January 5, 2026
2025 Points Earning Year in Review: Credit Cards, Strategies & What Was Learned with Dr. Andrea Mabry
Episode Description
Do you ever wonder what cards other people have, how they use them, and exactly how many points they’re earning each year? I’ll be honest—I’m nosy when it comes to other people’s points, and I love getting a peek inside someone else’s points earning strategies.
In this first part of a two-part year-in-review series, I’ve invited Dr. Andrea Mabry back to the show to break down everything that shaped our points earning in 2025. This has become one of my favorite Point Me to First Class traditions, and this year marks the third installment of this annual series. We’re pulling back the curtain on the credit cards we opened, the unexpected opportunities we seized, and the total number of points we earned across all our points ecosystems, from Chase and Amex to Capital One, Citi, and beyond.
Andrea and I each share our total points earned for the year, then break those numbers down by transferable versus airline-specific currencies, welcome bonuses versus organic spend, and the earning methods that delivered the most value. We talk about why this was an unusually busy year for new card acquisitions, what happened when an entire points program collapsed overnight, and what’s on our radar for 2026.
Whether you’re mapping out your own points strategy or just curious how two points enthusiasts approach earning at scale, this conversation offers real numbers, honest reflections, and the lessons we’re taking into the new year.
Turn your expenses into points and save tens of thousands of dollars a year on your wishlist travel. Don’t miss out! Click here to know more about my comprehensive online program, Points Made Easy.
What You’ll Learn from this Episode
- Why unexpected Amex no-lifetime-language offers completely shifted card acquisition strategy in 2025
- How welcome bonuses versus organic spend broke down this year compared to prior years
- The strategic decision between pursuing airline status versus maximizing transferable points
- What the Mesa collapse revealed about diversification and managing risk in this hobby
- How tracking points per dollar spent helps optimize value regardless of spending volume
- What’s driving the shift toward Bilt and other new points ecosystems in 2026
Featured On the Show
- Follow me on Instagram
- Get on the waitlist for the Points Made Easy Course here!
- Get My Cash-Back Credit Card Cheat Sheet!
- If you have any questions or you want me to dive deeper into a specific topic, email me here: podcast@pointmetofirstclass.com
- Ep. 97 – 2024 Year in Review: Points Earning Rundown with Dr. Sujatha Murali (Part 1)
- Ep. 98 – 2024 Year in Review: Points Earning Rundown with Dr. Sujatha Murali (Part 2)
- Ep. 45 – 2023 Points Spending Review with the Points and Miles Doc (Part 1)
- Ep. 46 – 2023 Points Spending Review with the Points and Miles Doc (Part 2)
Click here to download full episode transcript
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Point Me to First Class is the show for professionals and business owners with higher-than-average personal or business expenses, who want to learn to leverage these expenses into credit card points they can spend on travel.
Each week, I share valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points, so you can expand your travel and expand your experiences.
