About Juan Ruiz
Juan has over a decade of experience writing and editing stories relating to travel, credit cards, and loyalty programs. His extensive knowledge in these fields has garnered recognition for his contributions in numerous reputable publications, including USA Today, CNN Underscored, Forbes, and The Points Guy, among others. Juan is also the co-founder of JetBetter, a bespoke award-booking concierge service that helps clients optimize their points for luxury flights and 5-star hotels.
When Juan was in elementary school, his parents sent him to Bogota, Colombia, by himself to spend the summers with his grandmother. This was the start of his insatiable wanderlust. These days, Juan has been to more than 40 countries and has experienced some of the most magnificent premium flights in the sky, including Emirates A380 First Class, Qatar Qsuites, Singapore First Class Suites, and Etihad A380 First Class Apartments, to mention a few.
Juan, his wife Stephanie, and 3 daughters live in South Florida, where they embark on travel adventures worldwide using points and miles earned from more than 25 credit cards he possesses. His crowning achievement is showing his three daughters the world through a global lens.
Countries Visited
U.S. States Visited
World of Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
American AAdvantage Pro Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Delta Platinum Medallion
Oneworld
Singapore First Class Suite
Qatar Qsuites
Cathay Pacific long-haul business class for 4 at 50,000 Alaska miles per person. Cash value? $35,000!
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Juan's Latest Articles
See More ArticlesBest Ways To Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s 75K-Point Welcome Bonus
For a limited time, a popular travel rewards card is currently offering a welcome offer that is only available on rare occasions. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card now offers an enhanced welcome bonus of: There’s no better time than now…
[Now Live] Earn 2x Hilton Honors Points This Summer With Latest Promo
Summer travel is fast approaching, and Hilton wants your business. So much so the chain is offering double points on every stay across all of its brands. Hilton Honors has introduced its latest promotion, which is valid for stays from…
CLEAR Now Offers TSA PreCheck Enrollment — How To Register
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced today that CLEAR has been added as the third approved TSA PreCheck enrollment provider, joining Idemia and Telos. According to TSA’s announcement, TSA PreCheck members now have the option of renewing their membership with…
Get an Incredible 200K Bonus With the Amex Business Platinum Card [Current Public Offer Is 150K]
Earning a welcome bonus is an integral part of any award traveler’s journey. It’s an opportunity to amass a large number of points in a relatively short amount of time, opening the door to incredible redemption possibilities that may otherwise…
Avianca Rebrands Business Class With New Inflight Amenities
Avianca Airlines has recently unveiled a new update to its business class offering, promising an enhanced experience for its esteemed passengers. Colombia’s flag carrier is set to unveil an innovative menu created by a revered chef, along with upgraded amenity kits…
Amex Brings Back Popular Delta Reserve Cards Made From a Boeing 747 — How To Get One
In 2022, Delta and American Express launched a stunning limited edition credit card that caught our attention: a stylish, black Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card crafted from metal sourced from a…
Six Senses Now Open in Kyoto — How To Book
Today, Six Senses welcomed its inaugural guests as it opened its doors in the historic city of Kyoto, marking its debut as the brand’s first resort in Japan. Let’s take a look at the details of this exciting new property. New…
5 Best Etihad Flights To Book With Etihad Guest Miles [Transfer from American Express® Membership Rewards Points]
Etihad Guest recently made updates to its loyalty program to reduce the price of award tickets — with a particular emphasis on some of the airline’s busiest routes. Let’s look at some sweet spot redemptions you might wish to explore…
Capital One Venture and Venture X Business Cards Switching Payment Networks — What To Know
If you have a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or a Capital One Venture X Business Card*, you should be aware of a couple of recent changes to the cards that may affect their benefits. The issuer has announced…
Chase Raising Global Entry Credit to $120 [Starting October 1]
Starting October 1, the application fee for Global Entry will go up to $120. The fee increase raises the question of how credit card issuers will adapt, considering many of them provide an up-to-$100 Global Entry statement credit on some…
Get a 50% Bonus When You Transfer Citi Points to Accor
The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is now offering a transfer bonus to one of the issuer’s hotel transfer partners, ALL – Accor Live Limitless. Let’s take a look at the details of the promotion to see if it is worth taking…
Expanded Delta Sky Club Lounge Reopens in Miami
While American Airlines is the dominant carrier at Miami International Airport (MIA), Delta flyers visiting Miami will now have an impressive, expanded Sky Club to enjoy during their travels. Here’s what Delta passengers can expect from a visit to the…
Citi Updates Global Entry Credit to $120 Following Recent Application Fee Hike
