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Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!

Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!

By: Ed Pizza Richard Kerr
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Summary

 Hosted by road warrior and travel expert Ed Pizza, the Miles to Go podcast serves up travel tips, news and reviews you can't afford to miss! Whether you're a points and miles newbie looking to book a dream vacation or you log 100k + miles a year and want the low down on new properties routes and planes, we're bringing you the world's top travel experts and bloggers to share their knowledge and insights with you.℗ & © 2020 Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss! Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • JetBlue Status Match, Sky-High Fares, and Why Southwest Still Impresses

    JetBlue Status Match, Sky-High Fares, and Why Southwest Still Impresses
    May 13 2026
    Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Airfare is getting expensive — sometimes shockingly so. This week on Miles To Go, Richard and Ed break down a surprising set of flight prices, including transcon fares that stretch well into four-figure territoryr. As demand patterns shift and airlines lean into premium seating, travelers are feeling the squeeze — especially on peak travel windows. They also dive into JetBlue's latest move: a targeted status match aimed at former Spirit Airlines elites. It's a smart play to capture displaced loyalty, but the path to keeping status may be tougher than it looks. Meanwhile, a real-world travel story highlights something you don't see every day — Southwest Airlines stepping up with exceptional customer service to get a delayed traveler on an earlier flight when other airlines likely wouldn't have. Plus, first impressions of a refreshed United breakfast offering (with mixed reviews), new international routes from Seattle, and why some airport lounges are still struggling with overcrowding. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly accessAnnual accessPersonal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ JetBlue's status match opportunity Targeting former Spirit elites Mosaic 1 vs Mosaic 2 benefitsWhy earning status after the match may be difficult ✈️ The reality of airline pricing right now $1,000+ coach fares and $6,000 first class ticketsWhy long weekend travel is so expensive Demand patterns driving pricing ✈️ Southwest customer service surprise Getting on an earlier flight without a confirmed ticketWhy this rarely happens on other airlines Where Southwest still stands out ✈️ United's updated breakfast offering A healthier approach to onboard meals Hits and misses in executionWhy simpler catering may be the future ✈️ Delta's new Seattle international routes Barcelona and Rome launches Competing with Alaska in SeattleWhy these routes may struggle ✈️ Airport lounge overcrowding Priority Pass lounge frustrations in Las VegasWhy crowding still hasn't been solvedThe tradeoff between access and experience ✈️ Travel quirks and airline operations Special recovery flights with unique flight numbersHow airlines handle cancellations and maintenanceA strange diversion story to Wichita ✈️ Disney travel deals return Discounted tickets and hotel ratesWhen Disney can actually feel "affordable" Comparing Disney trips vs cruises ⏱️ Episode 436 Timestamps 0:49 – Intro and travel updates 6:30 – Southwest gets a passenger on an earlier flight 9:20 – United breakfast review (the "chia mystery") 12:10 – JetBlue status match details 18:30 – Why it's hard to keep JetBlue status 18:30 – Why it's hard to keep JetBlue status 21:50 – $1,000 coach and $6,000 first class fares 25:00 – Delta adds Seattle to Europe routes 30:30 – Priority Pass lounge overcrowding in Vegas 32:00 – Unique recovery flight numbers explained 33:00 – Weird diversion story to Wichita
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    36 mins
  • Spirit Shuts Down, Delta Stumbles, and Airline "Rescue Fares" Fall Short

    Spirit Shuts Down, Delta Stumbles, and Airline "Rescue Fares" Fall Short
    May 6 2026
    Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. It finally happened — Spirit Airlines is gone. This week on Miles To Go, Ed and Richard break down what the shutdown of Spirit Airlines means for travelers, employees, and the broader airline industry. From emotional final flights to stranded passengers scrambling for alternatives, the ripple effects are already being felt — and the response from other airlines hasn't exactly made things easier. So-called "rescue fares" sound helpful in theory, but in practice, they've offered limited relief for travelers trying to rebook last-minute trips. They also explore the bigger picture: what losing a major low-cost carrier means for competition, pricing, and access to travel — especially for families and budget-conscious flyers who relied on Spirit to make trips possible. Meanwhile, Delta is dealing with operational issues of its own, with an unusual spike in cancellations and reliability concerns that highlight how fragile airline operations can be. Plus, real-world travel frustrations — from rideshare chaos at Newark to the rising cost of simply getting to the airport — and why the overall travel experience keeps getting more expensive and more complicated. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly accessAnnual accessPersonal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ The end of Spirit Airlines Final flights and emotional send-offsWhat happens to employees and crewsWhy Spirit mattered more than people realized ✈️ The real impact on travelers Families and budget travelers losing affordable options Trips that simply won't happen anymoreWhy competition matters for pricing ✈️ "Rescue fares" that don't really help Limited availability and restrictive windows United, Delta, American vs JetBlue approachesWhy this was a missed opportunity ✈️ Airlines scrambling to fill the gap JetBlue adding routes immediately Frontier and Breeze stepping inWhat happens to key markets like Fort Lauderdale ✈️ Delta's operational struggles Spike in cancellations compared to competitors Staffing and reliability concernsA noticeable shift from Delta's usual performance ✈️ Empty planes and shifting demand Surprisingly light loads on recent flights Capacity cuts vs soft demand What this could signal for pricing ✈️ The rising cost of travel $130 rides to the airportWhy logistics are getting more expensiveThe hidden costs beyond airfare ✈️ Airline cost-cutting trends Cutting drink service on short flights Potential cuts to premium amenitiesHow airlines are squeezing margins ⏱️ Episode 435 Timestamps 0:48 – Intro and quick travel recap 4:00 – Newark rideshare chaos and rising costs 7:52 – Points Path win: saving 60,000 miles 10:37 – Spirit Airlines officially shuts down 11:17 – Rebooking chaos and lack of real "rescue fares" 13:30 – Why airlines missed a big opportunity 15:57 – Empty flights and surprising demand trends 18:50 – Airlines moving quickly to replace Spirit routes 21:29 – Fort Lauderdale and shifting airline strategy 29:53 – Delta's cancellation spike and reliability issues ⏱️ Episode 432 Timestamps 0:48 – Welcome back & rough week recap 5:20 – Planning the Hong Kong trip 10:00 – Upgrade strategy and long-haul flight experience 15:00 – Victoria Peak and how it's changed 20:00 – Big Buddha and Lantau Island experience 25:00 – Hong Kong Disneyland highlights and tips 30:00 – Comparing Hong Kong to past visits 35:00 – Why Hong Kong feels different today 38:30 – 6 flights in 3 days: brutal travel run 43:00 – Airline Wi-Fi failures vs Starlink success
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    34 mins
  • Spirit Still Hanging On And A Chase Points Letdown

    Spirit Still Hanging On And A Chase Points Letdown
    Apr 29 2026
    Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. Are low-cost airlines still actually low-cost? This week on Miles To Go, Ed and Richard revisit the evolving situation around Spirit Airlines and what the future may hold for budget carriers as costs continue to rise. Even if Spirit survives, the bigger question remains: can the ultra-low-cost model still work in today's environment? That question becomes even more relevant when looking at Frontier's pricing. Flights that once defined "cheap travel" are creeping closer to legacy airline pricing — raising questions about whether the value gap is disappearing. They also take a closer look at Chase's Points Boost feature for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. While the headline numbers look appealing, the actual footprint is extremely limited — and may not deliver the value many travelers expect. Plus, a deeper discussion on airline loyalty, why perception still matters more than reality for many travelers, and how new partnerships and offer strategies could shape the next phase of points and miles. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly accessAnnual accessPersonal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/ ✈️ What We Cover in This Episode ✈️ Spirit Airlines: still in the game? Ongoing uncertainty around Spirit's future Rising costs and pressure on the low-cost model Why competition still matters for travelers ✈️ Are "cheap flights" disappearing? Frontier pricing trends and rising fares Demand vs cost pressures Why low-cost carriers aren't as cheap as they used to be ✈️ The perception problem for budget airlines Why travelers still avoid Spirit and Frontier How product differences compare to legacy carriers Frequency and reliability concerns ✈️ Chase Points Boost: good idea, limited value 2.5x redemption headline vs reality Only ~11 properties available Why this feels more like a test than a real benefit ✈️ Airline vs OTA hotel booking strategies Loyalty program incentives vs portal bookings Why direct partnerships (like IHG + ANA) matter The future of travel offer ecosystems ✈️ Loyalty programs are changing Shift from points to targeted offers Why "earn more points" isn't enough anymore The role of personalization in travel rewards ✈️ Hyatt vs Marriott: does earning more points matter? Big differences in redemption costs Why point value matters more than point totals Where each program shines ⏱️ Episode 434 Timestamps 0:48 – Intro and recording from the NYC office 3:30 – Travel gear: Ridge battery pack review 6:48 – Spirit Airlines update and uncertainty 8:01 – Chase Points Boost: what you actually get 9:53 – Frontier pricing and the "cheap flight" question 10:44 – Rising costs for low-cost carriers 15:00 – Loyalty programs and why people still choose legacy airlines 17:15 – IHG + ANA partnership and loyalty shifts 20:00 – Offer-based loyalty vs traditional points earning 23:47 – Hyatt vs Marriott value comparison
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    33 mins
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