Shows
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionMilenomics² No Annual Fee Episode 72: Q3 5x Categories, International ATMs and eSIM Data Plans0:24 Q3 2024 5x Categories
Chase Freedom: Gas (and other stuff)
Discover: Grocery Stores, Walmart (For the first time in FOREVER!!!)
Citi Dividend: Gas
Why do banks have these cards? To move our spending onto these cards long after the quarter ends.
04:05 Transfer Bonuses
Citi -> Cathay Pacific 15% (7/20)
Chase -> Aeroplan 20% (7/31)
If the space is there and these miles will be used, great to get a discount. Probably not worth speculatively transferring.
08:33 New DeltaOne Premium Lounges Coming in 2024 (OMAAT)
JFK: June
LAX: Late 2024
BOS: Late 2024 (adjacent to already-open 3rd SkyClub in BOS, in International Terminal E)
2024-07-0159 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 35: Long Weekend in MadridWhile today is all about a long weekend in Madrid, Thomas and Trevor go on their usual tangents to bring you yet another information-drenched and fun-filled episode! We begin with our love for gin and tonic ice cubes and by explaining how today’s episode relates to many of our other Travel Stories. Then, Trevor walks us through his recent airport lounge experiences, how food and drinks compare, how to maximize your points redemptions, and taking short trips in first class versus longer trips in economy. Trevor then explains why he had to drop Mumbai from his Madrid trip it...2024-06-1949 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 34: Chatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMilerChatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMiler
Episode 34: Show Notes.
Few things are as exhilarating as a competitive travel challenge among like-minded peers! Speaking of birds of a feather, today we are joined by fellow travel enthusiast and author, Nick Reyes. Nick is a prime example of how to follow your travel dreams even when your wallet says that you can't, and today, he shares both new and old travel hacks that will help you conquer your next travel challenge! We learn about the evolution of Avianca’s lifemiles program, the flop of Nick's first redemption ve...2024-06-0555 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 33: Cruise Loyalty with Traveling Well for Less’ Debra SchroederAre you interested in cruises, and want to capitalize on miles and points, but feel unsure of where to start? Then this episode is for you! Today we sit down with, Debra Schroeder, who first became interested in miles and points back in ’94, when she bought an excess of cereal boxes to capitalize on an American Airlines promotional campaign. Her history with cruising goes back almost as far, starting in ’98. Fast forward to today and Deb has become an expert at optimizing her travel plans. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Deb first started writing her travel blog, Traveling Well f...2024-05-1847 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 32: A Quick Cairo TripA Quick Cairo Trip
Episode 32: Show Notes.
After a two-plus year-long wait, Tom finally used his Qatar booking credit from the pandemic (just in time before the booking expired!). Even though he wasn’t excited about the trip before departure, his wonderful experience of Cairo made him question his initial reservations. Tom details his airport experience in Canada, why he chose to fly out from there instead of America, and whether buying a cheaper ticket to fly from Canada is worth the hassle. He also shares his thoughts on the new Chase Sapphire Lounge in La...2024-05-0149 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 31: All About Baha Mar with Joey RedmondEpisode 31: Show Notes.
When you talk to folks in the community, people have strong opinions about Hyatt’s Baha Mar property, and its not just in one direction. Luckily, today’s guest, Joey Redmond – who has been on the show twice before – is here to tell us all about Baha Mar, a resort in the Bahamas that he has found himself returning to year after year as an ideal vacation spot for him and his family. Tuning in you’ll hear all of Joey’s top tips, from navigating your flights to making sure you do all your restaur...2024-04-1546 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 30: First Time Istanbul Visit with HanA First Time Istanbul Visit with Han
Episode 30: Show Notes
The Turkish Airlines Devaluation was a big deal. We covered our trip to Istanbul, Turkey, but the reality of the matter is, so many people booked trips to Turkey because of this devaluation and we just felt obligated to bring a second perspective. In this case, Han Chicago joins us to share his first time to Istanbul. In this episode, we sit down with Han Chicago to discuss his first-time experience of Turkey and what it has to offer. We cover everything from planning the...2024-03-2950 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 29: An Enchanted Princess Cruise Trip ReportEpisode 29: Show Notes
This episode on Travel Stories, we dive deeper into sharing our cruise line experiences, and if you have any of your own, we’d love to hear from you! Today, Tom walks us through his recent 10-day journey on Enchanted Princess, starting with his overall evaluation of the experience before assessing tendering and the embarkation process of the ship. We learn about the size of Enchanted Princess, the demographic it caters to, and its onboard dining, as well as its entertainment, housekeeping, and casino offerings, and we compare everything we’ve learned about Enchanted Prin...2024-03-1345 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionChecking In Ep 26: What’s It Like to Work with a Disney Travel Agent?Planning a Disney World vacation can be an overwhelming experience. With four theme parks, over twenty resort hotels, and dozens of restaurants - there's a lot to consider.
In this episode I chat with Disney travel agent Joe Cheung and my sister-in-law Kelly to plan her family's Disney World vacation. We discuss hotel options, differences between Disneyland and Disney World, dining options, and more. Having a real conversation with a travel agent, as opposed to wandering around websites and conversing via email, enabled Kelly to confidently select hotels that will be a great fit.
But...2024-02-2848 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 28: Turkey TravelTom and Trevor’s annual guys’ trip for 2024 led them to Istanbul, Turkey, and their experience was an absolute Turkish delight! They booked their tickets via Turkish Airlines just before the award chart’s devaluation, and they were relieved to still be able to use their points. In today’s episode, we take a look at Tom and Trevor’s Middle Eastern adventure, starting with their first experience of successfully transferring and redeeming thank-you points. The journey continues as we discuss the fleet at Turkish Airlines, some interesting events at Newark, Tom and Trevor’s in-flight experience, and everything that happene...2024-02-271h 36Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 27: A Pilot’s PerspectiveA Pilot’s Perspective: Finding the Right Approach from Cargo to Commercial
Episode 27: Show Notes.
We welcome Steven Kriese, a traveler, a commercial airline pilot and friend. In today’s episode, Steve takes us back in time to his first flying experience and how airline technology has steadily evolved since. He walks us through his personal preferences including his most desired routes, how his job as a pilot affects his leisure travel, what he learned from his time in the Air Force, and what he loves most about his job. We also learn about various appr...2024-02-1249 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionMilenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 70: Booking Summer Award Travel for FourUsually I lock up a summer trip as far ahead of time as possible. But due to the current award travel patterns and my need for 4 seats I found myself without a summer booking and a family wanting to travel.
Today Robert and I chat about the ups and downs of the search for a summer trip, award space scarcity, alliance and search engine fragmentation and more. - Enjoy!
01:55 Let’s talk about the Constraints of this trip:
We didn't have a single destination on our list but rather a short list of places to go
2 Ad...2024-02-0839 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 26: Malaysia, Langkawi, Bangkok, and BeyondDuring this episode, we discuss Malaysia, with a focus on Langkawi. Trevor shares the highlights and disappointments from his recent trip with his wife and young daughter, from Etihad First Class to first-class lounges, luxury amenities, and more. Tune in for a first-hand account of South East Asian travel packed with handy insights of the highs and lows to help you plan your next trip. We discuss amenities and food, and experiences both inside hotels and beyond the property borders. Trevor shares an honest account of what he would do again, including paying another visit to a Waldorf hotel...2024-01-2945 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 25: An Australian Trip and CruiseEpisode 25: Show Notes
In today’s episode of Travel Stories, we talk about the highs and lows of booking Tom’s recent trip to Australia, the cruise that followed, and his trip home. Thomas recounts his exploits in the land “Down Under,” from exploring Sydney's hidden gems to a firsthand encounter with the lavish comforts of the A380 first-class experience. He also shares his insights on British Airways’ lounges, the value of premium lounges, and the hits and misses of airline amenities. We discuss the best cabin types for transcontinental flights and learn about the secret gift that made...2024-01-1547 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 24: Festivus EditionFestivus: The non-commercial holiday's celebration, as depicted on Seinfeld, occurs on December 23 and includes a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, practices such as the "airing of grievances" and "feats of strength", and the labeling of easily explainable events as "Festivus miracles"
0:15 Intro, some history about Festivus as we held it on the Observation Deck.
03:27 Airing of Grievances: Everyone gets two each. ONE towards an airline or loyalty program, ONE towards a bank.
Sam:
No Knock Devaluations in general. Trevor shared one of these happening in real time.
Bank: Bank of America. Fraud happy...2023-12-2252 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 23: A Pilot’s PerspectiveFrom the spectacular cockpit views to gaining status at hotels, a pilot’s travel experience is quite different from ours as a commercial traveler. Today, we’re shifting gears and gaining valuable travel insight from a pilot’s perspective. Brandr is a Navy Reservist and commercial pilot, as well as an avid miles and points nerd. We discuss Brandr’s benefits as a pilot, what his typical international trip looks like, how the weather and turbulence affect his flight plans, and the wonderful innovation of modern aircraft technology. Then, our guest explains how his experience as a pilot influences his trav...2023-12-1352 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 22: Talking New Zealand and AustraliaPlanning a trip to New Zealand and Australia? Are you wanting to craft the perfect blend of flights, hotels, and attractions and create an unforgettable journey? Then don’t miss out on today’s valuable insights from our special guest, Joe Cheung! Joe shares his recent family adventure, covering everything from Air New Zealand flights, the Skycouch, and hotel bookings in Auckland to experiencing the FIFA Women's World Cup. He also delves into the logistics of renting a car, exploring the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves, A380 seats and flights, and provides an in-depth look at their stay in Sydney. Tune...2023-11-271h 11Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionM² No Annual Fee Episode 69: Partner Awards & MoreWe're back with a great talk between Robert and I on the following:
0:22 Follow Up: Alaska Status Match (last discussed Ep 68)
06:13 Amex Churnability and Employee Offers
Cards used to be much more churnable
Popups abound now. Wish there was a way to get rid of them by force
15k for $4k is the new thing
Business Platinum (link)
Business Gold (link)
Blue Business Plus (link)
Be sure to use the correct link for the card you're adding it to, data points say using a mismatch won't work.
9:39 Main Topic: Partner Awards
JetBlue...2023-11-2428 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 21: Travel BanterTravel Stories Episode 21: Travel Banter
We’re trying something different today a different format for Travel Stories that we like to call Travel Banter. We start by exploring aviation-themed films and series that have impacted us over the years. From the beloved cult classic The Terminal to Up In the Air, we cover a wide range of air travel themes and tropes. Trevor shares his unique Southeast Asian travel itinerary, why he hasn’t visited Vietnam yet, and Tom shares his experience with pricing in Abu Dhabi. We also speak about our experiences with kid-friendly and kid-prohibitive rule...2023-11-1441 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 20: Travel Horror StoriesHalloween Episode – Travel Horror Stories
Episode 20: Show Notes
While it may not be horror like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers, today’s episode will definitely send chills down the spines of travelers as we share our experiences of when travel went horribly wrong. It’s easy to fall victim to scams in foreign countries as your unfamiliarity with the region makes you stick out as a prime target. So, we begin our conversation by assessing some scams to be wary of during your travels, including transportation disasters that could’ve been avoided with the right knowledge. Then, we discu...2023-10-2949 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 19: Converting a Maldives SkepticEpisode 19: Show Notes.
This week we talk all about the Maldives. Join the conversation as we take a deep dive into Trevor’s recent family trip to the Maldives, including a detailed look at his flights to and from, his thoughts on Virgin Atlantic food, and hear him tell about the worst mistake (of the entire trip!) he made. With a bit of strategic thinking, we dive into the primary topic of the episode with all things about the Maldivian experience. Trevor chronicles their experience with the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, from the butler at the ai...2023-10-1649 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionMilenomics² No Annual Fee Edition Episode 68: Jetblue and Alaska Status Match DiscussionWe're doing things a little different with today's episode. You'll notice that at the top of this episode we call out episode 206 (not Episode 68). This conversation took place as the first 20 or so minutes of our subscriber podcast episode 206. Robert and I discussed it after we released that full episode and we're cutting just this conversation into a mini episode here today.
Enjoy!
0:21 Status Match Opportunities
JetBlue (Direct Link)
Capped at 30,000 applicants with Delta Medallion status
Matched status last [only] through end of 2023 *unless* you have Barclays JetBlue card -or- accrue enough pro-rated Tiles to requalify
...2023-10-1222 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 18: End of Summer TripsEpisode 18: Show Notes
Summer is drew to a close, but the adventures are far from over. Join us as we finish the summer with two very different trips. From airport lounges to ancient pyramids, from gourmet dining to high-seas adventure, this episode has it all. In our conversation, Trevor recounts his Lima trip. He also gives us the lowdown on the JW Marriott Hotel in Lima and why it's the second JW Marriott to have an excellent soft product but perhaps not the greatest hard product. Next, Tom takes us on his flight to London, describing the...2023-09-2547 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 17: Annual Guys Trip to RioAnnual Guys Trip to Rio
Episode 17: Show Notes.
We’ve recently returned from our second annual guys trip, and we’re feeling “Braziliant!” Last year, we headed to Manila, and this time we spent the weekend in Rio de Janeiro. This trip had a few “firsts” for us, including Tom’s first time flying United Polaris and both of our first times flying Air Canada. When traveling, there’s usually a trade-off between time and money, and for this vacation, we were willing to fork out a little bit of extra cash to enhance our experiences, and...2023-09-1041 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 16: Creative BookingEpisode 16: Show Notes.
Award booking is often a combination of haphazard gyrations and creative problem-solving to find the fares that you are happy with and that makes it worth traveling! In this week’s episode, we take the time to discuss our personal experiences and share thoughts on some of the awards-booking search tools we’ve explored lately, including AwardLogic, Point.me, PointsYeah, and many more. We then jump in and talk about the recent trips we booked (to Australia and Brazil) using our miles, discussing both flights and hotels and why we made the different (and mult...2023-08-2854 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 15:Summer Travel and The Longest Way HomeEpisode 15: Show Notes.
Today we have a great summer catch-up, rounding up all the flights we have taken and destinations we have visited recently! We talk flights, hotels, cruise ships, river boat cruises, penguins, and more! Trevor unpacks his Greek Isles cruise, and the highs and lows, to include far, far more than normal travel gaffs! We touch on Mykonos' iconic color palette, and when he would like to return in the future. We then get to hear from Tom about his time in South Africa, where he visited Cape Town and then Zimbabwe, where he visited...2023-08-081h 08Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionMilenomics² No Annual Fee Edition Episode 67: Japan 2023 Trip reportWe're back with a chat about Sam's 2023 summer trip to Japan.
0:34 Overview: 14 days, spent as follows:
5 nights in Kyoto at Mimaru Apartment hotel. 430 square foot. Not spacious but good for a family of 4.
2 nights in Hiroshima at the Hilton Hiroshima: One bedroom suite booked with points (90k per night). Very new hotel, opened in 2022.
5 Nights Ishigaki island near Yonehara beach. Car rental
2 nights in Tokyo at another Mimaru in their pokemon room
Robert's previous trip report (required listening)
04:37 Travel:
JL from LAX nonstop to Kyoto
Pickup from the airport (Booked on Klook.com) worked r...2023-07-291h 29Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 14: A Milestone Trip with Joe PetrovicA Milestone Trip with Joe Petrovic
Episode 14: Show Notes.
We welcome Joe Petrovic from Award Travel 101 to the podcast, to talk about how he used his miles and points to take him and his father on a first-class strip to Croatia. Before speaking about his special trip, Joe explains how he got into the rewards game and what he did to become an expert and the value of meet-ups. Then, we discuss the magnanimity of loyalty programs and how it’s impossible to know and understand every single one, the importance of community and multiple pe...2023-07-2557 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 13: Talking All Things with Michael Trager and ZorkFestTalking All Things with Michael Trager and ZorkFest
Episode 13: Show Notes.
This week, on our lucky Episode 13, we welcome Michael Trager from TravelZork. We sit down and hear from Michael about his comical, but just as incredible, TWA story, and how he got into revenue luxury travel. We discuss all things related to rewards credit cards, the 5/24 rule, and what we like and dislike about loyalty points. We also include a quick game, called Guess the Fare and hear about Michael’s best-ever aggressively priced airfare. Michael then tells us, and listeners, all about what th...2023-06-1951 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 12: Looking Back on the Era of Mileage RunningEpisode 12: Show Notes
Mileage runs used to be fun and exciting travel bursts that allowed you to visit many destinations in a short space of time while racking up tons of miles. Today, however, things are a bit different and mileage runs are no longer prevalent. Trevor and TK take a trip down memory lane to the good old days when mileage runs were common practice. Our hosts begin by sharing their first joint mileage run and the nested itinerary that came with it. We explore what a trip in vain is, and other mileage run examples...2023-06-0443 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 11: The Changing Landscape of CruisingThe Changing Landscape of Cruising
Episode 11: Show Notes
The landscape of cruising has changed drastically since the last time we spoke about it on the podcast, just four months ago. In this episode, we fill you in on the changes, both positive and negative, and discuss the maintained value of cruises, despite the changes. We also give you a detailed trip report of our recent Royal Caribbean cruise on the impressive Wonder of the Seas, from the entertainment and casino experience to the cabins and dining opportunities. Tune in to hear the greatest takeaways from...2023-05-2247 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 66: May 2023 Credit Card Welcome Offers0:41 Chase Approving Sapphire Applications Over 5/24?
Both of us have been approved over 5/24 for a CSP
Sam: Also approved for a CSR the next day
Data points of this working for some, not working for others. No clear pattern.
Worth a shot, but the priority should be the CSP over the CSR first.
04:29 Chase Sapphire Preferred Bonuses Bumped Through Referral
80,000 points
$4,000 spend in 3 months, $95 annual fee not waived first year
To generate a referral link: https://chase.com/referafriend
06:17 Chase Ink 90,000 Referral/Match
https://chase.com/referafriend
Ink referrals are getting 40,000 for the referral and 75,000...2023-05-0718 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 65: The Current State of US AirlinesWe Assess the Current State of the Six Largest US Airlines...on today’s Milenomics² (No Annual Fee Edition) Podcast
0:24 Premise of the Discussion
Everyone’s situation is different. Different hometown airport(s), different common destinations, different enthusiasm for taking on points & miles complexity to defray airfare costs, etc.
That being the case, there’s are no one-size-fits-all solutions in this game
That said, there are tendencies and trends that are worth being familiar with as it’s useful in informing moves you might make to prepare for future travel
In this spirit, we think it’s a good ti...2023-04-151h 08Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 9: Return to AsiaReturn to Asia
Episode 9: Show Notes.
Welcome back to another episode of Travel Stories, where this week we talk about returning to Asia! Over the past few years, the award availability to get to Asia has been limited but we are hoping that it will start to flow back. In this episode, Trevor dives into his recent family trip to Singapore and Bali and we get to hear all about it. From the flights they selected, the equipment they flew, the experience in business class, meal service, and fifth freedom flights. He shares his first...2023-04-0650 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionChecking In Ep 24: Japan and Disney with Joe Cheung0:23 Japan Trips: Past, present, and future
13:40 Disney Parks: What we're seeing, what we're hearing, and how do you approach advising clients?
29:00 Disney Concierge Cruise: Worth it?
Check out Joe's Disney Deciphered Podcast
To book a Disney vacation through Joe: josephcheung@travelmation.net
Subscribe to the Milenomics Podcast Network for more...
Thanks to Joe for coming on the show!2023-03-2333 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 8: Epic Guys TripAn Epic Guys Trip
Episode 08: Show Notes.
When you take a trip around the world with your friends, you are bound to come away from it with some pretty crazy stories. Today on the show, we are joined by Joey (who had the idea for this trip) and Geoff, who, along with our hosts TK and Trevor, went on an epic guys' trip around the world in June of 2018. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our itinerary, how we booked optimal flights, and the points we earned along the way. We give a breakdown of...2023-03-2058 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 7: Top Tips for the Vegas StripEpisode 07: Show Notes.
We met today’s guest, Joey, in Las Vegas in 2017, so we decided to bring him onto the show for a deep dive into how to make the most of your time and your money on The Strip! Joey has been going to Vegas so long that you could actually play $1 craps, so it’s safe to say he’s an expert in the area. Money goes further in Vegas than it does in most other cities if you know what you’re doing, so tune in today for our top tips on everything from how...2023-03-0552 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 64: February 2023 Japan Trip ReportWe're just back from Tokyo and excited to share this trip report. We're up to Episode 187 on our Patreon feed but wanted to publish this here on the No Annual Fee feed since it's been a while since we've done a free show. Enjoy!
0:30 Discuss: Lots of Interest and Pent Up Demand for Japan
1:50 Premise of the Trip
2 adults
2 kids: 18 and 15
18 is actually considered a child age in Japan for some things
3:45 Panic Moment: Did I forget to buy a couple of return tickets?
I’ve booked and canceled this trip so ma...2023-03-0158 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 6: Full-Time Travel with Brennan AndersonFull-Time Travel with Brennan Anderson
Episode 06: Show Notes.
Everybody needs to travel at some point in their lives, whether for vacation or business, but what about full-time travel? Is traveling full-time even possible? To help us answer these questions is our very first guest on the podcast, Brennan Anderson, who is traveling the world with his wife on a full-time basis. In our conversation, we delve into all the aspects of long-term travel, what is needed, and the overall experience. We start by learning about the required preparation, what motivated Brennan to travel long-term, and...2023-02-1741 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 5: Christmas MarketsChristmas Markets
Episode 05: Show Notes
Nothing quite rivals the European Christmas markets during the festive season. Trevor recently went on a multi-city Christmas trip with his family, spanning three generations. In this episode, we hear about his travels from Paris to Berlin and on to Vienna and Prague. Trevor shares his observations of the Christmas markets in each city, as well as his accommodation and culinary experiences in each destination. This is timely as it’s a great time to start planning for a 2023 Christmas market trip, as reward availability is just opening up. Tune in...2023-01-2745 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelStories Episode 4: CruisingEditor's Note: Episode 3 of Travelstores only appeared on the Milenomics Patreon Feed.
How To Get the Most Out of Your Cruise
Key Points From This Episode:
Today’s topic: How to get the most out of your cruise.
The COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected the cruise industry.
How the state of the cruise industry has changed over the past year.
The most popular time to go out to sea.
Why cruises can be seen as an economical travel alternative.
Where most people are going on cruises right now.
How the pandemic offered a un...2023-01-0950 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 63: Year End Points & Miles CleanupAlthough we're up to Episode 180 on Patreon feed it's been a while since we've done a No Annual Fee show. We're back today discussing things we're doing as 2022 comes to a close:
1:08 Credit card double and triple dip opportunities
3:30 Wrapping up credit card incidental usage
11:30 Credit card Q4 5x categories
14:10 Credit card milestone bonuses
16:35 Status top-off
19:40 Hotel certificate usage (lots of Hiltons seem to expire)
23:20 Buy miles in programs where yearly caps make sense
25:10 Book Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts for $200 Personal Platinum Credit2022-12-2027 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelstories Episode 2: JFK International Airport: The International Gateway Everyone Loves to HateEditor's Note: Please welcome Travelstories with Tom (@tktweetskim) and Trevor (@tmount) who many of you already know. They'll share episodes here from time to time. Enjoy!
Episode 02: Show Notes.
In today’s episode, Trevor and Tom broach the topic of the International Gateway that everyone loves to hate. We’re referring, of course, to JFK International Airport in New York City. From its unique features and plane-spotting opportunities to the logistical challenges it presents, this episode covers it all. Tune in to hear Trevor and Tom’s review of the airport's various lounges and nearby hotels...2022-11-2436 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionTravelstories Episode 1: JAL First to ManilaEditor's Note: Today we host a new show on the network. Please welcome Travelstories with Tom (@tktweetskim) and Trevor (@tmount) who many of you already know. They'll share episodes here from time to time. Enjoy!
Welcome to Travelstories, where we get into the details of traveling, flight planning, and collecting miles and points! Flying with Japan Airlines (JAL) is always a treat. And although we didn’t enter Japan, we have flown through it with JAL en route to Manila. In today’s episode, we’ll unpack our trip to Manila, what it was like traveling with JAL, a...2022-11-0938 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 62: Japan Reopens for TourismWe're back today with a discussion about finding award travel to Japan for a family from both the west coast and the east coast of the US, now that Japan is finally set to reopen for tourism.
Info from US Embassy in JapanSet to reopen October 11, 2022Finally! Let the planning begin.JAL award availability patterns far out seem mostly the same with a few notable exceptionsFirst, I don’t see JAL reliably opening 2 in First/2 in Business at schedule open any more (as was the case before the pandemic - see this post). Now only releasing 1 seat in Fi...2022-09-2920 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 61: A Roundup of Current Amex Opportunities, Calling Reconsideration and NewsIt's been too long since we've released a No Annual Fee epsiode. This week we take stock of the many Amex offers currently available, many of which can earn welcome bonuses even if you've had - or still have - the card. There's some nuance to it through, which we cover in detail. Enjoy!
0:25 Amex Opportunity Roundup
NLL 250,000 Business Platinum (link to check, may still get pop-up)$30,000 in 6 monthsAdditional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardTargeted NLL Bundles150,000 Business Platinum (link to check)100,000 Business Gold (link to check)Additional 10,000 for adding...2022-07-3036 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionChecking In Ep 16: The Bahamas, Italy, and Disney w/Robin from Luxe RecessRobin Hutson from Luxe Recess comes back to chat with Robert about...
0:45 Travel Trends
Prices on airfare and lodging as travel comes back big timeSeeing this domestically and internationally?
11:05 The Sad State of Amex Platinum Travel (Loyalty Lobby)
19:15 The Bahamas
Baha MarAtlantis
33:25 Italy
Hotels mentioned:Laconda RossaPalazzo Margherita
49:15 Disney
Star Wars Galactic StarcruiserNew Wish Ship
54:15 Luxe Recess Parenting Disney Weekend
Finding Joy Inside & Out
Thanks to Robin for coming on the show!2022-05-091h 00
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionUruguay, Argentina and Tahiti w/Lillian: Checking In Episode 14Milenomics community member Lillian joins me to talk about her trip to Uruguay, Argentina, Tahiti and beyond. I'd recommend taking a look at Google Maps while listening to follow along. Enjoy!
0:30 Premise and Parameters
4:50 AA Business Class
115k pp round tripAUS-MIA-MVDAccessed the Centurion lounge and AA Flagship Admirals Club in MIA
11:00 Montevideo, Uruguay
SORO Montevideo, Curio Collection by Hilton for 18k a nightThe location is perfect for biking on La Rambla and for good dining within walking distance. Rooms were perfectly fine, modern decor. Diamond status recognition: They delivered a delicious tray o...2022-04-1352 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 60: Jetblue News, Transfer Bonuses and a New Home for the Bilt Rewards MastercardToo much news for our Patreon Podcast this week, so we broke the following out into this No Annual Fee Episode. Enjoy!
0:26 JetBlue News Roundup
Boston to London service begins this summer (Link)Bids for Spirit (Link)Has service recovery issues (Link)
04:11 Marriott Bonvoy Dynamic Pricing Goes Live
Seems to be a mixed bagBooked Ritz-Carlton Maldives for 335,000 now 385,000 (not bad)JW Marriott Bonnet Creek was 60k weekends, 50k weekdays, now < >09:54 Bilt Rewards Mastercard Widely Available, Issued By Wells Fargo
Now issued by Wells Fargo and open to all (no waitlist)3x on dining...2022-04-0824 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionChecking In Ep 13: All About Hilton w/CF FrostThis week I chatted with Milenomics community member CF Frost about his recent stay at the new Hilton LXR Mango House Seychelles and we do a deep dive into the Hilton program.
You may remember CF from this post he wrote about a now-expired opportunity to get Amex Hilton Aspire cards without an annual fee. Those Aspire cards kick off free night certificates and resort credits that are now enabling trips like the one we discuss in this episode.
Subscribers may also enjoy a trip report to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives discussed in Episode 6 of...2022-01-271h 06Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionChecking In Episode 11: January 2022 Disneyland Trip Report w/Sam Simon"Checking In" is a show on the Milenomics Podcast Network where I usually chat with members of the community about some specific trip, loyalty program, or method they've been using to generate points & miles. Today's show is a little different because my guest is Milenomics founder Sam Simon. And since it's a Disneyland trip report and totally "above board" we're releasing it here on the No Annual Fee feed.
I once read a post on a forum somewhere questioning whether, in times when our country and the world can seem so divided, is there anyhting we can...2022-01-191h 05
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionPortland, ME manifesto with Ted FleischakerToday's special episode is hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer.
[Cold open] Harraseeket Inn holiday buffets: https://www.harraseeketinn.com/dine-1
Hello, and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I’m Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, and I’m joined today by Ted Fleischaker, board member of Portland, Maine’s Etz Chaim Synagogue and publisher of the Up Portland newspaper. Ted, welcome to the Manifesto.
[0:20] Plugs
Etz Chaim: https://etzchaim-portland.org/Up Portland: http://www.upportland.com/Micucci’s Grocery Store: https://www.facebook.com/MicucciG...2021-12-2244 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 59: Citi Transfer Partner Changes, New Routes, and a $500 Tip of the WeekWe discuss the addition of Wyndham/Vacasa as a Citi ThankYou Point transfer partner, ZIPAIR from LAX to Tokyo, Frontier leaving Newark, and a $500 brokerage bonus from "Tastyworks." Let's get right into it.
Citi TYP Shakeup: AA Out (for now?) Wyndham In
Wyndham 1:1 from Premier/Prestige, 5:4 from lower level cardsWyndham opens up Vacasa rentals--and really is a wonderful option for family travelEarlier this year I attempted to open a Wyndham Business card but was unsuccessfulNow, 3x on Fluz or 2x on WU purchases are really nice vehicles for Vacasa rentals Because of Cash out options, TYP t...2021-11-1623 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 58: Loyalty Program Changes at Marriott, Hyatt, American Airlines and MoreThree major loyalty programs updated their schemes this week. We discuss this and more in this week's No Annual Fee podcast...
Marriott Bonvoy Changes (Direct Link)
Doing away with award chart March 2022, points required will track cash priceFree Night Certificate Top Off limited to 15k, starts “early 2022”Certificates/status extended again (FM)
Hyatt Peak/Off-Peak Goes Live
Gave a cursory look at booking some things last minute but...didn’t find award availability on the dates and destinations I checkedSeems like they’re one step behind Marriott in going to a scheme where the number o...2021-10-2827 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 7: Checking In w/Robin from Luxe Recess on New England Resorts, Blackberry Farm, Luxury Disney and OrlandoRobert chats with Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess about trends she's seeing in the luxury travel market. They compare notes on recent travels with an eye towards planning for the coming year.
Last Chatted in January, 2021 (listen)
Vaccines were just becoming availableThings looked like they were getting better, then Delta variantWhat are you seeing in terms of travel hesitancy right now?And how are future bookings impacted? More short term trips planned opportunistically?
3:20 Spring/Summer Travels
Mansion at Ocean EdgeNewport rentalQ: If I liked both of these, what options should I consider in the...2021-09-241h 04Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionManifesto Episode 28: Bilt Rewards with Richard KerrToday's Podcast comes to you from Gideon The Freequent Flyer who has a companion piece to this podcast on his site.
Hello and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon the Free-quent Flyer on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I am Gideon the Free-quent Flyer and I’m joined today by the Director of Travel Rewards at Bilt Rewards, Richard Kerr. Richard, welcome to the Manifesto.
[0:30] Plugs
Social: @KerrPoints everywhere
Bilt Rewards: https://www.biltrewards.com/
[2:35] Background
What was your path into the rewards industry? Did you start as a tr...2021-09-2150 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 5: September 2021 Disney World Trip Report w/Joe CheungToday we're releasing an episode of "Checking In with Robert Dwyer" that's normally reserved for subscribers of the Milenomics Podcast Network. Robert chats with Joe Cheung about what it's like to visit Disney Parks these days, and what's coming in the near future to Disney World.
0:22 What Joe has been up to since Saverocity Observation Deck
Producing Miles to Memories Podcast. Disney Deciphered Podcast. Disney Travel Agent.
1:30 What's Disney like now, what's it going to be in this "living with Covid" phase we seem to be in now.
Use my trip r...2021-09-101h 03Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 57: Heightened Offers from Bank of AmericaFour great credit card welcome bonuses to consider from Bank of America. Let’s discuss them, how we’d prioritize them, and also navigating the complicated and ever-changing approval standards over at Bank of America.
0:54 BofA Amtrak 50,000 + $100 Statement Credit (DoC)
Do a dummy booking to see offer$79 AF not waived$2,500 min spend in 90 daysAmtrak points are worth 2.9 cpp towards non-Acela, 2.56 cpp towards AcelaSo this welcome bonus is worth $1,450 + $100 - $79 = $1,471 for non-AcelaOr $1,250 + $100 - $79 = $1,271 towards AcelaThat’s crazy value for people who want to ride AmtrakSee also: How to redeem bank points for up to 1.64 cpp towards Amtrak
03:5...2021-08-1712 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 56: 5x Categories and Opportunities and a 67,000 Mile OfferOn today's No Annual Fee show we discuss:
0:30 Q3 2021 5x Categories
Chase FreedomGrocery StoresSelect Streaming ServicesDiscoverRestaurantsPayPalCiti DividendGas StationsHome Improvement
3:50 New Citi Custom Cash Card (HT DoC)
Direct Link20,000 TYP for spending $750 in first 3 monthsNo AF5x TYP on up to $500 spend each month in biggest category, 1x after thatDon’t have to activate (that’s nice)Low cap, but that’s the same as Freedom/Discover/Dividend 5x cardsWould be a great card to product change a bunch of cards into but: “Our policy is to offer only one Citi Custom Cash℠ Card account per custom...2021-06-1615 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 55: Heightened CSP Bonus, Schwab Cashout Rumors & A New Airport LoungeA Hot news week has us sitting down to discuss the following:
0:29 Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000
Direct Link Subject to 5/24$95 AF (not waived first year)Try generating a referral if you/your spouse have one (chase.com/referafriend)“Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.*That's $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.100,000 bonus points is the best offer that Sapp...2021-06-0520 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 54: New Routes, New Airlines, New Welcome Bonuses0:30 JetBlue New York - London Now Bookable
Direct LinkWebsite was down when they released these (classic JetBlue)Starts August 12, 2021Economy “from” $595 roundtripMint “from” $1,979 roundtrip
4:55 New Airlines: Avelo and Breeze
Avelo is a new West coast airline that has set up from BUR (Link for more details )Routes are somewhat unique, to about a dozen western destinations. In most cases using much more off the beaten path airports than mainline carriers. Ogden Utah, Pasco WA, Grand Junction, CO. Flights seem very aggressively priced. One example to Santa Rosa is interesting me. $60 round trip versus $244 on the only other carr...2021-05-2119 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 53: Status Through Spend, New Routes, Devaluations & Singular Use Programs0:23 Earn Singapore Status Through Bank Point Transfer (link)
Get 1 elite qualifying mile for every 5 bank points transferredTransfer 250,000 bank points between April 7, 2021 and February 28, 2022Get Star Alliance Gold for 12 monthsGets you UA lounge access when travelling domestically and other Star Alliance Gold benefitsSingapore miles expire 3 years after they’re earned even with activityI do like the potential of status through spend, hope to see other airlines/hotels follow this
06:42 Jetblue Announces BOS-LHR and JFK-LHR Service (Link)
Sounds good but hard to get excited about at the moment (can’t travel there, launch date unclear)Longer term how usefu...2021-04-0828 min
Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionWrapping up the Milenomics Second Podcast (MSP) Season 1Many of you reading this might not even know there is a podcast called The Milenomics Second Podcast (MSP). We're celebrating on the blog today the ending of season 1 of the Milenomics Second Podcast, hosted by our very own Garth Grawburg.
Feats of Strength
On the Saverocity Observation deck Festivus Episodes Joe and Trevor often cover of feats of strength. Garth's first season on MSP is, in fact, a true feat of strength.
Garth is well known to many Milenomics slack members, and has always added so much to the discussion on slack...2021-04-0652 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 52: Q2 5x Categories, Transfer Bonuses, and Heightened Welcome OffersWe've got a full show today. Let's get right into it...
0:25 Q2 2021 5x Categories
Chase FreedomGas StationsHome Improvement StoresDiscoverGas StationsWholesale ClubsSelect Streaming ServicesCiti DividendSupermarketsDrugstores
3:15 Amex 40% Transfer Bonuses to Hilton/Marriott
1,000 MRs become 2,800 Hilton1,000 MRs become 1,400 MarriottOne use model: Marriott to “high value” foreign carrier programsMore on that in the paid show
7:10 Amex Bonvoy Heightened Offers
Amex Bonvoy Business 100k$5,000 min spend in 3 months$125 AF$150 statement creditAvailable through referral35k cert on renewalAmex Bonvoy Brilliant 125k$5,000 in 3 months$450 AF$200 back at restaurants$300 Marriott creditNot seeing it available through referral as of yet (affiliate and...2021-03-2321 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionThe Manifesto Episode 20: With Charlie Barkowski from Running With MilesLast year year we launched a podcast network, adding the Manifesto hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer to the Patreon Feed.
In this episode Gideon sits down with Kelly de Schaun, Chief Executive Officer of the Galveston Park Board.
Enjoy this special episode, and if you're interested in even more great podcast content, check us out on Patreon.
Hello, and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I’m Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, and I’m joined today from the Running with Miles blog, Charlie Barkowski. Char...2021-03-1749 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 51: All This Amex Stuff (Credits and More)Robert:
Amex has been ratcheting up the complexity on their offers and benefits. Partially due to covid, wanting to retain customers, and wanting to maintain and build engagement. The gamification of Amex is in full swing.
Sam:
These credits are not free money, and they’re definitely not always easy as we’ll discuss today...
For each of these let’s discuss:
The PromiseThe ProblemsPossible solutions
1:39 Amex Offers: Slow Posting
Early February credits, across the board/on a number of fronts, were very slow to postTPG: “Here’s why you sh...2021-03-0827 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 50: Luxury Family Travel, Points & Miles, and Disney w/Robin from Luxe RecessRobert chats with Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess about luxury family travel trends, blending points & miles with a trip booked through a full-service travel agency, and where families are going in Florida in addition to Disney.
0:30 Travel Planning Picking Up
1:15 Luxe Recess
LuxeRecess.com
Origin story
What Luxe Recess is/isn't
Robert's articles on Luxe Recess
What are the defining characteristics of “Luxe” to you?
And how does that play out in travel as we [hopefully] emerge from Covid?
See: 12 Luxury Berkshire Vacation Rentals To Escape It All
16:50 Points & Miles
I know you’...2021-01-2647 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 49: Grand Reserve World MastercardI received an offer via email the other day for a wine-focused rewards credit card I've been monitoring for a while, the Grand Reserve World Mastercard.
They've temporarily bumped the welcome bonus on the card to 75,000 points (worth around $450 towards wine and accesories) so I reached out to Grand Reserve Founder and CEO Matthew Goldman for a chat on the podcast.
Besides the points & miles stuff we talk about here on Milenomics, I've written a wine blog since 2008. So it feels like this program is right in my wheelhouse.
Grand Reserve World Mastercard2021-01-2037 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 48: Booking Travel in 2021We're back today with a show we've talked about recording for some time now. The topic of booking travel in 2021 is a unique one because this is a very unique time in travel, miles and points. Spurred on by cancellations last year by both of us, large travel bank balances, and plenty of want for travel we talk about our best practices for booking in 2021. Feel free to comment below with your best practices, and thanks for listening.
For more great podcast content check our Patreon page out.
0:28 Amex Business Platinum 110,000 Available Through Referral
...2021-01-1632 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 47: Amex Enhances, Virgin Atlantic Devalues, and New Year OpportunitiesWe're back with a packed No Annual Fee episode of the podcast. Let's get right into it...
0:22 2021 Amex Perks/Offers (Summary from Amex)
Personal$30 PayPal Credit Per Month (no activation required)[Targeted] $50 back on $50 at Best Buy (use twice, activation required)[Targeted] $50 back on $50 at Home Depot (use twice, activation required)BusinessAdditional 4x on Gas, Office Supply, Wireless, Advertising, Shipping (capped at $20,000 in spend through 6/31/2021, activation required)OtherHints of 20% discount on airfare through MayHints of co-branded card enhancementsNever has so much thought been put into limited time enhancements to credit cards. They’re keeping busy over th...2021-01-0631 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 46: Making Money by Investing in Mutual Savings BanksOn today's podcast I chat with Bram Berkowitz to discuss investing in mutual savings banks. I first became familiar with the topic from an excellent article he wrote:
See: How The Average Person Can Make A Lot Of Money Investing In Mutual Savings Banks
0:00 Background and intro
2:10 The basic pattern of mutual banks offering pre-IPO shares to account holders, a potential run up and second bump 3 years later
Recent example: $EBC
10:10 How to identify future candidate banks?
12:45 Is this opportunity nationwide? Or more prevalent in MA?
2020-11-1816 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 45: Heightened Credit Card Offers, an Air Transfer Bonus, and a Juicy Grocery PromoOn this week's "No Annual Fee" podcast we discuss...
0:25 Amex Personal Gold/Platinum Offers through Resy (HT DDG)
Direct Link to offersPersonal Gold has standard characteristics (60k welcome bonus, $4k min spend, $250 fee) plus20% back at restaurants first year up to $250 backPersonal Platinum has standard characteristics (75k welcome bonus, $5k min spend, $550 fee) plus20% back at restaurants first year up to $300 back10x on Gas and Supermarkets up to $15,000 spend for 6 monthsOffers do contain lifetime languagePlatinum offer is even better than even a 25k referral, right?But maybe not as good as a +3x referralWorth a...2020-11-1213 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionThe Manifesto Episode 13: Deep Dive into Galveston, TX with Kelly de SchaunEarlier this year we launched a podcast network, adding the Manifesto hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer to the Patreon Feed.
In this episode Gideon sits down with Kelly de Schaun, Chief Executive Officer of the Galveston Park Board.
Enjoy this special episode, and if you're interested in even more great podcast content, check us out on Patreon.
--
[0:00] Intro
Original Galveston post: https://freequentflyerbook.com/blog/2015/6/14/galveston-tx-is-a-weird-place-to-take-a-vacationGalveston Park Board: https://www.galvestonparkboard.org/Beach and Park Operations: https://www.galvestonparkboard.org/157/Beach-and-Park-OperationsGalveston Island Convention Center: https://www.galvestonislandconventioncenter.com/
2020-10-2355 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 44: All About Amex (in 10 minutes)Today we're doing 10 minutes on the podcast All About Amex. This post is a companion piece to that audio.
The goal here is to describe the "quirks and features" (as Doug DeMuro would say) of American Express credit cards and their Membership Rewards program.
Amex may not be as straightforward to interact with as Chase but if you take time to familiarize yourself with Amex it can prove to be a very valuable relationship.
Card Limits
Amex limits the number of active cards we can have with them. The number has...2020-10-0912 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 43: Compelling Amex Offers, Grocery Rewards, and a Deflagged Hyatt0:25 Stop & Shop Rewards can now be used for Groceries (Milenomics Slack)
1 point per dollar earned Redeem 100 points for $1 (1 cpp value)2,000 max per transaction (ie, max $20 off)Fuel Rewards is 100 points for $0.10/gallon up to 20 gallons (Up to 2 cpp of value if you can fill a 20 gallon tank)But how much gas can you realistically use?You need to log in to your account (on desktop or app) and opt in to GO Rewards. You can’t opt to go back into the old program, but the new program still allows you to redeem for gas so I don’t see...2020-08-0721 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 42: Manufactured Spend Setbacks and Opportunities, and Limited-time PromotionsToday we're back with a standard No Annual Fee episode. We do the news, and then talk Personal Finance and Amex Small Business Credits.
0:30 GiftCards.com joins giftcardmall with $2k monthly portal cap
Rakuten lasted until 7/7 at $60k/mo
Showing $2k cap as of 7/8
1:50 [Targeted?] Chase Marriott/Ritz cards: 10x on Gas + Dining (DoC)
7/15-9/15
$3,500 cap
Must register: Link
3:15 Discover 20% off Amazon when Using 1 point (DoC)
Just wanted to mention it’s smart to keep some Discover rewards clanging around rather than draining the rewards to be able to take advantage of the...2020-07-1019 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 41: Milenomics Second Podcast Preview – Wine DealsA couple months ago we launched the Milenomics Podcast Network which now includes three shows:
Milenomics² Podcast with Sam Simon and Robert DwyerMilenomics Second Podcast hosted by Garth GrawburgThe Manifesto with Gideon The Free-quent Flyer
Subscribers gain access to these shows as well as a thriving Slack community, the ability to attend meetups, and more.
