Points & Miles FAQs: 10 Questions Every Traveler Should Know

So the first one that we get decently often, uh, especially when someone is new to Points and Miles, is, "I want to go to a specific destination.

What points should I earn?" This is, like, the classic beginner question, and it makes a lot of sense, right? You get started in Points and Miles because there's probably a place in mind that you want to go.

But sometimes that can maybe lead you a little astray.

Uh, I'm gonna throw it to, to you, Lavon, to see, like, how you would answer this.

Sure.

So absolutely, like, you know, when I, one of the things that really got me involved in Points and Miles and taking it to the next level was I wanted to go to Japan.

And so I'll, I'll use that as example.

Let's say you wanna go to Japan or to Australia, wherever it is that you're looking to go, and your mindset is, like, "Okay, like, I should be getting a specific kind of points currency to get to that place." And honestly, I don't think that that way of thinking is correct.

You wanna get transferable currency because that opens up all your options.

Um, there are so many devaluations that happen in Points and Miles, and what might be the best way to get to Japan today will not be the best way to get there even a month from now, six months from now, you know? So you just wanna have all your options open, and by having transferable currency, you're able to transfer to, you know, whether that's Air Canada, Air France, United, Turkish Airlines.

You just wanna have a bunch of options.

So focus on getting transferable currency first.

That way no matter what's happening in Points and Miles, because things change and they change quickly, you'll be ready to go.

You know, it's, it, it, it takes me back to the trip that got me into Points and Miles, um, and how so much of what you say resonates with me.

I got started trying to plan a trip to the Maldives, and instead of focusing on flexible points, I read how someone else did it and just tried to copy and mimic them.

And while it did end up working out, what it meant in the long run was that I took away some options that- Uh, took some time to, to get back.

You know, I opened cards with bank A and that restricted me.

You know, maybe it meant I had too high of a velocity or too many cards to where bank B would approve me.

So i- it comes back to it can negatively impact, like, the long-term strategy.

That doesn't mean it's not important to have that inspiration when you're getting started, um, but it can really impact those other trips after you get that, that dream one.

Um, and ultimately, those flexible points really are gonna be your, your workhorse of your points and miles journey.