In this hilarious and honest follow-up to one of our most popular episodes, Bryce, Emily, and Travis tackle a brand-new batch of travel faux pas submitted by listeners and inspired by their own recent adventures.

From the fiery debate over kids in premium cabins to the eternal question of whether it's ever okay to go barefoot on a plane, the 10xTravel crew breaks down the weirdest, worst, and most relatable travel etiquette dilemmas out there.

You'll hear:

• Airplane seat etiquette
• Who really owns the overhead bin?
• Controversial takes on lounge hogs, gate lice, and tuna sandwiches
• Ethical gray zones in points & miles, including award booking tactics and status sharing
• Real confessions from the crew on their most questionable in-flight behaviors

Before you go, tell us: What’s YOUR biggest travel pet peeve? Drop a comment or leave us a review with your favorite (or most infuriating) travel faux pas!

In this episode:

00:00 Intro & pet peeves (including roundabouts)

04:50 Kids in business class

13:10 Bare feet on planes

20:55 Overhead bin wars & lounge space hoarders

30:40 Taking hotel amenities: classy or klepto?

36:00 Sharing elite status: smart or shady?

44:45 Booking multiple award flights: fair game or foul?

47:00 Friends & points

51:00 Gate lice, lounge to-go food, and taking plane selfies

57:00 Faux Pas Confession Time!

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Plan your family travel redemption strategy

Ever wondered what happens when you take a wild chance on a points and miles booking? In this fun, story-packed episode, Bryce, Emily, and Travis share the most unexpected wins they’ve had using miles — including last-minute upgrades, miracle customer service saves, and zero-cost first class flights that shouldn't have worked, but did.

From how Travis saved his honeymoon with one phone call to the Emirates upgrade trick Bryce used for his entire family, you'll be shocked at these successes. Plus, you'll hear how Emily's flexibility and mid-trip rebooking paid off!

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, this episode proves that sometimes the best redemptions are the ones you didn’t plan.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro & Weekend Recaps

04:00 Why This Episode Is Different

05:00 Travis Saves His Honeymoon with One Bold Ask

23:00 Emily’s Mid-Trip Award Rebooking Win

30:00 Bryce Upgrades His Whole Family to First Class

38:00 The Virgin Atlantic Award Space “Magic Trick”

43:00 What Makes a Redemption Truly Surprising

48:00 Tips to Engineer Your Own Points Surprises

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

How To Book Premium Economy Flights with Points and Miles

Best Award Search Tools

When Buying Miles Makes Sense (And Doesn’t)

Stay Connected:

Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders

Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog

Wa...

• Ashley (Matt’s wife), who’s gone from extreme couponing to lay-flat luxury
• Miryea (Travis’s wife), whose Maldives honeymoon kickstarted a travel-filled decade
• Michael (Emily’s husband), who's more than happy to go where the points and miles take them
• Alexandra (Bryce’s wife), who might not love flying, but who loves the travel perks

Welcome to the ultimate destination face-off for award travelers: Italy vs. Japan. In this episode, the 10xTravel team compares two of the most sought-after dream trips in the points and miles world. From premium flight redemptions and train travel to luxury hotels and authentic food experiences, which destination gives you more value?

Join Bryce, Travis, Emily, and Matt as they pit ravioli against ramen, bullet trains against cobblestone streets, and Park Hyatts against Amalfi coast villas. No fence-sitting allowed: in the end, you'll hear each team member casts their vote on which destination reigns supreme for 2025 points & miles travel.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Host Greetings

01:32 Episode Overview: Italy vs. Japan

02:20 Listener Engagement and Points & Miles Basics

03:09 Travel Predictions and Membership Program

03:55 Italy vs. Japan: Flights and Award Redemptions

12:02 Personal Experiences and Flight Options

28:02 In-Country Travel: Italy vs. Japan

36:10 Debating Train Travel in Japan vs. Italy

37:14 The Convenience of Public Transit

37:50 Overnight Ferries and Transportation Experiences

40:49 Comparing Hotel Options in Japan and Italy

41:52 Booking High-End Properties with Points

43:16 Challenges of Booking in Italy

44:32 The Value of Authentic Experiences

47:53 Skiing and Unique Stays in Japan

50:55 Experience Value: Italy vs. Japan

01:00:57 Final Verdict: Italy or Japan?

01:08:32 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts

Ever wonder what award travel pros actually book with their points and miles? In this behind-the-scenes episode, the 10xTravel team pulls back the curtain on their real travel plans, giving an inside look at the strategies and considerations behind their trips.

From spring break in The Bahamas to a dive trip in Italy and Ireland, you’ll hear the exact routes, programs, challenges, and creative booking strategies our team is using. Plus, find out which airlines the crew absolutely avoids.

This episode is packed with practical tips and booking insights that will help you think like a points & miles pro.

In this episode:
00:00 Introduction and Crew Greetings
00:21 Weather Woes and Fun Facts
02:10 Current Bookings and Travel Plans
02:48 Points and Miles Basics Reminder
03:51 Bryce's Spring Break 2026 Plans
20:19 Emily's Upcoming Europe Trip
31:45 Cheering for Your Success
32:02 Travis's Upcoming Europe Trip
34:01 Booking Flights and Accommodations
35:30 Airport Celebrity Spotting
37:53 Planning for Ireland and Italy
42:14 Future Travel Plans and Dive Trips
44:30 Matt's Flexible Travel Planning
48:12 California Alila Tour
55:12 The Thrill of Booking with Points
55:12 The Thrill of Booking with Points
01:00:46 Final Thoughts and Resources

Links and Resources from this Episode:
Take Our Free Points and Miles Course
Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)
My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place
10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today
Join us at an upcoming Meetup
How to Book Your First Flight with Points & Miles
Partner Award Bookings: Everything You Need to Know
How to Plan a Family Vacation Using Points and Miles
Mapping a Trip to Italy: How to Plan Your Points Redemption

Stay Connected:
Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders
Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog
Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: @10xTravel

Subscribe for more tips on travel, points, and miles! Don’t forget to hit the notification bel...

Are points and miles worth less than they used to be—or are they just different? In this episode, Bryce is joined by Emily, Travis, and Matt to break down how the value of travel rewards has evolved in 2025. They unpack shifting airline award charts, hotel certificate struggles, and why dynamic pricing isn’t necessarily the end of the world.

Hear what the crew thinks about points and miles devaluation over the years, and catch their opinions on what's better today than in the past. Plus, learn how they are adjusting their points and miles strategies to account for these shifts in the industry.

Whether you’re new to points or a seasoned mile collector, this episode is packed with takeaways to help you earn smarter and redeem better in the current environment.

00:00 – Episode Introduction

02:00 – Are points worth less today? Personal takes

07:00 – Airlines: devaluations vs. new sweet spots

12:30 – Hotel certs & why they’re harder to use

17:00 – Dynamic pricing: pros, cons & weird examples

32:00 – Credit card bonuses & how inflation helped

41:00 – What we’ll look back on in 10 years

50:00 – Real talk: what changes your strategy today?

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Stay Connected:

Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders

Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog

Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: @10xTravel

Subscribe for more tips on travel, points, and miles! Don’t forget to hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which 10xTravel will earn an affiliate commission. 10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

It's time to turn up the heat! In this special hot takes episode, Bryce, Emily, and Travis are dishing out their most unfiltered opinions on points and miles travel, credit card strategies, and everything in between.

From questioning the true value of “free night” certificates to debating whether optimizing every point is really worth it, nothing is off-limits. You’ll hear where the crew agrees, where they clash, and where you might want to rethink your entire strategy.

This spicy episode will challenge your points and miles assumptions—and probably give you a good laugh along the way. Tune in, and let us know your own hot takes on YouTube or Instagram!

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

01:48 Diving into Unconventional Takes

12:40 Category Spend Optimization Debate

23:53 Inconveniences in Points and Miles Travel

31:34 Travis's Hot Take on Point Hoarding

35:23 The Risks of Point Hoarding

40:54 Psychological Aspects of Point Hoarding

44:39 Bryce's Second Hot Take: Valuing Points and Miles

52:38 Emily's Second Hot Take: Free Night Certificates

56:55 Travis's Controversial Take on Flexible Pricing

01:02:39 Lightning Round of Hot Takes

01:04:07 Engaging with the Audience

01:04:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Top Five Credit Myths Debunked

Best Cards for Bonus Categories April Through June 2025

Three Types of Points: Which One Should You Prioritize?

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Stay Connected:

Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders

Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog

Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: