About Alex Miller
Alex has been traveling for over 25 years and he has his parents to thank for this. Born and raised in England (and living there until he was 27), from a young age Alex was lucky enough to set out on numerous family trips all over the world.
During university, where he studied Business & Management with Spanish, Alex studied abroad for a year in Alicante. After graduating in 2007, his passion jumped to another level when he and 5 friends visited 10 European countries in just 30 days — all on a shoestring budget.
This travel bug turned into a full-time obsession when Alex moved to America in 2011 after falling head-over-heels in love with Erin.
Alex has since earned tens of millions of travel points and miles, mainly through maximizing every opportunity to earn the most points possible on each dollar spent.
These points and miles have helped Alex to fly some of the most awarded international first-class products in the world, including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, British Airways, Lufthansa, and more.
Alex is regularly called upon by mainstream publications to discuss travel and finance, including CNBC, Forbes, Fox Business, Fox News, Insider, Lonely Planet, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Countries Visited
U.S. States Visited
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Oneworld Gold
Oneworld
Etihad Apartment (A380) and New Singapore Suites (A380)
QSuite (A350)
Our Around the World Trip — 611k miles for $55,000+ of value
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Alex's Latest Articles
See More ArticlesThe Best Day of the Week To Book a Flight [2024 Data Study]
When it comes to air travel, timing is everything. From the moment you decide to embark on your journey to the decision on departure times to the second you secure your ticket, timing plays a pivotal role in shaping your…
How Every State Takes Their Plane Refreshments [2024 Survey]
We’ve all been there. You’re nestled in your seat on a flight, the plane has just reached cruising altitude, and the stewards are making their way through the aisle with the refreshments cart. Do you have your order ready? Is…
The Most Popular Store Credit Cards in Every State [2024 Data Study]
Retail credit cards, also known as store-issued credit cards, play a significant role in consumer credit and serve as a key revenue stream for many stores.¹ In fact, retailers have issued credit cards for longer than financial institutions, beginning the…
The U.S. States With the Most Overpackers [2024 Survey]
We all know that proper preparation prevents poor outcomes. But there’s one subset of travelers who push that axiom to its limit: the ones who fight tooth and nail to get that suitcase zipper shut; the ones who try to…
U.S. Cities With the Most 420-Friendly Stays [2024 Data Study]
In recent years, the perception of marijuana has rapidly evolved. Today, marijuana is legalized in 24 states and decriminalized or available for legal medical purposes in many more. So, when mapping out their travel plans, individuals may factor in the…
How I Booked Etihad First Class Apartment Flights With American Express Membership Rewards® Points
Getting to fly on a double-decker jet — especially at the very front of the plane — is a dream for many AvGeeks, myself included. But with the right stash of points and miles, booking this aspirational flight is possible…
U.S. Airports With the Friendliest Staff [2024 Data Study]
Nothing beats a warm welcome or a helpful hand from staff when you’re zigzagging through airport mazes. But bump into a grumpy TSA agent or a less-than-enthusiastic staff member and suddenly your travel vibe gets a dose of unnecessary turbulence. …
U.S. Cities With the Highest-Rated Cocktail Bars [2024 Data Study]
Americans’ love affair with cocktail bars is undeniable. From the classic allure of an old-fashioned to the artistry of a skilled bartender, something is enchanting about the experience of sipping a perfectly crafted drink in an atmosphere designed for unwinding…
[Expired] Get Paid $1,500 To Binge Watch 15 Travel Movies [Enter Contest by 5/10]
Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. An adventure can look different depending on the person and place. With the power of imagination, movies for generations have pushed the bounds of what “travel” can look like….
Airports With the Biggest Increase in Airfare This Year [2024 Data Study]
After COVID-19-era safety restrictions and protocols upended worldwide air travel, the airline industry is finally returning to normalcy. Airline passenger traffic in the U.S.¹ decreased an astounding 96% in April 2020 compared to the year prior, impacting not only commercial…
Airlines and Airports With the Worst Tarmac Delays [2024 Data Study]
Much about air travel has been less enjoyable in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers have been plagued¹ by cancellations, delays, and lower-quality service — and more and more passengers are responding with complaints and even incidents of air…
States That Would Benefit Most From Credit Card Interest Rate Declines [2024 Data Study]
Despite increased costs and high interest rates, U.S. households have not been deterred from spending their money. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer spending¹ in the U.S. increased by 24.1% from the first quarter of 2021 to the…
The Most Expensive Flights in the U.S. [2024 Data Study]
Despite sharp increases in ticket prices since before the pandemic, 2023 marked a record year for U.S. air travel.¹ While there is some hope for relief² moving into 2024, airline prices remain high. To help travelers navigate this new normal,…
How Private Are Americans About Their Money? [2024 Survey]
How many people know your annual salary? How comfortable are you discussing your salary openly with colleagues or superiors? Do you share how much is in your savings or retirement accounts with others? Does your partner know your credit card…
U.S. Airports With the Most Fast Food Chains [2024 Data Study]
Are you someone who relishes a quick bite before your flight? Or perhaps you find comfort in familiar fast food options during layovers? Well, you’re not alone. Airports worldwide cater to this need, but some airports are veritable fast food…
Corporate Plastic Power: Surveying Employees on Company Credit Cards [2024 Survey]
A company credit card is a tool of empowerment, trust, and sometimes, contention. In the complex world of corporate finance, their role often remains obscured. From inadequate training and loose guidelines to using personal funds on business-related expenses, company-issued credit…
States Most Impacted by Rising Heating Costs This Winter [2024 Data Study]
As the height of winter approaches in the U.S. and temperatures continue to drop across the country, many Americans are turning their focus to the high prices of household utilities — namely household heating fuels. On average, nearly half of…
Analyzing Each State’s Reliance on Credit Cards [2024 Survey]
Everywhere you turn — from credit card reward programs to the flood of credit card offers in the mail — Americans have ample opportunities to open new credit cards. As a result, many Americans accumulate a stack of credit cards in…
The U.S. Airlines With the Most and Least Legroom [2024 Data Study]
When it comes to flying, legroom is more than just a luxury — it’s the key to a pleasant journey, especially for those longer flights. No one wants to feel like a sardine packed into a tin can, knees pressed…
Analyzing Return Habits When Online Shopping [Survey]
In today’s 21st-century shopping landscape, consumers enjoy unparalleled access to a vast array of products — all just a click away. This remarkable convenience, however, occasionally collides with the inconvenience of returns when a purchased item doesn’t quite match expectations….
Find out about other members of the team
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Juan Ruiz
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been featured in various prestigious publications, such as USA Today, CNN Underscored, Forbes and The Points Guy. Juan is the visionary behind JetBetter, a premier award booking concierge service.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.