The Gas Man Cometh: When Loyalty Programs Behave Badly

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT10” for $10 off your first year.  Recent finds include:

• Round-trip to Mexico for 11K points
• Business Class to Southeast Asia for 50K miles
• Business class to Europe for 55K miles

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium 

Join us for Ask Me Anything LIVE Event with Tiffany Funk

New group of mods

Post of the Week

Will Weider - long lines at LAS Centurion

News

• When and How You Can Book Award Flights for Friends and Family
• Increased Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Offers: Up to 185K Points or 5 Free Nights
• Get Access to Hidden Award Space with United Credit Cards
• World of Hyatt’s Annual Sadness-Inducing Award Changes Announced
• Little-Known Southwest Credit Card Perk: 20% Off Discount Code for Southwest Reward Flights

TRIP UPDATES? 

Angie - nothing new

Joe - 

• Virgin Islands
• Rebooked GH Seoul again thanks to a member's suggestion

WHAT BONUSES DID WE GET? 

• Angie - Alaska card and Venture X Business 
• Joe- Ink Preferred. 20K Frontier Miles

Highlight Feature - Maximizing Spend for the Most Rewards

Cards to use and where - idea is to build a portfolio/family of cards that return more value. Get CardPointers and SAVE:

http://cardpointers.com/at101

Never earn only one point per dollar ever again:

• Travel
• Gas
• Grocery
• Dining
• Utilities
• Office Supply & Communications below
• Streaming
• Pharmacy
• Health/Gym
• Everywhere

Tip of the Week 

Book now, ask questions later. My buddy's how a friend nearly lost his optimal booking.

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

The Award Travel 101 Podcast is brought to you in part by Thrifty Traveler Premium. Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT10” for $10 off your first year. Recent finds include:

• Business Class to Europe for 50K points
• Tapei for 75K miles
• Business class to Hawaii for $582

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium

Post of the week

Xochitl Sierra Hernandez - What would you do if placed in this situation?

News

• Etihad Guest Changes
• Awards to Book Before They're Gone
• Capital One to Purchase Discover?
• American Airlines 

Trip updates

• Angie
  • Safari cancellation
  •  Beach day in May
• Joe
  • Sydney, Australia - How I used a Credit Card Perk/Benefit
  • Chase Travel Portal Booking - Does it make sense?
  • $573 savings
  • Choice Points for HUGE savings - should you buy them?
  • Flexibility vs paying less
  • Hyatt Points, but a catch?

What bonuses did we get?

• Angie
  • Wyndham Business
  • Alaska Card
  • Venture X Business
• Joe
  • Chase Ink
  • Barclays AAdvantage

Highlight feature: Let’s Get Crafty - Crafting a Credit Card Strategy

The basic strategy is the same for every situation. 

• Do you have a Player Two?
• Evaluate any upcoming trips or desired trips

Scenario 1: Two player mode, both people can get business cards

• Number one recommended starter card
• Best business cards
• Specific branded cards
• 5/24 Status

Scenario 2: Two player mode, only one person can get business cards

Similar to Scenario 1 but you can’t refer each other on business cards

Scenario 3: Two player mode, no business cards

This is when looking long term is very important

Scenario 4: Single player mode, no business card

This is the most challenging way to play the game. 

Tip of the week

An Award Travel 101 member who goes by FindFlightsforMe on IG - how to buy Flying Blue miles (for less).

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

The Award Travel 101 Podcast is brought to you in part by Thrifty Traveler Premium. Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT10” for $10 off your first year. Recent finds include:

• Starlux Business Class to Taipei for 75K miles
• Business Class to South America for 39K points
• Roundtrip to Hawaii for under $500

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium

How did your passion for travel begin?

• "I used to watch planes from the airport. I would ask my mom where each plane was going, and she would make up a place. 🤣"

Why? Most teens are not into learning about travel rewards programs

• Like many in the space, it started with saving money.

Favorite airline, hotel, credit card programs (and does status play a role in any of your travels)?

• Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards

Where are you heading next?

• Queenstown, NZ
• Study abroad in Japan

Travel Style -

• Mostly economy. 

Best deal you’ve received?

• San Francisco (SFO) to Lisbon (LIS) for $300 round trip
• SFO to LIS that was only $90

Highlight Feature - Different Ways to Approach Budget Travel

• Schedule changes
• Frontier 50K/Platinum
• Spirit Gold
• Ticket counter bookings 
• Southwest A-List
• Delta SkyMiles
• Southwest
• American
• Virgin Atlantic
  • KLM nonstop and Virgin
  • Virgin offers an underrated companion fare
• British Airways
  • Solid amount of award space from Vegas - high surcharges. 

Other Things to Know

• Frontier 100K/Diamond
  • free checked, carry-on bag, early boarding, and other perks
• JetBlue True Blue 
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• United 
• Aeroplan awards under 500 miles 
• Lifemiles 
• Turkish - used to be 7.5K, but is now 10K for economy. Business was 12.5K, but is now 15K per person
• American - last minute awards
• British Airways - see the updated award chart
• Etihad Guest - starts at 6K for awards under under 500 miles
• Delta - Compare
• Virgin Atlantic - start at 8.5K - see updated chart
• Flying Blue - 

Where to Find John

John is active in the Award Travel 101/201 community and writes for Bougie Miles. To reach him:

• john.ryan@fora.travel
• @vegasteenager on twitter

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

 The Award Travel 101 Podcast is brought to you in part by Thrifty Traveler Premium. Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT10” for $10 off your first year. Recent finds include:

• Qatar First Class "Nerd Alert" to Australia for 100,000 points
• JetBlue Mint to London, England for $1,856 round-trip
• Business Class to Paris for 50,000 miles

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium 

Marianne Michalek Shovan - Why is my car rental more expensive with Amex Discount Code than without?

News

• Air France–KLM Flying Blue Award Sweet Spots
• Amex Adds ‘Family’ Restrictions to the American Express® Green Card
• Book Now: Turkish Airlines to Devalue Miles & Smiles, Introduce New Award Charts
• 683 United Award Routes That You Can Book for Just 6,000 Aeroplan Points

Trip updates

• Angie
  • nothing new (again)
• Joe
  • Used 5.5K Virgin miles (per person) to fly Seoul to Jeju Island on Korean (KE) saving over $310 each way. It totaled 13,000 points total for 3 of us (16,5000 with 30% speculative transfer bonus) each way.  25,385 Membership Rewards converted to 33,000 Virgin Flying Club Points to save $620 on our travels.
  • Should I use points or cash for Hyatt hotels in S. Korea?
  • Applied Suite Upgrade Awards to Grand Hyatt Jeju and Grand Hyatt Seoul

What bonuses did we get?

• Angie
  • Waiting for Wyndham offer to post.
  • Waiting for Amex Business checking bonus.
  • Approved for Bank of America Alaska card
  • P2 not denied for Venture X Business
  • So putting spend on 0% apr cards for right now
• Joe
  • Nearly done with Player Two's Chase Ink Business Preferred offer
  • Working on World of Hyatt Business card to retain elite status

Highlight feature: Transferable Over Fixed Points

• Back to Basics: An Introduction to the Types of Reward Points
  • Fixed Value Rewards
  • Cashback
  • Travel Statement
  • When to Use
  • Travel Portals
  • Fixed-Value Airline Miles
  • Branded Airline Miles and Hotel Points
  • Flexible Awards
• AT101 Transfer Partner Chart

Tip of the week

Be flexible with your card strategy and don’t take denials personally. It happens to everybody at some point in this hobby so be prepared to pivot to a new card or your existing portfolio.

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:

• ANA First Class "NERD ALERT" for 73K
• Business Class for $2,627 round-trip to India
• Business Class to Istanbul and beyond for 45K

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium

Post of the Week

Zee Stacy received a 1099 from Chase and was quite concerned. Is this normal?

News

• Delta card changes - are the changes all bad?
• Marriott promo - promo runs February 13 - April 29

Trip Updates

• Angie
  • Boys trip?
  • Montana?
  • Canada or San Diego?
  • Slovenia and Croatia
• Mike
  • New Orleans - used World of Hyatt points and AAdvantage miles
  • Pancake Run canceled
  • Australia!
  • Work travel - Capital One Vs Centurion Lounge.

What bonuses did we get?

• Angie
  • Wyndham Rewards Business Earner - 
  • Denied Capital One Venture X Business and P2 got Amex popup (meaning no welcome offer) on Amex Business Gold
  • Could the Bank of America Alaska card do the trick? 
  • If not I’ll use my 0% APR cards and my Amex Hilton Business to earn a FNC for my upcoming large spend
• Mike
  • Amex Business Checking - 
  • Capital One Venture X - 
  • Chase Ink Cash - always a perennial favorite in the Award Travel 101 community
  • Next card… Bonvoy Brilliant?

Highlight feature: Getting Player Two (P2) Into Award Travel

• What is a P2? Do you have to be married?
• Keep it simple! Mike started card labeling for P2 and she still struggled, so now strategy is KISS (Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Ink Unlimited)
• Keep P2 in the loop
• Set a dollar threshold
• Teach shopping portals
• Suggestions from our P2’s: “tell me which card to use”

Tip of the week

Marry a P1 (kidding). Shopping portal strategy for valentines day presents. 

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:

• Round-trip business class to Japan for $1,925 (or 125,000 points)
• Business class to Hawaii for 55,000 miles
• Business class to Germany for 55,000 points

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.

Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 53 Show Notes

We're changing up this week's format, with our very first member interview. Award Travel 101 community member Allison Tackette joins us with tips she's learned over 10 years in the space.

Background

Allison is a former teacher who wanted to get out and see the world, but her time off in the summer often resulted in finding peak season pricing. Travel CAN be expensive if you're always paying cash, but pushing people to the brink helps them get creative!

Introduction to travel rewards and loyalty programs

Is it as simple as asking how to travel for free? In 2013, information was far more scarce than it is today. Now we have tons of resources and the Award Travel 101 Facebook community where you can ask questions and get instant answers.  

Places You Could Return Over and Over

While she enjoys traveling the world, check out why she thinks Japan is the place she could never lose interest in.

Travel style

Allison travels primarily as a solo traveler, but she does travel with family on occasion too.

Deals

Is there anything better than First Class for your first significant redemption? Can you believe that the redemption she made years and years ago, is still the same cost today?

Highlight Feature - Can I book travel inside 60 days (or less)?

Which programs offer you the greatest flexibility? Use these to set yourself up and keep looking as you get close-in. Some of the most aspirational flights and airlines might be found inside 14 days or less including:

• Lufthansa
• ANA
• JAL
• Emirates
• Not airline specific, but unsold business/first flights to Australia and New Zealand often open up around a week out.

Tip of the week

Use tools like seats.aero or point.me to simplify your searches. Check out Episode 19 "The Tools We Use"

Where  You Can Find Allison

Instagram: @luckytictac
awardtravelvacations.com

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:

• Business Class to Europe for 55K points
• Premium Economy to Singapore for $1,249 R/T
• Business Class to Portugal for 45K miles

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium

Post of the week

Beth Hanes Product changing gone wrong - Why does Chase hate me?
John Buchan - Is there an over-emphasis on the Chase Ink sign ups?

News

• Alaska cancels 20% of their flights
• United Offers (Outrageous) Premier Elite Status Buy-Up Offers
• New Alaska Consumer & Business cards as well as  Hyatt Consumer & Business offers
• Did Marriott just #Bonvoy MGM
• New Lounge opening - who can get in?

Trip updates

• Angie -
  • Tulip girls coming to Tampa for Gasparilla
  • Keeps checking for flights to "Taco 'Bout a Fiesta" San Antonio meetup
  • Looking at flights for Montana-would love to piggyback a trip with P2
  • P2 mentioned he’d love to do a cruise
• Joe -
  • Booked a trip to Japan and Korea trip as a result of a “missed” Thrifty Traveler Premium alert that retails for $31K for less than $250

What bonuses did we get?

• Angie
  • Finished Minimum Spending Requirement (MSR) on Ink Cash
  • Applied for Wyndham Business and eventually approved approved! 
• Joe
  • Finished MSR on the Wyndham Business Earner card
  • Shared a tip on how I plan to get 25% off an $1,800 purchase
  • P2 -100K Ink Preferred
  • 40K referral

Highlight feature: Strategies for Building Healthy Credit and Better Offers

• Guide to Building Healthy Credit
• Credit Card Strategy
• Application Rules of 4 Major Issuers

Tip of the week

Don’t sleep on lesser known partner programs. I provided an example of how you can use Etihad Guest miles for less in Award Travel 201. FULL DISCLOSURE - it is a subscription group, and runs from $9.99 monthly to $89.99 annually AND provides complimentary AwardWallet Plus.

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:

• Delta One Business Class to Europe for 50K points
• Cathay Pacific First class to SE Asia starting at 125K points
• Business Class to Hawaii 40K points

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium

Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 51 Show Notes

Joe is joined by the most frequent guest of the podcast, Toni Perkins-Southam. Many of you may remember Toni as the longest-running Award Travel 101 moderator and community admin.

Toni spent almost five years in the community (two years as a community manager) before taking a position with Forbes Advisor. Toni shares how she got her start writing with AwardWallet and continued her journey. Are you interested in writing about travel topics too? Fill out this form to put in your application.

Award Travel 101 from 2017–2022: Longest active mod/admin

• 2020–2022 craziness
• 2022 and beyond
• Fear of Flying Season 1 Episode 4 + Season 2 Episode 13
  updates?
  • Paul Borish Traveler's Psych

What you’ve been up to since leaving

• Trips
  • Favorite places
  • Wishlist

New Cards

• Favorite award currencies
• How you’re earning points today
  • Welcome offers/sign-up bonuses
  • Buyer's groups
  • Shortcuts

Taco ‘Bout A Fiesta: Presenters

• • Toni Perkins-Southam
  • Ryan Smith
  • Justin Vacula

Tip of the week

If you are already going crazy, might as well do it someplace cool!

Where To Find Toni

• @tonisoutham on Instagram
• Toni Perkins-Southam Forbes advisor profile
• tperkins@forbesadvisor.com

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:

• Business Class to Ireland for 50,000 points
• Aruba in Mint (lie-flat) for 35,000 points
• Business Class to Spain for 34,000 miles

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium

Post of the week

Either Tom Coumaris - disappearing in-room coffee makers. How do you get your morning brew?

News

• Updates on the 737-Max9 - is it safe?
• Top 10 Card offers of 2024
• DONT MISS OUT ON THE 90,000 ENHANCED INK OFFERS BEFORE THEY EXPIRE - 7AM on 1/18/2024
• Now Live - Hyatt Milestone Rewards Offer Expanded Choices This Year
• The Best Business Class Award Sweet Spots for Flights to Europe

Trip updates

• Angie - Focusing more on earning right now while preparing for a move
• Joe -Decided against NZ. Trying to figure out a winter get-away.

What bonuses did we get?

• Angie - Working on Minimum Spend Requirement on Ink Cash. Considering a Venture X Business.
• Joe - Barclays Wyndham Business card arrived - why did I get this card?

Highlight feature: 2023 Trip Recaps

• Angie: 12 new cards (6 and 6) 8 biz, 4 personal
  • SUB (Sign Up Bonuses/Welcome Offers) = 1,435K points
  • Referrals = 390K
  • One checking account bonus for P1 (Player one - her husband)
  • Points used = 1,200K with net increase of 575K points.
  • Doesn’t include normal spend. Loads of Southwest flights and used several Free Night Award
• Joe: 14 new cards (10 P1 & 4 P2), 43 total
  • SUBs = 1,476K + HH FNA
  • Referrals = 500K
  • 100K from spend
  • 100K from shopping portals
  • $8K in annual fees - $1,500 positive in perks vs annual fees
  • Saves me around $2,700

Tip of the week

It's a new year,  with new credits. We mentioned this back in Episode 45, so use all your credits and perks. Don’t wait!

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:

• Round-trip to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, etc...) starting at 68,000 points
• Business class to Switzerland for 50,000 points
• Round-trip to Punta Cana for 16,000 miles

You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.

Post of the week

 Ira Serkes  asks, "How many trips do you take each year, and what is your longest trip in 2023?"

News

• Book Hilton Free Night Awards via Chat
• Amex Adds Family Language to Marriott cards
• Changes to Bilt Rewards Status

Trip updates

• Angie
  • Can you believe that she only has one trip planned?
• Joe
  • Stayed at the Ritz Carlton for New Year's Eve
  • NZ with help from seats.aero

What bonuses did we get?

• Angie
  • Just received the bonus for an Amex Business Platinum
  • Working toward an Chase Ink Business card bonus
• Joe
  • Failed NLL application
  •  Barclay's Wyndham Business card (for opportunities like this)
  • Upgraded to Bonvoy Brilliant
  • Transferred 200K Amex MR to Virgin Atlantic with 30% Bonus

Highlight feature: 2024 (Award Travel) Resolutions

• Angie -
  • Update and use all/more features of Award Wallet
  • Clean up Google Photos
  • Clean up multiple email accounts
  • Create a spreadsheet of all my cards
  • Explore casino matching for free cruises
• Joe - Here are some other things I need to work on
  • Citi/Barclays AA companion certs - never use
  • (4) UA Club passes - making sure to use
  • (2) Gold monthly Dining credits - I rarely use these
  • (2) Amex Platinum Streaming credits with only one in use and (4) Walmart Plus subscription credits with one in use

Tip of the week

Take some time to look at all the cards and ensure you’re using all of your credits and benefits and see if your strategy should be tweaked.

Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community

For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community.

1. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community
2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
3. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com.
4. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and we’ve opened up a few more tickets for members! To learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! on Eventbrite

Support the AT101 Podcast/Community