Point Me To First Class

Have you ever been tempted to completely change your vacation plans because of an irresistible points deal?
 
That's exactly what happened when Japan Airlines did a random first class award dump last April. I couldn't resist jumping on the opportunity to book our family of four in first class to Tokyo - even though it meant splitting us across two different flights and completely scrapping our original Mexico plans.
 
For the first time in this podcast's history, my husband Brandon joins me at the mic to recap our spring break trip to Japan with our two kids. In part one of this two-part series, Brandon and I walk through how this accidental trip came together, what it was like flying Japan Airlines first class as a family, our stay at the newly renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo, and the reality of traveling with kids in Japan - from the Pokémon Cafe to nearly missing the bullet train to Kyoto.
 
This is an honest, unfiltered look at what goes right and what goes wrong even with advanced planning, as we cover the flight drama, the Tokyo highlights, and everything that happened before we made it to Kyoto.
 
Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/japan-family-trip-recap-part-1 
 
Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 
 
Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Have you ever felt like you're so caught up in your daily roles and responsibilities that you've lost touch with who you are beneath all of that?
 
Dr. Stacey Funt, a radiologist, health coach, and founder of LH Adventure Travel, believes that travel has the power to help us reconnect: not just with the world around us, but with ourselves. She curates wellness and adventure group trips for women to some of the most transformative destinations on earth, from trekking the Inca Trail to exploring the Atlas Mountains to hiking in the Himalayas. But the real transformation doesn't come from the destinations themselves. It comes from what happens when women finally give themselves permission to step away from everything they're responsible for and into an experience that's entirely their own.
 
Dr. Stacey Funt and I discuss why that permission is often the hardest part, what changes when you remove the mental load of planning and managing everything, and why traveling with a group of like-minded women creates such a unique space for vulnerability and connection. She also opens up about how a solo trek in Nepal during one of the darkest periods of her life became the catalyst for building a business around creating these kinds of experiences for others.
Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/wellness-adventure-travel-stacey-funt 
 
Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 
 
Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

If you're a business owner who pays payroll for yourself or your employees, you might be sitting on one of the biggest untapped points-earning opportunities in your business—and it doesn't require opening new cards or chasing welcome bonuses.
 
DeAndre Coke, a financial advisor and points expert, returns to the show to give us a much-needed update on earning credit card points for payroll expenses using the Zil Money platform. We first talked about this strategy back in Episode 105 last year, but right after that conversation aired, the entire system experienced major disruptions. DeAndre and I discuss what happened over the past year, what's different and working reliably now, and how business owners can approach this strategy moving forward.
 
DeAndre and I walk through the step-by-step process for how this works, which credit cards are currently the best options for maximizing points, and the real math behind the ROI—including the processing fees, platform costs, and how to actually evaluate whether this makes sense for your business. We also cover critical best practices to avoid disrupting your payroll and who this strategy is and isn't right for.
 
Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/earning-points-on-payroll-update 
 
Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 
 
Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

If you've ever wished you could talk about points and miles with people who are just as enthusiastic about it as you are—without worrying about annoying anyone—this episode is for you.
 
Dr. Andrea Mabry and I are officially announcing the 2027 Point Me to First Class Conference, taking place in Austin, Texas from April 29th through May 2nd at the Hyatt Regency Austin. After the incredible response to our first conference in Chicago, we knew we wanted to do this again—and this time, we're giving you a full year to plan ahead.
 
Listen in as Andrea and I discuss why we're hosting another live in-person event, what makes this format so valuable compared to learning online, and all the details you need to know about the conference. We share details from the speaker lineup and our session format to room rates, CME accreditation for medical providers, and how to register. Whether you've been to points conferences before or you're considering attending your first one, this episode walks through what to expect and who this conference is designed for.
 
Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/2027-conference-announcement-austin 
 
Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 
 
Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

If you've been holding the same credit cards for years, you might be missing out on one of the most underutilized strategies for building a stronger, more cost-effective rewards card portfolio.
 
Product changes don't get the same attention as opening new cards for big welcome bonuses or booking aspirational travel. But they offer surprising benefits that can help you lower annual fees, acquire cards that are no longer open to new applicants, and even stack spend thresholds in ways that compound your rewards. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what credit card product changes are, how they work, and the five main ways you can use them strategically to your advantage.
 
Listen in as I walk through the mechanics of upgrade and downgrade product changes, the key benefits and limitations to understand, and tactical examples of how to use product changes to hold multiple copies of high-value cards, access cards that are closed to new applications, and maximize bonus category earning without opening new accounts.
 
Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/credit-card-product-changes-strategy 
 
Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of! 

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy