Frequent Miler on the Air

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerNew York is an expensive city. Today, we'll talk about tips to make it more affordable using points, credit card benefits, and smart stacking.(00:52) - Flights: No one-size-fits-all option here, but consider...(05:47) - Favorite points hotel options(17:47) - Saving money on stuff to do(20:21) - Saving money with credit card benefits(27:24) - Tips for what to do while you're thereSubscribe 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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerIn this episode, we'll hear about the "best ever" Hyatt Place breakfast, we'll talk about where Greg should go after Berlin, and share lesser-known sweetspot awards like flights to Europe from 90 points and Scandinavian hotels from 500 points!Giant Mailbag(01:08) - Paul asks: "Is there another way to status match Flying Blue elite status or do we have to wait until it opens up again for US residents?"See our Shortcuts to Flying Blue elite status here(03:19) - Kevin writes in with some miles and points success storiesThis Week in Points(05:12) - Rove enhancements (out on Friday 8/28)(09:11) - Citi 25% transfer bonus to LHW through 9/19Personal Points(10:41) - LH multi-city via Aeroplan(13:25) - Hyatt Place AMS(16:51) - Greg's Berlin tripMain Event: Hidden Gem Awards(21:24) - Lodging(21:51) - Cottages.com for 15K Wyndham points/bedroom/night(23:14) - Preferred Hotels starting at 20K Choice/night(25:59) - Nordic / Scandinavian hotels w/ Finnair AviosLearn how to use Finnair Avios to book Scandinavian hotels here(30:15) - Flights: Star Alliance flights for 3.5K econ, 7K biz (under 600 miles)(32:27) - Air France business class to Europe with NO surcharges(36:06) - British Airways business or first class with low surcharges(43:06) - Royal Air Maroc: US to Morocco for 17.5K econ, 50.5K Biz w/ Finnair Avios(45:38) - Use Virgin Atlantic miles to fly around Europe and Northern Africa starting at 4K one-wayLearn more about Air France KLM across Europe here(50:02) - North America to Europe for 90 points via Lufthansa Miles & More(55:54) - Delta short-haul 5K Flying Blue milesSubscribe 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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerHow to handle Citi cards in 2-player mode now that point sharing is dead? "GH" wrote in with this question recently, wondering:Paraphrasing and simplifying: My old plan was to keep a single Strata Premier card for myself, a Double Cash card for player 2, and multiple Custom Cash cards across both. Now that Player 2 can't move points to me, I need a new plan. Should Player 2 get a Strata Premier card to enable 1-to-1 point transfers, or should we give up on Player 2 holding any Citi ThankYou cards?(00:53) - What does "player 2" mean and what does this question mean?(03:09) - What is the best 2-player strategy for earning Citi points?(06:46) - What is the best 2-player strategy for earning Citi points if you're starting from scratch?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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerWith Tim based in Seattle, he's very familiar with the Alaska Atmos Rewards program. Today he's joining Greg to talk about some of the pros and cons of the program.(00:54) - Pro: Free to move points to others with an Atmos Summit card or a Hawaiian card(01:26) - Pro: Free stopover on most one-way awards.(02:14) - Pro: Award changes are free and easy(02:33) - Pro: Excellent award chart sweet spots (short-haul US, US-Oceania/Asia/South America, intra-Alaska).(04:06) - Pro: Relatively easy to acquire elite status(05:39) - Pro: Award flights booked through Alaska can earn status points based on distance flown, including partner awards(09:05) - Pro: Many partners beyond oneworld(11:20) - Pro: Various companion certificates can be very useful(15:34) - Con: Less robust route network than competitors like Delta, United, and American.(15:34) - Con: Atmos still doesn’t allow awards with multiple partners outside of American, British Airways, and Finnair (although more are expected to be added this year).