My Top 5 Mistakes with Points & Miles

#258: The 5 biggest mistakes Chris has made in his points & miles journey. He dives into the hidden cost of status, the math behind point values, the power of opportunity cost, and why hoarding points quietly destroys value.Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/top-5-points-and-miles-mistakesPartner DealsSuperhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKSDeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the webLMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mixGelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealthNetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performanceFor all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/dealsResources MentionedChris' Presentation SlidesCredit CardsUS Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® CardRobinhood Gold CardThe Atmos™ Rewards Visa Summit CardCiti® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®Award Search ToolsGondola (Get $50 here)Points Path Chrome ExtensionATH PodcastEp #245: How Much Are Points and Miles Worth in 2025?Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | SpotifyEmail for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Show Notes(00:00) Introduction(00:28) Mistake #1: Not Valuing My Time(02:09) Setting a Personal Minimum Hourly Rate(03:51) Step Back and Ask “Is This Worth It?” (04:23) The Hidden Cost of Mental Overhead(05:48) Using Daily and Weekly Priorities to Stay Focused(07:00) Mistake #2: Not Considering the Opportunity Cost(11:34) Mistake #3: Chasing Status(16:56) Airline by Airline: The Value of Status in Real Life(20:52) Reframing the Cost of Status(24:09) When Milestone Benefits Change the Math (28:33) Chris’s Status Plan Going Forward(31:52) How to Decide Whether Status Is Worth Chasing(32:50) Mistake #4: Overvaluing Points(34:20) What the Data Actually Shows(35:43) Why “Retail Value” Is Misleading(41:22) When Paying Cash Can Be the Better Value(46:03) Mistake #5: Not Cashing Out Points(49:27) Chris's Plan for 2026 Connect with ChrisNewsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedInEditor’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