Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Google is officially getting deeper into the points-and-miles world, and Ed and Richard have plenty of questions. Google is adding travel functionality to AI Mode that can search for points-and-miles availability directly from participating airlines and hotel programs. Initial integrations include Alaska, Hawaiian, American, Choice, Hilton and Wyndham, with Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM and Lufthansa among those expected to follow. And the results can be fast—Richard gets award pricing back almost instantly during the show. But fast doesn't necessarily mean accurate. Ed puts the new functionality through a series of tests and finds incorrect Hilton award prices, missing hotels, problems with dates and days of the week, and incomplete results. Richard gets Google to find an Alaska Mileage Plan redemption on American—but only after specifically asking about it, and even then Google provides the wrong partner booking fee. They also conduct a live experiment looking for Marriott award availability during Atlanta Braves home games, with some interesting results. So, is Google AI ready to replace dedicated award-search tools? Not yet. But Ed and Richard agree that if Google can make the data more reliable, the ability to ask a broad question like "Show me every date in October when I can fly this route for 7,500 miles" could become extremely useful. Richard also breaks down Bilt's new partnership with Blacklane, which allows members to book the chauffeur service directly through Bilt and use Bilt Cash or points toward rides. He explains why a premium airport pickup can be particularly valuable at airports where rideshare pickup is a hassle—and acknowledges that the convenience comes at a price. Plus, a $10 Uber Eats order somehow becomes a $29 order, the guys discuss air traffic controllers reportedly leaving work early before a fatal airport accident, and Ed celebrates a very points-and-miles-specific parenting achievement. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Google AI enters the award-search game Searching airline and hotel awards through AI Mode Direct integrations with travel programs Near-instantaneous results More airlines and hotels coming soon ✈️ Can you trust the results? Incorrect award prices Missing hotels and flight options Wrong partner-booking fees Google failing to catch contradictory date information Why knowing the right question to ask still matters ✈️ A live Google AI award-search experiment Searching Marriott availability around Braves home games A $700+ hotel room versus 48,000 Marriott points Where Google got the answer right—and where it didn't ✈️ Could Google replace award-search tools? The potential of flexible natural-language searches Why accuracy needs to improve first Where dedicated tools still have the advantage ✈️ Bilt adds Blacklane Booking chauffeur service through Bilt Using Bilt Cash and Bilt Points Airport pickups without rideshare roulette Richard's experiences testing Blacklane Convenience versus cost ✈️ When a $10 food order becomes $29 Uber Eats fees A new marketplace fee Small-order fees The economics of delivery apps ✈️ Air traffic controllers and "early shove" Two controllers reportedly leaving early The difference between scheduled staffing and actual staffing Why aviation accidents rarely have a single cause Building systems that account for human behavior ✈️ Ed's lifetime points-and-miles achievement His daughter gets approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Building credit with authorized-user accounts Helping young adults establish credit Using rent reporting as another credit-building tool ⏱️ Episode 452 Timestamps 2:07 – Marriott stays not posting and an MGM booking trick 8:34 – Google brings points-and-miles searches to AI Mode 10:38 – Richard tests Google's award search live 15:05 – Wrong prices, missing results and Google's accuracy problem 18:30 – Live test: finding a Marriott award during a Braves home game 22:49 – Would Ed and Richard actually use Google AI to book travel? 24:14 – Bilt's new Blacklane partnership 28:52 – How a $10 Uber Eats order turns into $29 30:50 – Air traffic controllers, "early shove" and airport staffing 36:06 – Ed's lifetime achievement: his daughter gets a Chase Sapphire Preferred

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Ed and Richard are back home after another exhausting stretch of travel, and Richard has survived Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas—barely. Before getting into the airline news, they recap the Vegas experience, including $25 asparagus, $34 cocktails, increasingly unfriendly casino odds, Bellagio's surprising food problem, and why "free parking" has somehow become a legitimate Las Vegas selling point. There's also some fresh Bilt news. Bilt has relaunched its partnership with Blade, allowing members to redeem Bilt Cash for up to two airport helicopter seats per year, along with the ability to use Bilt Points toward Blade flights. Ed also celebrates another year of Accor Platinum status through Bilt's returning status match. Then it's time to talk airlines. After some decidedly unimpressive United flights, Ed and Richard discuss American Airlines ending complimentary upgrades into premium economy on select three-cabin domestic routes. Is this actually a meaningful loss for elites—or just another acknowledgement that complimentary upgrades are already disappearing? Delta, meanwhile, is moving hard in the opposite direction when it comes to premium cabin capacity. Some A330-900neos will feature a whopping 56 Delta One suites, while new domestic aircraft will also feature substantially larger first-class cabins. But Richard raises an important question: if airlines add all those premium seats without adding crew, lavatories and galley capacity, will the experience actually feel premium? Plus, Ed recaps his first D23 experience, they revisit last week's Amanvari controversy after new details emerged, Richard questions what's happening with Delta's operational reliability, and Uber One announces an "improvement" that involves… giving members less. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Bilt Cash takes to the skies Bilt's revamped Blade partnership Using Bilt Cash for airport helicopter flights Redeeming Bilt Points toward Blade Accor Platinum status returns ✈️ Is Las Vegas getting too expensive? Free parking is now a selling point Resort fees and cheap room rates $25 asparagus and $34 cocktails Why Bellagio can be surprisingly difficult for a quick meal ✈️ United's aging aircraft problem Broken or nonexistent Wi-Fi Old entertainment systems Why SNA is still a fantastic alternative to LAX ✈️ Ed's first D23 New Disney attractions Fixing the Yeti New roller coasters The future of Figment Ed's take on Hyatt Regency Orange County ✈️ The Amanvari controversy gets more complicated New details about the canceled hotel stay What the original story left out Why opening-week hotel reviews remain a bad idea ✈️ American changes complimentary upgrades Premium economy on three-cabin domestic aircraft Routes where free upgrades are disappearing Why Richard thinks chasing status for domestic upgrades is already a losing game ✈️ Delta dramatically expands premium cabins 56 Delta One suites on select A330-900neos Bigger first-class cabins on domestic aircraft The potential problem with lavatories, galleys and staffing Why more premium seats may not mean cheaper premium fares ✈️ What's happening with Delta? Richard's recent delays Delta becoming his worst-performing airline this year Another missed Shake Shack burger ✈️ Uber One gives members an "improvement" Ride credits drop from 6% to 5% Why corporate messaging sometimes makes things worse ⏱️ Episode 450 Timestamps 0:48 – Surviving Virtuoso Travel Week and the Vegas heat 2:48 – Bilt Cash can now pay for Blade helicopter flights 5:59 – Vegas prices, free parking and Bellagio's food problem 14:05 – United's aging planes, broken Wi-Fi and the convenience of SNA 17:22 – Ed's first D23 and the biggest Disney announcements 22:48 – New details change the Amanvari hotel controversy 26:14 – American ends some complimentary premium-economy upgrades 31:01 – Delta dramatically increases premium cabin seating 36:24 – Richard asks: What is happening to Delta? 36:49 – Uber One's unusual definition of an "improvement"

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. This week is a little different—and a lot more fun. Ed is joined in person by Richard Kerr, Summer Hull from The Points Guy, and Julian Kheel from Points Path as the group gathers in Las Vegas to celebrate Richard's birthday. Before diving into travel topics, they swap stories about their first meetings, early podcast appearances, and how surprisingly bad they all are at remembering each other. The conversation then turns to one of the hottest topics in premium travel: Chase Lounge access. The group discusses Chase's decision to eliminate Priority Pass access beginning later this month, whether the change will improve crowding, and how much value lounge access actually contributes to an expensive premium credit card. From there, the discussion shifts to premium credit card economics, the Ritz-Carlton Card's hidden value, whether multiple Amex Platinum cards still make sense, and the challenge of assigning real dollar value to annual fees and lounge access. Finally, everyone weighs in on Julian's honeymoon plans, debating destinations, points strategies, and whether his ambitious itinerary is actually realistic. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Richard's birthday celebration Recording together in Las Vegas How everyone first met Early Miles To Go memories ✈️ Chase Lounge access changes Priority Pass access ends Longer connection access for eligible Chase cardholders Will the lounges become less crowded? ✈️ How much are airport lounges worth? Valuing lounge access Domestic versus international travel Waiting in line for premium lounges ✈️ The Ritz-Carlton Card Chase Lounge access Flexible travel credits Free night certificate value ✈️ Premium credit card annual fees Sapphire Reserve Venture X Amex Platinum Which benefits actually get used? ✈️ Julian's honeymoon planning Africa versus other destinations Luxury hotels and points strategies How many points will it really take? ✈️ When is another premium card worth adding? Sign-up bonuses Transfer bonuses Credit utilization versus annual fees ⏱️ Episode 448 Timestamps 0:47 – Richard's birthday and how everyone first met 5:49 – Chase Lounge access changes explained 8:03 – Will Chase Lounges become as crowded as Centurion Lounges? 10:07 – Summer reviews Capital One Landings at LaGuardia 11:50 – What are premium airport lounges really worth? 13:39 – The hidden value of the Ritz-Carlton Card 14:14 – Is the Sapphire Reserve still worth keeping? 15:34 – How many Amex Platinum cards are too many? 17:02 – Planning Julian's honeymoon with points

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Severe weather created another difficult weekend for travelers, and Richard opens the episode with the story of getting his sister home after JetBlue canceled her flight and could not offer another option for several days. The solution involved a train to Baltimore, a Southwest flight and a reminder of why keeping points available for emergencies can be so valuable. Ed then reviews his family's stay at the MGM Skylofts in Las Vegas, including the spacious two-bedroom accommodations, the aging room features and his lingering question about what guests are actually supposed to ask a hotel butler to do. He and Richard compare Skylofts with Aria Sky Suites and consider whether the additional luxury benefits justify the much higher price. The conversation shifts to the complicated Marriott–MGM relationship. Ed explains why MGM Gold status and direct booking can sometimes beat booking through Marriott, especially when resort fees and restaurant spending are considered. Richard also discovers an especially poor Marriott points redemption: nearly 17,000 points to avoid paying a $30 base room rate while still owing the resort fee. Later, the guys debate the best travel movies ever made, discuss whether Boeing should once again be allowed to certify its own aircraft, answer a listener question about choosing a Tokyo hotel for a short visit and examine why domestic award travel has become so painful for families. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Weather disruptions and emergency travel planning A canceled JetBlue flight Taking the train to BWI for a Southwest alternative Why points provide an important travel safety net ✈️ Ed's MGM Skylofts experience The two-bedroom layout Butler service and luxury-hotel benefits Skylofts versus Aria Sky Suites Whether the premium price makes sense ✈️ The Marriott–MGM partnership Booking through Marriott versus MGM Resort fees on Marriott award stays Why MGM Gold can make direct booking more attractive Missing Marriott credit for restaurant charges ✈️ Chase Sapphire Preferred's 100,000-point offer Why Richard applied again Rebuilding a transferable-points balance Marriott points versus Ultimate Rewards ✈️ The best travel movies Up in the Air Flight The Terminal Planes, Trains and Automobiles Back to the Future Catch Me If You Can ✈️ Boeing and FAA oversight Boeing regaining some aircraft-certification authority Whether Boeing can adequately oversee itself Increasing financial penalties for safety violations ✈️ Choosing a Tokyo hotel for a short trip Park Hyatt Tokyo versus Grand Hyatt Tokyo Why location may matter more than luxury Staying near a convenient subway station ✈️ Marriott and Japan Airlines A new JAL status-match opportunity Potential benefits for Marriott elites Rumors of JAL becoming a Citi transfer partner ✈️ The rising cost of domestic award travel Expensive flights for families Shrinking partner-award opportunities Why domestic points strategies are disappearing ⏱️ Episode 446 Timestamps 0:48 – Weather cancellations and getting Richard's sister home 2:28 – Ed reviews the MGM Skylofts 6:45 – Marriott points, resort fees and MGM booking strategy 11:26 – Chase Sapphire Preferred's 100,000-point offer 15:11 – Debating the best travel movies ever 21:58 – Boeing regains aircraft-certification authority 26:08 – Slack Community and Points Path benefits 27:35 – Where to stay during a short Tokyo visit 29:39 – Marriott's JAL status match and transfer-partner rumors 31:41 – Why domestic award travel is getting so expensive