Episode 52: Show Notes

We’ve taken many trips to Australia, but our most recent one was certainly one to remember! In today’s episode, Trevor walks us through his most recent visit down under, and he begins with his domestic flights leaving the USA before detailing his international flight path. We unpack an awkward midair encounter from New Zealand to Australia, why Trevor was pleasantly surprised with his American Airlines flight home, how he and his family maximized their time in Qantas Business and other airport lounges, and the hotels he chose in Australasia. We also learn about the world’s biggest LEGO store, the Taronga Zoo, an unforgettable cookie, and Paddy’s Markets. To end, Trevor shares his final thoughts on Australia and the wonders of being able to walk across one of the world’s major cities.  

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“You know what? I might just make the stretch to Executive Platinum [on AAdvantage]. It’s going to come down to the wire.” — @tmount [22:08]

“Qantas does earn a little high praise from me for their à la carte dining in general.” — @TktweetsKim [28:30]

“Three of four people responded to me saying, ‘Why on Earth are you trying to get coffee at a hotel in Australia? There’s so much great coffee, just go up the street.” — @tmount [41:50]

“We walked almost everywhere [in Sydney].” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:07]

“Going back to Sydney felt so good because it felt so familiar.” — @tmount [01:05:21]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

American Airlines  

Etihad Airways 

Emirates 

LATAM Airlines 

American Express 

China Eastern Airlines 

Delta 

AAdvantage Executive Platinum 

Qantas | Airport Lounges 

The Centurion Lounge 

Lufthansa 

The Chelsea Lounge 

Park Hyatt | Auckland 

SailGP 

InterContinental | Sydney  

Andy's Travel Blog 

Butterboy 

Taronga Zoo

Hyatt Regency | Sydney 

Healesville Sanctuary 

Sydney Opera House 

Paddy's Markets

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X 

Milenomics | Podcasts

Everyday Carry

Episode 51: Show Notes.

Today’s episode is years in the making as finally, Tom and Trevor sit down and do a deep dive into the everyday carry items you’ll need when traveling. We begin with keeping go kits up-to-date and why Trevor and Tom will always be fans of carry-on luggage. We shift then to our favorite luggage exploring Briggs and Riley, Tumi, Rimowa, and other great roller bag options. Then, we unpack a few must-have travel accessories including portable USB fans, multi-charging cables and adapters, man purses, and much more. Our conversation then turns to clothing as we compare normal clothes to travel clothes versus a combination of both, and we discover why Trevor is a fanboy of lululemon and Tom loves shirts with front pockets. To end, Tom and Trevor discuss eSIMs and other best practices for using your cell phone abroad, and after weighing the pros and cons of using laptops versus tablets, our hosts shares more travel advice and tips, especially for parents traveling with toddlers. 

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“This is an opportunity for everybody to learn, because there’s so many different things that I know I don’t know, and I’m always looking for how I can get more efficient.” — @tmount [02:05]

“Travel’s personal, and I think your gear is personal.” — @TktweetsKim [02:38]

“We call this luggage, but you don’t want to be dragging it around as a burden.” — @tmount [13:24]

“Curate your stuff so that you’ve [only] got what you need for the mission at hand.” — @TktweetsKim [29:37]

“Things keep changing. You have to keep iterating because people change the rules and change things on you all the time. So, it’s important to keep up and continue to iterate your everyday carry.” — @TktweetsKim [1:07:55]

“What’s clear is that we’re very passionate about a lot of this. We’re passionate about what is in our gear [and] what we’re willing to drag pretty much around the world.” — @tmount [1:14:05]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Everyday Carry 

Marie Kondo 

Briggs and Riley 

Tumi

Rimowa 

Travelpro 

Monos 

Away 

Costco Wholesale | Luggage 

3 in 2 USB C Cable | Amazon 

VASCO Compression Packing Cubes for Travel 

Muji | Bags 

Kenneth Cole | Reaction 

Bellroy 

Lufthansa | First Class

Pat & Mike on X 

Aēsop | Travel 

lululemon 

American Express 

Google Fi Wireless

T-Mobile | International Roaming Plans 

Nomad eSIM 

GigSky 

Cellular at Sea 

Anker 

Unidapt Universal Travel Adapter | Amazon 

Momax 

Baseus 

Microsoft | Surface 

Dell | Pay Credits 

TP-Link | Travel Router 

Rapid Travel Chai

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 50: Show Notes

Are loyalty programs becoming less valuable, or are they evolving to meet the demands of modern travelers? In this episode, we delve into the future of airline and hotel loyalty programs and examine potential innovations and strategies to maximize points. To help us unravel this topic is returning guest Joey Redmond, a passionate traveler and co-host of the new Travel Bros Podcast, where he shares insights and reviews on unique hotels and travel experiences. In our conversation, we discuss the future of the Alaskan and American Airlines partnership, gaps in elite loyalty programs, and the broader impact of mileage programs on consumer behavior. Explore strategies for maximizing hotel rewards through points arbitrage and learn the art of leveraging IHG points and ambassador status for substantial savings. Joey also shares his experience of Turks and Caicos, its charming hotels, and its less-than-ideal airport. Discover unique and interesting boutique accommodations and hear Joey's tips and tricks for finding one-of-a-kind hotels. Join us to uncover how you can maximize your rewards and make your loyalty programs work harder for you in 2025 with Joey Redmond. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“I think we are going to see some major innovation in airline elite loyalty programs.” — @TktweetsKim [0:09:22]

“It is important to look at things outside of the, 'I am only going to pay with points.'” — @tmount [0:22:55]

“Turks and Caicos, I will tell you, is probably the worst airport I have ever been to outside of Africa.” — @joeyredmond [0:31:33]

“You need to realize a lot of these [boutique] hotels are either family-run or [individually-owed] run. You're almost a step above a bed and breakfast and a huge step below a corporate [hotel].” — @joeyredmond [0:47:57]

“What does excite me, generally, is non-traditional hotels or non-traditional new hotels.” — @joeyredmond [1:00:40]

“There is so much information out there [that] I think if you just spend a bit of time you can find unique and interesting hotels.” — @joeyredmond [1:04:15]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joey Redmond

Joey Redmond on Instagram

Joey Redmond on Twitter

Travel Bros Podcast

Travel Bros Podcast on Instagram

Travel Bros Podcast on Facebook

Travel Bros Podcast on X

Travel Bros Podcast on YouTube

Travel Bros Podcast on TikTok

Alaska Airlines 

Hawaiian Airlines

Dots, Lines & Destinations

American Airlines

Loyalty Status Co

Mark Ross-Smith on X

View from the Wing 

IHG®

IHG® Ambassador Program

One Mile at a Time

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Fast Track Service

Grace Bay Resorts 

Leading Hotels of the World

Virtuoso

Episode 8: Epic Guys Trip

Episode 42: The Points Guy is Bilt for Rewards with Richard Kerr

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 49: Show Notes

In this episode, we welcome Ryan Smith, the news managing editor for upgraded points and a prolific writer published by Award Wallet, TPG, Forbes Advisor, and more. One of the things that makes Ryan special is that he is one of very few people on the planet who have visited every country in the world! Join us as Ryan shares his experience as a writer, traveler, and points and miles user over the years. You’ll learn what it was like for him to travel in business class for the first time before we unpack the airlines diversifying their fleets today. Ryan speaks to three major events in points and miles this year, and as someone with dual citizenship in Brazil, he shares why he recommends going to South America, especially if you have points and miles. We discuss memorable cultural experiences that Ryan has had and what has struck him most from traveling to places that are furthest away from his childhood experiences. We also dive into the details of his experiences in Nigeria and Bhutan, and what makes Bhutan so special. Join us today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“The average – person might never meet someone who has been to every country, but you could go to a points and miles conference, and there might be three or four of us there.” — @RyanSmithTravel [58:51]

“I enjoy going to places – [where] it feels like, this place ain’t like where I grew up – That’s North Korea, that’s China, that’s Bhutan, that’s Madagascar. I grew up in Ohio outside Columbus and those places feel so different that it’s just really interesting.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:08:12]

“I don’t want the concierge to send me where all the foreigners are going. I want the people who take the bus to work to tell me what’s something that I shouldn’t miss while I’m here.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:15:29]

“[Bhutan doesn’t] worry about GDP. They worry about their Gross National Happiness.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:19:00] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Smith on X

Bluesky

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Post Production Note: We discussed LCCs possibly working with Apple Tours to add odd routes; this was actually wrong, it was Alaska that started St Louis and Kansas City to Mexico and is further discussed on Dots Lines and Destinations: https://moredotsmorelines.com/2024/07/18/dld-492-whoopsie/

Episode 48: Show Notes

What’s the holiday season without a little airing of grievances? Join us for our Festivus 2024 special, where we pull no punches as we dive into the biggest wins and fails of the travel and loyalty program world for 2024. Dia Adams joins us to share her pros and cons of loyalty programs, explain country-specific regulations that hinder travel point usage, and unpack Google’s impact on freelance travel advisors. We also explore the best and worst loyalty programs of 2024, the top airline redemption stories, and our Festivus miracles of the year. Join us for insights, laughs, and a look back at an eventful year in travel. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“Until you have stayed in numerous hotel rooms in Europe, you don't understand the size of hotel rooms in Europe.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:6:19]

“If you are using the traditional programs, you could be sitting on a million points and not be able to spend them outside of the United States.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:7:58]

“It definitely doesn't sound like [Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines] are in any rush to merge into a single program.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:37:19]

“If you are someone who really only wants luxury, Choice also now books into preferred hotels and resorts.” — @TheDiaAdams [1:02:45]

“American Express, you are my beastie this year. Keep the good times rolling.” — @tmount [1:16:57] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dia Adams

Dia Adams on LinkedIn

Dia Adams on X

Dia Adams on Instagram 

Fortune

Accor

Alaska Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Turkish Airlines

Air Canada 

Air Canada | Aeroplan

American Express

Bank of America

Chase Bank

Choice Bank

Choice Hotels

Hotels.com

Vrbo®

Hyatt Hotels

Episode 24: Festivus Edition

Episode 36: The Asia Pacific Experience with Spencer Howard

Episode 41: Perspective and Camp Mom with Dia Adams

Milenomics 

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 47: Show Notes

What happens when Thanksgiving travel takes you across the Atlantic and through the heart of Europe? In this episode, Tom and Trevor share their Thanksgiving travel experiences through Budapest, Vienna, and even a nostalgic stop in Bratislava. They provide insightful perspectives on international travel during the holidays, exploring iconic destinations, and managing the inevitable surprises of globetrotting with family. Hear about Trevor's family trip to Budapest, the challenges of holiday travel, and memorable stays at the luxurious Párisi Udvar and Park Hyatt Vienna. Learn about the breathtaking Christmas markets of Austria, the charm of Budapest’s historic baths, what makes Europe a family-friendly travel destination, and Vienna’s famed zoo. They also recount the magic and mishaps of travel during the festive season, why they would do it again, lessons on European tipping culture, and more! To discover tips, tricks, and stories that will inspire your next holiday adventure, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“I’ve not always had the best opinion of Spirit, but honestly, if you go in with the right attitude, sometimes you are pleasantly surprised.” — @TktweetsKim [0:04:04]

“There is so much to see in Europe. You could throw a stone and hit three countries.” — @tmount [0:30:08]

“It seems like you can – spit and you will hit a Christmas market or a palace in Europe.” — @TktweetsKim [33:42]

“Even among Europeans —they have different tipping cultures. Tipping is almost a third rail in so many different places.” — @tmount [38:22]

“Lufthansa is always a fun airline to fly.” — @tmount [46:04]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Spirit Airlines

Encore Resort

Debra Schroeder

Párisi Udvar Hotel

Rio Hotel

Alaska Airlines

Park Hyatt Vienna 

ShuttlesfromBudapest

Vienna Zoo

Austrian Airlines

Lufthansa

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 46: Show Notes.

The travel space is constantly evolving, and the way in which airlines handle rewards systems is no different. Today on Travel Stories, we are joined by Thrifty Traveler editor Kyle Potter to discuss the miles and points game, airfare trends, and becoming a premium Thrifty Traveler. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Kyle’s career, the air revenue trends Kyle has noticed, what’s happening in travel awards, and more! We delve into the world of miles and points as Kyle shares his perspective on the trends before discussing why travelers playing this game can be optimistic about future benefits. He even shares a story from his trip to Hanoi, discusses his 2025 travel predictions, and talks about great travel tools. Finally, our guest tells us about Thrifty Traveler Premium and the benefits of this service. Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“Travel can’t grow forever. – Things are going to plateau at some point but they really haven’t yet.” — @kpottermn [7:43]

“I still think we’ve got some good runway here for cheap domestic travel.” — @kpottermn [12:09]

“Many airlines out there have wised up to just how much they’re giving away to people who have points to play with.” — @kpottermn [27:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kyle Potter on LinkedIn

Kyle Potter on X

Kyle Potter on Instagram

Thrifty Traveler

Seats.aero

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

0:22 Delta Selling 80+% of First Cabin

15:40 How to Move Forward (or How to Get Started)

Finally, This might not be the best blog in the world.

Episode 45: Show Notes.

We’re always looking to try new things, but our recent trip to Colombia and Spain unlocked new levels of exploring the unknown! We centered the trip around 1 single itinerary, and didn’t have our flights home until more than halfway through the trip. Our exploration of two cities begins in the one with higher altitude than we’re used to: Bogotá, Colombia, and we explain how we devised our itinerary and why we insisted on flying LATAM. We assess the Priority Pass restaurant options at Houston Airport, how Bogotá welcomed us (and especially Thomas!) with a feast of local delights, what hotel hopping is like in Colombia, the attractions and activities of Colombia’s sprawling capital, and the exercise one can get traversing the El Dorado airport lounge. Then, we unpack everything that happened on our flight to our second destination, Madrid, with a brief interlude to the recent spate of airline alliance dissolutions. We discuss our first experience of AC Hotels by Marriot, how exploring new areas in Madrid led to a wonderful steak dinner for Trevor’s birthday, why we changed flights multiple times and what these changes cost, and why many hotels are choosing to consistently shuffle their inventories. To end, we detail the trip home via Germany on Lufthansa First Class, why Lufthansa’s onboard lavatory system always leaves us scratching our heads, the joys of Global Entry’s Mobile App, and an important event to look forward to on the 9th of December, 2024. 

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“[Bogotá] reminded me my of first trip to Bangkok and having pomelo; rose apple, and all these tropical fruits that you don’t find here in North America — that’s part of the joy of traveling; going to other environments; other places and being able to experience the local product.” — @TKtweetsKim [0:18:30]

“For better or for worse, I feel like Bogotá is a city of ‘glad I did it once and checked the box.’” — @tmount [0:29:17]

“LATAM, for the price of the ticket, I felt like we got very good value, but I don’t see that as a ‘go out of my way to do.’” — @tmount [0:41:10]

“The thing that insulates us is we do have this miles and points hobby that helps quite a lot – we can at least utilize other currencies other than dollars or euros to help shoulder some of the burden of that financial cost.” — @TKtweetsKim[0:54:30]

“Sometimes, you’ve just got to accept [paying more to change flights] to get the experiences you want.” — @tmount [1:01:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

LATAM Airlines 

Priority Pass 

Emirates  

Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar 

Landry’s Seafood 

United Club 

Grand Hyatt 

JW Marriott Hotel 

Monserrate Hill 

El Dorado Lounge 

SAS

Star Alliance 

Qatar 

Hyatt Regency Madrid Residences 

AC Hotels by Marriot  

José Andrés 

Lufthansa 

DFW’s Mobile App 

Coles

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 44: Show Notes.

Lufthansa’s First Class is revered as one of the more aspirational airline products to flight; Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal (FCT) is among the top 3 airline lounge experiences, and Trevor and Thomas both agree. Miles and Points expert and writer JT Genter joins us to share about himself, and to discuss his first Lufthansa First Class experience. JT and his wife, Katie, are digital nomads, and our conversation begins with a brief look at their recent jam-packed travel schedule. After JT details his approach to living as a digital nomad, he offers some advice, recommendations, and strategies for life on the road. JT's retelling of his LH F experience begins with how he met Trevor at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, before moving on to his arrival and overall impressions of the Lufthansa FCT. He then describes how he felt about the food, drinks, and service aboard Lufthansa’s Retro livery, and why he can’t wait for his next LH F experience. Somewhere in between, we discuss the degradation of travel apps like ExpertFlyer and why this loss of value is a common industry trend, and to end, JT describes his roles and responsibilities as a travel blogger and as the Editor-In-Chief at AwardWallet, and how he would fix common industry pain points to give miles and points a better future. 

Key Points From This Episode:

Quotes:

“It’s now been seven years [that] we’ve been full-time digital nomads. – We want to slow down, but we’re not anywhere close to settling down.” — @JTGenter [03:51]

“The crew was very welcoming once we got on board. We had an incredible crew, probably some of the nicest flight attendants we’ve ever had, which seems to be par for the course with Lufthansa.” — @JTGenter [37:25]

“The whole Park Hyatt motto of ‘luxury is personal’ is so true. Not one size fits all.” — @JTGenter [39:04]

“I can’t wait to [fly Lufthansa First Class] again!” — @JTGenter [43:27]

Longer Quotes:

“The people who are writing about points and miles choose not to write about [the best travel hacks] because they don’t want to kill it off, or they don’t go through the experience themselves. There are a lot of people in the miles and points community who write about it but don’t really live it.” — @JTGenter [47:32]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

JT Genter

JT Genter on X

JT Genter on LinkedIn

JT Genter on Instagram 

JT Genter on Threads 

Katie Genter on X 

Adventures of JT and Katie 

JT and Katie's Travel Schedule

AwardWallet 

Lufthansa 

ZorkFest 

Calala Island

Hyatt

Hilton

ExpertFlyer 

SeatGuru

AeroLOPA 

Chicago Seminars 

AwardHacker 

ITA Matrix 

Seats.aero 

EasyPASS 

Park Hyatt

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X