About Brett Holzhauer
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.
In his non-traveling days, he is covering economic news for outlets like CNBC and Forbes and reading up on the latest personal finance trends.
Countries Visited
U.S. States Visited
IHG Platinum Elite
None
SkyTeam
Yet to be discovered!
Singapore Airlines
2 seats in Singapore business class from NRT-LAX
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, American Express Business Gold Card
Brett's Latest Articles
See More Articles![[Award Alert] U.S. to Seoul in Business Class for 75K Miles](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/South-Korea.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
[Award Alert] U.S. to Seoul in Business Class for 75K Miles
It’s a long flight to South Korea, so having a comfortable business class seat can make the journey much more enjoyable. If you’re looking for an incredible trip to start 2025 without breaking the bank, take a look at this…
![Delta Struggles in Wake of Crowdstrike Outage. Here’s What the Airline Is Saying.](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sleeping-at-airport.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Delta Struggles in Wake of Crowdstrike Outage. Here’s What the Airline Is Saying.
The Crowdstrike software update meltdown on Friday continues to have a stronghold on Delta Air Lines on Monday. The airline has been communicating with customers via its app and X account to give up-to-date information, but it hasn’t stopped travel…
![Crowdstrike Outage Affecting Airlines and Airports Globally — What You Need To Know](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Blue-Screen-Death-Frustrated.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Crowdstrike Outage Affecting Airlines and Airports Globally — What You Need To Know
Airlines, banks, and hospitals, among other sectors, have been directly impacted by a gone-wrong software update from Crowdstrike. The managed security service provider has confirmed this is not a cyberattack or a hack of any kind, but this update gone…
![How I Used Old Credit Cards and Boarding Passes To Make Artwork](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Travel-Journal-3.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
How I Used Old Credit Cards and Boarding Passes To Make Artwork
Credit cards aren’t just a financial instrument for me, they’ve become a passion. They’ve enabled me to navigate the world of personal finance by getting into the weeds from the start. I grew my credit score to over 800, earned…
![Flight Prices Are Primed for Takeoff, According to United CEO](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/United-Airlines-Domestic-Flight-2.jpeg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Flight Prices Are Primed for Takeoff, According to United CEO
Ticket prices for flights have been descending throughout 2024. Prices have been down 6% year to date, nearly 10% since pre-pandemic, and remain on par with prices from June 2009, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Scott…
![Earn Flying Blue Miles on Uber Rides in France and Netherlands](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Four-Seasons-Mumbai-Airport-Transfer.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Earn Flying Blue Miles on Uber Rides in France and Netherlands
Uber made a significant announcement Tuesday. Customers can now earn miles with Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France-KLM Group, when traveling in France and the Netherlands and using Uber to get around. This comes in perfect time for…
![Amazon Prime Day Is Here: The Best Travel Gear Deals and How To Maximize Credit Card Rewards](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Amazon-Prime-Day-Unsplash.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Amazon Prime Day Is Here: The Best Travel Gear Deals and How To Maximize Credit Card Rewards
Amazon Prime Day has arrived, kicking off 2 days of online shopping deals for Prime members in over 48 countries. While inflation remains high, Amazon continues to scale Prime Day. This year’s event is expected to net $14 billion in…
![Earn 175K Bonus Points With Amex Business Platinum Card [Current Public Offer Is 150K]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Amex-Business-Platinum-Card-at-Centurion-Lounge.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Earn 175K Bonus Points With Amex Business Platinum Card [Current Public Offer Is 150K]
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is an outstanding option for business owners who want to earn valuable rewards and access a long list of benefits. The welcome bonus offer can change regularly, so if you’re able to find…
![Earn 5 Free Nights or 100,000 Points With These IHG Credit Card Bonus Offers](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Kimpton-Seafire-Resort-pool.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Earn 5 Free Nights or 100,000 Points With These IHG Credit Card Bonus Offers
Right now, there are 2 IHG Credit Cards with new, elevated welcome bonus offers through which you can earn significant rewards after completing modest spending requirements. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card…
![How I Plan To Use 120k Points on the Ink Business Preferred’s Welcome Offer](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jw-Marriott-Cancun-Pool-Island.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
How I Plan To Use 120k Points on the Ink Business Preferred’s Welcome Offer
I’ve been on the hunt for a new credit card for some time. I’ve had heaps of cards since I turned 18, many of which have restrictive guidelines on how many times you can earn the welcome bonus offer. So,…
![Turkish Airlines Launches U.S. Credit Card, and I’ve Already Applied](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Turkish-J-arrival-at-IST.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Turkish Airlines Launches U.S. Credit Card, and I’ve Already Applied
If you have your eyes set on Türkiye, there’s a new credit card to get you there as Turkish Airlines recently announced the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature® Credit Card. My girlfriend and I are both eager to get…
![Mindtrip AI Travel Platform Builds Itineraries for You, Letting You Plan Travel Without Tension](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3d-travel-icon-with-airplane-1.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Mindtrip AI Travel Platform Builds Itineraries for You, Letting You Plan Travel Without Tension
For many, the biggest headache when looking for an ideal vacation is usually the cumbersome planning process. Researching, booking, and maintaining an entire vacation often requires using dozens of different websites and tools. Additionally, if you’re planning a trip with…
![TSA Hits 3 Million Passengers for First Time Ever — Here’s Why It Matters](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/William-P.-Hobby-Airport-HOU-gate-area.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
TSA Hits 3 Million Passengers for First Time Ever — Here’s Why It Matters
The Fourth of July holiday weekend set a new record as 3,013,413 travelers went through TSA security on July 7, 2024. This wasn’t a surprise, as AAA estimated 5.74 million people would fly throughout the weekend. The busy weekend didn’t…
![British Airways Devalues Avios in Both Halves of 2024](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/British-Airways-jets-at-Heathrow-LHR.jpeg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
British Airways Devalues Avios in Both Halves of 2024
The British appear to still be salty about a certain July day back in 1776. British Airways enacted another devaluation of its Avios rewards as a Fourth of July punishment, creating a pattern of deteriorating value since its most recent…
![This Is the Best Way To Earn a Ton of Points and Miles](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cards-yellow-wallet-Upgraded-Points-LLC.jpg.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
This Is the Best Way To Earn a Ton of Points and Miles
There’s a collective agreement among points and miles aficionados that credit cards are always the best way to pay for things. We can feel insulated at times by thinking that everyone also believes this. However, many others subscribe to other…
![Citi Double Cash Cardholders: Save 10% on a Hotel Booking](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ritz-Carlton-Bacara-Santa-Barbara-Path-to-Main-Building.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Citi Double Cash Cardholders: Save 10% on a Hotel Booking
The Citi Double Cash® Card is offering 10% off a single hotel stay, up to $50 in total savings. It’s a simple offer to take advantage of if you have an upcoming trip to book. However, you need to book…
![Chase Credit Cardholders: Use This Perk Before the End of July](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Instacart-shopper-customer.webp?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Chase Credit Cardholders: Use This Perk Before the End of July
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has been a staple in my wallet for several years. Unfortunately, one of its benefits will be sunsetting at the end of July. Namely, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can access a $15 quarterly Instacart credit…
![These Headphones Have Saved Me on Hundreds of Flights, and I’m Never Switching](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bose-Headphones-Brett.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
These Headphones Have Saved Me on Hundreds of Flights, and I’m Never Switching
A quality pair of headphones or earbuds is now essential for many travelers. Maybe not so much for listening to music or a podcast, but to tune out the surrounding noise during travel. When I started traveling heavily in 2018,…
![6 Items That Have Made Me a More Efficient Traveler](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Efficient-Traveler.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
6 Items That Have Made Me a More Efficient Traveler
Travel can be a headache and even downright stressful. While talking with friends, family, and colleagues, I’ve found that it often comes down to a few common themes. That includes the overall cost, the effort of getting from point A…
![Fourth of July Travelers May Face Headaches — UP’s Essential Tips in Case of Flight Disruptions](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/HKExpress-boarding-gate-98-Tokyo-NRT.png?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Fourth of July Travelers May Face Headaches — UP’s Essential Tips in Case of Flight Disruptions
Travel in 2024 continues to break records, and the week of Independence Day looks to be much of the same. An estimated 5.74 million people — roughly the entire population of Minnesota — will be taking to the skies for…
![Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Citi Strata Premier Card [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Citi-Premier_Upgraded-Points.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Citi Strata Premier Card [2024]
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is an outstanding travel credit card that punches above its weight in value for cardholders. It launched in May 2024 and targets consumers who travel regularly but don’t want to pay a high annual fee…
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.
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.
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.
Kathryn Schroeder
Compliance Associate
From credit cards to high-yield savings accounts, debt management and avoidance, CDs, and insurance, Kathryn has or does edit it all, and more. Just don’t expect her to always be at home while working. All she needs is four things — her computer, phone, passport, and wallet — and she can get her work done from anywhere. She does pack clothes, of course, but they’re easily replaceable if anything goes amiss (and she has baggage insurance with two of her credit cards).
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.
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.
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
Former 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.
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.
Nick Ellis
Senior 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.
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.
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.
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.
Ryan Smith
Senior Editor & 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.