Frequent Miler on the Air Greg Davis-Kean

(00:00) - Ever wanted to gift a free hotel night to someone else? In today's episode of Frequent Miler on the Air we'll discuss the ways you can do this! 
(01:18) - In response to Greg's post "Hilton Honors is winning me over, but I’d like one more enhancement…" one reader wonders, "Does Hilton pay influencers to do this?" (Read that post here: https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-is-winning-me-over-but-id-like-one-more-enhancement/ (Mailbag) 
(03:55) - Updating Card Talk 
(05:40) - American Express Gold Card changes go live, including increased annual fee, new "white gold" option, Dunkin' and Resy credits, and more... (Card News)
Read more about the American Express Gold Card here: https://frequentmiler.com/AmxGoldCard/
Catch our episode about the "rumored" Amex changes here: https://frequentmiler.com/podcast-rumored-amex-gold-card-changes-good-or-bad-coffee-break-ep19-7-23-24/
 (10:08) - Wells Fargo Attune gives 4% for Amazon.com purchases! (Card News)
(11:38) - "Southwest Airlines Redeye Flights Coming… Finally!" (Crazy Thing) 
(14:31) - Southwest will soon offer assigned & premium seating (Crazy Thing)
(17:04) - What is the "Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy" promo? Earn 25k bonus points on 4+ night packages Read more about this Marriott Bonvoy promo here: https://frequentmiler.com/vacations-by-marriott-bonvoy-promo-earn-25k-bonus-points-on-4-night-packages/ (Mattress Running the Numbers)
(23:51) - What are the Citi transfer bonuses through August 17th, 2024? (Award Talk) 
(27:53) - Find award space for incredible SLH properties like Calala Island and Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como, using tools like Rooms.Aero or MaxMyPoint to set alerts (Award Talk) 
Read more about using these tools to find availability at properties like the Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como here: https://frequentmiler.com/grand-hotel-victoria-lake-como-has-wide-open-availability/
(30:21) - Autoslash triggers Altitude Reserve's Real Time Mobile Rewards RTMR (Award Talk) Read more about Altitude Reserve's Real Time Mobile Rewards here: https://frequentmiler.com/us-bank-real-time-mobile-rewards-what-works-where/
 Main Event: How to gift free hotel nights
(32:51) - How to gift someone your free hotel night certificates or award nights Read more about gifting hotel nights here: https://frequentmiler.com/gift-hotel-points-free-night-certificates-and-award-nights-booked-with-points-rules-by-program/
(34:19) - Can you gift someone your hotel points? Which programs allow it and which programs don't? 
(39:39) - Can you book a hotel night for someone else, using your points? Which programs allow it and which programs don't?
(46:52) - Can you gift a hotel free night certificate to someone else? Which programs allow it and which programs don't? 
(52:17) - Which hotel rewards program is the best for gifting nights with someone else?
(55:44) - If someone hears something on the podcast they want more information about, where do they find more information? (Question of the Week) 
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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

The Amex Gold Card is about to change. In this episode we'll review the current details for this card, the changes we predict to see, and whether those changes are good or bad.
(01:05) - Current card details
Learn more about the Amex Gold Card here
(02:13) - What's (allegedly) changing?
(04:50) - What might be good about these changes?
(07:51) - Is it still worth recommending?
(15:20) - Which card do we recommend instead for good rewards on grocery and dining?
Read more about the Capital One Savor One card here and the Citi Strata Premier here
(18:09) - But don't necessarily go out and cancel the card after you hear this...
Visit frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.
Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads

There are a bunch of hotel credit card offers that are bigger than usual right now, some of them pretty surprising. That's what we'll discuss in this episode of Frequent Miler on the Air.
(01:20) - Booking Hilton stays with a mix of points and a free night award - just watch for a 3 night minimum. (Mail Bag)
(05:32) - Read how to find SLH hotels bookable with Hilton points and free night certificates using Rooms.aero here
(06:29) - At least TWO FM followers got the Wyndham Hotel Pass! (What Crazy Thing)
(09:48) - Marriott Bonvoy promotion for credit card holders (Mattress Running the Numbers)
(15:51) - Hertz hurts so good (Award Talk)
(19:52) - Virgin Atlantic points can't book Air France / KLM "due to a system issue" (Award Talk)
(22:22) - JetBlue to introduce Mini-Mint (regional first class). 2026 (Award Talk)
(24:45) - Cancelling SLH stays booked via Hyatt: You have to email (but even though they responded after the deadline, I had no penalty and got points back) (Award Talk)
(29:30) - RRVs (Award Talk)
(42:10) - Hotel Credit Card Big Offers
(46:19) - Sonesta - Read more about the Sonesta card here
(49:26) - IHG - Read more about the IHG One Rewards Premier card here
(56:07) - Bonvoy Bold - Read more about the Bonvoy Bold card here
(57:30) - Find our "Are you eligible for a new Marriott card" chart here
(1:00:20) - Hilton offers - Read more about the Hilton Surpass card here, and the fee free Hilton card here 
(1:08:13) - Choice - Read more about the Choice card here and the Choice Select card here 
(1: 12:06) - How to max amex multi referrals (Question of the Week)
Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.
Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

(01:37) - Carrie saw Greg speak at Chicago Seminars in 2013 - the topic was Million Mile Madness.
(02:10) - The next summer (2014) Drew and Carrie were invited to the "Ann Arbor Art Fair Do". While in Ann Arbor, they met Greg for kayaking.
(05:02) - Over the next few years, Carrie periodically did freelance projects for Greg (including an infographic about Redbird, layout design for the card page, editing YouTube videos for Greg's Necker Island visit, etc.)
Read more about Greg and Carrie's Necker Island video partnership here: https://frequentmiler.com/necker-island-blogging-bloopers/ and read about how Greg booked Necker Island on points here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-book-a-free-week-on-necker-island/
(07:33) - After selling TIF in 2019, Carrie half-jokingly (but not joking at all), asked Greg if FM needed a web designer.
(09:12) - Greg decided he was actually interested, but by then Carrie had started a UX/UI course and was considering that. The indecision was brief - by early 2020 she was part of the team.
(10:17) - Here's a link to our Best Offers Page: https://frequentmiler.com/best-credit-card-sign-up-offers/
(14:19) - Carrie's first impressions
Visit frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.
Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads

Hilton has brought on their partner Small Luxury Hotels of the World which has been a bit more exciting than we expected it would be. In today's Frequent Miler on the Air episode we'll discuss more.
(01:07) - a note about the alliteration in "pop-up prison" vs "pop-up jail" (Mail Bag)
(02:56) - IHG Premier 60K certs (Card Talk)
Read more about the IHG Premier 60K cert offer here: https://frequentmiler.com/chase-ihg-premier-card-best-ever-offer-5-60k-free-night-certificates/
(08:37) - Greg booked AA to fly to London and it didn't go very smoothly... (Crazy Thing) 
Read about Greg's recent AAdventures (or misadventures) here: https://frequentmiler.com/my-aadventures-aatempting-to-fly-aa-to-london/
(21:38) - Escape lounge on arrival (Award Talk)
(26:19) - Digging in to fare class info when booking via Chase (Award Talk)
Main Event: Hilton delivers luxury through SLH (32:28) - Overview: ~400 SLH hotels bookable through Hilton
(38:09) - Some SLH hotels have suites defined as standard rooms
(39:30) - Gold and Diamond members: space-available room upgrades and continental breakfast for up to two guests.
(42:01) - Excellent Hilton point value possible through SLH
(44:19) - Free night certs & 5th Night Free awards apply to SLH
(47:21) - How to get points
(1:01:50) - How to get free night certs
Read more about the Hilton Aspire card here: https://frequentmiler.com/AmxHiltonAspire/
(1:04:25) - Read more about the Hilton Surpass card here: https://frequentmiler.com/hilton-honors-american-express-surpass-card/
(1:09:08) - How to find SLH award availability
(1:12:21) - Visit Rooms.aero here: https://rooms.aero/
(1:20:59) - Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited card double offer calculate even points that were transferred out?  (Question of the week)
Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.
Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

In addition to our regular weekly podcast, we also host an Ask Us Anything Live on YouTube once a month where the Frequent Miler team answers listener questions about points, miles, rewards cards, and whatever else comes to mind. 
(01:25) - How do I know how much my points and miles are worth (and are all points and miles worth the same?)
(06:04) - I switched an upcoming trip to take a better flight the next day, which means I have to change Hilton/Hertz reservations. Both of them will re-price to higher costs than before. Any way to avoid? ​​
(08:07) - What’s your prediction for the next points devaluation? (10:33) - Thoughts on new turkish card?
(12:22) - ​​question for Nick I am product changing from my Marriott Boundless to Ritz carlton card. I receive my fna on August 3rd each year. when is the best time to product change? Hoping to get both certs.
(15:45) - If I rent a car with VentureX annual credit (at C1 portal), do I get the VX primary rental insurance on this rental?
(16:03) - When is good time to upgrade Hilton Surpass into Aspire in order to receive FNC from Surpass and then from Aspire?
​​(18:40) - Hi FM Team, which recent miles and points devaluation (Virgin Atlantic, Choice, etc.) has been the most disappointing for you? Happy Fourth of July!
(25:25) - ​​Are there any Hotel programs that combine Personal & Credit Card Nights together to get you Elite Status?
(28:05) - ​​Re: the new Schwab rule of only 1 million points cashed out at 1.1 and then .08 after. Are there good strategies for those who have high Rakuten spend turned into AmEx?
(30:36) - Most banks have been declining my credit card applications, mostly citing too many hard pulls on the credit report. What should my next move be to maximize points earnings?
(35:02) - how is Wells Fargo household sharing works? can I share between P2 cashback to P1 Autograph points?
(37:37) - How would you guys book business class award tickets from the US to Vietnam, I am on the east cost but happy to go to the west coast.
(40:50) - ​​a while back on the podcast a mailbag e-mail asked about a resource/deep dive on downgrading paths for cards. Any update on when that might be coming??
(42:08) - ​​I have Southwest companion pass and 170k points. Can you guys recommend me any good destination(s)?
(47:08) - ​​Nick, any tips for enjoying traveling with young kids? Our kids are 3 years and 3 months, and we feel like all travel outside family visits is on hold for at least a few years.
(52:37) - have you guys ever take a chance of ANA waitlist?
(54:02) - Flying Blue: can you reprice your flights if they go down in price due to promo rewards? can you add a free stopover on KLM operated flights as well?
(55:44) - ​​Any thoughts on the new Attune card from WF? There are some interesting categories, such as bookstores (Amazon), Sporting good stores (gun stores, ammo, shooting ranges), Barbers, nail salons, Ski...
(58:12) - Any recs for backpacks/luggage? Appreciate your tips and credit card advice!!