Are points and miles worth less than they used to be—or are they just different? In this episode, Bryce is joined by Emily, Travis, and Matt to break down how the value of travel rewards has evolved in 2025. They unpack shifting airline award charts, hotel certificate struggles, and why dynamic pricing isn’t necessarily the end of the world.

Hear what the crew thinks about points and miles devaluation over the years, and catch their opinions on what's better today than in the past. Plus, learn how they are adjusting their points and miles strategies to account for these shifts in the industry.

Whether you’re new to points or a seasoned mile collector, this episode is packed with takeaways to help you earn smarter and redeem better in the current environment.

00:00 – Episode Introduction

02:00 – Are points worth less today? Personal takes

07:00 – Airlines: devaluations vs. new sweet spots

12:30 – Hotel certs & why they’re harder to use

17:00 – Dynamic pricing: pros, cons & weird examples

32:00 – Credit card bonuses & how inflation helped

41:00 – What we’ll look back on in 10 years

50:00 – Real talk: what changes your strategy today?

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

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It's time to turn up the heat! In this special hot takes episode, Bryce, Emily, and Travis are dishing out their most unfiltered opinions on points and miles travel, credit card strategies, and everything in between.

From questioning the true value of “free night” certificates to debating whether optimizing every point is really worth it, nothing is off-limits. You’ll hear where the crew agrees, where they clash, and where you might want to rethink your entire strategy.

This spicy episode will challenge your points and miles assumptions—and probably give you a good laugh along the way. Tune in, and let us know your own hot takes on YouTube or Instagram!

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

01:48 Diving into Unconventional Takes

12:40 Category Spend Optimization Debate

23:53 Inconveniences in Points and Miles Travel

31:34 Travis's Hot Take on Point Hoarding

35:23 The Risks of Point Hoarding

40:54 Psychological Aspects of Point Hoarding

44:39 Bryce's Second Hot Take: Valuing Points and Miles

52:38 Emily's Second Hot Take: Free Night Certificates

56:55 Travis's Controversial Take on Flexible Pricing

01:02:39 Lightning Round of Hot Takes

01:04:07 Engaging with the Audience

01:04:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Top Five Credit Myths Debunked

Best Cards for Bonus Categories April Through June 2025

Three Types of Points: Which One Should You Prioritize?

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Stay Connected:

Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders

Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog

Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: