Pointedbyjared

You need to call Amex — or open the chat feature right in the Amex app — and threaten to break up with them. Because that’s one of the easiest ways to unlock 10,000–50,000+ points in retention offers. Most people have no idea this exists. You simply explain you’re considering closing the card because of the annual fee, and Amex will often come back with a points offer to keep you. It works in the app chat just as well as over the phone. And these aren’t small numbers. Just last week I got my sister a 25,000-point retention offer for spending $2,500 over 3 months — money she was going to spend anyway. That’s basically a free flight for doing nothing different. Sometimes there’s no spend requirement at all. Other times it’s a threshold you’d hit naturally. Either way, this is one of the cleanest ways to build your points balance without changing anything about your daily habits. If you’re serious about maximizing points, doing this once a year needs to be part of your routine. Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter not harder 💳✈️ #travelhacks #amex #retentionoffer #pointsandmiles

Checking into Japan Airlines First Class at Haneda is on another level 🤯 Private entrance, dedicated first class zone, and one of the smoothest check-in experiences in the world 🇯🇵 Follow for more behind-the-scenes luxury travel + points hacks 🚀 #japanairlines #firstclass #jal #luxurytravel #travelgram

Boarding Japan Airlines A350-1000 First Class 🛫🇯🇵 This is JAL’s newest flagship aircraft — and their First Class suite is on another level 💺✨ From the moment you step onboard, everything feels like a private jet in the sky. Full Japan Airlines A350-1000 First Class review coming soon 👀🥂 Follow for more luxury travel, flight reviews + points hacks 🚀 #japanairlines #jal #firstclass #luxurytravel #traveltok

Last call if you have the Amex Platinum ⏳ Saks is back at 10x on @rakuten today and this is the last quarter we’re going to have to maximize the Saks credit before Amex kills the benefit in July 2026. So here’s the move. Saks is currently at 10% cash back on Rakuten, but if you link your Amex account, that turns into 10x Membership Rewards points instead 🔥 Then you check out with your Platinum card: • $50 Saks credit 💳 • 10x from Rakuten as Amex points 🎯 • +1x on the Platinum That’s 11x Membership Rewards points plus the $50 credit. Pretty incredible stack for a benefit most people forget exists. Quick refresher if you’re new here: Rakuten is an online shopping portal where hundreds of stores participate. Normally you earn cash back, but if you link your Amex account, you can elect to earn Membership Rewards points instead. If you’re not using Rakuten yet, use the link in my bio to get 5,000 points to get started. This credit is officially on the way out, so don’t just burn it — maximize it one last time. Let me know if you have any questions and comment what you’re using the credit on. Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #saksfifthavenue #amex #amexplatinum #creditcardpoints #moneyhacks

So we just wrapped up our stay at the The St. Regis Atlanta and we’ll be going back next year… but not for the reason you think. Let me explain. First off, I genuinely think this is the best Marriott in Atlanta. Honestly, it might be the best hotel in Atlanta period. And maybe I’m a little biased because I went to Emory, so Atlanta will always feel a bit like home to me. But this property just gets a lot right. The spa is incredible. The gym is legitimately one of the best hotel gyms I’ve experienced in the U.S. 🧖‍♂️🏋️ Breakfast was excellent, the pool scene was great, and the entire property has this calm luxury energy that weirdly feels like White Lotus in the best possible way. 🌴 Buckhead is also just a really fun area to stay in. Good restaurants, good energy, beautiful property, beautiful people. The vibes are there. Now with that said… we actually did have a few service issues during our stay. And at this price point, those things matter. But what separates great luxury hotels from average ones isn’t whether problems happen. Problems happen everywhere. It’s how the hotel responds when they do. And the service recovery here was exceptional. Management addressed my concerns directly, gave us Marriott points as a goodwill gesture, and even offered us a complimentary night for next year. That level of accountability honestly made me respect the property even more. That’s why we’ll be back. If you want the full breakdown on the actual service issues we experienced, comment below and I’ll do a follow up video explaining everything 👀 Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #stregisatlanta #stregis #luxuryhotel #atlantahotels #marriott

I go to two restaurants in New York City on a near monthly basis and considering how much I eat out… that says a lot. 🍽️ First is Theodora in Brooklyn. I’ve talked about it before but I genuinely think it’s one of the best restaurants in NYC right now. Seasonal menu, absurdly thoughtful cooking, incredible wine program, and every meal somehow feels better than the last. It’s one of those places where you immediately start planning your next visit before you leave. Second is @donangienyc in Manhattan. One of the best Italian restaurants in the country and one of the few places that fully lives up to the hype. Beli ranked it the number 3 Italian restaurant in America and honestly… I get it. 🇮🇹 The lasagna is legendary for a reason. Their pinwheel lasagna for two with Italian sausage bolognese and whipped robiolina is one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had. But what makes Don Angie special is that the rest of the menu is just as strong. The chrysanthemum salad is one of the best Caesar-style salads you’ll ever have. The stuffed garlic flatbread is absurd. The BBQ calamari with pepperoni fried rice sounds insane but completely works. The buffalo milk caramelle with black sesame and candied kumquat is one of the most unique pastas in NYC. Even the Japanese sweet potatoes are elite. 🔥 And the vibes are perfect New York. Packed West Village dining room, great cocktails, impossible reservation. 🍸 Also for my celiac friends — Don Angie is shockingly accommodating for an Italian restaurant. They have gluten free pasta and a ton of dishes that can be modified gluten free, so you can actually have a real meal there. Kristin loves it. 🤝 Drop your favorite NYC restaurant in the comments because I’m always looking for new spots. 👇 Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #nycfood #nycrestaurants #donangie #nyceats #foodgram

I was wrong guys. I was wrong about the Amex Green Card. I previously said to skip the Green and go straight for the Gold, but I think I underestimated this card. The Amex Green is one of the best starter travel cards on the market. You earn 3x on restaurants worldwide, 3x on travel, and 3x on transit. And that travel/transit category is broad. Flights, hotels, Airbnb, Uber, trains, subways, parking, tolls, cruises, ferries. Basically a lot of the stuff people actually spend money on when they travel or move around a city. The annual fee is $150, and the card also comes with up to $209 in CLEAR® Plus credits. But the bigger reason I like this as a starter card is because it gets you into the Amex Membership Rewards ecosystem. And once you’re in that ecosystem, Rakuten becomes incredibly powerful. Rakuten is an online shopping portal. Normally you earn cash back, but if you have an Amex card, you can link your Amex account to Rakuten and elect to earn Amex Membership Rewards points instead. For example, LG was recently 15x on Rakuten. That means if you bought a $1,000 appliance through Rakuten, you’d earn 15,000 Amex points just from Rakuten. Then you’d still earn points from whatever card you used to pay. That’s the power of getting into the Amex ecosystem early. You’re not just earning from the card. You’re unlocking Rakuten, Amex Offers, and transfer partners. And if you don’t already have Rakuten, you can use my link in bio and get a 5,000 point bonus after your first qualifying purchase. Comment below if the Amex Green is already in your wallet or if this card changed your mind. Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #amexgreen #amex #creditcard #rakuten #creditcardpoints

So I’m turning 33 in a few weeks. Life is incredible for me right now and I honestly don’t have many regrets, but there are definitely a few things I wish I could tell my 18 year old self. Just stuff I wish I understood earlier. First, you’ll find your people eventually. I was never the popular kid growing up. I was a little weird honestly and never fully felt like I fit in. But once I got to college, everything changed. Most of my closest friendships today came from that period of my life. So if you’re younger and feel out of place right now, don’t stress too much. Sometimes you’re just in the wrong environment. Second, prioritize fitness and wellness earlier. I graduated high school over 220 pounds and trust me… it was not a good look for me. I didn’t feel great physically or mentally and looking back I really wish I started taking fitness seriously earlier. It impacts every part of your life. Your confidence, your energy, your discipline, your relationships, all of it. I’m in the best shape of my life now though so I guess we figured it out eventually. And lastly, I wish I got into credit cards and points earlier. I didn’t figure this world out until I was 29. I’m about to turn 33 now so the last few years have basically been a complete speed run. Flying some of the best first and business class products in the world, staying at unbelievable hotels, traveling constantly, and somehow convincing my hot fiancée who is now my hot wife to marry me along the way. And honestly the best is still ahead. In a few weeks we leave for our honeymoon and it’s probably my crowning achievement so far as a luxury travel enthusiast. I think the bigger lesson here is your life can change really quickly once you find the things that genuinely excite you and fully commit to them. Drop any questions in the comments. Always happy to help. Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #33 #birthday #luxurywedding #honeymoon #pointsandmiles

My honeymoon may be my crowning achievement as a luxury travel enthusiast… but our 2025 engagement trip wasn’t far off. ✈️💍 Back in June and July of 2025, my wife and I spent 16 days across Asia hitting 4 countries: Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan. Every long-haul flight was booked with points, and we flew exclusively Business or First Class the entire trip. We started in Singapore for what can only be described as a real-life Crazy Rich Asians wedding. The ceremony was at Gardens by the Bay and the afterparty was at CÉ LA VI overlooking Marina Bay Sands. From there we headed to Krabi and stayed at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, one of the best hotels I’ve ever experienced. We got upgraded to a Reserve Villa, the service was next level, and yes — The Hangover Part II was filmed there. Then came Hong Kong at the St. Regis Hong Kong, where we were upgraded to the John Jacob Astor Suite, retailing for over $8,000 per night. We wrapped the trip in Tokyo at The Prince Gallery, one of my favorite hotels in the city, before flying home in Japan Airlines First Class. If we paid cash for this entire trip, it would’ve easily cost over $75,000. And somehow… the honeymoon gets even crazier. Stay tuned for that. If you want detailed breakdowns of any of these hotels, drop a comment and let me know which one. Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #honeymoon #engagement #thailandtravel #japantravel #worldtour

You’ll never ever catch me with a cash back card. Points and miles forever 🍾 #japantravel #japanairlines #firstclass #pointsandmiles #travelhacks

Getting comfortable being uncomfortable is one of the most important skills you can develop. When you start anything for the first time, chances are you’re not going to be very good at it unless you’re exceptionally gifted. I think this applies to almost everything in life — but especially traveling ✈️ and building a social media profile 📱. I was uncomfortable when I first started traveling internationally. I was uncomfortable when I started posting content. Talking to a camera felt weird. Posting publicly felt weird. But confidence usually comes from repetition, not before it. Most people quit during the uncomfortable stage. The people who eventually get good are usually just the ones willing to push through it a little longer. Drop a comment with an uncomfortable experience that ultimately made you better as a person 👇 Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #uncomfortable #characterbuilding #traveling #socialmedia

If you have an American Express, here are 3 of the best Amex Offers you should be checking your card for right now. 👀 1️⃣ Air France / KLM Spend $2,000 or more at AirFrance.us or KLM.com and earn a $400 statement credit. And if you have this offer on the Amex Platinum, it gets even better because flights booked directly with airlines earn 5x Membership Rewards points. So on a $2,000 purchase, you’d earn 10,000 Amex points plus the $400 statement credit. That’s effectively 20% back immediately before even valuing the points. I’ve also seen multiple versions of this offer floating around, including spend $1,200 and get $200 back, so definitely check all your cards. 2️⃣ Leading Hotels of the World Spend $700 or more at participating Leading Hotels of the World properties and earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points. This is one of those offers that can quietly be worth a LOT more than people realize. 15,000 Amex points is enough for a roundtrip economy flight from JFK to London on Virgin Atlantic during lower pricing periods. Or you can use those 15,000 points as a building block toward a business or first class redemption down the line. Either way, that’s a very strong return from a hotel stay you may have already been planning. 3️⃣ Marriott Bonvoy Spend $375 or more at participating Marriott properties and get $150 back. Eligible regions include the U.S., U.S. territories, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico. The return here is obviously strong, but the exclusions matter. This offer excludes several luxury brands, including St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, Bvlgari, Luxury Collection, W Hotels, JW Marriott, Design Hotels, and more. So this is more useful for brands like Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Renaissance, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, AC Hotels, and Moxy. Definitely check the full terms before assuming your stay qualifies. Drop your questions in the comments and I’ll try to help. Follow for more tips to supercharge your points accumulation, elevate your travel, and let’s work smarter — not harder. #amex #travelhacks #pointsandmiles #marriott #airfrance