Happy New Year and great entry! It's wild when you actually look at your balances and realize what you have floating out there.....I hope you can get some of those points sorted brother!
Excellent Video. Thanks for the walkthrough. I think the points "problem" will work itself out and lead to great family trip. On the way to 20k - I know you will get there soon
So for your flexible point currencies, those are rookie numbers, and I wouldn't worry about those. Hotel points are whatever because those are easier to redeem. What I think could be improved on is your speculative transfers into airlines. I know it's not intentional, but when you transfer to an airline, book a flight, and then cancel it, it becomes, by default, a speculative transfer. In any case, happy new year Uncle Luke! EARN AND BURN 🔥
💯 agree!! Fortunately I like to travel and I’m rarely picky when it comes to location!! Haha. I’m sure I can get those balances down. Plus I just bought HH to book Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷
Don't feel bad, Mr. Luke!!! I'm in a similar rut in my credit card journey. It's a little twisted that although the credit came is a long learning process, the foundation of it is a lot simpler than most of us can think. Hope all is well with you and Happy New Year, Uncle Luke!!!
Maybe the only fault here is to view these point balances as "investments" rather than bonuses. If you earned the points from expenses you would have made anyway, there's no loss of not using the bonuses. And if you're thinking "I need to find things to spend these points on" then it sounds like they're driving you to behave in a way you wouldn't have or force you to stick to a mantra that should benefit you with flexibility. Think of 'earn and burn' like the Pirate Code - it's more like a guideline than an actual rule. Don't beat yourself up!
Love the transparency. I have been in the same boat. I have not been able to use the points I have accumulated. It happens! I know you will blow through them in 2025!
More reason why some card users shouldn't get themselves into too many ecosystems. I see Luke handling this no problem but a non high spender should just stick to 1 or 2 programs and not get overwhelmed.
I disagree, if you are playing this game at a high level, point diversity is key since it allows you more flexibility and also gives you more opportunities to take advantage of transfer bonuses.
@@887363 you’re correct but it not really for folks that can really earn. A lot of folks that watch these videos can’t generate enough points to diversify.
Thanks for sharing. Its hard for me since much of my travel is for Government work which they force me to use their US Bank Card. For my personal travel I recently shifted from all my other credit card currencies to UR points specifically I was juggling between Chase, Citi, AMEX and some AA, DELTA, SW and other programs which I managed but it eventually burned me out. I'm single and dont have a player 2, so it was that much harder.
In 2023 I realized I was getting hosed with loyalty to Amex and Delta. 2024 was a year in transition, and 2025 it will be time to optimize the new direction.
Hey great video Luke. We just landed in Hawaii and I’m watching your video. Flew Delta first class on the Neo LAX - OGG. We paid cash $3600 round trip as we always do for domestic first class flights. We booked 5 nights using FNC’s and 1 additional night using points. 6 total. We’re staying at the Grand Wailea. Will let you know if we get upgraded as diamond. Like you we have points sitting around that we need to burn. For 2025 we already started burning points specifically Waldorf NYC. It just reopened and we booked for 4 nights 600k points early November. We will book D1 air fare to experience the D1 LAX and JFK. We’ll take care buddy!! Happy New Year!!!!
Great video, Uncle Luke. Im currently stacking MR. points with my Gold and Blue Business Plus card after using them for the wife and I on a first class ticket on Delta to San Antonio and staying with Hilton (amazing stay on the Riverwalk). I will be looking to upgrade my Hilton Honors card to the Aspire or just get the card and buy more Hilton points when the time is right. Cheers!
Good stash. I got something similar myself. I have way too many virgin atlantic miles, and those are the first to go when I can find a way to spend them. Those orphan Turkish miles might be tough use. I feel like their program isn't worth the headache anymore
Hey Luke. I have a cruise coming up next week. I used my Chase points to transfer to Southwest for our flight. I used my Wells Fargo points to transfer to Choice hotels for a one night stay in Miami. I used my United points to book part of the cruise. 😊
@@kristencdavis9 thank you ma’am. Some of the secret strategies are really only talked about in person at meetings ups. This one In particular I would not talk about online.
