Point Me To First Class

Travel is never just about the destination — it's about what the journey makes possible.

In today's episode, we explore how learning to earn and use credit card points isn't just a smart financial decision. It's a pathway to freedom, abundance, and experiences that reflect the life you actually want to live. From upgraded flights to dream hotels, points can turn everyday expenses into extraordinary opportunities.

No one embodies that transformation quite like Dielle Charon. A former social worker turned seven-figure business coach for women of color entrepreneurs, Dielle has used points not only to change the way she travels, but to expand what she believes she deserves.

In this conversation, we explore Dielle's shift from a scarcity mindset around money and travel to one grounded in abundance. We talk about the emotional impact of flying business class for the first time, how points became a tool for self-care, celebration, and access, and why choosing ease and luxury can be deeply supportive — not frivolous.

Whether you run a business or simply want to travel with more intention and possibility, this episode offers a powerful look at what becomes available when you allow points to elevate more than just your travel plans.

This conversation is rich with honesty, strategy, and inspiration — and it's about so much more than travel. It's about possibility, mindset, and unapologetically claiming ease, luxury, and joy.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/points-abundance-mindset/

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

This episode is all about your questions—and real answers. I'm back with another listener Q&A, tackling the points and miles decisions you're actually making right now.

From whether it's possible to move points between airline partners to deciding if that old United card still deserves a spot in your wallet, we're covering it all.

We'll walk through when to hold or cancel airline cards, how to decide between co-branded and transferable points programs based on your travel goals, and how to decide which airline booking program is best when you have multiple options to book award flights.. You'll also hear my take on shopping portals, welcome bonuses, and the Mesa card.

This episode is packed with strategy, frameworks, and real-world examples to help you make confident decisions and earn more value from every point.

Turn your everyday expenses into travel—and learn how to build a points strategy that actually works for you.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/maximize-points-and-miles-travel-strategy/

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here

Ever look at Google Flights and wonder, "Should I use points for this or just pay cash?"

If you've ever felt unsure about which option gives you the best value, this episode is for you.

In the final episode of our Streamline, Stack, and Save mini-series, I'm joined by Julian Kheel, former editorial director at The Points Guy and senior editor at CNN, now founder of Points Path — a browser extension that works seamlessly within your browser when you're searching flights to show you whether points or cash is the better deal.

Points Path takes the guesswork out of booking. It helps you instantly compare cash fares and award redemptions on Google Flights, showing you where the real value lies so you can make the best booking decision every time.

We talk trends in the award travel landscape, how Points Path focuses on simplicity to take the guesswork out of choosing flights, and why this tool deserves a place in your browser. Whether you're a casual traveler or a seasoned award booker, you'll also hear how its alert feature can track award prices and let you know when they drop — so you don't have to keep checking.

Julian shares how Points Path was designed to focus on simplicity, taking the guesswork out of choosing flights so you always know the best option. With more than 10 years of experience working with some of the most trusted names in the award travel space, Julian brings both insight and innovation to how we think about booking smarter.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/plan-award-flights-faster-with-points-path/

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey here and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Do you ever find yourself opening multiple tabs, comparing shopping portal payouts, and trying to figure out which site is going to give you the most rewards for your online shopping — only to give up before you actually earn the points?

If that sounds familiar, today's episode is for you.

In this Streamline, Stack, and Save mini-series episode, I'm joined by Avneesh Kohli, founder of Savewise, a powerful tool that shows you exactly how to combine the best shopping portal payouts with card-linked offers — so you can maximize every online purchase without the hassle of manual tracking or endless research.

Savewise is a total game changer for award travelers who want to earn more points without wasting time. The platform automatically finds the best portal and card-linked combinations for each purchase, helping you get the highest payout possible — every time you shop online.

In this conversation, Avneesh and I talk about how Savewise works, why it's become one of my favorite online tools, and how it helps you earn more points with less effort. We also dive into how it fits into a broader points-earning strategy, why automation is key to long-term success, and how you can start using it right now — just in time for holiday shopping.

Whether you're new to the points world or a seasoned award traveler, this episode will help you make every purchase count.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/track-and-save-money-with-savewise/

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here.

Have you ever opened a new credit card for the welcome bonus, only to forget how much you've spent or when the deadline hits? Or maybe you're juggling multiple cards and can't remember which one to use next.

In this next episode of our Streamline, Stack, and Save mini-series, I'm joined by Zac Hood, founder of Travel Freely, an app that helps you track your credit cards, sign-up bonuses, and annual fees — so you can stay organized, hit your goals, and never miss a reward.

Zac built Travel Freely after realizing how easy it was to lose track of credit card bonuses, fees, and timelines. What started as a simple spreadsheet turned into a tool that helps thousands of travelers manage their rewards efficiently.

In this conversation, Zac and I talk about how Travel Freely works, why it's free to use, and how it helps users stay on top of their credit card portfolio. We also discuss how to plan future card openings strategically, how to track spending toward welcome offers, and how the app helps travelers simplify their credit card portfolio — especially when juggling multiple issuers and family accounts.

You'll also hear Zac's story of building the platform from scratch and the lessons he's learned about balancing automation, accuracy, and user trust in the points and miles world.

Get full show notes and transcript here

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey here and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Do you ever forget which credit card to use for a purchase — or worry you're missing out on bonus points and statement credits? It's easy to lose track when every card has different categories, offers, and perks.

This episode is part of our Streamline, Stack, and Save mini-series, where we're exploring tools and strategies that simplify how you earn and redeem your points and miles.

I'm joined by Emmanuel Crouvisier, creator of CardPointers, an app that helps you track your cards, bonus categories, and offers so you never miss a chance to earn or save.

Emmanuel built CardPointers in 2019 to help people get more value from their credit cards without the spreadsheets, post-it notes, or constant mental math. The app automatically identifies which card to use for every purchase, keeps track of Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One offers, and helps you make sure your credits don't expire before you can use them.

We talk about what inspired Emmanuel to create the app, the features that make it powerful — like Autopilot, offer alerts, and Apple integration — and how privacy and security are built in at every step. Emmanuel also shares how CardPointers users save an average of $750 a year and why automation can improve both your points strategy and your relationships by eliminating financial friction.

Whether you manage one card or twenty, this conversation will help you simplify your wallet, maximize your rewards, and make the points game easier to play.

Get full show notes and transcript here.

Want to shape the show? Click here to take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here

Do you think you have to wait until your sixties before you can retire? Maybe not. At least not the way we've been taught.

In this episode, I'm joined by Jillian Johnsrud — author, podcast host, and coach — who challenges the idea of a traditional retirement in favor of taking mini retirements throughout your life and career.

Jillian never expected to retire early, so she hatched a plan to retire often. Inspired by the idea of sabbatical years, she began sprinkling mini retirements throughout her life — and by 40 had taken more than a dozen of them.

In our conversation, Jillian explains how mini retirements can help you recover from burnout, pursue long-term travel, test major life assumptions, and strengthen relationships. We talk about what makes a mini retirement different from vacation, how to talk to your employer about taking extended time off, and how to financially prepare.

You'll also hear Jillian's personal stories, including therapy, tango, and national park adventures with her kids — and why mini retirements are one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/mini-retirement-guide/

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAPfb3wIaphMn_NoQzm_fljydsivTELQwh7pYoxrI2uTFoKQ/viewform?usp=header

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Back in June, Chase refreshed its personal Sapphire Reserve card and introduced the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card, complete with highest ever annual fees for rewards cards. Not to be outdone, American Express quickly followed with its own updates to the personal and business Platinum Cards. Now that the details are here, it's time to look at what's changed and what it means for cardholders.

In this episode, I'm joined by Kelly, the Points and Miles Doc to walk through the Amex Platinum cards refresh. We cover the higher annual fees, the new credits, and why the personal Platinum still struggles with bonus categories. You'll also hear our reactions to the removal of the 35% rebate on the business Platinum, the addition of a $600 hotel credit, and the new 2X earning on large purchases over $5,000.

We share our thoughts on whether the $895 annual fee on the personal Platinum makes sense, how the new benefits are user-dependent, and why the business Platinum refresh feels more useful for high spenders.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/amex-platinum-refresh-2025/

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAPfb3wIaphMn_NoQzm_fljydsivTELQwh7pYoxrI2uTFoKQ/viewform?usp=header

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

If you've been in the points game for years, you've probably noticed how much has changed recently. And if you're newer, you might be wondering if you're already too late.

In this episode, I share why I don't believe we're in the "golden age" of award travel right now — but also why points are still incredibly valuable if you know how to adapt. Over the last couple of years, the rules around earning and redeeming points have shifted faster than ever. Credit card issuers are tightening welcome bonus and referral opportunities, airlines are reserving more award space for their own loyalty members, and transfer ratios are changing in ways that don't always benefit us.

But this doesn't mean points are dead. It just means the strategies that worked five or ten years ago won't cut it anymore. I'll walk you through the biggest changes in points earning and redeeming, and the four core skills you'll need to thrive in this new era of award travel.

Whether you've been collecting for a decade or you're just getting started, this episode will help you see clearly where the points landscape is headed and how you can still unlock incredible value.

Turn your expenses into points and save tens of thousands of dollars a year on your wishlist travel. Don't miss out! Click here http://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy to know more about my comprehensive online program, Points Made Easy. Enrollment opens on September 20, 2025 to September 27, 2025.

Whether you’re brand new to points, sitting on years of unused balances, or simply overwhelmed by redemption options—this bonus episode proves that travel transformations are possible for anyone.

In this special compilation, you’ll hear from three Points Made Easy students who each started at very different points in their journey but all ended up unlocking unforgettable travel through points:

✔️ Going from never having used a single points card → to booking five business class seats ✔️ Holding points for 10 years without redeeming → to flying an international family trip in business class ✔️ Feeling intimidated by the points world → to planning first class flights and luxury hotel stays

These stories highlight what’s possible when you finally learn how to earn, redeem, and maximize points strategically.

Turn your expenses into points and save tens of thousands of dollars a year on your wishlist travel. Points Made Easy, my comprehensive online program, is enrolling from September 20th - 27th 2025. Don’t miss out, enroll today - https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy