1/ David here, founder of PointsGPT. My mom's financial advisor told her to get a points credit card. So she did. Then she had points and no idea how to use them. This is why I built PointsGPT. 🧵

Cathay business, SFO or LAX to Hong Kong: from 91,000 Asia Miles one way. Citi to Asia Miles is 1,000 to 1,100 through Nov 14 on Strata Premier, Strata Elite or Prestige: about 83,000 Citi points. Catch: no-fee Citi cards get 770 per 1,000. Find the seat, then transfer.

Premium economy to Europe from Austin, Chicago, Las Vegas or Miami: from 30,000 Flying Blue miles one way, down from 40,000. Book by Oct 31, fly by Mar 31. Around $220 in taxes. Amex 25%: 24,000. Rove 40%: about 21,500. Both end Oct 31. I'd use it for a winter overnight.

Qatar business, US to Doha: from 70,000 Avios one way off-peak, 94,500 peak. Citi Strata Premier 25% on 50,000+ Avios (ends Oct 31): about 56,000 points. Capital One 20% to BA (ends Oct 31): about 58,400 miles. Chase, Amex: 1:1. Catch: off-peak only. Find the seat first.

Iberia business, NYC or Boston to Madrid: from 40,500 Avios one way, off-peak. Capital One 20% to BA (ends Oct 31, 11:59 PM ET): about 33,800 miles, then move the Avios to Iberia. Chase, Amex, Bilt to BA: 1:1. Catch: off-peak dates only. Find the seat before you transfer.

American AAdvantage, two ways: Buy: up to 40% off through Oct 31, but 2.26 cents a mile only at 151,000+. At 30,000 it's about 3.01 cents. Non-refundable. Transfer: Citi Strata Premier, Elite or Prestige, 1:1. Citi points? Transfer. Buy only the gap on a seat you've priced.

ANA business to Japan via Virgin Atlantic: from 52,500 Virgin points one way from the West Coast, 60,000 from the East. Capital One 30% (ends Nov 20): about 40,400 or 46,200 miles. Chase, Amex, Bilt: 1:1. Catch: nonstop ANA saver seats only, booked by phone. Find a seat first.

Seattle to Europe in business: from 45,000 Flying Blue miles one way, down from 60,000. Book by Oct 31, fly by Mar 31. Light fare, no changes or refunds, few promo dates. Amex 25%: 36,000 points. Rove 40%: about 32,200. Both end Oct 31. I'd use it for a flexible winter trip.

Hyatt, two ways: Buy: 20% off through Dec 21, 2.08 cents each. 20,000 points is $416. Transfer: Sapphire Reserve is 1:1. Preferred and Ink Preferred went 4:3 on Oct 1, so 20,000 Hyatt is about 26,700 Chase. Reserve? Transfer. Preferred? Buy only the gap on a priced award.

Amex to Marriott has a 35% bonus through Dec 10. 1,000 Amex points become 1,350 Bonvoy. By TPG's October values that's about $20 of Amex points turning into about $10 of Bonvoy. I'd only do it to finish a Marriott award I'd already priced. Anyone actually using this one?

What was the first award you ever booked with points, and what do you wish someone had told you first? I'm collecting these for the next "Things I wish my mom knew" posts.

us runs through Nov 20 but the seat is the real constraint. Anyone seeing Upper Class saver space on the routes they want, or is it mostly thin at that 29K level?

stack with any of the Platinum credits, or is it mainly the points earn? That's the part I'd want sorted before choosing Amex over booking direct with the line.

Things I wish my mom knew, #6: sometimes your points are worth more for a few weeks. Citi to JAL is +30% and to LifeMiles +25% until Sat Oct 24, but only Strata Premier, Elite or Prestige get 1,300 or 1,250 per 1,000. Other Citi cards get 910 or 875. Which are you using?

A 100% transfer bonus can still be a downgrade. Wyndham to United is doubled through Oct 31: 6,000 Wyndham points become 2,400 United miles. TPG values that at $33 going in and $28.80 coming out. I'd only do it for expiring Wyndham points or a United top-off. Would you?

United's buy miles sale is up to a 95% bonus through Oct 31, about 1.93 cents a mile. New catch: 50,000 miles max per rolling 90 days, bonus included. Chase and Bilt move to United 1:1, so I'd only buy to close a small gap on an award I priced. Where's your line on buying?

Things I wish my mom knew, #5: the same points can buy more for a few weeks. Capital One to Virgin Atlantic is 30% extra through Nov 20. Upper Class, East Coast to London, from 29,000 Virgin points is about 22,400 Capital One miles. Catch: fees run $500+. Worth it to you?

Things I wish my mom knew, #3: sometimes your points are worth more for a few weeks. JAL business US to Japan from 55,000 miles one way: Rove 50% (ends Oct 31): about 36,700 Rove miles Citi 30% (ends Oct 24, Strata Premier): about 42,300 ThankYou Which would you burn first?