{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Luxury Travel on a Budget: Hotel Loyalty Secrets with Ben Komenkul","description":"From free suite upgrades to turning daily spending into first-class flights, this episode is a crash course in making luxury travel accessible \u2014 even on a budget.  \u2708\ufe0f Fare of the Week: SAS Deals to Europe This week\u2019s Fare of the Week (powered by Notiflyr.com): Roundtrip flights from major U.S. cities (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, LA, Miami, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C.) to European hubs like Amsterdam, Athens, Paris, Prague, and Zurich for $430\u2013$500 on SAS Airlines.   Travel window: September 2025 \u2013 May 2026   Includes food and drink, but basic economy rules apply (limited baggage)   Elite SkyTeam members (Delta, Air France, KLM) get added perks like free bags   \ud83d\udca1 Pro tip: Book early \u2014 these fares will not last.  \ud83c\udfc5 Mileage Promo Spotlight: Etihad\u2019s Confusing Challenge We unpack Etihad\u2019s latest promotion:   5 million miles for the first person to visit all 15 new destinations   Milestone prizes: 25K miles (5 destinations) or 100K miles (10 destinations)   Messy rules, unclear leaderboard, and potential passport headaches (hello, Russia)   Is it worth chasing? Marty and Matt debate the value \u2014 and whether it beats Turkish Airlines\u2019 or JetBlue\u2019s recent promos.  \ud83c\udf99 Interview: Ben Komenkul\u2019s Hotel Loyalty Playbook Guest: Ben Komenkul \u2014 founder of Hotel Secrets Masterclass and Airline Points Academy. He\u2019s traveled the world mastering points and loyalty programs, helping thousands turn modest budgets into unforgettable experiences. What You\u2019ll Learn:   How Ben went from La Quinta loyalty to Hyatt globalist (and why you shouldn\u2019t chase every status tier at once)   When earning points beats redeeming them   The secret to scoring upgrades without breaking the bank   Why bringing your own pillow might be the best travel hack you\u2019ve never tried   How to use hotel-branded credit cards and loyalty tiers strategically (plus why Hyatt and Marriott aren\u2019t equal)    \ud83d\udca1 Pro Tips from Ben   Focus on one program \u2014 lifetime status beats juggling low-tier loyalty   Check the fine print \u2014 not all vouchers work the same (or transfer to others)   Free agent? Sign up for the program anyway \u2014 those points add up   Book first, confirm later \u2014 great deals vanish fast; you can always cancel within 24 hours    \ud83d\udee0 Travel Tools We Love   AwardWallet \u2013 Track points and expiration dates across programs   FlightAware \u2013 Real-time flight tracking (know delays before the airline does)   CardPointers \u2013 Optimize credit card perks and benefits automatically   TripIt \u2013 Organize itineraries in one app    \ud83e\uddf3 New Segment: Term of the Week We\u2019re kicking off a new segment breaking down aviation acronyms. This week: ACARS \u2014 Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. Think of it as an old-school text messaging system for pilots and ground crews\u2026 still used today.  \ud83d\udd17 Stay Connected   Instagram: @landingslayovers   Twitter\/X: @landingandlayover   Facebook: Landings and Layovers   Email: landingsandlayovers@gmail.com    \ud83d\udccc SEO Tags #HotelLoyalty #TravelHacks #MileagePromotions #LuxuryOnPoints #LandingsAndLayovers #AwardTravel #SASAirlinesDeals #EtihadChallenge #BenKomenkul ","author_name":"Landings and Layovers","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/540217","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/37575955\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/191244350"}