MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Southwest overhauls Rapid Rewards, ending the credit card shortcut to Companion Pass and renaming A-List tiers. Rumors swirl about a less flexible Amex Platinum hotel credit, while Lululemon blocks gift card strategies. Hyatt transfers go online, Citi adds bonus-eligibility warnings, and Discover may be doubling Capital One Offers. Plus, a look at the hidden costs of chasing elite status.

A pricing glitch turns into a travel drama as American Airlines cancels bargain award tickets and raises questions about DOT complaints. The discussion also explores a clever free lounge-finding tool, Hilton and Park Hyatt’s move into luxury all-inclusives, and why transfer bonuses are losing their appeal. Plus, discover the crafty origin of KLM’s collectible Delft Blue houses and a few favorite travel freebies.

IHG completely revamps its credit card lineup, bringing a new $350 Premier Select card, richer bonuses, higher fees, and tricky changes to elite status and travel credits. The discussion also covers a standout Rakuten offer, Chase potentially outsourcing co-brand approvals, lucrative Sapphire upgrade opportunities, and a nostalgic look at the two-browser era of points collecting.

European airports spark a lively rant about mystery gates, oversized suitcases, carry-on minimalism, and overhead-bin battles. The discussion then turns to Alaska versus American status math, Bank of America’s planned 2027 transfer partnership with Alaska Atmos, and why stockpiling points could matter. Alaska’s upcoming status-earning debit card and the return of rewards debit cards round out the conversation.

A backyard skunk showdown kicks off a lively tour through travel rewards and money-making opportunities. The discussion covers dining-heavy 5% card categories, Chase offers, a bargain Audible deal, and easy bank bonuses, including E*Trade’s lucrative promotion. The big debate: Bilt’s upcoming Hyatt transfer cut and whether Hyatt is drifting toward a more Marriott-like future.

Explore Rakuten’s wildest card offers, including a no-fee option packed with Bilt points. Then follow a whirlwind journey across four airlines, from lackluster Royal Air Maroc service and Lisbon airport chaos to TAP’s unforgettable seating drama. São Miguel steals the show with Hawaii-like scenery, thermal springs, tea, smoked pineapples, and upscale stays at a fraction of the cost.

Mark’s Azores plans lead into Europe’s air-conditioning shortage and Lufthansa’s famously blunt service. The discussion then covers Chase’s possible new business-card approval rule, a final chance to transfer points to Hyatt at 1:1, and a lackluster investing redemption. Bilt rolls out referral and product-change updates plus Amtrak transfers, while Citi adds lifetime restrictions and new Japan Airlines and Avianca bonuses.

Amazon 4 months of Audible for $.99/mo. (affiliate) - https://milestomemories.com/audible-subscription-offer-prime-day-2026/ Shawn's personal inKind referral - https://milestomemories.com/go/inkind-referral/ Shawn's wife has a new obsession: the endless YouTube genre of Western men moving to Thailand and getting taken for everything, and it kicks off a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about love, money, family, and why 90 Day Fiance works. Then the Marriott story that broke our brains: a guest walked from his Brooklyn hotel over broken AC, moved to a more expensive sister property, and then billed the difference, with an apology that netted out to 5,000 points. We get into what the walk guarantee actually owes him, why public shaming barely works anymore, and the story of a Hyatt Place walk that got it exactly right. Plus Too Good To Go, the app selling $20 grab bags of end-of-day food for $5, the $60 loaf of sourdough New Yorkers are lining up around the block for, and a new no lifetime language Amex Platinum offer at 175,000 points, with the quarter-end credit timing trick that makes right now the perfect moment to grab it. Have you ever been walked? Let us know how it went in the comments. Episode Guide: 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:21 The Thailand Scam Channels Shawn's Wife Loves 3:56 Locked Up Abroad & 90 Day Fiance 5:45 Cross-Cultural Marriage Is Hard 7:26 Marriott Walked a Guest & Charged Him More 10:40 Does Public Shaming Even Work Anymore? 14:24 How a Walk Should Actually Go 16:58 The TikTok-ification of Customer Service 19:31 Too Good To Go: $20 Grab Bags for $5 22:45 A 175K No Lifetime Language Amex Platinum 25:34 Final Thoughts Links Marriott walk - https://onemileatatime.com/community-stories/marriott-walked-another-hotel-refused-honor-reservation-guarantee/ Too Good to Go - https://milestomemories.com/too-good-to-go/ Plat 175K - https://milestomemories.com/amex-platinum-card-link-no-lifetime-language-offer/ 💳 Join our free Facebook group (16,000+ members) 🏆 Diamond Patreon — bonus shows + Slack community 🥇 Gold Membership ($10/mo) 🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 📖 Miles to Memories website

A Chase account lockout turns into a wild tale involving suspicious activity, a mysterious banker phone tree, and a fake World of Hyatt card hiding in a wallet. The conversation explores password managers, passkeys, travel scams, debit-card safety, and the anxiety behind every declined charge. Plus, deals on Audible and heavily discounted InKind gift cards.

Airlines appear to be making one-way fares painfully expensive, while Delta’s eerily flat pricing calendars raise bigger questions about airfare algorithms. Learn how to attach American status to Alaska bookings, explore a creative companion-certificate strategy, and assess Capital One’s richer Venture offer. Plus, Emirates unveils a thoughtfully designed premium economy seat with powered privacy features and wireless charging.