travel
Earn miles without flying. Frequent Miler is all about getting the most out of the loyalty game. You can easily earn hundreds of thousands of points and miles without traveling, then learn how to use those points towards luxury travel. In this podcast, Frequent Miler founder Greg, and senior author Nick debate current topics in the points & miles world.
The hosts discuss whether an American Airlines status challenge offered through an employer is worth pursuing. They break down the requirements for Gold (10,000 loyalty points) and Platinum (25,000 loyalty points) over a four-month period and examine whether the benefits justify the effort based on travel frequency.
The podcast outlines American Airlines Gold status benefits, including priority check-in, security, group four boarding, and preferred seats. However, the hosts caution that complimentary upgrades are very unlikely as a Gold member due to competition based on rolling loyalty points.
The hosts explain that achieving Platinum status via the challenge requires 25,000 loyalty points and unlocks valuable perks like complimentary main cabin extra seating at the time of booking, two free checked bags, and OneWorld Sapphire status for international lounge access.
The hosts discuss methods for earning American Airlines loyalty points without flying, highlighting shopping portals and introductory offers from services like meal kits and cell phone providers that can quickly clear the 10,000-point threshold for Gold status.
Greg and Nick explain how to stack American Airlines Simply Miles card-linked offers with shopping portals using a MasterCard to earn extra loyalty points, noting a recent missed opportunity on a tire purchase.
The hosts review booking hotels through the American Airlines portal as another avenue for earning loyalty points, noting that elite members often receive higher earning rates, though prices should be carefully compared.
Tim and Nick discuss a new Emirates promotion where travelers can earn one free Skyward Mile for every minute spent in Dubai, capped at 7,200 miles, for bookings made between October 21st and November 5th.
Nick and Tim discuss changes to Rakuten where users can no longer earn Bilt points when applying for Bank of America credit cards through the portal, following a similar previous removal of Amex membership rewards eligibility.
Nick reports that recent data points on Reddit show American Express is no longer automatically pooling membership rewards points when opening new cards, instead creating separate accounts unless explicitly linked during the application process.
Tim discusses upcoming changes to the American Express Business Platinum card taking effect on February 17th, which will narrow the eligible carriers for the wireless credit and limit shipping companies for 2x earnings.
Nick and Tim discuss Delta's decision to leave elite status requirements unchanged for 2027, maintaining the status quo following massive adjustments made back in 2023.
Nick notes that Citi has added Copa Airlines as a transfer partner for ThankYou points, providing cardholders with new options for Star Alliance redemptions and stopovers.
Tim discusses upcoming TrueBlue and Mosaic program changes for JetBlue in 2027, including adjusted milestone awards, reduced perks for lower tiers, and new cardholder upgrade tiebreakers prioritizing the JetBlue card.
Tim and Nick outline Bilt Rewards' announcement of Bilt 3.0, introducing changes to Bilt Cash expiration rules, hybrid housing payment earning structures, updated elite hotel credits, and daily reward sweepstakes.
Starting January 1st, 2027, the American Express Platinum card's fine hotels and resorts credit will transition to a lodging or stays credit requiring a two-night minimum stay. Podcasters note this eliminates the previous strategy used by maximizers who booked single-night stays to trigger the $300 semi-annual credit.
The podcasters discussed how utilizing the Amex Platinum airline fee credits has become more difficult after the United Travel Bank workaround stopped working and nearly all non-intended approaches for Delta credits were eliminated.
Amex Platinum cardholders face a tougher time maximizing the Lululemon credit as stores move to a new system preventing gift card purchases from coding properly. The hosts noted this crackdown effectively halts the practice of reselling gift cards for cash back.
After evaluating key card perks based on how much they would prepay for them, the podcasters determined that keeping a first American Express Platinum card at the $895 annual fee remains worthwhile. However, they found second cards harder to justify depending on the user.
Greg and Nick from Frequent Miler discussed using Bilt Cash to pay mortgages, advising that users set payments up well in advance and be financially flush enough to float the difference if a payment processing delay occurs.
The hosts noted that customers can use alternative cards, such as the Alaska Airlines card, to earn 3x points when paying rent or housing through Bilt, though payment options are more limited compared to using the Bilt card.
Addressing audience concerns that Bank of America's upcoming point transfers to Alaska could jeopardize Bilt's transfer relationship with Alaska, the hosts stated they would not panic-transfer their points, noting that Bank of America already partners with Bilt on the Atmos card.
The hosts explained that primary Bilt cardholders can choose whether points earned by an authorized user go into the primary account or the authorized user's separate account, a feature configurable directly within the Bilt app.
Listeners noted and podcasters confirmed that same-day confirmed flight changes on Delta error out when the ticket is booked using partner miles such as Virgin Atlantic, even for passengers with Delta elite status. The podcasters recommend booking directly through Delta if a same-day change is likely.
IHG is running a promotion offering 10,000 bonus points to members who buy Ambassador status and complete a two-night stay within a specified time. The hosts note that Ambassador status can also be purchased for $225 or 45,000 points, offering benefits like a free weekend night, guaranteed room upgrades, and a 4 PM late checkout.
American Express has confirmed that its Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) credit will require a minimum stay of two nights starting January 1, 2027. To help offset the change, Amex is adding prepaid Airbnb Luxe stays booked through Amex Travel as a qualifying option for the lodging credit.
Bilt has added JetBlue as a new transfer partner, following Rove's recent addition of JetBlue. The hosts speculate that a transfer bonus might be announced for Bilt's upcoming rent day, though points programs generally do not offer one-to-one parity with JetBlue compared to the new startups.
SAS Eurobonus is offering a paid status match allowing travelers to buy SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus status ranging from €89 for Silver up to €349 for Diamond. The status duration depends on the individual member's rolling membership year, potentially securing up to two years of status.
Southwest is completely changing its Companion Pass program starting in 2027, requiring travelers to earn top-tier Platinum status—primarily through paid flights and credit card spending rather than general credit card bonuses—to secure an unlimited Companion Pass. Credit card welcome bonuses and partner spend will no longer count toward elite status.
Carrie Yoder revealed that her twin sister, Annie Yoder, has been providing the voiceovers for the podcast's summary videos. Annie also contributes to the show's editing and produces the theme music for the Frequent Miler podcast.
Nick detailed his experiences in Hanoi, Vietnam, after the last check-in, including a cooking class where he learned to make pho and bun cha, and purchasing a custom-tailored blazer in 24 hours. He then flew Vietnam Airlines premium economy to Sydney, Australia.
Greg shared his experiences in Medellin, Colombia, including a street food tour and a day trip to Guadalupe, a town reportedly inspiring Disney's Encanto. He also climbed the 700+ steps of El Peñol for stunning views of the surrounding lakes.
Tim described his second day in Seoul, South Korea, which included a hike around the Seoul trail mountains offering panoramic views, trying a sweet corn shaved milk ice dessert called 'binju', and a four-course gluten-free and vegetarian progressive dinner at the Gwangjang Night Market.
Nick detailed his travel from Vietnam to Australia, utilizing Air Canada Aeroplan for a Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Melbourne, despite it not always being the best value. He stayed at the Westin Melbourne, booked with Marriott Bonvoy points, noting it wasn't the best redemption value but served its purpose.
Greg organized a speakeasy bar crawl in Melbourne, Australia, featuring hidden entrances behind bookshelves and through pizza place 'staff only' doors. The crawl included bars known for visually appealing and flamboyant drinks, with one drink designed for two people as a 'honeymoon activity'.
Tim detailed his stopover in Tokyo, Japan, which included visiting the TeamLab Borderless digital art installation and experiencing a stand-up sushi restaurant offering high-quality fish at a low price. He noted the efficiency of ordering via tablet and the quick 25-minute dining experience.
Tim described the '123 Boom' activity in Melbourne, Australia, an immersive experience where participants physically engage in video game-like challenges, including navigating laser grids and a 'floor is lava' game, culminating in a bomb defusal that resulted in a liquid 'explosion'.
