The Misleading Reality Of The Points and Miles World

[@jpknowledge8852]

To clarify, I don't have a problem with purchasing points, but I have an issue with people on Instagram who are misleading with it and make it seem as though they didn't pay anything.

[@_iErik]

Another pet peeve of mine is when influencers value the hotel stay or flight at the cash price they found online - if you wouldn’t have paid $6,000 for the flight, then it’s not worth $6,000. Chances are, if not for the points and miles redemption, you would have booked a less luxurious hotel or an economy seat instead of a business-class seat.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I hear you. I guess many of them say the price because there are people who are paying that price even though the people redeeming the points wouldn't. But I understand what you mean.

[@jsbatra]

“Comparison can be a thief of joy” was the most important lesson i just learned. Points and miles or life in general.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I agree. If you don't look at what others have and just focus on yourself, it makes you a lot happier.

[@jsbatra]

@@jpknowledge8852 Thank you

[@vickiarnold7300]

When I take a trip, it's more of a discount trip whether I fly or stay at hotels. Great job on KZbin ♥️

[@jpknowledge8852]

Points are really just a way to get flights and hotels for a discount. Nothing is free though 😄

[@pastalu5254]

Thank you for being honest and open. Agree that some influencer need to be less misleading.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I wish it would stop. The deals are already great! Why make it seem even better than it is

[@marcusyoung5440]

You named it. The amount of time it takes to find business class flights. And what it takes to stay up to date with changes in cards, loyalty programs, etc. Good thing it’s also fun…most of the time 😆

[@jpknowledge8852]

It is fun. I enjoy the game a lot.

[@tlai1018]

On point! Thank you for the insights!

[@jpknowledge8852]

I appreciate you watching

[@sheilaa1333]

I nearly purchased business class flights to Europe until I did the math and realized I could use those points to stay at much nicer hotels instead. (We were locked into specific dates.) Premium economy for me. 😁

[@jpknowledge8852]

Premium economy is underrated. The seats aren't bad and the award price for some airlines is very reasonable.

[@evangibson8020]

Always need to consider the opportunity cost. You could be getting 5% cash back on gas with a CCC or something. If you're putting your gas spend on a VX, that means you are inherently buying C1 points for 2.5cpp. Meaning you need to achieve >2.5cpp redemption just to get ahead, disregarding the flexibility of cash vs hypothetical travel redemption that may or may not meet your expectations. Cash back is definitely better for 90%+ of people.

[@jpknowledge8852]

@@evangibson8020 I agree

[@chikaadiele3155]

Thank you for this video! I have to constantly tell people that my points are just a different currency from my cash. It’s a great tool that allows me to travel more , but it’s not free lol.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Unfortunately, most people don't see it the same way you do.

[@kwameamichel]

You are absolutely right… thanks for clarifying and sharing your perspective.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I appreciate you watching Kwame!

[@jamesv5802]

I am fairly new. I got 8 card in 3 months. The difficulty in finding business class seats is a high learning curve. I learned about the Jet Blue business card yesterday. What a great card.

[@jpknowledge8852]

It takes time to figure out how to book premium award seats, but it does get easier. The Jetblue Business card is super underrated. Definitely an airline card that is worth it

[@docsays]

Thanks JP. this was an excellent video! Lots factors to consider. I agree that CC points do NOT equal Free travel. To me if feels more like "discounted" travel or travel for a reduced price, or travel with perks. Just got back from a family trip to London & used a lot of points & card benefits to cover a many of the expenses, but it still costs money. As Sledge says, "you canT pay for museums, musicals, shows, tours, souvenirs, or snacks, with points!" 😁

[@jpknowledge8852]

I see points as being a currency that can give us massive discounts on things that may have been unaffordable for us otherwise. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Sledge is always dropping wisdom 😂

[@Leoprieto74]

I personally go for the high annual fees cards because of the elevated travel perks and benefits (e.g., Amex Brilliant and Aspire hotel status, Delta Reserve first class companion cert, United Club and Citi AA executive lounges memberships, etc.) I am not much focus on points and miles accumulation cards. Cheers 🥂

[@jpknowledge8852]

Those benefits really make the difference of elevating the travel experience. I'm all about it!

[@KeyKEYadventures]

Yes yes yes. Articulated so well. Loved this one

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thank you 😊

[@benjaminquintana6419]

Excellent explanation of the true value and cost of points!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thank you!

[@FlyWithRookie]

Man you just called out half the people in this space including myself. I have always had a habit of saying this. To be fair, I max out HH points every year. I don’t call it 🆓 anymore, I call it discounted now. Thanks for this video jpknowledge.

[@jpknowledge8852]

There is nothing wrong with purchasing Hilton points. It is a great way to get discounts on awesome hotel stays. But we should all agree that this game isn't "free"

[@FlyWithRookie]

@@jpknowledge8852 oh heck no it’s not free. It cost me $2400.

[@ninil.1067]

Great, refreshing, and honest video! Thank you.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@hans5821]

Great points and greater lessons. Agreed that they are discounts

[@jpknowledge8852]

I'm glad you enjoyed the content.

[@matthewshannon9]

Points are great for people who can almost afford these aspirational stays. I'm one of them. I can't quite afford business class and crazy hotels. With my business travel and SUBs, I can easily spend what I would on economy flights and nice hotels and fly business instead of economy and stay at the Park Hyatt vs the Hyatt Regency, which I could easily afford on my own. Instead of paying $5000 for a great vacation, I get an insane vacation. I'm still paying $5000 vs $15,000. For me it's amazing. For most people, you have to put insane effort into making a $15,000 vacation $3000. If you can't afford the $3000 vacation, points are still not great. I don't want to be at the Park Hyatt and flying business but taking public transportation and eating street food.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Hey, don't knock the street food 😂 some of that stuff is incredible 🌮😋 But I agree, points allow for us to pay the "price" of a basic vacation but give us the luxuries of an awesome vacation 😎

[@jeffchung6832]

So true, it's not free at all. Points have value and there is a lot of work invloved when trying to find that First class ANA seat redemption to tokyo. Many get in the game and struggle with redemption especially for family travel..... Good video!!!

[@jpknowledge8852]

You're right. Every time I talk to someone looking to book for families, they don't realize that the search for premium seats for families is a magnitude more difficult than for solo travelers.

[@docsays]

@@jpknowledge8852 - truth!!! 100% booking for a whole family requires Jedi Master level skills!!!!

[@ericwithoutsosic]

Thanks for your perspectives! Great video as always. And nice shirt!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thanks!

[@AlejandroPerez-ef5ez]

Yes economy within America 🇺🇸. 1.5 to 2 cpp im happy with that. Great video.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Nothing wrong with 2cpp for domestic travel 🇺🇸

[@FlyWithRookie]

I was declined this morning for the Hawaiian airlines card through Barclays today. I ended up applying for the 70k points after a single purchase. Unfortunately too many accounts in the past 24 months 😩😃.

[@jpknowledge8852]

That stinks 😕

[@jimmyjames6492]

💯💯💯 Thanks for the info + video!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thank you for always stopping by 🙌🏾

[@Xavier_ID.]

Great info JP!

[@jpknowledge8852]

Thanks!

[@trickdickle6652]

💯I think the most misleading thing about the points and miles game is the lack of acknowledgement of value in cashing out $700 SUBs and letting that cash chill in VT or VOO for a several decades. As if getting $700 for spending $3-$4k on daily spend is some kind of ripoff. So many "I spent $500 on $50,000 worth of travel in 3 years!!!" But that $700 sub cashed into an IRA at age 20 will be worth over $50,000 by age 65.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Very true. There can be a ton of value in cashing out the points and putting the money into an index fund. We should always take into consideration the opportunity cost.

[@devlin76]

Great video JP! When I first was getting into the credit card points and miles world I watched a lot of AskSebby videos. He takes some amazing trips, but thankfully he is a math nerd so all the nitty gritty details were there if you were paying attention.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Sebby has good videos. I really like when he talks about his trips. I'm a math nerd 🤓

[@alyssabenshoff1012]

Excellent common sense video! Refreshing.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video

[@andreeldridge8457]

The problem is that Barclays is MUCH harder to be approved for. If it was easier to get, trust that more people would talk about it. The same with Cap 1.

[@jpknowledge8852]

That's fair to say. Chase and Amex are a lot easier to get approved for.

[@chadpennycuff]

After hanging out with a friend who refuses to use anything other than her Chase debit card but literally travels the world, free travel would be free to her minus the 9/11 fees.

[@jpknowledge8852]

I have many friends like that 😂 If only they knew what we know. I can't remember the last time I used a debit card to purchase anything.

[@chadpennycuff]

@@jpknowledge8852@ jpknowledge8852 It's also a matter if only they had the discipline we have, too. Some friends cannot hold a card without maxing it out.

[@docsays]

back in the 90s i went to europe & used old school american express travelers checks to convert to foreign currency & paid for everything in cash!

[@robert8311]

How I see points “ I have points to reduce the cost of my vacation “ it’s not free but it’s saving me money vs me doing cash back

[@jpknowledge8852]

That is a good way to look at it.

[@DC_Consulting_DC]

"Pay less" is the goal, buy isn't as click baity as "free". "Less is more", but not free.Tonight P2 and I are flying to LAX First Class on AA through AS miles. AS charges less miles on AA flights than AA.

[@jpknowledge8852]

Awesome! Alaska miles are currently the best way to book AA flights under 1,500 miles distance. Enjoy your trip.

[@riosafado]

hey are you accusing uncle Luke? yeah he’s the worst 😂

[@jpknowledge8852]

No, not Luke. He is the real deal. Very honest and open about his award redemption.

[@CesarJoel]

Great topic and information JP!🫵

[@jpknowledge8852]

I always appreciate your support, Cesar! 🙏🏾