Rethinking Elite Status and Smarter Ways to Earn and Use Points

Rethinking Elite Status and Smarter Ways to Earn and Use Points

Author: Chris Hutchins March 26, 2025 Duration: 48:31
#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: podcast@allthehacks.com 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

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
The Simple Path to Wealth and FU Money with JL Collins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#194: Build wealth and achieve financial freedom with three simple, actionable steps. Personal finance expert JL Collins discusses the concept of "FU" money, the importance of living on less than you earn, the power of l…
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#193: Unlock better opportunities, improve your emotional and physical health, and build stronger relationships by embracing “hopeful skepticism.” Dr. Jamil Zaki shares science-backed, actionable strategies to overcome t…
How I Saved Over $20K on a Luxury European Vacation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:20
#192: Here's how we saved over $20,000 on our recent Europe trip! Learn how to use award flight tools to score affordable business-class tickets, maximize hotel loyalty programs for luxury stays, and find incredible trav…
11 Lessons Every Investor Needs to Know with Ben Carlson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#191: Grow your wealth and build a resilient portfolio by making smarter decisions with these 11 investing lessons. Financial advisor Ben Carlson and I share actionable insights on managing risk, overcoming psychological…
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Duration: 48:51
#190: Transform your relationships, productivity, and overall quality of life by discovering how to be intentional with your time. Sahil and I share actionable tactics to build better habits (and get rid of bad ones), im…
My Must-Have Products and Services for Life, Work and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:29
#188: Here are the 130+ things I cannot (or don’t want to) live without, including my favorite tech, web and mobile apps, travel gear, subscriptions, banks and financial tools. I also share health and fitness items, smar…
42 Travel Planning Tips & Hacks from Travel Pro Leigh Rowan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
#187: Learn the art of travel planning to enjoy incredible vacations. Travel pro Leigh and I share over 40 practical tips to create the perfect itinerary, save on flights and hotels, find travel inspiration, experience d…
25 Money Rules (and When to Break Them) with Brian Feroldi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:22
#186: We'll break down 25 investing and finance rules of thumb, so you can learn to make better financial decisions, whether your goal is growing your wealth, retiring early, managing your portfolio, buying a car, or man…