Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Best ways to get great value | Ep216 | 8-19-23

[@WhoDeanyUnchained]

That 150k + 15x at restaurants and small businesses was THE BEST welcome bonus I have ever received!

[@frequent-miler]

Me, too! -Nick

[@FK-we1dp]

for what card!? good grief!

[@randywilliams7696]

@@FK-we1dp it was an amex platinum bonus

[@pannawatphijarnwanit6306]

Wow when was that and for what card?

[@marcusyoung5440]

Yes, please help solve the Flying Blue stopover points pricing mystery.🔮Another fun show! Thx!

[@brucebanksshow]

Didn't mention Southwest as a transfer bonus. With Companion Pass you can get 2.6cpp+ at least.

[@frequent-miler]

No, you can't. See these two posts for a full explanation as to why that concept is a fallacy: frequentmiler.com/strange-but-true-southwest-points-are-worth-more-before-you-get-the-companion-pass/ frequentmiler.com/no-the-southwest-companion-pass-doesnt-double-the-value-of-your-points/

[@gotrr]

Guys, I have tried to like Hyatt, but I can’t stand that chain. I had a lovely stay at the Hyatt Regency in Mexico City recently. However, on a 5-day swing thru San Diego and Palm Springs, the hotel was either unbearably noisy (Andaz San Diego - they provide ear plugs on the bed stand with a “so sorry…nothing we can do about the night club noise” note) or filthy (Hyatt Palm Springs). Oh, forgot…I got food poisoning from the Hyatt Place in La Jolla. I much prefer Marriott. I’ve never have a problem with cleanliness. Word to Hyatt: the way to “set expectations” about the noise at a hotel is not to inform me of the problem when I arrive to check in, but to put a note on the reservations web site that says, “this hotel is in an area with a lively nightlife,” or some such warning.🤨

[@rockinrobin75x]

I tried to listen to this on Spotify where I always listen but the episode isn’t working. It’s just silence. I don’t know if it’s just mine but I’ve never had a problem before. Just thought you should know! Thanks for the terrific podcast!!!

[@frequent-miler]

Thanks for letting us know! I just tried listening on Spotify and it worked fine for me so unfortunately I have no idea what happened in your case. -Greg

[@rockinrobin75x]

@@frequent-miler thank you! I just tried and again and now it’s working. I’d say it was a bad connection but other podcasts were working. Who knows! Just glad it works now!

[@SolidLiquidFox]

No comments on Amex Platinum changes?

[@Paul_seekingthetruth4U]

They talked about it in previous podcast.

[@frequent-miler]

We recorded earlier that usual last week and the latest changes weren't discovered until several days later. We'll talk about it next week most likely.

[@SolidLiquidFox]

@@frequent-miler looking forward to it

[@jrome1135]

"what stupid thing did AMEX do this week"😅

[@get2dachoppa249]

Be aware, a lot of intra-Europe "business class" seats on narrow-body flights are nothing more than the typical 3-across with the center seat blocked.

[@frequent-miler]

Right, we are very familiar with that. We were not talking about it as being a means to luxury, but rather Greg was saying that he has found that business class is often available at times when economy isn't, and at 8K miles each way through Virgin Atlantic, it's even cheaper than most programs charge for economy. I certainly wouldn't choose intra-European business class for the blocked middle seat, but there are also times I've done it for the additional luggage allowance. -Nick

[@Paul_seekingthetruth4U]

The Bilt card $12.5k spend will be impossible for some because of the credit limit and waiting a few days to pay off the card transaction to go through, to spend more on it.

[@frequent-miler]

Ooh, good point -Greg

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

Before SLH, Hyatt was simply too small a chain and I found better value with Hilton, especially internationally. Particularly when you could MS a ton of cheap points at less than 0.2cpp and before they went mostly dynamic. I was averaging about $60 net cost a night for suites (thanks to their generous any-available-suite upgrade for Diamonds). That said, SLH was a game changer. Much easier to find nice properties outside major cities (which is where it really becomes useful for us - can always find something in big cities). And now that MSing in volume is far less achievable, Hyatt/Ultimate Rewards ecosystem has taken the top spot over Amex/Hilton/SPG in our world.

[@DevonHolly16]

I've done the cash thing as well at the St Regis Dubai, The Palm

[@teociorba7920]

Thank you again guys. Maybe one episode about how to apply for credit cards and less inquiries? Very confuse about this topic.