Reminders About Miles & Points
Oftentimes, we get so absorbed in miles and points that it becomes an addiction. This can lead us to forget how it all started, where we began, and what we must do to be successful. Even for the most experienced folks, it's easy to lose sight of the basics or try and cut corners. Since we all may lose perspective from time to time, I thought I would share some ToP reminders about the best practices for your journey in points and miles.
Be Nice
I am not sure how many times this needs to be repeated, but it is absolutely the most important advice for life: be nice. Yet, it is often disregarded or forgotten while online, and especially on social media. BE NICE. Plain and simple. Yet everyday on the internet, especially in points and miles groups, we see people being rude, laughing at people, or simply wanting to be “keyboard warriors.” None of that is tolerated in Travel on Point(s) and it never will. We were all beginners at one time. All of us at some point in our life, probably recently, have not understood something. The next time you ask anyone in life a question, be sure to stop, think about it, and imagine how you would feel if the person you asked laughed at you. Our goal at Travel on Point(s) is to be a community of kind and helpful people. While it starts with our ToP team, it continues with the help of all our group members and readers.
Being nice also works when you are out and about traveling and in everyday life. Honey works better than vinegar is a saying for a reason, after all. You might be amazed at what you can accomplish by simply being nice when asking for help or trying to get an issue handled.
Be Organized
We speak on this topic frequently. In fact, it should be especially familiar for those who have attended a Travel on Point(s) meetup. While certainly not the most glamorous or fun, being organized is maybe the most vital skill in this hobby. Points are a currency, with inherent value, and should be handled and treated as such. Fundamentals like maintaining spreadsheets, tracking card dates, and treating everything like a bank account are important to help you maximize your points potential. Personally, I check my balances and accounts as frequently as I do any account with my money in it, if not more. Without proper organization, things can spiral out of control. However, proper organization saves yourself time, energy, and value.
Be Studious
While we may all absorb and learn differently, taking the time to build a knowledge base in any hobby is fundamentally important. Things can change on a dime in the miles and points world and you don't want to be caught off guard. If you don't have a plan to keep up on current information and best practices, it may quickly get out of hand.
For this reason, make some time to study just like you would for your other jobs, hobbies, or school. Make a stop in the ToP Facebook group every day, perhaps during your morning cup of coffee, just like you check other news. Another easy way to keep up is the Travel on Point(s) website and blog, where multiple articles are shared daily. Taking the time to read the articles can help you better understand a concept and make sure you don't miss any of the details.
Finally, one of my favorite tips is to set up alerts on X (aka Twitter). You can set up alerts to get notifications when Travel on Point(s) articles are shared.
Be Aware of Your Velocity
Now more than ever, velocity matters! It seems to become more important everyday, and yet we see people continue to ignore it and push the envelope. Staying informed on the developments in the hobby (see “Be Studious”, above) can help you avoid pitfalls. Ignore the keyboard warriors (or “influencers”) that reaffirm risky decision-making. If you're not sure whether advice is sound or not, it's a perfect time to ask the Facebook group, as there are tens of thousands of folks willing to help guide you along the way.
I promise that you can have longevity in this hobby, despite all of the changes that occur. Most of us on the ToP team each have over a decade of experience, and we are not even close to running out of cards or points/miles earning opportunities. The cards and bank offers may change, but there will always be new offers to replace them. Each of us should run our own race at our own pace. This is a marathon after all, and keeping that in mind will help you preserve opportunities for the future.
Be Aware, but not Jealous
Fear of missing out (“FOMO”) is all too common in all aspects of this hobby. Everyday, we see people get mad that they do not have offers that others are getting. As I like to say: follow the right path for you and do not window shop or have buyers remorse. Get your card offers with the best information available to you at the time and move on to the next one. Anything else will lead to potential jealousy and resentment. Sometimes things will break in your favor, and other times they don't.
In today's points and miles world, we see complaints about higher welcome offers on the American Express cards, and how someone got a card for 30K / 50K / 100K less than someone else. Things will fluctuate over time, and points can become less valuable, which may require bigger offers. Offers cannot always be compared apples to apples, so there is no reason to stress over it.
Be Appreciative
Remember to appreciate what we have in points and miles. Too often, we become obsessed with every little issue and it breeds negativity in the process and in our travels. It seems silly, when you realize that most of us are redeeming our points and miles for travel that would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars.. We enjoy experiences we could not (or would not) afford to have otherwise. Remember the excitement you had for that first redemption and keep that mindset. Focus on the good things in the hobby and appreciate the journey. One of the most rewarding aspects of being organized is that you have the ability to look back and see just how far you have come.
Reminders About Miles & Points: ToP Thoughts
The points and miles hobby is as rewarding, or frustrating, as you allow it to be. This hobby has been one of the best things that has happened to me: from meeting new friends and family at meet ups, to working for Travel on Point(s). I am now traveling the world in ways I could have never imagined without miles and points.
Following up on our reminders about the points and miles hobby may be a good refresher. Not only on what the journey is about, but what things we need to remember. Want to see how this hobby has changed lives? Come over to the Travel on Point(s) Facebook group and read our member stories from our recent 5 year anniversary. It truly is amazing and inspiring to keep doing this hobby in the right way and appreciate the journey.