Happy New Year Uncle Luke! I have 91,201 MR points with my Amex Green that used to be Gold and back to Green. I have no trips coming up especially with my current job closing on the 12th of Jan. I am going to another job on the 13th. Hopefully it works out.
It is okay, I F'd up… I put about 3500 purchase on my Hilton Surpass card on the 30th of December forgetting I was going use that purchase in 2025 towards my 15k free night redemption Jan 1.
Always great content Unc Luke! How did you get so many airline miles? Did you transfer over the past year or just use the airline credit cards? I noticed you’re heavier there than credit card points
Wells Fargo the best transfer IMO is choice hotel for the 2x value for it and book the Choice high Hotels in Norway and Ireland, I already have around 135k Wells Fargo points plus 310k Choice points which put me on plus 580k Choice points, only if I transfer all my Wells Fargo points which will be the case to stay over 5 weeks in Norway and Ireland after the mid of July 2025
Happy New Year Luke! I was looking to buy HH points at half a cent on sale. How do you find value at that rate? I figure it must be by booking international properties and using the 5th night free. I was checking domestic properties and it seemed that using points wouldn’t be a great redemption,except maybe a Waldorf, Conrad or LXR.
Great problem to have! Most of your points are non transferable, and not in large enough quantities for a big luxury trip, which means you may have a hard time getting good CPP value out of them. But hey, there are worse things. You could start being more strategic about your redemptions, but that takes more time and energy. But hey, figuring out how to spend a pile of gold you're sitting on can be a lot of fun. Maybe try something off the beaten path like a virgin atlantic hotel stay? With Delta, I've been able to consistently get 1.7 CPP with their take off 15% deal. Great video!
I think your number 1 priority should be burning those flying blue miles. I feel like those great 50K biz redemptions are getting harder and harder to find, even from Canada. Something you may want to look into is using flying blue miles to fly Eithad Business. You can fly direct to AUH from BOS/JFK/IAD for 86-91K Flying Blue miles. As far as the other programs, I won't be worried about them. The ones where you have large balances you will be able to find uses for, and the ones with small balances, if you can't use them, it is only a small amount of points anyway so not really a big deal.
I was successful in reconsidering my Ink cash! Now I am interested in transferring to Hyatt for an upcoming May wedding in Dallas. Does Chase ever do a bonus on Hyatt points like they are currently doing with IHG? Should I wait?
One used to not need a passport to go to Hawaii, but with that real ID requirement happening this year, it is required to have a real ID license, passport card, or passport to travel to any state in America. A little annoying for those who don’t have any form of real ID yet
So you have both real ID in a pass port ? I thought in order to fly in 2025 you need just the pass port in real ID is for those with out a pass port So let me understand you need both pass port in Real ID . Is. That correct ?
@@LukesPointsandMiles I know I have the pass port book and pass port card just need real ID in my Lic now just to be on the safe side . Thxz Uncle Luke safe travel Sir .
Hey Luke, great video. If you're comfortable, I encourage you to share your 2024 cc spend by category. I've often wondered if my favorite credit card are just spending a ton of money every year
@@siumaka that’s a great idea. I’m not sure if I would have the time to get all that together. Another tough part is when there are canceled cards for the year and I do cancel cards. I’ll take a look at things when I get a chance. But i would think the spending for my cards is likely around $120k in 2024. Maybe 10-15% higher.
I know saving points devalues them, but I'm trying to get 2 from MS to Hawaii. I'm stocking back cash back for the required positioning flights etc. Currently have a little over 300k points split between Amex and Citi. The goal is to use Amex for the flights and Citi for the hotel. Choice has ok stuff in Hawaii. Thoughts?
You are going to "like" the video Im dropping today then... Please forgive me Uncle Luke 🤣😁 As long as the points are going to get used, thats all that matters.
Im guilty, but its my plan. Wife retires in the Summer. This year im using dated certificates, but next year when retirement income starts to settle is when I want to use my points. I acknowledge im taking a risk. So no devaluations please.
@@LukesPointsandMiles I get it, my home airport is a Southwest hub as well. I also have a few FNCs to burn thriugh by 5/31 and tend to use them in Vegas
Amex MR - 110k Chase UR - 77k Citi - 2k United - 280k Delta - 123k American - 5k Alaska - 130k KLM - 55k Hilton - 625k Hyatt - 1k Had a lot of redemptions in 2024 via Amex/Chase/Citi for flights through Qantas, United, American and Alaska. I redeemed nearly 1 million Hilton points in 2024. And I’m starting the year in Niseko Japan to hit the world renowned slopes and family activities. I am concerned about Delta and KLM as it’s tough to redeem here in Japan due to the lack is Sky Team partners. I am going to organically spend until the Alaska Premium Card releases and news on the Citi Elite comes out. Great show!
here is the link to Chad's Video!!! Check it out! ua-cam.com/video/4ZZ5IBv96oE/v-deo.htmlsi=oqHNnGFvDByKtuhl
Happy New Year and great entry! It's wild when you actually look at your balances and realize what you have floating out there.....I hope you can get some of those points sorted brother!
@@OfficialChadsMoneyMinutes yeah - earning is always the easy part when in aggressive mode!!!
Happy New Year! Great video! Thank you for sharing this!
Excellent Video. Thanks for the walkthrough. I think the points "problem" will work itself out and lead to great family trip. On the way to 20k - I know you will get there soon
@@TravelingonEverydaySpend-yr9nq thank you sir!! And thanks for stopping by!!!!
So for your flexible point currencies, those are rookie numbers, and I wouldn't worry about those. Hotel points are whatever because those are easier to redeem. What I think could be improved on is your speculative transfers into airlines. I know it's not intentional, but when you transfer to an airline, book a flight, and then cancel it, it becomes, by default, a speculative transfer. In any case, happy new year Uncle Luke! EARN AND BURN 🔥
💯 agree!! Fortunately I like to travel and I’m rarely picky when it comes to location!! Haha. I’m sure I can get those balances down. Plus I just bought HH to book Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷
I respect your opinion.. and love your content..I have learned a lot about points ..Great info. Thank you!
@@alexrod550 thank you for the kind words!
Don't feel bad, Mr. Luke!!! I'm in a similar rut in my credit card journey. It's a little twisted that although the credit came is a long learning process, the foundation of it is a lot simpler than most of us can think. Hope all is well with you and Happy New Year, Uncle Luke!!!
@@professorx8258 thank you sir! Happy new year!!
Happy New Year to you and your family Luke!! I am planning on spending even more this year! Thanks for the look into ur points life as always
@@PhilMo78 thanks for stopping by Phil! See you in PR!!!
Maybe the only fault here is to view these point balances as "investments" rather than bonuses. If you earned the points from expenses you would have made anyway, there's no loss of not using the bonuses. And if you're thinking "I need to find things to spend these points on" then it sounds like they're driving you to behave in a way you wouldn't have or force you to stick to a mantra that should benefit you with flexibility. Think of 'earn and burn' like the Pirate Code - it's more like a guideline than an actual rule. Don't beat yourself up!
@@manteomax1 love the analogy!
Love the transparency. I have been in the same boat. I have not been able to use the points I have accumulated. It happens! I know you will blow through them in 2025!
@@Thecreditcardconnection I will have a really good time burning those points too!! Haha
@ 🤣🤣
The WF points, definitely best used for Choice. But Virgin or Flying Blue is not bad either.
@@soapa4279 lots of great choices. Like choice! Sorry
More reason why some card users shouldn't get themselves into too many ecosystems. I see Luke handling this no problem but a non high spender should just stick to 1 or 2 programs and not get overwhelmed.
Can’t disagree.
I disagree, if you are playing this game at a high level, point diversity is key since it allows you more flexibility and also gives you more opportunities to take advantage of transfer bonuses.
@@887363 you’re correct but it not really for folks that can really earn. A lot of folks that watch these videos can’t generate enough points to diversify.
Thanks for sharing. Its hard for me since much of my travel is for Government work which they force me to use their US Bank Card.
For my personal travel I recently shifted from all my other credit card currencies to UR points specifically
I was juggling between Chase, Citi, AMEX and some AA, DELTA, SW and other programs which I managed but it eventually burned me out.
I'm single and dont have a player 2, so it was that much harder.
@@FrequentFlyer_MIA very understandable
In 2023 I realized I was getting hosed with loyalty to Amex and Delta. 2024 was a year in transition, and 2025 it will be time to optimize the new direction.
@@thejokerspeaks very cool. I Cant wait to hear about it. I’m not exactly in the business of being loyal these days.
More to 🔥🔥🔥 in 2025! Happy New Year 🍾🎈🎊
@@jimmyjames6492 happy new year, Jimmy!!
Hey great video Luke. We just landed in Hawaii and I’m watching your video. Flew Delta first class on the Neo LAX - OGG. We paid cash $3600 round trip as we always do for domestic first class flights.
We booked 5 nights using FNC’s and 1 additional night using points. 6 total.
We’re staying at the Grand Wailea. Will let you know if we get upgraded as diamond. Like you we have points sitting around that we need to burn.
For 2025 we already started burning points specifically Waldorf NYC. It just reopened and we booked for 4 nights 600k points early November. We will book D1 air fare to experience the D1 LAX and JFK.
We’ll take care buddy!!
Happy New Year!!!!
@@FlyWithRookie have a great time in Hawaii!!!! You’re killing the game!!
Great video, Uncle Luke. Im currently stacking MR. points with my Gold and Blue Business Plus card after using them for the wife and I on a first class ticket on Delta to San Antonio and staying with Hilton (amazing stay on the Riverwalk). I will be looking to upgrade my Hilton Honors card to the Aspire or just get the card and buy more Hilton points when the time is right. Cheers!
@@CardHunter-u2t nice work, sir! I just bought HH points today! Happy new year!!!
@@LukesPointsandMiles Sweet! Happy New Year to you and yours also.
Happy New Year from Detroit!🎉
@@BobI-jb4rk rock city!!
Im doing cashback for all of 2025. I started transfering my rewards last month to hysc so they dont get burned by inflation.
@@trustmebrobro can’t argue that technique!
Good stash. I got something similar myself. I have way too many virgin atlantic miles, and those are the first to go when I can find a way to spend them.
Those orphan Turkish miles might be tough use. I feel like their program isn't worth the headache anymore
Young might be right. Last resort is to transfer 25k over for a one way to Europe with a stop over. That sounds pretty fun.
Hey Luke.
I have a cruise coming up next week.
I used my Chase points to transfer to Southwest for our flight.
I used my Wells Fargo points to transfer to Choice hotels for a one night stay in Miami.
I used my United points to book part of the cruise. 😊
Nice work!!! Killing it!
Orphaned airlines points in oddball airlines is the worst! Happy New Year!!
@@RICHwithPOINTS yeah but I’m confident I’ll get them squared away! Thanks for stopping by, Rich!!
Would love to know your strategy to earn more WF points. Hopefully I can catch one of your lives! Thanks for all the great information!
@@kristencdavis9 thank you ma’am. Some of the secret strategies are really only talked about in person at meetings ups. This one In particular I would not talk about online.
7:21 are you going to share how you are earning WF points?
@@iankm1 not something I can share publicly. Maybe at a meet up. But it’s also very location dependent so it’s not for everyone
Those airline miles can be challeging to track with a busy life but, I know you will use them💪 Great overview and video mi hermano!🫵
Thank you sir!!! I’ll square it away!
Happy New Year Uncle Luke! I have 91,201 MR points with my Amex Green that used to be Gold and back to Green. I have no trips coming up especially with my current job closing on the 12th of Jan. I am going to another job on the 13th. Hopefully it works out.
@@Th33Vultur3 good luck 🍀 with the new job!!
Luke I'm sure you'll have no problem burning them quickly enough. Points can fly out the door quickly with 1 trip!
@@druiz012 that’s a fact!!
It is okay, I F'd up… I put about 3500 purchase on my Hilton Surpass card on the 30th of December forgetting I was going use that purchase in 2025 towards my 15k free night redemption Jan 1.
@@MH_6160 oh man! Haah.
I call all of my redeemed points, but not yet flown on points in purgatory
@@iankm1 ah ok that makes sense. I consider those “deployed” until they are redeemed
Always great content Unc Luke! How did you get so many airline miles? Did you transfer over the past year or just use the airline credit cards? I noticed you’re heavier there than credit card points
@@Jon-lo6uc transferring them over to book flights and then canceling. So basically just being stupid
I have close to 100k points stuck on Iberia. Booked and cancelled a flight to Spain and now don’t have plans to use them any time soon.
Good thing about Iberia though, those can be moved over to Aer LIngus, BA, Qatar or Finair
Points hoarding for my honeymoon next year. You’d be mortified with my balances!!
@@TheJordanRulesforCredit as long as they get spent!
@ Will do!!
This year I wanna get as much UR pts as much as I can but I agree if you don’t use them it will be useless
@@jamesyu613 I’d like to earn more UR too!
@@LukesPointsandMiles UR pts are so powerful
Wells Fargo the best transfer IMO is choice hotel for the 2x value for it and book the Choice high Hotels in Norway and Ireland, I already have around 135k Wells Fargo points plus 310k Choice points which put me on plus 580k Choice points, only if I transfer all my Wells Fargo points which will be the case to stay over 5 weeks in Norway and Ireland after the mid of July 2025
@@qahtanalqaysi5116 that’s awesome! Latin America has some good choice options as well
Happy New Year Luke! I was looking to buy HH points at half a cent on sale. How do you find value at that rate? I figure it must be by booking international properties and using the 5th night free. I was checking domestic properties and it seemed that using points wouldn’t be a great redemption,except maybe a Waldorf, Conrad or LXR.
@@paulstein916 yeah the value is definitely geared towards higher end properties with 5th night free. For shorter stays I might use Hyatt or ihg.
Great problem to have! Most of your points are non transferable, and not in large enough quantities for a big luxury trip, which means you may have a hard time getting good CPP value out of them. But hey, there are worse things. You could start being more strategic about your redemptions, but that takes more time and energy. But hey, figuring out how to spend a pile of gold you're sitting on can be a lot of fun. Maybe try something off the beaten path like a virgin atlantic hotel stay? With Delta, I've been able to consistently get 1.7 CPP with their take off 15% deal. Great video!
@@joephillips5594 great tip. Thank book one ways so most of those higher balances are just enough for 3 biz class tickets.
@LukesPointsandMiles Beautiful
I think your number 1 priority should be burning those flying blue miles. I feel like those great 50K biz redemptions are getting harder and harder to find, even from Canada.
Something you may want to look into is using flying blue miles to fly Eithad Business. You can fly direct to AUH from BOS/JFK/IAD for 86-91K Flying Blue miles.
As far as the other programs, I won't be worried about them. The ones where you have large balances you will be able to find uses for, and the ones with small balances, if you can't use them, it is only a small amount of points anyway so not really a big deal.
@@887363 great tip. I will look into to the etihad option!!!
I was successful in reconsidering my Ink cash! Now I am interested in transferring to Hyatt for an upcoming May wedding in Dallas. Does Chase ever do a bonus on Hyatt points like they are currently doing with IHG? Should I wait?
@@joanreilly6419 never. At least I’ve never heard of it.
One used to not need a passport to go to Hawaii, but with that real ID requirement happening this year, it is required to have a real ID license, passport card, or passport to travel to any state in America. A little annoying for those who don’t have any form of real ID yet
@@chickenfactory1010 I guess I just meant that not having a passport limits our options for one of those “amazing vacations” but yeah you’re right
So you have both real ID in a pass port ?
I thought in order to fly in 2025 you need just the pass port in real ID is for those with out a pass port
So let me understand you need both pass port in Real ID . Is. That correct ?
@ I’m not exactly sure about the real ID. They told us we needed it so I got it and then they postponed it a bunch of times. So
@@LukesPointsandMiles I know I have the pass port book and pass port card just need real ID in my Lic now just to be on the safe side . Thxz Uncle Luke safe travel Sir .
Hey Luke, great video. If you're comfortable, I encourage you to share your 2024 cc spend by category. I've often wondered if my favorite credit card are just spending a ton of money every year
@@siumaka that’s a great idea. I’m not sure if I would have the time to get all that together. Another tough part is when there are canceled cards for the year and I do cancel cards. I’ll take a look at things when I get a chance. But i would think the spending for my cards is likely around $120k in 2024. Maybe 10-15% higher.
After how many months does flying blue miles expire? And is there a way to renew them so that they don’t?
@@MR-ys3vc yes. I’d have to look at the times. I did a video on miles expiring a while back but I know flying blue might be two years.
I know saving points devalues them, but I'm trying to get 2 from MS to Hawaii. I'm stocking back cash back for the required positioning flights etc. Currently have a little over 300k points split between Amex and Citi. The goal is to use Amex for the flights and Citi for the hotel. Choice has ok stuff in Hawaii. Thoughts?
@@Just_Stevo I’ve not looked at choice properties in Hawaii but I like your strategy. Saving points for a clear goal is a way to stay motivated.
You are going to "like" the video Im dropping today then...
Please forgive me Uncle Luke 🤣😁
As long as the points are going to get used, thats all that matters.
@@JonsCreditAndTravel haha! I look forward to watching!!
4:24 solid color
@@iankm1 Ha! Yeah that’s the biz gold
I’m at 120k Amex pts now. Trying to get to 278k to pay for an another flight to Italy. I’m able to earn between 10k-14k pts per month
@@Anthony-zw1qb nice. Cant wait to visit Italy!🇮🇹
Im guilty, but its my plan. Wife retires in the Summer. This year im using dated certificates, but next year when retirement income starts to settle is when I want to use my points. I acknowledge im taking a risk. So no devaluations please.
@@billwright2176 nice!! Congrats on her retirement!!!!
sitting with around 3 mil points and miles. earn faster than i can use them.
@@The_Turd_Ferguson yikes! That’s a lot!!
I’m down to meet in Vegas
@@johnny_ma that the only carrier here that flys to Vegas direct
@@LukesPointsandMiles I get it, my home airport is a Southwest hub as well. I also have a few FNCs to burn thriugh by 5/31 and tend to use them in Vegas
@@johnny_ma nice moves!!
what's the great way you are earning Wells Fargo Points?
@@fajame not something I want to publish
Can you adopt me?
@@Nanoparticle7 I already have step kids. So not likely. Haha
He's already your uncle!
@ 🤣
Amex MR - 110k
Chase UR - 77k
Citi - 2k
United - 280k
Delta - 123k
American - 5k
Alaska - 130k
KLM - 55k
Hilton - 625k
Hyatt - 1k
Had a lot of redemptions in 2024 via Amex/Chase/Citi for flights through Qantas, United, American and Alaska. I redeemed nearly 1 million Hilton points in 2024. And I’m starting the year in Niseko Japan to hit the world renowned slopes and family activities.
I am concerned about Delta and KLM as it’s tough to redeem here in Japan due to the lack is Sky Team partners.
I am going to organically spend until the Alaska Premium Card releases and news on the Citi Elite comes out.
Great show!
@@CarlosHdz-rm6sg thanks Carlos! Those are some healthy balances!!
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I can't take anymore clickbait garbage. Blocking your channel.
@@milesburgin6436 well thanks for stopping by!
If this was the trigger point title for blocking him you might have a short fuse LOL