travel
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 e
Devin Gimble, host of 'Point Me to First Class,' has developed a new tool called the Hidden Travel Budget Calculator. This calculator aims to help users estimate their potential points earnings from expenses and understand how much of that potential they are currently tapping into, providing a new way to gauge one's success in the points and miles hobby beyond just redemption value.
Devin Gimble argues that while redemption value is a calculable metric for points and miles, it's not the sole indicator of skill. He emphasizes that understanding and optimizing points earning potential from expenses is a more complex but crucial aspect of the hobby, offering significant untapped value for many users.
Devin Gimble explained that estimating points earning potential is highly individualized, depending on spending categories, targeted rewards cards, and overall credit card strategy. He contrasts a business owner with high travel expenses to a medical practice owner spending on supplies, highlighting how different spending patterns yield vastly different points-earning outcomes.
Devin Gimble's Hidden Travel Budget Calculator is designed with a conservative approach, focusing on the ongoing points earning from recurring expenses rather than solely on new card welcome bonuses. He believes that for many users, optimizing spending categories offers the most significant, yet often overlooked, potential for earning points.
Devin Gimble stressed that the Hidden Travel Budget Calculator is a personal tool, with no data storage or sharing capabilities. He explicitly stated that he does not see, save, or sell any user input, encouraging users to record any interesting results themselves for future reference.
James Berry, co-founder of Symphony, announced the launch of a new platform that allows users to earn transferable travel points or cash interest on their savings, aiming to disrupt the stagnant savings account industry. Symphony offers a fixed 5% APY, with users able to choose a customizable split between cash and points.
James Berry elaborated on Symphony's 5% APY, explaining that it's generated through a diversified portfolio including Treasury bills, private credit markets, and over-collateralized lending markets. Customer assets are held through broker-dealer custody relationships with Alpaca, which are covered by SPIC insurance, offering a different protection model than FDIC insurance.
James Berry highlighted that the savings industry has seen little innovation in decades, with traditional banks not incentivizing smart financial decisions for users. Symphony aims to be an alternative solution by making saving feel exciting and rewarding, aligning with the trend of younger generations seeking to take charge of their financial future.
Michelle and Devin discuss their recent stays at two Hyatt properties in Mexico, the Park Hyatt Cabo and Alila Maya Koba. They compare booking strategies, room types, and overall experiences to help listeners decide where to use their Hyatt points. Both guests highlight the value of Park Hyatt properties for point redemptions.
Michelle details her booking approach for the Alila Maya Koba, leveraging her Hyatt Globalist status and a category one through seven free night certificate for one night. The remaining three nights were booked with points, and she applied a suite upgrade award for additional space.
Devin explains his recurring need for warm weather escapes, particularly during winter breaks, to escape the "winter doldrums." He prioritizes resorts with good pools for his children and values Mexico as a convenient travel destination due to direct flights and similar time zones.
Michelle shares that her two-night stay at the Park Hyatt Cabo was redeemed at a rate of 40,000 points per night. While she did not use a suite upgrade award for this stay, she did reach out to the property in advance to note their anniversary celebration.
Steven Kimble introduces MileagePlus Upgrade Awards as a 'third option' for booking flights, distinct from paying cash or using miles for an outright award. This strategy involves booking a paid economy ticket and then using United miles along with a cash co-pay to confirm a seat in Polaris business class.
Miguel explains that MileagePlus Upgrade Awards are a "third path" to business class, blending cash and miles, and are often overlooked. He emphasizes that these awards are accessible to everyday travelers, not just those with elite status, as they can be secured using United miles without requiring Plus Points.
Steven Kimble notes that traditional award travel typically involves either paying cash or using points outright, with upgrades being complex and unpredictable. He highlights that United MileagePlus Upgrade Awards are less complicated and more accessible, even without elite status.
Miguel shares that his interest in MileagePlus Upgrade Awards stemmed from a desire to use fewer points when traveling with friends. Instead of booking an entire ticket for a friend with 80-100,000 points, he found it more efficient to use around 30,000 United miles for his friend, solving a problem of point redemption for group trips.
Miguel discusses using tools like seats.aero, specifically its 'United Plus Points Finder', to locate upgrade opportunities. He notes that while the tool is designed for elite members using Plus Points, it can also be used to find MileagePlus Upgrade Awards, which do not require elite status.