Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways - Episode Summary

Episode Title: Where 100,000 Points Can Take You: First Class Seats, Five-Star Suites and VIP Upgrades
Release Date: April 30, 2025
Hosts: Sally French & Meghan Coyle
Guest: Benjamin Din

Introduction

In this episode of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways, NerdWallet’s travel experts, Sally French and Meghan Coyle, delve into maximizing your travel points. With a special guest, Benjamin Din, a self-described "proud aviation geek," the trio explores creative and valuable ways to utilize 100,000 credit card points. The discussion ranges from hotel redemptions to luxurious flight upgrades, ensuring listeners can make the most of their travel dollars.

News Segment

Credit Card Partnerships & Transfer Ratios

• Southwest Airlines and Built Rewards: Sally announces that Built Rewards has added Southwest Airlines as a new transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio. However, she expresses disappointment over Southwest reintroducing expiration dates for flight credits.
  “Southwest points are worth about 1.3 cents per point now, so it's better than the 1 cent per point as a baseline,” says Megan (00:58).

• Citi's Transfer Ratio Changes: Citi revealed adjustments to transfer ratios with partners like Emirates Skywards, moving from a 1:1 to a 5:4 ratio for Citi ThankYou points — effectively a 20% reduction.
  “For City Thank You members, a couple of months to transfer at the current more favorable transfer rate ratio,” advises Sally (02:44).

• JetBlue’s New Partnership: JetBlue has enabled point redemptions for Japan Airlines, enhancing travel options to one of the world's top-rated airlines.
  “Any other ways to book flights on points to and from Japan is a win for consumers,” notes Sally (03:03).

• Chase's Travel Portal Expansion: Cruises are now accessible via Chase’s travel portal, making it simpler to browse and compare cruise options without needing to call directly. Benefits for Chase cardholders include perks like specialty dining and onboard Starbucks.
  “Even if you don't have enough Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a cruise, you can also Pay for your cruise on a Chase card to earn points,” Sally highlights (04:13).

• Disney Dining Plan Offer: A special deal for families visiting Disney World in 2026 includes a free dining plan for children aged 3 to 9 when booking a Disney resort collection hotel.
  “Kids eat free. I like the sound of that,” Megan reacts (04:53).

Main Discussion: Maximizing 100,000 Points

Overview

Sally, Meghan, and Benjamin explore optimal strategies for redeeming 100,000 credit card points across various rewards programs. Each host presents tailored recommendations based on their respective credit card programs: American Express, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Capital One.

Chase Ultimate Rewards: Benjamin Din’s Recommendations

1. Hyatt Hotels Transfer Partner

   • Value Proposition: Hyatt remains a standout due to its award chart and reasonable redemption rates.
   • “Standard room is 45,000 points per night,” Benjamin explains (10:24).
   • Example: Sally shares her successful redemption at Andaz Maui at Wailea, highlighting the flexibility before its upgrade to Category 8.
     “It is a Category 8. I still love it,” she states (12:05).

2. Flights: Lufthansa First Class via Air Canada’s Aeroplan

   • Redemption Value: Over 11 cents per point for a one-way flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, valued at more than $11,000 in cash.
   • Experience Highlight: Exclusive facilities like private check-ins, sleeping rooms, and gourmet dining. Benjamin fondly recalls receiving a rubber duck as a Lufthansa first-class souvenir.
     “My favorite part is getting a rubber duck from the lounge as a souvenir,” Benjamin shares (17:36).

3. Additional Flight Options

   • Iberia Business Class: Fly to Madrid for 34,000 points each way.
   • ANA First Class to Tokyo: Booked through Virgin Atlantic’s partnership, offering flights from the West Coast for 72,500 points or East Coast for 85,000 points.
     “I flew ANA first class to Tokyo, which was an incredible experience,” Benjamin recounts (16:51).

Capital One: Meghan Coyle’s Recommendations

1. Choice Privileges Transfer Partner

   • Value Proposition: Affordable nights at brands like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Radisson, and Cambria Hotels.
   • “A boutique hotel in Oslo is only 15,000 points per night, worth about 1.6 cents per point,” Meghan illustrates (13:12).

2. Vacation Rentals via Capital One

   • Lifestyle & Premier Collection Properties: Option to book vacation rentals on points, coupled with property credits ranging from $50 to $100.
     “There are some vacation rentals that you can book on points through Capital One,” Megan mentions (21:08).

3. British Airways Flights

   • Short Haul Flights: Ideal for infrequent travelers within Europe, with low surcharges and high redemption value.
     “British Airways is a good program to book with and also if you need British Airways points,” as Megan advises (23:00).

American Express: Sally French’s Recommendations

1. Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) Program

   • Premium Redemptions: High-end hotels offering perks like early check-in, room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and $100 resort credits.
   • Example: Andaz Maui at Wailea, providing excellent value especially when combined with the Amex Platinum’s $200 hotel credit.
     “If you have an Amex Platinum, you need to look into the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts,” Sally explains (14:33).

2. Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) Transfers

   • Economy Flights: Monthly promotions offer flights to/from Europe for under 20,000 miles, perfect for budget-conscious travelers.
     “Another great trip for you to book your own trip to Europe for that 100,000 points,” Sally suggests (20:45).

3. Delta SkyMiles

   • Deals: Affordable domestic and international flights, such as LA to Seattle for 10,000 miles or LA to Detroit for 30,000 miles.
     “Some good deals if you can find them especially internationally or even throughout the US,” Sally notes (22:03).

Listener Questions

Couples Maximizing Signup Bonuses

Curtis inquires whether both he and his wife can receive miles from opening individual Citi American Airlines MasterCards. Sally confirms:

“If you both open up a card in your individual names, you could both receive the signup bonus,” Sally answers (25:01).
Meghan adds strategic advice:
"A two player credit card strategy can be really effective because you've got double the spending power and you can earn two signup bonuses at once," she advises (25:13).

Hot Takeoffs: Benjamin Din on Southwest Airlines

Benjamin criticizes Southwest’s decision to list prices on third-party sites like Google Flights and Expedia. He argues that once consumers can easily compare Southwest’s prices with other airlines, the perceived value diminishes.
“Those platforms make it really easy to compare prices across airlines. But personally, I found that Southwest isn't the cheapest option,” Benjamin states (25:34).

Sally and Megan express agreement, noting that Southwest’s unique selling points are being eroded by these changes. They discuss recent personal experiences with Southwest, highlighting both pros (spacious cabins) and cons (added fees).
“I actually didn't have that great of an experience. There's no free drink can,” Benjamin shares (26:42).

Conclusion

Sally and Meghan encourage listeners to actively use their accumulated points rather than letting them sit unused. They emphasize the vast array of redemption options available, from luxurious international flights to affordable hotel stays and unique experiences.

“You can transfer your points to get multiple nights at certain brands that charge 20,000 points or less per room. Or you could use all of those points for a first class international flight with caviar and a ride to the airplane,” Meghan summarizes (24:33).

Sally adds a light-hearted note on memorable perks such as Lufthansa’s rubber ducks and Virgin Atlantic’s salt and pepper shakers, reinforcing the fun aspects of point redemption.
“And also we should add those ducks and salt and pepper shakers depending on the airline,” Sally jokes (24:33).

Final Remarks

The hosts wrap up by encouraging listeners to subscribe to the podcast on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio, and to engage with them through comments and feedback.

“We hope you're inspired to keep your passport full and your wallet even fuller,” Megan concludes (28:08).

Key Takeaways

• Maximize Value: Focus on high-value redemptions like Hyatt Hotels and premium flights to get the most out of your points.
• Transfer Strategically: Leverage transfer partners such as Hyatt, Aeroplan, and Flying Blue to unlock better redemption options.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with changes in transfer ratios and new partnerships to adapt your point usage strategies accordingly.
• Experiment with Options: Consider various redemption avenues, including hotels, flights, and even vacation rentals, to diversify how you use your points.

Resources Mentioned:

• Hyatt Hotels Transfer Rates
• Capital One’s Choice Privileges and Radisson Blu Offers
• American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Chase Ultimate Rewards & Hyatt Partnership
• Air Canada’s Aeroplan and Lufthansa Flights
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Redemptions

For detailed articles and specific redemption guides, refer to the episode links in the show notes.