Tom and Trevor’s annual guys’ trip for 2024 led them to Istanbul, Turkey, and their experience was an absolute Turkish delight! They booked their tickets via Turkish Airlines just before the award chart’s devaluation, and they were relieved to still be able to use their points. In today’s episode, we take a look at Tom and Trevor’s Middle Eastern adventure, starting with their first experience of successfully transferring and redeeming thank-you points. The journey continues as we discuss the fleet at Turkish Airlines, some interesting events at Newark, Tom and Trevor’s in-flight experience, and everything that happened after they landed in Istanbul. We also learn about how Instagram deceived Trevor, the hotels that feel like home, their day out at the Grand Bazaar, multimodal travel, and the joys of being fully cleansed at the hammam. The trip home came with a silly customs mistake by Trevor, an underwhelming lounge, a Super Bowl cliffhanger, and everything you need to consider when looking for the right car rental agency.              Key Points From This Episode: [0:00:40] How we were lucky to book our trip to Turkey before its airline’s devaluation.   [0:01:10] What Turkish Airlines’ devaluation means for future travel on the airline.   [0:04:17] Our first experience of transferring thank-you points.  [0:05:50] Exploring the Turkish Airlines fleet.  [0:08:43] How we made our bookings for Turkey and some interesting events from Newark Liberty International Airport.    [0:24:45] Our in-flight experience. [0:30:01] Arriving in Turkey: Customs, Uber’s, Salt Bae, and the Park Hyatt.  [0:36:08] How we tried to visit every restaurant and bar in the area, and what we paid.  [0:40:40] What we liked about breakfast and what we think could’ve been better. [0:44:21] Indulging Trevor and being pleasantly surprised.  [0:47:47] The Grand Hyatt Istanbul – a home away from home.  [0:52:52] Why we loved the hammam.  [0:57:10] The ins and outs of our day at the Grand Bazaar, and the benefits of meal planning.  [1:00:47] Our multimodal transportation adventure.   [1:03:13] Bidding adieu to Istanbul.  [1:06:55] The silly mistake that Trevor made at customs when leaving Turkey.  [1:08:19] Why the Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul is not as great as it used to be.  [1:12:17] What to keep in mind when departing from Istanbul Airport.  [1:15:35] The flight back, Super Bowl ads, and arriving home.  [1:24:00] A smooth Budget experience, and why we choose certain car rental agencies.    [1:34:21] Final thoughts on the Turkish edition of our annual guys’ trip.   Quotes: “Folks talk about having to jump through hoops; if you’ve done it once, it is super easy – the reality of the matter is, you go through a little bit of pain but afterwards, it’s actually not that bad.” — @tmount [0:03:58]  “Don’t print any checks you can’t cash.” — @TktweetsKim [0:07:46] “Turkey is the number one producer of hazelnuts in the world.” — @TktweetsKim [0:28:04] “[Salt Bae’s restaurant] just didn’t feel like what you see on Instagram.” — @tmount[0:58:11] “In the future, we’re going to have to plan our meals a little bit better – just waiting for th

A Pilot’s Perspective: Finding the Right Approach from Cargo to Commercial Episode 27: Show Notes. We welcome Steven Kriese, a traveler, a commercial airline pilot and friend. In today’s episode, Steve takes us back in time to his first flying experience and how airline technology has steadily evolved since. He walks us through his personal preferences including his most desired routes, how his job as a pilot affects his leisure travel, what he learned from his time in the Air Force, and what he loves most about his job. We also learn about various approach styles and in particular, the RNP approach, a close examination of how air operations work, the ins and outs of miles, points, and rewards from Steve’s perspective, and why he still holds high standards of safety for the 737, which he himself flies.         Key Points From This Episode: [00:56] Some background on today’s guest, former U.S. Air Force cargo pilot, Steven Kriese.  [03:56] His first flying experience and the aircrafts he’s flown since.   [05:20] “What’s your route?” How Steve plans his flights every month.  [07:55] Exploring various landing styles and approaches, and explaining the RNP approach. [13:00] The progression of flight technology during Steve’s career.  [14:45] Interesting routes that he’d liked to fly either as a pilot or passenger.  [15:58] Noteworthy moments from his time in the Air Force. [17:37] His stance on miles and points, and a deep dive into rewards.  [28:25] Air operations: duty timeouts during delays, cancellations, and other scenarios.   [34:34] What Steve discovered after swapping military cargo planes for commercial ones. [37:28] He explains what he loves most about his job as a pilot.  [40:02] Why he’s confident in the safety of the 737 amid the AA flight 1282 debacle.  [44:40] How his experience as a pilot has influenced his leisure travel.  Quotes: “I may offend one or two, but pilots are generally cheap.” — Steven Kriese [24:51] “The miracle of flight in the modern age: eating a meal [and] surfing the internet in a metal tube, 30,000 feet in the air.” — @tmount [34:00] “In all honesty, flying cargo planes for the military, especially for the Air Force, is very similar to what we do in the airlines.” — Steven Kriese [34:57] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Steven Kriese on LinkedIn Steven Kriese on Instagram Alaska Airlines  American Airlines United JetBlue  Spirit Airlines  Delta  Oneworld  Chase Sapphire Reserve  ‘AvTalk Episode 250: Alaska Airlines Flight 1282’  DCL Podcast The Milenomics Podcast Network Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mou

Usually I lock up a summer trip as far ahead of time as possible. But due to the current award travel patterns and my need for 4 seats I found myself without a summer booking and a family wanting to travel. Today Robert and I chat about the ups and downs of the search for a summer trip, award space scarcity, alliance and search engine fragmentation and more. - Enjoy! 01:55 Let’s talk about the Constraints of this trip: We didn't have a single destination on our list but rather a short list of places to go 2 Adults 2 children. 3:00 Summer, during Summer Break (June/July) Prices and awards rise dramatically in Jun/Jul and award space dries up even worse than it is during other parts of the year 4:24 No flexibility in cabin (I couldn’t even pitch premium economy) As we’ve gotten older we’ve taken less trips, but put more into them.  Last year we spent 36 years on vacation, but we’re trending into longer trips 6:45 Don’t want to reposition Saw some options through IAH, PHL. Also saw flights through Canada I don't like clearing customs and then having another flight, with little kids that is a pressure point 9:00 Point balances:  I’m a non-hoarder. I have about 250,000 Alaska, 400,000 AA and very little other miles on hand.  I do have a large MR and UR balance I can draw down. Otherwise I’ll cash them out 9:53 AA out of LAX, comparing AA vs BA. points yeah served up LAX-LHR on AA with Alaska Miles: But AA wouldn't show this for a similar 'low' price But adding a leg--searching LAX-CPH showed the low price for the whole flight. This seems like a 'married logic' issue. It means pricing is end to end (LAX/CPH) vs segment by segment. This has become VERY common with dynamic pricing. This makes the old 'get over the pond' mentality dangerous. Searching between city pairs only for long-haul flights won't show you the whole picture (Not just on AA, across most airlines now). This is also a search engine fragmentation because you are relying on the search engine to do the routing logic. 15:41 Let’s talk about award space out of LAX I’ve had an eye on LAX long haul routes for more than a decade. I’ve never seen it this thin That’s on top of more capacity than ever, with better cabins than ever The 64,000 point question is: Will those seats get sold, or will they be released closer to the dates of travel Current space isn’t a great indicator. There are very different people wanting to go to Europe in the next 2 months than in Jun/July 18:00 Quick discussion about the ‘loss’ of partner award space This has made it more important than ever to hold flexible currencies like MR/UR/Cap 1 One ways with different currencies helps spread out the search net Ultimately you still need that triangle of flexibility we’ve talked about forever here: Dates, destination or class of service. You have to flex one (or more) of them.  Flights Have to Exis

During this episode, we discuss Malaysia, with a focus on Langkawi. Trevor shares the highlights and disappointments from his recent trip with his wife and young daughter, from Etihad First Class to first-class lounges, luxury amenities, and more. Tune in for a first-hand account of South East Asian travel packed with handy insights of the highs and lows to help you plan your next trip. We discuss amenities and food, and experiences both inside hotels and beyond the property borders. Trevor shares an honest account of what he would do again, including paying another visit to a Waldorf hotel and avoiding accommodation where renovations are taking place. Join us today to hear all this and more!  Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Introducing this episode’s conversation which centers on Langkawi, Malaysia.  [00:58] Trevor’s trip to Langkawi which was his daughter’s final trip as a lap infant.  [04:26] How Etihad addressed an issue with Trevor’s daughter’s boarding pass.  [05:17] Cutbacks at Etihad including less airport lounges and in-flight comforts.  [10:10] Terminal 1 and 3 and Tom’s experience at the new first class lounge in Abu Dhabi. [14:04] Tom’s early experiences with Etihad and how it has changed over the years. [15:28] Returning to the Grand Hyatt in Kuala Lumpur.  [17:51] Why visiting malls in Asia is such a memorable experience.  [20:19] Langkawi experiences starting at the St. Regis Hotel. [24:54] How the property is structured and the renovations that are currently taking place.  [30:34] The Four Seasons Beach experience. [32:38] Luxury amenities at the Four Seasons.  [35:45] Trevor’s firsts on his most recent trip including traveling with Air Asia. [38:35] Traveling from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi. [41:35] Staying at the Park Hyatt in Abu Dhabi.  Quotes: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned with a lap infant, every single check-in has some or other random problem.” — @tmount [02:16] “I have nostalgia for the Etihad of ten years ago when I first flew them and it was amazing. It was my first time traveling with a Middle Eastern carrier.” — @TktweetsKim [13:52] “Don’t overlook the mall when you are in a big Asian metropolis. It might be at least worth an afternoon stroll.” — @TktweetsKim [18:56] “We will stay at a Waldorf again. The care and the quality of the service was wonderful.” — @tmount [38:14] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Abu Dhabi International Airport Etihad Airways Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur St. Regis Langkawi Four Seasons Langkawi Air Asia Waldorf Astoria Bangkok Bangkok Airport The Flip Flop Traveler Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi

Episode 25: Show Notes In today’s episode of Travel Stories, we talk about the highs and lows of booking Tom’s recent trip to Australia, the cruise that followed, and his trip home. Thomas recounts his exploits in the land “Down Under,” from exploring Sydney's hidden gems to a firsthand encounter with the lavish comforts of the A380 first-class experience. He also shares his insights on British Airways’ lounges, the value of premium lounges, and the hits and misses of airline amenities. We discuss the best cabin types for transcontinental flights and learn about the secret gift that made Tom a sensation among the cabin crew. Tuning in, you’ll also hear about his pre-cruise adventures, the allure of New Caledonia's attractions, his W Sydney Hotel glitches, the best lounges at Melbourne Airport, whether Tom’s Australian trip is worth trying out for yourself, and much more! You won’t want to miss out on this captivating episode, where luxury meets adventure and missteps turn into opportunities. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Introduction and what listeners can expect from the episode. [00:39] Highlights from Tom’s recent trip to Australia. [02:33] An alternative airline Tom found that solved his booking woes. [03:36] The Chelsea, Soho, and Greenwich premium lounges experience. [06:15] An aspect that many premium lounges miss the mark on: the view. [06:58] How Tom’s booking blunder turned into a positive experience.  [09:39] Why Trevor doesn’t often fly from Tom Bradley International Terminal. [10:22] The best type of cabin for a transcontinental flight. [11:50]  A gift that made Tom a hit with the cabin crew. [12:40] Flying on the A380 first class to Sydney and the overall cabin experience. [16:56] Why first class on Qantas is the best when flying to Australia. [18:14] Catering highlights and why the ground experience will always be superior. [20:39] Tom’s adventures in Sydney before the cruise began. [21:20] Details about the cruise ship, the amazing views, and the itinerary. [24:15] Attractions of New Caledonia and Tom’s takeaways from the cruise. [28:43] What he did after the cruise and his thoughts on the W Sydney Hotel. [35:00] Final thoughts on his stay and the quality of lounges at Melbourne airport. [40:45] His trip back home and how he found the best deals on flights. [44:15] Challenges of making the trip happen and how he overcame them. [47:05] Closing comments and final takeaways. Quotes: “When [the airline] calls you it is not always bad news.” — @TktweetsKim [07:28] “The allure of [first class on Qantas] – is the exclusivity of being able to get that from miles and points.” — @TktweetsKim [16:57] “One of the downsides of having such a quality lounge product is sometimes it takes away from the in-flight experience.” — @TktweetsKim [19:05] “The ground experience is always going to be superior.” — @tmount [19:17] “You expect glitches with a new hotel, at least I do. It is just par for the course. Sometimes, there are opportunities with those sorts of things.” — @tmount [34:37] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: American Airlines American Airlines

Festivus: The non-commercial holiday's celebration, as depicted on Seinfeld, occurs on December 23 and includes a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, practices such as the "airing of grievances" and "feats of strength", and the labeling of easily explainable events as "Festivus miracles"  0:15 Intro, some history about Festivus as we held it on the Observation Deck. 03:27 Airing of Grievances:  Everyone gets two each. ONE towards an airline or loyalty program, ONE towards a bank. Sam: No Knock Devaluations in general.  Trevor shared one of these happening in real time.   Bank: Bank of America. Fraud happy, and full of themselves.  Tom: Alaska Airlines end of 50K to asia MGM stays get bonvoyed Trevor: Loyalty program: Another Alaska no notice devaluation, making JAL awards even more expensive, from 70k to 100k for JAL F to Japan, one way. US Bank: I have a history of being unimpressed, such that I stayed away for a while, however I went back to the well, with a $500 business checking bonus. This may have been self inflicted, but US Bank is not the easiest to work with. 13:45 Alaska/Hawiian Merger Talk  20:20 Hyatt requalification and “Settle for Good Enough” 23:20 Feats of Strength Traditionally, it's "Your favorite redemptions/miles and points usage over the course of the year. But lets switch it up som: ONE towards an airline or loyalty program, and one towards a bank. Doesn't have to be the "best" or "best value", but just the one that defined your 2023 or you will remember going forward"  Sam: Japan for 4 in Business class both ways.  Not that this was an especially strong feat of strength but it seems like it is.  I’m  Bank: AA miles with a Citi Business card Tom: Award trip to Australia exact dates i needed for a  Trevor: Loyalty Program: The incredibleness that has been Aeroplan with the super cheap lap infant that let us travel at a ludicrous pace. Bank: AMEX Business Gold + Employee cards (though I can of course try picking something else, but having done 80 employee cards on 1 card, and 5 on 3 other cards they moved the needle for me). 37:55 Festivus Miracles This is your deal of the year, or really anything. Whatever brought you the most miraculous joy in the miles and points game this year. Sam:  Vacasa with Wyndham Rewards.  1 year ago I bought 300,000 of these for cash on points.com. This year I earned 2x that many from the comfort of my living room.  Tom: Surprise Elite Status (thanks Delta) Delta Gold 2024, AS MVP,  Spirit, Frontier Trevor: 68k/night Bonvoy points for St. Regis Maldives To close out we ask you to share your Festivus Grievances, Miracles and Feats of strength! Share here in the comments or on Slack! 

