Tips for booking Positioning Flights | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep253 | 5-3-24
Release Date: 05/03/2024
Strategizing Hilton cards, credits, and free nights | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep255 | 5-17-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Hilton's SLH partnership is stirring up some excitement over Hilton, even for people like Greg who haven't bothered with Hilton cards for awhile, so this week we're discussing Hilton credit cards, credits, and free nights. (02:07) - We forgot about Qpoints last week... (Mail Bag) (05:10) - Citi Strata Premier (Card Talk) (10:33) - Citi accidentally made Strata Premier details public (Crazy Thing) (11:56) - Citi accidentally published FAQ showing that it may be possible to upgrade to Prestige card (Crazy Thing) (14:10) - Earn Delta MQDs on hotel bookings & car rentals (Mattress Running the...
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Announcing the 2024 Team Challenge | Ask Us Anything Ep67 | 5-8-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
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. This special episode (67) was streamed live on May 8, 2024 and introduces our 2024 annual team challenge! (06:10) - Hi FM Team, now that we are approaching Summer, what you are most looking forward to this Summer? (13:35) - how do you plan on handling the requirement for onward travel that many countries have in this challenge? (15:37) - What's the "budget" for the...
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Our favorite big spend bonuses | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep254 | 5-11-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Some credit cards offer extra perks or progress toward elite status for big spenders. On this week's episode, we talk about which of those bonuses might be worth the spend. But before we get into that, this episode is full of news you can use and tips to keep in mind in regular segments like Card Talk and Mattress Running the Numbers. (00:00) Intro (01:26) A tip we neglected to mention regarding positioning flights (Giant Mailbag) (05:33) Card Talk (05:46) Venture X Business card losing Priority Pass restaurant access for new Visa cards (Card Talk) (08:57) Qatar Airways Cardless Cards (Card...
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4 Cool things Nick learned at the Toronto Travel Summit | Coffee Break Ep10 | 5-7-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Nick just came back from a weekend in Toronto at the Toronto Travel Summit. In today's Coffee Break episode, he'll share 4 cool things he learned there. (2:00) - Air France is working on upgrades using miles that sounds like it might be very reasonable. (07:30) - Aeroplan intends to bring back family pooling the same as it was. (09:17) - Aeroplan is actually working on getting partner space back up and running. (12:56) - Hotels could be a good use of Finnair Avios (18:08) - Networking at these things continues to be great! Lots of interested / interesting people & creators with...
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Tips for booking Positioning Flights | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep253 | 5-3-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Sometimes you book an award ticket that requires you to do some positioning in order to catch that flight - for instance if the flight doesn't depart from your home airport. There are a few best practices to keep in mind when booking these "positioning flights", which we'll discuss in today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode. (01:08) - One reader writes in: "If you have Platinum Honors, I would rank the BofA Premium Rewards Elite card the highest for Priority Access by far. The airline credit offset is very easy to use and you get them all at once so there's no obnoxious coupon book"... (Mail...
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Frequent Miler origin story - Greg's story | Coffee Break Ep09 | 4-30-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Today's Coffee Break episode was inspired by a recent email we got asking... how did Frequent Miler get started? Since our Coffee Break episodes are 20 minutes or less, we started but telling Greg's side of the Frequent Miler origin story. (01:47) - in 2011 Greg first learned about this points and miles hobby when his current employer at the time issued a "no travel" decree... (04:22) - Greg started a blog for his friends...because it was easier then emailing everyone about what he'd learned. (05:29) - Greg almost immediately became intrigued with stacking opportunities. (07:06) - Greg was...
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Luxury lodging... on points | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep252 | 4-26-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
There are many ways to book luxury hotels (credit card points, hotel points, etc) and this can be a great way to stay in some amazing luxury accommodations you'd never justify paying cash for. We'll dive into this today. (01:43) - Please share an experience when a positioning flight had not gone to plan, perhaps share a "Positioning Flight From Hell" type of experience. (Mailbag) . (06:23) - On our Instagram post, @marriottbonvoy's account trolls Hyatt by saying "Fortunately for our guests, we don’t play games with welcome gifts, points, and awards at Luxury locations such as St. Regis, JW...
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Hilton Takes on Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) | Coffee Break Ep08 | 4-23-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Until recently, Hyatt had a relationship with Small Luxury Hotels (SLH), but it was recently announced that Hilton will now be the one integrating SLH hotels. We'll talk about what that looks like in this week's Coffee Break episode. (0:58) - Background: What is SLH? Read more about this SLH update here: (02:15) - Hilton’s approach to SLH (08:40) - Why Hilton 120K isn’t so different from Hyatt 40K (14:56) - Favorite SLH properties Visit , and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media. You’ll find all other Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
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Shortcuts to AA elite status | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep251 | 4-19-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
American Airlines status isn't as easy as it used to be, but there are some shortcuts for those who think they'll be flying American Airlines enough to really want it. We'll discuss those shortcuts in this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air. (00:58) - Reader, Matt has been frustrated by Bilt's customer service... (Mailbag) (07:16) - AAdvantage® Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard (Card Talk) Find out more about this card here: We covered these a year ago in the show: Amassing American Airlines Miles | Ep199 | 4-22-23, which you can find here: (10:22) - AAdvantage® Aviator Silver World...
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United blocking partner awards | Coffee Break Ep07 | 4-16-24
Frequent Miler on the Air
Tragically, United appears to to be blocking saver award space from Star Alliance partner bookings. In this coffee break episode we'll talk about what that means. (0:59) - Overview of United's recent changes Read more about these (01:09) - Why it matters (07:11) - Research findings - what we've found out digging a little deeper... (09:50) - Are United miles now more valuable? (14:19) - Are United credit cards now more valuable? (extra award space) Visit , and don't forget to like and follow us on social media. You'll find all other Music Credit - Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
info_outlineSometimes you book an award ticket that requires you to do some positioning in order to catch that flight - for instance if the flight doesn't depart from your home airport. There are a few best practices to keep in mind when booking these "positioning flights", which we'll discuss in today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode.
(01:08) - One reader writes in: "If you have Platinum Honors, I would rank the BofA Premium Rewards Elite card the highest for Priority Access by far. The airline credit offset is very easy to use and you get them all at once so there's no obnoxious coupon book"... (Mail Bag)
(03:20) - BOA Premium Rewards (not elite) card (Card Talk)
Learn more about this card: https://frequentmiler.com/boaPR/#Goto
Revisit Frequent Miler on the Air Episode 204 here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-would-we-spend-1-million-dollars/
(04:57) - Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card (Card Talk)
Learn more about this card: https://frequentmiler.com/BOAPremiumRewardsElite/#Goto
(11:17) - Cardless launching two Avianca LifeMiles cards (Card Talk)
(12:35) - Marriott Homes & Villas 50K (Mattress Running the Numbers)
(16:12) - Transfer bonuses (Award Talk)
(21:29) - United increases prices on partner biz class awards within Europe & Asia (Award Talk)
(24:06) - Nick: able to change Aeroplan award (Award Talk)
(29:50) - Daily Getaways (Award Talk)
Main Event: Tips for booking Positioning Flights
(32:26) - Award discovery tools like PointsYeah DayDream Explorer tool and Seats.Aero make it easy to find awards such as "business class for 4 from "North America" to "Europe"
(36:22) - Avoid checking bags!
(37:37) - Departure positioning tips: what NOT to do
Read Greg’s mad dash story (What NOT to do) here: https://frequentmiler.com/my-award-alert-flight-change-and-a-risky-layover/
(40:33) - Day before is best
(41:36) - Non-stop is best (less chance of delay)
(41:56) - If not night before.... book primary positioning flight with long airport layover
(43:15) - Useful to have lounge access for layover
(46:02) - Book freely cancelable alternate positioning flight
(49:20) - If back-up positioning flight isn’t an option, consider booking back-up for entire one-way trip
(50:18) - Best options for free last-minute cancelations
(56:48) - Back to Greg’s story. How he somewhat protected myself:
(1:08:29) - Are there any certificates (like companion certificates) that disappear when you cancel the card? (Question of the Week)
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Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads