June 24, 2024

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

56 minutes

0:55 Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

We’re talking about deeply discounted airfare, not FREE airfare.

Every one of these programs has a cash out path–that’s great

1:45 Overview: Highs and Lows of each Program

1:59 Chase UR

Talked about the most online, but not as valuable as Amex to us

Much more straightforward than Amex

1 Cent per Ultimate Reward point earned (easy cash out on all card)

5x earning on Office Supply has been around for a long time.

Earning at high rates, transferring to a CSR/CSP

3:00 Earning Chase UR

Easy to use Domestic Partners in United and Southwest

Travel Portal booking is not ideal but does have uplift

Earning with high multipliers and sign up bonuses works well

5/24 limits the number of cards you can get

Can co-mingle points

6:30 Southwest (W/ Chase UR)

Points have become less useful as Ticketless Travel Funds (TTF) have become permanent

Less transfers from UR->Southwest because TTF are so plentiful

If transferring , the best way to earn is still NOT on the Southwest credit cards.

7:43 Booking with the Chase Travel Portal:

Price inflation is real (American, others) Be sure to check google flights

Can see inflated prices on flights, issues when canceling

1.25 cents per point / 1.5 cents per point (20% - 33% discount on travel)

Sometimes just taking cash back at 1 cent per point is the way to pay for travel

These points are not ‘free’

10:53 Amex MR Overview

Amex is so generous that they have changed subscribers’ lives

THE most generous bank with respect to SUB, earning bonuses and referrals

The default cash back amount for a MR is 0.6 Cents ($.006) per MR with a few exceptions

Difficult to get rid of these points.

12:41 Booking Travel with Amex MR

With such easy earning there isn’t a fast enough release valve sometimes

Their travel portal is horrible, but is mandatory for the 35% rebate

Insider fares are lower fares than anywhere else.

Extremely high annual fee cards needed to release points at high value

To get good redemption rates with points you have to graduate to high annual fee cards

Either churn the card or pay the high annual fee (carrying costs) to get good value

Delta transfers are a great option – 1.1 cents in value per point, transfer 1:1

Holding a Delta card gives a 15% discount as well, works out to around 1.25 cents per point.

16:26 Earning Membership Rewards

“They’ve gone crazy with the Sign up Bonuses”

Easier to earn at a moderate level than Chase (or any other bank)

Many high annual Fee cards, which come with many coupons/credits

Nonstarter for someone just starting out.

18:55 Difficulties transacting with AMEX

Need High annual Fee Business Platinum for 35% rebate (approx 1.5 cents per point)

Need High Annaul Fee Morgan stanley (1cpp) or Schwab (1.1 cpp) to cash out MR.

Cannot co-mingle points across spouses, which means you need 2 of each of these cards!

35% rebate only on airline of choice or business/fir

...more

View all episodes

By Sam Simon and Robert Dwyer

4.4

5050 ratings

June 24, 2024

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

56 minutes

0:55 Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

We’re talking about deeply discounted airfare, not FREE airfare.

Every one of these programs has a cash out path–that’s great

1:45 Overview: Highs and Lows of each Program

1:59 Chase UR

Talked about the most online, but not as valuable as Amex to us

Much more straightforward than Amex

1 Cent per Ultimate Reward point earned (easy cash out on all card)

5x earning on Office Supply has been around for a long time.

Earning at high rates, transferring to a CSR/CSP

3:00 Earning Chase UR

Easy to use Domestic Partners in United and Southwest

Travel Portal booking is not ideal but does have uplift

Earning with high multipliers and sign up bonuses works well

5/24 limits the number of cards you can get

Can co-mingle points

6:30 Southwest (W/ Chase UR)

Points have become less useful as Ticketless Travel Funds (TTF) have become permanent

Less transfers from UR->Southwest because TTF are so plentiful

If transferring , the best way to earn is still NOT on the Southwest credit cards.

7:43 Booking with the Chase Travel Portal:

Price inflation is real (American, others) Be sure to check google flights

Can see inflated prices on flights, issues when canceling

1.25 cents per point / 1.5 cents per point (20% - 33% discount on travel)

Sometimes just taking cash back at 1 cent per point is the way to pay for travel

These points are not ‘free’

10:53 Amex MR Overview

Amex is so generous that they have changed subscribers’ lives

THE most generous bank with respect to SUB, earning bonuses and referrals

The default cash back amount for a MR is 0.6 Cents ($.006) per MR with a few exceptions

Difficult to get rid of these points.

12:41 Booking Travel with Amex MR

With such easy earning there isn’t a fast enough release valve sometimes

Their travel portal is horrible, but is mandatory for the 35% rebate

Insider fares are lower fares than anywhere else.

Extremely high annual fee cards needed to release points at high value

To get good redemption rates with points you have to graduate to high annual fee cards

Either churn the card or pay the high annual fee (carrying costs) to get good value

Delta transfers are a great option – 1.1 cents in value per point, transfer 1:1

Holding a Delta card gives a 15% discount as well, works out to around 1.25 cents per point.

16:26 Earning Membership Rewards

“They’ve gone crazy with the Sign up Bonuses”

Easier to earn at a moderate level than Chase (or any other bank)

Many high annual Fee cards, which come with many coupons/credits

Nonstarter for someone just starting out.

18:55 Difficulties transacting with AMEX

Need High annual Fee Business Platinum for 35% rebate (approx 1.5 cents per point)

Need High Annaul Fee Morgan stanley (1cpp) or Schwab (1.1 cpp) to cash out MR.

Cannot co-mingle points across spouses, which means you need 2 of each of these cards!

35% rebate only on airline of choice or business/fir

...more

More shows like Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

View all

Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!

362 Listeners

Award Travel 101

147 Listeners

Frequent Miler on the Air

560 Listeners

MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

310 Listeners

Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

23 Listeners

Geobreeze Travel

395 Listeners

All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

1,422 Listeners

Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad

892 Listeners

Point Me To First Class

1,046 Listeners

Let's Get To The Points

84 Listeners

Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

366 Listeners

Churning Life Podcast

26 Listeners

Churn and Burn

11 Listeners

Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel

71 Listeners

Points for Normal People by Katie's Travel Tricks

289 Listeners

Share Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Sign up to save your podcasts

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

More shows like Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!

Award Travel 101

Frequent Miler on the Air

MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

Geobreeze Travel

All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad

Point Me To First Class

Let's Get To The Points

Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Churning Life Podcast

Churn and Burn

Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel

Points for Normal People by Katie's Travel Tricks