Episode 192 of the Award Travel 101 podcast features Angie Sparks sharing highlights from her recent 18-day European adventure through Istanbul, Switzerland, and Lake Como. The episode covers current points-and-miles news, including an elevated Southwest business card offer that can help build toward Companion Pass, Citi’s move to lifetime language on some Strata cards, and Bilt adding Amtrak as its 25th transfer partner. Angie and Cameron also discuss their current credit-card spending goals...

Episode 191 covers several timely points-and-miles updates, along with practical travel tips and trip-planning updates from Cameron and Mike. The hosts discuss strategies for staying healthy while flying, including wiping down seats, using hand sanitizer and masks, staying hydrated with electrolytes, and taking vitamins or supplements. In the news, they cover upcoming changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card, Qatar Airways easing restrictions on its friends-and-family booking lists...

Episode 190 features Erin Kilpatrick sharing how she has built a fully nomadic lifestyle around points, miles, and travel. After selling her home, car, and belongings and moving to Ecuador in 2023, Erin has spent the past several years living one to three months at a time in different countries. Award travel is a major part of making that lifestyle possible, covering roughly 80% of her flights and 30% of her lodging, while she also maximizes credit-card offers, shopping portals, credits, and ...

Episode 189 features Cameron Laufer and moderator Bridgette Birk discussing the changing value of points and miles, along with the latest news in the loyalty space. The highlight post asks what travelers are using Avios for now that AA award rates have increased significantly since 2021. Members shared several strong uses, including Qatar Qsuites, JAL business class through British Airways, Iberia business class, Qatar for AA domestic flights, Finnair for longer routes, and LATAM in South Ame...

Episode 188 focuses on creative ways to maximize 100,000 Capital One miles, along with several noteworthy points-and-miles updates. The episode’s highlight was member Courtney’s impressive ChatGPT-built, mobile-friendly travel dashboard that tracks more than 1.5 million points and miles, credit cards, annual fees, statement credits, free-night certificates, elite statuses, 5/24 status, redemptions, upcoming applications, trips, and important deadlines. In the news, Citi launched a 125,000-mil...

Episode 187 recaps the recent Award Travel 101 meetup in Milwaukee, along with several important developments in the points and miles world. The highlight post featured a memorable booking mistake from a member who accidentally reserved two Hilton rooms for five nights each in the wrong city—and even the wrong country—because the hotel was named “Hilton Kuala…” despite actually being located in Ho Chi Minh City. The hosts also covered a 25% Citi ThankYou transfer bonus to Leading Hotels of th...

Episode 186 features Mike and guest Joe Petrovic covering news and a deep dive into their Japan trip. News: U.S. Bank launched transfer partners (Flying Blue, Ethiopian Sheba Rewards, ALL), but access is limited to legacy cards no longer open to new applicants. Aeroplan is reinstating its 18-month points expiration policy starting November 30, 2026, with any account activity resetting the clock. Both hosts also shared recent card bonuses and trip updates, including Mike's Punta Cana stay at S...

Episode 185 of the Award Travel 101 podcast features Angie Sparks and guest Xan Tanner, founder of Gondola AI. The episode opens with a helpful reminder about using unused Instacart credits to support food banks through Community Carts, followed by several travel-industry updates. Citi is refreshing the American Airlines Executive Card with new perks, including American Airlines Vacations, in-flight and Admirals Club credits, Omni and Avis status, and enhanced Lyft and loyalty benefits, altho...

Episode 184 of the Award Travel 101 podcast featured Cameron Laufer and April Rose recapping their recent trips to Greece while also covering the latest points and miles news. The episode opened with a discussion of a community post about whether it was worth paying to keep a small British Airways Avios balance from expiring, with members offering a variety of creative solutions. News included American Express adding Leading Hotels of the World as a Membership Rewards transfer partner, new Al...

Episode 183 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks and Cameron Laufer, covers the latest points and miles news, personal card updates, and practical award travel strategies. The hosts discuss current promotions, including back-to-school airline shopping portal bonuses, Citi's 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue, and Chase Freedom Flex's upcoming removal of foreign transaction fees. They also highlight a concerning change from Singapore Airlines, which appears to require members...