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- Feb 18, 202650 min
$200,000 for 40 Hotel Stays: The Wildest Travel Promotion Ever
This week on Landings and Layovers, we cover everything from government-mandated flight chaos to one of the boldest hotel promotions ever attempted. Marty breaks down the recent air traffic control disruptions, what travelers are actually entitled to when flights get canceled, and how airline agreements affect your rerouting options. Then we're joined by Sten Christiansen, an attorney by day, elite-status traveler by night, who spent roughly $35,000 flying around the world to stay at 40 different hotel brands in one summer… and won a $200,000 prize in the process. From ordering 25 cheeseburgers to hit minimum spend requirements to flying nine hours for a single hotel night, this is a masterclass in loyalty strategy, risk tolerance, and pure travel insanity. We also wrap with this week's Fare of the Week (DFW & major US cities to Riyadh under $900 roundtrip) and our Acronym of the Week: ATCSCC.
- Feb 4, 20261h 10m
Looking Back to Leap Ahead: What 2025 Taught Us About Travel
In this reflective year-end wrap-up, Marty and Matthew talk through everything 2025 threw at travelers—from new airline plays and loyalty shakeups to surprise wins, frustrating fare rules, and the gear that saved our sanity. It's equal parts therapy session and future-facing strategy sesh. We don't just look back—we take notes so you don't have to. 📌 In This Episode: The single most chaotic moment in travel this year What airlines did right (and what they absolutely didn't) Our top gear and apps of the year What loyalty programs got worse (and which ones still deliver) Why we think 2026 will be the "Year of the Savvy Traveler" Listener wins, fails, and shout-outs 📣 Bonus Tip: Want our end-of-year roundup cheat sheet? Check the blog post that goes with this episode: Let's Keep the Conversation Going: Drop your 2025 travel win (or horror story) in the comments. We might feature it in a future episode. Tag us @LandingsAndLayovers or use #SmartTravelStartsHere. 🔗 Follow + Connect: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landingsandlayovers 🐦 X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/landingspod 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landingsandlayovers 🎧 Like the show? Hit subscribe and never miss an episode. Leave us a review—it helps more travelers find us. Share the episode with a friend who needs a smarter travel year ahead. 🧳 Tags for Discovery: #TravelPodcast #FrequentFlyerLife #AirlinePoints #SmartTravel #YearInReview #TravelGear #AirportLife #TravelWins #LoyaltyPrograms #LandingsAndLayovers
- Jul 29, 202556 min
Luxury Travel on a Budget: Hotel Loyalty Secrets with Ben Komenkul
From free suite upgrades to turning daily spending into first-class flights, this episode is a crash course in making luxury travel accessible — even on a budget. ✈️ Fare of the Week: SAS Deals to Europe This week's 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–$500 on SAS Airlines. Travel window: September 2025 – 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 💡 Pro tip: Book early — these fares will not last. 🏅 Mileage Promo Spotlight: Etihad's Confusing Challenge We unpack Etihad's 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 — and whether it beats Turkish Airlines' or JetBlue's recent promos. 🎙 Interview: Ben Komenkul's Hotel Loyalty Playbook Guest: Ben Komenkul — founder of Hotel Secrets Masterclass and Airline Points Academy. He's traveled the world mastering points and loyalty programs, helping thousands turn modest budgets into unforgettable experiences. What You'll Learn: How Ben went from La Quinta loyalty to Hyatt globalist (and why you shouldn't 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've never tried How to use hotel-branded credit cards and loyalty tiers strategically (plus why Hyatt and Marriott aren't equal) 💡 Pro Tips from Ben Focus on one program — lifetime status beats juggling low-tier loyalty Check the fine print — not all vouchers work the same (or transfer to others) Free agent? Sign up for the program anyway — those points add up <strong data-start="2
- Jul 22, 20251h 1m
Turkish Airlines' Wild Ride, JetBlue's 25-Stop Hustle, and First Class with Meyy
✈️ Landings and Layovers | Season 2, Episode 5 🎙 Hosted by Matt Fleischman & Marty Paz 🗒 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—so we're keeping the conversation going. ✈️ 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—Krakow, Sofia, Vilnius, and more—for under $500. In some cases, closer to $400. Lufthansa is matching some fares, too. 📍 Fly into smaller, often overlooked cities 📅 Valid for: July, Sept–Dec 2025, and Feb 2026 🎫 Book direct or via a Star Alliance partner for mileage bonuses 🏅 Status Games: JetBlue vs. Turkish Airlines We dive into JetBlue's 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. 🔎 Key comparisons: Turkish Airlines required everything to route through Istanbul Minimum spend to qualify? $3,000+ Turkish miles expire after 3 years (ouch) JetBlue's challenge? Easier, shorter, and lets you fly domestic or Caribbean ⚙️ Building a run? We're helping listeners with itinerary planning for both challenges and future promos. 🎙 Interview Spotlight: Meyy on Flying First (Without Flying Broke) Meet Meyy, a cardiovascular professional and mileage master who's flown over 500,000 miles — 95% of them in first or business class. He shared how he's 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 Première experience Stacking reroutes: 3 canceled flights → Singapore Business Class for 60K points Why Air France Platinum status still pays off—even years later 💡 Meyy's top tips: Bring chocolates. It works. Flexibility beats status. Know your phone agents—they can be more powerful than your credit card. British Airways mileage runs? Still worth it… for now. 🔮 The Points Horizon: What's Changing in 2025 Meyy and Marty break down the future of loyalty programs: <p d
- Jul 15, 20251h 1m
Flying Far, Earning Big, and Traveling With Teens
From Vegas to Vietnam for $700? Plus: JetBlue's Insane Promo and Traveling With Teens 🎟️ Fare of the Week (Sponsored by Notiflyr.com) Las Vegas → Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City on Korean Air | ~$700–800 roundtrip One stop via Seoul, excellent availability (Jan–May, Jul–Dec 2026), and great connections make this a steal. Whether you're craving Thai food in Bangkok or street coffee in Vietnam, this long-haul deal is smoother than a layover bibimbap. Korean Air's inflight meal? Legit top-tier. 📌 Pro tip: Stopover in Seoul for a few days—yes, there's a high-speed train to Daegu, and yes, it's worth it for Korea's fried chicken and beer festival (aka Chimaek Fest). 🛫 Mileage Run Madness: JetBlue's 25-Year Status Hack Marty breaks down JetBlue's jaw-dropping anniversary promotion: Visit 15 JetBlue destinations = 150,000 points (~$2,000 value) Visit 20 destinations = 350,000 points (~$4,500 value) Visit 25 = 25 years of Mosaic 1 elite status + 350K points + United Silver via reciprocity 📌 Points count on cash + award tickets 📌 Includes connections as long as they're JetBlue-operated 📌 Must book "Blue" fares or higher (not basic economy) Whether you're a points junkie or casually curious, this is one of the richest domestic promotions we've ever seen. 🔧 Need help planning your mileage run? We're offering custom itinerary planning for this and other travel challenges. DM us or reach out via our site (see links below). ✈️ Guest Interview: Jason Dimaio on Traveling With Teens Jason—traveler, dad, and mileage whisperer—joins us to talk about the ups and downs of traveling with his daughter from the age of five to fourteen. Topics include: Why your travel style changes when you become the only adult on the trip How letting kids plan your day can turn into the best trip ever (shoutout to Lawrence from the JW Marriott Hong Kong concierge!) Navigating London, Tokyo, and Venice with a tween His best travel hack: relationships beat rules every single time How regional airports and flight connections can unlock killer deals From Harry Potter in London to snowstorms in Venice, this episode is full of stories, insight, and inspiration—especially for parents planning family trips. 🧳 Packing Picks + Travel Tips 🔹 Book long-haul Asia flights from regional airports for better prices 🔹 Don't underestimate award availability out of secondary cities 🔹 You can build lifetime airline status with one crazy (but strategic) trip 🔹 Sometimes your kid planning the day = best day ever 🔁 Coming Soon: Turkish Airlines Million Mile Challenge We teased it, now it's almost here. On our next episode, Marty breaks down the wild Turkish Airlines promo
- Jun 17, 202550 min
Flying Solo, Flying Smart: Women's Travel Tips, Airline Mishaps & Vancouver to Aruba Fare Deals
From springbok biltong and A380 landings to navigating the world solo as a woman, this episode packs in travel chaos, comedy, and a whole lot of smart advice. 🧳 This Week on Landings and Layovers We're back with a packed episode featuring travel misadventures, smart gear upgrades, some very real talk about traveling as a woman, and a jaw-dropping fare from Vancouver to Aruba that's making us rethink our summer plans. Here's what's inside: 🛫 Marty's VIP behind-the-scenes tour of United Airlines' Denver ramp (yes, there's an A380 involved) ✈️ What really happens when your budget flight turns out way better than expected 🧍♀️ Tracy joins us to talk solo female travel, hostel hacks, and why Vietnam tops her list 🧳 The truth about backpacks, broken roller wheels, and what travel gear is actually worth your money 🔄 Why you might want to stop planning every second of your trip 💸 Fare of the Week (Sponsored by Notiflyr.com) Vancouver → Aruba | Summer 2026 | ~$500 USD roundtrip ☀️ Book a tropical escape from the Pacific Northwest to the Caribbean with this long-range fare. ✔️ 10-hour journey ✔️ Operated by United (with Air Canada likely to follow) ✔️ Perfect for beating the summer fog or Canadian winter in advance 📌 Tip: Watch for this to go live on both airlines as schedules expand! 🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Tracy Tracy's been everywhere — from high school in Singapore to backpacking Southeast Asia to living in China. She joined us to talk: What it's really like traveling solo as a woman How safety strategies change based on country, community, and culture Why having your own private room at a hostel can be worth every cent How not to get stuck zipping and unzipping your top-loading backpack 12 times a day Why you should leave room in your itinerary to get lost (literally) "Travel doesn't last forever—stop trying to micromanage it like it does." – Tracy ✨ Packing Picks Here's what we learned (the hard way) about packing gear: 💼 Backpacks with full zippers > top-loaders 🛞 Cheap $15 suitcases may last one trip (but you better be going home) 🔒 A door lock or travel latch for solo travelers adds real peace of mind 🎒 You don't need to prove anything. Wheels are your friend. Want the links? Find everything in our Packing Picks roundup [Add
- Jun 8, 20251h 34m
Wheelchairs, Layovers, and a Surprise Fare Drop With Matt Tasker
From missed connections in Rome to surprise upgrades and baby sleep battles at 30,000 feet, this episode is a wild ride. Plus, our guest shares travel hacks that could shave serious money off your next big trip. ✈️ This Week on Landings and Layovers After a short hiatus, we're back with an episode that's part travel therapy, part fare-hunter's dream, and 100% relatable if you've ever had a flight—or an entire trip—go sideways. Highlights include: Marty's robotic wheelchair fiasco in Rome (and the business class seats that got away) Matthew's "just one more fight with the gate agents" journey to Boston, Philly, and back with a toddler How one wrong gate, a missing stroller, and a helpful gate agent turned stress into success Marty's random encounter with The Points Guy himself (yes, really!) A killer fare to Southeast Asia—starting at $700 round trip Our guest Matthew Tasker's pro tips on slashing train costs in London, navigating Asia like a local, and why high-speed rail might be your new favorite way to travel 🏷️ Fare of the Week: Southeast Asia for Under $800 Thanks to our sponsor Notiflyr.com, we're spotlighting a stunner: LAX, NYC, BOS, SFO → Bangkok, Hanoi, KL, and more — $700–800 round trip on Korean Air. ✔️ Full service ✔️ Stop in Seoul ✔️ Free transit tour if you've got a long layover ✔️ Average savings: $300 If you're even thinking about Asia, jump on this one. [Add affiliate link] 🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Matthew Tasker Travel hacker. Videographer. 52 countries and counting. Matthew joins us from the South of France to share: How to actually cut your Heathrow-to-London train cost in half Why he ditched the idea of checked bags forever (and how to trick budget airlines with a convertible backpack) Why Japan still wins as his top destination, and how to get there cheaper than you think The secret to finding better fares: don't just change your dates, change your departure city Apps that make his travels smoother (and his daughter's plane spotting even more fun) → Bonus: Flighty, Flightradar24, and the plug adapter we didn't know we needed. 🔧 Packing Picks & Travel Tools ✔️ Convertible Backpack – Roller + backpack hybrid ✔️ Pass-through USB charger – One outlet, multiple devices ✔️ Flighty (iOS) – Real-time flight tracking meets trip planning ✔️ Flightradar24 – Find that plane overhead before your toddler asks → Find all these in our <a class=""
- Feb 18, 202549 min
Million Miles, Budget Flights & European Rail Adventures
Welcome to Season 2 of Landings and Layovers! We're kicking things off with a deep dive into budget-friendly European travel and the latest airfare deals. Matt and Marty break down an incredible United Airlines sale to Europe with round-trip fares starting at just $427, plus a look at how low-cost carriers are reshaping transatlantic travel. We also welcome special guest MattNav, a European rail travel expert, to discuss how competition is making train travel cheaper, easier, and more accessible than ever before. Whether you're looking to earn a million miles, book an open-jaw ticket, or take advantage of new rail connections, this episode is packed with must-know travel hacks for 2025. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🔥 Featured Airfare Deal: United's Massive Europe Sale Flights from the U.S. to top European cities (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, and more) starting at $427 round-trip. Origin cities across the U.S., including New York, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and more. Why budget airlines are forcing legacy carriers to drop prices—and how you can benefit. New partnerships between Icelandair and Southwest making transatlantic travel seamless. 🎟️ Marty's Euro Bonus Million Mile Challenge How 900 travelers completed the 15-flight challenge to earn 1,000,000 miles. The most surprising countries with participants (including some "North Koreans"—kind of). Why every single participant had to visit China (and how this reshaped mileage runs). 🚆 European Rail Travel in 2025 with MattNav How rail competition is cutting train prices across Europe. New budget-friendly train options from Paris to Milan, Brussels, and beyond. Why traveling by train can be faster, easier, and even cheaper than flying. How to use airline miles for train tickets (and which airports have rail connections). ✈️ Open-Jaw Tickets: The Ultimate Europe Hack Why flying into one city and out of another can be cheaper than a round-trip. Best open-jaw routes for U.S. travelers heading to Europe. How to book multi-city flights without paying extra fees. <h3 data-start="2509" data-end=
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About Landings and Layovers
"Landings and Layovers" is your weekly gateway to the world's most exciting travel deals and destinations. Each episode, Hosts Matt Fleischman and Marty Paz will spotlight exceptional airfare specials and delve into insightful segments on travel tips and destination deep dives. Whether you're planning your next holiday or just dreaming of distant places, join us as we explore how to travel smarter, cheaper, and more enjoyably. Tune in to discover how to make the most of every trip, from quick layovers to grand landings!
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