Rethinking Elite Status and Smarter Ways to Earn and Use Points

All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

Chris Hutchins

Business, Education, Investing, Society & Culture, Places & Travel, Self-improvement

4.7 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

#220: Is chasing elite status worth it? Chris shares his journey of earning elite status with 8 hotel and airline loyalty programs for 2025, weighing the pros and cons amid recent devaluations. He also highlights listener stories showcasing over $100,000 in combined savings through smart points and miles strategies. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/rethinking-elite-status-listener-wins Partner Deals Thrive Market: 30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Bilt Air France-KLM Flying Blue Status Match Marriott Free Breakfast Article Marriott Secret Award Chart Loyalty Point Hunters Credit Cards Alaska Airlines® Business Card AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Automate Card-Linked Offers CardPointers Pro: 30% off here or 50% off for ATH members SaveWise Prenuvo: Get $300 off a whole body scan TV Show Recommendations: Paradise Landman Silo The Day of the Jackal Free Unclaimed Money Site Pic of Brandon at Lowe’s ATH Podcast Ep #101: Planning the Best Japan Trip Ever with Brandon Pressor Ep #102: Traveling to Japan with Points & Miles Ep #166: Best Award Search Tools for Booking Flights with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler Ep #182: Shortcuts to Elite Travel Status with Greg the Frequent Miler Ep #216: Purpose, Friendship, and Human Skills with Simon Sinek Ep #215: Medical Travel: Better Care and Lower Costs for Surgery, IVF, Dental, Advanced Screenings and More with Josef Woodman Iceland 2025 Trip Membership Newsletter Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, wins, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:06) Quick Overview (03:13) Southwest Airlines: A-List Status (07:43) United and Delta Status (11:16) Earning American Airlines Status (13:58) The Perks of Marriott Elite Status (19:55) Achieving Top-Tier Hyatt Status (23:56) Hilton Honors Elite Status (25:01) Is Chasing Status Actually Worth It? (32:26) Leveraging Card-Linked Offers and Tools to Automate (40:52) TV Show Recommendations (41:53) How to Avoid Uber Fees Abroad (42:16) Get Free Unclaimed Money From Your State (44:26) Amazing Listener Wins Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Elite status with airlines and hotels. Gets you great benefits, but who needs it, right?
0:07.0	Well, six months ago, I would have said not me. But somehow, heading into 2025, I've racked
0:12.6	up status on four airlines and four hotel groups. In this episode, I break down exactly how
0:18.0	it happened, the unexpected perks, and whether chasing status is actually
0:22.1	worth it. Plus, I'm sharing some incredible listener wins, the biggest loyalty program devaluations
0:28.0	you should know about, and my new approach to actually using points instead of just collecting them.
0:33.5	I'm Chris Hutchins. If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend or leave a comment or
0:37.5	review. And if you want to keep upgrading your life, money, and travel, click follow or subscribe.
0:42.7	Now, let's get into it right after this. This episode is brought to you by Thrive Market.
0:49.3	You know that feeling when you're standing in the grocery store, staring at labels, trying to
0:53.2	figure out what's actually healthy, but the ingredient list is so confusing. With two young kids, we are constantly
0:58.8	trying to make sure the whole family eats clean, healthy food, but it can be a lot of work to
1:03.3	make that happen. That's why I love Thrive Market. They're my go-to online grocery store for getting
1:08.4	healthy essentials delivered straight to our door.
1:14.7	And unfortunately, there are over 10,000 food additives allowed in the U.S. and it's hard to know what's actually safe.
1:17.1	So I love that Thrive Market bans over 1,000 harmful ingredients.
1:21.4	Their team does all the hard work and make sure every product meets high quality clean
1:25.7	standards.
1:26.6	For example, one brand we love from
1:28.3	Thrive is Simple Mills. We feel so good giving it to our kids. Their sea salt almond flour
1:32.9	crackers are fantastic. And lately, I just can't stop eating their sweet thins. Plus, Thrive Market
1:38.9	has tons of filters so you can easily shop by your needs, whether it's looking for gluten-free
	...

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