The Points Project

The Points Project
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

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.

Episodes

  1. Episode 10: Q4 News & Learning From Past Credit Cards

    3D AGO

    Episode 10: Q4 News & Learning From Past Credit Cards

    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

    57 min

  2. AUG 19

    Episode 9: The Credit Card Game Is Always Changing

    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 US Card Forum (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 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 (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 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 legend46:54 - 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 BankWe 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

    56 min

  3. JUN 3

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

    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 (Japanese delicatessen) Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden Lake Lookout Point 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

    1h 12m

  4. MAR 22

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

    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? 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! Intro/Outro Music Credits: "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    54 min

  5. 12/06/2024

    Episode 6: 'Tis the Season to Be Churning

    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 Intro/Outro Music Credits:"Vibing Over Venus"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

    50 min
  6. Episode 5: New Apps & The Schwab Elephant In the Room

    10/05/2024

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

    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/

    55 min

  7. 08/23/2024

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

    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/

    49 min

  8. 06/17/2024

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

    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) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    48 min

  9. 05/01/2024

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

    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/

    57 min
  10. Episode 1: All about Amex

    04/19/2024

    Episode 1: All about Amex

    In our first public release episode, we take a deep dive into the latest happenings with American Express, how we're approaching our credit card spend, and how to maximize our return on our spend. We also discuss recent updates in the credit card spending world, and upcoming travel plans for Summer 2024. Personal Gold AU: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/apply/supplementary-card/gold-card/16786-10-0 Upgrade Referral: https://upgrade.com/r/EeypS7SIMR (Open Rewards Checking Plus and direct deposit at least $1,000 in 45 days) 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/

    46 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    The Points Project
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Points Project

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