In this episode, Chris and Katie take you through their latest travel experiences and dive deep into the world of airport lounge access. Chris shares what it was like flying with Copa Airlines, while Katie talks about scoring an upgrade with American Airlines in Charlotte.

They then explore which credit cards offer the best lounge access, why lounge perks matter for frequent travelers, and which cards are dropping lounge privileges. From the premium American Express Platinum to a no-annual fee card that comes with lounge access, they break down options for every type of traveler.

Plus, Katie reveals a savvy trick for getting the most out of “Grab and Go” offerings at Delta Sky Clubs—enough to feed two people! The episode wraps up with a listener Q&A, so don’t miss it.

For detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[0:00] The Upgraded Points Podcast Episode 11

[0:30] Introduction

[1:08] Chris talks about his experience flying with Copa Airlines

[4:34] Katie shares about a recent upgrade she had while flying on American Airlines.

[8:14] What credit card should you get for the best lounge access, why travelers would want to have good lounge access, including some cards that are lounge access policies.

[15:47] Chris discusses the American Express Platinum card.

[17:52] Katie brings up another card that offers lounge access without an annual fee.

[19:15] Credit cards that allow travelers to get into airline-specific lounges.

[24:42] Katie talks about her experience with using Delta Sky Club’s “Grab and Go” option and how travelers can get enough food for two people if they plan smartly.

[27:04] Recap: best credit cards for lounge access

[27:20] Listener question

Want more out of your points? Explore our guides written by travel and financial professionals on the Upgraded Points website.

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Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access: https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/lounge-access/

In this episode of The Upgraded Points Podcast, Chris and Katie share their top business class redemptions that you can actually book with points and miles in 2025, including options on American Airlines, Qatar Qsuites, ANA, Japan Airlines, Condor, and more.

Whether you're planning a dream trip to Japan or want a lie-flat seat across the Atlantic, you'll hear real booking examples, points prices, and firsthand tips to help you book smarter.

They also break down the CLEAR Plus price increase, how to get discounts (or even free memberships) through credit cards and airline status, and which travel perks are actually worth it.

Finally, they answer a listener's question: Are points only useful if you book last minute? Find out how to make the most of your points no matter when your travel is for.

Timestamps:

[0:00] Welcome! Chris and Katie kick things off with a fun routing tip—how a stopover in Hawaii could score you a cheaper business class flight to Japan.

[1:00] CLEAR Plus membership is getting a price hike starting in July. Chris explains the new pricing, while Katie shares how to get CLEAR for free or at a discount using credit cards or airline status programs.

[4:10] Chris and Katie start digging into their favorite business class redemptions booked with points, starting with Qatar Airways Qsuites..

[6:30] How to find award space, what makes ANA’s business class special, and why flying from Hawaii can save you a lot. Booking tips for Japan Airlines, Condor, and KLM, plus the importance of using tools like seats.aero to find award space.

[10:00] Why same-itinerary bookings from smaller airports can be a game changer, especially when flights get disrupted.

[13:45] How to find these flights yourself, setting award alerts, and using the right tools.

[15:45] Listener question: Are points only useful if you book at the last minute? Tips for planners and smart redemptions with a 5 to 6 month lead.

[17:00] Final thoughts + wrap-up: Expand your search, sign up for the newsletter, and make your points go further.

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Want to unlock business class for economy prices? Sign up for our free award alerts newsletter and follow us for the latest deals, guides, and tips.

Looking for the best tools to search for award flights and hotels?

In this episode of the Upgraded Points Podcast, we break down the top award flight search tools we personally use to book award travel with points and miles. From free options to paid platforms, we’ll show you what each one does best, plus share a discount for our favorite tool: Seats.aero.

Chris and Katie also share recent travel updates, including theme park trips (Disneyland vs. Epic Universe) and a visit to Greenville, South Carolina. We wrap up with a listener question about speculative point transfers - specifically, whether it’s a good idea to transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Hawaiian in order to take advantage of the Alaska loophole that is closing soon!

For detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[0:00] Introduction

[1:00] Last week, Chris visited Disney Land for Disney’s 70th anniversary celebration. The celebration is running through the summer of 2026. Next, he went back to Epic Universe for their opening.

[3:27] Katie recently went back to Greenville, South Carolina. She was invited by the Visit Greenville, SC, to go to the BMW Performance Driving Center. She stayed at the AC Hotel in downtown Greenville.

[7:34] The main topic of today’s episode is award search tools. Katie’s favorite is seats.aero, which allows users to search flight options. The pro version is $9.99 per month. Through June 30, 2025, save 20% on an annual subscription with the code UPGRADEDPOINTS.

[11:30] There are lots of award search tools to choose from. One of the most popular is Point.me, which allows you to search over one hundred airlines.

[12:26] Another good tool is Points Yeah, which is free with unlimited searches but has a premium version. Roame is similar, but is a bit more polished.

[13:49] Last fall, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines merged and introduced the ability to transfer points between them. Now through June 30th, you can transfer Amex points to Hawaiian, and then to Alaska. Normally, we do not recommend transferring points speculatively. However, Alaska’s program is good enough to make the transfer worth it.

Read about the best food in every world in Epic Universe: https://upgradedpoints.com/news/universal-epic-universe-best-food/

Use the seats.aero promo code mentioned in the episode: https://upgradedpoints.com/news/seats-aero-promo-code/

Read Katie’s review of the Grand Bohemian Lodge in Greenville, South Carolina: https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/grand-bohemian-lodge-greenville-autograph-collection-review/

Want more out of your points? Explore our guides written by travel and financial professionals on the Upgraded Points website.

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upgradedpoints/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upgradedpoints/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Upgradedpoints

Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/upgradedpointspod