(20:25) - Con: $20 Partner award booking fee unless you have Summit cardSubscribe 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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerOn today's episode, we'll share a reminder to check your credit card travel portal if you're renting a car. Nick will share tips about renewing passports, and we'll see how the Altitude Reserve has added 4 - no, 2 transfer partners.Giant Mailbag(01:26) - Podcast failed to download Friday evening and most of Saturday, so now we're experimenting with a release schedule to drop podcasts during working hours(04:39) - Mitsu: Regarding booking rental cars through CREDIT CARD portalsMattress Running the Numbers: IHG(11:09) - Targeted IHG promo: Earn double elite night credits (limit 10 bonus elite nights)Read more about this targeted IHG promo hereBonvoyed: Amex Offers(14:31) - Multi-card trick appears to be deadThis Week in Points(18:24) - Miles, points, and more changes(19:23) - Amex adds 350+ FHR/THC added in 2026(20::58) - Select Tock restaurants available for Amex Resy credits as of 9/15(23:16) - Avios.com award calendarRead more about the Avios award calendar herePersonal Points(28:25) - Greg: Overcoming Virgin award booking snafu(34:38) - Nick: trying to book a cruise cabin for a family member(38:06) - Greg: SAS award booking snafu(46:43) - Nick: Online passport renewal data point(50:05) - Read about rental car loyalty programs hereMain Event: US Bank's Mysterious Transferable Points(51:56) - Altitude Reserve card is a collectible, but has been a bit of a dud until now(52:54) - Altitude Reserve Before Dec 15 2025(56:25) - After Dec 15, 2025(1:02:54) - Altitude Reserve Now(1:13:54) - Questions for Nick and GregSubscribe 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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerHow do you handle travel when you are traveling with friends who don’t play the game? How would you rank the premium economy cabins? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on August 5th, 2026.(00:46) - How do you handle travel when you are traveling with friends who don’t play the game? Do you adjust your plans to cheaper options to make it more affordable for them? Do you cover any portion of their travel with your points?(05:31) - Excluding automobile coverage, must one use a specific credit card to get non-automobile insurance coverage? (i.e., which credit cards can you get travel coverage just by having the card?Read our resource about travel protections here: https://frequentmiler.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/(06:55) - ​​Which credit cards have certificate/award claw-backs if you have a merchandise return credit to your card? Hotel credits? What about other cards?(09:18) - How far out does your card strategy for new SUB’s typically go into the future? And do you stray if a shiny big bonus appears on one you did not plan for?(13:01) - What is your breakeven point if it's only 15K economy but 75K business, would you go with economy for 60K savings? Why did you choose your answer?(18:28) - With the changes in the Chase Ink train and Chase being more flexible with accepting applications after 5/24, I've gotten 2, is it time to rethink the 5/24 strategy? How do you navigate being over it?​(20:33) - Looking to spoil my wife and 3 teens with a business class long flight. I'll fly from anywhere to anywhere. I simply () want 5 business class seats on one long flight. Where would you look?(25:34) - ​​Should I apply for Robinhood Gold? I got an invite via Credit Karma(27:23) - For the new challenge announcement on today's Coffee Break, where do we submit listener ideas?Check out our Wild Card announcement here (https://frequentmiler.com/the-2026-team-challenge-wild-card-coffee-break-ep117-8-4-26/) and comment your own ideas for obstacles and power-ups here (https://frequentmiler.com/2026-wild-card-challenge-help-us-design-our-obstacles-and-power-up-decks)(29:41) - Who spent too much time at Costco today?(32:16) - ​​I don't see you guys talking much about sweet spots to South America (more specifically Brazil). I am struggling to find good routes with reasonable amount of points…Read more here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-ways-to-get-to-south-america-using-points-and-miles/(36:28) - How would you rank the premium economy cabins you have used? Who has the best upgrade from regular economy, and why? Which have the closest to business class experience?(41:15) - ​​Is Nick's background real? Just saw cars passing by(42:26) - ​​Do y'all ever get credit card fatigue? I've been churning on and off for a couple of years. Wanting to just sit tight for a bit.(48:18) - Thinking of this having to fly with a stroller wild card, what was the weirdest or most cumbersome thing you had to fly with?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 – “swappin’ back n’ forth” by up @ nightCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerEvery year, the FM team does a team challenge where we compete to see who can make their points & miles go farthest. We're calling this year's challenge "The Wild Card Challenge". In today's episode we'll give you the high-level overview of what it's about! (Don't worry, we'll give you even more granular details soon!)(00:41) - What are the FM team challengesLearn more about past challenges here: https://frequentmiler.com/annual-team-challenges/(01:24) - Why do we do these?(03:39) - Who's participating this year(04:41) - Introducing: The Wild Card Challenge(08:08) - High level about this challenge(10:48) - How do the contestants feel?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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerIn today's episode we'll talk about how Amex has added a valuable new hotel partner, Seats.aero has added useful new tools, and we'll discuss the many ways to amass a Membership Rewards fortune.Giant Mailbag(00:59) - Ross: Another hidden gem card?Bonvoyed: JetBlue, Air Canada, LifeMiles(04:51) - JetBlue & Air Canada add basic fares to premium cabins(06:27) - Your Lifemiles+ free award changes/cancellations may end sooner than you thinkAwards, Points, and More(08:55) - Amex adds new transfer partner LHW(16:28) - Philippine Airlines flights now bookable with Alaska Atmos Rewards (Read more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/philippine-airlines-flights-now-bookable-with-alaska-atmos-rewards-book-biz-class-from-75k-points/)(17:48) - United transcontinental business class from 27K miles for cardholders(19:14) - Seats.aero has added a few new tools for Pro members(24:00) - Nick's experience with The Edit by Chase Travel℠Main Event: How to Amass Amex Points(26:26) - Amex Membership Rewards are suddenly interesting again(31:03) - Sign Up Bonuses(41:26) - Two Player Mode(43:55) - Read about multi-referrals here: https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-value-from-amex-multi-referrals/(48:31) - Amex offersLearn about Cardpointers here (https://frequentmiler.com/cardpointers/) or Savewise here(50:01) - Rakuten ShoppingLearn about Rakuten referrals here: https://frequentmiler.com/rakuten-best-ever-5k-membership-rewards-50-referral-bonus-for-both-sides/(53:21) - Category bonusesGet 15% of ESIM from our sponsor SailyThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerSubscribe 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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerHow do you decide whether to buy flights with cash or miles? Follower Owen asked this question recently, saying:"On the podcast you guys often say that you rarely book flights with cash. I find that, especially when booking domestic flights, I often can’t get amazing value from my points (let’s say <1.5cpp). As a result, I tend to hoard my points for those big outsized value redemptions (international business class, Park Hyatt stays, etc.) so I end up booking the flight with cash. How do you think about these situations, especially when you have less flexibility around dates? (Let’s say you’re traveling for an event, or just traveling during peak season). How much do you value the extra flexibility that comes with booking with points? At what point do you decide you have plenty of points so redeeming for lower value isn’t the end of the world?"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] out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.

Get 15% of on Saily E-SimsThis podcast episode is sponsored by Saily. Saily is an ESIM service app created by the security experts behind NordVPN. Instead of paying absurd daily rates to your home carrier or swapping SIM cards on arrival, Saily gives you flexible prepaid data plans in over 200 destinations worldwide. Download Saily from your app store and use our code FREQUENTMILER at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com/frequentmilerGreg's been thinking through how to handle the recent shutdown of his Wells Fargo checking account. Worried the shutdown would eventually impact his credit cards, he had to make a decision about where to transfer his points...(01:30) - Greg's Wells Fargo shutdown(08:54) - Reader tip(13:03) - Nick's advice(16:20) - Greg's decisionSubscribe 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 YoderCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email [email protected] or you can find more information at Voyascape.com/advertsing.