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This week on Miles to Go, Ed and Richard cover a packed slate of breaking travel and loyalty news that matters for road warriors.

We dig into Chase Sapphire Reserve, which rolled out splashy new redemption options this summer only to quietly walk back its headline-grabbing 2¢-per-point Points Boost just months later. What does this mean for a card with a nearly $800 annual fee, and is it still worth holding?

American Airlines quietly eliminated mileage and Loyalty Point earning on Basic Economy fares, raising big questions about who AA is actually trying to reward—and whether Basic Economy is now little more than a stripped-down cash fare.

Plus, we talk about Bilt's newest transfer partner—Spirit Airlines—and why the data shows there's real demand for low-cost carrier redemptions, including Big Front Seat value. Add in holiday travel chaos, turbulence stories, and a few airline rants, and it's a full episode you won't want to miss.

Finally, Mesa appears to be shutting down, leaving cardholders scrambling to figure out what happens to their points. Richard shares lessons learned about startup loyalty programs and when it makes sense to cash out early.

Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun

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If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience!

If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways.

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• Personal consultation plus annual access

We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month.

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Thanks to Thrifty Traveler for sponsoring this episode! Visit ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium and use code GO20 to save $20 on annual memberships.

On this week's show:

✅ Bilt expands beyond rent: there's a new way to earn bonus points/miles when paying your mortgage, including new opportunities tied to certain United co-branded cards.

✈️ United PlusPoints changes: upgrades on award tickets are coming, but dynamic PlusPoints pricing is on the horizon—good news and bad news for United elites.

🇪🇺 EU entry system rollout: the new electronic entry setup is starting to go live, and early reports suggest… complications.

🍵 And then… matcha. Richard goes into why matcha is everywhere (and why he's over it).

Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun

Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show!

If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience!

If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways.

• Monthly access
• Annual access
• Personal consultation plus annual access

We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month.

Follow Us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast

Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/

Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/

Watch Us On YouTube!

Thanks to Thrifty Traveler for sponsoring this episode! Visit ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium and use code GO20 to save $20 on annual memberships.

In this week's episode of the Miles to Go podcast, Ed is joined in person by Julian Keel from Points Path with Richard Kerr checking in fresh off a Disney cruise.

We kick things off with the breaking news everyone in our Slack community has been waiting for: Was Julian really reinstated by Uber… and did it last more than one ride?

Then Richard gives a brutally honest review of his Disney Dream holiday sailing—including the chaos of a packed holiday sailing.

We also dig into:

• A targeted Frontier elite status offer that can get you to Gold or even Platinum (with companion benefits) for far less than you'd expect

• Whether United quietly walked back their close-in award surcharge, and why United miles keep losing value

• Why American and Alaska are increasingly where the sweet spots are hiding for North American awards

• Some insane Thrifty Traveler Premium business class deals, like Delta One to Australia and Avios to Europe that lined up perfectly with Bilt Rent Day's 100% transfer bonus

• Julian also shares some news from Points Path

Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun

Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show!

If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience!

If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways.

• Monthly access
• Annual access
• Personal consultation plus annual access

We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month.

Follow Us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast

Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/

Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/