Episoder
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In this episode, Mike talks to Award Travel 101 moderator Maria Fung who discusses various travel rewards topics and updates. They feature Ira's mistake of using the wrong credit card, despite labeling them.
Hawaiian/ Alaska 1:1 Transfer is Live. As of airtime you can still also transfer from Amex Membership Rewards to Hawaiian Airlines (then on to Alaska)Southwest Airlines ChangesNo more open seating and adding extra legroom seatsKeeping free checked bags (still see it as more revenue)Partnership with IcelandairElite BenefitsA-List Preferred can select extra-legroom seats at time of bookingA-List can select extra legroom 48-hours beforeBilt October Rent Day (passed)Hilton Gold, Diamond status challenge 14 nightsVirgin Cruises benefitsWells Fargo Rewards adds Virgin as a Seventh Transfer Partner
News includes Hawaiian/Alaska mileage transfers, changes at Southwest (such as new seats and legroom options), and Bilt's October Rent Day promotion.
Mike and Maria also share recent trip updates, including Mike’s upcoming flights and Maria’s travels to Los Cabos, Bangkok, and Hong Kong.
The highlight feature is an interview with Maria, focusing on her introduction to travel rewards, her favorite redemption (Venice), and her tips for booking. Maria has a passion for family travel but also enjoys taking solo trips. Maria's tip of the week encourages travelers to stay open to all options.
Links to topics discussed:Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Mike and Joe are on the podcast this week with special guest, former Award Travel 101 moderator and current NerdWallet editor Erin Hurd.
They discuss the post of the week, from Travel Grumps 101 member Paige, who was surprised to find her Global Entry revoked without any clear reason, despite having not been guilty of any customs violations or illegal activities. Joe has particular insight in this matter having gone through it himself.In travel news, JetBlue is entering the lounge business, and the Hawaiian-Alaska Airlines merger is progressing with 1:1 point transfers between the programs expected within a month. Also provided is a recap the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars where Joe, Mike and Erin met up with 500 other points and miles aficionados to talk strategy and learn tips from over 50 speakers.
In the feature segment special guest Erin Hurd focuses on her transition from hobby to full-time work in the award travel space, covering personal growth, favorite reward programs, and future trends in the industry.
Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Mangler du episoder?
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Episode 86 hosted by Angie and Joe kicks off with a member's concern about Priority Pass lounge overcrowding due to cardholders bringing in multiple guests. This prompts a discussion about potential guest limitations to improve the lounge experience for all.
The news segment covers a variety of travel-related updates, including how to renew Global Entry membership quickly, finding partner award flight availability, and new Amex credit restrictions. They also highlight opportunities to earn bonus rewards, such as 5 free nights with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and elevated Delta Amex card offers.
The main feature focuses on building healthy credit to maximize points and miles. They offer tips like paying accounts on time, keeping credit utilization under 30%, and maintaining a mix of credit types. The hosts explain the differences between FICO and VantageScore models, the impact of opening and closing credit cards on scores, and share a personal story where travel rewards saved a member over $2,000 on last-minute bookings.
How To Renew Your Global Entry Membership (And a Trick to Getting a Quick Approval)How To Find Airline Partner Award Flight AvailabilityAmex To Add New Uber Cash Credit Restrictions in NovemberPopular Free Night Certificate offer is back on the American Express® Marriott Bonvoy Business® CardScore increased SkyMiles With Elevated Delta Amex Card Offers
Links to Topics DiscussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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This week we feature another installment of “Meet the Mods” Angie talks with Justin Walter who shared his journey into the points and miles hobby, which started in 2021 after being inspired by fellow enthusiast Justin Vacula. His first major redemption, staying at the Hyatt Ziva Cancun, got him hooked, and he now prefers traveling in business class, especially for international trips.
Chase Ink Unlimited new elevated bonusSAS joining Skyteam, now bookable via Delta and Flying BlueAmerican Airlines switching to dynamic pricing on Fiji AirlinesIHG is back with another airline partnership. Lufthansa Miles & More Amex launched a 30% transfer bonus from Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors through 9/30.
One of his favorite redemptions was flying Virgin Upper Class from JFK to London using Flying Blue miles. He’s now looking forward to his upcoming trip to Japan, where he’ll experience JAL’s first class. Justin’s tip of the week is to always work on hitting minimum spending requirements to continue building points, as it's essential to unlock valuable rewards.
Links to news discussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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In this episode the Award Travel 101 podcast, "Book Early, Book Often" Mike and "Backup" Joe share their latest strategies and news updates. Mike discusses his recent approval for the Hawaiian Airlines personal card and transferring 100,000 MR points with a 20% bonus, taking inspiration from Greg and Nick at Frequent Miler. Joe shares his success with a 250K Business Platinum card and his travel plans, including a status match trip to Atlantic City and a booking for a concert using a Hyatt certificate.
The hosts also challenge conventional travel norms, encouraging listeners to make decisions that suit their personal preferences. Mike emphasizes not fearing layovers, ignoring the obsession over credit card rules like 5/24, dismissing the "CPP Police" and not blindly following popular travel trends.
Washington Residents: Earn Delta SkyMiles for Seahawks Passing YardsFive New Southwest Promotions to Earn A-List Elite Status FasterLatest Marriott Bonvoy Promotions: Bonus Points on Two-Night Stays, up to 10K Points per Night at Select Brands, and MoreBilt and Walgreens Partnership. Extra points on pharmacy purchases but beware of the fine print!
Joe adds that fringe options like lesser-known airlines or using cash when it makes sense can often provide better value than sticking to mainstream choices. He also reminds listeners that award travel is almost never "free travel."
Links to Topics DiscussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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We are less than a month away from this year’s Chicago Seminars, the oldest and largest gathering of points and miles aficionados. Joe and Mike talk about the event and give a preview of lectures both Joe and I will be giving. There is also a survey
Increased Ink welcome offer coming to an endChoice Hotels Adds New Sweet Spot Rewards starting at 5k pointsBilt Rewards Hawaiian Airlines Transfer PartnershipPermanently Ends How To Create a Travel Rewards Credit Card Strategy for FamiliesPodcast Episode 19 - The Tools of TravelVisit the Chicago Seminars site for tickets. Use code MikeZCS10Discount for $10 offAward Travel Survey Date to be compiled and presented at Chicago Seminars.
Also discussed are strategies to prepare for a potential Alaska and Hawaiian airlines merger now that the USDOJ has green lighted the deal. Lastly should we be putting more focus on the Marriott Bonvoy program and it's mid-tier Platinum status? Our moderator Maria thinks so.
Links to Topics DiscussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Meetups are one of our favorite aspects of this hobby which allow us to interact in person with those who share our same passion/obsession. Angie and Mike are fresh off the latest Award Travel 101 meetup in Seattle where they interreacted with almost 50 other members of the community. They detail the experiences of the weekend and reiterate the benefits of attending meetups and how sometimes it's nice to converse with others who suffer the same affliction as you.
Fontinebleau Las Vegas Status MatchCurrent Capital One Spark Business Offer5 issuers raise Global Entry credit to match fee increaseQatar Avios Devaluation, significantly affects American and Alaska domestic US award.Amex announces forthcoming Centurion Lounge in Salt Lake City (SLC)Photos from the OUT to SEA meetup in Seattle (Award Travel 101 Facebook Group)
Links to topics discussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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As part of our "Meet The Mods" series Mike talks with April about her background, travel style and of course love of Hyatt. They also discuss the nuances of being native New Yorkers where it's seemingly required to vacation in Florida nearly every year. Further discussion ensues about important credos such as " book early, book often" and "the phone eats first."
Hyatt PromosHyatt Fast Track, trough AA status matchEnhanced offers on Amex Bonvoy CardsRooms.aero compared to other hotel award search engines
Links to Topics DiscussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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If you have been around this space for awhile you'll inevitably run into issues dealing with "muggles" or those unwise in the magical arts of award travel. Angie and Mike talk about the type of muggles we meet and how to best converse with them without sounding like a crazy person.
Under the Canvas Joins World of Hyatt (Correction: Under the Canvas properties are located NEAR, National Parks, not within their boundaries.)Flash” 70% transfer bonus from Chase to Marriott (through August 15)Amex MR 30% Transfer Bonus to AviosAmex MR 20% Transfer Bonus to Hawaiian"Pepe Silvia" It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Links to topics discussedWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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This week Mike talks with Joe who has just logged his latest entry in his "Summer of Travel" logbook by traveling Japan Air Lines Business Class JFK to Toyko, intra-Asia flights to Korea and back. Then the culmination of Etihad business and first class from Tokyo to Abu Dhabi back to JFK. Hyatt and FHR stays throughout.
Links to Topics Discussed:
Southwest Eliminating Hallmark Open Seating Policy, plus other changes in the works.Amex Gold Card Changes, $75 AF increase, more "coupon book" creditsWorld of Hyatt, how most of Joe's hotel bookings were madeAmex Fine Hotels & Resorts Program, where some other bookings were made through.Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Angie talks with new moderator and Ohio native Cameron about his background, travel style and favorite trips. He details his passion for travel for both himself and to show his family the world and how points and miles made it all possible.
Temporarily can not can book AF/KLM through Virgin (until August)New Amex Centurion Lounge at DCAElevated Capital One Venture Welcome Offer- 75k +$250 statement credit for $4k spend.Charles Schwab Amex Platinum Cash Out Limit Changes
Links to topics discussed:Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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In this week's episode Mike and Angie discuss some of the recent hotel card offers then get into the main feature of handling major changes in their life such as a new house and a new job and how it affects their award travel strategy.
