221. Brian Kelly: The Points Guy breaks down how to win at travel! From mastering miles to maximizing the potential of points, the expert tips YOU need to know before your next trip.
Feb 10, 2025
auto_awesome
Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, shares his journey from a blog to a travel empire. He reveals why travel costs are soaring and common pitfalls to avoid when booking trips. Brian emphasizes the importance of booking directly with airlines for flexibility and navigates the complexities of airline compensation and consumer rights. He provides smart tips for maximizing credit card rewards and travel insurance. Plus, get a sneak peek into his upcoming book, packed with invaluable travel hacks!
Brian Kelly emphasizes the rise in travel costs due to de-bundling fees, urging travelers to understand their spending better.
Travelers often make the mistake of booking through third-party agencies, which can complicate rebooking after cancellations or delays.
Utilizing transferable points credit cards is crucial for maximizing rewards and flexibility when redeeming miles across various airlines.
Deep dives
The Growth of The Points Guy
Brian Kelly founded The Points Guy as a blog while working in the finance sector, and it has since transformed into a leading authority on credit card rewards, loyalty programs, and travel tips. Initially aimed at sharing insights on maximizing benefits, the platform now reaches millions globally each month, establishing its influence in the travel community. Brian's recognition, including being labeled as Forbes' number one travel influencer, reflects the impact of his work on helping travelers optimize their experiences. His journey illustrates the evolution from a small initiative to a significant media platform in the travel industry.
Navigating Rising Travel Costs
The podcast discusses the overall increase in travel costs, which has seen airfare and other related expenses rise significantly since 2019. Although airfare seems stable compared to 2019, many associated fees, such as seating assignments, have surged, making the total cost of travel higher. The trend towards 'de-bundling' services means consumers are often paying for services that used to be free, leading to a misguided perception of affordability in air travel. As a result, Brian emphasizes the need for travelers to understand these complexities to avoid unnecessary spending and to ensure enjoyable travel experiences.
Key Mistakes in Travel Booking
A major mistake consumers make is solely focusing on the lowest price when booking flights without considering the long-term costs and implications. Many often book cheap tickets through third-party online agencies, unaware that it may complicate matters if delays or cancellations occur. Brian advises that booking directly through airlines often provides better options for rebooking, especially in tight situations, and suggests considering the total cost, including luggage fees. This crucial shift in mindset can help travelers avoid headaches and lost opportunities during crucial travel moments.
The Role of Travel Advisors
Travel advisors can offer substantial benefits, particularly when unexpected issues arise during trips. They usually receive commissions on services like hotels and cruises, making their assistance valuable without the unexpected costs for travelers. Notably, they can streamline problem-solving, enabling travelers to bypass lengthy waits at airline desks. Brian recommends platforms like cruisecompete.com to find advisors willing to compete for clients, particularly for high-value trips that may require specialized knowledge.
Maximizing Credit Card Rewards
Utilizing the right credit cards strategically can greatly enhance the travel experience, offering rewards and protection often not accessible otherwise. Brian highlights the importance of opting for transferable points credit cards, such as those from Amex or Chase, which enable users to move points across various airline partners for optimal use. He warns that airline-branded cards can limit rewards to only one airline's points, underscoring the need for flexibility in redeeming miles. Additionally, using tools like point.me can simplify the process, allowing travelers to search for the best points value across multiple airlines seamlessly.
Episode Description:
This week, Jason is joined by entrepreneur, author, travel expert, and founder of The Points Guy, Brian Kelly!
Brian started The Points Guy as a humble blog while working as an IT recruiter for Morgan Stanley, where he shared his thoughts and insights on maximizing credit card rewards and frequent flyer miles. Over the years, The Points Guy has grown into the leading voice in loyalty programs. Brian has transformed The Points Guy into a powerhouse travel and lifestyle media platform, now reaching millions of people around the world each month.
In this episode, Brian shares the inspiration behind his new book, How to Win at Travel, and dives into a wide range of travel tips and strategies. He discusses why travel is becoming more expensive, what common mistakes people make when planning their trips, and how to navigate the complexities of booking and using frequent flyer miles. Brian also explores the role of travel advisors, how they make their money, and why it's important to know when and how to book travel insurance. Additionally, he explains how starting your journey abroad can save you money, why kindness matters when dealing with airline agents, and practical advice for what to do if you get bumped from your flight. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights for making the most of your travels.
Brian reveals all that and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!
Trading Secrets Steals & Deals! ShipSkis:
Skip airport stress and costly airline fees with complimentary insurance, real-time tracking, dedicated support, and on-time delivery. Travel worldwide without luggage-ShipSkis delivers to 180 countries for a hassle-free, gear-free journey. For 20% off your first shipment, go to Shipskis.com and use the code TRADINGSECRETS.
Robinhood Gold:
The privileges of the very privileged are no longer exclusive. With Robinhood Gold your annual IRA contributions are boosted by 3%, plus you also get 4% APY on your cash in non-retirement accounts - That's over 8x the national savings average. The perks of the high net worth are now available for any net worth. Sign up at robinhood.com/gold
Tonal:
Tonal is the world's smartest workout that effortlessly fits into the busiest lifestyles and with the latest iteration -
Tonal 2 - you can ensure your workout is more tailored and effective than ever. With new drop sets, Tonal 2 analyzes your movement, senses when you're fatiguing and will drop weight until your muscles are maxed-out. It's an experience you could only get in a gym—until now. For $200 off your purchase, head to Tonal.com and use promo code TRADINGSECRETS
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode