How Loyalty Programs Shape Holiday Travel Decisions

In this episode of the Travel Buddy podcast, travel experts Ashley Martinez, Rachel Satow, and Ian Andersen unravel the real impact of loyalty programs on holiday travel decisions. Together, they share practical tips, surprising strategies, and personal stories about maximizing points, timing flights, and navigating peak travel stress. Whether you're debating between family gatherings or last-minute adventures, this conversation offers fresh insights into making every trip affordable—and even a little more fun. Tune in for expert advice, candid anecdotes, and clever ways to stretch your points further this holiday season.

Chapters
(00:01) Holiday Travel Decisions and Loyalty Programs
(03:08) Maximizing Points and Flexible Itineraries
(07:23) Rethinking Destinations and Travel Flexibility
(10:12) Timing Strategies and Fare Class Tips
(13:42) Ancillary Benefits and Earning Tactics
(16:06) Navigating Peak Seasons and Status Perks
(24:18) Strategic Use of Points, Cash, and Mixed Payments
(33:23) Practical Tips and Rules of Thumb

Connect with Switchfly
Website: https://www.switchfly.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/switchfly/
X: https://twitter.com/switchfly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SwitchflyOfficial

Creators and Guests

Host

Ian Andersen

Demand Gen & Marketing Operations Manager

Host

Rachel Satow

Senior Marketing Strategist

What is Travel Buddy with Switchfly?

See more at Switchfly.com

Welcome to Travel Buddy,
presented by Switchfly.

In this podcast, we talk about all
things travel, rewards, and loyalty.

Let's get to it.

Brandon Giella: Hello and welcome to
another episode of the Travel Buddy

podcast presented by Switch Fly.

Today we are talking about how loyalty
programs shape holiday travel decisions.

So we are sitting at the very early
part of November, travel is coming

up, everybody's thinking about
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and we are

all making these calculation decisions.

Should we go and visit family?

Or not, and how do we pay
for those flights points?

cash credit card?

How is this gonna work?

And I'm thinking about, you know,
when you think about travel and visit

family, you have, of course, your
pros to go see the family is that you

go and see the family and the cons
are that you go and see the family.

And there might be some people that
love that and other people have

some consternation around that.

and then of course you could,
go abroad or go to some other

city, and that's always fun.

And sometimes you can find
some really cheap deals.

And then, so you have a pro there.

And then the con is that.

you might miss time with your family, and
either that's sad for you or they will

be upset with you, and so you have to
make this calculation problem every year.

So I have made this decision, once before
where, and I think this, this relates to

this topic where my family was gathering
in Tampa and the flights to Tampa for

Thanksgiving were like $500 a piece
and we saw flights to Rome round trip.

From Dallas for like $280.

And so we did not go see my family for
Thanksgiving and we went to Rome and it

was great, even though I miss my family.

So I know people have these kind of,
decisions and thinking through where

to travel, but I wanna start with
talking about why, holiday travel.

Particularly as it relates to
loyalty programs is such a big deal.

And so when we're thinking about making
these decisions where we wanted to travel,

a lot of times because there is super
high demand, there is very high pricing

as it relates to flights especially.

So how do we get around?

Should I go, where can I afford this?

You know, how can I afford
this, this, decision?

And so I wanna see how can points
help us make this decision.

Loyalty programs specifically.

So, Ashley, I will start with you, Ashley.

You have, been around the block on
making travel plans for others as a, a

travel advisor, and you yourself are a.

World renowned, world traveler.

and you have a particular, vacation
in mind where you went to Peru, and I

wanted to see if you could talk about
that decision about going to Peru and

how that influenced your, your kind of
thinking through this kind of problem

of thinking about, holiday travel.

Ashley Martinez: Definitely.

Well, thank you for that
kind introduction, Brandon.

So historically in the US market,
the Sunday after Thanksgiving

is the busiest time to.

Travel, annually, so.

That being said, you get, I'm, I
love that you got that cheap flight

to Rome, but sometimes coming back
as everyone you know, there, there's

great flight deals, maybe leaving and
getting out of the states, but coming

back can be, quite challenging as
everybody might have the same idea.

So that is what I actually have an
upcoming trip to Peru this Christmas.

And I had a lot of different
points on different platforms.

And so the, the engineering me,
the travel advisor me was how do I

maximize the points that I have with
different programs to build an itinerary

that, is economical, affordable,
and I get to go to a great place.

So I started

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Ashley Martinez: at
multiple dis destinations,

specifically in South America.

And I guess for context here,
I, I had points on American,

I had points on Southwest.

And how could I maximize those?

So I started looking at different
destinations and on all of the

airlines directly to see where I
could use my points, and I found that.

leaving on New Year's Eve was a great
day, as there are a lot of different

travel deals, but my problem was
I could get almost anywhere in the

world on New Year's Eve, no one really
wants to travel on New Year's Eve,

Brandon Giella: Mm-hmm.

Ashley Martinez: to maybe if you're
leaving on Thanksgiving Day or

if you leave on Christmas Day.

Those are great days to travel, but
it was coming back so as everyone

maybe was leaving, but how, how do
I find a travel deal coming back?

So what I was able to do
was maximize my point.

By, leveraging different airlines.

So I live in a small,
more or a smaller market.

So being in New Orleans, we
don't have necessarily a lot of

great international destinations.

we only one international flight
to London, which, which I love.

But what I decided to do was, where
could I get myself somewhere else in the

US that I can maybe find a flight deal?

So I was able to use Southwest points
to get myself to Fort Lauderdale.

And then we will be taking, taking
the train or a bus to, the Miami

airport and flying out of Miami.

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Ashley Martinez: so definitely a
combination of maximizing a flight deal

and in what I had, which were points.

And then similarly, on the way back,
I was able, to get myself from South

America, from Peru to Miami, and
then I'll use points to get myself

from Miami back to New Orleans.

Brandon Giella: Fascinating.

Okay.

So the engineer in you putting all
this together, like, okay, let me map

this out on a spreadsheet or on like
a Google map and like see where I can,

I can get, I think that's interesting
and I, I, there's so many different

components where you're actually
putting together a bunch of different

modalities to where you need to go.

So it's like flying to another city,
then maybe a bus or a train down to

another city to fly where you need to go.

That's interesting.

Ashley Martinez: I would say the best
resource I've found to help plan for a, a

trip like that is if Google has a feature.

If you're looking through
Google fights, I can put.

Orleans to anywhere and it will search a
destination anywhere in the world and give

Brandon Giella: Huh.

Ashley Martinez: and
compare flight prices.

So I found that to be
a really helpful tool.

So similarly, I will use, okay, I know
I can get myself to Miami, which is a

larger airport with more destinations,
Miami to anywhere, where can I go?

And

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ashley Martinez: land on Peru.

Brandon Giella: Fascinating.

Okay.

So this is a, a really interesting point
that, we've got some articles that I, i

I want to include in the show notes that
I think will be helpful for listeners.

But, but one of the things is,
thinking about how typically when

you plan travel, it is like, I know
I want to go to this destination.

I wanna go to this city.

How do I get there?

And maybe I can do some math and use
some points and, and make it happen.

Or you could flip that and say,
I wanna travel at this date.

The destination is less important.

Maybe there's a dozen different
places that would be fun to

travel to that I haven't been to.

What, what can work?

And then so by flipping that around,
maybe you actually get really great

deals to, you know, like for us, the,
the trip to Rome was not on our radar

until I saw this incredible price
and I was like, well, we gotta go.

So I went to Rome.

so Rachel, I wanna bring you in to,
to talk about that how, when you're

thinking about these travel decisions
and how loyalty impacts that decision,

thinking about the destination
first might actually, or, or might

actually hinder your, decision.

You should actually think about what are
my points, what are my programs, what's

available to me as far as the destination?

And then make that decision.

Is that how you, how you see it?

Rachel Satow: Yeah.

So you actually, it tying back to
your, your initial equation that

you were discussing regarding the
holidays of like, do I go see my

family or do I go somewhere else?

I think, a lot of times when you do have
distant family, it becomes that that

question comes in into play a lot more
often than you would you would like.

and it becomes a.

Do I spend these very valuable points
that I spent all of my money on,

Brandon Giella: Mm-hmm.

Rachel Satow: earning to go somewhere
that it might be pretty expensive

for me to actually travel just to
see family, or could I get a better

deal somewhere else and say, sorry,
maybe you guys can come with me.

Brandon Giella: Mm-hmm.

Rachel Satow: do we do, do we
do family abroad this year?

so that's, that's a.

A great, like, tie into that equation,
is it, you know, loyalty programs

can really make that decision a
little bit more difficult because

with the available points that they
have or miles that they have, they

now have this greater, this greater
emotional weight to decide between.

so I think.

To, to answer your question, yeah, going
the route of, of flexibility might be

the best way to help make that decision.

and, you know, seeing any destination
in the world, opening that up a little

bit, opening up those parameters
might be a better way to ensure

that you're maximizing your points.

Brandon Giella: Mm-hmm.

I, I know there's a, there's,
so there's several different,

I guess, decision factors going
into thinking about holidays.

One is where, so we've talked about
that instead of maybe thinking

about the city first, think about,
points first or program first.

but then there's also a matter of timing.

So regarding timing, when you're
thinking about making this decision

for holiday, it's a, it's a.

A little late now maybe to think about
Thanksgiving, travel, maybe holiday

travel for, for Christmas and so on.

so Ashley, I know you have some
thoughts, given your background on

how to plan effectively for the time.

So we've got location and then timing.

How do you see whether, somebody
needs to plan or buy an airfare early

or late, or is there like a sweet
spot that makes that make sense for

people thinking about this decision?

Ashley Martinez: Definitely
I, I love this topic.

I think timing is critical as, so for
example, with Switch Fly, we get the

week off between Christmas and New
Year's, which is an amazing perk and

benefit of working at the company.

But that kind of.

I know I wanted to travel
within that timeframe.

So similarly, maybe with
Thanksgiving and I would say it's

never too late to plan a trip.

So

Brandon Giella: Oh, okay.

Got it.

Ashley Martinez: traveling for
Thanksgiving or Christmas, you

definitely still have time.

And so maybe, you know, you get that day
after Thanksgiving, so you wanna leave.

the Friday after Thanksgiving.

So when should we be looking
at buying a potential flight?

They say, you know, the word on
the street is internationally.

Six months ahead is a good, sweet spot in

terms of deals and domestically six weeks.

So six months internationally,
six weeks domestically.

However, however, I would say, and just
to give some context for every, how

flight pricing works are, there are a
range of fair classes on an airplane.

There's almost, there's up
to 20 different flat fair

classes So multiple fair classes for
first class business, premium economy,

and economy, there are certain allotment
of seats for each of those classes.

So once those seat groups have
been sold, that's typically

where you see that price bump.

Go.

So once they have filled a fair class,
then they will go to the next fair class.

And that's where you see has typically,
as it gets closer to the actual departure,

you'll see a higher price.

However, where you can get those
last minute deals are definitely in

using loyalty programs and points.

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ashley Martinez: Airlines
want to drive revenue.

Their best margins are on
putting travelers in seats

and from ancillary products.

So maybe

Brandon Giella: they

Ashley Martinez: just wanna
just get you on the plane so

then they can upsell a bag.

Or maybe you buy an upgrade or maybe
you're buying even wifi on the plane.

Hmm.

There goal is to drive travelers and get
what they like to call butts in seats.

So you can definitely find
some last minute flight deals.

I would highly recommend using
programs and points, and one of the

best ways, and I, and I'm doing this
for Peru, so for example, I'm flying

American Miami to Lima, but I booked
that flight through Qatar Airways.

Using my points with guitar since
they're one World Alliance Partners.

So definitely there's also some
other ways where you can get flight

deals through Partner Airlines.

Great resource for that is, how to Win
At Travel by Brian Kelly, the Points guy.

So lots of different ways
to maximize and find deals.

Brandon Giella: Fascinating.

Okay.

This sounds so complicated.

And like you have to be an
engineer to like figure this out.

And I know there's tools to, to do that
and, and we can talk more about that.

And I, and I have some, some
questions maybe around that.

But, but before that I, I, I'm curious
and, and I wanna get all three of you

to, to chime in on this is, you mentioned
fair classes and so there's upgrades,

there's, you know, you can get a first
class C business, class C maybe a economy

plus, which I've never done before.

Strictly economy.

but I'm, I'm curious how you guys think
about, like, whether you get bags on a, on

a, you know, credit card loyalty program,
or if you're just part of a loyalty

program, if there's like lounge access.

How do you guys think about like,
you know, some of these other things

that are, that are beyond just the
seat, whether you should upgrade,

you know, bags, et cetera, et cetera.

for being a part of these loyalty
programs, how does that factor

into how and when you decide
to travel for the holiday?

Ashley Martinez: I definitely think
there, when factoring or analyzing

prices, you have to factor the all in.

So for example, if I'm flying
with Southwest and I get a

free checked bag, but maybe the
base fair is a little higher.

But compared to another carrier, I need
to take in an account, I'm gonna have to

pay for a checked bag on another carrier.

So I, I think those are, are
great way or definitely need to

think about the all in price.

But maybe you only have a couple
thousand points on an airline.

