Today we're diving deep into credit card points, sharing highlights for both seasoned collectors and newcomers alike. Joining us is Mary Graves, who shares her journey into the world of point collection and how it can pave the way for a fulfilling retirement. Discover the strategic moves necessary to accumulate points without depleting your savings, and learn how to leverage them effectively for travel experiences.

You can find full show notes, resources and more at: https://tinyurl.com/3rr3hjsm 

1 - Sign up bonus – Frequent Miler. Greg the Frequent Miler has a blog, a podcast, and a FB Insiders group – all for no cost. And he does a really good job of explaining programs with equal attention to the downsides as the benefits. Frequent Miler posts an updated page of best offers. This is the best place to check for all credit card offers BEFORE signing up – except for the BILT card. BILT is the only credit card that awards transferable points for rent payments. BILT does not have a structured SUB – but usually offers 5X points for all purchases up to 50,000 points for 5 days. This is a significant offer and way to earn lots of BILT points – so plan accordingly. If you’d like to apply for a no AF BILT card – please consider using my referral code: https://bilt.page/r/Z5N7-WTUX - I will receive 2500 BILT points for referring. 

2 – Ongoing points multipliers and promos – check app or website – example BILT earns 3X points for travel (6X on the 1st of each month) but Amex Platinum earns 5X on airfare and offers travel insurance. Citi Premier is a great everyday card because it offers 3X at gas, grocery & travel with a $95 AF. AMEX gold gets 4X at grocery stores and restaurants up to $25,000 spend annually with a $250 AF.

3 – Credits for services such as Global Entry, Nexxus, Clear – most cards that offer the Global Entry credit only allow it’s use once every 5 years – but Clear reimbursement usually is annually. GE is used to re-enter USA faster but it also affords the holder to TSA pre-check on all flights – domestic and international.

4 – Credits for travel and/or miscellaneous items – AMEX plat, Venture X – example Venture X comes with a $300 travel credit (used through the Venture X travel portal – so maybe not worth $300 in the wild) to help offset the $395 AF and Amex personal platinum has a $200 airline credit (I use mine annually to deposit into my United travel bank) and a $200 hotel credit when booking a hotel through the AMEX Fine Hotel & Resort collection (these can range from $100/night to $1600+/night and include free upgrades, breakfast, and a $100 hotel credit) to help offset the $695 AF.

5 – Fast track to elite status – Hilton Diamond via Amex Aspire, etc. – the AMEX Hilton Surpass offers Hilton Diamond Status which gives holder free breakfast & lounge access outside of US and a breakfast credit within US for $150 AF.

6 – Free bag checks, inflight purchase discounts, free companion pass – SW companion pass available when you earn 135,000 SW points in a single calendar year or complete 100 flights. This pass can last up to 2 calendar years depending on when in the year you earn it and allows you to bring one person free (+ $5.60 fee) on any flight you are one (whether paid or award ticket) as long as there is at least one seat (at any price level) left on the plane. Couples that use this pass report their savings as high as $3,000 per year. Annual fees for SW credit cards range from 0 - $199 per year. 

7 – Travel insurance, lost baggage insurance, rental car primary insurance – this has been scaling back over the last few years but the two best cards for this are the AMEX platinum (business or personal) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. 

8 – Lounge access – Amex Centurion, Capital One Lounges, Chase Sapphire Lounges – Priority Pass is available with several cards like Venture X, Amex Plat, US Bank Altitude Reserve & Connect Visas, BOA Premium Rewards Elite Card. The more inclusive Priority Pass Select is available with Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve.

9 – Curated experiences – Bilt, Chase, Citi – Chase will set up a hospitality tent at a music festival or sporting event.

10 – Free night certificates for hotels – Marriott certs can range from 30K – 85K point value and you can “top off” a free night cert w/ up to 15K Marriott points. Hilton free night certs are considered the most valuable in the industry because they can be used for any Hilton property regardless of price or points as long as there is standard room inventory available.

If you’d like to see where my points take me – feel free to follow me on IG @mary3graves or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.graves.923/