Point Me To First Class

Have you considered London as your next award travel destination but weren't sure where to start? London is one of the most accessible and rewarding destinations for both beginner and experienced award travelers, but it comes with unique challenges that most people don't anticipate. The city's accessibility makes it ideal for your first international points trip, yet the mechanics of award pricing, taxes and fees, and hotel value require strategy to maximize your redemptions. Today I'm talking with Hunter Threadgill, known in the points and miles community as The Professor of Points. Hunter holds a PhD in psychology and applies a scientific approach to points optimization. We dive deep into why London deserves a place on your award travel radar, the surprising barriers that catch most travelers off guard, and the specific strategies that separate good bookings from great ones. We cover everything from navigating the UK's APD taxes to discovering lesser-known award programs that offer exceptional value, hotel redemption decisions for city stays, and even the psychology behind how we earn and use our points. Whether you're planning your first international points trip or you're a seasoned traveler looking to master London specifically, this conversation changes how you think about award travel strategy. Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/award-travel-london-strategy-guide 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

If you've ever thought award travel isn't possible with a large family or group, this episode will change your mind. In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Alison Curfman, a pediatric emergency physician, entrepreneur, and relentless optimizer who regularly travels the world with her family—typically six to eight people depending on whether au pairs or grandparents join. After co-founding a healthcare company that scaled to a nine-figure valuation, Alison transitioned into advisory and consulting work that she could do from anywhere. Listen in as Alison walks through her exact strategy for finding business class flights for large groups, her hotel booking approach that keeps everyone comfortable without breaking the bank, and why positioning flights have become part of the adventure rather than a hassle. We cover how she anchors her trip planning around long-haul flights, builds itineraries around award availability instead of fixed destinations, and uses spreadsheets and organization systems to keep track of multiple bookings across airlines and hotels. Allison also shares practical insights on traveling light with kids, leveraging Hyatt's loyalty program strategically, and combining fine hotels & resorts credits with points to maximize value on family trips. Whether you're traveling with four people or eight, this episode offers a roadmap for making large family award travel not just possible, but truly enjoyable. Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/award-travel-large-families-part-1 Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 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

In a hobby full of rules, Avios prove to be an exception—and understanding how they work can unlock some of the best award flight opportunities available. In this episode, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about Avios, the points currency used by British Airways, Qatar, Finnair, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and several other airlines. One crucial aspect of Avios that makes them unique among points currencies is their ability to move between partner accounts, which creates opportunities you won't find anywhere else. Listen in as I walk through what makes Avios so versatile, how to earn them strategically, and how to use their transferability to access better award pricing. I also cover British Airways' Points Boost feature that lets you buy Avios at a fraction of the usual cost, and share practical tips on setting up accounts, avoiding surprise fees, and finding the best value for your award flights. Whether you're brand new to Avios or looking to squeeze even more value from these programs, this episode will show you how to think strategically about one of the most powerful—and underutilized—points currencies in award travel. Get full show notes and transcript: www.pointmetofirstclass.com/avios-guide-transfers-sweet-spots Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 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

Have you ever wondered if earning points on your mortgage or rent is actually worth the math? Or whether a card that earns two times points on everything can really compete with what you're already holding? Bilt just released three brand new credit cards, and they're more complex than any card launch I've seen in a while. This isn't just about welcome bonuses and bonus categories— there's an entirely new internal currency called Bilt Cash, along with processing fees to calculate, and real formulas you need to run to figure out if any of these cards make sense for your situation. In this episode, I'm joined by Kelly, the Points and Miles Doc, to break down all three new Bilt cards: the no annual fee Bilt Blue, the $95 Bilt Obsidian, and the $495 Bilt Palladium. We analyze the welcome bonuses, points earning structures, and how each card compares to its closest competitors. We walk through the Bilt Cash system, explain exactly how much you'd need to spend to earn points on housing payments without paying fees, and discuss who these cards actually benefit. We also share why we both applied for the Bilt Palladium within hours of its release and what makes Bilt's transfer partners worth paying attention to. Get full show notes and transcript: http://pointmetofirstclass.com/bilt-credit-cards-2026-analysis Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 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

Do you ever wonder what cards other people have, how they use them, and exactly how many points they're earning each year? I'll be honest—I'm nosy when it comes to other people's points, and I love getting a peek inside someone else's points earning strategies. In this first part of a two-part year-in-review series, I've invited Dr. Andrea Mabry back to the show to break down everything that shaped our points earning in 2025. This has become one of my favorite Point Me to First Class traditions, and this year marks the third installment of this annual series. We're pulling back the curtain on the credit cards we opened, the unexpected opportunities we seized, and the total number of points we earned across all our points ecosystems, from Chase and Amex to Capital One, Citi, and beyond. Andrea and I each share our total points earned for the year, then break those numbers down by transferable versus airline-specific currencies, welcome bonuses versus organic spend, and the earning methods that delivered the most value. We talk about why this was an unusually busy year for new card acquisitions, what happened when an entire points program collapsed overnight, and what's on our radar for 2026. Whether you're mapping out your own points strategy or just curious how two points enthusiasts approach earning at scale, this conversation offers real numbers, honest reflections, and the lessons we're taking into the new year. Get full show notes and transcript: www.pointmetofirstclass.com/2025-points-year-in-review-part-1 Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 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