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 Paris for 40KBusiness class to New Zealand for 63KBusiness class to India and Middle East for 68KYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Post/s of the weekChelsea ElizabethNewsSouthwest bookable through Chase travel portalLifelock at 95% RakutenBlack Friday Huge Qatar award dumpCondor and Emirates partnerAlaska changesTrip updatesAngieMontana tripP2 doesn’t want to safari.Australia??JoeBreeze credits/pointsHyatt VIP Suite for P2 & meShort-notice meetupToys for Tots drive on Monday, December 4, 2023 from 6 to 9 p.m. Joe will be joining. To get your free tickets.What bonuses did we get?AngieBusiness GoldAnother InkJoeTargeted Business Platinum + checking offerHighlight feature: LingoFeel like you are learning a new language? We often get folks saying “please spell out these acronyms” but when it’s the same word over and over again, you need shorthand. Some examples include 5/24, CSR, SUB, and P2.Airline codesCheck out our world-famous Award Travel 101 Transfer Partner Matrix.Airport codesIt's necessary when for searching for award flights that you know where you're going. Class of Service codesFor simplicity these are boiled down to 3 major:F - FirstJ - BusinessY - EconomyGeneral termsThere are so many more, and you can find those on this FlyerTalk message board post.Tip of the weekUse Award Wallet. Once you have a bunch of cards it’s hard to keep track of all the credits and benefits! Angie received an email from AwardWallet that she hasn't used the $75 credit on the WN Priority card! Keeping track of how you used a FNA can add value.Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Justin fell into travel rewards programs accidentally as he was working his way through various casino programs. Listen as he and Joe discuss some of the dead deals of the past to learn more about what you can look for in the future.Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. For Black Friday (11/24/2023) ONLY Use promo code “THANKS” for HALF off your first year of alerts. Head to Thrifty Traveler Premium alerts for more details. Recent finds include:United’s Polaris Business class for just 45K pointsBritish Airways Club Suites 5th Freedom for 15K (Nerd Alert)Air France/KLM Business Class to North Africa for 30KAgain, you can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium. Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 43 Show NotesIf you want to hear Part One of this discussion, where Justin interviews me, check out the Hurdy Gurdy Podcast. In this particular episode Justin shares how online poker led him to into travel rewards and loyalty programs. Justin will be speaking at our Spring Meetup in San Antonio on how to use programs most don't discuss to generate more rewards. We'll cover:BackgroundIntroduction to travel rewards/loyalty programsHighlightsFavorite airline, hotel, credit card programsDeals - "phone army?"The “War on happiness.”To join Justin's Greater Philadelphia Miles & Points monthly meetups. You can find some interesting takes on casino rewards, miles & points, and Dave Ramsey on the Hurdy Gurdy Travel YouTube Channel. For everything else, check out the Hurdy Gurdy Travel website.Tip of the weekCheck out our instructional video on how to use CardPointers with the Company's founder, Emmanuel Crouvisier. Through Travel Tuesday 11/28/23, Save 50% off CardPointers during their Holiday Special. That means you can get one year for just $30 or a LIFETIME subscription for $100. Short-notice meetupBoarding Area's bloggers Le Chic Geek (a.k.a. Jeanne) and Pizza in Motion (a.k.a. Ed) are pairing up with Trevor from Tagging Miles to do a Toys for Tots drive on Monday 12/4/2023 from 6-9PM. You can find them atBar Bao3100 Clarendon BlvdArlington, VA 22201-5301Joe will be joining the fun, so if you wish to ask for travel advice, meet other travelers, or just come to share the holiday spirit, get your free tickets or check out their Facebook event page for more details.Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Angie's back to catch up on all of the news and to discuss how we can better manage all of our award programs.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 Italy for 58KUnited Polaris to Australia for 75KR/T to Europe under $500You can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/PremiumPost of the weekJoseph Petrovic - 100K CelebrationNewsEarn Up to 90,000 Bonus Miles new United OffersAvoid Delta’s High Partner Award RatesBritish Airways Restricting Award Availability (non-issue for most)30% Transfer Bonus Hilton HonorsBilt Rewards new Transfer PartnerQatar Airways (was 30% - now 25%) Transfer BonusNew: Redeem Qatar Airways Avios for JetBlue FlightsBut Was it All Just a Dream?Marriott Changing Suite Night Awards12 Hilton Honors Redemptions12 Marriott Bonvoy RedemptionsEarn 75,000 Points New Southwest OffersAlthough Southwest To Devalue Rapid RewardsHighlight feature: How Do You Track All of Your Rewards?Get your FREE AwardWallettrip itineraries, flight delays, flight check in reminderstracking balances and credits, free night certs, expiration of pointsstore passport info, password and loyalty program login infotrack store loyalty programsUse #AwardWalletProTips in the community to see moreTip of the weekAwardWallet can really simplify your life. Take the time to set up a free AwardWallet account and add your travel documents. We all make mistakes:Joe missing out on a dealAngie with kid needing passport info but she was out of town and it was locked in a safeYou can also get AwardWallet Plus.  AwardWallet Plus is included with an AWARD TRAVEL 201 subscription.Short-Notice Meetup - Toys for Tots Drive Get your FREE TICKETS here.Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Award Travel 101 Podcast partner and founder of Thrifty Traveler Premium, Jared Kamrowski, joins Joe to discuss how Award Travel fundamentally changed his life and experiences.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:JetBlue Mint to Europe starting at 30KBusiness class to Australia starting at 120K R/TEmirates business class to Athens for 62K (5th Freedom)Singapore business class (longest flight in the world) to Singapore for 88KYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Highlight feature: Let's Get Thrifty!Meet Jared. Starting as a broke college student, Jared became a road warrior who learned techniques to improve his travel experiences for less. He and his wife wanted to travel more in their personal lives, so like many of us, he dug more into credit cards and reward programs that helped boost his ability to accomplish many of their goals. Eventually, he started his own site, Thrifty Traveler, sharing some of the tips he'd learned. The blog grew quickly, and he left his job to develop the business further, He hasn't looked back, and has grown the business into a 25 member team who scour the web looking for the best cash and award fares for you. We'll cover:His backgroundHow he was introduced to travel rewards/loyalty programsWhere the space is headed in the next 12 months (Is Award Travel dead?)Highlights from his travelsHis general travel style (Family/Solo travel)StrengthsFavorite airline, hotel, credit card programsJared's Thrifty Tip of the weekSimplify your life and use the tools that are available to you. We discussed several of them in the Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 19. Some are free and some require an annual or monthly fee. While you don't need to spend as much as Joe does, it could benefit you to find a few that return the most value for your needs.Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! 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 and North Africa for 30KRound-trip to Europe in Economy for 27KBusiness Class to New Zealand for 49KBusiness Class to Tokyo for 60KYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Post of the weekKevin Wilson - another reminder of what Award Travel is about NewsYear-end Strategies for Top Hotel Elite StatusBest Miles and Points for flights to HawaiiAir Canada Aeroplan Sues seats.aeroHyatt Sweet SpotsTrip updatesMikeLabor Day Niagara FallsRebooked Flights to Sydney for 3rd Time AA Flagship Business saver awards for 60K eachAA Flagship Business from JFK for 32k eachAustin/San Antonio - Beer BBQ, Buc-EEs + Driverless CarJoeHow I saved 47K miles United milesStill working on father/son trip with dadBooked vacation rental - stacked with UA through VRBO to earn milesWhat bonuses did we get?MikeInk Preferred + received 3 referral bonuses (120k)Citi AA Business CardFinished $15k spend on Hilton Business Card for the Uncapped Free Night AwardJoeearned 175K Loyalty Points (earning a Milestone Choice Benefit) and I’m deciding if I should push to 250K. What would you do?Highlight feature: Unique FlightsAlaska Pancake Run - CLE-PIT-SEA-CLE one member referred to it as a domestic “5th Freedom.”$500 for two (with companion fare)Alaska lounge access via our Citi AA Executive cardsCheck off Hyatt brand explorer. Hyatt at Olive 8.The Museum of Flight holds one of the largest air and space collections in the USTip of the weekHow I Saved more money with CardPointers. If you want to start saving more using the cards you already hold, check out CardPointers today.Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! 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 39KFirst Class to Australia for 109KJetBlue Mint for for under $2K R/T to EuropeYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Post of the weekAngie Sparks - another reminder as to why I love having a cache of pointsNewsDelta Elite status changesMGM Marriott updatesTransfer Bonuses Flying Blue & LifemilesHow I Traveled (with my son) Using Awards & $54Hilton Surpass & Aspire changesIncredible MINIMUM 3X Everywhere up to 10X Freedom UnlimitedTrip updatesAngie - Took First Flight as a Spirit Gold memberJoe - Booked framework for Father/Son trip in 202420K United miles in economy (CLE-IAD)98K Avios (70K Membership Rewards transferred from British Airways) for Iberia business IAD-MAD-VCE (hear how this nearly prevented me from booking)30K Hyatt Centric Murano (2 days) - see 5 Reasons to get the World of Hyatt cardcruise80K Hilton points and a Free Night Award for two nights at the Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri150K Virgin Atlantic points (104K MR & 4K UR) for ITA business class FCO-JFK C/O Thrifty Traveler Premium15K BA Avios (11K MR) for economy JFK-CLECanceled one Etihad First flight to get 230K AA miles backWhat bonuses did we get?Angie - P2 applied for Amex Business Gold but need to call for reconsiderationJoe - P2 Amex Business Gold approvalSaved $500 with CardPointersHighlight feature: It's Meetup Week (Angie at Chicago Seminars & Joe at Zorkfest in Lake Tahoe)Angie and Joe both met for the first time as Joe was traveling to Angie's hometown, so they both love meetups. Angie went to Chicago Seminars, Joe went out west for Zorkfest. Tip of the weekPay attention to what benefits you are entitled to from your status. Angie learned something she didn't know. Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! 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 Rome for 58KBusiness class to Tokyo for 60KPremium Economy to Europe for 36K R/TYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Post of the weekElizabeth Holmes Hanes posted about needing to up her hotel redemptions. Was she blinded by status when there was a gorgeous Marriott right around the corner?NewsGet Bonus Hilton points -Is it worth purchasing points? There's a 100% bonus, and it could make sense in certain situations.What's going on with certain Award tools? ExpertFlyer and Seats.aero are having issues. Expertflyer is removing all Star Alliance carriers, plus seats.aero received a cease and desist order from Aeroplan. Is Expertflyer becoming useless?Support the AT101 Podcast/CommunityTrip updatesAngie - has both Australia and a safari booked but can she convince P2 to go?Allison - Still doesn’t love her Brazil flight. 2 options booked - which would you choose? Booked a hotel finally, Hilton Copacabana (5th night free). There was a JW Marriott with similar points price, so why did she choose the Hilton?What bonuses did we get?Angie - closed first Business Platinum. Calling to start the Chase Sapphire Reserve product changeAllison - has been holding steady. Should she get something new?Highlight feature: Bali! Doing a $12k trip for less than $1500 out of pocket plus some pointsHow we Booked FlightsBoth of us booked Qatar (QR) by transferring American Express Membership Rewards to British Airways. 100K plus $202Angie: DPS-SIN 14K Lifemiles plus $40.60 then SIN-JFK for 112.5K transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards (took FOREVER) to Singapore Airlines (SQ) plus $59.92Allison: Same QR price, DPS-SIN was 8.5K SQ miles +$15.95 (transferred from AMEX), plus Etihad Business Class SIN-AUH-JFK was 87.5K and $122.63 booked through Aeroplan.How we Booked HotelsAngie and Allison discuss their Bali Girls Trip:A $12k trip for less than $1500 out of pocket plus some pointsFull trip report posted in the Award Travel 101 Community w/hotel and airline reviewsTip of the weekGo to meetups to make frWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Angie's back, and she and Joe jump on the pod to discuss the state of Amex, their newest bonuses, trip updates, and under appreciated award currencies.Post of the weekPam Turla Rule - transferred points only to find phantom award spaceNewsPrice of CardPointers went up, but it hasn't reflected in our link yet, so worth a tryVirgin 30% Transfer bonus (Chase) - Through 11/15Amex introducing “family” rules across Delta cards and new Gold card restrictionsAmex refresh of biz gold cardHyatt Gaming Members & Hurting those who have disabilities? (Part of why I appreciate having a Concierge)AT101 hit 100k members!Trip updatesAngie- family trip for 2024 + start planning next girls tripJoe - booked Etihad First (13 hours) to AUH for start of Father/Son trip part two. I discuss why I booked two different dates and how much it costs.What bonuses did we get?Angie - closing Amex Business Platinum and Chase Sapphire ReserveP2 might need another Ink with elevated offerBusiness Gold for Property Taxes?Joe - finishedUncapped Hilton Honors Free Night AwardCat 1-4 World of Hyatt Free Night Award. Should I choose the 10K points or the SUA?Chase Ink Cash referral for 40KHighlight featureAre all points equal? Should a member get a 140K IHG offer or take less from the 75K United Business or even less from the 60K Citi Premier?There are things for which you should have a basic understanding:How much spend until you hit your desired award?Comparison of 140K IHG One Rewards Premier, 75K United Business, and 60K Citi Premier - would it surprise you that the lowest bonus could be worth the most?Is there outsized value New card bonuses vs bonus categories vs non-bonus categoriesIs there a reason to continue spending on a non-bonus cardDo your own comparisons and see which cards offer YOU the best returns.Tip of the weekAngie - Confirm gate and seat assignments. Joe - for the 70, 80, 90, or 100 Hyatt milestone selection, wait until 1/1/24. If you wait until 1/1/24, you’ll extend the validity of the Suite Upgrade Award to 2/28/26. This is just one oWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Sophie and Joe discuss news, their newest cards, trip updates, and how Sophie has transitioned into the travel business. 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:First class to Hawaii for 31,000 milesBusiness class to London for 61,000 milesFlash Sale for 19,000 miles (Round-Trip) to MexicoYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Highlight feature:Meet Sophie KellerBackground - 1st card- Chase Sapphire Preferred/United ExplorerHighlights - Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana right after it opened last year, Park Hyatt New York and Flagship First before award price hike for 25K Amex Membership Rewards JFK-SFO, and multiple Visits to Secrets Impressions and MoxcheTravel style - A mix of budget and Luxury, typically soloFavorite programs - World of Hyatt, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and American AAdvantagePost of the weekWe received some great feedback on the PodcastNewsMaximizing Hilton Honors 5th Night Free - Joe’s story on mistakePromotions endingEnhanced Alaska Card $95 card offerFrontier Status (actual) Match90K Bonuses are back from ChaseTrip updatesSophie - Getting ready for ZorkFestJoe - Father son tripLie-flat seats for 25K Citi ThankYou PointsCheap Car Rentals plus status upgradesHyatt Free Night Award at Expensive ResortFun Activities & PlanespottingHyatt Free Night Award Plus Suite UpgradeHilton Free Night Award at Expensive Boutique PropertyLounge Passes from Credit CardLots of (Nearly) Free Food What bonuses did we get?Sophie -Chase Ink Preferred bonus hitJoe - Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Angie and Joe are off traveling this week, so Mike takes over the podcast with community member Erin Kilpatrick to discuss her “mid-life renaissance” this year which would not have been possible without award travel.Thrifty Traveler PremiumGet 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.  Again, you can find them at ThriftyTraveler.com/PremiumAll about ErinStart in award travel First rewards card First personal award tripJoined  AT 101 in 2018 and 201 in 2020. This Year- Mid-life renaissance!Countries VisitedEcuador (Galapagos), Uruguay, England/Wales, Norway, Denmark, Faroe Islands, SwedenUpcomingPortugal, Turkiye, Brazil, Germany, TunisiaSave with CardPointersPreparationNormal card applications, ~3-4/year, no particular planLast minute decision to quit and take this journeyOpened Hilton Surpass and Hilton BusinessOpened Barclays AA Aviator Red - 60k milesBought some Choice points (US Travel Association promo) Started the journey with ~ 2 million points/milesBy the Numbers Thus Far4.5 months50 hotel award nights: 5058 paid nights: (cheap in S. America)40 other nights free w/ friends/family, volunteer work12 award flights9 cash flights ($2000)Solo Travel SummaryFull social calendar Met fellow travelersVisit friends around the worldMet up with friends/family when paths crossThe more you travel, the more people you meet from around the world to network and socialize with in the futureMoney Savings TipsPick low cost of living countriesStay in one place longerGrocery storeStay flexible- refundable fare on discount airlinesNegotiate directly with locals vs third partyWhat Erin Has LearnedDiversification! Variety of points and mile currencies.Focus on the more important things in lifeHilton program- 5th night freeChoice Hotels - secret of EuropeAmex uber credits work in Ecuador (USD)Capital One Points- Redeem through Capital One statement credits vs Travel portal.Fringe benefits of the award travel credit cards/statusPriority Pass - Most lounges are great outside the US, even in tiny Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

What happens when you're too loyal to a program - are they loyal back? Angie and Joe discuss developments this week, bonuses they've earned, and prepping for travel.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.  