April 13, 2026
Credit Card Points Questions Answered: Strategy Shifts and Travel Planning Tips
Episode Description
Have you ever wondered if the advice you’re following about credit cards and points is still relevant—or if the landscape has shifted enough that the old “rules” no longer apply?
In this listener Q&A episode, I’m answering your questions on everything from Rakuten rewards strategy and Chase credit card approvals to hotel booking during peak travel times and whether hotel status is worth the spend. But the biggest topic I tackle is one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: how my fundamental advice about earning and using points has evolved over the past decade.
Listen in as I walk through why I no longer recommend Chase as the automatic starting point for everyone, why co-branded credit cards are becoming more strategically important than they used to be, and why the barrier to entry in this hobby may be lower than ever—but the bar for getting real value is actually higher. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in this space for years, this episode offers both tactical answers and a bigger-picture look at how to think about points strategy in the current landscape.
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
- How to decide between earning Rakuten rewards as Bilt points versus Amex points
- Why Chase credit cards are no longer the automatic first choice for most people
- The growing strategic importance of co-branded airline and hotel credit cards
- How to evaluate whether hotel status is worth diverting spend to a co-branded card
- When to book award flights as one-ways versus roundtrips
- How to approach hotel bookings during peak travel times
Featured On the Show
- 2027 Point Me to First Class Conference: Details coming soon – stay tuned to the podcast and email list!
- Episode 61: Earn Points for Paying Your Rent and More: Everything Bilt with Dr. Suzanne Manzi
- Episode 89: The Ultimate Guide to American Express Points with Kamree Price
- Episode 28: Chase Freedom Flex Vs Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Will Earn You More Points?
- Check out Max My Point – an award alert tool for hotel stays here
- 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
Click here to download the 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.
