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Episode Description

This week Citi was in the news for a few reasons. First, they have upped their transfer ratio to Accor by 2X. This might not last, but it is quite valuable. Citi also is planning to launch their new premium Strata credit card next week. While not all of the details are known, tons of rumors have leaked and we'll dive into what this card can be and how it competes with Chase, Amex and Capital One.   In other news more and more travel providers are using AI tools to crack down on travelers, but sometimes they backfire. We look at a couple of these tools and what you need to know. We also discuss: Amex's new sidecar lounge concept, how premium credit cards probably aren't worth it and why Amex is trying to make their benefits easier to use.   Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 2:52 Citi’s Accor transfer mistake?
• 6:27 Citi’s new premium credit card is coming very very soon
• 10:45 The rumored benefits for Citi’s new card
• 16:28 The year of the premium credit card?
• 18:35 Amex’s new Sidecar lounge - The lounge boom
• 23:42 Amex’s earnings dive-in - Less breakage & slow bookings?
• 30:15 A new easier way to connect on international flights
• 35:14 AI tools and travel - Smoke detectors, Hertz scanners - Reliable?

Smoke detector situation - https://x.com/_zachgriff/status/1945959030851035223?s=46&t=B9kWNUIY21TRZnc8tXrfRQ Hertz scanners - https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-to-stop-hertzs-ai-rental-car-damage-scanners-from-screwing-you DFW connection - https://viewfromthewing.com/american-airlines-makes-history-connecting-passengers-arriving-in-u-s-now-skip-security-and-customs-in-new-trial/ Amex earnings breakdown - https://viewfromthewing.com/amex-ceo-admits-we-made-benefits-hard-to-use-on-purpose-now-reveals-plan-for-even-higher-fees/ Citi Strate Elite rumors - https://milestalk.com/updated-citi-strata-elite-details-launch-date-bonus-annual-au-fee-bonus-categories-benefits/   Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. 

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Episode Description

This week Bilt dropped a huge bombshell with the announcement that they are leaving Wells Fargo and growing their card portfolio. With three new cards coming and a new bank behind them, will Bilt take their rewards program to the next level and what kinds of perks could we see with their new premium offering?   In other #news Hyatt has a new offer on their credit card, but it might not actually be better than the old one. We also discuss fearful activities while traveling, why sweating could cause problems at TSA and why bank IT is still a nightmare in 2025.   Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 0:21 Pushing your “fear” limits while traveling
• 5:40 Another thing to worry about while crossing through TSA
• 9:03 YouTube travel inspiration for kids and adults
• 15:44 Hyatt’s new card offer - Is it really better than the normal offer?
• 19:56 Debating the value of Hyatt free night certs
• 26:03 US Bank IT fiasco - In 2025?
• 32:04 Bilt grows up - New bank and 3 new cards coming

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Episode Description

This week JetBlue released a very interesting promotion for their 25th birthday. In addition to earning up to 350K bonus miles, you can earn 25 years of Mosaic status as well. How many hoops do you have to jump through and does this make economic sense. More importantly do you have the time to invest into this lucrative deal?   In other news Chase launched their Sapphire Business card last week along with a ton of new rules. How are the rules being enforced and which customers has a "bank error" in their favor? We also discuss: how Shawn accidentally beat jetlag, Hyatt Regency at JFK, the Savannah Bananas and how some people missed out on Amex transfers to Hawaiian.   Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel & 4th of July
• 5:24 More bad Chase rules
• 8:48 Shawn’s Korean Air conundrum
• 13:01 How partner devaluations lower overall values of bank points
• 16:07 Why Accor is even better than we expected - Citi transfer bonus?
• 23:44 Grand Hyatt Playa Del Carmen review
• 31:13 Visiting Playa Del Carmen, ruins, what to see & better than Cancun?
• 34:15 Why all-inclusives have become more popular than ever
• 36:20 Andaz Mayakoba and other takeaways

  Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. 

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com

Episode Description

This week JetBlue released a very interesting promotion for their 25th birthday. In addition to earning up to 350K bonus miles, you can earn 25 years of Mosaic status as well. How many hoops do you have to jump through and does this make economic sense. More importantly do you have the time to invest into this lucrative deal?   In other news Chase launched their Sapphire Business card last week along with a ton of new rules. How are the rules being enforced and which customers has a "bank error" in their favor? We also discuss: how Shawn accidentally beat jetlag, Hyatt Regency at JFK, the Savannah Bananas and how some people missed out on Amex transfers to Hawaiian.   Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 0:24 Last minute Amex to Hawaiian/Alaska transfers - How much did we do?
• 5:00 Mark's Savannah Bananas experience
• 11:20 How Shawn accidentally beat jetlag
• 16:22 Hyatt Regency at JFK review - Good airport option?
• 24:00 How Chase is enforcing their new Sapphire rules
• 30:13 JetBlue's crazy 350K promo - Worth pursuing?

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Episode Description

This week Chase is relaunching their Sapphire Reserve premium credit card along with an all-new business option. On this show we deep dive into the new cards including all of the perks and the very enticing welcome bonuses. Unfortunately the new Sapphire Reserve card comes with new application rules, a popup and less potential in the long term for earning welcome offers. Which card should you get, which perks make the most sense and what happens to current cardholders?   We also discuss Amex Business Platinum losing a valuable perk plus how much the annual fee might be after it is refreshed later this year. Are people over the move to higher annual fees and coupons or will we see more of this from other banks and what the heck has happened to Citi?   Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 0:20 Amex teases upcoming Platinum changes, higher fees & loss of a benefit
• 3:23 New Sapphire Reserve launches with tough new Chase application rules
• 7:53 Why Chase’s new rules may not roll out to all cards
• 10:35 How the new Chase “popup” works
• 11:51 Diving into 100K + $500 bonus on Chase Sapphire Reserve + new benefits, fee and overall value
• 22:54 Sapphire Reserve Business 200K welcome offer
• 26:55 Big spend bonuses - IHG & Southwest status - worth it?
• 29:24 How the new Sapphire Reserve perks work for current cardholders
• 35:05 Are people getting tired of higher annual fees and “couponing”?

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Episode Description

This week Chase confirmed that there will be changes this Summer to the Sapphire Reserve card. While we have covered the rumors before, this is the first time we have confirmation. What will be changing, when can we expect to know more and what should you do. Plus Chase also dropped a bombshell indicating a new Sapphire Reserve business card is coming as well. This should be a good opportunity.   In other news Mark shares from his Orlando adventures which included an incredible timeshare deal, an interesting presentation and a lot of red flags along the way. We discuss what you should consider with timeshares in general and why you probably want to consider taking them up on offers including discounted rooms, gift cards and more. We also discuss Hyatt's killer new promo, Shawn's European adventures and why skipping the line is so satisfying.

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Episode Description

This week Capital One announced some big changes to lounge access for Venture X cardholders. Like before the new rules are a bit different for the personal and business cards, however everything is getting cutback. Bye bye free guest access for most. Are these cards still worth it?   Shawn also details some of the most interesting hotels of his trip including the Park Hyatt Zurich and Hyatt Place Zurich. Is the Hyatt Place a better hotel than the Park Hyatt? He also discusses a lovely Hyatt that feels like an old German grandmother's house, one of the coolest castles in the world and how knowing your travel limits is easier said than done.

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. 

Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 1:01 How European hotels are just different than America - Are we idiots?
• 4:40 How a Best Western delivered a huge surprise
• 11:10 Capital One’s huge upcoming changes to lounge access
• 18:36 European rental car debacle update & how to protect yourself
• 24:01 Visiting Zurich - The best Hyatt Place in the world?
• 29:00 Park Hyatt Zurich - Is it really worth $1600 or 45K points?
• 34:21 The quirkiest Hyatt hotel in Europe?
• 39:31 How much travel is enough?

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Episode Description

This week Shawn is in Europe and he discusses a little of his trip including the Hyatt Regency Cologne, a couple of cool cathedrals and more. He also discusses how Capital One Travel and Hopper may have scammed him on his car rental booking and why you probably shouldn't use them. Other topics discussed include: Americans and geography, the recent Bilt/Accor deal and avoiding groupthink and why you might get banned for sharing your rule breaking hacks on the internet.

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. 

Episode Guide

• 2:16 Do Americans know geography?
• 6:57 Bilt Rent Day “groupthink” & why Accor is great
• 13:44 Capital One Travel ripoff car rental & how to deal with “things gone wrong”
• 22:05 Hyatt Regency Cologne review - Great rooms & location
• 26:15 Mark’s painful Universal tickets
• 31:17 Credit card chip in your fingernail?
• 33:30 Why you shouldn’t share your grey area hacks online
• 34:50 NoMad hotels coming to Detroit’s coolest building

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Episode Description

This week Universal Epic Universe opened its doors. As the first major theme park to open in the United States since 2001 it is a big deal, but if you aren't a huge theme park nerd should it be on your radar? Joe attended the Epic Universe media preview while Shawn went as a normal guest. You can listen to a more in depth nerdy conversation about the park on this week's Disney Deciphered, but on this show we discuss what it was like doing the media preview, what sort of hype is promised, how it affects your views plus what we both think of the park and how Shawn's real guest experience different from Joe's VIP tours.   We also discuss some of Joe's plans for his upcoming Japan family trip plus why business class one way and economy the other isn't just a way to save points. It could be a way to save your kids! :) Episode Guide   Episode Guide  

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 1:41 Locking down Korea/Japan for the Summer - Family rates, finding a compatible traveling family, international driving permits & business class vs. economy
• 12:20 Why it isn't always about traveling for "free"
• 16:30 What it's like doing press trips - Behind the Epic Universe VIP opening
• 23:35 The coolest part of the Epic Universe media experience
• 32:36 Is Epic Universe the culmination of themed entertainment in 2025?
• 42:15 Universal vs. Disney and Epic Universe for the miles & points normie

 

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Episode Description

This week Shawn and Mark discuss some interesting items in the news. Amex is now offering perks for downgrading cards, but there is a catch. They also discuss the end of Amex to Alaska via Hawaiian and how Hilton's recent devaluation is shocking in many ways. Are Hilton's points worth anything and why their certs have become even better.   In other news Shawn goes over his upcoming trip to Europe including how the itinerary is shaping up last minute and why this way of booking works. He goes over his nonstop last minute business class redemption for 3, some of the other quirks of the trip and why it is exciting planning this stuff at the last minute versus a year in advance.   Episode Guide  

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 1:15 The great Amex to Hawaiian to Alaska debate & end date
• 6:13 The cash value of points & how to use them properly
• 13:00 Last minute business class to Germany for 3!
• 18:10 European road trip, theme parks, culture & PH Zurich debate
• 26:25 Booking early or last minute - What is the best points strategy?
• 29:08 Amex “paying” customers to downgrade cards?
• 39:25 Hilton’s Devaluation - Max points way up

Links

• https://travel-on-points.com/membership-rewards-transfers-to-alaska-airlines/
• https://travel-on-points.com/hilton-honors-devaluation/
• https://travel-on-points.com/amex-downgrade-bonus-offers/

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected]. 

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!