Again, you can find them at ThriftyTraveler.com/PremiumPost of the WeekJustin Walter had a post about EU261. We spoke about credit card travel protections (Episode 27), but EU261 is totally different.NewsSeveral transfer bonuses:Capital One to LifeMiles 15% bonus (new)Amex to Flying Blue 25% bonusChase 30 % to AviosChase 50% to BonvoyPoint.me “Quicklook”Hyatt Elite status shortcut -Earn Hyatt ExploristHyatt GlobalistHyatt Bonus JourneysBuy Frontier Elite 20k status150K Venture X Business Miles BonusCapital One changes how to use the $300 portal credit on VXDelta MASSIVE (program) devaluationLeads to a bigger discussionAA change to T&CIs Hyatt next?Save with CardPointersTRIP UPDATESAngie - booked flights and hotels for P2 conference and visiting the kid, booked flights for our Spring meetup in San AntonioJoe - Anniversary / Father son tripWHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?Angie - nothingJoe -Ink Preferred Welcome Offer - pendingCiti AAdvantage Executive card arrived -20K LP bonus. Plus bonus milesWhat Milestone should I choose?Alaska lounge accessHighlight Feature - Managing the Pre-trip chaos and what has to be done before heading out of townAngie:Make a list!update “in case of death file”Clean the house, laundry, get medicine refillsPre-pack (only for long trips)Girly maintenance stuffPay all bills that aren’t on autopay (utilities)If P2 is going there’s a whole other list of thingsTip of the WeekMake sure you’re paWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Angie and Joe jump on the pod to discuss news, their newest card/s, trip updates, and to share the key to unlocking so many more miles/points - BUSINESS CARDS. Post of the WeekAnthony Cave - had a very specific question about an upgrade option for a flight for his birthday trip. It highlights the benefits of community with people weighing in with firsthand experience about whether the cost was worthwhile.NewsThe newest (and second) Capital One Lounge FINALLY opensLimited time increased offer on Hyatt business card but it’s a tiered bonusSouthwest promotion to earn 3x CP points on qualifying flightsTransfer These Points to a Friend or Family Member for just $15Should you buy these CHEAP points?Enhanced Marriott Bonvoy Business Offer - is this going under the radar?TRIP UPDATES?Angiechanged positioning flight for Bali (still have AA flight booked) and changed return flight from Sydney due to AA dealJoeBooked United & confirmed Polaris seats with JUST 12.5K Turkish Miles per personMore details on how to book and confirm in Award Travel 201 ($9.99 per month or $89.99 per year)Pancake run Alaska Airlines triangleWHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?AngieChase Ink Preferred - bonus ready to post, holding off on cards due to possible mortgage,closed United Quest and Alaska Businessready to close one of the Business Platinum cardsJoeAAdvantage Citi Executive card for bonus miles plus 20K LP ($120 Avis credit $10 Grubhub - Also on Amex Gold)$3K away from both World of Hyatt and Hilton Surpass Free Night AwardsHighlight Feature - Business cards - Unlocking the magic!How do you get a business card? Start by reading this post on AwardWallet.benefits of getting business cards vs personal cardno impact to 5/24 (Discover, Capital One and Barclay’s can and do show on personal report)excellent points earning opportunitiesAmex Business Gold 4x multiplierChase Ink Cash 5x multiplierbalances don’t show on personal credit report so 0% APR cards are great optionsWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Angie is back with Joe to discuss card offers, news, trip updates, and the answer to whether having so many cards will ruin your credit. Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 32 Show NotesThe Award Travel 101 Community and Podcast are brought to you by AwardWallet. If you register for our next-level Award Travel 201 Community for $89.99 annually, AwardWallet Plus is included in your subscription (which means you get access to next-level strategies for just $5 per month). If this interests you, register here.Post of the WeekKrista Wetmore - she was listening to the podcast, and wondered, “he was an AU in his wife’s chase sapphire card. I’ve only seen that this is not a good thing to do. Are there times / reasons this makes sense to do?”NewsNew Transfer BonusHow far out do airlines open their schedules?If this guy is switching loyalty, should you?TRIP UPDATESAngie- getting home from MSPJoe-trip with my son Less than 52K R/T (2 oneways), 153K points worth of Free Night Award certificates, 3 Free days, & JUST $54.05 Out Of PocketUse tools to identify Premium planes not serving Premium routesHotel hoppingPancake run Alaska Airlines triangleWHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?Angie - considering another Amex Business Gold or Business PlatinumJoe - Chase Ink PreferredTaxes due - probably put toward Amex Hilton Surpass spend for uncapped Free Night AwardHighlight Feature - 40 Cards - Is it Necessary? Will it Ruin You?Referring back to Episode 30Let’s Dispel a myth - This isn’t “Free” travel, but you canBuild Wealth (Savings) With Credit CardsBank bonusesFixed point cashoutsOverall goal Our Credit Scores - low or high?Annual fees - how much do we pay and are there ways to reduce cost?Cardpointers referralTip of the WeekAlec Legg -"A weird tip for those who book partner awards and have trouble booking seats. Try putting the PNR on other airline's "manage booking" tool. I just booked China Airlines through KLM and the China Airlines site wouldn't let me choose seats or even let me pull up my record. I read to try Saudia but that didn't work but I tried Garuda Indonesia and it let me pick my seats!"Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Mike joins Joe to discuss his newest cards, news, and their most recent trip to educate members on how to ramp up their Award Travel game. Plus is there a Fiesta in-store? Post of the weekThis comes from our Daniel Mark Adsit who shared how he put an entire 27-day trip to South America utilizing rewards. Check it out and let us know in the comments what your longest rewards trip was.NewsTime sensitive stuff that ended the day before this episode released, but that's why you should be following along in the Award Travel 101 communityChase to British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus 30%Is my AA account being hackedWhat bonuses did we get?Mike -Hilton Business. 130k + FNA. Immediately redeemed it for Niagara Falls.Ink Business Preferred. 50% through min spend. Also got two referral bonuses for a total of 80kJoe - almost done with Chase Ink Preferred Minimum Spend RequirementHighlight feature: MSP Meetup RecapWe brought almost 100 Award Travel community members to Minneapolis for "Let's Go Crazy with AT in the TC," to party like it's 1999.Arrival - flight disruptions caused some havocTram - how was itReception at Graze Rooftop - this is where the rubber hits the roadElite Breakfast - Was one better than the other?Presentations - presentations kicked off Free time - Prince Museum, Fair, Socials - what did each of us do?Brits Pub - Party Like It’s 1999After party (Loud dance club) - how Joe helped a member use a tool he'd just learned about from JT's presentationHell’s Kitchen - did we do the unthinkable and skip free Elite breakfast?Airport lounge hopping First Class Home (Free WiFi!) - Joe booked economy with just 8.5K Virgin points, so how did he get First Class?Next meetup in SAT - Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Limited amount of tickets left (and an even smaller amount of discounted tickets using code: SAT20 to save 20%).Tip of the weekOur Tip of the Week comes from Mike, who's been updating the Award Travel 101 website. For some of the tools we've produced to answer common questions of group members, checkout:Transfer Partner Matrix - simple view of which card points transfer to which travel partnersCard Earning Charts - quick view of potential earningsCents Per Point Calculator - how to value point returnsTransferWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

The Award Travel 101 Community and Podcast are brought to you by AwardWallet. Check out all of the features in AwardWallet Plus which can help you better track your progress and prevent loss or expiration. If you register for our next-level Award Travel 201 Community for $89.99 annually, AwardWallet Plus is included in your subscription (which means you get access to next level strategies for just $5 per month). If this interests you, register here.Post of the WeekComes from our Award Travel 201 Community member Raney O'Keefe, who says that miles and points have been burning her out. She asks," Has this every happened to any of you? Do you just need an auto-pilot break sometimes?"NewsAmerican Express makes some changes that most Award Travel 101 members won't be pleased with. What's your take?Finnair announces changes to their rewards program and follow the steps of Qatar in switching to Avios. Does this excite you?WHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?Angie - tried to apply for the Charles Schwab American Express Platinum - what caused this plan to fail?Joe - Chase Ink Business Preferred arrived - knocking out his Minimum Spending Requirement easier than expectedHIGHLIGHT (Main Feature) What Cards are In Our WalletAngie -Ink PlusAmex GoldCiti PremierCiti Double CashChase FreedomChase Freedom UnlimitedRitz CarltonP2:Amex GoldCiti PremierCiti Double CashJoe -Hilton SurpassUnited BusinessCiti PremierCiti AAdvantage BusinessWorld of HyattBusiness GoldChase Sapphire ReserveChase Ink Business PreferredAmex PlatinumP2:Citi PremierAmex GoldChase Sapphire ReserveHilton SurpassTip of the WeekOur next meetup in Minneapolis is under way, and it's great for making friends and connections in the hobby to improve your understanding. If you're interested in upping your Award Travel game, check out our Award Travel 201 Community which includes 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. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

Angie and Joe are back to discuss their most recent card bonuses, some of their favorite card perks, and how Joe managed to combine multiple card offers/discounts plus earn rewards totaling thousands of dollars! Post of the WeekShawn AndrewNEWSLahina, Maui (Hawaii) #MasterthreadWHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?Angie - Update on Chase Ink Business Preferred and closing cards right now.Joe - FINALLY an approval for the Chase Ink Business Preferred with reduced spend for 100K Ultimate Rewards points at time of publishing.P2 finally got her Hilton Honors Surpass bonus and a Free Night AwardHIGHLIGHT (Main Feature) Putting All The Tricks TogetherAngie -Incidental CreditsLounge AccessJoe - perks and benefits used for our recent tripsClear - how to access freelyPrecheck/Global Entry Lounge Access -Flight Bump credit - used 50,500 Breeze points ($505)34K AAdvantage miles P2 & P4Booked 3 hotels in VegasExcalibur - earned 3 Hyatt nights and used this to access MGM Grand Pool and Lazy RiverVirgin Hotels - booked 5 nights to earn 50K AA miles and 60K Loyalty PointsCrockfords Las Vegas $480$200 Fine Hotel & Resorts (FHR) Platinum Credit$125 Property Credit$66 breakfast creditRoom upgrade Early Check-in4PM CheckoutFree WifiCasino Loyalty cards for $100-200 in parking savingsFree High Roller (Caesar's Diamond benefits) $80Two rental cars - why?Rental car status - walked in, skipped lines, had my choice of Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen SUVs for less than $50 per dayAA flights for 21K both upgraded ($1,100 over the price of economy)Southwest flights - two for LAS-CLE and two for TPA-CLE totaling 51K $709Southwest Performance Business saves $116 with A-List upgrades and WifiPriority Pass - Bar Symon on return $112The total savings amounted to $3807 in savings or discounts. Not only that but I earned miles and points and a free rental car during our travels too.Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

POST OF THE WEEKSince Eric is a prominent part of our affiliated Travel Grumps 101 we thought we would look there for a particularly noteworthy post.Amber Moore (Pilot leaving the wrong airport Overhead page)NEWS & ENHANCED OFFERSNew Transfer Bonuses - Last week Joe and Angie talked about transfer bonusesAlso Lots of Amex Offers out there - Mike will be taking advantage of the and $20 off $100 at LEGO. Wish I had the $75 off $300 at Hyatt CentricTRIP UPDATESEric-Family trip to San Diego for college tours plus an Offspring concert. Manchester Grand Hyatt for 15,000 per night. Taking advantage of my Hyatt Globalist benefits. Rental car via points from Hertz.Long work trip coming up - 3 weeks away from home with the MSP meetup in the middle.September/October/November work trips and at least one concert a month (U2, The Cult, Dark Wave Festival(New Order, Tears for Fears, B 52s, and more)New Year’s Eve trip to Baha Mar and Disneyworld (AA flights 10K each + $5.60). Baha Mar and Points stay Swan Reserve book 4, 5th freeStarting to plan and book our Summer 24 Italy/Greece tripMike-Returned from work to Europe (and a bit of fun). Polaris upgrade. Lots of delays. How Global Entry, CLEAR, and Precheck saved the connection (colleague wasn’t as lucky)Piecing together activities for a number of trips in the next few months, Austin, New Orleans, Jamaica and Australia. Eric helped me to choose a hotel for a stopover in San Francisco enroute to Australia, Hyatt Regency SOMA. Also potential for using Hilton Certs? Canopy SOMA? Actually they all look underwhelming.Super excited for MSPWHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?Eric - Hilton Business Card, ½ way through the minimum spend should finish up next monthMike - Hilton Business Card, (Couldn’t pass it up). Close to hitting $4k min spendP2 approved for Chase Ink Preferred after $8k spendHIGHLIGHT (Main Feature) Meet the Mods: Eric Holly, Certified Pancake Machine Repair Technician (CPMRT)Start in award travelMost memorable tripWorst grumpThe “training process” of becoming a CPMRTFavorite pancake machine locationTips for travelers who encounter broken pancake machinesWHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOWHow to build Alaska Airlines miles easilySupport the Award Travel 101 Podcast & CommunityApplying for a new card through our affiliates is how we keWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

News & Enhanced OffersNew month, new offers. Follow the Award Travel 101 Facebook community where we discuss these topics and more:BiltSouthwest PromotionHilton HonorsLifeMilesMarriott BonvoyBask BankTrip UpdatesAngie - Update to previous podcast commentJoe - Short-notice tripCar rentalGrand CypressThe returnWhat Bonuses Did We Get?Angie - still working on a the minimum spending requirement to Earn 100K Ultimate RewardsJoe - applied for the Ink Preferred. Received 7-10 day notice.Highlight Feature: Premium Credit Card Travel Protections & Which is Best?Our "posts of the week" and "highlight feature" are care of two members of the Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. Shane Fortune shares his documenting process. Ivan Dell’Era highlights some card benefit differences.For more details, check out the "Master List" of Credit Card Benefits.Amex PlatinumMany members think using the American Express Platinum card is best, since it earns 5x points on airfare. But not so fast! What do the Terms & Conditions state?Key terms:Definition of who's covered, for how much, and things to knowCapital One Venture XWhen the Venture X card launched a lot of folks looked at it as a replacement for their Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR). It had free authorized user cards (AU), a lower annual fee, good transfer partners and what appeared to be excellent travel protections. But are they? What do the Terms & Conditions state?Key terms:Definition of who's covered, for how much, and things to knowChase Sapphire ReserveThe Sapphire Reserve is the card that revolutionized the field with it's incredible welcome offer, best lounge access, and strong travel protections. Is it still the best in the field? What do the Terms & Conditions state?Key terms:Definition of who's covered, for how much, and things to knowWhich Card/s Do Angie & Joe UseAngie: CSR for travel protectionWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

In this episode, I chat with Special Education Intervention Specialist (and my wife/P2), Jessica Petrovic, about our recent trip to the Andaz Mayakoba in Mexico and how we navigated various obstacles.NEWS & ENHANCED OFFERSTips for Managing Credit Score - Know what goes into it - significantTips for Finding Partner Award Availability - what is it, why do I careShould the Ink Preferred be your preferred travel card - it still has a reduced 100K Bonus offer with reduced spendTRIP UPDATES? Joe - How I saved 12K Rapid Reward pointsWhat did I book for 19K AA milesJessica -1st Mommy/Daughter tripWHAT BONUSES DID WE GET? Jessica - Hilton Surpass arrived - what plans do we have?HIGHLIGHT (Main Feature) Andaz Mayakoba VacationThe perks - Sapphire Reserve (Priority Pass) Breakfast at Bar Symon saves $80-90 for the familyFlight over - Cancelled UA Award flight using 70K miles and rebooked $810 CashApplied 20 PlusPoints (upgrade instrument) per person for Jessie and NoahComplimentary Premier Upgrade (CPU) for P4 and meCUN Arrival - Passport Control - How was it?Transfer - USA Transfers - Experience?Andaz Mayakoba arrival - 155K Hyatt Points (6 nights off-peak for 21K per night, and 1 night at peak 29K)Used Suite Upgrade Award Milestone benefit (first earned at 50 nights and again at 60 nights) to upgrade to “Standard” suite. Choice of Lagoon or Oceanview. Chose Oceanview. Offered an upgrade to Ocean Front for $200 per night (really about $250 after taxes and fees), which included butler service. What is butler service, and is it worth it?Summer WeatherGlobalist BreakfastFree Bikes - 5-7 min ride from breakfast to La PlayaFree Golf cart rides - you want to walk?Free ecotour - boat rideActivities for kids 12 and underCost of service - pesos vs dollarsShould families consider this resort +/-My tour of Mayakoba, El Pueblito, Banyan Tree & Saffron (Thai)Flight Home - cancelled UA award flight home using 80K miles and rebooked $715 flight homeUsed 20 PP per person for Jessie and P3 - instant upgrades (PZ2) over a week outUsed 20 PP per person for P4 and me to get the #1 & 2 upgrade spots and cleared at check-inCLE arrival - backwards processhow was clearing customsUsed Amex Platinum and Business Platinum to pay for GE for both kids ($200) - how was the process?What about TSA?OWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

POST OF THE WEEK (from the group)Daniel Mark Adsit - recently did an around-the-world itinerary with 8 stopovers in 7 countries. Checkout his post on how he accomplished this incredible journey.NEWS & ENHANCED OFFERSChanges to Citi AA Exec card - increased Annual Fee PLUS fee for Authorized UsersAnother change to AAdvantage - Rocketmiles and Book AAdvantage Hotels (BAAH) reduced earning potential AND now one and the sameHyatt/MGM - no longer. The "Break-up." The new partner.TRIP UPDATES?Angie - another safari????Joe -Flights to St. CroixRebooked Mexico flights (and rebooked the same ones)WHAT BONUSES DID WE GET?Angie -P2 applied for the new reduced spend 100K Chase Ink Preferred offerChase Ink UnlimitedBarclay’s AAJoe -AAHilton SurpassHIGHLIGHT (Main Feature) What are Points Worth?Did you know that AwardWallet has a tool that helps you see what type of value others in the community are redeeming for? Here’s how AwardWallet calculates.Flexible PointsAmerican Express Membership Rewards - 2.04 based on 24,697 bookingsCapital One Venture Miles - 2.52 based on 9,977 " " Chase Ultimate Rewards - 1.90 based on 52,671 " " Citi ThankYou Points - 2.15 based on 8,295 “ “Airline MilesThere are 20 Programs tracked by AwardWallet and here are some of the ones most often mentioned in the Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.American Airlines AAdvantage - can book many airlines and has been highly valuableVirgin Atlantic Flying Club - 6.05 is crazy 117, but you can get solid returns on DLAvianca Lifemiles - 3.18 based on 229British Airways Executive Club - 3.14 based on 3,237US carriers - United MileagePlus, Delta Skymiles, and Southwest Rapid Rewards typically run between 1.1-1.5 (might be high IMO) except Alaska Mileage Plan which is at 2.68 (based on 4,840 bookings) due to their exceptional award chart for Asia and the South Pacific.HotelsChoice - .60Hilton Honors - .61 based on 27,858Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community