Frequent Miler on the Air

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

Alaska's out with a new premium card: The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card. In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about what we like and dislike about it.Alaska’s intriguing premium rewards card(00:31) - Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card quick detailsYou can read more about this card here: https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-summit-visa-premium-card-heres-the-details/(02:19) - Points sharing: Share your points with up to ten additional Atmos™ Rewards members.(06:00) - What's not to like? (the ~bad stuff)(07:31) - The good stuff...(10:23) - Nick's take: Is it right for him?(14:03) - Greg's take: Is it right for him?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 unlock the LifeMiles mystery, look at Etihad's magical mystery refund policy, and examine 7 surprising oddities of Alaska's new rewards program, "Atmos". Giant Mailbag(02:02) - LifeMiles cancellationsCard News(11:23) - Chase will be ending the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards Points to Emirates Skywards as of 10/16/25.(15:20) - 400 properties added to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel CollectionAwards, Points, and More(18:20) - Nick: Canceling Etihad awards(29:38) - Accessing the Admirals Club with Strata Elite passes(32:36) - Frontier Gold for $69 through 2026 (maybe available through 9/9/25)Main Event: 7 Big Atmos Oddities (Alaska's new rewards program)(35:15) - Alaska MileagePlan is now Atmos Rewards(37:18) - The big picture(42:37) - Choose how you earn (coming in 2026)(53:29) - Top status (Titanium) will offer complimentary international business class upgrades(57:02) - Summit Visa Infinite Surprises/Oddities: Global Companion AwardsLearn more about Alaska’s Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card here: https://frequentmiler.com/alaskas-atmos-rewards-summit-visa-infinite-card-review/(1:05:39) - Summit Visa Infinite Surprises/Oddities: Free Points sharing(1:07:52) - Summit Visa Infinite Surprises/Oddities: $50 Instant Travel Delay Credit(1:11:13) - Summit Visa Infinite Surprises/Oddities: Exclusive Lounge Bar Program: 2 complimentary signature cocktails or a selection from the elevated bar menu upon showing your Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card(1:13:07) - Summit Visa Infinite Surprises/Oddities: 3x International spendQuestion of the Week(1:17:20) - Are Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card holders getting charged more for The Edit by Chase Travel℠ bookings than Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders? 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

Another day, another premium credit card is making changes - this time, we've heard rumors that the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cards are both getting increased annual fees and other changes.$900 Platinum card. Worth it?(00:24) - Expensive changes are coming for Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cards(01:47) - Some changes on the coupon side of things have leaked...(03:55) - Perks that appear on both cards (business and personal)Read our post on what works for your airline incidental fee reimbursements here.(05:31) - Perks on the (Consumer) Amex Platinum card(06:23) - Perks on the Amex Business Platinum(07:43) - Do these perks sound worth it for the new, higher annual fee?(18:58) - Learn more about MaxFHR 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 podcast episode, we'll talk about whether or not Hertz will put Nick in jail, how Greg's British Airways flight was saved by Delta, and Marriott's "Brilliant" potential new business card line-up.Giant Mailbag(03:02) - Catch Greg on these podcasts: Chris Hutchins / All the Hacks: Top Airline & Hotel Transfer Partners to Maximize Your Points(03:42) - Point me to first class (Devon): What Credit Card Points Are Really Worth in 2025(04:18) - Many people wrote in with examples of where an International Driver's Permit is required (Japan, Italy, etc)See episode 318 about The Rental Car Game hereCard News(07:28) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offer (100K + promo credit good for up to $500 towards a single Chase Travel℠ booking after $5K spend in 3 months) ending soon.Crazy Thing DOUBLE HEADER(09:36) - Alaska: Atmos Rewards(15:14) - A reader has a strange Lifemiles story to report...Nick's JetBlue 25for25 Update(18:52) - Marriott Day Use Rate: Got lounge access, earned elite night credit (and points)(20:30) - Edgar Hotel Martha's Vineyard: Undeniably Choice in some ways, but great room & value.(23:37) - Lounge access reminders worth a mention: Ritz card gets unlimited visits & guests at Sapphire Lounges. Use the Ritz card, not Priority Pass, for access. Amex Platinum cardholders get Escape Lounge with 2 guests. We've used Escape lounges at SJU, PVD, FLL, and PBI on this trip. Of those, only PVD is on Priority Pass (so remember to check for these!).(26:53) - Couldn't check in online for Etihad-booked flight ACK-LGA (expected -- no birthdays for P1 & P2). Got it fixed at the BOS Mosaic check-in area. Ended up being a quick fix. Glad they could do it at BOS because time was tight at ACK.(30:27) - Nick's Hertz rental (even if you only have the first part of the story -- it's entertaining!)Awards, Points, and More(36:14) - Air Canada Aeroplan program updates (mileage and status earning changes)(44:51) - Greg's positioning flight to Boston for the British Airways first class flight(49:01) - Greg flies AA Flagship Preferred Suites LHR to ORD(51:21) - If Uber to the airport seems expensive, try switching your airline(54:43) - New Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs)Main Event: Marriott's rumored business cards(1:03:51) - The following is based on surveys, not announced changes...(1:05:18) - Amex Bonvoy Business card(1:13:28) - Amex Marriott Bevy Business(1:20:22) - The Rumored Amex Bonvoy Brilliant BusinessQuestion of the Week(1:28:22) - Which hotel-branded credit card is the best?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

Is the Grand Hyatt Kauai worth 45K? We answered this and many other questions on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on August 6th, 2025.(00:42) - How do you typically like to get around a city that you’re visiting, especially internationally? Are you more likely to take a taxi or Uber to get to places, take public transit, or do you prefer to just walk everywhere?(05:43) - To circumvent Hilton’s minimum length of award stay requirements (e.g., WA Pedregal) — has anyone tried booking more nights than needed, then asking Hilton to remove nights from the stay?(07:18) - What is a question that you would ask someone who is interviewing for a job at Frequent Miler?(16:22) - You can find each of our origin stories here:https://frequentmiler.com/about-frequent-miler/)(16:44) - ​​Give us a peek behind the curtain: What is a typical day/week for the Frequent Miler team?(23:42) - Do you think the custom cash will survive having ThankYou points transfers?(25:34) - Now that Citi transfers to AA, where does Citi rank among the transferable points programs?(28:06) - For the JetBlue 25 for 25, does anyone have datapoints on how fast you get the 150k point after 15 destinations?(29:52) - How would you re-evaluate the value of your Chase/Bilt if you were able to get a family & friends discount on Hyatt cash stays?(31:54) - Hi team! What card are you recommending to people who aren’t really in the game but got the CSR years ago and now want a different card?(37:50) - Head-to-head match-up, Citi Strata Elite or the new Alaska Premium card?(39:17) - ​​Any thoughts on Kenya Airways' new program and the Status Match opportunity that was announced earlier this week?(41:40) - ​​When Frequent Miler finds a unicorn fare or incredible deal, what is the quickest way that Frequent Miler gets that information to those who follow you so we can book it?(45:46) - ​​Grand Hyatt Kauai is now 45k for the basic room with 2 adults and 2 kids. I have a guest of honor available to me. Is the property worth that rate for 4 nights???(50:44) - Which card is better to downgrade, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, both of which have a $95 AF?

In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about Bonvoying Barclays, we'll discuss which Premium cards are keepers, then share everything we know about car rentals. Giant Mailbag(01:08) - One listener tells us how he Bonvoyed BarclaysMain Event: The Rental Car Game(04:09) - Why don't we talk much about car rentals?(06:23) - Always join the car rental program and attach your number(11:37) - Car rental status via credit card(14:20) - Which rental car elite statuses matter?(22:06) - Status matching(26:50) - Earning free rental days(40:27) - Rental Car Savings(48:57) - Avis First(51:54) - Do you need anything special to rent cars internationally?(57:02) - Any favorite programs or programs you avoid?Question of the Week(1:04:47) - What should you do if you're an intermediate player, trying to go from one or two credit cards to five or six, or seven to ten?(1:10:58) - Read more about which premium cards are keepers here.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 now offers a way to transfer points 1 to 1 to American Airlines, which has many predicting an AA devaluation is on the horizon. In this podcast episode, we'll discuss this concern.(00:44) - Why are we so excited about transfers to American Airlines?(04:06) - A devaluation assumes a flood of AA miles, but... Citi points are not that easy to get in bulk, but even if there are many more AA miles out there, is that reason for devaluation?(04:56) - Here's what we think...(15:35) - But wait...did AA devalue already?Read One Mile at a Time's post here: American AAdvantage Business Class Award Devaluation? Sort Of…: (16:24) - More than two years ago, AA published "starting at" prices for its own flights. Mostly, though, the starting at prices stayed as they were with previous saver award pricing.(17:15) - Now, though, "starting at" seems to be closer to American Airlines' published intentions from a few years ago...(18:29) - BUT... mix in another carrier to get the partner award chartRead more about this hereVisit 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 how US Bank is bonvoying grandfathers and US Bank's plans to add transfer partners. We'll also talk about who the Citi Strata Elite card is good for.Giant Mailbag(01:40) - This listener has tips about their strategy when a flight becomes available for a lesser mileage price...Card News(05:50) - Citi now offers transfers to American Airlines from Strata Elite, Prestige & Strata Premier(07:23) - Now transfer from most Citi cards to most ThankYou partners (even from Custom Cash)(09:41) - Citi Strata card now available(12:16) - U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve: Major changes expected in December.Bonvoyed(18:21) - US Bank bonvoys grandfathers (Smartly card sends updates to those previously grandfathered into old 4% term)Awards, Points, and More(22:38) - Inn at Bay Harbor leaving Marriott(23:42) - JetBlue & TAP Air Portugal split up as of 9/30(24:50) - Greg earned Alaska EQMs for his flight to London(26:53) - Nick's JetBlue 25 for 25 update postRead more about Nick's JetBlue 25 for 25 journey so far here.(27:50) - Another JetBlue 25 for 25 updateMain Event: Citi Strata Elite: Good, Bad, and Ugly(30:00) - Branch Offer: 100K after $4K of spend in 3 monthsRead more about the Citi Strata Elite offer here.Or, read our Citi Strata Elite Q&A post here.(31:45) - Application rules, basics, and earning rate...(39:32) - Credits and benefits(47:31) - Mini experiment: Citi Travel Hotels vs. Hotels.com(48:45) - What happens to Citi Prestige customers?(49:58) - Do Citi Travel hotel bookings earn hotel points and elite credit?(53:33) - Quick Review: What do we think about the card's earning rate and perks?(57:47) - What do we think about the card's coupons?(1:01:37) - Does this card deserve a place in an all-ThankYou wallet?(1:09:41) - Does this card deserve a place in a mixed-earning wallet? (For example, would this be your 3X card?)Question of the Week(1:12:54) - Advice regarding authorized users. What do you do about authorized user cards showing up to Chase as contributing to your 5/24 status?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