Have you been searching for a tool to simplify your award travel bookings? In this bonus episode, I'm joined by Megan Johnston, Community Manager at Daily Drop, to discuss their recently launched all-in-one software: Daily Drop Pro. This innovative platform combines an award search engine, cash flight deal finder, and points community all in one place.   Megan walks us through the key features of Daily Drop Pro, including its powerful award search capabilities for flights and hotels, cash...

Get ready for an entertaining and informative discussion as Kevin Zanes, Dr. Sujatha Murali, Kelly from The Points and Miles Doc, and Dr. Andrea Mabry tackle hypothetical questions that will make you think about how you value and use your points and miles. None of the guests were given any warning about what they might get asked, so expect plenty of on-the-spot analysis and friendly debate.   Tune in for a fun game of “Would You Rather” that just might change the way you approach points and...

For today’s conversation, I’m joined by Kamree Price, founder of Our Family Passport and an expert in earning and redeeming Amex points for family travel. Kamree has been to over 50 countries using points and miles, most of them with her blended family of six. She specializes in finding creative ways to maximize the American Express program for herself, and helps others build a points and miles strategy that works for them.   Learn the ins and outs of the Amex ecosystem, including an...

Lyn Mettler is a longtime travel journalist who has cracked the code on flying her family of four for free, going from one car trip a year to six free flights annually. Through her Families Fly Free podcast and membership, she teaches others her simple system for maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards.   In this episode, Lyn breaks down the recently announced changes to the Rapid Rewards program, including the introduction of assigned seating and new international partnerships. She shares her...

Have you ever attended a points and miles conference and walked away feeling like your travel hacking game has been taken to the next level? In this episode, I have Dr. Andrea Mabry back on the podcast to help me unpack our experiences of co-hosting the first-ever Point Me to First Class Conference in Chicago.   From expert talks on maximizing airline programs to hands-on workshops and networking opportunities, the three-day event was packed with valuable insights for intermediate to...

Devan Sullivan is the younger of the two Pointsisters. They help their clients check off their travel bucket lists, flying in style and comfort to far-flung destinations like Australia, South Africa, Japan and more. Devan herself has taken two Around the World ANA trips in 2024 alone, including a seven-week delayed honeymoon and a four-week adventure, ending with a Taylor Swift concert.   In this episode, Devan breaks down everything you need to know to book your own ANA Around the World...

My guest this week returning to the podcast is points expert Traci Siegel, a non-practicing attorney who has been using miles and points to travel around the US and the world with her family of four since 2011. She's been teaching friends how to hack their families' travel for years, and now she teaches her followers how to expand their travel budgets through her Instagram.   Tune in this week as we dive into the world of airport lounges. We discuss how lounges can transform your travel...

In this episode, I dive deep into the implications of the Alaska-Hawaiian merger and explore how you can now effectively transfer your Amex points to Alaska Airlines via Hawaiian Airlines. This is a game-changer for anyone looking to book high-value award flights on Alaska and its partner airlines.   Discover the three partner award flights that I'm most excited about booking with my newly acquired Alaska miles, as well as some honorable mentions that you won't want to miss. I reveal...

There’s one tropical dream destination that makes its way onto many points enthusiasts’ wish lists: Bora Bora. I have a fantastic guest on today’s show who just returned from an incredible anniversary trip to this iconic paradise, flying business class on points, and she's here to spill all the details.   Dr. Chandani DeZure is a returning guest to the podcast. She’s a Board-Certified Pediatrician and a mother of two living in California, and she’s been on some truly amazing trips since she...

In this episode, I'm joined by Kristin Addis, creator of Be My Travel Muse, one of the world’s most-read travel blogs, and Parenthood Adventures. Kristin has visited 65 countries and collected 16 passport stamps for her toddler son. She shares her wealth of knowledge on solo female travel, which she has been doing since 2012, and more recently, her expertise in travelling the world with her young family by using credit card points.   Learn Kristin’s tips on everything from the best airlines...

Dr. Kipp Lassetter is a physician and tech entrepreneur with a distinguished background in emergency medicine and healthcare IT. Currently, Dr. Kipp is focused on revolutionizing the real estate industry as the founder of RBN, a startup dedicated to rewarding consumers with valuable points when they buy or sell a home with a top local realtor.   Tune in this week as RBN co-founder and CEO Dr. Kipp Lassetter joins me to explain how to earn points on the purchase or sale of your home. He...

Melissa Parsons, MD, is a recently retired Board-Certified Pediatrician and now a life coach who helps amazing women learn to love their lives. Today, however, she’s here to talk about how she booked a phenomenal trip just two months in advance, getting amazing deals in the process.   While not everything went perfectly to plan— from a record-breaking heatwave in Barcelona to an uncomfortable train ride— Dr. Melissa and John had the opportunity to enjoy world-renowned cuisine, stunning art,...

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Komenkul, who knows everything there is to know about leveraging points for hotel stays. Ben is a seasoned expert in the world of Points and Miles, with over a decade of experience mastering the art of travel rewards. As the founder of Ben’s Big Deal, he combines his deep understanding of financial services, gained over a 30-year career, with his passion for travel.   Tune in this week to elevate your hotel awards game to the next level. Ben shares his...

Dr. Suzy Spadafora is back on the show this week. She’s a points and miles pro who has opened over 30 rewards credit cards since 2016, and her P2 has opened 25. She keeps detailed notes on the retention offers she scores each year when annual fees hit. By employing a few simple strategies, Dr. Suzy often convinces banks to incentivize her to keep her cards open with statement credits, bonus points, or waived annual fees.   Tune in today to hear Dr. Suzy's insider secrets for maximizing...

Kelly, the Points and Miles Doc, is a returning guest on the podcast, and she has a wealth of knowledge to share on the Capital One transferable points currency. I recently started focusing on Capital One in my own points strategy, so we have a ton to discuss.   Tune in this week to learn everything you need to know about the world of Capital One. We give you an overview of all the Capital One rewards cards, who this points system benefits most, some of the shortcomings and limitations of...

Doing a points check-in is the best possible way to recalibrate and course correct while there's still plenty of time left in the year. This means getting clear on every aspect of your points world, including your current points balances, credit card welcome bonuses, loyalty program status, and estimating your upcoming spend.   Whether you're brand new to points and miles or a seasoned pro, tune in this week for a comprehensive strategy for evaluating your progress and making the most of...

Do you need a profitable business to apply for business credit cards? If your P2 has been repeatedly rejected for new card applications, how do you get them accepted? In this listener Q&A episode, we dive into a variety of topics related to optimizing your credit card strategy, whether you're just getting started in the points and miles game or looking to take your earnings to the next level.   Learn about credit freezes, what they do and don't protect you from, and why it's a good idea...

One of the most rewarding ways to get the most value from your points is booking sweet spot awards. These awards represent unique opportunities to book incredible flights at points prices that are a steal, but in order to take advantage of these sweet spots, you have to know what you're looking for. That's where award travel expert Allison Tackette comes in. She has been booking points and miles sweet spots for over 10 years and now helps others book their own dream trips.   Hear all...

Dr. Niki Topp is a board-certified OB/GYN who is now retired from clinical practice. After moving to South Africa 8 years ago, her career focus switched toward philanthropy and opening her own small business. She is also the founder and director of a non-profit called Ithemba Ngemfundo, which focuses on improving early education in the townships of South Africa.   Through her travel business Wandering Leopard, Dr. Topp plans group trips to South Africa, specifically for female physicians,...

Is it possible to book four or more business class award tickets on the same flight? You might think it's outright impossible to get a deal like this, but in my experience, you have more options than you think. When you know what you're looking for and you have a strategy for getting it, you increase your chances of finding what you want. That's exactly what we're covering in part two of this series.   Discover the specific business class award flights that are considered zebras and...

In the world of points travel, you're probably familiar with the concept of a unicorn award. These are flights so rare they might as well be magical, mythical creatures because your chances of seeing one are slim to non-existent. Award flights, especially long-haul business class award flights, are not all created equal in terms of how easy they are to find and book. Premium cabin award flights are like horses, zebras, and unicorns. Some are common, easy to find, and easy to book. Others are...

Getting value from points comes down to two simple things: earning points (ideally as many as possible for the money you're spending) and using points (ideally as few as possible for any given award), so you can take more trips, save more money, and have more travel options available. It's time to dive deep into a simple approach for part one of the points-travel cycle: earning points.   Discover a framework for thinking about your expenses from a high-level perspective so you can quickly...