Hey TPP listeners,

It’s January and you know what that means, we’re getting to work on incidentals, but also we’re taking some time to think about how we approach incidentals.

Other than this, we have some feelings about all the Bilt v2.x noise.

We end the show with upcoming vacations we’re (still) gardening. We hope you enjoy the show! -TPP

Timestamps

 * [01:30] - BILT v2.1
 * [15:20] - Incidental Season
 * [36:24] - Calendar Year Product Downgrades and Cancellation
 * [42:40] - BofA Alaska Ascent to Summit PC
 * [48:40] - Booking Vacations / Award Gardening

Episode 11: It's Incidental Season

Timestamps

[00:33] - Japan Airlines Added to Capital One Transfer Partners

[13:49] - Amex Delta Card Portfolio Elevated Offers - Expiring 10/29/2025

[22:20] - Bank of America ‘More Rewards Day’ 11/06/2025

[25:42] - Q4 3-5% cap reset 

[30:37] - Shop Your Way Nerf

[33:02] - Main Show Topic – What cards offer long-term value post-SUB?

 * Cards you can no longer obtain (what made them special)
 * What to look out for in current offerings (possible long-term keepers)

We hope you enjoy! -TPP

Join The Points Project Patreon!

Intro/Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Episode 10: Q4 News & Learning From Past Credit Cards

00:43 - Citi Strata Elite

 * Details: 80K TYP | $4K | 90d | $595 AF ($450 AF w/ CitiGold)

2:05 - Pulling 100K Offer—2 options

 * In-branch
 * US Credit Card Guide [https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/citi-strata-elite-credit-card/]
 * US Card Forum [https://www.uscardforum.com/t/topic/418812] (still alive as of 08/18/2025)
 * Citi Nights - 6x on Dining?
 * First to market with hourly CC benefits
 * Strata Elite Benefits
 * Raymond’s P2 approval via 100K link [https://www.uscardforum.com/t/topic/418812]
 * Did Kristoff apply?
 * Multiple Strata Elites?
 * Year 2 options and beyond…
 * 18:18 American Airlines enables up TYP transfers (again)
 * Is this a good thing or bad thing?
 * Incremental value vs. newcomers to AA
 * Is a devaluation now inevitable?

23:00 - Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card [https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-summit-visa-premium-card-heres-the-details/] (FM article)

 * Rumored SUB Details: 5K upon approval | 100K | $6K | 90d | $395 AF
 * 25K Global Companion Award
 * 100K Global Companion Award after 60K spend
 * No partner award booking fees (save $12.50 p/p on a partner award booking)
 * Up to 3.3x on dining spend and foreign transactions
 * $50 voucher for 2 hour flight delay or cancellation
 * 1 EQM per $2 spend
 * 10K EQMs each year on account anniversary
 * Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles will become Atmos Rewards on 10/01/2025
 * Will it be possible to spend up to top-tier MVP Gold 100K? ($200K spend in year 1?)
 * Do we spend for AA status or shift to spending towards AS status?
 * 2x spend on AA cobranded cards vs. possibility to spend at 3x on the Summit
 * How excited are we about this card?

40:42 - US Bank Altitude Reserve - Devaluation

 * US Card Forum leaked document [https://www.uscardforum.com/t/topic/419568]
 * Long time coming - no more 4.5% cashback uncapped effective 12/14/2025
 * 3x mobile wallet spend now capped at 5K per statement cycle
 * Points now worth 1cpp if redeemed for travel or as deposit into eligible US Bank account
 * $325 Travel / Dining credit can now only be used for travel purchased through US Bank Travel
 * Transfer partners? TBD
 * Pour one out for a legend

46:54 - US Bank Smartly - Devaluation

 * Within 6 months of release, 4% cashback is now borderline useless
 * Now, 100k in checking/savings with $10K per statement cycle cap on 4% with many MCC exclusions
 * Grandfathered Smartly cards
 * 100K in investment accounts still grants access to 4% cashback
 * $10K per statement cycle
 * Hopefully US Bank is done with nerfs



 * Seems like the credit card market is shifting toward more premium cards with higher annual fees, with banks aiming to induce breakage
 * Positive shifts with Citi and BofA
 * Negative shifts with US Bank

We hope you enjoy! -TPP

Join The Points Project Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/ThePointsProject]

Intro/Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Episode 9: The Credit Card Game Is Always Changing

Kristoff and Raymond hop on this week to chat about some elevated sign-up bonus offers for:

Mesa Homeowners Visa Signature Card (issued by Celtic Bank)

 * Limited-Time Offer: 50,000 points after $5,000 spend in 90 days using code Bonus50.
 * No annual fee.
 * Card comes with a laundry list of unique 'coupon book adjacent' credits.
 * Raymond messes up the application process #noobmistake?
 * Points are likely going to be most useful if transferred to Finnair Avios.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

 * Historically High Sign-Up Bonus: 5 Free Nights (each valued up to 60,000 points, total up to 300,000 points) after $5,000 spend in 3 months.
 * Raymond's P2 may have to take a long look at this one to see if it makes sense.

