Frequent Miler on the Air

There have been some negative changes coming out of Citi that we'll be talking about in today's podcast episode.(00:43) - Citi Custom Cash® Card discontinued for new applications, but it may still be possible to product-change to itYou can read more about this discontinuation here.(01:16) - Citi Custom Cash® Card details(04:23) - Citi had been on a roll...(04:42) - Citi points have been declining in valueYou can read about some of the negative Citi changes here(05:16) - But still has excellent options(06:33) - Is it worth going out of one's way to get Citi Citi Custom Cash® Card while it's available for product changing?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? Frequent Miler reader Keith wrote in with this question:I tried to transfer 560K points to Air France to snag a redemption. had previously transferred about 280k points from Amex to KLM, I thought for sure the points would have similarly come through with Chase. Sadly, the points took 4 days to transfer, and I missed my booking window. Looking back, should I have spread my point transfers across different currencies to lower the transfer risk? I could have also covered the transfer using Capital One or Amex points. How do you balance speed with lowering the risk that your points will miss their intended purpose?We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to [email protected] in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Today's episode will provide a whole grab bag of tips for how to find those impossible award bookings for your award travel goals.(02:32) - Here's a grab bag of techniques, and keep in mind it's often necessary to use multiple(03:09) - Be flexible!(06:48) - Look towards the end of the booking schedule: use points that can book farther out(08:26) - Positioning flights(20:59) - Programs that reserve more space for their own members(22:22) - Programs that reserve more space for elite members/cardholders(24:17) - Programs that allow more awards for more points(26:47) - Married segment logic awards (e.g. san-lax-tyo available, but lax-tyo not available)(35:07) - Consider programs that allow a stopover(39:04) - Award tool Alerts(41:44) - Paid flightsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler Beginner's Guidehttps://frequentmiler.com/start-here/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

The World of Hyatt new award charts are live now, and we have thoughts! We'll give our first impressions in this episode, and you can read more about the new award charts here.(00:25) - World of Hyatt's new award charts are live(01:44) - Where it hurts the most(04:05) - It's not all doom and gloomRead more about our first impressions here.(11:55) - AnalysisSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkFrequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/

Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Points Boosts? Frequent Miler reader Bryant wrote in saying...With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card providing 8X points on travel and hotel, doesn’t it always make sense to book through Chase and get the multiplier? That being said, what then is the best way to utilize the points to maximize their value?We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Sunday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to [email protected] in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

As more and more people get into the points & miles game, we're seeing an acceleration of devaluations. Opportunities to earn points disappear. Point prices go up. Transfer ratios go down. Is this the beginning of the end?Will the points game survive?Giant Mailbag(00:46) - Gil has a warning story about being Bonvoyed by Bonvoy... BoundlessMain Event: Will the points game survive?(06:28) - Devaluations keep hitting(14:14) - Positive trends that we're seeing at the time of this recording (May 1 2026).(15:15) - Doing this for 15 years(17:37) - Enjoying elite status(21:10) - Earning points getting easier(27:54) - New opportunities to earn transferable points keep appearing(29:00) - Point transfer opportunities are often increasing(30:26) - Using points sometimes improves(31:28) - Airlines(38:37) - HotelsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

Blogging on the road is pretty easy, but podcasting from the road is a different story. In this episode, we'll talk about how. (01:12) - Internet issues(05:39) - Microphone issues(14:27) - Improvised laptop stands(19:38) - Lighting issues (dark hotel rooms, cars, etc.)Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkFrequent Miler Beginner's Guidehttps://frequentmiler.com/start-here/

My credit card application was declined. Now what?We get this kind of question a lot. And the truth is, credit card application strategies may vary by bank.For example, you can read our Complete Guide to credit card application rules (by bank) here. Let's say you have a letter that says there were too many new accounts, too much available credit, not enough usage of existing credit, etc. Then what? Don't forget that you can always call and ask for reconsideration...We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to [email protected] in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

We talk a lot about the ultra-premium credit cards with expensive annual fees, but there are plenty of people interested in credit cards with more modest annual fees. Luckily, there are some great $95 credit cards that can be supplemented with fee-free cards for a great travel rewards strategy. Giant Mailbag(01:20) - Melissa writes in with a question about locking in Hyatt prices before May 20th(04:48) - Jonathan writes in offering a few key data points to update our Hyatt points advance article, which you can find hereCard News(08:48) - American Express adds $300 in ChatGPT credits on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Business Gold Cards(12:40) - See our updated resource for the best cards for Priority Pass hereCrazy Thing: Priority Pass Restaurants(16:04) - Priority Pass RestaurantsAwards, Points, and More(18:02) - Mastercard Launches Mastercard Airport Dining Experience (‘Taste By/Of Priceless’ Airport Lounges)(22:13) - JetBlue and United Unlock Reciprocal Loyalty Benefits(25:51) - Read Nick's post about Citi Travel for rental cars here(30:49) - Read more about Sixt offering prepaid fuel for $49.99 for rentals in the US for Sixt ONE members here(34:31) - Points Path Pro now shows United discounted cardholder pricing(36:23) - Read more about how to keep airline miles and hotel points alive hereMain Event: Best $95 travel credit card combo(37:37) - We'll focus on which combination of credit cards might make sense for someone to use, but we'll stick to a $95 annual fee budget. We'll focus on transferable points and include cash back that can be converted to transferable points(40:27) - Capital One(42:21) - Chase(47:54) - Citi(52:03) - Wells Fargo(56:07) - Other considerations(1:01:05) - Best Mixed-Bank $95 Wallet(1:10:40) - Nick's pick for best $95 wallet(1:13:39) - Greg's pick for best $95 walletSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “O

With most ultra-premium cards it's possible to simply add up how much you value each perk and see if it meets or exceeds the annual fee, but this card is mostly valuable for its high earning rate from spend... It's definitely worth $495 in the first year due to the welcome bonus, but what about after that?(01:38) - Palladium Card detailsLearn more about the Bilt Palladium card here(02:37) - Bilt Cash(06:03) - Is the Palladium card worth $495 in exchange for...(06:35) - Consider other cards(07:14) - Our takeVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

Do any of the luxury hotel booking platforms (like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®) allow booking for others? If you are hotel chain agnostic, should you have a hotel credit card? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on May 6th, 2026.(00:16) - I have 14999 Delta Sky Miles and need one more lousy point to be able to book an award ticket. I can transfer 1000 points from Amex, but that seems like a waste. I tried to convince Delta support to comp me a point, but they were seemingly unable to help. Any suggestions (other than getting the Delta Amex card)? (04:03) - If you have complete flexibility to position to any airport in Europe to fly home to the USA, are flexible on arrival airport in the USA/Canada/Mexico, and time wasn’t a constraint, but you would like a good points redemption in J (not first), where would you position to and which airline would you book on? (08:39) - ​If you are hotel chain agnostic, should you have a hotel credit card? (12:24) - Question on 5/24 if over, are there any data points on the United or Southwest business card? (14:38) - Should we now value Membership Rewards points higher than Chase Ultimate Rewards points? I'd rather have an American Express Platinum Card® than a Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card at this point. Would you guys disagree? (19:50) - Do any of the luxury hotel booking platforms (e.g., Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®, The Edit by Chase Travel℠, etc.) allow booking for others? (22:57) - ​At what cash back rate do you prefer cash over miles/points (excluding when you are working on a welcome offer)? (27:50) - Do you think we'll finally see an Ultimate Rewards Hyatt transfer bonus in the future? (30:15) - Question - Greg has mentioned a few times about being able to pay for the fees on British Airways with Avios, as a card benefit. I can't seem to see how to make that work. Any more details? (34:43) - ​For airlines that allow a stopover on an award flight, has your experience required a phone call reservation, or have you booked a stopover online? (37:03) - ​Can I apply corporate codes when booking hotels through Rove? Can Rove act like a shopping portal? Get corporate rates and Rove miles. (39:00) - ​​Is it possible to product change the old aviator if I've had it for less than a year now that it was product changed? I know banks frown upon this before the first annual fee posts. (40:58) - ​Barclays American Airlines card transferred to Citi. What would be the best course of action to get the welcome offer on the Citi American Airlines card now that I have one, but haven't previously gotten the welcome offer? (44:01) - ​​Does the FM team know if I make a reservation with the 25k Atmos Summit Companion certificate, and later cancel the reservation before the original expiry, if the certificate is returned and can be reused? (44:38) - ​Can I use Hyatt points for su

In today's episode, Nick owns up to his mistake: Yes, you can lock in Hyatt prices with Points Advance. Then we'll talk about paying rent with the Alaska Atmos Summit card, and which points programs are trending up or down. Mea culpa(01:23) - Oops: Nick made a mistake about Hyatt Points Advance in the originally published version of our Question of the WeekFind the (now edited) Question of the Week here: https://frequentmiler.com/can-i-save-points-on-a-hyatt-award-with-a-date-change-trick-question-of-the-week-ep2-5-4-26/Learn more about Hyatt Points Advance here: https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-points-advance/Giant Mailbag(05:44) - Ben discusses paying rent with the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® CardFind our podcast episode about big bonuses for huge spend here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-bonuses-for-huge-spend-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep356-5-1-26/Card News(09:10) - Chase Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card/Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card application rule changes(13:32) - Barclays JetBlue Premier MastercardRead more about the Barclays JetBlue Premier Mastercard here: https://frequentmiler.com/JetBluePremier/#GotoAwards, Points, and More(15:20) - Rove adds Aeroplan as transfer partnerRead more about Rove adding Air Canada Aeroplan as its newest transfer partner here: https://frequentmiler.com/rove-miles-adds-air-canada-aeroplan-as-its-newest-transfer-partner/(17:10) - How to combine Citi ThankYou accounts (and what might be getting in your way)Learn more about combining your Citi ThankYou accounts here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-combine-citi-thankyou-accounts/(22:43) - Qatar is limiting Avios redemptions in terms of who you can redeem forMain Event: Transferable Points Changing Fortunes(25:36) - "Trending up" doesn't mean it is now a better program than one "trending down". It might be, but it also might just be closing the gap a little.(26:54) - Programs we think are trending down...(41:07) - Programs we think are staying about even(44:32) - Programs we think are trending up...<h

Amex has been refreshing its credit cards lately, but the American Express® Gold Card changes are more like a slight touch up. (00:37) - What's changed?(04:02) - What's the same?(05:25) - What do we think?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

CORRECTION NOTICE: On 5/5/26 this episode was corrected to remove incorrect information about Points Advance bookings. Originally we'd incorrectly stated Points Advance bookings don't lock in a booking's price, when in fact they do. Can I save points on a Hyatt award with a date change trick? Frequent Miler reader Matt wrote:I recently succeeded in changing a Hyatt award stay to avoid cancelling and forfeiting the Hyatt points. I'm wondering if that could be a strategy to leap past the upcoming changes to the World of Hyatt program. For example, I would create a reservation using points at a Hyatt property now and change the date later for a stay that is currently not bookable because it is more than 13 months away. Has anyone successfully used this strategy in previous years when category changes were announced, avoiding the need to make up point differences due to the associated program changes at that time? I understand that this is highly prospective and perhaps wishful thinking, but it could mean a sizeable savings in Hyatt points!We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Now, we’ve turned the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you’d like to submit, you can send it to [email protected] in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, we'll talk about how Chase Point Boost is going bust, how Avianca sucks some life out of LifeMiles, and rewards for spending BIG.Giant Mailbag(01:16) - Mike says "I have a subscription to Award Wallet Plus, and it has a “Merchant Category Lookup Tool,” where you can enter a merchant name and it will give the related merchant category name..."Find our Wells Fargo Journeys Forward episode 354 here(05:50) - Visit frequentmiler.com/awardwallet hereUpgrade to AwardWallet Plus for 6 months (one time upgrade only): Click the down arrow next to your name within AwardWallet, and click “Upgrade Using a Coupon”, then enter: FrequentMiler (this will only work for those who have never upgraded before)Card News(07:18) - Royal Caribbean launches two new credit cards: Royal One and Royal One PlusCrazy Thing(10:20) - Finnair 18 month expirationMattress Running the Numbers(17:37) - Buy Marriott Points for as low as 0.89 cents eachBonvoyed(21:33) - Chase Points Boost goes BustRead more about Chase Points Boost going bust hereRead more about Chase reducing redemption rates here(35:46) - Air Canada Aeroplan devaluationLearn more about Aeroplan devaluing their award chart here(38:58) - Avianca LifeMiles changesAwards, Points, and More(45:31) - Wells Fargo adds transfer partner: Cathay Pacific (Autograph, Autograph Journey)(47:16) - See our Instant Gift Card Deals post hereMain Event: Best Bonuses for Huge Spend(49:47) - Today we'll focus on cards that earn big rewards after really big spend ($50K or more)(52:24) - Bilt cards $50K: Platinum status(56:49) - Marriott Bonvoy® Brilliant® American Express® Card $60K(1:02:15) - Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card $60K (100K Companion cert)(1:09:00) - <a href="https://frequentmiler.c

Hyatt is changing their award charts on May 20th, 2026, and it's pretty devastating with a new 5-tier pricing system and huge increases in prices. Today, we'll see if there's some good news in all of this. (00:12) - New 5-level award charts: lowest, low, moderate, upper, top (prev: off-peak, standard, peak)(02:08) - Is there any good news?(06:59) - Some good news about premium suites(11:49) - Thoughts and analysisVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkFrequent Miler's Best Offers Pagehttps://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/

Does product changing ruin trip protections? Frequent Miler reader Jay P wrote in saying:"I used my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to book a flight and hotel for a future trip. Now, I would like to product change my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card before that trip. Are there any negative impacts if I product change before travel?"We've been answering a reader or listener question at the end of each Frequent Miler on the Air podcast episode. Starting this week, we're turning the question of the week into its own weekly episode. Tune in every Monday at 5pm for our Question of the Week podcast. And if you have your own question you'd like to submit, you can send it to [email protected] in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, we'll talk about Amex Platinum shutting down paths for earning Delta airline fee credits, Google Hotels adding price drop alerts, and all the many paths that still exist for free cruises in 2026.Main Event: Cruising for freeGiant Mailbag(01:07) - Greg gets corrected about Bilt point accelerator vs Rent Day...Crazy Thing: Capital One Shopping(03:27) - Capital One brings Gmail to a crawlRead more about the unfortunate Capital One slow gmail issue hereBonvoyed: Amex Airline Fee Reimbursements(08:48) - Delta tricks are deadRead our resource for Amex airline fee credits and what still worksAwards, Points, and More(13:15) - Google Hotels adds price tracking(17:02) - Melio (pay bills with credit card)Learn more about Melio here(19:01) - Chase Travel℠ Points Boost increased to 2.5cpp for a few select propertiesRead more about Chase Travel℠ Points Boost increase here(21:21) - Guide to booking Preferred Hotels with points (Updated)Find our updated resource for booking Preferred Hotels online here(25:24) - Tools for finding point-bookable events (auctions and buy it now)Visit the discover tools Pointsevents.com and Pointauctions.comMain Event: Cruising for free(29:33) - Learn more about cruising for free in 2026 here(30:44) - There are three main options for free cruises in 2026(31:08) - Land-based casino loyalty programs & matches(36:26) - Why do casino elite statuses matter for free cruises?(49:00) - Cruise line direct match opportunities for “free” cruises(1:07:09) - Gambling on board might yield a free cruiseSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit –

Airline fuel surcharges are going up! We've recently seen Air France KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic increase surcharges on their awards and it's looking like a trend. In this podcast episode, we'll talk about the different ways you can avoid them.How to avoid airline surcharges (02:02) - Booking with an alliance partner that doesn't pass along surcharges(02:15) - Air France KLM Flying Blue booked with Virgin Atlantic or Japan Airline Mileage Bank milesLearn more about going to Europe starting on Air France or KLM Business Class using Virgin Atlantic points hereLearn more about Air France without surcharges via Japan Airline Mileage Bank miles here(04:02) - Rove milesLearn more about using Rove miles here (07:04) - Lufthansa booked through other Star Alliance partners(07:41) - One World is tricky...(11:38) - What can you do about high taxes coming back from the UK?(12:45) - For travel to and from Europe, consider JetBlue's flights booked through Qatar AviosLearn about booking JetBlue with Qatar Avios here(16:34) - SAS(17:51) - Airlines that don't charge surcharges in the first placeVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the worl

In today's podcast episode, we'll watch as Capital One ventures into business, we'll discuss the best of the best award search tools, and we'll talk about how Wells Fargo is on the upswing.Giant Mailbag(01:00) - Nate has a tip to add to our Free checked bags via credit cards podcast Ep353Card News(04:41) - Capital One Spark Miles rebranded to Venture BusinessLearn more about the Capital One Spark Miles rebranding to Venture Business hereCrazy Thing: Choice Privileges(09:42) - Choice doubled points to Air France/KLM Flying BlueRead more about the Choice Privileges transfer bonus hereBonvoyed: AA(13:03) - AA bonvoys elite members flying basic economyRead more about American Airlines doing away with basic economy for elite members hereAwards, Points, and More(16:42) - We've updated our resource "Which award search tool is best?"Find our "Which award search tool is best" resource here(26:05) - Amex changes referral limits to 5 per year, per cardRead more about American Express' referral limit changes here(29:01) - Wells Fargo adds new transfer partner: Wyndham 1 to 2Read more about Wells Fargo's new transfer partner hereMain Event: Wells Fargo journeys forward(31:13) - Wells Fargo Rewards was a 3rd tier transferable points program(31:46) - That's starting to change...(32:46) - Wells Fargo Rewards advantages(34:09) - Transfer partners(37:22) - Wells Fargo rewards credit cardsLearn more about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card hereLearn more about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card here(43

JetBlue has announced some big changes to its Premier Mastercard, which was previously a real bummer of a card. So when these changes come in "the spring", will they make the card better, and worth that $499 annual fee?JetBlue Polishes its Premium Premier Mastercard(01:00) - New benefits coming to this cardRead more about the card changes here: https://frequentmiler.com/the-jetblue-premier-card-might-finally-become-worth-applying-for/(06:00) - Nick & Greg talk through a few questions like: Is this a good card or does it just seem like it compared to the old stinker? Is the new version of the card worth $499 per year? Is this worth $400 more than the Plus or Business card?(06:30) - What's good about this...(08:46) - What's bad about this...(09:59) - Is this overall a good card (and if so, for whom?)Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

What are some unusual cards you find yourself using? What are your least favorite airline websites? Which dead cards do you miss the most? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on April 8th, 2026.(01:10) - What are some unusual cards you find yourself using? (08:27) - Did the FM team partake in the British Airways shopping portal promotion for 250x Avios at Kate Spade? I think it’s a runner for deal of the year. (11:28) - What’s your favorite and least favorite airline loyalty website to use? (18:25) - With all the recent and pending devaluations, what hotel reward program, if any, would you recommend for someone who generally only stays in hotels for a week or two each year? (23:12) - I have tried getting a Capital One Venture X but they keep denying me. I have opened 3 personal and 2 business cards in the last 9 months. The last was Dec 31st. What do you think I should do? ​​(25:04) - Does the FM team have any success with credit card reconsideration with Bank of America (business cards)? Any tips? Thank you! ​​(26:51) - Have anyone's thoughts changed on the Bilt Palladium since they started using it? I have tried doing the math to see if it's worth it, but not sure I did the "bilt math" correctly ​​See Tim's post about the Bilt Palladium card here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-2-0-rewards-you-most-when-you-spend-less/(30:22) - See our previous episode about Hyatt properties here: https://frequentmiler.com/which-hyatts-will-you-book-before-the-award-chart-changes-ask-us-anything-ep84-3-4-26/And see our former episode about how many credit cards we have here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-many-credit-cards-does-the-frequent-miler-team-have-ask-us-anything-ep-63/(31:05) - What airline loyalty top status is it worth pursuing? (34:19) - Tim, do you use Atmos Summit to rent cars overseas. Greg should update Auto Rental post to compare Bank of America Atmos Summit to compare to the othersSee our guide to Ultra premium card travel protections here: https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/(37:18) - Do authorized users get the same discount on United award flights as the primary cardholders? ​​(38:14) - Does the Atmos give status points when paying rent on Bilt platform? (38:33) - The latest

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about how Rakuten doubles select credit card signup bonuses, JetBlue polishes its previously lackluster Premier card, and how to avoid paying those increasing checked bag fees. Giant Mailbag(00:58) - Rick asks about EU regulation 261Read our post, "$700 richer: My easy UK261 claim experience with United Airlines" hereCard News(04:09) - JetBlue Premier Mastercard ($499)Read more about the JetBlue Premiere Mastercard hereAwards, Points, and More(07:04) - Rakuten offering bonuses on select Bank of America cardsLearn more about the Rakuten bonus hereOr learn about the Rakuten referral here(11:33) - Rove adds Virgin Atlantic (and changes url to rove.com)Main Event: Free checked bags via credit cards(13:15) - Learn more about free checked bags via credit card here(14:35) - General info about free checked bags(16:34) - Strategy for infrequent flyers of a particular airline. Example: you don't usually fly Delta, but you have one flight coming up...(22:15) - Which airlines require paying with a specific card to get free checked bags?(24:20) - How many travel companions get free checked bags?(27:08) - Do you get free checked bags on international trips?(29:42) - Cheapest card for free checked bags by airline(31:48) - Other ways to get free checked bags(40:21) - Carry-on insteadQuestion of the Week(44:55) - Turbotax has a higher fee for paying with a credit card. Is there a better way to pay with a credit card when filing with Turbotax?Read more about paying taxes with a credit card here: https://frequentmiler.com/pay-taxes-via-credit-card/Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zAQHcu57q9QmYEKaDBpEU?si=JylqRM-F

Airlines partner up into alliances (oneworld, Star Alliance, and Sky Team), which usually means you can use the miles from one program to book with one of its partners. We'll talk about the best programs within each alliance. Coffee Break: Best miles for each airline alliance(01:12) - Star Alliance(01:24) - United MileagePlus pros and cons(03:28) - Air Canada Aeroplan pros and cons(06:54) - Avianca LifeMiles pros and cons(11:36) - oneworld(11:44) - American Airlines AAdvantage pros and cons(14:08) - Alaska Atmos pros and cons(17:07) - Sky Team(17:20) - Delta SkyMiles pros and cons(19:52) - Air France/KLM Flying Blue pros and cons(22:22) - Virgin Atlantic Flying Club pros and consVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In this episode, we'll talk about how United credit cards make United miles more valuable, how Southwest discount codes make Southwest points more valuable, and we'll take you on a ride through a classic card show discussing credit card "collectibles".Giant Mailbag(01:34) - Justin: I was annoyed to discover I couldn't change the frequent flyer number on my upcoming award booking from my Atmos number to my AAdvantage number, which would have made me and my girlfriend eligible for Oneworld Emerald perks...Learn more about Alaska not allowing frequent flyer number changes on award tickets hereCard News(05:33) - United cards now unlock better earnings on paid flights, 10%/15% discount on award flights, and more Polaris business class saver awardsRead more about recent United changes here(10:46) - Amex card offersLearn more about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express hereLearn more about the American Express® Business Gold Card here(16:18) - Amazon Business Amex moving to US Bank(17:59) - Southwest cardholder discount codesRead more about Southwest discount codes hereMattress Running the Numbers(20:28) - Hyatt/Under Canvas cardholder promoLearn more about the Hyatt 2K promo here: https://frequentmiler.com/hyatt-promo-earn-2k-bonus-points-per-night-at-under-canvas-properties/Awards, Points, and More(27:32) - National Car Rental’s One Two Free Promo ReturnsLearn more about National Car Rental's One Two Free promo here: https://frequentmiler.com/national-car-rentals-one-two-free-promo-returns/(29:27) - Transfer bonusesLearn more about transfer bonuses here: https://frequentmiler.com/current-point-transfer-bonuses/Main Event: Credit Card Collectibles(35:00) - Citi® AAdvantage® Globe has us predicting the next credit card collect

A recent survey sent out by Citi has us speculating about changes Citi might be considering for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. This would include an increased annual fee and increased complexity. Citi might nerf the Strata PremierRead more about the Citi Strata Premiere refresh rumors here(02:55) - Current version vs potential version(09:44) - Why we're not a fan...Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about who we would want to buy JetBlue, how Amex missed the mark with its new business card, and the key to preserving our loyalty if Hyatt "mile-stone-ifies" elite benefits.Giant Mailbag(02:16) - Adam: Why does the Aviator Silver card list as $199 annual fee on other sites across the internet, except for yours?Learn more about the Aviator Silver card hereCard News(04:33) - New: American Express Graphite™ Business Cash Unlimited CardLearn more about the American Express Graphite™ Business Cash Unlimited Card hereAwards, Points, and More(09:03) - JetBlue is looking for a buyer that can clear regulatory approval: United, Alaska, or Southwest(16:16) - Bilt authorized user updates, transfer partner updates(22:31) - Bilt using Points Path Learn more about Bilt changes here(25:17) - Wyndham points sale: Buy Wyndham points for as low as 0.65 cents each thru May 1(25:51) - MealMaxxer, a cool map tool for finding stacks with Resy, inKind, Bilt Dining, and moreLearn more about MealMaxxer hereMain Event: The bright side of Hyatt's (potential) Globalist shake-up(28:59) - Learn more about Hyatt may be shaking up Globalist status here(33:40) - Greg's glass-half-full take: Not as bad as many fear & several positives(38:15) - Greg's 1 huge key assumption(40:37) - The potential negatives(46:38) - The potential positives(48:42) - Nick's reactionQuestion of the Week(56:56) - With more and more merchants adding additional fees for credit card processing, do you consider if it's best to use a debit card?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on s

