Episode 60: Show Notes This year, only one of us had a Memorial Day trip, at least on a plane, and this episode is all about that! This trip also marks Trevor’s family’s first international long-haul trip since January of this year. From their experience at the Centurion Lounge at Washington, DC’s Reagan-National airport, to managing flights with a toddler, Trevor shares the highlights. We start with Tom’s fishing trip to Chesapeake before diving into Trevor’s vacation, which began on a boat and...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Around the World with Hello Kitty Episode 59: Show Notes. When EVA Air released its Hello Kitty livery on a 777-300ER, we just knew we had to hop on! Today, 10 years later, we reflect on our EVA Air Hello Kitty trip and why this particular adventure is still one of our most memorable. We discuss how we became aware of the Hello Kitty jet, the near-disaster of our first connection, and the wonder of our in-flight experience with Hello Kitty branding, literally, everywhere! Then, we examine our it...
Jun 01, 2025•47 min
No Way Home Episode 58: Show Notes. Planning the trips are getting harder and harder. The way home often becomes more challenging, with many more constraining factors. This episode we’re unpacking why. We begin with our examples of going on trips without planning the route home before exploring the limiting factors that make the trip home a daunting prospect. We throw some tangents in along the way including a discussion of Fifth Freedom Flights, the current state of airline alliances, the merit...
May 15, 2025•48 min
Episode 57: Show Notes. Sometimes you just need to do some travel banter! And who better to do it with than TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager? In today’s conversation, we discuss our recent travel experiences and dig into the nitty gritty of points, upgrades, flight paths, and so much more. To kick things off, we hear all about Michael’s recent trip to Madrid and the benefits of American Airlines' ConciergeKey status, which Michael has access to thanks to his wife, Ellen! We then discuss optima...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 48 min
0:25 Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000 Offer Direct Link $5,000 min spend in 3 months $95 annual fee (not waived first year) This is a higher than usual offer 05:14 Chase Referrals chase.com/referafriend 10,000 points for each approval (capped at 100,000 per year) 06:30 Sapphire Churning Restrictions Eligible for welcome bonus if it has been >48 months since you last got a Sapphire welcome bonus (Preferred or Reserve) 5/24 still applies: 5 credit card approvals in the past 24 months (from any ...
Apr 16, 2025•41 min
Two Cruises Episode 56: Show Notes. This episode, we head back to the high seas to talk about not one, but two different cruises! Join us as we discuss our experience on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas and Princess Cruise Lines’ Sun Princess. In this detailed discussion, we talk about everything from flight Irregular Operations (IRROPS) and loyalty rewards to dining, entertainment and more, drawing out differences, common features, and what we liked and didn’t like. To kick off our conversa...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Episode 55: Show Notes From COVID to cutbacks, there were a lot of reasons why airlines let go of some of their more luxurious offerings. Today, we dig into the airline products that no longer exist and reflect on the standout examples we loved, missed, or otherwise knew about. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and discuss everything from exceptional service to the most comfortable sleep we’ve had up in the air! We describe our top first class experiences with Thai and Lufthansa, notewo...
Mar 28, 2025•51 min
Episode 54: Show Notes. Today, we are taking a trip back in time to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as we approach the fifth anniversary of lockdowns across the globe. Joining us to discuss this period is long-time friend Chris, who was traveling the world when lockdowns hit. In our conversation, he shares his experiences of the pandemic abroad, his tumultuous escape abroad as lockdowns were implemented, and the impact of travel restrictions on global tourism. Chris recounts the chaos and unc...
Mar 15, 2025•1 hr 35 min
Episode 53: Show Notes What does it take to plan the ultimate luxury travel experience? In this episode, Tom and Trevor sit down with returning guest Han Chicago, a well-known aviation enthusiast and premium travel expert, to hear about his recent extravagant, multi-leg trip. Han talks about his first-class flights, luxury airline products, and lounge experiences during his lavish adventure. He breaks down his premium airline experiences and what makes certain airlines excel in service and produ...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 45 min
Episode 52: Show Notes We’ve taken many trips to Australia, but our most recent one was certainly one to remember! In today’s episode, Trevor walks us through his most recent visit down under, and he begins with his domestic flights leaving the USA before detailing his international flight path. We unpack an awkward midair encounter from New Zealand to Australia, why Trevor was pleasantly surprised with his American Airlines flight home, how he and his family maximized their time in Qantas Busin...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Everyday Carry Episode 51: Show Notes. Today’s episode is years in the making as finally, Tom and Trevor sit down and do a deep dive into the everyday carry items you’ll need when traveling. We begin with keeping go kits up-to-date and why Trevor and Tom will always be fans of carry-on luggage. We shift then to our favorite luggage exploring Briggs and Riley, Tumi, Rimowa, and other great roller bag options. Then, we unpack a few must-have travel accessories including portable USB fans, multi-ch...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Episode 50: Show Notes Are loyalty programs becoming less valuable, or are they evolving to meet the demands of modern travelers? In this episode, we delve into the future of airline and hotel loyalty programs and examine potential innovations and strategies to maximize points. To help us unravel this topic is returning guest Joey Redmond, a passionate traveler and co-host of the new Travel Bros Podcast, where he shares insights and reviews on unique hotels and travel experiences. In our convers...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Episode 49: Show Notes In this episode, we welcome Ryan Smith, the news managing editor for upgraded points and a prolific writer published by Award Wallet, TPG, Forbes Advisor, and more. One of the things that makes Ryan special is that he is one of very few people on the planet who have visited every country in the world! Join us as Ryan shares his experience as a writer, traveler, and points and miles user over the years. You’ll learn what it was like for him to travel in business class for t...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 41 min
Episode 48: Show Notes What’s the holiday season without a little airing of grievances? Join us for our Festivus 2024 special, where we pull no punches as we dive into the biggest wins and fails of the travel and loyalty program world for 2024. Dia Adams joins us to share her pros and cons of loyalty programs, explain country-specific regulations that hinder travel point usage, and unpack Google’s impact on freelance travel advisors. We also explore the best and worst loyalty programs of 2024, t...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 41 min
Episode 47: Show Notes What happens when Thanksgiving travel takes you across the Atlantic and through the heart of Europe? In this episode, Tom and Trevor share their Thanksgiving travel experiences through Budapest, Vienna, and even a nostalgic stop in Bratislava. They provide insightful perspectives on international travel during the holidays, exploring iconic destinations, and managing the inevitable surprises of globetrotting with family. Hear about Trevor's family trip to Budapest, the cha...
Dec 16, 2024•51 min
Episode 46: Show Notes. The travel space is constantly evolving, and the way in which airlines handle rewards systems is no different. Today on Travel Stories, we are joined by Thrifty Traveler editor Kyle Potter to discuss the miles and points game, airfare trends, and becoming a premium Thrifty Traveler. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Kyle’s career, the air revenue trends Kyle has noticed, what’s happening in travel awards, and more! We delve into the world of miles and points as Kyle shares...
Dec 07, 2024•58 min
0:22 Delta Selling 80+% of First Cabin OMMAT VFTW Value is there--pricing of the upgrade is so low they're selling out elite Upgrades more than ever. Jumping off point for discussing Be Your Own Elite. Don't wait for an airline to give you what you want. Secure it yourself Great flight times are key because your time is valuable. The current state of airline status (in hopes of upgrades) Collecting airline miles (in hopes of outsized value on scarce redemptions) Co-branded paradox (spending on a...
Nov 25, 2024•33 min
Episode 45: Show Notes. We’re always looking to try new things, but our recent trip to Colombia and Spain unlocked new levels of exploring the unknown! We centered the trip around 1 single itinerary, and didn’t have our flights home until more than halfway through the trip. Our exploration of two cities begins in the one with higher altitude than we’re used to: Bogotá, Colombia, and we explain how we devised our itinerary and why we insisted on flying LATAM. We assess the Priority Pass restauran...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Episode 44: Show Notes. Lufthansa’s First Class is revered as one of the more aspirational airline products to flight; Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal (FCT) is among the top 3 airline lounge experiences, and Trevor and Thomas both agree. Miles and Points expert and writer JT Genter joins us to share about himself, and to discuss his first Lufthansa First Class experience. JT and his wife, Katie, are digital nomads, and our conversation begins with a brief look at their recent jam-packed travel ...
Nov 02, 2024•55 min
Episode 43: Show Notes. As we wave goodbye to summer, Thomas and Trevor walk us through their most recent end-of-season trips: A Carnival cruise and a forgettable Cap Cana experience. We begin with Thomas and his trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras, where he explains why he chose Carnival over his trusted Royal Caribbean. Thomas details his itinerary and vacation experience, why the casual dining options were better than expected, how the floating casino and overall entertainment could be improv...
Oct 17, 2024•54 min
0:22 Q4 5x Bonus Categories Chase Freedom: PayPal, Pet Stores, McDonalds Discover: Amazon, Target Don’t Forget: BofA Cash Rewards, US Bank Cash+ 03:19 JetBlue News Lounges coming to JFK and BOS late 2025 Premium credit card (from Barclays, ha!) coming “soon” that enables lounge access Markets themselves as having “The East Coast’s Best Leisure Network” 07:34 Southwest News (link) New seating options. Assigned seats (80% want then) More space seats (why?) Less space seats Free bags to continue Ca...
Oct 03, 2024•25 min
Episode 42: Show Notes We Welcome Richrd Kerr, VP of Travel at Bilt Rewards. Richard is a miles, points, and travel enthusiast whose vast experience has led him to lead a prominent facebook group (now Award Travel 101), write for The Points Guy, and ultimately to Bilt Rewards – the loyalty program for where you live. Richard is kind enough to share about Bilt; its some of its metrics; its unique value proposition. Richard carefully dissects common public misconceptions about miles and points. We...
Sep 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min
I've long been intrigued by the luxury hotel timeshare market, where you get the quality and amenities of a five star hotel combined with the square footage of a residential vacation home. A prime example of this type of property is Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, CA. Back in the day, Four Seasons managed both a hotel here along with a collection of 1 and 2 bedroom vacation homes. The hotel is now managed by Hyatt (as a Park Hyatt) but Four Seasons still maintains the Residence Club. The golf, ...
Sep 16, 2024•55 min
Episode 41: Show Notes. Note: The video of this podcast can be viewed on Youtube, find it here. Family travel can be just as affordable and rewarding as a solo one. To help us gain a better perspective of traveling the world with kids in tow, we are joined today by the renowned travel expert, author, and Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends, Dia Adams, who begins our conversation by highlighting the importance of travel conferences in building community. We discuss Dia’s hit column, What’s in Dia...
Sep 13, 2024•58 min
Episode 40: Show Notes. We’re heading back to the high seas! During this episode, Tom shares all the details of his recent trip with Virgin Voyages cruise line, from costs, to rooms, drinking, dining, entertainment, and more. Join us as he gets candid about what he loved, tolerated, and disliked during the trip along with tips for you to get the most out of your booking with them. We discuss the differences between the Virgin Voyages experience and what you would have on Royal Caribbean; from th...
Aug 28, 2024•53 min
Episode 39: Show Notes Are you bored of the usual tourist travel tropes and looking for more? Have you ever wondered how to turn a simple trip into an unforgettable adventure? In this episode, we dive into the art of ‘sightDOING’ with travel expert Becky Pokora, who transforms ordinary travel experiences into extraordinary, hands-on journeys. Becky is a seasoned travel expert and writer passionate about adventure and exploration. As the founder of the travel blog sightDOING, she shares her exper...
Aug 14, 2024•55 min
0:21 Transfer Bonuses Chase UR to Marriott Bonvoy: 70% (through Aug 14, 2024) EXPIRES SOON Amex MR to Avios: 30% (through Sept 30, 2024) Amex MR to Hawaiian: 20% (through Aug 31, 2024) CapOne to Qantas: 20% (through Aug 31, 2024) 08:24 United Premium Cabin Awards (on United Metal) Gets Even More Expensive ( Live and Lets Fly ) We’ve talked a lot the past year or two about this being a bail out maneuver when there are no partner awards 200k pp one-way to Europe now as good as it seems to get for ...
Aug 12, 2024•35 min
A Norway Trip Report...on today’s Milenomics² Podcast 01:00 Scope: 2 weeks in Norway. Oslo, Tromso, Lofoten then back to Oslo for a few days. Wanted to get away from people. Love the coast, and Norway has a LOT of coastline Spent most of our time in the arctic Circle (but not considered the arctic) Map: 10:12 Outbound: Air France. LAX-CDG Plus a 4hr layover. Flight was smooth and the daytime departure was nice Got to experience the new LAX Air France lounge . Open 3 weeks ago. New is always bett...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 49 min
Episode 38: Show Notes Have you ever wondered what it's like to travel the stunning coastlines and towns of the French and Italian Rivieras? In this episode, we dive into Trevor’s recent adventure to these iconic Mediterranean destinations. From the highs and lows of traveling with family to insightful travel recommendations, Trevor provides his takeaways from his trip. In our conversation, we discuss his reasons for the trip, the logistics and planning aspects behind it, and what he thought of ...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Episode 37: Show Notes In today’s organic, stream-of-consciousness episode, we take a look at some of our recent travel experiences, explore current industry trends, and share our take on what we think may happen in the not-so-distant future. Our menagerie of travel stories begins with Thomas’s experience of the Rio Las Vegas before diving into the mileage run that took him to Nevada. Then, we explore the current state of the airline industry, possible mergers to look forward to (or be worried a...
Jul 19, 2024•50 min
