20 Minute Travel

The fun side of miles, points and travel! 20 Minute Travel discusses all of the important things you need to know about miles, points and travel. Hosted by Shawn Coomer and Mark Ostermann, 20 Minute Travel covers the latest happenings in the miles & points space while teaching you how to utilize rewards to travel for pennies on the dollar with some laughs mixed in. Mark & Shawn have a combined 18 years of experience covering these topics on Miles to Memories and Travel on Point(s) and are cohosts of the popular MtM Vegas Youtube Show on the Miles to Memories Vegas channel. Give us 20 minutes of your week and we will give you 20+ years of improved travel! Want to see our show along with all of the visuals? Make sure to check it out on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel

Juicy Chase Card Rumor, AA's Cheater Tech, Spirit Frontier Merger & America's Most Insane Pool! 10/30/2024

Big Alaska Mileage Play, Easy 20K Amex, Travel Trolling, Real Mario Kart & Transfer Bonus Overload! 10/23/2024

Big Alaska Mileage Play, Easy 20K Amex, Travel Trolling, Real Mario Kart & Transfer Bonus Overload! Twenty Minute Travel News has now joined the MtM Podcast feed! This feed will be ending soon so make sure to subscribe on the MTM Travel Podcast feed or watch both shows on ! Episode Description This week the Alaska/Hawaiian merger fallout moves forward as the company is trying to combine loyalty programs. Until that happens there may be an opportunity to double dip with credit cards, but is it a good play and which Hawaiian Airlines cards should you consider before they go away forever? In other news Amex is back with 20K Pay Over Time offers. These can be the easiest points you'll ever earn if you are targeted. We also discuss: Spark Cash $750, the new United Mile Play offers, all of the many transfer bonuses right now, a hack to score an empty middle seat and where you can play Mario Kart in real life. Episode Guide 0:00 Viral hack for ensuring an empty middle seat 0:47 Ultimate travel troll - Once in a lifetime experiencial travel 2:03 Mark’s incredible Choice “experience” redemption 4:00 Don’t overlook housesitting - Incredible way to save on travel & pet sitting 7:35 Hawaiian Airlines credit card play before it is too late 9:56 Cap One Spark Cash $750 welcome offer with waived annual fee 11:11 Amex Pay Over Time 20K Offers - Easiest points ever! 12:45 United Mile Play offers - Huge potential depending on your offer 14:30 Most credit card transfer bonuses ever? 17:53 BattleKarts some really cool “s” to seek out on your next trip Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. You can subscribe on , , , , , or via . Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | Music promoted by Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33587507

Huge Hyatt AA Changes, Uber's Pricing Games, Bank Bonus Windfall & Capital One Lounge "Hack" 10/16/2024

Huge Hyatt AA Changes, Uber's Pricing Games, Bank Bonus Windfall & Capital One Lounge "Hack" Twenty Minute Travel News has now joined the MtM Podcast feed! This feed will eventually be going away. Make sure to subscribe to the MTM Travel podcast feed or you can watch both shows on ! Episode Description This week American Airlines and Hyatt announced a ton of changes to their ongoing partnership. Points earning from the past is gone, but in its place are a ton of new "milestone rewards" and perks you can choose. Both Hyatt and AA members will be able to choose perks at various milestones plus will be able to purchase status for the day with points and more. Is this an improvement over the old Hyatt American Airlines partnership? In other news it seems Uber is being sneaky again. Some data points seem to show them charging more for people with Uber Cash, but is it a game and who is winning? In other #news we cover some new card offers, go over three awesome bank bonuses to pursue, discuss a true American castle, show you how to fast track into Capital One lounges and fight over the Wendy's Spongebob popup. Episode Guide 0:00 Wendy’s Spongebob popup 1:00 More evidence of Uber overcharging 3:46 How to fast track into Capital One lounges 6:32 Best ever AAdvantage Business card 75K offer 7:39 Last chance for Southwest 85K / companion pass timing 8:45 Bilt adds two new transfer partners 10:16 AA/Hyatt announce tons of partnership changes/milestone rewards 12:17 Do these new partnership rewards make sense as a choice? 13:40 AA status for a day - Is this going to be worth it? 15:27 Great bank bonuses for Chase, US Bank & Wells Fargo - Up to $900 19:05 American castles? Hammond Castle in Gloucester, MA Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. You can subscribe on , , , , , or via . Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | Music promoted by Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33489762

2025 Trending Travel, 5 Free Hyatt Nights, Paid Hyatt Place Breakfast, LoungeBuddy Dies & Newark! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: - You can also find the show along with our sister show MTM Travel in the combined MTM Travel feed. . This week Chase was in the news a lot for a number of different reasons. To start, they added Air Canada lounge access for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. This is a good perk, but it has a huge downside. Chase also released their Q4 spending offers on cards with targeted deals giving 5-7X back on grocery and more. Finally, Chase also has newly increased offers on Sapphire Preferred and the World of Hyatt credit card. The latter is giving 5 free nights as a welcome offer. Is this better than points? In other news after 5 years of ownership, American Express has announced they are killing off LoungeBuddy. RIP. We also discuss: a fire at Newark airport, the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, 2025 trending travel destinations, Virgin Atlantic going revenue based, the search for Ramada's "CEO" and the new show we are launching on this channel. Episode Guide: 0:00 Newark can’t have nice things 0:36 You can be Ramada’s new “CEO” 3:15 Amex’s 2025 trending travel destinations 5:07 Hyatt Place paid breakfast spreading? 8:17 Sapphire Preferred’s new 60K offer with a twist 9:47 Hyatt’s new 5 free night welcome offer 11:37 Sapphire Reserve adds Air Canada lounge access 13:10 Amex shutting down LoungeBuddy 14:49 Lucrative targeted Chase spending offers for Q4 16:23 Virgin Atlantic revenue based redemptions - Good or bad? 17:58 Mark visiting the Albuquerque Balloon Festival 19:14 Our new show coming to this channel About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33393067

Amex Kills Popular Cards, China's Insane Drone Show, Alaska Transfer Drama, Tricky Hyatt & New 100K! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week American Express announced the death of several of their cards including the Cash Magnet and the popular Everyday cards. With the loss of Everyday, is Amex retooling their lineup in preparation of a new card or are they trying to push customers up to their more expensive Gold card? In other news the Alaska/Hawaiian merger drama continued this week as transfers from American Express broke briefly, but then came back again. Some terms leave us a bit worried about the future of transfers, but the big question is whether it makes sense to move points now or not. We also discuss China's insane 10,000 drone show, where to use the Hilton Aspire credit, Aeroplan's new 100K welcome offer, 5% categories for the 4th quarter, Hyatt's fall promotion, a tricky Hyatt property and new Amex Offers you want to know about. Episode Guide: 0:00 Saving money for travel 0:39 Alaska/Hawaiian transfer woes and developments 2:44 Will Amex to Hawaiian transfers remain & should you transfer now? 4:25 One Hyatt’s tricky “mandatory” charge 7:10 Chase Aeroplan’s new 100K welcome offer 8:30 RIP to Amex Everyday cards 10:05 Will Amex replace the Everyday cards in their lineup? 11:20 4th quarter 5% Categories for Chase, Citi and Discover 13:24 Hyatt’s new fall promotion is sort of terrible 14:37 Hilton Aspire Resort Credit - How to use it & where it works 15:56 New Amex Offers for Marriott, Hilton, Lowe’s & Google Pay 17:35 China’s INSANE 10,000 drone show About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33302457

Alaska Scores Big, Citi Fighting Hard, Free Starbucks from Marriott & Visiting the Top Gun Bar! 09/25/2024

Alaska Scores Big, Citi Fighting Hard, Free Starbucks from Marriott & Visiting the Top Gun Bar! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week Alaska Airlines closed on their merger with Hawaiian Airlines. The government laid out a ton of rules for the new airline to follow including keeping the value of points and allowing points to be transferred 1:1 between programs. This has opened up some opportunities to get Alaska miles as Amex is now basically a transfer partner. In other news tons of new increased card offers dropped this week including Southwest, Hilton and Marriott. We also discuss the new way to change your Southwest companion and the best strategy to get two years of the Companion Pass with these new offers. Other topics include: The Top Gun bar in San Diego, a suspended soccer field in China, how Citi is going hard for the AA card business, Jetblue's new lounges and how to get free points or coffee from Starbucks and Marriott Episode Guide: 0:00 Hangovers are temporary travel meme 0:32 Alaska now a defacto Membership Rewards transfer partner 2:15 Government lays down several rules for Alaska merger 4:07 JetBlue announces airport lounges coming to two major airports 5:14 JetBlue’s new premium credit card? 6:03 Visiting the Top Gun bar in San Diego 8:31 Other takeaways from Mark’s San Diego trip 9:41 Southwest increased offers & companion pass strategy 12:03 Increased offers for Hilton cards as well 12:59 Playing the Amex upgrade/downgrade game 13:57 Bonvoy Business 5 free night offer returns 14:45 Citi is going hard for the AA credit card business 16:28 Big payday coming for American Airlines? 17:43 How to change your Southwest Companion online 18:38 Starbucks/Marriott partnership - Free points or coffee! 21:00 Suspended Chinese soccer field 600 feet above the ground About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33208027

Southwest Airlines Shakeup, Priority Pass Downgrade, Amex Uber Change, MGM/Marriott Quirk & Concorde 09/21/2024

Southwest Airlines Shakeup, Priority Pass Downgrade, Amex Uber Change, MGM/Marriott Quirk & Concorde Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week Southwest continued on its path towards huge changes with the announcement of a shakeup on their board. 6 members will leave and the chairman will retire as they move to make more money and change their model. Will this change the Southwest culture forever? In other travel news some very popular benefits with Capital One and American Express are being changed, removed or downgraded. Specifically we are seeing changes with Priority Pass restaurants and Uber credits. Do you use these popular benefits? Other topics discussed include: hotel room oddities, strange room service, Carlsbad Caverns, the Concorde and supersonic jets, Hyatt's Guest of Honor double dipping and the MGM/Marriott transfers are a bit strange. Episode Guide: 0:00 Standing up on an airplane 1:19 Cheetohs destroying Carlsbad Caverns 2:39 Why Carlsbad Caverns and New Mexico are underrated 3:51 Huge shakeup at Southwest - 6 board members leaving 6:18 Hotel room oddities - Strange things left behind 7:33 Room service craziness - Caviar hot dog? 8:30 Venture X Business losing Priority Pass restaurants 10:24 Why AAdvantage business accounts are surprisingly valuable 12:03 Marriott/MGM Rewards transfers are live…with a quirk 12:53 Hyatt Globalist double dipping in 2024 14:40 Changes coming to American Express Uber credits 16:22 Quick RebateKey payment update 17:00 A closer look at the Concorde and its Droop Snoot 18:39 The future of Supersonic travel and why its coming back About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33152887

DOT Investigates Airlines, New Chase 90K, TSA Tik Tok Trend, Gates of Hell & New 4% Cash Back Card! 09/11/2024

DOT Investigates Airlines, New Chase 90K, TSA Tik Tok Trend, Gates of Hell & New 4% Cash Back Card! Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week the DOT announced they are going to be investigating the major U.S. airlines and their loyalty programs to ensure consumers are being protected. These programs have become huge profit centers for the airlines, but should they be investigated and exactly what will come from it? In other news a new Tik Tok trend is holding up airport security lines. Is it a problem or a fun fad? We also discuss the "Gates of Hell", a new 4% cash back card, Chase's 90K Ink offer, how to save on your cell phone bill, RebateKey issues, redeeming your Dunkin' credit and parents stealing their children's credit to travel. Episode Guide: 0:00 The age old problem of the travel hacker 0:51 Department of Transportation investigating airline loyalty programs 3:07 Are points & miles a form of savings? 4:19 Insane story - Parents opening credit cards in child’s name to travel 5:50 How to protect yourself from others using your credit 7:11 New Tik Tok trend - Organizing your TSA bin? 8:28 Another reason not to participate in this new trend 9:49 Chase Ink Business Unlimited - increased 90K offer 11:16 US Bank’s insane new 4% cash back card 12:45 Why ramping up spending at US Bank is tough 14:04 RebateKey - What is it and a warning about receiving payments 17:03 How to redeem the $7 Dunkin’ credit the right way 18:55 New Chase Offers including T-Mobile, Turo, Marriott and more 20:45 Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/33012192

Insane Chase Tik Tok Trend, Hotel Loyalty Dying, Ghost Cities, New 5/24 Rule & Meltdown in Denver! 09/04/2024

Insane Chase Tik Tok Trend, Hotel Loyalty Dying, Ghost Cities, New 5/24 Rule & Meltdown in Denver! Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week an insane Tik Tok trend took off that invited people to take advantage of a "glitch" with Chase ATMs to score money. Chase says it amounted to fraud and people have had their bank accounts wiped out. Are these trends fundamentally changing our society? In other news Wells Fargo may be implementing a tough new 5/24 rule that is similar to Chase. When did it start and what do we know? We also discuss: Chinese ghost cities, Bilt's new Walgreen integration, a meltdown at Denver airport, a new targeted Hyatt promo and why you should be aware of location tracking when posting to social media. Episode Guide: 0:00 Perfect travel hacker meme 1:00 Social media travel posts and location tracking 3:05 Meltdown at Denver International Airport 6:07 Is hotel loyalty dying as brands choose owners over customers? 7:50 Why hotels are playing games with elite benefits more than ever 9:54 Chase Tik Tok trend - Glitch or fraud? 12:01 How Tik Tok has changed culture and how people do business 13:21 Wells Fargo implements their own 5/24 rule? 14:38 Last remind for Chase Ink Preferred 120K offer 15:03 Targeted Hyatt promo - 1K+ bonus per night 16:37 Bilt’s new Walgreen partnership - Cool HSA integration & bonus points 18:28 A look at Chinese ghost cities 20:17 Why many Chinese Ghost cities don’t stay abandoned About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32898187

More Boeing Problems, Americans vs. Europeans, Southwest Card Trick, Chase Ink Changes & Bilt Bonus 08/30/2024

More Boeing Problems, Americans vs. Europeans, Southwest Card Trick, Chase Ink Changes & Bilt Bonus Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week Chase is making some big changes to their Ink business products. This includes the end of one of the best offers of the year with the 120K Ink Preferred offer coming to an end very soon. The bank is also cutting back their referral offers in half, but you still have a little bit of time. Should you tell friends about a better deal or cash in on a referral that pays you and gives them less? In other news with the Amex to Hawaiian Airlines transfer bonus coming to an end, is this the time to gamble on the future Alaska merger? Find out why you might want to transfer points before the end of the month. We also discuss Europeans vs. Americans, more trouble for Boeing, travel alarms, Bilt's September Rent Day and new immersive sports venues that will make your jaw drop. Episode Guide: 0:00 Travel alarm realities 0:55 Boeing’s problems continue - 777X grounded during testing 3:01 15 Thoughts on America from a European perspective 4:04 Why a singular experience in America isn’t the whole truth 6:42 Behind Shawn’s Washington/Idaho trip 8:46 Visiting Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Silverwood & Flying Allegiant 11:49 Ink Business Preferred 120K welcome offer coming to an end 12:41 Chase cuts referral offer in half on Ink business cards 13:55 The hidden Southwest card perk you didn’t know about 15:20 Gambling on the Hawaiian Airlines 20% transfer bonus for Alaska? 16:22 How much should you transfer to Hawaiian with the hopes of it becoming Alaska 19:16 Bilt’s September Rent Day - 2 Transfer bonuses 20:59 Great Bilt redemption - One Bite Pizza Festival 22:10 New immersive sports/bar/stadium venues About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32811802

Southwest Hawaii Struggles, Big $2K Bonus, Amex "No Lifetime", Train at Sea & Stranded by AA! 08/21/2024

Southwest Hawaii Struggles, Big $2K Bonus, Amex "No Lifetime", Train at Sea & Stranded by AA! Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week we saw a number of notable credit card offers that are worth considering. We dive into recent Amex "no lifetime language" offers for both the Platinum and Gold cards plus the World of Hyatt Business card and the Citi AA Platinum card. We also discuss a huge $2K bonus that may be worth pursuing, but isn't for everyone. In other news Southwest has made waves with their Hawaii expansion these past few years, but it isn't all going according to plan. We also discuss AA stranding passengers, a great Southwest customer service story, Royal Caribbean's simulated train at sea, Hilton's new promotions and how men and women differ in their approaches to travel. Episode Guide: 0:00 Men vs. women when it comes to packing for a trip 1:23 A look at Southwest in Hawaii - Poor inter-island performance? 3:34 How Southwest’s Hawaii flights might be changing in the coming year 4:20 Getting stuck in a terminal - AA strands passengers in the Bahamas 5:38 Should airlines have better “stranded passenger” policies? 6:50 Do people sensationalize travel issues? 7:42 Southwest comes through with unheard of service during irregular operations 10:05 What are American Express “no lifetime language” offers? 10:59 Amex Gold no lifetime language offer details 11:53 Amex Platinum card no lifetime language offer details 13:23 How to score an increased 75K offer for the Citi AA Platinum card 14:35 World of Hyatt Business card 75K offer - Which Hyatt card is best? 15:50 Capital One Spark Cash Plus - Huge $2K welcome offer 17:10 How to earn 50X AA miles for donating to cancer research 18:40 Hilton’s new power up promo - 2,500 bonus points on all stays 19:44 Hilton/Lyft partnership - Earn bonus Hilton Honors points on Lyft rides 20:53 Cool “S” - Royal Railway Utopia station - Simulated train experience at sea About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32682657

Hyatt Hotel's Crazy Demand, Plane Crash, Big Amex Card Offers, VR Waterslide & Spirit Evolves! 08/14/2024

Hyatt Hotel's Crazy Demand, Plane Crash, Big Amex Card Offers, VR Waterslide & Spirit Evolves! Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week Spirit Airlines finally evolved into a more normal carrier with the introduction of their new fare buckets. Depending on what you choose you can get anything from a basic fare all the way up to the equivalent of domestic First Class, but will this end up costing consumers more in the end or is it a good thing? In other news American Express has some good card offers out right now including two increased Bonvoy offers and a very good deal on the Blue Business Plus without lifetime language. We also discuss crazy travel influencers, the Brazil plane crash, a new VR waterslide, timeshare presentations from home and Hyatt/AA's new status match offers. Episode Guide: 0:00 Over the top travel influencers 0:44 Crazy plane crash in Brazil 2:07 Airline safety in different countries - Something to worry about? 2:58 Spirit’s new fare buckets are now live - No more low cost carrier? 4:01 Will Spirit’s new fare system ending up costing customers more 6:00 Increased offers for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant - 185K welcome offer 7:47 Bonvoy Bevy Amex 155K welcome offer 8:35 Amex Blue Business Plus 50K no lifetime language offer & lower spend 10:26 Hyatt hotel demands customer signs a contract to get compensation 11:35 Why you may not want to deal with a hotel directly to ask for compensation 13:55 Get 50K Bonvoy points in your pajamas - Great virtual timeshare presentation offer 15:51 Why timeshare presentations can be an incredible path towards discounted trips & points 16:51 Hyatt/American airlines status match offers 18:35 Don’t sleep on status match merry-go-rounds 19:17 Cool new VR waterslide About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32580227

Airline Social Media Scams, United's Bad Basic Economy, Bilt Responds to Changes & Easy $200 Bonus! 08/07/2024

Airline Social Media Scams, United's Bad Basic Economy, Bilt Responds to Changes & Easy $200 Bonus! Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week brought a lot of bad news in the travel space as Delta continued to struggle from their meltdown. We also learned about some potentially negative changes to Amex Gold and Bilt's Rent Day. To pile on, Southwest announced a ton of major changes as well, although these might be seen as positive by a lot of people. Bye bye cattle call boarding! In other news Wyndham has a great new promo where you can buy points at an insane discount. We also discuss "surveillance pricing" and why you don't want it, insane travel surcharges, the worst motel brands in America and a Dubai party jet you have to see! Episode Guide: 0:00 Hilarious Olympics social media trend 1:11 United windfall? $2500 vouchers to get off of the airplane 2:21 Our best airline voucher scores 3:18 Should you accept an airline voucher or push for cash & voucher gotchas 4:21 United’s very unfriendly Basic Economy policy - Getting worse or better? 6:14 Does United need to change their approach to keep up with their competitors 7:27 Airline social media scams - Be aware 9:01 Why you have to be on your toes at all times in 2024 9:49 Bilt’s take on their recent Rent Day devaluation 11:30 How Bilt is reallocating their marketing budget after these changes 12:27 Why the recent changes hurts the math on pursuing Bilt status 13:33 Easy $200 bonus - Melio offering bonus on first payment 15:29 6 new bank transfer bonuses - Up to 70% more 16:36 Largest urban zipline in the world 17:33 Different safety protocols when traveling About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at . Melio Offer Terms: This is a business to business payment platform - no personal bills / payments. The offer is for new accounts only. If you sign up using the 20 Minute Travel link new members will get $200 cash back after making a $200+ payment via Melio pay. Gal from Melio will reach out to finalize the details of your payment. That is $6 in processing fees for a $200 bonus! After signing up and making your first payment with a vendor you will want to upload your bank info to your Melio account. Do it as the receiving method so you have a checking account set up to receive payments. You will then receive an email from (Gal) Melio saying you are eligible for the $200 bonus and it will tell you to set up your receiving method, or you can share your bank information if you prefer that. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32484152

Southwest's Bombshell, Bilt's Bad News, Private Party Jet, Amex Gold Changes & Worst Motel Brands! 07/31/2024

Southwest's Bombshell, Bilt's Bad News, Private Party Jet, Amex Gold Changes & Worst Motel Brands! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week brought a lot of bad news in the travel space as Delta continued to struggle from their meltdown. We also learned about some potentially negative changes to Amex Gold and Bilt's Rent Day. To pile on, Southwest announced a ton of major changes as well, although these might be seen as positive by a lot of people. Bye bye cattle call boarding! In other news Wyndham has a great new promo where you can buy points at an insane discount. We also discuss "surveillance pricing" and why you don't want it, insane travel surcharges, the worst motel brands in America and a Dubai party jet you have to see! Episode Guide: 0:00 The insanity of travel surcharges 0:47 Government fighting back against “surveillance pricing” 2:00 How surveillance pricing is predatory and unfair for consumers 3:06 Southwest’s historic changes - No more “cattle call” 4:30 Why many customers are upset with Southwest’s announced changes 5:50 Follow up on Delta’s insane meltdown - Still not fully recovered 7:10 Why we need more airline passenger protections in the United States 8:43 Amex Gold refresh - New credits and higher annual fee 9:42 Amex Gold earnings and other changes 10:42 What is going on with Amex’s iconic brand image? 11:32 Bilt neuters Rent Day with new low limits 12:57 Why Bilt made big changes to their most popular promotion 14:52 Wyndham’s incredible Super 8 50th anniversary promotion 16:46 Interesting Wyndham marketing & worst hotel brands in America 18:30 Insane Dubai party jet 19:39 Mile High Club & Boeing’s new 777 private jet About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32372072

Learning to Travel For "Free" - 5 Simple Tips To Get Started with Miles, Points & Travel Rewards! 07/28/2024

Learning to Travel For "Free" - 5 Simple Tips To Get Started with Miles, Points & Travel Rewards! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: The miles & points space is vast, confusing and has so many directions that it is easy to get overwhelmed and lost. Thankfully it is possible to get started in the simplest of ways without overcomplicating your life. This is supposed to be fun after all! In this video we discuss Shawn & Mark discuss 5 basic tips for getting started in miles & points and why that is all you need to figure out how to take that next vacation. From dispelling myths to showing you what to focus on, our simple advice can help you on your way to traveling for "free" with miles & points. (Of course it's never really free, but they sure do provide a huge discount. ) Episode Guide: 0:00 5 Important tips for getting started using miles & points 1:44 Focus on transferable points currencies 4:22 Why you should probably start your journey with Chase 5:16 How the Chase 5/24 rule works & tracking it 6:50 Why welcome offers are the best ways to earn points 8:06 Welcome offers return much more than regular spend 9:25 Learn THE TRUTH about how credit scores work 10:34 Why your credit utilization is so important 11:36 Credit score is an asset and your ego shouldn’t play into it 13:36 Get comfortable paying credit card annual fees 15:22 Credit cards are not a lifelong commitment 17:11 The simple approach to getting started with miles & points About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32321917

Crazy Airline Meltdowns, Using Capital One, TSA Record, Big JetBlue Changes & Tequila Train! 07/24/2024

Crazy Airline Meltdowns, Using Capital One, TSA Record, Big JetBlue Changes & Tequila Train! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week the huge news revolved around Crowdstrike and the insane effect the software had on airlines around the world. Thousands of canceled flights left travelers stranded, but some airlines survived the ordeal better than others thanks to vintage technology. Which airlines are still suffering? In other news JetBlue is getting ready to make some big changes by adding Mini Mint first class to all of their planes. This will be good for some but will come at the cost of legroom for most customers. We also discuss the new Capital One Venture 75K offer, a really cool Tequila Train in Mexico, TSA breaking records, new Citi transfer bonuses and how to check for your targeted United offer. Episode Guide: 0:00 Southwest’s old technology saves the day! 1:00 Crowdstrike outage causes huge issues for travelers 2:30 How miles & points can save you from a meltdown 4:18 TSA sets huge records in 2024 - 10 busiest days ever 5:52 JetBlue’s HUGE changes - “First class” coming at a huge cost 7:41 The maturation of Jetblue & Southwest 9:09 Capital One Venture 75K welcome offer 10:05 How we use our Capital One Miles 11:41 Chase matching 120K Ink offer 13:09 New FlyingBlue and Wyndham transfer bonuses 14:44 Hyatt Suite Upgrade overcharging 17:03 United’s new Mile Play promos - Great targeted deals 18:44 Jose Cuervo Express - Very cool train ride in Mexico About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32280222

Paris Olympics Disappointment & Last Minute Space, Multiple "Best Ever" Offers & AA Hates Customers? 07/17/2024

Paris Olympics Disappointment & Last Minute Space, Multiple "Best Ever" Offers & AA Hates Customers? Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week several new credit card offers came onto the scene with some good ones among them. Chase Ink Preferred launched a best ever 120K offer which has a huge amount of value. We also saw some interesting deals from Aeroplan and IHG, both of which brought offers we have never seen before. Good stuff! In other news we discuss how the Paris Olympics are disappointing for many including Delta who will lose $100M on the games. But low demand has opened up opportunities for last minute awards. Are you going to live your Olympic dreams thanks to miles & points? We also discuss baggage anxiety, some changes for old Bilt cardholders, AA's "free hotels" for stranded passengers and why you might want to relocate for your next big flight. Episode Guide: 0:00 Baggage carousel anxiety 1:19 Chase Ink Preferred best ever 120K welcome offer 2:35 Are you eligible for a business credit card? 3:38 Bilt’s legacy credit card is going away 6:56 Terrible AA hotel voucher situation 8:01 How you can ensure good travel even when things go wrong 9:59 Flexibility and credit card/travel insurance are key 11:05 Aeroplan’s very unique new offer - 40% bonus on spend! 13:08 Relocating to another city for cheaper flights? 14:45 Time or money more valuable? 15:48 IHG’s huge 5 free night offer - Better than points? 17:48 Closing out the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas 18:44 Paris Olympics struggling? Delta losing $100M on the games 20:15 How you can score last minute awards for the Paris Olympics About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32184832

Amex Cashout Changes, Big British Devaluations, 40% Off Amazon, 7-11 Japan & Hyatt's New Brand! 07/10/2024

Amex Cashout Changes, Big British Devaluations, 40% Off Amazon, 7-11 Japan & Hyatt's New Brand! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week we got hit with a ton of devaluations making this game more "fun" than ever! It started with American Express limiting cash outs on Schwab Platinum cards to 1 million points per year. You can redeem more than that, but you won't want to. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also hopped in with negative changes of their own. Goodbye Avios sweet spots and cheap Delta redemptions! In other news Hyatt added yet another brand as they integrate more European hotels into their portfolio. We also discuss getting stranded by Frontier Airlines, how to save 40% or more off of Amazon and why the Japanese 7-Eleven experience will soon be coming to the United States! Episode Guide: 0:00 Top 3 places to visit if you don’t have any money 0:48 Amex makes big changes to popular cash out option 2:47 Best options and strategies for cashing out Amex points 4:20 How to save big money on Amazon with your credit card points 6:31 Virgin Atlantic devalues Delta One redemptions - Huge fuel surcharges! 8:38 What you should do now with your Virgin Atlantic miles 9:23 7-Eleven Japan experience coming to the United States 12:19 British Airways devalues many popular awards 13:53 Losing all of the Avios sweet spots 15:00 Hyatt adds yet another new brand 15:50 Why this new brand is great for Brand Explorer rewards 17:11 How Hyatt has really expanded their presence in Europe 18:01 Getting stranded by Frontier 20:04 How miles & points can help you when you are stranded while traveling About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32087127

Big Chase Card Rumor, Delta's Stunning New Lounge, Crazy Flying Strategy & Dumbest Points Redemption 07/03/2024

Big Chase Card Rumor, Delta's Stunning New Lounge, Crazy Flying Strategy & Dumbest Points Redemption Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week a few interesting topics made the news including a new trend that is sweeping social media. People are foregoing entertainment and just about everything on long flights. Does this make the flight experience better or does it just sound like hell? In other news Chase was making noise with a rumor about a possible Amex Centurion competitor the bank will launch. We also saw new spending offers for Chase cardholders and a glitch affecting recent applicants and their welcome offers. Other topics discussed include: sledding down sand dunes, Etihad's interesting new redemption, more about 5X rotating cards and how Amex changed the terms of a popular offer. Episode Guide: 0:00 Sand sledding adventures 0:50 Stunning new Delta One lounge in New York 2:14 Do these new premium lounges offer the expected experience? 4:03 Chase is having IT issues with welcome offers 5:43 Raw dogging on flights - A new strategy? 7:41 Does it make sense to be a little more disconnected & mindful in the air? 8:39 Amex has changed the terms of a popular recurring offer 10:58 The world’s dumbest airline redemption 12:50 Chase 3rd quarter spending offers - 5-7X! 13:47 3rd quarter bonus categories for 5X rotating cards 15:37 Are the 5X rotating cards an important earning strategy 16:35 Rumor - Chase launching Amex Centurion competitor? 17:59 Do ultra premium cards have value for normal people About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/32005707

Favorite Amex Transfer Partners, Crazy Hotel Pass, Haunted Hyatt Hotel & Inspired by "The Beach"! 06/26/2024

Favorite Amex Transfer Partners, Crazy Hotel Pass, Haunted Hyatt Hotel & Inspired by "The Beach"! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week the first half of the year draws down which means it is time to redeem all of your expiring credits! On this episode we dive a bit into the Dell ecosystem, how to maximize offers, get huge cashback and take advantage of Amex Business Platinum credits. But what should you buy? In other news Shawn recaps part of his recent trip including a haunted hotel experience in Taiwan and visiting Disney's newest expansion in Tokyo which is the most expensive ever. Other topics discussed include: allergies on a plane, our favorite Amex redemption partners, when airlines release award space and how "The Beach" inspired both of us to travel. Episode Guide: 0:00 Inspired by “The Beach” and overtourism 1:34 What to buy with those elusive Dell credits 3:12 Tips for stacking offers & deals to save more with Dell 4:17 Wyndham’s Ultimate Hotel Pass - A good deal? 5:54 Diving into Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners 6:41 Why we don’t love to transfer Amex points to domestic partners 7:36 Waiting for transfer bonuses & do not transfer speculatively 9:27 Should you cash out Amex Membership Rewards? 10:25 Nuts on a plane - A near death experience on Emirates 12:46 Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs - Most expensive theme park expansion ever 14:53 Shawn’s haunted hotel experience in Taipei 17:04 When do airlines release award space & why you want to stay on top of it 19:24 The worst “crime” on an airplane 20:39 Flying with a spouse/family - Do you split up? About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31901857

Airport Lounges Are Overrated, Chase's New Popup, Bilt/Wells Fargo Drama & Japan For Family Travel! 06/19/2024

Airport Lounges Are Overrated, Chase's New Popup, Bilt/Wells Fargo Drama & Japan For Family Travel! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week the Wall Street Journal released an eye opening article about Wells Fargo and their relationship with Bilt. The Bilt Mastercard has become popular with certain groups of people, but it is seemingly costing Wells Fargo millions. Is this a good or a bad thing? In other news you may soon see a popup when applying for a Chase card and this might not be a bad thing. We also discuss more about Shawn's trip to Japan, why Tokyo is amazing for family travel, how airport lounges are simply overrated, a viral Simpsons like video from Six Flags and why dumb cruise hacking could get you banned. Episode Guide: 0:00 Cruise passenger banned for “bottle water hack” 1:28 A new deal for getting Clear better than free 3:40 Are airport lounges overrated? 5:35 How some people plan their travels around the airport lounge experience 6:46 Chase’s new popup is actually good news? 9:21 Hyatt Centric Tokyo - Expensive but best Centric anywhere? 10:49 Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay - A budget alternative outside Tokyo 11:53 Why Japan might be the best family travel destination for Americans 14:00 Bilt/Wells Fargo drama - Is this partnership in trouble? 15:50 How Wells Fargo is changing their overall credit card strategy 17:35 Chase Freedom 3Q Categories and where to maximize them 19:04 Six Flags Simpsons Monorail parody - Brilliant social media? About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31813782

