Frequent Miler on the Air
Frequent Miler 538 episodes Nov 9, 2026
Frequent Miler on the Air is a podcast about earning miles and points without flying. The show focuses on maximizing loyalty programs and using those points for luxury travel. Host Greg and senior author Nick debate current topics in the points and miles world. It's for anyone interested in travel hacks, credit card rewards, and getting the most value from loyalty programs.
Episodes
Who's going for Hyatt Globalist, and who's renewing the Palladium? | Ask Us Anything Ep90 | 11-4-26
We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on November 4th, 2026.(01:38) - Curious how many hard pulls each member of the FM team carries on their credit report at any given time?See our complete guide to Citi here: https://frequentmiler.com/citi-thankyou-rewards/(03:46) - So who’s renewing the Palladium next year?(07:54) - What is an 'under the radar' mile
Buy points cheap, get elite... via superstacking | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep382 | 11-6-26
On today's episode, we talk about a hidden Bank of America Rewards benefit, Wyndham tiptoeing into luxury, and multiple ways to buy points for cheap, and get elite!Giant Mailbag(01:28) - Jaime asks about the new Bank of America Rewards program and Titanium GHA Discovery status.This Week in Points(05:29) - Wyndham has added two new points redemption options: Homes & Havens is a new vacation ren
Unlock better awards with United's Debit card | Coffee Break Ep128 | 11-4-26
United's cardholder discounts are amazing! As a qualifying United cardholder, you get a 10% award discount and better saver award availability. (00:20) - Learn more about United's cardholder discounts here(00:34) - Greg's New Zealand story(02:09) - Most people qualify for this by holding a United credit card issued by Chase(03:02) - But.. Not everyone can get a Chase credit card. That's where the
Is an American Airlines status challenge worth it? | Question of the Week Ep21 | 11-2-26
Is an American Airlines status challenge worth it? Reader Jordan wrote in, asking:I recently was given an American Airlines Status challenge through my employer where I am given 4 months of Gold and challenged to earn as many loyalty points as possible and keep gold status or higher for the 2027 status year. Here are the objectives in loyalty points:Gold - 10,000Platinum - 25,000Platinum Pro - 50,
Bilt 3.0: So you thought the dust had settled? | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep381 | 10-30-26
On today's episode, we'll talk about mattress running from your mattress, Delta announcing elite requirements for 2027, and we'll reconsider the thought that the dust had settled with Bilt!Bilt 3.0: So you thought the dust had settled?Giant Mailbag(01:19) - Peter writes in about trying to attach his United number to LifeMiles and Aeroplan bookingsMattress Running the Numbers(06:19) - Emirates free
Is the $895 Platinum card worth renewing? | Coffee Break Ep127 | 10-28-26
The American Express Platinum Card was refreshed last year with the annual fee going from $695 to $895. Many coupons were added, and some were enhanced... so is it worth renewing? Is the $895 Platinum Card worth renewing?(00:18) - Loaded with valuable coupons(00:43) - Platinum Card was refreshed last year (Sep 18, 2025)(01:36) - What's changed(06:31) - Find our "Which Premium Cards are Keepers" sp
Bilt questions, live at the Chicago Points Travel Festival | Question of the Week Ep20 | 10-26-26
At the Chicago Points Travel Festival last weekend, Greg and Nick filmed a live coffee break episode, letting the audience pick the topic of discussion: Best use of Bilt points now that the dust has settled. At the end of this discussion, they took some questions from the audience, which we've consolidated for our "Question of the Week" episode this week.(00:18) - Would you spend Bilt Cash to pay
Southwest Companion Pass: Now Playing Hard to Get | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep380 | 10-23-26
Giant Mailbag(01:02) Changing frequent flyer number on a partner awardMattress Running the Numbers(08:33) IHG Ambassador PromotionMore analysis of this promotion here.Bonvoyed(19:17) Amex Lodging credit will require 2-night minimum in 2027Learn more about the new options and requirements in our post.This Week in Points(26:05) Bilt adds JetBlue as a new transfer partner(31:27) SAS EuroBonus status
Best use of Bilt now that the dust has settled (Live Podcast Recording!) | Coffee Break Ep126 | 10-21-26
The Frequent Miler team appeared at the Points Travel Festival last weekend in Chicago, where Greg and Nick recorded a podcast episode live, selecting a topic from the audience suggestions: Best use of Bilt now that the dust has settled!Best use of Bilt now that the dust has settled (Live Podcast Recording!)(00:55) - What is Bilt?(01:38) - Bilt 2.0 credit cards(04:42) - Using Bilt to pay rent or m
Should I use points for business trips? | Question of the Week Ep19 | 10-19-26
Should I use points for business trips? Brian wrote in with this question, asking:How do I handle bookings when my small business pays for the flight? I have never used points/miles to book a business trip because it feels like I’m using up my personal miles for what would be a legitimate business expense (even though I earned many of those point/miles from business travel). Every once in a while,
Hyatt & Air Canada's partnership reaches next level | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep379 | 10-16-26
In today's episode, United will be making it harder to earn status in 2027; we're simplifying our card and bank account collections; there are Amex Platinum card rumors, and Hyatt now allows transferring points to others online. And speaking of Hyatt... they've made the next move in their relationship with Air Canada. But... is it enough?Giant Mailbag(01:13) - Megan asks Greg if he's considered op
Weekend in Europe, where should Greg go? | Coffee Break Ep125 | 10-14-26
Greg is going to Berlin, but he may not stay in Berlin for the weekend. He hasn't yet booked a flight home, so he could hop over to another European city and fly home from there. Nick recommended Prague, but are there other places Greg should consider?Coffee Break: Weekend in Europe, where should Greg go?(00:17) - See our August 28th podcast "Hidden Gem Awards" here(01:20) - See Carrie's suggestio
Should I keep my ultra-premium card to preserve 1:1 point transfers? | Question of the Week Ep18 | 10-12-26
Should I keep my ultra-premium card to preserve 1:1 point transfers? Chuck wrote in with this question, asking:Do you think other banks will do something similar to what Chase did with Hyatt — requiring the highest end card in order to maintain the 1:1 transfer? Will Citi require the Strata Elite for AA? Will C1, Will Amex? I wouldn't want to cancel an elite card only to later learn I need it to
Alaska Atmos: Choose how you earn | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep378 | 10-9-26
In today's episode, we'll speculate about Hyatt credit card changes, reveal 9 Secret Chase Sapphire Reserve® Exclusive Tables restaurants, and dig into Alaska Atmos Rewards: Which is better, earning by distance, price, or segments?Wild Card Update(02:15) - Congratulations to Tim!Check out the recap videos hereGiant Mailbag(03:35) - Correcting mistakes from last week's podcast episodeSee last week'
Wild Card Challenge final scoring and winner announced! | Special Feature Episode | 10-7-26
The Wild Card challenge has officially wrapped, with the final scores and official winner announced in our live YouTube broadcast on October 7th, 2026. Review the scoring and listen to the live broadcast here.As a reminder, for this challenge, our contestants picked from different wild card decks to set the parameters of their trips. First, they selected travel destinations, then hotel, airline, a
Bilt goes 4:3 to Hyatt. Now what? | Coffee Break Ep124 | 10-7-26
Just like we've seen with most of Chase cards, Bilt has announced it will be moving to a 4:3 transfer rate with Hyatt starting in January. So, what's the best way to get Hyatt points now?Learn more about this here (01:12) - Option 1: Earn Bilt 3x (or more)(05:05) - Option 2: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card(09:08) - Option 3: Hyatt card(11:04) - Read about Hyatt Milestone spending here(14:18) - Will B
Estate planning for miles and points? | Question of the Week Ep17 | 10-5-26
What should you keep in mind when Estate planning for miles and points? Reader John wrote in with this question, asking:I’m working through estate planning right now and one thing keeps bothering me: what happens to a meaningful stash of points and miles when you die?Have you ever thought through your own points-and-miles estate planning? What would you do if your heirs weren’t hobbyists? Transfer
IHG's new card lineup: more premium, more coupons, milestones unlocked | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep377 | 10-2-26
On today's episode, we'll talk about the interesting new business cards from US Bank, discuss how Choice now gives you the choice to share points, how Bank of America points are soon to be transferable, and complete details of IHG's new credit card lineup.This Week in Points(02:02) - Alaska NewsLearn more about the Atmos debit card here(10:43) - Chase card updates(14:04) - Rove transfer bonuses(18
Wild Card challenge destination 3 check-in | Special Feature Episode | 9-31-26
In our third check-in of the Wild Card Challenge, our contestant's were in their final destination, nearly done with their travels. However, judges and viewers were not quite ready to score everything we were catching up on. In this check-in, we scored the second destination's activities and caught up with what our travelers had done since then, in preparation to finish scoring and announce a winn
Wild Card Challenge Destination 2 Check-in | Special Feature Episode | 9-28-26
While Greg and Nick, along with Tim, are traveling for the ongoing Wild Card Challenge, our podcasts will feature each of 3 live check-ins occurring throughout the challenge. On Saturday, we caught up with our Wild Card Challenge travelers for our second live check-in to discuss everyone's second destinations, (even though not everyone was still in their second destinations!) We started out by mak
Wild Card Challenge Destination 1 Check-In | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep376 | 9-25-26
Greg and Nick, along with Tim, are busy flying around the world for the Wild Card Challenge, which is going on now! That means they didn't have time to film our usual podcast episode. Not to mention, we want to make sure everyone gets the chance to hear an update for the first destination of the Wild Card Challenge, even if you missed the live stream last evening. In this episode, relisten to the
Citi adds valuable transfer partner: Japan Airlines | Coffee Break Ep123 | 9-23-26
Citi has added a valuable new transfer partner to their collection: Japan Airlines. This is good news after a roller coaster of good and bad news from Citi, but even this good news comes with some bad news too.(00:17) - ThankYou Rewards: For the best transfer ratios, you need: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, or the old Prestige card(00:41) - Citi ThankYou roller-coaster(02:11)
Is this points & miles hobby worth my time? | Question of the Week Ep16 | 9-21-26
Is this points & miles hobby worth my time? Reader John asked this question recently, saying:Do you ever calculate the return on your time in the points and miles game? We spend a lot of time talking about return on spend and cents per point, but I rarely hear anyone talk about return on time invested. For me, points and miles are a hobby, not my job, so I sometimes catch myself asking whether
Diving into Delta's huge card offers | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep375 | 9-17-26
In today's episode, we'll get a Wild Card challenge update (including some cool tips regarding Capital One travel), Greg reveals that he's considering a United status match, Nick reveals he's considering a Delta status match, and we discuss the latest huge Delta card offers and how they relate to status matching.Wild Card Challenge Update(01:22) - Learn more about the ongoing challenge here.(03:01
Best time to apply for hotel cards to leverage free night certificates | Coffee Break Ep122 | 9-16-26
Many hotel cards come with free night certificates each year upon renewal. That's great, but those certificates expire after 12 months. If you don't time your applications well, you may struggle to use those certificates...(00:17) - Greg's been considering getting the Hilton Aspire, but... is this the right time?(01:05) - Example Problems(03:55) - When do free night certificates post?(07:52) - Nic
Wild Card Challenge card draw | Ask Us Anything Ep90 | 9-9-26
For this challenge, our contestants will pick from wild card decks to select which hotel, airline, and transferable points cards will provide their points and miles budget, then they’ll select their travel destinations from another deck. And finally, they’ll select power-ups and obstacles to make their travels a little more realistic to the challenges our readers and listeners face.(03:45) - Desti
Chase's disappointing Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card refresh | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep374 | 9-11-26
In today's episode, listeners weigh in on Nick's pick for "best Hyatt Place breakfast", Hyatt breaks up with one airline and ties up with another, and we review Chase's refreshed Air Canada Aeroplan card.Wild Card Challenge Update(01:15) - Which cards did our contestants pick for the Wild Card challenge?Learn more about the ongoing challenge hereGiant Mailbag(09:02) - In our Hidden Gem Awards Ep37
Loving RiverView Ranch | Coffee Break Ep121 | 9-9-26
Greg has just returned from a short trip to RiverView Ranch in Montana - probably the single most aspirational points stay available in the United States. Now, he'll tell us all about it.Loving RiverView Ranch(00:46) - RiverView Ranch Retreat & Western AdventuresLearn more about Hilton's flexible date calendar here(02:45) - Cancelation fees(03:28) - How to get free night certsRead: How to maxi
What to do when your credit limit is too low? | Question of the Week Ep15 | 9-7-26
What to do when your credit limit is too low? Kris reached out with the following question about managing a low credit limit:On your recent podcast, you mentioned that banks don’t like you to cycle cards. I just got approved for the new Capital One Venture Business card, and upon approval, found out that they had given me a credit limit of $2000. This obviously is going to make it very difficult t
Our biggest point gambles | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep374 | 9-4-26
On today's episode, we'll talk about why Air Canada to Hyatt 2-to-1 transfers can be a good deal, how we won big on a 240x deal, the 250x deal that got away, and much more.Our apologies for Nick's lower-quality audio this week! We're working to fix it!Our biggest point gamblesGiant Mailbag(01:04) - Josh: Is the Hyatt/Aeroplan deal good for Canadians?Main Event: Our biggest point gambles(07:54) - W
Visiting New York City without breaking the bank | Coffee Break Ep121 | 9-2-26
New York is an expensive city. Today, we'll talk about tips to make it more affordable using points, credit card benefits, and smart stacking.(00:52) - Flights: No one-size-fits-all option here, but consider...(05:47) - Favorite points hotel options(17:47) - Saving money on stuff to do(20:21) - Saving money with credit card benefits(27:24) - Tips for what to do while you're thereSubscribe and Foll
How can I maximize my bookings through The Edit by Chase Travel℠? | Question of the Week Ep14 | 8-31-26
How can I maximize my bookings through The Edit by Chase Travel℠? Reader Rob wrote in with three questions about this.(00:16) - What is The Edit by Chase Travel℠?(01:16) - Does the person on the card have to stay on the property, or can they book for someone else?(02:48) - Can you book before December 31st to take advantage of the stackable credits for select chains, but USE the credits for a hote
Hidden Gem Awards | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep373 | 8-28-26
In this episode, we'll hear about the "best ever" Hyatt Place breakfast, we'll talk about where Greg should go after Berlin, and share lesser-known sweetspot awards like flights to Europe from 90 points and Scandinavian hotels from 500 points!Giant Mailbag(01:08) - Paul asks: "Is there another way to status match Flying Blue elite status or do we have to wait until it opens up again for US residen
United Polaris awards wide-open to cardholders & elites | Coffee Break Ep120 | 8-26-26
Just by having the right United credit card or elite status, you'll have wide-open United Polaris award availability!Read about United's amazing cardholder award availability here(01:20) - Polaris(02:00) - Define Saver(02:38) - Better Saver Polaris availability for both cardholders & elites, and additional award discounts require card(03:31) - Example North America to Europe(05:38) - Research
How to handle Citi cards in 2-player mode now that point sharing is dead? | Question of the Week Ep13 | 8-24-26
How to handle Citi cards in 2-player mode now that point sharing is dead? "GH" wrote in with this question recently, wondering:Paraphrasing and simplifying: My old plan was to keep a single Strata Premier card for myself, a Double Cash card for player 2, and multiple Custom Cash cards across both. Now that Player 2 can't move points to me, I need a new plan. Should Player 2 get a Strata Premier ca
Shortcuts to Flying Blue elite status | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep372 | 8-21-26
On today's episode, we'll talk about the many ways to shortcut Flying Blue elite status and why you might want to.Giant Mailbag(00:50) - Credit cards we're considering | Coffee Break Ep118 - Credit cards we're consideringCrazy Thing: Citi - Greg announce(03:32) - Citi ThankYou MastercardLearn about Citi's retailer cards hereMattress Running the Numbers(09:12) - 50X AA miles for Stand Up for Cancer
Best and worst of Alaska's Atmos Rewards | Coffee Break Ep119 | 8-19-26
With Tim based in Seattle, he's very familiar with the Alaska Atmos Rewards program. Today he's joining Greg to talk about some of the pros and cons of the program.(00:54) - Pro: Free to move points to others with an Atmos Summit card or a Hawaiian card(01:26) - Pro: Free stopover on most one-way awards.(02:14) - Pro: Award changes are free and easy(02:33) - Pro: Excellent award chart sweet spots
What's so great about Air Canada Aeroplan? | Question of the Week Ep12 | 8-17-26
What's so great about Air Canada Aeroplan? We received this question from Dana:I have 300,000 points stuck in Aeroplan, and they will expire in the next year. Instead of transferring more points in or purchasing points to keep them active, I just want to use them. I would like to use them for business class flights to or from Europe. I am flexible on positioning from ORD or the West Coast and want
US Bank's Mysterious Transferable Points | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep371 | 8-14-26
On today's episode, we'll share a reminder to check your credit card travel portal if you're renting a car. Nick will share tips about renewing passports, and we'll see how the Altitude Reserve has added 4 - no, 2 transfer partners.Giant Mailbag(01:26) - Podcast failed to download Friday evening and most of Saturday, so now we're experimenting with a release schedule to drop podcasts during workin
Credit cards we're considering | Coffee Break Ep118 | 8-11-26
Even though we have lots of credit cards, we've always got our eyes on a few more. In today's episode, we'll talk about some of the credit cards we've been keeping on our radar.(00:58) - Hidden gem credit cards Greg's considering(08:28) - Other cards Greg's consideringRead how to maximize your Hilton cards (with upgrades and downgrades) here(11:42) - Nick's nearer-term credit card considerations(1
How would you rank premium economy cabins? | Ask Us Anything | Ep89 | 8-5-26
How do you handle travel when you are traveling with friends who don’t play the game? How would you rank the premium economy cabins? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on August 5th, 2026.(00:46) - How do you handle travel when you are traveling with friends who don’t play the game? Do you adjust your plans to cheaper options to make it more affordab
Introducing the re-couponified AAdvantage® Executive card | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep370 | 8-7-26
In today's podcast episode, a listener leverages a tip from last year's team travel challenge to book Virgin Atlantic premium economy for less; we look at a crazy use of AI, and analyze the updated AAdvantage® Executive card.Announcement(01:07) - The 2026 Team Challenge: Wild Card! (See our Coffee Break Ep117 travel challenge announcment here: https://frequentmiler.com/the-2026-team-challenge-wild
The 2026 Team Challenge: Wild Card! | Coffee Break Ep117 | 8-4-26
Every year, the FM team does a team challenge where we compete to see who can make their points & miles go farthest. We're calling this year's challenge "The Wild Card Challenge". In today's episode we'll give you the high-level overview of what it's about! (Don't worry, we'll give you even more granular details soon!)(00:41) - What are the FM team challengesLearn more about past challenges he
Which Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are best? | Question of the Week Ep11 | 8-2-26
Which Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are best? Podcast listener "FlyerDad" asked us this question recently, writing:Marriott points are truly the most valuable airline currency given the number of programs they transfer to. But I have never heard you guys discuss who their most valuable transfer partners are, as you do for all the other transferable currencies. Would you consider a podcast on t
How to Amass Amex Points | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep369 | 7-31-26
In today's episode we'll talk about how Amex has added a valuable new hotel partner, Seats.aero has added useful new tools, and we'll discuss the many ways to amass a Membership Rewards fortune.Giant Mailbag(00:59) - Ross: Another hidden gem card?Bonvoyed: JetBlue, Air Canada, LifeMiles(04:51) - JetBlue & Air Canada add basic fares to premium cabins(06:27) - Your Lifemiles+ free award changes/
Amex Platinum vs. Robinhood Platinum | Coffee Break Ep116 | 7-28-26
The Robinhood Platinum card now live for invited members, so in today's episode, we'll see how it compares with another Platinum card, the American Express Platinum Card®.(00:17) - Robinhood Platinum card is now live for invited members...(00:50) - Here are some of the basic details of the card(01:22) - How is this card different from the American Express Platinum Card®?(03:27) - 5X categories(04:
How do you decide whether to buy flights with cash or miles? | Question of the Week Ep10 | 7-26-26
How do you decide whether to buy flights with cash or miles? Follower Owen asked this question recently, saying:"On the podcast you guys often say that you rarely book flights with cash. I find that, especially when booking domestic flights, I often can’t get amazing value from my points (let’s say <1.5cpp). As a result, I tend to hoard my points for those big outsized value redemptions (intern
Hidden Gem Credit Cards | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep368 | 7-24-26
In today's podcast episode we'll talk about Seats.aero enhancements, The Amex Green mystery, and credit cards that are rarely talked about but worth a look.Giant Mailbag(00:46) - Mea Culpa re Marriott/Japan AirlinesCard News(05:11) - Amex Green card intrigueCrazy Thing(10:44) - Nick's Bilt hotel experienceAwards, Points, and More(15:29) - Chase offers: new terms about "abuse", which you can read a
Greg's choice: saving points from a Wells Fargo shutdown | Coffee Break Ep115 | 7-21-26
Greg's been thinking through how to handle the recent shutdown of his Wells Fargo checking account. Worried the shutdown would eventually impact his credit cards, he had to make a decision about where to transfer his points...(01:30) - Greg's Wells Fargo shutdown(08:54) - Reader tip(13:03) - Nick's advice(16:20) - Greg's decisionSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get
Does being an authorized user affect your eligibility for a new credit card offer? | Question of the Week Ep9 | 7-19-26
Does being an authorized user affect your eligibility for a new credit card offer? Reader Mike emailed us with this question:My wife has the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and I am an authorized user. Now, I want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for myself. Is being an authorized user on the card you want to apply for have any consequences?We’ve been answering a reader or listener qu
Turn hotel status into airline status | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep367 | 7-17-26
In today's episode, we'll talk about how Wells Fargo shut down Greg's checking account, we'll ask "Did Marriott devalue again?", and we'll look at the many ways to turn hotel status into airline status.Giant Mailbag(01:12) - Rick shares a note about Bilt Cash at WalgreensCard News(04:25) - Chase Freedom Flex® dropping foreign transaction fees, but also losing cell protectionCrazy Thing(06:22) - Ca
Marriott Bonvoy pros and cons | Coffee Break Ep114 | 7-14-26
Bonvoy is the program we love... to hate. Having said that, we'd be lying if we said there were no redeeming features of this program. In this episode, we'll talk about the pros and cons of the Marriott Bonvoy program.(00:58) - Pros(06:53) - Cons(11:50) - See our resource (or "matrix") for determining which Marriott card you may be eligible for hereSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.c
"It's a credit card and it works" | Ask Us Anything Ep88 | 7-8-26
What are our favorite USA destinations? If you go for the AA elite status as your Hyatt milestone benefit, when does the AA status expire? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on June 3rd, 2026.(00:43) - Why does BILT still have “Coming Soon” for Blacklane and Blade BILT Cash redemptions after nearly 6 months? Sure feels like many of us are gonna have
The best credit card travel credits | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep366 | 7-10-26
On today's podcast episode, if you couldn't get enough of Basic Economy, don't worry! Delta has introduced Basic Business. We'll share a potential trick for getting 25,000 AA miles for free, and talk about Credit card Travel Credits: which are worthwhile and which are worthless.Giant Mailbag(01:10) - Joaquin says, "One thing I haven’t considered before listening to you was to monitor the price of
Which Hyatt Milestone Reward should I pick? | Coffee Break Ep113 | 7-7-26
Greg earned a 3-night Hyatt milestone reward, which means he's faced with a choice of what to pick. He's got 90 days to pick that reward, but he's whittled away a lot of that time and now just has a few weeks left to decide.Which Hyatt Milestone Reward should I pick?(01:22) - 30 Night milestone rewards(02:10) - Pick One: 2K Next Stay Award(03:30) - Club Access Awards (2)(04:22) - $25 FIND Experien
Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? | Question of the Week Ep8 | 7-5-26
Do we book speculatively, hoping for a schedule change? Reader "LR" sent us the following question:"I was intrigued by a recent post about schedule changes in another group that I follow. This particular person noted that anytime United or AA makes a schedule change of any type, you can change your flight at no additional cost to your preferred route. Sometimes you may even have flexibility within
12 things to know about Hyatt's devaluation | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep365 | 7-3-26
On today's episode, we'll see how the 5x airline card saga continues, Nick will give us more reasons to use the Southwest app, we'll hear some exciting news about Frontier, and we'll dive deep into Hyatt's devaluation.Giant Mailbag(01:06) - More comments about our comments about there being "No airline cards offer 5x or more"Crazy Thing: Chase(03:41) - Points Boost is sometimes different between C
Speculative Bilt transfer bonuses | Coffee Break Ep112 | 6-30-26
When it comes to transfer bonuses, conventional wisdom has been not to transfer unless there's specific use in mind. But sometimes the bonus is too good to ignore.Speculative Bilt transfer bonuses(00:16) - Conventional wisdom: don’t transfer without specific use in mind. But...(01:19) - With Bilt 2.0, earning hundreds of thousands of Bilt points is not so difficult anymore(04:11) - So which bonuse
How are you using AI for trip planning? | Question of the Week Ep7 | 6-27-26
How are you using AI for trip planning? Frequent Miler reader Jared wrote in:I recently asked the Bilt Neighborhood Concierge AI which weekends a particular Bilt Home Away from Home hotel (Kimpton Journeyman) had availability between August and December. It gave a useful and seemingly accurate response. Have you recently found any other good uses of Bilt's or other AIs?We’ve been answering a reade
Bilt Palladium Review: 6 month checkpoint | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep364 | 6-26-26
In today's episode, we'll talk about Qatar's crazy new rules if you want to redeem rewards for friends & family, how Wyndham is going to devalue (but it might not be so bad), and we'll take a look back at the first 6 months of Bilt 2.0: The good, the bad, and where things stand now.Bilt Palladium Review: 6-month checkpointGiant Mailbag(01:13) - Gary Leff has a couple of minor interesting notes
The best transferable points for multi-player households | Coffee Break Ep111 | 6-23-26
When you have multiple family members working together to earn travel rewards, it becomes more important to share and combine points. So which programs are best for this ability to share?(02:07) - Why Transferable Points matter(05:07) - Why transferable point sharing matters(07:20) - Read more about Citi discontinuing points sharing hereAnd read about Wells Fargo's end to combining points here(08:
Book airfare through credit card portal or direct? | Question of the Week Ep6 | 6-21-26
Book airfare through credit card portal or direct? Frequent Miler reader Mike wrote in with this question:American Express Platinum cards give you 5x points for direct bookings to airline flights. However, most airlines give you 3x to 5x for using their own co-branded cards for those same flights. Direct bookings give you more options if things go sideways (e.g., flight cancelations that require a
Wyndham's intriguing new card lineup | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep363 | 6-19-26
In today's podcast we see how Wells Fargo Attunes out, we'll talk about the PAZE craze (and why it pays to pay with PAZE), and Greg convinces Nick that a $395 Wyndham card is a good idea.Giant Mailbag(01:37) - Deya has a success story about Chase price matchFind our Best Rate Guarantee coffee break episode hereCard News(07:07) - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card refresh is out(08:48) - Read more abou
Chase Travel℠ / The Edit: Best Rate Guarantee | Coffee Break Ep110 | 6-16-26
Chase has been slowly rolling out a Best Rate Guarantee for Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders who book hotels through Chase Travel℠. We'll talk about what that means in today's episode. (00:51) - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Background(03:07) - The basics of the Best Rate Guarantee(07:25) - Nick's experienceVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content
Chase's Hyatt gut punch & refreshed Sapphire Preferred® | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep362 | 6-12-26
In today's podcast episode, we'll talk about how the New Sapphire Preferred® card wows, but the new Chase to Hyatt transfer rate breaks our hearts. Giant Mailbag(01:18) - Read more about stacking Chase Instacart deals here or learning to love Instacart credits here(04:33) - Elliot talks about getting into the Instacart game(05:58) - Christine found a great Instacart stackCrazy Thing(07:47) - IHG T
Wells Fargo's Premier version of the Autograph Journey | Coffee Break Ep109 | 6-9-26
In this episode, we'll discuss Wells Fargo's Premier version of the Autograph Journey card, only available to Wells Fargo Premier clients.(01:04) - Almost identical to Autograph Journey, but this one is targeted to WF Premier customersLearn more about the Wells Fargo Premier Autograph Visa Infinite card here(02:09) - Advantages over the Autograph Journey(05:52) - Only available to Wells Fargo Prem
What’s the single best card for your "player two"? | Ask us Anything Ep87 | 6-3-26
How has SAS Eurobonus award availability been in the months since the Million Mile Madness challenge? What’s the single best card for your "player two"? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on June 3rd, 2026.(00:38) - How many backup flights do you have booked at any one time, and how many fees does that incur? (04:43) - Has Greg tried/considered apply
Life after Citi | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep361 | 6-5-26
In today's episode, Greg shares the story of how Citi shut down his accounts and what's next for him. (What will he do without his beloved Prestige card?) Read more about Greg's situation with Cit here.Giant Mailbag(01:06) - Russel discusses how Barclays American Airlines card is not a way back to Citi(02:57) - Flyguy talks about also being shutdown by Citi for paying the bill from multiple checki
Citi cancels 5X earnings | Coffee Break Ep108 | 6-2-26
There have been some negative changes coming out of Citi that we'll be talking about in today's podcast episode.(00:43) - Citi Custom Cash® Card discontinued for new applications, but it may still be possible to product-change to itYou can read more about this discontinuation here.(01:16) - Citi Custom Cash® Card details(04:23) - Citi had been on a roll...(04:42) - Citi points have been declining
Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? | Question of the Week Ep5 | 5-31-26
Should I split a points transfer into smaller buckets? Frequent Miler reader Keith wrote in with this question:I tried to transfer 560K points to Air France to snag a redemption. had previously transferred about 280k points from Amex to KLM, I thought for sure the points would have similarly come through with Chase. Sadly, the points took 4 days to transfer, and I missed my booking window. Looking
Tips for finding impossible awards | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep360 | 5-29-26
Today's episode will provide a whole grab bag of tips for how to find those impossible award bookings for your award travel goals.(02:32) - Here's a grab bag of techniques, and keep in mind it's often necessary to use multiple(03:09) - Be flexible!(06:48) - Look towards the end of the booking schedule: use points that can book farther out(08:26) - Positioning flights(20:59) - Programs that reserve
First impressions of the new World of Hyatt order | Coffee Break Ep107 | 5-26-26
The World of Hyatt new award charts are live now, and we have thoughts! We'll give our first impressions in this episode, and you can read more about the new award charts here.(00:25) - World of Hyatt's new award charts are live(01:44) - Where it hurts the most(04:05) - It's not all doom and gloomRead more about our first impressions here.(11:55) - AnalysisSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequen
Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Point Boosts? | Question of the Week Ep4 | 5-24-26
Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Points Boosts? Frequent Miler reader Bryant wrote in saying...With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card providing 8X points on travel and hotel, doesn’t it always make sense to book through Chase and get the multiplier? That being said, what then is the best way to utilize the points to maximize their value?We’ve been answering a reader or listener question at the
Will the points game survive? | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep359 | 5-22-26
As more and more people get into the points & miles game, we're seeing an acceleration of devaluations. Opportunities to earn points disappear. Point prices go up. Transfer ratios go down. Is this the beginning of the end?Will the points game survive?Giant Mailbag(00:46) - Gil has a warning story about being Bonvoyed by Bonvoy... BoundlessMain Event: Will the points game survive?(06:28) - Deva
Podcasting on the road: trials and tribulations | Coffee Break Ep106 | 5-18-26
Blogging on the road is pretty easy, but podcasting from the road is a different story. In this episode, we'll talk about how. (01:12) - Internet issues(05:39) - Microphone issues(14:27) - Improvised laptop stands(19:38) - Lighting issues (dark hotel rooms, cars, etc.)Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and d
My credit card application was declined. Now what? | Question of the Week Ep03 | 5-17-26
My credit card application was declined. Now what?We get this kind of question a lot. And the truth is, credit card application strategies may vary by bank.For example, you can read our Complete Guide to credit card application rules (by bank) here. Let's say you have a letter that says there were too many new accounts, too much available credit, not enough usage of existing credit, etc. Then what
Best $95 travel credit card combo | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep358 | 5-15-26
We talk a lot about the ultra-premium credit cards with expensive annual fees, but there are plenty of people interested in credit cards with more modest annual fees. Luckily, there are some great $95 credit cards that can be supplemented with fee-free cards for a great travel rewards strategy. Giant Mailbag(01:20) - Melissa writes in with a question about locking in Hyatt prices before May 20th(0
Is the Bilt Palladium card worth its $495 annual fee? | Coffee Break Ep105 | 5-12-26
With most ultra-premium cards it's possible to simply add up how much you value each perk and see if it meets or exceeds the annual fee, but this card is mostly valuable for its high earning rate from spend... It's definitely worth $495 in the first year due to the welcome bonus, but what about after that?(01:38) - Palladium Card detailsLearn more about the Bilt Palladium card here(02:37) - Bilt C
Should you have a hotel credit card even If you aren’t loyal to a hotel chain? | Ask Us Anything Ep86 | 5-6-26
Do any of the luxury hotel booking platforms (like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts®) allow booking for others? If you are hotel chain agnostic, should you have a hotel credit card? We answered these questions and more on the Ask Us Anything hosted live on YouTube on May 6th, 2026.(00:16) - I have 14999 Delta Sky Miles and need one more lousy point to be able to book an award ticket. I can transfer 1000
Transferable Points Changing Fortunes | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep357 | 5-8-26
In today's episode, Nick owns up to his mistake: Yes, you can lock in Hyatt prices with Points Advance. Then we'll talk about paying rent with the Alaska Atmos Summit card, and which points programs are trending up or down. Mea culpa(01:23) - Oops: Nick made a mistake about Hyatt Points Advance in the originally published version of our Question of the WeekFind the (now edited) Question of the Wee
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