Episode 50: Show Notes

Are loyalty programs becoming less valuable, or are they evolving to meet the demands of modern travelers? In this episode, we delve into the future of airline and hotel loyalty programs and examine potential innovations and strategies to maximize points. To help us unravel this topic is returning guest Joey Redmond, a passionate traveler and co-host of the new Travel Bros Podcast, where he shares insights and reviews on unique hotels and travel experiences. In our conversation, we discuss the future of the Alaskan and American Airlines partnership, gaps in elite loyalty programs, and the broader impact of mileage programs on consumer behavior. Explore strategies for maximizing hotel rewards through points arbitrage and learn the art of leveraging IHG points and ambassador status for substantial savings. Joey also shares his experience of Turks and Caicos, its charming hotels, and its less-than-ideal airport. Discover unique and interesting boutique accommodations and hear Joey's tips and tricks for finding one-of-a-kind hotels. Join us to uncover how you can maximize your rewards and make your loyalty programs work harder for you in 2025 with Joey Redmond. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:27] Outline of today’s episode and a warm welcome to Joey Redmond.
• [0:01:58] Predictions for loyalty programs, devaluation risks, and features for 2025.
• [0:03:57] Alaska Airlines’ partnership with American Airlines and its potential impact on points.
• [0:09:22] Upgrade and status challenges elite loyalty programs face and how they will adapt.
• [0:17:51] Points arbitrage strategies for hotels and how to purchase points at a discount.
• [0:24:47] Learn about the benefits of purchasing ambassador status for savings on hotels.
• [0:29:38] Turks and Caicos, its American influences, the state of the airport, and the hotel.
• [0:36:56] Explore the advantages and limitations of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH).
• [0:40:01] Details about the hotel in Turks and Caicos and the charm of the South Bank.
• [0:49:25] Exciting hotel options and unique properties in the SLH collection for points holders.
• [0:56:15] The Travel Bros Pod and what listeners will gain from its hotel-centric content.
• [1:02:36] Hear Joey's tips and tricks for finding unique hotels using online platforms.
• [1:06:56] Joey's invitation for listeners to share their ideas for future travel stories. 
• [1:11:06] Find out how to contact Joey, a special thank you to listeners, and final takeaways.

Quotes:

“I think we are going to see some major innovation in airline elite loyalty programs.” — @TktweetsKim [0:09:22]

“It is important to look at things outside of the, 'I am only going to pay with points.'” — @tmount [0:22:55]

“Turks and Caicos, I will tell you, is probably the worst airport I have ever been to outside of Africa.” — @joeyredmond [0:31:33]

“You need to realize a lot of these [boutique] hotels are either family-run or [individually-owed] run. You're almost a step above a bed and breakfast and a huge step below a corporate [hotel].” — @joeyredmond [0:47:57]

“What does excite me, generally, is non-traditional hotels or non-traditional new hotels.” — @joeyredmond [1:00:40]

“There is so much information out there [that] I think if you just spend a bit of time you can find unique and interesting hotels.” — @joeyredmond [1:04:15]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joey Redmond

Joey Redmond on Instagram

Joey Redmond on Twitter

Travel Bros Podcast

Travel Bros Podcast on Instagram

Travel Bros Podcast on Facebook

Travel Bros Podcast on X

Travel Bros Podcast on YouTube

Travel Bros Podcast on TikTok

Alaska Airlines 

Hawaiian Airlines

Dots, Lines & Destinations

American Airlines

Loyalty Status Co

Mark Ross-Smith on X

View from the Wing 

IHG®

IHG® Ambassador Program

One Mile at a Time

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Fast Track Service

Grace Bay Resorts 

Leading Hotels of the World

Virtuoso

Episode 8: Epic Guys Trip

Episode 42: The Points Guy is Bilt for Rewards with Richard Kerr

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 49: Show Notes

In this episode, we welcome Ryan Smith, the news managing editor for upgraded points and a prolific writer published by Award Wallet, TPG, Forbes Advisor, and more. One of the things that makes Ryan special is that he is one of very few people on the planet who have visited every country in the world! Join us as Ryan shares his experience as a writer, traveler, and points and miles user over the years. You’ll learn what it was like for him to travel in business class for the first time before we unpack the airlines diversifying their fleets today. Ryan speaks to three major events in points and miles this year, and as someone with dual citizenship in Brazil, he shares why he recommends going to South America, especially if you have points and miles. We discuss memorable cultural experiences that Ryan has had and what has struck him most from traveling to places that are furthest away from his childhood experiences. We also dive into the details of his experiences in Nigeria and Bhutan, and what makes Bhutan so special. Join us today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:54] An overview of which journalistic websites are shutting down and why.
• [08:02] Context for Ryan’s work and where he first learned about points and miles.
• [14:28] Why he recommends going to South America and what some barriers might be. 
• [19:18] The story of the first time he redeemed miles to fly in business class.
• [26:38] Airlines diversifying their aircraft makes.
• [33:30] Three major events in points and miles this year.
• [44:57] The mechanism that Southwest has used to capitalize on sales.
• [49:31] Ryan’s predictions for the rest of the year. 
• [57:14] Traveling to every country in the world and why Togo was the biggest challenge. 
• [01:08:45] What struck him about traveling to places that are different from where he grew up. 
• [01:14:50] How he ended up at the finals of the Best MC Rap Battle in Nigeria by accident. 
• [01:18:55] What it was like to visit Bhutan and what makes the country so exceptional.
• [01:22:33] Bhutan’s visa and visitor’s fee and why you should visit as soon as possible!
• [01:29:41] Ryan’s hot takes on Alaska and more. 
• [01:35:28] Thoughts on Bluesky and whether it will survive as a platform.    

Quotes:

“The average – person might never meet someone who has been to every country, but you could go to a points and miles conference, and there might be three or four of us there.” — @RyanSmithTravel [58:51]

“I enjoy going to places – [where] it feels like, this place ain’t like where I grew up – That’s North Korea, that’s China, that’s Bhutan, that’s Madagascar. I grew up in Ohio outside Columbus and those places feel so different that it’s just really interesting.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:08:12]

“I don’t want the concierge to send me where all the foreigners are going. I want the people who take the bus to work to tell me what’s something that I shouldn’t miss while I’m here.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:15:29]

“[Bhutan doesn’t] worry about GDP. They worry about their Gross National Happiness.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:19:00] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Smith on X Ryan's profile on Upgraded points Ryan Smith Email Upgraded Points

Bluesky

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Post Production Note: We discussed LCCs possibly working with Apple Tours to add odd routes; this was actually wrong, it was Alaska that started St Louis and Kansas City to Mexico and is further discussed on Dots Lines and Destinations: https://moredotsmorelines.com/2024/07/18/dld-492-whoopsie/

Episode 48: Show Notes

What’s the holiday season without a little airing of grievances? Join us for our Festivus 2024 special, where we pull no punches as we dive into the biggest wins and fails of the travel and loyalty program world for 2024. Dia Adams joins us to share her pros and cons of loyalty programs, explain country-specific regulations that hinder travel point usage, and unpack Google’s impact on freelance travel advisors. We also explore the best and worst loyalty programs of 2024, the top airline redemption stories, and our Festivus miracles of the year. Join us for insights, laughs, and a look back at an eventful year in travel. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:07] Introducing Dia Adams and the meaning behind Festivus. 
• [0:03:20] Dia tells us about her main grievances toward loyalty and hotel programs.
• [0:08:15] Hear about Dia's criticisms of banks and the Christman gift options for members.
• [0:11:50] Bonus grievance: Google delisting travel sites and its impact on the community.
• [0:17:30] Thomas shares his perspective on loyalty programs, Google, and banks.
• [0:30:20] Trevor talks about his grievances with Turkish Airlines and Bank of America.
• [0:35:13] Unpack the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines merger and its effects on loyalty programs.
• [0:40:22] What airlines, loyalty programs, and banks got it right, according to Thomas.
• [0:50:43] Explore Hotels.com's One Key loyalty program and why Dia thinks it is a good deal.
• [0:59:12] Why Choice's one-to-two loyalty program is a great program alternative.
• [1:04:31] Discover the pros and cons of Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program.
• [1:14:52] Find out what bank made Trevor's "feat of strength" list for the best loyalty program.
• [1:17:22] Festivus miracles: celebrate highlights from the year and our favorite moments.
• [1:35:42] Final takeaways, how you can contact Dia, and a thank you to our listeners.

Quotes:

“Until you have stayed in numerous hotel rooms in Europe, you don't understand the size of hotel rooms in Europe.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:6:19]

“If you are using the traditional programs, you could be sitting on a million points and not be able to spend them outside of the United States.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:7:58]

“It definitely doesn't sound like [Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines] are in any rush to merge into a single program.” — @TheDiaAdams [0:37:19]

“If you are someone who really only wants luxury, Choice also now books into preferred hotels and resorts.” — @TheDiaAdams [1:02:45]

“American Express, you are my beastie this year. Keep the good times rolling.” — @tmount [1:16:57] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dia Adams

Dia Adams on LinkedIn

Dia Adams on X

Dia Adams on Instagram 

Fortune

Accor

Alaska Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Turkish Airlines

Air Canada 

Air Canada | Aeroplan

American Express

Bank of America

Chase Bank

Choice Bank

Choice Hotels

Hotels.com

Vrbo®

Hyatt Hotels

Episode 24: Festivus Edition

Episode 36: The Asia Pacific Experience with Spencer Howard

Episode 41: Perspective and Camp Mom with Dia Adams

Milenomics 

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 47: Show Notes

What happens when Thanksgiving travel takes you across the Atlantic and through the heart of Europe? In this episode, Tom and Trevor share their Thanksgiving travel experiences through Budapest, Vienna, and even a nostalgic stop in Bratislava. They provide insightful perspectives on international travel during the holidays, exploring iconic destinations, and managing the inevitable surprises of globetrotting with family. Hear about Trevor's family trip to Budapest, the challenges of holiday travel, and memorable stays at the luxurious Párisi Udvar and Park Hyatt Vienna. Learn about the breathtaking Christmas markets of Austria, the charm of Budapest’s historic baths, what makes Europe a family-friendly travel destination, and Vienna’s famed zoo. They also recount the magic and mishaps of travel during the festive season, why they would do it again, lessons on European tipping culture, and more! To discover tips, tricks, and stories that will inspire your next holiday adventure, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:38] Tom and Trevor’s Thanksgiving travels and the destinations they explored.
• [01:38] Tom’s journey westward to Las Vegas, his experience flying Spirit Airlines, and staying at the Encore and Rio.
• [12:38] Why traveling on Thanksgiving was not a good idea, his time in Hawaii, and Tom's experience of traveling home.
• [17:30] Trevor’s family trip to Budapest, including the stunning Park Hyatt Vienna and the challenges of traveling with a toddler.
• [22:41] The history and charm of Vienna, what makes the Christmas markets special, and why the hotel stay cost more than expected.
• [26:32] Booking shuttle transfers, driving through Bratislava, staying at the stunning Párisi Udvar, and what Trevor enjoys about traveling in Europe.
• [31:41] A deeper dive into Vienna’s attractions, more Christmas markets, and visiting the oldest zoo in Europe.
• [36:30] Eating out on the last night in Austria and an interesting cultural lesson on tipping.
• [40:34] Pitfalls of Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa, including a stressful Frankfurt connection.
• [49:05] Final thoughts on the joys and mishaps of Thanksgiving travel.

Quotes:

“I’ve not always had the best opinion of Spirit, but honestly, if you go in with the right attitude, sometimes you are pleasantly surprised.” — @TktweetsKim [0:04:04]

“There is so much to see in Europe. You could throw a stone and hit three countries.” — @tmount [0:30:08]

“It seems like you can – spit and you will hit a Christmas market or a palace in Europe.” — @TktweetsKim [33:42]

“Even among Europeans —they have different tipping cultures. Tipping is almost a third rail in so many different places.” — @tmount [38:22]

“Lufthansa is always a fun airline to fly.” — @tmount [46:04]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Spirit Airlines

Encore Resort

Debra Schroeder

Párisi Udvar Hotel

Rio Hotel

Alaska Airlines

Park Hyatt Vienna 

ShuttlesfromBudapest

Vienna Zoo

Austrian Airlines

Lufthansa

Milenomics

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 46: Show Notes.

The travel space is constantly evolving, and the way in which airlines handle rewards systems is no different. Today on Travel Stories, we are joined by Thrifty Traveler editor Kyle Potter to discuss the miles and points game, airfare trends, and becoming a premium Thrifty Traveler. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Kyle’s career, the air revenue trends Kyle has noticed, what’s happening in travel awards, and more! We delve into the world of miles and points as Kyle shares his perspective on the trends before discussing why travelers playing this game can be optimistic about future benefits. He even shares a story from his trip to Hanoi, discusses his 2025 travel predictions, and talks about great travel tools. Finally, our guest tells us about Thrifty Traveler Premium and the benefits of this service. Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• [02:36] A warm introduction to today’s guest, Kyle Potter. 
• [05:35] What Kyle is seeing in airfare trends today. 
• [12:48] The changes that are happening in the award travel spaces.
• [18:27] A reminder that the world of miles and points travelers is really small. 
• [25:45] What Kyle thinks is causing trends from reward perspectives. 
• [29:24] The optimistic side of how airlines react to miles and points ‘millionaires’. 
• [33:07] Kyle shares a memorable travel story from his trip to Hanoi.  
• [39:45] What Kyle sees happening in travel in 2025 and his opinion on change fees. 
• [44:48] The award tools that Kyle thinks are good and why he prefers manual search. 
• [50:00] Kyle talks about Thrifty Traveler Premium, what they offer, and the cost of it. 

Quotes:

“Travel can’t grow forever. – Things are going to plateau at some point but they really haven’t yet.” — @kpottermn [7:43]

“I still think we’ve got some good runway here for cheap domestic travel.” — @kpottermn [12:09]

“Many airlines out there have wised up to just how much they’re giving away to people who have points to play with.” — @kpottermn [27:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kyle Potter on LinkedIn

Kyle Potter on X

Kyle Potter on Instagram

Thrifty Traveler

Seats.aero Flighty

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

0:22 Delta Selling 80+% of First Cabin

• OMMAT
• VFTW
• Value is there--pricing of the upgrade is so low they're selling out elite Upgrades more than ever.
• Jumping off point for discussing Be Your Own Elite.
  • Don't wait for an airline to give you what you want. Secure it yourself
  • Great flight times are key because your time is valuable.
• The current state of airline status (in hopes of upgrades)
• Collecting airline miles (in hopes of outsized value on scarce redemptions)
  • Co-branded paradox (spending on another card)
• Even being an airline employee (in hopes of free travel) has gotchas.

15:40 How to Move Forward (or How to Get Started)

• We discussed on the paid show how we need to get away from the idea that a single credit card signup can unlock significant “free” travel.
• A Demand Schedule will help you see your needs
• If you're not going on multiple trips a year, or don't need multiple seats just spend on a cashback card.

Finally, This might not be the best blog in the world.

Episode 45: Show Notes.

We’re always looking to try new things, but our recent trip to Colombia and Spain unlocked new levels of exploring the unknown! We centered the trip around 1 single itinerary, and didn’t have our flights home until more than halfway through the trip. Our exploration of two cities begins in the one with higher altitude than we’re used to: Bogotá, Colombia, and we explain how we devised our itinerary and why we insisted on flying LATAM. We assess the Priority Pass restaurant options at Houston Airport, how Bogotá welcomed us (and especially Thomas!) with a feast of local delights, what hotel hopping is like in Colombia, the attractions and activities of Colombia’s sprawling capital, and the exercise one can get traversing the El Dorado airport lounge. Then, we unpack everything that happened on our flight to our second destination, Madrid, with a brief interlude to the recent spate of airline alliance dissolutions. We discuss our first experience of AC Hotels by Marriot, how exploring new areas in Madrid led to a wonderful steak dinner for Trevor’s birthday, why we changed flights multiple times and what these changes cost, and why many hotels are choosing to consistently shuffle their inventories. To end, we detail the trip home via Germany on Lufthansa First Class, why Lufthansa’s onboard lavatory system always leaves us scratching our heads, the joys of Global Entry’s Mobile App, and an important event to look forward to on the 9th of December, 2024. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:57] A tale of two cities and a diversity of altitudes.
• [0:01:41] No holiday left behind. 
• [0:02:49] How we devised our itinerary for Columbia, and why we insisted on flying LATAM. 
• [0:05:43] From Bogotá to Madrid, and every other flight in between. 
• [0:10:34] The Priority Pass restaurants that we visited at the Houston airport before departure.
• [0:15:16] Arriving in Bogotá, the Grand Hyatt, and a feast of local delights. 
• [0:19:36] Hotel hopping in South America, and our experience of the JW Marriot.
• [0:25:09] The Salt Cathedral, Monserrate Hill, and other attractions and activities in Bogotá. 
• [0:36:28] Why we loved the El Dorado lounge and everything from our flight to Madrid.
• [0:42:21] How airlines divorce themselves from their alliances. 
• [0:43:43] Landing in Madrid and trying something different – the Hyatt Madrid Residences. 
• [0:48:00] Exploring new areas of Madrid, and Trevor’s delightful steakhouse birthday dinner. 
• [0:51:14] A new hotel brand experience: AC Hotels by Marriot.
• [0:55:48] Discussing the modern shuffle of hotel inventories. 
• [0:59:30] The many flight changes from our trip and what they cost. 
• [1:01:44] Luxury remote stand experiences, Lufthansa First Class, and friendly faces abroad.
• [1:06:02] Unpacking Lufthansa’s lavatory system and unmatched onboard service 
• [1:13:30] Why we hope for the return of mobile lounges, and the joys of the DFW Mobile App.
• [1:22:10] What you can look forward to on the 9th of December in Arlington, Virginia. 

Quotes:

“[Bogotá] reminded me my of first trip to Bangkok and having pomelo; rose apple, and all these tropical fruits that you don’t find here in North America — that’s part of the joy of traveling; going to other environments; other places and being able to experience the local product.” — @TKtweetsKim [0:18:30]

“For better or for worse, I feel like Bogotá is a city of ‘glad I did it once and checked the box.’” — @tmount [0:29:17]

“LATAM, for the price of the ticket, I felt like we got very good value, but I don’t see that as a ‘go out of my way to do.’” — @tmount [0:41:10]

“The thing that insulates us is we do have this miles and points hobby that helps quite a lot – we can at least utilize other currencies other than dollars or euros to help shoulder some of the burden of that financial cost.” — @TKtweetsKim[0:54:30]

“Sometimes, you’ve just got to accept [paying more to change flights] to get the experiences you want.” — @tmount [1:01:37]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

LATAM Airlines 

Priority Pass 

Emirates  

Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar 

Landry’s Seafood 

United Club 

Grand Hyatt 

JW Marriott Hotel 

Monserrate Hill 

El Dorado Lounge 

SAS

Star Alliance 

Qatar 

Hyatt Regency Madrid Residences 

AC Hotels by Marriot  

José Andrés 

Lufthansa 

DFW’s Mobile App 

Coles

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 44: Show Notes.

Lufthansa’s First Class is revered as one of the more aspirational airline products to flight; Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal (FCT) is among the top 3 airline lounge experiences, and Trevor and Thomas both agree. Miles and Points expert and writer JT Genter joins us to share about himself, and to discuss his first Lufthansa First Class experience. JT and his wife, Katie, are digital nomads, and our conversation begins with a brief look at their recent jam-packed travel schedule. After JT details his approach to living as a digital nomad, he offers some advice, recommendations, and strategies for life on the road. JT's retelling of his LH F experience begins with how he met Trevor at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, before moving on to his arrival and overall impressions of the Lufthansa FCT. He then describes how he felt about the food, drinks, and service aboard Lufthansa’s Retro livery, and why he can’t wait for his next LH F experience. Somewhere in between, we discuss the degradation of travel apps like ExpertFlyer and why this loss of value is a common industry trend, and to end, JT describes his roles and responsibilities as a travel blogger and as the Editor-In-Chief at AwardWallet, and how he would fix common industry pain points to give miles and points a better future. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:20] JT Genter details his professional history and how he entered travel. 
• [04:03] A quick look at his recent (and extensive!) travel log.  
• [05:26] JT’s approach to living as a digital nomad. 
• [10:03] His experience of traveling to Calala Island, and where Hyatt and Hilton fit in. 
• [11:05] JT’s advice and recommendations for life as a digital nomad. 
• [14:42] How Trevor and JT ran into each other in Germany.   
• [17:02] JT’s first-ever Lufthansa First Class (drinking game trigger word!) experience.
• [20:50] Why many flight apps like ExpertFlyer are rapidly decreasing in value.  
• [25:18] Getting back to JT’s first-class experience as he walks us through his airport arrival.  
• [26:57] His thoughts on the lounge in Frankfurt.
• [33:25] Lufthansa’s unique first-class terminal adventure. 
• [36:30] Unpacking JT’s in-flight experience aboard Lufthansa’s Retro livery.  
• [39:40] How he felt about the food, drinks, and onboard service.  
• [43:18] His final thoughts on flying Lufthansa First Class for the first time. 
• [44:33] Shifting gears as JT explains his role and responsibilities at AwardWallet. 
• [45:42] Our guest shares his perspective on the future of miles and points, with some suggestions for fixing common industry pain points. 
• [53:02] How to connect with JT. 

Quotes:

“It’s now been seven years [that] we’ve been full-time digital nomads. – We want to slow down, but we’re not anywhere close to settling down.” — @JTGenter [03:51]

“The crew was very welcoming once we got on board. We had an incredible crew, probably some of the nicest flight attendants we’ve ever had, which seems to be par for the course with Lufthansa.” — @JTGenter [37:25]

“The whole Park Hyatt motto of ‘luxury is personal’ is so true. Not one size fits all.” — @JTGenter [39:04]

“I can’t wait to [fly Lufthansa First Class] again!” — @JTGenter [43:27]

Longer Quotes:

“The people who are writing about points and miles choose not to write about [the best travel hacks] because they don’t want to kill it off, or they don’t go through the experience themselves. There are a lot of people in the miles and points community who write about it but don’t really live it.” — @JTGenter [47:32]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

JT Genter

JT Genter on X

JT Genter on LinkedIn

JT Genter on Instagram 

JT Genter on Threads 

Katie Genter on X 

Adventures of JT and Katie 

JT and Katie's Travel Schedule

AwardWallet 

Lufthansa 

ZorkFest 

Calala Island

Hyatt

Hilton

ExpertFlyer 

SeatGuru

AeroLOPA 

Chicago Seminars 

AwardHacker 

ITA Matrix 

Seats.aero 

EasyPASS 

Park Hyatt

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 43: Show Notes.

As we wave goodbye to summer, Thomas and Trevor walk us through their most recent end-of-season trips: A Carnival cruise and a forgettable Cap Cana experience. We begin with Thomas and his trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras, where he explains why he chose Carnival over his trusted Royal Caribbean. Thomas details his itinerary and vacation experience, why the casual dining options were better than expected, how the floating casino and overall entertainment could be improved, and the perils of getting sick on the open sea. Next, Trevor picks up the baton and explains why his most recent Cap Cana trip may be his last. We discover how his previous visits to the resort influenced his most recent one and the stress of traveling out of Punta Cana. To end, Thomas unpacks his experience at the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars for miles and points. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] How Thomas cheated on Royal Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines.
• [04:30] Diving deeper into his itinerary and vacation experience aboard Carnival Mardi Gras. 
• [07:45] Exploring the food, cabin layout, and onboard entertainment on Carnival Mardi Gras.
• [13:55] The value of having great casual dining options on a cruise ship.
• [15:43] Floating gambling on Labor Day and some tips for a better experience.
• [21:32] Getting sick on the open sea.
• [22:50] What Thomas thinks about Carnival overall after his experience.
• [23:59] Why Trevor’s Cap Cana days may be coming to an end.
• [29:08] Dining gems that give Cap Cana a lifeline and make it a destination worth returning to. 
• [32:04] How Trevor’s previous trips to Cap Cana influenced his most recent experience.
• [34:18] Why it’s rare to find high-quality all-inclusive land packages.
• [35:45] Trevor details the challenges of traveling from Punta Cana.  
• [38:10] The ins and outs of the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars attended by Thomas.
• [43:04] Why big travel events are on the decline to make room for smaller ones.

Quotes:

“If I were doing my fun-match again, I would definitely recommend that you pick one of these newer ships, because I think that’s going to give you your best foot forward for Carnival.” — @TktweetsKim [06:02]

“This was the only cruise I’ve ever been on where I’ve been woken up at 1:30 in the morning with an abandon ship alarm. — We did actually have a false alarm go off in the middle of the night, people were quite distressed.” — @TktweetsKim [19:58]

“It’s hard to go on vacation and have it be so frictionless on your way home. You do your best in planning to make that happen, but I think the reality is you’re always going to have some grating experience trying to get from the resort back to your home.” — @TktweetsKim [37:42]

“There’s always something nice about being able to get up in front of a bunch of people and talk about something that you love.” — @tmount [39:52]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carnival Cruise Line 

Royal Caribbean 

Princess Cruises

Virgin Voyages 

Cap Cana 

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana 

Hyatt Regency Chicago

The 14th Annual Chicago Seminars

Thomas Kim on X

Trevor Mountcastle on X

0:22 Q4 5x Bonus Categories

• Chase Freedom: PayPal, Pet Stores, McDonalds
• Discover: Amazon, Target
• Don’t Forget: BofA Cash Rewards, US Bank Cash+

03:19 JetBlue News

• Lounges coming to JFK and BOS late 2025
• Premium credit card (from Barclays, ha!) coming “soon” that enables lounge access
• Markets themselves as having “The East Coast’s Best Leisure Network”

07:34 Southwest News (link)

• New seating options. 
• Assigned seats (80% want then)
• More space seats (why?)
• Less space seats
• Free bags to continue
• Cattle call to continue 
• International partners. Iceland air first up
• Vacation packages

11:36 Alaska/Hawaiian News

• Direct Link
• These guys are moving swiftly
• Hawaiian <-> Alaska point transfers now live
• Link accounts/status matching between programs in 2024
• Combined single loyalty program in 2025
• Hawaiian set to join OneWorld some time 2026

15:06 Chase UR 30% Transfer Bonus to Avios

• British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus
• Expires 10/31/2024

19:34 Delta: More Routes to Europe in Summer 2025

• OMAAT
• Boston to Milan
• Minneapolis to Rome
• Atlanta to Naples
• Detroit to Dublin
• Boston to Barcelona
• Atlanta to Brussels
• New York to Catania
• Also: Delta cancels JFK-Munich route after one season

Episode 42: Show Notes

We Welcome Richrd Kerr, VP of Travel at Bilt Rewards. Richard is a miles, points, and travel enthusiast whose vast experience has led him to lead a prominent facebook group (now Award Travel 101), write for The Points Guy, and ultimately to Bilt Rewards – the loyalty program for where you live. Richard is kind enough to share about Bilt; its some of its metrics; its unique value proposition. Richard carefully dissects common public misconceptions about miles and points. We discuss devaluations, the technological evolution of miles and points and the rise of social media, how Bilt members earn and redeem points, and what the industry looks like five years after the COVID disruption. Richard also shares details about his favorite family trips, how he and his wife homeschool their kids while on vacation, an unforgettable Aman Resort experience, and the eyewatering price of modern hotels. To end, our guest gives us his view of the future of miles and points as he shares helpful advice for finding big savings and great-value deals, and we discuss why Summer travel has been more chaotic than usual in 2024. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00] Welcoming Richard Kerr as he relives an incredible family trip with his wife and son.
• [06:23] The ins and outs of Bilt Rewards and its unique value proposition. 
• [12:05] Bilt’s metrics and data points that help give insight on how the company operates. 
• [16:12] How the company’s airline, hotel, and other partners share their data with Bilt. 
• [19:50] Richard debunks common miles and points misconceptions. 
• [22:55] Unpacking points devaluations and in particular, having Alaska as a partner. 
• [26:18] The technological evolution of miles and points, and the role of social media. 
• [31:15] How Bilt’s members redeem their points.
• [33:41] Assessing the state of the industry five years after COVID. 
• [36:57] The ridiculous price of modern hotels. 
• [39:53] Richard’s predictions of the immediate future of miles and points.  
• [42:56] He and his wife’s Aman Resort experience. 
• [50:41] Their trip to Europe, and how they incorporate homeschooling in their travels. 
• [55:20] Why travel seems more chaotic than usual this Summer. 
• [57:42] Richard’s tips and tricks for big savings and great-value deals. 

Quotes:

“Our pitch [for Bilt] from the beginning was, ‘Look, this is not the standard. You can’t throw what you’ve always done before; you can’t use the same playbook; you’ve got to do something different to get our members interested.’” — @KerrPoints [0:08:50]

“We’re literally spreading the wealth elsewhere so that the vast majority of our members can win, not just die-hard points and miles people. And I get it, it’s not a message that die-hard points and mile people want to hear, but we’re still doing really cool stuff [for them].” — @KerrPoints [0:15:09]

“A loyalty program—as I have learned over the last three years—is as much of an art as it is a science.” — @KerrPoints [0:16:12]

“There’s nobody writing anymore, because the next generation of folks, 10 years later, has come into Instagram and TikTok, and that’s where they think they’re going to make money.” — @KerrPoints [0:28:27]

 “I’ve been commuting from Atlanta to New York for five years now so I knew what hotels cost. What I’ve seen in 2024 for hotel rates in New York City is just mind-boggling. I cannot comprehend who these people are who are paying for these