MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Discover the shocking recent changes at Southwest Airlines, from cuts in benefits to their questionable brand strategy. Delve into Hyatt's challenges in Chicago and the need for a reevaluation of loyalty perks for travelers. Explore upcoming trip plans to the Bahamas and the best ways to utilize points there. The hosts stress the importance of reassessing loyalty in today's shifting travel landscape, analyzing how rising travel costs impact choices and what it means for frequent flyers.

Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week Southwest knocked the socks off of their customers in the worst way possible with a gutting of points earnings followed by tons of other changes. We also discuss: mileage broker businesses, JetBlue's Nintendo livery, card deals from Wyndham and FlyingBlue, 5% Chase PayPal, a hack to get free drinks and the Lululemon strategy for picking where to stay in a new city.   Episode Guide 0:00 The perfect “free” travel hack 0:39 Mileage broker warning - Cheap at a cost 2:57 JetBlue’s new Nintendo livery 3:47 Capital One Landing - Fine dining in an airport with a credit card 5:34 Attractive Wyndham card increased offers 7:35 Air France / KLM niche offer 9:34 Freedom’s targeted 5% PayPal offer 10:54 Southwest’s blood bath on earning 15:30 Chase’s business card glitch 17:09 The Lululemon travel strategy Links Engagement “hack” - https://x.com/jaelaaaab/status/1897718614180217229?s=46 Mileage broker - https://x.com/iangcarroll/status/1897850640748904901?s=46 Nintendo livery - https://x.com/nintendoamerica/status/1896918666585002141?s=46 Cap One restaurant - https://viewfromthewing.com/a-600-meal-no-bill-capital-ones-tapas-lounge-at-dca-is-the-best-perk-in-u-s-airports/ Wyndham bonuses - https://milestomemories.com/new-bonuses-for-wyndham-rewards-cards-3/ Flying Blue - https://milestomemories.com/increased-bank-of-america-air-france-klm-offer-4/ Freedom paypal - https://travel-on-points.com/freedom-unlimited-5x-paypal-offer/ Southwest - https://travel-on-points.com/southwest-paid-flight-earning-change/ Chase card problems - https://travel-on-points.com/chase-business-cards-reporting-to-personal-credit/ Lululemon strategy - https://x.com/nickwatts__/status/1897028099705069969?s=46 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!

Travel expert Joe Cheung dives into the recent shocking devaluation of Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards points. He discusses the frustration among loyal customers as Southwest shifts away from its budget-friendly roots, leading to questions about corporate identity in the airline industry. The hosts also debate the relevance of Daylight Saving Time and its cultural impacts. Finally, Joe offers insights into Universal's ambitious plans for Epic Universe, contrasting this with Disney's recent setbacks and strategizing for an exciting park experience.

Join MTM Diamond before the price goes up. Limited slots have opened up, but membership will be closing soon. More info here: https://www.patreon.com/c/milestomemories Episode Description On this episode of MTM Travel Mark debriefs his recent trip to Rio for Carnival. We go over the logistics of the trip including hotel and flight redemptions to discuss where to stay and where to avoid. Plus what are the best things to do in Rio, how is it to experience Carnival, is it safe and should you put Rio on your places to visit? Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:20 Last minute changes, bad Canadian pizza & our altered schedule next week 12:56 Afraid to fly - Should we be apprehensive about flying with all of these crashes? 21:55 The buddy battle - Traveling with friends & our “advanced” techniques 25:15 Fake travel influencer happiness? 27:10 Self upgrading to First Class - A success story?! 30:45 Shutdowns galore - AA and Amex give the axe 37:15 Is all of it worth it? Subscribe to MTM Travel & 20 Minute Travel in the same feed! Youtube Podcast 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! Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $2000+ in payments via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $60 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License  

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 and Hilton released increased offers on most of their cobranded cards. Specifically the Surpass and the no annual fee card have great welcome offers which include a free night cert. These certs are so valuable, but is now the right time to pick up one of these cards?   In other news American Airlines is trialing free WiFi. Is free internet on all airplanes in our future? We also discuss a Capital One Discover takeover strategy, Flying Blue's march promos, credit card art, Chase Freedom's extra category, the evolution of pod hotels and why Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio is some cool S.   Episode Guide 0:00 Credit card “art” 1:14 Flying Blue’s March promo awards 3:23 The evolution of pod hotels - Worth a try? 4:30 What it is like staying in a pod hotel 5:36 American Airlines is trialing free WiFi 7:40 Increased offers for Hilton - Free nights are back! 9:43 Chase Freedom’s birthday bonus category 10:56 Capital One’s Discover takeover - Application strategy? 12:11 Will the Discover brand last long term? 14:17 Capital One Venture’s better 100K offer 15:30 Barclays big glitch - Double accounts for everyone! 17:21 Cool S - Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio Links Credit card art - https://x.com/z72917378/status/1895587820577964421?s=46 Flying Blue - https://travel-on-points.com/flying-blue-promo-awards/ Pod hotels - https://x.com/interesting_aIl/status/1893685309138726922 AA WiFi trial - https://milestomemories.com/american-airlines-to-offers-complimentary-wi-fi-soon/ Discover strategy - https://travel-on-points.com/should-you-get-a-discover-card/ 100K Venture - https://milestomemories.com/100k-bonus-for-capital-one-venture-card/ Barclays glitch - https://travel-on-points.com/barclays-approving-two-credit-cards/   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!

Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week Hyatt released their annual hotel category changes and they are about as brutal as we have seen in years. While no new categories are being introduced, many of the most popular properties are increasing in price including a ton to category 8. A lot of lower category hotels are moving up as well. Is there any good news?   In other news lounges were the talk this week with the Amex Centurion Charlotte having a horid health inspection and two new lounges opening in Philadelphia and Vegas. Is the new Chase Sapphire Philadelphia lounge the best in the country? We also discuss: Delta's recent crash and payment, Capital One Venture's increased offer, a new no lifetime Amex Business Gold offer, shutdowns from AA and Amex plus Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park.   Episode Guide 0:00 White Lotus Holidome? 1:02 Delta pays $30K/passenger for recent crash 2:33 Why you shouldn’t film an evacuation 3:07 Amex Centurion Charlotte’s terrible health inspection 5:09 Chase Sapphire Philadelphia opens - Best lounge in the US? 7:08 Capital One Lounge LAS opens - Does it measure up? 8:38 LAS lounges have come a long way! 9:27 Increased offer on Capital One Venture card 11:07 Amex Business Gold 125 “no lifetime language” offer 12:45 The week of shutdowns - Amex and AA give the axe 15:33 Amex shutdowns and avoiding FOMO 19:07 Hyatt’s brutal award category changes & strategy 22:13 Cool S - Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park Links Amex Centurion Charlotte - https://viewfromthewing.com/inspection-fail-amex-centurion-lounge-received-one-of-five-worst-health-scores-in-all-of-charlotte/ Sapphire PHL - https://x.com/_zachgriff/status/1892247084805321104?s=46 Capital One LAS - https://viewfromthewing.com/step-inside-capital-ones-new-las-vegas-airport-lounge-caviar-craft-cocktails-and-relaxing-views-worth-arriving-early-for/ Amex 125K - https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/campaigns/small-business/charge-cards/business-gold/add-a-card/apply-today/?sourcecode=A0000HHVEK Canyon Overlook Trail - https://www.facebook.com/reel/882891453865670/?share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fr%2F15YJ8VsT5R&rdid=F6xiXldrYJOhIjpg 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 hosts dive into the rising anxiety surrounding air travel amidst recent aviation incidents. They share personal experiences and discuss whether flying is safer than before. Conversations about account shutdowns from American Airlines and American Express unfold, coupled with their take on self-upgrading to First Class. Humorous anecdotes about bad Canadian pizza and youth sports provide a light-hearted contrast, while they ponder the superficial happiness of travel influencers. It's a blend of travel insights, cautionary tales, and comedic charm!

Discover how to sidestep Uber's sneaky foreign exchange fees and find out if your US credits work overseas. Learn the ins and outs of current Delta credit card offers and the latest perks available with Amex Platinum upgrades. Navigate the tricky world of scams targeting travelers and hear about United's customer service woes. Finally, uncover a hidden gem beach in Florida and explore attractive Wyndham timeshare deals that provide great benefits and accommodations.

The discussion dives into the impact of travel memories, suggesting they provide lasting value. The hosts share humorous travel anecdotes, contrasting solo travel with family trips. Excitement builds around Mark's upcoming Rio Carnival trip, while they candidly address safety in vibrant festival environments. A wild Marriott story highlights the pitfalls of indifferent service, raising questions about customer care. The mix of personal narratives and practical insights keeps the conversation lively and relatable.

Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week a lot of credit card news is happening as Chase is currently running increased welcome offers for the United Business and IHG personal cards. We break down the offers including which you should probably avoid. We also discuss the details of JetBlue's new premium credit card which is confusing, not very valuable and probably not for most people.   In other news we go over some of the best practices to avoid credit card application mistakes including why you should avoid using a VPN. We also discuss the tragedy at DCA, a scary hotel food poisoning lawsuit, sidewalks that generate electricity and where you can stay in a 737 hotel room.   Episode Guide 0:00 The disappointing lounge reality for travelers 0:55 Spirit rejects Frontier bid…stays in bankruptcy 2:26 Hyatt buys Playa Resorts - All inclusive heaven with a downside 4:53 New round of Amex authorized user bonus offers 6:33 Bank error not in your favor - Chase messes up 1099s 8:34 British Airways rug pulls their transfer bonus offer 10:22 Cool S - The fun of Whirlyball   Links Spirit merger - https://milestomemories.com/spirit-rejects-new-merger-offer-from-frontier/ Hyatt Playa - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-playa-hotels-resorts/ Amex AU bonuses - https://travel-on-points.com/amex-authorized-user-bonus-offers/ Chase bank error - https://travel-on-points.com/chase-is-sending-out-erroneous-1099s/ BA backtracks - https://travel-on-points.com/current-point-transfer-bonuses/ Whirlyball - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNfKDMDVK1M 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!