Introducing “Windbag Mails,” the Windbag Miles blog in a convenient travel size package for the modern on-the-go businessperson.

That’s right, despite never writing or updating this blog, I’ve decided to start word vomiting on a new platform altogether. To read why, and to subscribe so you never miss a drop, go here: WINDBAG MAILS LINK, CLICK HERE GRANDPA. Quick note: I’m not auto-subscribing the mailing list from this blog to the newsletter outContinue reading “Introducing “Windbag Mails,” the Windbag Miles blog in a convenient travel size package for the modern on-the-go businessperson.”

Don’t forget to search Delta award itineraries segment-by-segment. Oh wait, I mean “Don’t search for Delta award without using this ONE CRAZY TRICK!”

WHOA, TWO POSTS IN A SINGLE WEEK! I could write about what’s going on with the blog and stuff, but you don’t care. It’s boring. Anyway, let’s talk about Delta. Earlier this year, I wrote a post about how Delta’s revenue-based redemption system can make awards less flexible overall, and this post is in aContinue reading “Don’t forget to search Delta award itineraries segment-by-segment. Oh wait, I mean “Don’t search for Delta award without using this ONE CRAZY TRICK!””

Marriott is a great hotel chain, I’m joining The Points Guy as a travel writer, and Emirates is giving out free first class flights: One of these outlandish statements is true, but WHICH ONE????

My last post on this fair blog was about all the ways I was going to get Bonvoyed this summer during a work trip that involved a trifecta of Marriott hotels (AKA “The Devil’s Triangle.”) Then, the most incredible thing happened: everything was fine. Better than fine, actually… I know, I’m as surprised as you!Continue reading “Marriott is a great hotel chain, I’m joining The Points Guy as a travel writer, and Emirates is giving out free first class flights: One of these outlandish statements is true, but WHICH ONE????”

Fearing the worst: All the ways I’m probably gonna get Bonvoyed on my Europe trip this summer

It’s no secret that Marriott’s new “Bonvoy” loyalty program is a miserable clusterfuck, and it’s even more galling that Marriott’s response seems to be to buy off mainstream travel journalists from places like US News & World Report and Conde Nast Traveler in exchange for them naming it “best hotel loyalty program.” Oh, and thenContinue reading “Fearing the worst: All the ways I’m probably gonna get Bonvoyed on my Europe trip this summer”

Yes it’s ethical to open a card you have no intention of keeping long-term.

Recently, a reader sent me an article called “What is Credit Card Churning” that was published on Experian’s blog and sent out to their email list. It’s full of pretty good advice, like that you shouldn’t go into debt chasing sign-up bonuses, shouldn’t overspend, and shouldn’t run around pants-less inside a bank branch daring themContinue reading “Yes it’s ethical to open a card you have no intention of keeping long-term.”

A guy points a gun to your head and tells you to pick between Flying Blue and Sky Miles. But here’s the catch: YOU HAVE TO PICK ONE.

It’s ironic given how many posts I’ve written against both Flying Blue and Sky Miles that I get a lot of use out of both programs. Delta’s actually not bad if you’re trying to use it for domestic redemptions — the flights are more expensive, but the fact that they’re available in the first placeContinue reading “A guy points a gun to your head and tells you to pick between Flying Blue and Sky Miles. But here’s the catch: YOU HAVE TO PICK ONE.”

Wait, there’s a Windbag Miles podcast? Yes, it’s called the Windbag Windcast, and it’s okay.

Earlier this year, I decided it would be fun to start recording a podcast, so I did. It kind of started in the same spirit as this blog, which is to say it’s totally unstructured, unresearched, and unprofessional. I’m not going to go on and on about how you SHOULD listen to it, but ifContinue reading “Wait, there’s a Windbag Miles podcast? Yes, it’s called the Windbag Windcast, and it’s okay.”

I spent way more time messing around in Photoshop on my jokey graphics than I did actually writing this post about Marriott Bonvoy.

It’s old news by now, but in case you’ve been stuck in cave and have just learned that the shadows you saw were not an accurate representation of the world, Marriott rebranded their sensibly-named Marriott Rewards loyalty program as Marriott Bonvoy. I’ll wait here while you do the finger-down-the-throat pantomime for five straight minutes. IContinue reading “I spent way more time messing around in Photoshop on my jokey graphics than I did actually writing this post about Marriott Bonvoy.”

A couple Hilton updates, including a “trick” that’s either a great award booking hack or just me having good luck over the phone for once.

I’ve been pretty critical of Hilton in the past, mostly because things that are easy to do with other hotel loyalty programs are inexplicably difficult with them. Case in point is the free night certificates that you can earn through their co-branded Amex cards (either by having the card and/or by spending a certain amountContinue reading “A couple Hilton updates, including a “trick” that’s either a great award booking hack or just me having good luck over the phone for once.”