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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

Today is special because I’ll be sharing the tips and tricks I’ve learned from you. The Points for Normal People community is full of great information and on occasion some of you have reached out to me with resources or information that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m so thankful to each of you who reached out to me and excited to share that information today. 

One CORRECTION: You don’t earn 4 points per dollar with every Southwest card – just with the higher $199 annual fee business card. You earn 3 points per dollar with the other Southwest business card. 

Season three is coming soon and I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any specific topics you’d like to see me cover? Send me an email at [email protected]. 

ACTION STEPS

• If you have a Southwest credit card, use this trick to check Southwest credits:  https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-upgraded-boarding/ 
• If you want to try the Southwest schedule change trick, try it with round trip flights for an even better chance at being able to change to a better flight. 
• If you are working toward a Southwest Companion Pass and you need a few extra points, transfer points from your Southwest account to another person – pay the fee with your business card to earn up to $500 in reimbursement – and you’ll earn 2,000 extra points. 
• Verizon customers: To keep your autopay discount, but pay your bill with a credit card that offers cell phone protections, keep your autopay setup, but pay your bill in the store at a kiosk before the due date. 
• Don’t forget to sign up for my free newsletter! Sign up for this beginner’s guide and we’ll also send you our Saturday morning newsletter: https://katiestraveltricks.com/travel-points-101-quick-start-guide/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Best Credit Card for Lounge Access (by Airport): https://katiestraveltricks.com/best-credit-card-for-lounge-access-by-airport/
• Sign up for my free course: learn.katiestraveltricks.com. 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

Today in part two about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, I’ll be showing you a lot of unique ways to use your Venture miles. We’ll cover ways for the average person to get the most out of their miles, and I’ll also show you some tricks for how to boost your earnings of Venture miles. 

We cover a lot in this episode, but don’t worry, you don’t have to remember everything! We have a lot of resources below to help you as you navigate the ways to use your miles that bring the most value to you. 

ACTION STEPS

• Sign up for my newsletter so that you don’t miss out on the best offers and latest resources: https://katiestraveltricks.com/travel-points-101-quick-start-guide/ 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Venture X Card Guide: https://katiestraveltricks.com/venturex/ 
• Travel Points 201 - All About Transfer Partners: https://katiestraveltricks.com/travel-points-201-all-about-transfer-partners/ 
• Best U.S. Choice Privileges Hotels for Families: 1+ Bedroom Suites [Map]: https://katiestraveltricks.com/choiceprivileges/ 
• Best Hotels for Families of 4 in Europe to Book with Points [Map]: https://katiestraveltricks.com/map-best-hotels-for-families-of-4-in-europe/ 
• Preferred Hotels with Choice Points [Map]: https://katiestraveltricks.com/preferred-hotels-with-choice-points-map/ 
• Sweet Spot: Round trip to Europe for 25,000 points (or less!) + $227: https://katiestraveltricks.com/flyingbluesweetspot/ 
• Booking Virgin Voyages on Points: https://katiestraveltricks.com/booking-virgin-voyages-on-points/ 
• Strategy for the 5/24 Rule: https://studio.youtube.com/video/50I7wU0lQqQ/edit 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

This episode is part one of a deep dive into the perks and benefits of the Venture X credit card from Capital One. There are a lot of reasons this is one of my top two credit cards! Today I’ll show you why I love this card and help you identify if it is a good card for you. If you already have this card, I’ll give you resources for how to get the most value out of it.  

Next week I’ll be back with part two about the Venture X card, so be sure to subscribe. I’m excited to introduce you to all the ways you can use this card to save, upgrade your experience, and give you protections for free!

ACTION STEPS

• If you have a Venture X, download my Venture X checklist here: https://katiestraveltricks.com/credit-card-checklists-landing-page/
• If you have a Venture X, be sure you are signed up for Priority Pass and Hertz Presidents Circle.
• Everyone: Make a plan for which card you’re going to use for shopping benefits. 
• If you have a Venture X, watch this video about how to get on the waiting list for Capital One lounges: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6WInTJOBBA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Hertz Presidents Circle: https://katiestraveltricks.com/hertz_presidents_circle/

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

Have you ever been to an airport lounge? After my first experience, I was hooked! And the best part is, it was a benefit of my credit card! Over the years, I’ve been to a lot of different lounges, learned about the different programs and their restrictions, and have opened various cards with different lounge benefits. Today, I’ll be giving you all of the best information you need to know, to make sure that you get the best credit card lounge experience for you!

If you’ve never been to an airport lounge before, they can offer a variety of experiences, many with free food and drinks, wifi access, and so much more. Whether you’re traveling with a family or traveling solo, stick around for all the details!

ACTION STEPS:

• Figure out which card matches your travel style and patterns. Use our latest blog post to view our card recommendations by airport: https://katiestraveltricks.com/best-credit-card-for-lounge-access-by-airport/ 
• Visit prioritypass.com to see if they have lounges in airports you frequent. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Guide to airport lounge access for families: https://katiestraveltricks.com/guide-to-airport-lounge-access-for-families/ 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about how to skip airport lines. We’ll cover security, immigration, food, and rental car lines. You may be surprised how many easy ways there are to save time!

So, if you're tired of waiting in long lines at the airport, tune in to this episode. I’ve also put together a lot of resources below to help you make the most of your airport experience.