Chase Ink Preferred 120k OfferIHG Premier Card 5 Free Night Award offerChase Bonvoy Bold mediocre refreshChase Sapphire Reserve giving 3 months of Bonvoy Gold status... mehHilton rolls out 400 more SLH properties. Some good deals are to be foundDouble points on stays at Hyatt Place/Hyatt House
Links to Topics Discussed in This Week's Episode:Post of the Week
Member David talks about mobile phone service abroad.Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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It's now July, and we're more than half-way through 2024. In this episode, we're reviewing what we've done through the year to this point, along with some of the trips and places we've been able to book thanks to Award Travel!
Post of the week
From this long-time community member, Joe. Have you heard of this guy? Do you take time to recharge with your significant other?
News
Virgin targets another Award SweetspotBA Executive Club Stealth DevaluationFlying Blue Calendar TrickBask Bank AAdvantage Bonussee post in Award Travel 101 community where I broke down "the math."For a full transcript of topics, visit the AwardWallet BlogWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Award Travel 101 moderator, digital nomad and foodie Anthony Cave talks with Mike about his background, what got him into award travel and how he found living a nomadic life was more cost effective and fulfilling.
Flying Blue status match for U.S. residents Alaska status match until the end of 2025Chase Freedom Flex Q3 Bonus CategoriesMore Escape Lounges Join Priority PassSpacious Delta One Lounge at JFK T4 is OpenCapital One Lounge Coming to JFKStrawberry Hotels Summer PassQatar Airlines Card
Later on Mike and Anthony discuss their love of airport lounges, their most/least favorites and the best ways to access them.
Links to news and topics discussed:Best Lounge Cards:
Chase United Club- Best for Star Alliance fliers plus some great perksCiti AAdvantage Executive - Best for oneworld fliersAmex Platinum - Amex Lounges, Delta Sky ClubsWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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In this episode, Angie and Joe cover news of the week along with mistakes we’ve made or we’ve seen friends and family make.
Links to Topics Discussed
LifeMiles showing $1,000+ fees on awards (even in economy)Virgin Atlantic is having a 40% off award sale!No notice devaluation of Choice hotelsAeroplan has (again) paused points expirationWhere to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Mike and Joe discuss new airport lounges, Hilton and Hyatt independent hotel affiliations, tipping culture and the broader featured topic of how travel teaches us new things about every place we visit.
Business Class to Stockholm for 54,000 pointsRound-trip to Rome for $586First Class Suites to Hawaii for 31,000 points
The Award Travel 101 Podcast is brought to you in part by Thrifty Traveler Premium. Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT10” for $10 off your first year. Recent finds include:You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium
For a full details, check out the blogpost on AwardWallet.
Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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This week Angie talks with newest Award Travel 101 moderator Randy Clinton. Randy talks about his background, what got him started in travel rewards and loyalty programs. Randy talks about some of the aspirational products he has flown and how he booked them. He also shares some of his tips for one of his favorite ways to travel, cruises and how to status match for the most benefits.
Emirates slashed economy partner award pricing by up to 20%Hilton Surpass 130K + Free Night AwardCruise Status MatchesCarnivalVirgin VoyagesMSC
Links to topics discussed:Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Joe is off cruising the Mediterranean so Mike and Angie are on this week. We talk about some news such as AA rolling back their unpopular changes to how loyalty points would be earned. Finally we ponder quirks in the award travel world that makes us grumpy from restrictive bank rules to the CPP Police.
Targeted World of Hyatt PromosThe return of a popular welcome offer on the Bonvoy Business CardHilton cards are back with elevated bonusesCents Per Point (CPP) calculationsObsession over Chase 5/24Citi Strata Premier
Links to topics discussed:Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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Joe talks with Gunnar Olson of Thrifty Traveler on how award travel has helped enrich his travels with his Player 2), and they've created fond memories flying some incredible products, by way of his work at Thrifty Traveler.
Joe and Gunnar also discuss how the past 6 months have probably been more brutal than what we’ve seen in any other past period with award price hikes and no-notice changes from many of our favorite programs such as United, Turkish, Virgin Atlantic and World of Hyatt.
Also listen in for Gunnar's tip of the week; the old adage, "Book early, book often!"
Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
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This week Joe and Angie discuss lots of news such as the rebranded Citi Strata Premier, Virgin Red Cruise deal, some SLH properties rejoining World of Hyatt via Mr & Mrs Smith and more.
Then then as the summer of travel heats up they discuss the their tips for getting ready for a trip. Something hopefully everyone we be doing soon and often this summer.Where to Find Us
The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected] Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.Support the AT101 Podcast/Community
Technical Note: If you encounter an error trying to listen on Apple Podcasts, please turn OFF your VPN if you are using one. - Se mer
