Frequent Miler on the Air

You have until the end of the year to earn the number of elite nights required for the elite level you're aiming for, so it's time to start thinking strategically!(00:58) - Which status levels are worth targeting?Read more about which Marriott elite benefits apply and when here.(03:23) - Shortcuts (You can read more about this here.)(05:11) - Learn more about Marriott credit card eligibility here.(08:42) - Nick's plan(12:25) - Greg's planVisit 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 Yoder

In this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air, we'll reveal a trick for booking 2 people at single-person award rates, Wyndham & Vacasa are breaking up and breaking our hearts, and we'll talk about how to triple dip towards thousands of dollars in credits.Giant Mailbag(01:11) - Our listener uses a second browser to grab two seats at a low price...Card News(04:56) - Wells Fargo Autograph & Autograph Journey: Transfer 1 to 1 to JetBlue(07:49) - PSA: Grandfathered Sapphire Reserve cardholders (pre June 23): start using your new coupons. (Read more about this here)(08:58) - Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card has a limited-time Turo benefit; $30 per rental, up to $180 in the next 12 monthsCrazy Thing(11:47) - Hilton makes their crappy promo slightly less crappyMattress Running the Numbers(14:41) - Hyatt: Earn 3K bonus points per night at Hyatt Vacation Club properties(Read more about this here)Caution: Resort fees are NOT waived for Globalists at Hyatt Vacation Club properties(Read more about this here)Bonvoyed Triple Header(20:07) - T-Mobile ends autopay discount workaround for credit cards (re: Biz Plat $10/mo credit) (Read more about this here)(24:22) - Increased Air France / KLM Flying Blue taxes and fees ($489 one-way departing Paris)(Read more about this here)(26:40) - Wyndham/Vacasa endingRead more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-rewards-vacasa-partnership-ends-december-1st/Main Event: Triple dipping credit card coupons(33:46) - Double dip vs Triple dip vs Trip dip variation(38:14) - When cancelling/downgrading, the annual fee may be refunded/waived depending on when you cancel or downgrade:(41:20) - Read more here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/annual-fee-refund-rules-for-each-card-issuer/)(41:40) - Amex Consumer Platinum examples...(44:02) - Coupons are not really worth face value(47:45) - Chase Sapphire Reserve examples...(50:30) - Citi Strata Elite examples...(54:37) - Delta SkyMiles® Platinum examples...Question of the Week(58:32) - Is there still value in keeping the Bilt 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 Annie Yoder

Back in June, Chase introduced the new Chase Sapphire Reserve® card with a higher annual fee. Our initial reactions were mixed and a little disappointed because the card was no longer a no-brainer, broadly applicable card in our view. Now that we've had some time, has our opinion changed?(01:53) - High-level view of the card updates(04:15) - Initially, Greg felt like this card would work for him, but not for the casual cardholder. Does he still feel that way?(10:53) - How does Nick feel about it?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 Heads

As it nears the end of the year, it's time to assess Hyatt elite progress. In today's Frequent Miler on the air podcast episode, we'll focus on how to bridge the gap to the next level of Hyatt status. But we'll also talk about United & JetBlue tying their knot tighter, and how Wyndham's crappy coupon book doesn't add up.Giant Mailbag(01:21) - "We just wanted to say how much we have enjoyed the 100K Vacay challenge..."Card News(04:42) - Hawaiian card's $100 annual companion discounts & 50% companion discounts now redeemable on Alaska flights. Learn more about this here.(07:53) - Citi launches new $350 American Airlines AAdvantage Globe credit card, which you can read more about here.(09:13) - United Debit Card Coming (to join SouthWest & Wyndham debit cards)(13:40) - American Express Business Gold® adds $150 Squarespace CreditBonvoyed(15:27) - Wyndham Rewards Insider (More about it here)Crazy Thing(17:22) - Wyndham's Bad MathAwards, Points, and More(21:21) - United & JetBlue: Now reciprocal earn & burn is live(34:18) - JetBlue Mosaic changes (Learn more about them here)(40:35) - Bilt Rewards updates(44:34) - Learn more about Bilt's doing away with Milestone Rewards, which you can read about here.(47:45) - Chase offering 25% transfer bonus to Southwest through Nov 6Main Event: Hyatt: End of year elite planning(50:23) - Why we care(53:32) - Elite levels and Milestones(1:09:00) - Shortcuts(1:13:50) - Learn more about World of Hyatt adding double elite nights to welcome offer here: https://frequentmiler.com/world-of-hyatt-credit-card-temporarily-adds-extra-elite-credit-to-offer/(1:16:33) - Stack with other promos. Ex: Earn 3x Hyatt points on 2+ night stays for 90 days after registration (targeted) (Learn more about this here: https://frequentmiler.com/earn-3x-hyatt-points-on-2-night-stays-targeted/)(1:20:29) - Nick's plans(1:24:09) - Greg's plansQuestion of the Week(1:34:44) - How do you evaluate whether positioning 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 Yoder

Citi is out with a new mid-tier card called the AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® with a $350 annual fee. We expected a lot from this card, but found it ultimately disappointing.(00:50) - Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® basics(02:04) - Perks, coupons, and elite boost(04:44) - Is this the replacement for Barclays $195 Aviator Silver card?(06:31) - Hear our discussion about the Barclays Aviator Silver card here(14:15) - Which card is better? (Or which card is for which kind of motivation?) (18:06) - There are folks earning status through AA hotels - could the Globe card be exciting for those people?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 Heads

On today's Frequent Miler on the Air Podcast we'll discuss how to fly with 1 free human companion and 1 pet companion for a full year, or how to fly with a free human companion for two years, or how to get 350,000 points and elite status for 25 years!Giant Mailbag(01:15) - "I wanted to share some insights on the Mesa card based on my experience..."Learn more about the Mesa Homeonwers card here.100K Vacay Challenge(07:36) - Stephen won both judges' vote and the popular vote!(09:05) - Tim posted his full itinerary here: 7 nights in London and Norway for 100,000 points: Mountains, fjords and ferries Card News(10:02) - 5K bonus points for Atmos Summit card waitlisters extended(11:59) - Citi Strata Elite 100K offer now public ($6K spend required)Learn more about the Citi Strata Elite offer here.Bonvoyed(13:02) - Alaska tanks the utility of its “Famous Companion Fare”(16:55) - No notice: Atmos changes award chart for Alaska & Hawaiian flightsRead more about this no-notice change here.Awards, Points, and More(19:15) - Alaska Atmos to improve earn rates on premium cabin partner bookingsLearn more about this here.(25:04) - Rove launches Loyalty Eligible hotel stays; earn both Rove Miles & hotel pointsLearn more about this here.And consider signing up for Rove to get 500 free miles here.(31:53) - United Mile Play offersLearn more about new targeted United Mile Play offers here.And read about Nick's recent experience here.(35:47) - Rakuten: Best Ever 5K Membership Rewards / $50 referral bonus for both sides [Extended to 12/31]Learn more about this here.(37:54) - Rumor: Rakuten:Bilt(39:36) - UseYourCredits: Track coupons, use their handy mapsLearn more about the handy maps here.(42:18) - Find Preferred Hotels bookable with points (New interactive map!)Find the interacitive map here.Main Event: 5 cool points & miles opportunities expiring soon(45:31) - Buy United miles for 1.36 or 1.44 cents each (or keep your Wyndham points from expiring) [Act fast: Oct 21]Learn more about

(00:49) - Background of Frommer's Travel guides and Frommer's Travel Show(04:25) - What makes Frommer's Travel guides different from other guides and travel websites?(05:39) - How is AI changing the landscape of travel guides?(08:01) - Hidden gems with free activities may not get the presence on Google that places with paid activities will(09:47) - When did Pauline get interested in joining her father's business?(11:45) - Frommer's NYC 2026 Guide(13:42) - Dynamic pricing for the city's top attractions(15:49) - When does a sightseeing pass make sense?(16:53) - How to get better deals on vacation rentals(19:30) - Tips for hotel dealsVisit 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 Heads

This podcast was recorded live on October 8th, at 9 pm ET during our 100K Vacay Annual Challenge final livestream. In that livestream we did our final scoring of Nick and Stephen's trips and crowned the 100K Vacay winner! You'll hear that livestream now, as part of this podcast episode.(You'll notice some audio quality issues with Nick's mic this week - our apologies!) Giant Mailbag(00:39) - "Hi Greg. I know your 100K Vacay trip was meant to set the benchmark, but I would love to read a post of a trip you would have done if you were competing for real to beat the other contestants. I’m sure you could have had an amazing trip that blew the other contestants away."Main Event(02:55) - Overview of challenge and rules(09:58) - Greg's benchmark trip, highs and lows(11:48) - Stephen's highest highs and lowest lows(18:15) - Nick's highest highs and lowest lows(33:03) - Here are some of the things you all flagged as dubious(38:13) - Flight deals revealed(47:09) - Other airport tricks revealed(55:11) - Hotel deals revealed(1:07:54) - Crowning the 100K Vacay winner!Questions of the Week(1:34:04) - If it weren't for this exact challenge, would you have wanted to do the trip you did? Would you recommend your exact itinerary to the rest of us?(1:37:30) - What is the hand that lost Nick the poker tournament?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 Yoder

Last week, Greg completed his benchmark trip using 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points for an incredible vacation in Malta. Shortly after he returned, Tim, Nick and Stephen set out to try and out-shine his trip using 100K of the transferable points they chose to compete with. Unfortunately Tim's trip came to an early end due to an unavoidable need back home, so Nick and Stephen were left to tackle the challenge themselves. With a return deadline by the October 8th 9pm final live check-in, our more than half way finished.This podcast episode features the full midstream live check-in where we heard trip recaps from both of our competitors and gave out grade scores for how they're doing in each main scoring category so far: Destination Wow, Applicability, Value, and Style.(00:24) - What is 100K Vacay?(01:31) - The Peppers summarize their travels so far, from JFK to London to Munich's Oktoberfest(06:42) - Nick summarizes his trip from Boston to Madrid to Malaga, where he had to rebook his flight from Madrid to Malaga, but then eventually made it to the Caminito del Rey cliffside hike(15:02) - Is Nick nervous about the budget?(16:56) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Destination Wow" category for the Peppers(22:16) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Destination Wow" category for Nick(25:57) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Applicability" category for the Peppers(30:00) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Applicability" category for Nick(32:02) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Value" category for the Peppers(34:37) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Value" category for Nick(36:55) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Style" category for the Peppers(38:55) - Greg and Carrie assign grades for the "Style" category for Nick(40:02) - That leaves the Peppers just ahead of Nick in every category except for "Style" so far(41:08) - Budget usage so far(43:06) - What was the highlight and lowlight for everyone?(49:34) - Greg, are you surprised everyone flew to Europe?(53:13) - What's been the biggest obstacle with your bookings so far?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 Heads

Greg's benchmark trip is done, and that means it's time for the 100K Vacay team challenge to begin! In this episode, you'll get a chance to listen to the kick-off live stream that aired on October 1st at 9 pm Eastern Time and reviewed all the things that went well (and could have gone better) with Greg's 100K Vacay benchmark trip to Malta.(01:14) - Here's the timeline of the challenge (starting with the October 1st live kick off).(03:14) - What is 100K Vacay?(03:54) - What's the deal with Greg's benchmark trip? Why isn't he being judged?(06:26) - Greg's benchmark trip - what was it and how did he do?(28:20) - Greg's final totals for his trip and why he scored himself a B+You can read Greg's trip journal here.(35:43) - How do our competitors feel? What are they confident about, and what are they less confident about?(53:08) - How do Nick and Stephen feel about the fact that Tim's already hit the ground running?(1:00:35) - Redemption on VS in Europe is distance-based, not considering layovers (something you advocated). Is it worth the extra time to save some miles due to layovers in AMS or CDG?(1:03:01) - How did you end up in Business Class on Air Serbia? I never even heard of it before.(1:04:29) - How was the breakfast at the Hyatt Centric Malta? Did they have local food?(1:04:27) - Did any of your trips take advantage of mileage transfer bonuses?(1:05:32) - How was the breakfast at the Hyatt Centric Malta? Was there local food?(1:06:25) - Was there anything you would do differently?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 Yoder

In a recent episode, Greg and Nick talked about their favorite travel gear. In this episode, we're featuring all the cool travel gear we learned about from all of you in your responses to that episode!Favorite travel gear from the Giant MailbagListen to the episode "Our favorite travel gear | Ep323 | 9-12-25" here(01:28) - "For packable backpacks, Matador makes ultralight, water-resistant, packable packs. They’re pricey, but the build quality is excellent. They can usually be found on sale during Black Friday."(02:44) - Cincha Travel belt - this can securely attach any backpack to your suitcase. Also a tide stain remover pen.(04:11) - Cheap plastic flip flops. Hotel carpets are dark for a reason. They are a breeding ground for all kinds of yuck. Also a small washcloth. ...this is actually a Japanese small towel that is smaller than a traditional American washcloth (closer to a handkerchief).(05:03) - Replenish your toiletry bag when you get home from a trip NOT before the next trip. That way it is always ready to go. And if I have to remove something from the kit, I leave myself a note to remind myself when packing.(06:33) - A camping set of plastic bowl + cup + utensils (bought at an outdoor store)..... several tea bags of caffeinated & decaf tea each.(08:02) - $3 drugstore rain ponchos. They last for a while and can even keep you warm.(08:56) - Osprey travel backpack. Lifetime warranty and YKK zippers. Super comfortable to wear.(09:37) - "For any men looking for great ways to use their Lululemon credits, Lululemon actually has fantastic lightweight travel clothing – ... all my athletic shorts, regular shorts, joggers, pants that I travel with are Lululemon. They’re pretty good quality, very easy to pack, and are lightweight, and they look good as well. (The ABC line is my personal favorite but you might find something else fits you personally better)"(10:21) - A cheap lock in my backpack for when I’m at the gym or water park and need to use the lockers. A bottle opener and SIM card tool on the same keychain for the lock key.(10:54) - The biggest side benefit of UK wall chargers: "On a recent trip to Mexico, my friends and I booked a slightly sketchy Airbnb. Since the patio door didn’t have a bar, we scattered the UK chargers we had left over from our Cyprus trip as ersatz caltrops and slept soundly, knowing any intruders would face crippling injury if they dared to break in."(11:48) - "I put AirTags or FindMy compatible luggage tags on all my bags. I also have a FindMy enabled passport wallet and glasses case from Satechi — hopefully I won’t ever end up in a situation like Greg when he got his backpack stolen in Chile, but even just being able to track things that are easily misplaced can be a total game changer."(12:14) - "One thing I realized nobody mentioned is a travel router. I have been carrying [a tiny router] for several years, and it has been a real lifesaver on occasion. When I get somewhere that has spotty WiFi reception, I try to find a spot where I can get at least a little reception, plug in the router there, and then I have reception in the whole room. (One time, I had it perched on top of an ice machine down the hall when WiFi was out on the whole floor.) It is also handy for sharing one login among everybody."(13:09) - "For luggage, I love the soft-sided Platinum Elite spinner line from Travelpro. .... The Platinum Elite line has lots of nice built-in organizers like compression straps, multiple zippers and velcro pockets, and a zip-in plastic bag for liquids... There’s an internal...

In this episode, we'll talk about how Citi is showering us with transfer bonuses, then we'll talk about the incredible uses for Japan Airlines miles. Now that Capital One is making transfers available to Japan Airlines (in addition to Bilt, which has already been offering this), it's worth talking about what you can do with those miles!Giant Mailbag(01:42) - "I'm a YUGE fan of ya'll. I'm an Army National Guard member that puts in just enough active duty time to get Servicemembers Civil Relief Act benefits (waived annual fees). So I have so many luxury cards I get FAR more value from the cards than I do from my Guard paycheck.Ya'll have been a key factor in deciding to stay in the National Guard, so 'Thank You For Your Service'."100K Vacay Challenge Update(04:06) - By the time this airs, Greg will be heading to his destination for his Benchmark Trip. As a reminder, he's setting the bar for the rest of the challengers with a trip showcasing how far 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points can go. (Once he's back, Tim, Nick, and Stephen will attempt to match or outdo his trip with alternate transferable points currencies.) Read more about that here!Card News(09:34) - Spirit Travel More credit card holders now get 2 free checked bags (Read more about this update here)(11:11) - Amex will exclude gift cards from Hilton credits starting in 2026(12:28) - Southwest debit card (Read more about the Southwest debit card here)Read the View from the Wing article here.Awards, Points, and More(14:42) - Air France / KLM Promo: Earn 10,000 bonus Flying Blue miles when flying from the US to any destination served by Air France or KLM.(18:16) - Avianca LifeMiles Award Sale(20:19) - Transfer bonuses(24:50) - Rove Miles transfer bonus (Use our referral link here.)(27:25) - Capital One added transfer partners and also has some transfer bonusesMain Event: Sweet-spot awards courtesy of Japan Airlines(30:18) - How to get JAL milesLearn more about the Best Uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles here(32:01) - The Bad News(33:05) - Japan Airlines Mileage Bank 36-month hard expiration policy(34:30) - Family restrictions on award redemption(35:58) - Carrier-imposed surcharges(36:19) - JAL Mileage Bank awards can not be changed (but they can be cancelled for a reasonable fee)(36:56) - Best uses of Japan Airlines Mileage Bank(42:54) - Japan Airlines partner awardsQuestion of the Week(1:10:20) - Buying points isn't usually a good value unless you have a specific redemption in mind, but what about Atmos for 1.66 cents per point? (Especially with Rove miles?)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 Yoder

We find the coupon book trend fairly tedious and frustrating, but we've had to admit that American Express has sort of won this game by offering "coupons" and perks that are actually compelling. But since many of us don't really like the coupon book approach at all, does that make Capital One the winner since they haven't done much with the coupon book strategy at all? Capital One wins the coupon book wars by not playing(00:21) - Coupon Book Wars(04:08) - But many consumers don't want to play the coupon book game(04:28) - Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (which you can learn about here) and Capital One Venture X Business Card (which you can learn about here)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 Heads

In today's episode, we'll talk about the secret to a happy points & miles marriage, chasing "The Infatuation" credits, Hilton's 250K devaluation, and everything you need to know about the refreshed $895 Platinum cards: (Including The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express). We thought this annual fee might be all bad news, but these cards are shockingly compelling!Giant Mailbag(01:30) -"I was wondering if you would be so kind and encourage my wife “Lindsey” to try and use the correct card for purchases on the next podcast."Card News(06:23) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card fights back(12:36) - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card(15:37) - Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card(19:48) - Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit CardLearn more about signing up for Chase Ink cards here.The Bonvoyed Collection®™(21:54) - MaxOut Deals(24:32) - Hilton standard award nights now cost up to 250K points(26:38) - Citi locking accounts for many Strata Elite customers, requesting tax transcriptsAwards, Points, and More(30:35) - Hilton for Business offering Diamond status fast track after 10 nights through Dec 15(31:22) - Now filter to Marriott properties with a club loungeMain Event: $895 Platinum Card: Shockingly Compelling(32:54) - Big Picture (all Platinum cards)See our posts on the consumer cards here and the business card here(38:15) - Consumer Platinum cards (includes The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express for Schwab, and The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley)(56:52) - The Business Platinum Card® from American Express(1:08:58) - What we predicted in MarchQuestion of the Week(1:16:44) - This reader earned less through their Chase Travel℠ booking than they expected when using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. We'll explain why the way these points are posted can be confusing and misleading.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 Yoder

When you're at the gas station filling up, which credit card should you be using for that purchase? We used to value Wyndham points around 1 cent each, which made the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card, which earned 8 points per dollar at gas stations, a clear winner. But recent data has bumped that value down to about .7 cents, making it less of an obvious choice. So, which card should you consider for buying gas instead?(01:19) - Citi Custom Cash® Card 5x (7.5%), up to $500 per billing cycle(02:34) - American Express® Business Gold Card 4x (6.2%)(03:53) - Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card 8x (5.6%)(04:41) - Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards credit card with platinum honors preferred rewards (5.25%): up to $2500 per qtr(05:24) - Sams Club Mastercard 5% (up to $6K per year)(05:51) - Costco Anywhere Visa 5% at Costco, else 4% (up to $7K)(06:19) - Citi Strata Premier℠ Card 3x (4.5%)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 Heads

In today's podcast episode, we're sharing our favorite travel gear (like Nick's Japanese nail clippers), and we'll explain why a UK power adapter is especially useful, and why we carry backpacks in our backpacks.Giant Mailbag(01:18) - One reader writes in about their first big redemption(03:14) - Preferred Hotels & Resorts safari lodges, bookable with iPrefer points, hiccups and allRead more about Preferred Hotels & Resorts with points here.(07:28) - Mother and son plan a 9-country, 1-month itinerary booked on pointsMain Event: Our favorite travel gear(11:40) - Which backpacks and go bags do we like best?(17:57) - Our favorite luggage and toiletries(33:38) - Which tech gear do we keep in our backpacks?(45:50) - Why we carry backpacks inside of backpacks(48:28) - Travel Wallet(52:25) - Misc weather gear(58:45) - Miscellaneous clothing tipsQuestion of the Week(1:05:40) - When deciding between an option that costs more miles and less cash, or more cash and fewer miles...how do you decide?Want some of these products for yourself?Disclosure: With the following product links, Frequent Miler will earn a commission for qualifying purchases.Greg's Tumi backpack: https://amzn.to/4gvAiiLGreg's Briggs & Riley carry on suitcase: https://amzn.to/4mcnG1iPacking cubes with compression zipper (similar to cubes Greg uses): https://amzn.to/4ghB5ncGreg's toiletry bag: https://amzn.to/45ZR3PwNick Stick (for shaving cuts): https://amzn.to/3KhkX9kGreg's travel-size antiperspirant roll-on: https://amzn.to/3JZzIgXGreg's tiny usb-c charging brick: https://amzn.to/46v7sM1Greg's magsafe wireless charging battery: https://amzn.to/462ad7xInternational power adapter that won't fall out of wall socket: https://amzn.to/3VhirlU (this is not one we have, but it looks useful!)UK adapter: good for staying put in airplane power sockets (Greg uses similar item): https://amzn.to/45ZyICeKindle paperwhite (Greg has an older model): https://amzn.to/3VhirlUGreg's portable laptop stand: https://amzn.to/4gli9nRGreg's magnetic phone holders for selfie photos and videos:Clamp style: https://amzn.to/3Im3wUDSuction cup: https://amzn.to/4nstX9VGreg & Nick's backpack inside backpack: https://amzn.to/47BUcq1Greg's passport wallet: 

What are you spending on annual fees? What's the holy grail of first-class suites? We answered these and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on September 3rd, 2025.(00:37) - As banks tighten up on credit card approvals, I’m sure many have received a denial for “lack of recent installment loan information.” Has anybody taken out a loan to improve their odds? To me, it makes sense to take out a loan where interest is <$50 if it means getting approved for even 1 more card per year with a large bonus. Would love to hear thoughts/experiences.See our application rules by issuer guide here: https://frequentmiler.com/complete-guide-to-credit-card-application-rules-by-bank/​​(04:28) - Recently canceled a stay at Calala Island inside the cancellation window and sadly had 225,000 Hilton Honors points taken away. Have any of you ever forgotten to cancel an award in time and had to pay the price?(08:49) - There are good and bad business class products, sometimes even within the same carrier(depending on plane/route). How do you quickly filter out the bad options when doing award searches and alerts?(12:24) - How many airports do you have, Nick?(15:54) - If the Chase Ink Business Premier® train shuts down, what would be the team's strategy to earn more Chase points?(16:48) - Greg- is that the complete Delft house collection behind you, or is there more??(19:46) - ​​Am I using award tools wrong? I set alerts and sometimes get emails for them, but the awards always seem to be gone by the time I check them an hour or two later. Not sure what to do differently(21:44) - What are your 5/24 strategies? Do you always stay under? If/when you do go over, how much do you go over, and do you bunch the applications or do you spread them out?(26:51) - ​Which credit travel portals or travel booking portals have you confirmed that will still earn you your hotel points?(30:27) - After listening to the last Coffee Break, you can freely transfer Chase UR points between spouses after setting it up. Correct?See our How-to video for transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to others in your household here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-move-chase-ultimate-rewards-points-within-your-household-video/ (31:58) - How do we ask questions?(32:31) - ​​What’s going on with Citi and suddenly freezing already approved Strata Elite accounts?(33:08) - Hi guys! Are there times when you buy points?(34:29) - There are a lot of reports of Chase telling people that the sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is now once per lifetime. Did you hear anything on this?(35:34) - Have Greg / Nick changed their evaluations of Alaska Atmos vs AA miles after the removal announcement of Singapore and LATAM awards?(39:00) - Y'all have all flown some epic flights to Asia… what’s your all-time favorite way to get to Asia? Looking to book a trip to hit Tokyo/Shanghai/Hong Kong(40:30) - What exactly does a CSR Authorized User get besides their own Priority Pass access?(41:58) - Any tips for improving approval odds with Citi? Recently denied for the AA personal card. I do have a Costco card that I have not been using, but other than that, no Citi cards. Thanks!(43:05) - What is your holy grail of a first-class suite? Emrites? Etihad? JAL?(47:04) - Nick, I’m curious if you continued on with casino status matching in Atlantic City? I still have Bally's Superstar and am now eligible to rematch at Hard Rock/Ocean. Curious if you’ve done so yet(49:40) - What are...

In today's podcast episode, Kathy tells us why the Frequent Miler team challenges are her favorite time of the year, and we discuss how transfer bonuses have already changed the 100K Vacay game.Giant Mailbag(01:50) - Two listeners share their experiences with the recent cancellation of the Honolulu to Boston route through Hawaiian Airlines.(09:11) - One listener tells us the annual challenge is her favorite time of the year...JetBlue 25/25 Update(11:33) - Nick and his family have 20+ destinationsCard News(16:55) - Updated guide to ultra-premium credit card travel protectionsMattress Running the Numbers(23:52) - Rovemiles promoBonvoyed(31:07) - Bummer: Alaska losing award partnerships with LATAM and Singapore on 10/1(33:40) - Avios transfers between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus are suspendedAwards, Points, and More(37:32) - Bilt status match to Virgin Voyages(40:00) - GHA Discovery (hotel program) status match from many hotel/airline/cruise programs: https://frequentmiler.com/gha-discovery-hotel-program-status-match-from-many-hotel-airline-cruise-programs/Main Event: 100K Vacay: Resetting the odds due to transfer bonuses(45:12) - Challenge overview(50:02) - 100K Vacay Schedule announced(57:15) - Original Odds (without knowing about transfer bonuses): 1. Tim, 2. Stephen, 3. Nick(1:01:42) - Planning Phase Transfer Bonuses(1:29:46) - Original prediction: (re: Nick) I can almost guarantee that he’s going to make some 100K magic happen in a way that no one can predict. Despite the odds, I’m betting Nick will take home the crown. What's the new prediction?Question of the Week(1:36:53) - Should we change the RRV for Alaska and Chase based on the things they've recently lost?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 Yoder

Back in June, Chase released an updated version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. Those who already had the card before that date found themselves in a sort of limbo with the old features of the card, and with new features set to trigger on October 26th. If that's you, here are some things you may want to do to prepare for that upcoming transition.(00:21) - An updated Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card was introduced on June 23, 2025. Anyone who obtained their Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card before that is in a transition state through October 26(01:00) - Features before Oct 26...(02:01) - Features you'll have access to starting Oct 26...(10:10) - What might you want to do to prepare for October 26th?(13:09) - What is Nick going to do?(15:44) - What is Greg going to do?(17:56) - What to do if you're a new Sapphire Reserve cardholder...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 Heads

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about Frontier's Million Mile Match, we'll get tripped up by The Seattle Seahawks 12s, and we'll debate which loyalty program is better: American Airlines' AAdvantage program or Alaska's Atmos program.Giant Mailbag(01:26) - Lisa gives us an update about the question of whether or not she had a no-show fee when she cancelled her 2 LifeMiles flights.Mattress Running the Numbers(05:05) - Frontier Match your MilesRead more about Frontier Match your Miles here.Bonvoyed(13:13) - Wyndham/VacasaAwards, Points, and More(17:02) - Delta 12Status is back: Washington state residents earn 1 SkyMile for every Seahawks passing yard(19:06) - Delta not changing elite requirements in 2026(22:25) - Condor flights now bookable with JetBlue points (54K biz class from east coast to FRA; ~100K from west coast)Read more about Condor flights with JetBlue points here.Main Event: American Airlines AAdvantage vs Alaska Atmos(25:15) - Similar programs(31:25) - Earning Redeemable Miles(38:27) - Elite Status(54:29) - Using Miles(1:05:53) - Final Word?Question of the Week(1:13:23) - Questions about rebooking options with Hawaiian Airlines with a route termination.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 Yoder