Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

Episode 31: Show Notes. When you talk to folks in the community, people have strong opinions about Hyatt’s Baha Mar property, and its not just in one direction. Luckily, today’s guest, Joey Redmond – who has been on the show twice before – is here to tell us all about Baha Mar, a resort in the Bahamas that he has found himself returning to year after year as an ideal vacation spot for him and his family. Tuning in you’ll hear all of Joey’s top tips, from navigating your flights to making sure you do all your restaurant bookings in advance – and what to do if you don’t have a reservation! He tells us about his favorite activities at Baha Mar, including the water park, Baha Bay, and why it’s such a big highlight for him and his family every year. We also discuss how best to use their loyalty program, what you can do to maximize the Hyatt Globalist experience, and what to expect from the Baha Mar casino. For a full account of Joey’s tips and insights on Baha Mar, be sure to tune in for this fun and informative conversation with one of our favorite guests!  Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] What makes Baha Mar such a special destination. [01:39] Tips on how to navigate Nassau airport and the trip home. [05:28] Joey’s thoughts on large luxury properties and why Baha Mar doesn’t feel crowded. [07:15] Why you should book your trip to Baha Mar and the restaurants in advance. [10:11] What to expect from restaurant prices and budgeting advice. [14:54] Joey’s favorite restaurants and meals, plus tips on where to eat without a reservation. [20:33] How to maximize the Hyatt Globalist experience at Baha Mar. [25:19] Why using points is usually the best option (and when it isn’t). [28:18] An overview of the water park, Baha Bay, and why it’s such a big highlight. [32:02] Other water activities and pools you can spend time at, and what the beach is like. [34:23] What to expect from the Baha Mar casino. [36:01] One of the weirdest things about their loyalty program. [38:45] A recap of the benefits and drawbacks of Baha Mar. [39:27] Why Joey has returned to Baha Mar with his family so many times. [41:30] An overview of what it’s like flying to Baha Mar from different places in the US. [45:26] Where you can find Joey online and get in touch. Quotes: “You can always find somewhere to eat. It's just a matter of the better the restaurant, the more planning needs to go into it.” — @joeyredmond [13:17] “It's a pretty diverse buffet. We usually stay five nights [and] I don't really get sick of it.” — @joeyredmond [19:30] “Baha Bay is the name of the water park. And it's four acres right on the beachfront. It's a lot of fun. If you're a person that likes water parks or likes water activities, I think you could easily fill two, three, four days there.” — @joeyredmond [28:28] “Generally you're not going to see anyone at the casino during the day. [That] is what I found.” — @joeyredmond [35:36] “I think islands always have a lot stacked against them [when it comes to] having good foods. So the fact that [Baha Mar] was able to curate a food and beverage program with so many varied and different options. I think it's actually pretty impressive.” — @TktweetsKim [43:56] “One of the biggest selling points [seems to be] the closeness that you've got

Experienced traveler Han Chicago shares his first-time visit to Istanbul, discussing the Turkish Airlines Devaluation and his unique approach to exploring the city. From hiring a guide to flying on the A350-900, Han talks about Turkey's rich history, visiting a spice market, trying a 'wet burger', and the allure of Istanbul's vibrant nights. The podcast covers luxurious travel experiences, post-pandemic adjustments, navigating Istanbul with a guide, and engaging social media interactions.

Episode 29: Show Notes This episode on Travel Stories, we dive deeper into sharing our cruise line experiences, and if you have any of your own, we’d love to hear from you! Today, Tom walks us through his recent 10-day journey on Enchanted Princess, starting with his overall evaluation of the experience before assessing tendering and the embarkation process of the ship. We learn about the size of Enchanted Princess, the demographic it caters to, and its onboard dining, as well as its entertainment, housekeeping, and casino offerings, and we compare everything we’ve learned about Enchanted Princess with its other cruise line competitors. As Tom details the ports he visited during his trip, we discover the magic of Dominica and Champagne Beach, the beauty of Martinique, the genius of St. Lucia’s marketing team, and the wonder of the forgotten volcanic activity that occurs all along the Eastern Seaboard. Thank you for taking this journey with us!      Key Points From This Episode: [00:44] Tom gives us a breakdown of his most recent cruise on Enchanted Princess. [01:05] His experience of tendering on Enchanted Princess versus other cruise lines. [03:41] Why he was pleased with the embarkation process. [07:56] The size of the ship and the ports he visited during his 10 days aboard. [13:18] Dominica and Champagne Beach. [15:15] An interlude on the volcanic activity that occurs along the Eastern Seaboard. [17:10] Why Tom deems St. Lucia a forgettable experience. [19:34] The beauty of Martinique. [21:12] How Antigua’s marketing is on point. [23:22] Tom’s onboard dining experience and the demographic that the ship caters to. [27:35] How Enchanted Princess weighs up against Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and others. [32:06] Why we choose to talk about cruising on this podcast and what we’re planning next. [34:34] Tom’s thoughts on the entertainment and housekeeping of Enchanted Princess. [37:50] The casino and onboard gaming opportunities. [48:27] Final thoughts from Tom on his Enchanted Princess experience. Quotes: “Having to tender to get there; it added so much more time [to] both getting there and getting off the island, and it does detract pretty severely from the experience.” — @TktweetsKim [02:39] “If you are a person with a young family, if you have younger kids or even kids that are maybe more middle-aged that need activities and fun things to do, – you might not find it on the Princess cruise because it’s much more catering to that retiree [or] classic cruiser.” — @TktweetsKim [26:15] “May God have mercy on your soul on that Carnival cruise. Having been on a few, I’m just going to say, block out the following week or two; don’t plan a trip shortly after. You’re probably going to be in bed.” — @tmount [34:02] “Kudos to Princess and their staff. The service was pretty good, [and] their people were definitely quality people, and that’s saying something.” — @TktweetsKim [36:52] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Enchanted Princess Royal Caribbean  Celebrity Cruises  Windstar Cruises

Planning a Disney World vacation can be an overwhelming experience. With four theme parks, over twenty resort hotels, and dozens of restaurants - there's a lot to consider. In this episode I chat with Disney travel agent Joe Cheung and my sister-in-law Kelly to plan her family's Disney World vacation. We discuss hotel options, differences between Disneyland and Disney World, dining options, and more. Having a real conversation with a travel agent, as opposed to wandering around websites and conversing via email, enabled Kelly to confidently select hotels that will be a great fit. But the planning doesn't stop there. Now that they've got dates, lodging, and park tickets pinned down, Joe will continue to assist. He'll monitor their dates for hotel pricing for discounts, assist in snagging dining reservations, and be available to answer questions about how to minimize time in line at the parks. I hope you enjoy the conversation as a "fly on the wall" listening in on the process, and that it gets you thinking about planning a Disney trip -or- consulting with a travel agent for your upcoming trips wherever they might be. Check out Joe's Disney planning podcast and contact him to plan your Disney vacation: Disney Deciphered Podcast josephcheung@travelmation.net Thanks to Joe and Kelly for coming on the show!

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!