TravelStories Episode 57: Travel Banter with Michael Trager

Episode 57: Show Notes.

Sometimes you just need to do some travel banter! And who better to do it with than TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager? In today’s conversation, we discuss our recent travel experiences and dig into the nitty gritty of points, upgrades, flight paths, and so much more. To kick things off, we hear all about Michael’s recent trip to Madrid and the benefits of American Airlines' ConciergeKey status, which Michael has access to thanks to his wife, Ellen! We then discuss optimal flight paths to Europe from different parts of the US, why JetBlue is on the naughty list this week, and how to optimize your next trip to Vegas. Next, we explore the flagship lounge and dining experience on different airlines, before discussing why it sometimes makes sense to pay for travel (because you can’t do everything on points) and the exceptional cases where we break our own rules. We also dive into Marriott points and benefits, including getting the fifth night free, the challenges of hotel hopping, and the importance of a positive arrival experience; especially if you have your family in tow. Finally, Michael tells us the essential details and updates for ZorkFest 2025, including the festival’s four-star accommodation, their new miles and points labs, their epic foodie and beverage dining experience, the speakers they have lined up, and much more. Be sure to tune in to hear the full scope of our travel banter conversation with Michael Trager! Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:00:49] Introducing TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager.
• [00:03:17] All the details of Michael’s visit to Madrid.
• [00:06:00] The benefits of having ConciergeKey status.
• [00:12:07] Debating the value of a premium economy cabin.
• [00:16:09] Optimizing your flight from different parts of the US to Europe.
• [00:21:09] Reasons why JetBlue is on the Naughty list this week.
• [00:29:43] Why is Michael saying farewell to his trip to Greece this summer.
• [00:31:26] Getting special awards and upgrades with American Airlines.
• [00:34:17] Key considerations for optimizing your trip to Vegas.
• [00:35:17] Getting access to the flagship lounge and dining.
• [00:41:38] Words of appreciation for connoisseur classes.
• [00:44:26] How to balance point accumulation and spending.
• [00:49:31] Tips for navigating Marriott points and benefits, including fifth night free.
• [00:53:49] The challenges of hotel hopping and the benefits of a good arrival experience.
• [00:58:18] Our thoughts on The White Lotus and tourism.
• [00:59:46] Getting information right in travel content.
• [01:01:43] Your guide to a positive arrival experience.
• [01:09:42] Details and Updates for ZorkFest 2025.
• [01:15:24] ZorkFest events: dining, live podcasting, master classes, hotel bookings, and private gaming experiences.
• [01:18:03] The speaking lineup you can expect from this year’s ZorkFest.
• [01:20:22] Booking, tickets, and hotel information.
• [01:22:12] What makes ZorkFest such a unique, unmissable event.
• [01:25:16] Lessons you can expect to learn on casino loyalty and risk management.
• [01:36:11] Why Michael refers to himself as an American Airlines fanboy.
• [01:40:52] Where you can find Michael online.
• [01:43:07] Parting words for today’s travel banter.

Quotes:

“The amount of trouble to position to JFK and then to leave, like, three, four, five, six, hours between the flight to then get a lie flat seat for a flight that maybe is six hours of which maybe, if all of the stars align, you get four hours of sleep. And that's like, if you're really lucky.” — Michael Trager [17:33]

“JetBlue is on my very naughty list, really naughty list this week.” — Michael Trager [21:19]

“That has been a thread or a mantra on this podcast, ‘book the flight or book the room you want’.” — @tmount [56:29]

“When you hit the ground, that's going to set the tone for your entire trip.” — @tmount [56:57]

“Nothing's gonna be as good as a nice, quiet hotel room on the ground for you to recover.” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:34]

“Value is so personal, right? People need to respect that, and a lot of people don't. They think that their truth is the only truth.” — @TktweetsKim [01:09:23]

“This is the first time we are truly having ZorkFest at a very bougie casino property with a very bougie, true f