Roll your own hotel elite status | Ep222 | 9-30-23
Release Date: 09/30/2023
Frequent Miler on the Air
(00:00) - Ever wanted to gift a free hotel night to someone else? In today's episode of Frequent Miler on the Air we'll discuss the ways you can do this! (01:18) - In response to Greg's post "Hilton Honors is winning me over, but I’d like one more enhancement…" one reader wonders, "Does Hilton pay influencers to do this?" (Read that post here: (Mailbag) (03:55) - Updating Card Talk (05:40) - American Express Gold Card changes go live, including increased annual fee, new "white gold" option, Dunkin' and Resy credits, and more... (Card News) Read more about the American...
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The Amex Gold Card is about to change. In this episode we'll review the current details for this card, the changes we predict to see, and whether those changes are good or bad. (01:05) - Current card details Learn more about the (02:13) - What's (allegedly) changing? (04:50) - What might be good about these changes? (07:51) - Is it still worth recommending? (15:20) - Which card do we recommend instead for good rewards on grocery and dining? Read more about the and the (18:09) - But don't necessarily go out and cancel the card after you hear this... Visit , and don’t forget to like...
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There are a bunch of hotel credit card offers that are bigger than usual right now, some of them pretty surprising. That's what we'll discuss in this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air. (01:20) - Booking Hilton stays with a mix of points and a free night award - just watch for a 3 night minimum. (Mail Bag) (05:32) - Read (06:29) - At least TWO FM followers got the Wyndham Hotel Pass! (What Crazy Thing) (09:48) - Marriott Bonvoy promotion for credit card holders (Mattress Running the Numbers) (15:51) - Hertz hurts so good (Award Talk) (19:52) - Virgin Atlantic points can't book Air France /...
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(01:37) - Carrie saw Greg speak at Chicago Seminars in 2013 - the topic was Million Mile Madness. (02:10) - The next summer (2014) Drew and Carrie were invited to the "Ann Arbor Art Fair Do". While in Ann Arbor, they met Greg for kayaking. (05:02) - Over the next few years, Carrie periodically did freelance projects for Greg (including an infographic about Redbird, layout design for the card page, editing YouTube videos for Greg's Necker Island visit, etc.) Read more about Greg and Carrie's Necker Island video partnership here: and read about how Greg booked Necker Island on points here:...
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Hilton has brought on their partner Small Luxury Hotels of the World which has been a bit more exciting than we expected it would be. In today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode we'll discuss more. (01:07) - a note about the alliteration in "pop-up prison" vs "pop-up jail" (Mail Bag) (02:56) - IHG Premier 60K certs (Card Talk) Read more about the : https://frequentmiler.com/chase-ihg-premier-card-best-ever-offer-5-60k-free-night-certificates/ (08:37) - Greg booked AA to fly to London and it didn't go very smoothly... (Crazy Thing) Read about :...
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In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. (01:25) - How do I know how much my points and miles are worth (and are all points and miles worth the same?) (06:04) - I switched an upcoming trip to take a better flight the next day, which means I have to change Hilton/Hertz reservations. Both of them will re-price to higher costs than before. Any way to avoid? (08:07) - What’s your prediction for...
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The Amex Platinum card has had great welcome bonuses for a while now, but it's a very expensive card. Are there reasons to keep the card once the annual fee comes due? That's what we'll discuss in today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode. (01:36) - Online chat for immediate Avios refunds? (Mailbag) (05:26) - Wells Fargo Attune Card (Card Talk) Read more about the (17:49) - Hyatt promo: Earn 1k bonus points + double elite nights at 15 Florida properties (Mattress Running the Numbers) (23:46) - Virgin kills Delta One deal (Award Talk) (28:39) - Interesting notes about Spirit awards (Award...
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Sonesta is a hotel chain with more than 1100 properties that we haven't paid much attention to until , a program that sort of came out of nowhere. In this week's Coffee Break episode, we'll chat more about why you shouldn't siesta on Sonesta! (01:24) - Sonesta Travel Pass Basics (04:04) - Elite Status (06:49) - Shortcuts to elite status (11:22) - Points from paid stays (13:08) - Sonesta Travel Pass credit card (15:58) - Final thoughts... are we excited about this? Visit , and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
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Amex has long had rules against getting a new welcome bonus for a card you’ve had before. Now, they’ve expanded those rules to include "families" of cards. In this episode we'll help you navigate this confusing and tedious concept. (01:31) - With pointsyeah a reader found an interesting redemption for ANA first class... but found a great discount for “suffering” in economy to HND. (Mailbag) Read more about (05:15) - Southwest Companion Pass with one business card (Card Talk) Find out more about the Find out more about the (18:14) - Bilt rent day promo (Award Talk) (19:42) - Alaska...
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On a previous Coffee Break episode, we talked about the . This week, we'll learn about Nick's origin story with the Frequent Miler team. (00:47) -Super quick recap of next 5 years from the start of the blog Greg posted a (02:21) - How Nick got into miles and points (12:09) - Nick discovers Frequent Miler at an FTU (13:58) - Greg and Nick meet in person at another FTU (16:37) - Nick's wife convinces him to apply for the Frequent Miler position (17:10) - More details about Greg's help wanted post and the hiring process (20:42) - Greg was hoping to find someone who knew more about...
info_outlineWant to get elite treatment at hotels without investing the time and effort in enough nights for elite status? Instead of spending fifty or sixty nights a year in hotels with one brand, you can simulate status with some simple tricks.
00:00 Intro
01:52 Giant Mailbag
06:08 Card Talk: Bank of America Alaska Airlines credit cards
https://frequentmiler.com/as/
https://frequentmiler.com/asbiz/
https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-airlines-companion-fare-guide/
20:10 What crazy thing....did Delta do this week?
https://frequentmiler.com/delta-may-walk-back-some-of-their-recently-announced-changes/
26:09 Award Talk: Alaska and JetBlue status matches for Delta elites
https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-airlines-offering-status-match-to-draw-disappointed-delta-frequent-flyers/
https://frequentmiler.com/jetblue-offering-very-generous-status-match-to-delta-elite-members/
33:56 Award Talk: PointsYeah improvements
38:23 Main Event: Roll your own hotel elite status
41:02 Preferred Partner Hotel Booking programs
https://frequentmiler.com/getting-the-elite-experience-without-elite-status-via-luxury-partner-programs/
45:18 Hyatt / SLH partnership
49:04 Earning more points for paid stays
55:21 Room upgrades
https://frequentmiler.com/how-best-to-book-hyatt-luxury-suites/
1:11:38 Free Breakfast
1:13:28 Is elite status worth it?
1:18:43 Question of the Week: What kind of manufactured spending is safe?
Music credit: Annie Yoder