{"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":"Step by Step: How To Book Your First International Award Flight","slug":"step-by-step-how-to-book-your-first-international-award-flight","published_at":"2026-06-29T10:05:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741/step-by-step-how-to-book-your-first-international-award-flight","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741","url":"https://upgradedpoints.transistor.fm/64","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/5d1a479a/a260b6df.mp3","summary":"Booking your first international award flight feels overwhelming until you understand the process. In this episode, Chris and Katie break it down into 4 repeatable steps that work every time, regardless of which airline you're flying, which points program you're using, or which cabin you're booking. Before the main segment, Chris shares how moving to Brazil 16 years ago got him into points and miles, and Katie talks about one of her first big international redemptions, a round-trip to Tanzania and Kenya on Ethiopian Airlines business class for 176,000 United miles and just $78 in taxes and fees. Then it's the four-step process, plus a listener question about whether Hilton Honors points are actually worth it for a casual hotel guest. (00:00) - The Upgraded Points Podcast Episode 64 (01:11) - Origin Story (08:44) - Step 1 (10:14) - Step 2 (13:08) - Step 3 (14:19) - Step 4 (18:29) - Listener Question Best Current Welcome Offers: https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/sign-up-bonuses/ Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles: https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/beginners/ Best Points and Miles Tools: https://upgradedpoints.com/news/points-and-miles-tools-expert-recommendations/ ✈️ Learn more at https://upgradedpoints.com/ 📧 Questions? Email us at podcast@upgradedpoints.com 📲 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@upgradedpointspod 📲 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-upgraded-points-podcast/id1807133164 📲 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/61t4AF7hQiW4hh5eNcwqrZ 📲 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upgradedpoints/ 📲 Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/upgradedpoints 📲 Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@upgradedpoints ✉️ Upgraded Points Newsletter https://upgradedpoints.com/join-news…","meta_description":"Booking your first international award flight feels overwhelming until you understand the process. In this episode, Chris and Katie break it down into 4 r…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1308,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-upgraded-points-podcast-7285741/episodes/step-by-step-how-to-book-your-first-international-award-flight/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/step-by-step-how-to-book-your-first-international-award-flight.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}