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Chris Hassan

Social Media & Brand Manager

220 Published Articles

About Chris Hassan

Chris has years of marketing and hospitality experience, so running the social media channels and writing about family travel is a natural fit for him here at Upgraded Points.

A Boston native now living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Chris has a passion for sharing travel tips for families and has been featured on BBC News, Parents.com, The Washington Post, The Weather Channel, and other publications.

Chris earned his B.S. in Hospitality & Tourism Management from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, studied hotel management even further in Switzerland, and then worked in luxury hotels in New England for years after graduating.

After meeting his wife and catching the travel bug in Europe, Chris and his young family always make travel a priority. With grandparents in each hemisphere, international travel has become an integral part of his kids’ lives, and being able to pay for it with points and miles makes it easier to afford.

While he is no stranger to flying long distances in the back of a plane with 2 kids, being able to fly business or first class and lie-flat is the preferred way to go. Chris is a firm believer that kids belong up front just as much as any other well-behaved paying customer.

You can follow Chris on InstagramTwitter, and LinkedIn.

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Countries Visited

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U.S. States Visited

World of Hyatt Globalist

AAdvantage Platinum Pro

Star Alliance

Etihad Apartment (A380)

Japan Airlines (A350-1000)

TAP Miles&Go via United Airlines between North and South America

Amex Membership Rewards

Chris's Latest Articles

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August Rent Day: Virgin Voyages, BLADE NYC Party, and Bilt Neighborhood Dining

August Rent Day: Virgin Voyages, BLADE NYC Party, and Bilt Neighborhood Dining

On the ground, in the air, on the ocean, Bilt’s August Rent Day has something for everyone! Whether you want to hit the high seas with Virgin Voyages, take to the skies with BLADE, or grab dinner in your neighborhood,…

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Save $25 When You Spend $150 at Turo With Citi Merchant Offers

Save $25 When You Spend $150 at Turo With Citi Merchant Offers

If you have any car rental needs coming up and enjoy (or want to try) renting from Turo, check your Citi cards for a Citi Merchant Offer for $25 back from Turo. Turo, the popular car-sharing marketplace, can be a…

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Southwest Will Finally Have Assigned Seats and Introduce Red-Eye Flights

Southwest Will Finally Have Assigned Seats and Introduce Red-Eye Flights

Big news for Southwest Airlines passengers: you will soon be able to select your seat assignment in advance! The airline has maintained an open seating policy since its inception, so this is a massive shift from a tradition that goes back…

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I Flew to Tokyo for 48 Hours: Here’s My Full Itinerary and Costs

I Flew to Tokyo for 48 Hours: Here’s My Full Itinerary and Costs

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, one of the most populous cities in the world, and one of the hottest destinations for travelers around the globe. With stunning architecture, high-speed trains, Buddhist temples, serene gardens, an unparalleled food and shopping…

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[Expired] Flash Sale: Get 30% off Alaska Airlines Flights to Hawaii and International Destinations

[Expired] Flash Sale: Get 30% off Alaska Airlines Flights to Hawaii and International Destinations

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. Alaska Airlines is back with another nice little (see: quick) sale where passengers can save 30% on eligible flights. Dates and destinations are limited, but if you can make…

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New Amex Offer: Save $60 at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas

New Amex Offer: Save $60 at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas

If you are heading to Las Vegas within the next few months, you could save $60 when you spend $300 or more at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. This 5-star resort and casino on the Vegas Strip is known for…

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[Expired] [Award Alert] Wide-Open Business Class Availability to Switzerland From 60K Points

[Expired] [Award Alert] Wide-Open Business Class Availability to Switzerland From 60K Points

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. Cheese, chocolate, and beautiful scenery … what more could you want in a destination? How about arriving there in a lie-flat business class? Our team has found plenty of…

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Save 20% on Southwest Flights When Redeeming Points [Book by July 15]

Save 20% on Southwest Flights When Redeeming Points [Book by July 15]

If you’ve been wanting to book a domestic Southwest flight and have some Rapid Rewards points to use, you can save 20% on the cost of your award flight. But you’ll have to act quickly, as the award flights must be…

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New Amex Offer: Save $250 at Select Hilton Luxury Hotels

New Amex Offer: Save $250 at Select Hilton Luxury Hotels

If you’re looking to book a luxurious Hilton stay, there’s a new Amex Offer available that could save you some serious cash. Through September 30, 2024, you can receive a $250 statement credit after spending $1,250 or more at participating…

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[Expired] [Award Alert] U.S. to Lima, Peru, in Business Class for 35K Miles

[Expired] [Award Alert] U.S. to Lima, Peru, in Business Class for 35K Miles

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. One of our favorite deals is back! Pisco Sours, the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, exquisite cuisine, and so much more are all waiting to be…

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Disney Lightning Lane, Genie+ Changes [Advanced Selections]

Disney Lightning Lane, Genie+ Changes [Advanced Selections]

Big changes are coming to Walt Disney World’s Genie+ and Lightning Lane systems. Just when you think you’ve figured out how to plan your park day, Disney changes things up again — but this time, it’s all good news…especially if…

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Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024 [Details Announced]

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024 [Details Announced]

We are “Halfway to the Holidays,” which means Disney is dropping information for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom! This is a very popular after-hours event that will take place on select nights in November and December. Tickets…

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Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe [New Details Revealed]

Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe [New Details Revealed]

The more we learn about Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, the more excited we get. Universal is slowly releasing information about its brand-new theme park, which will open in 2025, and we now have more details on another interactive land:…

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Get Up to a 30% Bonus When You Transfer Chase Points to Aeroplan [Ends July 31]

Get Up to a 30% Bonus When You Transfer Chase Points to Aeroplan [Ends July 31]

Here’s a nice offer to consider if you have a hefty balance of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to use. Now, through July 31, 2024, you can receive a 20% bonus when transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan….

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Get $100 Back at Hyatt Unbound Collection Hotels With New Amex Offer

Get $100 Back at Hyatt Unbound Collection Hotels With New Amex Offer

If you have some Hyatt stays on your calendar, check your Amex Offers to score some cash-back. Right now, there is a targeted offer for $100 back after spending a minimum of $500 at Hyatt Unbound Collection properties in Americas,…

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Save $25 When Spending $250 at Caesars Rewards With Citi Merchant Offers

Save $25 When Spending $250 at Caesars Rewards With Citi Merchant Offers

If you’re a fan of Caesars casinos and are a Citi cardholder, check your cards for a Citi Merchant Offer for an easy $25 back from Caesars Rewards.  Caesars Rewards Destinations in Las Vegas and across the country can often…

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[Expired] New World of Hyatt Promos: Earn Bonus Points or Elite Night Credits [Targeted]

[Expired] New World of Hyatt Promos: Earn Bonus Points or Elite Night Credits [Targeted]

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. Check your emails because World of Hyatt just sent out its latest targeted promotions, and some of them are lucrative! Depending on your offer, you could receive some bonus…

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Virgin Atlantic Increases ANA Business Class Award Rates [Devaluation]

Virgin Atlantic Increases ANA Business Class Award Rates [Devaluation]

One of our favorite award sweet spots just received a major devaluation: ANA business class to Japan will now cost you more Virgin Atlantic points. While devaluations are common in points and miles world, a 26% increase overnight definitely hurts….

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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening June 28 at Walt Disney World

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening June 28 at Walt Disney World

After more than a year since the iconic Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World closed for a re-theme, we now know that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, its replacement, will open on June 28, 2024! Fans can “Drop on in” and enjoy…

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American Express Celebrates 40 Years of the Platinum Card [Extra Perks]

American Express Celebrates 40 Years of the Platinum Card [Extra Perks]

Amex is celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Platinum Card® from American Express with special offers and experiences across travel, dining, retail, and more. This card is extremely popular with travelers for good reason — and now, there are even more…

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Third Night Free at 200+ Amex FHR and The Hotel Collection Properties

Third Night Free at 200+ Amex FHR and The Hotel Collection Properties

The Platinum Card® from American Express is turning 40, and Amex is celebrating in style! Existing cardmembers have a lot to look forward to, including getting a third night free at over 200 Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel…

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Find out about other members of the team

Alex Miller Picture

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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Chris Dong Picture

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

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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.

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Christy Rodriguez Picture

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.

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Daniel Ross Picture

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.

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Dan Miller Picture

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.

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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.

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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.

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Erin Miller Picture

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.

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Greg Stone Picture

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.

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Jeff Brownson Picture

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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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Lindsey Olander Picture

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Juan Ruiz Picture

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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