The Daily Drop Podcast
Daily Drop is a newsletter that teaches you how to earn and redeem miles and points in under 5 minutes a day (witty commentary, gifs and memes included 😉). Join Mike and Megan for The Daily Drop Podcast to extend the conversation that earns you free(ish) travel. Expanding some of your favorite miles and points topics, answering your questions... and we promise to not skip on the witty commentary.
Episodes
In this episode, Mike shares his personal experience with travel insurance and how it saved him thousands of dollars when he had to undergo surgery while traveling. He explains the differences between medical insurance and trip-related insurance. He also mentions the limitations of insurance coverage based on what you’re paying for on the card and the need for supplemental insurance in certain situations.
In this episode, we’re joined by the founder of Daily Drop and one half of Kara and Nate on YouTube, Nate Buchanan. He shares his journey from saving two million points to owning a Miles and Points company. He discusses how he got started in the Miles and Points game, the strategies he used to earn points, and how his redemption strategies have evolved over time. Plus, he answers a few questions from the Daily Drop audience!
In this episode, Mike and Megan discuss creative ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. They share personal examples of how they have used these points to book flights and hotels at incredible value. They highlight the flexibility and high value of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, particularly when used with transfer partners like United and Virgin Atlantic. They also emphasize the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Cha...
In this episode, Mike answers one of our most common questions around here. He discusses how he justifies holding credit cards with high annual fees, using the Chase Sapphire Reserve as an example.
Check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card here: https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve
Keep Up With Daily Drop:
Read the newsletter: https://www.dailydrop.com
Join the Lounge: https://www.facebook...
In this episode, Megan dives deep into American Express Membership Rewards points. She explains the rules and limitations of American Express cards, the cards that earn Membership Rewards points, and how to earn additional points through Rakuten. Megan also discusses some secrets to earn more MR points. Enjoy!
Resources:
Favorite Amex MR earning cards: https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-card-issuers/american-express
Rakuten + Amex:...
In this episode, Mike and Megan are joined by Brendan from the Daily Drop Youtube channel to talk all about their mistakes. They cover topics such as booking upgraded hotel rooms with points, accidentally using the wrong free night award, using points for poor value, analysis paralysis in redemption, forgetting visa requirements, and passport expiration drama. Plus everyone learns a new hack that ends up saving Brendan thousands of...
In this episode, Mike discusses the major shakeup in the points and miles world, with Bilt Rewards adding Alaska Airlines as a transfer partner and why you should care about this!
Resources:
The Bilt Card: https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards/bilt-mastercard
Episode Time Stamps:
01:24 Changes to Alaska Airlines loyalty program
05:09 Introduction of new award charts
06:36 New sweet spots and improved pricing
10:38 Free st...
In this very fun episode, we give you the recording of our speech that we hosted live at the Travel and Adventure Show Atlanta 2024. Megan and Mike talk you through how we visited over 50 countries last year thanks to the magic of miles and points!
Resources:
Slides: https://bit.ly/tasslidesdd
YouTube version of this ep: https://youtu.be/XjRpjlHZYKo
Free gift as mentioned at the start - Miles and Points 101: https://ww...
In this episode, Megan provides an ultimate guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards. She explains what Ultimate Rewards are, how to earn them, and why people are kind of obsessed with them. She also explores the different cards that earn Ultimate Rewards and how to build a points family. Megan covers redemption options through the Chase portal and transfer partners, and more!
Resources:
Written guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards: https://www.da...
In this episode, we are joined by Megan, Mike, and Tiffany to chat about what's in our wallets and why?! We answer questions like what's one card we frequently reach for? What's a favorite co branded card we have? What's our strategy for choosing our next card? And we answer some questions from you!
Resources from this episode:
Top Cards: https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards
2 Player Mod...
In this episode, Mike discusses fifth freedom flights and their travel hacking implications. He highlights several airlines that operate fifth freedom routes, including Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Gulf Air, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Resources:
Weekend Round Up Newsletter: https://newsletter.dailydrop.com/forms/d7b781f6-5522-40bb-a818-f7cf9810662f
Episode Time Stamps:
01:33 Introduction to Fifth Freedom Flights
03...
In this episode, Mike and Megan (are back 🎉) discuss several exciting credit card offers. Who gets the spotlight… Southwest, World of Hyatt, Marriott, Capital One, and United.
Resources:
All elevated offers Here: https://www.dailydrop.com/ranked-credit-cards/increased-welcome-offers
Southwest specific bonuses here: https://www.dailydrop.com/ranked-credit-cards/southwest-airlines-cards?
Southwest Card Head to Head Episode: ...
In this episode, Megan discusses the importance of award search tools and shares six award search tools, 3 for flights and 3 for hotels. The question "How do I find award bookings?!" comes up a lot around here and these are tools to add to your search toolkit!
Resources:
Seats.aero: https://bit.ly/ddseatsaero
Points Yeah: https://bit.ly/ddpointsyeah
Seat Spy: https://bit.ly/3SEVV66
Guide with tutorials: https://bit.ly/ddfr...
In this episode, Mike discusses credit scores and credit card statements. He explains the components of a credit score, including payment history, utilization, average credit length, new credit, and credit mix.
Episode Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro and the basics
00:57 Components of a Credit Score
02:21 Payment History and Utilization
02:49 Average Credit Length and New Credit
04:17 Credit Mix
04:46 Understanding Credit Card Statements
06:38 Pa...
In this episode, Megan discusses the strategy of two-player mode in travel hacking. You’ll learn how to maximize your points with someone else, the various bank rules to keep in mind, how to manage annual fees, and more.
Episode Time Stamps:
00:28 What is Two Player Mode?
01:24 The Two Player Mode Process
03:21 Example: Chase Sapphire Preferred
05:08 Maximizing Two Player Mode with Different Card Families
06:35 Managing Annual Fees
07:28 ...
Welcome to the weekly round up! Here we'll sum up what happened in the newsletter this week in 10 minutes.
Monday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/my-current-favorite-travel-hack?
Tuesday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/a-new-way-to-fly-to-mexico-with-points?
Wednesday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/airline-status-match-through-2026?
Thursday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/today-only-save-on-southwest-...
In this episode, Mike shares lesser-known travel hacks that can help travelers maximize their experiences and rewards. He discusses booking unique accommodations with points and miles, earning extra loyalty points, using status matches for one-time perks, bidding for upgrades, and more.
Keep Up With Daily Drop:
Read the newsletter: https://www.dailydrop.com
Join the Lounge: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailydroplounge
...
In this episode, Mike shares his 2023 travel stats and best hacks along the way!
Find a newsletter referenced here: https://dailydrop.com/
Keep Up With Daily Drop:
Join the Lounge: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailydroplounge
Check out our top cards: https://dailydrop.com/pages/our-top-credit-cards
Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailydrop/
Hang out on YouTube: https://www.youtube...
In this episode Megan and Mike set a challenge to create the best itinerary booked with points using only $0 annual fee cards… and it was a challenge! Tune in to hear 2 very different strategies for earning and redeeming points, plus we want you to vote on the best itinerary!
Join the Daily Drop Lounge here to vote: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailydroplounge
Episode Time Stamps:
1:00 - The Challenge Rules
2:07 - 2 things to...
Welcome to the weekly round up! Here we'll sum up what happened in the newsletter this week in 10 minutes.
Monday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/what-i-d-do-if-i-could-only-travel-once-per-year?tid=podcast
Tuesday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/major-award-sale-to-basically-everywhere?tid=podcast
Wednesday: https://www.dailydrop.com/newsletters/how-to-use-hotel-points-for-flights?tid=lounge
Thursday: https://www.da...
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