Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to show you how to book Alaska and Hawaiian flights for less by leveraging partner airline points. We'll explore options with Finnair, Qatar, JetBlue, American, and Singapore Airlines, including tips for maximizing your savings. I’ll break down everything from using Avios sweet spots to booking nonstop flights from the East Coast to Hawaii. Plus, I'll give you a heads-up on the upcoming changes with the Alaska/...
Apr 30, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today we're diving into two airlines perfect for trips to and from the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, or flights to Hawaii and Alaska: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines! With their merger underway, things are shifting, creating some unique opportunities, especially a cool loophole involving Amex points that gets them over to Alaska. We'll cover earning and using miles from both programs for domestic flights. ACTION STEP...
Apr 16, 2025•18 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Let's tackle a topic I get asked about a lot: Amex Membership Rewards. Honestly, I have mixed feelings – the points themselves can be fantastic for travel, but the cards? They definitely come with extra rules and quirks, making them feel more intermediate level. Still, since you're asking and the points can be super useful, this episode is your essential overview. We'll cover the must-knows for earning these points (like navig...
Apr 09, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m sharing the current best strategies on how to use Avios to book American Airlines domestic flights! With these methods you can book flights to Hawaii from anywhere in the US for 30,000 points round trip – or less! It used to be that British Airways offered a great way to do this, but now Qatar, and Finnair are the best option to book those same American Airlines flights, often for fewer points than using American's o...
Apr 02, 2025•23 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, we're diving into American Airlines miles. I know a lot of you want to use points for domestic travel, and American is a good option. We'll talk about the best times to use your miles on American flights, and how to earn those miles. I'll cover the pros and cons, and give you some tips to maximize your points. We'll also look at some tools to find the best deals, and I'll share a few tricks I've learned about ...
Mar 26, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode I'm sharing my exact process to research the best domestic award flights. I’ll walk you through the initial steps I always take before even thinking about searching for award availability. I'll show you why it's so important to understand your routing options and get a feel for cash prices first, and I'll tell you about the tools I use to build a solid foundation for successful award travel planning. I also cov...
Mar 19, 2025•20 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Hey everyone, welcome back to Points for Normal People! I am so excited to kick off Season 3 with you today! We're going to get into all things domestic flights and points this season, which is going to be a bit of a step up, getting into some of those intermediate strategies. If you're just joining us, welcome! But if you ever feel lost, definitely pop back to Season 1, Episode 1, because that’s where we build a foundation. T...
Mar 12, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today is special because I’ll be sharing the tips and tricks I’ve learned from you. The Points for Normal People community is full of great information and on occasion some of you have reached out to me with resources or information that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m so thankful to each of you who reached out to me and excited to share that information today. One CORRECTION: You don’t earn 4 points per dollar with every Southwes...
Dec 18, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today in part two about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, I’ll be showing you a lot of unique ways to use your Venture miles. We’ll cover ways for the average person to get the most out of their miles, and I’ll also show you some tricks for how to boost your earnings of Venture miles. We cover a lot in this episode, but don’t worry, you don’t have to remember everything! We have a lot of resources below to help yo...
Nov 20, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! This episode is part one of a deep dive into the perks and benefits of the Venture X credit card from Capital One. There are a lot of reasons this is one of my top two credit cards! Today I’ll show you why I love this card and help you identify if it is a good card for you. If you already have this card, I’ll give you resources for how to get the most value out of it. Next week I’ll be back with part two about the Venture X ca...
Nov 13, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Have you ever been to an airport lounge? After my first experience, I was hooked! And the best part is, it was a benefit of my credit card! Over the years, I’ve been to a lot of different lounges, learned about the different programs and their restrictions, and have opened various cards with different lounge benefits. Today, I’ll be giving you all of the best information you need to know, to make sure that you get the best cre...
Nov 06, 2024•26 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about how to skip airport lines. We’ll cover security, immigration, food, and rental car lines. You may be surprised how many easy ways there are to save time! So, if you're tired of waiting in long lines at the airport, tune in to this episode. I’ve also put together a lot of resources below to help you make the most of your airport experience. ACTION STEPS: Chec...
Oct 30, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’ll be covering tips that I believe every Southwest Airlines traveler should know. These will save you time, money, and make sure that you’re using all of the credit card benefits available to you. If you are new to this podcast and love Southwest Airlines like I do, be sure to check out the first three episodes of season two, for more Southwest tips and tricks! ACTION STEPS: Review the benefits you have on your Southwe...
Oct 23, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, I’ll be going over all of my favorite ways to save money when booking flights with Southwest Airlines. I’ll give you background information on the Southwest booking process, explain what makes their ticketing different from other airlines, and give you step-by-step tips and tricks to save you lots of time and money. My family has been flying Southwest regularly for over a decade and we love it! Be sure to chec...
Oct 16, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, I’ll be sharing about the most requested topic for this podcast; when to close your credit cards for maximum value. I’ll break down the various reasons that you may want to cancel a card and then give you a list of questions to ask yourself, to make sure that you get the most out of your card before you cancel. If you find yourself new to credit cards and points, I’m here to help you with all the details, keep...
Oct 09, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! I’m so excited to be here with you again for season two, where I’ll teach you everything you need to know about the Southwest Companion Pass. My family has earned these for years and this is one of the best ways I can help you to save money on travel. In this episode, I’ll go over three methods for earning the Companion Pass so that you can find what’s best for you, no matter your situation. This works for families, for couple...
Oct 02, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, I’ll be wrapping up season one by sharing five stories from individuals who have made the most of points and miles in ways that they value. You won’t believe some of the savings, and more importantly, the experiences they’ve been able to plan for their families. I’m thrilled that you’ve been here for season one and look forward to sharing more with you as we dive into season two, soon! I’ll be sharing about th...
Aug 28, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to cover perks and benefits that belong to some of my favorite cards, including a new DoorDash benefit, how to use your points to book experiences like Broadway shows, and a great way to maximize your online shopping. Next week I’m excited to share success stories from season one, so be sure to follow along and join me as we unlock these secrets of travel points, together! ACTION STEPS: If you have one of the c...
Aug 18, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to be answering your questions about season one of Points for Normal People. We’ll cover flights, hotels, benefits, and more! I’m so thankful that you’ve been on this journey with me and I know that your questions will be helpful for others, too! ACTION STEPS: If this season has been helpful for you, leave a comment and let me know about your journey with points. MORE RESOURCES: You can always check this page f...
Aug 14, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’ll be sharing a big picture strategy for your first few years in points. I’ll go over my three year plan and take you through some common scenarios that will help you determine what’s best for you so that you can meet your specific goals. One common mistake is when people get started without a strategy, simply applying for the highest welcome offers. While it might be good for the short-term, if you really want to maxi...
Aug 07, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to show you how doing something as small as selling a single item on Facebook Marketplace each year can qualify you for business credit cards (and the awesome welcome bonuses that come with them). If you’re feeling intimidated by the process, I’m here to help keep it simple for you. I want to see you make the most of everyday expenses and credit card welcome offers to help you supercharge your travel points so ...
Jul 24, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, I am going to walk you through each airline partner that is available for you to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to. I’ll explain the benefits of each one, point out any downsides, and tell you about a few sweet spots so that you can get the most out of your points. If you’re worried that it will be too overwhelming, don’t worry. After you’re finished with the episode, I have a guide that includes a char...
Jul 17, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to take the complicated topic of booking flights with points and give you ways to keep it simple, save you time, and help you use your points for the things you value most. In addition to helping you understand the world of booking flights with points, I also have lots of free resources to tell you about that will do a lot of the work for you. ACTION STEPS: If you have a trip goal, take some time to make notes ...
Jul 10, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to cover some of the best and most underrated ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The exciting news is that there is a lot of flexibility, allowing you to book all kinds of travel options including, flights, hotels, cruises, Disney tickets, or Airbnb. If trying to get the most cents per point and navigating your way through content that only promotes using your points for luxury travel feels exhausting, ...
Jul 03, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’m going to introduce you to the three different families of cards within the Chase Ultimate Rewards universe. I’ll show you how to earn the most points over the long run and how to do this in single player or two player households. There are a lot of Chase cards available, but don’t worry, I’m going to give you thoughts on how to manage your cards and points in a way that keeps it simple. ACTION STEPS: Take stock of al...
Jun 26, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I want to show you how I use my Chase Ultimate Rewards for Hyatt. I book Hyatt regularly to simplify my decision making process and to save me a lot of time! So let me introduce you to all the ways you can make the most of your points with Hyatt. If you’re worried about Hyatt reservations that don’t seem to be available with points, I also want to show you some special tips on how to book those hard-to-get reservations. ...
May 22, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Today I’ll be introducing you to the easiest way to use your Ultimate Rewards points! I’ll be talking about how to use points for hotels, how my family has used it, and how you can get the most out of your points. Remember that using points is most rewarding when you get to use it for things that you value. Be sure to subscribe and join me next week, when we cover part 2 of how to use points for hotels. ACTION STEPS: Set a goa...
May 15, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 10
(Click MORE to see Ad disclosure) Welcome to Points for Normal People! Thanks for joining me again for Part 2 as I share about all of the great travel benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. I’ve read all of the details so that you don’t have to! Let me fill you in and help you get the most out of your card. If you missed Part 1, be sure to subscribe and then go back to hear all of the shopping benefits of Chase Sapphire Preferred. ACTION STEPS: - Take advantage of the $50 hotel credit. A...
May 08, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Click MORE to see Ad disclosures Welcome to Points for Normal People! Join me today for a conversation about the shopping and purchase benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It offers so much more than points, and I have all the details to help you make the most of your card. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on next week’s episode, where I cover the travel benefits of Chase Sapphire Preferred. ACTION STEPS: Decide on a time that you will begin checking for Chase ...
May 01, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 8
(Click MORE to see Ad Disclosures) Welcome to Points for Normal People! In this episode, I’ll share mistakes I’ve made when I didn’t have a system to track my credit cards and points. Then I’ll give you the information and resources you need to stay organized, getting the most out of your points. ACTION STEPS: Set up a system to track your credit cards. To do this best, you'll need to know every credit card you’ve opened in the last 24 to 48 months. List the card name, open date, and close date ...
Apr 24, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 7
