The Wirecutter Show How To Maximize Credit Card Points for Travel
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Oct 10, 2025 Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy and author of How to Win at Travel, shares his secrets for maximizing travel with credit card points. He emphasizes the importance of paying down debt to truly benefit from rewards. Listeners learn about the workings of rewards programs, from interchange fees to the strategies for picking the right credit cards based on spending habits. Brian also delves into the value of transferable points and reveals how to effectively use award tickets as a flexible travel backup.
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Early Points Origin Story
- Brian Kelly began playing the points game at age 12 by bundling his family's airline miles to book a cheap trip to Grand Cayman.
- That early success turned travel into an annual family tradition and sparked his long-term interest in travel hacking.
Where Rewards Money Comes From
- Credit card companies primarily make money from interchange fees charged to vendors, not from the rewards they give back.
- Banks return part of that interchange to customers as rewards to incentivize spending and capture ongoing revenue.
Pay Off Debt Before Playing
- Do not get travel rewards cards if you carry credit card balances because APR will negate point value.
- If you have debt, consider a 0% APR card to neutralize it before playing the points game.
