Frequent Miler on the Air - When are points better than cash & vice versa? | Coffee Break Ep39 | 12-31-24

When are points better than cash & vice versa? | Coffee Break Ep39 | 12-31-24

12/31/24 • 16 min

The Smartly Credit Card (with opportunity for up to 4% cash back everywhere) has us wondering...when should you value cash back over other points and miles or transferable currency rewards?

(00:26) - Smartly Credit Card: Up to 4% cash back

Learn more about the Smartly card here.

(01:21) - Using 2x everywhere points card is like buying points for 2 cents each

(05:12) - So, is cash the final answer? No!

(09:07) - So what's the ideal strategy?

(13:36) - Learn more about the Hyatt milestone spending here.

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.

Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads

The Smartly Credit Card (with opportunity for up to 4% cash back everywhere) has us wondering...when should you value cash back over other points and miles or transferable currency rewards?

(00:26) - Smartly Credit Card: Up to 4% cash back

Learn more about the Smartly card here.

(01:21) - Using 2x everywhere points card is like buying points for 2 cents each

(05:12) - So, is cash the final answer? No!

(09:07) - So what's the ideal strategy?

(13:36) - Learn more about the Hyatt milestone spending here.

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.

Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads

Previous Episode

Deal of the Year 2024 | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep287 | 12-27-24

What are the best miles and points deals we've seen in 2024, and which deals came out above the rest? In today's episode of Frequent Miler on the Air, we'll decide what we think the best miles and points deal of 2024 was.

(01:05) - Feedback about Greg's "Frequent Miler’s 2024 State of the Business Report"

Read Greg's "Frequent Miler’s 2024 State of the Business Report" here.

(08:12) - Additional datapoints regarding possible Atlantis stays for after February 1st

(12:14) - Greg's Marriott Mattress Run

(20:48) - Capital One Offers

(26:18) - Easily extend National Free Day

(28:41) - Catch our "Bonvoyed of the Year" episode from last week to see which loyalty snafus we thought were the worst in 2024.

(29:11) - Buy Aeroplan miles for 1.14cpp: Read more about buying Aeroplan miles here.

(30:41) - Big payouts via Capital One Shopping

(36:35) - Virgin goes dynamic & lowers surcharges Read more about Virgin's dynamic pricing here.

(40:00) - Bilt transfer bonus up to 150% to Flying Blue, Virgin Points, and IHG One Rewards (Jan 1)

(42:19) - Bilt transfer bonus up to 100% to Alaska (July 1)

(44:05) - Amex +10x restaurants referral offer Read more about this Amex referral offer here.

(47:11) - 120K Ink Business Preferred offer + 40K referral

(48:27) - Hilton SLH

(53:20) - Alaska's awesome shorthaul AA pricing Read more about the Alaksa award chart winners and losers here.

(57:41) - SAS Eurobonus Millionaire

Read more about the SAS Eurobonus Millionaire challenge here: https://frequentmiler.com/sas-eurobonus-millionaire-promo-frequently-asked-questions-million-mile-madness-2024/

(1:00:02) - Which did we actually take advantage of? (Or which didn't we?)

(1:01:59) - So...which was the best?

(1:11:10) - Read more about this story here: https://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com/2015/05/25/frequent-flyer-history-latinpass-million-miles-mileage-runs-that-bankrupted-a-company/

(1:13:17) - Can you swap a cash seat you've already purchased with Southwest with a companion seat with your companion pass instead?

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Next Episode

10 point-ish things we're most looking forward to | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep288 | 1-3-25

(00:00) - It's a new year and we're excited about all the "point-y" things happening for us in 2025! Give this episode a listen to find out what we're looking forward to.

(01:07) - One reader's interesting experience disbanding a United miles pool highlights a possible hack and brings up a few questions.... Learn more about miles-pooling here: https://www.united.com/en/us/mileageplus/miles-pooling/

(04:17) - Can a pool leader leave a miles pool?

(04:35) - Can I leave a miles pool after joining?

(07:25) - Chase United card devaluation: TravelBank credits instead of statement credits

(11:10) - Chase Aeroplan PYB (Pay Yourself Back) Travel limited to 200K

(13:51) - Marriott Choice Benefit 40 night selection expiry Read more about this update here: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-choice-benefits/

(16:27) - IHG Ends Annual Lounge Pass Loophole In 2025

(19:52) - Pay taxes via credit card slightly cheaper (starts at 1.75%) but down to 2 processors PayUSATax gone ("We are no longer processing federal tax payments on behalf of the IRS.") Learn more about paying taxes with a credit card here: https://frequentmiler.com/pay-taxes-via-credit-card/

(25:21) - Greg and Nick’s "Bonvoyed" pick: Hyatt breaks our hearts with Mr & Mrs Smith Read our "Bonvoyed of the year" post here: https://frequentmiler.com/frequent-milers-peoples-choice-bonvoyed-awards-2024-edition/

(26:47) - Readers' "Bonvoyed" picks...

(28:10) - Our picks for for Deal of the Year Read our "Deal of the Year" post here: https://frequentmiler.com/2024-deal-of-the-year-and-readers-choice-vote/

(29:02) - Readers' picks for Deal of the Year

(31:01) - Small Luxury Hotels SLH

(33:07) - Preferred hotels & Resorts

(35:30) - Alaska Mileage Plan mixed partner awards

(40:13) - Earning Alaska elite status through award bookings

(42:51) - Alaska premium card

(45:00) - Digging into SAS awards

(47:17) - Finding a great Vacasa redemption (I bought points)

(49:17) - Finding great Capital One Miles deals See the "Deal of the Year" episode here: https://frequentmiler.com/deal-of-the-year-2024-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep287-12-27-24-podcast/

(52:09) - Getting back into the swing of bank account bonuses