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. Is the golden age of points and miles ending—or is it simply evolving? This week, Ed is joined by Summer Hull and Julian Kheel to break down Chase's controversial decision to reduce Hyatt transfer ratios for Sapphire Preferred cardholders while maintaining the existing ratio for Sapphire Reserve members. The discussion goes beyond the headline change and explores what it means for the future of transferable points, premium credit cards, and loyalty programs. Is this a one-off adjustment, or the start of a broader trend where transfer ratios vary depending on which card you carry? The team also revisits Bilt 2.0 several months after launch, discussing which features have worked better in practice than they initially expected and how members are adapting to the new ecosystem. Finally, they tackle a question that has been debated for more than a decade: Are we witnessing the end of the golden era of points and miles, or just another chapter in its evolution? Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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 ✈️ Chase changes Hyatt transfer ratios • Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve differences • Why the change matters beyond Hyatt • Who is most affected by the new structure ✈️ Is Chase or Hyatt driving the change? • Theories behind the new transfer ratio • What Bilt may tell us in the future • Why everyone is watching closely ✈️ The future of transferable points • Could other partners see different transfer ratios? • Premium card differentiation • Why simplicity may be disappearing ✈️ Is the Sapphire Preferred still worth it? • Who benefits most from the changes • Annual fee considerations • Comparing Preferred and Reserve value ✈️ Bilt 2.0 several months later • Features that proved easier than expected • Mortgage and rent payment experiences • Real-world use of Bilt Cash ✈️ Managing Bilt Cash balances • Rollover limitations • End-of-year planning strategies • Potential redemption opportunities ✈️ Points Path updates • New flexible alerts coming soon • Award repricing opportunities • Benefits available to Slack members ✈️ Is the golden age of points and miles over? • Why this debate never goes away • How loyalty programs continue evolving • Where travelers can still find value ⏱️ Episode 441 Timestamps ⏱️ Episode 441 Timestamps 4:02 – Chase changes Hyatt transfer ratios 7:15 – Who wins and loses from the Sapphire Preferred changes? 10:09 – Is Chase or Hyatt responsible for the new transfer ratio? 16:08 – Are hotel transfers still worth it? 20:50 – Will more transfer partners be affected next? 25:00 – Bilt 2.0: what works better than expected? 29:52 – Planning around Bilt Cash expiration rules 31:27 – Points Path updates and new flexible alerts 33:37 – Is the golden age of points and miles ending? 35:48 – Why premium credit cards keep getting more expensive

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. Sometimes travel planning goes perfectly. Sometimes a sick child cancels an international trip less than 48 hours before departure. This week, Richard shares the story of how a long-planned family trip to London unraveled at the last minute, what he learned while canceling flights, hotels, and activities, and how a father-daughter staycation in New York City helped salvage the weekend. The conversation also dives into using AI to build family travel itineraries, including how Richard used Claude to create a detailed London plan complete with maps, transit instructions, and daily schedules. Ed recounts a frustrating travel day involving delayed flights, rental car headaches, and the challenges of fixing travel disruptions even with top-tier airline status. Plus, Richard takes a chance on Frontier's GoWild Pass, Ed reports more positive experiences with Hilton Diamond Reserve treatment, and the guys react to a jaw-dropping United seat assignment price for an economy flight to Europe. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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 ✈️ Richard's canceled London trip • A last-minute illness changes everything • Unwinding flights, hotels, and activities • Lessons from travel plans that fall apart ✈️ A father-daughter New York staycation • Park Hyatt New York • Eloise Tea at The Plaza • Creating travel memories closer to home ✈️ Using AI to build better itineraries • Planning London with Claude • Maps, transit routes, and daily schedules • How AI is changing trip planning ✈️ Why travel disruptions remain frustrating • Flight delays and limited information • Rental car reservation challenges • The reality of fixing travel problems in real time ✈️ Hilton Diamond Reserve update • Additional stays since qualifying • Surprising recognition and amenities • Early impressions of the program ✈️ Frontier's GoWild Pass experiment • Richard buys the promotional pass • How availability really works • Whether the value proposition holds up ✈️ Alaska's new Iceland service • Seattle to Reykjavik on a 737 MAX • Narrowbody flights across the Atlantic • Would either of them actually book it? ✈️ Bank of America Preferred Rewards changes • New qualification requirements • Why longtime users may lose value • What it means going forward ✈️ United's eye-opening seat assignment pricing • Economy Plus pricing to Europe • Standard economy seat costs • The surprising economics of seat selection ⏱️ Episode 439 Timestamps 0:48 – Richard's London trip is canceled at the last minute 6:12 – What happens when a family trip falls apart 8:34 – The father-daughter New York staycation 10:58 – Using AI to build travel itineraries 17:07 – Travel disruption headaches: delays, rentals, and rebooking 25:48 – Hilton Diamond Reserve delivers another surprise 28:03 – Richard buys Frontier's GoWild Pass 34:31 – Alaska launches Seattle–Iceland service 37:19 – Bank of America Preferred Rewards changes 38:58 – United's shocking $329 seat assignment fee

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. A new credit card shows up, a new hotel status gets tested, and airline product delays keep dragging on. This week on Miles To Go, Ed and Richard break down Citi's rollout of the new American Airlines Globe Mastercard, including what happens when your existing Barclays card gets converted — whether you were planning on it or not. They take a closer look at the card's real value, including its ability to accelerate elite status, and whether the benefits justify the $350 annual fee. From there, the conversation shifts to Hilton's new Diamond Reserve status, as early real-world data points start to trickle in. Does it actually deliver better upgrades, or is it too early to tell? They also revisit Delta's ongoing seat certification delays, now stretching years longer than expected, and what that means for aircraft configurations and upgrade opportunities. Plus, a mix of travel updates — from World Cup logistics challenges to Uber dropping Discover cards — and a new personal travel goal that could reshape how Ed approaches trips going forward. https://thepointsguy.com/hotel/reviews/hilton-elite-status-diamond-reserve-versus-diamond/ https://onemileatatime.com/news/delta-a321neo-flat-beds/ Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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 ✈️ Citi's AA Globe Mastercard rollout Barclays cards being converted automatically Key benefits and $350 annual fee Loyalty point boosts and status acceleration ✈️ Is the AA card actually worth it? Earning structure and flight-based bonuses Companion certificate timing Who this card makes sense for ✈️ Hilton Diamond Reserve status Early real-world upgrade data Why results may vary by property Whether it's worth chasing ✈️ Hotel upgrade realities How hotel systems handle elite tiers Why even top status isn't guaranteed What to watch for with confirmed upgrades ✈️ Delta's ongoing seat certification delays A321neo seat rollout pushed further out Why certification is taking years Impact on premium cabins and upgrades ✈️ Airline Wi-Fi frustrations Continued reliability issues Starlink vs legacy systems Why this still isn't solved ✈️ World Cup travel logistics in the U.S. High transportation costs Weak hotel demand in some markets Why fan experience may fall short ✈️ Uber drops Discover cards Payment network friction Implications with Capital One changes Rare move in the payments space ✈️ The "Five and Dime" travel goal 5 new destinations + 10 new routes per year Why it's harder than it sounds Cabo Verde as a potential play ⏱️ Timestamps 0:50 – Intro and opening banter 5:20 – AA Globe Mastercard conversion explained 9:30 – Is the AA card worth $350? 14:30 – Hilton Diamond Reserve early results 18:30 – Why hotel upgrades are inconsistent 22:00 – Delta seat delays stretch even further 25:30 – Airline Wi-Fi frustrations 28:30 – World Cup travel logistics issues 31:30 – Uber drops Discover cards 33:30 – "Five and Dime" travel goal

