{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Turkish Airlines\u2019 Wild Ride, JetBlue\u2019s 25-Stop Hustle, and First Class with Meyy","description":"\u2708\ufe0f Landings and Layovers | Season 2, Episode 5 \ud83c\udf99 Hosted by Matt Fleischman & Marty Paz \ud83d\uddd2 Quick Note Since we recorded, the Turkish Airlines million-mile promotion has been suspended without notice. Still, the strategies, planning, and points talk are timeless\u2014so we\u2019re keeping the conversation going. \u2708\ufe0f Fare of the Week: NYC to Eastern Europe for Under $500 LOT Polish Airlines is slinging serious deals: roundtrip flights from New York to multiple Eastern European cities\u2014Krakow, Sofia, Vilnius, and more\u2014for under $500. In some cases, closer to $400. Lufthansa is matching some fares, too. \ud83d\udccd Fly into smaller, often overlooked cities \ud83d\udcc5 Valid for: July, Sept\u2013Dec 2025, and Feb 2026 \ud83c\udfab Book direct or via a Star Alliance partner for mileage bonuses \ud83c\udfc5 Status Games: JetBlue vs. Turkish Airlines We dive into JetBlue\u2019s 25-destination challenge (25 cities = 350K points + 25 years of elite status) and compare it to the recently suspended Turkish Airlines Million Mile Contest, which required touching down on six continents in four months. \ud83d\udd0e Key comparisons: Turkish Airlines required everything to route through Istanbul Minimum spend to qualify? $3,000+ Turkish miles expire after 3 years (ouch) JetBlue\u2019s challenge? Easier, shorter, and lets you fly domestic or Caribbean \u2699\ufe0f Building a run? We\u2019re helping listeners with itinerary planning for both challenges and future promos. \ud83c\udf99 Interview Spotlight: Meyy on Flying First (Without Flying Broke) Meet Meyy, a cardiovascular professional and mileage master who\u2019s flown over 500,000 miles \u2014 95% of them in first or business class. He shared how he\u2019s unlocked luxury cabins with smart strategies, including: Booking American Airlines First for 25K Etihad miles Turning an Oman Air downgrade into a surprise Air France La Premi\u00e8re experience Stacking reroutes: 3 canceled flights \u2192 Singapore Business Class for 60K points Why Air France Platinum status still pays off\u2014even years later \ud83d\udca1 Meyy\u2019s top tips: Bring chocolates. It works. Flexibility beats status. Know your phone agents\u2014they can be more powerful than your credit card. British Airways mileage runs? Still worth it\u2026 for now. \ud83d\udd2e The Points Horizon: What\u2019s Changing in 2025 Meyy and Marty break down the future of loyalty programs: American\u2019s program is flexible\u2014but for how long? Airline loyalty is becoming gamified, fast British Airways is shifting away from leisure travelers Devaluations are coming\u2026 earn and burn while you can \ud83e\uddf3 Packing Picks & Pro Moves \ud83e\udde0 You don\u2019t need millions of points\u2014just a smart strategy \ud83c\udf81 Kindness can upgrade you faster than status \ud83e\uddf3 Air France La Premi\u00e8re is worth every reroute (and the occasional stress-induced forehead vein) \ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Use regional airports to find better award space \ud83d\udcba \u201cMileage runs are fun again\u201d \u2014 just pick your program wisely \ud83e\udded Want Help Planning a Status Run? We\u2019re working on: JetBlue\u2019s 25-city itinerary builds Star Alliance million-mile ideas (if it returns) BA Tier Point runs from the U.S. and Europe Etihad, Flying Blue, and Turkish mileage strategy builds \ud83d\udcec DM us or email\u2014we\u2019ll help you sketch it out and maybe even feature your run in a future ep. \ud83d\udd17 Connect With Us \ud83d\udc8c Email: landingsandlayovers@gmail.com \ud83d\udcf8 Instagram: @landingslayovers \ud83d\udc26 Twitter\/X: @landingNlayover \ud83c\udf0d Website: brieflydistracted.com\/landingsandlayovers   ","author_name":"Landings and Layovers","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/540217","html":"