Today we're releasing a free preview of recent episode of the Milenomics Second Podcast where Garth and I talk about wine. Pursuing points & miles tends to coincide with being a bit of a deal hound, and here we'll apply that t...2020-06-3042 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionSummer Travel, AirBnB / VRBO Vacation RentalsWe're back with a bit of a stretch for our 'short cut' topic. Robert and I sat down to have a quick chat about our upcoming summer travel plans, both of which revolve around vacation rentals.
Along the way, as we tend to do, we took a bit of a deep dive into price variances between booking channels, how does the current Chase 1.5 cpp cash out method play into paying for vacation rentals, and the importance of flexible cancellation policies.
0:15 Summer Travel Plans:
Robert: Newport, RI road trip
Sam: Lake Tahoe (almost certainly flying)
2020-06-2635 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 39: Emirates Fuel Surcharges/Instagram LiveUpdate: Here's link to the Instagram Live video
Last week Emirates greatly reduced taxes + fees on awards on their metal using their Skywards miles.
That's great for those who want to fly Emirates metal, especially since we can transfer bank points to Skywards 1:1 across so many programs. But the place a lot of us immediately went with this was to wonder...
Did Emirates also reduce fuel surcharges on partner awards?
That curiosity led to more questions...
Can partner awards (like Japan Airlines) be booked online? (looks like "no")Can taxes +...2020-06-0208 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 38: Maximizing Amex 20,000 Point ReferralsCheck your Business Platinum and Personal Gold cards for 20,000 referrals
We’ve been seeing [targeted] heightened 20,000 Membership Reward “Blue Star” referrals come and go on Amex Business Platinum and Personal Gold cards. Right now they seem to be “in season” with a high percentage of these cards showing heightened referral bonuses.
Update: Others are reporting seeing this one Personal Platinum and Business Gold as well.
In this write-up and Milenomics Short Cut podcast episode, we’ll cover how how to maximize this referral opportunity.
If you’re new to Amex referrals, have a look this post...2020-04-1612 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionSpecial Episode 37: 1-Star Reviews of 4-Star HotelThis episode was originally released last July 4th for our Patreon members. We’re releasing it here for all readers and listeners of the Podcast. Maybe you’ll find it a nice 38 minute distraction from everything going on right now.
Original Show notes are as follows:
Today we’re taking a break from the regular show format to have a little fun. Both of us have a bit of a guilty pleasure: reading 1 star TripAdvisor reviews of hotels. Robert came up with the idea for today’s show, where we read an anonymous 1 star review of a hote...2020-04-0738 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 36: Is Credit Monitoring Still Important?Welcome to another episode of Short Cuts on our No Annual Fee Podcast.
I recently applied for a Home Equity Line of Credit and noticed that my FICO score was a bit lower than I expected. It got me wondering whether it is still important to monitor my credit report and check my credit score, and if so – how?
In this episode we mention these services:
Credit Karma
Credit Sesame
Experian.com
See also: The Monetization Of Your Credit Score; Or: How Travel Is Not Free
Want more?
Check ou...2020-03-3007 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 35 The Game Continues: Where do We Go From Here?Welcome to another episode of Short Cuts on our No Annual Fee Podcast.
Today we talk about where the points & miles game fits in the context of a pandemic like we’re currently experiencing.
We discuss the importance of demand schedules. Check this link for more on that topic.
Want more? Become a Patron to Unlock 1+ Hour Weekly Shows
Support Milenomics on Patreon where you’ll get:
A weekly podcast episode for subscibers only
Access to a robust Slack community
And more…
Subscribe to the No Annual Fee Edition
2020-03-1308 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 34 Coronavirus travel deals: Where are we seeing opportunities?Welcome to another episode of Short Cuts on our No Annual Fee Podcast.
Today we’re talking about opportunities for travel deals surrounding Coronavirus. Not necessarily for travel in the near term, but where we see angles to book award travel further out with flexible cancellation terms.
Want more? Become a Patron to Unlock 1+ Hour Weekly Shows
Check out Episode 67 of our Paid Show where we discuss:
Converting bad bank points into airline travel bank credits
A low fee way to pay certain mortgages online with a credit card
A recent trip to...2020-03-1107 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 33: Negotiating Coronavirus Change WaiversWe’re trying something different on our No Annual Fee Podcast this week with a format called Short Cuts.
In Short Cuts we’ll cover the latest points & miles news, and our take on recent developments, in short digestible shows with a singular topic.
This week we’re talking Coronavirus change waivers, and how to navigate them for upcoming travel. In life almost everything is negotiable, including change waivers.
Want more? Become a Patron to Unlock 1+ Hour Weekly Shows
Check out Episode 67 of our Paid Show where we discuss:
Booking awards...2020-03-1005 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionPaid Show Free Preview: AA Account Shutdown StrategiesWe’ve not put out a free episode of the Milenomics² podcast since last year–The success of the paid show led us to focus on the thriving community of Patreon subscribers. Over on the Patreon page, and on the heels of the Shop Talk post we did about AA Account Shutdown issues, we’ve recorded a few paid shows on the topic of AA shutdowns as well.
I’m biased, but I do believe the paid podcast has hit a stride–a mix of long-form interviews between Robert and I, discussions of what we’re up to, hilarious...2020-02-1949 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 31: The Hotel Status Loyalty Trap0:42 Bank of America $300 Personal Checking Bonus (HT DoC)
Requires $4,000 Direct Deposit in 3 monthsYou need to have a checking account with BofA to quality for their Preferred Rewards program (which provides up to 75% uplift for spending on certain personal BofA credit cards)
1:30 Banco Popular Avianca Vuela Visa 60,000 Offer (HT US Credit Card Guide)
$149 AF not waived the first year40,000 first use+20,000 with $1,000 spend in first 3 months with code SB4060Deal or not a deal?
3:53 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Credit Card 50,000 (HT DoC)
30,000 after $2,000 in spend first 90 days20,000 after additional $6,000 spend in first 6 months$95 AF not...2019-08-0241 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 30: 5 Irrational Fears Around Points & MilesToday we're back with what turns out to be a meaty review of core Milenomics philosophies, but first the news...
0:30 Citi Double Cash to Earn TYP? (HT DoC)
Coming later this yearUnclear what the conversion ratio will be
1:10 Citi Going to 48-Month Waiting Period on AA Cards (link)
2:10 BofA Alaska Personal 40,000 + $100 Statement Credit (HT DoC)
Direct linkCan’t get the card if you’ve had it in the preceeding 24 months
2:55 3x Fuel Rewards on VGCs at Stop & Shop/Giant 7/12-7/18
3:20 5 Things the Points & Miles Community dislikes more than they shou...2019-07-1327 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 29: Qantas Devaluation, Grocery Promos, and 5x OpportunitiesOn this week’s No Annual Fee Edition of the podcast we discuss:
0:30 Q3 5x Categories Announced
Chase Freedom: Gas and streaming services
Discover: PayPal and restaurants
Citi Dividend: Airline and car rentals
1:20 Office Depot $10 off $100 in Select Happy Cards (link)
Repeat of last promo
Unfortunately looks to be excluding Happy Guy (Home Depot)
2:25 Stop & Shop 8x Fuel Rewards Happy Cards
6/21-6/27/2019
2:40 Safeway J4U $10 off of $100 or more Visa GC
This is a repeat of the promo from a month or so ago
$10 erases $5.95 purchase fee
Does work on Va...2019-06-2118 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 28: Award Travel Questions From Those Just Starting OutToday we’re answering questions posed by ‘future’ listeners of this very podcast. These are questions from those of you new to points & miles, and maybe you haven’t yet found this site. Along with these 4 questions we tackle the news and of course an entertaining look at the world of points & miles.
News
0:30 [Targeted] Amex Business Platinum 50,000 Upgrade Offer (link DoC)
Need to have existing Green or Gold Business Amex MR charge card
Log in to Amex account then Direct link
$10,000 spend requirement in 5 months
“Offer is available for first-time upgrades to the new Business...2019-06-1532 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 27: Six Credit Cards You Should Never CancelWe’re back with news, and a discussion around credit cards you should never close. Share your ‘must keep’ cards in the comments below, and enjoy!
0:33 25% Transfer Bonus from Citi (others, but not Amex) (link MilesTalk)
One of those wonky ones where they bump the points on the receiving end
Strange, and a bit of a bummer, that Amex wasn’t included
2:12 Qantas 20% Transfer Bonus from Amex (link DansDeals)
Great way to get to Tel Aviv on El Al
3:19 Heightened Amex Incognito Referral Offers Found Working on Business Cards
Previously this only worked when...2019-06-0716 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 26: AA Mobile Award Space, New MR Transfer Partner, Historic Delta Sign Up Bonuses, Speedway, Safeway & Stop & Shop DealsNews
0:35 [Sam] AA Showing More Award Space on Mobile? (link)
Seems to be that there’s a new search interface and a legacy one
They sometimes show different results
TPG post
2:33 [Robert] Speedway: $15 voucher for Speedway gas GC when purchasing $100 3rd party GC
Slickdeals
DoC
Lowe’s, Home Depot and others (Texas Roadhouse, Netflix, Cabellas, Dominos, Bass Pro Shops and Google Play)
Through 6/30
4:43 [Sam] Rakuten closing accounts buying GC in-store(link)
Bed Bath Beyond likely the issue now
Was also a problem with office Max for some commenters
Better...2019-06-0121 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 25: What 5 Cards Should You Put in Your Spouse’s Wallet?A fun week here on the No Annual Fee Podcast, where we’re discussing the following:
News
0:32 Italian-issued Tickets for Fun and Profit (link)
Probably best to keep this as an academic idea, but a fun read by God Save the Points.
1:46 Citi ThankYou Points 30% Bonus to Virgin Atlantic (link)
Matches the Membership Rewards promo from a few weeks ago.
The Program is either outstanding or completely terrible depending on the use of the miles.
Do not transfer if you don’t know what to do with the miles.
Main...2019-05-2316 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 24: Online 1% Billpay w/Credit Card, Loyalty Partnerships, and New Discover 5% CategoriesSome lucrative promos and heightened offers this week…
0:33 [Widely Targeted, check email associated with existing account] Plastiq 1% Mastercard CC Payments on Plastiq
Schedule up to 3 x $2,000 payments
By May 31, 2019
1% fee (rather than 2.5%)
1:52 BofA Alaska Personal 40,000 + $100 Statement Credit
Direct link
Source
$75 annual fee (not waived the first year)
$2,000 min spend
“This card will not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period. This does not apply to the business credit card product.”
2:53 Hilton/Lyft Partnership
Earn 3x Hilton for Lyft rides after linking accoun...2019-05-1709 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 23: No Lifetime Language Hilton Cards, 5X UR For Bill Pay, United Shopping Promo & MoreToday we do a quick rundown of the news. Including the following:
0:33 Simon Mall Purchases No Longer Earning Rewards on Amex Cards? (link)
Stopped earning for Sign up Bonus sometime last year.
Not completely unexpected, but hopefully this does not spread
Could be in reaction to the bump up to $25,000 in daily purchase limits
1:29 United Shopping Portal Promo
Spend $300 online earn 1,000
Spend $150 in-store earn 500
Through 5/19
2:05 [Targeted] Chase Sapphire Preferred 5x Bill Pay
5x on Utilities, Insurance, Phone Service, Cable
Up to $2,000 in payments
5/13-7/31/2019
Check email for “, don’t miss out on 5X bon...2019-05-0906 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 22: “Etihad Awards, New Avios Rates, Fee Free Visa and MCGC, and More of Robert’s European Vacation”Last week we had our first ever cliffhanger episode–this week we’re back to finish the story of Robert’s European Vacation. We also cover some great news on the redemption side, as well as options to earn miles without flying on Today’s No Annual Fee Edition of the podcast.
News
0:32 Etihad Awards Booking on AA.com (link)
Still not seeing JFK-AUH Apartment show up even though there is space
Have to call New Zealand for that one still (link)
3:24 British Airways Avios Partner Award Devaluation Coming (link)
0-650 miles: 6,000 Avios (wa...2019-05-0539 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 21: Boutique European Hotels, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review, London, Venice and Rome With a Family of FourAnd….We’re Back! Spring break is over and we’re here with a jam packed episode. Today we cover:
News:
0:30 Chase 30% Transfer Bonus to British Airways (link)
Through June 16, 2019
You don’t see the 30% bonus on the UR portal, BA processes the bonus on its end
Deal or not a deal? Enough to encourage speculative transfer?
4:45 Zero fee MCGC at Staples 4/21-4/27 (link)
Stack with Dosh 3% capped at $5 per day (link)
Payce too?
Am I banned by Dosh?
Chase Offers
Amex Staples 10% back Offer
7:50 11-Day Stop & Shop Strike Over (link)
Had ef...2019-04-2646 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 18: Southwest Flies to Hawaii (Without Us), AA Rebates Going Away, Avianca Lifemiles Transfer Bonus, What Would Strengthen Bank Points?We’re back this week with another extended episode where we cover:
News:
0:45 Southwest announces flights to Hawaii (link)
Flying as soon as March 17th (wow, that’s quick)
When I’m wrong I’m wrong, Sam said, “no way Southwest flies to Hawaii This year”
Inter-island flights starting in April
Cheap fares to kick things off
2:35 AA/Hyatt Partnership Announced (link)
Similar to old Delta/SPG program where AA flights earn Hyatt points and vice versa (if you have any kind of status with either)
Top AA (“Concierge Key”) elites get Hyatt Globalist
...2019-03-1029 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionEpisode 17: Chase Closed All My Accounts, Help!Update (3/15): We update the story in this podcast about a Chase Shutdown in Episode 19. Including how the listener was able to convince Chase to reopen her personal CC account.
We’re back with another jam-packed “free” episode this week…
0:40 $600 Citizen’s Bank Checking Bonus (link)
Requires recurring/single (?) $2,000 Direct Deposit
Expires May 16th, 2019
1:50 [Targeted] $500 Bank of America Banking Bonus (link)
$300 Checking/$200 Savings
$4,000 in Direct Deposits within 90 Days
Probably best to go just for the checking offer (savings offer requires $20,000 in new funds)
2:55 $400 Wells Fargo Checking Bonus (link)
Requires $3,000 in combined monthly Dir...2019-03-0228 minMilenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee EditionA Deep Dive into American Express 5 Card StrategiesWe’ve got a special “double episode” of the No Annual Fee version of the Milenomics² Podcast this week.
In this episode we do a deep dive into our personal card strategies with Amex. For this exercise:
Amex is limiting us to a total of 5 active *credit* cards (personal and business, charge cards don’t count)
We already have/have had a lot of the best Amex cards (so we’re going deeper into the Amex portfolio than someone newer to the game otherwise would)
We want to make use of Amex’s generous referral program
Amex 5 Car...2019-02-0138 min