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. It finally happened — Spirit Airlines is gone. This week on Miles To Go, Ed and Richard break down what the shutdown of Spirit Airlines means for travelers, employees, and the broader airline industry. From emotional final flights to stranded passengers scrambling for alternatives, the ripple effects are already being felt — and the response from other airlines hasn't exactly made things easier. So-called "rescue fares" sound helpful in theory, but in practice, they've offered limited relief for travelers trying to rebook last-minute trips. They also explore the bigger picture: what losing a major low-cost carrier means for competition, pricing, and access to travel — especially for families and budget-conscious flyers who relied on Spirit to make trips possible. Meanwhile, Delta is dealing with operational issues of its own, with an unusual spike in cancellations and reliability concerns that highlight how fragile airline operations can be. Plus, real-world travel frustrations — from rideshare chaos at Newark to the rising cost of simply getting to the airport — and why the overall travel experience keeps getting more expensive and more complicated. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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 ✈️ The end of Spirit Airlines Final flights and emotional send-offs What happens to employees and crews Why Spirit mattered more than people realized ✈️ The real impact on travelers Families and budget travelers losing affordable options Trips that simply won't happen anymore Why competition matters for pricing ✈️ "Rescue fares" that don't really help Limited availability and restrictive windows United, Delta, American vs JetBlue approaches Why this was a missed opportunity ✈️ Airlines scrambling to fill the gap JetBlue adding routes immediately Frontier and Breeze stepping in What happens to key markets like Fort Lauderdale ✈️ Delta's operational struggles Spike in cancellations compared to competitors Staffing and reliability concerns A noticeable shift from Delta's usual performance ✈️ Empty planes and shifting demand Surprisingly light loads on recent flights Capacity cuts vs soft demand What this could signal for pricing ✈️ The rising cost of travel $130 rides to the airport Why logistics are getting more expensive The hidden costs beyond airfare ✈️ Airline cost-cutting trends Cutting drink service on short flights Potential cuts to premium amenities How airlines are squeezing margins ⏱️ Episode 435 Timestamps 0:48 – Intro and quick travel recap 4:00 – Newark rideshare chaos and rising costs 7:52 – Points Path win: saving 60,000 miles 10:37 – Spirit Airlines officially shuts down 11:17 – Rebooking chaos and lack of real "rescue fares" 13:30 – Why airlines missed a big opportunity 15:57 – Empty flights and surprising demand trends 18:50 – Airlines moving quickly to replace Spirit routes 21:29 – Fort Lauderdale and shifting airline strategy 29:53 – Delta's cancellation spike and reliability issues ⏱️ Episode 432 Timestamps 0:48 – Welcome back & rough week recap 5:20 – Planning the Hong Kong trip 10:00 – Upgrade strategy and long-haul flight experience 15:00 – Victoria Peak and how it's changed 20:00 – Big Buddha and Lantau Island experience 25:00 – Hong Kong Disneyland highlights and tips 30:00 – Comparing Hong Kong to past visits 35:00 – Why Hong Kong feels different today 38:30 – 6 flights in 3 days: brutal travel run 43:00 – Airline Wi-Fi failures vs Starlink success

Watch Us On YouTube! Air India and Boeing are back in the headlines, and the questions aren't getting smaller. This week, Ed and Richard break down what we know — and what we don't — about the latest fuel switch reporting, what responsibility lies with Boeing versus airline operations, and why early narratives in aviation stories are often incomplete. From there, things get lighter: Frontier is giving away 5,000 miles (yes, really), Hyatt launches a new promotion that's worth a closer look, Aeroplan adds ITA Airways as a partner, and we revisit one of the most important lessons in modern travel: always have a backup flight plan. If irregular operations have taught us anything lately, it's that flexibility isn't optional anymore. Scroll down for timestamps and details. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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 More Air India and Boeing questions What's being reported about fuel switches Where Boeing responsibility starts and stops Why early aviation reporting can be misleading Frontier's 5,000 mile giveaway How the promotion works Who should (and shouldn't) care Why free miles aren't always free Hyatt's latest promotion What Bonus Journeys is offering When this promo actually makes sense Comparing Hyatt vs Marriott value Aeroplan adds ITA Airways Why this is bigger than it sounds Routing and redemption implications How this expands Star Alliance strategy Why you always need a backup flight What happens during irregular ops Same-day backup strategy How points give you more flexibility The bigger travel takeaway Airline reliability trends Why flexibility beats loyalty Planning for chaos instead of perfection EPISODE 423 TIMESTAMPS 0:47 – Welcome and setting the stage 3:05 – Air India fuel switch reporting explained 8:22 – Boeing responsibility versus airline operations 13:40 – Why early aviation stories can mislead 17:18 – Frontier's 5,000 free miles promotion 21:04 – Hyatt's new promotion: worth it or not? 26:33 – Aeroplan adds ITA Airways 31:15 – Why you should always have a backup flight 36:02 – Using points for flexibility during irregular ops

