Shows
Fly Free MDEp 40: Backdoor AmEx to Alaskan TransferIn today's episode I discuss why I signed up for 3 new cards in one day...and why I'm thinking about signing player 2 up for even more cards. Grab your Hawaiian Airlines Credit Cards while you still can. And, don't miss out on the opportunity to transfer your American Express points to the very valuable Alaskan Airlines Mileage plan!2025-05-0726 minFly Free MDEp 39: It's Back - Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Offer!Tis the night before Grand Hyatt Kauai, and all through the house, everyone is going to bed early, except me, for I have an amazing offer to tell you about! The Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K sign up bonus is back!2025-04-0531 minFly Free MDEp 38: SouthWHAT AirlinesThe Fly Free MD podcast is back to discuss huge changes to the Southwest Airline Program. No more bags fly free, no more open seating, and more! Is this even really Southwest anymore?2025-03-2223 minFly Free MDEp 37: Marriott-MGM Partnership...Yes, But...In this episode we mourn the loss of the Hyatt-MGM partnership but celebrate the birth of the Marriot-MGM Partnership. But not so fast, the benefits from this partnership aren't quiet what they seem. We also discuss finally taking advantage of a bunch of free Vegas benefits that we scored through an Atlantic City Status Match adventure. But even with nearly $1800 worth of free hotel stays, free play and food, Vegas still hits the wallet pretty hard. 2024-01-2525 minFly Free MDEp 36: Panic at the AirportIn today’s episode we review a few scenarios which can lead to stress, maybe even panic, while traveling. What do you do if you’re traveling overseas and your passport is lost or stolen? What if you show up to the airport and find that the wrong name is on the airline ticket? And what do you do if you find yourself on the wrong side of airport security…in the middle of a warzone? 3:00 US Personal Checking Account Bonus: Promo Code: 2023DEC 7:00 US Personal Savings Account Bonus…A lump of coal2023-12-2438 minFly Free MDEp 35: End of Year ChecklistAs this year comes to an end, what are some things on the to do lists of those in the points and miles hobby? To start off, we review the importance of using any calendar year based credit card benefits. We discuss the opportunity to triple dip on benefits with strategically signing up for certain cards this time of year. The end of the year is also a great time to be thinking about the Southwest Companion Pass. Lastly, check your progress on securing status for next year, now is the time to make sure you meet the requirements!2023-12-1227 minFly Free MDEp 34: Tis the Companion Pass Season!Southwest Airlines has one of the best values in all of airline loyalty programs, in their Companion Pass. To maximize the value of the Companion Pass, timing is key...and now is the time! Score the companion pass early in 2024 and you could have a companion joining you for every Southwest flight over the next 2 years, for FREE!If you decide to get a Chase Southwest credit card in pursuit of the companion pass, consider using my referral link. I've ensured that it is the best available offer (I don't share my links if it isn't the...2023-12-0132 minFly Free MDEp 33: 3rd Quarter Review & AmEx Offers TipsEpisode 33: 3rd Quarter Review In this episode I take a look at how the third quarter of 2023 has gone. Chase and Amex have been very generous to us this first quarter, allowing us to rack up over $6,800 worth of points just by putting our everyday spending on cards offering amazing sign up bonuses. An additional $500 from bank bonuses brings the second quarter total to $7,300! Stay tuned to the end of the show as we review some recent AmEx offers and tips on how to find hidden offers. Links: 2023-10-0320 minFly Free MDEp 32: Keeper Cards-- Chase Ultimate Reward & Hotel EditionEpisode 32: Keeper Cards-- Chase Ultimate Reward & Hotel Edition In today’s episode we review Chase’s lineup of Ultimate Reward generating credit cards and their hotel co-branded cards asking the question, is it a keeper card? Keeper cards return more value each year than their annual fee costs. We also discuss retention offers, the impact on your credit score closing cards may have and end with the super-secret ultimate chase keeper card! Intro & review- 1:00Your annual fee just hit, now what? 2:30Ultimate Reward Generating Cards- 7:30Hyatt...2023-09-2023 minFly Free MDEp 31: AmEx Platinum Changes & LoopholesIn this episode we review some recent changes with the American Express Platinum cards, including changes which may make it harder to receive the card's sign up bonus. We discuss loopholes to try if you have or have had a platinum card and want to get another one while still getting the bonus. 2023-09-0529 minFly Free MDEp 30: Quarterly ReviewEpisode 30: Quarterly Review In this episode I take a look at how the second quarter of 2023 has gone. Chase and Barclays have been very generous to us this first quarter, allowing us to rack up over $5,000 worth of points just by putting our everyday spending on cards offering amazing sign up bonuses. An additional $1,900 from bank bonuses brings the second quarter total to $7,360! 1:00 Intro 2:00 MGM and Hyatt Split 3:30 Second Quarter Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses 10:30 Second Quarter Bank Bonuses 14:00 What are we working towards...2023-07-1816 minFly Free MDEp 29: Cruising for Free with Casino Status MatchingHow can you turn a $95 annual fee business credit card and a quick trip to Atlantic City into a free cruise and more? Review: Check out the DugRoz Reports on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DugrozReports Atlantic City Status Match Ultimate Guide by Dave Grossman at MilesTalk 1. Barclays Wyndham Business Earner Card Application 2. Caesars Diamond Status Match Online then pick up card in person Wyndham help if match does not go through online 3. Hard Rock Rock Royalty – I...2023-07-0322 minFly Free MDEp 28: Hilton's Big BonusesEpisode 28: Hilton’s Big Bonuses In today’s episode we take a look at some elevated sign up bonuses from Hilton. Each bonus comes with not only a huge stack of points but an additional free night certificate that can be used at nearly any Hilton property making it extremely valuable. These offers are the equivalent of getting 30-90% cash back on your initial spending. 1:00 Southwest limited time offer4:00 An introduction to the AmEx Hilton Honors cards15:00 Aspire 150k points + FNC18:00 Business 150k points + FNC19...2023-06-1425 minFly Free MDEp 27: Hawaiian Airlines CardEpisode 27: Hawaiian Airlines CardLast episode I reviewed the Grand Hyatt Kauai, an absolutely amazing property in Hawaii that we were able to stay for for FREE on points. This week we take a deep dive into the Hawaiian Airlines Card from Barclays, is it a good card to help you get to your next Hawaiian vacation for free? Also, a card with a silly sign up bonus which requires you to spend $500,000! Lastly an update to some recent bank bonus drama. Hawaiian Airlines Card OfferGet 70K points after ONE purchase!2023-06-0639 minFly Free MDEp 26: Grand Hyatt Kauai ReviewHow was our experience staying at arguably the best Hawaiian Hyatt property for families? Listen to this episode to find out what we thought of it and why we are not going back next year. 2023-05-2328 minFly Free MDEp 25: Bank Bonus Opportunities and MissesEpisode 25: Bank Bonus Opportunities and Misses In this episode, we celebrate recent wins and acknowledge some recent misses in the points, miles and bonus game. How did I “lose” around $2,000 in potential bonuses? What lessons can we learn to avoid these misses in the future? 2:00 Three recent bank bonus misses19:00 US Bank Business Checking bonus $500 or $75023:00 PNC Checking bonus $200 or $40027:00 Green State Credit Union $100 bonus29:00 Lessons learned and tips to avoid misses32:30 Chase Sapphire Preferred Bonus Offer Ending Chase...2023-05-1636 minFly Free MDEp 24: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve Showdown!Which card will win the battle of the best Chase Sapphire, and therefore one of the best credit cards to get in the entire hobby? We look compare the annual fees, earnings rates, point redemption values and other benefits to determine the winner. Chase Sapphire Preferred Referral link: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in 3 monthshttps://www.referyourchasecard.com/6m/60ZLOF8MTO Chase Sapphire Preferred IN BRANCH ONLY.: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in 3 months PLUS 10,000 points after spending a total of $6,000 in 6 months ...2023-05-0932 minFly Free MDEp 23: Getting Your 4th or 5th Night FreeEpisode 23: Getting Your 4th or 5th Night Free In this week’s episode we look at Marriott and Hilton’s 5th night free and IHG’s 4th night free benefit. How do these benefits work, who can get them, and how to you use them for maximal value. Also when does it make sense to transfer Chase or AmEx points to Marriott, Hilton and IHG and when does it make sense to buy points? 2:30 Marriott 5th night free6:00 Hilton 5th night free10:00 IHG 4th night free16:30...2023-05-0229 min