From the spectacular cockpit views to gaining status at hotels, a pilot’s travel experience is quite different from ours as a commercial traveler. Today, we’re shifting gears and gaining valuable travel insight from a pilot’s perspective. Brandr is a Navy Reservist and commercial pilot, as well as an avid miles and points nerd. We discuss Brandr’s benefits as a pilot, what his typical international trip looks like, how the weather and turbulence affect his flight plans, and the wonderful innovation of modern aircraft technology. Then, our guest explains how his experience as a pilot influences his travel decisions, how to become a commercial pilot, the wonderful things he’s seen from the cockpit window, and the ins and outs of both Navy and commercial pilot processes. We also speak about the importance of raising awareness around the mental health of pilots, how the 757 compares to the 767, the travel adventures that Brandr is looking forward to the most, and why he insists that hoarding points and miles will do more damage than good.  Key Points From This Episode: [00:16] A warm welcome to fellow points-and-miles nerd, Navy Reservist, and pilot, Brandr. [01:13] Brandr’s professional background and how he developed his passion for miles and points. [05:45] Whether he gets any status or benefits from traveling as a pilot. [07:40] How he chooses to bid routes and how his international trips typically play out. [13:20] Weather, turbulence, and other occurrences that affect his flight plans. [17:30] The evolution of aircraft technology. [19:16] How Brandr’s knowledge as a pilot has influenced the way he travels. [19:45] The travel benefits that are available to active duty military and reservists. [22:30] Discussing what it takes to become a commercial pilot and how Brandr did it differently. [27:00] Weird and incredible things that he has seen from the window of his cockpit. [29:07] What he likes and dislikes about being a Navy and commercial pilot. [32:50] Deeper insight into Brandr’s status and how they change as a non-rev passenger. [35:02] Using Horizon Air’s recent incident as an example of why pilot mental health matters. [37:46] The Island Hopper and other adventures our guest is looking forward to. [41:02] Unique travel stories from his Navy flying missions. [44:03] Comparing the flying experience of the Boeing 757 versus the 767. [49:40] Brandr’s advice for other miles and points nerds. Quotes: “I have a job as a pilot but I’m still very much in the points and miles community.” — Brandr [01:40] “My goal is to try to keep the crew and the rest of the passengers safe, and hopefully have the seatbelt sign mean something. But I don’t fear that turbulence [will] damage the aircraft.” — Brandr  [17:00] “The military is still very much a viable way to get to the legacy airlines, but it’s certainly not going to be the quickest. If military service is not something that you feel deeply called to, it’s probably not the best way; there are quicker ways to do it.” — Brandr  [24:14] “Pilots are human, and what I think we really need to do is get serious about pilot mental health.” — Brandr  [35:45] “Just use your miles – I see how all the programs just continue to devalue; there’s so much points inflation. Just find a great redemption that works for you and do it. Don’t wait for the perfect redemption because that may never come.” — Brandr  [49:57] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Planning a trip to New Zealand and Australia? Are you wanting to craft the perfect blend of flights, hotels, and attractions and create an unforgettable journey? Then don’t miss out on today’s valuable insights from our special guest, Joe Cheung! Joe shares his recent family adventure, covering everything from Air New Zealand flights, the Skycouch, and hotel bookings in Auckland to experiencing the FIFA Women's World Cup. He also delves into the logistics of renting a car, exploring the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves, A380 seats and flights, and provides an in-depth look at their stay in Sydney. Tune in to discover Joe's strategies for finding New Zealand and Australia travel awards, why not all Koala encounters are made equal, and so much more! Key Points From This Episode: [00:20] Introduction to today’s topic and special guest. [02:40] A quick recap of Joe’s trip to New Zealand, Australia, and California.  [03:35] A travel story about Air New Zealand: why Joe decided to fly with them. [07:20] Joe expands on his experience with the Air New Zealand Skycouch. [10:40] Leveraging his occupation as a travel agent. [12:50] Joe talks about a different aspect of being a travel agent that he doesn't handle. [15:10] Auckland: booking the hotel and the technicalities of the family rate. [18:45] Thoughts on the Park Hyatt Auckland. [20:00] Making use of the concierge (and whether it’s necessary) to book the family rate. [21:14] How they got the FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup tickets. [23:38] His final thoughts on the World Cup. [26:15] Joe shares what his experience was like driving in New Zealand. [27:30] Logistics surrounding the car rental process. [28:30] More on the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Glow Worm Tours they took in Auckland. [31:00] Driving on the other side of the road. [33:15] Other day trips and attractions and why they went to Sydney. [35:00] Economy is good for the soul. [37:15] Finding 3+ seats in business is a challenge! [38:20] The nice thing about the A380. [40:25] More about the seats on the A380 (premium economy). [41:20] Getting the Business Class Pajamas.  [42:10] Joe takes us back to their stay in Sydney. [44:00] His take on the choice between the Park Hyatt and the Hyatt Regency (Sydney). [45:30] The Asian food experience in Sydney. [47:30] What stood out about their time at the Taronga Zoo Sydney. [49:55] Why the koala experience is not worth it, according to Tim. [51:04] Trevor shares about the Healesville Sanctuary in Zoo in Badger Creek, Australia. [52:12] Joe’s final notes on Sydney, and surrounding attractions. [55:40] Thoughts on taking an extended driving trip through Australia. [56:40] Joe’s strategy and the timeframe for finding awards to get to NZ and Australia. [1:01:48] Why high balances do help. [1:05:20] A quick revisit on the premium economy window seats for the A380. [1:09:58] How to find Joe. Quotes: “The [Air New Zealand] Skycouch, for those who don’t know, is you can pay extra and the seats have footrests that can come all the way up so that you basically have a couch — they give you bedding and exclusive use of the couch.” — @asthejoeflies [0:07:20] “Economy is good for the soul sometimes.” — @TktweetsKim [0:35:05] “For our listeners who are doing their Australia planning, just be aware, that not all Koala encounters are created equal. Do your research!

We're back with a great talk between Robert and I on the following: 0:22 Follow Up: Alaska Status Match (last discussed Ep 68) 06:13 Amex Churnability and Employee Offers Cards used to be much more churnable Popups abound now. Wish there was a way to get rid of them by force 15k for $4k is the new thing Business Platinum (link) Business Gold (link) Blue Business Plus (link) Be sure to use the correct link for the card you're adding it to, data points say using a mismatch won't work. 9:39 Main Topic: Partner Awards JetBlue/Qatar/Hawaiian ITA/Virgin Atlantic/FlyingBlue Alaska Partner Award Consolidated Charts Discuss: The lottery element in these, the lack of “wide open” availability, and the eternally evolving complexity of it all 22:54 Tip of the Week: Book JAL Premium Economy w/Alaska Miles Reasonable in miles and only $20-$55 in fees (no fuel!) If you'd love to hear over 200 more episodes consider subscribing to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/milenomics

Travel Stories Episode 21: Travel Banter We’re trying something different today a different format for Travel Stories that we like to call Travel Banter. We start by exploring aviation-themed films and series that have impacted us over the years. From the beloved cult classic The Terminal to Up In the Air, we cover a wide range of air travel themes and tropes. Trevor shares his unique Southeast Asian travel itinerary, why he hasn’t visited Vietnam yet, and Tom shares his experience with pricing in Abu Dhabi. We also speak about our experiences with kid-friendly and kid-prohibitive rules at Hyatt and Marriott hotels around the world, sharing our opinions on their convenience and comfort levels for everyone involved. Finally, we explore the impact of deregulation on international airlines and the period in history where Southwest Airlines was the number one distributor of liquor in Texas. Join us for a casual conversation about all things travel. Thanks for listening!  Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Famous films about aviation and how good they may or may not be.  [03:15] The comedic retelling of View From the Top available on Audible.  [05:51] Why The Flight Attendant is misleading in its content, which is not really aviation-related. [06:38] The French film, Jet Lag, and why it’s fun to watch.  [09:33] Airport disaster movies of the 1970s.  [12:10] An unconventional travel itinerary from Singapore to Malaysia, and then to Bangkok. [17:48] Why Vietnam is not included in this particular travel itinerary.  [19:13] Selecting a hotel based on credit and previous experiences.  [21:41] Returning to Abu Dhabi and a comment on its pricing.  [24:19] Thomas’s biggest problem with the Middle East’s luxury hotels. [26:36] Trevor’s experience at the JW Marriott in Cairo.  [28:24] Why no kids are allowed at the Marriott in Jordan.  [28:37] Singapore Grand Hyatt’s rules around children and adults.  [32:06] Singapore’s relationship with rules and how it differs from the USA. [35:27] The time when hijackings were extra common pre-9/11. [37:15] When Southwest airlines was the number one distributor of liquor.  [38:10] How deregulation affected international airlines including KLM.  Quotes: “Chinese food is expensive and luxury hotels are cheap; both are true in Abu Dhabi.” — @TktweetsKim [22:37] “In the Middle East, families traveling is so much more common. Not that people don’t travel as families in the US, but I just think it’s even more common than it is here in the US.” — @TktweetsKim [27:50] “I would gladly accept the occasional ruler on my hand in the event that I made a mistake with my phone on speaker in an airline lounge, if I knew that everyone else had to succumb to the same fate.” — @tmount [33:41] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Up in the Air  The Terminal Airplane! Passenger 57 Plane  Air Force 1