Kristoff's Mini Biz App-O-Rama

 * Mix of P1/P2 business apps for Alaska, Hawaiian, Citi AA, and Wells Fargo cards.

In addition, we also eulogize a long-time friend in the hobby, Simon Gift Cards. We also touch on some negative Capital One Shopping redemption option changes, and the newest relationship JetBlue has gotten into with United Airlines.

Lastly, Raymond gives a retrospective on his recent trip to HNL, with this trip being P3's first 'big' trip.

Masa & Joyce Okazuya [https://maps.app.goo.gl/4qkUTDuZXca2MdH27] (Japanese delicatessen)

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden Lake Lookout Point [https://maps.app.goo.gl/KpMVq42ijuuQHNhs8]

We hope you enjoy! -TPP

Join The Points Project Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/thepointsproject]

Intro/Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com [https://incompetech.com/])

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Episode 8: Mesa Homeowners Card, Saying Goodbye To A Dear Friend, and Reflections on P3's First Big Trip

Spring is here!

Kristoff and Raymond check in on the public podcast feed to discuss:

1.  Current transfer bonuses with the big 4 bank point currencies.

2. Reports of the Amex Resy credit triggering at Walgreens [https://www.reddit.com/r/amex/comments/1jcoy2g/update_my_walgreens_resy_credit_just_posted/]?

3. Adapting to the need to hit spend requirements with Amex. We noodled on paying taxes and whether or not we need to reconsider buying groups. Lastly, a few Q1 spending reminders.

4. We touch on loyalty program devaluations including Southwest and Hyatt. The Southwest changes especially felt like a paradigm shift.

5. An End of Baby Bonding Roadtrip: Burning Hilton FNCs and Hilton GCs/Amex Hilton benefits at higher-tier Hilton properties in California. Also an unplanned trip to Disneyland with 2.5 month old P3.

Join The Points Project Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/thepointsproject]

Intro/Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Episode 7: Transfer Bonuses, End of Q1 Reminders, and a Baby Bonding Roadtrip

Happy Holidays!

Kristoff and Raymond dive into the holiday spirit, covering increased shopping portal offers, Citi and AAdvantage becoming exclusive partners, end-of-year credit card housekeeping notes, and insights into elevated BofA and US Bank benefits when banking as a preferred client.

To wrap up our last public episode of the year, we reflect on what we're most thankful for this year... - TPP

The Points Project Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/thepointsproject]

Intro/Outro Music Credits:
"Vibing Over Venus"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com [https://incompetech.com/])
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]

Episode 6: 'Tis the Season to Be Churning

Hello Points Project Listeners,

In this episode,  we are reminded that it's already October 2024, and that means Q4 is in full swing. With that, we've decided to load up on some new cards, but not everything on that front was a success. Synchrony, Amex & Chase have some highs as we prepare for more wedding banquets, while BofA and Wells Fargo are still odd and fickle beasts. Lastly, we review what's left for cashing out MRs post-October 1st—hopefully less valuable cash outs mean we'll be focused on high-value aspirational travel in 2025. -TPP

Please consider subscribing to our Patreon for access to our credit card rewards enthusiast content, including access to the members-only The Points Project Slack community at https://www.patreon.com/ThePointsProject.

--

Intro / Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 5: New Apps & The Schwab Elephant In the Room

In this episode, we discuss some new cards we’ve recently applied for, and our churning strategy for the rest of 2024. Raymond also talks about his recent trip to Japan. Enjoy! -TPP

AMEX Connect Website (link AMEX offers to 3rd party AMEX cards): https://global.americanexpress.com/card-offers/view-all

Patreon Feed: https://www.patreon.com/ThePointsProject

Intro / Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 4: New CC Applications, Plans for 2H 2024, and a Japan Trip Report

In this episode, we recap our Amex 10x dining referral offer, go over some news and updates we're working on, focus in on how to maximize your Southwest bookings to minimize your cash outlay, and give our thoughts on a couple trips we've taken in the last few weeks. Enjoy!

$2K / 5K MR - Business Gold Employee Card Link: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/campaigns/employee-cards/business-gold/5k-offer-incentive/

Intro / Outro Music Credits:

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com [https://incompetech.com/])

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 3: Plus 10x Dining Recap, Southwest Strategies, and a couple trip recaps

In this episode, we talk about a new credit card option from a lesser-known bank, a Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus, issues with a popular gift card website, and updates to the Hilton Honors program. We then have a face off between Hilton Diamond elite status and Hyatt Globalist elite status to help you decide where you'll get the best return on your status investment. We then wrap up with woes of hunting for premium cabin T-PAC and T-ATL award space over the summer months.

Show references:

https://waitlist.cardless.com/qatar-airways

https://loyaltylobby.com/2024/04/18/conrad-new-york-midtown-exits-hilton-system-on-june-4-2024/

https://frequentmiler.com/fantastic-updates-about-hiltons-integration-of-slh/

Intro / Outro Music Credits: 

"Vibing Over Venus"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 2: A new Avios option, Hilton enhancements & stacking Hilton against Hyatt

The Points Project is a podcast going deep into the life of a credit card optimizer. We talk about wins, fails, award trips and everything that falls in between.