Mar 15, 2024
In today's episode of Frequent Miler on the Air, we'll talk
about different "hidden" opportunities to find great award
availability when you otherwise strike out trying to find
international lie-flat awards, for example.
(01:13) - Advantage shopping portal vs AAdvantageHotels...when
do these bookings' miles post...check in date or purchase date?
(Mailbag)
(05:36) - I noticed that you are not doing the mattress
running the numbers segment - any particular reason?
(Mailbag)
(08:00) - Amex Platinum consumer card is dropping SiriusXM
from digital entertainment May 8 (Card Talk)
(11:50) - The American Express Business Platinum card 250K
offer is still available in a roundabout way. (Card Talk)
(16:14) - United triggers a flight as "supposed to be a paper
ticket" upon check in... (Crazy Thing)
(22:33) - Hyatt will be losing SLH partnership on May 15
(Award Talk)
(25:12) - New Alaska award chart slowly going live and
expected to be complete by 3/31/24. (Award Talk)
(29:14) - Bilt adds Alaska as a partner (Award Talk)
(30:00) - Bilt loses AA as a partner in June (Award
Talk)
(35:09) - Ritz upgrade success (again!) (Award Talk)
(36:33) - Delta’s new companion certificates really work as
advertised (Award Talk)
(38:17) - Delta: update about extending elite status with MQM
rollovers (Award Talk)
(40:45) - Award search tool comparisons, including award
discovery tools (Award Talk)
Main Event: Where to Find Hidden Award Flights
(45:17) - Opportunities to find great award availability when
you otherwise strike out trying to book international lie-flat
awards...
(46:20) - Aeroplan has better award space for Singapore
Airlines than Singapore itself
(48:05) - JetBlue Mint, book with Qatar Avios
(50:12) - ITA booked with Virgin Atlantic miles (widely
available as of the last time Nick looked...)
(52:04) - Hawaiian Air has very good award space to Asia
(54:00) - Emirates: Book lower class of service and upgrade
with points at airport
(55:32) - Flying Blue: Don't trust the calendar
(57:57) - AA, Flying Blue: often get much better pricing by
flying to/from smaller airports
(01:01:18) - Many airlines (Eva Air, Qatar, Etihad, Lufthansa,
BA, Virgin, Turkish, etc) offer better award availability to their
own members
(01:10:33) - Book good-enough refundable flights and wait
until close-in to find great flights.
(01:14:04) - Sometimes cash (or pay with points) is best
option
(01:19:56) - We review a unique case study where verification
details delayed a credit card so long that a new application was
required...but in that time, the bonus increased... (Question of
the week)