Most people think they’re using their American Express points correctly… but they’re actually losing a huge amount of value.In this episode, Chris and Katie break down the biggest mistakes people make with Amex Membership Rewards points, including using points for gift cards, statement credits, and “pay with points” at checkout.They explain why these options deliver poor value, and more importantly, what you should do instead to get the most out of your points.If you want to travel better, book flights with points, or maximize your rewards, this episode will help you avoid the most common and costly mistakes.Chapters:00:00 The Upgraded Points Podcast Episode 5201:01 Citi Devalues 2 Transfer Partners02:37 United Relax Row05:23 Amex Points Pulse Email 07:32 Don’t Transfer Points Without a Plan08:47 Ignore The Hype10:10 Amex Offers10:53 Tracking Benefits12:50 AmexTravel.com16:12 Cash-back, Statement Credits, and Gift Cards18:55 Listener Question 122:22 Listener Question 2Links from the show:Citi Massively Reducing Points Transfer Rates to 2 Hotel Programs in Aprilhttps://upgradedpoints.com/news/citi-hotel-transfer-devaluation-2026/United Relax Row: A Brand-New Economy Experience Coming in 2027https://upgradedpoints.com/news/united-relax-row/✈️ Learn more at https://upgradedpoints.com/📧 Questions? Email us at
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