With the Global Entry application fee increasing to $120 effective October 1, 2024, there is a growing curiosity surrounding the future of the $100 Global Entry statement credit offered by several popular travel rewards cards. Will cardholders be on the…
ANA To Add Free Wi-Fi in Business Class on International Routes
Beginning this summer, All Nippon Airways (ANA) will offer complimentary Wi-Fi for business class passengers on international flights. Passengers flying long-haul business class with the airline will be delighted by this exciting news, as it enables them to stay productive…
IHG Cardholders: Earn 10K Bonus Points After Spending $5K [Targeted]
Make sure to keep an eye on your inbox, as Chase has recently sent out a special offer to IHG One Rewards cardholders. By spending $5,000 until June 30, 2024, you have the opportunity to earn 10,000 IHG One Rewards…
British Airways Launches Free Status Match Promotion [U.S. and Canada Residents Only]
British Airways, the UK’s flagship carrier, is currently offering a unique chance to earn almost top-tier status in their program through a limited-time status match offer. It’s important to note that British Airways rarely offers status match opportunities. Therefore, it presents a…
Select Chase Cards Targeted for a Limited-Time 5x to 7x Spending Bonus
Chase is back with the newest targeted offers that allow you to earn 5x to 7x points at gas stations, grocery stores, and home improvement stores on up to $1,000 combined spend between April 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024,…
Earn Up to 3,000 Delta SkyMiles With Your Next Hilton Stays [Register Now!]
Delta and Hilton have announced a new limited-time promotion through which you can earn 1,000 Delta SkyMiles when you book your next hotel stay at Hilton.com or through the Hilton Honors app and complete your stay by July 7. This is fantastic news for…
Fifth Freedom Flights: What They Are and How To Book Them [2024]
If you’ve heard the term “fifth freedom flight,” you might have scratched your head and wondered what it meant. Fifth freedom flights transport passengers between 2 countries other than the airline’s home country. These routes are permitted as long as the aircraft starts…
New Marriott Bonvoy Promotion: Earn 10k Bonus Points at All-Inclusive Resorts
If you’re considering a stay at one of Marriott’s all-inclusive resorts this year, you might be interested in its current bonus points offer. Let’s take a look at all the details of the latest promotion. All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy Resorts…
Breeze Airways Launches First Credit Card With a Rebranded Frequent Flyer Program
Since its launch in 2021, low-cost carrier Breeze Airways has quickly gained popularity among passengers. The airline operates flights to numerous small to mid-sized domestic markets and is known for its customer-friendly policies, including flexible changes and cancellation options and…
Find out about other members of the team
Alex Miller
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
Amar Hussain
Senior Content Contributor
Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.
Andrew Kunesh
Former Content Contributor
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.
Ashley Onadele
Content Contributor
Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.
Brandon Brunner
Former Content Contributor
Brandon was born and raised in California and really didn’t travel much growing up, even outside of his own state. While attending college, he was constantly looking to find the cheapest fares to any destination abroad, and quickly learned about the motto- “Chase the fare, not the destination”. Luckily, his first international flight was to Costa Rica (under $300 roundtrip) where that “Pura Vida” lifestyle (and Imperials) hit him hard, and he knew he had to see more.
Brian Graham
Former Content Contributor
Brian’s first ever airplane ride was in a private turbo-prop jet. He was merely an intern boy trying to make a good impression, but it turns out the plane made an impression on him.
Carissa Rawson
Senior Content Contributor
Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.
Caroline Lupini
Former Content Contributor
Caroline Lupini always enjoyed traveling, but it became her goal to do as much as possible after a 3-week trip around Europe in 2011. In March 2014, Caroline left her job and embarked on nearly full-time travels.
Charlie Page
Former Content Contributor
Charlie is a Senior First Officer and has been an airline pilot for nearly 15 years. He currently flies long-haul on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after 10 years buzzing around Europe on the A320. He got into travel and aviation from an early age, fortunate enough to be taken on some great family holidays.
Cherag Dubash
Content Contributor
Cherag was born in a family associated with aviation and was hooked on to planes since the age of 3, the time he undertook his first flight on an Airbus A310 from Mumbai to Dubai.
Chris Dong
Editor & Content Contributor
Chris is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on timely travel trends, points and miles, hot new hotels, and all things that go (he’s a proud aviation geek and transit nerd). Formerly full-time at The Points Guy, his work can now be found at AFAR, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, and Lonely Planet, among others
Chris Hassan
Social Media & Brand Manager
Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.
Christine Krzyszton
Senior Finance Contributor
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Christy Rodriguez
Travel & Finance Content Contributor
After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.
Daniel Ross
Senior Content Contributor
Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points Guy, and more.
Dan Miller
Content Contributor
Realizing that it wasn’t all first class flights and 5-star hotels, Dan started the Points With a Crew blog in 2014, with the aim of helping families (especially large families) to use miles, points and credit card rewards to take that trip that they might have thought they couldn’t afford. He has spent over 10 years covering developments in the travel rewards credit card space. His expertise extends to all things personal finance, including student loans, budgeting and real estate, and his work has been featured in sites all over the Internet, including NerdWallet, Forbes, Business Insider, Rocket Mortgage, CreditCards.com, Bankrate, Turbotax, Credit Karma and Intuit Mint.
David Slotnick
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in New York, David still remembers his first flight when he was only four years old: a U.S. Airways trip from New York-La Guardia to Palm Beach, Florida. He formed his love of travel around that and other family vacations, including to England at age eight and Namibia when he was 13. During college, a four-country trip around Europe with a friend cemented his passion for seeing the world.
Ehsan Haque
Content Contributor
Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.
Erin Miller
Content Contributor
An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.
Greg Stone
Content Contributor
Greg got bitten by the travel bug at a young age while traveling with his Dad on business trips to Asia. He took over the family business in 2012 and uses it to maximize his loyalty points earning. His obsession with earning and burning loyalty rewards points allows him to travel over 100 days every year.
James Larounis
Senior Content Contributor
James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.
Jarrod West
Senior Content Contributor
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
Jeff Brownson
Former Content Contributor
Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.
Jessica Merritt
Editor & Content Contributor
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.
Julian Kheel
Content Contributor
Julian Kheel first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. With over 15 years of professional experience studying travel loyalty programs, Julian has served as CNN’s Senior Editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the Editorial Director of The Points Guy, and has worked as a consultant for the Big 3 U.S. airlines.
Keri Stooksbury
Editor-in-Chief
With years of experience in corporate marketing and with a nonprofit, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and reviewing thousands of UP articles in the process.
Lindsey Olander
Former Content Contributor
Currently based in New York, Lindsey spent her childhood in Connecticut dreaming of far-off places. Her first flight was to Disney World at age 11. Her second flight was for a high school field trip to Italy, though travel as a career didn’t stick until she studied abroad in London during college and discovered the true power of her passport. Since then, she’s worked as a travel editor at Jetsetter and Travel + Leisure, where she reported on everything from African safaris to hot hotel openings to, yes, Disney World.
Lori Zaino
Senior Content Contributor
Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and more, and loves to muse about points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.
Lukas Picton
Former Content Contributor
Lukas escaped his hometown south of Sydney and moved to the big smoke immediately after high-school, but the bright lights of the city weren’t enough, and he soon set his sights on more exotic international destinations and has been in love with travel ever since.
Michael McHugh
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Michael Y. Park
Editor
Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.
Ryan Smith
Content Contributor
Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.
Senitra Horbrook
Writer
Senitra Horbrook is a frequent solo traveler who began using points and miles in 2012. Formerly credit cards editor at The Points Guy, Senitra has also contributed to Forbes Advisor, AwardWallet, Insider, among others.
Spencer Howard
Former Content Contributor
Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.
Stephen Au
Senior Content Contributor
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Susan Wright
Former Finance Contributor
While writing about finance and insurance isn’t something that keeps most people awake at night, it is what Susan Wright has focused on for more than 25 years. As a financial copywriter, Susan has an eye for money-related details such as credit and savings, and she loves to pass along helpful information to consumers. Susan holds 11 financial industry designations (including CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, ADPA, CITRMS, CIPA) as well as several licenses.
Victoria M. Walker
Senior Content Contributor
Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria M. Walker” newsletter.
Stella Shon
News Managing Editor
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.
Nick Ellis
Editor & Content Contributor
Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to leverage the perks of each.
Brett Holzhauer
Content Contributor
Brett is a personal finance and travel junkie. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, he’s had over 100 credit cards and earned millions of credit card rewards. He learned the tricks of the trade from his mom, and has taken many steps forward. He wasn’t exposed to much travel as a kid, but now has a goal of reaching 100 countries in his life. In 2019, he sold all of his possessions to become a digital nomad, and he says it was one of the best decisions he ever made. He plans to do it again at some point in his life.
Kellie Jez
Director of Operations & Compliance
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s compliance operation.
Katie Seemann
Senior Content Contributor and News Editor
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.
UP's Bonus Valuation
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.