For many years, Chase (and later Bilt) was the only transferable points program with valuable hotel options. Namely: Hyatt. But Citi changed that with Choice and I Prefer, offering high transfer rates that made these transfers worth while.Read more about the devaluation here: https://frequentmiler.com/ouch-citi-decreasing-transfer-ratio-to-choice-and-preferred-on-4-19-26/(02:07) - Hyatt's announced award changes seemed to cement Citi as the best transferable points for hotels...(02:25) - April 19, 2026 is Citi ThankYou Rewards hotel transfer doomsday. Transfer ratios to Choice and Preferred Hotels are dropping.(03:48) - Examples(06:02) - Questions: Will the new transfer ratios still be worthwhile?(12:01) - Should we transfer before April 19th?(17:59) - Is the Citi ecosystem dead to us?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast episode, we'll share 3 ways to improve your Google Wallet, we'll see how Marriott Bonvoyed us again, and Nick will explain how he would spend $115K.Giant Mailbag(01:24) - Mark shares how to arrange the card order in Google Wallet(03:30) - Rick & Heather share another way to arrange cards in Google Wallet(03:55) - Raj shares a way to set a card as default, and customize the nickname of a card on Google Wallet (which Raj uses to specify the rotating category for a card)Card News(05:46) - IHG Biz 200K OfferLearn more about the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card here(12:25) - New/updated resource: Best credit card purchase protectionsSee our Best credit card purchase protections resource here(19:44) - Citi ThankYou Points about to end points-sharing between cardholders?Read more about this hereBonvoyed by Bonvoy(25:04) - Read more about Marriott card eligibility hereLearn more about the Marriott Bonvoy® Brilliant® American Express® Card hereLearn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card hereAwards, Points, and More(28:39) - Rove Miles: Redeem Rove Miles for a paid stay at a loyalty-eligible rate and earn hotel pointsRead more about redeeming Rove miles here(31:43) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card / Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card Price Match GuaranteeLearn more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-travel-offering-price-match-guarantee-for-hotel-bookings/(36:52) - Delta's 20-minute baggage guarantee[40:14:26]Main Event: How to best spend $115K....asking for a friend(40:16) - A large capacity for spend could mean many welcome bonuses(43:20) - The contenders(43:34) - Learn more about The Business American Express Platinum Card® card

There is no single right answer as to what points are worth. With most points, the value depends upon how the points are used. It's often possible to get great value or very poor value from the same types of points. But in this podcast episode, we'll talk about how a "reasonable redemption value" can help you assess the value of your miles and points.(01:20) - How can you evaluate credit card welcome offers without an idea of what points are worth?(02:14) - Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs) are estimates of how much value you can reasonably expect to get from your points. (03:24) - At Frequent Miler, we use RRVs to calculate...(04:40) - Where do our RRVs come from?(07:14) - Transferable points are a little different(10:18) - The RRV Paradox(13:56) - To see our RRVs, go to frequentmiler.com/rrvVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's podcast episode, we see that Marriott tops off their top-offs, Aviator Silver cards become unique collectibles, and we'll talk about the best ways to earn and redeem Rove Miles.Giant Mailbag(01:07) - Diana shares some thoughts regarding a recent podcast episode, Speed up US entry with Mobile Passport Control | Coffee Break Ep96 | 3-10-26See the Coffee Break Ep96 here.Card News(03:34) - Barclays Aviator to Citi transition April 2026Learn more about the Barclays Aviator transition to Citi here(12:44) - Robinhood Platinum Credit CardRead more about this card here(15:39) - Southwest companion pass offers ending March 19th 7am ETMattress Running the Numbers(17:22) - Leading Hotels of the World points sale: Get up to 100% bonusLearn more about the Leading Hotels of the World points sale here(21:42) - Read Nick's post about family-friendly Leading Hotels of the World properties hereAwards, Points, and More(24:18) - Marriott making it possible to redeem up to 25K + FNC (up from 15K).(27:59) - You can now add Marriott gift cards to your Bonvoy account (both in-app & on website)Read more about adding Marriott gift cards to your Bonvoy account here: https://frequentmiler.com/you-can-now-add-marriott-gift-cards-to-your-bonvoy-account-both-in-app-on-website/(30:44) - Amex to fold Tock into Resy in Summer 2026Read more about Amex's plans with Tock here: https://frequentmiler.com/after-purchasing-tock-amex-to-fold-it-into-resy-in-summer-2026/(34:08) - Spirit Airlines paid status upgrade: Higher status from $79Learn more about Spiri

For years, Nick has always used the free Mobile Passport Control app for speedy re-entry into the country instead of Global Entry. In today's episode, we'll talk about this free alternative to Global Entry.(00:18) - Mobile passport control is super easy and free(05:37) - Where can it be used(06:30) - Global Entry has advantages, thoughVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

What would you suggest if your P2 (partner, or "player two") is very reluctant? Which Hyatts will you be book before the award chart changes? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on March 4th, 2026(02:10) - What specific Hyatt properties have you booked/will you be booking before the upcoming award chart changes?(12:17) - How did you guys learn about HOW to find good flights to book with transfer partners? I am trying so hard to learn, but it feels confusing and overwhelming. need more concrete, step-by-step help.Read about the top award search tools here(18:05) - I have a question for Stephen and Carrie. Now that I am retired my wife and I are interested in finding rentals for several weeks at a time. I am pretty good at finding good properties on Airbnb and VRBO for several days but have less experience with navigating longer term rentals. Do you have any tips on how to find good locations and get good deals?(27:32) - Looking to get a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and upgrade a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. Should I do this on 2 different devices at almost the same time or does it not matter?(28:26) - I am planning a trip for 2 weeks covering Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo with 2 year old, do you have recommendations on where to stay? Planning during JulyRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/use-finnair-avios-to-book-scandinavian-hotels-at-2c-per-point-or-better/(32:35) - What would you suggest if your P2 (player two) is very reluctant? I can't convince him to open more cards(38:27) - Do the Hyatt changes make you reassess the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points?(39:58) - Can I request a retention offer for my US Bank Altitude Reserve card and then product change a month later to the Connect?(42:20) - ​​Can I book Hyatt stays now before the changes take effect, and later modify the dates while keeping the same redemption rate?(42:55) - ​What is the best way to use Wyndham Points nowadays, and do you see any new alignments in the future to replace Vacassa(47:44) - Are there good award search engines for hotel award stays?Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/editmaxxer-a-tool-to-maximize-chase-travel-the-edit-credits/(51:08) - Have/would you guys entertain having all your P2s on for a podcast or AMA so we could hear about their experience through all the shenanigans you play?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “swappin’ back n’ forth” by <a href="ht

In this episode, we'll talk about the tools that can help you earn more rewards, organize your points & rewards, and spend your points wisely.Learn more about the tools we use here(01:52) - General / Misc Tools(25:57) - Flight Trip Planning(39:23) - Hotel Trip Planning(45:31) - Car Rentals(50:28) - TrainsSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

Choice Privileges is a hotel chain with brands like Clarion, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Radisson Americas etc. In today's podcast, we'll talk about the pros and cons of this program. You can find our Choice Privileges complete guide here.Choice Privileges Pros and ConsPros / items of interest...(01:37) - Earn elite status through credit card spend thanks to an update in early 2026. (05:59) - (Somewhat) fixed award chart(07:16) - Ability to book premium rooms with points sometimes(09:53) - Preferred Hotels partnershipLearn more about this partnership here(11:53) - Transfer 1:2 from Citi or Wells Fargo(12:31) - Buy points for around .7cpp during sales(13:14) - Titanium Travel Award: 50% off award stay up to 7 nightsCons...(16:23) - Not much elite benefit. Breakfast at Diamond, Titanium Travel Award at Titanium. (17:10) - Points expire after 18 months of inactivity(17:37) - Fewer aspirational properties (apart from Preferred Hotels, and even that experience is complicated)Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about stacking dining credits, give a caution aboutgifting Marriott free night certificates, and will resurrect expired Southwest credits.Crazy Thing(00:57) - Southwest shows different seatmap availability to different passengersRead more about Nick's experience with Southwest's assigned seating hereAwards, Points, and More(04:10) - Alaska Vacations adds discounts, VIP perks for elite membersRead more about this here(07:05) - “Free” Norwegian cruise for Caesars Diamond Elite membersRead more about this here(10:26) - Recent breaking news... Hyatt devaluationFind out more about the Hyatt devaluation here(14:43) - Wyndham Rewards added as new Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partnerRead more about this here(16:17) - Bilt has launched a transfer bonusRead more about this here[28:03:23 ad]Main Event: Gems from our Giant Mailbag(28:05) - Bridget says: DEN is an airport that has the security reservation program (DEN Reserve)...(29:44) - Chaim says: For Resy and Sapphire Reserve® Exclusive Tables credits you can buy gift cards online for lots of restaurants that trigger the credit. Therefore, you can bank up multiple hundreds of dollars, and then when it works with your plans, you can splurge on an amazing dinner or two...(32:47) - Mark says: I just finished listening to the January 2 podcast. With regards to your answer for the question of the week about which cards you keep in your digital wallet, I recently discovered something about Apple wallet specifically that might be of use, at least to Greg since he is the only one of you using Apple...You can catch that episode here(36:16) - Nathan says: I just listened to episode 343 and wanted to share a data point regarding the

Hyatt announced some changes that will come into effect before the end of May. This will include a brand new award chart that splits the 8 categories into 5 pricing bands. You can read more about the new Hyatt overhauls here.(00:51) - New award chart(05:28) - Hyatt intends to maintain value and maintain an award chart(17:24) - Bright spots(27:08) - Does this change how we view our Hyatt points?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

Virgin Atlantic Rewards and Virgin Red both earn Virgin Atlantic points. Now through February 28th, Chase has a 40% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic, so in this episode, we'll talk about some of the best uses of these points. Best uses for Virgin points(00:36) - Read more about the 40% bonus from Chase to Virgin Atlantic here(02:07) - Fly Delta economy(03:52) - Fly Virgin Atlantic(07:09) - Fly SAS(08:17) - Fly LATAM(11:35) - Fly Air France/KLM(12:16) - Fly ANA biz/first class(14:09) - Fly Air New Zealand biz class(16:40) - Virgin Limited Edition properties(21:22) - Virgin VoyagesVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In this episode, we'll talk about how Chase wants you to stay Calm and give a WHOOP, we'll talk about how Bank of America wants you to be a millionaire, and how United wants you to get its credit cards.Giant Mailbag(00:45) - Doug: Parking at a Bilt Neighborhood Parking garage on Hyatt award stayCard News(03:15) - It may be possible to product change US Bank Altitude ReserveRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/psa-it-may-be-possible-to-product-change-altitude-reserve-and-maybe-get-some-of-the-fee-back*NOTE* Shortly after we recorded, we learned that existing earning rates for Bank of America cards will last longer than we thought: Doctor of Credit has learned some positive news regarding changes for existing Preferred Rewards members: they will retain their current status until 3 months after their first anniversary date post-November 1, 2026. For example, if your anniversary date is 10/1, your 3-month clock won’t start until 10/1/27, and you will keep your current status level through 1/1/28 (provided you meet the current qualification requirements). That’s a bit of a band-aid on a broken leg, but it’s a much better timeframe than what we originally thought.(07:26) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offers (MUST ACTIVATE OFFERS)Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-cardholders-can-get-a-free-calm-premium-annual-subscription/(08:37) - WHOOP: Get $359 back after purchasing one year of WHOOP’s Life Membership (expires 5/12/2026.)Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-cardholders-can-get-a-free-year-of-whoop-fitness-wearable/(10:45) - Bilt appears to be honoring 5x offer for manyRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-cards-being-frozen-5x-not-being-honored-bilts-response-pound-sand-its-tpgs-fault/Bonvoyed(17:30) - Bank of America Preferred Rewards changes<a href="https://frequentmiler.com/negative-bank-of-america-preferred-rewards-upcoming-changes-lower-bonus

Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Edit by Chase Travel℠ are hotel programs offered by American Express and Chase, which offer a similar array of perks. But that doesn't mean there aren't significant differences. Greg discusses a recent stay where he used both of these back-to-back.Fine Hotels + Resorts® vs The Edit by Chase Travel℠(00:40) - Read more here(00:55) - On paper, Fine Hotels + Resorts® is better in most ways(02:20) - Except...(04:28) - Greg's Experience Fine Hotels + Resorts® vs The Edit by Chase Travel℠: Pendry Chicago(02:06) - Commonalities(06:55) - Differences(12:02) - Confusing pointsVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast NetworkVisit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/

In today's podcast, we'll talk about why you might not want to toss out that United credit card mailer, how Bilt has led us to coin a new term, and how Calala Island wants to pay you to book with points!Private Island ultra-all-inclusive barefoot luxury: $2,500 rebateGiant Mailbag(01:21) - Vijay: Using BOA Premier $100 airline fee creditRead more about Amex Airline fee reimbursements hereCard News(05:18) - Fast track to United Silver status with targeted new card offersRead more about the fast track to United Silver status hereMattress Running the Numbers(07:20) - Marriott Earn 2,500 bonus points per stay + 1 bonus elite night per brandRead more about the new Marriott promo hereLearn some shortcuts to Marriott elite status hereBonvoyed: Bilt(12:33) - TBD about denied mortgage paymentsRead more about various Bilt issues here(18:14) - Should we introduce the term "Biltvoyed"?Awards, Points, and More(21:42) - Nick's EU261 compensation claimRead more about Nick's EU261 copensation claim here: https://frequentmiler.com/finnair-flight-booked-with-alaska-atmos-rewards-eu261-claim/(25:38) - Instacart and United team up (Read more here: https://frequentmiler.com/earn-up-to-10-5k-united-miles-when-shopping-with-instacart/)Private Island ultra-all-inclusive barefoot luxury: $2,500 rebate(30:00) - Calala Island: Private island with only 6 villas. All inclusive. "Barefoot luxury" "Ultra-all-inclusive"(37:00) - Two Big Buts...(38:53) - Read about getting to Calala Island here: https://onemileatatime.com/how-to-get-to-calala-island/(43:03) - Derrick Dye at Travel on Points: <a href="https://travel-on-points.com/review-calala-island-

Today we're going to look at the details of the new Disney® Inspire Visa® Card, and we'll talk about whether or not it's worth considering.(00:25) - New Disney® Inspire Visa® CardLearn more about this card here(02:23) - Is this worth getting for someone planning an upcoming Disney trip?(04:07) - Is this worth getting for a regular Disney fan to keep long-term, specifically for Disney spend?(10:27) - Is this worth getting for a Disney fan to keep long-term for all spend?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Visit FrequentMiler.com Did you know that Frequent Miller is also a website? At frequentMiller.com, you'll find all the latest deals, news about points, miles, and rewarding credit cards, the single best, Best Credit Cards page on the web, guides to all popular rewards programs, and many other terrific resources. If you'd like to get our posts sent to your email, go to frequentMiller.com/subscribe and sign up for free. https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Do we undervalue Delta card welcome offers? How do you guys maximize SkyTeam? We answered these and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on February 4th of 2026.(00:39) - Given the amount of travel and exposure to different cultures that the whole frequent miler team has had over the years, what experiences have changed how you live day to day back home? For example, after a trip to Italy, I became very interested in espresso to the point where I bought myself an espresso machine that I now use every morning. Has something similar happened for you all?(07:42) - Greg and Nick laugh at the idea of “things we do to keep the banks happy,” but only after they spent the Main Event discussing how they spend extraordinary amounts on credit cards – which surely keeps the banks happy! I appreciate Nick mentioning that his habit of keeping Amex cards >1 year might make Amex happy, but it’d be nice to keep some perspective given that most listeners/readers/watchers aren’t spending nearly the same amount as you two. So it’s logical that we might think more about “keeping the bank happy”.(13:23) - Should I open frequent flyer accounts at EVERY possible airline? Is there any downside?(14:57) - Has anyone here applied for the Disney Inspire card?(19:08) - What would you pay for a subscription to a benefit? How do you value the Alaska Atmos 100K companion fare?(23:06) - For issuers other than Amex, are there any pitfalls to be aware of when buying merchant-branded gift cards online to hit minimum spend for SUBs, from obvious gift card websites like DoorDash Gift Cards?(27:13) - I'm overwhelmed. Do you use a flowchart on how to make decisions on how something is booked? For Loyalty points, using points, using cash, using a portal, which portal...(32:55) - ​​Do you think we undervalue Delta card welcome offers? The 15% discount gives you more award flight buying power. 90k miles gives you the buying power of 103,500. Is that a bad way to frame it?(35:20) - Do you think of Citi transfers to AA as the best transfer option, similar to Chase and Hyatt?(40:26) - ​What are your thoughts about the revised BofA Air France/KLM Visa card? I have thought that that card is a acutally better for SkyTeam than any Delta Airlines related card. AF/KLM vs. Delta cards?(42:25) - ​​Is it possible to change which airline is credited to a flight after your bags are checked but before the flight departs? I'd like to get my free AA bags but have the flight credited to Alaska(46:13) - Best use of Wyndham now that Vacasa is gone and no Caesar match in Vegas? Any other options like Vacasa?(48:40) - ​​My friend wants to transfer 100,000 Citi points to me. I know that’s the yearly limit, and they expire in 90 days. My question is, if I get them then transfer them, do my ThankYou Points transfer first or the gifted ThankYou points(49:30) - ​Since Delta is crazily underwhelming

In this episode, we'll take Hyatt on a mattress run, we'll answer "Is Tyler crazy for liking the Bilt Paladium card?", and Nick disagrees with our entire main event!Giant Mailbag(01:07) - Tyler disagrees with all the negative feedback that the Bilt program is getting(06:01) - Read more about Greg's thoughts on Bilt changes hereCard News(08:18) - Atmos Ascent ($95 card) offerLearn more about the Atmos Ascent card here(10:24) - Southwest consumer card offers: Companion Pass + bonus pointsLearn more about the Southwest consumer card offers hereMattress Running the Numbers(13:08) - Hyatt's overlapping promosLearn more about the Hyatt Bonus Journeys hereLearn more about the Hyatt House / Hyatt Studios promo hereBonvoyed(21:00) - Chase makes it harder to track Ink Business Cash® 5x spendingLearn more about this hereAwards, Points, and More(22:09) - Capital One: 30% transfer bonus to Japan Airlines Mileage BankRead about Japan Airlines sweet spots here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-uses-of-japan-airlines-mileage-bank-miles/Learn more about the transfer bonus here: https://frequentmiler.com/30-transfer-bonus-from-capital-one-miles-to-japan-airlines-mileage-bank/See our podcast episode 325 "Sweet-spot awards courtesy of Japan Airlines" here: https://frequentmiler.com/sweet-spot-awards-courtesy-of-japan-airlines-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep325-9-26-25/(25:26) - Citi is still allowing product changes between AAdvantage and ThankYou point cards<a href="https:/

If you have an American Airlines card issued by Barclays, it won't be a Barclays card for much longer, as AA cards will transition to Citi instead. So what does that mean for you? We'll answer some common questions about this transition in today's podcast episode.Barclays AA cards: planning the transition to CitiRead more about the Barclays to Citi transition here.(01:03) - April 24, 2026, the bank that issues your AAdvantage® credit card is changing from Barclays Bank Delaware to Citibank, N.A. (Citi)(02:15) - $99 cards(02:45) - Silver to GlobeSee our episode about the Globe card here.(03:24) - Barclays vs Citi Companion Certs(11:45) - Should we cancel our Barclays cards before the changeover?(16:38) - Disadvantages to cancelling BEFORE(23:07) - Should we apply for Citi AA cards before the changeover?(24:25) - What are Nick and Greg going to do?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, we discover that not all heroes have capes, some redeem rewards! We learn a trick for extending Southwest flight credits, and we tell all: how we increase our credit card spend.(01:06) - See our podcast episode 197, "13 ways to increase credit card spend" hereGiant Mailbag(01:37) - Mike: We can be heroes...just for one dayListen to our episode about sharing miles and points here(03:58) - Brent: Charitable givingListen to our podcast about rewards from giving hereCard News(09:15) - Bilt quietly removed eBay & Facebook Marketplace as exclusionsRead more about this hereMattress Running the Numbers(10:39) - Bilt Rent Day transfer bonus to AccorAwards, Points, and More(19:21) - Southwest credits are valid for 60 months in some situations(23:22) - JetBlue 25for25 stats(29:16) - Capital One Shopping Home Page Bonus OffersRead more about Capital One Shopping home page bonus offers hereMain Event: How we increase spend to earn big card bonuses(32:55) - See our podcast episode 197, "13 ways to increase credit card spend" here(33:57) - Today, we'll describe the ways we (Nick and I) increase spend in real life(34:15) - About paying fees(37:43) - Pay taxesRead about paying taxes via credit card here(45:23) - Use a service to pay bills that don’t ordinarily accept a credit card, like PlastiqLearn more about Plastiq here(52:07) - MelioLearn more about Melio here(53:49) - Fund college savings or pay student loansLearn about <a href="https://frequentmiler.com/miles-for-college/" rel="noopener nor

With Bilt 2.0, Bilt introduced a complicated new rewards currency called "Bilt Cash". We're going to try to dissect that today.CB: Bilt Cash: Couponization to the Max(00:11) - Bilt 2.0: 3 new cards, 2 complicated ways to earn points on housing payments; and 1 complicated new rewards currency... Bilt CashRead more about it here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-cash-how-to-use/(00:57) - Earning Bilt Cash(02:12) - December 31 Bilt Cash Gets Trashed Day(02:45) - Using Bilt Cash(10:41) - Evaluating Bilt Cash uses(16:45) - CouponsVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

In today's episode, we'll talk about a trick for getting great value with Delta miles, which has returned, how flying Emirates first with points has gotten harder, and the hard truth about how we have too many cards (and what to do about it).Giant Mailbag(01:52) - Using AAdvantage miles to book JetSmart and other tips for South America travelCard News(04:10) - Air France/KLM Flying BlueRead more about Air France KLM flying blue here(15:38) - Capital One Venture Rewards: 75K + $250 travel after $4K spend(18:35) - Bilt Cash details revealedCatch up on how Bilt bungled the rollout hereBonvoyed(21:06) - Qantas Nerfs Emirates First Class AwardsRead more about this hereAwards, Points, and More(23:34) - Delta trick lowering award prices by booking flights to/from Mexico, working once again(25:20) - Alaska $99 Companion Fares can be used with the multi-city tool on the regular booking engine again(26:35) - American Airlines Awards flying Aer Lingus Now Available OnlineMain Event: Discarding our card collections(28:14) - Find out which premium cards we think are keepers here(31:41) - Greg's thoughts about keeper cards(35:25) - $795 Sapphire Reserve® Card Example (read more about our thoughts here)(57:45) - $325 American Express® Gold Card example(1:04:44) - $895 American Express Platinum Card® example(1:14:58) - Cards Greg and Nick have discarded recentlyQuestion of the Week(1:24:08) - American Express® Gold Card with 4x dining vs Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card with 3x dining + status... which one is worth it?Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part

Chase is out with offers for both their Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card, both offering up to 5 free nights. So which of these offers is better?(00:32) - World of Hyatt Card(01:17) - Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card(01:36) - Which is better?(01:47) - Marriott advantages(05:17) - Hyatt advantages(08:10) - Caution: Annual category changes coming soon (last year it was March 25 for Hyatt, unknown for Marriott)(09:28) - Final answerVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Bilt released details of its new credit cards on Wednesday...but it was so confusing, they tried to clarify it with more confusion. (00:18) - Bilt released details of its new credit cards on Wednesday.You can read more about Bilt 2.0 here: https://frequentmiler.com/bilt-makes-earning-rewards-on-housing-payments-even-more-confusing/(00:23) - We've written extensively about it, and today (as we record this update), we dropped a full-length podcast about itFind the full podcast here: https://frequentmiler.com/introducing-the-new-and-confusing-bilt-2-0-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep341-1-16-26/(01:16) - Bilt heard all of us and doubled down with an even more confusing solution...Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network