Tim praised Nick for arriving in Melbourne on time and under budget, noting this as a significant achievement given Nick's usual travel patterns. Tim also highlighted his own strategic use of Aeroplan's Latitude Award for booking flexibility.
Greg detailed his strategic use of credit card points for a two-night stay at the Park Hyatt Melbourne, effectively costing only 10,000 points per night after applying credits. He also mentioned receiving a significant upgrade to the ambassador suite due to his Globalist status.
Three participants in the Wild Card Challenge have reached their second destination. Greg is in Fort Lauderdale after visiting Panama and Colombia, Nick is in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Tim is in Seoul, South Korea. All participants are facing challenges with travel and content creation.
The scoring in the Wild Card Challenge is being revisited due to significant viewer feedback. Initial scores have been adjusted after organizers Carrie and Annie reviewed comments and feedback, acknowledging potential misjudgments in the initial assessment.
Greg's score in the Wild Card Challenge has been reduced by two points following his own request and review by the organizers. Points were deducted for his 'luxury flights' and 'wallet friendliness' scores, making his new total 102 points, tying him for first place.
Nick shared the demanding nature of content creation during the Wild Card Challenge, highlighting the lack of sleep required to produce and send video clips. He mentioned being in Hanoi, Vietnam, and having stayed up through the night to manage his tasks.
Tim recounted an incident where he fell asleep while editing video clips for the challenge, only to wake up hours later and find that Nick had completed the task for him. This happened after he had already sent one batch of clips to Annie and Carrie.
Greg detailed his first destination in the Wild Card Challenge, aiming for business class flights and boutique hotels. His journey to Panama involved a delayed Avianca business class flight from DC to Panama via San Salvador, where he was provided a lounge room to sleep. He checked into the Hotel Plaza Herrera in Casco Viejo and explored Panama City.
Nick described his journey from Boston to Paris using only 88 Lufthansa miles, incurring a surcharge that was covered by a 'get out of surcharge free card'. Instead of staying in a lounge in Paris, he visited Parc Asterix, a theme park based on the French comic series, and enjoyed its roller coasters.
Greg clarified his unusual hotel booking for the challenge, explaining he used Delta miles combined with a Delta Stay's credit to book the Hotel Plaza Herrera because it wasn't a Marriott property. He acknowledged this was for 'very poor value' but necessary to secure the hotel and free up other points. He conceded he might have miscalculated the value he received per point.
A brief interjection clarified that the Chase Sapphire lounge Greg mentioned is actually partnered with Hoot, not disguised as an Emirates lounge as Greg initially stated. This clarification was offered to avoid potential confusion regarding the lounge's affiliations.
Citi has added Japan Airlines' JAL Mileage Bank to its Thank You Rewards program, offering a 1:1 transfer ratio for cardholders of the Strata Premier, Strata Elite, or Prestige cards. This move comes amidst recent changes to Citi's transfer partners, including devaluations of its transfer ratios to Choice Privileges and IHG's I Prefer program.
Citi has updated its Strata Premier and Strata Elite cards with 'lifetime' language, meaning new applicants will not be eligible for introductory bonuses if they have or have previously held the card. This replaces the previous 48-month (4-year) language, effectively ending the ability to re-earn welcome bonuses on these cards.
The discussion highlights the attractive award prices for Japan Airlines flights, citing examples like business class from the US East Coast to Europe for 42,000 points. It also touches on the possibility of upgrading to first class at the check-in desk using miles, with one anecdote detailing an upgrade for 45,000 miles.
Beyond Citi, the podcast mentions that other programs also offer 1:1 transfers to Japan Airlines. These include Bilt Rewards and Roam. This provides additional options for customers looking to book award flights with Japan Airlines.
Greg is contemplating a Delta status match for the first time, noting that the airline is currently offering some of its largest-ever welcome bonuses on co-branded credit cards. These offers are described as having unique twists beyond just offering more miles.
A participant in the 'Wild Card Challenge' has booked all their flights for the challenge, which begins September 22nd. They shared that their travel will involve at least 40% premium cabin flights and stays in four-star or better hotels.
A recent experience with Capital One's travel price match feature was highlighted as surprisingly easy and efficient. The process, involving booking a non-refundable rate and then contacting Capital One, was completed in under 9 minutes.
A user discovered a notable price discrepancy between the Capital One travel app and its desktop website for hotel bookings. In at least one instance, two out of three room types were found to be 21% cheaper on the mobile app.
Hosts Greg and Nick discuss the importance of timing when applying for hotel credit cards that offer annual free night certificates. They highlight that the timing of certificate issuance relative to application date varies by issuer, with Chase being quicker than American Express.
Greg and Nick explain the complexities of coordinating free night certificates when traveling with a partner ('player two'). They note that if certificates expire at different times, it can make planning trips difficult, especially for booking in advance or using multiple certificates for one trip.
The hosts explore strategies for using free night certificates effectively, considering travel frequency and the type of hotel. Greg suggests that uncapped certificates are best for expensive international trips, while capped certificates, like Marriott's 35k, might be useful for domestic travel during peak times like Thanksgiving.
Greg discusses his strategy for obtaining free night certificates to optimize for winter travel, specifically post-Christmas and early spring trips. He aims to have certificates issued in early May to cover potential last-minute summer travel and to ensure availability for fall through spring trips planned later.
The discussion extends to earning free night certificates beyond the annual renewal, specifically through spending requirements on cards like the Hilton Surpass. For example, spending $15,000 annually on the Surpass card earns an additional certificate, adding another layer of timing considerations for maximizing their use.
The value of free night certificates is significantly impacted by whether they are redeemed for weekday or weekend nights, with weekend nights typically being more expensive. The hosts advise planning certificate issuance around desired travel dates, especially when aiming to use them for multiple weekend nights.
Chase has released a refreshed Air Canada Aeroplan co-branded credit card, featuring a new welcome bonus. However, the card also includes significant changes to its fees and benefits, leading to a mixed reception from the Frequent Miler team.
The Frequent Miler team has drafted their destinations and credit card picks for the annual 'Wild Card Challenge'. Each participant has selected two independent destinations and one shared destination, along with specific credit cards to fund their trips.
Tim's chosen destinations for the Wild Card Challenge are Costa Rica, South Korea, and Melbourne, Australia. His travel will be funded by the Aeroplan card (with a 60,000 point offer), IHG Premier card (140,000 points), Sapphire Reserve (100,000 points), and Capital One Venture 1 card (20,000 points). A unique challenge for Tim is the requirement to check a bag on all flights.
Greg's selected destinations for the challenge are Panama, China, and Melbourne, Australia. His credit cards for the trip include the Delta Gold card (90,000 points), Bonvoy Brilliant card (150,000 points), Amex Gold card (100,000 Membership Rewards points), and American Airlines MilerUp card (15,000 AAdvantage miles). His 'Night Owl' obstacle means he cannot fly before 10 AM.
In a discussion revisiting the claim that the Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport has the best breakfast, listeners chimed in with their own experiences. Several listeners nominated Hyatt Place Quito as having the superior breakfast, with one calling it the 'best Hyatt Place breakfast in the world'.
A listener reported that a Hyatt Place in China offers a remarkable breakfast spread for under $40 a night. The options included made-to-order eggs, congee, multiple egg varieties, stir-fries, and eight types of fruit, significantly exceeding expectations for the price point.
Riverview Ranch Retreat and Western Adventures in Montana is an all-inclusive SLH property bookable with Hilton points or certificates, despite its high cash rate of up to $4,700 per night. The property can be booked with Hilton points, now at 220,000 per night, or with free night certificates, though typically a minimum of three nights is required. The speaker highlights the unique nature of the ranch as a potentially aspirational point stay in the US.
A major drawback of booking Riverview Ranch is its strict cancellation policy. Cancellations made between the booking date and 61 days prior to arrival incur a 20% fee. Any cancellation within 60 days of arrival results in a 100% loss of the total stay cost, making it non-refundable.
Several Hilton credit cards offer free night certificates: the Hilton Aspire card provides one annually with its $550 fee, and additional certificates can be earned through spending thresholds. The Hilton Surpass card, with a $150 annual fee, offers a certificate after $15,000 in annual spending. Welcome offers for some Hilton cards may also include certificates.
The speaker successfully booked a two-night stay at Riverview Ranch using one expiring Hilton free night certificate and Hilton points for the second night, achieved via online chat. While the property typically requires a three-night minimum, an exception was made for their booking. The transfer to Missoula airport was also facilitated by the ranch.
Riverview Ranch can be booked for 220,000 Hilton points per night, a significant increase from when it was first featured. Even when purchasing points on sale, the cost is approximately $1,100 per night, which is substantially less than the cash rate of up to $4,700 per night. The property is an all-inclusive SLH hotel partner of Hilton.
A Canadian listener, Josh, shared his positive view on the Air Canada-Hyatt partnership, noting that for Canadians, the transfer ratio of Aeroplan points to Hyatt is advantageous. He highlights that Canadian Amex Cobalt cardholders can earn a significant number of Aeroplan points through dining and groceries, effectively translating to a high earn rate of Hyatt points.
The podcast revisits a past "point gamble" from 2012 where a listener, likely the host, took a significant risk by purchasing $4,000 worth of watches from Nordstrom. The strategy involved leveraging a promotion on the British Airways shopping portal, aiming to earn 36 points per dollar, which was an unprecedented rate at the time.
A Canadian listener named Josh provided a different perspective on the Air Canada-Aeroplan to Hyatt transfer ratio, finding it quite valuable. He explained that due to Canadian credit card bonuses, particularly the Amex Cobalt card, earning Aeroplan points on everyday spending like dining and groceries results in a high effective earn rate of Hyatt points (3.5x per USD).
For travelers living close to New York City, Nick highlights several sweet spots for booking flights using points. He mentions using Air France KLM Flying Blue miles for Delta flights starting at 5,000 miles one-way, and Alaska miles for American Airlines flights at 4,000 miles in economy.
Nick shares a tip for booking United Airlines flights using Air India's Mileage Club. These flights can be booked from 3,500 miles each way, and he recently found the process smooth after transferring points from the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
For those living within train ride distance of New York City, Nick suggests considering Amtrak cards, especially when there's an elevated bonus offer. He notes that Amtrak points are often valued at 2.9 cents per point, and he personally keeps the Amtrak card on his radar for future opportunities.
Tim advises that for travelers on the West Coast heading to New York City, Tuesday and Wednesday departures are often best for transcontinental flights. He notes that avoiding Monday departures and Sunday returns, which are popular with business travelers and tourists respectively, can lead to better cash fares and point sales.
Tim shares that from Seattle, he's seen Delta Flash sales for flights to New York City as low as 7,000-8,000 SkyMiles one-way. Alaska Airlines has also had sales, with fares dropping to around 9,000-10,000 miles.
Nick explains how he uses his American Express Business Platinum card to book Alaska flights at a favorable rate of 1.54 cents per mile. He also earns miles on these flights, making it an effective way to travel from the West Coast to New York City.
Nick highlights the Luxury Collection in Manhattan as a favorite points-bookable hotel, noting that most rooms are spacious, true one-bedroom suites. He mentions it can often be booked with a Marriott 85k free night certificate, offering good value for a certificate redemption.
Nick identifies the Thompson Central Park as his go-to Hyatt property in New York City, citing its unusually spacious rooms for Manhattan standards. Tim agrees, confirming it's a great place with spacious rooms.
Nick recommends the Conrad Downtown for its quiet location by the water, featuring a nice walkway with flowers and occasional live music. He notes that the Financial District area, surprisingly, offers more life than one might expect.
Nick points out that Wall Street hotels are surprisingly cheap on weekends. He realized this later in his travels to New York City, emphasizing the importance of location when choosing accommodation.
Showing the latest 15 of 30 covered episodes.