Point Me To First Class

There's one tropical dream destination that makes its way onto many points enthusiasts' wish lists: Bora Bora. I have a fantastic guest on today's show who just returned from an incredible anniversary trip to this iconic paradise, flying business class on points, and she's here to spill all the details. Dr. Chandani DeZure is a returning guest to the podcast. She's a Board-Certified Pediatrician and a mother of two living in California, and she's been on some truly amazing trips since she started maximizing points for travel way back in 2014. Tune in this week as Chandani and I dive into everything from overwater bungalows and stunning sunsets to the best ways to book, budget and plan your own getaway to Bora Bora. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/planning-bora-bora-getaway-dr-chandani-dezure Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Kristin Addis, the creator of Be My Travel Muse, shares her extensive travel expertise, having explored 65 countries with her young son. She reveals how to make family travel enjoyable using credit card points and offers insight on the best airlines and gear for kids. Kristin dives into tips for smoother journeys, from choosing the right strollers to keeping toddlers entertained on long flights. She emphasizes the transformative power of travel for children and offers practical advice to create unforgettable experiences for families.

Dr. Kipp Lassetter is a physician and tech entrepreneur with a distinguished background in emergency medicine and healthcare IT. Currently, Dr. Kipp is focused on revolutionizing the real estate industry as the founder of RBN, a startup dedicated to rewarding consumers with valuable points when they buy or sell a home with a top local realtor. Tune in this week as RBN co-founder and CEO Dr. Kipp Lassetter joins me to explain how to earn points on the purchase or sale of your home. He explains how this program works, the unique ways you can use RBN points, and how you can squeeze extra value out of them. If you have a home purchase or sale on the horizon, you won't want to miss this. Get full show notes and more information here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/points-real-estate-transactions-dr-kipp-lassetter Get your digital ticket for the Points Made Easy conference here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/PMTFCconference Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Melissa Parsons, MD, is a recently retired Board-Certified Pediatrician and now a life coach who helps amazing women learn to love their lives. Today, however, she's here to talk about how she booked a phenomenal trip just two months in advance, getting amazing deals in the process. While not everything went perfectly to plan— from a record-breaking heatwave in Barcelona to an uncomfortable train ride— Dr. Melissa and John had the opportunity to enjoy world-renowned cuisine, stunning art, and iconic architecture. Dr. Melissa shares how she made it happen and offers unique travel tips for planning your own dream trip to Spain. Get full show notes and more information here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/dream-empty-nest-trip-spain-using-points-dr-melissa-parsons Get your digital ticket for the Points Made Easy conference here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/PMTFCconference Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Join Ben Komenkul, founder of Ben’s Big Deal and a travel rewards expert with over 10 years of experience. He dives into the key differences between using points for hotel stays versus flight bookings. Discover the true value of various hotel point currencies and practical tips for selecting the right hotel brand. Ben also reveals how to earn great treatment from hotels—even without elite status—and shares strategies to maximize the value of free night certificates. Elevate your hotel award game with his expert advice!

Dr. Suzy Spadafora, a points and miles enthusiast who has opened over 30 rewards credit cards, shares her secrets for maximizing credit card retention offers. She discusses effective strategies to negotiate waived fees, statement credits, and bonus points when calling banks. Suzy reveals her process for evaluating which cards to keep and the mistakes to avoid during retention calls. She even offers her exact script for requesting retention offers and explains the differences in generosity among issuers.

Kelly, known as the Points and Miles Doc, brings her expertise to discuss Capital One's points system. She dives into the evolution of Capital One’s offerings, highlighting the Venture and Venture X cards as travel rewards powerhouses. Exploring the strengths and weaknesses of Capital One's credit cards, they discuss strategies for maximizing points, including the standout advantage of the Business Venture X card. Kelly also shares tips on navigating the credit approval process and unlocking hidden travel rewards with valuable partnerships.

Doing a points check-in is the best possible way to recalibrate and course correct while there's still plenty of time left in the year. This means getting clear on every aspect of your points world, including your current points balances, credit card welcome bonuses, loyalty program status, and estimating your upcoming spend. Whether you're brand new to points and miles or a seasoned pro, tune in this week for a comprehensive strategy for evaluating your progress and making the most of your remaining spend for the year. Even if you don't have a points plan in place yet, the strategy I share today will help you get ready for taking a more intentional approach to reaching your points goals in the future! Get full show notes and more information here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/mid-year-points-check-in-evaluate-recalibrate-your-strategy Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Discover how to tackle business credit card applications, even if your partner's been rejected before. Learn the importance of credit freezes for protecting your identity and credit reports. Explore the dynamic world of travel rewards and its growing community. Gain insights on maximizing points and staying ahead in loyalty programs, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned traveler. This engaging discussion is packed with tips and strategies to elevate your points game.

One of the most rewarding ways to get the most value from your points is booking sweet spot awards. These awards represent unique opportunities to book incredible flights at points prices that are a steal, but in order to take advantage of these sweet spots, you have to know what you're looking for. That's where award travel expert Allison Tackette comes in. She has been booking points and miles sweet spots for over 10 years and now helps others book their own dream trips. Hear all about the most enticing award sweet spots and the best ways to fly to Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and more using a fraction of the typical points required. Whether you're a points beginner or already have award travel experience, you'll leave this episode equipped with the knowledge and strategies to start finding your own sweet spot award flights. Get full show notes and more information here: https://points.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/unlocking-sweet-spot-awards-allison-tackette Join the waitlist for Points Made Easy here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy