{"podcast":{"title":"Point Me To First Class","slug":"point-me-to-first-class-6237146","podcast_index_feed_id":6237146,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/464010/rss","website_url":"https://pointmetofirstclass.com/podcast","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/2/5/d/a/25dae9ed72ce1f8bd959afa2a1bf1c87/PMTFC-Podcast-Cover-Art-3000.jpg","author":"Devon Gimbel MD","episode_count":184,"summary":"Point Me to First Class is a show for employed professionals, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and business owners with higher-than-average personal and/or business expenses who want to learn to leverage them into credit card points to spend on travel. Your expenses are your greatest untapped asset - but learning how to use them to travel the world doesn't have to be confusing or complicated. Each week, Devon Gimbel shares valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points and shows you how to spend them on incredible travel experiences. Interested in learning more about working with Devon? Visit www.pointmetofirstclass.com to learn more. This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like: How do I earn credit card points and use them for travel? How can I make my expenses benefit me? How can I earn as many credit card points for as little spending as possible? How to maximize value from credit card points. How to earn credit card points for travel. Turn credit card points into travel.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-20T16:19:21.757777+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/point-me-to-first-class-6237146"},"episode":{"title":"163. Listener Q&A: Bilt vs Amex, Spending Toward Status, & Rethinking Points Fundamentals","slug":"163-listener-q-a-bilt-vs-amex-spending-toward-status-rethinking-points-fundamentals","published_at":"2026-04-13T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/point-me-to-first-class-6237146/163-listener-q-a-bilt-vs-amex-spending-toward-status-rethinking-points-fundamentals","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/point-me-to-first-class-6237146","url":"https://pointmetofirstclass.com/listener-qa-points-strategy-evolution","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/971afa5f-caf9-4235-9445-9b18164a0a4c/PMTFC_-_Ep163.mp3?dest-id=3917916","summary":"Have you ever wondered if the advice you're following about credit cards and points is still relevant—or if the landscape has shifted enough that the old \"rules\" no longer apply? In this listener Q&A episode, I'm answering your questions on everything from Rakuten rewards strategy and Chase credit card approvals to hotel booking during peak travel times and whether hotel status is worth the spend. But the biggest topic I tackle is one I've been thinking about a lot lately: how my fundamental advice about earning and using points has evolved over the past decade. Listen in as I walk through why I no longer recommend Chase as the automatic starting point for everyone, why co-branded credit cards are becoming more strategically important than they used to be, and why the barrier to entry in this hobby may be lower than ever—but the bar for getting real value is actually higher. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in this space for years, this episode offers both tactical answers and a bigger-picture look at how to think about points strategy in the current landscape. Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/listener-qa-points-strategy-evolution 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","meta_description":"Have you ever wondered if the advice you're following about credit cards and points is still relevant—or if the landscape has shifted enough that the old…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":5913,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/point-me-to-first-class-6237146/episodes/163-listener-q-a-bilt-vs-amex-spending-toward-status-rethinking-points-fundamentals/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/point-me-to-first-class-6237146/163-listener-q-a-bilt-vs-amex-spending-toward-status-rethinking-points-fundamentals.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}