This week’s episode is a little different—and a lot of fun. Jess, Pam, and Alex are joined by Traci for a special game of Would You Rather!? – Points Talk Edition. Traci challenges the squad with a lineup of delightfully diabolical travel questions designed to reveal where they really stand when it comes to their points and airline preferences, personal travel quirks, and loyalty trade-offs.

The episode kicks off with a tough one: would you rather have a lie-flat seat in business class next to an annoying stranger, or an entire economy row to yourself? At least one of the squad's answers will probably surprise you!

Next, Traci challenges the group with Hyatt’s ultimate tradeoff: would you rather have lifetime Globalist status or a guaranteed fixed award chart for 20 years? Is there dissent or do Alex, Jess, and Pam all come down on the same side on this one?

From there, the questions get personal:

• Learn about Alex's secret grocery-store card confession.
• Would Jess rather stay at a Park Hyatt in a city she doesn't like (Venice) or a Holiday Inn Express in a city she loves (Tokyo)?
• Would Alex rather have her beloved Southwest® Companion Pass or 600,000 Hyatt points?
• Would Pam choose only domestic luxury travel or international budget travel if she could only choose one?
  
  

The squad also weighs in on (and disagrees about) transferring highly valued points with or without bonuses.

Nice Problems to Have

They also daydream about future loyalty-program changes they'd love to see, like new Citi cards, United partnering with a second bank, and Capital One adding Alaska as a partner. (A girl can dream!)

The episode ends on a light note, with the squad picking which flight souvenirs they'd rather have (rubber ducks or Delft houses) and which ones they'd be more likely to try to get permission to pinch.

This episode is full of laughs, strong opinions, and lots of travel daydreaming. Hit play now and see which “would you rather” choices you agree with—and which ones you totally wouldn’t! 🎙️✈️

Links:

• Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad

• 00:30 – Welcome + how the game works
• 01:00 – Business class vs. economy row showdown
• 04:00 – Globalist vs. award chart test
• 07:00 – Grocery points dilemma
• 10:00 – Jess’s hotel showdown
• 12:00 – Pam's domestic luxury or international budget stays
• 14:00 – Companion Pass or Hyatt points?
• 16:30 – Pop-up jail vs. 7/24 status
• 19:00 – 100K airline-only points or 60K flexible points?
• 20:00 – Business class: food or bedding
• 23:00 – Dream program changes
• 26:00 – Fun fantasy airline partnerships
• 31:00 – Transfer bonus dilemma
• 36:00 – KLM vs. Lufthansa souvenirs
• 39:00 – Turkish Airlines vs. Virgin Atlantic souvenirs

In this episode, Jess takes us step-by-step through her family’s spring break trip to Japan—a points and miles masterpiece that cost just $200 total out of pocket for four round-trip flights and multiple hotel stays. From first class flights to washer/dryers in hotel rooms, this trip had it all. Whether you’re dreaming of cherry blossoms, bullet trains, or Hello Kitty cafés, this episode is packed with tips for making Japan happen—without breaking the bank.

Flying to Japan in Style with AA Miles

Jess booked her family’s flights using American Airlines miles, flying on Japan Airlines from Chicago to Tokyo, and shares her tips for snagging first-class saver award seats, business-class seats, and also premium-economy seats.

For the Tokyo leg, Jess chose the Hyatt House Shibuya, a new property that has quickly become her top recommendation for families.

After Tokyo, the family took the bullet train to Kyoto and stayed at the Hyatt Place Kyoto, a Category 2 gem offering amazing value.

Activities included exploring Fushimi Inari Shrine, tasting local snacks at Nishiki Market, and spending several hours with deer at Nara Park—Molly’s favorite part of the trip!

For their final night, Jess used Hilton free-night certificates to stay at the Conrad Tokyo, a luxury property with top-tier service. From Hello Kitty water bottles at checkout to executive-lounge cocktails, it was the perfect way to end the trip. Jess doesn’t recommend it for the location alone, but if you’ve got free night certificates, she says it’s 100% worth it.

A trip to Japan for a family of four with flights and hotels for $200? This is the power of points and miles. Hit play now and hear how Jess pulled it off—and how you can too.

Links:

• Points Talk Premium: https://pointstalk.supercast.com
• How to Get Your Next Vacation for Nearly Free: How to Get Your Next Vacation for Nearly Free - https://travelmomsquad.lpages.co/freevacation/
• Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-house/en-US/tyoxs-hyatt-house-tokyo-shibuya
• Hyatt Place Kyoto Review: Hyatt Place Kyoto Review - Travel Mom Squad - https://travelmomsquad.com/hyatt-place-kyoto-review/
• SmartEx App (for Shinkansen tickets): Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Internet - https://smart-ex.jp/en/app/download/index.html
• Reservation Service | Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Internet Reservation Service - https://smart-ex.jp/en/app/download/index.html
• Voice Map app: Walking Tour App » VoiceMap - https://voicemap.me/walking-tour-app
• Cat rescue cafe: Home | 宿木カフェ＆レストラン - https://www.yadorigicafe.com
• Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad
  

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:30 – Flights to Japan: AA miles, upgrades, and flight tricks
• 07:00 – Booking first class seats and handling premium economy changes
• 12:00 – Transportation in Tokyo and using transit cards for kids
• 16:00 – Hyatt House Shibuya: why it’s perfect for families
• 23:00 – Favorite Tokyo experiences: TeamLab, shopping streets, latte art & cat cafés
• 29:00 – Kyoto stay at Hyatt Place + must-dos like Nara Park and local markets
• 36:00 – Final night at Conrad Tokyo with Hilton free-night certificates
• 42:00 – Recap of highlights, family takeaways, and why Jess is ready to go back

In this sneak peek from Points Talk Premium, we’re giving you a taste of one of our monthly “Ask Us Anything” episodes—where we answer real questions from our subscribers about using points and miles to travel smarter.

Subscribe to Points Talk Premium for full access to monthly deep-dive tips, behind-the-scenes content, and personalized Q&As.

Subscribe Now: https://pointstalk.supercast.com