MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

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 a new surprise perk for Business Platinum cardholders that is quite interesting. Starting now you can get a $200 annual credit for Hilton (broken up quarterly), so what is the best way to maximize this new perk. And does the new Amex Business Platinum Hilton credit mean something else will be going away?   In other news Alaska Airlines is getting ready to launch a premium card but is it really worth pursuing? We also discuss a new hotel travel trend, the longest train journey in the world, Hyatt's upcoming luxury hotels, how to save every month on YouTube TV and why spending $900 on a hotel is actually saving money.   Episode Guide 0:00 “Naked Flying” - The new viral travel trend 0:58 Waldorf NYC is more expensive than we thought 3:00 Another Boeing whistleblower - Using defective parts? 5:48 Hyatt opening 50 new luxury hotels in next few years 8:26 Amex Business Platinum adds surprising Hilton credit 10:50 Alaska Airlines premium credit card is coming 13:04 How booking a $900 hotel actually saved Mark money 15:44 How to save money every month on YouTube TV 18:00 Streaming deals, ad supported tiers and expensive programming 19:46 The longest train journey in the world Links Travel trend - https://www.timesnownews.com/travel/news/naked-flying-is-the-latest-travel-trend-going-viral-and-it-is-helping-people-save-a-lot-of-money-article-116366033 Boeing whistleblower - https://fortune.com/2024/12/09/boeing-whistleblower-sam-mohawk-broken-parts-airplane-safety-culture-737-max/ Hyatt luxury - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-luxury-hotel-expansion/ Amex Hilton credit - https://milestomemories.com/amex-business-platinum-new-200-hilton-credit/ Premium Alaska - https://milestomemories.com/alaska-airlines-launching-new-premium-card-in-2025/ Universal FHR - https://travel-on-points.com/universal-orlando-hotels-with-express-pass/ Save on YouTube TV - https://travel-on-points.com/save-money-on-youtube-tv/ Longest train - https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/rbycyb/the_new_longest_possible_train_journey_in_the/ 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! 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

A lively discussion unfolds around procrastination styles as the hosts share their humorous shopping frustrations. They delve into travel planning for Spring Break, weighing the joys of familiar versus new destinations. The Bahamas comes under scrutiny, balancing luxury with cost challenges. Tips for using credit card rewards effectively and maximizing travel benefits are shared, particularly for upcoming trips to Singapore and Thailand. The excitement of water park adventures and strategic booking insights round out this engaging travel conversation.

Citi has landed a major deal with American Airlines, raising questions for current Barclays cardholders. The reopening of the iconic Waldorf Astoria NYC is generating buzz with its luxury upgrades. Virgin Voyages brings enticing cruise deals, yet travelers face quirky booking challenges. Exciting innovations from Hyatt include new tech for suite upgrades. Plus, learn about valuable point transfer bonuses to enhance your travel game, while also exploring why Hilton is excelling in the luxury space.

Discover the thrill of dueling road trips as the hosts share their adventures from Long Beach to festive Chicago. Unpack the shocking reality of rising airline baggage fees and the pressure of snagging lucrative credit card offers. Explore the charm of Chicago's holiday markets and the bittersweet experience of a disappointment at a boutique hotel. Tune in for lively anecdotes about community connections and the joyful spirit of travel, especially during the holiday season!

Twenty Minute Travel News has now joined the MtM Podcast feed! You can catch this show each week right here in addition to the regular MtM Travel podcast or watch both shows on Youtube!  Episode Description This week there are a couple of new Amex "no lifetime language" offers floating around including a huge 200K Business Gold version. We go over the details and explain exactly how these offers work and why you probably want to take advantage of them. We also explain Amex's application rules, the popup and your best overall strategy for dealing with the bank.   In other news an ongoing fraud has been going on with Amex Business Gold cards and small charges. What should you do if you fall victim? We also discuss Etihad's 10 new routes, the new British Airways first class seat, sketchy travel hacks, United's $16 million training center, the return of Target's most popular deal and where you can find the North America Holiday Train.   Episode Guide 0:00 Sketchy travel hacks 0:51 United’s new $16 million training facility 2:18 Etihad announces 10 new routes including big US city 3:41 Longer trip for flight experience vs. shorter flight 4:36 British Airways unveils new first class seat 5:20 Explaining Amex “no lifetime language” offers 7:45 Amex Business Gold 200K targeted offer 8:39 Blue Business Plus 75K targeted offers - 0% APR? 9:57 Target 10% off gift card deal returns for 2024 11:55 Target Circle program value and shutdowns 13:16 Amex Business Gold fraudulent charges - What you need to know 16:16 Cool “S” - North America Holiday Train Links Sketchy hacks - https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelHacks/comments/1g3rr4y/sketchiest_travel_tips_that_you_know/ United training - https://apigateway.agilitypr.com/distributions/history/b2fc48a4-0b2b-4f50-b08d-8a5b173666ca?recipientId=f59514db-7cc4-4966-8178-a569b271d584 Etihad 10 new routes - https://milestomemories.com/etihad-adds-direct-route-to-atlanta/ BA First Class seat - https://milestomemories.com/british-airways-unveils-brand-new-first-class-seat/ 200K Amex NLL - https://milestomemories.com/200k-amex-business-gold-offer/ Blue Business Plus NLL - https://travel-on-points.com/targeted-75k-blue-business-plus-cash-offer/ Amex fraud problems - https://travel-on-points.com/amex-business-gold-facebook-advertising-fraud/ Target 10% - https://travel-on-points.com/10-off-target-gift-cards/ North America Holiday Train - https://www.cpkcr.com/en/community/HolidayTrain 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! 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

Shawn and Mark dive into the evolving world of credit card rewards, discussing Chase's customer gifts and the fallout from Citibank's controversial account closure. They compare Hawaiian travel experiences, debating the merits of Oahu versus Maui. The duo also explores how banks are stepping into the role of travel agents, affecting redemption rates and travel perks. Finally, they share their festive adventures at Chicago's Christmas markets, reminiscing about holiday shopping highlights and the allure of European markets.

Twenty Minute Travel News has now joined the MtM Podcast feed! You can catch this show each week right here in addition to the regular MtM Travel podcast or watch both shows on Youtube!  Episode Description This week many reports were coming from Chase applicants about a tightening when it comes to credit card reconsideration. We discuss exactly what is happening, what you should do and why a tried and true strategy is worth pursuing in getting that big Chase card approval!   In other news Hilton has another big property score, this time adding a popular hotel to their Curio collection. We also discuss big new offers for Alaska and Avianca, strange Cardless rules, Allegiant's biggest expansion ever, easy timeshare points & why riding mountain/alpine coasters is some really cool "s".   Episode Guide 0:00 The epic eating problem every traveler faces 0:38 Evermore Resort joining Hilton as Curio 2:28 Allegiant’s biggest expansion ever - 44 new routes 4:33 New Alaska Airlines 75K mile public offer 5:43 Avianca LifeMiles Elite 120K welcome offer 6:33 The quirky thing about signing up for a Cardless card 8:35 Chase cracking down on reconsideration 10:15 The evolution of Chase reconsideration & why they may be tightening 11:58 Easy 75K Hilton timeshare offer 13:38 How to find your unclaimed property 15:33 Bilt’s new home purchasing tool - Earn big points 17:36 The changing landscape of realtor fees & what to look for 18:47 Alpine/Mountain coasters around the world Links Evermore Hilton - https://travel-on-points.com/evermore-orlando-resort-joining-hilton/ Allegiant expansion - https://milestomemories.com/major-expansion-for-allegiant/ Alaska 75K - https://secure.bankofamerica.com/apply-credit-cards/public/instant-credit/#/single-page/ Avianca Elite 120K - https://www.lifemiles.com/discover/landing-page/avianca-lifemiles-creditcard-promo Chase reconsideration woes - https://travel-on-points.com/chase-denying-reconsideration/ Hilton timeshare - https://milestomemories.com/new-hilton-timeshare-offer-5/ Unclaimed property - https://travel-on-points.com/how-to-claim-unclaimed-property/ Bilt Home - https://travel-on-points.com/earn-bilt-points-when-purchasing-a-home/ Alpine coasters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1-r4KVBPIA  https://x.com/TheFigen_/status/1836052840562708593 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! 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 In this conversation, Shawn and Mark delve into the intricacies of flying with Southwest Airlines, discussing the challenges of check-in and boarding processes. In the wake of a troubling story of a government going after a blogger, they also share personal anecdotes about their experiences with airline reviews, the risks of criticizing travel services, and the complexities of customer service interactions.   Also discussed is a miles conundrum Shawn is running into with his trip to Hawaii in January. The age old question of whether to use the points you have or transfer other ones. A simple answer but a question nonetheless. Finally the show finishes with a breakdown of the best budget hotel breakfasts and why there is one clear winner.   Best Limited Service Breakfast video - https://youtu.be/f870CDZw8mo?si=gbWWWsYjXvthT7F8 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  

Twenty Minute Travel News has now joined the MtM Podcast feed! You can catch this show each week right here in addition to the regular MtM Travel podcast or watch both shows on Youtube!  Episode Description This week Spirit Airlines finally filed for bankruptcy following several failed merger attempts and sales. While the airline plans to stay in business, should you avoid them until the bankruptcy is settled? What does this mean for tickets, miles, etc. and if we lose Spirit what will the overall effect be on the airline industry?   In other news several new end of year card offers have dropped including increased offers for United cards and some outside the box thinking with Southwest's offers. We also discuss the Capital One Spark $750 welcome offer, how to score a 750 free and easy Bonvoy points, the craziness of blob jumping, when all of the new Chase Sapphire lounges are opening and how those gate agents trick you.   Episode Guide 0:00 When the gate agent lies to you 1:08 Spirit Airlines files bankruptcy 2:50 Should you avoid flying Spirit because of the bankruptcy 4:26 Capital One Spark Cash $750 welcome offer 6:05 New Southwest card offers - Cash back? 7:55 How banks are thinking outside of the box with their welcome offers 10:04 United’s increased end of year welcome offers 11:30 The one perk that might make you want to have a United credit card 12:17 4 new Hyatt promos - Anything good? 14:03 Get 750 Marriott Bonvoy points by linking Uber 15:01 More Hawaiian/Alaska points transfer woes 16:22 Chase Sapphire Lounge opening dates for many cities announced 18:57 Blob jumping - Fun travel activity? Links Empty bins - https://x.com/jonathankennell/status/1857385339951722843 Spirit bankruptcy - https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/11/18/spirit-airlines-files-bankruptcy-protection.html Hyatt promos - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-holiday-promotions/ Marriott Uber - https://milestomemories.com/link-marriott-and-uber-accounts/ Alaska woes - https://travel-on-points.com/hawaiian-airlines-blocking-membership-rewards-transfers/ Sapphire expansion - https://milestomemories.com/chase-sapphire-lounge-by-the-club-adds-more-locations/ Blob jumping - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=UalRPS&v=1281980536516434&rdid=FCQtpSE1wjlLwqXs 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! 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

Hear about the potential bankruptcy of Spirit Airlines and the challenges facing low-cost carriers in the U.S. Mark shares his frustrating experience with American Airlines, shedding light on customer service woes. Discover how a huge Chase bank error benefited Shawn and Mark's windfall of 5 years of Hilton Diamond status. They also explore the complexities of car leasing and payment solutions like Melio, while teasing adventures in Vegas and off-roading with various electric vehicles.