You can use that for a checked bag.

So if you pay the base fare in cash,
you can do upgrades and points or

other ancillary options in points.

And that's a great way to leverage.

Maybe you have a smaller balance,
but you can leverage 'em on some

other, Ancillary items such as a bag.

Ian Andersen: Well,

Brandon Giella: Yeah.

Ian Andersen: and something else to
always be aware of, of your points,

whether it's, through a credit card
or through direct through the airline

or whatever it is that, always running
promotions for extra points, right?

And extra miles.

So, for example, I know my, I have a,
United, loyalty club, credit card, and,

for groceries, I get double points, right?

So

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: try to make sure
to that card whenever I go buy

groceries and then just pay it off.

so really make sure that that.

you're not just spending on travel.

Like that is not the only thing
earning you points and miles, right?

Like really be tactical about how to
spend, You know, if that means like

running up that credit card every month
and then just paying it off or whatever,

you obviously don't want to be stuck
with all that credit card debt, but if

you can be, pretty smart about it, you
know, and, and how you're, you're using

it and paying it, you can really double
down on a lot of the points and, know,

the, make sure you're checking out the
website, make sure you're signed up to

the newsletter, you know, they're always.

I, I'm constantly getting
emails for, you know, go to

Home Depot this week and you get

Brandon Giella: Huh.

Ian Andersen: or, you

Brandon Giella: Really?

Huh.

Ian Andersen: may be.

So, just

Brandon Giella: Interesting.

Ian Andersen: that, wanna
step back just one sec.

On the vacation, around the holidays,
one of the things that makes it

tough is, so obviously Thanksgiving
is an American holiday and.

That can be very tough for,
you know, in the US travel.

but like Christmas, you
know, is a world holiday.

and people tend to have, especially people
with kids, their, their kids tend to be

off school, or less at the same time.

Right.

So that's something that
makes it really tricky.

So if you can be flexible on.

We don't have to celebrate Christmas
as a family on Christmas day kind

of stuff, or you know, New York, new
Year's or, you know, whatever it is.

I think Ashley mentioned this earlier,
we almost always fly Christmas day

just 'cause it's like half the price

Brandon Giella: Mm-hmm.

Ian Andersen: or the day after, right?

we try to fly, we'll fly on Thanksgiving
day often, and then maybe take an extra.

Day off work and come back that
Monday instead of the Sunday.

Right?

Just 'cause, if you're able to stretch
and, and most of them, most airlines

do it now, most, vacation, booking
platforms, do it now, but we'll kind of

give you a glimpse of what, a day or two
before and the day or two after, where

you're looking what the price looks like.

So, try to keep that in mind
of, of building in a flex.

a couple of days on either
side and you can really save

a lot of money on, on travel.

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Interesting.

I am, I'm curious if you guys think that.

Status for some of these programs is more
useful or you get more bang for your buck

out of the, out of the holiday period
than other periods throughout the year.

Is that something that
resonates with you guys?

Ian Andersen: I think a tad, and, and
I don't want to monopolize it, but

the, the thing about holiday travel
is it is so culturally relevant that

most travel platforms and travel
providers, really craft their entire

sales strategy around the holiday

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: Right?

It's like toy manufacturers.

Make what, 75% of their product or profits
within the last, month of the year, right?

Brandon Giella: Mm.

Ian Andersen: it's very
similar with travel.

Probably not to the same degree,
but definitely very heavily weighted

towards the end of the year.

So, a lot of times their promotions
and stuff are geared towards that

holiday, increasing the holiday travel.

so if you.

If you're looking at the, the tiered,
you know, or, or various status

structures, a lot of times it's
easier to kind of make up that, that,

whatever purchase requirement, to hit
that next level in the holiday season

because they're trying to make it
easy for you to travel in the holiday

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: So.

Brandon Giella: Interesting.

Rachel Satow: Yeah,

Brandon Giella: Yeah.

Rachel Satow: I would
absolutely agree with that.

I think, status perks are definitely.

Amplified during peak crowds,
whether that be during the

holidays or other timeframes.

I mean, we're thinking about
this in the perspective of,

of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

but you know, when you think about
the 4th of July as well, that

timeframe is, you know, status perks
really, really come to shine during

Hmm.

during those, peak crowds
and peak travel times.

I mean, when you think about it.

There are some benefits that might
feel small, like a free bag or,

or priority check-in when you're
doing just, you know, regular travel

or, or sometimes business travel.

But like when you're thinking about
the extra hundreds of thousands of

people that are also now traveling
alongside you during this timeframe,

that priority check-in feels a lot better

than that two hour line you're gonna be
waiting in, especially, you know, not

to, not to call out Houston for the, the.

Long lines that are going on right now,
but like I could absolutely imagine that

that priority check-in is gonna gonna go

miles pun intended, for, for the holidays.

than you know, just if you're
traveling on a random weekend and

you know, I don't even know, March.

Brandon Giella: Purely anecdotally,
I'll say that is the primary

factor in me even considering
the, American Airlines world Elite

MasterCard for the Advantage program.

I'm in DFW, so I am, it is an
American hub, and I hear that.

you know, I applied mostly American and I
hear those sales pitches like constantly

and I get all the mailers and I have
opened two of them and sat them on my desk

for weeks and stared at this thing and
used Chachi PT to tell me the benefits and

costs associated with that versus the, the
American, American Express Platinum Card.

And I have thought about this for years,
and it is just for that reason though,

literally I want to cut the line.

I want my bags free, and I want to get
upgraded when it comes around to it.

Rachel Satow: Yeah.

Brandon Giella: Is that worth $800 a year?

I don't know, but I, but
I think about it a lot.

Rachel Satow: it depends, Brandon, are,

Brandon Giella: I know.

Rachel Satow: Houston?

Brandon Giella: Nope, nope.

Rachel Satow: the, the other thing,
the other thing that I think, you know,

status really comes into play here is.

with winter typically comes
rather large snowstorms in the

Brandon Giella: Mm-hmm.

Rachel Satow: and around the world.

And you know, lounge access during
those delays or snowstorms can make a

Brandon Giella: Yes, yes.

Rachel Satow: when you have, you know.

Two young ones like yourself, who
definitely would feel the pain of sitting

in just like a regular, regular gait

Brandon Giella: Yes, yes,

Rachel Satow: little more,
you know, private section.

So

Brandon Giella: yes.

Rachel Satow: those statuses
definitely come into play here.

Brandon Giella: Can confirm.

I was in a lounge in my last airport trip.

This was a few weeks ago, and
there was multiple blowouts in our.

Waiting for our flight and it was
nice to have like a nice bathroom

in the lounge rather than the public
bathroom, if I may say so myself.

So yes, totally agree.

Totally agree.

But, so that brings up a, a great, a
great point on, on one of the segments

that we wanted to touch on was about.

the, like, the stress blackout dates,
you know, holiday rush travel, like

yes, we're talking about winter holidays
right now, but the same is true for

whether it's Memorial Day, July 4th,
labor Day, different, different kind

of, weekends that people take off
and, and, and do some traveling.

And so there's a lot of,
like you said, long lines.

There's just a lot of stress about
maybe a flight gets canceled, a flight

drops, you know, for whatever reason.

And that's a huge, huge benefit of
being in a good loyalty program.

So yeah.

That's great.

Rachel Satow: I

Brandon Giella: yeah.

Rachel Satow: that point, you know.

We just talked about status and one of
the things on the, on the other side

to consider when you're thinking about
like all of the stress of travel, et

cetera, is that, you know, you may
have these, these benefits coming into

play, like the lounge access and the
priority boarding and the check bag, but.

Brandon Giella: I.

Rachel Satow: One of the things that
you would want the most, I think is

upgrades are going to be a lot harder
because the flights are usually packed.

So to both Ian and Ashley's point, idea
of traveling on an off peak day, just,

you know, a couple of hours later,
if you can wait one more day to fly

on the actual holiday, might make it.

So that you can even stretch that,
those perks a little further because

you know those award seats definitely
become harder to come by when you

Brandon Giella: That's right.

Rachel Satow: packed flight.

Brandon Giella: That's right.

That's right.

Well, what else?

So, you know, one thing that we had
mentioned was maybe there's a way

to you pay with cash or credit card,
or you pay with your loyalty points.

Is there anything around that that
might be useful for listeners to

know where you can kind of mix
the way that you pay for travel?

So, again, just to kind of, to, to
summarize in a way is when you're

thinking about this decision,
there's where you're going.

So we touched on that first, and
then there's, when you choose to.

Either, you know, go or, when
you make that purchase decision.

But then there's how you pay.

so you know, you can get those
upgrades, you can get a, a

mix of points in, in cash.

Like how, how does that factor into the
way that you guys think about travel?

Ian Andersen: I mean, it's tough.

It is very case by case.

I am, a bit like Ashley in that, I
will, I will spend literally hours

and, and my wife gives me a hard time,
but it's, it's actually fun for me

to like, okay, if I can use my United
Points to get from Chicago to here or

to Phoenix or whatever, and like, okay.

And then.

I like being my own travel agent in
booking, you know, and, and checking

every single step of the way rather
than just sort of like plugging in my

days and letting it do it all for me.

I don't know how much money I
save, it is fun for me and I like

to think I'm saving some money.

Brandon Giella: There you go.

Ian Andersen: do some
legwork in, in that regard.

Right.

you know.

If you, if you travel a lot, you
probably have, you know, a couple

thousand American Airlines points, a
couple thousand united points, right?

Like you, you're very rarely
gonna have all of it in one,

very nice pile, to, to use.

So be strategic on, maybe you can buy,
one leg of the journey or, or at least

reduce the cost using points for.

you know, you're going out flight
and then book the return flight

separately on a different airline.

if that works for you.

it be aware of everywhere
you do have points.

a constant theme.

Rachel could probably give you, some
off the head statistics of it, but

the constant theme that we talk about
a lot is unredeemed loyalty points,

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: industry wide, right?

Like, And it's just, just mind staggering,
you know, billions and billions of

dollars every year, just go unredeemed.

and that's, that's free money.

I mean, that's, that's your money, right?

Like

Brandon Giella: It is literally a
liability on the business side for them.

Yeah.

Ian Andersen: Because they're, they're
essentially holding a big IOU that

they don't know it's gonna be cashed,

Brandon Giella: Yes.

They want you to burn those points.

Like please use those points.

They're begging you.

Ian Andersen: Yes.

So for sure.

Rachel Satow: answer is 35 trillion.

Brandon Giella: What?

No,

Rachel Satow: Okay.

Brandon Giella: what that sounds,
that sounds like too many,

Ian Andersen: out there
in the world hanging out.

Brandon Giella: gee whiz.

That's amazing.

And, and, and businesses are like,
please, please use these points.

Get them off our balance sheet.

Please.

Ian Andersen: So be aware of
where you have points, you

know who you have them through.

Like can you roll them over into.

To, to using them like combined.

There's tools.

There's like, award Hacker, I
think it's just award hacker.com,

if I remember right.

you can kind of put in like where
you have points with, and it'll sort

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: search
the best deals for you.

for travel.

There's, there's another
one, point, point, dot me.

I think it's another one that that's

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: but there, there are tools
out there to help you, help you do this.

So definitely be

Brandon Giella: Yeah.

Ian Andersen: you have.

Brandon Giella: Yeah.

Awesome.

Ashley Martinez: One thing I would add
in terms of the currency as loyalty,

mileages are absolutely a currency,

Ian Andersen: I.

Ashley Martinez: to use points or
cash is who you're traveling with.

So for example, on that Peru trip
that I was telling you guys about

that I have coming up is my partner
and I traveling and I'm using the

points for his flight, and I'm gonna
pay cash for mine so I can earn.

Miles for my own flight because you don't

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ashley Martinez: on a points redemption.

So if I was, let's say we
paid cash for his flight, well

he's gonna earn those miles.

I want the miles, right?

So I

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ashley Martinez: you can use points
redemptions for other people.

So I think it's also, you know, from

Brandon Giella: Interesting.

Ashley Martinez: perspective,
have to think you're also burning.

But think ahead too, on the earn
side as well, and setting you

yourself up for future success.

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Okay.

I have a point about this
that I'll close with.

Ashley.

I'm gonna come back to you.

Before we do that, any other closing
thoughts, for our listeners when

they're thinking about these decisions?

Rachel Satow: I think, you know,
since just on the topic of.

Points and whether or not points
in cash, you know, during this time

to Ashley's point, like you could
definitely try to think through

the, the potential earn as you burn.

and you know, during this time
we often think of points as

like a financial relief, right?

Like, oh, I've, I've done all of all

of this work to earn all of these things
and, and this point will, these points

will in the future be a financial.

You know, make this investment
a little bit less of a burden.

Yeah.

But during the holidays in particular,
your points are going to be worth

less because the amount of points you
need to actually cover the cost of a

flight is going to increase alongside

the actual cost of flights So
sometimes those cash fares Are cheaper

than the total investment you will
need from a points perspective.

And definitely try to consider,
okay, if my point, you know, point

per dollar or whatever it may be is
equal to this, I'm actually better

off going the, the cash route.

it's probably a contributing factor into
why there's so many points unredeemed but

from my, my personal strategy is.

I will, I will spend the points,
especially on longer trips to say Rome

or to, you know, overseas or abroad.

I will save the points for the
long haul and premium cabins

because that's when the comfort of
traveling in that style is going

to outweigh the cost that I like
the investment from that side.

So I'll save my points for, for
the premium cabins for sure.

Brandon Giella: Okay, interesting.

But there is a downside to
doing that because once you do

book one of those very fancy.

Seats.

You're never gonna go back to the economy.

That's a problem.

Rachel Satow: That is a problem.

Brandon Giella: No, that's great.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

So I'm, I'm picturing that meme of that
gif where there's like a woman who's

like, kind of staring off into space
and there's all these like math formulas

that are like overlaying her face and
she's trying to like work through this.

Calculation problem, and not everybody
listening to this show is like

Ian or Ashley Travel nerds wanting
to like break all this down on a

spreadsheet and spend hours tinkering
and, and figuring out the maximum,

you know, benefits of their points.

But it is extremely useful to be
thinking about these different criteria,

if you will, in making this decision.

And so you've got, where are you going?

You've got, when should you go?

And then when should you buy?

And then you've got upgrade.

issues the ancillary products,
if you will, whether you're going

to, you know, a higher, better
seat or lounge access free bags.

And then you've got a mix of
whether you're gonna point,

buy with points versus cash.

And also thinking about the different
travel programs that you are

connected to or have points with,
with even airline partnerships.

Like you mentioned, Qatar Airways
as part of One World Alliance.

And then you've got who
you're traveling with.

Maybe you can.

Shift points over to another
person to cover some of that.

This is all a lot.

If you don't have the time and
space to do this in your life.

What are some general rules
of thumb that you might have?

Like, okay, you are gonna
go flying for the holidays.

Obviously there's winter
holidays and there's other

holidays throughout the year.

But generally speaking, if you follow
these steps, you will maximize the

travel programs or points that you
have to make the best optimal decision,

even though maybe it's not, you know,
a hundred percent the best possible

pricing decision you can make.

But generally, you're gonna be pretty
well off if you follow these steps.

What do you say to that?

What?

What do people do that are
feeling a little bit overwhelmed

like I am at this very moment?

Ashley Martinez: I would say
take it back to the basic step

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Ashley Martinez: make sure you are a
loyalty member of whatever you're flying.

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Ashley Martinez: that's basic.

Establish yourself as a loyalty member.

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Ashley Martinez: whether
that's American Islands United.

And then another tip I would
say is maybe your, let's say.

I'll give you an example.

I'm flying Copa to Peru
or coming back from Peru.

I'm not gonna probably fly that
carrier, you know, for, for a

while, but I can earn United Miles.

On that flight.

So there are

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ashley Martinez: to earn miles with
your primary carriers, whether, you

know, that's one of the big three
in the us but always be earning.

So, sales always be closing,
but always be earning.

Make sure

Brandon Giella: I like that.

Ashley Martinez: signed up for the
loyalty program, or an applicable

loyalty program where you can earn
miles on any flight that you're on.

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Okay.

Ashley Martinez: I would start there.

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Anybody else have any, have any tips?

If you're just considering this decision,
you're not gonna wade into the weeds,

but generally speaking, do these
couple things, you'll be in good shape.

Ian Andersen: I think, if you, if
you're not a frequent traveler,

just go join a loyalty program just
to join a loyalty program, right?

Like, find you use in your life that works
for you, that you're gonna use a lot.

And, more than likely, you're gonna
be able to easily find one that has.

A kind of a loyalty, connection, right?

You're gonna be able to use your American
Express, you know, grocery credit card,

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Ian Andersen: Sam's Club card, you
know, whatever it is, you're gonna

be able to use those to buy travel.

So, you know, if you're not flying.

On a routine basis to where it's
worth getting like a specific airline,

credit card, you know, luckier your, my
grandfather uses, I think he has a BP.

card.

'cause he has a

Brandon Giella: Oh.

Ian Andersen: station just right
around the house that he gets his

gas at every time, you know, and
he could buy travel through there.

So,

Brandon Giella: interesting.

Ian Andersen: find what works
for you in your life, that you're

gonna use a lot that you're
gonna, rack up those points with.

and then just explore what options they
have for using your points and travel.

I almost bet will be one of them.

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Yeah, that's helpful.

That's how I think about it.

I, I've, I've considered a bunch of
different individual loyalty program

cards for specific airlines or, and
things like that, but I keep coming

back to the American Express Platinum
because I'm not gonna wade through

that decision every single time, but.

Dollar for dollar.

It's a really good, I guess cost,
you know, it's like $800 a year

now, but I know it gives me tons of
perks for tons of airlines, tons of

hotels, and it's, it's pretty good.

You know, it's maybe not the best
decision overall, but given all

the factors, it's pretty good.

Rachel, what would you say, what's your,
what's your hot tips for, for people

thinking about this decision that don't
wanna wade through all the details?

Rachel Satow: Yeah, I mean, I'm
gonna completely left field this,

Brandon Giella: yes.

Rachel Satow: just so

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Rachel Satow: because I myself
am of the people who purely.

Go to see family.

Like that decision is made for me,

Brandon Giella: Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Rachel Satow: like I, there, there will
not be a holiday that we have not sorted

it out barring any other, you know,
like they decide to go on vacation.

Brandon Giella: good.

Okay,

Rachel Satow: family, we
we're pretty, we're pretty.

Unlock when it comes to,

Brandon Giella: good.

Okay.

Rachel Satow: each other for the holidays.

And, you know, Ashley mentioned
traveling with her partner.

We have it pretty much sorted
out that like Thanksgiving.

We'll, we go to Charleston to see
my partner's family for Christmas we

go to Cocoa Beach to see my family.

And that's, that's our routine.

So knowing that there are people who
are probably listening that are in a

similar situation where they know that.

These are the areas that
they're going to go to.

I would say try to find a program
that also gives you the opportunity to

spend your points in a different way
than just on flights, because there

are ways to enhance your holidays.

doing other things than
just flying somewhere.

So the program offers the ability to do
a certain activity or to, you know, go

see a museum and get those tickets all
redeeming through your points, and you

can burn that way in order to meet status,
like I think that there's, there's there.

That's definitely something I would
recommend exploring as well, because.

Brandon Giella: Hmm.

Rachel Satow: You know, I know that if
I go down to go down to Coco, there's,

you know, an aquarium down there,
there's you know, the zoos down there,

there's probably something that I can
do in that general area that I can,

you know, use my points to spend and
still enhance my holiday that way.

So that's my advice is if you know what
you're doing and you know the plans and

you might not be flying because we don't
fly to, we, we do the drive, it's fine.

I would recommend taking a look
at the programs that allow you to

spend your points on other things.

Brandon Giella: That is a great point.

Generally speaking, be creative.

It's not just a flight, but in in
others' defense, maybe listening to

this, their families don't live in exotic
places like Cocoa Beach in Charleston.

So Statesboro, Georgia is not as exotic.

Rachel Satow: is exotic

Brandon Giella: Charleston
is so beautiful.

Okay.

Ian Andersen: It is.

Rachel Satow: It's very beautiful.

Maybe we have different definitions of the

Brandon Giella: It is, it is more
beautiful than Statesboro, Georgia.

No offense to Statesboro.

Go Eagles.

Okay.

But it's not as fun as the beach.

Okay.

Ian Andersen: one last point,
is, Ashley said something that,

that, triggered my, my reaction.

The, the, you don't earn.

Points on when you're, when you're
booking reward miles, right?

So think about your next
trip as well, right?

That, that this trip could
be a little more expensive.

And if you've got the cash.

it might be worth it to just
buy it in cash right now and

Brandon Giella: Yeah.

Ian Andersen: up the miles
for the next trip too.

So, don't think of it as like, you
gotta burn everything right now, right?

Like, now's a good time to
really earn points as well.

So keep that in.

Brandon Giella: Yeah.

Yeah, that's a great point.

Really great point.

Well, as you all are considering
these decision criteria.

As a fallback, just plug it
all into Chacha, bt and it'll

create an itinerary for you.

Just kidding.

you can go to switch fly.com

however, because there are amazing
tools and resources that you guys

have to be thinking about your travel.

And, please join the newsletter
there, see the, the other podcast

episodes that we have and other blogs.

but you guys do such phenomenal work.

Helping people make these, kind
of decisions, especially on the

travel loyalty side, when thinking
about putting together programs

and, and how that can best serve,
travelers, especially on, on their

technology side and things like that.

So you guys are experts.

Very much appreciate your insight
input as always, and I am very much

looking forward to the next episode.

So, Rachel, Ian Ashley, thank
you so much for your insight.

Can't wait to talk again.

We'll see you soon.

Ian Andersen: you, Brenda.

Rachel Satow: Thanks Brandon.

Ashley Martinez: Thanks, Brandon.