Point Me To First Class

Dr. Erin Casey, a retired hematologist-oncologist turned hospitalist, shares her high-yield strategies for earning over one million points as a solo points earner. She discusses challenges faced by solo earners, credit card strategies, and maximizing the value of points for travel. The episode concludes with tips and advice for solo points earners.

How do you end 2023 strong and ensure you aren’t missing out on any valuable benefits from your rewards credit cards? We’re fast approaching the end of the year, so it’s time to do some points housekeeping. I’m reviewing five things I do to ensure I’m on track to hit my points and travel goals for the year.   Tune in this week to discover how to round out 2023 while staying on track with your rewards points. I’m showing you three ways to make sure you’re taking advantage of your use-or-lose offers, and I’m discussing everything you need to consider about points transfers, purchasing points, and maintaining your status in your loyalty programs.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/year-end-checklist   Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Explore the evolution of rewards credit cards and learn from personal anecdotes about the speaker's journey since 2012. Discover the surprising reasons why many initial choices might not be the best today. Gain insights into key strategies for beginners and the impact of changing rules like Chase’s 524. This insightful discussion highlights essential considerations for anyone looking to maximize their travel rewards and make informed decisions on their first credit card.

Today, I'm joined by another physician-entrepreneur who is taking her travel experiences to the next level by leveraging her business expenses: Dr. Amita Kumar. Dr. Kumar is a primary care physician in San Antonio, Texas. Recently, she decided to take a sabbatical from her clinical practice and since one of her passions is traveling with her family, she has found a more economical way to do so by utilizing credit card points.   She is discussing her love of planning, the kind of planning drama that comes up for her clients, and she’s sharing how she helps people overcome their planning blocks so they can start making the most of the points they earn and the time they spend traveling.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/travel-planning-amita-kumar   Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

I’m sharing a recent conversation I had on the Analyze Scripts podcast. Analyze Scripts is hosted by Yale-trained psychiatrist Katrina Furey, MD, and psychotherapist Portia Pendleton, LCSW, analyzing the depiction of mental health in TV and film. In this conversation, we discussed the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and what we can learn about ourselves and travel from the characters in the movie. Katrina and Portia are also exploring the world of rewards points themselves, so there’s something in this episode for everybody.   Discover what we can learn about ourselves from the characters in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, why this movie is a great insight into the reality of getting out of your comfort zone, and the huge impact that travel can have on our lives.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/analyze-scripts-podcast   Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Last week, Lyn shared how to earn your Southwest Companion Pass and how the pass works. We’re picking up right where we left off, discussing the specific points activities that do and don’t count toward qualifying for a Companion Pass, and Lyn is sharing a strategy you can use to make sure you qualify for a Companion Pass by early 2024.   Tune in this week to discover how to qualify for unlimited flights through the Southwest Companion Pass. Also, learn three common mistakes you need to avoid when working toward your own Companion Pass, so you don’t run into any surprises as you get your hands on your Southwest Companion Pass.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/southwest-companion-pass-lyn-mettler-2   Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

I’m joined by Southwest expert Lyn Mettler, and she’s breaking down everything you need to know about the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. In 2015, she discovered how to fly her family of 4 free to all the places she'd written about, going from one car trip a year to flying free six times every year around the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. She now teaches hundreds of families this same simple system through her Families Fly Free membership, where her mission is to bring families together through travel.   Tune in this week to discover why people go nuts over the Southwest Companion Pass. We are discussing whether working to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass is the right fit for your travel plans, what can go wrong when trying to earn this valuable points-travel perk, and be sure to come back next week when Lyn will be sharing her tips for earning your Companion Pass using a repeatable but tricky process.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/southwest-companion-pass-lyn-mettler-1   Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy  

Dr. Sujatha Murali, a physician from Southern California, shares how to use PayPal Bill Pay to earn points on routine bills without fees and avoid payment processing fees. She discusses navigating and using PayPal Bill Pay, as well as earning maximum rewards on certain credit cards. Learn how to leverage expenses like utilities, insurance premiums, and university tuition into point-earning opportunities.

While there are mistakes to be made, there is no one right way of doing points. My guest this week knows this from firsthand experience. After she’d found her feet in the world of points, she took a risk in deviating away from Chase’s points ecosystem and started exploring other options in the points space, and she has tons of insights to share about this decision. I’m joined by Dr. Azra Khan Salahuddin. Azra is a cancer rehab specialist who started her points journey in earnest in June 2022. We’re discussing what to consider when applying for new cards, the problem with running into FOMO on your points journey, and how to decide what’s best for you based on the travel you want to experience.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/pros-cons-dr-azra-khan-salahuddin   Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Are you brand new to points, without a bunch of rewards credit cards or points stocked up? Or do you have your points earning down but are not yet confident about getting maximum value from the points you have saved up? Whether you’re a self professed newbie to points travel or are looking for your points redemption skills to match your points earning skills, my online course Points Made Easy can help you.   In today’s bonus episode, I wanted you to hear directly from a few Points Made Easy course members in their own words about why they joined the course, what they think differentiates it from learning about points travel from piecing together information on the internet or even from listening to this podcast, and what their points balances and travel looks like after getting hands on support inside Points Made Easy.   Please enjoy listening to Kathy, Sachin, and Krishni’s stories about their experiences inside Points Made Easy now - and if you're ready to accelerate your points travel expertise now - grab your spot inside Points Made Easy before enrollment closes tomorrow Saturday, October 21.   Join Points Made Easy at https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy