Award Travel 101

Joe and Angie talk about the value of transferable over fixed points and how to best leverage them for maximum value utilizing the strength of transfer partners.  Links to topics Discussed Air France–KLM Flying Blue Award Sweet Spots Amex Adds ‘Family’ Restrictions to the American Express® Green Card Book Now: Turkish Airlines to Devalue Miles & Smiles, Introduce New Award Charts United Award...

Many of us in this hobby involve our significant others in our award travel strategy, thereby activating "two player mode" which often allows us to double our earnings. However having a Player 2 does also come with it's own costs and frustrations. We have to make sure that P2 uses the correct cards (labels help) but also travel with them (costing more) to utilize the points they hel...

This week Joe interviews Award Travel 101 community member Allison Tackette who joins us to share tips she's learned over 10 years in the space. Allison is a former teacher who wanted to get out and see the world, but her time off in the summer often resulted in finding peak season pricing. Travel CAN be expensive if you're always paying cash, but pushing people to the brink helps them g...

Having a solid credit history is a paramount goal in the Award Travel hobby. Angie and Joe talk about strategies for building healthy credit and finding better offers. Guide to Building Healthy Credit Credit Card Strategy Application Rules of 4 Major Issuers Links to topics discussed  United Offers (Outrageous) Premier Elite Status Buy-Up Offers New Alaska Consumer & Business cards as well as ...

Joe is joined by the most frequent guest of the podcast, Toni Perkins-Southam. Many of you may remember Toni as the longest-running Award Travel 101 moderator and community admin.  Toni spent almost five years in the community (two years as a community manager) before taking a position with Forbes Advisor. Toni shares how she got her start writing with AwardWallet and continued her journey after h...

Joe and Angie recap their prior year card openings and point earning.   Highlight feature: 2023 Trip Recaps Angie: 12 new cards SUB  = 1.4M points Referrals = 390K Points used = 1.2M (double prior year) Joe: 14 new cards SUB = 1.5M points + HH FNA Referrals = 500K Spend = 100K  Shopping portals = 100K Tip of the week It's a new year,  with new credits. We mentioned this back in Episode 45 , s...

It's a new year and Joe and Angie talk about their resolutions for 2024, including: Angie Update and use all/more features of AwardWallet Clean up Google Photos Clean up multiple email accounts Create a spreadsheet of all my cards Explore casino matching for free cruises Joe Citi/Barclays AA companion certs - never use (4) UA Club passes - making sure to use (2) Gold monthly Dining credits -...

Ryan Smith, editor for AwardWallet has accomplished a feat that few achieve. He has visited all 197 recognized countries. Ryan first talks talks his background, introduction to travel rewards and loyalty programs and travel style. He also delves into highlights of his globetrotting journey and how he was able to land some deals to travel for as economical as possible. Where To Find Ryan To follow...

Angie, Allison, and Joe jump on this week to share the 100K Member Celebration Winner, their newest cards, trip updates, and to bring you an Airing of (2023) Grievances!  Festivus was created as an alternative to the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas holiday season. The sitcom Seinfeld put their own spin on it , including the airing of the grievances, which consists of each person lashi...

Allison and Jackie take over the podcast to discuss the news and to share more about their recent trip to Rio de Janeiro to see Taylor Swift in concert. They had a fantastic stay at the Hilton Copacabana and despite issues caused by excessive heat which caused one concert to be cancelled they were still able to make friendship bracelets, watch Taylor perform. All while enjoying the local culture a...

Angie and Joe talk about their trip highlights from 2023. Angie's big trips were an African safari to a girls trip to Bali & Singapore. Meanwhile Joe went on an epic first class trip to Europe with his dad as well as several family trips. Links to News Discussed World of Hyatt Updates Guest of Honor Perk 37 different promos Alaska purchases Hawaiian Amex Business Platinum card PLUS checki...

Feel like you are learning a new language? We often get folks saying “please spell out these acronyms” but when it’s the same word over and over again, you need shorthand. Some examples include 5/24, CSR, SUB, and P2. Links to News Discussed Southwest bookable through Chase travel portal Lifelock at 95% Rakuten Black Friday   Huge Qatar award dump Condor and Emirates partner Alaska changes Amex Bu...

Justin fell into travel rewards programs accidentally as he was working his way through various casino programs. Listen as he and Joe discuss some of the dead deals of the past to learn more about what you can look for in the future. If you want to hear Part One of this discussion, where Justin interviews Joe, check out the Hurdy Gurdy Podcast . In this particular episode Justin shares how online...

Angie's back to catch up on all of the news and to discuss how we can better manage all of our award programs. Namely a Free AwardWallet subscription. You can also get AwardWallet Plus for more enhanced and time saving features. The Award Travel 101 group also celebrates the milestone of reaching 100K member s! Links to News Discussed New United Card Offers Avoid Delta’s High Partner Award Ra...

Award Travel 101 Podcast partner and founder of Thrifty Traveler Premium, Jared Kamrowski, joins Joe to discuss how Award Travel fundamentally changed his life and experiences. Starting as a broke college student, Jared became a road warrior who learned techniques to improve his travel experiences for less. He and his wife wanted to travel more in their personal lives, so like many of us, he dug m...

Joe and Mike talk this week about their recent trips plus aspirational flights they have taken or wish to take in the near future including: Alaska Pancake Run CLE-PIT-SEA-CLE. In Jan 2024 (Editors note: sadly this flight was cancelled due to the Boeing 737-9 door plug fiasco.  Upper deck of 747. Lufthansa & BA Aspirational  Longest- Singapore JFK-SIN (Taking #9 SYD-IAH in the spring) Shortest...

Angie and Joe both met for the first time as Joe was traveling to Angie's hometown, so they both love meetups. This week, Angie went to Chicago Seminars, Joe went out west for Zorkfest.  Links to Topics Discussed Delta Elite status changes MGM Marriott updates Transfer Bonuses Flying Blue & Lifemiles How I Traveled (with my son) Using Awards & $54 Hilton Surpass & Aspire changes I...

Angie and Allison talk about how she is going on a girls trip to Bali and paying less than $1500 per person compared to $12,000 if they paid cash. Flights on Qatar (QR) for 100k, Singapore (SQ) for 112.5k and Etihad (EK) for 87.5k. Full trip report posted in the Award Travel 101 Community w/hotel and airline reviews Links to other topics discussed Get Bonus Hilton points -Is it worth purchasing po...

Angie's back, and she and Joe jump on the podcast to discuss the state of Amex, their newest bonuses, trip updates, and under appreciated award currencies. There are things for which you should have a basic understanding: How much spend until you hit your desired award? Is there outsized value  New card bonuses vs bonus categories vs non-bonus categories Is there a reason to continue spending...

Award Travel mod Sophie and Joe discuss news, their newest cards, trip updates, and how Sophie has transitioned into the travel business.  Meet Sophie Keller Background - 1st card- Chase Sapphire Preferred / United Explorer Highlights - Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana right after it opened last year, Park Hyatt New York and Flagship First before award price hike for 25K Amex Membership Rewards JFK-SFO, and...

Angie and Joe are off traveling this week, so Mike takes over the podcast with community member Erin Kilpatrick to discuss her “mid-life renaissance” this year which would not have been possible without award travel. Listen to her journey through Ecuador (Galapagos), Uruguay, England/Wales, Norway, Denmark, Faroe Islands and Sweden along with future plans in Portugal, Turkiye, Brazil, Germany, and...

What happens when you're too loyal to a program - are they loyal back? Angie and Joe discuss developments this week, bonuses they've earned, and prepping for travel. Links to topics discussed Point.me “Quicklook” Hyatt Elite status shortcut   Hyatt Bonus Journeys Buy Frontier Elite 20k status Venture X Business Miles Bonus Capital One changes how to use the $300 portal credit on Venture...

 Angie and Joe jump on the podcast to discuss news, their newest card/s, trip updates, and to share the key to unlocking so many more miles/points - BUSINESS CARDS. Links to topics discussed The newest (and second) Capital One Lounge FINALLY opens Limited time increased offer on Hyatt business card but it’s a tiered bonus Southwest promotion to earn 3x CP points on qualifying flights Transfer Thes...

Angie is back with Joe to discuss card offers, news, trip updates, and the answer to whether having so many cards will ruin your credit. Links to topics discussed New Transfer Bonus How far out do airlines open their schedules? If this guy is switching loyalty, should you? Joe redeemed 153K points worth of Free Night Award certificates Use tools to identify Premium planes not serving Premium route...

Mike joins Joe to discuss his newest cards, news, and their most recent trip to educate members on how to ramp up their Award Travel game, the " Let's Go Crazy with AT in the TC . Plus is there a Fiesta in-store? Links to topics discussed Hilton Business . 130k + FNA. Immediately redeemed it for Niagara Falls. Ink Business Preferred . 50% through min spend. Also got two referral bonuses...