Frequent Miler on the Air

Buying groups can be a highly effective way to increase credit card spend and earn big rewards, but they can also be a perilous path toward problems. Greg and Nick discuss what they are, why you might want to use them, and why they may not be right for you. 00:00 Intro 00:47 Giant Mailbag 08:30 Card Talk: Amex Business Gold card https://frequentmiler.com/major-changes-to-the-american-express-busin...

Want to get elite treatment at hotels without investing the time and effort in enough nights for elite status? Instead of spending fifty or sixty nights a year in hotels with one brand, you can simulate status with some simple tricks.  00:00 Intro 01:52 Giant Mailbag 06:08 Card Talk: Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit cards https://frequentmiler.com/as/ https://frequentmiler.com/asbiz/ https:/...

You don't need airline elite status to get elite-like treatment. This week, we discuss how to get the perks without the loyalty and how to think about the costs associated if you decide to stay on that hamster wheel. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:42 Giant Mailbag 04:47 What crazy thing . . . did Amex do this week? 06:46 Mattress running the numbers: Aerop...

Delta wants dollars: this week we discuss the massive changes coming to the Delta Sky Miles elite status program and what it means for flyers and cardholders alike. 00:00 Intro 01:24 Giant Mailbag 04:26 What crazy thing . . .did Citi do this week? 06:10 Mattress running the numbers 6:23 American Airlines elite status fast track for some Hyatt elites https://frequentmiler.com/american-airlines-back...

Citi's ThankYou program gets lets attention than other major bank rewards point programs, but it has some unique strengths that deserve your attention. This week, Greg and Nick determine whether and for whom Citi can be an awesome option. 00:00 Intro 00:47 Giant Mailbag 03:38 Mattress Running the Numbers 03:40 Marriott Homes & Villas promo 04:45 Wyndham points on sale for less than 1cpp 08:27 Buy...

Want a companion to fly with you for free? There are many different companion tickets on the market, but some are far better than others. This week, we discuss which ones are worth it, how to get them, and they they are special. 00:00 Intro 01:08 Giant Mailbag 03:33 What crazy thing . . . did Bilt Rewards do? https://frequentmiler.com/no-official-bilt-welcome-offer-after-all/ 07:07 Award Talk: Boo...

Get your pen and paper and get ready to play along and see if you can beat the blogger as Nick tries to score at least 75,000 points revealing 10 tricks for spending fewer points on your flight and hotel awards. 00:00 Intro 01:52 Giant Mailbag 04:05 Card Talk: Amex Platinum card changes 10:51 Mattress running the numbers: Stand Up to Cancer and earn 50x https://frequentmiler.com/american-airlines-...

Don't settle for mediocrity - get great value from your credit card points by utilizing some of our favorite techniques to save big on both economy and business class airfare and hotels ranging from simple to simply luxurious. 00:00 Intro 00:48 Giant Mailbag: Trouble with the Schwab debit card and a workaround 06:14 What crazy thing . . . did Bilt Rewards do this week? 14:29 Mattress running the n...

Big wins start with solid strategy. This week, we talk about which cards you must have before you start applying with reckless abandon as well as which cards you should probably be considering that are all likely limited by the 5/24 rule. If you play your cards right, you can easily end up with all the cards you want and need before you get locked out of more. 00:00 Intro 00:55 Giant Mailbag: A "w...

There are more than 8 million points and miles available via new credit card welcome offers. Here's how to score millions of points in your household. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 01:45 Giant Mailbag 09:05 Card Talk: JetBlue Plus and JetBlue Business Cards https://frequentmiler.com/b6plus/ https://frequentmiler.com/b6biz/ 15:37 What crazy thing . . . happen...

If you're flush with Delta SkyMiles, don't flush them on poor redemptions -- instead, listen to this week's show and learn how you can squeeze good value out of your SkyMiles. One quick update: During our Award Talk segment, we discussed the ability to book Starlux via Alaska Airlines, but that availability and pricing got pulled between the time we recorded and the time we published -- we were ri...

If you're a loyal American Airlines AAdvantage customer, does this card make sense with the new structure?  00:00 Intro 00:42 Giant Mailbag #1 01:45 Giant Mailbag #2 03:41 What crazy thing . . .did Delta Airlines do this week? 06:13 Award Talk 06:15 MGM and Marriott to partner from October 2023 https://frequentmiler.com/mgm-to-partner-with-marriott-bonvoy-from-october-2023-onward/ 10:40 Air Canada...

It takes two to tango -- and you can dance your way to plenty of points and miles to make those dream trips happen twice as quickly when you play the game with a partner. This week, we talk tips and strategies for collecting rewards with a travel partner. 00:00 Intro 00:33 Giant Mailbag 02:18 Card Talk: Chase Sapphire Reserve frequentmiler.com/csr 19:41 Award Talk 19:44 PointsYeah https://frequent...

Ever wonder how you can possibly snag a reservation at a high-demand property that never seems to have award availability? This week, we discuss the tools you can use to make those impossible awards happen.   00:00 Intro   01:10 Giant Mailbag: Don't Hilton free night certificates have a big drawback?   04:25 Card Talk: Hilton Surpass and Hilton Business cards   https://frequentmiler.com/amxhiltonb...

On this week's show Greg and Nick discuss the huge advantage of flying business class over economy or premium economy (and how airline miles make that possible at a reasonable cost), and debate the next step: is it worth paying more miles to fly international first class instead of business class? 00:00:48 Giant Mailbag 00:03:14 What crazy thing did Amex do this week? • Amex sometimes claims that...

You can get Marriott Platinum status with as few as 10 nights actually spent in Marriott hotels per year with the right strategy. This week, Greg and Nick discuss easy paths to Marriott Platinum and Titanium status. 00:00 Intro 00:45 Giant Mailbag: The Bilt card's hidden bonus 03:28 Lessons learned from traveling as a group of 5 https://frequentmiler.com/points-for-family-travel/ 12:46 Card Talk:...

What did the judge think of each team's decisions? In this week's episode, Greg and Nick quick-fire recap the Party of 5 trip and Greg shares his view as to what each team did best and which things didn't go according to plan. https://frequentmiler.com/party-of-5-frequentmiler-challenge-daily-update/ For full Party of 5 coverage, see: https://frequentmiler.com/tag/party-of-5/ 00:00 Intro 01:35 Cha...

Four Seasons has a repiutation for elegance and luxury, but Hyatt has a lot of fans in the award travel community. Which hotel "wowed" in Macau? Listen for our thoughts. 00:00 Intro 00:52 Challenge update 08:25 Manila to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific Business 09:52 What crazy thing . . . did the Curve Card do this week? 11:31 Card Talk: A brief look at the Amex Platinum card 12:47 Main Event: Four S...

The 2023 Frequent Miler team challenge is on. This week, Greg and Nick discuss what we've learned from past challenges and why we can't wait to see what is happening right now .00:00 Inro 00:00 Intro 01:20 Giant Mailbag 07:34 Card Talk: Business Platinum card https://frequentmiler.com/amxplatbiz/ https://frequentmiler.com/200000-membership-rewards-amex-business-platinum/ 24:50 Main Event: Conqueri...

Here are ways to maximize your return on high levels of spend with low levels of effort. 00:00 Intro 00:29 Giant Mailbag 01:56 Giant Mailbag #2 https://frequentmiler.com/cross-brand-amex-referrals-possible/ 04:25 Card Talk: Bank of America Premium Rewards card https://frequentmiler.com/boapr/ https://frequentmiler.com/bank-of-america-rewards/ 19:00 What crazy thing . . . did Choice Privileges do t...

United steeply increased the cost of award tickets this week and as a result, United miles are worth less. Fear not --- you have many great options for booking Star Alliance awards moving forward. This week, we discuss your alternatives. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 Intro 00:36 Giant Mailbag: Citi premier *does* have purchase protections 04:13 Award Talk 04:18: C...

Do Citi's unsung heroes make up the quintessential credit card quartet? Greg and Nick discuss the Citi card combo you might want to consider. 00:00 Intro 00:49 Giant Mailbag: Citi updates application rules 04:18 What crazy thing . . . did Hilton do this week? 08:52 Mattress running the numbers: IHG Timeshare offer for 3 nights + 50K points for $199 / $249 https://frequentmiler.com/ihg-timeshare-of...

Amex Membership Rewards points can be incredibly valuable when used properly toward flights (with airline transfer partners), but they are awful for those looking to redeem for gift cards. This week, we discuss how you can get so much more value with award travel than you will via redemptions like gift cards, Amazon purchases, etc. Join our email list: https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ 00:00 In...

Bilt Rewards is the real deal. With a great set of transfer partners and ways to earn points whether or not you rent or have the credit card, this program just keeps getting better. This week we discuss why you shouldn't sleep on Bilt Rewards. 00:00 Intro 01:04 Oops! 01:06 Oops: You need 40K AA for Gold 02:05 Ooops: AA charity donation may have been AOK 03:46 Ooops: Can't book JetBlue transatlanti...

Want piles of American Airlines miles? Here are your best strategies for amassing a massive amount of miles in the valuable AAdvantage rewards program. 00:00 Intro 01:03 Award Talk 01:04 Booking The Signature at MGM Grand via Airbnb https://frequentmiler.com/hacking-las-vegas/ 07:10 Roame. Travel adds JetBlue 08:07 Seats. Aero helps Greg find Qsuites availability 09:28 Giant Mailbag: Laddering fli...