchicago [1:12:38] “Everyone’s planning a new first-class seat, but because of Boeing’s woes, everyone’s putting that off as to when they’re going to introduce it.” — @hanchicago [1:16:34] “It’s a blessing to get on any of these aircrafts. Let’s never forget. It’s a blessing to be able to fly the way that we fly [and] in the luxury that we get to experience.” — @tmount [1:31:52] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Han Chicago on X Han Chicago on Instagram  Episode 30: First Time Istanbul Visit with Han Episode 53: Aspirational Flying with Han Chicago  Lufthansa Allegris First Class ‘Frustrating Lufthansa Allegris First Class Upgrade Glitch’  ‘Lol, Oops: Downgraded From Lufthansa Allegris First Class’  ‘American’s Brand New Boeing 787 Has Serious Maintenance Issues’ Ben Schlappig on Instagram Matthew Klint | Live and Let's Fly  Alaska Airlines JetBlue Etihad Airways  Qatar Airways  Virgin Atlantic  Delta One Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Chase Sapphire Lounge  SkyClub  Priority Pass   Korean Air  Thai Airways  American Airlines United Airlines U.S. Bank  JonNYC on X Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X  The Milenomics Podcast Network