Award Travel 101 2026 Points and Travel Strategies
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Jan 2, 2026 Listen as the hosts dive into community tales of painful travel blunders, including lost points from rigid policies. They highlight the looming deadlines for the Venture X 100k offer and the JetBlue–JAL partnership ending, along with the impact of British Airways' recent Avios devaluation. Topics like 2026 points strategies, card application timing, and dream trips to Switzerland and Australia spark insights. They also discuss managing card activity, maximizing family travel, and the importance of avoiding low-value credits. Tune in for tips and trip aspirations!
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Always Activate Freedom Flex Categories
- Activate Chase Freedom Flex quarterly 5x categories before making purchases to earn bonus points.
- Use chasebonus.com as a backdoor activation if the Chase UI fails to activate.
BA Avios Devaluation Raises Overall Costs
- British Airways increased Avios costs and taxes by roughly 10%, which raises both award prices and fees.
- Even modest devaluations can significantly affect transatlantic award value due to BA's high fees.
Angie's Card Timing And Strategy
- Angie plans to use Venture X, Surpass, and Blue Business Plus strategically to rebuild points and time her Brilliant application.
- She waits 90 days after downgrading to become eligible for Amex Brilliant before applying.