Getting started with points & miles | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep298 | 3-21-25

Winning the game doesn't have to be hard. Points & miles is like complicated board game -- seems overwhelming at first. But the rewards for winning are incredible. In today's main event we'll show you how to get started.

(02:09) - Tyler writes in about success with Chase travel insurance

Read more about Chase Sapphire Reserve & Ritz-Carlton cards' excellent travel protections here.

(03:58) - Bilt rent payment method is changing - read more about it here.

(07:27) - Chase biz cards: Pre-approved offers showing when logged in - read more about it here.

(09:43) - Wyndham launches debit card, which you can read about here.

(12:24) - Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard increased to 40k points, which you can read about here.

(14:17) - Citi Rewards+ card may be discontinued soon

(16:47) - Read more about the Wyndham point sale here.

(17:53) - A listener writes in to say, "I feel like I Bonvoyed Marriott last month" by using a 35K cert for a Marriott in Guyana worth $675/night!

(21:09) - Expires April 15, 2025.Hyatt Homes & Hideaways 3x promo

(23:04) - Delta eliminates surcharges from Europe

(25:07) - Frontier offering free Economy Bundle + free checked bag with promo code FREEBAG, which you can read about here.

(26:45) - Get GigSky 15 day international data plan free w/ Visa Infinite & Signature cards + 10% off plans with a promo code, which you can read more about here.

(28:50) - Redeem 2,000 Wyndham Rewards points for 2 Minor League Baseball tickets (Book by 3/26/25) - read more about it here.

(30:35) - Use Hilton for Business for better cancellation terms and no deposits, which you can read more about here.

(32:12) - Savewise: compare portals + find stacks - read more about it here.

(41:05) - Earn credit card rewards (big picture)

(42:47) - Check out Episode 214 about how to earn millions of points from credit card welcome offers here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-earn-millions-of-points-from-credit-card-welcome-offers/

(43:43) - Visit our Best Offers resource here: https://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-offers/

(44:08) - Check out Greg's picks for the best current credit card bonuses here: https://frequentmiler.com/top-current-credit-card-offers/

(45:45) - Don't do this unless you pay in full monthly

(48:35) - What about credit score?

(51:33) - Three types of cards, welcome bonus only, "sock drawer" cards, wallet cards

(55:44) - Consider Travel Freely (which you can learn more about here )

(1:01:09) - Learn ways to increase your spend (without really increasing your spend)

Listen to this "13 ways to increase credit card spend" podcast Episode197 for more: https://frequentmiler.com/13-ways-to-increase-credit-card-spend-and-get-most-of-it-back/

(1:03:40) - More rewards with Shopping Portals and bank offers (e.g. Amex Offers, Chase Offers)\

(1:06:03) - Spend your points for travel!

(1:09:58) - Use tools to find valuable ways to use your points - read this post for which award search tool is best: https://frequentmiler.com/which-award-search-tool-is-best/

(1:14:53) - Check out our post about which hotel award tool is best: https://frequentmiler.com/which-hotel-award-search-tool-is-best/

(1:15:27) - Keep track of your points with AwardWallet, which you can read more about here: https://frequentmiler.com/awardwallet/

(1:18:38) - Multi-Player

Listen to podcast episode 292 "Points & Miles 2 Player Mode" here: https://frequentmiler.com/points-miles-2-player-mode-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep292-1-31-25-podcast/

(1:20:55) - Greg did a long weekend trip to London using points (flying Delta One) which sounded like a lot of effort (and points) for such a short trip. Is there an ideal?

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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder