Greece Using Points and Miles

Episode 184 of the Award Travel 101 podcast featured Cameron Laufer and April Rose recapping their recent trips to Greece while also covering the latest points and miles news. The episode opened with a discussion of a community post about whether it was worth paying to keep a small British Airways Avios balance from expiring, with members offering a variety of creative solutions. News included American Express adding Leading Hotels of the World as a Membership Rewards transfer partner, new Alaska Mileage Plan redemption opportunities on Philippine Airlines, American Airlines adding Oman Air award bookings, and tighter access rules for Chase Sapphire Lounges. Cameron and April also shared recent credit card approvals and upcoming travel plans before diving into the main topic.The Greece recap focused on how each host used points, miles, and travel perks to maximize their trips. Cameron walked through his family's itinerary of Athens, Naxos, and Santorini, explaining why he mixed award flights, ferries, and inexpensive domestic flights to balance convenience and value. He discussed the pros and cons of the Grand Hyatt Athens, vacation rentals for a family of five, and several ways he saved money using card benefits like Lyft credits, Blacklane credits, and airport lounge access. April shared highlights from her own island-hopping adventure, including Mykonos, Paros, and Milos, along with booking Emirates First Class home using a strategic credit card signup bonus.The episode wrapped up with practical advice for anyone planning a trip to Greece. The hosts recommended visiting the Acropolis early or late in the day, renting a car to explore Naxos, checking Santorini's cruise ship schedule before visiting Oia, and packing for cool evenings during shoulder season. April also highlighted the incredible history of Delos and noted Hyatt's growing presence in Greece. Cameron closed with a useful Chase Ultimate Rewards tip, explaining how he successfully transferred points between family members by linking accounts through an intermediary household member when a direct transfer wasn't possible.Episode Links:Amex Adds Leading Hotels of the WorldPhilippine Bookable Through AlaskaOman Bookable Through AmericanChase Lounge RulesWhere to Find UsThe Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.You can also email us at [email protected] your Award Travel 101 Merch hereReserve tickets to our Late Summer 2026 Meetup in Milwaukee now. award.travel/mke2026Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card!Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.