Stack Your Points

In this episode of 'Stack Your Points,' the hosts conduct a year-end review of 2025, discussing standout credit card issuers, notable cards, and major events in the credit card industry. The episode highlights US Bank’s failures, Citi’s partnership with American Airlines, and Chase’s missteps with the Sapphire Reserve refresh. The hosts debate future potential refreshes for cards like the American...

In this episode of Stack Your Points, the hosts delve into various aspects of the credit card and travel rewards space. The show kicks off with a discussion about the sudden collapse of the Mesa credit card program and its implications for cardholders. Lonnie shares his favorite Disney properties, emphasizing the unique charm of Aulani in Hawaii. The hosts also tackle listener questions, including...

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter 01:13 Viewer Questions: Optimal Ways of Earning Points 05:21 Strategies for Maximizing Points 11:56 Mesa's Potential Airline Partners 18:37 Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card Discussion 26:35 Future Credit Card Plans and Strategies 37:25 Evaluating the Value of Credit Card Points 42:14 Versatility of Membership Reward Points 43:09 Devaluation and Inflation in...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Greetings 00:01:59 - Is Die hard a Christmas Movie? 00:10:34 - Fine Dining: Overrated or Worth It? 00:26:15 - PayPal and Points Strategies 00:33:01 - Ideal YouTube Video Runtime 00:51:25 - Chase Ultimate Rewards: Changes and Strategies 01:15:12 - News 01:19:03 - The Apple Card: Challenges and Changes 01:52:44 - Planning and Timing for Holiday Shopping 02:07:49 - Luxury...

In this episode of Stack Your Points, Matt and co-hosts RJ, Craig, and Lani discuss their travel strategies, credit card keep or cancel plans for 2026, and what they're not looking forward to in the credit card YouTube space. They also express gratitude for the community and highlight quick paths to achieving status in travel programs. Additionally, the team covers recent developments in the credi...

00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:46 First Question: Gardening and Credit Cards 20:04 Next Question: Guest Creators 27:05 Chase's 5/24 Rule and Future Predictions 39:21 Ultimate Premium Travel Cards 01:02:54 Hilton's New Diamond Reserve Status 01:08:47 The Sonder Bankruptcy 01:14:13 Insane Welcome Offers: Sustainable or Not? 01:52:58 Favorite Travel Snacks 01:59:34 Final Thoughts and Membership H...

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter 03:40 Viewer Questions: Niche Spending Categories 12:54 Discussion on Female Creators in the Credit Card Space 29:09 Hypothetical Chase One World Card Features 39:54 Hypothetical Credit Card Discussion 41:37 Chase and Airline Alliances 47:13 Credit Card Setups and Strategies 58:45 Rakuten and Competing Portals 01:10:27 Bilt Cards 2.0 and Marriott's Sonder Issue...

00:00:00 - Introduction 00:04:30 - Ranking Premium Card Credits 00:30:05 - Middle Ground in Credit Card Usage 00:44:39 - The Role of Referral Links in the Creator Ecosystem 01:12:14 - Personal Travel Horror Stories 01:24:57 - Tight Layovers and Airport Adventures 01:34:37 - News Roundup: Quick Updates 01:42:33 - Hotel vs. Airline Free Agency 02:00:05 - Scam Protection on Credit Cards 02:13:47 - Si...

00:00:00 - Welcome 00:05:15 - Credit Card Spend Requirements 00:27:38 - Speculation on Future Credit Card Nerfs 00:44:42 - Fun with Song Requests 00:48:42 - What We Do on Flights 01:00:15 - Business Card Siblings 01:08:10 - News 01:14:01 - Travel Mistakes and Lessons Learned 01:44:16 - The Psychology of Credit Card Preferences 01:59:25 - Open Source Approach to Credit Card Development 02:18:33 - P...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Greetings 00:01:24 - Needed Co-Branded Business Cards 00:07:21 - Estate Planning for Points and Miles 00:21:11 - Favorite Airlines for International Travel 00:35:08 - Travel Companions: Who Would You Choose? 00:49:37 - Hotel Loyalty Programs and Status 01:06:55 - Citi’s New Credit Card and Avoiding Lawsuits 01:26:28 - Financial Wellness and Credit Card Strategies 01:47:...

00:00 Introduction and Greetings 02:47 Viewer Questions: Custom Credit Card Designs 07:24 Viewer Questions: Changing Perspectives on Credit Card Portals 14:15 Viewer Questions: Best Non-Premium Credit Cards 20:02 Viewer Questions: Top Credit Cards Under $1500 33:34 Viewer Questions: Deciding to Keep or Refresh Credit Cards 35:59 Evaluating Credit Card Points and Benefits 37:26 Changes in Credit Ca...

00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:24 - The State of the Creator Community 00:32:20 - Ecosystem for Long Term Travel 00:45:56 - Hotel Preferences and Avoidances 01:01:34 - Favorite Redemption Stories 01:09:38 - Controversial Food Takes 01:22:54 - Rakuten and Built Partnership Leak 01:35:48 - One Card Lifestyle Debate 01:51:00 - Importance of Status in Travel 02:11:48 - Non-Travel Loyalty Programs 02:31...

00:00:00 - Introduction 00:05:28 - The $5 Million Grail Question 00:15:26 - Choosing Credit Cards for International Travel 00:28:42 - Are Credit Cards Addictive? 00:56:22 - Choosing the Right Airline for You 01:18:49 - YouTube Content Preferences 01:35:39 - Balancing Wants and Needs in Credit Cards 01:57:47 - Positivity in the Credit Card World 02:25:31 - Subscription Models for Credit Card Benefi...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Greetings 00:01:35 - Credit Card Changes for Travelers 00:20:21 - The New Amex Platinum Card 00:55:15 - The CSR vs. Amex Platinum 01:16:00 - A CSR Fix? Maybe? 01:25:13 - Measuring a Card Refresh 01:44:30 - Positive Refresh Criteria 02:04:20 - Card Refresh Strategies 02:14:04 - Keep, Cancel, Acquire | CSR and Platinum 02:29:00 - Final Thoughts and Membership Highlights  ...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Banter 00:05:56 - Overlooked and Underrated Cards 00:18:54 - Lounge Competition: Too Many Players? 00:31:07 - Powerball Dreams: What Would You Do? 00:52:41 - Loyalty to Airlines: Is It Worth It? 01:20:18 - News 01:32:10 - Evaluating Credit Card News 01:46:03 - Tech Gadgets and Travel 02:06:30 - Favorite Sock Drawer Cards 02:15:56 - Is Loyalty a Two-Way Street? 02:33:24...

00:00:00 - Welcome and Introductions 00:05:07 - Traveling with Credit Cards 00:21:33 - Point Stacking Tips and Tricks 00:33:23 - Traveling with Kids: Expectations and Realities 01:02:22 - Lifetime Status Goals and Challenges 01:16:07 - Etiquette for Points and Miles at Family Dinners 01:31:56 - The News! 01:53:43 - Travel Hacking vs. Frugal Travel 02:10:49 - Credit Card Credits: Flexibility vs. Re...

00:00:00 - Welcome 00:04:32 - Managing Multiple Ecosystems 00:23:08 - Chase Portal Problems 00:46:43 - Wells Fargo Too Easy? 01:08:52 - Expat Wallet Strategies 01:21:26 - Fidelity Card and Transfer Partners 01:25:16 - Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Program 01:31:17 - The Easiest Travel Hack: Asking for Hotel Upgrades 01:48:25 - Travel Etiquette: How to Avoid Being a Jerk 02:09:09 - Wishlist Items f...

00:00 Introduction and Updates 03:06 First Listener Question: Bank Lounges 26:15 Second Listener Question: Personal vs Business Cards 32:08 Favorite Amex Platinum Credit 42:18 Choosing a Catchall Card 49:02 Investing in Travel Luggage 01:12:20 Credit Card Debt and Refreshes 01:24:50 Bank Terms and Customer Expectations 01:37:09 Shoutouts and Membership Information

00:00 Introduction and Greetings 01:26 First Viewer Question: One-Time Points Scenario 10:07 Credit Card Marketing: Best and Worst Stories 26:15 Scenario: Only Two Credit Cards Allowed 40:43 Understanding Marketing in the Credit Card Community 42:10 American Express and Capital One Authorized User Fees 44:10 The True Cost of Free Travel 46:46 Rejecting the $75,000 Spend Requirement 50:30 Designing...

00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:44 - Hard Inquiries and Credit Cards 00:07:21 - Bank of America Preferred Rewards 00:17:43 - Credit Card Fees and Benefits in 2025 00:36:23 - Refreshes = Nerfings? 00:50:42 - Building a Travel Strategy with Credit Cards 01:08:24 - The Impact of Citi and AA Partnership 01:30:03 - Unexpected Ways to Use Points and Miles 01:41:11 - Credit Card Market Trends 01:53:17 - Ov...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Hosts’ Greetings 00:02:06 - Citi Strata Elite vs. Venture X 00:09:43 - Credit Card Design 00:23:15 - Annual Fee Tipping Point 00:39:11 - Best Card Refreshes 00:49:14 - Best Barbecue 00:55:41 - News Roundup: Citi’s New Card Launches 01:05:56 - Discussion on Card Refreshes 01:17:21 - What Makes a Good Product Launch? 01:37:17 - Citi’s Position in the Credit Card Market 01...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Hosts’ Updates 00:02:43 - Mid-Season All Stars 00:16:30 - Discussion on Bilt and Cardless Partnership 00:34:31 - Risks of Business Cards 00:44:40 - Greatest Hotel Redemptions 00:49:00 - Loyalty Program Perks Wishlist 00:54:05 - Citi Strata Elite Card Launch 01:13:59 - Credit Card Recession and Future Speculations 01:36:44 - Balancing Travel Opportunities and Costs 01:51...

00:00:00 - Introduction and Greetings 00:01:22 - Strategies for Maximizing Debit Card Rewards 00:07:07 - 2025 Roadmap: Credit Card Plans and Updates 00:17:40 - Popup Jail and Family Language in Credit Cards 00:29:55 - Top Tier Hotel Status vs. High Annual Fee Cards 00:46:14 - Discussing Potential YouTube Channels 00:55:33 - Bilt Card and Wells Fargo Split 01:34:59 - Co-Brand Card Strategy 01:45:23...

00:00:00 - Welcome Back to Stack Your Points 00:01:22 - Celebrating 500 Subscribers 00:05:24 - Hobbies Outside of Credit Cards 00:12:27 - Buying Perks Outright vs. Premium Credit Cards 00:29:50 - Using Your Cards as Intended 00:46:58 - Cardless: A Deep Dive 00:56:19 - Marriott and Amex: A Potential Future 01:09:06 - Adapting Credit Card Strategies to Lifestyle Changes 01:33:08 - Choosing Your Firs...

Join us as we tackle some Freedom Flex news and then a big ol mailbag.