This week, the guys break down all the travel news that’s fit to podcast … and there’s a lot of it. That includes a brand-new (and free) tool to save on flights when fares drop, new big card bonus offers, 11 (!) transfer bonuses, and a deep dive on what the heck has happened with World of Hyatt?
Plus, they go through the airports with the highest airfare, Alaska’s big splash, and we wade into what Gunnar is calling the “Starlink scuttlebutt.”
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! And be sure to subscribe now to get each new episode every Thursday morning (plus the occasional extra bonus episode, like our new Starter Kit series!)
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In This Episode
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- 00:00 – Gunnair has a new competitor: Pottair!
- 02:35 – Jen & Tom welcome us back from Ireland!
- 03:05 – Introducing our new FareTracker tool!
- 05:50 – New United card bonuses & the key to better biz class deals
- 09:55 – 11 (!) new transfer bonuses on our radar
- 13:10 – How to transfer 30K Delta SkyMiles for free
- 15:50 – Now the end of Bilt and Hyatt 1:1 transfers is coming …
- 18:00 – … and yet Hyatt keeps getting worse
- 20:30 – The U.S. airports with the highest airfare
- 23:35 – R.I.P. to this sweet spot from Japan Airlines
- 26:10 – A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!
- 27:00 – New Alaska Atmos transfer partner(s)?
- 29:50 – Alaska’s fancy new biz class suites & more
- 34:20 – A (proposed) Chase Sapphire Lounge at SEA
- 36:40 – The Delta-Starlink scuttlebutt
- 41:40 – Rapid fire news and notes: Online passports & more
- 48:15 – Listener Question: How to manage price alerts
- 51:00 – On the Spot: What’s the biggest story in travel this year?
Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Do you think there is a chance Delta releases any additional award deals or deals in general for flights from nyc-europe again. Im hoping for a RT deal in Prem Select or D1 or at least one way to LHR or CDG from NYC. I wasn’t able to snag a deal a few weeks ago because I didn’t have enough miles, but now I do.
TBH this is closer than I imagined. Kyle has the best earning setup in my opinion, while Nick arguably would have the best year 1 setup. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a draw, or close to a draw.
We were in Japan for over a month this spring and when we tallied up our 10 favorite experiences none were in Tokyo and only one was in Kyoto. We loved Takayama, Nagano, wild areas in Shikoku and the Japanese Alps, and the rural areas in Western Honshu. For onsens that aren’t crazy crowded try the area around the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway in the mountains near Kamikochi.
BTW, before you go to Japan go online and listen to Japanese pronunciation of place names. Narita, Haneda, and even Kyoto and Tokyo aren’t pronounced the way you probably think and Japanese speakers might not understand you if you use English pronunciation. (For example, Tokyo and Kyoto are both two-syllables.)
Can I have more info about the vpn to use for getting more points?
Hi Mary, search Rakuten for “Express VPN” or “Nord VPN.” Both regularly offer close to 100% back – 100x points when you have your Rakuten account set up that way – for these purchases. At 100% cash back (100x points), you’re essentially buying points for 1 cent apiece if you don’t plan to use the service. Just don’t forget to cancel before the promo rate expires!