Stack Your Points

Viewer Questions Which two transfer systems best compliment each other? - M2K For an equivalent experience, would you ever pay more just because of the stacking opportunities? - JChainz For example, between Uber and Lyft, I’ve found myself choosing Uber a lot lately simply because they’re consistently $10 cheaper (due to flash sales or whatever) when I need to take rides. This is despite having DashPass benefits and earning miles as a UA loyalist on the Lyft With everything going on in the world right now, from a travel lens, how do you see things like oil prices and recurrent TSA budget issues affecting travel in the next 6 months or so? - DDAF  Do you have any hobbies that crossover with points and travel?  Like Key from KeyKey's Adventures whose goal was to watch a game in every park in the MLB - I think she completed it last year.  I recently found this YouTube channel where the guy travels around the World trying the best coffee shops and roasters in each city he visits. - Keith News Round-Up  Amex The Graphite Business card AmEx just secured a $900M deal with the NFL General News Uber is buying Blacklane Topics  Matt Let’s play with Citi Nights, would you want to see other issuers do something similar and would you prefer Friday/Saturday or All Weekend? What would be your favorite Weekly “Boost?” Lani   With the changes to Status and how tp pay-to-play to get them, specifically hotel, is Diamond the new Gold? 0:00 Intro & Online Passport Renewal 4:13 Q&A: Best Complementary Transfer Systems 12:03 Q&A: Is Paying More for Stacking Worth It? 18:39 Q&A: Oil Prices, TSA Cuts & Travel Outlook 29:35 Q&A: Hobbies That Cross Over with Points & Miles 37:30 News Roundup 37:38 Amex Graphite Business Card 39:55 Amex Becomes Official NFL Card Partner 42:13 Uber Acquires Black Lane 50:31 Topics 50:38 Lani's Topic: Is Diamond the New Gold? 1:10:00 Matt's Topic: Should Others Copy Citi Nights? 1:24:03 Outro & Member Shoutouts  

Viewer Questions What CC/travel support apps/subscriptions do you have and why? (Things like TripIt, Seats.Aero, or Card Pointers etc etc) - DDAF With Hyatt, and Citi's recent nerfs, what is your prediction for the next big devaluation? - Kirby G Do you use shopping portals regularly other than Rakuten?  I’m thinking of the C1 portal, Chase Portal, or airline portals for additional points. - Ron B Citi just slashed transfer rates to Choice (dropping to 1:1.5) and Preferred Hotels (dropping to 1:2). For those of us who used Choice for high-value stays in Japan or Europe, where is the new 'budget' sweet spot for ThankYou points? - James World of Hyatt now gives cardholders 30 days of early access to award calendars. Is this a genuine perk, or is it just creating a two-tier system where non-cardholders will never see a 'Standard' room at the Park Hyatt Kyoto again? - Carl News Round-Up  Amex Rumored Graphite Business card Citi iPrefer and Choice Transfer rates dropped. 1:1.5 on Choice, 1:2 on iPrefer. 1:1.05 on the No Annual Fee Cards with Choice and 1:1.4 with iPrefer. Topics  Matt Is there a Credit Card/personal finance Dunning-Kruger effect; and how do we overcome it? According to a March 2026 U.S. News survey, 51 percent of U.S. consumers consider themselves "very knowledgeable" when it comes to personal finances despite 53 percent not knowing their FICO score is or what most lenders use to determine creditworthiness. Lani   Are business cards still worth it? RJ Should airlines/hotels offer paid memberships as an option for those who do not want credit cards as it gets harder and harder to be a true free agent? (IE United’s miles changes) 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:34 Travel Apps and Subscriptions 06:26 Next Big Devaluation Predictions 13:33 Shopping Portals Beyond Rakuten 16:42 Citi Transfer Nerfs and New Sweet Spots 22:02 Hyatt Early Award Access Debate 31:00 News Roundup Citi and Amex Rumor 43:18 Are Business Cards Still Worth It 48:22 Chase Offer Loopholes 50:04 Business Card Spotlight Shift 54:13 Dunning Kruger Finance 55:49 Money Myths Reality Check 01:15:22 Pay For Status Idea 01:36:12 Wrap Up Thanks Members

• 0:00 - Introduction Matt introduces the show and welcomes RJ and Lani to discuss the week's topics. • 5:06 - Q&A: Pick Your Partners & Devaluations Keith asks whether recent hotel devaluations mean it's time to double down on specific partners. The hosts discuss consolidation strategies and how to navigate changing reward programs. • 26:48 - Q&A: Spain vs Italy Travel M2K asks about choosing between Spain and Italy for a two-week trip. The hosts share their preferences and best times to visit each country. • 34:36 - Q&A: Video Game Heroes & Credit Cards Diamond Rice asks what credit cards video game characters like Lara Croft, Leon from Resident Evil, and Nathan Drake would carry. • 47:02 - Q&A: Best Status Benefits Discussion of the most valuable hotel and airline status perks, from dedicated customer service lines to free water bottles and breakfast. • 58:43 - News: Marriott & Amex Changes Breaking down Marriott's new restrictions that may signal an exclusive partnership with Amex and what it means for Chase cardholders. • 71:03 - Topic: Would You Do It Again? RJ poses the question: if you could go back in time, would you get into credit card rewards all over again? • 76:36 - Topic: Navigating Economic Uncertainty Matt and the team discuss strategies for the next 12-24 months, emphasizing organic spend and patience during turbulent times. • 89:31 - Topic: How Long to Earn Vacation Points? Lani asks how long it takes to earn enough points for a vacation using only regular spend (no welcome bonuses). • 104:32 - Wrap-Up & Member Shoutouts Closing remarks and recognition of new silver and diamond members.

00:00 Show Introductions 02:31 Our Different Shows 05:20 Booking Flights Timing 17:42 Explaining The Hobby 32:41 Build The Ultimate Card 39:02 Sports Travel Family Setup 51:59 Paranormal Travel Stories 55:43 Bilt Rate Controversy 57:58 Rove Adds SAS Transfers 59:43 When 5 Percent Isn’t Worth It 01:08:05 Should Banks Kill Old Cards 01:15:08 What’s Bringing Travel Joy 01:27:11 Member Shoutouts and Wrap

0:00 - Introduction & Embargo Discussion 2:12 - Q1: Domestic Family Travel - Driving vs Flying 10:03 - Q2: Starting a Credit Card YouTube Channel 26:53 - Q3: Points/Miles for Flights or Hotels 40:00 - Q4: Choosing One Hotel Brand Forever 70:03 - Topic: Children in Airport Lounges 73:25 - Topic: Free Night Certificates - Are They Overhyped?

Viewer Questions   - Fling, marry, kill - Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton points. - Chris M     - How often do you recommend re-evaluating your setup?  'Normies' do it almost never. But how often should  people in the game do it?  Obviously that has to be balance and you can't chase every new and shiny thing.  Quarterly?  Semi-annually? - RP2048     - If your airport of choice magically became a hub for a different airline (oops Atlanta is now American or oops RJ's airport swaps their Delta flights for United flights and vice versa) how easy would it be to swap loyalty? Would you try to force your loyalty to stay where it is or would you easily swap over. - Kirby G     - With the announcement of changes nerfing MileagePlus for non-cardholders on April 2nd, how long until Delta+Amex do something similar? Will they delay it because the image so far has been that Delta is leading the trends in loyalty programs United is following or will their greed win over their pride? How do you think this changes advice for beginners and do you think people farther in should think harder about velocity to be able to pivot faster when news like this comes out? - Benevolent Contrarian. ********** Matt - How much longer will Rotating Category cards be relevant in the game? We’re seeing the Freedom Flex barely offer decent categories of late…is it time to turn the page? Lani   - Travel portals are changing, some of these changes are not for the better. With all the changes happening with the credit card game in general (i.e. all these recent changes have killed the gamifying of the system), are travel portal nerfs just the beginning for a larger “we need to save money somewhere” option for the banks? RJ - What is the biggest mistake couples make when trying to earn points together, and how do you optimize a "two-person" household? ********** 00:00 Show Kickoff  02:56 Fling Marry Kill Hotel Points 05:23 When to Reevaluate Cards 14:45 Airport Hub Loyalty Swap 23:28 United MileagePlus Changes Debate 45:46 Portal Nerfs Debate 58:30 Rotating Categories Relevance 01:07:15 Two Player Points Mistakes 01:18:59 Wrap Up and Sign Off --- Check out SYP's website and join the Discord: StackYourPoints.com --- Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUBehygQ0bEq5DcMVGScIjw/join

Viewer Questions   - Considering Matt has a stranglehold on rocket, which guardians characters do the rest of the gang identify as? - Sk8za - How should creators walk the line between speaking in their own experience re: what set ups or strategies work for them vs. inadvertently giving the impression that they are suggesting people should do the same? - DDAF - Several credit cards in the past gained more appreciation when they could no longer be applied to and were only available to grandfathered cardholders. For example, Citi Prestige (5x restaurants, but considered a shell of its former self) and Chase United Presidential Plus (low-priced United Club access, but considered expensive in an era right after lifetime lounge membership was offered). Which of today’s cards would be considered lost grails if they were unobtainable to new applicants? - Ganelon - With Amex closing the United travel  bank loophole on the Platinum, does it affect the Hilton Aspire as well. - James Ragland - People talk about card setups and ecosystems but never the endgame. What is considered your endgame setup (ignoring welcome sub resets on eligibility and NLL links) does that endgame include multiple transferrable ecosystems or one single one etc. - Diamond Ryce ******************************************************************************* Topics    Matt     - Are we overlooking dining programs besides the ones on RewardsNetwork via the Airlines/Hotels. Is anyone using or extracting value out of the Seateds or InKinds of the world? Would you experiment more with them if you lived in a different area? Lani   - Do you ever experience “Which Card Paralysis?” This is when you need to swipe and you don’t know which card to use. What points you need, which credit can be used, etc.   - For me its dining. Because every card has a dining category, when it comes to dining in the wild, I always freeze a little bit, Gold, Aspire, CSR?  RJ - Is there a “happiness” scale in credit cards? It seems the more people know and the more they hunt the high of a great redemption the more they become pessimistic about the game. ******************************************************************************* 00:00 Welcome Back + Lonnie’s Tokyo Trip Highlights 09:01 Which Guardians of the Galaxy Character Are You? 10:30 Sharing Personal Strategies Without Sounding Prescriptive 32:57 Which Current Cards Become ‘Lost Grails’ If Discontinued? 40:53 Amex Closes United TravelBank Loophole—Does Aspire Get Hit Too? 48:12 What’s Your Credit Card ‘End Game’ Setup (If It Even Exists)? 01:01:22 Revisiting TravelBank + Amex ‘Thinning the Herd’: Higher Spend, Crowded Lounges 01:09:22 Which Card Paralysis: Picking the Right Card for Dining (Japan vs US) 01:17:39 Are We Overlooking Dining Programs? Seated, InKind, United Dining & More 01:28:17 Credit Card “Happiness Scale”: More Knowledge, Less Joy? 01:39:05 Reality Check & Closing: Use Points, Shoutouts, and Final Thoughts --- Check out SYP's website and join the Discord: StackYourPoints.com --- Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUBehygQ0bEq5DcMVGScIjw/join

## Viewer Questions   - If you had to use a Bilt 2.0 card as your only card for 2026 which card would you choose and how would that impact your point earnings and traveling. - M2K     - What are the SYP goals for 2026? Any sub goals or viewership goals or merch goals etc - Kirby G - What is your "order of operations" when it comes to booking a hotel or flight? For example, do you prioritize expiring credits or point stacks first? Is cash last on that list? - DDAF - What is the best play outside the USA that you wish you could do? - Chris M   - I'm in my "sit on my hands because I got too many cards last year" phase. What phase are you in? - DDAF - If you had to pick one mid tier and one premium tier credit card, but from 2 different issuers, what combination would you pick? Feel free to define the tiers as you see fit - ShabbyOlCloak   00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 06:47 If You Had To Use A Bilt Card 20:44 Stack Your Points Goals for 2026 28:45 Booking Flights and Hotels: Strategies and Preferences 45:31 International Credit Card Wishlist 51:07 Credit Card Phases: Where Are We Now? 58:57 Choosing the Best Mid-Tier and Premium Cards 01:12:25 Annual Fees: How Much Are You Spending? 01:27:08 Dream Credit Card Partners 01:35:53 Alternative Point Transfer Opportunities 01:48:28 Closing Thoughts and Member Highlights   Topics Matt - Outside of Travel, what do you think will be the next sort of point transfer banks may look into transferring with? This could be restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores. Craig - What are your annual fees currently, over the last 12 months, and what do you expect them to be on 1/1/27? - How are you leveraging AF cards and what are some of the key features, perks or benefits required for an annual fee card to be added to your wallet? RJ - If you were starting a credit card company, what are the first 3 to 5 partners that you would sign contracts with? 

00:00:00 - Hello and Welcome 00:03:24 - Credit Card Nerd At Work 00:11:08 - Managing Orphan Points 00:21:06 - Improving Capital One Portfolio 00:30:58 - Best Mid-Tier Travel Cards 00:40:35 - Bilt Card Transition 01:03:47 - The Return of the Chase Slate Card 01:04:51 - The Math Behind Credit Card Points 01:19:33 - The Complexity of Credit Card Setups 01:37:13 - The Psychology Behind Credit Minimization 01:49:47 - Final Thoughts and Member Shoutouts

Understanding The Latest Trends in Credit Card Rewards   In this episode of Stack Your Points, hosts Matt Clausen, Craig, and CallMeLani dive into several hot topics in the world of credit cards and point stacking.   00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Guests 00:18 Discussing Cold Weather and Travel Experiences 02:52 Credit Card Points and Devaluations 17:21 Built 2.0 and Credit Card Comparisons 39:45 Future of Credit Card Rewards and Banking Changes 42:44 Cutting Out Poor Consumer Choices 44:19 Points and Miles Devaluation 48:53 Credit Card Spending and Status Tiers 01:01:32 Stacking Coupons and Offers 01:17:10 Chase Apple Card Speculations 01:30:26 Sharing Points and Miles with Friends and Family 01:41:21 Credit Card Launches: No More Pre-Announcements 01:49:36 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts

00:00:00 - Hello and Welcome 00:03:12 - Tourism Challenge 00:11:44 - Hotel Credit Card Strategies 00:25:48 - In-Flight Experiences 00:35:36 - Anticipated Card Refreshes 00:47:49 - Deciding Which Hacks to Share 01:12:08 - What Direction Are Banks Moving? 01:32:40 - Mid-Tier Cards vs. High-End Cards 01:55:18 - Bilt’s Leadership and Trust Issues 02:26:59 - Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

00:00:00 - Start 00:06:14 - Discussion on Points Devaluation 00:24:38 - Future Plans for 2026 00:34:23 - Choosing the Next Credit Card 00:45:39 - Emergency Points Transfer Strategy 00:56:18 - The Value of the Sapphire Reserve Card 01:28:09 - Using Credits and Points Effectively 01:40:38 - Favorite Trips Funded by Points and Miles 02:00:08 - Navigating Corporate Ethics 02:25:12 - Amex Gold Card: Keep or Cancel? 02:37:34 - And We’re Out

In this episode of 'Stack Your Points,' the hosts conduct a year-end review of 2025, discussing standout credit card issuers, notable cards, and major events in the credit card industry. The episode highlights US Bank’s failures, Citi’s partnership with American Airlines, and Chase’s missteps with the Sapphire Reserve refresh. The hosts debate future potential refreshes for cards like the American Express Green and Chase Sapphire Preferred and predict which cards might get nerfed. They delve into the implications of the Discover payment network acquisition by Capital One and explore potential moves by other major banks. Speculations include the evolution of Bilts card lineup, cardless as Bilts next issuer, and strategies various banks may adopt in the constantly changing financial landscape. The episode also touches on macroeconomic concerns and their impact on credit card industry strategies. 00:00 Introduction and Year-End Review 00:28 Superlatives and Standout Issuers of 2025 01:25 US Bank's Troubles and Industry Reactions 03:42 Citi and American Airlines Partnership 06:07 Amex and Chase: Strategic Moves and Refreshes 19:16 Credit Card Strategies and Best Cards of the Year 24:41 Disappointments and Underperforming Cards 31:27 Best Credits and Easy-to-Use Benefits 44:46 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards 45:05 Wells Fargo's Transfer Partners 46:14 Speculations on Wells Fargo's Future Moves 46:58 Comparing Travel Credit Cards 52:15 Bank of America's Unique Strategy 56:58 Citi's Strata Elite and Travel Strategies 01:05:44 Evaluating Airline Loyalty Programs 01:11:09 Credit Card Refresh Predictions 01:23:32 The Ultimate Modular Credit Card 01:25:02 Capital One's Strategic Moves 01:25:53 Hypothetical Bank Acquisitions 01:27:18 The Future of Payment Networks 01:35:57 Apple's Next CEO 01:40:36 Speculations on the Apple Card 01:45:37 Predictions for 2026 Credit Cards 02:00:19 Conclusion and Member Shoutouts

In this episode of Stack Your Points, the hosts delve into various aspects of the credit card and travel rewards space. The show kicks off with a discussion about the sudden collapse of the Mesa credit card program and its implications for cardholders. Lonnie shares his favorite Disney properties, emphasizing the unique charm of Aulani in Hawaii. The hosts also tackle listener questions, including tips for booking Disney vacations using DVC points, and share their best flight and hotel experiences of the year. Additionally, RJ discusses her recent travel ordeal and how best to handle significant flight delays. The episode concludes with each host's wishlist for future credit card offerings and bonus categories. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:37 - Mesa Credit Card Collapse 00:26:25 - Disney Vacation Tips and Tricks 00:38:01 - Best Flights and Hotel Stays of 2025 00:41:57 - Positive Changes in the Credit Card Space 00:43:43 - Favorite Small Credits 00:49:01 - Comparing Citi Strata Elite and Chase Freedom Unlimited 01:01:46 - Travel Delays 01:09:58 - Wishlist for Credit Card Issuers 01:18:35 - Bonus Categories We’d Love to See 01:24:31 - Final Thoughts and Member Highlights

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter 01:13 Viewer Questions: Optimal Ways of Earning Points 05:21 Strategies for Maximizing Points 11:56 Mesa's Potential Airline Partners 18:37 Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card Discussion 26:35 Future Credit Card Plans and Strategies 37:25 Evaluating the Value of Credit Card Points 42:14 Versatility of Membership Reward Points 43:09 Devaluation and Inflation in Credit Card Points 44:56 The Business of Points and Miles 55:04 Hilton Honors Adventures and Cruise Partnerships 01:03:42 The Value of Resy Restaurants for Amex 01:18:58 Inflation and Credit Card Multipliers 01:25:23 Final Thoughts and Membership Information   --- Check out SYP's website and join the Discord: StackYourPoints.com

00:00:00 - Introduction and Greetings 00:01:59 - Is Die hard a Christmas Movie? 00:10:34 - Fine Dining: Overrated or Worth It? 00:26:15 - PayPal and Points Strategies 00:33:01 - Ideal YouTube Video Runtime 00:51:25 - Chase Ultimate Rewards: Changes and Strategies 01:15:12 - News 01:19:03 - The Apple Card: Challenges and Changes 01:52:44 - Planning and Timing for Holiday Shopping 02:07:49 - Luxury vs. Marketing: Personal Preferences 02:31:05 - 2026 Credit Card Strategies and Predictions 02:44:38 - Final Thoughts and Membership Highlights

In this episode of Stack Your Points, Matt and co-hosts RJ, Craig, and Lani discuss their travel strategies, credit card keep or cancel plans for 2026, and what they're not looking forward to in the credit card YouTube space. They also express gratitude for the community and highlight quick paths to achieving status in travel programs. Additionally, the team covers recent developments in the credit card space, such as Chase's new policy on the Ink cards and United's new surcharges on last-minute flights. Tune in for insights and tips on maximizing travel rewards and navigating the upcoming holiday travel season.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:46 First Question: Gardening and Credit Cards 20:04 Next Question: Guest Creators 27:05 Chase's 5/24 Rule and Future Predictions 39:21 Ultimate Premium Travel Cards 01:02:54 Hilton's New Diamond Reserve Status 01:08:47 The Sonder Bankruptcy 01:14:13 Insane Welcome Offers: Sustainable or Not? 01:52:58 Favorite Travel Snacks 01:59:34 Final Thoughts and Membership Highlights

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter 03:40 Viewer Questions: Niche Spending Categories 12:54 Discussion on Female Creators in the Credit Card Space 29:09 Hypothetical Chase One World Card Features 39:54 Hypothetical Credit Card Discussion 41:37 Chase and Airline Alliances 47:13 Credit Card Setups and Strategies 58:45 Rakuten and Competing Portals 01:10:27 Bilt Cards 2.0 and Marriott's Sonder Issue 01:24:07 Exploring Mortgage Reward Points 01:25:08 The Business Strategy Behind Reward Points 01:25:58 The Future of Payment Platforms 01:28:01 The Evolution of Built's Reward System 01:32:19 Overrated Credit Card Features 01:33:00 The Lounge Experience Debate 01:43:13 The Reality of Travel Upgrades 01:49:35 Maximizing Credit Card Benefits 01:57:16 The Sapphire Reserve Refresh Controversy 02:07:10 The Importance of Staying Informed About Card Changes 02:09:43 Traveling with Physical Limitations 02:11:07 Traveling with Mobility and Sensory Issues 02:18:10 Challenges for the Deaf Community in Airports 02:23:55 Travel Tips for Neurodivergent Individuals 02:39:07 Luxury Travel Gear Essentials 02:47:28 Final Thoughts and Member Acknowledgements

00:00:00 - Introduction 00:04:30 - Ranking Premium Card Credits 00:30:05 - Middle Ground in Credit Card Usage 00:44:39 - The Role of Referral Links in the Creator Ecosystem 01:12:14 - Personal Travel Horror Stories 01:24:57 - Tight Layovers and Airport Adventures 01:34:37 - News Roundup: Quick Updates 01:42:33 - Hotel vs. Airline Free Agency 02:00:05 - Scam Protection on Credit Cards 02:13:47 - Simplifying Your Credit Card Strategy 02:23:08 - Final Thoughts and Membership Salute