Yeah, little research after seeing your post above proves this out. Especially since Bonvoy and Hyatt points are forfeited for "inactivity" on your account.EnjoyIt wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:31 pmThe bold above is mine.Moondawg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 5:56 pm Our rewards strategy feels pretty lackluster now that I'm looking at it... not even sure if it is still a strategy.
- Amex Gold - Almost all of our spend goes here, with wife as an authorized user (200k points)
- Chase Amazon Prime Rewards - All Amazon/Whole Foods purchases go here (usually redeem these for cash back, no points now)
- Apple Card - Some spend here, but not much and only out of convenience/necessity (cash back has been nice, but meh)
- Gemini Card - Used to use this similar to Amex with all spend here to get bitcoin, but no more spend goes here (~$500 in BTC)
- Chase Sapphire Preferred - No spend here (84k points)
- Chase Marriott Bonvoy - No spend here (137k points, don't use any of the other benefits)
- Chase Hyatt - No spend here (132k points, don't use any of the other benefits)
- Capital One Venture - No spend here (17k points)
I'm not exactly sure how we landed here, but after random churn experiments and strategic applications for cards based on our spend, I think we're mostly thinking we'd use our points for some insanely aspirational trip when we retire in 20+ years.
Unless there's some sensible cards to churn next, we will probably just keep majority of our spend on amex gold. Dumb?
I'm sorry but that is a poor idea. These points get devalued relatively quickly. My advice, use them within the next year or two.
One of my professors who traveled a bit for speaking gigs plus vacations accumulated hundreds of thousands of airline points during his career. Like you he planned to use them for some great post retirement trips. Over the last few years of his career the airline industry devalued and devalued those points. Before the devalue he could have gotten multiple Business class trips overseas, today those points are worth 1 business class overseas trip.
Don't waste your points. Use them in 2023/2024.
Looks like we'll be planning a trip and closing the Bonvoy card this year, but will likely find ways to keep that Hyatt card (WAY better value right now than Bonvoy). Thanks for straightening me out!