Miles & Points for Normies, Hilton Timeshare Deal, Airbnb Horror Story & ANA's A380 Business Class! 06/12/2024

Miles & Points for Normies, Hilton Timeshare Deal, Airbnb Horror Story & ANA's A380 Business Class! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week a horror story related to Airbnb surfaced which reminded us of some of the pitfalls of these types of rentals. As Airbnb and similar services become more popular do hosts have a bit too much power and is it better just to stay in hotels? We also discuss Shawn's recent last minute booking on ANA's A380 Flying Honu business class and why it was such an amazing deal. Other topics include: 17 forbidden places you can't visit, a great Hilton timeshare deal, how normal people can earn miles & points for "free" travel, the end date for a popular credit card offer and why you might want to buy your next airline ticket at the airport. Episode Guide: 0:00 Crazy “fake” waterfall in China 1:18 Miles and points for normies - How to earn 2:45 Is getting a lot of credit cards bad for your credit score? 3:32 The keys for keeping your credit score up & what factors into it 5:13 Chase Sapphire increased offer end date announced 5:56 Airbnb vs. hotels 7:36 Airbnb customer service improvements & horror stories 8:53 Why we like the hotel experience & how points make a difference 9:58 Saving money on airline tickets by purchasing at the airport 11:24 Best practices for purchasing at the airport 12:23 Scoring ANA A380 Business class with an amazing deal 13:20 Why ANA’s A380 is a special plane and product 14:38 Last minute bookings to Japan are good right now 15:44 Japanese airline food - Western vs. Japanese meal 17:03 17 Forbidden places you can’t visit 18:46 Great Hilton timeshare deal - Cheap nights & points 20:45 How to score an even better timeshare deal! About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31720137

Insane Hotel Room Hack, Chase Offers Ending Soon, Mark's New Favorite Hilton & Universal VIP! 06/05/2024

Insane Hotel Room Hack, Chase Offers Ending Soon, Mark's New Favorite Hilton & Universal VIP! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week a video surfaced of a new way to enter hotel rooms that is concerning. Should you worry about it and how can you secure your room and your valuables? We also discuss the end of the Chase Sapphire increased welcome offers, how Hilton's gift card experience kind of stinks, Mark's favorite Hilton in the U.S., why the Tommie Hollywood is a pass and how Mark scored "free" Universal VIP tickets & why there are absolutely worth it. Episode Guide: 0:00 Insane crazy passenger incident - Streaking? 1:46 Chase’s increased offers ending soon - Time to pick them up? 3:56 Insane hotel vulnerability - New room hack? 5:28 Don’t rely on surveillance & how to protect your room 7:01 Hilton gift card warning & redemption issues 8:32 Best practices for using Hilton gift cards - Do they work? 10:22 How travel hackers are constantly getting judged 11:00 Mark’s father/son Los Angeles trip 12:01 Getting Universal Hollywood VIP experience for “free” 14:11 The coolest parts of the Universal Hollywood VIP tour - Back to the Future! 16:03 Comparing Universal east vs. west coast 17:32 Super Nintendo World & cutting all of the lines 20:00 Is the VIP experience worth it at Universal 22:17 Why the Tommie Hollywood is NOT recommended 23:28 Oceania Santa Monica - Mark’s new favorite Hilton About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31620617

AA's Shocking Response, Increased Hilton & Marriott Offers, Rough Baggage Handlers & Extra Seats! 05/29/2024

AA's Shocking Response, Increased Hilton & Marriott Offers, Rough Baggage Handlers & Extra Seats! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: This week we saw quite a few crazy stories including an AA flight attendant filming people in the bathroom and the company's response. How will AA make it right? We also talk about a Hyatt hotel being very sneaky and how one flight attendant overstepped when it came to a purchased extra seat. Plus should you buy an extra seat for yourself. We also discuss increased offers for Hilton, Marriott and Aeroplan cards. Tons of free night certs up for grabs right now! Other topics include: another Amex annual fee increase, rough Delta baggage handlers and how to score an easy 70K with a checking account. Episode Guide: 0:00 Insane Delta baggage handlers 1:07 Last minute trip update - Hawaii & Japan! 3:23 Increased Marriott Business Card Bonus - 5 free nights! 4:59 Big Hilton card offers including valuable free night cert 7:37 Chase Aeroplan 100K “better than public” offer 8:59 Eliza Jane Hyatt hotel - Sneaky surcharges 10:32 Shortsighted customer service in NOLA 11:20 Get 70K Membership Rewards with Amex Business Checking 13:09 AA’s PR nightmare and shocking lawsuit response 15:20 Amex leak! Gold card fee increase? 16:35 Getting sick of Amex coupon book credits 17:59 Is it illegal to buy an extra airplane seat for yourself? 19:41 Do flight attendants need more accountability when escalating? About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31510862

Favorite Points Redemptions, Building Travel Communities & Our Origin Story! 05/26/2024

Favorite Points Redemptions, Building Travel Communities & Our Origin Story! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: A lot of people talk miles & points but we have been living them for a long time! In this episode Shawn and Mark discuss the origins of the channel and how they began working together. From an international family backpacking trip in 2007 to crazy weekend escapes they have done it all (well a lot) and want to share their knowledge with you. They also discuss their favorite redemptions, building travel communities and why Mark really loves soy sauce on his rice. Episode Guide: 0:00 A crazy last minute travel audible 1:21 Shawn’s long history with family world travel 2:42 The struggles and upside of long term travel 3:59 Launching Miles to Memories and spreading the message 4:38 From reader to part of the game - Mark’s professional journey in miles & points 6:51 Travel on Point(s) and building communities 8:46 Laughing and the fun side of miles, points & travel 10:47 Mark’s favorite miles & points redemptions 11:43 Shawn’s favorite miles & points redemptions 15:16 Positivity & More - What Twenty Minute Travel brings to you About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Point(s). He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31466687

Hilton's Cool New Partner, Scoring 300K Amex, First Time in 1st Class, NYC Portal & Huge Delta Deal! 05/22/2024

Hilton's Cool New Partner, Scoring 300K Amex, First Time in 1st Class, NYC Portal & Huge Delta Deal! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: There were some fun travel stories this week including the new high tech portal between NYC and Dublin. This piece of tech is quite fun, but it caused some issues even if it served its purpose of connecting humans. We also discuss a nightmare Marriott hotel stay you have to hear about! In other news we talk different flavors of the Amex Platinum including how some people are scoring 300K Membership Rewards as a welcome offer. Other topics discussed include: Hilton's Auto Camp integration, an amazing new Delta Amex Offer, the first Vegas megaresort closing and whether domestic first class is a letdown or not. Episode Guide: 0:00 Cats on a plane 0:52 Confused by the Amex Platinum & new 125K offer 3:26 Flying first class for the first time - Underwhelming? 6:05 New Delta Amex Offer - 37.5% off 7:29 Hotel nightmare - Legionnaires’ Disease 9:01 A Marriott customer service letdown 10:40 Finding up to 300K Amex points 12:56 Trouble with the NYC/Dublin portal 15:28 Hilton’s glamping Auto Camp partnership coming online 17:50 First Vegas megaresort to close permanently 19:10 Mirage’s Volcano closing date About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31423322

Hyatt's Rio Vegas Change, Citi Launches Strata, Missing the Northern Lights & 170K Delta Windfall! 05/15/2024

Hyatt's Rio Vegas Change, Citi Launches Strata, Missing the Northern Lights & 170K Delta Windfall! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: Citi made waves this week with the leak and then the launch of their new Strata Premier Card. The card has a new look and new branding, but what did they improve and did the annual fee go up? We also have an update on the increased Chase Sapphire Preferred offers including how you can get matched and why you may want to look at referrals. In other travel news a new airline has launched that is focused on dogs. Bark Air makes the flying experience better than ever for canines but it will cost you. We also discuss why Shawn flies Frontier, Mark's 170K Delta windfall without a welcome offer, how Hyatt and Rio changed their breakfast benefit and why Southwest pilots aren't happy with United. Episode Guide: 0:00 Jump seat drama - Southwest vs. United 1:38 Citi launches “new” Strata Premier Card with increased welcome offer 2:50 Strata Premier leak and how Citi reacted to it 4:40 Why Shawn flies Frontier & how it’s a great deal 5:50 Why low cost carriers aren’t as bad as people say 7:31 Earning 170K Delta SkyMiles without a welcome offer 9:48 Missing the Northern Lights 12:25 MYS Buyers Group update - Good news! 13:51 Bark Air - A new airline for dogs? 15:48 Chase matching welcome offers & increased referrals 17:37 Rio changes Hyatt Globalist breakfast - Too much abuse? 18:45 Why Rio is popular for Hyatt “mattress running” About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31307327

Big Sapphire Bonus, Virgin's Fantastic Cruise Offer, Hyatt Suite Space Hack & United Devalues Again! 05/08/2024

Big Sapphire Bonus, Virgin's Fantastic Cruise Offer, Hyatt Suite Space Hack & United Devalues Again! Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: Perhaps the most popular travel card now has an increased offer, but you can do even better! Find out about Chase Sapphire Preferred's increased welcome offer, why we love Ultimate Rewards and how a little patience can score you even more valuable Ultimate Rewards points if you are going to pick up this card. In other travel news Virgin Voyages has a new points promo with Virgin Red that is a great deal for Shawn's favorite cruise line. We also discuss United's sudden devaluation on some awards, why you should proceed with caution when using Buyers Groups, a great new Freedom Flex offer, a trick for opening up award space when using Hyatt suite upgrades and a hack to keep the seat next to you empty when traveling! Episode Guide: 0:00 The ultimate travel hack for seat anxiety? 0:55 Chase Sapphire Preferred increased offer - The ultimate travel card? 2:28 Getting an even better Sapphire Preferred offer by going in-branch 3:33 Virgin Voyages has a great new points deal 5:40 Current transfer bonuses & why you should use caution with them 8:16 Great targeted offer for Chase Freedom Flex 9:55 A warning about Chase’s 5/24 rule 10:32 Hilton’s new Summer promo 11:53 United devalues even more awards without notice 14:17 A cool trick for Hyatt’s Suite Upgrade Awards 15:52 How miles & points can make you lose perspective on travel “costs” 17:02 A warning about Buyers Groups 18:42 How to avoid risk when finding new ways to earn points About the Show: We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs. Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty. Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at If you like this show check it out! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. /episode/index/show/069d19f8-3880-4acd-ade7-b4ea31210bce/id/31202547

20 Minute Travel

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