Credit Card Hacking 101

Hey listeners, Alex here, and welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points. Today we’re diving into what’s new this week in points and miles, and how you can turn these changes into actual trips on your calendar.

Let’s start with fresh offers and promos. The Points Guy is flagging a wave of January deals: IHG One Rewards is running a 15% discount on award nights at new and recently renovated properties, and Hilton Honors is offering a welcome boost with tiered bonuses after your first three stays as a new member. Over in airline land...

Hey, points hackers! Welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points. I'm your host Alex, and we're kicking off 2026 with some sizzling updates to supercharge your rewards game. Let's dive right in!

First up, the buzz from the past week: Capital One Venture X just dropped a monster 100,000-mile sign-up bonus after $10,000 spend in three months—but heads up, it ends Monday, so apply now if you're eyeing that lounge access and travel credits. Bank of America rolled out an 85,000-mile bonus on the Alaska Airlines Atmos business card with a companion fare after $5,000 spend, perfect for We...

Hey, points hackers! Welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points. I'm your host Alex, and we're kicking off 2026 with a bang—let's turn those New Year's resolutions into free flights and dream vacations!

First up, the hottest news from this week: Capital One Venture X is dropping its blockbuster 100K-mile welcome offer on January 5th, but grab it now after $300 spend and score a $300 travel credit plus 10,000 anniversary miles yearly—perfect for wiping out taxes on award redemptions. Amex Platinum is crushing it at up to 175K points with killer perks like $300 Lululemon credits and $600 in Fine...

Hey listeners, Alex here, and welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points.

Let’s jump right into what’s hot in points and miles this week. Upgraded Points reports that American Express just finished a massive 2025 refresh on the Platinum line, and those changes are live: bigger hotel credits, boosted digital entertainment credits, and even niche perks like lululemon and Oura Ring credits. The key play right now is stacking that increased prepaid hotel credit with 5x points on Amex Travel bookings to lock in 2026 trips at today’s prices while padding your Membership Rewards balance.
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Hey, points hackers! Welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points. I'm your host Alex, and we're diving into the freshest hacks to supercharge your rewards game. Let's jump right in.

First up, major buzz from the past week: American Express Platinum holders, this is your last call for that sweet up-to-$75 lululemon quarterly credit—it expires December 31st, so snag some gear or gifts before it's gone for good. Capital One Shopping just dropped a killer referral deal: give a friend $80 off, and you pocket $80 too—perfect for stacking savings on holiday returns. And heads up on 2...

Hey listeners, Alex here, and welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points.

Let’s jump right into what’s new this week in the points world, because there are some big moves you can actually use.

First, Chase drama. Chase quietly dialed back the guaranteed 2 cents-per-point redemptions at its luxury “The Edit” hotel collection for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. Some properties are now pricing closer to about 1.6 cents per point instead of that clean 2. The upside: Chase has said it will still honor the old 2-cent value if you book Edit stays through December 22 and then iss...

Hey listeners, Alex here, and welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points.

Let’s jump straight into what’s new in the points world this week, because there are some big moves you can take action on right now.

First, Southwest fans: View from the Wing reports an elevated welcome offer on one of the premium Southwest credit cards that lets you earn 85,000 Rapid Rewards points after $3,000 in spend. That’s huge because it puts you within striking distance of the Southwest Companion Pass, where your companion flies with you for just taxes and fees f...

Hey listeners, it’s Alex, and you’re tuned in to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points.

Let’s jump straight into what’s hot in points and miles this week. The Points Guy is tracking a wave of year-end offers, including big welcome bonuses and targeted statement credits on major travel cards, especially for hotel stays and cruises. If you’ve been sitting on an Amex or Chase travel card, log in and check your “offers” tab right after this episode; there are stackable credits on things like Marriott, Wyndham, Vrbo, car rentals, and even cruises that can turn regul...

Hey listeners, Alex here, and welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points.

Let’s kick off with what’s hot this week in points and miles. The Points Guy is flagging a wave of year-end travel offers tied to major credit cards: think targeted Amex Offers like $100 back on $500 at select Wyndham, Caesars, and even cruise lines, plus $100 back on $600 in bookings through Chase Travel. These are stackable with your usual bonus categories, so if you have an Amex or a premium Chase card, log in today, activate every relevant offer, and align any 2026 trip deposits with...

Hey travelers, Alex here—welcome back to “Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points.” This week is packed with fresh deals, cool tech, and a real-world story that proves why earning points is more exciting than ever.

Let’s dive into the latest news you need to know. Two big contenders just made waves: the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite and the Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard are launching some of the year’s biggest welcome offers. The Atmos Summit’s current sign-up bonus is a whopping 80,000 points plus a 25,000-point Global Companion Award, worth over $1,600—beating even the Citi/AAdvantage Glo...

Welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points! I’m your host Alex, and this week there’s a ton of action in the points and miles world, so let’s dive right in.

Big news just dropped—Alaska Airlines rolled out its new Atmos Rewards loyalty program, which now brings together Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re flying to Hawaii or across the Pacific, Atmos Rewards points are now your ticket for redemptions on both airlines and their partners. The just-launched Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card is the shining star, offering a massive 100,000-point sign-up bo...

Attention all travel enthusiasts and rewards junkies! "Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points" is the must-listen podcast that will transform the way you approach credit card rewards. Hosted by points expert Alex, this engaging series takes you on a journey through the world of credit card hacking, sharing insider tips and strategies to unlock free travel, luxury perks, and unparalleled value from your everyday spending.Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned points aficionado, this podcast has something for everyone. In the first two episodes, we dive deep into the fundamentals of maximizing credit card rewards, from understanding different...

Unlock the power of credit card sign-up bonuses in this essential episode for rewards enthusiasts. Learn how to strategically choose your next credit card, maximize welcome offers, and navigate issuer rules like Chase's 5/24 policy. Discover expert techniques for timing your applications to coincide with peak bonus offers and leveraging AI tools to predict trends. We'll explore how to align bonuses with your spending habits and travel goals, ensuring you extract maximum value from every application. Plus, uncover the often-overlooked potential of referral bonuses to supercharge your points accumulation. Whether you're building a robust travel rewards portfolio or maximizing cash back...

Dive into the world of credit card rewards with our comprehensive guide to maximizing your points. This episode breaks down the fundamentals of credit card hacking, exploring different types of rewards programs and how to leverage them for maximum value. Learn expert strategies for optimizing category spending, combining cards for synergistic benefits, and capitalizing on sign-up bonuses. Discover how AI is revolutionizing point accumulation and redemption strategies. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your techniques, this episode offers actionable tips to transform your everyday spending into travel opportunities and valuable perks. From understanding the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem...