DiscoverMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionMilenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare
Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Update: 2024-06-24
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0:55 Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare






  • We’re talking about deeply discounted airfare, not FREE airfare. 




  • Every one of these programs has a cash out path–that’s great





1:45 Overview: Highs and Lows of each Program





1:59 Chase UR






  • Talked about the most online, but not as valuable as Amex to us




  • Much more straightforward than Amex




  • 1 Cent per Ultimate Reward point earned (easy cash out on all card)




  • 5x earning on Office Supply has been around for a long time. 




  • Earning at high rates, transferring to a CSR/CSP 





3:00 Earning Chase UR 






  • Easy to use Domestic Partners in United and Southwest




  • Travel Portal booking is not ideal but does have uplift




  • Earning with high multipliers and sign up bonuses works well




  • 5/24 limits the number of cards you can get




  • Can co-mingle points





6:30 Southwest (W/ Chase UR)






  • Points have become less useful as Ticketless Travel Funds (TTF) have become permanent




  • Less transfers from UR->Southwest because TTF are so plentiful




  • If transferring , the best way to earn is still NOT on the Southwest credit cards. 





7:43 Booking with the Chase Travel Portal: 






  • Price inflation is real (American, others) Be sure to check google flights




  • Can see inflated prices on flights, issues when canceling




  • 1.25 cents per point / 1.5 cents per point (20% - 33% discount on travel)




  • Sometimes just taking cash back at 1 cent per point is the way to pay for travel




  • These points are not ‘free’





10:53 Amex MR Overview






  • Amex is so generous that they have changed subscribers’ lives




  • THE most generous bank with respect to SUB, earning bonuses and referrals




  • The default cash back amount for a MR is 0.6 Cents ($.006) per MR with a few exceptions




  • Difficult to get rid of these points. 





12:41 Booking Travel with Amex MR






  • With such easy earning there isn’t a fast enough release valve sometimes




  • Their travel portal is horrible, but is mandatory for the 35% rebate




  • Insider fares are lower fares than anywhere else. 




  • Extremely high annual fee cards needed to release points at high value




  • To get good redemption rates with points you have to graduate to high annual fee cards




  • Either churn the card or pay the high annual fee (carrying costs) to get good value




  • Delta transfers are a great option – 1.1 cents in value per point, transfer 1:1




  • Holding a Delta card gives a 15% discount as well, works out to around 1.25 cents per point. 





16:26 Earning Membership Rewards






  • “They’ve gone crazy with the Sign up Bonuses” 




  • Easier to earn at a moderate level than Chase (or any other bank) 




  • Many high annual Fee cards, which come with many coupons/credits




  • Nonstarter for someone just starting out. 





18:55 Difficulties transacting with AMEX






  • Need High annual Fee Business Platinum for 35% rebate (approx 1.5 cents per point) 




  • Need High Annaul Fee Morgan stanley (1cpp) or Schwab (1.1 cpp) to cash out MR. 




  • Cannot co-mingle points across spouses, which means you need 2 of each of these cards!




  • 35% rebate only on airline of choice or business/fir
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Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Sam Simon and Robert Dwyer