{"podcast":{"title":"The Upgraded Points Podcast","slug":"the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741","podcast_index_feed_id":7285741,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-upgraded-points-podcast","website_url":"https://upgradedpoints.com","image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/tGpxlIMF_o-uxTEnwBKPp2qZGRxu3Vtswnb94-iL4BE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yYmJk/ZWIyZDJjMDI4N2Qw/NzE5YjgwNjQ1OWY4/MTU3OC5qcGc.jpg","author":"Upgraded Points","episode_count":69,"summary":"Want to travel more and spend less? Every week, Upgraded Points provides expert insights, travel hacks, and the latest industry news to help you maximize your points and miles like a pro. Hosted by Chris Hassan and Katie Corrigan Seemann, travel experts at Upgraded Points, this podcast breaks down the best strategies for booking luxury flights, scoring hotel upgrades, and making every trip unforgettable — all without breaking the bank. Expect insider tips, real-world trip breakdowns, and answers to your biggest travel questions. Whether you're a points and miles beginner or a seasoned expert, we’ll help you travel smarter, save money, and unlock next-level adventures. Email us at podcast@upgradedpoints.com Subscribe now and Travel Different.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-27T20:18:45.543512+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741"},"episode":{"title":"Japan on Points: How To Book Business Class Flights and Luxury Hotels","slug":"japan-on-points-how-to-book-business-class-flights-and-luxury-hotels","published_at":"2026-02-16T11:15:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741/japan-on-points-how-to-book-business-class-flights-and-luxury-hotels","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741","url":"https://upgradedpoints.transistor.fm/45","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/4704b08f/09bf97ae.mp3","summary":"Japan is one of the most popular destinations in the world, but traveling there with a family can feel overwhelming and expensive. In this episode, Chris breaks down his recent family trip to Japan and exactly how it was booked using points and miles. We walk through the business class flights, 5-star hotel stays, and the real itinerary across Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. You’ll hear what worked well, what surprised us, and how planning ahead made a luxury-style trip possible without luxury prices. If you’ve ever wondered how families actually use points in real life, not just in theory, this episode shows what’s possible with the right strategy. Chapters: 00:00 The Upgraded Points Podcast Episode 45 01:01 New Hyatt Bonus Journeys Promo 04:04 Japan Airlines Business Class 05:56 Waldorf Astoria Osaka 10:04 St. Regis Osaka 15:52 Getting from Osaka to Kyoto 17:06 Hyatt Place Kyoto 19:41 Kyoto activities 22:32 Shinkansen Bullet Train to Tokyo 23:32 Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea 26:31 Conrad Tokyo 28:00 Tokyo and Tips for Kids in Japan 31:19 Park Hyatt Tokyo 38:33 Delta Economy and American Airlines Premium Economy 43:11 Listener Q&A Hyatt Place Kyoto in Japan [In-depth Hotel Review] https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/hyatt-place-kyoto-review/ Review of Hilton Tokyo Bay in Japan [Great Use of Hilton Aspire Resort Credit] https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/hilton-tokyo-bay-review/ Behind the Hype: A Real Guest’s In-Depth Review of Conrad Tokyo https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/hotels/conrad-tokyo-review/ ✈️ Learn more at https://upgradedpoints.com/ 📧 Questions? Email us at podcast@upgradedpoints.com","meta_description":"Japan is one of the most popular destinations in the world, but traveling there with a family can feel overwhelming and expensive. In this episode, Chris…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2785,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741/episodes/japan-on-points-how-to-book-business-class-flights-and-luxury-hotels/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741/japan-on-points-how-to-book-business-class-flights-and-luxury-hotels.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}