Award Travel 101

Award Travel 101 Team
  • 4.2 (176)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the Award Travel 101 Podcast! Founded in 2013 with just 20 members, the Award Travel 101 Facebook group teaches members how to travel the world using points and miles. Today, a community of over 100,000+ people from around the world share, teach and learn how to travel anywhere on any budget. Where are you going with Award Travel?

  1. 5d ago

    More Points and Miles Tools We Use

    Episode 182 of the Award Travel 101 podcast opens with a spotlight on member Alison’s incredible points-funded safari to Kenya, a reminder that award travel can unlock experiences far beyond flights and hotel chains. By leveraging a Virgin Red redemption, an Amex transfer bonus, and Alaska miles for long-haul flights, she and her travel partner enjoyed five nights at an all-inclusive safari lodge with twice-daily game drives for the equivalent of just over 80,000 points per night. The hosts also covered several noteworthy developments in the points world, including the opening of the new Chase Sapphire Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth, the new Air Canada and Hyatt partnership, a lucrative Capital One Spark Cash Plus offer, and Rove adding Qantas as a transfer partner with a limited-time bonus. The hosts also shared personal travel updates and a useful booking lesson. Cameron discussed having a Qatar Airways flight to Thailand unexpectedly canceled without notice, ultimately reworking the itinerary through Chicago and securing a backup Starlux business class award. He also discovered that a Hyatt Place booking in Louisville appeared nonrefundable online but actually carried a 60-day cancellation policy after messaging Hyatt—a good reminder to verify cancellation terms instead of relying solely on what a website displays. The main discussion focused on the non-award tools that make the hobby easier. Angie and Cameron highlighted their favorite award search platforms, including Seats.aero, AwardWallet, MaxMyPoint, FlightConnections, and Google Flights, before expanding into budgeting software, credit card benefit tracking, and trip planning. AwardWallet and CardPointers were praised for keeping track of points, free night certificates, credits, and card offers, while Google Sheets, Google Maps, Facebook travel groups, TripIt, and ChatGPT have become essential planning tools for organizing itineraries, researching destinations, and building customized travel plans. The episode emphasized that while earning points is important, having the right collection of tools can save time, prevent costly mistakes, and make planning award travel far less stressful. Episode Links: Chase Lounge DFWCapital One Spark CashHyatt/ Air Canada partnershipRove adds QantasWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    More Points and Miles Tools We Use

  2. Jul 17

    Is Booking Hotels Direct Dead?

    The Award Travel 101 crew kicked off Episode 181 by discussing one of the week's hottest travel deals: Norse Atlantic's $118 one-way fare from Orlando to London Gatwick. While the price grabbed plenty of attention, the hosts reminded listeners to look beyond the headline fare, noting Norse's low-cost model means extra fees for amenities that many travelers expect. They also covered several major developments in the points and miles world, including American Airlines quietly increasing award prices on certain Japan Airlines partner flights, an enhanced World of Hyatt credit card welcome offer, a wave of valuable Amex Offers for hotels and travel, and Marriott's latest award pricing increase. Angie and Cameron also shared updates on their own points-earning progress and upcoming travel plans, including schedule changes, hotel decisions, and new credit card bonuses. The main discussion centered on whether booking hotels directly with points is still the best strategy as hotel loyalty programs continue to devalue their currencies. Using real-world examples from Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, the hosts compared direct award bookings against Chase Travel, Capital One Travel, Citi Travel, and American Express Travel. In many cases, travel portals—especially when paired with annual travel credits, Points Boost, Fine Hotels + Resorts, or The Edit benefits—required significantly fewer transferable points than booking directly, particularly for Marriott and Hilton stays. Hyatt remained the notable exception, where transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt often continued to provide the strongest value. The episode concluded by encouraging listeners to think beyond traditional award bookings, weigh elite benefits and earnings when comparing options, and wrapped up with a practical international travel tip: always pay in the local currency when using a credit card abroad and avoid Euronet ATMs, which typically offer poor exchange rates. Episode Links: American Partner awards increaseHyatt personal card increased offerAmex Hotel OffersMarriott award rates are increasingWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    Is Booking Hotels Direct Dead?

  3. Jul 10

    Destination: Napa

    Episode 179 of Award Travel 101, hosted by Angie Sparks with moderator Mike Zaccheo, covers news on Delta's new "Miles Headstart" borrow-now-earn-later feature, an Alaska Atmos Rewards status match opportunity, and IHG discounts on new-hotel stays, alongside personal updates on card spend progress, upcoming trips (Punta Cana, Japan, the Milwaukee meetup), and Angie's Swiss rail and Ireland trip planning. The main segment spotlights Napa Valley as a destination, with both hosts sharing their own trip breakdowns — flights, hotel picks (Alila Napa Valley, Andaz Napa, Silverado Resort), wineries, and food recommendations like Ad Hoc and Mustard's. The episode wraps with a tip on chasing time-limited earning opportunities like the Newegg/Paze promotion before they disappear.  Where to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    Destination: Napa

  4. Jul 3

    Are They Still Skypesos?

    Hosts Angie Sparks and Justin Walter open with a member highlight—Lori’s Northern Lights trip to Finland with her son—before diving into a busy news week. Wyndham Rewards is overhauling its award chart to four fixed tiers (5,000–45,000 points/night) starting September 15, 2026, with most hotels expected to stay in the lower tiers. Asiana Airlines will exit Star Alliance on December 16, 2026 as part of its Korean Air merger, though bookings and elite benefits continue as normal until then. One Key Rewards (Expedia/Hotels.com/Vrbo) is making changes effective July 28 that look like a net negative—boosting non-flight earning to 3% OneKeyCash while killing flight earnings and dropping its Hotel Price Guarantee. And Bilt Rewards added Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ “I Prefer” program as a new transfer partner as of June 22. On the personal front, Angie’s chasing spend on an Alaska business card and two Amex Business Platinum cards (timed conveniently around their Milwaukee meetup payments), plus deposits down for Morocco and golf trip tours—now hunting flights to Ireland for four. Justin knocked out bonuses on a United Explorer and Citi AAdvantage card, celebrated landing a Ritz-Carlton card in the household, and is weighing Delta One vs. AA business class for a Rome trip while a Munich trip hangs in the balance. The main topic tackles whether Delta SkyMiles still deserves its “SkyPesos” reputation, pointing to a string of elevated card offers and Thrifty Traveler Premium alerts suggesting real value can be found with the right search strategy (round-trip searches often price better). They close with a timely tip: burn those credit card credits before June ends—Justin’s using his Uber credit on dinner that very night. Where to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    Are They Still Skypesos?

  5. Jun 26

    Earning Points on College

    Episode 178 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Cameron Laufer and Eric Holly, focused on maximizing points and miles around one of life’s most expensive milestones: college. The episode opened with a discussion about the demise of a popular Paze/Newegg workaround that had allowed users to earn 10x Ultimate Rewards points through select Chase Sapphire and Freedom cards. While gift card purchases at Newegg are no longer eligible, Cameron and Eric reminded listeners that opportunities still exist through other Paze merchants such as United, StubHub, Sephora, and Domino’s. The hosts also covered several noteworthy developments in the points world, including Chase’s rare 100,000-point Sapphire Preferred bonus, a 15% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to Avianca LifeMiles, new Chase Freedom quarterly bonus categories, and tighter restrictions on booking award tickets for friends and family through Qatar Airways. The main discussion centered on strategies for earning rewards while paying college-related expenses. Both hosts emphasized that tuition payments, despite often carrying processing fees near 3%, can still make sense when used to earn lucrative welcome bonuses, elite status thresholds, free night certificates, or airline loyalty benefits. Eric highlighted the use of Gift of College gift cards purchased at grocery stores to earn bonus rewards before loading funds into a 529 plan, while Cameron discussed opportunities to pay expenses with credit cards and potentially reimburse oneself from a 529 account. They also explored ways to earn rewards on student housing, sorority dues, and other campus expenses, including using Bilt for rent payments and strategically timing large expenses to meet spending requirements. The episode concluded with a discussion on helping college students build good financial habits while earning rewards. Both hosts favored keeping things simple, often recommending a single card setup such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Strata Premier, or Amex Gold to maximize common college spending categories like dining and groceries. Authorized user cards were presented as a useful tool for parents who want visibility into spending and easier record-keeping for reimbursements. Cameron shared that his daughter’s newly approved Sapphire Preferred will likely become her primary college card, while Eric discussed tailoring card strategies to each of his children’s financial maturity and goals. The broader takeaway was that while college can feel like a financial “demotion” for parents, it also presents numerous opportunities to earn valuable points, miles, and travel rewards from expenses that would be incurred anyway. Episode Links: Chase Sapphire Preferred RefreshAmex to Lifemiles BonusChase Freddom/Flex Q3 categoriesQatar Booking RestrictionsWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    Earning Points on College

  6. Jun 19

    Chase Sapphire Preferred Refresh Reaction

    Episode 177 of the Award Travel 101 podcast featured Angie Sparks and Cameron Laufer discussing a variety of points-and-miles developments, along with a relatable highlight post from member Melissa about unexpectedly helping a 20-year-old replace a totaled car. While everyone was safe, the experience led to another large purchase charged to a Capital One card, adding to a family history that includes eight vehicle purchases since 2020. The hosts also covered several notable news items, including the end of the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 150,000-point welcome offer, a new 200,000-point bonus on the Sapphire Reserve Business card, elevated 100,000-point offers on the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited cards, a 30% Chase-to-Virgin transfer bonus, and the announcement that Philippine Airlines will join Oneworld next year. They also discussed reports that American Express may soon restrict Resy dining credits to restaurants specifically marked as eligible within the Resy app. The main topic focused on the refreshed Chase Sapphire Preferred card. New benefits include 3x points on gas and EV charging, 3x points on vacation rentals through brands such as Airbnb and Vrbo, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit every four years, a complimentary year of Apple TV+, an increased annual hotel credit, and enhanced travel protections, all while maintaining the $95 annual fee. However, the biggest change for award travelers is the reduced Hyatt transfer ratio for Sapphire Preferred cardholders, moving from 1:1 to 4:3. Angie and Cameron explored the implications, noting that while Hyatt loyalists may find the change disappointing, the card still offers strong value for beginners and those who primarily use Ultimate Rewards with other transfer partners. They also discussed alternatives such as upgrading to the Sapphire Reserve, utilizing Bilt points for Hyatt transfers, or making a speculative transfer of Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt before the new ratio takes effect. The episode wrapped up with personal updates and strategy discussions. Angie shared that ChatGPT helped her compare transportation options and ultimately choose a Swiss Rail Pass for an upcoming trip, while also finalizing plans for Morocco. Cameron reviewed several flight options for Greece, weighing the value of different award redemptions and routing choices. The hosts concluded with a practical travel tip: always place your wallet, keys, purse, shoes, and other essentials in the same spot each night while traveling. A recent hotel fire experienced by friends reinforced how valuable this simple habit can be when an emergency requires a quick evacuation. Episode Links: Chase Ink Business Cards New OfferChase Sapphire Reserve Biz New OfferChase Sapphire Preferred RefreshPhilippine Airlines Joins OneworldAmex Resy ChangesChase to Virgin Transfer BonusWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    Chase Sapphire Preferred Refresh Reaction

  7. Jun 12

    Where to Go With 100K Ultimate Rewards

    Episode 176 of the Award Travel 101 podcast kicked off with a fun discussion inspired by a member’s post asking which region of Europe or Northern Africa listeners would choose for an all-expenses-paid two-week vacation. The conversation highlighted how differently travelers prioritize destinations, with Angie favoring the expensive countries of Scotland, Norway, Finland, and Estonia, while Cameron debated between the broader sightseeing opportunities in Southern Europe and the appeal of Switzerland. The hosts also covered several points-and-miles news items, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve 150,000-point offer nearing its end, elevated welcome bonuses on Delta Amex cards, Citi’s closure of new applications for the Custom Cash card, and changes to Air Tahiti Nui award pricing that have made once-predictable redemptions far more expensive. The hosts shared their latest points-and-miles wins and travel updates as well. Angie celebrated completing a Wells Fargo business card bonus, but now faces the challenge of meeting the hefty spending requirements on two Amex Business Platinum cards before her pool project expenses are finished. Meanwhile, Cameron successfully secured a United Business card despite being over 5/24, booked a Wyndham stay for an Auburn football game by purchasing points at a steep discount, and used a Citi Strata Elite credit toward a Blacklane transfer in Athens. Upcoming trips to Morocco, Ireland, and Turkey were also discussed, along with the ongoing balancing act of maximizing points while minimizing cash expenses. The main topic challenged the hosts to answer a simple question: where would they go with 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for two people, assuming a minimum two-night trip and a $1,000 cash budget for taxes and extras. Their examples showcased a wide variety of possibilities, including four nights in London using Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt points, a luxury San Diego getaway combining United flights with The Edit hotel credits, a Miami beach vacation with JetBlue and IHG, a Puerto Rico escape using Southwest and Hyatt points, a Morocco adventure built around Iberia award flights, and even a budget-friendly Orlando trip. The episode demonstrated that 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points can still unlock meaningful travel experiences when paired strategically with transfer partners and card benefits. The tip of the week reminded travelers to update their digital wallets before departure and ensure lounge access cards, National Park passes, and other travel essentials are easily accessible when needed. Episode Links: Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus ending soonCiti Custom Cash closedDelta cards elevated offersAir Tahiti Nui- American now dynamicWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    Where to Go With 100K Ultimate Rewards

  8. Jun 5

    1-Day, 4 City Bar Crawl (Chicago Seminars Too!)

    In this episode, Mike is joined by former moderator Jackie and her P2 Brent to discuss one of the most creative uses of points and miles you'll hear about — the Mother's Ruin Challenge, a single-day bar crawl across four cities (New York, Chicago, Nashville, and Charleston) all completed to earn free drinks for life. Jackie and Brent break down the logistics, the planning, and how points and miles made the whole thing possible — turning what would have been an outrageously expensive last-minute multi-city trip into something totally doable. Two news items worth knowing: American Airlines appears to be cutting off partner programs like British Airways and Alaska from booking last-minute saver awards within 144 hours of departure, while those same seats remain available through AA's own miles program. On the brighter side, Hyatt is rolling out Advance Booking Access starting June 30, 2026, giving Explorist, Globalist, and Lifetime Globalist members a 13-month award booking window — a full month ahead of everyone else. The episode closes with a spotlight on Chicago Seminars (November 6–8 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago O'Hare), a weekend gathering of roughly 500 points-and-miles enthusiasts featuring sessions ranging from beginner to advanced, manufactured spending discussions, and networking — plus a philanthropic component benefiting select charities. The overarching theme of the episode: points and miles aren't just about saving money, they're about lowering the barrier between "that would be cool" and "I'm actually doing it." Links to Topics Discussed American Airlines blocking last minute partner awardsHyatt Advance Booking Window for elitesChicago SeminarsWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at 101@award.travelBuy your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.

    1-Day, 4 City Bar Crawl (Chicago Seminars Too!)
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4.2
out of 5
176 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Award Travel 101 Podcast! Founded in 2013 with just 20 members, the Award Travel 101 Facebook group teaches members how to travel the world using points and miles. Today, a community of over 100,000+ people from around the world share, teach and learn how to travel anywhere on any budget. Where are you going with Award Travel?

Information

  • Creator
    Award Travel 101 Team
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    218
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Award Travel 101
  • Show Website
    Award Travel 101