ACTION STEPS:

• Check to see if any of your credit cards have a Trusted Traveler credit that you haven’t used. Best card options for this credit: https://katiestraveltricks.com/tsaprecheck/ 
• Bookmark the Reserve by Clear page and check to see if they have any destinations that you might be traveling to: https://www.clearme.com/reserve
• If you will be traveling soon, set up an alert for seven days prior to departure to book your Reserve by Clear appointment for the security line.
• If you have Global Entry and have kids, open accounts for them and get the process started of getting them approved, now that it’s free for them: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry 
• Download the Mobile Passport Control App so that you have another option to skip lines when you arrive back in the US: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control 
• If you have any upcoming car rentals, be sure that you have downloaded their app, joined their loyalty program, have added your driver's license and credit card, and have connected your loyalty number to your reservation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• TSA Cares: https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares
• Trusted Traveler Programs: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

Today I’ll be covering tips that I believe every Southwest Airlines traveler should know. These will save you time, money, and make sure that you’re using all of the credit card benefits available to you. 

If you are new to this podcast and love Southwest Airlines like I do, be sure to check out the first three episodes of season two, for more Southwest tips and tricks!

ACTION STEPS:

• Review the benefits you have on your Southwest cards. Specifically double check to see if you have EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding and begin to plan for how you might use them. Here is a guide to review each card: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-card-guide/ 
• If you are new to this podcast, start with Season One for the very best foundation for your credit card points.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• How to change your Southwest flight: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-airlines-change-flight/ 
• How does Southwest boarding work: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-boarding/ 
• Southwest EarlyBird Check-In Guide: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-earlybird-checkin/
• A Guide to Southwest LUV Vouchers: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-luv-vouchers/ 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

In this episode, I’ll be going over all of my favorite ways to save money when booking flights with Southwest Airlines. I’ll give you background information on the Southwest booking process, explain what makes their ticketing different from other airlines, and give you step-by-step tips and tricks to save you lots of time and money. 

My family has been flying Southwest regularly for over a decade and we love it! Be sure to check out all my other resources for making the most out of flying with Southwest.

ACTION STEPS:

• Establish a system to check and recheck for price changes. 
• Keep a record (I suggest a note in your phone) of what you pay in points, the flight times, and the cash price the day you booked. 
• If you’re new to a Southwest Companion Pass, here is a video with booking tips: https://youtu.be/cbfIf87ktcg 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• How to change your Southwest flight: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-airlines-change-flight/ 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

In this episode, I’ll be sharing about the most requested topic for this podcast; when to close your credit cards for maximum value. I’ll break down the various reasons that you may want to cancel a card and then give you a list of questions to ask yourself, to make sure that you get the most out of your card before you cancel. 

If you find yourself new to credit cards and points, I’m here to help you with all the details, keeping it as simple as possible, and making sure that you get the most out of your credit cards for what you value!

ACTION STEPS:

• Begin the process of evaluating your cards, by asking the first question: Do the benefits outweigh the annual fee?
• After you have answered the question above, for any card you are considering canceling, you can ask the following questions: 
  • Will I lose my points if I close this card?
  • Can I combine these points with another card before I cancel?
  • Will I lose the ability to transfer my points to travel partners if I close my card?
  • If yes, am I okay with that?
  • Do I want to transfer points before closing?
  • Are there any benefits I can get one more time?
  • Should I keep this card so I can refer other people to it?
  • How will closing this card affect my relationship with this bank?
  • Do I have at least one card left with this bank?
  • How will closing this card affect my credit score, specifically credit utilization?
  • When can I apply for this card again? 
• Get the free download of the above list of questions here: https://katiestraveltricks.ck.page/12questions
• If you want specifics on certain banks or cards, sign up for our newsletter here and get the free guide: https://katiestraveltricks.com/travel-points-101-quick-start-guide/
• Get the free course, which includes the Southwest Companion Pass Bootcamp module:  learn.katiestraveltricks.com 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

I’m so excited to be here with you again for season two, where I’ll teach you everything you need to know about the Southwest Companion Pass. My family has earned these for years and this is one of the best ways I can help you to save money on travel. 

In this episode, I’ll go over three methods for earning the Companion Pass so that you can find what’s best for you, no matter your situation. This works for families, for couples, and for individuals who want to bring a companion too! Thank you so much for being here!

ACTION STEPS:

• Confirm your eligibility for both the Southwest business and personal cards: https://bit.ly/swflowchart-ktt
• Choose one of the three methods to follow: Traditional two card method / single player mode / two pass/three card method. Sign up for my free course here, and review the lesson for the method you’ve picked: learn.katiestraveltricks.com 
• Check current offers: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-companion-pass-fall-2024-timelines/ 

MORE RESOURCES:

• How to change your Southwest flight: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-airlines-change-flight/
• 11 Reasons We LUV Southwest Airlines for Families: https://katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-airlines-for-families/

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

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Welcome to Points for Normal People!

In this episode, I’ll be wrapping up season one by sharing five stories from individuals who have made the most of points and miles in ways that they value. You won’t believe some of the savings, and more importantly, the experiences they’ve been able to plan for their families.  

I’m thrilled that you’ve been here for season one and look forward to sharing more with you as we dive into season two, soon! I’ll be sharing about the Southwest Companion pass, which has been a game changer for our family. If you have an inspiring points story to share, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime on Instagram or send me an email at [email protected]. 

ACTION STEPS:

• Sign up for my Points 101 Guide: https://katiestraveltricks.com/travel-points-101-quick-start-guide/
• Sign up for my free course: learn.katiestraveltricks.com 
• I would really appreciate it if you would take a minute to review the podcast.
• If you have topics you would like to see covered in future episodes, email me at [email protected]. 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

🔗 Website

Instagram

💻 Free Course

💳 Best Current Card Offers

🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...