Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

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 wa...

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...

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 (P...

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, d...

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...

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 im...

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 br...

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 surprise...

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 b...

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 B...

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 an...

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...

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 ine...

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, wha...

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) Collectin...

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...

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,...

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...

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 optio...

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 v...

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 no...

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 th...

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 d...

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...

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 man...