Point Me To First Class
Devon Gimbel MD
Point Me to First Class is a show for employed professionals, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and business owners with higher-than-average personal and/or business expenses who want to learn to leverage them into credit card points to spend on travel. Your expenses are your greatest untapped asset - but learning how to use them to travel the world doesn't have to be confusing or complicated.
Each week, Devon Gimbel shares valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points and shows you how to spend them on incredible travel experiences.
Interested in learning more about working with Devon? Visit www.pointmetofirstclass.com to learn more.
This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like:
How do I earn credit card points and use them for travel?
How can I make my expenses benefit me?
How can I earn as many credit card points for as little spending as possible?
How to maximize value from credit card points.
How to earn credit card points for travel.
Turn credit card points into travel.
Each week, Devon Gimbel shares valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points and shows you how to spend them on incredible travel experiences.
Interested in learning more about working with Devon? Visit www.pointmetofirstclass.com to learn more.
This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like:
How do I earn credit card points and use them for travel?
How can I make my expenses benefit me?
How can I earn as many credit card points for as little spending as possible?
How to maximize value from credit card points.
How to earn credit card points for travel.
Turn credit card points into travel.
Episodes
Mentioned books
69 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 1h 41min
150. 2025 Points Year in Review: How We Used Our Points, Chose Programs & Planned 2026 Travel (Part 2)
Dr. Andrea Mabry, an award travel enthusiast skilled in complex group redemptions, shares insights on maximizing points for travel. The duo reveals their impressive travel bookings from 2025, including family vacations and premium cabins worth over $300,000. They discuss strategies for booking business class for large groups from non-hub airports, lessons learned from past trips, and highlight standout experiences, along with disappointments. Andrea also previews her ambitious 2026 plans, including luxury getaways and around-the-world bookings.
10 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 1h 18min
149. 2025 Points Year in Review: A Look Back at Cards, Strategies & Earning (Part 1) with Dr. Andrea Mabry
Dr. Andrea Mabry, a savvy dermatologist and points enthusiast, returns to share her impressive points strategies and totals from 2025. They discuss the unusual surge in card openings, highlighting Andrea’s impressive 4.1 million points earned, and Devon's substantial 6.468 million, despite the collapse of the Mesa program. The duo reveals their card choices, insights on maximizing bonuses, and their strategies moving into 2026. This engaging conversation is packed with numbers, lessons learned, and a glimpse into their evolving travel plans!
29 snips
Dec 29, 2025 • 21min
148. Your Year in Points Review: How to Audit, Learn, and Plan Smarter
Ever wondered how your travel points measured up over the year? A year-end points review can reveal what worked, what didn’t, and guide your future earning strategies. Learn how to analyze your points ecosystems and track totals. Discover how to break down your points earnings by source and calculate their redemption value to maximize your travel experiences. With actionable insights and evaluation questions, you'll be ready to refine your approach to reward programs and embark on more adventures.
26 snips
Dec 22, 2025 • 48min
147. 2025 in Points and Miles In Review (Part 2): Key Changes, New Realities, and What Comes Next
In this engaging discussion, points-and-miles expert Kelly shares insights on the transformative changes in award travel for 2025. They highlight the rise of dynamic pricing, which can enhance award availability despite common perceptions. Kelly provides real-life examples from Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines, showcasing how status now significantly affects access and pricing. The conversation also explores future trends in transferable points and the potential resurgence of co-branded airline cards, leaving listeners with strategic tips for navigating this evolving landscape.
48 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 7min
146. 2025 in Points and Miles In Review: The Biggest Wins, Disappointments & Shifts - Part 1
Join points and miles expert Kelly, the Points and Miles Doc, as she reviews the shifting landscape of rewards in 2025. Discover how this year saw a greater complexity in earning and redeeming points. Kelly shares insights on the winners and losers, including the disappointing changes at Chase and the exciting addition of Japan Airlines to transfer partners. Explore new card launches and programs that emphasize member loyalty over partnerships, all while providing invaluable strategies to navigate this evolving rewards world.
76 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 49min
145. Behind the Scenes at World of Hyatt: Loyalty, Care & the Future of Travel with Laurie Blair
Laurie Blair, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Loyalty at Hyatt, shares insights into building loyalty programs that resonate with travelers. She discusses the significance of care in loyalty, emphasizing emotional connections over mere transactions. Laurie explains the balance between transparency and dynamic pricing, highlighting the unique benefits of Hyatt's fixed award charts. Additionally, she reveals upcoming innovations like personalized AI-driven itineraries and exclusive member experiences, all designed to keep Hyatt travelers engaged and satisfied.
29 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 50min
144. Inside Rove: The Loyalty Program Reshaping Points & Miles
Carissa Rawson, Director of Travel and Marketing at Rove, shares her journey from military service to points-and-miles expertise. She reveals how Rove's loyalty platform unlocks earning potential without needing credit cards, appealing to both newbies and veterans. Carissa highlights impressive multipliers on hotel stays and the seamless integration with existing rewards programs. Discover how to maximize RoveMiles through dynamic redemptions and a diverse shopping portal, plus insider tips to avoid common pitfalls—all while Rove ensures miles won’t expire!
24 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 12min
143. Your Holiday Points Prep Checklist: 5 Steps to Maximize Seasonal Spending
The podcast dives into maximizing holiday points with a practical checklist. It starts with making a comprehensive list of planned purchases to capture portal bonuses. Tips on bulk-buying essentials for year-round use are shared, along with strategies for mapping rewards cards to maximize spend. Essential advice on setting up shopping portal accounts and using them effectively during purchases is discussed. Lastly, monitoring bonus points after shopping is crucial to avoid losing out on rewards. Get ready to turn holiday spending into a points bonanza!
30 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 48min
142. How Points Become a Tool for Freedom, Joy & the Life You Want to Live with Dielle Charon
Dielle Charon, a former social worker and now a seven-figure business coach, advocates for women of color entrepreneurs through her initiative For the 23%. In this conversation, she reveals how shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance transformed her approach to travel and finances. Dielle discusses the emotional significance of her first business-class flight, the empowerment of using points as tools for self-care, and the unexpected advantages of optimizing travel perks. Her insights on luxury travel as a means of expanding one's opportunities are truly inspiring.
18 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 6min
141. Listener Q&A: Canceling Cards, Transfer Partner Confusion & Shopping Portals vs. Welcome Bonuses
This podcast dives into your burning questions about points and miles. Discover the ins and outs of transferring points between airlines, as well as whether that old United card is still worth keeping. Learn the pros and cons of co-branded versus transferable cards for better earning potential. Get insights on maximizing welcome bonuses against shopping portals, and understand the value of the Mesa card. Plus, a handy framework for choosing the best award booking program makes strategy simple and effective. Tune in to up your travel game!
