Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast

Frugal Flyer
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Learn how credit card rewards, including miles and points, can help you save on travel, take more vacations, and experience luxury flights and hotels. Brought to you by Frugal Flyer (frugalflyer.ca).

  1. Aug 7

    Ep 045 - Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

    In Episode 45 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca cover a packed Canadian miles-and-points news episode plus listener questions. They preview a deeper upcoming dive on the new Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt partnership, including status matches, reciprocal point transfers, and redemption options. Exclusive BMO credit card offers and FlyerFunds Rebates for August on the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard and BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard are discussed. The hosts discuss Accor Live Limitless becoming an Amex Canada transfer partner and Platinum card offering Accor Gold status, Porter Airlines’ award redemption fuel surcharges returning to $40, and Marriott’s new partnership with Japan Airlines MileageBank. Several Emirates changes when booking with Aeroplan points are discussed in addition to the introduction of basic fare classes on Air Canada premium cabin tickets, and the team reviews two current transfer bonuses to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and American Airlines AAdvantage Miles. The hosts highlight elevated Amex Canada Marriott Bonvoy welcome offers, new Seats.aero eUpgrade and Chrome tools, plus the newly added Amex US transfer partner of Leading Hotels of the World. The episode wraps up with several listener questions that ask about the best Canadian travel points, cross-border banking, Europe deals from Western Canada, and family-travel perspectives.

    Ep 045 - Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

  2. Jul 24

    Ep 044 - What Would You Book With 100,000 Membership Rewards?

    In episode 44 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca discuss what they would do with 100,000 American Express Canada Membership Rewards points across the available frequent flyer and hotel loyalty program transfer partners (minus Delta). With Jeff based in Vancouver, Josh in Edmonton, and Daniel in New York City, they share the best redemption options they found in their home region for each transferable frequent flyer program, including total points cost, taxes and fees, and how they found availability. The episode wraps up with the hosts discussing some of the value that transferring to Marriott Bonvoy can offer, and why you should always avoid transferring your Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors.

    Ep 044 - What Would You Book With 100,000 Membership Rewards?

  3. Jul 10

    Ep 043 - Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

    In Episode 43 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca kick the episode off by reviewing recent Qatar Airways Privilege Club changes that make it much harder to book award flights for family and friends. The hosts discuss how Alaska Airlines raised its non-refundable partner award booking fee to $20 USD per person per direction and how Philippine Airlines is set to join Oneworld in 2027. They cover Chase Sapphire Preferred changes, the very meaningful Tim Hortons’ card discontinuation, new Scotiabank and RBC credit card offers, targeted Amex Cobalt-to-Gold upgrades, and Porter Airlines and Cathay Pacific fuel surcharge reductions for award flights. The episode wraps up with listener comments and questions on the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule, an ITIN executive order, a battle of frequent flyer programs, prioritizing transferable currencies, and opening a first Chase card.

    Ep 043 - Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

  4. Jun 26

    Ep 042 - Meeting Minimum Spend Requirements

    In episode 42 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca discuss minimum spending requirements (MSR), including the basics of what they are and practical strategies to meet them. The hosts share their early MSR experiences and how MSRs work, including that the MSR clocks start at card approval, advise planning spend before applying, and recommend saving screenshots of offer terms. Easy methods include using Chexy or Casa to pay rent and other bills, buying gift cards cautiously, booking and later canceling refundable hotels to extend timing, prepaying insurance/utilities, paying health expenses for reimbursement, aligning applications with travel or big purchases, and covering group expenses for reimbursement. They then explain manufactured spending, its risks and secrecy, and cover the PayPower Mastercard, buying groups, and discontinued plays like Revolut, the Air Canada Conversion Card, and Mogo.

    Ep 042 - Meeting Minimum Spend Requirements

  5. Jun 12

    Ep 041 - Become an Avion Expert

    In episode 41 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca discuss how to maximize RBC Avion points, including earning methods, point tiers, and redemption strategies amid limited-time elevated credit card welcome offers. They explain the three Avion point types (Select, Premium, and Elite) and how Avion points of different tiers can be combined. They cover the best ways to earn Avion points, including via credit cards, shopping portals, banking promotions, and card-linked offers. Finally, they review key Avion transfer partners, including British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage Miles. The team also shares why they caution against WestJet transfers, and outlines the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule and flexible travel redemption options.

    Ep 041 - Become an Avion Expert

  6. May 29

    Ep 040 - Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

    In Episode 40 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca discuss a Frugal Flyer exclusive limited-time offer on the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite and their upcoming Miles & Points meetup in Edmonton on June 27th. The hosts discuss RBC’s 30% Avion to Avios transfer bonus, current RBC Avion card welcome offers, and redemption examples, plus the new ability to book Philippine Airlines with Qatar Avios. Aeroplan has partnered with Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty to offer Aeroplan points and Status Qualifying Credits on rental car bookings, and in addition to offering Hertz status for elites and cardholders of specific credit cards. Additionally, Rove Miles has a 25% transfer bonus to Aeroplan, Amex US has a 20% transfer bonus to Hilton, the Korean Air and Asiana merger has a confirmed date, and Amex is ending Etihad transfers on both sides of the border. The episode wraps up with a listener question about how to best stay in the loop about miles and points transfer bonuses.

    Ep 040 - Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

  7. May 15

    Ep 039 - Becoming a VIP with VIPorter

    In episode 39 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca break down Porter Airlines’ VIPorter loyalty program, covering how to earn VIPorter points, elite status tiers, and VIPorter points redemption value. They review the BMO VIPorter World Elite MasterCard (with a current welcome bonus of up to 70,000 VIPorter points and first year annual fee free) and how it grants VIPorter Venture status with benefits like free seat selection and checked bags for the cardholder, plus up to eight guests, even on basic fares. Finally, they discuss the Porter Airlines onboard experience and their approach to redeeming VIPorter points, particularly when working within Porter’s flexible award chart pricing. The episode wraps up with the team sharing their experiences with Porter Airlines and how they plan to engage with VIPorter going forward.

    Ep 039 - Becoming a VIP with VIPorter

  8. May 1

    Ep 038 – Miles & Points News + Listener Questions

    In Episode 38 of Miles Ahead: The Canadian Points Podcast, Daniel, Jeff, and Josh from FrugalFlyer.ca discuss Air Canada’s new Aeroplan partner award chart effective June 2026 and review several new credit card offers and FlyerFunds Rebates for May 2026. They cover the latest developments in fuel surcharges across the industry, in addition to airlines that have increased baggage fees. Several new developments in the world of miles, points, and travel include Air Canada taking delivery of its first A321XLR, the new Tangerine Rewards World Elite Mastercard, Hawaiian Airlines joining oneworld, an Air France Canadian bonus points promotion, Flying Blue status match opportunities, Hyatt award category changes, and the new United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard. The episode wraps up with two listener questions, where the team addresses a question about a points roadmap for a young student and whether the United Airlines MileagePlus status and/or program makes more sense to pursue versus Aeroplan.

    Ep 038 – Miles & Points News + Listener Questions
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Learn how credit card rewards, including miles and points, can help you save on travel, take more vacations, and experience luxury flights and hotels. Brought to you by Frugal Flyer (frugalflyer.ca).

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