Credit Card BS Podcast

Amex recently sent out a survey of potential changes to the Hilton Business credit card. We walk through the confusing matrices of strange fee and benefit combinations and make our predictions. We also share our thoughts on what changes would and would not make the card worth getting.

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As airport lounges have become overcrowded, they have started putting guests on waitlists. But what if there was a way to enter the waitlist before even getting to the lounge so you don't need to go and return? We break down how the waitlist system works at each of the major credit card airport lounges, Amex, Capital One, and Chase, and how you can take advantage of it.

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Exactly as transpacific premium award space dries up, the programs that unlock it (Cathay Asia Miles, Aeroplan) are devaluing the precise Asia sweet spots, a double squeeze on the premium-cabin Asia routes we know and love.

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Emirates' May 20, 2026 Skywards devaluation raised most premium awards ~15%, but the new one-way business Saver tier is a win, especially on fifth-freedom routes nobody talks about.

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Chase has just announced that points transfers to World of Hyatt will be devalued to a 4:3 ratio on the Sapphire Preferred. We break down what you need to do about it now, and analyze why this is such a shocking change and what it means for the future of the Chase ecosystem.

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American is cracking down on points brokers by limiting its close-in award space to partners, but it quietly kills one of the best AAdvantage hacks for regular people.

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One common way to allow family members to access airport lounges and other premium credit card benefits is to add them as an authorized user. But this usually comes with a fee, and as we argue, is not the optimal strategy. We discuss what you should do instead.

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Chase points were considered so valuable by many people because of its hotel transfer partner Hyatt. Now that Hyatt has significantly devalued its award chart, how should we reassess the value and best use cases for Chase points?

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Hyatt is devaluing its award chart next week. We discuss the properties you should prioritize locking in at the current pricing before the changes take effect.

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(Using our links greatly helps support the podcast!)
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American Express has launched a new confusing card: the Amex Graphite Card. What's the point of this card, and why might someone want to pay its $295 annual fee? We discuss the narrow circumstances under which it might make sense and go off a tangent about the highly circumstantial value of Amex points.

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