Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
The Platinum Card® from American Express may soon be under the surgical knife, as it receives a number of benefits changes and an annual fee adjustment. Many people may view these changes as a net positive, and just as many canceling their cards over i…
Author: Joseph Hostetler
4 reasons I choose the aisle instead of a window seat
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
I’ll concede that a window seat can be great for shorter flights. I like taking pictures of a sunset from 37,000 feet just as much as the next fella. I like leaning against the wall and falling asleep as my saliva performs Chinese water torture o…
Chase launches new United Quest card with up to 100,000 bonus miles
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
We always love when banks issue new travel credit cards. Even if they’re not stunning deals, it’s still great when our options for collecting miles and points increases. The New United Quest℠ Card, however, is a good deal. It’s actual…
Booking ANA with Virgin miles: One of the best values in award travel gets even better
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
Do you know anything about Virgin Atlantic’s award sweet spots? There are several goodies in its award chart, but number one (by far) is the ability to fly to Japan in premium lie-flat seats for as little as 90,000 miles round-trip. As a referenc…
Why I’m collecting American Airlines and Delta miles shortly after disowning them
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
Remember in 2019 when we found out that legacy airlines were transitioning to “dynamic award pricing?” We all considered that to be an objectively bad move. And for most, it was. Dynamic pricing can be extremely inconvenient. When an airlin…
British Airways Avios points become easier to use for Alaska Airlines with Oneworld integration
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
British Airways is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance. There are 14 airlines in this alliance, and you can use British Airways Avios points to fly on these partner airlines. That means you can get just about anywhere with British Airways Avios! …
8 steps to build fun stopovers into your vacation — while getting to your destination for even cheaper
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
When you search for airfare from your home airport to your destination airport, you’re getting an inflated price. Google just shows you whatever predetermined fares the airlines have decided it costs to get you there, along with connections that …
4 reasons why you should check a bag instead of bringing a carry-on
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
Bringing a carry-on bag instead of a checked bag means you won’t have to waste time at that annoying carousel after your flight. It means you can better guarantee that you won’t lose your stuff, instead of leaving it in the hands of the oft…
Chase extends Pay Yourself Back, adds 10x points at Peloton and more
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
Travel credit cards aren’t just used for travel anymore. Their specialty has expanded to accommodate the extended coronavirus travel pause. Chase is one of the banks really getting it done. They’ve announced multiple fantastic additions to …
These 3 credit cards have unique bonus categories that change with your spending habits
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
Do you spend a lot at pet stores? On flowers? At funeral homes?? No matter what you tend to purchase most, these cards will give you a bonus. Even if your spending varies drastically month to month! Most travel credit cards have rigid bonus categories …
How to pay less than the traveler next to you: Google indicates overpriced 2021 travel will only get worse
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
In 2017, I traveled to Charleston for a chance to view the “Great American Eclipse.” Prices at Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District were $500+ per night. That’s about 300% of the normal room rate for an aggressively mediocre hotel…
5 reasons why I book one-way flights almost exclusively
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
As usual, the more effort something takes, the bigger the payoff. If you’re trying to book a free trip with just a few mouse clicks, that’s entirely possible with miles and points. Booking award flights isn’t intrinsically difficult &…
How to use a United Airlines trip credit (and few details you need to know)
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
It’s been about a year since your summer 2020 travel dreams were dashed against the stone of COVID-19. Do you have trip vouchers, credits, or funds that are soon to expire? Several airlines have extended travel credits into 2022. Whether you̵…
Coming soon: Redeem Delta miles for private jet flights
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
Delta’s ears were burning from my recent discussion with MMS editor Brendan as to whether Delta miles are good for literally anything. They’ve been irritating us lately with their lack of regard for loyalty members. By the end of 2021, Delt…
A Delta credit card argument: What are SkyMiles really good for?
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
We’ve seen some pretty huge credit card welcome offers over the last few months as banks, airlines and hotels work to entice customers back into the fold. And now, Delta has jumped in to compete with the rest. Through April 28, 2021, Amex Delta c…
7 secrets to the World of Hyatt program — how many do you know?
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
As straightforward as many loyalty programs market themselves to be, there are always a handful of tips and tricks that many of us are unaware of — or perhaps maybe forgotten. Some involve their hotel credit card, some are booking loopholes, some…
6 best ongoing credit card benefits: Each one can save you potentially $1,000 per year
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
We tout travel credit card welcome bonuses as the best way to get free travel and save a bunch of money — and that’s correct. But what happens to a credit card after you earn its bonus? It’s true, some credit cards have seemingly litt…
I stayed at the top 2 Colorado ski hotels on points — here’s which one is better
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek vs the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. How has nobody written a comparison post of these two resorts These are perhaps the two best hotels you can book in Colorado with either Marriott points and Hyatt points. If you’re a…
My first Amex Centurion Lounge experience — are they really as good as they say?
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
I used to be one of you. Forehead smooshed against the unblemished crystalline windows of the Amex Centurion Lounge, fantasizing of a warm greeting by the Armani-clad staff at the front desk. I’ve read about their restaurant-quality food, their f…
Why a hotel promotion caused me to cancel my airline credit card
Written by Joseph Hostetler @ Million Mile Secrets
The United℠ Explorer Card is one of my favorite travel cards — and not just airline-specific. It’s one of the best overall travel credit cards, in my opinion. It comes with perks like: 2 United miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases …