MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Get $200 back after your first payment of $500 with Melio (affiliate) - https://milestomemories.com/go/melio/ Mark's spring break Bermuda trip had it all: JFK security chaos at 4am, a flight that had to turn around twice in high winds before making it to the island, a $850-a-night Fairmont room that looked like it hadn't been touched since the '70s, and then — finally — the Rosewood Bermuda, which might be one of the best hotels either of them has ever stayed at. Full trip debrief with honest hotel reviews, flight booking strategy, and a seriously useful FHR credit tip. What we cover: Spirit Airlines boarding group 2 bag theory — are they skipping the size check? Hyatt Regency Resorts World JFK as a free night cert stopover JFK security chaos at 4am — ICE agents running lanes, only 3 lanes for thousands of people Flight to nowhere: two go-arounds in high winds, back to JFK for 9 hours Fairmont Hamilton Princess: $850/night, room looks like 1978, sawdust falling from the bed posts Royal Naval Dockyards — Frog and Onion, ferry tips, what to do for a day Rosewood Bermuda: top 3 hotel ever, beach club, pink sand, Crystal Caves, complimentary gin tasting FHR tip: two rooms in different names = double $100 credits + double free breakfasts New Fairmont at Horseshoe Bay — $400M renovation, Accor points, watch this one Flight home: DCA lounge agent rebooking saves the family from an overnight stranding Episode Guide: 0:00 - Welcome to MTM Travel 0:22 - Mark's Bermuda trip intro and Spirit Airlines boarding theory 1:08 - Hyatt Regency Resorts World JFK overnight 4:31 - JFK security chaos at 4am 8:56 - Flight to nowhere — two go-arounds, back to JFK 16:04 - Fairmont Hamilton Princess check-in and room review 19:38 - Royal Naval Dockyards and Frog and Onion 20:22 - Rosewood Bermuda — arrival and rooms 23:06 - Beach club, Crystal Caves, Horseshoe Bay 30:22 - FHR tips: two rooms, double credits, double breakfast 32:33 - Flight home and DCA lounge rebooking ✈️ Track your travel credit cards for free 📧 Free newsletter 💳 Join our free Facebook group (16,000+ members) 🏆 Diamond Patreon — bonus shows + Slack community 🥇 Gold Membership ($10/mo) 🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 📖 Miles to Memories website

Go to https://surfshark.com/mtm or use code MTM at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Description In this episode, Shawn and Mark break down a string of Amex Platinum changes — Saks credit going away, Centurion Lounge guest access tightening, Uber VIP disappearing — plus an honest look at the Citi Strata Premier revamp survey and the best offer ever on a no-fee Amex card. Mark is also freshly back from Bermuda and gives a teaser on what happened before the full recap next week. What we cover: Saks Fifth Avenue Amex Platinum credit ending July 1st and what might replace it Amex Business Platinum ChatGPT $300 credit — and whether it's actually useful Centurion Lounge same-flight guest rule starting July 8th Uber VIP ending May 7th and the broader Lyft vs Uber rideshare debate Citi Strata Premier revamp survey — two versions, which is better, and what they shouldn't touch Uber acquiring Black Lane and what it means for Citi credits Blue Business Plus 75K offer with no lifetime language — best ever Episode Guide: 0:00 - Welcome to MTM Travel 0:22 - Mark's Bermuda trip preview and Saks credit ending 5:11 - Amex Business Platinum ChatGPT credit 7:58 - Centurion Lounge same-flight guest rule change 11:19 - Uber VIP going away and the Lyft vs Uber debate 15:10 - Citi Strata Premier revamp survey — what to keep and what not to touch 19:56 - Uber buying Black Lane and Citi credit implications 23:15 - Blue Business Plus 75K — best ever offer with no lifetime language ✈️ Track your travel credit cards for free 📧 Free newsletter 💳 Join our free Facebook group (16,000+ members) 🏆 Diamond Patreon — bonus shows + Slack community 🥇 Gold Membership ($10/mo) 🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 📖 Miles to Memories website

Hyatt may be ending free parking and resort fee waivers for Globalists — and there's a new elite tier above Globalist potentially on the way. Meanwhile, Citi is cutting the ThankYou to Choice Hotels transfer rate by 25% on April 19th. And Mark is trying to figure out if he's even making it to Bermuda with JFK TSA chaos threatening the whole spring break trip. What we cover: Hyatt survey: new elite tier above Globalist — plus possible end to free parking and resort fee waivers Is Hyatt becoming the next Marriott? Shawn weighs in Citi ThankYou to Choice Hotels: 25% devaluation hitting April 19 Bilt Red Day (April 1): Wyndham added as transfer partner with a 100–125% bonus Wyndham program: all-inclusives, Choice Hotels overlap and real value Wells Fargo Autograph still transfers 1:2 to Choice Points currency rankings: Bilt #1, Chase falling to #4 Mark's Bermuda spring break and the stress of TSA chaos at JFK Updated: complete guide to credit card application rules by bank Episode Guide: 0:00 - Welcome to MTM Travel 0:20 - Mark's Bermuda Spring Break + TSA Chaos at JFK 5:42 - Hyatt Survey: New Elite Tier Above Globalist? 7:00 - Could Hyatt End Free Parking & Resort Fee Waivers? 12:17 - Bilt Rent Day: Wyndham Added as Transfer Partner 15:07 - Wyndham, Choice Hotels & Citi ThankYou 25% Devaluation 18:54 - Wells Fargo Autograph & Points Currency Rankings 22:37 - Complete Credit Card Application Rules Guide ✈️ Track your travel credit cards for free with Travel Freely 💋 Free newsletter 👥 Join our free Facebook group (16,000+ members) 🏅 Diamond Patreon — bonus shows + Slack community 🥇 Gold Membership ($10/mo) 🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 📖 Miles to Memories website

They unpack the TSA funding crisis and how unpaid agents are creating chaotic airport scenes. A multi-country Europe trip fuels stories: Turkish Airlines A350 business class and a dental mishap, Warsaw budget tips and nightlife, and Ryanair’s bus-terminal reality. Dublin hotel comparisons and whether St. Patrick’s Day is worth the trip. A review of Aer Lingus narrow-body business class rounds things out.

Card network changes causing ATM and terminal declines in Europe lead to real travel headaches. Silent policy shifts stop fraud alerts for international charges, leaving travelers on the hook for big losses. A surprise hotel brand move reshapes loyalty options. Tap-to-pay and leaked premium cards spark fresh worries about dispute rights and value.

They unpack Hyatt's new five-tier award chart and why it changes hotel point strategy. They compare hotel programs like Hilton, IHG, Accor, Choice and Wyndham for real value. A travel rebook nightmare powers a saga of Turkish Airlines IT failures, LifeMiles call center chaos, and last-minute reroutes using Aeroplan, SkyMiles, United and Bilt credits. Practical warnings about Ryanair baggage rules and travel flexibility.

They unpack Elon’s new X Money debit offering with 6% APY and 3% cashback. They dig into Bilt’s messy rollout, mortgage payment failures and a hidden foreign fee. They question Robinhood Platinum’s touted $3,000 credits and how usable those perks really are. They also note Marriott raising its certificate top-off cap and debate hotel loyalty strategies.

They unpack why U.S. hotel occupancy looks dire but Las Vegas is skewing the national picture. They dig into hotel revenue metrics like RevPAR and ADR. They debate the viral Disney vs Europe cost comparisons and Tokyo Disneyland pricing. They explain Southwest’s updated status match rules and how airline culture and passenger behavior are changing.

They break down smart restaurant credit strategies, from Resy wins to InKind and gift card tactics. A surprising Hilton local bar trick and how it can simplify stays gets tested. A roundup of seven active transfer bonuses includes a 50% Rove to Japan Airlines boost. A full credit card haul is revealed with real dollar and miles totals.

They discuss how recent Middle East events have disrupted flights and traveler plans. Stories of diverted flights and how airlines handled stranded passengers come up. The conversation covers using miles and flexibility to reroute and a clever points hack to access Atlantis pools via a budget property. They compare Bahamas, Bermuda, and Hawaii for cost, water quality, and family fit.