MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel! – Details, episodes & analysis

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Episode Description

On this episode of MTM Travel we discuss a proposed credit card fee settlement that could spell huge changes to travel rewards cards, merchant fees and which cards are accepted at certain merchants. This settlement will cut fees and give consumers more choice, but will it actually fix anything and how will it affect airlines, hotels and other businesses that rely heavily on the industry?   We also discuss: eclipses, dealing with crazy time zones, big Capital One Venture X bonuses, new restrictive Chase application language, Shawn's best free cruise score ever & when you can visit the tallest/fastest roller coaster in the world.

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 0:19 Flying back to 100% and booking for 2027?
• 9:32 Shawn's best value free cruise ever
• 17:17 Capital One Venture X - Big increased bonuses
• 21:11 Chase adds even more restrictive card rules
• 27:30 The end of card rewards? Big merchant fee settlement & fallout
• 34:00 How the credit card ecosystem has spread throughout our economy

Links

• 
  Chase rules - https://travel-on-points.com/negative-chase-ink-application-terms/
• Visa/MC settlement - https://onemileatatime.com/news/visa-mastercard-settlement-change-credit-card-rewards-landscape/

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Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam

Episode Description

On this episode of MTM Travel we cover the latest in the FAA cancelation fiasco as a deal appears to have been reached to reopen the government and bring flights back to 100%. We also discuss Bilt's big news about their new cards and perks coming in 2026, Chase & Hyatt extending their partnership and teasing a new card plus Mark's return to SoCal including the Universal Studios VIP tour and his favorite beach hotel in the United States.

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 1:15 FAA cutbacks over? Deal finally reached
• 3:11 Delta marketing conspiracy?
• 6:15 We still have an aircraft controller problem
• 9:40 Bilt Rewards transition details - Mortgage payments!
• 13:31 Rakuten adds Bilt as cashback partner
• 17:25 Miles N More added for first time as a U.S. transfer partner
• 21:47 Chase & Hyatt extend partnership - New perks and cards?!
• 27:15 Sapphire Reserve 200K offers coming?
• 29:15 Universal Studios VIP again - Still worth it?
• 35:37 Oceana LXR Hilton review - Favorite property in SoCal?

Links

• 
  Hyatt premium card - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-status-on-sapphire-reserve-cards/
• Bilt/Rakuten - https://travel-on-points.com/bilt-rewards-rakuten-payout/
• Rove Miles - https://travel-on-points.com/rove-miles-adds-miles-more-transfer-partner/
• Bilt Changes - https://travel-on-points.com/bilt-cardless-timeline/

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com

Frontier status match (MTM affiliate link) - https://www.frontierstatusmatch.com/?fpr=xf83a

Episode Description

This week Southwest announced a positive change for once! WiFi has been getting cheaper on planes over the years, but most still charge. That has been changing and Southwest will finally bring free internet to their planes. When will this happen and how long will it be before every airline offers free internet in the skies?   In other news Hyatt has a couple of cool new promos, but one of them has a new twist. Should we be weary of travel apps and all of the data tracking or is that just life in 2025? We also discuss: Mario Kart in real life, why AA is flying 20 empty transatlantic legs and how you can score an easy $200 bonus offer from our partner Melio.   Episode Guide

• 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel
• 2:05 More free WiFi on planes - Southwest drops new perk
• 6:37 Why AA is flying 20 empty transatlantic legs
• 10:50 New Hyatt promos - with a troubling twist?
• 13:23 Why companies are trying to force us into using their apps
• 17:27 The big consumer data problem in 2025
• 21:23 Battle of Chase Sapphires - A surprising result?
• 28:42 Mario Kart in real life!

Links

• Melio Offer (affiliate link) - https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam
•  Mario Kart - https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a64188246/vietnam-downhill-karting-spot-mario-kart-dreams/
• Southwest WiFi - https://milestomemories.com/southwest-rapid-rewards-members-will-get-free-wi-fi/
• AA empty flights - https://onemileatatime.com/news/american-flying-empty-airbus-a321neo-across-atlantic/
• Hyatt new property - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-new-hotel-promo/
• Hyatt app promo - https://travel-on-points.com/hyatt-regency-promo/
• CSR vs CSP - https://travel-on-points.com/your-next-card-csp-or-csr/

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

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Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by Joe Cheung to recap his recent trip to Hawaii, Japan and Taiwan. The trip was booked mostly last minute, built around a Starlux business class redemption home. Shawn discusses his time in Hawaii including why the Grand Hyatt Kauai has lost some luster, his last minute ANA A380 Flying Honu business class redemption, why Japan has become such an amazing family travel destination, being haunted at the Grand Hyatt Taipei and why last minute travel continues to work for him. Another amazing trip mostly paid for by miles & points!   Episode Notes

• 00:00 Introduction and Overview  
• 08:50 Review of the Grand Hyatt Kauai & Using Hawaii for Japan travel  
• 15:31 Using Points for last minute flights and accommodations  
• 21:37 Pet cafes, cool Japanese culture & why Japan might be the best family friendly travel destination for Americans    
• 27:45 Stay at the Hyatt Centric Ginza  
• 31:38 Budget-Friendly Option: Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay (For Disney but also Tokyo too?)  
• 35:16 Unforgettable Experience at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea
• 39:38 Haunted Grand Hyatt Taipei & Flying in Style with Starlux Airlines
• 45:44 The Thrill of Last-Minute Trips

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description

Learn about the MtM origin story plus get a preview of Shawn's new Youtube show/podcast 20 Minute Travel. We'll be back with a normal episode next week!   Links

• 20 Minute Travel YouTube
• 20 Minute Travel Apple Podcasts
• 20 Minute Travel Spotify
• 20 Minute Travel Podcast Page

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by long time creator and Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends Dia Adams. Dia has long been one of the people who thinks outside the box in this hobby. From which hotel programs are a sleeper to why FOMO is something to be avoided, she brings opinions that aren't always the mainstream and that's a good thing. On this show we discuss why meetups are key, how the demographics of the space have changed, lessons learned the hard way, how status can be overrated and much more!   Episode Notes

• 1:45 - Dia's journey as a miles & points creator
• 4:03 - Family Travel for Real Life
• 13:05 - How great redemptions can solidify you in the hobby
• 17:28 - Thinking outside of the box
• 24:05 - Lessons learned the hard way
• 30:15 - Points are not an asset
• 32:11 - Vendoming
• 35:36 - Curated content and social media FOMO
• 41:34 - Why credits are meant to go to waste
• 44:56 - How status can be wildly overrated 

Links

• Dia at Fortune Recommends

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description

In this episode of the Miles to Memories podcast, Shawn Coomer is joined by PDX Deals Guy to discuss his recent first ever trip to Japan. How it was flying JAL, making last minute changes, hotels, food and how hard is it for a first time traveler? Plus bullet trains and whether it makes sense to day trip to Kyoto.   Shawn also provides an update on his upcoming trip which is both crazy and changing rapidly but should be fun. Get ready for some inspiration as we bring you the virtual sights, smells and tastes of Japan to inspire your travels!

Episode Notes

• 02:31 - Why Shawn's upcoming trip is crazy
• 08:33 - Flexibility and last minute flight changes
• 15:57 - Tokyo hotels including Hilton Shinjuku & Hyatt Regency
• 23:12 - Bullet training to Kyoto
• 28:30 - Priorities & What to do - first time in Japan
• 34:26 - Tackling Japanese food
• 40:33 - How tech is making it easier than ever to travel to Japan

Links

• PDX Deals Guy Twitter

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description

In this episode of the Miles to Memories podcast, Shawn Coomer and Mark Jackson discuss various topics related to travel, including alternate content, cruising, and hotels in Orlando. They talk about the shift from reading blogs to watching videos, the popularity of cruising, and how to score deals while generating spend on cruises.    They also review the Conrad hotel in Orlando and compare it to other Hilton properties in the area. Additionally, they discuss the Brightline train service in Florida before diving into the evolution of earning miles and points, AI and the changing landscape of shopping portals. 

Episode Notes

• 04:21 - Creating a different kind of travel content
• 05:55 - Strategies for saving and spending on cruises
• 11:30 - Is Virgin Voyages worth booking with the latest offer?
• 14:52 - Being blown away by Conrad Orlando - Does it live up to the brand?
• 20:55 - Which Hilton for Disney World?
• 23:38 - Future of high speed trains and Brightline Florida
• 27:34 - How Mark is earning his miles & points
• 31:10 - Suckered into AA Loyalty Points?
• 34:08 - Checking our shopping portal strategy & how the game has changed

Links

• Jackson Jetsetting YouTube
• Conrad Orlando Tour

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe recap the Denver MtM Diamond meetup including some tips for your next Denver trip and how the Grand Hyatt is holding up. They also announce some exciting changes and are joined by a special guest for one more thing.

Episode Notes

Subscribe to 20 Minute Travel!

• 20 Minute Travel on Youtube
• Apple Podcasts - Spotify - TMT Podcast Feed

 

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss Shawn's recent trip to Nashville and all of the takeaways from his time spent there. They go over why there are so many brands these days and how consumers are changing. Plus will there be more changes to Hilton credit cards and how will they integrate all of their upcoming partnerships into the program? Joe also discusses his Spirit adventure and why Southwest may be finally moving away from their cattle call boarding.

Episode Notes

0:00 - Flying Spirit

8:06 - DOT forcing airlines to pay penalties

10:55 - Southwest boarding changes

16:26 - What Shawn learned at Hilton

29:55 - The Conrad brand

33:04 - Hilton brand expansion

37:05 - Hilton credit cards

41:09 - Hilton experiences

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. 

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License