Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition: Recent Episodes

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Join Trevor and Tom as Tom shares his ‘forced adventures,’ hotel and restaurant experiences as he tries to avoid the dreaded expiration of hotel certificates, all while exploring Chicago and New York City. Discover how to turn last-minute travel plans into memorable adventures.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Travel Stories and Hotel Certs

02:03 Using Hotel Certificates Before They Expire

03:59 Trip to Chicago: Saint Regis and Lowe's Hotel

08:54 Exploring Chicago Neighborhoods and Hotel Views

15:04 Crossing Chicago's Lower and Upper Wacker

20:01 Travel Mishaps: Shoe Print and Suitcase Repair

25:16 NYC Hotel Stay at The Standard Highline

35:01 Dining Experiences in New York: French Restaurants and Bagels

45:03 Nightlife and Sports Events in NYC

55:00 Reflections on Travel and Hotel Loyalty

Reference:

The Standard Highline, New York - https://www.standardhotels.com/new-york

Gallagher's Steakhouse, NYC - https://www.gallaghersnysteakhouse.com

Apollo Bagels, NYC - https://www.apollobagels.com

Lowe's Hotel, Chicago - https://www.theloweshotel.com

Saint Regis Chicago - https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chist-the-st-regis-chicago/

Delmonico's, NYC - https://www.delmonicos.com

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• Hotel certificate strategies and expiration management
• Chicago hotel experience at Saint Regis and Lowe's Hotel
• New York City hotel stay at The Standard Highline
• Travel planning and last-minute booking tips
• Experiences with hotel amenities and service quality

Keywords

travel stories, hotel certificates, Chicago, New York, travel tips, hotel reviews, travel hacks

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Join us as Tom recounts his incredible journey to the Maldives, navigating multiple modes of travel, airport experiences, and the joys of luxury in this remote paradise. Discover tips, travel hacks, and the beauty of Maldives through detailed travel tales. Join us as we explore luxury travel experiences, points strategies, and airport lounge insights with Tom, a seasoned traveler to the Maldives. Discover how to maximize your miles, find value in hotel stays, and navigate airport amenities like a pro.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Journey to Middle Earth and Beyond

02:59 The Maldives Experience

06:10 Travel Logistics and Layovers

09:04 Exploring Boston's Airport Lounges

12:02 Flight Experiences and Aircraft Diversity

14:59 Dining and Lounge Access

18:06 Airline Fleet Insights

23:33 Lufthansa's Business Model and Fleet Decisions

25:47 Transatlantic Flight Experiences

30:09 Barcelona Layover Dilemmas

32:11 Entry-Exit System Challenges in Europe

39:04 Barcelona Airport Lounge Experience

43:06 Flying Qatar Airways Business Class

48:05 Travel Experiences and Upgrades

51:50 Arrival in the Maldives

54:02 Local Cuisine and Cultural Insights

01:00:11 Journey to Park Hyatt Hadaha

01:02:35 Accommodations at Park Hyatt

01:09:37 Snorkeling Adventures and Marine Life

01:11:14 Dining Experiences and Meal Plans

01:15:31 Dining Experiences and Special Events

01:19:57 Final Thoughts on Park Hyatt and Staff Recognition

01:22:23 Transitioning to the Next Destination

01:22:49 Staying at Ocean Grand and Local Experiences

01:24:11 Exploring the New Terminal at Male, Maldives

01:29:49 Comparing Business Class Lounges

01:33:01 Flight Experience with Etihad

01:37:01 Layover at Heathrow and Hotel Stay

01:39:41 Travel Experiences and Lounge Reviews

01:43:29 Dining Options and Food Quality in Lounges

01:44:59 Economy Class Insights and Flight Experiences

01:47:55 Special Meal Choices and Regrets

01:50:44 Duty-Free Shopping and Airline Policies

01:53:50 Cultural Observations on Smoking and Vaping

01:57:21 Final Thoughts on Travel and Future Plans

Reference:

The best complaint letter

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• Multiple modes of travel to Maldives (air, sea, land)
• Airport lounge experiences and tips
• Travel challenges and solutions in dense airports
• Luxury travel experiences in Qatar and Maldives
• Travel planning and efficiency tips Travel points and miles strategies
• Luxury hotel and villa experiences in Maldives
• Airport lounge reviews and amenities
• Travel planning and itinerary optimization
• In-flight service and meal experiences

Keywords

Maldives travel, airport lounges, travel hacks, luxury travel, flight experience, Maldives islands, travel tips, airport tips, travel stories luxury travel, frequent flyer, hotel reviews, airport lounges, Maldives, points hacking, travel tips, airline reviews

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Episode 80: Show Notes

Summary

In this episode, Trevor breaks down his summer getaway to France, diving into flight experiences, trip planning logistics, and what it's like navigating international journeys during the busiest time of year. He provides a comprehensive walkthrough of his time in Paris, Reims, and Disneyland Paris, offering valuable advice on securing reservations, managing the theme parks, and getting the most out of your budget. Listen in for actionable strategies designed to help you streamline your next European vacation and Disney adventure.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction and Context Setting

01:06 Travel Planning and Last-Minute Adjustments

03:12 The Decision to Visit Disneyland Paris

05:58 Utilizing Airline Miles and Points

07:13 Flight Experience with Lufthansa

12:44 Arrival and First Impressions in Frankfurt

21:23 Navigating Frankfurt Airport and First Class Terminal

26:06 Navigating European Airports: Challenges and Tips

30:56 Experiencing France: Travel Insights and Recommendations

47:13 Disneyland Paris: Planning and Experiences

52:56 The Magic of Rope Dropping

56:20 Meeting Elsa and Anna: A Magical Encounter

58:19 Navigating Mechanical Issues at Disneyland

01:00:07 Food and Beverage Experiences at Disneyland Paris

01:01:56 The Future of Disneyland Paris: Expansions and New Attractions

01:04:20 Reflections on the Disneyland Experience

01:08:00 Exploring Reims: A Champagne Adventure

01:12:30 Dining Experiences in Reims

01:14:43 Concluding Thoughts on the Trip

Resources

Lufthansa First Class - https://www.lufthansa.com

Charles de Gaulle Airport - https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/accessing-and-moving-around-the-airport

Disneyland Paris - https://www.disneylandparis.com

ExpertFlyer - https://www.expertflyer.com

Air France - https://www.airfrance.com

Disneyland Paris Official Site - https://www.disneylandparis.com/

Amex Platinum Benefits - https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card-benefits/platinum-card/

Reims Champagne Tours - https://www.champagne-tour.com/

Joe Chung's Travel Tips - https://joechung.com/

Epcot Frozen Ever After Ride - https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/frozen-ever-after/

Disneyland Paris Instagram Accounts - https://www.instagram.com/search/?q=disneylandparis

Champagne Houses in Epernay - https://www.epernay.com/

Yelp Paris Food & Drink - https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=food&find_loc=Paris

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• Tactics for Last-Minute Bookings and Trip Planning
• Evaluating European Airline Services and Airport Lounges
• Navigating Customs, Airport Procedures, and Flight Delays
• Organizing a Family Trip to France: Planning and Logistics
• Assessing Carrier Quality, Cabin Amenities, and Paris Recommendations
• Disneyland Paris: Proven Guide for Planning and Park Advice
• Touring Reims and the Historic Champagne Region
• Value Maximization and Strategic Travel Booking Methods
• Efficient Park Overviews and Ride Management Tactics

Keywords

Travel, France, Lufthansa First Class, Charles de Gaulle, Disneyland Paris, travel tips, airline experience, airport lounges, European travel, trip planning, Disneyland Paris, Paris trip, Reims, Champagne, Travel tips, Park planning, Travel hacks

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Episode 79: Show Notes

Note: Video of this is available on Youtube/Spotify

Summary

Join Trevor Mountcastle and Tom Kim as we welcome Joe Petrovic to talk Japan explore the intricacies of booking Japan Airlines award flights, navigating ANA and JAL websites, and maximizing travel rewards for international trips. Our guest, Joe Petrovic, shares expert tips on award availability, transfer strategies, and cultural insights for Japan travel.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Japan Travel with Joe Petrovic

01:25 Exploring ANA and JAL Booking Strategies

06:30 Understanding JAL Mileage Bank and Transfer Options

10:11 Experiences on Japan Airlines: Business and First Class

12:19 Domestic Flights and Unique Cabin Configurations

14:56 Traveling with Family: Cultural Interests and Experiences

15:40 Challenges in Award Availability and Fuel Surcharges

21:18 Connecting Itineraries and Alternative Routes

23:28 Cultural Integration in Japan Airlines Service

27:01 Luxury Offerings: Wine, Whiskey, and In-Flight Purchases

27:16 Exploring Japan's Travel Options

29:09 Osaka: A Gateway to Japan

34:09 Travel Tips for Japan

39:00 Currency and Payment Insights

42:17 Navigating Japan's Transportation System

49:39 Maximizing Travel Rewards

50:59 Personal Travel Experiences and Insights

Resources

Japan Airlines (JAL) - https://www.jal.co.jp/en/

ANA (All Nippon Airways) - https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/

JAL Mileage Bank - https://www.jal.co.jp/en/jmb/

Finair Miles (Finnair) - https://www.finnair.com/us-en/awards

Chase Ultimate Rewards - https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/ultimate-rewards

Capital One Miles - https://www.capitalone.com/digital/points-miles/

Marriott Bonvoy - https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/rewards.mi

SmartEX App for Shinkansen tickets - https://www.smart-ex.jp/en/

Japan Web Immigration Portal - https://www.japan.travel/en/us/information/japan-web/

7-Eleven Japan - https://www.sej.co.jp/

Suica Card - https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• Award booking strategies for Japan Airlines and partners
• Navigating ANA and JAL award availability and website quirks
• Transfer strategies for maximizing miles from Chase, Capital One, and Marriott
• Tips for booking domestic and international flights within Japan
• Cultural tips and travel hacks for Japan travelers

Keywords

Japan Airlines, ANA, award travel, miles, points, Japan, travel tips, airline awards, transfer bonuses, travel rewards

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Summary

Join Trevor Mountcastle and Tom Kim as they reminisce about the golden age of airlines, sharing personal travel stories, airline history, and insights into how service standards and loyalty programs have evolved over the years.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Nostalgia for Continental Airlines

04:21 Gordon Bethune's Impact on Continental

08:27 Memorable Travel Stories with Continental

12:10 Experiences of Upgrades and Amenities

16:00 Comparing Past and Present Airline Experiences

22:15 The In-Flight Experience: A Journey Through Airline Catering

27:44 Nostalgia in Air Travel: The Comfort of Cookies and Warm Nuts

32:21 The Evolution of Airline Culture: From First Class to Economy

38:55 The Changing Landscape of Air Travel: A Reflection on Experiences

43:50 Finding Value in Air Travel: Deals and Discounts in Today's Market

48:48 Exploring Accommodation Options in the Maldives

51:53 Maximizing Resort Time and Transfers

54:09 Flight Connections and Layover Strategies

56:48 Navigating Flight Cancellations and Rebooking

01:00:12 Future Travel Plans and Destinations

01:07:20 Finding Value in Business Class Flights

01:08:44 Planning Efficient Travel Itineraries

Resources

Continental Airlines - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Airlines

Gordon Bethune - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Bethune

United Airlines - https://www.united.com

Delta Air Lines - https://www.delta.com

Qatar Airways - https://www.qatarairways.com

Cathay Pacific - https://www.cathaypacific.com

Avianca - https://www.avianca.com

Star Alliance - https://www.staralliance.com

SkyTeam - https://skyteam.com

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• History of Continental Airlines
• Impact of airline mergers
• Evolution of in-flight service and amenities

Keywords

airline history, travel stories, airline service, loyalty programs, Continental Airlines, United Airlines, travel tips

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Talking Freddie Awards and so much more with Ed Pizzarello

Episode 77: Show Notes

Note: Video versions are on Youtube and Spotify

In this episode, we sit down with Ed Pizzarello to dive deep into the evolving landscape of loyalty programs, Freddie awards (don’t forget to go to vote.freddieawards.com to make sure your voice is heard!), and the latest shifts in Las Vegas. From maximizing your miles to uncovering affordable Sin City gems, we offer a comprehensive look at the travel industry. This is a wide ranging discussion that even includes navigating the streets of Hong Kong and Taipei, airline fleet innovations, and the inevitable tangents of gold that we love to take..

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to the Freddie Awards

01:47 The History and Importance of the Freddie Awards

04:04 Voter Dynamics and Brand Loyalty in the Freddie Awards

06:14 Regional Voting Trends and Airline Perceptions

08:31 The Value of Loyalty Programs Across Regions

09:57 The Legacy of Sir Freddie Laker

12:17 The Impact of Points and Miles on Travel

13:52 Redemption Ability and Airline Value Changes

15:55 The Evolution of Miles and Points Programs

18:03 The Shift in Airline Preferences

19:30 The Best Loyalty Credit Cards Today

21:39 Maximizing Value from Loyalty Programs

23:43 Expectations in Family Travel

24:14 Trends in the Freddie Awards and Loyalty Programs

28:22 The Evolution of Loyalty Programs

31:53 The K-Shaped Economy and Its Impact on Travel

37:43 Vegas Trends: The Changing Landscape

57:46 Reinventing Vegas: Affordability and Culinary Delights

58:43 Exploring Culinary Delights in Vegas

01:02:39 Reflections on Hong Kong's Changing Atmosphere

01:24:49 United Airlines Innovations and Fleet Improvements

01:27:50 Premium Economy Experience and Customer Comfort

01:31:18 Demand for Premium Seats and Catering Quality

01:38:17 Customer Loyalty and Airline Business Strategies

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• The History and Importance of the Freddie Awards
• The Evolution of Airline and Hotel Loyalty Programs
• Vegas Trends: The Changing Landscape, Affordability, and Hong Kong’s Shifting Atmosphere
• Cultural Insights and Comparative Travel: Taipei vs. Hong Kong
• United Airlines Innovations, Fleet Improvements, and the Passenger Experience
• Airline Business Strategies: Loyalty Programs and Credit Card Value

Keywords: Pizza in Motion, Miles to Go Podcast, Freddie Awards, loyalty programs, Vegas trends, miles and points, Freddie Awards, airline loyalty, hotel programs, Vegas affordability, travel hacking, loyalty industry insights Travel, Airlines, Hong Kong, Taipei, Vegas, Airline Fleet, Loyalty Programs, Cultural Insights

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This Episode with video can be found on Youtube and Spotify.

Join Trevor Mountcastle and Tom Kim as they explore two contrasting cruises, delving into ship design, ports of call, dining experiences, and onboard entertainment. Discover insights into cruise ship architecture, port highlights like Grand Turk, and tips for maximizing onboard casino and dining value. Join us as we explore the latest in cruise ship amenities, ports of call, and insider tips for maximizing your cruise experience on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. From dining highlights to port adventures, discover how this ship sets a new standard in cruising luxury.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction

02:05 Exploring the Star Princess

10:01 Dining Experiences on the Star Princess

18:04 Entertainment and Casino Insights

25:56 Ports of Call: Grand Turk and Beyond

31:42 Exploring Grand Turk: Beaches and Local Cuisine

34:59 Reflections on Star Princess: A Relaxing Cruise Experience

35:45 Introduction to Icon of the Seas: A New Era of Cruising

36:46 Neighborhoods and Amenities: Icon's Unique Features

39:21 Entertainment Highlights: Aqua Shows and Ice Rinks

43:32 Dining Delights: Specialty Restaurants and Buffets

50:31 Main Dining Room Experience: Lobster Nights and Quality

53:50 Casino Adventures: Gambling on the Icon

57:37 Ports of Call: Costa Maya and Cozumel Insights

01:00:18 Exploring Honduras: Authentic Experiences vs. Cruise Ports

01:04:03 Cozumel Adventures: Snorkeling and Local Delights

01:08:23 Coco Cay: The Ultimate Private Island Experience

01:19:29 Managing a Large Group: The Cruise Director Role

01:30:44 Final Thoughts on Icon of the Seas: A Memorable Journey

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Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post:

• Ship design and architecture of Star Princess and Icon of the Seas
• Ports of call including Nassau, Grand Turk, and Amber Cove
• Onboard dining experiences, specialty restaurants, and buffet insights Icon of the Seas amenities and dining options
• Cruise ports: Costa Maya, Cozumel, Honduras, Coco Cay
• Cruise planning and port excursions
• Ship design and passenger distribution
• Dining tips and onboard experiences

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Note: This episode can be viewed with video on Youtube/Spotify.

Summary

In this episode, Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle welcome back Nick from The Frequent Miler to discuss the latest strategies in the award travel world. Nick breaks down his family’s massive undertaking of the JetBlue 25-for-25 promotion, his nuanced take on the Hyatt award chart changes, and his favorite tools for finding the best flight redemptions, including a surprising hack for Southwest Airlines.

Key Points From This Episode:

0:00 – Introduction* Tom and Trevor welcome back Nick. * Brief catch-up on Nick’s recent travel adventures since his last appearance.

0:43 – The JetBlue 25-for-25 Family Challenge How Nick completed the challenge for his entire family of four. * The logic behind securing 25 years of airline status for his young children. * Strategy: Using Amex Membership Rewards points and the Business Platinum 35% rebate to fund the flights. * Leveraging partner bookings like Etihad Guest* for high-value JetBlue redemptions.

7:16 – Hyatt Award Chart Changes: To Panic or Not? Nick’s take on the recent devaluation: Why Hyatt remains the strongest hotel currency despite the hit to top-tier redemptions. * The strategy of speculative bookings* for "bucket list" properties like Park Hyatt Kyoto before price hikes. * Comparing the rising cash rates of luxury hotels to the increasing point requirements.

18:25 – Aeroplan and the Current State of Flight Awards* The pros and cons of Air Canada’s Aeroplan, including their massive partner network. * The frustration of dynamic pricing with partners like United. * The difficulty of finding award space to Asia in the current travel climate.

23:14 – Advanced Award Searching & The "Condor Hack" Using Alaska Airlines to book Condor with a stopover in Frankfurt en route to Bangkok. * Nick’s favorite tools: AwardTool, Seats.Aero, and the Points Path Chrome extension. * Autopilot:* A new tool for automatically repricing paid flights for credits.

29:16 – Southwest Airlines Strategies & IT Glitches* The shift to assigned seating and the impact on Southwest's value proposition. * A bizarre IT glitch: Why Nick’s 8-year-old son could see award seats that Nick (a premium cardholder) could not. * The benefits of the Southwest Priority and Performance Business cards.

36:00 – Family Travel: World-Schooling & The Librea Tar Pits* Nick’s experience homeschooling his kids for a quarter while traveling to the Bahamas, Los Angeles, and French Polynesia. * The educational value of travel: From the aquariums in Atlantis to prehistoric history in LA.

41:40 – The Casino Status Match & Free Cruises How Nick turned casino status matches into 14 free cruises. * Reviewing Margaritaville at Sea: Why it’s surprisingly great for families despite its budget reputation. * Pro Tip:* Using the casino "cage" for organic spend/cash advances on cruises.

51:00 – Lifemiles & Flying Blue Subscriptions Is the LifeMiles+ subscription worth $20/month? (Hint: The 10% discount and free cancellations might be). * The new Flying Blue* subscription model and whether it’s worth it for promo awards.

Keywords

Hyatt award chart, travel hacking, JetBlue 25 for 25, Family travel, Aeroplan, Southwest Airlines

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We're back with a quick, fun, episode about three credit cards (plus a few extra side discussions). Enjoy!

0:21 Heightened Amex Marriott Bonvoy Offers

• Brilliant: 200k for $6k in 6 months ($650 AF)
• Bevy: 175k for $5k in 6 months ($250 AF)
• Business: 5x 50k certs for $9k in 6 months ($125 AF)
• Available through referral
• Good write-up from Tim at FM with table summarizing supposed Chase cards that can limit eligibility of Amex welcome offers
• Bonus: Marriott Bonvoy Certs Can Now Be Topped off w/25k

05:40 Chase Hyatt Business 80,000

• Direct Link
• $10k min spend in 3 months
• $195 AF not waived first year
• 5 elite qualifying nights per $10k spend (better than 2 per $5k of personal version)
• Available through referral
• IS subject to 5/24

08:21 GolfCard

• thegolfcard.com
• HT OffByOne, DoC post, Forbes piece from Fall 2025
• 20,000 points after spending $4k in 3 months
• $250 AF not waived the first year
• Points are redeemable with partners
• "Might be one of the worst cards we've ever talked about on this show."
• Coupon book with partners
• Has a waitlist, issued by Celtic Bank

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Note: This episode can be viewed with video on youtube/Spotify.

Summary

In this episode, Trevor and Tom analyze Hyatt's award chart changes, share tips on maximizing hotel stays, explore interesting flight deals, and discuss strategies for earning and using miles effectively.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Hyatt Devaluation Discussion

05:31 Adapting to New Hyatt Strategies

11:53 Exploring Aspirational Hyatt Properties

18:19 Maintaining Globalist Status Amid Changes

28:30 Exploring Global Destinations

34:21 Partnerships and New Opportunities in Travel

39:57 Miles and More: A Hidden Gem for Travelers

Keywords

Hyatt award chart, travel hacking, hotel points, flight deals, miles strategies, award availability, travel tips

Resources

Hyatt Award Chart Details - https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/awards

Miles and More Program - https://www.miles-and-more.com

Porter Airlines - https://www.flyporter.com

Etihad Airways - https://www.etihad.com

Qatar Airways Q Suites - https://www.qatarairways.com

Google Maps Explorer - https://maps.google.com/explore

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0:21 Bilt JAL Transfer Bonus

• Normally 1:1, heightened for March 1 “rent day”
• Staying on-brand-complicated the amount of bonus varies depending on your Bilt status and use of Bilt Cash to further heighten the bonus
• So it’s 25-125% on March 1
• JAL 1:1 BILT transfer partner is great, long term
• Need to have space aligned in both directions
• Miles expire 3 years (HARD expiry, no way to extend)
• Speculative…. Probably not for me.
• $135 Bilt cash to unlock 25% additional uplift

05:38 Chase Sapphire WHOOP Offer

• This is an Offer, not a recurring benefit of the card (as of now, one-time)
• Offer must be activated first on Chase
• Direct Link from Whoop for more info
• $359 back on $359 on Sapphire Reserve, $100 back on $149 on Sapphire Preferred
• Ends 5/12/2026

10:07 Hyatt Award Chart Changes

• Direct Link to new award chart
• New award chart still tops out at Category 8, but now has 5 levels of demand within each category (previously 3)
• Means a standard room can be as cheap as 3,000/nt OR as much as 75,000/nt (Cat 8, Top demand) OR 110,000 (Cat 8 Premium Suite Top demand)
• Digital point sharing!
• What’s the upshot here? For me, as long as the program continues to offer solid value (2+ cpp most of the time, occasionally 3+ cpp) I’m still happy.

17:17 Chase Adds Wyndham as 1:1 Transfer Partner

• Citi also transfers to Wyndham, has a 25% bonus through March 21, 2026
• Reason to even mention this is curiosity about whether Wyndham
• is at all compelling anymore with the demise of Vacasa?
• Wyndham has hotels! (did you know?)
• And plenty of vacation rentals
• 15k - 30k per night, can make sense.
• Again, speculatively doesn’t likely make sense.

21:04 BofA Preferred Rewards

• Press Release / Direct Link
• $1M is the new $100k: Now need $1M for 75% uplift on credit card earning
• Preferred: $30k - $100k 25% uplift on qualifying credit card rewards
• Preferred Plus: $100k - $1M 50% uplift (was 75%)
• Premier: $1M+ 75% uplift (was also 75%)
• Subscription credit for debit charges: $8/mo for Preferred Plus, $15/mo for Premier
• Expanded Access to Lifestyle Benefits
• Preferred Honors tier: Automotive savings on brands like BMW, Lexus, Audi, Volvo; access to arts and entertainments moments, including major league sports, concerts, Broadway shows, and opera; and premium travel experiences with partners including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Virgin Hotels, and Sixt.
• Premier tier: Tier-exclusive luxury offers with Backroads, The Eden Residence Club, Mercedes, Sollis Health, and Blacklane, as well as curated private events, such as the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, Lamborghini, and CULTURED magazine.
• Starts May 2026, but uplift may stick around for existing customers: “Some benefit

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Note: Video of this episode can be found on Youtube and Spotify! Coming soon to Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, hosts Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle recount Trevor’s recent New Years trip to Australia that included visits to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. They discuss the challenges of booking flights using points and miles, the varying experiences with American Airlines and Qantas business class, and the highlights of their stay in Brisbane, including the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The conversation also covers their New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, exploring local attractions like the Opera House and The Rocks, and the unique culinary experiences they encountered. The hosts also discuss Melbourne and her beautiful markets and the Australian Open. They discuss the challenges of booking travel during peak times, the logistics of traveling with family, including limited mobility considerations, and how we chose specific flight experiences to mitigate those logistical challenges, such as the importance of non-stop flights.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to the Australian Adventure00:47 Planning the Trip: Points and Miles Challenges04:55 Flight Experience: Comfort and Crew Dynamics11:27 Arrival in Australia: First Impressions17:55 Hotel Experience: Hyatt Regency Brisbane21:21 Wildlife Encounters: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary26:37 Exploring Brisbane: Markets and Local Culture27:47 Traveling to Gold Coast: A Budget-Friendly Choice31:04 Accessibility Challenges in Air Travel31:22 Packing Light for a Long Trip34:56 Choosing Accommodations: From Hyatt to Apartments36:28 New Year's Eve in Manly: A Family Celebration44:11 Transitioning to Hyatt Regency: A Familiar Stay48:10 Exploring Sydney: New Experiences and Local Markets50:49 Cultural Experiences: A Visit to the Opera House51:40 Experiencing the Sydney Opera House52:46 Traveling to Melbourne: A New Adventure53:52 Hotel Experiences and Upgrades55:32 Booking Strategies for Travel59:07 Exploring Melbourne: Markets and Local Culture01:00:38 Weather Challenges in Melbourne01:04:34 Dining Experiences and Service Culture01:11:07 Unexpected Adventures at the Australian Open01:16:56 Experiencing Sporting Events with Low Friction01:19:07 Navigating Travel Logistics and Flight Changes01:22:33 Dining Experiences in Airports01:26:31 First Class Lounge Experience at Qantas01:27:30 Reflections on Long-Haul Flights01:34:15 Desire to Return to Australia and Future Travel Plans01:36:51 The Value of Nonstop Flights

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A Guys Trip to Malta Centered Around Lounge Hopping

Episode 72: Show Notes

Summary

In this episode, hosts Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle share their travel experiences centered around an impromptu trip to Malta, highlighting their lounge hopping adventures. They discuss their flight itinerary, the luxurious Polaris Lounge in Chicago, and the Frankfurt First Class Lounge, emphasizing the importance of these experiences in enhancing their travel. The conversation also touches on their arrival in Malta, exploring the historical city of Valletta, and the unique aspects of their journey, including unexpected encounters and the cultural richness of Malta. In this episode, the hosts discuss their recent trip to Malta, including their experiences exploring the Old Town, the beaches, and their flight with British Airways to Gatwick. They share insights on navigating Gatwick to Heathrow, hotel booking strategies, and their extensive lounge hopping at Heathrow Terminal 3, highlighting the pros and cons of various lounges including the Centurion, British Airways, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific. The conversation wraps up with reflections on the trip's focus on lounges and the missed opportunities for outdoor exploration in Malta.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Lounge Hopping: The Trip's Driving Force

02:00 Flight Itinerary and Booking Process

03:25 Experiencing the Polaris Lounge

11:44 Lufthansa First Class Experience

21:17 Frankfurt Lounge Experience

27:37 Arrival in Malta and Hotel Lounge Review

29:38 Navigating the Airport Experience

31:57 Dining in the Skies: European Airlines

34:52 Hotel Comparisons: Regency vs. Centric

35:43 Exploring Malta: A Densely Populated Gem

36:46 Valletta: The Old Town Experience

40:45 Cruise and Maintenance: Malta's Unique Position

42:50 Gatwick to Heathrow: A Smooth Transition

46:42 Dining at Hyatt Place: A Pleasant Surprise

51:43 Lounge Hopping at Heathrow Terminal 3

53:36 The Changing Landscape of Airport Lounges

54:48 Lounge Hopping Experience

01:01:09 The Qantas Lounge Highlights

01:06:13 Cathay Pacific Lounge Experience

01:09:43 Flight Experience and Upgrades

01:22:13 Reflections on the Trip

01:23:33 NEWCHAPTER

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Note: The video of this episode can be found on Youtube or Spotify

Summary

In this episode of Travel Stories, hosts Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle welcome Gary Leff, of View From the Wing and the Freddie Awards to the show. We discuss memorable experiences in travel, the evolution of airline loyalty programs, the changing landscape of airline upgrades, and the impact of status on travel experiences. The conversation also delves into family travel, personal travel stories, and the value of travel experiences. Gary shares his insights on the future of airline loyalty programs and emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey rather than cramming everything into one trip.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Travel Stories and Guest Background

03:07 Memorable Experiences at Frequent Traveler University

05:46 The Evolution of Airline Loyalty Programs

09:01 The Changing Landscape of Upgrades and Entitlement

11:54 The Shift in Value Proposition for Frequent Flyers

14:29 The Future of Loyalty Programs and Personalization

17:30 Recognition and Emotional Connections in Loyalty Programs

20:23 Gamification and Customer Engagement Strategies

29:51 Navigating Credit Card Value and Offers

37:49 The Future of Co-Branded Credit Cards

54:31 Traveling with Family: A New Perspective

01:00:24 Shifting Travel Preferences and Experiences

01:03:14 Traveling with Kids: Strategies and Challenges

01:09:58 Memorable Travel Experiences: Stories from the Road

01:15:02 The Value of Travel: Understanding Different Cultures

01:21:08 Reflections on Travel: The Good and the Bad

01:25:33 Favorite Travel Deals: A Look Back at Opportunities

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Festivus 2025

Episode 70: Show Notes

Keywords

Festivus, travel, airlines, loyalty programs, grievances, travel stories, miles, points, travel achievements, travel miracles

Summary

Our Annual Festivus Tradition continues! In this episode, we celebrate Festivus with special guest JT Genter, discussing our travel experiences. We air our grievances with airlines and loyalty programs, we share our feats of strength and celebrate our Festivus miracles. Break out your festivus pole and join us as we reflect on the past year.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Intros

03:53 Airing of Grievances

28:18 Feats of Strength

56:42 Festivus Miracles

01:11:44 Wrapping Up

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Episode 69: Show Notes

Trevor and Thomas are the ultimate travel friends, and part of what makes their trips so memorable is that they both maximize the journey as much as the destination! Today on Travel Stories, we are doing something a little bit different; we are breaking down the ins and outs of planning a guy’s trip so that you, too, can make your next trip about the journey, not just the destination! In this episode, you’ll hear all about how Thomas and Trevor decided where to go on this trip, some of their award searching strategies, the breakthrough that led to their location decision, and so much more! We delve into their lounge experiences before Thomas tells us about his disappointing trip home and the obstacles they faced with regard to hotel availability. They even talk about the three different award tickets they ended up with on this trip. Finally, our hosts tell us why so many of their trips are planned ‘at the last minute’ and how they each use their miles differently. Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:04] Today’s topic: what planning a guy’s trip looks like and why we’re talking about this.
• [04:24] Deciding where to go on this trip and how wide our aperture was for it.
• [08:19] The power of using multi-city codes on Seats.aero and how we do award searching.
• [12:35] The breakthrough that came from a Seats.aero alert and ultimately choosing Malta.
• [17:42] Their lounge crawl at London Terminal Three and their other lounge experiences.
• [19:19] An overview of the heartbreak they experienced when booking their trip home.
• [23:45] The importance of looking at different currencies when booking trips.
• [28:12] The obstacles that Trevor and Thomas ran into when booking hotels.
• [36:51] How they ended up with three different award tickets on this trip.
• [40:22] Some of the other trips we are planning and why there is always so much uncertainty.
• [43:00] Why the value of miles is so unique to the person and how we use them differently.

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Episode 68: Show Notes

Keywords

Mediterranean cruise, Delta One, travel experiences, family travel, cruise ports, Royal Caribbean, Allure of the Seas, travel tips, Barcelona, Sorrento, La Spezia, cruise, European cruising, cruise dining experience, service recovery, Mediterranean ports, travel tips, Emirates flight, travel inconveniences

Summary

In this episode, Trevor shares his recent family trip to Europe, highlighting their experiences flying Delta One, cruising on the Allure of the Seas, and exploring various Mediterranean ports. The conversation covers the challenges and joys of traveling with family, the dining experiences on the cruise, and the unique adventures in cities like Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Sorrento. Trevor reflects on the importance of planning and balancing exploration with relaxation during family travels.

Key Points From This Episode:

01:54 JFK's Delta One Lounge

09:11 Getting to Barcelona

12:44 Onboard the Allure of the Seas after its drydock

17:25 Ports of Call

30:15 Civitavecchia is not very close to Rome

38:14 Allure of the Seas Entertainment

45:14 Main Dining Disappointment

55:18 Why Med Cruises Make Sense

01:00:04 A quick hop to Milan on a Singapore Fifth Freedom Flight

01:03:21 Acqui Terme Overnight and Milan Touring

01:07:45 Protests in Milan

01:12:40 Emirates Fifth Freedom Flight Home and Wrapping Up

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Episode 67: Show Notes

When longtime traveler Michael Rubiano arrived in Kathmandu, he expected another bucket-list trip built on miles, status perks, and curiosity. Instead, he found himself trapped in a city on fire. In this unforgettable Travel Stories episode, Michael retraces how a points-fueled getaway turned into a life-threatening crisis as political protests erupted across Nepal. He shares the eerie calm before the chaos, the moment hotel staff fled the kitchen, and the tension of watching fires burn from his 14th-floor room. Michael also reflects on the experiences that shaped his calm under pressure, what it was like being in a hotel under lockdown, his harrowing trip to the airport, and how he navigated the escalating danger. From the professionalism of Hyatt staff who sheltered guests, to the quiet fear of watching smoke rise from his window, his story reveals how trust, adaptability, and human kindness can carry us through the unexpected. Tune in to hear about Michael’s unbelievable experience and a powerful reminder of how fragile and profound travel can be.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:42] Introducing Michael Rubiano, the concept of a MegaDo (an in-person gathering of travel aficionados), and the type of trips they do together.
• [04:13] An overview of Flyertalk, its history, and how it was created for flyer communities.
• [08:01] Reaching lifetime elite status, Michael’s first experiences of MegaDos, the most valuable loyalty programs, and how being on the West Coast influences his travel choices.
• [15:52] What drove Michael's decision to travel to Nepal, including Hyatt loyalty incentives and his four travel principles.
• [20:14] He explains his route via Cathay Pacific and how Nepal fit all his travel criteria.
• [24:29] Arriving in Kathmandu and reflections on privilege and safety abroad.
• [29:56] Michael’s experience exploring Kathmandu, getting a feel of the city, and taking a flight over the Himalayas, before the crisis.
• [36:23] A timeline of the protests in Nepal: Michael recounts the start of the unrest, how the protests quickly escalated, fires erupted, and curfews began.
• [45:59] Michael’s hotel lockdown experience, the escalating crisis, and his mindset throughout.
• [51:53] Preparations to evacuate and his detailed planning of what to carry and what to leave.
• [58:29] Rebooking his flight, his failed attempts to leave, and his tense journey to the airport.
• [01:10:50] The exceptional support shown by the Hyatt staff during the crisis, the relief Michael felt when he was in the air, and his surreal experience in Bangkok.
• [01:13:16] Reflections on the human side of travel and how crises like these reshape your perspective.
• [01:19:34] Learn about Michael’s work as a luxury travel advisor and how to get in touch.

Quotes:

“[A MegaDo] is a gathering of frequent flyer aficionados talking about miles points and going behind the scenes in places that you don't normally get to see in an airplane, in an airport, in a hotel.” — Michael Rubiano [03:51]

“I've been lots of places, not everywhere, but lots of places, and I'm always seeking the new and the novel.” — Michael Rubiano [18:03]

“I get an email from the STEP program, saying, ‘Beware that there are protests in the southern part of the city, near Parliament, and you might want to avoid the area.’ Okay, I wasn't anywhere near there. I was in the southwest part of the city. I wasn't getting involved in any protests.” — Michael Rubiano [40:58]

“In the protests that were taking place on that Monday, — 19 people were killed, which set everything ablaze.” — Michael Rubiano [42:30]

“A mob mentality takes on a life of its own. What started out as protests about corruption and nepotism and lack of job opportunities, lack of economic opportunity blew up, and all of a sudden you don't know which end is up.” — Michael Rubiano [48:53]

“In my mind, if hotel staff are bolting out of the kitchen, I'd better get up back to my 14th-floor room. That is the first time that I said, ‘Okay, the danger is getting close to home.’” — Michael Rubiano [49:59]

“When I went down to breakfast the next day at the hotel, I made sure to take my backpack, because what happens if something happens and I can't get back up to the 14th floor? So that backpack went with me everywhere.” — Michael Rubiano [58:14]

“The hotel staff of the Hyatt Centric [were still] taking care of us when they had their own families and other worries to be concerned with. They were always making sure that we had food. They were still doing room service!” — Michael Rubiano [01:11:07]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Michael Rubiano email

Michael Rubiano on Instagram

Flyertalk

The Flight Deal

Hyatt Centric

Cathay Pacific

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Episode 66: Show Notes

In this episode, we sit down with seasoned traveler Paul to hear how his family’s mother-daughter trip availed him the opportunity to experience some of the world’s most premium cabins, lounges, and first-class travel experiences. Paul tells us about the Swiss First Class he flew his wife and daughter on after a last-minute Lufthansa cancellation; how he flew Emirates’ stunning 777 “Game Changer”, and the A380 First Class with onboard shower and bar. Find out about Qatar’s A380 First with champagne and lounge bar, and Paul’s series of memorable stopovers from his solo trip. He also shares insights into booking strategies, compares service and food across carriers, and unpacks the pros and cons of the Al Safwa lounge in Doha. You’ll also hear about his adventures into the desert, Etihad’s new terminal with chauffeur service, and lessons any miles and points traveler can use for aspirational awards. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:03:00] How Paul’s reroute landed his family unexpectedly in Swiss First after a cancellation.
• [0:10:38] Paul’s solo trip without the family, what surprised him about the American Airlines’ lounge, and his thoughts on the LOT’s lounge in Chicago.
• [0:17:25] What makes Emirates’ 777 ‘Game Changer’ cabin stand out, how he swapped seats for more privacy, and the type of menu and amenities Emirates First has to offer.
• [0:34:35] Hear how a free Dubai stopover turned into a city visit, comparison of two Emirates First lounge experiences, and a last-minute booking change.
• [0:42:00] Emirates’ A380 First, showering on his flight, the food, and how the overall experience compared to other first-class flights.
• [0:49:26] Paul’s Bangkok stopover at the Grand Hyatt, why it is great for a short stay, and his impressions of the Qatar Premium Lounge in Bangkok.
• [0:53:26] Qatar’s A380 First with champagne, unique bar hangouts, and the premium service on the way to Doha.
• [0:58:15] Highlights of a 20-hour Doha layover, desert dunes tour, his Hyatt Regency stay, and why the Al Safwa First Lounge feels more like a museum.
• [1:03:40] How a short Qsuite flight between Doha and Dubai still delivers a full meal and luxury service, and what he appreciated about the new Abu Dhabi terminal.
• [1:13:55] Why he had an issue with the massage Etihad lounge offers, his early flight back to Toronto, and the amenity kits he got.
• [1:25:05] Why Etihad first class is not comparable to other airlines, his arrival back home, and takeaway booking hacks.

Quotes:

“I think if my wife and I ever want to fly Emirates, I would probably go ahead and get the [the loyalty program] and book directly into first class and not take a risk on upgrades being available.” — Paul [0:42:29]

“In my opinion, you can never go wrong with pre-ordering [meals].” — @tmount [0:56:00]

“It was actually plenty of space using Etihad miles to [fly] to Toronto because I think people are less interested in flying it to Toronto than New York.” — Paul [1:16:45]

“[Etihad] has come down, so poorly, and it’s really sad to see because I want to see a third meaningful airline.” — @tmount [1:20:36]

“The hard product sells you on booking the experience, and the soft product keeps you coming back for more.” — @tmount [1:27:15]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Empty Nester Miles

American Airlines Admirals Club®

LOT Business Lounge Chicago

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

Qatar Premium Lounge Bangkok

Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha

Al Safwa First Lounge

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Episode 65: Show Notes

Today on the show, we welcome Justin Vacula, who takes us through an introduction to a master's in maximizing gambling opportunities from a points and miles perspective. Justin is an accomplished travel ‘hacker’ and host of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, among other achievements. In our conversation today, we delve into the cross between miles, points, and gambling, unpack the advantages of using casino cards, when it’s a good time to sign up for these cards, and dive into a discussion on how Caesar’s credit cards stack up against MGM cards. Justin breaks down all things Vegas, what you need to know about the ground truth, how Vegas is like Disney World for adults, why he doesn’t interact with minibars, and why there will ultimately be some work involved to maximize your trip. He gives insights into his phone army and how to play different games on different phones to get points. We also hear about his contributions to various travel-related conferences, how to prepare for Zorkfest, why Dave Ramsey is not accurate for everyone, and why he strives to educate people to make informed choices about the positives and negatives of loyalty programs. For all this, and more, including his experience gambling on the seas, be sure to start listening now.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:45] We are introduced to today’s guest, Justin Vacula.
• [02:30] Travel hacking: the cross between miles, points, and gambling.
• [03:45] Leveraging different gambling loyalties: how to utilize them uniquely.
• [05:30] What a 2-5% advantage means when you load a card.
• [07:00] Justin breaks down his online blackjack strategy.
• [09:10] The advantages of using recently released casino cards.
• [13:00] A good time to sign up for these cards: start planning out for 2026.
• [14:05] How Caesar’s credit cards stack up against the MGM cards.
• [16:10] A PSA on the Wyndam card.
• [17:25] We talk all things Vegas: the ground truth.
• [21:10] Justin’s phone army: playing different games on different phones to get points.
• [27:00] His personal rule: do not interact with minibars.
• [28:09] Vegas as an adult version of Disney World: sacrifice to maximize.
• [31:25] Justin’s contributions through conferences.
• [35:45] Preparing for Zorkfest.
• [37:30] Travel interfering with other travel: a nice problem to have.
• [39:30] Why Dave Ramsey is not accurate for everyone.
• [42:00] The importance of educating people on the positives and negatives of loyalty programs: make an informed choice.
• [42:50] Justin shares his experience gambling on the seas (on cruise ships).
• [47:30] How to get a hold of Justin’s content.

Quotes:

“There are lots of intersections between miles, points, and gambling, and I’ve been saying for years that it’s valuable to have status, to earn status, and there are many creative ways to do that without actually gambling [and] playing on the square.” — @justinvacula [0:02:37]

“Of course, we know, the answer to everything is more credit cards!” — @justinvacula [0:13:41]

“For years I’ve been saying, ‘Have backup methods and have status’ in other ways.’” — @justinvacula [0:16:34]

“I think Vegas is one of the cheapest places to travel to. [There’s] tons of value, tons to do, [and] lots of free entertainment!” — @justinvacula [0:18:24]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Justin Vacula on X

Justin Vacula on YouTube

Justin Vacula on Instagram

Hurdy Gurdy Travel

Wyndam Rewards Earner Cards

Caesars Credit Cards

MGM Credit Cards

Staples Rewards

Las Vegas Sphere

Greater Philadelphia Travel: Credit, Miles, and Points

Giants Hyper

Chicago Seminars Hyatt

Zorkfest

Zorkcast Podcast Spotify

Michael Trager

Boyd Gaming

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Celebrity Cruises

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Epic Guys Trip 2.0 with Geoff and Joey

Episode 64: Show Notes.

Buckle up, because in this episode of Travel Stories, Geoff and Joey are back to share their recent epic guys’ trip to watch Formula 1 in Montreal with TK and Trevor! Listening in, you’ll hear us break down the three different race days, the types of tickets, our experiences of practice day and qualifying day, and so much more! We delve into what seats we think are the best and how to navigate the food situation before discussing whether we would return or not. We even share our dinner experience at Au Pied de Cochon. Finally, you’ll hear about our interesting trip out of Montreal by train. You don’t want to miss this one, so be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:44] Welcoming Geoff and Joey back to the show to host.
• [02:23] Why TK, Trevor, Geoff, and Joey went to Montreal recently.
• [04:02] An explanation of what happens at a Formula 1 racetrack.
• [05:46] A breakdown of the different Formula 1 ticket styles.
• [08:41] What our experiences were like on Friday, practice day.
• [15:36] Qualifying day, the incredible seats we had, and the food at the race.
• [26:44] Whether we will go back to F1 Montreal or not, and what the Hyatt was like.
• [32:20] Our dinner experience at Au Pied de Cochon: what we liked and didn’t like.
• [36:05] What it was like to travel out of Montreal by train.

Quotes:

“You can have any experience you like at an F1 race and curate it to your desires and your budget.” — Geoff [07:57]

“I actually liked our seats on Saturday the most [and they] didn’t have hospitality.” — @joeyredmond [10:39]

“I think Montreal was really great value, and for me, one of the best ways to dip my toe into the Formula 1 experience.” — @TktweetsKim [28:18]

“The food was good, I thought the overall experience was good, [and] the wifi was strong. Sometimes we take that for granted on trains.” — @tmount [37:30]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Joey Redmond

Joey Redmond on X

Liberty Media

Au Pied de Cochon

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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An Icelandic Cruise

Episode 63: Show Notes

In mild protest against our usual summer holiday trend, Tom decided to go on a big trip, and today, we unpack everything he experienced on his Icelandic cruise aboard the Holland America Rotterdam. We begin with Tom’s transatlantic flight in economy (the horror!) before learning about local transport options when traveling from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. Tom goes on to deliver an overview of the Holland America cruise line as we hear about the on-board food quality, housekeeping and safety protocols, how they live entertainment measures up against Royal Caribbean’s benchmark, and everything you need to know about the Holland America casino. We also unpack multiple chance encounters Tom had with familiar faces, as well as his highlights from the ports and tourist attractions he visited. To end, Tom details his journey home on a low-cost carrier airline, and Trevor offers a sneak peek into his upcoming cruise on one of the Mediterranean’s largest vessels.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] How Tom’s summer trip began with a transatlantic flight in economy to Amsterdam.
• [06:43] Getting to port: How he traveled from Amsterdam to Rotterdam.
• [15:16] An overview of the Holland America Rotterdam.
• [16:18] Food quality on board, how the main dining room works, and housekeeping protocols.
• [20:18] How the live entertainment measures up against the Royal Caribbean benchmark.
• [23:01] Chance encounters with familiar faces, sharing points and rewards, and gift cards.
• [29:21] Highlights of the Holland America casino.
• [33:48] The ports and attractions Tom visited, starting with Norway and ending in Iceland.
• [45:08] Departing from Keflavík International Airport on a low-cost carrier.
• [48:40] Tom’s final thoughts on Holland America, and a peek at Trevor’s upcoming cruise.

Quotes:

“For a six-hour flight across the Atlantic, the economy experience was not bad at all. It was very reasonable and pretty comfortable. Lately, all my transatlantic flights have been economy, one stop over the Atlantic, and they’ve been working out so far.” — @TktweetsKim [05:18]

“The quality of food was very high, and we only did complimentary food; we didn’t go to any specialty restaurants.” — @TktweetsKim [16:48]

“One of the things that always separates a cruise experience from almost any other vacation experience [is] the ability to have a meal at the same time, with the same waiter, [and] at the same table. You get this feeling like you’re a local by the second or third day.” — @tmount [17:51]

“The live music was good, and if you’re a music lover, you’ll probably find something to enjoy. [However], if you’re looking for an ice show or acrobatics or a Broadway musical, I don’t think you’re going to find it on Holland America.” — @TktweetsKim [21:58]

“I’m so glad I didn’t have to buy too much in Iceland because everything is expensive there.” — @TktweetsKim [42:21]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Holland America Rotterdam

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Winmatch365

Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges

Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport

JetBlue

Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

Princess Cruises

Norwegian Fjords Cruises

Celebrity Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Episode 33: Cruise Loyalty with Traveling Well for Less' Debra Schroeder

Port of Rotterdam

Ålesund City & Surroundings

Akureyri, Iceland | Arctic Wonders on a European Cruise

Mývatn Nature Baths

Goðafoss Waterfall

Ísafjörður, Iceland | Wild Westfjords on an Iceland Cruise

Keflavík International Airport

Icelandair

WOW Air

The Ritz-Carlton

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Episode 62: Show Notes

Friend of the show, Han Chicago, is fast becoming one of our most frequent and favorite guests, and today he joins Trevor and Tom to reminisce about his recent transatlantic trip. First, Han walks us through Ben Schlappig’s Lufthansa debacle before explaining how another travel aficionado, Matthew Klint, influenced his itinerary for his transatlantic Memorial Day weekend trip. Then, we learn why Han travelled not once but twice across the Atlantic on the same trip, how airlines change aircrafts without alerting passengers causing booking and seating complications, why flying economy across the Atlantic is a better option now than ever before, the ins and out of the Delta One Lounge at JFK, and Han’s short stay in London. Trevor, Tom, and Han all share similar negative experiences of the Frankfurt airport, and after trying to ascertain why Frankfurt is one of Europe’s least pleasant airports, they all agree that Lufthansa First Class is better in the air than on the ground. We also discuss the new T5 train at O’Hare International Airport, what American Airlines is getting wrong with their new 787 flagship seats, the standout moments from Han’s transatlantic journey, and everything that our guest has planned for the near future. To end, we unpack Boeing’s never-ending woes, Han’s final thoughts on JetBlue’s transatlantic product, and what the future of aviation may hold in terms of Business and First Class layouts.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:00] Han Chicago shares important travel news about Ben Schlappig and Lufthansa.
• [0:10:00] The way Matthew Klint influenced Han’s transatlantic Memorial Day weekend trip.
• [0:15:21] How one transatlantic trip became two, and being “Qatared” onto a lesser aircraft.
• [0:18:17] Why transatlantic trips in economy are more appealing today than ever before.
• [0:20:40] The Delta One Lounge at JFK, a short London stay, and travelling from Heathrow.
• [0:32:50] Frankfurt versus Munich, and comparing aircraft to address airline inconsistencies.
• [0:43:16] Han’s highs and lows from his time at Frankfurt airport.
• [0:55:15] Why Lufthansa First Class is a better in-air experience compared to on the ground.
• [1:02:28] Landing at O’Hare, the new T5 train, and American Airlines’ 787 flagship seats.
• [1:10:35] The flight from Frankfurt to Munich and other standout moments from Han’s trip.
• [1:14:20] Acquisitions and everything else our guest has planned for his future.
• [1:16:42] Unpacking Boeing’s persistent woes.
• [1:22:48] Han’s review of JetBlue’s transatlantic product.
• [1:29:24] The future of aviation: A new era of Business and First Class products.

Quotes:

“The devil’s in the details on some of these partner programs.” — @tmount [0:16:14]

“Guys, to me, [the Delta One Lounge at JFK] is one of the best lounges in the US, and it can rival a lot of lounges overseas, too.” — @hanchicago [0:20:54]

“I’m trying to fly all the A380s on all the airlines that still fly them. After Lufthansa, the only one I think I have left now is Korean [Air].” — @hanchicago [0:31:43]

“Frankfurt is one of the least pleasant airports in Europe. Considering you’ve got Charles de Gaulle and Heathrow included there, that’s saying something.” — @TktweetsKim [0:44:57]

“Luckily, I made all my connections. So many times, I could’ve missed something; something could’ve gone wrong. That’s definitely happened to me on these kinds of [trips before], but Memorial Day weekend, it all worked out.” — @hanchicago [1:02:12]

“I’m always looking for that special feeling. And I have to say, as much as we started this episode off about bagging on Lufthansa for this and that, I would say that they deliver that [feeling] for me.” — @hanchicago [1:10:48]

“It’s turbulent times for us in the world, on various fronts.” — @hanchicago [1:12:38]

“Everyone’s planning a new first-class seat, but because of Boeing’s woes, everyone’s putting that off as to when they’re going to introduce it.” — @hanchicago [1:16:34]

“It’s a blessing to get on any of these aircrafts. Let’s never forget. It’s a blessing to be able to fly the way that we fly [and] in the luxury that we get to experience.” — @tmount [1:31:52]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Han Chicago on X

Han Chicago on Instagram

Episode 30: First Time Istanbul Visit with Han

Episode 53: Aspirational Flying with Han Chicago

Lufthansa Allegris First Class

‘Frustrating Lufthansa Allegris First Class Upgrade Glitch’

‘Lol, Oops: Downgraded From Lufthansa Allegris First Class’

‘American’s Brand New Boeing 787 Has Serious Maintenance Issues’

Ben Schlappig on Instagram

Matthew Klint | Live and Let's Fly

Alaska Airlines

JetBlue

Etihad Airways

Qatar Airways

Virgin Atlantic

Delta One

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Chase Sapphire Lounge

SkyClub

Priority Pass

Korean Air

Thai Airways

American Airlines

United Airlines

U.S. Bank

JonNYC on X

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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We're back! We cut this show as the last segment of a Patreon Episode, and are releasing it here a little delayed for everyone to listen.

0:21 Main Topic: Airline Miles vs Bank Points

0:52 Set the stage: Why is this an important discussion.

• Every major bank has a bank point. Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TYP, WF Rewards, BofA Rewards, US Bank….
• Most of these can be cashed out for pennies (or fractions of) OR can be used in the bank run travel portal for more than a penny.
• Finally some of these can be transferred to airlines as airline miles. These have completely different booking methods and tools, along with a varied amount of value based on the flight or hotel booked.
• Maximizing value for these miles is a key to earning back the time and money we spend to earn the miles. Example: It almost never makes sense to cash out MR at .6 cents. (news story)

5:51 Bank Point bookings Benefits:

• Cancel and points can just come back
  • Need to book a refundable fare, eating away the value
• Open to booking across all alliances and even airlines that have no native point or alliance.
• As long as it is in the portal you can book it. Sometimes phone agents can see even more.
• 1:1 pricing for most airline tickets.
• Airline bookings are elite benefit eligible and earn miles
• Hotel bookings are now allowing loyalty numbers to sometimes be added for elite benefits

13:09 Airline Miles Benefits:

• Massive flexibility for most domestic carrier programs. Cancel as close in as you’d like. Great for provisional flights
• Value is not pegged to the dollar cost of a flight, in some cases this results in fantastic values.
• Economy fares can be incredibly valuable uses of miles if you’re interested in them for long haul flights.
• Newer tools make searching easier, but still a hurdle

19:44 Airline Mile Weaknesses

• Pricing is highly dynamic and the programs are each unique and have complex rules and booking channels.
• There need to be reasonably priced award seats or your miles can become worth less than a bank point.
• Orphaned miles have no benefit outside of the program they’re in.
• Phantom space.
• Business class fares for more than 2 people become increasingly difficult to book.
• Some dates and destinations are effectively blocked out
• Large learning curve.

24:27 Bank point Weaknesses

• Limited upside potential, each program caps the value somewhere between 1.25 and 2 cents per point
• Hotel prices can be inflated, reducing the value earned by the points
• The ability to book anything depends on the bank point portal, which sometimes is less robust that a native airline/hotel portal or even an OTA like booking.com
• The card associated with the uplift needs to remain open for the points to have uplift. This is impractical for some, and costly if annual fees cannot be eradicated.

31:01 Airline Mile Uses that don’t get enough Discussion

• KLM/AF have <20,000 mile ($200 worth of points) nonstop flights one way + about $90. The Equivalent of $600 round trip to Europe is a steal. Compare to about $1300-1800 round trip during peak times. Yes you can pivot to lower cost or 1 stop for less. But nonstop with native international miles is a great deal.
• Business class when you’re flexible enough. 50,000-100,000 per person one way.

33:42 Examples where Bank points win:

• Domestic flights, nonstop on the day you want.
• Can sometimes find first class lower priced than you’d expect.

What about you? What do you think is a strength of Airline Miles or Bank Points that doesn't get enough discussion? Share out here in the comments or on Social media.

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Episode 61: Show Notes

The World Expo 2025 took place in Osaka, Japan, and Tom and Trevor had the pleasure of bumping into their old friend, Brennan Anderson. Brennan was our first-ever guest on this podcast, and we are thrilled to have him back as he walks us through his experience in Osaka. Brennan begins by explaining why he and his family chose to travel to the Osaka Expo before detailing how the Expo met most of his high expectations. After listing the various names that the World Expo is known as, we examine the level of research and planning needed to enjoy the Expo to the fullest, the problems we had with the complicated ticketing system, the highs and lows of Brennan’s three days at the Expo, and appreciation for the sheer size of the Osaka installment. Then, we hear our guest’s thoughts about traveling with a one-year-old, his general food experience at the Expo, his advice for when and where to shop as a tourist, and highlights from the rest of his time in Osaka and Japan. We also marvel at Japan’s kid-friendliness, general accessibility, and incredible nationwide hospitality. To end, Brennan details his travel itinerary including the airlines, cities, hotels, and transportation options he utilized, and shares his final thoughts on traveling in Japan.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Welcoming Brennan Anderson back to the show – our very first guest on this podcast.
• [01:30] Understanding what drew him to visit the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
• [02:33] Whether the Expo met his expectations, and the Expo’s various name iterations.
• [04:25] The level of planning and research needed to explore and enjoy the Expo fully.
• [07:30] Fallouts from an unnecessarily complicated ticketing system.
• [11:11] Brennan walks us through the highs and lows of his three-day Expo experience.
• [12:15] The Saudi Arabia pavilion, the size of the Osaka Expo, and the Australian pavilion.
• [16:03] Brennan’s thoughts on traveling and navigating the Expo with a one-year-old.
• [18:52] His food experience, a hilarious baby food mix-up, and his advice for when to shop.
• [26:12] Highlights from his time in Osaka when he and his family explored the city.
• [27:04] Praise for Japan’s kid-friendliness and general accessibility.
• [29:08] The train to Tokyo, food in Japan, and Japanese hospitality.
• [35:59] Brennan’s travel itinerary – airlines, cities, public transport, and hotels.
• [38:59] The ins and outs of the Conrad Osaka, and attendance numbers at this year’s Expo.
• [44:30] Final thoughts on traveling in Japan and Expo Osaka, 2025.

Quotes:

“The Osaka Expo was huge.” — Brennan Anderson [13:58]

“We’re learning how to travel with a baby. – You can’t do as much as you can without kids, but seeing things through his eyes and what he pays attention to as a one-year-old is really rewarding.” — Brennan Anderson [16:18]

“Japan, in general, is very kid-friendly [and] very accessible.” — Brennan Anderson [16:41]

“It’s one of those things that kind of connects you to an area. It’s great when your kids are able to make friends with somebody local and run around for a little bit. It really just feels like a local experience. It’s a lot of fun.” — Brennan Anderson [27:56]

“Everything we had was delicious. Neither my wife nor I are really that big on Japanese food, but we really loved everything we had.” — Brennan Anderson [31:27]

“Everybody was just so friendly, so hospitable, and really just made you feel at home.” — Brennan Anderson [32:30]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brennan Anderson on Instagram

Episode 6: Full-Time Travel with Brennan Anderson

World Expo 2025, Osaka

Osaka Castle

Finnair

Conrad Osaka

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Episode 60: Show Notes

This year, only one of us had a Memorial Day trip, at least on a plane, and this episode is all about that! This trip also marks Trevor’s family’s first international long-haul trip since January of this year. From their experience at the Centurion Lounge at Washington, DC’s Reagan-National airport, to managing flights with a toddler, Trevor shares the highlights. We start with Tom’s fishing trip to Chesapeake before diving into Trevor’s vacation, which began on a boat and continued with a JetBlue flight to Madrid via Boston. He talks about lounge experiences, including Capital One and Chase Sapphire, and offers tips for handling naps and meals in-flight. In Madrid, Trevor shares why this visit topped previous ones, from the Thompson hotel to great food. The family then flew to Valencia on Air Europa, explored major sites, stayed at Palacio Santa Clara, enjoyed paella, visited the zoo, and saw local protests. The trip ended with a stop in Frankfurt and a return to New York on a Spontaneous Escapes deal from Singapore Airlines. Tune in to learn what he enjoyed most, what he would do differently, and what he most recommends to listeners.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:42] Tom’s fishing trip to Chesapeake and the beginning of Trevor’s Memorial Day vacation on a boat.
• [04:33] Trevor and his family’s experience of their first long-haul flight since January.
• [09:15] Capital One Landing Lounges, the Jet Blue trip to Boston, and his experience at the Chase Sapphire Lounges.
• [16:30] The Jet Blue Trip to Madrid, timing his daughter’s naps, and meal logistics on Jet Blue.
• [22:55] Why this experience of Madrid was even better than before and his experience of The Thompson.
• [24:37] Dining experiences in Madrid, parks, and other activities Trevor’s family enjoyed.
• [28:48] Highlights and lowlights of Valencia which Trevor travelled to on Air Europa.
• [33:15] Three incredible architectural sites his family was able to see.
• [38:26] Staying at the art hotel, Palacio Santa Clara, eating paella in Valencia, and a visit to the zoo.
• [47:15] Coming across protests in Valencia and visiting the old market before flying to Frankfurt.
• [51:54] The Valencia Airport and flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt.
• [56:08] What Trevor is considering for his next trip to Madrid and what he loved about it.
• [58:25] Taking the Spontaneous Escapes Offer from Singapore and getting back to New York.

Quotes:

“One of the great advantages of travel is to be able to see some of mankind’s amazing achievements in the arts, and architecture is definitely one of them.” — @TktweetsKim [38:17]

“Valencia is known for [its] paella, and it is truly incredible.” — @tmount [39:47]

“If you’re going to Spain, put Valencia on your list, and if you’ve got kids, put the Bioparc in Valencia on your list.” — @tmount [46:24]

“The city is just so incredibly walkable in Madrid.” — @tmount [56:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Hyatt Regency MadridBiopic ValenciaPuerto de IndiasPalacio Santa ClaraQueen Sofia Palace of ArtsMusee de les CiencesAir Europa

Travelstories Episode 8El Retiro ParkEl Calamar Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges

Jet BlueCapital One LoungesThomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Around the World with Hello Kitty

Episode 59: Show Notes.

When EVA Air released its Hello Kitty livery on a 777-300ER, we just knew we had to hop on! Today, 10 years later, we reflect on our EVA Air Hello Kitty trip and why this particular adventure is still one of our most memorable. We discuss how we became aware of the Hello Kitty jet, the near-disaster of our first connection, and the wonder of our in-flight experience with Hello Kitty branding, literally, everywhere! Then, we examine our itinerary, which included stops in Taiwan, Bangkok, Vientiane, Laos, and Singapore, before detailing our experience of the Crowne Plaza Vientiane and other attractions Laos had to offer. We also learn of Tom’s unlikely affair with beer, his aversion to Thai foot massages, why we’re definitely going to do an entire Fifth Freedom Flight episode, and why taxis in Singapore may have saved Trevor’s marriage. To end, we share fond—and socially unacceptable— memories of the entire Lufthansa First-Class (drink!) service, and we rank our Hello Kitty trip as a complete travel experience worthy of high praise.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Setting the tone and reintroducing the Drinking Word of the Day.
• [02:25] Why our Hello Kitty trip from 10 years ago is one of our most memorable adventures.
• [03:25] How we found EVA Air’s Hello Kitty jet, and our first boarding debacle.
• [07:29] Our onboard experience – so much better than the average 777 flight!
• [10:59] Unpacking our slog of an itinerary, and everything we remember about Taipei.
• [15:00] Flying to Bangkok and Laos, the Crowne Plaza Vientiane, and activities in Laos.
• [21:15] The COPE Visitor Centre, the Mekong River, and beer with ice cubes.
• [27:25] A rooftop bar in Bangkok, Thai foot massages, and a Freedom Flight to Singapore.
• [31:13] Why taxis are a better option than mass transit in Singapore.
• [33:30] Lufthansa First-Class (drink!), and the most interesting purser we’ve encountered.
• [40:03] More love for everything Lufthansa First-Class (drink!) has to offer.
• [43:34] The joys of having a premium experience in the final leg of your trip.
• [45:14] Ranking our Hello Kitty trip: A wonderful experience from beginning to end.

Quotes:

“Everything was Hello Kitty. You had the Hello Kitty-imprinted butter. You had Hello Kitty signage everywhere. Even the toilet paper in the lavatory was Hello Kitty.” — @tmount [08:31]

“That’s probably the only airline experience that I’ve ever had that has been so complete. It was almost like a Disney World-type experience where they just had everything right; everything aligned to Hello Kitty. I was really impressed with that.” — @tmount [09:09]

“Any lounge that provides ice cream – they get an extra star automatically.” — @TktweetsKim [14:43]

“I am absolutely not a beer drinker. I actually usually detest the beverage – [but] for the weather, for the environment, [Beerlao] was just the best beverage.” — @TktweetsKim [24:22]

“I cannot think of a bad Cathay flight that I’ve flown.” — @TktweetsKim [29:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

EVA Air

EVA Air | Hello Kitty Jet

Sanrio | The Official Home of Hello Kitty and Friends

Lufthansa

Thai Airways

Bangkok Airways

Crowne Plaza Vientiane

COPE Visitor Centre

Beerlao Lager

Cathay Pacific

United Airlines

The La Première Experience | Air France

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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No Way Home

Episode 58: Show Notes.

Planning the trips are getting harder and harder. The way home often becomes more challenging, with many more constraining factors. This episode we’re unpacking why. We begin with our examples of going on trips without planning the route home before exploring the limiting factors that make the trip home a daunting prospect. We throw some tangents in along the way including a discussion of Fifth Freedom Flights, the current state of airline alliances, the merits of flying non-premium over the Atlantic, and why “unicorn” destinations are harder to visit now than ever before. We also look inward to see how our miles and points behavior limits our choices, how procrastination paralysis leads to incomplete bookings, why alternative routes home when flying may not be an answer, and TK’s troubling cruise moment when looking for a way back home. We end with an oddity that Tom has latched onto and how this may affect your September travel plans, and we discuss why a lack of airport arrival lounges compounds the woes of traveling home.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Our conclusion: Planning the trip home is much harder than it should be.
• [01:30] Examples of our partial trip syndrome – travelling without a way back home.
• [04:01] Limiting factors: Analysis paralysis, and more reasons why going home is harder.
• [08:35] Unpacking Freedom Flights and why we’ll dedicate an entire episode to these.
• [11:06] Why the world, in all its expanse, is still widely unattainable for travel.
• [12:29] The current state of airline alliances, and the airlines we’d like to try for the first time.
• [18:09] Revisiting the merits of flying economy on transatlantic flights.
• [19:23] Why it’s becoming even more difficult to visit “unicorn” destinations.
• [22:02] How our miles and points experience makes it harder to make decisions.
• [23:40] Procrastination paralysis, our upcoming trip to Spain, and incomplete bookings.
• [27:39] How pushing hard for the exact travel experience you want limits your other options.
• [29:32] What to do when you’re stuck; exploring alternatives to finding your way home.
• [31:08] How TK was almost thwarted from a cruise back home.
• [37:52] An oddity TK has picked up on, and what this means for September travel.
• [44:30] The role of airport lounges in making decisions about going home.

Quotes:

“This has been an unspoken rule, where we’re always seeming to have a lot more difficulty figuring out how we’re getting home than how we get there.” — @TktweetsKim [01:16]

“The world is our oyster, but it’s really not when you think about it. South America is almost unattainable at this time.” — @tmount [11:08]

“It’s possible to fly non-premium over the Atlantic.” — @TktweetsKim [19:04]

“On your way home, you want that experience. You really want that enjoyment to continue. That’s why I prefer not to fly economy over the Atlantic because I feel like the flight home is an extension of the vacation.” — @tmount [21:31]

“A guy can dream. If we don’t dream, then we have nothing to aspire to.” — @tmount [24:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lufthansa

Delta One®

Ethiopian Airlines

Air India

Etihad

Copa Airlines

Star Alliance

oneworld

SkyTeam

LATAM Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Lufthansa Group

airBaltic

LOT Polish Airlines

ITA Airways

Virgin Atlantic

Eurowings

Edelweiss

Episode 57: Travel Banter with Michael Trager

Liberia

Expo 2025 Osaka

JetBlue

PLAY Airlines

Icelandair

Straight to the Points

Thrifty Traveler

United Airlines

The White Lotus

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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Episode 57: Show Notes.

Sometimes you just need to do some travel banter! And who better to do it with than TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager? In today’s conversation, we discuss our recent travel experiences and dig into the nitty gritty of points, upgrades, flight paths, and so much more. To kick things off, we hear all about Michael’s recent trip to Madrid and the benefits of American Airlines' ConciergeKey status, which Michael has access to thanks to his wife, Ellen! We then discuss optimal flight paths to Europe from different parts of the US, why JetBlue is on the naughty list this week, and how to optimize your next trip to Vegas. Next, we explore the flagship lounge and dining experience on different airlines, before discussing why it sometimes makes sense to pay for travel (because you can’t do everything on points) and the exceptional cases where we break our own rules. We also dive into Marriott points and benefits, including getting the fifth night free, the challenges of hotel hopping, and the importance of a positive arrival experience; especially if you have your family in tow. Finally, Michael tells us the essential details and updates for ZorkFest 2025, including the festival’s four-star accommodation, their new miles and points labs, their epic foodie and beverage dining experience, the speakers they have lined up, and much more. Be sure to tune in to hear the full scope of our travel banter conversation with Michael Trager!Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00:49] Introducing TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager.
• [00:03:17] All the details of Michael’s visit to Madrid.
• [00:06:00] The benefits of having ConciergeKey status.
• [00:12:07] Debating the value of a premium economy cabin.
• [00:16:09] Optimizing your flight from different parts of the US to Europe.
• [00:21:09] Reasons why JetBlue is on the Naughty list this week.
• [00:29:43] Why is Michael saying farewell to his trip to Greece this summer.
• [00:31:26] Getting special awards and upgrades with American Airlines.
• [00:34:17] Key considerations for optimizing your trip to Vegas.
• [00:35:17] Getting access to the flagship lounge and dining.
• [00:41:38] Words of appreciation for connoisseur classes.
• [00:44:26] How to balance point accumulation and spending.
• [00:49:31] Tips for navigating Marriott points and benefits, including fifth night free.
• [00:53:49] The challenges of hotel hopping and the benefits of a good arrival experience.
• [00:58:18] Our thoughts on The White Lotus and tourism.
• [00:59:46] Getting information right in travel content.
• [01:01:43] Your guide to a positive arrival experience.
• [01:09:42] Details and Updates for ZorkFest 2025.
• [01:15:24] ZorkFest events: dining, live podcasting, master classes, hotel bookings, and private gaming experiences.
• [01:18:03] The speaking lineup you can expect from this year’s ZorkFest.
• [01:20:22] Booking, tickets, and hotel information.
• [01:22:12] What makes ZorkFest such a unique, unmissable event.
• [01:25:16] Lessons you can expect to learn on casino loyalty and risk management.
• [01:36:11] Why Michael refers to himself as an American Airlines fanboy.
• [01:40:52] Where you can find Michael online.
• [01:43:07] Parting words for today’s travel banter.

Quotes:

“The amount of trouble to position to JFK and then to leave, like, three, four, five, six, hours between the flight to then get a lie flat seat for a flight that maybe is six hours of which maybe, if all of the stars align, you get four hours of sleep. And that's like, if you're really lucky.” — Michael Trager [17:33]

“JetBlue is on my very naughty list, really naughty list this week.” — Michael Trager [21:19]

“That has been a thread or a mantra on this podcast, ‘book the flight or book the room you want’.” — @tmount [56:29]

“When you hit the ground, that's going to set the tone for your entire trip.” — @tmount [56:57]

“Nothing's gonna be as good as a nice, quiet hotel room on the ground for you to recover.” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:34]

“Value is so personal, right? People need to respect that, and a lot of people don't. They think that their truth is the only truth.” — @TktweetsKim [01:09:23]

“This is the first time we are truly having ZorkFest at a very bougie casino property with a very bougie, true four-star room product.” — Michael Trager [01:11:01]

“There are things you learn from casino advantage players like Anthony Curtis, or things that you learn from casino loyalty, that can be parsed to the miles and points world technique-wise.” — Michael Trager [01:25:30]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Michael Trager

Michael Trager on LinkedIn

TravelZork Travel

TravelZork

TravelZork on Facebook

TravelZork on X

TravelZork on Bluesky

TravelZork on Instagram

TravelZork on YouTube

TravelZork, ZorkCast (and ZorkFest too!) - Casinos, Vegas, Miles & Points on Facebook

Join the Zork Fest Mailing List

Yo-11 Podcast | ZorkCast on Spotify

BAEC GOLD + GGL + Premier [British Airways Executive Club] Facebook Group

Hyatt Privé Deals Facebook Group

Cunard | Queen Mary 2 + Entire Line | Cruise Deals, Discussion + Promotions Facebook Group

The M Resort and Spa and Casino, Las Vegas

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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0:25 Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000 Offer

• Direct Link
• $5,000 min spend in 3 months
• $95 annual fee (not waived first year)
• This is a higher than usual offer

05:14 Chase Referrals

• chase.com/referafriend
• 10,000 points for each approval (capped at 100,000 per year)

06:30 Sapphire Churning Restrictions

• Eligible for welcome bonus if it has been >48 months since you last got a Sapphire welcome bonus (Preferred or Reserve)
• 5/24 still applies: 5 credit card approvals in the past 24 months (from any bank)
• Can’t be approved for a Sapphire Preferred if you currently have a Sapphire card (recommend downgrading to Freedom and waiting a month before applying)

12:09 Two Player Mode

• If neither person has a Sapphire card, apply “head on” or through a referral from a friend
• Then refer P2
• Being an authorized user on a card doesn’t prevent getting the welcome bonus
• This will leave you with > 210,000 Ultimate Rewards

13:50 Ultimate Rewards: Value and Utility

• Easy 1 cpp cashout
• Sapphire Preferred 1.25 of uplift for travel booked through Chase portal
• Sapphire Reserve 1.5 cpp of uplift for travel booked through Chase portal (and a $300 per cardmember year travel credit)
• Transfer partners: Hyatt, United, Southwest, and more
• Points can be co-mingled between household
• Inflation in the travel portal is very real.
• Prices for hotels and other activities get tough to compare
• Flights sometimes are pricing at a premium due to issues with fare classes and airlines wanting direct booking.
• It pays to do the math, because a poor redemption can tank the value of your earning, and points are not free.
• Cancellation terms not the same with Travel portal bookings vs. booking with miles sometimes.
• Pay Yourself Back: erase charges in specific categories at >1cpp.

23:31 CSP/CSR Earning Strategy

• Sign up Bonus aside, these two cards are relatively weak in earning.
• This creates a bit of an irony–they’re great cards to hold, but better in union with other UR earning cards
• Freedoms for 5x categories, some chase Business cards also earn 5x
• Over time a stable of chase cards become important
• Pooling of points means that the earning of 5x points can then be moved to your sapphire and redeemed for travel at >1cpp
• 5x at 1.25 = 6.25 cpp, 5x at 1.5 = 7.5 cpp.

28:47 United/Southwest: Opportunity Cost

• For some people these cards are taking up slots and spend they want to use on Southwest or United Cards
• Might be best to get those cards first, holding them long term, then getting the CSP.
• Changes to southwest might make you consider Southwest cards, but be rational, how many trips a year do you actually take?
• The travel landscape changes fast, the flexibility of UR allow you to change with it. Southwest points do not.

31:38 Q2 2025 “Point Offer”

• Targeted: Seeing increased uplift for United/Delta/Qatar premium cabin flights, and some (mostly nicer) hotels

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Two Cruises

Episode 56: Show Notes.

This episode, we head back to the high seas to talk about not one, but two different cruises! Join us as we discuss our experience on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas and Princess Cruise Lines’ Sun Princess. In this detailed discussion, we talk about everything from flight Irregular Operations (IRROPS) and loyalty rewards to dining, entertainment and more, drawing out differences, common features, and what we liked and didn’t like. To kick off our conversation, we talk about flights to Jacksonville and Orlando, and some of the unexpected obstacles along the way. Next, we touch on key aspects of the experience at Utopia of the Seas: facilities, dining, casino, and more, before diving into Thomas’s arrival on the Sun Princess. Comparing the demographics on each ship, Thomas shares what he liked about the dining setup and entertainment options, drawing a comparison with other cruise trips. Despite having been sick, Thomas shares a short review of what he was able to partake in, including a specialty European-style dinner. If you’re curious about the newest ships on two different cruise lines, this episode is for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:45] What this episode will explore: two different cruises.
• [04:13] The journey to Jacksonville and Orlando.
• [12:05] Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas.
• [15:02] Splitting up for lunch on day two before enjoying the ice and aqua shows.
• [22:32] Loyalty, points and miles in the cruise community.
• [26:39] How ‘Name that Tune’ in the Main Theatre exceeded expectations.
• [30:30] Dining on Utopia of the Seas.
• [37:04] The casino experience and final thoughts on the Utopia experience.
• [41:20] One feature both ships share that we agree all cruise ships should have.
• [44:46] Thomas’s arrival on Sun Princess, the buffet, demographic, and entertainment.
• [50:56] Ports on the itinerary and why Thomas only got to experience one of them.
• [51:26] The specialty dinner he got to enjoy: The Butcher’s Block by Dario.
• [55:44] Staff on the Sun Princess in comparison to Royal Caribbean.
• [59:30] Gaming and travel-hacking discussions that will follow in future Patreon episodes.

Quotes:

“One thing that really jumped out at me is, because it’s such a big ship, [there’s so much to do], there’s an ice show, there’s an aqua show, they have two different shows in the main theatre, they’ve got two different slides—you can’t do it all.” — @tmount [13:59]

“I also suspect that putting their best product out there, their newest ship with all the newest bells and whistles and restaurants, they are converting a lot more who may not have been looking at cruises.” — @tmount [13:34]

“For better or for worse, Royal Caribbean is actually pretty good at delivering a standardized product.” — @TktweetsKim [35:44]

“This trip was trying out the newest ships on two different cruise lines. Utopia of the Seas is the newest ship for Royal Caribbean; Sun Princess is the newest ship for Princess Cruise Lines.” — @TktweetsKim [41:24]

“They are taking every opportunity, on Royal Caribbean, to engage with you and make you feel special.” — @TktweetsKim [56:50]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sun Princess

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Episode 55: Show Notes

From COVID to cutbacks, there were a lot of reasons why airlines let go of some of their more luxurious offerings. Today, we dig into the airline products that no longer exist and reflect on the standout examples we loved, missed, or otherwise knew about. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and discuss everything from exceptional service to the most comfortable sleep we’ve had up in the air! We describe our top first class experiences with Thai and Lufthansa, noteworthy changes at Doha, Qatar’s international airports, and our most memorable trips using JetSmarter, the Uber for private jets. You’ll also hear about our unique experience with Etihad Airways, the true premium cabin experience we both missed out on, our favorite economy products that no longer exist, and the amenity kits we prize above all others. Discover the joy of a massage at the Thai Royal First Lounge in Bangkok, the most exceptional ground services we’ve come across, and what services we miss the most!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:37] Today’s topic: Past airline products that we loved, missed, or knew about.
• [01:32] Why airlines have let go of some of their more luxurious offerings.
• [02:06] What the Thai First Class and Bangkok Lounge experience used to be like.
• [06:34] A breakdown of the Thai First Class spa massage offerings.
• [09:14] Transport and escort perks in the heyday of Thai First Class.
• [11:45] Flying Lufthansa First Class and their unique wide-body experience.
• [16:51] The best ground service we had with Lufthansa (and why they should bring it back).
• [20:05] Takeaways from Hamad International Airport and how it has changed.
• [25:47] Past experiences with JetSmarter and the current jet-sharing economy.
• [33:39] The story of our unique travel experiences with Etihad First.
• [36:42] How we missed out on the true premium cabin experience with TAM Airways, now LATAM Airlines.
• [41:30] Our favorite economy products that no longer exist.
• [45:19] The amenity kits we love most, especially from Rimowa.

Quotes:

“We're talking about Thai Airways’ first class lounge, offering a full spa-caliber massage. – You have this oasis among air world, where for an hour you were just in the lap of luxury like no other.” — @tmount [06:48]

“The overall experience [at Hamad International], I thought, was really exclusive, almost more exclusive than the current experience. But I think the current experience is more luxurious.” — @tmount [23:16]

“JetSmarter was all about ‘How do we monetize all these dead legs, all these private aviation flights that they do just to position these planes to where they actually need to be.” — @TktweetsKim [27:04]

“I'm still going to go give LATAM another shot. And if they announce a new business class product, I will be right in line to fly them again.” — @tmount [41:02]

“If I was having to fly over the Atlantic in economy, I would not mind doing it on an A380 in Air France economy.” — @TktweetsKim [43:48]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

TravelStories Episode 53: Aspirational Flying with Han ChicagoTAM 777-300ER First Class Sao Paulo To New York

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Episode 54: Show Notes.

Today, we are taking a trip back in time to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as we approach the fifth anniversary of lockdowns across the globe. Joining us to discuss this period is long-time friend Chris, who was traveling the world when lockdowns hit. In our conversation, he shares his experiences of the pandemic abroad, his tumultuous escape abroad as lockdowns were implemented, and the impact of travel restrictions on global tourism. Chris recounts the chaos and uncertainty around travel, how he altered his plans to avoid getting stuck in quarantine, and the lucky decisions that got him to a holiday destination. We learn about his trip to Thailand and Koh Samui, the challenges he faced in trying to find a place to stay during quarantine, what it was like witnessing the shutdown of major tourist destinations, government support for local tourism industries, and the remarkable resilience of the Thai people.

Next, we shift to a happier topic, Chris’ participation in SAS's million-mile promotion and his airline upgrades and mileage strategies before reflecting on the evolving landscape of points and miles. We also learn about Chris’s involvement in revitalizing the Chicago Seminars for the travel community post-COVID and how volunteers and contributors helped raise nearly 30,000 USD for charity. Join us today as we journey back for a fascinating account of navigating lockdown travel!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00:50] Introducing Chris, his travel experiences during the chaotic onset of pandemic restrictions, and his unplanned trip to Thailand.
• [00:12:01] Navigating Thailand as restrictions were being instituted, and Chris’s odyssey finding a place to stay in Koh Samui.
• [00:20:42] The positive effects of government subsidies for tourism during the pandemic, how Chris found community during his stay, and the impact of quarantines.
• [00:25:33] Why it was so surreal staying at a beautiful resort with so few people.
• [00:29:51] Travel restriction uncertainty: how it stopped Chris from leaving Koh Samui.
• [00:33:08] What it was like when travel restrictions started being lifted.
• [00:38:09] Living out of a suitcase and a backpack for two years.
• [00:41:38] Final reflections and observations on his long stay in Thailand.
• [00:44:08] Details of Chris’s participation in SAS's million-mile promotion.
• [00:50:45] Takeaways from traveling to China, Hong Kong, Argentina, and more.
• [00:59:21] Insights into airline upgrades and mileage strategies.
• [01:14:21] What it took for Chris to succeed at the SAS promotional challenge.
• [01:20:53] Reflections on the promotion and why he would do it again.
• [01:23:10] How Chris helped reinvigorate the Chicago Seminars post-COVID.
• [01:31:48] Final thoughts on the changing landscape of travel and words of appreciation for the travel community.

Quotes:

“One thing that [Thailand] did very well was the government subsidies [which] did pay out for hotels to keep their employees.” — Chris [0:20:43]

“There were very few cases of COVID on the island of Koh Samui for the first year and a half.” — Chris [0:25:10]

“I never learned Thai because I just thought I was going home soon.” — Chris [0:33:16]

“I [was] fortunate to only [have] had one medical issue during the two years over there.” — Chris [0:38:09]

“When I went back for the one-year anniversary for the Hyatt Regency opening, I tipped the entire staff that was there for the whole year – because it meant so much to see them again a year later, that's just a year after I'd already left.” — Chris [0:43:09]

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Episode 53: Show Notes

What does it take to plan the ultimate luxury travel experience? In this episode, Tom and Trevor sit down with returning guest Han Chicago, a well-known aviation enthusiast and premium travel expert, to hear about his recent extravagant, multi-leg trip. Han talks about his first-class flights, luxury airline products, and lounge experiences during his lavish adventure. He breaks down his premium airline experiences and what makes certain airlines excel in service and product quality. Hear why he prefers the luxury suite on the A380 over the Emirates Game Changer suite and what it was like flying in the pinnacle of luxury on Etihad's Residence suite. Han explains how he booked The Residence, what the service was like, and why he got a surprise birthday cake. They also discuss industry trends, the pros and cons of A380s, and why Han thinks A380 First Class remains superior to newer A350 suites. Han also shares insights on luxury travel booking strategies and how to acquire more airline miles for top-tier experiences. Join us for a deep dive into luxury aviation, travel hacking, and the quirks of premium airline swag with Han Chicago!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:00] A warm welcome to Han Chicago and what listeners can expect from the episode.
• [0:03:50] His trip across multiple airlines, starting with Turkish Airlines (787-9) from Detroit.
• [0:08:04] Premium coffee, the meals on Turkish, and flying from Abu Dhabi to Muscat.
• [0:17:15] Activities in Muscat and his thoughts on Oman Air Business Class Apex Suite.
• [0:23:07] The malls in Bangkok, Emirates’ Game Changer suite, and eating steak in Dubai.
• [0:34:16] Explore the differences between the Game Changer suite and the A380 First Class.
• [0:41:25] Etihad's Residence experience, what it required, and how it compared to others.
• [0:59:21] Lounge-hopping at Heathrow and his American Airlines First Class flight to JFK.
• [1:16:32] Unpack aviation trends, fleet management, and airline capacity issues of the A380.
• [1:31:12] Han reflects on his luxury travel experience and why he recommends the A380.
• [1:33:33] He shares strategies for flying first-class and handling luxury airline swag.
• [1:39:35] Final takeaways and another travel podcast Han recommends.

Quotes:

“Turkish [Airlines] is always solid. I don't think you can really go wrong with them.” — @hanchicago [0:11:38]

“I think all loyalty programs should have 24-hour call centers because you are flying globally.” — @hanchicago [0:20:24]

“The A380 [Emirates] product, for me, is still one of the best in the business.” — @hanchicago [0:36:01]

“I am glad I did [The Residence] once. If you are really into this stuff, I think you have to try it once.” — @hanchicago [0:51:51]

“I think people should get on those A380s while they still can. Don't take [them] for granted.” — @hanchicago [1:32:36]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Han Chicago on X

Han Chicago on Instagram

Turkish Airlines

Etihad

Etihad | The Residence

% Arabica

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Episode 52: Show Notes

We’ve taken many trips to Australia, but our most recent one was certainly one to remember! In today’s episode, Trevor walks us through his most recent visit down under, and he begins with his domestic flights leaving the USA before detailing his international flight path. We unpack an awkward midair encounter from New Zealand to Australia, why Trevor was pleasantly surprised with his American Airlines flight home, how he and his family maximized their time in Qantas Business and other airport lounges, and the hotels he chose in Australasia. We also learn about the world’s biggest LEGO store, the Taronga Zoo, an unforgettable cookie, and Paddy’s Markets. To end, Trevor shares his final thoughts on Australia and the wonders of being able to walk across one of the world’s major cities.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:00] Unpacking Trevor’s most recent trip to Australia.
• [0:04:00] The flights he took from USA to Australia, both domestic and international.
• [0:09:20] His awkward trans-Tasman encounter and pleasant American Airlines flight home.
• [0:24:32] Trevor’s lounge experiences throughout the trip including some bucket list ones.
• [0:30:57] The Park Hyatt in Auckland, and InterContinental and Hyatt Regency in Sydney.
• [0:42:39] Exploring the largest LEGO store in the world and other food and entertainment.
• [0:44:52] Local transport options, world-famous treats, and a memorable zoo.
• [0:54:40] The Sydney Opera House, Paddy’s Markets, and the joys of a pedestrian city.
• [1:05:10] Final thoughts on a great trip to Australia.

Quotes:

“You know what? I might just make the stretch to Executive Platinum [on AAdvantage]. It’s going to come down to the wire.” — @tmount [22:08]

“Qantas does earn a little high praise from me for their à la carte dining in general.” — @TktweetsKim [28:30]

“Three of four people responded to me saying, ‘Why on Earth are you trying to get coffee at a hotel in Australia? There’s so much great coffee, just go up the street.” — @tmount [41:50]

“We walked almost everywhere [in Sydney].” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:07]

“Going back to Sydney felt so good because it felt so familiar.” — @tmount [01:05:21]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

American Airlines

Etihad Airways

Emirates

LATAM Airlines

American Express

China Eastern Airlines

Delta

AAdvantage Executive Platinum

Qantas | Airport Lounges

The Centurion Lounge

Lufthansa

The Chelsea Lounge

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Everyday Carry

Episode 51: Show Notes.

Today’s episode is years in the making as finally, Tom and Trevor sit down and do a deep dive into the everyday carry items you’ll need when traveling. We begin with keeping go kits up-to-date and why Trevor and Tom will always be fans of carry-on luggage. We shift then to our favorite luggage exploring Briggs and Riley, Tumi, Rimowa, and other great roller bag options. Then, we unpack a few must-have travel accessories including portable USB fans, multi-charging cables and adapters, man purses, and much more. Our conversation then turns to clothing as we compare normal clothes to travel clothes versus a combination of both, and we discover why Trevor is a fanboy of lululemon and Tom loves shirts with front pockets. To end, Tom and Trevor discuss eSIMs and other best practices for using your cell phone abroad, and after weighing the pros and cons of using laptops versus tablets, our hosts shares more travel advice and tips, especially for parents traveling with toddlers.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:00] How today’s episode on everyday carry items has been years in the making.
• [0:04:55] Updating go kits and being dedicated members of Team Carry On.
• [0:06:00] Team Briggs and Riley, and other great luggage options.
• [0:21:02] Exploring Tom and Trevor’s must-have travel accessories.
• [0:34:14] Lufthansa’s first-class amenity kits, compression packing cubes, and toiletry bags.
• [0:42:06] Travel clothes versus normal clothes versus integrating the two.
• [0:48:06] Flight passes, eSIMs, and other advice for using your cell phone abroad.
• [0:57:12] Everyday carry technology.
• [1:13:58] Final thoughts, more helpful travel tips, and parting advice for traveling parents.

Quotes:

“This is an opportunity for everybody to learn, because there’s so many different things that I know I don’t know, and I’m always looking for how I can get more efficient.” — @tmount [02:05]

“Travel’s personal, and I think your gear is personal.” — @TktweetsKim [02:38]

“We call this luggage, but you don’t want to be dragging it around as a burden.” — @tmount [13:24]

“Curate your stuff so that you’ve [only] got what you need for the mission at hand.” — @TktweetsKim [29:37]

“Things keep changing. You have to keep iterating because people change the rules and change things on you all the time. So, it’s important to keep up and continue to iterate your everyday carry.” — @TktweetsKim [1:07:55]

“What’s clear is that we’re very passionate about a lot of this. We’re passionate about what is in our gear [and] what we’re willing to drag pretty much around the world.” — @tmount [1:14:05]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Everyday Carry

Marie Kondo

Briggs and Riley

Tumi

Rimowa

Travelpro

Monos

Away

Costco Wholesale | Luggage

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Episode 50: Show Notes

Are loyalty programs becoming less valuable, or are they evolving to meet the demands of modern travelers? In this episode, we delve into the future of airline and hotel loyalty programs and examine potential innovations and strategies to maximize points. To help us unravel this topic is returning guest Joey Redmond, a passionate traveler and co-host of the new Travel Bros Podcast, where he shares insights and reviews on unique hotels and travel experiences. In our conversation, we discuss the future of the Alaskan and American Airlines partnership, gaps in elite loyalty programs, and the broader impact of mileage programs on consumer behavior. Explore strategies for maximizing hotel rewards through points arbitrage and learn the art of leveraging IHG points and ambassador status for substantial savings. Joey also shares his experience of Turks and Caicos, its charming hotels, and its less-than-ideal airport. Discover unique and interesting boutique accommodations and hear Joey's tips and tricks for finding one-of-a-kind hotels. Join us to uncover how you can maximize your rewards and make your loyalty programs work harder for you in 2025 with Joey Redmond. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:27] Outline of today’s episode and a warm welcome to Joey Redmond.
• [0:01:58] Predictions for loyalty programs, devaluation risks, and features for 2025.
• [0:03:57] Alaska Airlines’ partnership with American Airlines and its potential impact on points.
• [0:09:22] Upgrade and status challenges elite loyalty programs face and how they will adapt.
• [0:17:51] Points arbitrage strategies for hotels and how to purchase points at a discount.
• [0:24:47] Learn about the benefits of purchasing ambassador status for savings on hotels.
• [0:29:38] Turks and Caicos, its American influences, the state of the airport, and the hotel.
• [0:36:56] Explore the advantages and limitations of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH).
• [0:40:01] Details about the hotel in Turks and Caicos and the charm of the South Bank.
• [0:49:25] Exciting hotel options and unique properties in the SLH collection for points holders.
• [0:56:15] The Travel Bros Pod and what listeners will gain from its hotel-centric content.
• [1:02:36] Hear Joey's tips and tricks for finding unique hotels using online platforms.
• [1:06:56] Joey's invitation for listeners to share their ideas for future travel stories.
• [1:11:06] Find out how to contact Joey, a special thank you to listeners, and final takeaways.

Quotes:

“I think we are going to see some major innovation in airline elite loyalty programs.” — @TktweetsKim [0:09:22]

“It is important to look at things outside of the, 'I am only going to pay with points.'” — @tmount [0:22:55]

“Turks and Caicos, I will tell you, is probably the worst airport I have ever been to outside of Africa.” — @joeyredmond [0:31:33]

“You need to realize a lot of these [boutique] hotels are either family-run or [individually-owed] run. You're almost a step above a bed and breakfast and a huge step below a corporate [hotel].” — @joeyredmond [0:47:57]

“What does excite me, generally, is non-traditional hotels or non-traditional new hotels.” — @joeyredmond [1:00:40]

“There is so much information out there [that] I think if you just spend a bit of time you can find unique and interesting hotels.” —

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Episode 49: Show Notes

In this episode, we welcome Ryan Smith, the news managing editor for upgraded points and a prolific writer published by Award Wallet, TPG, Forbes Advisor, and more. One of the things that makes Ryan special is that he is one of very few people on the planet who have visited every country in the world! Join us as Ryan shares his experience as a writer, traveler, and points and miles user over the years. You’ll learn what it was like for him to travel in business class for the first time before we unpack the airlines diversifying their fleets today. Ryan speaks to three major events in points and miles this year, and as someone with dual citizenship in Brazil, he shares why he recommends going to South America, especially if you have points and miles. We discuss memorable cultural experiences that Ryan has had and what has struck him most from traveling to places that are furthest away from his childhood experiences. We also dive into the details of his experiences in Nigeria and Bhutan, and what makes Bhutan so special. Join us today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:54] An overview of which journalistic websites are shutting down and why.
• [08:02] Context for Ryan’s work and where he first learned about points and miles.
• [14:28] Why he recommends going to South America and what some barriers might be.
• [19:18] The story of the first time he redeemed miles to fly in business class.
• [26:38] Airlines diversifying their aircraft makes.
• [33:30] Three major events in points and miles this year.
• [44:57] The mechanism that Southwest has used to capitalize on sales.
• [49:31] Ryan’s predictions for the rest of the year.
• [57:14] Traveling to every country in the world and why Togo was the biggest challenge.
• [01:08:45] What struck him about traveling to places that are different from where he grew up.
• [01:14:50] How he ended up at the finals of the Best MC Rap Battle in Nigeria by accident.
• [01:18:55] What it was like to visit Bhutan and what makes the country so exceptional.
• [01:22:33] Bhutan’s visa and visitor’s fee and why you should visit as soon as possible!
• [01:29:41] Ryan’s hot takes on Alaska and more.
• [01:35:28] Thoughts on Bluesky and whether it will survive as a platform.

Quotes:

“The average – person might never meet someone who has been to every country, but you could go to a points and miles conference, and there might be three or four of us there.” — @RyanSmithTravel [58:51]

“I enjoy going to places – [where] it feels like, this place ain’t like where I grew up – That’s North Korea, that’s China, that’s Bhutan, that’s Madagascar. I grew up in Ohio outside Columbus and those places feel so different that it’s just really interesting.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:08:12]

“I don’t want the concierge to send me where all the foreigners are going. I want the people who take the bus to work to tell me what’s something that I shouldn’t miss while I’m here.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:15:29]

“[Bhutan doesn’t] worry about GDP. They worry about their Gross National Happiness.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:19:00]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Smith on XRyan's profile on Upgraded points

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Episode 48: Show Notes

What’s the holiday season without a little airing of grievances? Join us for our Festivus 2024 special, where we pull no punches as we dive into the biggest wins and fails of the travel and loyalty program world for 2024. Dia Adams joins us to share her pros and cons of loyalty programs, explain country-specific regulations that hinder travel point usage, and unpack Google’s impact on freelance travel advisors. We also explore the best and worst loyalty programs of 2024, the top airline redemption stories, and our Festivus miracles of the year. Join us for insights, laughs, and a look back at an eventful year in travel. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:07] Introducing Dia Adams and the meaning behind Festivus.
• [0:03:20] Dia tells us about her main grievances toward loyalty and hotel programs.
• [0:08:15] Hear about Dia's criticisms of banks and the Christman gift options for members.
• [0:11:50] Bonus grievance: Google delisting travel sites and its impact on the community.
• [0:17:30] Thomas shares his perspective on loyalty programs, Google, and banks.
• [0:30:20] Trevor talks about his grievances with Turkish Airlines and Bank of America.
• [0:35:13] Unpack the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines merger and its effects on loyalty programs.
• [0:40:22] What airlines, loyalty programs, and banks got it right, according to Thomas.
• [0:50:43] Explore Hotels.com's One Key loyalty program and why Dia thinks it is a good deal.
• [0:59:12] Why Choice's one-to-two loyalty program is a great program alternative.
• [1:04:31] Discover the pros and cons of Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program.
• [1:14:52] Find out what bank made Trevor's "feat of strength" list for the best loyalty program.
• [1:17:22] Festivus miracles: celebrate highlights from the year and our favorite moments.
• [1:35:42] Final takeaways, how you can contact Dia, and a thank you to our listeners.

Quotes:

“Until you have stayed in numerous hotel rooms in Europe, you don't understand the size of hotel rooms in Europe.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:6:19]

“If you are using the traditional programs, you could be sitting on a million points and not be able to spend them outside of the United States.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:7:58]

“It definitely doesn't sound like [Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines] are in any rush to merge into a single program.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:37:19]

“If you are someone who really only wants luxury, Choice also now books into preferred hotels and resorts.” — @TheDiaAdams [1:02:45]

“American Express, you are my beastie this year. Keep the good times rolling.” — @tmount [1:16:57]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dia Adams

Dia Adams on LinkedIn

Dia Adams on X

Dia Adams on Instagram

Fortune

Accor

Alaska Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Turkish Airlines

Air Canada

View Details

Episode 47: Show Notes

What happens when Thanksgiving travel takes you across the Atlantic and through the heart of Europe? In this episode, Tom and Trevor share their Thanksgiving travel experiences through Budapest, Vienna, and even a nostalgic stop in Bratislava. They provide insightful perspectives on international travel during the holidays, exploring iconic destinations, and managing the inevitable surprises of globetrotting with family. Hear about Trevor's family trip to Budapest, the challenges of holiday travel, and memorable stays at the luxurious Párisi Udvar and Park Hyatt Vienna. Learn about the breathtaking Christmas markets of Austria, the charm of Budapest’s historic baths, what makes Europe a family-friendly travel destination, and Vienna’s famed zoo. They also recount the magic and mishaps of travel during the festive season, why they would do it again, lessons on European tipping culture, and more! To discover tips, tricks, and stories that will inspire your next holiday adventure, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:38] Tom and Trevor’s Thanksgiving travels and the destinations they explored.
• [01:38] Tom’s journey westward to Las Vegas, his experience flying Spirit Airlines, and staying at the Encore and Rio.
• [12:38] Why traveling on Thanksgiving was not a good idea, his time in Hawaii, and Tom's experience of traveling home.
• [17:30] Trevor’s family trip to Budapest, including the stunning Park Hyatt Vienna and the challenges of traveling with a toddler.
• [22:41] The history and charm of Vienna, what makes the Christmas markets special, and why the hotel stay cost more than expected.
• [26:32] Booking shuttle transfers, driving through Bratislava, staying at the stunning Párisi Udvar, and what Trevor enjoys about traveling in Europe.
• [31:41] A deeper dive into Vienna’s attractions, more Christmas markets, and visiting the oldest zoo in Europe.
• [36:30] Eating out on the last night in Austria and an interesting cultural lesson on tipping.
• [40:34] Pitfalls of Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa, including a stressful Frankfurt connection.
• [49:05] Final thoughts on the joys and mishaps of Thanksgiving travel.

Quotes:

“I’ve not always had the best opinion of Spirit, but honestly, if you go in with the right attitude, sometimes you are pleasantly surprised.” — @TktweetsKim [0:04:04]

“There is so much to see in Europe. You could throw a stone and hit three countries.” — @tmount [0:30:08]

“It seems like you can – spit and you will hit a Christmas market or a palace in Europe.” — @TktweetsKim [33:42]

“Even among Europeans —they have different tipping cultures. Tipping is almost a third rail in so many different places.” — @tmount [38:22]

“Lufthansa is always a fun airline to fly.” — @tmount [46:04]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Spirit Airlines

Encore Resort

Debra Schroeder

Párisi Udvar Hotel

Rio Hotel

Alaska Airlines

Park Hyatt Vienna

View Details

Episode 46: Show Notes.

The travel space is constantly evolving, and the way in which airlines handle rewards systems is no different. Today on Travel Stories, we are joined by Thrifty Traveler editor Kyle Potter to discuss the miles and points game, airfare trends, and becoming a premium Thrifty Traveler. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Kyle’s career, the air revenue trends Kyle has noticed, what’s happening in travel awards, and more! We delve into the world of miles and points as Kyle shares his perspective on the trends before discussing why travelers playing this game can be optimistic about future benefits. He even shares a story from his trip to Hanoi, discusses his 2025 travel predictions, and talks about great travel tools. Finally, our guest tells us about Thrifty Traveler Premium and the benefits of this service. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [02:36] A warm introduction to today’s guest, Kyle Potter.
• [05:35] What Kyle is seeing in airfare trends today.
• [12:48] The changes that are happening in the award travel spaces.
• [18:27] A reminder that the world of miles and points travelers is really small.
• [25:45] What Kyle thinks is causing trends from reward perspectives.
• [29:24] The optimistic side of how airlines react to miles and points ‘millionaires’.
• [33:07] Kyle shares a memorable travel story from his trip to Hanoi.
• [39:45] What Kyle sees happening in travel in 2025 and his opinion on change fees.
• [44:48] The award tools that Kyle thinks are good and why he prefers manual search.
• [50:00] Kyle talks about Thrifty Traveler Premium, what they offer, and the cost of it.

Quotes:

“Travel can’t grow forever. – Things are going to plateau at some point but they really haven’t yet.” — @kpottermn [7:43]

“I still think we’ve got some good runway here for cheap domestic travel.” — @kpottermn [12:09]

“Many airlines out there have wised up to just how much they’re giving away to people who have points to play with.” — @kpottermn [27:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kyle Potter on LinkedIn

Kyle Potter on X

Kyle Potter on Instagram

Thrifty Traveler

Seats.aeroFlighty

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

View Details

0:22 Delta Selling 80+% of First Cabin

• OMMAT
• VFTW
• Value is there--pricing of the upgrade is so low they're selling out elite Upgrades more than ever.
• Jumping off point for discussing Be Your Own Elite.
  • Don't wait for an airline to give you what you want. Secure it yourself
  • Great flight times are key because your time is valuable.
• The current state of airline status (in hopes of upgrades)
• Collecting airline miles (in hopes of outsized value on scarce redemptions)
  • Co-branded paradox (spending on another card)
• Even being an airline employee (in hopes of free travel) has gotchas.

15:40 How to Move Forward (or How to Get Started)

• We discussed on the paid show how we need to get away from the idea that a single credit card signup can unlock significant “free” travel.
• A Demand Schedule will help you see your needs
• If you're not going on multiple trips a year, or don't need multiple seats just spend on a cashback card.

Finally, This might not be the best blog in the world.

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Episode 45: Show Notes.

We’re always looking to try new things, but our recent trip to Colombia and Spain unlocked new levels of exploring the unknown! We centered the trip around 1 single itinerary, and didn’t have our flights home until more than halfway through the trip. Our exploration of two cities begins in the one with higher altitude than we’re used to: Bogotá, Colombia, and we explain how we devised our itinerary and why we insisted on flying LATAM. We assess the Priority Pass restaurant options at Houston Airport, how Bogotá welcomed us (and especially Thomas!) with a feast of local delights, what hotel hopping is like in Colombia, the attractions and activities of Colombia’s sprawling capital, and the exercise one can get traversing the El Dorado airport lounge. Then, we unpack everything that happened on our flight to our second destination, Madrid, with a brief interlude to the recent spate of airline alliance dissolutions. We discuss our first experience of AC Hotels by Marriot, how exploring new areas in Madrid led to a wonderful steak dinner for Trevor’s birthday, why we changed flights multiple times and what these changes cost, and why many hotels are choosing to consistently shuffle their inventories. To end, we detail the trip home via Germany on Lufthansa First Class, why Lufthansa’s onboard lavatory system always leaves us scratching our heads, the joys of Global Entry’s Mobile App, and an important event to look forward to on the 9th of December, 2024.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:57] A tale of two cities and a diversity of altitudes.
• [0:01:41] No holiday left behind.
• [0:02:49] How we devised our itinerary for Columbia, and why we insisted on flying LATAM.
• [0:05:43] From Bogotá to Madrid, and every other flight in between.
• [0:10:34] The Priority Pass restaurants that we visited at the Houston airport before departure.
• [0:15:16] Arriving in Bogotá, the Grand Hyatt, and a feast of local delights.
• [0:19:36] Hotel hopping in South America, and our experience of the JW Marriot.
• [0:25:09] The Salt Cathedral, Monserrate Hill, and other attractions and activities in Bogotá.
• [0:36:28] Why we loved the El Dorado lounge and everything from our flight to Madrid.
• [0:42:21] How airlines divorce themselves from their alliances.
• [0:43:43] Landing in Madrid and trying something different – the Hyatt Madrid Residences.
• [0:48:00] Exploring new areas of Madrid, and Trevor’s delightful steakhouse birthday dinner.
• [0:51:14] A new hotel brand experience: AC Hotels by Marriot.
• [0:55:48] Discussing the modern shuffle of hotel inventories.
• [0:59:30] The many flight changes from our trip and what they cost.
• [1:01:44] Luxury remote stand experiences, Lufthansa First Class, and friendly faces abroad.
• [1:06:02] Unpacking Lufthansa’s lavatory system and unmatched onboard service
• [1:13:30] Why we hope for the return of mobile lounges, and the joys of the DFW Mobile App.
• [1:22:10] What you can look forward to on the 9th of December in Arlington, Virginia.

Quotes:

“[Bogotá] reminded me my of first trip to Bangkok and having pomelo; rose apple, and all these tropical fruits that you don’t find here in North America — that’s part of the joy of traveling; going to other environments; other places and being able to experience the local product.” — @TKtweetsKim [0:18:30]

“For better or for worse, I feel like Bogotá is a city of ‘glad I did it once and checked the box.’” — @tmount [0:29:17]

“LATAM, for the price of the ticket, I felt like we g

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Episode 44: Show Notes.

Lufthansa’s First Class is revered as one of the more aspirational airline products to flight; Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal (FCT) is among the top 3 airline lounge experiences, and Trevor and Thomas both agree. Miles and Points expert and writer JT Genter joins us to share about himself, and to discuss his first Lufthansa First Class experience. JT and his wife, Katie, are digital nomads, and our conversation begins with a brief look at their recent jam-packed travel schedule. After JT details his approach to living as a digital nomad, he offers some advice, recommendations, and strategies for life on the road. JT's retelling of his LH F experience begins with how he met Trevor at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, before moving on to his arrival and overall impressions of the Lufthansa FCT. He then describes how he felt about the food, drinks, and service aboard Lufthansa’s Retro livery, and why he can’t wait for his next LH F experience. Somewhere in between, we discuss the degradation of travel apps like ExpertFlyer and why this loss of value is a common industry trend, and to end, JT describes his roles and responsibilities as a travel blogger and as the Editor-In-Chief at AwardWallet, and how he would fix common industry pain points to give miles and points a better future.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:20] JT Genter details his professional history and how he entered travel.
• [04:03] A quick look at his recent (and extensive!) travel log.
• [05:26] JT’s approach to living as a digital nomad.
• [10:03] His experience of traveling to Calala Island, and where Hyatt and Hilton fit in.
• [11:05] JT’s advice and recommendations for life as a digital nomad.
• [14:42] How Trevor and JT ran into each other in Germany.
• [17:02] JT’s first-ever Lufthansa First Class (drinking game trigger word!) experience.
• [20:50] Why many flight apps like ExpertFlyer are rapidly decreasing in value.
• [25:18] Getting back to JT’s first-class experience as he walks us through his airport arrival.
• [26:57] His thoughts on the lounge in Frankfurt.
• [33:25] Lufthansa’s unique first-class terminal adventure.
• [36:30] Unpacking JT’s in-flight experience aboard Lufthansa’s Retro livery.
• [39:40] How he felt about the food, drinks, and onboard service.
• [43:18] His final thoughts on flying Lufthansa First Class for the first time.
• [44:33] Shifting gears as JT explains his role and responsibilities at AwardWallet.
• [45:42] Our guest shares his perspective on the future of miles and points, with some suggestions for fixing common industry pain points.
• [53:02] How to connect with JT.

Quotes:

“It’s now been seven years [that] we’ve been full-time digital nomads. – We want to slow down, but we’re not anywhere close to settling down.” — @JTGenter [03:51]

“The crew was very welcoming once we got on board. We had an incredible crew, probably some of the nicest flight attendants we’ve ever had, which seems to be par for the course with Lufthansa.” — @JTGenter [37:25]

“The whole Park Hyatt motto of ‘luxury is personal’ is so true. Not one size fits all.” — @JTGenter [39:04]

“I can’t wait to [fly Lufthansa First Class] again!” — @JTGenter [43:27]

Longer Quotes:

“The people who are writing about points and miles choose not to write about [the best travel hacks] because they don’t want to kill it off, or they don’t go thro

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Episode 43: Show Notes.

As we wave goodbye to summer, Thomas and Trevor walk us through their most recent end-of-season trips: A Carnival cruise and a forgettable Cap Cana experience. We begin with Thomas and his trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras, where he explains why he chose Carnival over his trusted Royal Caribbean. Thomas details his itinerary and vacation experience, why the casual dining options were better than expected, how the floating casino and overall entertainment could be improved, and the perils of getting sick on the open sea. Next, Trevor picks up the baton and explains why his most recent Cap Cana trip may be his last. We discover how his previous visits to the resort influenced his most recent one and the stress of traveling out of Punta Cana. To end, Thomas unpacks his experience at the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars for miles and points.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] How Thomas cheated on Royal Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines.
• [04:30] Diving deeper into his itinerary and vacation experience aboard Carnival Mardi Gras.
• [07:45] Exploring the food, cabin layout, and onboard entertainment on Carnival Mardi Gras.
• [13:55] The value of having great casual dining options on a cruise ship.
• [15:43] Floating gambling on Labor Day and some tips for a better experience.
• [21:32] Getting sick on the open sea.
• [22:50] What Thomas thinks about Carnival overall after his experience.
• [23:59] Why Trevor’s Cap Cana days may be coming to an end.
• [29:08] Dining gems that give Cap Cana a lifeline and make it a destination worth returning to.
• [32:04] How Trevor’s previous trips to Cap Cana influenced his most recent experience.
• [34:18] Why it’s rare to find high-quality all-inclusive land packages.
• [35:45] Trevor details the challenges of traveling from Punta Cana.
• [38:10] The ins and outs of the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars attended by Thomas.
• [43:04] Why big travel events are on the decline to make room for smaller ones.

Quotes:

“If I were doing my fun-match again, I would definitely recommend that you pick one of these newer ships, because I think that’s going to give you your best foot forward for Carnival.” — @TktweetsKim [06:02]

“This was the only cruise I’ve ever been on where I’ve been woken up at 1:30 in the morning with an abandon ship alarm. — We did actually have a false alarm go off in the middle of the night, people were quite distressed.” — @TktweetsKim [19:58]

“It’s hard to go on vacation and have it be so frictionless on your way home. You do your best in planning to make that happen, but I think the reality is you’re always going to have some grating experience trying to get from the resort back to your home.” — @TktweetsKim [37:42]

“There’s always something nice about being able to get up in front of a bunch of people and talk about something that you love.” — @tmount [39:52]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carnival Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean

Princess Cruises

Virgin Voyages

Cap Cana

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

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0:22 Q4 5x Bonus Categories

• Chase Freedom: PayPal, Pet Stores, McDonalds
• Discover: Amazon, Target
• Don’t Forget: BofA Cash Rewards, US Bank Cash+

03:19 JetBlue News

• Lounges coming to JFK and BOS late 2025
• Premium credit card (from Barclays, ha!) coming “soon” that enables lounge access
• Markets themselves as having “The East Coast’s Best Leisure Network”

07:34 Southwest News (link)

• New seating options.
• Assigned seats (80% want then)
• More space seats (why?)
• Less space seats
• Free bags to continue
• Cattle call to continue
• International partners. Iceland air first up
• Vacation packages

11:36 Alaska/Hawaiian News

• Direct Link
• These guys are moving swiftly
• Hawaiian <-> Alaska point transfers now live
• Link accounts/status matching between programs in 2024
• Combined single loyalty program in 2025
• Hawaiian set to join OneWorld some time 2026

15:06 Chase UR 30% Transfer Bonus to Avios

• British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus
• Expires 10/31/2024

19:34 Delta: More Routes to Europe in Summer 2025

• OMAAT
• Boston to Milan
• Minneapolis to Rome
• Atlanta to Naples
• Detroit to Dublin
• Boston to Barcelona
• Atlanta to Brussels
• New York to Catania
• Also: Delta cancels JFK-Munich route after one season

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Episode 42: Show Notes

We Welcome Richrd Kerr, VP of Travel at Bilt Rewards. Richard is a miles, points, and travel enthusiast whose vast experience has led him to lead a prominent facebook group (now Award Travel 101), write for The Points Guy, and ultimately to Bilt Rewards – the loyalty program for where you live. Richard is kind enough to share about Bilt; its some of its metrics; its unique value proposition. Richard carefully dissects common public misconceptions about miles and points. We discuss devaluations, the technological evolution of miles and points and the rise of social media, how Bilt members earn and redeem points, and what the industry looks like five years after the COVID disruption. Richard also shares details about his favorite family trips, how he and his wife homeschool their kids while on vacation, an unforgettable Aman Resort experience, and the eyewatering price of modern hotels. To end, our guest gives us his view of the future of miles and points as he shares helpful advice for finding big savings and great-value deals, and we discuss why Summer travel has been more chaotic than usual in 2024.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Welcoming Richard Kerr as he relives an incredible family trip with his wife and son.
• [06:23] The ins and outs of Bilt Rewards and its unique value proposition.
• [12:05] Bilt’s metrics and data points that help give insight on how the company operates.
• [16:12] How the company’s airline, hotel, and other partners share their data with Bilt.
• [19:50] Richard debunks common miles and points misconceptions.
• [22:55] Unpacking points devaluations and in particular, having Alaska as a partner.
• [26:18] The technological evolution of miles and points, and the role of social media.
• [31:15] How Bilt’s members redeem their points.
• [33:41] Assessing the state of the industry five years after COVID.
• [36:57] The ridiculous price of modern hotels.
• [39:53] Richard’s predictions of the immediate future of miles and points.
• [42:56] He and his wife’s Aman Resort experience.
• [50:41] Their trip to Europe, and how they incorporate homeschooling in their travels.
• [55:20] Why travel seems more chaotic than usual this Summer.
• [57:42] Richard’s tips and tricks for big savings and great-value deals.

Quotes:

“Our pitch [for Bilt] from the beginning was, ‘Look, this is not the standard. You can’t throw what you’ve always done before; you can’t use the same playbook; you’ve got to do something different to get our members interested.’” — @KerrPoints [0:08:50]

“We’re literally spreading the wealth elsewhere so that the vast majority of our members can win, not just die-hard points and miles people. And I get it, it’s not a message that die-hard points and mile people want to hear, but we’re still doing really cool stuff [for them].” — @KerrPoints [0:15:09]

“A loyalty program—as I have learned over the last three years—is as much of an art as it is a science.” — @KerrPoints [0:16:12]

“There’s nobody writing anymore, because the next generation of folks, 10 years later, has come into Instagram and TikTok, and that’s where they think they’re going to make money.” — @KerrPoints [0:28:27]

“I’ve been commuting from Atlanta to New York for five years now so I knew what hotels cost. What I’ve seen in 2024 for hotel rates in New York City is just mind-boggling. I cannot comprehend who these people are who are paying for these hotels.” — @KerrPoints [0:37:22]

“To everybody who’s followed my story; followed me; wished me well; were supporters when I was in the Facebook days; at The Points Guy read my stuff, I really appreciate it, and it’s just led to this dream job that I’ve somehow landed in.” — @KerrPoints [1:02:25]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Richard Kerr on LinkedIn

Richard Kerr on Instagram

Richard Kerr on X

Bilt

Bilt on YouTube

The Points Guy

Etihad Airways

David Canty on LinkedIn

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Alaska Airlines

Hyatt Grand Central New York

Aman Resorts

Spirit

Frontier

United

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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I've long been intrigued by the luxury hotel timeshare market, where you get the quality and amenities of a five star hotel combined with the square footage of a residential vacation home.

A prime example of this type of property is Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, CA. Back in the day, Four Seasons managed both a hotel here along with a collection of 1 and 2 bedroom vacation homes. The hotel is now managed by Hyatt (as a Park Hyatt) but Four Seasons still maintains the Residence Club. The golf, tennis, pools, and restaurants make for a fabulous "no compromises" vacation in my book. The only problem I've had is finding another Aviara.

Turns out there's a level of quality above luxury hotel timeshares, called Luxury Fractionals or Private Residence Clubs. With these you get somewhere around a 1/10th ownership of a fully managed vacation home, usually in a resort setting with access to amenities like a golf course, beach, or skiing. The problem here is cost and commitment as these fractionals typically sell for around $200,000 down and $25,000 per year in maintenance fees.

But there are levels to these things. Properties at the top of the Luxury Hotel Timeshare market can get so nice that they're on par with Luxury Fractionals, so much so that owners are willing to trade time between them. The trick is finding owners at "different but like-quality" properties, across brands we may or may not be familiar with, interested in swapping time.

Enter Elite Alliance.

In Ep 236 of our podcast (subscription required) I detailed how we stayed at the Harbor Court Residence Club at the Rosewood Bermuda, booked through Elite Alliance. The stay was fantastic from beginning to end but I was just as intrigued by Elite Alliance's part in this because if I understand how they operate it has the potential to unlock this type of vacation experience at locations all over the world.

This episode is a discussion with Elite Alliance President and Partner Rob Goodyear. We discuss what Elite Alliance is and how they got started, how they vette properties in their portfolio to ensure a consistent quality of experience, what it takes to participate in Elite Exchange, and more.

I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Thanks to Rob for coming on the show!

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Episode 41: Show Notes.

Note: The video of this podcast can be viewed on Youtube, find it here.

Family travel can be just as affordable and rewarding as a solo one. To help us gain a better perspective of traveling the world with kids in tow, we are joined today by the renowned travel expert, author, and Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends, Dia Adams, who begins our conversation by highlighting the importance of travel conferences in building community. We discuss Dia’s hit column, What’s in Dia’s Wallet, and what her role at Fortune entails before learning about her affinity for less-lavish hotels, how vendoming has evolved since she first coined the term, how she developed Camp Mom as the perfect family travel hack, and how she’s cultivated travel hacking in her kids. We also unpack the power of perspective, how to have a Disney experience without going to Disney World; what Dia thinks about miles and points devaluations, and how to connect with today’s remarkable guest!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:49] Welcoming Dia Adams as she highlights the importance of travel conferences.
• [05:51] What’s in Dia’s Wallet: Exploring her role at Fortune Recommends.
• [11:30] Why she loves Choice Hotels but tries to steer clear from Hyatt.
• [14:40] How she coined ‘vendoming’ and how the term has evolved.
• [17:57] The ins and outs of Dia’s family travel hack, Camp Mom.
• [27:36] Why it’s important to immerse yourself in the experience of each destination.
• [32:40] How Dia has cultivated travel hacking in her kids, and the pros and cons thereof.
• [38:30] The undeniable power of perspective!
• [44:28] How to make the most of Disney as seen in Dia’s book, Disney World Hacks.
• [49:01] What our guest thinks about the latest wave of miles and points devaluations.
• [56:01] How to connect with Dia and her work.

Quotes:

“I just want people to be a little bit more – I don’t know if you’re following this TikTok trend – a little more mindful, a little more demure about their miles choices.” — @TheDiaAdams [09:24]

“Almost every success I’ve ever had in my career has been due to a rant.” — @TheDiaAdams [14:59]

“I tend to base trips on a vibe these days. Like, how do I want to feel during this trip? Everything else kind of goes from that.” — @TheDiaAdams [32:30]

“One time, there was a last-minute ferry sale to Hawaii, and I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Hawaii, and they’re like, ‘Nah, we’re good. We went last year, we’re good.’ One of the kids actually said to me once, ‘One private island a year is enough for me.’” — @TheDiaAdams [36:57]

“A family of four — for a Spring Break-type vacation — from New York, could fly to Paris and spend a week in Paris and three days at Paris Disneyland for the same price as a week in Orlando at Disney.” — @TheDiaAdams [45:58]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dia Adams

Dia Adams on LinkedIn

Dia Adams on X

Dia Adams on Instagram

Fortune

‘What’s in Dia’s Wallet: The art of destination dupes’

Disney World Hacks

Choice Hotels

Hyatt

IHG Hotels and Resorts

Sky

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

Delta

Disney Experiences

Universal Studio Theme Parks

Dutch Wonderland

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Lifemiles

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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Episode 40: Show Notes.

We’re heading back to the high seas! During this episode, Tom shares all the details of his recent trip with Virgin Voyages cruise line, from costs, to rooms, drinking, dining, entertainment, and more. Join us as he gets candid about what he loved, tolerated, and disliked during the trip along with tips for you to get the most out of your booking with them. We discuss the differences between the Virgin Voyages experience and what you would have on Royal Caribbean; from the points-based redemption system to the egalitarian nature of your booking. He even goes into the perks included in your stay! You’ll also hear us touch on the trend of choosing style over comfort or plating over flavor as more businesses start to cater to an Instagram generation. Tom talks about everything from embarking and disembarking to the room service system, configuring his accommodation to suit him and his friend, and more. Don’t miss this informative conversation! Thanks for tuning in.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:37] The topic of this episode: Virgin Voyages and Symphony of the Seas.
• [01:04] Tom’s recent experience on the adults-only cruise line, Virgin Voyages.
• [02:48] Points-based redemption using Virgin Atlantic miles.
• [03:19] Costing of the all-inclusive cruise and how it compares to hotel experiences.
• [05:02] Additional costs and inclusions.
• [06:54] The egalitarian nature of the cruise line experience.
• [08:47] Where the five-night cruise started and the ports where it stopped.
• [09:41] Considering whether or not embarkation and disembarkation have been optimized on this line.
• [12:21] Details of the cabin and bathroom that Tom stayed at.
• [13:30] Why the hammocks are such a highlight on the cruise.
• [12:18] Changing the configuration of the room in order to accommodate changes.
• [17:59] The trend of choosing style over comfort on the cruise.
• [19:22] Food on the cruise and how it reflects catering to an Instagram generation.
• [23:35] Communal dining and Korean Barbecue on the cruise.
• [25:09] Why Tom recommends making dining reservations.
• [26:45] Details on the plant-based restaurant, Razzle Dazzle, on board the cruise.
• [28:13] Their best dining experience: the Italian restaurant, Extra Virgin.
• [30:35] The steakhouse which is the most popular option.
• [32:54] Eating at the fusion restaurant, Agave.
• [33:54] How Virgin’s Test Kitchen compares to Wonderland on Royal Caribbean.
• [34:54] Buffet and culinary options on the cruise (including an ice cream shop!)
• [39:54] The room service system and how it enabled Tom and his friend to load up on supplies.
• [42:34] What the Bimini Beach Club experience was like for him.
• [44:02] Stopping in the Dominican Republic.
• [45:44] Why opportunities to add spend and get points are limited at Virgin Voyages.
• [48:14] CocoCay and why it is considered the jewel of the experience.

Quotes:

“The balcony cabins all come with a hammock and normally I would say this is a gimmick and nobody would use it, but I found it to be very comfortable.” — @TktweetsKim [13:28]

“I have to make [a] shout out to [a] venue I spent quite a lot of time at called the Social Club which was this area with bar games [like] snooker, a bunch of board games, and a bar selling bar food.” — @TktweetsKim [38:33]

“[If] you enjoy white sand and blue water, it’s hard to do better than what the Bimini Beach Club provides.” — @TktweetsKim [43:06]

“CocoCay is constantly evolving, constructing, and innovating.” — @TktweetsKim [48:18]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Symphony of the SeasVirgin Voyages

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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Episode 39: Show Notes

Are you bored of the usual tourist travel tropes and looking for more? Have you ever wondered how to turn a simple trip into an unforgettable adventure? In this episode, we dive into the art of ‘sightDOING’ with travel expert Becky Pokora, who transforms ordinary travel experiences into extraordinary, hands-on journeys. Becky is a seasoned travel expert and writer passionate about adventure and exploration. As the founder of the travel blog sightDOING, she shares her experiences and tips on active travel and immersive adventures. Becky has a knack for discovering unique destinations and engaging activities, encouraging her readers to dive deeper into their travel experiences. In our conversation, we explore the secret behind authentic travel, why first-hand travel recommendations are superior, and the benefits of going with the flow. Discover strategies for finding the best experience while traveling and helpful resources to get you started. Becky recounts some of her most memorable travel moments, including seeing a volcano erupt, attending an ice festival in China, and experiencing the wonders of Antarctica. She also shares advice for communicating when you don’t speak the local language and red flags to watch out for when looking for accommodation. Join us as we journey into the world of authentic travel with Becky Pokora. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:45] Background about Becky, her travel blog, and the concept of ‘sightDOING.’
• [04:12] Strategies she uses to uncover special and authentic travel experiences.
• [08:35] Hear about some of the unconventional travel experiences she has had.
• [13:03] Rigid travel planning versus taking a more unstructured approach.
• [16:38] An example of a top non-traditional travel experience she had in Mexico.
• [20:57] She shares the most underrated travel options available in Mexico.
• [25:40] Why knowing the local language is not a prerequisite for authentic travel.
• [29:38] The Harbin Ice Festival and her New Zealand and Australia travel highlights.
• [38:45] Her approach to finding accommodation and why hotels are not always an option.
• [44:00] SightDOING in Antarctica and recommendations for those considering the trip.
• [52:51] Final takeaways for listeners and how to contact Becky.

Quotes:

“That first-hand touch from someone that you trust and from someone where you understand their frame of reference is a great way to filter [travel ideas].” — @sightDOING [7:20]

“Sometimes taking what is easy is a legitimate way to plan a trip or plan an activity.” — @sightDOING [10:33]

“Sometimes even when you have fantastic plans, they just get rearranged based on conditions or things you never expected.” — @sightDOING [20:00]

“I like hotels but a lot of places I go don’t have a lot of hotels which means you have to get a little bit more creative.” — @sightDOING [39:01]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

sightDOING

sightDOING on X

sightDOING on Instagram

sightDOING on Facebook

sightDOING on Pinterest

Becky Pokora on LinkedIn

Airbnb

Reddit

Meetup

Facebook Events

Harbin Ice Festival

Vrbo

Booking.com

Quark Expeditions

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

View Details

0:21 Transfer Bonuses

• Chase UR to Marriott Bonvoy: 70% (through Aug 14, 2024) EXPIRES SOON
• Amex MR to Avios: 30% (through Sept 30, 2024)
• Amex MR to Hawaiian: 20% (through Aug 31, 2024)
• CapOne to Qantas: 20% (through Aug 31, 2024)

08:24 United Premium Cabin Awards (on United Metal) Gets Even More Expensive (Live and Lets Fly)

• We’ve talked a lot the past year or two about this being a bail out maneuver when there are no partner awards
• 200k pp one-way to Europe now as good as it seems to get for “anytime” awards (was 155k)
• Discuss: The current state of AA, Delta, and United miles

15:21 JetBlue Plus 80,000

• Direct Link
• Found on jetblue.com
• $99 AF not waived first year
• $1k min spend in 3 months
• Regularly 50k

16:14 Heightened Amex Bonvoy Welcome Bonuses

• Bonvoy Bevy
• 155k for $5k in 6 months
• $250 AF not waived first year
• Bonvoy Brilliant
• 185k for $6k in 6 months
• $650 AF not waived first year
• Available through referral
• Better offers said to end Oct 2, 2024

Main Topic: Partner Award Bookings

17:59 Qantas As An Alternative to British Airways for Domestic AA Partners Awards

• Saw one-way flights from State College to Boston through PHL on AA for around 10k/12.5k
• Flights were $300 pp one-way
• Thought I might have to use some precious AA miles, but noticed there was partner availability!
• BA wants 24k pp one-way in Economy
• But Qantas wants just 8k, and what a pleasure of a site to work with…
• They allow you to enter the FF # of AA/Alaska at the time of booking
• They clearly lay out the change and cancellation terms at the time of booking
• The record locator can be discovered (for seat selection) by checking your AA account (it just works!)
• So much better than booking with BA ever was. Why did BA get so much press back in the day?

23:42 Booking JetBlue Mint with Qatar Avios

• Space can be confirmed on ITA Matrix or Qatar’s site
• Amex MR -> BA Avios: Instant
• BA Avios -> Qatar Avios: Also instant. I established that link before.
• One gotcha: I haven't been able to link P2's BA Avios to her Qatar Avios account. I suspect it might be because I have my mobile number listed for both of our accounts, and there's a lot of 2FA involved in all of this. Just a hunch.
• Online booking w/Qatar Avios is pretty straightforward. They do ask for passport number and expiration dates, which is unusual for a domestic flight.
• They have a field for adding Known Traveler Number at the time of booking, but it asks for the expiration date of KTN which I don't know so I couldn't add it
• I didn't see a way to select a 3rd party frequent flyer number at the time of booking an award ticket. Non-related Qantas allows this which is really nice.
• Record locator to manage the flights (add KTN and select seats) on JetBlue's side can be found in the individual receipt emails they send each passenger, or by chatting Qatar
• Hardest part is getting JetBlue's IT to behave and recognize that record locator
• When I'm logged in to JetBlue I can't add itineraries to manage. I have to be logged out.
• When I'm logged out it kept telling me my birthday didn't match the record locator. But I'm certain the birthdays are accurate.
• I ended up having to message JetBlue on Twitter DM to select seats and add KTN numbers, whic his annoying
• The flights were $1,200+ pp one-way so with the 30% transfer bonus it made sense to book this way
• I think cancellations can be made online for a $25 fee up to 24 hours prior to departure
• All in all, assuming you've got the accounts established and the links set up this isn't too bad of a booking process (much better terms than Etihad)

View Details

A Norway Trip Report...on today’s Milenomics² Podcast

01:00 Scope: 2 weeks in Norway. Oslo, Tromso, Lofoten then back to Oslo for a few days.

• Wanted to get away from people.
• Love the coast, and Norway has a LOT of coastline
• Spent most of our time in the arctic Circle (but not considered the arctic)
• Map:

10:12 Outbound: Air France. LAX-CDG Plus a 4hr layover.

• Flight was smooth and the daytime departure was nice
• Got to experience the new LAX Air France lounge. Open 3 weeks ago. New is always better.
• 4hrs in CDG was perfect with kids. Got through immigration, train to the 2F terminal, settled into a lounge, everyone showered and then about 45 minutes later we were off to the gate
• Kids meal was pre-ordered and was great.
• CDG-OSL very basic, service by Amelia (by Air France)

20:10 Getting to Oslo from the airport Fly to vs Vy.

• Trains run every 10-20 minutes. Travel time is less than 30 minutes.
• Flytoget calls itself the 'fastest' airport train. This might be true, but only by a minute or two.
• Vy is a few minutes slower. Faster than driving even.
• Flytoget has Kids free vs VY so the prices start to converge when you take this into consideration
• approx $12 - 24 per person one way.
• Taxi was about $125. We had 4 of these one ways to do so we needed to get good at them.
• Vy app is not as good as the Ruter app for buying tickets with US credit cards. Stick to the Ruter app.
• Ruter and VY app cannot buy flytoget tickets, so Ruter + Flytoget app are the ideal combo.
• Tickets can also easily be bought at the ticket machines.

25:20 Clarion hotel the hub (a strawberry hotel)

• Location is great, just off Oslo central station
• 810(!) rooms. Norway's Largest hotel. Did not feel this big.
• Booked family size room for 16000 points
• With a Strata Premier this is 8000 TYP transferred to Choice.
• Included a pull out sofa which was already set up for us.
• Includes full buffet breakfast with omelette and crepe station.
• Nice, newish hotel. Certainly a great way to spend TYP and appreciate they book family rooms.
• Came back and worked to get connecting rooms. Seemed willing to even give some partial extra credit for the family room vs. 2 regular rooms.

30:58 Oslo:

• World city, really a great feel to the city, full of energy, parks and fantastic amounts of museums.
• 20+ Hours of daylight. People outdoors and a city that is alive.
• Paris and Prague feels. But English is a first or second language in most signs and interaction.
• Summer in Norway is Wildflower season. The landscaping in the cities is beautiful.
• Be Aware of your surroundings at night. There were some sketchy areas we stumbled into. Nothing too rough but still, be aware.
• Food was easy to find and diverse
  • Interesting food halls: Oslo Street Food or Barcode Street Food
  • Most world cuisine was easy to find and well done.
• Getting around is so easy. There are very few people driving cars. Taxis only really.
• Malls. So many malls. Beautiful they way they preserved the facade of the building and then you walk in and find a 3 story mall.
• NeoTokyo Store was stocked with Japanese toys/foods/snacks.
• Normal Store was a favorite of my two kids for candy/gum/interesting small dollar shopping for them.
• Gets rural quickly, leave city center and you're in the forest.
• Everything I saw ahead of visiting said to get out of Oslo -- I really, really enjoyed Oslo, and wish we spent more time there. SO much to explore.

35:24 Food in Norway

• Solid!
• Nothing like I was expecting
• Even in Tromso easy to find good options: Sushi, Thai, Fish & Chips, kid friendly food everywhere.
• Lofoten: had some meals out, touristy but to be expected.
• Our budget flex was that we had an airbnb in Tromso/Lofoten with a kitchen. Instead you could opt for prepared foods from the grocery.
• Reindeer: not bad. My 9 year old ordered it twice.
• Fruits and veggies are plentiful and easy to find in stores.
• Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry season. Fantastic berries that were easy to find.
• Had one meal that was Norwegian. It was 'ok.'
• Watermelon, passion fruit, grapes, nectarines, mangoes etc.

45:36 Travel to Tromso and Lofoten

• 1 quick 2hr flight on Norwegian
• Fine. Much better than southwest.
• Included 4 checked bags and overhead access.
• Incoming plane had everyone deplane and then boarded us and took off all in less than 35 minutes
• Pretty views from the plane on the right side as we approached Tromso.

Tromso rental car: Hertz

• Months out cars were expensive. One way rentals to Lofoten were nearly $2000.
• Originally booked an Alamo rate about $700 for a week. Anything less than 7 days was over $1200.
• Was told this would be an automated kiosk. That's likely old info. All rental companies at the airport had full manned areas.
• Rented a VW ID.4 ev. Got a VW ID.4 $524 for a week.
• Tolls, ferries and parking meant a $300 pre-authorization. Ended up using about $80 in tolls with 1000 miles driven.
• Tolls are once per hour, regardless of how many you go through. Most tolls were under $2.
• Returned it late and nearly empty. I didn't want to bother charging it. Was quoted about $25 plus the cost of electricity if I returned it under “around 70%”. I decided to leave it as empty as possible and skip a charging stop on the return since I'm paying for the convenience.

Tours: get your guide+ capital one shopping

• Commodity tours are a great use of capital one. Click through and don't buy, a few days later a good offer comes to email.
• Clicked through a common tour operator and didn't end up paying for the tour.
• Used some chase UR
• Received a 38.5% cash back offer from Capital One shopping
• Which….just worked! Took two tours down from 100 or so per person to 63 or so per person

51:29 Tromso: where to stay?

• The city is….well, a city. Has a few strawberry hotels and a Radisson Blu
• Parking is about $4/hr in the main tourists area. I don't know if any hotel has parking.
• You could certainly get around on public transit (hard with kids) even to far flung parts of the area.
• But being away from the city is quick and easy. 15 minutes puts you in an incredibly rural beautiful environment.
• If I had it to do over I'd stay on the island of Kvaløya near Esterboten or Sommory. You're close to Tromso but with incredible views:
• The best grocery store seemed to be the Eurospar on E862
• No other store matched it for fresh fruits and veggies.
• Grocery prices are reasonable, stores are stocked with plenty of great fresh options and even some ethnic staples.
• Beer and Wine are expensive and wine is only sold at Vinmonopolat stores.

56:52 Low-ish season in Tromso / Lofoten

• Busy time is apparently northern lights and early spring for winter sports
• I thought summer in Tromso was fantastic
• Negatives, whale season is not summer. Did see some porpoise.
• Tours were 10-25% full. Small enough that you got to know the group.
• Slow pace in Northern Norway. Very Slow.
• 9-10 max

1:00:11 Tromso to Lofoten islands.

• This was the ultimate “what's the best way to get there” test
• Flying might have worked. Except cars were extremely pricey at Svolvaer, and the closet airport had a tiny runway. There are no direct flights from Tromso to Svolvaer. At some level it meant a full day of travel either by car or air. So we road tripped it.
• There are high speed Ferries that don't take cars, and drop you in Harstad (still not where we wanted to be).
• There are options that involve busses. But again with mobility issues (little kids) I wanted a car.
• Option 1: over land. 6hrs or so. About 500km. no views, and locals say not worth doing.
• Option 2: two ferries plus about 300km of driving. 8hrs.
• Option 3: Hurtigruten. Maybe 14 hrs but nearly direct. Not every day. Must prebook. Weird hours.
  • If you're going to book this book it on the Norwegian language site (and maybe with a VPN) for the lowest pricing.
• Needed to decide which to do, booked nothing ahead of time.
• Originally decided on the south, direct drive. Was swayed by locals to take the ferries. Big mistake.
• Senja was a really beautiful place.
• Pivoted and made it work, thanks to my wife's quick Google searching and reassuring calming down.
• Just drive straight. Roads are easy and we did the return in just about 6hrs with a short break in the middle.
• I think a more standard trip is flying to Lofoten from either Oslo, Bergen or Bodo. Adding in Lofoten pushed the complexity up. I'm very glad we went to Lofoten I loved it, impossible to describe.
• My Final Route looked like this:

1:18:34 Ferries. Interesting for People, Terrible for Cars

• Cars line up early, fit very few cars.
• Tour Busses get to cut the line.
• Arrived about 50 minutes early and was #12 in line. For the second ferry in Gryllfjord I was an hour+ early and #65-70 in line (!)
• Scan license place and auto charge.
• People without a car are free
• EV pays half price
• Seems like a service to connect islands with last mile service, not as a method of reliable car transport
• Not worth doing. Long waits, no way to pre-book and no guarantee you can get on these ferries.

1:20:44 Lofoten:

• Need to get beyond Svolvaer for the best of the islands.
• Svolvaer is any other fishing village.
• Past Svolvaer is unlike anywhere I've ever been.
• Islands as far as the eye can see, some of the best driving I've ever done
• Harrowing roads in some places where you need to pass a bus or truck and there isn't enough room
• Peace and quiet. Weather was unusually warm.
• Anyone can take a good picture in Lofoten.
• Surprising numbers of beaches and swimmable areas.

Tours:

• Oslo: brunch on the fjord, nice but nothing overly impressive about the brunch.
• Fram Museum (Fantastic, captivated my two kids for 90+ minutes)
• Tromso: fjord boat tour, arctic fishing. Incredible with the weather we had.
• Husky cafe tour and training
• Floating sauna and swim
• Lofoten: silent trollfjord tour, beaches
• Henningsvær, Lofoten: Extremely touristy.

1:33:20 Return to Oslo and Return home.

• By now we're pros getting to/from Oslo Airport
• Back to the hotel for connecting rooms....that were not ready for us
• Let it go a day, fixed it the next day.
• 3 days in Olso: Shopping, city exploration, parks and playgrounds for the kids.
• Could have spent more time and seen even more museums.
• Return home on Air France, overnight in Paris. It all just worked.

1:45:15 Overall impressions

• Such a laid back country. Almost too laid back (ferry story).
• Food was not an issue at all. A huge misconception is that the food here is not accessible.
• Cigarette smoking is everywhere unfortunately.
• Alcohol laws are not in line with the rest of Europe and can be pricey.
• Sunday is a big deal. Almost all stores close. Joker groceries are open Sunday.
• Tourist towns like Tromso are….touristy but people also live there. Fun to visit the malls and see their daily lives.
• Talking to people led us to some of the best surprises of the trip. Nice to be in a country where we could communicate easily.
• Midnight sun was more of a feature than a bug. We packed our days often going 8am to 10pm
• Driving 1000+miles was a mix of very easy and white knuckling. Speed limits make no sense. Lots of Amalfi style 1.5 lane roads in Senja and the Lofoten Islands.

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Episode 38: Show Notes

Have you ever wondered what it's like to travel the stunning coastlines and towns of the French and Italian Rivieras? In this episode, we dive into Trevor’s recent adventure to these iconic Mediterranean destinations. From the highs and lows of traveling with family to insightful travel recommendations, Trevor provides his takeaways from his trip. In our conversation, we discuss his reasons for the trip, the logistics and planning aspects behind it, and what he thought of the hotels and Apartment rentals. Explore why multi-generational travel complicates logistics and learn why cruise ships are the best option for older travel partners. Hear about what Europe gets right about children's play parks, Zurich airport’s sky deck, dining in a French vineyard, making an authentic pizza with his family, and a memorable cheese tour. Trevor also shares his thoughts on why one hotel made his list of the worst places to stay, what he enjoyed most about flying home on Swiss Airlines, and much more. Join us and get inspired to plan your own Riviera family adventure! Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:36] A catch-up with Thomas and Trevor and an overview of today’s topic.
• [0:03:50] Reasons for the trip, details about his itinerary, and what the trip entailed.
• [0:10:12] Break down of the miles used for flights, hotel stays, and overall cost.
• [0:13:14] The apartments he booked and why they tested his tolerance.
• [0:21:40] Complications of traveling with family and his British Airways lounge experience.
• [0:29:50] Multi-generational travel, finding play parks for your kids, and plane spotting.
• [0:37:35] Hear about the trip's fun and interesting dining experiences.
• [0:48:17] Highlights of the French and Italian Rivieras and what he would do differently.
• [0:58:41] How one hotel on the trip made Trevor’s list of the worst hotels to stay at.
• [1:04:12] Funny and unexpected moments from the trip and driving in France and Italy.
• [1:13:52] Flying home on Swiss Airlines and what he enjoyed most about it.

Quotes:

“I would say don’t split up [at the airport] because you just end up giving yourself more anxiety than you really need.” — @TktweetsKim [25:12]

“[My family and I] tend to do multi-generational travel a lot, but it is usually cruise ship related, and that has a lot of things that help buffer those restriction points.” — @TktweetsKim [30:03]

“When you have to deal with the old, the young, and the in-between, it does complicate the logistics quite a bit.” — @TktweetsKim [30:24]

“My focus of late has been really trying to get more unique [travel] experiences.” — @Tmount [40:45]

“The trip was incredible, everybody was very happy, and everyone was really happy with their seats on the way home too.” — @Tmount [1:16:58]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Château des Demoiselles

List for Travel Play Areas / Parks

Obicà Duomo | A tip from Pat and Mike @PatMikeL – Go during happy hour (I think 5-8) for Aperativo’s

Château Sainte Roseline

Episode 24: Japan and Disney with Joe Cheung

Episode 34: Chatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMiler

Episode 35: Long Weekend in Madrid

Booking.com

British Airways

EatWith

Verdmont in Unesco Monferrato - Ariella’s Pizza making Experience

Italian Accor Hotels

Swiss International Air Lines

The Air Show Podcast

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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Episode 37: Show Notes

In today’s organic, stream-of-consciousness episode, we take a look at some of our recent travel experiences, explore current industry trends, and share our take on what we think may happen in the not-so-distant future. Our menagerie of travel stories begins with Thomas’s experience of the Rio Las Vegas before diving into the mileage run that took him to Nevada. Then, we explore the current state of the airline industry, possible mergers to look forward to (or be worried about), the lifestyle choices that influence our travel choices, and the implausible airline merger that would be a match made in heaven. We also discuss the evolution of standard airport lounges, asses how they weigh up against membership and rewards lounges, and examine how Trevor’s trip to Charlotte reminds us of the real cost of inflation. For a laid-back, conversational episode that is both fun and thought-provoking, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Thomas’s experience of the Rio Las Vegas.
• [08:12] How Thomas made his way to Vegas: an OG mileage run.
• [10:22] The current state of the airline industry, and possible acquisitions and mergers.
• [14:35] Exploring the finer details of Thomas’s Vegas mileage run.
• [19:35] Ways that travel styles vary and how lifestyle changes influence travel choices.
• [23:20] What Thomas thinks about the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Dallas.
• [28:55] The pros and cons of standard airport lounges versus membership lounges.
• [34:18] Why Alaska Airlines and Jet Blue would be the perfect pairing.
• [36:10] What we think about the future of Hawaiian Airlines.
• [38:00] Trevor’s quick overnight to Charlotte, North Carolina.
• [42:55] The true cost of inflation.

Quotes:

“The biggest deterrent for me in any environment for me is tobacco smoke.” — @tmount [04:40]

“Ultimately, when we travel, we want to have options. That’s number one.” — @tmount [28:48]

“Either Jet Blue will have a lounge within the decade or they won’t exist in a decade.” — @TktweetsKim [33:37]

“I don’t know of an airline merger that has happened in less than 24 months.” — @TktweetsKim [37:45]

“That’s only 4,500 Alaska miles, I mean, why not? Honestly, some of these trips that we take, it’s more expensive to pay for the Uber.” — @TktweetsKim [42:42]

“With what it costs to dine out now, it definitely feels like more of a luxury item than it used to.” — @TktweetsKim [44:16]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Rio Las Vegas

But I’m a Diamond Guest

Hyatt Hotels

Alaska Airline

United Airlines

American Airlines

Delta

Asiana Airlines

Korean Airlines

Cranky Flier

Brett Snyder on LinkedIn

The Centurion Lounge

Delta Sky Club

Chase Sapphire Lounger

Capital One Lounges

Priority Pass

Etihad Airways

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Bel-Aire Lounge

Spirit Airlines

Jet Blue

Michael Trager on LinkedIn

Hawaiian Airlines

Finnair

Qatar Airways

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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In this episode, we dive into the adventures of Spencer Howard, the founder of Straight To The Points, as he shares his recent Asia Pacific trip experience. Straight To The Points is a service that helps travelers find and book premium airline award tickets using points and miles, helping save time and money.In our conversation, Spencer shares his incredible 6-week journey through New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, highlighting the breathtaking sights and unique experiences he and his family encountered. Hear about his flight on Air New Zealand, what makes it a family-friendly airline, and tips for traveling with a newborn. Discover why convenience is key when traveling with a newborn, the importance of planning, and how he planned the overall trip. We discuss Hyatt alternatives in Sydney, his scenic route to Tokyo, and why you should go to a baseball game in Japan. Spencer also shares his favorite hotel stays, what makes for a great hotel experience, invaluable travel hacks, and more! Join us as we unpack the ins and outs of planning your Asia Pacific trip with Spencer Howard!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Introducing today’s guest, Spencer Howard.
• [01:41] Outline of today’s topic and what listeners can expect.
• [03:38] His motivation for the trip and traveling with a newborn.
• [06:29] Flying Air New Zealand from Texas, Houston.
• [10:00] The main difference between Queenstown and Aukland.
• [11:47] Finding a hotel, getting around, and how to use your points in New Zealand.
• [15:04] Why he chose convenience over price when making bookings.
• [17:15] Spencer’s New Zealand highlights and why he would go back.
• [22:05] Sightseeing in Sydney and his stay at the Capella Sydney.
• [27:04] His alternative route to Tokyo and changing the itinerary on a trip.
• [31:18] His Japan experience, the hotels, and going to a baseball game.
• [42:52] What inspired him to go to Japan and how he planned the trip.
• [47:28] Find out more about Spencer and his company, Straight To The Points.

Quotes:

“Air New Zealand obviously does not have first-class but they will let you buy the bigger seat. That was worth it.” — @spencerformiles [6:57]

“Convenience matters, I think, when you are traveling with a little one.” — @spencerformiles [15:46]

“[The Capella Sydney Hotel] truly is an amazing hotel that I would prefer to stay in when I go back.” — @spencerformiles [22:35]

“You can get, what I would say is a reasonably priced, nice hotel in Sydney if you are not using points.” — @spencerformiles [24:37]

“Finding the information important to your travel faster I think is important so I am just trying to save people some hours.” — @spencerformiles [50:09]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Spencer Howard on LinkedIn

Spencer Howard on X

Spencer Howard on Instagram

Straight To The Points

Points Wire

Air New Zealand

Virgin Atlantic

British Airways

Air Canada

Cathay Pacific

Small Luxury Hotels of The World Limited

Hilton Hotels in New Zealand

Hotel St Moritz

Capella Sydney

The Park Hyatt Sydney

Andy's Travel Blog

Hyatt Hotels in Japan

Grand Hyatt Tokyo

The Ritz-Carlton

Asia Pacific Airlines

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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0:24 Q3 2024 5x Categories

• Chase Freedom: Gas (and other stuff)
• Discover: Grocery Stores, Walmart (For the first time in FOREVER!!!)
• Citi Dividend: Gas
• Why do banks have these cards? To move our spending onto these cards long after the quarter ends.

04:05 Transfer Bonuses

• Citi -> Cathay Pacific 15% (7/20)
• Chase -> Aeroplan 20% (7/31)
• If the space is there and these miles will be used, great to get a discount. Probably not worth speculatively transferring.

08:33 New DeltaOne Premium Lounges Coming in 2024 (OMAAT)

• JFK: June
• LAX: Late 2024
• BOS: Late 2024 (adjacent to already-open 3rd SkyClub in BOS, in International Terminal E)

13:26 Staggering Decline in Usefulness of giftcards.com Visa/MC GC

• At one point these were a fantastic way to earn miles and even hit sign up bonuses
• Recall buying Amex GC and then flipping those to GC.com.
• Now what can we do with these?
• There's certainly a draw with 5-10% off sales. But those are usually small dollar cards
• Scale vs spread
• None of this really matters because there's nowhere these cards even work

19:34 Checking Account with Free ATM Withdrawals Worldwide?

• First Republic had this for $15k
• Chase requires $75k min balance Sapphire checking to avoid fees
• The louses at Chase deactivated First Republic debit cards before the Chase cards arrived. Gah! Do they have the same PIN? I think so? But I go to the ATM infrequently in the US so I’m not sure.
• Am I over-thinking it? Just pay the fees? Well, it’s not just the ATM fee, there’s a “foreign exchange rate adjustment fee” that’s a percentage (usually around 3%) of the amount withdrawn on top of the ATM fee:
• “Surcharge Fees from the ATM owner/network still apply. A Foreign Exchange Rate Adjustment Fee from Chase may apply for ATM withdrawals in a currency other than U.S. dollars.”
• When presented with the question of whether you want to be charged in foreign or USD choose the local currency if your bank here has no Foreign Transaction fees. (Say no to Dynamic Currency Conversion). Example:
• But the real scary thing is where the ATM you’re withdrawing from tacks on a dynamic currency conversion fee, they don’t disclose the percentage, the ATM interface makes it confusing to figure out what’s going on, and you end up paying what is or feels like a lot more than you should to take money out of an ATM.
• I really just like to be able to withdraw a reasonable amount of foreign currency as I go without worrying about fees adding up.
• Schwab Checking has free international ATM withdrawals with no minimum balance
• Schwab debit card was expired (never used), I don’t know what the PIN is, and their phone tree sends me in circles. Thought to go in branch but is there no such thing as a Schwab checking branch?
• Chatted, guy told me I “may have to speak with Schwab Checking. I thought I was chatting with Schwab Checking!?
• Maybe Volcker doesn’t get the credit he deserves
• Update as Robert is leaving to Japan and will be using this debit card.

36:48 International Data for Cellphones. Current Status

• Being connected is pretty much a necessity at this point
• There are multiple ways to handle this, and with multiple price points and [potential] gotchas
• How to handle this is also a factor of your current provider, plan, phone and where you’re traveling
  • Example: In Mexico many plans ‘just work’ as if you’re home.
• How do we each play this when we’re outside the country and what pros/cons do these methods have?
• Sam: Complicated, but I want data, and really only want data. I’ve had a setup for a decade plus that decouples my phone number from a cell provider (think: wifi calling but over mobile data). That’s nice because I can do everything I want/need with my local number with just a data bucket.
  • E-SIM has changed the world (literally). Gone are the days of visiting a kiosk in the airport (rip off!) or scouring the prepaid-data wiki for tips on buying and activating plans. I’ve had some wild stories of activating prepaid SIM cards overseas. ESIM changes all of that.
  • Basics: Your phone can hold a physical SIM card, or a digital one. Because these are digital now you have providers (Airalo, Dent, Saily, etc) that sell service in other countries (data only usually) for cheap with customer support and easy one or two click install.
  • Pros: Really cost effective for data hogs: I did this last summer in Japan: $10 per person for 2 weeks worth of data (5-10gb). We hotspotted for the kids who’s phones don’t support esim.
  • Norway I’ll do the same, it is about $11 for 5gb there. Some providers have region passes, which are nice and include a bucket of countries like “Eastern Europe” or “South Asia” for hopping around.
  • Negatives: Your phone number and text messages for your current provider probably won’t come through unless you can figure out how to turn on wifi calling and hotspot. I’m not an iphone user so I defer to mostly the ways that android handles these things. I do believe imessage will continue to work over data, but can’t confirm firsthand.
  • Another negative is that you can have issues with the install, and if you bungle it and somehow delete your main SIM card you could have service interruptions when you come home and switch back.
  • Zero roaming or other charges because you ‘turn off’ your home service completely.
• Robert: I enable the AT&T International Day Pass. $12/day for the primary, $6/day for each additional line on the same plan. “Only pay for the days you use, no extra charge after 10 days per line, per bill”

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0:55 Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

• We’re talking about deeply discounted airfare, not FREE airfare.
• Every one of these programs has a cash out path–that’s great

1:45 Overview: Highs and Lows of each Program

1:59 Chase UR

• Talked about the most online, but not as valuable as Amex to us
• Much more straightforward than Amex
• 1 Cent per Ultimate Reward point earned (easy cash out on all card)
• 5x earning on Office Supply has been around for a long time.
• Earning at high rates, transferring to a CSR/CSP

3:00 Earning Chase UR

• Easy to use Domestic Partners in United and Southwest
• Travel Portal booking is not ideal but does have uplift
• Earning with high multipliers and sign up bonuses works well
• 5/24 limits the number of cards you can get
• Can co-mingle points

6:30 Southwest (W/ Chase UR)

• Points have become less useful as Ticketless Travel Funds (TTF) have become permanent
• Less transfers from UR->Southwest because TTF are so plentiful
• If transferring , the best way to earn is still NOT on the Southwest credit cards.

7:43 Booking with the Chase Travel Portal:

• Price inflation is real (American, others) Be sure to check google flights
• Can see inflated prices on flights, issues when canceling
• 1.25 cents per point / 1.5 cents per point (20% - 33% discount on travel)
• Sometimes just taking cash back at 1 cent per point is the way to pay for travel
• These points are not ‘free’

10:53 Amex MR Overview

• Amex is so generous that they have changed subscribers’ lives
• THE most generous bank with respect to SUB, earning bonuses and referrals
• The default cash back amount for a MR is 0.6 Cents ($.006) per MR with a few exceptions
• Difficult to get rid of these points.

12:41 Booking Travel with Amex MR

• With such easy earning there isn’t a fast enough release valve sometimes
• Their travel portal is horrible, but is mandatory for the 35% rebate
• Insider fares are lower fares than anywhere else.
• Extremely high annual fee cards needed to release points at high value
• To get good redemption rates with points you have to graduate to high annual fee cards
• Either churn the card or pay the high annual fee (carrying costs) to get good value
• Delta transfers are a great option – 1.1 cents in value per point, transfer 1:1
• Holding a Delta card gives a 15% discount as well, works out to around 1.25 cents per point.

16:26 Earning Membership Rewards

• “They’ve gone crazy with the Sign up Bonuses”
• Easier to earn at a moderate level than Chase (or any other bank)
• Many high annual Fee cards, which come with many coupons/credits
• Nonstarter for someone just starting out.

18:55 Difficulties transacting with AMEX

• Need High annual Fee Business Platinum for 35% rebate (approx 1.5 cents per point)
• Need High Annaul Fee Morgan stanley (1cpp) or Schwab (1.1 cpp) to cash out MR.
• Cannot co-mingle points across spouses, which means you need 2 of each of these cards!
• 35% rebate only on airline of choice or business/first fares.
• Extremely tricky to jump through hoops with Amex.

26:30 Bank of America Premium Rewards

• Both of us have had positive experiences with these points
• Earning on the Premium Rewards Elite card ($550 annual fee)
• Cannot co-mingle with other point earning cards
• No Airline transfer partners.
• Can pool with anyone easily

27:31 Booking Airfare With Premium Rewards

• Good Value, affordable flights work well with these points
• “Earning is not nearly as easy as Chase/Amex”
• Card is churnable
• Incidentals can help remove the sting of $550 annual Fee
• 1 cent per point easy cash out
• 20% rebate on airfare, which works out to 1.25 cents per point

29:03 Unique opportunity: 20% discount

• There is a Travel portal and you can use it for the uplift
• BUT you also can find any flight, any airline and call in getting credited for the flight
• And the BofA phone reps are GREAT.
• If there’s a higher price in their portal, or the airline doesn’t show they will let you book it directly and credit you back and rebate you 20%.
• Industry Leading. All other banks should follow this lead
• Great because you can work with the airline directly

33:35 Citi ThankYou Points

• They’ve done a lot to limit the uplift on their points
• Premier use to get 1.25 CPP on travel
• Prestige is dead.
• Why would anyone use the Citi travel portal?
• Cash out path is so simple, 1 cent per point cash out on cards is easy.

34:31 Citi Travel portal

• No Uplift, or maybe negative uplift
• Now booking.com as the engine
• Pricing does not align from citi travel portal to booking.com
• Inflation causes erosion of value
• No upside on Airfare.

35:36 Citi Portfolio issues

• Strata Premier is their highest annual fee TYP card
• Complex pooling of points
• Double Cash is a great ‘all around’ card
• Thank You points as a brand

38:07 Mention: Citi Transfer Partners

• Leading Hotels of the World
• Wyndham (not as good as earning direct)
• EVA, Turkish, other random programs
• Lacks a big name domestic transfer partner, AA Transfer return is needed

40:12 Wells Fargo

• Think Fast: What are these points called? A: Wells Fargo Rewards
• Autograph Journey Card
• Visa Signature Card unlocks 1.5 cents per point on Autograph points.
• Straightforward earning in some bonus categories
• Travel portal can be inflated
• Domestic Airfare for 35% off with points earned at a high multiple.

41:30 Honorable Mention:

Capital One

• Quirky, nice SUB in some case
• Have done a great job of marketing their points as easier to use.
• That seems like an antiquated idea that people do really believe is true
• But now in order to compete Capital One has added transfer partners
• This all puts them on par with most other issuers

44:21 Rank by ease of earning and using

• You’ll just have to listen to find out!

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While today is all about a long weekend in Madrid, Thomas and Trevor go on their usual tangents to bring you yet another information-drenched and fun-filled episode! We begin with our love for gin and tonic ice cubes and by explaining how today’s episode relates to many of our other Travel Stories. Then, Trevor walks us through his recent airport lounge experiences, how food and drinks compare, how to maximize your points redemptions, and taking short trips in first class versus longer trips in economy. Trevor then explains why he had to drop Mumbai from his Madrid trip itinerary, what you need to be cautious of when walking the streets of Madrid, and the entertainment options that are available in Spain’s capital for both kids and adults. To end, we discuss the evolution of Lufthansa’s first-class (cheers!) and what we like and dislike about recent amenity additions and removals, and we take a closer look at the now-unretired Airbus A340-600.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:30] Gin & tonic ice cubes, and how today’s Travel Story links to many previous episodes.
• [01:52] Why taking cheaper flights from the Maldives is not as common as it used to be.
• [03:30] Trevor’s interesting and most recent airport lounge experiences.
• [06:12] Comparing the food and drink quality of the various lounges that Trevor visited.
• [07:40] Virgin Atlantic’s common flight times and standard fleet make up, and some advice on how to maximize points redemption.
• [10:32] Short trips in first class and transatlantic flights in economy.
• [12:07] Understanding Trevor’s Dallas-London-Mumbai-Madrid itinerary.
• [20:44] Madrid: Spain’s lovely capital.
• [26:50] A cautionary pickpocketing tale from Madrid’s 5th Avenue equivalent.
• [32:20] Activities for kids, Museo Nacional del Prado, and exploring food and drinks in Madrid.
• [37:28] Today’s if “you say it, you sip it” phrase is “Lufthansa first-class”.
• [37:45] Trevor’s time in Munich, and the ins and outs of the now unretired Airbus A340-600.
• [45:56] The evolution of Lufthansa’s first-class amenities, and where it stands today.

Quotes:

“I have to say that I’m becoming more and more impressed with this [Chase Sapphire] lounge.” — @tmount [04:04]

“One potential area of friction [was] reduced; removed completely because the [Virgin Atlantic] crew was just absolutely amazing.” — @tmount [09:53]

“Choice Hotels are like the unsung heroes of Europe.” — @tmount [23:33]

“If you’re in that situation; if you’re in an area where you’re going to have no personal space and [be] shoulder-to-shoulder with a lot of people you don’t know, it’s probably a good idea to secure your stuff.” — @TktweetsKim [30:26]

“If we can find those local places, we’re always happier for it.” — @tmount [34:51]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

‘Travel Stories Episode 8: Epic Guys Trip’

‘Travel Stories Episode 19: Converting a Maldives Skeptic’

Virgin Atlantic

Chase Sapphire Lounge

Capital One Lounge

United Airlines

British Airways

Star Alliance

Priority Pass

Lufthansa

Robert Dwyer on X

Sam Simon on X

LifeMiles

TRYP by Wyndham

Choice Hotels

Hyatt Hotels

Radisson Hotels

Accor

Escadaria Selarón

Museo Nacional del Prado

Airbus A340-600

Taberna el Rincon de Jose

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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Chatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMiler

Episode 34: Show Notes.

Few things are as exhilarating as a competitive travel challenge among like-minded peers! Speaking of birds of a feather, today we are joined by fellow travel enthusiast and author, Nick Reyes. Nick is a prime example of how to follow your travel dreams even when your wallet says that you can't, and today, he shares both new and old travel hacks that will help you conquer your next travel challenge! We learn about the evolution of Avianca’s lifemiles program, the flop of Nick's first redemption versus the joys of his most successful one, and how bucket-list adventures are more accessible than you may realize. We also discuss Nick's most complicated (yet worthwhile) travel hack before exploring the wonders of travel as education, the benefits of various rewards programs, the value of reviewing rewards charts, and how to properly plan for a long trip. To end, Nick Reyes shares even more helpful advice for saving time and money on your adventures around the world.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:40] FTU: How Trevor and Thomas met today's guest, Nick Reyes.
• [04:30] How miles and points have evolved since 2013, and assessing Avianca's lifemiles program.
• [08:04] Nick's first redemption.
• [12:44] Highlights from his first (successful) miles redemption trip.
• [15:06] How once-in-a-lifetime trips become more accessible with miles and points.
• [18:23] Exploring the wonders of travel as education.
• [23:09] The most complicated travel hack that Nick has ever executed.
• [34:30] Unpacking various unassuming rewards programs that come with big payoffs.
• [35:20] How flying from certain regions saves points and money, and the value of reviewing reward charts.
• [42:22] The ins and outs of Nick's latest travel challenge and how he's planning for it.
• [46:20] Why it's important to thoroughly plan your travel, and how to go about it.
• [48:48] Time and money-saving travel tips.
• [53:18] How to connect with Nick Reyes.

Quotes:

“Before I discovered miles and points, my wife and I already had the travel itch. And so, we would work really hard, sometimes 60; 70; 80 hours a week, and then we would take a month or two off and go travel somewhere as cheaply as we could.” — @NickatFM [08:26]

“When we traveled on a shoestring budget back in the day, it was always like, 'Well, we're probably never going to be here again so we've got to see and do everything that we can'. And not having that pressure because of miles and points is such an incredibly liberating feeling.” — @NickatFM [15:32]

“[My kids] are learning geography not just by looking at it in a book and memorizing it for a test, but by going to places and seeing things. I think that's incredibly exciting because that's certainly not a world I grew up living in, nor one that I thought I'd be able to provide for my family someday.” — @NickatFM [19:36]

“Air Canada's Aeroplan has been something that has really inspired me to be interested in trying to push the boundaries, because their reward chart was made for people like us that get excited about figuring out, 'Okay, how far can I go? What can I do?'.” — @NickatFM [23:46]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Nick Reyes on LinkedIn

Nick Reyes on Instagram

Nick Reyes on X

Frequent Miler

FT Association | FTU

Avianca lifemiles

Air Canada Aeroplan

Etihad

Turkish Airlines

Eat With

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Milenomics

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Are you interested in cruises, and want to capitalize on miles and points, but feel unsure of where to start? Then this episode is for you! Today we sit down with, Debra Schroeder, who first became interested in miles and points back in ’94, when she bought an excess of cereal boxes to capitalize on an American Airlines promotional campaign. Her history with cruising goes back almost as far, starting in ’98. Fast forward to today and Deb has become an expert at optimizing her travel plans. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Deb first started writing her travel blog, Traveling Well for Less, and how she began posting deals and sharing her insights with other avid travelers. We talk with Deb about her evolution as a traveler and her enduring love of cruises, before hearing her advice on how to get the most out of your trips. If you’re curious about cruising or want to take your loyalty membership to the next level, then you won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with Deb Schroeder!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Debra’s involvement in the miles and points community.
• [04:18] What casino programs were like when she started (and how they have changed).
• [10:04] Trends in cruising over the past few years and the current state of cruises.
• [14:34] Booking in advance and how to get lower prices for your cruises.
• [18:49] Recurring issues with food provisions on cruises.
• [21:19] An overview of the traveling that Deb still wants to do.
• [24:18] Cruise loyalty; how Deb obtained her Pinnacle Member status with Royal Caribbean.
• [26:59] An overview of the divisions amongst Pinnacle Members and what caused it.
• [32:16] The huge success of loyalty schemes and how this has impacted cruise lines, airlines, hotel chains, and passengers.
• [33:17] Why Deb, and so many others, have remained loyal to Royal Caribbean.
• [34:21] Comparing Royal Caribbean’s casino loyalty program with other cruise lines.
• [38:57] Deb’s insights into Las Vegas, on-land casinos, and earning perks and points.
• [40:54] Recent news regarding MGM partnerships and upcoming developments.
• [43:41] Deb’s parting advice: don’t wait to take advantage of all the current cruise offers!

Quotes:

“The miles and points community, it's a large community, but it's funny how small it is, really. Everybody knows everyone.” — @TktweetsKim [01:38]

“In the last couple of years, there's been leadership change over at Royal Caribbean. So they're doing a lot of cost-cutting and different financial strategies and implementing different things that they didn’t [do] in the past.” — @DebraSchroeder [12:29]

“With all the different changes, they have to submit the manifests to customs, like 72 hours in advance. [So] you can’t get that last-minute deal that the Floridians are used to, where they could just stroll up to the port and book a cruise right there.” — @DebraSchroeder [15:27]

“It's incredible to think how loyal and dedicated customers are. The mania, the craziness of miles and points – extends to cruisers, just as much as people who love airlines and hotels.” — @TktweetsKim [31:25]

“Royal has the best loyalty program of all the cruise lines, in terms of what you get for your status. That is why so many of us have remained loyal to Royal because you get so much more.” — @DebraSchroeder [33:18]

“Get those free cruises now before you miss out on the opportunity! We haven't had these many offers in a long time.” — @DebraSchroeder [44:29]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Traveling Well for Less

Traveling Well for Less on YouTube

Flyertalk

Vanilla Reload

Royal Caribbean

Celebrity Cruises

Carnival

Norwegian Cruise Line

Holland America

Princess

Crystal Cruises

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Subscribe to Milenomics on Patreon

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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A Quick Cairo Trip

Episode 32: Show Notes.

After a two-plus year-long wait, Tom finally used his Qatar booking credit from the pandemic (just in time before the booking expired!). Even though he wasn’t excited about the trip before departure, his wonderful experience of Cairo made him question his initial reservations. Tom details his airport experience in Canada, why he chose to fly out from there instead of America, and whether buying a cheaper ticket to fly from Canada is worth the hassle. He also shares his thoughts on the new Chase Sapphire Lounge in LaGuardia, his inflight experience of Qatar’s Qsuite, what he did during his Doha layover, and everything he loved about being in Cairo for the very first time. In addition, we discuss the convenience of using tour services to expedite airport arrivals and departures in certain countries, the sights that Tom visited in Cairo, whether he’d go back with a nested itinerary, and a quick look at the trips that Tom and Trevor have coming up.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:59] A high-level overview of Tom’s trip to Cairo.
• [03:03] Thomas explains why he hasn’t been excited prior to departure on recent trips.
• [06:38] Why he chose to connect from Canada.
• [08:43] A brief interlude on the brand-new Chase Sapphire Lounge.
• [11:50] His on-ground experience of Canada before departing for Egypt.
• [15:14] What he thinks about the Qatar Qsuite, and the rest of his inflight experience to Doha.
• [19:17] Everything that happened during his layover in Doha.
• [32:58] What Tom loved about being in Cairo for the first time.
• [35:54] How he used a tour guide service to expedite his arrival and domestic travel in Egypt.
• [40:21] His sightseeing and entertainment experiences in Cairo.
• [45:26] What’s on next for Tom and Trevor.
• [46:25] Whether Tom would go back to Cairo with a nested itinerary.
• [48:36] A quick yes or no: Is buying a cheaper flight out of Canada worth the hassle?

Quotes:

“Lately, a lot of the travel I’ve been having, I’ve been not really excited about it. I was not excited for this trip at all, strangely enough. And, that was so wrong because I realized having come back, it was a great trip. I enjoyed myself tremendously.” — @TktweetsKim [03:03]

“This is not the first LaGuardia flight that I’ve taken this year. And every time I’ve been to LaGuardia this year, it has impressed me.” — @TktweetsKim [11:12]

“Montreal, strangely, for a relatively major city with a lot of international connectivity, the international side of the terminals are not well-equipped, either from a lounge perspective or even from just a retail shopping perspective. It’s kind of small.” — @TktweetsKim [13:59]

“The strange thing was, it rained. It rained in Doha!” — @TktweetsKim [28:42]

“There’s a handful of countries that I just won’t enter without having that [tour] expediter service now. I don’t know if that’s lifestyle inflation or just being a good traveler, but I mean, it makes such a difference.” — @tmount [37:30]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Qatar Airways

Qatar Qsuite

‘Episode 15: Summer Travel and the Longest Way Home’

LaGuardia Airport

American Airlines

Chase Sapphire Airport Lounge

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

Delta Sky Club

Boeing

Airbus

Park Hyatt

Lufthansa

Hamad International Airport

Hyatt Regency

Straight to the Points

Alaska Airlines

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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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 for having everything all in one place.” — @tmount [41:34]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Baha Mar

Hyatt Regency Grand Puerto Rico

Hyatt Globalist

Hilton Waikoloa Village

Travel Stories Episode 7: Top Tips for the Vegas Strip

Travel Stories Episode 8: Epic Guys Trip

Joey Redmond

Joey Redmond on Instagram

Joey Redmond on Twitter

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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A First Time Istanbul Visit with Han

Episode 30: Show Notes

The Turkish Airlines Devaluation was a big deal. We covered our trip to Istanbul, Turkey, but the reality of the matter is, so many people booked trips to Turkey because of this devaluation and we just felt obligated to bring a second perspective. In this case, Han Chicago joins us to share his first time to Istanbul. In this episode, we sit down with Han Chicago to discuss his first-time experience of Turkey and what it has to offer. We cover everything from planning the trip to his in-flight and in-country experiences, discussing the quality of seats on the 787-9 aircraft, why he chose to hire a guide, the benefits of having a guide to get around the city, and Turkey's rich history. Han talks about what he enjoyed most about the city, visiting a spice market, intriguing aspects of the country, his experience of eating a "wet burger" for the first time, and how Turkey captured his wanderlust. He also shares why he was adamant about flying on the A350-900 and what aspects make the aircraft unique. Perhaps the best thing, selfishly, was that Han took so different of an approach to his visit, as compared to Tom and Trevor in Episode 28!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:53] Introducing today’s guest, Han Chicago, and insights into his style of travel.
• [03:06] Trevor and Han debate which airline has the best first-class products.
• [04:38] A brief background about Han and traveling during the pandemic.
• [07:12] Ways the pandemic has impacted how Tom, Trevor, and Han travel.
• [11:32] Why he chose Turkey, seats on the 787-9 Boeing, and his planning process.
• [16:50] Overview of his in-country package and how he got around the city.
• [18:43] The Grand Hyatt Hotel, exploring the city at night, and avoiding scams.
• [22:30] Han’s favorite parts of the city and indulging in a scoop of Turkish ice cream.
• [25:05] Benefits of having club access and sightseeing with a tour guide.
• [31:41] Eating a “wet burger” and his overall impressions of the food.
• [34:55] Invaluable advice for those thinking about a trip to Turkey.
• [37:08] What he would have done differently and his sightseeing recommendations.
• [39:45] Flying on the A350-900 and the quality of the food on the return trip.
• [45:12] Highlights of his JAL A350-900 experience and final takeaways.
• [49:22] Find out how to get in contact with Han.

Quotes:

“I am chasing [travel] products very much. It is because of, in this post-pandemic era, the new evaluations are coming strong.” — @hanchicago [9:16]

“I can see myself going back to [Turkey]. I think it is a really fun destination. I didn’t really know what to expect.” — @hanchicago [18:43]

“I think anybody who goes to [Turkey] will enjoy it. There is just a positive feeling there, I can’t really explain it.” — @hanchicago [24:38]

“You cannot see all of [Turkey] in one trip.” — @TktweetsKim [29:05]

“I don’t think I would have done the trip, to be honest, if I knew I was not getting on the [A350-900].” — @hanchicago [39:47]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Han Chicago on X

Episode 28: Turkey Travel

Emirates

Lufthansa

Turkish Airlines

LAflyer on X

LAflyer Episode

Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Grand Bazaar

Tour Guide Details

JAL

One Mile at a Time

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

The Milenomics Podcast Network

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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

Carnival

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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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!

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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 the random best option to fall into our laps has turned out to be a problem.” — @TktweetsKim[1:00:17]

“[On] our last day, we hit three continents. We did Europe, Asia, and then we landed in North America.” — @tmount[1:03:11]

“Uber is the way to go if you need to get a taxi. It’s a way not to get scammed.” — @TktweetsKim [1:04:48]

“When you’re on vacation [and] you can spend $20 or $30 to reduce some friction in your life, do it.” — @TktweetsKim [1:30:54]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Turkish Airlines

Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palas

Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Nusr-Et Steakhouse

Salt Bae on Instagram

Çatma Mescit Hammam

Grand Bazaar

United

American Express

Budget Car Rental

National Car Rental

Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul

‘Episode 17: Annual Guys Trip to Rio’

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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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 Mountcastle on X

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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 Exist in order for you to take them

• Flightconnections.com is still the place i go to start any search
• I look for ALL long haul options out of LAX (remember I don’t like to reposition)
• Some filtering is needed, because these are not all flights that can be booked with miles easily, but without a premium account you’ll be limited to filtering by a single airline.

18:40 Options start coming into focus

• EF showed space on Air Tahiti Nui LAX-CDG in business. I’ve flow this before. It really isn’t great, but it is a lie flat and the flight was an easy feeling one.
• Unfortunately with a few calls to AA agents none of them could see the space. I tried some other tricks but with no luck. I don’t know what’s going on there–if it is a block or phantom space
• From there I saw on pointsyeah some air france awards in the 130,000 per person (plus about $300 in fees).
• I didn’t love those so I went to Air france’s site and started going day by day, looking at all flights i might want to take. Ontario-TPE, LAX-Manchester, LAX-Oslo/stockholm/Helsinki/Rome. And something interesting started to show up…
• The biggest issue is they don’t always show you the partner space and they don’t by default sort by lowest price in miles (not the only site that does this).
• Again going city pair by city pair pulled up
• an option, LAX-OSL for 4 passengers for about 72,000 miles and $225 each.
• There’s a huge hurdle here: Foreign program, I have no miles in and have never used. I’m about to transfer 300,000 MR into it. This better be REAL space.
• Married logic makes it look even more phantom when you search LAX-CDG and find it is 700,000 per person. Almost makes you want to skiplag an award ticket.
• Of course people online are talking about phantom space biting them, and I just had that issue with TN and AA.
• So I called Flying Blue and asked for the rep to see the space, and put it on hold. And he did, which made me feel good about this space.

24:19 Still Need a Return -- Just as Uncertain as before

• But I still had no return. So the entire search starts again, but this time with even more restrictive constraints. It doesn’t help me if I find a return from Tokyo-LAX– not the entire search has to be from Oslo, or somewhere nearby to LAX (or somewhere nearby). And I don’t want to clear customs on the east coast with my kids, and have to keep picking up bags, so I’m looking at even less options.
• AA had an option through LHR. The fees were huge, but I was sure if i called I could get them lower by making the first leg in economy.
• Aeroplan had space on Air canada (not partner) through montreal in PE. This was not ideal–I didn’t want to fly PE and would be putting miles into aeroplan that I would cancel and possibly orphan.

25:30 Let’s discuss Stranding miles? PE Vs J? Anything you like here?

• The trend of moderately priced awards with native miles almost guarantees orphaned miles if you cancel a trip.
• That didn’t used to be the case–but the lack of partner space makes it happen
• Beware expiration of miles (Asian carriers don’t allow extending miles for example).

27:30 Book and then garden vs. wait and book

• There are benefits to each approach, but drawbacks as well.
• I probably could have gotten the family on board with a situation like 2 in Business 2 in Premium. But I wasn’t even seeing that option
• Nice upgrade of AA Miles being useful for JAL Premium economy.

31:06 Nothing is Free, Everything is Cash

• Luck–ultimately was the key. Immense luck in the form of 4 seats OSL-LAX on air france on the exact day I wanted to return at the lowest level I’d seen all search, an average of 48,000 per person (plus $320 in fees). With the outbound on hold I transferred enough for this return, booked it online (if it was phantom I would have used those miles for the outbound) and then transferred again to ticket the outbound on the phone.
• Total: 491,750 MR plus $2200 in fees.
• $2200 in cash is 200,000 Membership rewards cashed out with schwab.
• Compare to an 88,000 United booking this is very close to the same thing
• A total of 691,750 MR for 4 people. Compares to
• Can't really do much to improve this or risk stranding these miles

37:41 This one shook out–but I don’t want to let things slip past me like this.

• Close in doesn’t work for me, both with requesting days off of work and with planning trips
• So I need to remind myself to start looking NOW for winter break, and soon enough for Summer 2025.
• Flex the demand schedule with your family too.

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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

Oberoi Hotel Agra

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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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 | Joint Premium Lounges

British Airways

Qantas Airways

Qantas Los Angeles International First Lounge

Episode 1: JAL First to Manila

Royal Caribbean

Ovation of the Seas

W Sydney Hotel

Melbourne Airport

Plaza Premium Lounge

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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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!

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From the spectacular cockpit views to gaining status at hotels, a pilot’s travel experience is quite different from ours as a commercial traveler. Today, we’re shifting gears and gaining valuable travel insight from a pilot’s perspective. Brandr is a Navy Reservist and commercial pilot, as well as an avid miles and points nerd. We discuss Brandr’sbenefits as a pilot, what his typical international trip looks like, how the weather and turbulence affect his flight plans, and the wonderful innovation of modern aircraft technology. Then, our guest explains how his experience as a pilot influences his travel decisions, how to become a commercial pilot, the wonderful things he’s seen from the cockpit window, and the ins and outs of both Navy and commercial pilot processes. We also speak about the importance of raising awareness around the mental health of pilots, how the 757 compares to the 767, the travel adventures that Brandr is looking forward to the most, and why he insists that hoarding points and miles will do more damage than good.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:16] A warm welcome to fellow points-and-miles nerd, Navy Reservist, and pilot, Brandr.
• [01:13] Brandr’s professional background and how he developed his passion for miles and points.
• [05:45] Whether he gets any status or benefits from traveling as a pilot.
• [07:40] How he chooses to bid routes and how his international trips typically play out.
• [13:20] Weather, turbulence, and other occurrences that affect his flight plans.
• [17:30] The evolution of aircraft technology.
• [19:16] How Brandr’s knowledge as a pilot has influenced the way he travels.
• [19:45] The travel benefits that are available to active duty military and reservists.
• [22:30] Discussing what it takes to become a commercial pilot and how Brandr did it differently.
• [27:00] Weird and incredible things that he has seen from the window of his cockpit.
• [29:07] What he likes and dislikes about being a Navy and commercial pilot.
• [32:50] Deeper insight into Brandr’s status and how they change as a non-rev passenger.
• [35:02] Using Horizon Air’s recent incident as an example of why pilot mental health matters.
• [37:46] The Island Hopper and other adventures our guest is looking forward to.
• [41:02] Unique travel stories from his Navy flying missions.
• [44:03] Comparing the flying experience of the Boeing 757 versus the 767.
• [49:40] Brandr’s advice for other miles and points nerds.

Quotes:

“I have a job as a pilot but I’m still very much in the points and miles community.” —Brandr [01:40]

“My goal is to try to keep the crew and the rest of the passengers safe, and hopefully have the seatbelt sign mean something. But I don’t fear that turbulence [will] damage the aircraft.” — Brandr [17:00]

“The military is still very much a viable way to get to the legacy airlines, but it’s certainly not going to be the quickest. If military service is not something that you feel deeply called to, it’s probably not the best way; there are quicker ways to do it.” — Brandr [24:14]

“Pilots are human, and what I think we really need to do is get serious about pilot mental health.” — Brandr [35:45]

“Just use your miles – I see how all the programs just continue to devalue; there’s so much points inflation. Just find a great redemption that works for you and do it. Don’t wait for the perfect redemption because that may never come.” — Brandr [49:57]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

U.S. Navy Reserve

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Planning a trip to New Zealand and Australia? Are you wanting to craft the perfect blend of flights, hotels, and attractions and create an unforgettable journey? Then don’t miss out on today’s valuable insights from our special guest, Joe Cheung! Joe shares his recent family adventure, covering everything from Air New Zealand flights, the Skycouch, and hotel bookings in Auckland to experiencing the FIFA Women's World Cup. He also delves into the logistics of renting a car, exploring the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves, A380 seats and flights, and provides an in-depth look at their stay in Sydney. Tune in to discover Joe's strategies for finding New Zealand and Australia travel awards, why not all Koala encounters are made equal, and so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:20] Introduction to today’s topic and special guest.
• [02:40] A quick recap of Joe’s trip to New Zealand, Australia, and California.
• [03:35] A travel story about Air New Zealand: why Joe decided to fly with them.
• [07:20] Joe expands on his experience with the Air New Zealand Skycouch.
• [10:40] Leveraging his occupation as a travel agent.
• [12:50] Joe talks about a different aspect of being a travel agent that he doesn't handle.
• [15:10] Auckland: booking the hotel and the technicalities of the family rate.
• [18:45] Thoughts on the Park Hyatt Auckland.
• [20:00] Making use of the concierge (and whether it’s necessary) to book the family rate.
• [21:14] How they got the FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup tickets.
• [23:38] His final thoughts on the World Cup.
• [26:15] Joe shares what his experience was like driving in New Zealand.
• [27:30] Logistics surrounding the car rental process.
• [28:30] More on the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Glow Worm Tours they took in Auckland.
• [31:00] Driving on the other side of the road.
• [33:15] Other day trips and attractions and why they went to Sydney.
• [35:00] Economy is good for the soul.
• [37:15] Finding 3+ seats in business is a challenge!
• [38:20] The nice thing about the A380.
• [40:25] More about the seats on the A380 (premium economy).
• [41:20] Getting the Business Class Pajamas.
• [42:10] Joe takes us back to their stay in Sydney.
• [44:00] His take on the choice between the Park Hyatt and the Hyatt Regency (Sydney).
• [45:30] The Asian food experience in Sydney.
• [47:30] What stood out about their time at the Taronga Zoo Sydney.
• [49:55] Why the koala experience is not worth it, according to Tim.
• [51:04] Trevor shares about the Healesville Sanctuary in Zoo in Badger Creek, Australia.
• [52:12] Joe’s final notes on Sydney, and surrounding attractions.
• [55:40] Thoughts on taking an extended driving trip through Australia.
• [56:40] Joe’s strategy and the timeframe for finding awards to get to NZ and Australia.
• [1:01:48] Why high balances do help.
• [1:05:20] A quick revisit on the premium economy window seats for the A380.
• [1:09:58] How to find Joe.

Quotes:

“The [Air New Zealand] Skycouch, for those who don’t know, is you can pay extra and the seats have footrests that can come all the way up so that you basically have a couch — they give you bedding and exclusive use of the couch.” — @asthejoeflies [0:07:20]

“Economy is good for the soul sometimes.” — @TktweetsKim [0:35:05]

“For our listeners who are doing their Australia planning, just be aware, that not all Koala encounters are created equal. Do your research!” —

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We're back with a great talk between Robert and I on the following:

0:22 Follow Up: Alaska Status Match (last discussed Ep 68)

06:13 Amex Churnability and Employee Offers

• Cards used to be much more churnable
• Popups abound now. Wish there was a way to get rid of them by force
• 15k for $4k is the new thing
• Business Platinum (link)
• Business Gold (link)
• Blue Business Plus (link)
• Be sure to use the correct link for the card you're adding it to, data points say using a mismatch won't work.

9:39 Main Topic: Partner Awards

• JetBlue/Qatar/Hawaiian
• ITA/Virgin Atlantic/FlyingBlue
• Alaska Partner Award Consolidated Charts
• Discuss: The lottery element in these, the lack of “wide open” availability, and the eternally evolving complexity of it all

22:54 Tip of the Week: Book JAL Premium Economy w/Alaska Miles

• Reasonable in miles and only $20-$55 in fees (no fuel!)

If you'd love to hear over 200 more episodes consider subscribing to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/milenomics

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Travel Stories Episode 21: Travel Banter

We’re trying something different today a different format for Travel Stories that we like to call Travel Banter. We start by exploring aviation-themed films and series that have impacted us over the years. From the beloved cult classic The Terminal to Up In the Air, we cover a wide range of air travel themes and tropes. Trevor shares his unique Southeast Asian travel itinerary, why he hasn’t visited Vietnam yet, and Tom shares his experience with pricing in Abu Dhabi. We also speak about our experiences with kid-friendly and kid-prohibitive rules at Hyatt and Marriott hotels around the world, sharing our opinions on their convenience and comfort levels for everyone involved. Finally, we explore the impact of deregulation on international airlines and the period in history where Southwest Airlines was the number one distributor of liquor in Texas. Join us for a casual conversation about all things travel. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Famous films about aviation and how good they may or may not be.
• [03:15] The comedic retelling of View From the Top available on Audible.
• [05:51] Why The Flight Attendant is misleading in its content, which is not really aviation-related.
• [06:38] The French film, Jet Lag, and why it’s fun to watch.
• [09:33] Airport disaster movies of the 1970s.
• [12:10] An unconventional travel itinerary from Singapore to Malaysia, and then to Bangkok.
• [17:48] Why Vietnam is not included in this particular travel itinerary.
• [19:13] Selecting a hotel based on credit and previous experiences.
• [21:41] Returning to Abu Dhabi and a comment on its pricing.
• [24:19] Thomas’s biggest problem with the Middle East’s luxury hotels.
• [26:36] Trevor’s experience at the JW Marriott in Cairo.
• [28:24] Why no kids are allowed at the Marriott in Jordan.
• [28:37] Singapore Grand Hyatt’s rules around children and adults.
• [32:06] Singapore’s relationship with rules and how it differs from the USA.
• [35:27] The time when hijackings were extra common pre-9/11.
• [37:15] When Southwest airlines was the number one distributor of liquor.
• [38:10] How deregulation affected international airlines including KLM.

Quotes:

“Chinese food is expensive and luxury hotels are cheap; both are true in Abu Dhabi.” — @TktweetsKim [22:37]

“In the Middle East, families traveling is so much more common. Not that people don’t travel as families in the US, but I just think it’s even more common than it is here in the US.” — @TktweetsKim [27:50]

“I would gladly accept the occasional ruler on my hand in the event that I made a mistake with my phone on speaker in an airline lounge, if I knew that everyone else had to succumb to the same fate.” — @tmount [33:41]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Up in the Air

The Terminal

Airplane!

Passenger 57

Plane

Air Force 1

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Halloween Episode – Travel Horror StoriesEpisode 20: Show Notes

While it may not be horror like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers, today’s episode will definitely send chills down the spines of travelers as we share our experiences of when travel went horribly wrong. It’s easy to fall victim to scams in foreign countries as your unfamiliarity with the region makes you stick out as a prime target. So, we begin our conversation by assessing some scams to be wary of during your travels, including transportation disasters that could’ve been avoided with the right knowledge. Then, we discuss how theft is more common at airports than we may think, how to travel with money in a safe way,, and all the debacles we’ve experienced with layovers and missed flights. Finally, we’re given a quick lesson in devaluation and why you should always book first and ask questions later, before ending with a shoutout to the SkyMiles frenzy of September 2023.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:01] Travel scams to be wary of.
• [03:36] How Thomas was duped by a taxi driver in Shanghai.
• [05:49] Avoiding disaster in Doha.
• [07:00] How to evade being scammed by transportation services.
• [10:35] Daylight robbery in Europe.
• [15:35] What to look out for regarding theft in foreign airports, and some travel money tips.
• [20:30] Problems we’ve encountered just before takeoff, and the trouble of MCTs.
• [27:51] The TAM Lounge in Rio de Janeiro, and the layover debacle that followed.
• [32:20] Why you should always be flexible and provide booking agents with multiple options.
• [33:15] More layover horror stories.
• [42:38] How Tom missed his first-ever transatlantic flight.
• [45:18] A lesson in devaluation.
• [48:18] An honorable mention of the SkyMiles craziness from earlier this year.

Quotes:

“These are some of the things where hopefully people can learn from some of our mistakes. It’s not all perfect; you don’t get to be an experienced travel person [without] encountering some travails.” — @TktweetsKim [0:47]

“I think the problem with us in particular is that airport’s are our second home. For some of us, this is the area where we thrive and we enjoy it. So sometimes, you have to calibrate a little – you can still enjoy the place, just have your eyes and ears open.” — @TktweetsKim [20:13]

“Be flexible; learn from your mistakes; learn from all these bad experiences and hopefully you don’t repeat them.” — @TktweetsKim [45:10]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Delta

Alaska Airlines

LATAM Airlines

Air Canada

Air France

Episode 27 - Alaska breaks Trevor's heart

Emirates

SkyMiles

The Milenomics Podcast Network

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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Episode 19: Show Notes.

This week we talk all about the Maldives. Join the conversation as we take a deep dive into Trevor’s recent family trip to the Maldives, including a detailed look at his flights to and from, his thoughts on Virgin Atlantic food, and hear him tell about the worst mistake (of the entire trip!) he made. With a bit of strategic thinking, we dive into the primary topic of the episode with all things about the Maldivian experience. Trevor chronicles their experience with the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, from the butler at the airport to the welcome at the hotel, and more! He highlights why the overwater villa was the best redemption (of points) he’s ever made, recounts the champagne sabering tradition, and shares other uniquely Maldivian experiences. In essence, the Maldives offers a foolproof recipe of unparalleled natural beauty, luxurious accommodations, exceptional service, and serene tranquility that makes it an extraordinary destination for an unforgettable vacation! Tune in now to find out more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00:17] Our topic for this week’s episode: The Maldives!
• [00:00:50] The structure of week’s episode.
• [00:01:20] We jump right in and discuss the flight (and travel) options.
• [00:03:15] Trevor highlights his experience flying from Newark to Singapore.
• [00:04:00] Bulkhead or bust: the difference a bulkhead makes in when flying most Singapore aircraft.
• [00:06:30] The food, flight attendants, and IFE.
• [00:07:00] Thoughts on non-stop or stopovers, if they had to do it again.
• [00:08:55] The next leg: Singapore to Maldives.
• [00:09:15] The flight options back home and what they ended up doing.
• [00:11:11] Using some Travel Hacker cred.
• [00:12:40] The cost of an upgrade (which they did at the terminal).
• [00:14:10] He talks about their overnight in Mumbai and the flight with Virgin Atlantic.
• [00:17:35] Dealing with unruly passengers.
• [00:18:30] The food on Virgin Atlantic from India (‘Virgin Atlantic: In-Flight Food’)!
• [00:20:00] The worst mistake of his entire trip: skipping a meal.
• [00:21:15] A quick note on cabin crew on Virgin Atlantic.
• [00:22:00] Moving on to the main event! The Maldives.
• [00:22:59] The reason Trevor decided to do the Maldives, now.
• [00:23:20] Why the Sheraton is not the Maldives experience.
• [00:24:30] Trevor chronicles their experience with the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.
• [00:27:14] He equates the experience to the first season of The White Lotus.
• [00:27:22] More about their arrival and Welcome at the hotel (and the kids club offerings!)
• [00:27:40] The “Stuffed Animal” and why it makes the best kind of advertising.
• [00:29:30] The overwater villa: the best redemption Trevor has ever made.
• [00:31:30] A compliment to the staff in Maldives and the charm it adds.
• [00:33:00] More about the amenities and activities on the island.
• [00:34:15] The recipe that makes for an amazing Maldives vacation (according to Tim!)
• [00:35:23] The St. Regis tradition: a champagne sabering ceremony.
• [00:36:59] His overall experience: a feeling of overwhelm.
• [00:37:15] Other special, and uniquely Maldives, experiences.
• [00:41:00] The Maldives as a Mecca for Miles and Points people.
• [00:42:35] Realizing that a vacation to the Maldives will be expensive.
• [00:45:55] Guess the fare!

Quotes:

“[The Maldives] is one of those places where you don’t know until you know!” — <

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We're doing things a little different with today's episode. You'll notice that at the top of this episode we call out episode 206 (not Episode 68). This conversation took place as the first 20 or so minutes of our subscriber podcast episode 206. Robert and I discussed it after we released that full episode and we're cutting just this conversation into a mini episode here today. Enjoy!

0:21 Status Match Opportunities

• JetBlue (Direct Link)
• Capped at 30,000 applicants with Delta Medallion status
• Matched status last [only] through end of 2023 unless you have Barclays JetBlue card -or- accrue enough pro-rated Tiles to requalify
• Detailed info on Mosaic nuances are hard to discern from JetBlue (Mosaic info page) and the latest iteration of the program is so new it seems not many people have really kicked the tires on it. So I asked them some questions on Twitter.
• Companions: Up to 8 people on an itinerary can get free same day changes and complimentary Even More Space seats at check-in (Mosaic Level 2) or booking (Mosaic Level 3). 8 is better than 2 with Delta!
• Move to Mint upgrade certs: Can only use 2 per itinerary. If you have more than 2 people on the itinerary, nobody gets upgraded, even if you have adequate certs. Processes at check-in if Mint seats are open. Kinda lame if you ask me.
• Mosaic 3 includes…wait for it..Founders Card Blue! I thought the idea with Founders card is that it provides perks for travel programs, but this is the other way around? These programs are starting to circle back on themselves. Get this: If FoundersCard identifies you as a prior member they deny the membership and try to sell you a renewal. What an operation.
• Move to Mint certs expire earned through this expire Dec 2023.
• Can’t get Barclays credit card so I’d need 24 Tiles by the end of 2023 to requalify. That’s $2,400 spent on JetBlue flights, vacations, or Paisly (ugh).
• Alaska (Direct Link)
• Pretty generous mapping and all you have to do to keep status through 2024 is have a BofA Alaska Visa
• Far out upgrades, certs, reciprocal benefits with AA/OneWorld - I’m interested.
• “A member may only receive one status match for the lifetime of their account.” Will they enforce this? Is it time to allow them to create a new Alaska account for me when I apply for a BoA business card? Hmm…

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Episode 18: Show Notes

Summer is drew to a close, but the adventures are far from over. Join us as we finish the summer with two very different trips. From airport lounges to ancient pyramids, from gourmet dining to high-seas adventure, this episode has it all. In our conversation, Trevor recounts his Lima trip. He also gives us the lowdown on the JW Marriott Hotel in Lima and why it's the second JW Marriott to have an excellent soft product but perhaps not the greatest hard product. Next, Tom takes us on his flight to London, describing the cabin and crew that made his journey memorable, to his pre-cruise adventure in London. Discover what makes the Anthem of the Seas cruise special as Tom shares highlights from the trip and favorite ports visited along the way. Tune in, pack your bags (mentally, at least), and get ready for a travel experience like no other in this episode of the Travel Stories Podcast!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:00] Delta Sky Club offerings and why it is our first choice.
• [06:45] Trevor’s Lima trip, the food.
• [10:49] The JW Marriott Hotel in Lima.
• [13:48] Why Lima left Trevor underwhelmed and what he appreciated about the hotel.
• [19:48] Hear Trevor’s experience and opinion of Delta Sky Club.
• [20:40] Tom’s flight to London and what he liked about the cabin and crew.
• [24:45] His pre-cruise London adventure and stay at the St Giles London Hotel.
• [27:52] Anthem of the Seas cruise, what to do onboard, and fine dining.
• [31:30] How to get the most out of your points and miles on a cruise.
• [30:22] Disappointments regarding food choice and how cruises have changed.
• [32:28] Favourite ports along the cruise and Tom’s overall experience.
• [41:29] Lessons from Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport.
• [43:30] Another round of ‘Guess the Fare!’

Quotes:

“You know what? Not every trip is a home run.” — @Tmount [14:15]

“[Virgin Atlantic] is definitely one of those airlines where if you are light on miles but you have a little bit of extra cash to throw around it is pretty good value.” — @TktweetsKim [23:16]

“Remember to have your platinum cards ready for all your guests [when at Heathrow airport], unless you want to pay extra.” — @TktweetsKim [42:19]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Delta Sky Club

The Centurion Network

Episode 8: Epic Guys Trip

JW Marriott Hotel Lima

Virgin Atlantic

St Giles London Hotel

Anthem of the Seas

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

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Annual Guys Trip to Rio

Episode 17: Show Notes.

We’ve recently returned from our second annual guys trip, and we’re feeling “Braziliant!” Last year, we headed to Manila, and this time we spent the weekend in Rio de Janeiro. This trip had a few “firsts” for us, including Tom’s first time flying United Polaris and both of our first times flying Air Canada. When traveling, there’s usually a trade-off between time and money, and for this vacation, we were willing to fork out a little bit of extra cash to enhance our experiences, and it was well worth it! From the pros and cons of our outward and homeward bound trips, to the night we closed all the bars in our vicinity, to the jam-packed day of sightseeing that was made all the more memorable thanks to our private tour guide, tune in today to hear why Rio is definitely a place that we will be visiting again (and again!).

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:55] How our recent guys trip to Rio de Janeiro came about.
• [02:04] Our experience of the Polaris Lounge.
• [04:48] The plane that flew us to Rio.
• [06:28] Why we refer to this trip as “A Tale of Two Flight Attendants.”
• [09:02] Pros and cons of São Paulo International Airport.
• [14:04] Money-saving hacks to use when traveling in Brazil.
• [16:07] Advantages of staying at the JW Marriott Copacabana Hotel in Rio.
• [19:36] The night where we closed down all the bars in our vicinity.
• [20:37] Benefits of taking a Viator tour when you are visiting a new city and the sites that our guide took us to.
• [26:47] Brazil’s national cocktail.
• [28:32] Why we opted for the premium tickets for our Sugarloaf excursion.
• [31:13] The atmosphere at the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro and how it compared to our time at the JW Marriott.
• [33:54] An overview of our homeward-bound trip on Air Canada.
• [39:12] Why Rio is a perfect weekend destination.

Quotes:

“I called this flight, ‘The Tale of Two Flight Attendants.’” — @TktweetsKim [6:28]

“We closed down the lounge, then we closed down the rooftop bar, then we closed down the lobby bar, and then we went across the street to a beach bar and closed that down.” — @TktweetsKim [19:46]

“You can either trade time or money. This was definitely a trip where we really did trade money to get a better experience and to better be able to leverage our limited time in Rio.” — @tmount [21:40]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

United Polaris

JW Marriott Copacabana Hotel

Viator

Christ the Redeemer

Sugarloaf

Escadaria Selarón

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Episode 16: Show Notes.

Award booking is often a combination of haphazard gyrations and creative problem-solving to find the fares that you are happy with and that makes it worth traveling! In this week’s episode, we take the time to discuss our personal experiences and share thoughts on some of the awards-booking search tools we’ve explored lately, including AwardLogic, Point.me, PointsYeah, and many more. We then jump in and talk about the recent trips we booked (to Australia and Brazil) using our miles, discussing both flights and hotels and why we made the different (and multiple) tweaks throughout the process. Join the conversation as we share our thoughts and ideas on what works for us and how we approach award booking. Start listening now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:20] What’s expected in this week’s episode.
• [01:00] Our thoughts on some of the new available booking tools.
• [02:55] Awards search tool comparison and the blindspots of these tools.
• [08:19] Why we don’t fully trust these tools.
• [08:45] What makes these tools useful.
• [10:30] A recap of the tools we’ve already discussed.
• [12:20] We continue with the tool comparison: starting with seats.aero.
• [12:45] How Trevor is using ChatGPT alongside some of these tools.
• [15:00] Our thoughts on PointsYeah and Skypesos.
• [17:49] Trevor’s power tool.
• [18:20] We talk about domestic bookings (as they relate to the search tools).
• [19:00] Things that have helped the most, according to Thomas.
• [20:20] We explore Thirfty, Straight to the Points, The Flight Deal, and more.
• [22:00] Looking at the Wikipedia pages for Dulles Airport and how that factored in.
• [22:25] We pivot and discuss our travel planning for Rio: a fun story.
• [24:56] Rio: our flights.
• [26:35] A lightbulb moment for Trevor regarding excise tax.
• [29:30] The final flight plan (after many tweaks).
• [32:20] Rio: our hotels.
• [36:25] Cash plus points option.
• [38:20] We talk about hotels in relation to airport location and our final decision on hotels.
• [39:17] Jumping into Thomas’ Australia trip.
• [41:20] Getting to Sydney, AUS with awards: The (possible) Unicorn.
• [49:00] This week’s Guess the Fare!

Tweetables:

“What I found with these tools is, you really do need to have a whole bunch of them in your arsenal.” — @tmount [0:02:10]

“For me, a lot of these tools, I ultimately don’t trust them.” — @TktweetsKim [0:08:12]

“The [search] tools, I find, are useful in going from scatter-shop to hand-grenades to being able to narrow in.” — @tmount [0:08:45]

“We’ve mentioned again, time and time again, [that] miles and award points are a very inflationary currency.” — @TktweetsKim [0:11:19]

“It’s good to know that these [search] tools exist because it’s not only about doing your own searches, it’s about getting ideas from these different newsletters and other people who are award-booking all the time, or in the community, and know or have certain tips that they can share with us.” — @TktweetsKim [0:21:30]

“Sydney is definitely one of the hardest places to fly on rewards tickets to these days.” — @TktweetsKim [0:41:17]

“Sometimes you find the fare you are comfortable with and then just set it aside and plan other trips.” — @tmount [0:48:42]

“This whole episode (#16) is about all these gyrations and all this creative problem-solving that you have to do in order to find compelling award hacking or award travel itineraries that make sense to you, and present the value that makes them worth traveling.” — @TktweetsKim [0:53:44]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Point.Me Awardlogic

Seats.aero

PointsYeah

Roam.travel

Avios

Aeroplan

FlyerTalk

Frequent Miler

Thrifty Traveler

Straight to the Points

The Flight Deal

AwardSpace

LifeMiles

Hilton Rio

Grand Hyatt Rio

JW Marriott

Copacabana Beach - TripAdvisor

Bamboo Airlines

TravelStories Episode 15

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor Mountcastle on Twitter

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Episode 15: Show Notes.

Today we have a great summer catch-up, rounding up all the flights we have taken and destinations we have visited recently! We talk flights, hotels, cruise ships, river boat cruises, penguins, and more! Trevor unpacks his Greek Isles cruise, and the highs and lows, to include far, far more than normal travel gaffs! We touch on Mykonos' iconic color palette, and when he would like to return in the future. We then get to hear from Tom about his time in South Africa, where he visited Cape Town and then Zimbabwe, where he visited Victoria Falls, the great food he ate, and the majesty of the impressive feats of nature! From the wildlife to the weather, the trip was mostly a really memorable one. Perhaps more humorously, both Trevor and Tom’s way home was overly long, so make sure to stick around to hear all about the unnecessary layovers and over-packed lounges!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [02:40] Trevor's recent trip and reflections on connecting airports, customs, hotel bookings, and more.
• [08:36] The different levels of service available on cruise liners and their biggest signifiers.
• [12:08] More gaffs and faux pas in Piraeus, Athens, and the stereotypical beauty of Mykonos.
• [17:39] The last stop in Greece, wandering around an island and enjoying its gelato.
• [24:35] Tom talks about his departure from Dulles Airport and his disappointment with the lounges.
• [28:00] Why you should never compare first class and business class!
• [32:10] Tom's stop in Cape Town, South Africa, penguins, and affordable fine dining.
• [34:22] A little about the history of Robben Island and Tom's experience taking the ferry.
• [37:50] Flying to Victoria Falls and the perfect weather in Zimbabwe at this time of year.
• [43:18] New Visa requirements and reasons to always carry one of the major currencies.
• [47:15] Tom's return journey and why it took so long.
• [55:04] Delicious Ethiopian flavors and the food that was served in the lounges and flights.
• [1:03:18] This week's round of 'Guess the Fare!’

Tweetables:

“We'll go back to Athens, but I think we'll wait until our daughter is old enough to enjoy it.” — @tmount [14:31]

“Some people make their own serendipity, I guess.” — @TktweetsKim [17:34]

“South Africa, and Cape Town in particular, has a very Mediterranean, almost California-esque climate.” — @tmount [33:49]

“I would say that Victoria Falls impresses quite a bit more than Niagara.” — @TktweetsKim [38:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Qatar Airways

Lufthansa

Nelson Mandela

South African Airways

Ethiopian Airlines

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor Mountcastle on Twitter

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We're back with a chat about Sam's 2023 summer trip to Japan.

0:34 Overview: 14 days, spent as follows:

• 5 nights in Kyoto at Mimaru Apartment hotel. 430 square foot. Not spacious but good for a family of 4.
• 2 nights in Hiroshima at the Hilton Hiroshima: One bedroom suite booked with points (90k per night). Very new hotel, opened in 2022.
• 5 Nights Ishigaki island near Yonehara beach. Car rental
• 2 nights in Tokyo at another Mimaru in their pokemon room
• Robert's previous trip report (required listening)

04:37 Travel:

• JL from LAX nonstop to Kyoto
• Pickup from the airport (Booked on Klook.com) worked really well
• Used the "Visit Japan Web" site to generate QR codes before landing. Be sure to make a QR code for each person (for immigration) and one per family for customs.

08:09 Kyoto: Transit was difficult

• Not easy for us. Lack of numbers and signage really chewed us up. BUSY stations with people who definitely knew what they were doing.
• Helpful staff–but still difficult to execute train to train transfers
• Local vs. Express was not well signed.
• Got easier when we limited ourselves to busses + a single train.
• Busses in general were easier and better in Kyoto (can see the city as they Drive). Would take a cab directly to the bus stop.

15:51 Universal Studios:

• Brutal to get to. Issues with kids and trains.
• But once there, small size and express pass made the day a complete success.
• Conflicting information about swapping rides–but we were able to swap for different rides than those listed on our express passes (but not different times)
• Lines are crazy long, express pass is a must. We bought a 4 ride pass due to height restrictions limiting possible rides, but 7 ride passes were not much more.
• The Mario Water party parade was fantastic and over the top. Japanese to the max and loved by my kids.
• Super Mario World is incredible.
• The kids had a blast, we spent about 6 hours at the park, just enough time in my opinion.
• Getting home to Kyoto was equally brutal. The train line leaving Universal encountered a full stop due to a train on the loop hitting a passenger.

30:10 Cabs: We took so Many and They Saved Us

• Combination of lots of walking and young kids meant we needed to use cabs.
• We were 'close' to multiple train stations and bus stops. But the walking before, during and after sightseeing meant cabs were the way we extended days.
• Uber app worked well in Kyoto/Hiroshima to call cabs. In Tokyo we had to be careful--there was a 300-500 yen pickup fee plus the meter -- lots of times the uber black fare was less.
• Uber black cars are the nicest possible car I've ever been in. Loved these in Tokyo.

38:40 Kyoto to Hiroshima with Luggage: Train travel

• Gion Matsuri in Kyoto made the train station packed.
• Train runs nearly every 20 minutes. Amazing.
• Kiosk did not work with CC and I couldn't get 3 seats together (with luggage access). Pivoted to a desk agent who quickly got us on the next train and split us up.
• With large size suitcases it is recommended to book a luggage seat. Non-reserved seating is apparently not possible and if you do book non-reserved there’s a 1000 yen fee if your bag is big
• Meant we were split up, but only for part of the ride.
• Fast train ride and cell coverage even in tunnerls, but wifi was terrible and completely unusable

45:52 Hiroshima: Not enough time, kids are to young

• JR Trains to Miyajima vs high speed ferrey, by taking the ferry from Hiroshima Port we saved significant time.
• Miyajima was loved by the kids for the deer and by us for the hiking and national park.
• Time is for sale in Japan. This is a great example
• Peace park was a highlight of the trip as well.
• Kids were too young for the museum, we had to skip it

Data only SIM saved the day

• Got two of these from Airalo.
• Esim, and phones supporting dual eSIM make this a quick way to get online in foreign countries.
• 5GB, $11.
• Really was wonderful to be connected everywhere, saved the day many times.
• Wifi is good but not enough places had it.
• Ishigaki especially.

Hilton Hiroshima: Very nice Hotel.

• Brand new, opened in 2022 (was previously a police station)
• Lobby:
• Booked a 1 Bedroom Suite for 90,000 points per night.
• Had called and emailed prior to arrival but no additional upgrade was offered due to space issues. Hotel was indeed 100% full our second night, with monday being Marine Day in Japan.
• View from the Living room to the bedroom:
• Hotel says it is full most weekends with Japanese who come to the city.
• Full breakfast in either the restaurant or the lounge. Very good, full buffet but lines for things started backing up if you arrived late.
• Really puts US Hilton properties to shame.
• Wish I stayed one more night.

52:43 Highlights from Ishigaki island

• Getting to HIJ airport: Airport Limousine Bus worked out very well.
• Car Rental: Just worked!
• The island has a busy southern side, quiet Northern shore and is ringed by reefs
• All the comforts of mainland Japan are on this island. It really is amazing how the grocery store stocks everything at nearly identical prices to the stores in Kyoto/Tokyo.
• The beef raised on the island is fantastic. So good we went twice to a local Yakiniku.
• Beaches were very good--with no waves anywhere on the island the kids were able to swim out very far and I felt they were safe the entire time.
• Activities we did: lots of snorkeling, glass bottom boat tour of the bay, Traditional Okinawan village, Hike to and swam in a waterfall, Stargazing.
• Really relaxing island. Wish it was closer. Can't replace Hawaii but nice that it is less than 3hrs from Tokyo.
• Food on the island was varied enough and easy to get to. Times listed when places were open were often completely wrong, but we stumbled on two great restaurants when the places were wanted to go to were closed.
• Farmer's market on Ishigaki stocks most tropical fruit but pricing was high still. The availability is the draw here, but spoiled with CA/Hawaii style fruit and farmer's markets.

1:06:06 Flight to Toyko

• Mind-blowing that you can wake up, have a few hours on the beach in Ishigaki and then hop a flight to Toyko and be eating an early dinner there.
• ANA domestic 787, very full.
• Short flight time, domestic travel in Japan is interesting, no liquid restrictions, no ID checks, free checked bags. Like flying in the 90's here.
• From the airport we did the monorail to a single JR train. Worked really well. Plenty of space for luggage on the monorail.

1:17:33 Tokyo Highlights

• City still seems to wake up late. Breakfast at 7am was a little tough to find, found a great little cafe in Asakusa that opened at 6:30.
• Lots of shopping.
• Loved the multi-story department store/malls.
• Ueno streets had so many great food options, but the area is loud and has smoke/adult themes to be aware of.
• Shibuya was even busier than Ueno, but with more polish.
• Checked out Ginza, really amazing how close it is to both of the other districts and just how really sharp looking the streets are there.
• Ueno Zoo was perfect for my kids 4/8. Animals seem to be out in the mornings, so go early.
• Line to see the baby pandas was too long for us, so we skipped them and saw their parents instead (no line).
• Started getting homesick a little.

Travel with kids: how we made it work.

• Cabs (Uber worked, didi is another)
• Naps
• Sugar (Ice cream really, at convenience stores)
• Food was well received by my kids but options for all kids might be harder

1:24:39 Is a Return Trip in the Cards? Overall thoughts?

• Yes, but maybe not our next trip
• Long 14 day trip let us see a lot, but still left a LOT unseen.
• Would like to wait for my kids to be a bit older to be able to do more

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A Milestone Trip with Joe Petrovic

Episode 14: Show Notes.

We welcome Joe Petrovic from Award Travel 101 to the podcast, to talk about how he used his miles and points to take him and his father on a first-class strip to Croatia. Before speaking about his special trip, Joe explains how he got into the rewards game and what he did to become an expert and the value of meet-ups. Then, we discuss the magnanimity of loyalty programs and how it’s impossible to know and understand every single one, the importance of community and multiple perspectives, the brilliance of imperfection, and the ins and outs of Joe’s memorable trip to Croatia. He reflects on a unique Emirates experience, and he goes into detail about everything he loved from his first-class trip both in the air and on the ground. We end the show with the second edition of our new game, Guess the Fare, so tune in to see if you can guess the right price of today’s fictional trip!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:19] Introducing Award Travel 101’s Joe Petrovic, and how he got into miles and points.
• [02:15] How Joe became an expert in miles and points.
• [10:26] Why it's impossible to know every single rewards program and/or mileage currency.
• [12:10] How attending conferences helped Joe to level up, and the importance of community.
• [17:31] The role that Joe’s personality played in him learning the game as quickly as he did.
• [20:30] How having multiple perspectives speeds up the problem-solving process.
• [21:34] Joe describes his travel style.
• [26:04] How striving for good enough is better than seeking perfection.
• [27:01] The ins and outs of the milestone trip that he took with his dad to Croatia.
• [32:17] How long in advance he tracked prospective routes before booking his trip.
• [35:49] Joe's Emirates experience.
• [40:32] The highlights and stand-out moments of Joe’s first-class air travel adventure.
• [42:20] Exploring the perception of space on airlines, and a love for first-class amenities.
• [43:20] What he enjoyed the most from his time on the ground during his milestone trip.
• [47:58] How travel can give you a new appreciation for your home country.
• [50:52] Joe’s advice for mileage seekers and prospective travelers: keep asking questions.
• [52:46] We end this episode with the second edition of our little game show, Guess the Fare.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joseph Petrovic on Twitter

Award Travel 101

Award Travel 101 on Facebook

Award Travel 101 on Instagram

Award Travel 101 Podcast

Award Travel 101 8-Step Free Mini-Course

Award Travel 101 Milestone Trip

United Airlines

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor Mountcastle on Twitter

View Details

Talking All Things with Michael Trager and ZorkFest

Episode 13: Show Notes.

This week, on our lucky Episode 13, we welcome Michael Trager from TravelZork. We sit down and hear from Michael about his comical, but just as incredible, TWA story, and how he got into revenue luxury travel. We discuss all things related to rewards credit cards, the 5/24 rule, and what we like and dislike about loyalty points. We also include a quick game, called Guess the Fare and hear about Michael’s best-ever aggressively priced airfare. Michael then tells us, and listeners, all about what they can look forward to for the upcoming ZorkFest 2023, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. It’s going to be October 13-14, and is a mix of gambling and casino topics, points and miles discussions including featured guests, and their no BS approach that combines practical and expert advice for both travel and casino loyalty, and so much more. Don’t miss out on this great episode, with our knowledgeable guest, Michael Trager.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00:20] An introduction to our guest on this week’s episode.
• [00:01:08] More about Michael Trager; a self-introduction, if you will.
• [00:03:50] His incredible TWA story.
• [00:06:30] Michael tells us about doing revenue luxury travel.
• [00:11:00] He tells us about his new American Airlines AAdvantage credit card.
• [00:13:30] We discuss the 5/24 Rule.
• [00:17:30] The art of calculating points, rewards, and the game of it.
• [00:19:15] What we like about AA loyalty points.
• [00:20:42] A quick tangent on TSA pre-checkpoints.
• [00:21:45] We close the segment with a game: Guess the Fare?
• [00:31:00] Booking an itinerary and thinking outside the fare.
• [00:31:45] Michael’s best ever “aggressively priced” airfare.
• [00:33:28] The problem with people, according to Michael (when booking fares).
• [00:36:30] Why you should ‘let it sit’ for a while.
• [00:39:30] Michael’s spiel on airport lounges.
• [00:42:00] We talk about ZorkFest 2023.
• [00:49:58] A quick tip on flying to ZorkFest 2023.
• [00:50:05] Where to find Travel Zork and Michael Trager.

Tweetables:

“But, remember, if you get a credit card you should always start with Chase, and you should be very aware of 5/24.” — @TravelZork [0:13:12]

“I think AA as a partner is very strong because you have so few paths to accumulate AA miles and I still find AA miles to be quite valuable.” — @TravelZork [0:15:50]

“This is the problem with people [when buying airfare] — they’re impatient.” — @TravelZork [0:33:27]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Michael Trager on LinkedIn

Michael Trager on Twitter

Zorkfest 2023

TravelZork Travel - Inquire & Book - VIP SERVICE

American Advantage

Marriot Bonvoy

La Première Air France

AA Credit Cards

Patreon

The 5/24 Rule

Southwest Companion Pass

IHG Card

United Card

ChatGPT

AMEX Centurion Card

BAEC Gold + GGL + Premium Facebook Group

One World

Flagship Lounge

ZorkCast the Podcast

Los Vegas Advisor

Vegas Introvert on YouTube

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor on Twitter

View Details

Episode 12: Show Notes

Mileage runs used to be fun and exciting travel bursts that allowed you to visit many destinations in a short space of time while racking up tons of miles. Today, however, things are a bit different and mileage runs are no longer prevalent. Trevor and TK take a trip down memory lane to the good old days when mileage runs were common practice. Our hosts begin by sharing their first joint mileage run and the nested itinerary that came with it. We explore what a trip in vain is, and other mileage run examples from our hosts. Finally, we learn about how airlines can be separated by the little things, whether elite status still matters, why mileage runs are uncommon but still possible to do today, and so much more. We thank you for tuning in.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:18] Today, we will be covering a mishmash of random airline mileage run topics.
• [00:40] What Thomas remembers from the mileage run days.
• [01:22] Trevor and Thomas’ first planned mileage run and their nested itinerary.
• [04:36] Late check-ins, last-minute boarding, and secondary security screening selection.
• [09:30] The contract of carriage, and a trip in vain.
• [12:54] Why Trevor got more miles than Thomas even though he traveled less.
• [13:58] Exploring differences between various programs when making travel changes.
• [15:52] The rest of Thomas’ nested itinerary experience after Trevor dropped out of the trip.
• [18:10] In-flight equipment, amenities, travel comfort, and magic menus.
• [20:55] Why Alaska Airlines can afford to have riskier menus.
• [22:14] Thomas’ solo Mexico-Easter Island mileage run.
• [27:33] Trevor’s fun Brazilian mileage run.
• [30:30] Geeking out on airline seats.
• [32:15] How mileage runs are still possible today, and Thomas’ favorite runs of the past.
• [34:00] The validity and benefits of obtaining elite status in today’s world.
• [35:56] How to get the most out of flying a 737 to build miles.
• [37:01] Why today’s airfares and mileage costs make mileage runs difficult.

Tweetables:

“The age of the revenue-based mileage system pretty much killed mileage runs.” — @TktweetsKim [01:02]

“Brazil was an interesting place because they don’t allow fuel surcharges.” — @tmount [27:56]

“It’s fun running into like-minded people who honestly care as much about elite status as you do.” — @TktweetsKim [34:11]

“The golden age of mileage runs seems to be behind us...where the action is these days is buying revenue tickets in business classes, where the subsequent miles are still a bit more advantageous.” — @TktweetsKim [38:58]

“I think now, for us, we’re much more vacation-run focused. If we’re going to do something and pay for it, we’re generally looking to spend a night or a couple of nights.” — @tmount [39:48]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

American Airlines

Le Chic Geek

Delta

The Points Guy

Pizza in Motion

United Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Easter Island, Chile

Live and Let Die

Southwest Airlines

British Airways

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor on Twitter

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The Changing Landscape of Cruising

Episode 11: Show Notes

The landscape of cruising has changed drastically since the last time we spoke about it on the podcast, just four months ago. In this episode, we fill you in on the changes, both positive and negative, and discuss the maintained value of cruises, despite the changes. We also give you a detailed trip report of our recent Royal Caribbean cruise on the impressive Wonder of the Seas, from the entertainment and casino experience to the cabins and dining opportunities. Tune in to hear the greatest takeaways from our most recent cruise experience, as well as some tips for optimizing your next cruise.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:16] Today’s topic: how the cruising landscape has changed.
• [00:38] The maintained value of cruises, despite the changes.
• [03:06] Challenges of getting to the South Pacific.
• [04:50] A list of the positive aspects of the shifting cruise landscape.
• [06:40] New limitations and negative changes.
• [13:29] Additional changes to the casino offers and the predicted repercussions.
• [18:27] A trip report of the Wonder of the Seas cruise with Royal Caribbean.
• [28:31] Entertainment aboard Wonder of the Seas.
• [36:39] The Wonder of the Seas’ unique onboard casino experience.
• [38:36] Our criticism of Royal Caribbean.
• [38:55] A review of the rooms on the cruise.
• [40:05] How we booked this particular cruise.
• [42:03] Our takeaways from CocoCay Island.
• [44:23] Tips for optimizing your cruise experience.

Tweetables:

“I have more cruise opportunities than I have vacation time at this point, which I guess is a good problem to have.” — @TktweetsKim [0:05:06]

“Cruise prices, just like everything else, look high on the surface of it but if you can figure out a way to bypass that barrier to entry, you can build off that.” — @tmount [0:06:15]

“Your core seven-night Caribbean cruises have been incredibly expensive.” — @TktweetsKim [0:10:40]

“[Royal Caribbean Cruises] invest a lot of money in these aqua shows; it’s a differentiator.” — @TktweetsKim [30:25]

“Even though you have five different Oasis-class ships, they all have a unique aqua show.” — @TktweetsKim [30:46]

“The golden room was perhaps my favorite place to be because it was a smoke-free version of a casino.” — @TktweetsKim [36:52]

“As we always say, free isn’t free.” — @tmount [41:20]

“Specialty dining is extraordinarily expensive these days [so] our tip is [to] do specialty dining for lunch.” — @TktweetsKim [44:34]

“Book an appointment with NextCruise for the last evening if you think you’re going to gamble.” — @tmount [46:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Wonder of the Seas

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor Mount on Twitter

Milenomics on Patreon

View Details

0:41 Chase Approving Sapphire Applications Over 5/24?

• Both of us have been approved over 5/24 for a CSP
• Sam: Also approved for a CSR the next day
• Data points of this working for some, not working for others. No clear pattern.
• Worth a shot, but the priority should be the CSP over the CSR first.

04:29 Chase Sapphire Preferred Bonuses Bumped Through Referral

• 80,000 points
• $4,000 spend in 3 months, $95 annual fee not waived first year
• To generate a referral link: https://chase.com/referafriend

06:17 Chase Ink 90,000 Referral/Match

• https://chase.com/referafriend
• Ink referrals are getting 40,000 for the referral and 75,000 for the card
• Secure message to match after approval

08:16 Chase Aeroplan Mastercard (DoC)

• Direct Link (100k offer may still be working)
• Pay Yourself Back at 1.25 Cents per point (Shutdown risk?)
• $95 annual fee not waived first year

09:54 Air France/KLM Mastercard 70,000 (DoC)

• Direct Link
• 70,000 after $2,000 in 3 months
• $95 annual fee not waived first year

12:29 Wells Fargo Choice Hotels Cards (FM)

• 60,000 for $1,000, no AF
• 90,000 for $3,000, $95 AF
• Nice to see Wells Fargo taking over cards from Barclays!

13:45 Citi ShopYourWay Mastercard (Direct Link)

• $75 per $500 spent, up to $225 ($1500 spend)
• 5x gas, 3x Grocery/Restaurants up to $10k a year.
• No longer issuing ThankYou Point version
• SYW points worth 1CPP for many gift cards. Easy cash out.

17:03 Never Forget: Amex Opportunities Abound

View Details

We Assess the Current State of the Six Largest US Airlines...on today’s Milenomics² (No Annual Fee Edition) Podcast

0:24 Premise of the Discussion

• Everyone’s situation is different. Different hometown airport(s), different common destinations, different enthusiasm for taking on points & miles complexity to defray airfare costs, etc.
• That being the case, there’s are no one-size-fits-all solutions in this game
• That said, there are tendencies and trends that are worth being familiar with as it’s useful in informing moves you might make to prepare for future travel
• In this spirit, we think it’s a good time to take a look at the biggest domestic carriers. We’ll analyze them both for using their miles to fly their metal, the overall state of their frequent flyer program, their co-branded credit cards, their bank point relationships, how difficult they are to earn, and their overall position in the market.

04:21 American

• Could be the last remaining legacy carrier where close-in you can still find saver level awards for expensive cash fares, will have to see how this plays out with a supposed move to “fully dynamic”
• British Airways Avios (and other OneWorld partner awards) can still be a good play, but AA doesn’t seem to release much partner award space
• A good program to generate miles in, but if their utility becomes mostly for partner awards it significantly diminishes the value proposition for me
• With no bank point transfer partners, it can be tough to generate AA miles.
• Bilt transfers are possible.
• Unique in that they partner with both Citi and Barclays, though churnability has become difficult
• Bottom Line: Still a lot of great partners, favorable partner award charts, and flexible change and cancellation terms. The value proposition with AA increasingly hinges on partner awards.

14:15 Delta

• Booking with Delta miles provides decent everyday value with flexible cancellation terms. Not a lot of clever angles here when cash prices are high.
  • Issues with cancellations not actually happening. Need to follow up.
• Wide variety of co-branded Amex cards with probably the best churnability of any carrier due to targeted offers and lenient approval standards
• 15% discount on award travel if holding one of their Amex Delta cards.
• 1:1 transfer partner from Membership Rewards which have been one of the easier bank point currencies to generate the past 5 years
• Booking with 35% Amex Business Platinum rebate even more valuable than transferring (but beware Amex Travel hassles and harder to cancel)
• SkyClub membership for everyone who carries an Amex Platinum card is a nice perk when flying, though because of this they can be crowded
• Bottom Line: Weak SkyTeam alliance and expensive international awards make Delta a straightforward value proposition for domestic flights.

23:54 Southwest

• A wide variety of fun (if complicated) instruments for booking flights.
  • Fun? I think that when things are going well they can be more 'fun' than other airlines to fly with.
• “Too good to be true” Companion Pass is perhaps the longest running and evidently effective campaigns in the space.
• In general, connections with Southwest stress their system and make for longer travel than necessary with other carriers
• Not low cost. Low fee.
• Antique seating policy makes for trouble for families with children older than their cutoff of 6.
• 1:1 transfer partner from Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Wide variety of Chase co-branded cards (but 5/24 constraints can be limiting)
• Bottom Line: A carrier worth paying attention to if your hometown airport is dominated by Southwest, a carrier rarely flown otherwise

30:15 United

• Not a lot of angles for booking flights on United metal with United miles. Award chart for domestic flights seems truly dynamic - tied fully to cash price.
• Don’t see a lot saver level space release here either, so angles like booking with Star Alliance carriers are rare
• Travel Bank has favorable terms, making it one to consider for Amex incidentals.
• Flexible booking and cancellations with most fares. Bonus points for clearly labeling refundable fares vs. cancellable fares.
• Bonus points removed for not refunding without tons of interaction.
• 1:1 transfer partner from Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Typical assortment of co-branded Chase cards, but 5/24 can be limiting
• Bottom Line: Star Alliance tie-in (mostly for awards to Europe) keep me interested in earning United miles, but the partner chart has become a bit pricey

39:01 Alaska

• Award chart domestically for flying Alaska metal with Alaska miles rarely provides outsized value.
• Welcome bonuses of co-branded credit cards issued by Bank of America (personal and business) have become increasingly generous
• Still some good values to be had with premium partner awards
• No 1:1 bank point transfer partner
• “World Famous” companion pass requires spending more to get more value out of it, and not even half off at the end of the day
• Bottom Line: Unless you live near an airport well-served by Alaska, it’s an airline that’s still mostly one to accrue miles rather than fly. But with partner awards no longer offering differentiated value it could be an airline worth mostly ignoring.

47:18 JetBlue

• Usually just book with bank points or travel bank
• Has been a good candidate for use of Amex incidentals, but tone deaf tightened expiry of travel bank is industry worst.
• Partners come and go (Emirates/Etihad for example) and redemptions are so quirky it’s as if they don’t even know they exist
• Some opportunities with alliance with AA
• Nice that they allow family pooling of points, but they haven’t yet figured out how to configure a valuable loyalty program
• Mint is their single trick.
• Partner awards on Hawiian (need T, Z, or L fare bucket space)
• Co-branded cards issued by Barclays
• Quirky 250:200 Amex Membership Rewards transfer ratio
• Bottom Line: An airline to ignore if they don’t serve your airport. An airline that can’t be ignored if you live in Boston or near JFK

54:13 Bottom Line

• Discuss: How can we be rational?
• Are airline miles dead?
• Have airlines gone too far in diminishing their outsized value to the point where bank points are better?
• What’s your overall takeaway for yourself, and for family and friends looking for advice?

Robert: “Thanks for joining us for this week. For a more in-depth discussion about points miles visit us at patreon.com/milenomics. There you’ll get a special link to listen to additional content, right in your mobile podcast app or on your computer, where we speak more freely about topics like these.

Sam: You can reach us on Twitter @Milenomics and @RobertDwyer - we’d love to hear from you. Until then we’ll see you on the site...”

Special Thanks to Morgan Housel for his excellent book and new Podcast.

View Details

Return to Asia

Episode 9: Show Notes.

Welcome back to another episode of Travel Stories, where this week we talk about returning to Asia! Over the past few years, the award availability to get to Asia has been limited but we are hoping that it will start to flow back. In this episode, Trevor dives into his recent family trip to Singapore and Bali and we get to hear all about it. From the flights they selected, the equipment they flew, the experience in business class, meal service, and fifth freedom flights. He shares his first experience with a new airline and also sheds light on some recommendations regarding flights; which to pick and when! We also hear about his experience at the Andaz Hotel in Singapore and the Hyatt Regency in Bali. For all this, and much more, tune into this jam-packed episode now. Enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:06] An introduction to our topic for this week’s episode.
• [01:30] We talk about getting flights to different places.
• [02:44] Trevor talks us through their Asia trip itinerary.
• [04:06] The Singapore business-class experience.
• [05:18] Trevor’s most memorable takeaway from their Singapore flight.
• [07:24] The downside of the flight experience: the IFE.
• [07:45] The amenities kit and why it just isn’t the same.
• [08:40] We hear about the next special, leg of the flight.
• [09:40] The equipment he flew on for the next leg.
• [10:00] Fifth freedom flights and their benefits.
• [11:35] Why Trevor has avoided, thus far, flying with KLM.
• [12:20] Some of the pluses for flying with KLM.
• [14:19] Trevor tells us about his return trip and what made it memorable too.
• [17:30] Why the 17-hour flight was not the best; a few factors.
• [19:28] We hear about the meal service on the flight from Singapore to JFK.
• [20:50] A recommendation from Trevor for those traveling from Singapore to JFK.
• [22:00] The two flights from JFK/Newark to Singapore and which to pick and when.
• [23:20] The “Family” experience; flying with a 15-month-old.
• [25:30] Our thoughts on the Singapore service experience.
• [28:15] American Airlines: their last flight home.
• [30:01] Trevor talks about his decisions around American miles.
• [31:56] We hear about Trevor’s experience in Singapore.
• [34:40] The walkability of Singapore.
• [35:45] We hear about his experience at the Andaz Singapore hotel.
• [40:30] More about his time in Bali at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
• [41:12] The regency club at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bali.
• [42:25] What made Sanur beach superior to others.
• [44:57] More about the amenities at the hotel.
• [46:00] Transportation: the experience and how he arranged it.

Tweetables:

“I personally, would recommend [anyone flying Singapore to JFK] to hold your meal to later in the flight so that you aren’t getting off the flight hungry.” — @tmount [0:20:49]

“The Singapore service is insurmountable, they have their processes so refined and they do it so well.” — @tmount [0:25:01]

“It’s very hard for me to think of a time or an encounter with a Singapore Airline staff member that wasn’t top-notch.” — @TktweetsKim [0:25:31]

“Bali is a wonderful destination for stretching your travel budget; it’s a place where you can have a very comfortable beach getaway and not have to dig too deep into the wallet.” — @TktweetsKim [0:47:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Singapore Airlines

KLM

Andaz Singapore by Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt Regency Bali

Thomas Kim on Twitter

Trevor Mount on Twitter

View Details

0:23 Japan Trips: Past, present, and future

13:40 Disney Parks: What we're seeing, what we're hearing, and how do you approach advising clients?

29:00 Disney Concierge Cruise: Worth it?

Check out Joe's Disney Deciphered Podcast

To book a Disney vacation through Joe: josephcheung@travelmation.net

Subscribe to the Milenomics Podcast Network for more...

Thanks to Joe for coming on the show!

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An Epic Guys Trip

Episode 08: Show Notes.

When you take a trip around the world with your friends, you are bound to come away from it with some pretty crazy stories. Today on the show, we are joined by Joey (who had the idea for this trip) and Geoff, who, along with our hosts TK and Trevor, went on an epic guys' trip around the world in June of 2018. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our itinerary, how we booked optimal flights, and the points we earned along the way. We give a breakdown of the various hotels we stayed at, including the polarizing St. Regis in Singapore, some of the best meals we had, and the variety of planes we got to fly on during our trip. You’ll also learn how we managed to get our own private tour of an A380 Airbus and the lovely responses we got when we gifted our crew and attendants with special gifts. From Sydney to South Korea, Madrid, and Santiago, Chile, we had a whirlwind of a time and even got ourselves into a close call with one of our final flights. Tune in to hear all about our epic tales, long flights, unforgettable taxi rides, and much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:11] Introducing today’s guests, Geoff and Joey, and our epic guys' trip in June 2018.
• [01:52] A shoutout to FlyerTalk and its under-credited Premium Deal Fares section.
• [03:49] An overview of the flight itinerary for our round-the-world trip.
• [05:06] The variety of planes we flew on, including the 747-400 on Qantas and the Singapore 777-300ER.
• [10:04] Our arrival in Sydney, the memorable meal we had, and our stay at the Park Hyatt.
• [11:32] Find who we saw in their airline pajamas during our breakfast at the Park Hyatt.
• [13:05] The special events that were happening at the Sydney Opera House during our time there and our experience of the pop-up Centurion Lounge.
• [15:09] The priority pass restaurants we visited in the international terminal in Sydney.
• [16:57] Our experience of the Qantas Lounge and what it has to recommend itself.
• [17:25] Giving gifts to the attendants and flight crew and the range of reactions we’ve seen.
• [20:09] Our arrival in Singapore and our positive opinion of St. Regis Singapore.
• [22:36] Some of the best meals we had in Singapore.
• [25:09] One of Joey’s favorite flights on the trip and our arrival in Incheon, Korea.
• [26:50] The incredible chicken restaurant we were recommended by a taxi driver and our hike at the Heungryunsa Temple.
• [31:04] The two consecutive nights we spent flying and our experience of Dubai’s First Class Lounge.
• [33:39] Our day flight from Dubai to Madrid and how we got to explore the cockpit of an A380 Airbus.
• [36:08] The Prado Museum in Madrid, why there was such an enormous queue, and how TK got roped into taking photos for Russian influencers.
• [37:32] The dive bar we visited after our trip to the Prado Museum, called Taberna El Rincón de José and the best gin and tonics we’ve ever had.
• [39:43] Our eventful Uber trip to the airport, and how our driver accidentally took us to the pilot’s entrance.
• [45:21] The close call we had with catching our flight to Santiago, why our first-class tickets saved us, and how the rest of us got separated from TK.
• [52:08] Our stay in W in Santiago, the hike we went on, and why we’d like to return to Santiago, Chile.
• [53:32] Our final flights home and the miles we had accumulated throughout our trip.
• [56:58] What our next round-the-world trip might look like.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

FlyerTalk

St. Regis Singapore

Park Hyatt Sydney

Heungryunsa Temple on TripAdvisor

Taberna El Rincón de José on TripAdvisor

Museo Del Prado

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Episode 07: Show Notes.

We met today’s guest, Joey, in Las Vegas in 2017, so we decided to bring him onto the show for a deep dive into how to make the most of your time and your money on The Strip! Joey has been going to Vegas so long that you could actually play $1 craps, so it’s safe to say he’s an expert in the area. Money goes further in Vegas than it does in most other cities if you know what you’re doing, so tune in today for our top tips on everything from how to save on resort fees and leverage the food and beverage credits to what airlines to fly. We also discuss whether hiring a car in Vegas is a good idea, how the new operators on The Strip are going to change things for visitors, and our top restaurant and hotel recommendations!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:01] Why Vegas holds a place in Tom and Joey’s hearts.
• [01:40] Joey’s Vegas claim to fame.
• [02:12] How gambling in Vegas has changed since Joey’s early days.
• [03:18] Vegas restaurant recommendations.
• [09:43] Pros and cons of the main hotels on the Strip in Vegas.
• [18:54] Vegas’ worst kept secret.
• [19:28] How to save on resort fees in Vegas.
• [20:53] Benefits of visiting Vegas during the week.
• [21:26] Tips for leveraging the food and beverage credits.
• [26:53] The best buffet option in Vegas.
• [28:13] The recent increase in operators on The Strip, and what this means for Vegas tourists.
• [29:25] Important information to note about parking in Vegas.
• [30:33] Weighing up whether or not to hire a car in Vegas.
• [36:41] How MyVegas works.
• [40:23] Top tips for traveling to and from Vegas.
• [44:30] The story of how we all met!

Tweetables:

“When I started gambling in Las Vegas, there was a thing called 50 cent roulette chips. They’re now getting rid of $1 roulette chips. Inflation is real over there in the City of Sin.” — Joey [0:02:12]

“One of the things I really like about Vegas is you can really find something for your price range.” — Tom Kim [0:04:24]

“I think we’re going to see more arbitrage opportunities, probably more status matching, as some of the new operators start sucking money away from Caesars and MGM.” — Tom Kim [0:28:45]

“[Vegas] is a place where luxury is on sale so your 200 dollars goes a lot further than in a lot of other cities.” — Tom Kim [0:36:27]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Park MGM

NoMad Library

Peppermill

Secret Pizza

Lemongrass & Lime

Gordon Ramsay Steak

Carversteak

Din Tai Fung

Resorts World

The Cosmopolitan

ARIA Resort and Casino

Bellagio

Vdara

Planet Hollywood

Caesars Palace

Waldorf Astoria

Bacchanal Buffet

The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas

Wicked Spoon

HardRock Hotels

Circa Resort and Casino

The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod

MyVEGAS

Southwest Airlines

JSX

Delta Air Lines

Northeast Alliance

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We're just back from Tokyo and excited to share this trip report. We're up to Episode 187 on our Patreon feed but wanted to publish this here on the No Annual Fee feed since it's been a while since we've done a free show. Enjoy!

0:30 Discuss: Lots of Interest and Pent Up Demand for Japan

1:50 Premise of the Trip

• 2 adults
• 2 kids: 18 and 15
• 18 is actually considered a child age in Japan for some things

3:45 Panic Moment: Did I forget to buy a couple of return tickets?

• I’ve booked and canceled this trip so many times I’ve lost count
• Managing multiple PNRs booked across several different channels
• Didn’t realize a couple tickets were purchased as roundtrip. Whew.
• Discuss: How do you manage this?

8:20 Airport Upgrades for JAL International Flights (Direct Link)

• We departed Boston - Tokyo today, nonstop with 3 of us in Business Class on AsiaMiles awards and 1 of us in Premium Economy booked with JAL Miles transferred from Marriott long ago.
• I've been monitoring award space for 1 more Business Class seat, but nothing materialized. No partner award opened up close in, and even when booking with JAL miles nothing was available at any award level.
• A week ago they sent an option to bid on the upgrade with cash starting at $625. I passsed.
• I called JAL a few days ago inquring about upgrades. The agent said I'd need to cancel and rebook and nothing was available in Business Class.
• My last hope was a same day airport upgrade and...it worked!
• When we got to the check-in counter I asked about airport upgrades with JAL miles, for my son's Premium Economy JAL Award to Business Class.
• The agent first said Business Class was sold out, but then went to check with her supervisor.
• She came back and said that since we booked with Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles that we couldn't upgrade.
• But when I explained to her that I booked his ticket with JAL miles that an upgrade was possible.
• It took 4 or 5 reps there, me recalling my JAL frequent flyer number on the spot ("write it down on this piece of paper, I'll wait"), and 30,000 JAL miles but they upgraded him.
• I originally booked his seat for 32,500 JAL miles + $396.
• I'd like to avoid those taxes + fees in the future, but booking JAL miles did indeed improve upgrade options as I hoped.
• If the upgrade didn't work out, we selected seats for the rest of us at the back of Business Class with him at the front of the Premium Economy cabin.
• That likely would have worked out quite well - it really is close with just a curtain separating.
• But this worked out great. A good backup if you need just 1 or 2 more seats to round out an itinerary where partner/low level space isn't behaving.

15:20 BA Lounge at Boston Logan

• Quite nice
• Not crowded for mid-day departure since not many flights

16:00 Outbound Flight: JAL Business Class Nonstop to Boston

• Wasn’t spectacular but the direct flight was just what we needed to get the whole group behind this return trip to Japan
• No matter how you cut it: 14 hours is…a long flight.

17:45 Narita Arrivals

• Probably the most grueling international arrival I’ve experienced
• Seemed like a ton of flights coming in at the same time and lines were very long for…everything
• Probably good to do Visit Japan Web pre-arrival/QR code stuff ahead of time (helpful TravelSort post) but it didn’t much expedite things.
• 1 hour to clear immigration
• 1 hour to clear customs (for no good reason other than long lines and clunky automated machines that do nothing but scan your QR code and match it up with your passport)
• 1 hour to figure out Narita Express train tickets (machines wouldn’t take any of our credit cards even though they have Visa/MC/Amex logos on them)
• 1 hour to take the train
• 4+ hours total from gate to hotel right next to Tokyo Station
• Discuss: I had trepidation about this part of the trip going in, but it was unclear whether more research would actually help or just waste time/raise anxiety for things that wouldn’t affect us.

Lodging

22:00 Rough Times with Hyatt in Tokyo

22:30 Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi

• Train view? Yes!
• Stayed here 4 nights
• 57 rooms
• Offered cash upgrade to a suite at check-in, declined. Deluxe 2 Queen room was fantastic for our situation. About 700sf, additional rollaway bed fit perfectly. Not super new/super modern (TV has a DVD player for example) but well designed, luxurious, and very comfortable.
• Room rate was around $1,200/nt + service charge. Booked a Four Seasons 4th night rate + Citi Prestige 4th night free. Was about $1,000/nt fully loaded. Expensive but at least we only had to book one room that comfortably fit us.
• We had a great stay. Loved the location (Tokyo Station has amazing shopping and restaurants in addition to being useful for transit), loved the room, loved the small size, loved the lack of points/status gimmicks. Just an absolutely first rate stay from beginning to end.
• Complimentary 3p late checkout to ease transition to next hotel
• Discuss: When is it the right time to pull the “forget points hotels” lever?

27:50 Conrad Tokyo

• Connecting Rooms? Yes!
• King City View + Twin City View (each about 500 sf) booked w/Hilton free night certificates from two Diamond accounts
• 290 rooms
• Feels almost like a Vegas hotel to me
• Big check-in area with multiple restaurants
• Diamonds check-in at “executive” lounge on top floor
• No upgrade offered or available at check-in. Said Diamond guests are entitled to a 1-category upgrade if rooms are available in that category. Since there were none of those rooms available, no upgrade was possible. There were all kinds of nicer rooms and suites showing available for booking at the time of check-in but those are off-limits for complimentary upgrades here I guess Not a big deal at all: We wanted connecting rooms. Bigger connecting rooms with better views really wouldn’t have been meaningful.
• Lounge is packed (open for breakfast in addition to restaurant downstairs, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails)
• Breakfast is solid (well-stocked buffet + choice of a la carte hot item + beverages all complimentary with Diamond). Booked 2 rooms so unclear whether there would be comp friction with more than 2 guests per room.
• Requested 2p late checkout because our flight was at 6:30p. Best they could do is 1p.
• Discuss: The draw of “free” (night certificates/points), breakfast, lounge. Tough to justifying laying out cash for the hope of an incrementally better stay at a non-points hotel

38:30 Activities/Dining

• No such thing as a “must do” in Tokyo. It’s like asking what to do in New York City. It depends on your interests!
• Did better on food this time. Sukiyaki, tonkatsu, curry, fluffy Japanese pancakes in addition to our staples of ramen and sushi. Plus hotel breakfasts.
• TeamLabs Planets
• Recommended Viewing: The Reluctant Traveler w/Eugene Levy on AppleTV (Episode 8 is on Tokyo)

48:00 Tokyo DisneySea

• They sell evening DisneySea tickets for around $40 pp weeknights so we popped over there the last night of our trip to check it out
• Getting there from the Conrad took about 25 minutes by taxi and cost $58 USD
• Park was absolutely mobbed at that hour. May have been inordinately crowded due to it being Friday night the day after The Emperor’s Birthday and people may have been making a 4-day weekend out of it. Wait times were 2+ hours for most attractions. No way to pay to cut the line at that point in the day. Worse yet they were closing the queue for popular attractions if the estimated wait time was longer than the remaining time the park was open. Literally only went on the boat ride that goes around the park. A leisurely stroll to enjoy the ambiance but the entire place was so crowded it was hard to ignore.
• On the way back we took the train. It’s cheap, complicated, but really not that bad if you know what you’re doing. Disney monorail ticket + JR ticket + 2 subway tickets. Can route depending on what passes you have. Took about 45 minutes. The walk from Shiodome Station to the Conrad takes about 7 minutes and there’s not much to see along the way (as compared to Tokyo Station). Can’t recommend Google Maps strongly enough for figuring out train options around Tokyo. It’s truly a game changer.

53:00 Return Flight: JAL Business Class Nonstop to Boston

• Sakura Business Class Lounge is nice
• 6:45p departure times out nicely for sleep
• Flight was an hour early, immigration with Global Entry and seemingly no customs was a breeze
• Absolutely magical to go from Tokyo airport to back home in about 12 hours

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Full-Time Travel with Brennan Anderson

Episode 06: Show Notes.

Everybody needs to travel at some point in their lives, whether for vacation or business, but what about full-time travel? Is traveling full-time even possible? To help us answer these questions is our very first guest on the podcast, Brennan Anderson, who is traveling the world with his wife on a full-time basis. In our conversation, we delve into all the aspects of long-term travel, what is needed, and the overall experience. We start by learning about the required preparation, what motivated Brennan to travel long-term, and how to fund traveling the world. Hear about the incredible places he and his wife have visited, his experience with last-minute and advanced bookings, what cruise line he would recommend, his Maldives experience, joining an archeological dig site, and much more! Tune in to learn about the realities of traveling full-time with Brennan Anderson!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:47] Introducing Brennan and where he is currently based.
• [01:41] Outline of today’s show and the topics that will be covered.
• [02:25] Find out why Brennan and his wife decided to pursue long-term travel.
• [05:21] How Brennan and his wife were able to afford full-time travel.
• [07:13] Whether they check-in or carry-on their luggage.
• [10:04] The type of travel insurance he and his wife use.
• [12:12] Overview of the cruises and travel deals they took advantage of.
• [17:51] He shares his overall experience using URComped.
• [21:11] Differences between Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.
• [25:11] What the Maldives was like and other travel highlights.
• [32:09] He shares his amazing experience of being a part of an archeological dig.
• [36:48] Discover how much the archeological dig experience cost them.
• [38:00] His biggest surprises and the lessons learned so far while traveling.

Tweetables:

“All of the entertainment was incredible on Royal Caribbean, not as much on Carnival.” — @MissionMediaVid [0:21:51]

“[The Maldives] was by far the most spectacular place that we have been so far.” — @MissionMediaVid [0:25:24]

“It really was a great experience to learn about not only the process of archeology but actually getting to find a few things.” — @MissionMediaVid [0:36:21]

“If you are willing to put in the work, apply, and research other opportunities, it sounds like there are a lot of free opportunities through colleges and universities.” — @MissionMediaVid [0:37:03]

“The most surprising thing has been just how easy it has been to transition into nomadic life.” — @MissionMediaVid [0:38:00]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brennan Anderson

Brennan Anderson on Instagram

Brennan Anderson on Twitter

Brennan and Megan Anderson

Carnival Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean International

Allianz Travel

URComped

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Christmas Markets

Episode 05: Show Notes

Nothing quite rivals the European Christmas markets during the festive season. Trevor recently went on a multi-city Christmas trip with his family, spanning three generations. In this episode, we hear about his travels from Paris to Berlin and on to Vienna and Prague. Trevor shares his observations of the Christmas markets in each city, as well as his accommodation and culinary experiences in each destination. This is timely as it’s a great time to start planning for a 2023 Christmas market trip, as reward availability is just opening up. Tune in to learn about the point redemption opportunities involved in Trevor’s recent trip and how to do Christmas markets in style!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:18] Introducing today’s topic: Christmas markets.
• [00:38] Why now is a good time to plan for a Christmas market trip.
• [01:08] Trevor’s past European Christmas market experiences.
• [02:07] How many times he traveled to Europe in 2022!
• [02:44] The point redemption opportunities involved in his recent Christmas market trip.
• [07:54] Trevor’s Christmas market food experience in France.
• [11:05] His Parisian hotel experience.
• [12:58] Trevor’s German Christmas market and hotel experience in Berlin.
• [17:14] The pros and cons of the hop-on-hop-off bus in Berlin.
• [19:28] Trevor shares his observations of each market he visited in Berlin.
• [25:00] A recount of his stay in Vienna.
• [33:21] The benefits of staying 60 nights in the higher program.
• [35:05] The connectability of Vienna.
• [35:34] The multiple Christmas markets in Vienna and their unique features.
• [37:18] The Viennese food that stood out to Trevor and his family.
• [37:57] How he traveled to Prague.
• [39:34] Why he chose to stay in the Hilton Old City.
• [43:38] Trevor’s overall feeling about his recent multi-generational, multi-city trip.

Correction: When discussing the Andaz Vienna am Belvedere’s Executive Suite, Trevor stated it may have been 1,100 square meters; it was actually 108 square meters, which translates to 1,162.5 square feet.

Tweetables:

“Hotels can be a dime a dozen, but if you want a specific hotel, when you’re talking about the holiday season, you need to start really early.” —@tmount [0:00:53]

“German Christmas markets are really the Christmas markets in Europe.” — @tmount [0:13:28]

“Not every market is open every day, at least in Berlin.” — @tmount [0:23:53]

“The Christmas markets in Europe are so beautiful and they’re so doable with a little bit of planning ahead.” — @tmount [0:44:34]

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Editor's Note: Episode 3 of Travelstores only appeared on the Milenomics Patreon Feed.

How To Get the Most Out of Your Cruise

Key Points From This Episode:

• Today’s topic: How to get the most out of your cruise.
• The COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected the cruise industry.
• How the state of the cruise industry has changed over the past year.
• The most popular time to go out to sea.
• Why cruises can be seen as an economical travel alternative.
• Where most people are going on cruises right now.
• How the pandemic offered a unique opportunity to enjoy emptier cruise ships.
• The mindset shift you should make if you want to adopt cruising.
• Some of the most convenient benefits of cruises.
• The type of high-quality entertainment you can experience on cruise ships.
• The less enjoyable aspects of going on a full-capacity cruise.
• Tom and Trevor reflect on their Baltic cruise and what they appreciated about it.
• Why European cruises allow for a more authentic experience.
• Tom’s experience on his first Norwegian Cruise Line cruise and how it compares to Royal Caribbean.
• The differences between reserved and freestyle dining.
• Learn about the manufactured spending opportunities that you’ll find on a cruise ship.
• An overview of the variations in casino experiences on different cruise lines.
• The exciting benefits that you receive from casino loyalty reward programs.
• The opportunities for free and substantially discounted cruises if you don’t like gambling.

Episode 04: Show Notes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first caused global lockdowns in early 2020, cruise lines were one of the many hard-hit industries that had to close down virtually overnight. Now, in 2022, the world has opened up considerably, and many industries have returned to pre-pandemic levels of operation (or close to it). Today on the show we discuss some of our most memorable cruise experiences and how cruise lines have recovered over the past year. Listening in, you'll hear Tom give a detailed breakdown of the loyalty programs that gave him access to free and discounted cruises and how that allowed him to spend over two months at sea in 2022. We reflect on how the pandemic created a unique opportunity to experience much emptier cruises, and what we’ll be missing now that they are back in full swing. Our conversation also covers the types of entertainment you can expect, the best ways to dine, and how to shift your mindset for the best cruise experience. If you’re curious about the world of cruises and how to make the most of your next trip, then be sure to stick around for this illuminating conversation!

Tweetables:

“Cruising is almost unrecognizable from the state that it was in, in December of 2021.” — Tom Kim [0:01:06]

“You have to make a mindset shift when you adopt cruising as something that you want to do.” — Tom Kim [0:05:54]

“I've gotten dozens of free cruise offers from the casino loyalty program. And you don't have to gamble that much for them to start offering you stuff.” — Tom Kim [0:35:43]

“Now that the ships are back to 100% capacity I think the casino offers are getting a little less generous.” — Tom Kim [0:45:31]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Royal Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise Line

Carnival

MSC Cruises

URComped

Trevor on Twitter

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Although we're up to Episode 180 on Patreon feed it's been a while since we've done a No Annual Fee show. We're back today discussing things we're doing as 2022 comes to a close:

1:08 Credit card double and triple dip opportunities

3:30 Wrapping up credit card incidental usage

11:30 Credit card Q4 5x categories

14:10 Credit card milestone bonuses

16:35 Status top-off

19:40 Hotel certificate usage (lots of Hiltons seem to expire)

23:20 Buy miles in programs where yearly caps make sense

25:10 Book Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts for $200 Personal Platinum Credit

We hope this has been a great year for you in points & miles. Happy Holidays!

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Editor's Note: Please welcome Travelstories with Tom (@tktweetskim) and Trevor (@tmount) who many of you already know. They'll share episodes here from time to time. Enjoy!

Episode 02: Show Notes.

In today’s episode, Trevor and Tom broach the topic of the International Gateway that everyone loves to hate. We’re referring, of course, to JFK International Airport in New York City. From its unique features and plane-spotting opportunities to the logistical challenges it presents, this episode covers it all. Tune in to hear Trevor and Tom’s review of the airport's various lounges and nearby hotels, find out about the upcoming changes to this international gateway, and discover why everyone keeps finding themselves at JFK, despite its flaws.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Today’s topic: JFK International Airport.
• The unique features of JFK.
• Who each terminal is owned by.
• The limited airside connectivity between terminals.
• The transport challenges and costs of getting in and out of JFK.
• A review of JFK’s lounges.
• The Virgin Clubhouses you can access with a platinum American Express card.
• Notable upcoming changes for Terminal 7 and Terminal 2.
• The hotel choices around JFK.
• JFK’s flaws.
• The plane spotting opportunity at JFK.
• Why people find themselves at JFK despite the fact that they love to hate it.
• Strategies for positioning, with regards to connecting flights through JFK.
• The logistical challenges JFK presents.
• The pros of flying to and from JFK.

Tweetables:

“[At] JFK there’s very limited, if not non-existent, airside connectivity between terminals.” — Tom Kim [0:03:05]

“The Virgin Clubhouse is probably one of the most notable [lounges] and is definitely one to go visit if you have the opportunity.” — Tom Kim [0:09:21]

“[There are] a lot of flaws in this major New York gateway to the world.” — Tom Kim [0:26:59]

“[JFK] is probably the best plane spotting location on the East Coast.” — Tom Kim [0:27:14]

“One of the reasons people love to hate JFK, yet still find themselves in JFK, is [that] you still find that award space.” — @tmount [0:29:32]

“The incredible connectivity that you have from JFK is really where it shines.”— @tmount [0:34:23]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Trevor on Twitter

JFK International Airport

New York JFK Virgin Clubhouse

View Details

Editor's Note: Today we host a new show on the network. Please welcome Travelstories with Tom (@tktweetskim) and Trevor (@tmount) who many of you already know. They'll share episodes here from time to time. Enjoy!

Welcome to Travelstories, where we get into the details of traveling, flight planning, and collecting miles and points! Flying with Japan Airlines (JAL) is always a treat. And although we didn’t enter Japan, we have flown through it with JAL en route to Manila. In today’s episode, we’ll unpack our trip to Manila, what it was like traveling with JAL, and whether it lived up to our expectations. We take some time to reflect on the challenges we faced in booking our flights and how we decided to optimally spend our points, as well as why we chose JAL for our premium flight experience. Listeners will hear our thoughts on how the airports and lounges we visited have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the special insight we got into Japanese culture during our trip. We also share a breakdown of our in-flight experience, the food and beverages we were most impressed by, and why staying at The Grand Hyatt in Manila was undoubtedly the best choice. Our primary goal with this trip was to have a premium flight experience, and while we faced some puzzling challenges along the way, we feel that it was well worth the stress and planning it took to get it done. To hear all the nerdy details of our trip, plus some smart saving tips, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The exciting news of Japan opening up on 11 October 2022.
• Why we chose to travel to Manila with Japan Airlines (JAL) for a premium flight experience.
• The challenges we faced when booking flights and organizing our trip to Manila.
• Our experience of the JAL check-in process.
• The special insight we got into Japanese culture when we arrived before check-in was officially open.
• A breakdown of our in-flight experience.
• Learn about JAL’s expansive menu options.
• Our thoughts on both the Western and Japanese menus.
• An overview of the drinks that were served and the exceptional whiskey we tried.
• A rundown of the special juices that are produced by JAL.
• How the Haneda JAL first class lounge has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The incredible aviation decorations in the Red Room of the JAL lounge.
• The economy flight that we took and why we were pleasantly surprised.
• How our experience of flying out differed from flying in.
• Our exceptional stay at the Grand Hyatt in Manila.
• How Manila exceeded our expectations.
• The last leg of our trip home and why we chose to rent a car.

Tweetables:

“I'm not a seafood fan. So the Japanese menu didn't really do too much for me. I had a couple of different items over the course of the two flights from that Japanese menu, but largely, it really was very heavy on the seafood.” — Trevor [0:15:05]

“The last time I had been to this lounge was well pre-pandemic. They had a nice layout, a little bit of buffet, and a little bit of a la carte that you could order. This time they seemed to have adapted to the pandemic a little bit more.” — Trevor [0:21:57]

“The Red Room is still pretty cool. There are a lot of interesting artifacts there. They had lots of interesting aviation decorations and things like that. It still has a lot of charm.” — Tom [0:23:06]

“I think it was worth it. [Even] with all the stress. That's why we're in this hobby. We love this stuff. We love travel planning. We love all things aviation. And we love all the wonderful things about flying in premium classes of service like JAL.” — Tom [0:37:31]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Yamazaki Whisky Grand Hyatt Manila

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We're back today with a discussion about finding award travel to Japan for a family from both the west coast and the east coast of the US, now that Japan is finally set to reopen for tourism.

• Info from US Embassy in Japan
• Set to reopen October 11, 2022
• Finally! Let the planning begin.
• JAL award availability patterns far out seem mostly the same with a few notable exceptions
• First, I don’t see JAL reliably opening 2 in First/2 in Business at schedule open any more (as was the case before the pandemic - see this post). Now only releasing 1 seat in First, and 2 in Business on the JFK-TYO route.
• Second, fuel surcharges are way up when using partner miles from non-US programs -or- JAL miles head-on. Alaska and AA have no fuel surcharges but their booking window opens far later than foreign carriers.
• Third, weekend departures/returns seem to have less availability than weekdays. Sweep for trends w/AA calendar search.
• Fourth, close-in award availability release patterns are not as good than they were before the pandemic
• Fifth, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles have lost their appeal for this redemption even though they do see further out than British Airways. British Airways tends to have higher bank point transfer bonuses.
• Discuss: “Would you rather” award travel puzzlers
• How do you feel about splitting your family up between cabins? First/Business. Business/Premium Economy. Does 2 and 2 make a difference vs 3 and 1?
• How about splitting flights? 2 go through one city, 2 go through another.
• Favorable exchange rate (link for 5 year chart) - check cash hotel bookings now to lock in rates, and compare to hotel points

We'll follow up soon with a blog post summarizing changes in award travel trends to Japan, but for now we hope this discussion is helpful.

This week on Episode 173 of the paid show we'll be discussing new Amex opportunities and more. We'd love it if you joined us on Patreon to listen to those shows and gain access to our Slack community.

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It's been too long since we've released a No Annual Fee epsiode. This week we take stock of the many Amex offers currently available, many of which can earn welcome bonuses even if you've had - or still have - the card. There's some nuance to it through, which we cover in detail. Enjoy!

0:25 Amex Opportunity Roundup

• NLL 250,000 Business Platinum (link to check, may still get pop-up)
  • $30,000 in 6 months
  • Additional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the card
• Targeted NLL Bundles
  • 150,000 Business Platinum (link to check)
  • 100,000 Business Gold (link to check)
  • Additional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the card
  • If card goes to recon, it seems the ability to earn 10,000 for additional employee is lost
• Call-in offers 855-531-3491 (DoC, FM)
  • 250,000 Business Platinum
  • 180,000 Business Gold
  • Additional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the card
• Targeted Upgrade Business Platinum 140,000 (link to check)
• Online business employee 20,000 for $4,000 up to 5
  • Business Green
  • Business Gold
  • Business Platinum
  • Said to expire 3/31/2022, seems to still be working

20:25 Amex Reconsideration Calls

• Amex has rather lax approval standards compared to other banks
• There are many ways to get denied temporarily - for exceeding some limit on the total number of Amex cards you have, how recently you’ve been approved for the same card
• When this happens you have some time (usually around 90 days) to call Amex and ask them for clarity on why you weren’t approved, and to ask them to reconsider the application if the disqualifying disposition has been resolved
• This can be a very effective technique if a limited time opportunity presents itself, and you’re not eligible to be approved until some time has passed
• Check application status online
• Call them at 1-866-314-0237 (Mon-Fri 6am-8pm MST).
• Tell them your application number in the email they send you with their decision (or they can look it up with SSN, sometimes takes a while for them to find it if you’ve applied for a lot of cards over the years)
• Ask them why you were denied and if the condition has been resolved to have it put through for reconsideration
• If they agree you’ve resolved the condition you’ll usually get an email with approval within 24 hours

26:40 JetBlue Acquires Spirit

• Seems like for real this time
• Feels like this is going to be a mess for years to come
• TIme to get the BofA Spirit card? (Direct Link)

28:35 Newly Earned Southwest Credits Will No Longer Expire (Direct Link)

32:05 In Memoriam: Rakuten Visa (DoC)

• No longer accepting applications
• Closing accounts 9/17/2022
• Card never made sense: A Visa that provided better MR earning than most Amex cards

Thanks for listening. If you're interested in hearing more content like this, considering subscribing to Milenomics on Patreon. There you'll gain access to fresh content released weekly - we're up to Episode 167. Additionally you'll gain access to a vibrant Slack community where 400+ community members trade ideas real-time to help each other maximize points & miles earning and burning.

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Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess comes back to chat with Robert about...

0:45 Travel Trends

• Prices on airfare and lodging as travel comes back big time
• Seeing this domestically and internationally?

11:05 The Sad State of Amex Platinum Travel (Loyalty Lobby)

19:15 The Bahamas

• Baha Mar
• Atlantis

33:25 Italy

• Hotels mentioned:
• Laconda Rossa
• Palazzo Margherita

49:15 Disney

• Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser
• New Wish Ship

54:15 Luxe Recess Parenting Disney Weekend

• Finding Joy Inside & Out

Thanks to Robin for coming on the show!

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Milenomics community member Lillian joins me to talk about her trip to Uruguay, Argentina, Tahiti and beyond. I'd recommend taking a look at Google Maps while listening to follow along. Enjoy!

0:30 Premise and Parameters

4:50 AA Business Class

• 115k pp round trip
• AUS-MIA-MVD
• Accessed the Centurion lounge and AA Flagship Admirals Club in MIA

11:00 Montevideo, Uruguay

• SORO Montevideo, Curio Collection by Hilton for 18k a night
• The location is perfect for biking on La Rambla and for good dining within walking distance. Rooms were perfectly fine, modern decor.
• Diamond status recognition: They delivered a delicious tray of sweets.
• Car rental: Marino Sport, delivered car to hotel. Three hour drive to the beaches.

16:30 Punta del Este, Uruguay

• Casa Flor Boutique Hotel in the town of La Barra
• Originally booked with Chase 28k a night for 5 nights.
• Due to covid and rebooking, I ended up paying a cash rate at the hotel with my credit card $250/night.
• Amazing hotel, please stay here.

23:00 Salta, Argentina

• Legado Mitico Salta Boutique Hotel
• One night booked on Chase portal: $22k points.
• This is the best hotel in the city. It oozes old world charm and it’s like staying at a European guest house.
• Location is great, lots to see.
• Great breakfast. Still dreaming of the mini pear tart I had.
• Car rental: Hertz/ Salta downtown.
• We walked to the Hertz from the hotel and got to see the main square, picturesque town.
• Get a 4-wheel drive because it’s a grueling drive down ruta 40 not for the faint at heart but incredibly scenic.

29:50 Cafayate, Argentina

• Patios De Cafayate Wine Hotel
• Three nights for 18k points/night booked on the Chase portal
• It’s on the grounds of the famous Bodega El Esteco winery.
• We had a great stay here. I had some misgivings on the mixed reviews because this place was a bit more expensive that the second best hotel in Cafayate but if you dug deep, I felt like the bad reviews were basically misunderstandings which most definitely could occur if you come from the US and expect things to go the way they do in the US.
• As a guest, you get a free wine tasting at the store which is literally just a taste of three wines without explanations, not the official tasting tour which you need to book.
• Basic King room is beautiful and gigantic. The view was of the vineyard and the mountains in the background.
• Informal horseback rides available
• Visited Botega Yocochuga, up a crazy dirt road. Get the rose!
• Piatelli winery: excellent wine tasting, restaurant overlooking the valley, incredible atmosphere and food, gift shop with indigenous art to purchase. Make sure to reserve in advance.

33:45 Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Airbnb Palermo district.
• We rented a two-story loft in the Palermo Soho district. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/plus/31556390?source_impression_id=p3_1648659139_ughGq4ac3lauBYSv.
• Excellent location to feel like you are part of the city. It is not for small children as the stairs are very steep.
• Host fantastic.
• The neighborhood is very hip, 1-2 coffee shops on every block, microbreweries on every block. Don’t bother researching restaurants. You won’t go to any of them. Just pick some place and go. Fantastic meals, sidewalk cafes…
• Booked two half-day city tours with Kallpa tours, fantastic guide - ask for Jose Galotti!
• Scouted the Park Hyatt. It’s in the more posh area of town. Priciest in the city, might be worth the splurge just for the breakfast buffet which spanned like two rooms. Beautiful patio and lobby.

UNESCO town: Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay

• Buquebus ferry $54 one way
• Ferry leaves twice a day, 45 min.
• Great breakfast at Charco hotel.
• Great burger at Archie’s for lunch
• Hired a car service to MVD (2.5 hours)

Return Fights

• MVD-MIA-AUS
• MVD airport is tiny!
• Priority Pass lounge in MVD. Very nice lounge. Local wines and empanadas, fun little desserts.

39:00 Tahiti

• Windstar Cruise
• Becoming a Travel Agent

You can reach out to Lillian here if you'd like her help planning future travels.

My thanks to Lillian for sharing her experience!

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Too much news for our Patreon Podcast this week, so we broke the following out into this No Annual Fee Episode. Enjoy!

0:26 JetBlue News Roundup

• Boston to London service begins this summer (Link)
• Bids for Spirit (Link)
• Has service recovery issues (Link)

04:11 Marriott Bonvoy Dynamic Pricing Goes Live

• Seems to be a mixed bag
• Booked Ritz-Carlton Maldives for 335,000 now 385,000 (not bad)
• JW Marriott Bonnet Creek was 60k weekends, 50k weekdays, now < 50k each night which makes it a target for 50k certs
• And will be a target for up to 15k cert top-off when that starts “some time in April”

09:54 Bilt Rewards Mastercard Widely Available, Issued By Wells Fargo

• Now issued by Wells Fargo and open to all (no waitlist)
• 3x on dining, transfers to AA, Hyatt and others
• No AF, but no welcome bonus yet
• Referrals are 25,000 per 5 referrals, can refer even if you just have a Bilt Rewards account without a card (I’d wonder if you could sign up for Bilt Rewards account, refer P2 for Mastercard, and then refer back if you wanted two of the cards, but that seems like overkill for the overall value)
• I hear there are no such things as AUs with this card, so if you’re getting this for P2 when you’ve been shutdown by AA they’ll need to get their own in order to transfer to AA
• Discuss: Pretty wild to see this right on the Wells Fargo site. What’s stopping Wells Fargo from taking the Bilt Rewards relationships and rolling out a very compelling bank point card/program?

15:15 Targeted Chase 5x Promos

• Link to check: https://chase.com/mybonus/
• Ex: 5x Travel, Gas, Grocery on United card (capped at $1,500 spend in Q2)
• Reminder: Other Q2 2022 5x categories
• Chase Freedom: Amazon.com and Streaming Service
• Discover: Gas Stations and Target
• Citi Dividend: Drugstores and Grocery

16:57 [Targeted?] Bank Point Transfer Bonuses

• Amex Avios 40%
• Amex Marriott Bonvoy 25%
• Chase Air France 25%
• Citi Avianca 25%

19:55 AA Expiring Miles Again (TPG)

• Louses–they’re not even giving you 18 months from the announcement–they seem to be backdating to the last activity which means miles could expire SOON.
• Miles for minors do not expire, thankfully.
• Book and cancel (can do the whole thing online). I found a 7,500 Mile Main cabin LAX-SJC and booked–canceled right after ticketing and miles and money came back without needing to do anything (took about 2 days).
• Write-up from 2018 on this process.(link)

21:55 Alila Maldives Open for Booking (OMAAT)

• Category 7 (from 30,000/nt +/-)
• Excluded from Suite Upgrade Awards (from Beach to Overwater)
• Would love to split time between here and Park Hyatt, not sure whether that would be be possible without going back to Male

Join us at patreon.com/milenomics for further discussion on these and more, plus access to a thriving Slack community.

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This week I chatted with Milenomics community member CF Frost about his recent stay at the new Hilton LXR Mango House Seychelles and we do a deep dive into the Hilton program.

You may remember CF from this post he wrote about a now-expired opportunity to get Amex Hilton Aspire cards without an annual fee. Those Aspire cards kick off free night certificates and resort credits that are now enabling trips like the one we discuss in this episode.

Subscribers may also enjoy a trip report to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives discussed in Episode 6 of Checking In.

Hyatt gets a lot of love from the points & miles community but as we discuss on the show, Hilton deserves some consideration as well. In the second half of the show we cover 10 Ways Hilton is Better than Hyatt.

3:10 CF’s Recent Trip to the LXR Mango House Seychelles

• Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts (website)
• 95,000/nt Standard Room Reward
• Bookable with Amex Hilton Free Night Certificates (what are those?)
• Nearest Airport: SEZ

34:50 10 Ways Hilton is Better Than Hyatt

1. Footprint: Number and Location
2. Decent Meaningful Status with No Spend
3. Four Credit Cards vs. Two
4. Can Get Credit Cards Even if Ineligible for Welcome Bonus
5. Fifth Night Free on Award Stays
6. Easy Point Transfers
7. Free Night Certificates at Top Hotels Attainable through Reasonable Amount of Bonused Spend
8. Free Weekend Night Certificates Usable Any Night Lately
9. Generous Automatic Extensions of Status, Certificates, Points Expiry
10. Favorable Cash Upgrades to Award Stays

We could surely do a follow-up show on "10 Great Things about Hyatt" - and we probably will. But it's worth paying attention to other hotel chains like Hilton because there's a lot of value to be had.

This week on the paid Milenomics Podcast Network feed, we just released Episode 150 of our flagship show. If you enjoyed this free epsisode head on over there for more points & miles podcast content, a thriving Slack community, and more.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support.

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"Checking In" is a show on the Milenomics Podcast Network where I usually chat with members of the community about some specific trip, loyalty program, or method they've been using to generate points & miles. Today's show is a little different because my guest is Milenomics founder Sam Simon. And since it's a Disneyland trip report and totally "above board" we're releasing it here on the No Annual Fee feed.

I once read a post on a forum somewhere questioning whether, in times when our country and the world can seem so divided, is there anyhting we can all agree on? The first answer that popped up was Disney. Which quickly and definitively led to follow-on posts where it became clear that Disney [as a travel destination] is just as devisive a topic as anything else we might discuss.

Sam lives in Southern California about 20 minutes from Disneyland. He's been there in the past, has some familiarity with the attractions, and casually keeps up with the latest developments in the Disney fan base. With two young kids, their family is somewhat interested in visiting the park but they are by no means Disney enthusiasts.

So this trip report is a story about what it's like for a casual guest to engage with a travel and entertainment destination with a built-in community of fanatics that see Disneyland as their park. A place where familiarity with operating procedures, desirable dining options, and experience with their own group's preferences are all leveraged to maximize the experience.

The trip report is in two parts, before and after. We discuss...

Lodging

Even when living close to the parks it can pay to book a nearby hotel for naps and relaxation. The Disney hotels are famously overpriced, and in Anaheim third party hotels are very close to the park.

For a one-day park visit, does it make sense to book a hotel the night before, or after? What about early check-in/late check-out availability?

Sam found a unique option in The Westin Anaheim Resort just south of the park that happens to be an Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts property. We discuss the pros and cons of the property.

Lines

With young children especially lines are consistently one of the most annoying parts of any theme park experience. We discuss how Genie+ worked in terms of suggestions and wait time reduction.

Dining

We've heard reports of long wait times for mobile ordering, supply chain issues, and labor shortages. Dining is a big part of most Disney trips, and planning ahead is generally recommended. But with only a day to plan, are any of the better options be available?

Related Listening

• Checking In w/Robin from Luxe Recess on New England Resorts, Blackberry Farm, Luxury Disney and Orlando
• Seeptember 2021 Disney World Trip Report w/Joe Cheung

These free episodes are just a sample of what's discuss more fully with a paid subscription:

• Hundreds of hours of additional content discussing creative ways to earn and redeem points & miles
• Access to a vibrant Slack community
• In-person meetups

Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support.

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Today's special episode is hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer.

[Cold open] Harraseeket Inn holiday buffets: https://www.harraseeketinn.com/dine-1

Hello, and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I’m Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, and I’m joined today by Ted Fleischaker, board member of Portland, Maine’s Etz Chaim Synagogue and publisher of the Up Portland newspaper. Ted, welcome to the Manifesto.

[0:20] Plugs

• Etz Chaim: https://etzchaim-portland.org/
• Up Portland: http://www.upportland.com/
• Micucci’s Grocery Store: https://www.facebook.com/MicucciGrocery/
• Anywhere else people can find you online/in Maine/conferences, etc?

[1:30] Jewish Community in Maine

• Etz Chaim: India and Congress ST, Portland, ME.
• Services, Torah Study, Museum.
• Fire during COVID
  • What kind of renovations were required? Discovered original (1921) wiring.
  • How was the community served while the synagogue was closed?
• History of the building
  • Location of a boarding house for Irish and Italian immigrants that burned down in the fire of 1866
• History of the Jewish community in Maine
  • Nearby 1904 Synagogue split in 1920’s over whether to use Yiddish or English during services.
  • English speakers spent $50k remodeling present Etz Chaim building.
  • Mid-1970’s, only 15 members left in congregation. Sell the building, hang on, or merge with another congregation?
  • Museum foundation took over the building, congregation rents sanctuary back for services
  • Etz Chaim changes from orthodox to egalitarian. 3 services per week: Monday Orthodox minyan, Friday night reform service, Saturday morning Orthodox service.
• What do Jewish traditions look like today in Portland: how can people find seders, sukkahs, etc if they’re in Portland or Maine for the Holidays?
  • Four working synagogues in Portland: Chabad House, Bet Ha’am, Temple Beth El, Etz Chaim
  • Surrounding areas: Lewiston, Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford-Saco, Bath
  • Center for Small Town Jewish Life: https://jewishlife.colby.edu/

[20:10] Publishing a local newspaper

• Washington Post Magazine on local journalism: https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/interactive/2021/local-news-deserts-expanding/
• How does Maine support so many local newspapers?
  • Up Portland
  • Island papers
  • Lobster boat papers
• What goes into publishing a daily/weekly/monthly paper? How many printers remain, do papers get shipped in from out of town, USPS, “paper boxes” on the streets? What does it take to manage a dead-tree media distribution company these days?

[36:40] Visiting Portland/Visiting Maine

• For first-time visitors to Portland or to Maine, what recommendations do you have?
  • Where to stay?
    • Eastland Hotel (The Westin Portland Harborview)
  • Where/what to eat?
    • Dock’s Seafood - lobster roll: https://www.docksseafood.com/
    • Street and company - lobster dinner: https://www.streetandcompany.net/
  • What to see?
    • Portland headlight in Ft. Williams Park: https://portlandheadlight.com/
    • Bar Harbour, Acadia National Park: https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
    • Red’s Eats in Wiscasset - Lobster Roll: https://www.redseatsmaine.com/
    • Rock Paper Scissors in Wiscasset: https://www.facebook.com/rockpaperscissorsmaine/
    • Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Bush compound
  • Fly to Portland or Bangor?
    • Portland has more nonstop service, competitive fares

[41:54] Quar Question of the Week

• For folks who are thinking of taking a socially-distanced winter getaway in Maine this New Years, what’s your go-to romantic nook in the state?
  • Bar Harbour: winter hotel discounts at luxury properties
  • Rockland: 250 Maine Hotel (https://www.250mainhotel.com/)
  • Blackpoint Inn (only open in season): https://www.blackpointinn.com/

Thanks again to Ted Fleischaker for joining me today. You’ve been listening to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. Goodbye, and good luck.

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We discuss the addition of Wyndham/Vacasa as a Citi ThankYou Point transfer partner, ZIPAIR from LAX to Tokyo, Frontier leaving Newark, and a $500 brokerage bonus from "Tastyworks." Let's get right into it.

Citi TYP Shakeup: AA Out (for now?) Wyndham In

• Wyndham 1:1 from Premier/Prestige, 5:4 from lower level cards
• Wyndham opens up Vacasa rentals--and really is a wonderful option for family travel
• Earlier this year I attempted to open a Wyndham Business card but was unsuccessful
• Now, 3x on Fluz or 2x on WU purchases are really nice vehicles for Vacasa rentals
• Because of Cash out options, TYP transferred over should ideally have a 1cpp or higher value (1.25 for a DC or lower card) to even just break even
• Vacasa prices by the bedrooms (15k per)--which gives outsize value opportunities (2-3cpp)

ZIPAIR Announced LAX-Tokyo Route (link)

• Very affordable, especially for kids
• What’s this mean for flights to Japan for tourism?
• It’s amazing how investment continues to pour into the travel space despite trying times
• Discuss where this sort of thing fits in compared to using miles
• https://www.zipair.net/en
• 3x weekly service
• 6 and below fly for 13,000 YEN each way ($115)

Frontier Leaving EWR, 16 slots up for grabs (Link: WA)

• Is this a loss for EWR?
• What would it take for us to fly Frontier? (nonstop, good times)
• JetBlue, Spirit United seen as winners?
• Fun Fact: Slots were to remain unused, saving 1.2 minutes per day of delays
• The added competition is seen to allow fares to drop $15-$36.

“Tastyworks” $500 Brokerage Bonus

• Direct link
• $500 bonus for funding w/$10,000 and holding for 3 months
• Doesn’t seem that trading is a requirement?
• Make sure GIVE_ME_FIVE_2021 is applied as the referral code
• Bonus posted for us 24 hours after funding (is that a world record?)

We pushed a couple news items for the paid show this week. Join us at patreon.com/milenomics for further discussion on these and more, plus access to a thriving Slack community.

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Three major loyalty programs updated their schemes this week. We discuss this and more in this week's No Annual Fee podcast...

Marriott Bonvoy Changes (Direct Link)

• Doing away with award chart March 2022, points required will track cash price
• Free Night Certificate Top Off limited to 15k, starts “early 2022”
• Certificates/status extended again (FM)

Hyatt Peak/Off-Peak Goes Live

• Gave a cursory look at booking some things last minute but...didn’t find award availability on the dates and destinations I checked
• Seems like they’re one step behind Marriott in going to a scheme where the number of points required is tied to cash rate
• Opinion: Overall the chart is still very favorable paired with UR 1:1 transfer

AA Makes Some Changes

• Mostly affects how status is attained (can earn through cc spend now)
• Award charts, especially partner, are thankfully unaffected

Citi to Choice Hotels 1:2 for Preferred Hotels (FM)

• Link to check which Preferred Hotels are potentially bookable as an award
• Some very high value properties listed but…
• Awards can only be booked over the phone and it sounds downright painful
• The award availability shown online is said to be unreliable (shows open, but you discover it can’t be booked until after a lengthy call)
• Only standard double occupancy rooms can be booked (unclear whether families can finagle more spacious rooms)
• Other than that...great deal! ;)

Chase Freedom Flex “Top Spend” for Additional Q4 2021 5x (Direct Link)

• Only on the Freedom Flex 5x card (not the old Freedom 5x card, not the Freedom Unlimited)
• Spend from the top amount among these (capped at $1,500) for the quarter gets +4x
• Travel (including Transit), Dining, Home Improvement Stores, Grocery Stores (not including Target and Walmart purchases), Drugstores, Gas Stations, Select Live Entertainment, Select Streaming Services, Fitness Clubs.
• The “normal” Q4 categories are WalMart and PayPal
• Freedom Flex earns 3x on dining and drugstores every day
• So if you already spent $1,500 at PayPal you wouldn’t have triggered the top spend +4x unless the merchant was one of the top spend categories, so you could have more work to do
• But if you haven’t started it would seem optimal to either try to find a PayPal + top spend bonus category -or- do the PayPal separately then do the top spend in a category like drugstores or dining for 3x + 4x
• Maybe I should be using Freedom Flex at drugstores more in general, for 3x URs uncapped. It’s about the same as Old Blue Cash if you value URs at 1.5 cpp and consider the $6,500 at 1% on that card to get to 5% cashback.
• Whew, what a mind boggler. A shame the cap is so low on Freedom.

Thanks for listening. For more points & miles podcast content, a thriving Slack community, meetups and more join us at:

patreon.com/milenomics

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Robert chats with Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess about trends she's seeing in the luxury travel market. They compare notes on recent travels with an eye towards planning for the coming year.

Last Chatted in January, 2021 (listen)

• Vaccines were just becoming available
• Things looked like they were getting better, then Delta variant
• What are you seeing in terms of travel hesitancy right now?
• And how are future bookings impacted? More short term trips planned opportunistically?

3:20 Spring/Summer Travels

• Mansion at Ocean Edge
• Newport rental
  • Q: If I liked both of these, what options should I consider in the Northeast? Especially interested in Maine personally but what other options should everyone consider?
  • Some New England resorts to consider:
  • The Inn at Hasting Park in Lexington, MA
  • Cliff House in Cape Neddick, ME
  • Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, ME
  • Migis Lodge in South Casco, ME
• Liked Ventana Big Sur for its boutique outdoor rustic all-inclusive luxury
  • Q: What else might I like?
  • A: Perhaps Blackberry Farm

22:00 Disney Dining

• What are you hearing/experiencing at Disney World dining venues post-Covid?
• Some (though not all) seemed to be sputtering a bit on our Labor Day weekend trip (show notes from chat w/Joe Cheung)
• Roll into high expectations and how to identify places that are doing well these days to avoid disappointment? Especially when paying luxury prices. I feel like most pre-Covid reviews are out the window and I need to hear from someone that’s stayed there recently and has good discernment.
• Are you looking forward to Space 220? (menus)

37:20 Orlando Luxury Options

• Four Seasons Orlando: Best of the best, close to Disney but quite expensive
• Ritz-Carlton Orlando: Kind of far from Disney, basic rooms, Club Level good - but is it open/still good since Covid?
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando Want to talk about this from an excellent recent stay in Waldorf Corner Suite w/Disney View Fantastic stay, totally bounced back after a lackluster first experience a few years ago in an entry-level room
• JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes in the conversation? New JW Marriott Orlando, Bonnet Creek?
• Swan Reserve coming soon
• Conrad Orlando coming soon?

50:30 Luxury Disney

• New Disney Wish Cruise Ship
• Disney Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser

Thanks to Robin for sharing her expertise! You can find her at Luxe Recess.com

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Today's Podcast comes to you from Gideon The Freequent Flyer who has a companion piece to this podcast on his site.

Hello and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon the Free-quent Flyer on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I am Gideon the Free-quent Flyer and I’m joined today by the Director of Travel Rewards at Bilt Rewards, Richard Kerr. Richard, welcome to the Manifesto.

[0:30] Plugs

Social: @KerrPoints everywhere

Bilt Rewards: https://www.biltrewards.com/

[2:35] Background

• What was your path into the rewards industry? Did you start as a travel hacker, as a writer, or on the business side? What was your biggest score/favorite play, on the earnings or redemption side? What do you like most these days in terms of rewards programs?

[8:25] Bilt Rewards - overview

• 3 legged stool: partner rewards, landlords, credit card
• Loyalty programs: 1:1 transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage, Air Canada’s Aeroplan, Emirates Skywards, FlyingBlue, Turkish Miles & Smiles, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, HawaiianMiles, World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards
• Credit card: white label MasterCard issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, earns 2x on rent payments, 1x everywhere else
• Landlords: “Bilt Rewards Alliance,” 24 large residential real estate holding companies, plus option to mail check to any landlord.

[12:10] Bilt Rewards - news

• Annual cap of 50k rent points instead of monthly 4k cap
• 0-1-2-3
• $0 annual fee
• 1x on rent (up to 50k annually)
• 1x on everyday spend
• 2x on travel
• 3x on dining
• Uncapped earning on all non-rent spend
• IHG added 9/21

[18:07] Bilt Rewards - partner rewards

• My understanding was that loyalty programs had pretty exclusive relationships, i.e. Chase will bail out United by buying a billion United miles, American Express will buy a billion Delta miles, Citi and Barclay a billion American miles, then they dribble them out to customers. As a young company, how do you come in and make them an offer that even gets their attention?
• How much do you pay for points? During promotions you can buy Hyatt points for 1.8 cents, maybe a little less using a shopping portal, is that the right order of magnitude for what Bilt is paying? Do you pay more for the first member of an alliance to set a ceiling, or have alliance members bid each other down to participate?
• What do you think your highest value transfer partner is? Hyatt seems the most obvious but do you have a favorite redemption buried in the other award charts?
  • AA: business travel to Europe, South America, web specials
  • Emirates: JFK-Milan, 50k roundtrip in business
  • Hawaiian: west coast to Hawaii / upgrade from economy to first for 25k
  • Aeroplan: stopovers
  • Flying Blue: 11.5k domestic Delta (21+ days out)
  • Turkish: 33,800 business class to Istanbul, 7,500/15,000 to Hawaii on United
  • Virgin: Delta/ANA/upgrading paid Virgin tickets
  • Hyatt: great value everywhere
  • IHG: Holiday Inn Express
• Do you have any favorite non-travel redemptions, anything Bilt got a killer deal on that you can pass on to members?
  • Bilt Rewards App
  • Champagne Sabre

[32:21] Bilt Rewards - landlords

• What was the process like of selling large landlords on accepting Bilt payments? Did they see the advantages immediately, were they skeptical, did some landlords refuse outright? Some large landlords already take credit cards or use other payment services, how did you convince them it was worth signing on to another.
• What’s the end-to-end process of paying rent with Bilt. Are all credit cards keyed to a calendar month statement cycle? What day is the rent payment charged and what day is it delivered?
• “Fee Protect” to avoid swipe fees at front desk.
• “Bilt protect” debits rent from checking account instead of charging to credit card
• I assume Bilt Rewards Alliance members get paid electronically, if you have to mail a check or a payment is misapplied, what kind of guarantee do you offer it will arrive in time/you’ll pay late fees?
• Is the check option a kind of “prospect acquisition,” bringing landlords to your attention that you can bring into the Bilt Rewards Alliance?
• Do members of the Bilt Rewards Alliance get paid the full value of rent payments or is that also an opportunity to earn a few percent of each payment, so a landlord might get $975 on a $1k rent payment?

[41:52] Bilt Rewards - credit card

• There are lots of white label credit card issuers (Sutton Bank, Synchrony), what kind of factors go into selecting an issuer? Payment speed, revenue sharing, credit standards?
• “Cardworks” is servicer for the card
• Does risk sharing factor into Bilt’s business model? Credit card companies don’t like cutting checks because cash and payments to 3rd parties are impossible to claw back. What happens if a Bilt user disputes a charge?
• How do you weigh those factors when deciding what renters/landlords to admit? Is there a risk of “digital red-lining” where only residents or landlords in rich neighborhoods get access to Bilt, or “digital loan-sharking” where you’re admitting only people you expect to make only minimum payments and rack up interest charges and late on their Bilt credit cards?

[47:00] 50 digital access codes

Thanks again to my guest Richard Kerr, you’ve been listening to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. Goodbye, and good luck.

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Today we're releasing an episode of "Checking In with Robert Dwyer" that's normally reserved for subscribers of the Milenomics Podcast Network. Robert chats with Joe Cheung about what it's like to visit Disney Parks these days, and what's coming in the near future to Disney World.

0:22 What Joe has been up to since Saverocity Observation Deck

Producing Miles to Memories Podcast. Disney Deciphered Podcast. Disney Travel Agent.

1:30 What's Disney like now, what's it going to be in this "living with Covid" phase we seem to be in now.

Use my trip report to reflect of what you're hearing and experiencing with people you talk with. Planning changes (no Fastpass, but Genie+ coming). Dining reservation challenges, dining experience at this time. In-park experience.

28:40 Attractions

• No doubt: Masks in Orlando in 90F can be uncomfortable. But we managed. Current policy is masks indoors and on transportation. Outdoor option, but wore then when crowds were dense.
• No Fastpass seemed to make most wait-times shorter than posted, especially in the morning and evening.
• No Fastpass was also pretty relaxing.
• Flight of Passage was pretty great (rope dropped that w/family this time).
• Mickey & Minney’s Runaway Railway is surprisingly good too (seemed to debut at the worst possible time).

38:20 Dining

• Ohana Focus was on the return of the noodles, but the real killer is the absence of skewers. The quality of the proteins they dished out there for $55 pp is insulting. Went from being one of our favorites to “Avoid until further notice.”
• Skipper Canteen Best place in Magic Kingdom for lunch in my book. Cold AC, but again - menu items missing. No salads? They can improvise steak on a house salad but the meat was again really terrible. Chewy. Almost inedible. I mean - who goes to these restaurants and eats everything except for the steak? No shame in their game.
• Via Napoli Restaurant closing early at 7p I think (hard to get reservations) and hardly any of the employees are Italian at the moment. Thankfully the pizza is still really good.
• Whispering Canyon Cafe First time there: It was fun. Some gags, but seemed toned down a bit. Just right I’d say. Good food. Menu touts “all you care to enjoy” milkshakes but...the machine was broken and they couldn't get repair parts...due to Covid.
• California Grill Other than them initially trying to seat us in an “annex” sort of room initially this was a fantastic return to form. Still my favorite Disney restaurant.
• See also: Ratings of Disney World restaurants prior to Covid

54:10 Coming Soon

• Ratatouille Attraction primed to open Oct 1
• Space 220 Restaurant in Epcot
• Disney Galactic Starcruiser Immersive Hotel Experience

Contact Joe:

• josephcheung@travelmation.net
• @asthejoefies on Twitter
• Disney Deciphered Podcast
• Miles to Memories Podcast

Disney Not Your Thing?

Podcast subscribers also have a new episode today: An anniversary trip report to Mallorca, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome. Garth Grawburg chats about how he secured Business Class flights to Europe with points & miles and enjoyed boutique hotels is southern Europe.

Subscribers also gain access an active private Slack group, and in-person meetups. We'll look forward to continuing the conversation. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support.

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Four great credit card welcome bonuses to consider from Bank of America. Let’s discuss them, how we’d prioritize them, and also navigating the complicated and ever-changing approval standards over at Bank of America.

0:54 BofA Amtrak 50,000 + $100 Statement Credit (DoC)

• Do a dummy booking to see offer
• $79 AF not waived
• $2,500 min spend in 90 days
• Amtrak points are worth 2.9 cpp towards non-Acela, 2.56 cpp towards Acela
• So this welcome bonus is worth $1,450 + $100 - $79 = $1,471 for non-Acela
• Or $1,250 + $100 - $79 = $1,271 towards Acela
• That’s crazy value for people who want to ride Amtrak
• See also: How to redeem bank points for up to 1.64 cpp towards Amtrak

03:55 BofA Alaska Business 60,000 (HT Commenter Matt on DoC)

• Direct Link
• $3,000 min spend
• $75 AF not waived
• 65,000 for the Personal Alaska card still available
• Not subject to BofA personal churning restrictions
• Don’t forget BofA Business Cash Rewards $750 (Direct Link)

06:19 Getting Approved

• BofA 2/3/4: 2 BofA cards per rolling 2 months, 3 per rolling 12, 4 per rolling 24
• BofA is said to not approve new BofA card if you have more than 2 new credit cards on your credit report (across all banks) in the past 12 months -or- 6 in the past 12 if you’ve got a checking account with BofA
• HT DoC
• Overall exposure with BofA to consider too (lower CL before closing BofA cards)
• Limits to the number of active credit cards BofA will let you hold?

08:47 Discuss: Is it a mistake to ignore BofA at this point?

Robert: “Thanks for joining us for this week. For a more in-depth discussion about points miles visit us at patreon.com/milenomics There you’ll get a special link to listen to additional content, right in your mobile podcast app or on your computer, where we speak more freely about topics like these.

Sam: You can reach us on Twitter @Milenomics and @RobertDwyer - we’d love to hear from you. Until then we’ll see you on the site...”

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On today's No Annual Fee show we discuss:

0:30 Q3 2021 5x Categories

• Chase Freedom
• Grocery Stores
• Select Streaming Services
• Discover
• Restaurants
• PayPal
• Citi Dividend
• Gas Stations
• Home Improvement

3:50 New Citi Custom Cash Card (HT DoC)

• Direct Link
• 20,000 TYP for spending $750 in first 3 months
• No AF
• 5x TYP on up to $500 spend each month in biggest category, 1x after that
• Don’t have to activate (that’s nice)
• Low cap, but that’s the same as Freedom/Discover/Dividend 5x cards
• Would be a great card to product change a bunch of cards into but: “Our policy is to offer only one Citi Custom Cash℠ Card account per customer.”
• Worth getting one?
• Citi IT being what it is, will they actually allow multiple cards per customer?

9:30 Staples Fee-Free $200 VGCs

• Sunday 6/13 - Saturday 6/19/2021

10:10 BofA Alaska 67,000 Mile Offer (DoC)

• Direct Link
• 42,000 after $2,000 in first 3 months
• Additional 25,000 after total of $8,000 in spend in 6 months
• $75 AF not waived first year
• Can’t have had a Personal Alaska card in the prior 24 months
• Discuss
• Better targeted offer
• “Famous” Companion Fares
• Whether Alaska miles are what they once were, especially with travel to Asia still not open

If you enjoyed this free show considering subscribing to the Milenomics Podcast Network where you'll gain access to lengthier and more in depth shows. You'll then also be able to join a lively Slack community where points & miles ideas are discussed real-time.

Thanks for listening and thank you to our existing Patrons. We've recently hit a record number of subscribers, which is amazing for a travel podcast during a global pandemic. More great content to come as we return to traveling.

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A Hot news week has us sitting down to discuss the following: 0:29 Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000

• Direct Link
• Subject to 5/24
• $95 AF (not waived first year)
• Try generating a referral if you/your spouse have one (chase.com/referafriend)
• “Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.*
• That's $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
• 100,000 bonus points is the best offer that Sapphire Preferred has ever had.”

5:54 Rumor: 1.25 cpp Amex Schwab Cashout Going Away (TheFinanceHobbyist on Reddit)

• Cashout option still mentioned on application but not on landing page
• Who knows, but…
• How big of a hit would this be?
• How would it affect your perception of the Amex MR value proposition?
• If you knew for certain it was going away tomorrow would you clean house today?
• Does the rumor cause you to cash out some MRs?

10:59 Chase Sapphire Lounges Coming (TPG)

• First location: Boston?
• Location: Terminal B to C Connector
• Anticipated opening: Q1 2022
• Out-maneuvered Amex Centurion and CapOne for the space

15:40 Amex 25% Transfer Bonus to Hawaiian

• In the spirit of always considering a deal...
• 130,000 Boston to Honolulu becomes 108,000 MRs pp one-way in lie-flat
• Flight is very expensive: They’re asking $7,000 pp roundtrip
• Expires 6/30/2021
• Last call for 40% bonus to Marriott, ends 6/15/2021

18:32 Stop & Shop/Giant: 3x VGCs

• Friday 6/4 - Thursday 6/10/2021

If you enjoyed this show consider joining our Patreon where you'll find hundreds of hours of unique, in-depth content and a thriving slack community. Enjoy!

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0:30 JetBlue New York - London Now Bookable

• Direct Link
• Website was down when they released these (classic JetBlue)
• Starts August 12, 2021
• Economy “from” $595 roundtrip
• Mint “from” $1,979 roundtrip

4:55 New Airlines: Avelo and Breeze

• Avelo is a new West coast airline that has set up from BUR (Link for more details )
• Routes are somewhat unique, to about a dozen western destinations. In most cases using much more off the beaten path airports than mainline carriers. Ogden Utah, Pasco WA, Grand Junction, CO.
• Flights seem very aggressively priced. One example to Santa Rosa is interesting me. $60 round trip versus $244 on the only other carrier who flies it nonstop from the LA area.
• BUR is far for me (50 minutes with no traffic) and I don’t like that. But I’d do the drive if one of these destinations really was on my demand schedule (versus a stop at an airport for example)
• Breeze seems to be moving closer to launching--livery was posted and they’re setting up their network.
• Route network now posted on their site
• That makes quite a few ‘regional’ players by my count:
  • Suncountry
  • Frontier
  • Avelo
  • Spirit
  • Allegiant
  • Breeze
• While these are not ideal for many reasons--they’re here and they exist. Reminds me of a really short hop flight I took on Spanish LCC Vueling in Italy--it was like $20 per person, we paid for a couple of bags, and it was the only point-to-point option. It was fine.

12:40 Amex Offer: +1x at Lowe’s (HT Garth on Slack)

• Stack with a card that has +4x Spring 4ward promo for a total of 6x at Lowe’s
• 6x MRs + 3x JetBlue card linked

14:00 $750 Chase Business Checking (DoC)

• Deposit $10,000 in new money within 30 days of coupon enrollment & maintain that balance for 60 days
• • 25 transactions
• Early account termination fee: Six months, bonus forfeit
• “You can receive only one new business checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last enrollment date and only one bonus per account.”

16:45 US Bank Altitude Connect Visa (DoC)

• 50,000 points (worth $500) after spending $3,000 in first 120 days
• $95 Annual Fee waived first year
• 4x on Travel and Gas Stations
• 2x on Dining, Takeout, Groceries, and Streaming Services
• 1x everywhere else

That's the news for this week. For more content subscribe to the Milenomics Podcast Network where we've been discussing:

• The highs and lows of Amex
• Booking travel coming out of Covid
• And more...

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0:23 Earn Singapore Status Through Bank Point Transfer (link)

• Get 1 elite qualifying mile for every 5 bank points transferred
• Transfer 250,000 bank points between April 7, 2021 and February 28, 2022
• Get Star Alliance Gold for 12 months
• Gets you UA lounge access when travelling domestically and other Star Alliance Gold benefits
• Singapore miles expire 3 years after they’re earned even with activity
• I do like the potential of status through spend, hope to see other airlines/hotels follow this

06:42 Jetblue Announces BOS-LHR and JFK-LHR Service (Link) 

• Sounds good but hard to get excited about at the moment (can’t travel there, launch date unclear)
• Longer term how useful is this development?

13:52 IHG Devaluation (Loyalty Lobby)

• Evidently they’re going to a scheme where the number of points required is more tied to the cash price
• What does it mean to you when [arguably] the 4th most important loyalty hotel chain does something with their award chart?

17:47 Alaska Officially Joins OneWorld (Link)

21:40 ANA One-Way Awards Bookable with Virgin Atlantic Miles (OMAAT)

And that's the news this week! For more shows join the Milenomics Patreon community.

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Many of you reading this might not even know there is a podcast called The Milenomics Second Podcast (MSP). We're celebrating on the blog today the ending of season 1 of the Milenomics Second Podcast, hosted by our very own Garth Grawburg.

Feats of Strength

On the Saverocity Observation deck Festivus Episodes Joe and Trevor often cover of feats of strength. Garth's first season on MSP is, in fact, a true feat of strength.

Garth is well known to many Milenomics slack members, and has always added so much to the discussion on slack. When Robert and I were first talking about launching a second podcast, expanding the idea of the Pateron into a full network, Garth was the first person we thought of for this task. Had he ever podcast before? I don't think so. But we invited him on a show, our first guest ever actually, and realized his personality on Slack and on the mic were nearly identical.

Garth is witty, funny, and with a booming laugh that makes me want to laugh more, Garth is a natural at what many of us struggle with: Content Creation.

Over 18 episodes he explored the space, introducing us to beloved radio ideas like "Defend the Indefensible," and taking deep dives into cards, products and airlines.

Garth brought a feeling to that first season of the podcast that two weathered battle axes like Robert and myself couldn't bring. He's not jaded by a game that's changed 6 ways in the last decade.

The show has been incredibly informative. Two plays Garth dedicated entire episodes to I hadn't even considered before. And I'm better off because of those shows, and I know other patrons are as well.

Thank you

And so the audience for this post is really just one person: Garth himself. Garth:

Thank you for jumping in feet first when we asked you to start a travel, points and miles podcast during a worldwide pandemic.

For sharing parts of your travel, your love of all things Shop Your Way, Target, Southwest, and more.

I know you'll keep playing the game, and can't wait to hear more about it.

In celebration of the end of season one we're releasing podcast here on the No Annual Fee feed.

Note: This episode was originally released Jan 22, 2021.

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We've got a full show today. Let's get right into it...

0:25 Q2 2021 5x Categories

• Chase Freedom
• Gas Stations
• Home Improvement Stores
• Discover
• Gas Stations
• Wholesale Clubs
• Select Streaming Services
• Citi Dividend
• Supermarkets
• Drugstores

3:15 Amex 40% Transfer Bonuses to Hilton/Marriott

• 1,000 MRs become 2,800 Hilton
• 1,000 MRs become 1,400 Marriott
• One use model: Marriott to “high value” foreign carrier programs
• More on that in the paid show

7:10 Amex Bonvoy Heightened Offers

• Amex Bonvoy Business 100k
• $5,000 min spend in 3 months
• $125 AF
• $150 statement credit
• Available through referral
• 35k cert on renewal
• Amex Bonvoy Brilliant 125k
• $5,000 in 3 months
• $450 AF
• $200 back at restaurants
• $300 Marriott credit
• Not seeing it available through referral as of yet (affiliate and public only)
• 50k cert on renewal

21:10 Amex Delta Gold 90,000 Offer (HT Brian at FM)

• Seen while making a booking on Delta.com
• Referral a better option if you have 30k + 70,000 + $200 credit
• But… (see next item)

11:45 Amex Removing Referral Capability for Some (DoC)

• Seems to be some new kind of penalty box
• Used to be that certain cards were unable to refer from, but other cards (especially new ones) were able to
• Now it seems to apply to all cards if affected
• Even squirreled away links don’t work any more saying: Sorry this referral link is no longer valid and you will not receive the referral bonus.
• Thought to be related to self-referral but I really don’t think that’s the case
• Same household referral for sure, but I really don’t think I self-referred
• A troubling shot over the bow for sure...

15:30 Buy Aeroplan Miles for as Little as 1.2 cpp (Direct Link)

• Through April 2, 2021
• A good example of how cashing out bank points isn’t giving up on travel

If you want to hear more, subscribe at patreon.com/milenomics. This week we go deeper into a few of the topics we discussed here as well as:

• Waiting on Amex
• Citi Shenanigans
• Retention Offers and more...

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Last year year we launched a podcast network, adding the Manifesto hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer to the Patreon Feed.

In this episode Gideon sits down with Kelly de Schaun, Chief Executive Officer of the Galveston Park Board.

Enjoy this special episode, and if you're interested in even more great podcast content, check us out on Patreon.

Hello, and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I’m Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, and I’m joined today from the Running with Miles blog, Charlie Barkowski. Charlie, welcome to the Manifesto.

Plugs

• Blog: https://runningwithmiles.boardingarea.com/
• Twitter: @runwithmiles
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningwithmiles/

[1:14] Background

• Were you a runner or a travel hacker first? Did one lead into the other?
• “6 solo marathons on 6 continents in under 5 days.” How is that physically/temporally/geographically/mentally possible? How’d you do it?

[10:14] Running with Miles Blog

• When did the blog start? Has it always been on Boarding Area? What was the process of joining Boarding Area like?
• Did the blog start as a passion project, a side hustle, a full-time job?
• How long did it take before you earned enough to take it seriously? Did you ever get discouraged or was it a rocket ship from the start?
• Has the absence of running events affected your traffic/content/kind of visitors?

[16:59] Living/Working in Greece

• When did you end up in Greece? Where in Greece? Was it always meant to be a permanent move?
• What has most surprised you about living abroad/living in Greece/living in the EU? What should people know if they want to move permanently/temporarily to the EU?
  • Visas, health insurance (IM Global), retirement savings, schools?
• What kinds of pandemic restrictions has Greece gone through? How has the vaccine rollout been handled?
• How are you staying in shape, training, conditioning? Do you have a sense of when the first marathons will resume? Will you be ready? Any sense of whether your times will improve, get worse, stay roughly the same?

[33:44] Travel hacking abroad

• You cover all the usual credit card deals — are you able to participate? Will credit card companies mail new cards internationally? Do you have a US address to receive new cards?
• Easier or harder to meet minimum spend requirements internationally?
• Do you take advantage of online MS opportunities (Serve loads, etc.)?
• Are there travel hacking opportunities that are only available internationally? Sweet spots for mileage runs, unusual award availability, etc? Bank accounts or credit cards only available overseas? Loyalty programs that require residency?

[47:19] Quar Question of the Week

• When you’re outside the United States for a long time, what craving is absolutely impossible to satisfy, or, what’s the first thing you do when you get back?

Thanks again to Charlie Barkowski from the Running with Miles blog. You’ve been listening to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. Goodbye, and good luck.

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Robert:

Amex has been ratcheting up the complexity on their offers and benefits. Partially due to covid, wanting to retain customers, and wanting to maintain and build engagement. The gamification of Amex is in full swing.

Sam:

These credits are not free money, and they’re definitely not always easy as we’ll discuss today...

For each of these let’s discuss:

• The Promise
• The Problems
• Possible solutions

1:39 Amex Offers: Slow Posting

• Early February credits, across the board/on a number of fronts, were very slow to post
• TPG: “Here’s why you shouldn’t worry” (link)
• Response: Here’s why slow posting credits are worrisome…
• The T&Cs are convoluted, lengthy and full of gotchas. Ex: Home Depot off that was only online (who normally shops at Home Depot online?) and GCs are processed through a 3rd party
• When credits don’t post quickly (when they otherwise have tended to historically) it creates confusion whether fine print was missed.
• All this said: Things seem to have improved more recently across the board after a miserable early Feb stretch.

8:40 PayPal $30/mo on Amex Personal Platinum Through June 2021

• T&Cs
• Early Feb Hiccup-- What to do when credits don’t post?
• P2P vs merchants
• GC reselling angle?
• Potential Clawbacks for returns
• Seems stackable with things like Saks

13:00 Uber Credits

• T&Cs
• $15/mo for Personal Platinum
• $10/mo credit for Personal Gold
• Combining credits from multiple cards (spousal/friends as well)
• Velocity limits when adding cards
• Moving cards from one Uber account to another

18:31 [Targeted] $200 Amex Travel Platinum Offer Exploration

• We’ve been talking about this a lot lately
• Robert posted the T&C last week (Which don’t show anywhere online)
• The pages describing this online make it sound like it is offered to all--and not targeted.
• I set out to test that this week.
• So I booked a $210 ticket on Amex Travel with my recently renewed Platinum.
• Nothing happened. (Smoke)
• So I chatted and pointed Amex to the TPG article (link which points to a DoC article that refers back to a rumor article from DoC)
• The missing T&Cs (only visible to those targeted)

24:29 Ongoing Credits

• Keep in mind this all is on top of…
• Dell Credits on Biz Plat
• Saks Credits on Personal Plat
• Airline Travel Credits
• Dining credits on co-branded personal cards
• Wireless credits on co-branded business cards
• Discuss: Do we work for Amex?

Robert: “Thanks for joining us for this week. For a more in-depth discussion about points miles visit us at patreon.com/milenomics. There you’ll get a special link to listen to additional content, right in your mobile podcast app or on your computer, where we speak more freely about topics like these.

Sam: You can reach us on Twitter @Milenomics and @RobertDwyer - we’d love to hear from you. Until then we’ll see you on the site...”

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Robert chats with Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess about luxury family travel trends, blending points & miles with a trip booked through a full-service travel agency, and where families are going in Florida in addition to Disney.

0:30 Travel Planning Picking Up

1:15 Luxe Recess

• LuxeRecess.com
• Origin story
• What Luxe Recess is/isn't
• Robert's articles on Luxe Recess
• What are the defining characteristics of “Luxe” to you?
• And how does that play out in travel as we [hopefully] emerge from Covid?
• See: 12 Luxury Berkshire Vacation Rentals To Escape It All

16:50 Points & Miles

• I know you’re familiar with the points & miles/credit cards game. What’s the view from “outside” the space on this game we play? I’d be interested in any insights you have personally and/or working with clients.
• What’s in your wallet?
• Blending points & miles usage with a trip planned through a full-service travel agency
• Flat-fee destination planning

24:40 Disney and Florida

• I’m assuming Disney is the No 1 destination for your readers?
• Not anymore. Florida in general.
• What are the next most popular destinations/activities?
• See: The Best Luxury Florida Resorts For Families
• See: The Best All Inclusive Family Resorts in the USA
• Favorite Disney World resort hotel?
• See: The Cabins at Copper Creek, Disney Wilderness Lodge
• Favorite Disney World restaurants?
• Wine Bar George at Disney Springs
• Other Disney parks/cruises/activities you’ve enjoyed or are interested in exploring?
• Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Disney World
• See: Luxury Disney World on Luxe Recess

38:30 Discuss: The points & miles crowd seems to be a lot more men than women. But it’s the opposite in the family travel space. I wonder why that is when the goals are similarly aligned. What are your thoughts on that?

Where can listeners find Luxe Recess?

• LuxeRecess.com
• Luxury Family Travel Facebook Group
• LuxeRecess on Twitter
• LuxeRecess on Instagram
• Flusterclux: For Parents Who Worry Podcast

Our thanks to Robin for coming on the show.

Looking for more points & miles discussion? Visit us at patreon.com/milenomics to subscribe to the entire Milenomics Podcast Network with hours of new content each week.

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I received an offer via email the other day for a wine-focused rewards credit card I've been monitoring for a while, the Grand Reserve World Mastercard.

They've temporarily bumped the welcome bonus on the card to 75,000 points (worth around $450 towards wine and accesories) so I reached out to Grand Reserve Founder and CEO Matthew Goldman for a chat on the podcast.

Besides the points & miles stuff we talk about here on Milenomics, I've written a wine blog since 2008. So it feels like this program is right in my wheelhouse.

Grand Reserve World Mastercard

• Heightened Welcome Offer: 75,000 points for spending $3,000 in 90 days [expires at midnight 1/27/2021, not an affiliate link]
• Standard Welcome Offer: 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in 90 days
• Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $149
• 5x at more than 400 wineries, wine clubs, and other Grand Reserve Partners
• 3x at any winery, wine club, wine or liquor store
• 3x at any restaurant or bar, take-out & delivery included
• 2x points per dollar everywhere else
• Points are worth about 0.6 cents each through their Rewards Catalog or when redeemed for wine

The card is issued by Utah-chartered Celtic Bank. They pull Experian. For what it's worth, I lobbed in an application this morning and was instantly approved.

0:30 Grand Reserve Overview

• Tell us about your background, the program, the credit card and the idea behind Grand Reserve
• What does it take to launch a credit card?

9:55 Psychology of Rewards

• Travel seems to have an irrationally strong appeal to [some] people
• Even if some would be better off with cash back the idea of rewards being “free” seems to absolve some people of the guilt associated with splurging on themselves
• Additionally we talk a lot about the “co-branded paradox” whereby people think “I like , I should get their co-branded credit card!”
• Are similar forces in play here? People like to splurge on wine but don’t want to feel guilty about it? So it has a similar draw as travel?

20:30 Point Valuation

• So many credit card rewards programs have points, and it’s hard to discern what they’re worth until after you’ve signed up for the card
• What considerations went into determining the value of rewards on the redemption side?
• What are points actually worth and how do redemptions work?

Thanks to Matthew for coming on the show.

The #wine channel on Milenomics Slack is surprisingly active sharing deals and recommendations. Check it out if you're not already subscribed...

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We're back today with a show we've talked about recording for some time now. The topic of booking travel in 2021 is a unique one because this is a very unique time in travel, miles and points. Spurred on by cancellations last year by both of us, large travel bank balances, and plenty of want for travel we talk about our best practices for booking in 2021. Feel free to comment below with your best practices, and thanks for listening.

For more great podcast content check our Patreon page out.

0:28 Amex Business Platinum 110,000 Available Through Referral

• Long-time credit card enthusiasts have likely had this already but if you’re newer to the game this is a pretty terrific offer
• $15,000 spend in 3 months
• Contains lifetime language
• Amex hinting at enhancements to the business cards still to come

4:00 Staples: Fee-Free $200 VGCs Sunday 1/17 - Saturday 1/23/2021 (HT GC Galore)

4:51 AA/JetBlue Partnership (Press Release)

• “book a single itinerary on either website”
• “American will upgauge aircraft and by the end of 2021 will operate all service out of New York with first class.”
• “JetBlue plans to significantly expand its service at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as well as further expand in other NYC airports and in Boston.”
• “Flights touching New York or Boston from either JetBlue, American or connecting combinations of both will be bookable on jetblue.com and aa.com in the coming weeks.”
• Reciprocal loyalty benefits Later this year, customers of both JetBlue’s TrueBlue and American’s AAdvantage® programs will be able to enjoy reciprocal benefits, including the ability to earn and/or redeem points or miles on either carrier making both loyalty program even more valuable. The airlines are also exploring opportunities to recognize JetBlue Mosaic customers and American’s AAdvantage elite members across both airlines. More details will be announced to loyalty program members later this year.

8:56 Main Topic: Booking Flights in 2021

• Seeing some really affordable airfare in 1H2021
• Airlines always price empty planes lower as the date draws nearer, and with business travel still largely suspended routes are still being jockeyed around to cater to the only travel still occurring.
• Airline pricing models seem to be stressed by this. You’ll see $19 one day, $900 the next for the same flight.
• Tempting to book on the off chance it might be advisable to travel, but cancellation fatigue is setting in
• That said, cancellation terms have never been more favorable
• Avoid booking with difficult to cancel currencies
• Be familiar with the restrictions of various airline travel banks, and be mindful of tying too much in a program with narrow utility to you
• Prioritize currencies. Use ones prone to spoiling first. Then most specific utility to most flexible.
• Travel bank/expiring certificates
• Airline miles that expire even with activity
• Bank points
• Cash
• Bottom line: It’s a unique time in the game. Look at this with fresh eyes. Don’t feel bad if you let what seems to be a tremendous deal pass by. There’s always another great deal around the corner.

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We're back with a packed No Annual Fee episode of the podcast. Let's get right into it...

0:22 2021 Amex Perks/Offers (Summary from Amex)

• Personal
• $30 PayPal Credit Per Month (no activation required)
• [Targeted] $50 back on $50 at Best Buy (use twice, activation required)
• [Targeted] $50 back on $50 at Home Depot (use twice, activation required)
• Business
• Additional 4x on Gas, Office Supply, Wireless, Advertising, Shipping (capped at $20,000 in spend through 6/31/2021, activation required)
• Other
• Hints of 20% discount on airfare through May
• Hints of co-branded card enhancements
• Never has so much thought been put into limited time enhancements to credit cards. They’re keeping busy over there.
• All About Amex in 10 Minutes

14:22 Virgin Atlantic Devalues for Delta Award Redemptions (Thrifty Traveler)

• Used to be a nice way to pay for Delta First on domestic routes
• Ex: Was 22,500 now 40,000
• Similarly negative for Delta international premium cabins

18:45 Things to do in the New Year

• Q1 2020 5x Categories
• Chase Freedom
• Wholesale Clubs
• Internet, Cable, & Phone Services
• Select Streaming Services
• Citi Dividend
• Amazon
• Streaming
• Discover
• Grocery
• Walgreens, CVS
• Don't Compare Your Earn Rate to Others
• Get to work on 5x categories and BofA Cash Rewards
• Air Incidentals
• Amex Credits

If you like the No Annual Fee show you'll love a subsiption to the Milenomics Podcast Network. Patreon accepts PayPal so you can use the $30/mo Amex Personal Platinum PayPal benefit discussed in this show towards a subscription to the full Milenomics Podcast Network (including Slack access and more):

patreon.com/milenomics

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On today's podcast I chat with Bram Berkowitz to discuss investing in mutual savings banks. I first became familiar with the topic from an excellent article he wrote:

See: How The Average Person Can Make A Lot Of Money Investing In Mutual Savings Banks

0:00 Background and intro

2:10 The basic pattern of mutual banks offering pre-IPO shares to account holders, a potential run up and second bump 3 years later

Recent example: $EBC

10:10 How to identify future candidate banks?

12:45 Is this opportunity nationwide? Or more prevalent in MA?

Links mentioned:

• FDIC Mutual Institutions
• America's Mutual Banks
• BankInvestor.com
• The Zen of Thrift Conversions: How To Turn Hidden Bank Stocks Into Big Gains

You can find Bram's work on The Motley Fool and follow Bram on Twitter @BramBerko

My thanks to Bram for appearing on the show

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On this week's "No Annual Fee" podcast we discuss...

0:25 Amex Personal Gold/Platinum Offers through Resy (HT DDG)

• Direct Link to offers
• Personal Gold has standard characteristics (60k welcome bonus, $4k min spend, $250 fee) plus
• 20% back at restaurants first year up to $250 back
• Personal Platinum has standard characteristics (75k welcome bonus, $5k min spend, $550 fee) plus
• 20% back at restaurants first year up to $300 back
• 10x on Gas and Supermarkets up to $15,000 spend for 6 months
• Offers do contain lifetime language
• Platinum offer is even better than even a 25k referral, right?
• But maybe not as good as a +3x referral
• Worth a shot to see if you get the pop-up?
• See also: Episode 44 All About Amex

4:25 Chase Ink 75,000 Ultimate Reward Offers

• Ink Cash 5x at office supply capped at $25k/yr (HT DoC)
• Ink Unlimited 1.5x everywhere (HT DoC)
• $7,500 min spend in 4 months
• $0 AF cards

6:10 Chase United MileagePlus Explorer 70,000 Offer

• Direct Link
• 60,000 for $3,000 in first 3 months
• +10,000 for for additional $6,000 within first 6 months
• $95 AF waived first year

7:45 Chase UR: 30% Transfer Bonus to Avios

• Expires 12/9/2020
• HT MilesTalk
• Is this enough to give you pause over cashing out at 1.5 cpp?

9:45 Stop & Shop: $25 Grocery Voucher for $150+ 3rd Party GC Purchase

• Works for Best Buy, probably anything that’s not a VGC/MCGC
• Purchase 11/6-11/26/2020
• Coupons expire 12/2/2020
• Limit 1 $25 voucher per transaction (both on the purchase and the redemption)
• Sometimes these are capped at 10 uses per S&S account, other times not capped
• At sister store Giant, it’s 5x on 3rd party GCs (which I think I’d actually like more since the rewards are easier to use)

12:10 New Annual Subscription Option

• 10% off for a new yearly subscription
• Good option for those currently subscribed at $14.95
• Visit patreon.com/milenomics and select the "or save 10% if you pay annually" option

If you like these free shows, we think you'll love the paid shows. They're longer and much more in-depth. We recently released Episode 100 where we discuss the origin story of Milenomics the blog, our Shop Talk series, and the Milenomics Podcast Network.

This week on the paid show we'll be discussing:

• Good news/bad news for generating points & miles
• A clawback comeback
• ...and cashing out vs. Stockpiling

Visit patreon.com/milenomics to subscribe.

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Earlier this year we launched a podcast network, adding the Manifesto hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer to the Patreon Feed.

In this episode Gideon sits down with Kelly de Schaun, Chief Executive Officer of the Galveston Park Board.

Enjoy this special episode, and if you're interested in even more great podcast content, check us out on Patreon.

--

[0:00] Intro

• Original Galveston post: https://freequentflyerbook.com/blog/2015/6/14/galveston-tx-is-a-weird-place-to-take-a-vacation
• Galveston Park Board: https://www.galvestonparkboard.org/
• Beach and Park Operations: https://www.galvestonparkboard.org/157/Beach-and-Park-Operations
• Galveston Island Convention Center: https://www.galvestonislandconventioncenter.com/

[2:37] Beach nourishment and replenishment

• Galveston Island geography
• Beach recreational opportunities and economics
• Relationship with Army Corps of Engineers
• Dredging of Galveston Channel
• Hurricanes!

[8:07] VisitGalveston.com

[9:07] Galveston’s history

• Indigenous population
• Pirates!
• Pelican Island Immigration Station (https://www.texascooppower.com/texas-stories/history/galvestons-immigration-station)
• African American history (https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/african-american-history)
• The 1900 Storm (https://www.1900storm.com/)
• Natural and economic history
• Bootlegging and bordellos
• Cruise port

[18:37] Tourism breakdown

• Summer is high season
• Second homes
• Extended stays (work from home, remote schooling)
• Dune bashing and tailgating
• Public alcohol consumption (no glass!)
• Special events
  • Lone Star Rally: https://lonestarrally.com/
  • Mardi Gras: https://www.galveston.com/calendarofevents/mardi-gras-2021/

[23:37] Status of AirBNB/VRBO

• Registration requirements
• Local contact (noise complaints)
• Compliance program

[26:37] Seasons

• Make summer reservations early
• Haunted Mayfield Manor: https://www.galveston.com/whattodo/attractions/thrill/mayfieldmanor/
• Pier 21: http://www.pier21galveston.com/
• Galveston Historical Foundation: https://www.galvestonhistory.org/
• Beach weather through November

[30:37] Fishing

• Shore fishing and charter fishing
• Deep sea: Marlin, Tuna
• Fishing licenses (Academy: https://stores.academy.com/tx/galveston.html)

[32:37] Current Events: COVID-19

• COVID-19 Shut down during Spring Break. Beaches, state parks, recreational areas
• Re-opened June 1
• Closed again July 4 and Memorial Day

[35:37] Current Events: Hurricanes

• Had to “decamp” twice
• Tourism revenue has held up
• San Luis hotel: https://www.sanluisresort.com/

[40:47 Dickens On the Squares: https://www.galvestonhistory.org/events/dickens-on-the-strand

[41:07] Capacity restrictions

• Restaurant occupancy 75%
• Meetings and conventions 50%
• No out-door capacity restrictions
• Bars closed (if they don’t serve food)

[42:07] Juneteenth and Race Relations

[45:17] Transportation

• Rent a car (45 minutes from HOU, 1:15 from IAH)
• Shuttles (Galveston Limousine: https://galvestonlimo.com/)
• Lyft and Uber (now legal for pickup in Galveston)
• Segways
• “Surries”

[47:47] Lodging

• Stay near Moody Gardens for kids and families
• Wyndham: Hotel Galvez, Tremont
• Commodore, Gaido’s (https://www.gaidosseaside.com/) on the seawall

[49:27] Neighborhoods

[51:47] Eating

• Local delicacy: “Devil’s Kiss”/”Shrimp Kiss”
• Fish tacos (BLVD Seafood: http://blvdseafood.com/, Fish Company Taco: https://fishcotaco.com/)
• Gaido’s (http://www.gaidos.com/)
• Maceo Spice & Import Company: https://maceospice.com/

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Today we're doing 10 minutes on the podcast All About Amex. This post is a companion piece to that audio.

The goal here is to describe the "quirks and features" (as Doug DeMuro would say) of American Express credit cards and their Membership Rewards program.

Amex may not be as straightforward to interact with as Chase but if you take time to familiarize yourself with Amex it can prove to be a very valuable relationship.

Card Limits

Amex limits the number of active cards we can have with them. The number has changed over the years, but the current limits are:

• 4 credit
• 10 charge

Charge cards are the green, gold, platinum and plum cards (of which there are many varieties) that need to be paid off each month and have "no pre-set spending limit." Everything else is a credit card.

This includes personal and business cards, but does not include authorized user cards.

It's possible to have more than these limits if the cards were opened when limits were higher.

Universal Referral

Amex has the most generous referral program in the credit card space.

See: All About Amex Referrals

• If you have an active Amex card you can refer friends and family for Amex cards. You'll earn a bonus for the referral if your friend is approved, and your friend can also get a welcome bonus for the card. To start the process visit: americanexpress.com/refer
• You can even refer friends for Amex cards you yourself don't have.
• The referral bonus depends on the card you're referring from. The welcome bonus your friend gets depends on the card they apply for. This creates some interesting opportunities since you can get a lucrative referral credit even if your friend applies for a lowly no annual fee card.
• Referral offers can sometimes be inferior to public or affiliate offers so be sure to verify you're referring for the best possible option.
• Through 10/28/2020 Amex is running an amazing promotion whereby qualifying referrals will get not only the referral bonus, but will earn an additional 3 points for spend on the card they refer from for three months: Three For All Promo

Offers Vary

Amex is known to display different welcome offers depending on location, cookies, whether you're on mobile or desktop, or whether you're browsing incognito. We call this the Amex Random Number Generator.

As with referral offers, you'll want to make sure you're catching a welcome bonus that's the best currently available so if you don't see what others are reporting - keep trying until you do.

Transfer Partners

Amex Membership Rewards transfer 1:1 to a variety of airlines and hotel partners, most notably:

• Aeroplan
• Delta SkyMiles
• ANA
• Asia Miles
• Aviaca LifeMiles
• Singapore KrisFlyer
• Qantas
• British Airways Avios
• Etihad
• Virgin Atlantic
• Hilton

Chase's Ultimate Rewards program is perhaps more user-friendly with familiar US transfer partners like Southwest, United, and Hyatt. But Amex's partners can be quite valuable both for domestic travel and international premium cabins.

Notable Redemptions

Unlike Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards can not be cashed out directly for a penny a piece.

You can use points to "Cover Your Card Charges" for 0.6 cents a piece (a very bad value). You can redeem for gift cards at 1 cent a piece (a potentially slightly better value). You can also use Memberhip Rewards to "Go Shopping" or "Pay With Points at Checkout" - which also present bad value.

A couple of better approaches to consider, if the above mentioned 1:1 transfers aren't appealing:

• 1.25 cents a piece "cashout" to a Schwab brokerage account when you carry the Amex Schwab Platinum card
• 1.5 cents a piece towards airfare booked through Amex when you carry the Amex Business Platinum card (through a 35% Membership Reward point rebate)

The redemption opportunities these two premium cards offer make them perhaps the "cards to get last." Not because they're bad cards, but because much of their value is contingent on having a lot of Membership Rewards to redeem.

Insider Fares

Amex sometimes offers airfare that is less than what you'd find when booking direct. Mostly commonly I've seen these on American and Delta, and when available discounts are in the 5-10% range.

This can sweeten the 1.5 cent per point redemption with the Amex Business Platinum mentioned above.

Skirting Lifetime Churning Restrictions

Amex theoretically limits us to one welcome bonus per card lifetime. You can see this in the welcome offer T&Cs where it says you can't get the bonus if you "have or have had" this card.

When this policy came into place a few years ago it seemed like it would be the death of churning Amex cards. But in practice it hasn't been so bad due to:

• Targeted Delta offers that lack lifetime language
• Random leaked links
• 7 year forgetfulness

Overall, Amex's restrictions in this area are far easier to work with then Chase's 5/24 policy.

Household/Spousal Transfers

Although Amex does "pool" Membership Rewards between a single person's Personal and Business cards it does not allow spouses nor those in the same household to transfer Membership Rewards to one another.

This is a significant restriction, and an inferior policy to Chase Ultimate Rewards. In practice it necessitates that each individual have an assortment of cards that are strong at both earning and redeeming for an effective strategy.

You Can Have Multiple of the Same Card

Although you can't generally get the welcome bonus for a single card multiple times, Amex does allow you to have two or more of the same card.

And just to be clear here: We're not talking about authorized users or multiple physical cards associated with the same account. We're talking about opening and maintaining additional cards each with their own number, payment schedule, and earning structure.

An example of where this can be useful is for cards with annual spending caps or other benefits.

Upgrade Offers

Amex will sometimes send targeted bonuses for upgrading a card. These typically come after having a card open for a year, and are sent via email or available in your Amex Offers are online.

A nice thing about these upgrade offers is how they lack lifetime language and unlock the ability to effectively get a bonus for getting into a card you've had before.

Pay Over Time Bonus

For some strange reason, Amex likes to send out 10,000 Membership Reward offers for enrolling in Pay Over Time on charge cards.

While the cards remain charge cards this unlocks the ability to cary balances on select purchases. If you get one of these offers: Take it. Because there's no downside and Amex seems to be auto-enrolling charge cards into Pay Over Time without offering these bonuses.

Retention Offers

If you call Amex or Chat with them, they might present a Renention Offer for keeping the card open or encouraging spend.

If you accept an offer, be sure to keep the card open for 12 months after you've accepted the offer. Amex doesn't take kindly to the acceptance of retention offers and subsequent cancellation of the card. In some cases they'll claw back the offer and/or put you into a "Penalty Box" of sorts whereby you won't be eligible for welcome offers.

Bottom Line

I know some people who have had dozens of credit cards from Chase and have maybe just one or two Amex cards. I think that's a big missed opportunity. Hopefully this podcast and post will help people see the merit in Amex that might not be obvious from afar.

If you like this episode consider subscribing to the Milenomics Podcast Network. There you'll get access to:

• The Milenomics² Podcast where we speak more freely about topics like these, usually for an hour plus each week
• The Milenomics Second Podcast with Garth Grawburg
• The Manifesto with Gideon The Free-quent Flyer
• Access to a thriving Slack community sharing real-time strategies and real-time datapoints
• And more...

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0:25 Stop & Shop Rewards can now be used for Groceries (Milenomics Slack)

• 1 point per dollar earned
• Redeem 100 points for $1 (1 cpp value)
• 2,000 max per transaction (ie, max $20 off)
• Fuel Rewards is 100 points for $0.10/gallon up to 20 gallons (Up to 2 cpp of value if you can fill a 20 gallon tank)
• But how much gas can you realistically use?
• You need to log in to your account (on desktop or app) and opt in to GO Rewards. You can’t opt to go back into the old program, but the new program still allows you to redeem for gas so I don’t see a downside in opting in.
• Also check out Saverocity Observation Deck Ep 141 for more about Fuel Rewards
• And MSP Ep 7 on Kroger’s program specifically

4:10 Amex Offer: 10% Off Staples up to $40 Back (Milenomics Slack)

• Only on my account (business card)

5:20 iTunes GCs Can Now Be Used to Buy Apple Products (MacRumors)

• What effect does this have on resale prices?

7:40 Targeted Amex Personal Platinum $100 Back on $100 at Dell

• Great way to capture this is a buyers group

9:50 Park Hyatt Mallorca De-flagged (Milenomics Slack)

• Hotel isn’t set to re-open due to Covid until 2021
• The build quality is really incredible here, such a shame to see it wasn’t a financial success (perhaps even before Covid).
• Would you still seek this property out, once it’s an independent hotel?
• Less loyalty leverage, concerns about food & beverage quality (was so high before), and overall experience.
• Could rates and packages make this even more compelling as an independent hotel?
• Sweet Spots: The Most Seasonally Miscategorized Hyatt Hotels

16:30 7-Eleven to Acquire Speedway Stations (CNN)

• Sam: My bad!
• MSP Ep 6 on Speedway

19:50 Fee-free VGCs at Staples 8/2-8/8 (FM)

• Limit 5
• YMMV

Want more podcast content?

Head over to our Patreon page. There, you can subscribe and get a special link to listen to all three shows in the Milenomics Podcast Network in your preferred mobile podcast app.

In Episode 87 of the Milenomics² Podcast we discuss:

• Heightened credit card welcome offers
• Tightening approval standards
• The utility of Amex authorized users

In Episode 8 of MSP (the Milenomics Second Podcast) Sam and Garth play "Defend the Indefensible." The airline chosen as a foil has generated some interesting discussion on Slack.

In Episode 7 of The Manifesto with Gideon The Free-quent Flyer, Trevor from Tagging Miles and the Saverocity Observation Deck joins to discuss Retail Arbitrage and more.

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Today we're back with a standard No Annual Fee episode. We do the news, and then talk Personal Finance and Amex Small Business Credits.

0:30 GiftCards.com joins giftcardmall with $2k monthly portal cap

• Rakuten lasted until 7/7 at $60k/mo
• Showing $2k cap as of 7/8

1:50 [Targeted?] Chase Marriott/Ritz cards: 10x on Gas + Dining (DoC)

• 7/15-9/15
• $3,500 cap
• Must register: Link

3:15 Discover 20% off Amazon when Using 1 point (DoC)

• Just wanted to mention it’s smart to keep some Discover rewards clanging around rather than draining the rewards to be able to take advantage of these promos
• Discover is 5x on PayPal Q3 2020 so a good time to use Discover cards in general

5:00 Stop & Shop/Giant: 3X Fuel Rewards for VGCs 7/10-7/16

5:30 Hyatt 15-25% Point Rebate on Award Stays + Free Parking (Direct Link)

• Register by 9/1/2020
• Stay from 7/8/2020 - 10/8/2020
• 15% back for all, 25% back for Chase Hyatt cardholders
• Stacks with a promo for 2,500 for those with elite status + Chase card (Dans Deals)
• Example: 30k Hyatt is 22.5k after 25% back, potential 20k after 2,500 back promo

8:55 Chase Sapphire Reserve Only Earned 5x at Restaurants 7/1-7/5 (DoC)

• Still, 3x + Pay Yourself Back is pretty great
• Still getting 5x on Gas through the end of September
• So Random

11:25 Flexible Spending Account Covid Changes (Wirecutter)

• FSA Healthcare

• • You can increase, decrease, or stop your health-care FSA contributions altogether.
  • You have more time to spend your health-care savings from 2019. In the past, you had a two-and-a-half-month grace period after your plan period ended in which to spend your remaining balance, but your employer can now opt to extend the grace period through December 31, 2020.
  • You can roll over up to $550 into your 2021 health-care FSA, a $50 increase over the previous $500 limit.

• FSA Dependant Care

• • You can increase, decrease, or stop your dependent-care FSA contributions altogether.
  • You now have until December 31, 2020, to spend your dependent-care savings from 2019 (rather than the usual two-and-a-half-month grace period).
  • The same weird scenario from above applies. If you think you’ve lost your unused DCFSA contributions from 2019, contact your HR department about restoring your access to those funds.

Housekeeping

• The Manifesto Episode 5: Deep Dive into Cell Phone Networks, Plans & Phone Tricks
• Patreon Subscriptions Triggering Amex Shop Small Promo

Want more podcast content?

Head over to our Patreon page. There, you can subscribe and get a special link to listen to our podcasts in your preferred mobile podcast app. We're up to Episode 84 where we discuss:

• A manufactured spend setback
• A new P2P payment option
• Newport, RI trip report during Covid

Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition

Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

Or on Google Play Music:

And NOW also on Spotify:

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A couple months ago we launched the Milenomics Podcast Network which now includes three shows:

• Milenomics² Podcast with Sam Simon and Robert Dwyer
• Milenomics Second Podcast hosted by Garth Grawburg
• The Manifesto with Gideon The Free-quent Flyer

Subscribers gain access to these shows as well as a thriving Slack community, the ability to attend meetups, and more.

Today we're releasing a free preview of recent episode of the Milenomics Second Podcast where Garth and I talk about wine. Pursuing points & miles tends to coincide with being a bit of a deal hound, and here we'll apply that to navigating online wine deals...

0:00 Intro with Sam and Robert

4:15 Where/how do you buy wine?

6:45 The importance of wine storage

11:00 Determining which wines to buy

12:55 Tools

• Delectable App
• CellarTracker

15:15 Deals

• Amex Offers
• Wine.com
• Cashback portal (Ex: Wine.com on Cashback Monitor)
• Promo codes
• Wine Access
• First Bottle
• Benchmark Wine

27:30 Flash Sale Sites

• WTSO.com
• Last Bottle
• Wine Spectator
• Wine-searcher.com

31:00 Winery direct opportunities

• Cakebread Cellars restaurant/retail mix
• Winery direct offer

36:45 Wine travel

• Napa (Cabernet)
• Sonoma (Pinot Noir)
• Italy

Robert’s Wine Blog

• Wellesley Wine Press

Want more podcast content?

Head over to our Patreon page. There, you can subscribe and get a special link to listen to our podcasts in your preferred mobile podcast app. We're up to Episode 83 where we discuss:

• Terrible ideas
• Banging on Bank of America
• Cruising after Covid

Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

Or on Google Play Music:

And NOW also on Spotify:

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We're back with a bit of a stretch for our 'short cut' topic. Robert and I sat down to have a quick chat about our upcoming summer travel plans, both of which revolve around vacation rentals.

Along the way, as we tend to do, we took a bit of a deep dive into price variances between booking channels, how does the current Chase 1.5 cpp cash out method play into paying for vacation rentals, and the importance of flexible cancellation policies.

0:15 Summer Travel Plans:

• Robert: Newport, RI road trip
• Sam: Lake Tahoe (almost certainly flying)

2:59 Preference for private homes vs hotels with Covid

6:52 Chase 1.5 cashout as an enabler (Ep 79)

8:56 Price fluctuation depending on dates, fees, duration of stay.

• 16:10 Puzzler of staying longer costing less per night, but how long do you really want to stay, and how many really nice properties are available for say month-long rentals in peak season at this point?

17:17 Comparing prices on same/similar unit across multiple platforms

• Lack of granularity in viable options
• Internet sleuthing for precise location, comparable units in same building/area (often same host), even Zillow estimate as an arbiter of relative value

20: 17Any angles to reduce prices? Portals? BofA Offers?

• British Airways / Delta
• https://www.deltaairbnb.com/
• https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/executive-club/collecting-avios/hotels/airbnb
• Split payments either by guests or over time to double dip on BofA/Chase offers.

23:52 Importance of cancellation terms

28:09 Mental block/puzzler over laying out cash vs funny-money-points

31:30 Is a point and miles lifestyle compatible with owning a vacation home? (Ep 82)

Want more podcast content?

Check out our Patreon Page where we discuss topics more fully:

• Earning From Home
• Failures and Successes in this space
• The Above Mentioned Vacation Home Discussion

Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

Or on Google Play Music:

And NOW also on Spotify:

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Update: Here's link to the Instagram Live video

Last week Emirates greatly reduced taxes + fees on awards on their metal using their Skywards miles.

That's great for those who want to fly Emirates metal, especially since we can transfer bank points to Skywards 1:1 across so many programs. But the place a lot of us immediately went with this was to wonder...

Did Emirates also reduce fuel surcharges on partner awards?

That curiosity led to more questions...

• Can partner awards (like Japan Airlines) be booked online? (looks like "no")
• Can taxes + fees be accurately estimated online? (also "no")
• The Emirates chart for travel on JAL from North America to Japan is pretty favorable. 125,000 pp roundtrip in Business, 185,000 pp roundtrip in First. Can partner awards be booked as a one-way for half the miles of a roundtrip? ("no")
• Partners like JAL open their schedule at 360 days. How far out can you book an Emirates partner award? (330 days)
• How good is Emirates call center?

I called Emirates a couple times last week and got conflicting answers.

The first rep said their systems were down and she couldn't estimate taxes + fees for partner awards. Call back tomorrow.

I called right back a moment later and a second rep said he could estimate taxes + fees on JAL parner awards, but said it wasn't possible to use Emirates miles on North America to Japan routes. I pointed out that their site has a table for the route and he came back and agreed it was possible after all. And that the cost of a roundtrip flight from Boston to Tokyo on JAL in Business Class would be 125,000 pp roundtrip + just $60 in taxes and fees.

That's pretty tremendous, if true, because when Spencer Howard checked it in September 2019 it was $360 in taxes + fees.

What happened? Did JAL decrease the fuel surcharges? Did Emirates reduce the amount of fuel surcharges they collect on partner awards? Was the rep I spoke to mistaken?

I frequently come across articles Spencer has written when researching foreign carrier frequent flyer program awards so I thought it would be informative and interesting to discuss this and more.

Instagram Live

I'm planning to appear on Instagram Live with Spencer to discuss this, award travel, and more.

Where: Instagram Live https://www.instagram.com/straighttothepoints/ When: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020, 7:30p eastern

In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this snippet from our paid show here on the No Annual Fee version of our podcast.

The Emirates topic is just 5 minutes out of an hour and twenty minute show this week. The breaking news we discuss is a Chase 1.5 cent per point cashout opportunity, along with a dozen other topics. If you'd like to hear more of the show head over to Patron and subscribe...

Listen: Milenomics² Episode 79 on Patreon

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We've been seeing [targeted] heightened 20,000 Membership Reward "Blue Star" referrals come and go on Amex Business Platinum and Personal Gold cards. Right now they seem to be "in season" with a high percentage of these cards showing heightened referral bonuses.

Update: Others are reporting seeing this one Personal Platinum and Business Gold as well.

In this write-up and Milenomics Short Cut podcast episode, we'll cover how how to maximize this referral opportunity.

If you're new to Amex referrals, have a look this post:

Generating and Using an Amex Referral

To check whether you're targeted, go here and click through each of your cards especially the Business Platinum and Personal Gold cards:

americanexpress.com/refer

Here are the topics we went over: You can refer a wide variety of Amex cards from either of these cards Don't think you're limited to referring for just these two cards. With Amex universal referral, your friend can sign up for a wide variety of Amex Membership Reward cards, plus co-branded cards like Hilton and Delta. With Amex the referral bonus is based on the card you refer from Regardless of which card your friend signs up for, the referral bonus is based on the card you refer from. That's pretty unusual if you think about it. Amex has high signup bonuses for their flagship cards with high annual fees. But referrals are based on which card you refer from. This means your friend can sign up for a lowly no annual fee card, and you can still get 20,000 Membership Rewards if the card you're referring from has been targeted. These 20,000 Membership Reward Referrals are Targeted Some people are targeted and some are not. Some cards are targeted and some are not. You can have two of the exact same card and you may see one targeted with 20,000 point referral capacity and the other card remains at 10,000 points. It even varies from day to day. If you see this offer, you may want to pounce on it. But you don't necessarily need to use it immediately. More on that below. They can be "squirreled away."

We've heard that some people are temporarily blocked from generating Amex referrals. We call this a "penalty box" which is usually a timeout that heals itself after time, but it's unclear what causes it and how to get out of it. The welcome bonuses are often better (on some cards) if you go incognito "Going incognito" to see better offers (or at least different offers) is definitely a thing. Amex is notorious for displaying different welcome bonuses depending on how "come at them."

Take for example the 40,000 point welcome bonus associated with the Amex Personal Gold card in the image at the top of this post. When I click through that referral link I sometimes see 40,000 and other times I see 50,000.

First, compare notes with others on what the best current bonus is for a given card. Then try to get that offer to come up. You can check desktop or mobile. Chrome or Firefox. Try going incognito/private. Try connecting to a VPN in another part of the country. Any of these can cause the welcome bonus to change. Crazy, right? In some cases, referral welcome bonuses are worse than public non-referral offers It stinks when a bank makes a referral offer worse than a public offer. It happens from time to time, but I don't think it's necessarily malice on their part. Offers through various channels just vary, or in some cases lag one another.

For example, we recently saw a 100,000 point public welcome offer on the Bonvoy Brilliant card. The referral offer stayed at 75,000 points however, and it never caught up with the heightened public offers. It's unfortunate when that happens, but what can you do besides wait until a heightened referral coincides with an all-time high welcome bonus? If your spouse is at Amex's 5 credit card limit, consider going for a charge card instead Amex issues credit cards and charge cards. They generally have a limit of 5 active credit cards per person. This includes personal and business cards. Being an authorized user does not count towards this limit.

Charge cards are counted separately, so look at using a referral towards a charge card if you're bumping up against the 5 card limit. You can get the referral bonus even if your friend has already gotten the welcome bonus for a card In some cases it could make sense to refer for a card your friend has had before, even though they've had the card before and won't get the welcome bonus. They just need to be approved in order for you to get the referral bonus.

Charge cards with the annual fee waived the first year like the Business Green card is an example of this.

The Personal Gold card could make sense, even without a welcome bonus and with its annual fee, for increased 4x capacity at grocery. Don't self-refer. Swap referrals with a friend if needed. This has been a cause for clawback and even shutdown from Amex. Don't do it.

Instead, refer your spouse or swap referrals with a friend.

It's worth noting that being an authorized user of a card doesn't disqualify you from getting a welcome bonus yourself. There is still a 55,000 per card (you're referring from), per year, referral bonus cap So effectively you'll only get the full 20,000 per referral, per card, twice. The 3rd referral would earn just 15,000 which is better than the 10,000 points the Personal Gold earns for referrals currrently but still: If you've got this on multiple cards you'll want to use two referral per eligible card first. Referral bonuses are taxable Unlike welcome bonuses, referral bonuses are taxable. Membership Rewards are valued at a penny a piece when Amex sends out 1099s, which you should expect to get for $600 in referrals in a calendar year. Even if you don't get a 1099 you should include referral bonuses when filing your taxes. Squirrel referrals away for later use Since the ability to refer comes and goes, you may want to save referral for later use by emailing one per eligible card to yourself for later use.

You can even "redirect" one of these you've saved to someone else, but be aware you'll need to know the email address of the person the referral was originally intended for, and approval confirmation will go to that email address as well. This can be overcome, but it's worth mentioning if you're thinking of sharing referrals with a stranger. Bottom Line All in all, the Amex referral program is still the best out there. With it, we're all affiliates.

Welcome bonuses for Amex cards are a bit low overall right now so it's probably a good time to pick up "lesser"/more obscure cards. For example, the Everyday/Everyday Preferred, Personal/Business Green, Blue Business Plus/Cash cards become compelling because 20,000 Membership Rewards for referring + the welcome bonus can make an otherwise mediocre offer compelling. Want more podcast content? These "Short Cuts" are very short segments compared to our full paid shows.

Check out Episode 72 of our paid podcast where we discuss: * Heightened credit card signup bonuses * A peculiar new way to rack up credit card spend from home * Booking in uncertain times

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This episode was originally released last July 4th for our Patreon members. We're releasing it here for all readers and listeners of the Podcast. Maybe you'll find it a nice 38 minute distraction from everything going on right now. Original Show notes are as follows: Today we're taking a break from the regular show format to have a little fun. Both of us have a bit of a guilty pleasure: reading 1 star TripAdvisor reviews of hotels. Robert came up with the idea for today's show, where we read an anonymous 1 star review of a hotel, and each try to guess the hotel. Along the way we got into a bit of a serious discussion about what should it take to make a 1-star review, and what causes higher end hotels to earn 1-star reviews. Play along by pausing the show and trying to figure out the hotel, and share your worst hotel experiences in the comments of this post!

Posts referenced in this episode: Robert's Review of the 4-Seasons Nevis Sam's [Old] Review of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

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Welcome to another episode of Short Cuts on our No Annual Fee Podcast.

I recently applied for a Home Equity Line of Credit and noticed that my FICO score was a bit lower than I expected. It got me wondering whether it is still important to monitor my credit report and check my credit score, and if so - how?

In this episode we mention these services: * Credit Karma * Credit Sesame * Experian.com

See also: The Monetization Of Your Credit Score; Or: How Travel Is Not Free Want more? Check out Episode 70 of our paid podcast where we discuss: * Advanced maneuvers in credit card applications * Spring cleaning * How sometimes it seems that nothing works

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Welcome to another episode of Short Cuts on our No Annual Fee Podcast.

Today we talk about where the points & miles game fits in the context of a pandemic like we're currently experiencing.

We discuss the importance of demand schedules. Check this link for more on that topic. Want more? Become a Patron to Unlock 1+ Hour Weekly Shows Support Milenomics on Patreon where you'll get: * A weekly podcast episode for subscibers only * Access to a robust Slack community * And more...

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Welcome to another episode of Short Cuts on our No Annual Fee Podcast.

Today we're talking about opportunities for travel deals surrounding Coronavirus. Not necessarily for travel in the near term, but where we see angles to book award travel further out with flexible cancellation terms. Want more? Become a Patron to Unlock 1+ Hour Weekly Shows Check out Episode 67 of our Paid Show where we discuss: * Converting bad bank points into airline travel bank credits * A low fee way to pay certain mortgages online with a credit card * A recent trip to Japan with reviews of the Park Hyatt Tokyo and Kyoto * And much more...

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We're trying something different on our No Annual Fee Podcast this week with a format called Short Cuts.

In Short Cuts we'll cover the latest points & miles news, and our take on recent developments, in short digestible shows with a singular topic.

This week we're talking Coronavirus change waivers, and how to navigate them for upcoming travel. In life almost everything is negotiable, including change waivers. Want more? Become a Patron to Unlock 1+ Hour Weekly Shows Check out Episode 67 of our Paid Show where we discuss: * Booking awards * Mileage runs * Coronavirus waivers * And much more...

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We've not put out a free episode of the Milenomics² podcast since last year--The success of the paid show led us to focus on the thriving community of Patreon subscribers. Over on the Patreon page, and on the heels of the Shop Talk post we did about AA Account Shutdown issues, we've recorded a few paid shows on the topic of AA shutdowns as well.

I'm biased, but I do believe the paid podcast has hit a stride--a mix of long-form interviews between Robert and I, discussions of what we're up to, hilarious mistakes we both make, tips and tricks that we've learned from each other and the Patreon Slack community. And, as you'll see today, every once in awhile, and unexpected twist makes it onto the show. Free Preview of the Paid Show In an attempt to get this story in front of as many people as possible we've decided to take the unprecedented step of releasing this paid show here on the blog, and on the free podcast feed.

Show Notes:

While recording last week's episode--just 2 days before Robert was scheduled to leave on AA tickets booked from his locked account we started recording this episode.

Along the way Robert identified possible ways to salvage this trip should the worst happen and AA shut down his account. We'll outline 4 such possibilities at the top of the show--and then get into a discussion of some travel Robert did a few years ago where he had some issues with positioning flights.

And then, around 33:40 into the show just as we were ready to wrap up our second topic and move into a planned discussion Robert received an email from AA Corporate Security--shutting down his AAdvantage account.

A few moments later Robert realized that the award seats he had booked for his Japan trip which was upcoming in less than 48 hours were also cancelled by AA.

Using the contingency plans discussed at the top of the show, and not wasting any time Robert races to try to re-book himself onto the same flight as the rest of his family, booked out of a separate AA account not shutdown. Step through the agony of an AA shutdown, and stick around to see if AA is successful or not in spoiling a family vacation to Japan.... on today's Milenomics² Podcast.

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0:42 Bank of America $300 Personal Checking Bonus (HT DoC)

• Requires $4,000 Direct Deposit in 3 months
• You need to have a checking account with BofA to quality for their Preferred Rewards program (which provides up to 75% uplift for spending on certain personal BofA credit cards)

1:30 Banco Popular Avianca Vuela Visa 60,000 Offer (HT US Credit Card Guide)

• $149 AF not waived the first year
• 40,000 first use
• +20,000 with $1,000 spend in first 3 months with code SB4060
• Deal or not a deal?

3:53 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Credit Card 50,000 (HT DoC)

• 30,000 after $2,000 in spend first 90 days
• 20,000 after additional $6,000 spend in first 6 months
• $95 AF not waived first year
• Issued by Synchrony Bank
• Deal or not a deal?

7:10 Stop & Shop gas rewards for groceries?

• Trial for now
• Has anyone been targeted?
• 100 = $1 off groceries.
• Not as good as gas rewards for all but the smallest tanks (10 gallons = this)
• If you find yourself with expiring rewards this is a way to 'cash out' at 10/(your fill up in gallons).
• Very similar to the Safeway rewards we've discussed.

10:02 Airline Shopping Portal Bonuses (HT Frequent Miler)

• United 2,500 for $600 ends 8/18
• Alaska 1,500 for $600 ends 8/11
• Southwest 2,000 for $550 ends 8/18
• AA 2,000 for $500 ends 8/18
• Smaller bonuses for lesser amounts of spend as well

10:36 Amex Adds Weekend Night Certs to $95 AF Hilton Cards + 130,000 (HT DoC)

• Surpass/Business 130,000 + Free Weekend Night
• Both available for referral
• Free Weekend Night cert for every $15,000 spent per calendar year, post quickly after spend threshold met
• A whopper of a deal I say

13:12 BofA Amtrak 40,000 + $100 (HT DoC)

• Some serious value he re if you’re up for Amtrak travel
• Amtrak points are worth 2.9 cpp towards non-Acela
• 2.5 cpp towards Acela
• 10,000 Amtrak points gets you 4 one-way upgrade certs
• Semi-related: You can redeem bank points for Amtrak through a roundabout method with up to 1.64 cpp of value
• Deal or not a deal?

16:07 Free Topic: Is Hotel Status an even bigger trap than airline status?

Robert: Recent stay at Waldorf Astoria Chicago

• Near total bust from a status standpoint
• Concierge emailed ahead of time and said status entitles you to 1-level upgrade if space is available
• Concierge pitched a 5-level upgrade, for a fee
• In practice, there was no space available at check-in so no upgrade whatsoever
• Diamond breakfast was essentially a $30 daily voucher for the restaurant

Sam: Hotel breakfast is a pure captive audience type situation:

• There is a difference between a breakfast which would attract someone not staying at the hotel and, food.
• I think the benefits are highest at hotels which are the least desirable outside of Hyatt properties. And the Generosity of Hyatt can't continue forever.
• Would like to see a fixed amount for breakfast
• Ultimately check the price against another hotel that you are comfortable at which might not have breakfast, or will include breakfast as part of a package.

Robert: Sometimes upgrades do work out

• Booked Park Hyatt New York on points
• Got complimentary upgrade to gonzo terrace suite when the hotel was sold out
• Went back, next time they sold me an upgrade to the same room even though it was available
• Same property, different result
• You never know what you’re going to get with hotel status
• You might say “well, Hyatt Globalist is the one good hotel status” but have a look at this next example...

Robert: 1-Night Hyatt Regency Greenwich, CT Stay

• Surprising that a hotel like this in one of the pricier places to live in America is only a Category 2 (8,000 points/night)
• Just needed a place to sleep near a family gathering
• Thought it would be a good place to leverage Globalist status
• Regency Club is closed on weekends so Globalist gets breakfast downstairs in the restaurant (which worked out better for our late-arrival situation anyway)
• Hyatt used to give you 2,500 compensation when a Regency Club is closed, not anymore
• Checked in kind of late
• Initially booked 2 double beds but our kids ended up spending the night at their cousins so I asked for 1 King at check-in
• Request was met with a quick “No, we’re overbooked tonight. But I can comp your parking?”
• Parking is free for Globalists on an award stay and I was paying with points so I said, “Isn’t parking free anyway?”
• Desk clerk: “No. Not even for Globalists.” Whatever, I think she was mistaken.
• That this suburban hotel charges for parking anyway is odd.
• Just a slimy interaction and lousy hotel status recognition once again. Hyatt is so hit or miss, and that they’re the best top hotel status to have says a lot about hotel status…
• In-room coffee, coffee set up near the elevators on each floor, and breakfast downstairs was the high point. $25 pp buffet was pretty good.
• I checked out in-app and noticed later that they charged me for breakfast and I had to call them and get it reversed.
• Not bad for 8,000 URs for a clean room, but I did not like it overall.

Hotel Status is an even bigger scam that Airline Status: Discuss

• Robert: If I look back at my last 5 TripAdvisor Reviews, the titles are literally “Weak Globalist Recognition,” “Weak Diamond Recogntion,” and “Weak Titanium Recognition.” That should tell me something.
• You hear about people doing some really crazy things to retain hotel status, especially at with Hyatt (both from an opportunity cost perspective on credit card spend, or in terms of mattress runs)
• Sam’s words about “feeling like you’ve already lost” when you walk into a hotel expecting your status to do certain things for you have been echoing in my head.
• Robert: Maybe I should lay out what I’m hoping for - perhaps unrealistically - with hotel status. First, I’m looking for them to do what they promise to do according to the benefits associated with the status level. They rarely do that, so let’s get that out of the way.
• But if I’m honest I’m looking to book the cheapest room in the joint and get upgraded to a gonzo suite and be provided a lavish breakfast with no friction. The only hotel chain to ever come close to that is Hyatt, but even they fail at providing this experience far more than they succeed.
• A real thing I need to remind myself of is how little I actually travel in a year in the grand scheme of things. How much leverage am I really going to get out of a given status in a year? And how much am I going to have to bend my travels to even put myself in a position to leverage that status? And how many times am I going to be disappointed with the weak status recognition I might encounter along the way

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Today we're back with what turns out to be a meaty review of core Milenomics philosophies, but first the news...

0:30 Citi Double Cash to Earn TYP? (HT DoC)

• Coming later this year
• Unclear what the conversion ratio will be

1:10 Citi Going to 48-Month Waiting Period on AA Cards (link)

2:10 BofA Alaska Personal 40,000 + $100 Statement Credit (HT DoC)

• Direct link
• Can’t get the card if you’ve had it in the preceeding 24 months

2:55 3x Fuel Rewards on VGCs at Stop & Shop/Giant 7/12-7/18

3:20 5 Things the Points & Miles Community dislikes more than they should

• Paying fuel surcharges See Episode 30: 10 Tips & Tricks for Premium Cabins to Europe
• Paying credit card annual fees See Episode 8: Liquidating Air Travel Incidentals
• Buying miles (especially from friends in the community)
• Paying cash for lodging See Milenomics Classic post on not actively collecting hotel points See The most seasonally miscategorized Hyatt properties
• Paying for VGC/MCGC liquidation Spread, Scale, Time, P(Malfunction): The NPV of a Deal

Like what you heard in the No Annual Fee version?

Check out Episode 35 of our subscriber podcast:

• Advanced maneuvers in credit card applications
• Maximizing 2H2019 Amex Platinum credits
• A point-fueled trip report
• And much more...

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On this week's No Annual Fee Edition of the podcast we discuss:

0:30 Q3 5x Categories Announced * Chase Freedom: Gas and streaming services * Discover: PayPal and restaurants * Citi Dividend: Airline and car rentals

1:20 Office Depot $10 off $100 in Select Happy Cards (link) * Repeat of last promo * Unfortunately looks to be excluding Happy Guy (Home Depot)

2:25 Stop & Shop 8x Fuel Rewards Happy Cards * 6/21-6/27/2019

2:40 Safeway J4U $10 off of $100 or more Visa GC * This is a repeat of the promo from a month or so ago * $10 erases $5.95 purchase fee * Does work on Variable $500’s * Makes sure you have liquidation in place

3:30 Amex Qantas Transfer Bonus and Targeted Qantas Transfer Bonus: Do they stack? * Amex is running an untargeted 20% bonus * People on DansDeals say they’re getting 20% on top of 20% for no apparent reason * (Additionally?) My wife was targeted for a 15% transfer bonus on the Qantas side * Do these stack? * I transferred 1,000 Qantas miles from Amex * This earned 1,200 upon arrival * 4 days later a 20% bonus of 240 points posted * If this sticks, it works out to a 1.44 transfer ratio * If the additional 15% posts it would be a 1.62 transfer ratio * Crazy one, but if all the bonuses posted it would be huge * Devaluation coming? (LoyaltyLobby link) * Yes, devaluation occurred (PointMeToThePlane link)

15:25 80,000 Signup Bonus Southwest Business Credit Card (FM link) * $199 annual fee * Expected to be subject to 5/24 * Southwest Companion Pass: Deal or not a deal? (link)

Like what you heard in the No Annual Fee version?

Check out Episode 32 of our subscriber podcast: * $150 promo from a Plastiq clone * Maximizing a 50,000 point Amex upgrade offer * A quick discussion about playing the timeshare game * And much more...

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Today we’re answering questions posed by ‘future’ listeners of this very podcast.  These are questions from those of you new to points & miles, and maybe you haven’t yet found this site.  Along with these 4 questions we tackle the news and of course an entertaining look at the world of points & miles. News 0:30 [Targeted] Amex Business Platinum 50,000 Upgrade Offer (link DoC)

Need to have existing Green or Gold Business Amex MR charge card Log in to Amex account then Direct link $10,000 spend requirement in 5 months “Offer is available for first-time upgrades to the new Business Platinum Card® only and for one Card account only.Offer is available for first-time upgrades to the new Business Platinum Card® only and for one Card account only.”

03:55 “Public” 150,000 Upgrade Offer from No-Fee/Ascend to Aspire (link)

Direct link Have to currently have an No-Fee -or- Ascend card How to play it?

05:15 [Targeted] Amex MR Transfer Bonuses 40-50% for British Airways, JetBlue or Marriott

Check your accounts British Airways in particular is a spectacular offer

07:12 Airline Portal Shopping Bonuses (link FrequentMiler)

1,000 for $300 UA through 6/23 500 for $200 AA through 6/16

07:37 Safeway stores: $15 off of $100×2 MCGC

$15 off of $100×2 Runs through June 18th. 

7:50 Stop & Shop Buy $100 in 3rd Party GCs get $15 off Next Grocery Order (link)

Ad says “these pictured and more” (Best Buy/Lowe’s/Happy Lady) Milenomics intern did an experiment: Purchased a $100 Amazon GC. What do you think: Did it trigger the $15 voucher? 6/7-6/16

08:40 Free Topic: We Tackle Travel Miles 101 Facebook Group Questions (link)    Q: Ok – so my son, now 12 – has been wanting to go on a cruise; I have never really felt a desire to go on one nor has my husband…but, he’ll be grown soon and we are willing to try one out to see what we are missing or NOT!? Would prefer to use points (via Chase UR) if possible since travel hacking is my passion these days. What do you think: Are URs a good way to pay for a cruise? Q: 20th anniversary in Italy April 2020. Thinking Rome for a couple nights (I’ve been there, hubby hasn’t) and then head to the Amalfi Coast for 4-5 nights. Good choice? Any recommendations on where to go, how to get there, where to stay and what to do/see on the coast? Our dates are flexible but thinking the end April.

Post on Boutique and Family Hotels  Post on booking Boutique hotels with Chase Ultimate Rewards

Q: Anyone have experience flying TAP using United or UR points? I’d like to fly from Boston to either Lisbon or Porto next spring. Also considering flying with AA/BA from Bangor. Any tips? Q: I just booked a trip to XYZ using points so it was “free!”. Any tips on how to save on meals and activities?”   Like what you heard in the No Annual Fee version? Subscribe to the paid version of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/milenomics On this week’s subscriber podcast: Premium Cabin Award Travel to Europe Tips & Trends Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

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We’re back with news, and a discussion around credit cards you should never close.  Share your ‘must keep’ cards in the comments below, and enjoy! 0:33 25% Transfer Bonus from Citi (others, but not Amex) (link MilesTalk)

One of those wonky ones where they bump the points on the receiving end Strange, and a bit of a bummer, that Amex wasn’t included

2:12  Qantas 20% Transfer Bonus from Amex (link DansDeals)

Great way to get to Tel Aviv on El Al

3:19 Heightened Amex Incognito Referral Offers Found Working on Business Cards

Previously this only worked when referring from personal cards This is good news because Business Gold earns a hefty 20,000 point referral bonus and the Business Platinum earns a 15,000 point referral bonus HT r/cowsareeverywhere on reddit Generating And Using An Amex Referral

4:35 Free Topic: 6 Credit Cards you should NEVER cancel

[Robert] Old Blue Cash 5% Gas/Grocery/Drug Store [Sam] Ink 5x Cards (Especially Ink Plus) 5x Office Supply/Telecom [Robert] AT&T Access More 3x Online Retail, crazy good retention bonuses [Sam] CNB Crystal [Robert] Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa Infinite ($395-$450 annual fee but you get a $300 air incidental each year, Ritz Club Lounge access on paid stays, 50,000 night certificate each year [Sam] Hilton Aspire

Like what you heard in the No Annual Fee version? Subscribe to the paid version of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/milenomics On this week’s subscriber podcast: Premium Cabin Award Travel to Europe Tips & Trends Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

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News

0:35 [Sam] AA Showing More Award Space on Mobile? (link)

Seems to be that there’s a new search interface and a legacy one They sometimes show different results TPG post

2:33 [Robert] Speedway: $15 voucher for Speedway gas GC when purchasing $100 3rd party GC

Slickdeals DoC Lowe’s, Home Depot and others (Texas Roadhouse, Netflix, Cabellas, Dominos, Bass Pro Shops and Google Play) Through 6/30

4:43 [Sam] Rakuten closing accounts buying GC in-store(link)

Bed Bath Beyond likely the issue now Was also a problem with office Max for some commenters Better play? 3pgc online?

6:30 [Robert] Amex Membership Rewards now transfer to Qantas (link)

Citi also a transfer partner Good for El Al, potentially Aer Lingus (depending on distance) and…China Eastern First (strange I know)

8:29 [Sam] Amex Priority Pass No Longer Work at Airport Restaurants (link)

Effective August 1, 2019 Doesn’t affect Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige, CNB Crystal [yet]

10:17 [Robert] Amex Delta Sign Up Bonuses at All-Time Highs

Referral links not yet updated, but will likely follow Guidance here is to wait and position for spousal referral Breaking: I got a targeted offer in the mail for the Delta Reserve card with no lifetime language across all Amex Delta cards Check: http://delta.com/75reserve to see if you’re targeted (if it malfunctions out after entering your Delta account number, you’re not targeted) Affiliate (DansDeals), public, referral, targeted w/no lifetime…inflationary trend?

14:19 [Sam] Barclays Asking for Proof of Business After Credit Card Approval (link)

Unheard of. Has Anyone been affected?

15:53 [Robert] Hertz Devalues Award Chart (link)

Ex: 1 week rental 3,750 (was 2,750) 1 day 750 (was 550-750) Hard to earn Hertz rewards They’re still rather valuable per-point but since they’re hard to earn without actually renting from Hertz it amounts to a rather weak rebate

19:08 [Sam] $10 off of $100 or more in visa GC at Safeway stores through 6/8

Confirmed working on variable load $500s Great time to test multiple designs for fuel points. Don’t buy single designs. Just 4 U coupon must be linked Erases the $5.95 fee One per account Strong reason to start putting together more j4u accts. Do not work on plastiq, don’t buy if you don’t have a good liquidation method for them.

19:59 [Robert ] 3x Fuel Rewards on Mastercard GCs at Stop & Shop

5/31-6/6/2019

Like what you heard in the No Annual Fee version? Subscribe to the paid version of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/milenomics On this week’s subscriber podcast: We Play a Game of Think Fast and Update you on what we did last week to earn Miles & Points. Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts:

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