Best Chase Ultimate Rewards Podcasts (2025)

1
How AI Will Change The Way We Book Travel 49:08

24h ago49:08

49:08

Watch Us On YouTube! This week on the Miles To Go Podcast, we’re broadcasting from Deep Creek Lake with special guest co-host Clint Henderson of The Points Guy! Richard Kerr may be out of the studio, but Clint fills the hot seat (literally—he turned off his A/C to record) to dish on his recent travel adventures and industry insights. Here’s what we…

1
192 | Wander in Wonder: How to Appreciate Art on Your Travels Without Being an Expert 24:30

2d ago24:30

24:30

Ever stood in front of a famous painting and wondered, “What am I supposed to do here?” In this first episode of my new Wander in Wonder series, I’m diving into how to truly appreciate art — even if you don’t consider yourself an expert (I certainly don’t!). Inspired by a class I took at Notre Dame on Theology, Art and Beauty, I share simple, thoug…

1
Ed Goes To Sardinia And Hyatt Improves Award Search 44:34

8d ago44:34

44:34

Watch Us On YouTube! Richard and Ed are back from trips to different continents to discuss their travels. Ed returned home from a family trip to London and Sardinia, and discusses using Bilt's amazing transfer bonus to Accor to save big on his trip. The AI tool Perplexity can be used to automate your Amex Offers- reach out to [email protected] f…

1
191 | 🎮 Epic Universe Insider Guide (Part 2): Dark Universe, Super Mario, Berk and Food Finds 46:17

9d ago46:17

46:17

In Part 2 of my conversation with Chad Pennycuff (My DVC Points Podcast), we’re diving deeper into Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park: Epic Universe — and there’s so much more to explore! This episode covers: 🍕 The best food in the park (hello, truffle pizza, mango cornbread & that Frankenstein pretzel) 🧛‍♂️ The incredible Dark Universe land …

1
Ultimate Guide to Bilt Rewards | Is This The Best Loyalty Program? 46:18

15d ago46:18

46:18

Watch Us On YouTube! In this week's episode, Richard and Ed deep dive into the Bilt Rewards program. It's more than just a credit card- it's an entire loyalty ecosystem! Hear all the ins and outs of the program, including how to maximize earning Bilt points, Bilt status, Rent Day strategies, and even a look into the near future of the program. Sign…

1
190 | 🎢 Epic Universe Insider Guide (Part 1): Hotels, Harry Potter, Celestial Park + Line Tips 44:38

16d ago44:38

44:38

In this episode, I’m joined by Chad Pennycuff of the My DVC Points podcast to break down everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe — starting with where to stay, what to skip, and how to save. We also recap Chad’s incredible theme park tour across Asia, including Shanghai Disney, Universal Beijing, To…

1
How To Save Time and Money At Tokyo Disneyland! 43:35

22d ago43:35

43:35

Watch Us On YouTube! We're finally detailing Ed's exciting trip to Tokyo Disneyland. Are the official Disney hotels worth the price? Plus, there are some new Chase referral bonus rules to be aware of. Air France is increasing the value of its elite status- a rarity in the points and miles world! A dad jumped off the Disney Dream to save his child- …

1
189 | Secrets of London: A Travel Journalist’s Best Tips 44:52

23d ago44:52

44:52

Join me for an insider’s journey to London as I share my favorite travel tips, hidden gems and even a few things I wish I’d done differently. In this episode, you’ll hear how I flew to London for (almost) free, where we stayed (and why it mattered), the must-see spots I recommend and how to get around the city stress-free — all from the perspective…

1
Middle Seat: Rules of Engagement 41:16

29d ago41:16

41:16

Watch Us On YouTube! This week, we're answering the tough question: who owns the armrest in the middle seat? A flight attendant announcement has Ed all fired up. Weather woes plague Ed and Richard this week- how did Ed get to NYC?? Ed has a hotel review of the Standard High Line, one of the newest Hyatt properties to join the portfolio. Richard jum…

1
Chase And AMEX Cut Credit Card Benefits 35:14

1M ago35:14

35:14

Chase and Amex make big changes to their credit card benefits. Are they still worth holding after their devaluation? Emirates transfers return to flexible points currencies, after some backend work from the airline. The airline still has some fun 5th Freedom routes around the world that award travelers should be aware of! Chase Sapphire Reserve is …

1
Chase Sapphire Reserve Makes Biggest Ever Changes! 39:02

1M ago39:02

39:02

Watch us on YouTube! Chase Sapphire Reserve is making big changes. Should this card be in your wallet or is it time to set it aside? American Airlines is getting rid of their upgrade award chart and moving to dynamic pricing. Why is this so bad for travelers? Jetblue has a pretty incredible status match offer right now, with the opportunity to stat…

1
188 | How to Visit Colleges on Points — Without Blowing Your Travel Budget 24:29

2M ago24:29

24:29

College visits, auditions, move-in weekends and campus drop-offs — they’re all part of the college journey… and they can get really expensive, really fast. But what if you didn’t have to stress about the cost? In this episode, I share how I recently visited Notre Dame using points and stayed right on campus without spending a dime — plus how Club m…

1
Up To 50% Off Award Flights! 33:48

2M ago33:48

33:48

Watch us on YouTube! Richard got the chance to stay at one of the new Standard Hotels in NYC. Take a look at his first experience, including the upgrade he scored on his stay. Capital One made some big changes to lounge access. This will impact all Venture cardholders starting next year. These are changes you need to know about if you hold one of t…

1
Are Higher Fares For Solo Travel Here To Stay? 40:33

2M ago40:33

40:33

Watch us on YouTube! Southwest Airlines officially launched bag fees this week. At the same time, they also took away free same-day changes on some fares for top-tier elite members. It has not been a good week for Southwest customers. Both Richard and Ed scored a great business class deal to Africa on Etihad. Did you get in on this deal? American A…

1
A 200% Transfer Bonus! Save On Summer Vacations 42:04

2M ago42:04

42:04

Watch us on YouTube! It's a big week for Bilt Rewards members. No, not because Richard is camping. Thank goodness he didn't add an RV component to Bilt Rewards. Not only did Bilt announce Qatar Airways Privilege Club as their 16th airline partner, they announced an unprecedented 200% transfer bonus to Accor hotels for Gold and Platinum Bilt members…

1
Bilt Adds Japan Airlines As Its 20th Transfer Partner 45:43

2M ago45:43

45:43

Watch us on YouTube! Delta made some changes to their fare structures that are likely to lead to confusion for some travelers. Richard and Ed are weighing in on those changes. Bilt has added their 20th transfer partner. Japan Airlines is a very useful program to get to Japan and other points in Asia, but has been a difficult program to transfer poi…

1
One Day In Taipei And RealID Is Here 36:08

3M ago36:08

36:08

Watch us on YouTube! On top of some travel slow downs, RealID is officially in place. What does this mean for travelers? It's not as bad as expected, but it's still annoying. Ed talks about his one day in Taipei, including their stop at Taipei 101. Richard and Ed talk through some interesting deals in the market right now. If you enjoy the podcast,…

1
187 | Chase Sapphire Preferred: Hidden Perks That Make This the No. 1 Travel Card 30:27

3M ago30:27

30:27

Chase Sapphire Preferred is my FAVORITE Travel card — and right now, it’s offering a limited-time 100,000-point bonus (worth at least $1,250 in free travel) that ends May 15 at 9am ET. Thanks for using my personal affiliate link to support the podcast if you decide to apply for the card: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/favorite-card But beyond the …

1
Is It Safe To Fly Through Newark Airport? Special Guest Seth Miller 40:16

3M ago40:16

40:16

Tune in as Seth Miller from PaxEx.Aero and Dots, Lines & Destinations joins us again. We talk about Richard's favorite route coming back, and Seth goes into detail on the state of Wi-Fi on airplanes. But, the big topic is Newark Airport, and the utter disaster it is right now. We'll try our best to answer that question for folks. If you enjoy the p…

1
186 | New Rules, Same Free Perks? How to Outsmart Southwest’s Changes 32:48

3M ago32:48

32:48

Southwest Airlines is shaking things up—starting with assigned seating in January 2026 and a new policy that could mean paying for checked bags. 😲 But don’t panic! In this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly what’s changing, what’s not changing, and most importantly—how you can still get your checked bags free and snag a great seat without payin…

1
Delta Delays And American Airlines Status Offers 44:56

3M ago44:56

44:56

Delta does Richard dirty again, and adds to his stack of delays in 2025. Bilt's May Rent Day features up to a 100% transfer bonus to Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program. Bilt Rewards now allows you to pay rent with any credit card. Listen to Ed discuss why he thinks this can lead to bigger and better things. It's free to sign up for the Bilt …

1
Partner Airline Deals for Booking Alaska & Hawaiian Flights 22:29

3M ago22:29

22:29

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to show you how to book Alaska and Hawaiian flights for less by leveraging partner airline points. We'll explore options with Finnair, Qatar, JetBlue, American, and Singapore Airlines, including tips for maximizing your savings. I’ll break down everything from usi…

1
185 | Why Travel Feels So Hard — And How to Make It Much Easier 23:41

3M ago23:41

23:41

Ever feel like travel is more stressful than it should be? You’re not alone — and you’re not imagining it. In this episode, I unpack the real reason travel feels overwhelming: No one ever taught us how to do it well. From not knowing if you passport will pass muster to panicking when a flight gets canceled, most of us are just guessing our way thro…

1
Pay for Perks: First-Class Bids, Frontier Status Match & Starlux Flight Review 47:40

3M ago47:40

47:40

Watch Us On YouTube! We're talking about Ed's flights to Japan, including business class on Delta's Airbus A350 and Japan Airlines 787-9. He also flew economy class on Starlux Airlines and was REALLY impressed. How much would you pay for a first class upgrade? We're giving you our opinion on how much we would pay. Bilt Rewards now allows you to pay…

1
184 | The Problem With Opening Too Many Travel Cards 25:51

3M ago25:51

25:51

Unfortunately, it's commonly recommended to open a lot of travel cards in order to earn the "sign up bonus" (SUB), but this can quickly lead to overwhelm, getting banned by banks and cause you to miss out on the truly great deals and a simpler system that could save you thousands on travel. In this episode, I outline the problems with opening too m…

1
Travel Warnings And Wins: CO Alarms, Virgin Fee Hikes And Hyatt “Elite For A Day” Pays Off 40:11

4M ago40:11

40:11

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Time stamps are listed at the bottom of the notes! A recent sad story is a cautionary tale for why you should carry a carbon monoxide detector when you travel. Virgin Atlantic has hiked the fees they charge with award tickets. Does this make them a bad option for award redemptions? A listener of the show checks in with a r…

1
Alaska and Hawaiian Miles for Domestic Award Flights 17:55

4M ago17:55

17:55

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today we're diving into two airlines perfect for trips to and from the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, or flights to Hawaii and Alaska: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines! With their merger underway, things are shifting, creating some unique opportunities, especially a cool …

1
183 | London Trip Top 5 Travel Tips 39:14

4M ago39:14

39:14

Fresh off my family’s trip to London, I’m sharing 5 travel insights you can use on your next international adventure. These simple but powerful tips helped make our trip smoother, more memorable — and more fun! You’ll learn: My #1 strategy to beat jet lag Why flexibility can be your travel superpower How to stay on top of major travel news (and why…

1
Bolivia & Peru With Special Guest Michelle Gonzalez, LAX to Luxury 37:04

4M ago37:04

37:04

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Time stamps are listed at the bottom of the notes! We're excited to welcome a special guest, Michelle Gonzalez, founder of LAX to Luxury! She's diving into Bolivia and Peru with us, recapping her recent crazy trip. And, we have an in-depth conversation on Taco Bell, which Richard thoroughly disapproves of. https://laxtolux…

1
Amex Points Explained: The Good, The Bad, and The Rules You Need to Know 29:04

4M ago29:04

29:04

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Let's tackle a topic I get asked about a lot: Amex Membership Rewards. Honestly, I have mixed feelings – the points themselves can be fantastic for travel, but the cards? They definitely come with extra rules and quirks, making them feel more intermediate level. Still, since you'…

1
Best Avios Strategies for Domestic American Airlines Flights 23:03

4M ago23:03

23:03

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m sharing the current best strategies on how to use Avios to book American Airlines domestic flights! With these methods you can book flights to Hawaii from anywhere in the US for 30,000 points round trip – or less! It used to be that British Airways offered a great way t…

1
182 | Does Costco Fit Into a Travel Rewards Strategy? Let's Break It Down 5:38

4M ago5:38

5:38

If you love shopping at Costco (who doesn’t?), you might be missing out on a hidden travel perk. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to make your Costco spending — and even your Costco credit card — work harder for your travel goals. Whether you’re earning points or planning your next trip, I’ll show you how Costco fits into a smart travel rewar…

1
181 | Turn Your Tax Bill Into Travel Rewards 26:40

4M ago26:40

26:40

No one loves writing a check to the IRS — but what if it could help fund your next vacation? With the tax deadline approaching, I’m sharing smart ways to earn valuable travel points when paying your taxes. If you owe money this year, don’t miss this chance to turn a painful payment into free flights! 💡 It’s one of my favorite creative ways to rack …

1
Travel Slowdown, Biloxi Buzz & 100K Sign-Up Bonus 46:16

4M ago46:16

46:16

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Time stamps are listed at the bottom of the notes! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Richard is back from his first trip to Biloxi and he's filling us in on all the details. Ed had his first issue on American since returning to the airline recently.…

1
American Airlines Miles: Best Ways to Earn & Redeem for Domestic Flights 25:27

4M ago25:27

25:27

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, we're diving into American Airlines miles. I know a lot of you want to use points for domestic travel, and American is a good option. We'll talk about the best times to use your miles on American flights, and how to earn those miles. I'll cover the pros and cons,…

1
Loyalty in Limbo: United’s Lifetime Shake-Up & Marriott’s Diminishing Perks 50:36

4M ago50:36

50:36

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Time stamps are listed at the bottom of the notes! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! We get an update on Richard's blood clot saga before digging into a new Marriott brand and reduced loyalty participation. Is this the new normal for Marriott. Ed bo…

1
Award Flights Made Easy: My Simple Research Process 19:43

4M ago19:43

19:43

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode I'm sharing my exact process to research the best domestic award flights. I’ll walk you through the initial steps I always take before even thinking about searching for award availability. I'll show you why it's so important to understand your routing options and …

1
180 | How to STILL Fly Your Southwest Bags Free + Other Questions About Southwest's Changes 23:49

4M ago23:49

23:49

We continue our discussion with more information now available about Southwest's big changes announced on March 11, 2025. We discuss the answers to questions like: Is there an easy way to still get my checked bags free? Yes! Do these changes affect flights I've already booked or will book before May 28? Should I stop booking the cheapest Southwest …

1
Southwest Announces Negative Changes to Baggage Policy, Fares, Awards And More 32:47

5M ago32:47

32:47

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Chapters are listed at the bottom of the notes! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Southwest dropped some news this week, and it was all uniformly bad. These were not small changes, and many customers will be upset. "Bags Fly Free" is no longer a sur…

1
Season 3 Premiere: Unlocking Domestic Flights with Points & Miles 21:22

5M ago21:22

21:22

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Hey everyone, welcome back to Points for Normal People! I am so excited to kick off Season 3 with you today! We're going to get into all things domestic flights and points this season, which is going to be a bit of a step up, getting into some of those intermediate strategies. If…

1
179 | Southwest Airlines Ends Free Checked Bags + Other MAJOR Changes: What You Need to Know... 37:56

5M ago37:56

37:56

Southwest ends free checked bags and announced other MAJOR changes recently, including a new "Basic" fare. While much of these changes are very disappointing, in reality, they only requires a few minor adjustments for those of us flying Southwest using travel rewards. I explain the changes and what shifts you need to make in this episode. After rec…

1
BONUS | Is Southwest's Surprise Reduction in Points Earned on Flights a Big Deal? 11:11

5M ago11:11

11:11

Is Southwest's surprise reduction in the number of points you can earn on certain fares when you book paid flights a big deal? It's not, trust me. I explain in this episode... ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel know-how to help you fly smarter, score luxury perk…

1
Hyatt Award Changes, Aeroplan Brings Back Pooling, and Capital One Vegas Opening 41:21

5M ago41:21

41:21

Watch Us On YouTube! NEW: Chapters are listed at the bottom of the notes! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Richard wants to make sure viewers and listeners understand the history of the Detroit Pistons. But, we're much happier to hear about the award he won at his Daddy-Dau…

1
178 | The Benefits of Banking With Chase for Travel Rewards 28:34

5M ago28:34

28:34

If you follow my simple system to use travel rewards to fly for free, you know that Chase cards are some of my favorite travel cards. That makes doing all, or most of, your banking at Chase a no-brainer. As a longtime Chase banker, I explain some of the benefits of banking with Chase, especially if you use travel rewards on the regular. If you deci…

1
Tokyo Award Scramble, Executive Platinum vs. 1K & Ed’s First Blade Flight 38:34

5M ago38:34

38:34

Watch Us On YouTube! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! We get another update on Richard's calf, and it's not a good one. Richard and Ed are answering a listener question about how tough it is to find award space to Tokyo right now. Ed asks Richard whether he would prefer to …

1
177 | What Travel Rewards ACTUALLY Is Versus What You Think It Is 31:55

5M ago31:55

31:55

A lot of people have mistaken assumptions about travel rewards that simply aren’t true. In this episode, Lyn lays out what you “think” travel rewards involves, versus the reality of what is actually the case. ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel know-how to help y…

1
176 | The Latest on Southwest Airlines' Changes Coming Soon 33:20

5M ago33:20

33:20

Lyn shares the latest about the changes coming to Southwest Airlines this year and next year, including assigned and extra legroom seating, their partnership with Icelandair, credit card changes, hotel partnerships and more. ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel kn…

1
From Heathrow to No-Go, Delta Crashes, Southwest Slashes 36:28

5M ago36:28

36:28

Watch Us On YouTube! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Richard was within 24 hours of embarking on his family trip to London before he had a curve ball thrown at him. What should have been an episode about their trip to London turned quickly into how to unravel a complex fam…

1
Comparing United And American Onboard & Palazzo Vegas Review 49:17

6M ago49:17

49:17

Watch Us On YouTube! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Richard and Ed are recapping another crazy week in travel. Ed has had a handful of American Airlines flights this year to compare to his United experiences. He's outlining the positive and negative of both. Ed also visit…

1
175 | The Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access 31:36

6M ago31:36

31:36

When you start flying more because you're using miles and points, having access to airport lounges can be a nice perk of traveling! In this episode, Lyn shares the easiest way to get access to airport lounges - by holding the right travel cards - and her favorite card options to help you do so most affordably. Resources: Capital One Venture X refer…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Chase Ultimate Rewards Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide