Shortcuts to Elite Travel Status with Greg the Frequent Miler

Shortcuts to Elite Travel Status with Greg the Frequent Miler

Author: Chris Hutchins July 3, 2024 Duration: 53:44
#182: We share 10+ insider secrets and shortcuts to earning elite status with airlines and hotels. We cover the basics of elite status and how to leverage credit cards, points and miles, and status matches to maximize travel perks. We also explore non-traditional methods like gifting and buying, vacation homes and corporate partnerships to earn and maintain status. Greg Davis-Kean is the founder of Frequent Miler, a blog dedicated to helping people maximize their travel rewards and loyalty programs, mostly without flying. He is also the host of the Frequent Miler on the Air podcast. Link to Full Show Notes: https://allthehacks.com/shortcuts-to-elite-status Partner Deals Mint Mobile: $15/mo for unlimited wireless on the nation's largest 5G network Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn Superhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKS For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals Resources Mentioned Greg Davis-Kean: Frequent Miler | Frequent Miler on the Air | Twitter Southwest Companion Pass Complete Guide Episode #221: Roll your own airline elite status Episode #222: Roll your own hotel elite status Flying by the Seat of our Points: Last Minute Travel Challenge All the Hacks Luxury Hotel Upgrade Program Episode #86: The Best Deals for a Vacation Rentals, Exchanges, Fractionals, Timeshares and More! Invitation-Only Statuses Delta 360° United Global Services® ConciergeKey Other Resources Exclusive Resorts FoundersCard StatusMatcher StatusMatch AirlineStatus Credit Cards: American Express Centurion Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card For other cards mentioned visit our Best Credit Cards Page Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:21) The Basics of Elite Status (05:13) Can You Earn Status With Flights Booked With Points & Miles? (06:39) Elite Status Perks on Different Levels (08:32) How Airline Alliances Fit Into Status (10:34) Earning Airline Status via Credit Cards (15:27) Airlines That Make It Easy to Earn Status (21:24) Perks of Hotel Status (23:45) Ways to Earn Hyatt Status (29:17) Can You Spend Money Outside of Credit Cards to Earn Status? (30:42) How Status Matches Work (35:08) Airline Status Offers (40:28) Getting “Walked” From a Hotel (41:32) Gifting an Elite Status (42:09) Lifetime Status (45:21) Buying Elite Status (46:31) Leveraging Corporate Partnerships for Status Perks (48:38) Vacation Home Memberships (49:24) Is Chasing Elite Status Worth It? (52:47) Rolling Your Own Airline and Hotel Elite Status (54:27) Car Rental Status Connect with All the Hacks All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email Chris Hutchins: X | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
The Custom Everything Era with Kevin Rose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#275: Chris and Kevin dig into how they're actually using AI tools in their daily lives right now. They explore real-world AI use cases, the tradeoffs of sharing personal data, the collapse of trust online, and what all…
The Surprising History of Points and Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
#274: Chris walks through the complete history of points and miles and breaks down the $140 billion machine behind them, so you can get more out of every point you earn. He covers the legal accidents that made credit car…
Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding with Derek Sivers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:11
#273: Learn to stop overthinking and make better decisions. Chris and Derek discuss how optimizing can go wrong, a coin flip trick for making decisions, journaling as a superpower, how your actions might reveal what you…
My Process for Booking Travel with Points & Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:29
#272: Learn how to turn your points into significantly better travel experiences by following a simple, repeatable system. We cover how to plan, find award availability, choose the right tools, and decide between portals…
How to Actually Live the Life You're Optimizing For with Sahil Bloom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
#271: Learn why over-optimizing your life can quietly destroy the things you actually care about. Chris and Sahil explore the doorman fallacy, why big life decisions should happen fast, how to use AI as a thinking partne…
Ski Trip Mishaps, AI Interior Design, Reflecting on Life and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
#270: Chris and Amy discuss lessons from three ski trips with kids, using AI to redesign rooms on a budget, their favorite new gadgets, navigating high-deductible health plans, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://…
Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he us…
Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:22
#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical to…