Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

From COVID to cutbacks, there were a lot of reasons why airlines let go of some of their more luxurious offerings. Today, we dig into the airline products that no longer exist and reflect on the standout examples we loved, missed, or otherwise knew about. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and discuss everything from exceptional service to the most comfortable sleep we’ve had up in the air! We desc...

Today, we are taking a trip back in time to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as we approach the fifth anniversary of lockdowns across the globe. Joining us to discuss this period is long-time friend Chris, who was traveling the world when lockdowns hit. In our conversation, he shares his experiences of the pandemic abroad, his tumultuous escape abroad as lockdowns were implemented, and the impact of tra...

What does it take to plan the ultimate luxury travel experience? In this episode, Tom and Trevor sit down with returning guest Han Chicago, a well-known aviation enthusiast and premium travel expert, to hear about his recent extravagant, multi-leg trip. Han talks about his first-class flights, luxury airline products, and lounge experiences during his lavish adventure. He breaks down his premium airline ex...

We’ve taken many trips to Australia, but our most recent one was certainly one to remember! In today’s episode, Trevor walks us through his most recent visit down under, and he begins with his domestic flights leaving the USA before detailing his international flight path. We unpack an awkward midair encounter from New Zealand to Australia, why Trevor was pleasantly surprised with his American Airlines fli...

Episode 51: Show Notes.

Today’s episode is years in the making as finally, Tom and Trevor sit down and do a deep dive into the everyday carry items you’ll need when traveling. We begin with keeping go kits up-to-date and why Trevor and Tom will always be fans of carry-on luggage. We shift then to our favorite luggage exploring Briggs and Riley, Tumi, Rimowa, and other great roller bag options. Then, we unpack a...

Are loyalty programs becoming less valuable, or are they evolving to meet the demands of modern travelers? In this episode, we delve into the future of airline and hotel loyalty programs and examine potential innovations and strategies to maximize points. To help us unravel this topic is returning guest Joey Redmond, a passionate traveler and co-host of the new Travel Bros Podcast, where he shares ins...

In this episode, we welcome Ryan Smith, the news managing editor for upgraded points and a prolific writer published by Award Wallet, TPG, Forbes Advisor, and more. One of the things that makes Ryan special is that he is one of very few people on the planet who have visited every country in the world! Join us as Ryan shares his experience as a writer, traveler, and points and miles user over the years. You...

What’s the holiday season without a little airing of grievances? Join us for our Festivus 2024 special, where we pull no punches as we dive into the biggest wins and fails of the travel and loyalty program world for 2024. Dia Adams joins us to share her pros and cons of loyalty programs, explain country-specific regulations that hinder travel point usage, and unpack Google’s impact on freelance travel advi...

What happens when Thanksgiving travel takes you across the Atlantic and through the heart of Europe? In this episode, Tom and Trevor share their Thanksgiving travel experiences through Budapest, Vienna, and even a nostalgic stop in Bratislava. They provide insightful perspectives on international travel during the holidays, exploring iconic destinations, and managing the inevitable surprises of globetrotti...

The travel space is constantly evolving, and the way in which airlines handle rewards systems is no different. Today on Travel Stories, we are joined by Thrifty Traveler editor Kyle Potter to discuss the miles and points game, airfare trends, and becoming a premium Thrifty Traveler. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Kyle’s career, the air revenue trends Kyle has noticed, what’s happening in travel awards, ...

• OMMAT
• VFTW
• Value is there--pricing of the upgrade is so low they're selling out elite Upgrades more than ever.
• Jumping off point for discussing Be Your Own Elite.
  • Don't wait for an airline to give you what you want. Secure it yourself
  • Great flight times are key because your time is valuable.
• The current state of a...

We’re always looking to try new things, but our recent trip to Colombia and Spain unlocked new levels of exploring the unknown! We centered the trip around 1 single itinerary, and didn’t have our flights home until more than halfway through the trip. Our exploration of two cities begins in the one with higher altitude than we’re used to: Bogotá, Colombia, and we explain how we devised our itinerary and wh...

Lufthansa’s First Class is revered as one of the more aspirational airline products to flight; Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal (FCT) is among the top 3 airline lounge experiences, and Trevor and Thomas both agree. Miles and Points expert and writer JT Genter joins us to share about himself, and to discuss his first Lufthansa First Class experience. JT and his wife, Katie, are digital nomads, and our conv...

As we wave goodbye to summer, Thomas and Trevor walk us through their most recent end-of-season trips: A Carnival cruise and a forgettable Cap Cana experience. We begin with Thomas and his trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras, where he explains why he chose Carnival over his trusted Royal Caribbean. Thomas details his itinerary and vacation experience, why the casual dining options were better than expecte...

• Chase Freedom: PayPal, Pet Stores, McDonalds
• Discover: Amazon, Target
• Don’t Forget: BofA Cash Rewards, US Bank Cash+

03:19 JetBlue News

• Lounges coming to JFK and BOS late 2025
• Premium credit card (from Barclays, ha!) coming “soon” that enables lounge access
• Markets themselves as having “The East Coast’s Best Leisure Network”
...

We Welcome Richrd Kerr, VP of Travel at Bilt Rewards. Richard is a miles, points, and travel enthusiast whose vast experience has led him to lead a prominent facebook group (now Award Travel 101), write for The Points Guy, and ultimately to Bilt Rewards – the loyalty program for where you live. Richard is kind enough to share about Bilt; its some of its metrics; its unique value proposition. Richard carefu...

A prime example of this type of property is Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, CA. Back in the day, Four Seasons managed both a hotel here along with a collection of 1 and 2 bedroom vacation homes. The hotel is now managed by Hyatt (as a Park H...