Mar 19, 2026
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.
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.
Ed and Richard are back on home turf this week, kicking things off with a small milestone for the podcast: crossing 5,000 YouTube subscribers and continuing to grow the audience across video and audio platforms.
From there, Ed shares his experience visiting American Express’s new Sidecar lounge concept in Las Vegas, a much smaller lounge designed for short visits. The service and food impressed — but the strict 90-minute access rule raises questions about how useful the concept really is.
The discussion then turns to loyalty program updates. Marriott is increasing the flexibility of its free night certificates, allowing members to top them off with more points than before — a change that could make certificates significantly easier to use at higher-end properties.
They also break down a new welcome offer on the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, and whether the increased bonus is enough to offset rising award prices.
Finally, Richard brings a mystery topic to the show that sparks a lively debate: should travelers tip hotel housekeeping? The conversation dives into tipping culture, hotel labor practices, and where the line should be between employer responsibility and guest generosity.
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✈️ What We Cover in This Episode
✈️ Podcast milestone
- Miles To Go passes 5,000 YouTube subscribers
- Why the video audience continues growing
- Meeting listeners in airport lounges
✈️ Amex’s new Sidecar lounge in Las Vegas
- A smaller lounge concept with limited seating
- Fast service and made-to-order food
- The controversial 90-minute entry rule
✈️ Marriott certificate flexibility changes
- Top-off limit increasing from 15k to 25k points
- What that means for 35k, 50k, and 85k certificates
- Whether hotels will adjust award pricing in response
✈️ New World of Hyatt Business Card offer
- 80,000-point welcome bonus after $10k spend
- How it compares to previous offers
- The impact of rising Hyatt award prices
✈️ The hotel housekeeping tipping debate
- Should guests tip housekeeping?
- Why tipping culture has expanded
- The argument for hotels paying higher wages
✈️ Travel updates and upcoming trips
- Biloxi March Madness trip
- A whirlwind LA–DC–Vegas itinerary
- Upcoming travel schedules and bonus content plans
⏱️ Episode 428 Timestamps
0:50 – Podcast intro and YouTube milestone
3:30 – Running into listeners in airport lounges
5:00 – Flighty data and flying the same plane multiple times
7:30 – Ed’s “overnight to Chicago” travel strategy
9:50 – Inside the new Amex Sidecar lounge in Las Vegas
13:40 – Food, service, and the 90-minute access rule
16:50 – Marriott increasing certificate top-off limits
19:45 – New Hyatt Business Card welcome offer
22:50 – Richard’s mystery topic: tipping hotel housekeeping
28:30 – Upcoming travel and bonus episode plans