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Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Southwest just made one of the best deals in travel much harder to get. And United Airlines isn't making elite status any easier—or cheaper. This week, Ed is joined by Leslie Harvey of Trips With Tykes and Disney Deciphered to break down Southwest's major Rapid Rewards overhaul coming in 2027. The biggest change? Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer help travelers earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, ending a strategy that families have used for years to bring a companion along for nearly free. Leslie explains the new Silver, Gold and Platinum status levels, how Companion Pass qualification will work, and why some Southwest loyalists may need to rethink their entire strategy. There are a few new milestone rewards and some transitional protections, but are they enough to offset what travelers are losing? The conversation also explores whether Southwest is still worth flying if you can no longer earn Companion Pass the old-fashioned way. Leslie shares why she's sticking with Southwest for many trips—but may be much more willing to fly American Airlines in the future. Then Ed heads to Las Vegas for a conversation with Adam Duckworth, founder and CEO of Travelmation, about the remarkable comeback of travel advisors. They discuss why travelers are spending more on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, a unique Five Guys Las Vegas wedding partnership, and a Disney cruise dedicated to pin trading that has attracted nearly 500 guests. Adam also shares the inspiring work of Funding Love, an organization that helps adoptive families and birth mothers create memories at Walt Disney World, along with Travelmation's efforts to support Jamaica's tourism recovery. Finally, Ed and Leslie tackle another unwelcome airline announcement: United is raising the cost of elite status in 2027 and eliminating the flight-segment qualification path. With United 1K requiring $32,000 in qualifying spending, and upgrades becoming increasingly unpredictable, Ed asks whether chasing top-tier status makes sense anymore. Maybe it's time to stop chasing airline status and start choosing flights based on price and schedule. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Southwest's massive Rapid Rewards overhaul A-List and A-List Preferred are being replaced by Silver, Gold and Platinum Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward Companion Pass qualification beginning in 2027 The new 140,000 tier-qualifying-point threshold for Platinum and Companion Pass A remaining opportunity to earn Companion Pass through 2027 under the existing rules New milestone rewards and transitional benefits ✈️ Is Southwest loyalty still worth pursuing? Reduced earning rates on certain higher-priced fares Why the new qualification rules could be particularly tough for occasional flyers Leslie's strategy for flying Southwest after her existing Companion Pass expires Why Southwest's onboard hospitality still matters An unexpectedly good assigned-seating experience ✈️ The travel advisor comeback Why premium and multigenerational travel continues to grow Travelmation's expansion and its Las Vegas partnership with Five Guys Why more travelers are hiring professionals to plan complex vacations The value of having a travel advisor when something goes wrong ✈️ Disney pin trading at sea How a casual idea turned into the Pins and Ports cruise Nearly 500 Disney pin enthusiasts participating Exclusive merchandise, dedicated trading sessions and special activities Why Adam believes the concept could grow ✈️ Travel that gives back Funding Love's Walt Disney World experiences for adoptive families and birth mothers Travelmation's involvement with Give Kids The World The Think Jamaica initiative and the importance of restoring tourism ✈️ United makes elite status more expensive The elimination of the Premier Qualifying Flights qualification path United Gold requiring $12,000 and 1K requiring $32,000 in qualifying spending Why PlusPoints are becoming harder to value Whether United Gold is now the smarter target Why price and schedule may matter more than elite status Plus, Leslie shares her upcoming Arizona adventure, Ed reflects on airline loyalty, and the two debate whether the benefits travelers are chasing are still worth the price. ⏱️ Episode 459 Timestamps   0:47 Leslie Harvey returns to discuss Southwest's big changes 3:54 Southwest overhauls Rapid Rewards and Companion Pass 7:57 New milestone rewards and reduced points earning 15:10 Is Southwest still worth flying without Companion Pass? 19:42 Ed's surprising Southwest assigned-seating experience 26:18 Adam Duckworth on Travelmation, Las Vegas and Five Guys 31:45 Pins and Ports: the Disney pin-trading cruise 36:24 Why premium travel and travel advisors are booming 40:19 Funding Love and Travelmation's charitable initiatives 47:38 United raises elite status requirements for 2027

Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Ed and Richard are back with a packed episode of Miles To Go, and Alaska Airlines is making some of the most interesting loyalty moves we've seen in a while. Alaska's Atmos Rewards program is rolling out new ways to earn and save, including a debit card, a no-annual-fee credit card, and six new loyalty communities. One benefit really stands out: families can receive 20% of their miles back when booking eligible award flights for children 12 and under—even on partner airlines. Richard has already signed up, and both guys think Alaska deserves credit for finding creative ways to reward travelers. There's also good news for Bilt members who want Alaska status. A new benefit allows members of Alaska's Global Locals community to earn status points when transferring rewards into Atmos. Richard explains why this could be particularly useful for topping off an elite qualification balance at the end of the year. Next, Park Hyatt is getting into the all-inclusive business. The upcoming Park Hyatt Riviera Maya promises a luxury experience without the constant worry of restaurant and bar bills. But can an all-inclusive resort deliver the quality Park Hyatt guests expect? Ed and Richard debate premium alcohol, à la carte dining, and whether award pricing makes this an attractive redemption. They even check availability live, finding nights starting at 55,000 Hyatt points. Then comes a potentially lucrative deal from Capital One Shopping, where targeted Expedia offers have reached 25% back. Richard shares a strategy for triggering better shopping offers, and Ed wonders how these promotions can possibly make financial sense. The guys also answer a listener question about using Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards on reservations made through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, revisit the possibility of commercial flights from Manassas Airport, and discuss why Richard has increasingly abandoned airline loyalty in favor of simply booking the best price and schedule. Plus: Richard's struggling houseplant, Ed's microphone problems, and why an airline that offers first class and reliable Wi-Fi at a much lower fare could become a serious threat to the legacy carriers.   Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Alaska's new Atmos Rewards benefits New debit card and no-annual-fee credit card A 20% award-booking discount for joining the debit-card waitlist Six loyalty communities Free checked bags for qualifying Alaska residents A 20% mileage rebate on eligible children's award tickets ✈️ Bilt and Alaska strengthen their partnership Global Locals community benefits One status point for every 25 eligible points transferred Topping off elite status without another flight Richard addresses speculation about the Bilt–Alaska partnership ✈️ Park Hyatt goes all-inclusive Park Hyatt Riviera Maya Can luxury and all-inclusive coexist? À la carte dining instead of buffet-focused service Premium liquor and other luxury expectations Award nights starting at 55,000 points Why Richard avoids hotels during opening week ✈️ United's debit card: Is it worth having? Potential access to discounted award inventory Monthly balance requirements An unresolved question about spending requirements ✈️ Capital One Shopping offers up to 25% back Targeted Expedia hotel offers How Richard finds better shopping rebates Disney hotel bookings through Expedia Why the economics are so puzzling ✈️ Stacking Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits Can Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards be applied? How qualifying hotel bookings work Combining hotel elite benefits with Amex FHR ✈️ Manassas Airport and the future of airline competition Could low-cost carriers make Manassas work? Frontier's potential with Starlink Wi-Fi Why Richard is becoming an airline free agent Have legacy airlines pushed loyalty programs too far? ⏱️ Episode 458 Timestamps  Time Topic 4:11 Alaska announces new Atmos debit and credit cards 6:38 Alaska's six communities and 20% family award rebate 10:06 Bilt transfers can help earn Alaska elite status 11:51 Park Hyatt's first all-inclusive resort 15:26 Live award search: 55,000–65,000 Hyatt points per night 17:43 United debit card and discounted award inventory 18:30 Capital One Shopping: up to 25% back on Expedia 22:25 Can you use Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards on Amex FHR bookings? 24:08 Manassas Airport and potential low-cost airline service 25:08 Frontier, Starlink and why airline loyalty is fading

Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro.         Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️  What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Bilt changes Hyatt transfers 1:1 becomes 4:3 beginning January 1 Why Richard knows this one hurts Bilt's effort to add value elsewhere Why Ed questions Hyatt's strategy ✈️ Is Citi Strata Premier underrated? $95 annual fee 3X dining 3X gas 3X groceries 60,000-point welcome offer discussed on the show Another way to build an AAdvantage balance ✈️ An IHG card neither of us was paying enough attention to $350 annual fee 200,000-point welcome offer discussed on the episode Flight credits Food-and-beverage credits Fourth Night Free Platinum status United TravelBank credit A free-night certificate after the first year ✈️ United and American target Delta elites Status-match opportunities Delta's future Amazon Leo Wi-Fi Different paths toward status Why Richard may seriously consider American ✈️ A Hyatt Suite Upgrade surprise Why Ed couldn't confirm a suite What Hyatt's terms actually say Properties may have more discretion than expected Could this become a bigger problem for Globalists? ✈️ A United crew gets it right A grandmother making a major final journey A handwritten card and pilot wings A simple gesture that changed the mood of the flight ⏱️ Episode 457 Timestamps 2:25 – Richard reviews the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal 7:46 – Bilt changes Hyatt transfers from 1:1 to 4:3 11:12 – Is the $95 Citi Strata Premier underrated? 14:34 – The $350 IHG card that deserves another look 17:45 – How far do 60,000 IHG points actually go? 22:02 – American and United target Delta elites 24:38 – Richard considers chasing American status 26:18 – Ed discovers a surprising Hyatt Suite Upgrade rule 30:46 – A United crew creates a special final-flight memory

Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Ed and Richard are back together after a weekend in New York—and before they can get to travel, there are some important matters to resolve. Richard has strong opinions about restaurant eggs, Ed has an explanation for his highly unusual chicken-wing-eating technique, and Julian and Jillian apparently think a perfectly reasonable honeymoon itinerary involves going from the Maldives to Lapland to Iceland. Eventually, travel news breaks out. First up is a partnership Richard knows particularly well: Bilt Rewards has added Amtrak Guest Rewards as its 26th transfer partner. Richard says the deal took roughly 14 months from the first phone call to launch and marks Amtrak's first traditional transfer partnership since Chase ended its relationship in 2015. Transfers are 2 Bilt points to 1 Amtrak point, and Richard argues the economics can still work because of the relatively high value of Amtrak points—especially when cash fares get expensive. There's also a follow-up to last week's Citi Strata Elite discussion. Listeners point out a potentially powerful pairing with Citi Double Cash: earn effectively 2 ThankYou Points per dollar on everyday purchases if you pay the balance in full, combine those points with Citi Strata Elite, and then transfer them to American Airlines AAdvantage. For someone specifically trying to build an AAdvantage balance, Richard thinks the strategy deserves consideration. Then Ed and Richard discuss a new software issue affecting the Boeing 737 MAX. According to the information discussed on the episode, a newer software version can cause issues with certain autopilot functions around an aborted landing/go-around. Boeing has identified a workaround involving the earlier software version, but Ed questions why increasingly powerful simulation and AI tools couldn't be used more extensively to find edge cases before software reaches aircraft. The Aeroplan credit card has also received a refresh. One new benefit provides a 15% discount on Air Canada flight rewards—and importantly, Ed says Aeroplan confirmed that it can stack with elite Priority Rewards. At the highest elite level, that creates the possibility of combining a 50% Priority Reward with the additional 15% card discount. The card is also making its fourth-night-free hotel award benefit permanent and adding a fourth-day-free benefit on car-rental redemptions. Finally, there's a strange problem developing around the Airbus A321XLR. Premium-heavy configurations planned by American and United may need ballast in the rear of the aircraft to keep the plane properly balanced. That's particularly interesting because adding otherwise unnecessary weight requires more fuel and could eat into the very long-range capability that makes the XLR attractive for "long, thin" international routes. That raises another question: How long are you willing to fly on a single-aisle airplane? Richard thinks a New York-to-California transcon is already approaching his limit. Ed is more willing to judge the experience by the quality of the seat rather than the number of aisles. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️  What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Bilt adds Amtrak as a transfer partner 2:1 transfers from Bilt Rewards to Amtrak Guest Rewards Why Richard thinks the math can still work A Rent Day transfer bonus The partnership took about 14 months to complete Amtrak's first traditional transfer partner since Chase ✈️ The world's easiest honeymoon to pack for Maldives Lapland Iceland Julian apparently has some flights to figure out ✈️ A better Citi strategy for earning American miles? Pairing Citi Double Cash with Citi Strata Elite Effectively earning 2 ThankYou Points per dollar on everyday spending when the balance is paid in full Combining the points Transferring to AAdvantage Why the strategy gets Richard's attention ✈️ Another Boeing 737 MAX software issue An autopilot-related software problem Why the timing during a go-around matters Boeing's workaround Could simulation and AI catch more problems before deployment? ✈️ Aeroplan refreshes its U.S. credit card 15% savings on Air Canada flight rewards Stacking the discount with Priority Rewards Fourth Night Free on hotel redemptions Fourth Day Free on car-rental redemptions Why Ed thinks Aeroplan keeps finding ways to appeal to U.S. travelers ✈️ Can you have too many premium seats? American and United's A321XLR configurations Why premium-heavy planes may require ballast Extra weight means extra fuel How ballast could affect the XLR's range The economics of long, thin routes ✈️ How long is too long on a single-aisle plane? Seven-hour transcons Potential eight- and nine-hour XLR flights Richard wants a widebody Ed cares more about the seat ⏱️ Episode 456 Timestamps 4:32 – Bilt adds Amtrak as its 26th transfer partner 7:46 – Follow-up, restaurant eggs and Richard's Cracker Barrel problem 13:07 – Julian's completely normal Maldives–Lapland–Iceland honeymoon 15:01 – Points Path discounts for M2G supporters 16:33 – Citi Double Cash + Strata Elite: a better way to earn American miles? 23:03 – Another Boeing 737 MAX software issue 25:37 – Aeroplan's refreshed credit card and stackable award discounts 29:00 – Fourth Night Free hotels and Fourth Day Free car rentals 31:46 – Why premium-heavy A321XLRs may need ballast 35:53 – Would you fly eight or nine hours on a single-aisle plane?

Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Ed and Richard are back, and Richard's Flight Wall is finally making its on-camera debut—although New York airspace isn't exactly cooperating. Ed recaps a very AvGeek-heavy few days, including Cranky Dorkfest at LAX, where aviation fans got up close with everything from a United 787 and American's AirCal livery to Southwest's 1776 MAX 8 and Lufthansa's 100th-anniversary 747. But Ed's biggest aviation experiment happened before he got to Los Angeles. He flew out of Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU), a long-established airport that's new to commercial service. The small terminal has just nine gates and a surprisingly comfortable central seating area, with Porter currently providing the primary commercial service. From there, Ed spent roughly five hours aboard a Porter E195-E2 from Montreal to Vancouver. That sounds like a long time on a regional jet, but the experience surprised him. Porter Reserve offered 36 inches of legroom, the standard seats had 34 inches, the seats were roughly 18 inches wide, Wi-Fi was available, and the crew provided repeated beverage and snack service. The verdict? Ed would happily fly it again. Then it's time to reconsider a credit card that hasn't gotten much attention on M2G: Citi Strata Elite. The card earns 1.5X on everyday purchases, 3X at restaurants—with 6X on Friday and Saturday nights—and offers elevated earnings through Citi Travel. More importantly, Citi ThankYou points can transfer to American Airlines. Richard and Ed debate whether the card's $595 annual fee and collection of credits make it compelling, particularly for travelers focused on accumulating AAdvantage miles. Ed also reports back from his first real Blacklane airport transfer. The experience was significantly more expensive than a typical Uber or Lyft, but also considerably better. Richard shares his experience with Blacklane pricing in New York and explains why Bilt Cash can make the premium easier to justify—especially for family airport trips where reliability matters. Finally, the guys dig into some special Chase Sapphire Reserve 10th-anniversary credits, and one jumps out at Richard: JSX. He's looking at a Teterboro-to-Miami flight for $699. Combine the $200 Sapphire Reserve JSX credit with another $100 referral credit, and Richard could potentially try the semi-private experience for just $399—less than the Delta economy fare he's seeing.   Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Richard's Flight Wall finally goes live Tracking flights over New York Private jets make the board Is $150 a reasonable AvGeek toy? ✈️ Cranky Dorkfest at LAX United's 787 Southwest's 1776 livery American's AirCal livery Delta's 100th-anniversary aircraft Lufthansa brings in a special 747 ✈️ Montreal's new commercial airport Ed visits YHU A tiny nine-gate terminal Surprisingly great airport seating ✈️ Five hours on Porter's E195-E2 2-2 seating 34–36 inches of legroom Roughly 18-inch-wide seats Free Wi-Fi Food and frequent beverage service Why Ed would absolutely do it again ✈️ Have we overlooked Citi Strata Elite? 1.5X everyday spending 6X dining on Friday and Saturday nights $595 annual fee Citi Travel and other credits Four Admirals Club passes Transferring Citi points to American Airlines Why it may be particularly compelling for AAdvantage fans ✈️ Ed tries Blacklane A better experience than Uber or Lyft? How much more it costs Why the lack of tipping narrows the gap Where Bilt Cash comes into play Why reliability can matter more for family trips ✈️ Chase Sapphire Reserve's surprise anniversary credits IHG Miraval and Alila Sixt Wander vacation rentals JSX ✈️ Richard wants to fly JSX Teterboro to Miami $699 starting price $200 Chase credit Another $100 referral credit A potential $399 semi-private flight ⏱️ Episode 455 Timestamps 0:48 – Richard's Flight Wall makes its on-camera debut 3:06 – Ed recaps Cranky Dorkfest at LAX 11:41 – Montreal's YHU and Ed's first Porter E195-E2 flight 15:08 – Five hours on a regional jet: was it actually comfortable? 20:23 – Do Delta Stays bookings earn hotel elite credit? 21:18 – Have Ed and Richard been overlooking Citi Strata Elite? 28:06 – Ed reviews his first real Blacklane experience 31:00 – Blacklane vs. Uber/Lyft: when is the premium worth it? 33:39 – Chase Sapphire Reserve's 10th-anniversary credits 34:14 – How Richard could fly JSX from Teterboro to Miami for $399

Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. The whole gang is here! Ed and Richard are joined by Summer Hull and newly ChatGPT-certified travel genius Julian Kheel for an episode that somehow takes 17 minutes to get to the news—and makes pretty good use of those 17 minutes. First, there's a celebration: Miles To Go has officially passed 10,000 YouTube subscribers. There's also an update on Richard's missing birthday present, the Flight Wall Mini, and the group examines ChatGPT's scientific determination that there's a "surprisingly strong case" for Julian being a genius. Then they finally get to the news. The TSA is testing Gateside, which allows TSA PreCheck members at participating airports to request access beyond security even when they aren't flying. That means meeting someone at the gate—or accompanying a family member who needs help—could once again become possible. Julian loves the idea, Summer isn't planning recreational trips to the gate, and Richard points out that there have always been…other ways to accomplish this. There's potentially another TSA change coming as well: allowing PreCheck members to bring water through security. But Ed has questions about how smoothly Gateside will actually work when travelers arrive at the checkpoint without a boarding pass, especially given Richard's recent experiences with TSA Touch Free. After Julian departs, the conversation turns to Frontier's major loyalty changes. Diamond status will become easier to earn, but mileage earning is being reduced across fares and several elite benefits are disappearing unless travelers purchase bundles. Richard says Frontier will become much more situational for his family, especially with Gold members losing seat selection at booking. But Frontier's changes come at a particularly interesting time because domestic airfare is getting painful. Summer is paying Frontier for an upcoming family trip to Orlando because comparable United tickets were roughly $2,500–$3,000 for four people. Richard faced similarly painful pricing from New York. Without Spirit providing as much low-cost competition, the group discusses whether we're already seeing the effects in leisure markets such as Orlando and Las Vegas. And miles aren't necessarily saving the day. Summer found United awards running 40,000–50,000 miles for expensive Orlando flights, while international award travel brings its own problem: increasingly painful taxes and fees, particularly when traveling as a family. There are still wins. Summer snagged business class to Europe for 68,000 United miles per person with minimal fees, while Ed found reasonably priced Honolulu–Sydney awards and used an Atmos Rewards 100,000-mile companion certificate. The game isn't dead—but having flexibility, alerts and the right tools is becoming increasingly important. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Is Julian officially a genius? ChatGPT weighs in Travel intelligence: 9.5/10 Vacation skills: considerably lower The proposed "Julian Kheel, Genius*" nameplate Why asking AI this question may have been a terrible idea ✈️ M2G hits 10,000 YouTube subscribers A milestone for the show Contract-renegotiation jokes immediately follow ✈️ Richard finally gets his Flight Wall The mysterious missing birthday package Life as a New York City doorman in the Amazon era Tracking flights in real time from Richard's office ✈️ TSA brings back access to the gate Gateside access for TSA PreCheck members Meeting arriving passengers at the gate Helping family members through the airport Why Ed is skeptical about how smoothly it'll work ✈️ Could TSA let you bring water through security? A potential future PreCheck benefit Giving pre-vetted travelers more flexibility Why Julian thinks it's a logical expansion ✈️ Frontier takes a chainsaw to elite status Easier Diamond qualification Lower mileage earning Elite perks disappearing Bundles required to regain some benefits Why Richard's Frontier strategy is changing ✈️ Family airfare is getting ridiculous $2,500–$3,000 trips to Orlando Frontier becoming the rational choice despite its changes The potential impact of reduced Spirit competition Vegas airfare reportedly up sharply ✈️ Miles aren't necessarily solving the problem 40,000–50,000-mile domestic awards School-calendar constraints International taxes and fees Why repositioning may be increasingly important ✈️ There are still great awards out there Summer's 68,000-mile United business-class tickets Ed's Honolulu–Sydney redemption Atmos Rewards companion certificates Why flexibility and alerts matter more than ever ⏱️ Episode 454 Timestamps 2:26 – ChatGPT decides whether Julian is actually a genius 6:10 – M2G celebrates 10,000 YouTube subscribers 8:07 – Richard finally gets his Flight Wall birthday present 15:07 – Points Path Flex Alerts and finding better award availability 17:04 – TSA Gateside: going through security without a boarding pass 21:15 – Will TSA's technology actually make Gateside work? 24:22 – Frontier guts elite benefits and changes mileage earning 26:02 – When Orlando airfare costs $2,500–$3,000 for a family 31:14 – Domestic award prices are getting painful, too 32:19 – International award fees, repositioning and finding the remaining deals

Watch Us On YouTube! Take advantage of our ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. JetBlue is finally adding domestic first class—but is a nicer seat really what the airline needs most? Ed and Richard are joined by Points Path founder Julian Kheel for a packed episode that starts with JetBlue's plans for three rows of domestic first class. The guys like plenty about the JetBlue onboard experience, but there's an elephant in the room: operational reliability. July data discussed on the show puts JetBlue at just 62% for on-time arrivals and a 91.7% completion factor. Richard and Julian argue that fixing the network and operation might be a higher priority than installing premium seats. There's another tradeoff. JetBlue can install first class without dramatically reducing the total number of seats because its cabins historically had generous legroom—but the new configuration significantly reduces Even More Space seating. That leads to a discussion about whether JetBlue is simultaneously premiumizing the front while "depremiuming" economy. Richard also has something else on his mind: domestic airfare. He's seeing some eye-watering prices for family trips, including roughly $2,400–$2,500 for four people on relatively short domestic trips. Julian says Points Path data used in a recent study is showing significant year-over-year increases in holiday pricing for both cash fares and miles, making locking something in early increasingly important. Then Julian weighs in on Google's new AI-powered points-and-miles search after Ed and Richard tested it last week. His verdict falls somewhere between theirs: there's potential, but the current product still struggles to return complete results. More fundamentally, Julian questions whether travelers actually want to book trips by chatting with an AI bot. The real prize, he argues, isn't simply showing every available fare—it's personalization that understands your points, credits and other assets and tells you which option is best for you. Air Canada has new routes coming, including a daytime Toronto–London flight, but its upcoming A321XLR configuration gets Ed's attention: just 14 lie-flat seats, no premium economy and an otherwise all-economy cabin at a time when airlines seem to be racing to add premium capacity. United, meanwhile, is adding a new app feature designed to help during delays. Travelers will be able to stand by for as many as three alternate flights and receive notifications if seats become available. Julian sees it as a useful, customer-friendly addition. Richard is…less convinced. Finally, Ed and Julian tackle a question close to home: Does the Washington, D.C. region really need a fourth commercial airport? Manassas Regional Airport has received permission to offer commercial service, potentially opening the door to carriers such as Avelo. Ed digs into the economics of Dulles, National and the broader DC market—and why making a fourth airport work may be harder than it sounds. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️JetBlue is finally getting domestic first class Three rows and 12 first-class seats Why JetBlue can add premium seats without a huge capacity reduction Whether premium cabins address JetBlue's actual problems ✈️ JetBlue's reliability problem 62% on-time arrivals in July A 91.7% completion factor Comparing JetBlue with other North American airlines Why Richard still chooses JetBlue despite the operational headaches ✈️ Domestic airfare is getting painful $2,400+ family trips When Europe can seemingly cost less than Orlando Using Delta companion certificates for other travelers Why locking in refundable/rebookable fares early can make sense ✈️ Is JetBlue "depremiuming" economy? Fewer Even More Space seats Adding premium capacity at the front What happens to the JetBlue economy experience ✈️ Julian weighs in on Google's AI award search Incomplete results Why chatbots may not be the future of travel booking Discovery versus actually executing a trip Why personalization may be the real breakthrough ✈️ Air Canada's unusual A321XLR strategy New international routes Daytime Toronto–London service Only 14 lie-flat seats No premium economy Why the configuration seems surprising in today's premium-heavy market ✈️ United adds more disruption tools Stand by for up to three flights after a delay Alternate airports may be included Julian likes it Richard really doesn't ✈️ Does DC need a fourth airport? Manassas Regional Airport gets commercial approval Potential low-cost-carrier service Dulles versus National airport economics Why supporting four airports is difficult Which airlines might realistically serve Manassas ⏱️ Episode 453 Timestamps 10:04 – JetBlue finally reveals its domestic first-class plans 13:18 – Does JetBlue need first class—or better reliability? 15:00 – Why domestic airfare has gotten so expensive 16:14 – The numbers behind JetBlue's operational struggles 22:08 – Is JetBlue "depremiuming" the rest of the cabin? 25:58 – Julian weighs in on Google's AI award search 31:08 – Personalization: the real future of points-and-miles search? 32:56 – Air Canada's surprising A321XLR configuration 36:37 – United's new three-flight standby feature sparks a debate 42:17 – Does Washington, D.C. really need a fourth airport?

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Google is officially getting deeper into the points-and-miles world, and Ed and Richard have plenty of questions. Google is adding travel functionality to AI Mode that can search for points-and-miles availability directly from participating airlines and hotel programs. Initial integrations include Alaska, Hawaiian, American, Choice, Hilton and Wyndham, with Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM and Lufthansa among those expected to follow. And the results can be fast—Richard gets award pricing back almost instantly during the show. But fast doesn't necessarily mean accurate. Ed puts the new functionality through a series of tests and finds incorrect Hilton award prices, missing hotels, problems with dates and days of the week, and incomplete results. Richard gets Google to find an Alaska Mileage Plan redemption on American—but only after specifically asking about it, and even then Google provides the wrong partner booking fee. They also conduct a live experiment looking for Marriott award availability during Atlanta Braves home games, with some interesting results. So, is Google AI ready to replace dedicated award-search tools? Not yet. But Ed and Richard agree that if Google can make the data more reliable, the ability to ask a broad question like "Show me every date in October when I can fly this route for 7,500 miles" could become extremely useful. Richard also breaks down Bilt's new partnership with Blacklane, which allows members to book the chauffeur service directly through Bilt and use Bilt Cash or points toward rides. He explains why a premium airport pickup can be particularly valuable at airports where rideshare pickup is a hassle—and acknowledges that the convenience comes at a price. Plus, a $10 Uber Eats order somehow becomes a $29 order, the guys discuss air traffic controllers reportedly leaving work early before a fatal airport accident, and Ed celebrates a very points-and-miles-specific parenting achievement. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Google AI enters the award-search game Searching airline and hotel awards through AI Mode Direct integrations with travel programs Near-instantaneous results More airlines and hotels coming soon ✈️ Can you trust the results? Incorrect award prices Missing hotels and flight options Wrong partner-booking fees Google failing to catch contradictory date information Why knowing the right question to ask still matters ✈️ A live Google AI award-search experiment Searching Marriott availability around Braves home games A $700+ hotel room versus 48,000 Marriott points Where Google got the answer right—and where it didn't ✈️ Could Google replace award-search tools? The potential of flexible natural-language searches Why accuracy needs to improve first Where dedicated tools still have the advantage ✈️ Bilt adds Blacklane Booking chauffeur service through Bilt Using Bilt Cash and Bilt Points Airport pickups without rideshare roulette Richard's experiences testing Blacklane Convenience versus cost ✈️ When a $10 food order becomes $29 Uber Eats fees A new marketplace fee Small-order fees The economics of delivery apps ✈️ Air traffic controllers and "early shove" Two controllers reportedly leaving early The difference between scheduled staffing and actual staffing Why aviation accidents rarely have a single cause Building systems that account for human behavior ✈️ Ed's lifetime points-and-miles achievement His daughter gets approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Building credit with authorized-user accounts Helping young adults establish credit Using rent reporting as another credit-building tool ⏱️ Episode 452 Timestamps 2:07 – Marriott stays not posting and an MGM booking trick 8:34 – Google brings points-and-miles searches to AI Mode 10:38 – Richard tests Google's award search live 15:05 – Wrong prices, missing results and Google's accuracy problem 18:30 – Live test: finding a Marriott award during a Braves home game 22:49 – Would Ed and Richard actually use Google AI to book travel? 24:14 – Bilt's new Blacklane partnership 28:52 – How a $10 Uber Eats order turns into $29 30:50 – Air traffic controllers, "early shove" and airport staffing 36:06 – Ed's lifetime achievement: his daughter gets a Chase Sapphire Preferred

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Who actually deserves that empty first-class seat—and should an airline ever downgrade a passenger to make room for its own crew? Ed and Richard kick things off with two very different upgrade situations on American Airlines. Richard found himself first on the upgrade list with two seats remaining, only to see those seats occupied by non-revenue flight attendants. That leads into a much bigger debate over a family reportedly downgraded from business class on a Miami–Milan flight to accommodate deadheading pilots. The guys discuss the important difference between deadheading and non-rev travel, whether award passengers should be more vulnerable to downgrades, and why these decisions can undermine airline loyalty. Then, Flying Blue is introducing Light, Standard and Flex award tickets, effectively bringing the unbundling trend to award travel. A Light business-class award can mean no advance seat assignment, no lounge access and no changes or refunds. Flying Blue elites retain some benefits, but Ed and Richard worry about what this trend means for everyone sitting on a pile of airline miles. They also react to Starlux selling miles for a whopping four cents apiece and do the math on whether buying enough for a business-class award could possibly make sense. Spoiler alert: they're not reaching for their wallets. Plus, Alaska Airlines is expanding its international ambitions with new Seattle flights to Paris and Athens, and the FAA has Ed and Richard debating one of the most pressing issues in aviation: apparently, your pre-departure beverage could be an evacuation hazard. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Richard gets skipped on the upgrade list Two first-class seats remained Non-revenue flight attendants ended up sitting up front Why published elite benefits should actually be honored ✈️ Should passengers ever be downgraded for airline crews? Deadheading pilots versus non-rev employees A family downgraded on a Miami–Milan flight Award tickets versus cash tickets How these decisions affect customer loyalty ✈️ Flying Blue unbundles award tickets New Light, Standard and Flex awards Business class without lounge access or advance seat selection Change and refund restrictions Why this could function as an award-price increase ✈️ Flying Blue status becomes more valuable Elite benefits still apply to Light awards The advantage for travelers who matched status through Bilt Why status matters when airlines start stripping benefits from fares ✈️ Would you buy Starlux miles for four cents each? Roughly $6,000 for enough miles for a 150,000-mile award Why an expensive cash fare doesn't necessarily make that a bargain When buying miles can make sense ✈️ Alaska expands to Paris and Athens New service from Seattle Why Athens is becoming such a popular destination Greek islands and connecting leisure demand How much service the market can support ✈️ Alaska's 787 service challenges Flight attendants raise concerns about staffing Large premium cabins and additional service elements Comparing staffing with other long-haul carriers ✈️ The FAA comes for your pre-departure beverage Airline-provided cups must be collected before pushback Why Richard thinks the rule is ridiculous Ed's foolproof method for guaranteeing himself a pre-departure beverage ⏱️ Episode 451 Timestamps 10:16 – Richard gets skipped for a first-class upgrade 13:12 – Non-revs vs. deadheading crews: who should get the seat? 15:28 – Should an award passenger ever be downgraded for a pilot? 18:13 – Flying Blue introduces Light, Standard and Flex awards 19:23 – Business class without lounge access, seat selection or flexibility 22:30 – Starlux sells miles for an eye-popping four cents each 24:40 – Alaska adds Seattle–Paris and Seattle–Athens 28:40 – Alaska 787 flight attendants raise staffing concerns 30:14 – The FAA's new enforcement around pre-departure beverages

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Ed and Richard are back home after another exhausting stretch of travel, and Richard has survived Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas—barely. Before getting into the airline news, they recap the Vegas experience, including $25 asparagus, $34 cocktails, increasingly unfriendly casino odds, Bellagio's surprising food problem, and why "free parking" has somehow become a legitimate Las Vegas selling point. There's also some fresh Bilt news. Bilt has relaunched its partnership with Blade, allowing members to redeem Bilt Cash for up to two airport helicopter seats per year, along with the ability to use Bilt Points toward Blade flights. Ed also celebrates another year of Accor Platinum status through Bilt's returning status match. Then it's time to talk airlines. After some decidedly unimpressive United flights, Ed and Richard discuss American Airlines ending complimentary upgrades into premium economy on select three-cabin domestic routes. Is this actually a meaningful loss for elites—or just another acknowledgement that complimentary upgrades are already disappearing? Delta, meanwhile, is moving hard in the opposite direction when it comes to premium cabin capacity. Some A330-900neos will feature a whopping 56 Delta One suites, while new domestic aircraft will also feature substantially larger first-class cabins. But Richard raises an important question: if airlines add all those premium seats without adding crew, lavatories and galley capacity, will the experience actually feel premium? Plus, Ed recaps his first D23 experience, they revisit last week's Amanvari controversy after new details emerged, Richard questions what's happening with Delta's operational reliability, and Uber One announces an "improvement" that involves… giving members less. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Bilt Cash takes to the skies Bilt's revamped Blade partnership Using Bilt Cash for airport helicopter flights Redeeming Bilt Points toward Blade Accor Platinum status returns ✈️ Is Las Vegas getting too expensive? Free parking is now a selling point Resort fees and cheap room rates $25 asparagus and $34 cocktails Why Bellagio can be surprisingly difficult for a quick meal ✈️ United's aging aircraft problem Broken or nonexistent Wi-Fi Old entertainment systems Why SNA is still a fantastic alternative to LAX ✈️ Ed's first D23 New Disney attractions Fixing the Yeti New roller coasters The future of Figment Ed's take on Hyatt Regency Orange County ✈️ The Amanvari controversy gets more complicated New details about the canceled hotel stay What the original story left out Why opening-week hotel reviews remain a bad idea ✈️ American changes complimentary upgrades Premium economy on three-cabin domestic aircraft Routes where free upgrades are disappearing Why Richard thinks chasing status for domestic upgrades is already a losing game ✈️ Delta dramatically expands premium cabins 56 Delta One suites on select A330-900neos Bigger first-class cabins on domestic aircraft The potential problem with lavatories, galleys and staffing Why more premium seats may not mean cheaper premium fares ✈️ What's happening with Delta? Richard's recent delays Delta becoming his worst-performing airline this year Another missed Shake Shack burger ✈️ Uber One gives members an "improvement" Ride credits drop from 6% to 5% Why corporate messaging sometimes makes things worse ⏱️ Episode 450 Timestamps 0:48 – Surviving Virtuoso Travel Week and the Vegas heat 2:48 – Bilt Cash can now pay for Blade helicopter flights 5:59 – Vegas prices, free parking and Bellagio's food problem 14:05 – United's aging planes, broken Wi-Fi and the convenience of SNA 17:22 – Ed's first D23 and the biggest Disney announcements 22:48 – New details change the Amanvari hotel controversy 26:14 – American ends some complimentary premium-economy upgrades 31:01 – Delta dramatically increases premium cabin seating 36:24 – Richard asks: What is happening to Delta? 36:49 – Uber One's unusual definition of an "improvement"

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Airline lounge access keeps getting more expensive—and Ed and Richard are wondering who is actually paying these prices. This week on Miles To Go, they break down American Airlines' latest Admirals Club changes, including higher membership prices and a revamped Executive Card. With individual lounge membership now costing hundreds of dollars and family access climbing even higher, the guys debate whether the airline credit card is now the only logical way to buy into the ecosystem. That leads to a broader discussion about whether airport lounges deserve as much weight as they get when travelers evaluate premium credit cards. Crowding, long lines, limited space, and inconsistent food all make Ed question how much real value lounge access adds. Richard also shares a surprise about JetBlue Mint: even on an expensive transcontinental Mint ticket, lounge access still isn't included unless you're flying transatlantic. Then the conversation shifts to a brand-new luxury resort cancellation controversy, where a well-known YouTuber arrived only to find his reservation had been canceled at the last minute. Finally, Richard gives an update on his Frontier GoWild Pass—and admits that, despite owning it, he still hasn't actually managed to use it. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ American Airlines raises lounge prices Admirals Club membership gets more expensive Family access can cost up to four figures Why the Executive Card may be the better path ✈️ AA Executive Card changes Higher annual fee Vacation credits Lyft credit increase AAdvantage Hotels earning More Loyalty Point opportunities ✈️ Are airport lounges overrated? Crowding at Centurion and Chase lounges Limited usefulness at your home airport Why lounge access may not justify a premium annual fee ✈️ JetBlue Mint's missing lounge perk Transcontinental Mint still doesn't include lounge access Discounted paid entry instead Why Ed and Richard find the policy surprising ✈️ A luxury hotel opening controversy A reservation canceled the night before arrival Whether a hotel should cancel a reviewer's stay Why opening-week hotel reviews can be misleading ✈️ Should you stay at a hotel right after it opens? Operational growing pains Incomplete facilities Why both Ed and Richard prefer to wait ✈️ Frontier GoWild Pass update Richard still hasn't used it Limited availability Why it may work better for retirees, students, or flexible travelers ⏱️ Episode 449 Timestamps 0:48 – Vegas heat, travel week setup, and getting started 2:39 – American Airlines raises Admirals Club pricing 6:38 – AA Executive Card changes and whether it's worth $695 10:38 – Are airport lounges really worth premium-card annual fees? 12:20 – JetBlue Mint still doesn't include lounge access on transcon flights 14:06 – M2G passes 9,000 YouTube subscribers 16:53 – Luxury resort cancels a YouTuber's reservation at the last minute 19:42 – Is reviewing a hotel during opening week actually useful? 21:53 – Frontier launches another GoWild Pass offer 22:34 – Richard's GoWild Pass update: has he used it yet?

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. This week is a little different—and a lot more fun. Ed is joined in person by Richard Kerr, Summer Hull from The Points Guy, and Julian Kheel from Points Path as the group gathers in Las Vegas to celebrate Richard's birthday. Before diving into travel topics, they swap stories about their first meetings, early podcast appearances, and how surprisingly bad they all are at remembering each other. The conversation then turns to one of the hottest topics in premium travel: Chase Lounge access. The group discusses Chase's decision to eliminate Priority Pass access beginning later this month, whether the change will improve crowding, and how much value lounge access actually contributes to an expensive premium credit card. From there, the discussion shifts to premium credit card economics, the Ritz-Carlton Card's hidden value, whether multiple Amex Platinum cards still make sense, and the challenge of assigning real dollar value to annual fees and lounge access. Finally, everyone weighs in on Julian's honeymoon plans, debating destinations, points strategies, and whether his ambitious itinerary is actually realistic. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Richard's birthday celebration Recording together in Las Vegas How everyone first met Early Miles To Go memories ✈️ Chase Lounge access changes Priority Pass access ends Longer connection access for eligible Chase cardholders Will the lounges become less crowded? ✈️ How much are airport lounges worth? Valuing lounge access Domestic versus international travel Waiting in line for premium lounges ✈️ The Ritz-Carlton Card Chase Lounge access Flexible travel credits Free night certificate value ✈️ Premium credit card annual fees Sapphire Reserve Venture X Amex Platinum Which benefits actually get used? ✈️ Julian's honeymoon planning Africa versus other destinations Luxury hotels and points strategies How many points will it really take? ✈️ When is another premium card worth adding? Sign-up bonuses Transfer bonuses Credit utilization versus annual fees ⏱️ Episode 448 Timestamps 0:47 – Richard's birthday and how everyone first met 5:49 – Chase Lounge access changes explained 8:03 – Will Chase Lounges become as crowded as Centurion Lounges? 10:07 – Summer reviews Capital One Landings at LaGuardia 11:50 – What are premium airport lounges really worth? 13:39 – The hidden value of the Ritz-Carlton Card 14:14 – Is the Sapphire Reserve still worth keeping? 15:34 – How many Amex Platinum cards are too many? 17:02 – Planning Julian's honeymoon with points

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. This week Ed is joined by Clint Henderson from The Points Guy for a deep dive into some of the best premium-cabin award opportunities still available—and why flexibility is becoming more important than ever. Clint shares several recent bookings that include American's new Philadelphia-Prague route, Cathay Pacific's new Seattle-Hong Kong service, Starlux business class, and Japan Airlines First Class, along with the strategies that made each redemption possible. The conversation also explores why holding a United credit card is becoming increasingly valuable, with cardholders gaining access to dramatically better award pricing than non-cardholders. Later, Ed discusses Bilt's latest Rent Day promotion featuring a status match with Accor Live Limitless, explains why he found significant value from Accor Platinum status in Europe, and closes with a candid discussion about Hyatt's growing list of hotels that no longer accept Suite Upgrade Awards—and why that trend is becoming concerning for Hyatt loyalists. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Outstanding premium-cabin award bookings American's new Philadelphia–Prague route Cathay Pacific's Seattle–Hong Kong launch Starlux Business Class Japan Airlines First Class Why new route announcements create award opportunities ✈️ Finding award availability Alaska Mileage Plan sweet spots Positioning flights Acting quickly when inventory appears Tools for tracking award space ✈️ United credit card perks Exclusive cardholder award pricing Quest Card benefits Why United's strategy differs from Delta's Is this the future of airline loyalty? ✈️ Points Path Flex Alerts Monitoring every flight on a route Finding hard-to-book awards Slack Community member benefits ✈️ Bilt's Accor status match Matching Bilt Gold and Platinum Benefits of Accor Platinum status Early check-in, late checkout and upgrades Why Europe and Asia travelers should pay attention ✈️ Award pricing inflation Premium cabin pricing Domestic versus international value Why overseas awards remain one of the best uses of miles ✈️ Hyatt's expanding Suite Upgrade Award exclusions More than 100 excluded hotels Hyatt Regency Anchorage joins the list Why Hyatt loyalists are becoming concerned Is Hyatt drifting toward Marriott's model? ⏱️ Episode 447 Timestamps 0:49 – Clint Henderson joins the show 5:23 – Incredible premium-cabin award bookings and new route opportunities 11:43 – Slack Community updates and Points Path Flex Alerts 14:00 – Bilt's new Accor Live Limitless status match 16:50 – Why United credit cards unlock better award pricing 21:41 – Award pricing inflation and where the best value still exists 23:15 – Hyatt's growing Suite Upgrade Award exclusion list 27:36 – Wrapping up and future travel plans

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Severe weather created another difficult weekend for travelers, and Richard opens the episode with the story of getting his sister home after JetBlue canceled her flight and could not offer another option for several days. The solution involved a train to Baltimore, a Southwest flight and a reminder of why keeping points available for emergencies can be so valuable. Ed then reviews his family's stay at the MGM Skylofts in Las Vegas, including the spacious two-bedroom accommodations, the aging room features and his lingering question about what guests are actually supposed to ask a hotel butler to do. He and Richard compare Skylofts with Aria Sky Suites and consider whether the additional luxury benefits justify the much higher price. The conversation shifts to the complicated Marriott–MGM relationship. Ed explains why MGM Gold status and direct booking can sometimes beat booking through Marriott, especially when resort fees and restaurant spending are considered. Richard also discovers an especially poor Marriott points redemption: nearly 17,000 points to avoid paying a $30 base room rate while still owing the resort fee. Later, the guys debate the best travel movies ever made, discuss whether Boeing should once again be allowed to certify its own aircraft, answer a listener question about choosing a Tokyo hotel for a short visit and examine why domestic award travel has become so painful for families. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Weather disruptions and emergency travel planning A canceled JetBlue flight Taking the train to BWI for a Southwest alternative Why points provide an important travel safety net ✈️ Ed's MGM Skylofts experience The two-bedroom layout Butler service and luxury-hotel benefits Skylofts versus Aria Sky Suites Whether the premium price makes sense ✈️ The Marriott–MGM partnership Booking through Marriott versus MGM Resort fees on Marriott award stays Why MGM Gold can make direct booking more attractive Missing Marriott credit for restaurant charges ✈️ Chase Sapphire Preferred's 100,000-point offer Why Richard applied again Rebuilding a transferable-points balance Marriott points versus Ultimate Rewards ✈️ The best travel movies Up in the Air Flight The Terminal Planes, Trains and Automobiles Back to the Future Catch Me If You Can ✈️ Boeing and FAA oversight Boeing regaining some aircraft-certification authority Whether Boeing can adequately oversee itself Increasing financial penalties for safety violations ✈️ Choosing a Tokyo hotel for a short trip Park Hyatt Tokyo versus Grand Hyatt Tokyo Why location may matter more than luxury Staying near a convenient subway station ✈️ Marriott and Japan Airlines A new JAL status-match opportunity Potential benefits for Marriott elites Rumors of JAL becoming a Citi transfer partner ✈️ The rising cost of domestic award travel Expensive flights for families Shrinking partner-award opportunities Why domestic points strategies are disappearing ⏱️ Episode 446 Timestamps 0:48 – Weather cancellations and getting Richard's sister home 2:28 – Ed reviews the MGM Skylofts 6:45 – Marriott points, resort fees and MGM booking strategy 11:26 – Chase Sapphire Preferred's 100,000-point offer 15:11 – Debating the best travel movies ever 21:58 – Boeing regains aircraft-certification authority 26:08 – Slack Community and Points Path benefits 27:35 – Where to stay during a short Tokyo visit 29:39 – Marriott's JAL status match and transfer-partner rumors 31:41 – Why domestic award travel is getting so expensive

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Travel doesn't always go according to plan—and this week proves it. Ed and Richard swap stories from a week filled with thunderstorms, flight delays, rental car headaches, and what may be one of the worst Hyatt Place stays either of them has experienced. Richard recounts an unforgettable late-night arrival that included multiple defective rental cars, a chaotic hotel check-in, broken room amenities, and an experience that ultimately prompted him to complete a hotel survey for the first time in years. The conversation also takes a closer look at why American Airlines has quietly become Richard's airline of choice over the past several weeks. Between competitive first-class pricing, consistently excellent onboard service, reliable Wi-Fi, and solid meals, American is making a compelling case while Delta continues to work through operational challenges. Plus, a fascinating discussion about a Lufthansa 787 maintenance mistake, Denver Airport's long-awaited pedestrian tunnels, and Richard's review of the historic Arizona Biltmore. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Richard's travel nightmare Rental car problems at Atlanta A disastrous Hyatt Place stay Why this finally earned a hotel survey ✈️ American Airlines keeps impressing Competitive first-class pricing Better domestic meal service Reliable Wi-Fi and outstanding crews ✈️ What's happening at Delta? Operational reliability concerns Schedule disruptions How the competitive landscape is shifting ✈️ Lufthansa's 787 maintenance mistake The missing safety pin Why maintenance procedures matter A costly avoidable accident ✈️ Denver Airport's future walkways New pedestrian tunnels Why they're finally being built Whether they'll solve train disruptions ✈️ Arizona Biltmore review Historic resort impressions Citrus Club benefits Surviving 119-degree Phoenix heat ✈️ Slack Community update Points Path Pro discount New Flex Alerts Upcoming member benefits ⏱️ Episode 445 Timestamps 0:47 – Welcome back and summer travel delays 8:08 – Richard's rental car disaster and Hyatt Place horror story 17:30 – Why American Airlines has become Richard's preferred choice 20:49 – Delta's operational challenges and airline strategy 27:22 – Lufthansa 787 nose gear collapse explained 30:09 – Slack Community updates and Points Path benefits 31:00 – Denver Airport's long-awaited pedestrian tunnels 35:10 – Arizona Biltmore review and surviving Phoenix in 119° heat