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The Award Travel 101 podcast is back with more member questions, enhanced offers, and we cover when to keep or cancel your card. If you want us to air your question, send us an email or reach out to us in the Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
Award Travel 101 Podcast Show Format
We break each show into six sections:
- Question of the Week — asked by members of the community
- News & Enhanced Offers
- What Bonuses Did We Get — which will tell you what credit cards we're working on and why
- Trip Updates
- Highlight Feature
- What You Didn't Know — a feature which will be dedicated to a big or small tip that will help you better maximize the value you receive from your rewards.
How to Listen to the Award Travel 101 Podcast
Episode 005 — Cruise (on Points), Racking and Stacking, and Keep or Kick it to the Curb
You can find us anywhere you listen to other fine podcasts including:
Previous Episodes
- Episode 001 — Meet Award Travel 101 Community Administrators Angie & Joe
- Episode 002 — Booking a Dream (African Safari) Trip
- Episode 003 — Creating Memories Through Big AND Small Trips
- Episode 004 — 8 Steps to Better Award Travel
Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 5 Show Notes
Question of the Week
Advice please. I have done a few trips booked by transferring points, but not a lot. We are retired and just don't spend that much to accumulate points. Most big number points have been via new cards. In April of 2024 we are flying to Singapore. Ideally from SAT, AUS or IAH. But, I can position us anywhere. Never done business as I always wanted to save my points for more trips. But, that long on a plane, thinking business would be nice. So, I need any and all advice. Where do I start? When should I book? I do have points.me. Then the first of May, we fly home from Dubai. I guess couch would be fine there as the trip is over… So, what advice can you share? Thank you.
The Starbucks mug post — What things do you collect on your travels and do you display them?
News & Enhanced Offers
- Virgin Red cruises starting at 80,000 points — Award Travel 101 community member, Ashleigh Sch booked
- 75K Venture miles — who should get the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
- Aeroplan Pay Yourself Back — 1.25 cents per point back on travel? Why it matters?
- Etihad Guest — negative/positive changes on the horizon. Here's why it matters.
- Marriott — fully variable award pricing is slated to arrive this month. How bad is it going to hurt? And we've not been given an actual date for this to go into effect.
- American Airlines — Not only is March 1 the new reset date for status and earning Loyalty Points, but there may be more bad news on the horizon as AA is removing the traditional “Saver” award charts
What Bonuses Did We Get?
- Joe — 18 days left to earn 60,000 Membership Rewards through the Amex Business Checking account
- 2/15 Rakuten day — Angie received 29,000 Membership Rewards, while Joe earned over 53,000 points
- Still missing my Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® cards
- Angie — American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab, another The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (with Business Checking), and a The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Trip Updates
- Canceled HR Coconut Point — no slides, Lazy River, or Big Hickory Island. Those were all of the reasons we planned to return. See my previous review.
- Booked Indian Shores FL — used Voting Day to save P2 a personal day (missed discussing this in podcast)
- Switzerland still booked but may be cancelling — more expenses with safari plus home expenses and Switzerland is $$$$
Highlight Feature: Keep or Kick it to the Curb
When is it time to product change or flat cancel a rewards card? Are you using all of the credits? Are you making use of card perks? Is there a retention offer?
What You Didn't Know
Book now, ask questions later. You (nearly) always have 24 hours to change your mind. “I saw a flight for x, didn’t book it and now it’s gone up! Should I book now or will it go down”.
Where To Find Us
For questions, you can join us in the free 90,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. If you want to dig into some of the less discussed strategies, our Award Travel 201 community is filled with those who want to dig into the weeds a little more. To book time with our team to discuss how to better your earning and burning strategies, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
You can also email us or find us on Twitter or Instagram. If in-person meetups interest you, save-the-date for our next available meetup, and keep an eye out for more announcements coming soon!
Let us know what you think of the show so far, and hit us up with questions or topics you'd be more interested in hearing!
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