Watch Us On YouTube! Scroll down for timestamps and details. Much to the disappointment of thousands of M2G fans around the world, Julian Kheel is back with Ed this week as they dig deeper into Bilt Cash, now that Bilt has finally filled in some of the missing details. They break down what works, what's confusing, and why expiration rules might actually limit how much spend ends up on the card. From there, the conversation shifts to travel news: Heathrow quietly becoming one of the easiest international airports to clear security, American Airlines' messy rollout of "free" Wi-Fi, Delta's long-awaited plan to replace coffin-class seats (eventually), and why JetBlue continues to embarrass the legacy carriers on connectivity. Plus, a reminder about a 15% Miles To Go listener discount on one of our favorite award-search tools. 🎧 Listener Discount Miles To Go listeners can enjoy 15% off Points Path Pro using the code M2G at checkout. 👉 https://pointspath.com/pricing ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ More clarity on Bilt Cash • Monthly credits, lifestyle perks, and dining options • The points accelerator (boost) explained • Why the system is powerful — but still complicated ✈️ The biggest issue with Bilt Cash • Expiration rules and limited rollover • Why this may actually reduce spend for heavy users • How Bilt could fix it ✈️ Heathrow security finally modernizes • No more strict liquid limits • Laptops stay in bags • Why the UK is quietly beating the U.S. on airport security ✈️ Free airline Wi-Fi… sort of • American Airlines' rollout problems • Why communication matters as much as technology • Concerns about bandwidth as Wi-Fi adoption grows ✈️ JetBlue, United, and Starlink • What JetBlue proves is possible • Early Starlink impressions • Why "working Wi-Fi" shouldn't be this hard ✈️ Delta's coffin-class replacement is coming (eventually) • Why the 787 is great news • Why 2031 is… not • Paying more miles for an inferior product ✈️ Points Path update & listener discount • Free vs Pro features • New tools coming soon • 15% off with code M2G ⏱️ Episode 421 Timestamps 0:49 – Welcome back & Julian returns to the show 5:29 – Bilt fills in the gaps on Bilt Cash 7:40 – Monthly credits, menus, and the points accelerator 11:08 – The biggest flaw: expiration and rollover limits 16:44 – Heathrow drops liquid limits and laptop rules 22:51 – Why the U.S. still lags on airport security 23:45 – American Airlines' "free" Wi-Fi rollout problems 26:59 – JetBlue, Starlink, and whether free Wi-Fi can actually work 30:28 – Points Path features + 15% MTG listener discount 34:21 – Delta's coffin-class replacement… arriving in 2031 Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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/

Watch Us On YouTube! Big changes are coming to Bilt — and yes, it involves bananas. 🍌 This week, Ed is joined by Kerr to break down Bilt Card 2.0, the introduction of Bilt Cash, and why the program is evolving now. They walk through the reasoning behind the changes, explain how the new two-currency system works, and dig into the value proposition of all three new cards — Blue, Obsidian, and Palladium. If you've been confused, skeptical, excited, or nervously clutching your five bananas… this episode is for you. ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Why Bilt is changing now • The "five banana" problem explained • Why devaluing points was not an option • How Bilt thinks about long-term sustainability ✈️ Introducing Bilt Cash • Why Bilt added a second currency • How Bilt Cash works alongside Bilt points • Flexibility vs forced redemptions ✈️ Earning & using Bilt Cash • 4% Bilt Cash back on non-rent spend • Unlocking points on rent or mortgage • Transfer bonuses, fitness, travel, and neighborhood perks ✈️ Card-by-card breakdown • Bilt Blue – no annual fee, transferable points • Bilt Obsidian – grocery or dining choice, hotel credit • Bilt Palladium – 3.3x effective earning, lounge access, elite status ✈️ The math behind the Palladium card • How spend converts into points • Why Kerr says it's his top-of-wallet card • Who this card is — and isn't — for ✈️ What happens next • Launch week expectations • Feedback from the community • Why this is just the beginning of Bilt Cash Scroll down for timestamps and details. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! 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/