MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description On this episode of MTM Travel Mark recaps his recent East Coast Halloween adventures which included a quest for the best New Haven pizza plus Sleep Hollow, Yale and the coolest Hyatt atrium around! We also discuss a neat around the neck fan for hot planes, Shawn's "rough" Japan Airlines business class experience & how American Dream is doing five years later. 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 4:47 Halloween time in Sleepy Hollow 11:07 Dealing with emotional letdowns during travel 13:45 Hyatt Regency Greenwich & its very cool atrium 18:50 Finding the best New Haven pizza & rankings 27:00 Exploring Yale’s amazing architecture & New Haven 29:20 Visiting American Dream - New York’s (NJ)  GIANT mall 35:52 A crazy fan contraption for hotel planes/hotel rooms 38:07 A rough Japan Airlines flight - Business class quick review Links Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description On this episode of MTM Travel Shawn debriefs more from his Asia trip including his time in Seoul, visiting the Lotte Tower and his somewhat sad room at the Ibis Styles Seoul Gangnam (redeeming Accord points)! Other topics discussed include: what Amex FHR options look like post-credit boom, how to grab the Southwest Companion Pass for 2 years with just one card offer, a status match that was too good to be true, New Haven pizza and the tallest/longest bridges in the world. 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 1:40 Why New Haven pizza is the best in the world 5:20 Debriefing Seoul - 6th tallest building, Korean Disneyland and more 10:10 Ibis Styles Seoul Gangnam review - Redeeming Accor points! 13:44 What $80 gets you at an amazing Courtyard in China 17:27 How to get the Southwest Companion Pass with just one card 24:03 A status match that was “too good to be true” 29:01 Diving into the Amex FHR weeds - Higher prices & hard to find a “deal”? 35:52 The tallest and longest bridges in the world - Modern tourist sights! Links Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description On this episode of MTM Travel Shawn and Mark discuss their recent travels. Shawn goes into his experiences in Shanghai including the Hyatt Centric, why China may be living in the future, the incredible Shanghai skyline, what you need to know about China's payment systems and how visiting the country has changed in the past few years. Mark also discusses a huge issue he had with Delta/Virgin and a suspended ticket plus what it was like revisiting the "Top Gun Bar". 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:43 How Shanghai has changed over the years 3:22 The logistics of the Chinese payment systems as a westerner 7:24 Visiting Shanghai parks including Disneyland and Legoland 10:45 Chinese knock-off coasters? Safety of Chinese parks 18:08 Eating Western food when traveling in China? 20:50 Hyatt Centric Zongshan Park review 23:40 Crazy Delta/Virgin suspended ticket issue 29:00 Revisiting the Top Gun Bar & San Diego hotel suggestion Links Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week American Express released their long awaited refresh for both their personal and business Platinum cards. On this show we will dive into both cards, what we lost, what we gained, the fees, the welcome offers and more. Is this a win for Amex, should you avoid these almost $900 annual fee cards and what does the future of the premium card market look like? We'll be back next week with a regular show, but enjoy this deep dive including why you might not want to get your Platinum card right this second. Links Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week as we are getting ready for the Amex Platinum refresh we ponder whether you should pick up a new Business Platinum before the changes take effect. We also discuss: the new 90K Chase Ink bonuses, when you should grab the 100K Southwest offer for a companion pass, whether the pass is worth it, how long it is taking for online passport renewal, cash prices effecting award rates and why Japan award space is wide open.   Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:26 The joys of the twin cities 5:50 Shawn’s trip update - Last minute Japan availability 8:40 Online passport renewal data points - Government efficiency? 11:08 Hotel cash prices lowering - award prices stay high? 15:25 Mainland China payment apps and rideshare 17:33 Should you get an Amex Business Platinum before the refresh? 25:00 Chase Ink 90K/$900 offers - As good as it gets? 28:33 Southwest 100K offers expiring this week 31:45 The darkside of the Southwest Companion Pass? 36:15 Is the Southwest Companion Pass going away - Too good to be true? Links Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Frontier status match (MTM affiliate link) - https://www.frontierstatusmatch.com/?fpr=xf83a Episode Description This week Southwest announced a positive change for once! WiFi has been getting cheaper on planes over the years, but most still charge. That has been changing and Southwest will finally bring free internet to their planes. When will this happen and how long will it be before every airline offers free internet in the skies?   In other news Hyatt has a couple of cool new promos, but one of them has a new twist. Should we be weary of travel apps and all of the data tracking or is that just life in 2025? We also discuss: Mario Kart in real life, why AA is flying 20 empty transatlantic legs and how you can score an easy $200 bonus offer from our partner Melio.   Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 2:05 More free WiFi on planes - Southwest drops new perk 6:37 Why AA is flying 20 empty transatlantic legs 10:50 New Hyatt promos - with a troubling twist? 13:23 Why companies are trying to force us into using their apps 17:27 The big consumer data problem in 2025 21:23 Battle of Chase Sapphires - A surprising result? 28:42 Mario Kart in real life! Links Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam  Mario Kart - https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a64188246/vietnam-downhill-karting-spot-mario-kart-dreams/ Southwest WiFi - https://milestomemories.com/southwest-rapid-rewards-members-will-get-free-wi-fi/ AA empty flights - https://onemileatatime.com/news/american-flying-empty-airbus-a321neo-across-atlantic/ Hyatt new property - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-new-hotel-promo/ Hyatt app promo - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-regency-promo/ CSR vs CSP - https://travel-on-points.com/your-next-card-csp-or-csr/ Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Exciting new leaks reveal potential changes to the Amex Platinum card, including big hotel credits. Frontier Airlines is offering an easy status match, prompting debate over their reputation amidst personal flight tales. There's fun news about Hampton seeking a new Waffle Boss with a million-point prize! Hyatt faces scrutiny after a controversial points deduction, while changing tastes in hotel cookies stir nostalgia. The hosts analyze the impact of low-cost carriers and the complexities of hotel loyalty programs, all wrapped in witty anecdotes.

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Episode Description This week Alaska finally released the details of their new post-merger loyalty program Atmos Rewards. This new program comes with different ways to earn, milestones and other unique perks, but they also launched a new premium credit card that takes it further. Is Alaska's new loyalty program a good thing, how is this airline growing up and should you grab their new premium credit card offering with its big bonus?   In other news Cracker Barrel was in the news this week because of a brand refresh. Is this getting more difficult in 2025 and what trends are we seeing in the travel space? We also discuss: Chase's strange welcome offer decision, more free cruises in 2025 and how Shawn's upcoming China trip is changing...again.   Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:40 Shawn’s China trip headaches & ninja skills 3:04 Free cruise updates - Is this still working in 2025? 11:06 Debating Chase’s weird new welcome offer - Why? 16:33 Alaska launches brand new Atmos Rewards 21:00 Rebrands in 2025 - Cracker Barrel, etc. 28:17 New Atmos Rewards Summit card - Is this a card you should get now? 33:22 Alaska’s choice for unique perks makes this new card/program a winner? Links Atmos - https://travel-on-points.com/atmos-rewards-summit-visa-credit-card-review/ https://travel-on-points.com/alaska-hawaiian-atmos-rewards/ https://travel-on-points.com/atmos-soccer-goals-promo/   Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

The podcast dives into a leaked upgrade for the American Express Platinum card, leaving listeners questioning if the new benefits justify higher fees. Chase faces scrutiny as it drops a major transfer partner and ends its enticing Sapphire Reserve offer. Amidst travel chaos, the hosts share tales of adapting plans and the pitfalls of brand loyalty in the airline industry, especially with Southwest. Listeners are also treated to bizarre global attractions, including a conveyor belt hill climb in China, and quirky travel experiences that prompt a rethink of loyalty programs.

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Episode Description This week Chase surprised some of their top cardholders with a perk that is unadvertised. Why don't we get more of this kind of stuff? We also discuss: how to check if you are targeted for an AA/Hyatt match, whether those matches are worth pursuing, our childhood bucket lists, the melancholy of travel & time plus Shawn discusses his big passport mistake.   Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 8:35 No good deed goes unpunished 10:10 EV Rebates going away - Is now the time to look at a lease deal? 13:21 The melancholy of time & travel 17:16 Chase’s unexpected Aeroplan 5K bonus for Sapphire Reserve 19:54 Air Canada is a surprising airline 22:16 Hyatt and AA bring back targeted status matches 27:11 Pursuing AA status through spend - Is it worth it? 29:12 China trip planning follow up - Awards still haven’t recovered 33:23 Shawn’s passport conundrum 37:28 Achieving the inner child’s bucket list   Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!