Miles & Points in 2026 with Jason Steele

Justin Vacula hosts the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast with special guest Jason Steele, founder of CardCon and the Financial Affiliate Marketing Forum (FMAF), for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of miles and points in 2026.

In this episode, Jason shares how he first got started with award travel, how he handles credit card annual fees, and why many travelers still get tremendous value from points and miles despite ongoing devaluations.

Justin and Jason also discuss how to answer credit card skeptics, the importance of responsible credit card use, and why paying balances in full is essential for long-term success.

They also dive into high-value redemption strategies, including Hyatt Globalist benefits, Wyndham sweet spots during major events, and how redemption choices can dramatically change the value of your points.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:45 Meet Jason Steele

01:26 Jason’s miles and points origin story

03:10 How to answer skeptics of points and miles

05:20 Real travel wins and success stories

06:10 Managing annual fees, retention offers, and downgrades

08:44 Dream trips and a month in rural Italy

10:20 Can you travel too much?

12:20 Credit cards, responsible use, and paying in full

13:47 Getting maximum value from points and miles

15:46 What is Card Con?

17:33 FMAF and Toronto plans

17:52 Clarifying the industry event audience

18:19 Show announcements

20:27 Why Jason is still optimistic despite devaluations

23:23 Wyndham sweet spots and outsized redemption value

25:17 New cards and emerging trends

29:25 Bilt Palladium reality check

31:53 Upcoming travel plans

33:12 Jason’s book and consulting work

35:21 Where to find Jason Steele

36:21 Final thanks and sign-off

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