Save Time by Avoiding this Redundant Points and Miles Content

Redundant Points and Miles Content

I’m routinely confounded at how intensely people who do stuff on the internet for money cover niche topics, including points and miles content.  Of course, I’m occasionally one of those, but I also try to remember how tremendously silly all of it is.  What points and travel hobbyists do is relatively trivial in the grand scheme of things, no matter how seriously we take it.  Along the way, I’ve noticed a few particularly superfluous content areas, and I’m reflecting on them today.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a Terrific Card

Whenever I’ve seen someone fawn over the Chase Sapphire Preferred, I presume it may have been a slow week for them.  In my view, it’s the most overdone, there’s-not-much-to-cover-this-week filler out there.  But I agree that it’s a solid card for many.  Indeed, it’s been one of the most commonly-held beliefs in our hobby since it arrived about 15 years ago.  Way to stick your neck out there with such a flaming hot take!

The problem is that it’s not always the optimal move, and this constant repetition can lead many to miss when is truly a remarkable time to pick it up – which was just recently.  Maybe I’m way off, and the sheer amount of current discourse on the 100k offer was enough to grab attention.  Regardless, move on to more original, thought-provoking content.

Check Out My Killer Redemption

I find it’s vital to know oneself within our hobby and beyond.  Identify your goals and encourage your family and friends to do the same.  This generally doesn’t require the involvement of internet randos telling you about what a great deal they got on their cliche destination or how you absolutely must hit this place you’ve never heard of but now must apparently care about.  Sure, I think it’s great to seek inspiration, but why does it necessarily need to be from one with perhaps-questionable motives for said content?  Plenty of great resources are out there, many online, but other people’s redemptions shouldn’t necessarily sway your own goals.

What I Would Do with this Many Points or Miles in that Program

Along the lines of above, overly indulging in this content is missing the point.  Groundbreaking statement – we’re all different.  Just because one person redeems their points one way doesn’t mean another should.  Overreliance on such content can be dangerous.  Are you trying to live out your own dreams, or someone else’s?  If you can’t identify how you would redeem points and miles without huge loads of material from others, maybe this isn’t the hobby for you.  Plus, point transfer ratios and redemption values frequently change, quickly making this content obsolete.

I Shall Endlessly Pontificate on a Fairly-Straightforward Topic and Call It “Analysis”

Our points and travel hobby can get tremendously convoluted.  Certain convoluted topics require more explanation than others.  So I consider it malpractice when someone incessantly blathers on a given subject when it’s clearly not required in order to understand.  Maybe they’re getting paid by the word.

Here’s how this content tends to go:

I was thinking this, but then I thought this, until I wisely thought that.  I could’ve done this, and maybe I should’ve done that, but I ultimately did this, until I changed my mind to do that.  And this reminds me of that, and then also this.  It’s certainly fortunate that I noticed this, but, of course I did, because that is based on my previous, extensive knowledge of that. 

Plus, each and every one of those sidebars goes on, and on, and on.  And, so it repeats, in  separate pieces.

Often, this snake oil is then sold to consumers as “in-depth” and/or “analysis.”  More likely, it’s someone who can’t concisely make a logical point, is arrogant enough to think we need to know their whole life story as it relates to the topic, or both.  The individual seems to repeatedly bloviate, “everyone bask in my omniscience.”  Insufferable, I say!

Rise above such content and take back your most valuable resource – time.

I Have No Idea How to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Beyond Hyatt

I end where I began, with Chase.  Many points and travel hobbyists bend over backwards to justify most any Ultimate Rewards transfer to Hyatt for a hotel award redemption.  Certain ones are logical and fairly simple, not requiring content on the subject.  People create it, anyway.  Other redemptions may be a bit more obscure, but still sensible – content I find interesting even if I’m past my Hyatt era (the Gold Passport days).  Then others’ stuff involves nonsensical Hyatt redemptions which clearly illustrate an overreliance on Ultimate Rewards transfers to Hyatt.

My wif and I have historically cashed out Ultimate Rewards for years, even before Pay Yourself Back existed.  We’ve only redeemed for something else once.  I feel Chase is overdue for a transfer partner refresh.  So for travelers deep into Ultimate Rewards, I can understand the conundrum of going all-in on Hyatt.  But I now discount the vast majority of Hyatt-related material.  Does that mean I’m missing out on something with Hyatt?  Maybe, but given my current life season, that’s fine with me.

Redundant Points and Miles Content – Conclusion

I’m not capturing all of the redundance out there in this post, but I wouldn’t want to, anyway.  That would make me what I’m railing against.  Maybe I’ll return to this topic again in the future, or maybe not.

Bigger picture, I know I may be guilty of certain parts of above, but I actually try to minimize it.  Write what you know, they say.  I know me, intricacies of a few credit cards and loyalty programs, and my favorite earning and redemption options.  But at a certain point, none of that is interesting any longer.  If only others realized that about themselves sometimes.