When SAS Eurobonus launched a promotion to earn one million miles by earning or redeeming SAS miles on flights taken with 15 different qualifying SkyTeam airlines by the end of 2024, we had to take the opportunity to make this our next team challenge.

We asked readers to submit tips, recommendations, and possible itineraries to help Greg, Nick, and Stephen satisfy the SAS challenge for 1M miles. Tim and Carrie judged which traveler met this challenge with the most "SAS" (speed, affordability, and style). But each traveler picked a follower whose tips helped them most. These helpers each won a prize, and a chance at the Grand Prize if their traveler won!

The Frequent Miler team's 2024 challenge, Flying by the Seat of our Points, was designed to push our award booking skills to the limit with a series of last minute travel challenges.

Stephen and Carrie were the game-masters who delivered last-minute destination challenges, then scored points as Greg, Nick, and Tim set out to meet each challenge before the next assignment, using their skills to achieve the best combination of frugality and luxury possible. (See the scoring criteria here).

In total, each contestant had to visit 3 last-minute destinations: 1 domestic convergence destination where they all met together, separate international divergence destinations where they all parted ways, and 1 international convergence destination where they reconvened together again. At each destination, they were given exploration challenges to force them out of their hotels and into the streets.

in January 2023, first class awards on ANA were temporarily wide open. We were able to book all five of us into ANA’s “The Suite” first class on a flight from Tokyo to San Francisco within the dates of our challenge. This became the catalyst for our Party of 5 Challenge.

We divided into two teams. Two adventures. 5 travelers. 1 referee. Team Tokyo (Stephen and Carrie) designed a five day adventure in Asia, originating in Tokyo. Team San Francisco (Nick and Tim) designed a five day adventure in the Americas, originating in San Francisco. The objective was to make great use of points and miles in order to impress the whole party of 5, especially Greg, the referee.

Nick, Stephen and Greg competed to book the most amazing 3-continent dream-trip using 3 welcome bonuses. As usual, they had a pre-determined budget and rules to stick to throughout their travels, then readers picked the winner once their trips were completed.

Several months in advance, we live-streamed a card draft where each contestant picked 3 credit card welcome offers which would make up their travel budget. No bonus could be picked twice. With their cards selected, the competitors booked the most impressive trips they could with the bonuses and perks gained from those cards.

On January 30th, Greg selected 4 Global Upgrade Certificates as one of his Delta Diamond 2020 Choice Benefits. Based on a reader idea, we turned this into a challenge. Nick could use 2 of the GUCs for himself but he would have to use 2 for Greg to travel along. This means that they could book a round trip flight to anywhere in the world that Delta (or select partners) fly. They would pay economy prices and use the GUCs to hopefully fly lie-flat business class.

Nick's main goal was to impress Greg, but we created a point system for him to track his progress as he achieved mini-goals along the way.

The goal of this challenge was simple: Get as far away as possible on a budget of 40,000 points and $400.

Greg, Nick, and Stephen were each assigned a transferable points currency. They were then allowed to use up to 40,000 points, as follows:

- Greg the Frequent Miler: 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points
- Nick Reyes: 40,000 Citi ThankYou points
- Stephen Pepper: 40,000 Amex Membership Rewards points