Stack Your Points

Matt and RJ are back for a two-host episode of Stack Your Points, with Lani out this week. This episode is all about predictions, Amex and Resy, the New Zealand Amex Platinum, Chase Freedom Flex product change weirdness, what to do if you cannot travel for a year or two, and whether boutique and independent hotel stays deserve more attention in the points world.   0:02 Introduction Matt and RJ kic...

In this episode, Matt, Lani, and RJ dig into cashback vs. points, Wyndham’s latest moves, Bilt’s chaotic support reputation, the future of premium-card branding, reverse redemption travel planning, and whether “effective annual fee” thinking misses the bigger picture. 0:00 — Welcome & Introductions Matt, Lani, and RJ kick off the episode and set up a packed viewer-question slate. 4:26 — Q1: Ca...

In this episode, Matt, Lani, and RJ talk through credit card setups that changed purpose over time, whether Chase consumer cards deserve the hate, what tech actually earns a spot in the travel bag, and how they would manage credit cards during a stretch of unemployment. They also cover banker perspectives on credit reports, expiring semiannual credits, Bilt adding iPrefer as a transfer partner, th...

Welcome back to Stack Your Points. In this episode, Lani, RJ, and Matt dig into viewer questions, loyalty program drama, card devaluations, point-buying temptation, and whether the “perfect” credit card setup is even possible.   We kick things off with a big-picture question: are transfer partners actually at risk, and could banks eventually push everyone into portal-only redemptions? From there,...

In this episode, we answer viewer questions on keeping up with points and miles news, whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred still makes sense as an entry-level travel card, the Senate Banking Committee minority party inquiry into Bilt 2.0 practices, and our early reactions to WWDC and Apple Intelligence. We also dig into three bigger points and miles topics: whether aspirational redemptions are act...

00:00 Cold Open & Introductions Viewer Questions 07:08 Finding Value After Recent Devaluations Keith asks where outsized value still exists within Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards after a year of transfer partner devaluations, award chart changes, and benefit cuts. Are the banks trying to push everyone into using their travel portals? 13:33 When Does It Make Sense to Book Bac...

Viewer Questions With the new membership structure being teased, does this mean that SYP will be introducing transfer partners? - RP2048 If you had $100K extra to spend in a 12 month period starting today that you would get immediately reimbursed for that you had to spend through credit cards, how would you spend it and what would you use the earned points for? - DDAF You can spend at any amount a...

Viewer Questions With all the recent devaluations, is 1.5 CPP redemptions soon to be the new 2 CPP redemption minimum target rate? - Keith What's a piece of credit card or travel advice you give to others but that you generally don't follow yourself? - DDAF What's the worst piece of credit card advice you have gotten? Both from a random person (don't pay off your entire balance to increase your sc...

00:00 Show Kickoff and Introductions 03:33 Perfect Card Setup 12:43 Maxing Travel With Limited PTO 21:59 Chasing Lifetime Status Worth It 29:01 Scott Kirby and United Power Plays 38:13 Points Fees Stay High 43:09 Delta Beverage Cutbacks 48:54 Best Hotel Card Value 55:51 Detoxing Card Groupthink 01:02:05 Shared Partners Devaluations 01:12:53 Member Shoutouts Wrap

Overall how would you rank the current transferable ecosystems at the moment? - DiamondRyce What is your best travel dining memory? Was it a location or a specific meal and what made it special? - JettinwitJan What’s the worst habit you’ve picked up playing the credit card game? - SpaethCo How do you personally define the "credit card community"? - DDAF Have your 2026/27 travel plans changed with...

Viewer Questions What’s one rewards strategy or credit card setup that has consistently delivered the most value for you, and why? - rp2048 What's the overpriced thing you can't resist buying at a Hudson News on every trip? - SpaethCo Discussion from the Discord about the rumor that Southwest is going to ban carryons for their cheapest tickets. - Keith I’ve always thought that the airlines’ baggag...

Viewer Questions Here’s a scenario I’d love your take on: Let’s say you’ve built out a single credit card points ecosystem and you have high spend, so you’re earning a consistent flow of points—but when it comes time to book, your most convenient airline or transfer partner still costs more points than you can realistically keep up with. Pagli_Chic At that point, what’s the smarter move? Do you st...

Viewer Questions What do you theorize will be the impacts of AI on the credit card industry, travel industry and broadly points/miles (accumulation and redemption)? - AP What would need to happen to credit card rewards to make you switch to a primarily cashback strategy? (Not talking about status/benefits, just earning on credit cards for day to day spend) - DDAF I'm planning an extended trip to A...

Viewer Questions Which two transfer systems best compliment each other? - M2K For an equivalent experience, would you ever pay more just because of the stacking opportunities? - JChainz For example, between Uber and Lyft, I’ve found myself choosing Uber a lot lately simply because they’re consistently $10 cheaper (due to flash sales or whatever) when I need to take rides. This is despite having Da...

Viewer Questions What CC/travel support apps/subscriptions do you have and why? (Things like TripIt, Seats. Aero, or Card Pointers etc etc) - DDAF With Hyatt, and Citi's recent nerfs, what is your prediction for the next big devaluation? - Kirby G Do you use shopping portals regularly other than Rakuten?  I’m thinking of the C1 portal, Chase Portal, or airline portals for additional points. - Ron...

• 0:00 - Introduction Matt introduces the show and welcomes RJ and Lani to discuss the week's topics. • 5:06 - Q&A: Pick Your Partners & Devaluations Keith asks whether recent hotel devaluations mean it's time to double down on specific partners. The hosts discuss consolidation strategies and how to navigate changing reward programs. • 26:48 - Q&A: Spain vs Italy Travel M2K asks about...

00:00 Show Introductions 02:31 Our Different Shows 05:20 Booking Flights Timing 17:42 Explaining The Hobby 32:41 Build The Ultimate Card 39:02 Sports Travel Family Setup 51:59 Paranormal Travel Stories 55:43 Bilt Rate Controversy 57:58 Rove Adds SAS Transfers 59:43 When 5 Percent Isn’t Worth It 01:08:05 Should Banks Kill Old Cards 01:15:08 What’s Bringing Travel Joy 01:27:11 Member Shoutouts and W...

0:00 - Introduction & Embargo Discussion 2:12 - Q1: Domestic Family Travel - Driving vs Flying 10:03 - Q2: Starting a Credit Card YouTube Channel 26:53 - Q3: Points/Miles for Flights or Hotels 40:00 - Q4: Choosing One Hotel Brand Forever 70:03 - Topic: Children in Airport Lounges 73:25 - Topic: Free Night Certificates - Are They Overhyped?

Viewer Questions   - Fling, marry, kill - Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton points. - Chris M     - How often do you recommend re-evaluating your setup?  'Normies' do it almost never. But how often should  people in the game do it?  Obviously that has to be balance and you can't chase every new and shiny thing.  Quarterly?  Semi-annually? - RP2048     - If your airport of choice magically became a hub for a...

Viewer Questions   - Considering Matt has a stranglehold on rocket, which guardians characters do the rest of the gang identify as? - Sk8za - How should creators walk the line between speaking in their own experience re: what set ups or strategies work for them vs. inadvertently giving the impression that they are suggesting people should do the same? - DDAF - Several credit cards in the past gain...

## Viewer Questions   - If you had to use a Bilt 2.0 card as your only card for 2026 which card would you choose and how would that impact your point earnings and traveling. - M2K     - What are the SYP goals for 2026? Any sub goals or viewership goals or merch goals etc - Kirby G - What is your "order of operations" when it comes to booking a hotel or flight? For example, do you prioritize expiri...

00:00:00 - Hello and Welcome 00:03:24 - Credit Card Nerd At Work 00:11:08 - Managing Orphan Points 00:21:06 - Improving Capital One Portfolio 00:30:58 - Best Mid-Tier Travel Cards 00:40:35 - Bilt Card Transition 01:03:47 - The Return of the Chase Slate Card 01:04:51 - The Math Behind Credit Card Points 01:19:33 - The Complexity of Credit Card Setups 01:37:13 - The Psychology Behind Credit Minimiza...

Understanding The Latest Trends in Credit Card Rewards   In this episode of Stack Your Points, hosts Matt Clausen, Craig, and CallMeLani dive into several hot topics in the world of credit cards and point stacking.   00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Guests 00:18 Discussing Cold Weather and Travel Experiences 02:52 Credit Card Points and Devaluations 17:21 Built 2.0 and Credit Card Comparisons 39:4...

00:00:00 - Hello and Welcome 00:03:12 - Tourism Challenge 00:11:44 - Hotel Credit Card Strategies 00:25:48 - In-Flight Experiences 00:35:36 - Anticipated Card Refreshes 00:47:49 - Deciding Which Hacks to Share 01:12:08 - What Direction Are Banks Moving? 01:32:40 - Mid-Tier Cards vs. High-End Cards 01:55:18 - Bilt’s Leadership and Trust Issues 02:26:59 - Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

00:00:00 - Start 00:06:14 - Discussion on Points Devaluation 00:24:38 - Future Plans for 2026 00:34:23 - Choosing the Next Credit Card 00:45:39 - Emergency Points Transfer Strategy 00:56:18 - The Value of the Sapphire Reserve Card 01:28:09 - Using Credits and Points Effectively 01:40:38 - Favorite Trips Funded by Points and Miles 02:00:08 - Navigating Corporate Ethics 02:25:12 - Amex Gold Card: Ke...