Optimize your travel rewards strategy with the latest card and perk updates, smart downgrade-and-reapply moves, and tips for combining and redeeming points for maximum value.

Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle answer listener questions to help you travel smarter. But first, they share a ton of recent credit card news, including Citi launching a premium travel card with American Airlines transfer perks, a preview of Alaska Airlines’ upcoming premium card, and major Southwest card and benefit changes. They also cover Southwest’s open seating changes, Hilton’s luxury hotel performance, the Waldorf Astoria New York reopening , and Norwegian Cruise Line’s new water park in the Bahamas.

Then, they tackle questions like whether it’s smart to downgrade a credit card and reapply for the bonus, how to combine business and personal card points, which card to add to a travel rewards lineup, whether to redeem Chase points now or wait, and how to use both Amex and Chase points for award flights to Italy.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

New Citi Strata Elite Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/citi-debuts-strata-elite-credit-card⁠

Capital One Venture X Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/capital-one-venture-x⁠

Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve⁠

American Express Platinum Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/american-express-platinum⁠

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/southwest-rapid-rewards-plus⁠

Southwest Premier Credit Card Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/southwest-rapid-rewards-premier⁠

Southwest Priority Card Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/southwest-rapid-rewards-priority⁠

Alaska Airlines Credit Card Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/alaska-airlines-credit-card⁠

Chase Ink Preferred Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/small-business/chase-ink-preferred⁠

Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-preferred⁠

Hilton AmEx Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/hilton-amex-review⁠

Citi AAdvantage Platinum: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/citi-aadvantage-platinum⁠

Hilton AmEx Surpass Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/hilton-amex-ascend⁠

Hilton Honors Aspire Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/hilton-honors-aspire⁠

Chase Freedom Unlimited Review: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/chase-freedom-unlimited⁠

This show references a limited-time offer on Southwest credit cards. The offers expire on September 17, 2025. See NerdWallet’s reviews of the Southwest cards' current benefits, terms and fees:

⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/southwest-airlines-cards⁠

Additional resources in this episode:

Chase’s Points Boost on Flights Is a Massive Points Bust ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/chase-points-boost-is-a-points-bust⁠

Southwest changes ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/southwest-cards-hike-fees-and-welcome-offers-add-perks-and-bonus-categories⁠

Want more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? ⁠Subscribe to TravelNerd⁠, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on travel.

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