Kathryn Schroeder
Updates Editor, Credit Cards
4 Published Articles , 27 Edited Articles
Kathryn's Travel Gallery
About Kathryn Schroeder
A proud California native, who no longer lives there, Kathryn did the very unexpected many years ago: She gave up a rent-controlled apartment in a prime West Hollywood location (with garage parking) to travel the world full-time. She never regretted her decision, except on the rare occasion she reminisced about how comfortable a couch she owned during that time. It found a good home, as did all of her other possessions.
After nearly eight years on the road with just a 35-liter backpack, she had to return to the United States — leaving her fully remote writing/editing life behind. Don’t expect her ever to stop traveling, though. Two of her favorite pastimes are seeking out the latest travel gear (the lighter and smaller, the better) and reading maps to find places she hasn’t been, and most people never go or would never think to trek.
Alongside her unforgettable memories, Kathryn gained a great deal of knowledge about how to be a traveler vs. a vacationer. How to budget well to spend more time in places and make her money and miles stretch to get to visit destinations she never thought possible, such as Antarctica. She may love lie-flat seats and the amenities of business class, but she’d trade one flight in that class for four trips in coach (and has done it). Experiencing as much of the world as possible is always her priority, and she has a sixth sense a lot of time when choosing a seat that no one ends up next to her.
With a background in film and media, Kathryn never imagined she would become an editor of personal finance and travel rewards content, but that’s what she does now. And she enjoys it. Likely because it means she can contribute her knowledge of working the system to earn credit card rewards on everyday spending, at home or abroad, and taking advantage of welcome bonuses and card perks whenever possible to use towards and during travel.
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).
If you’re at an airport, on a bus, or a train and see a blonde in a hat with a Tom Bihn bag (because, travelers know) and a snack in hand, it could be Kathryn. Say hello.
Kathryn's Latest Articles
![[Expired] Got a United Credit Card? Check Your Offer in the ‘Elevate Your Rewards’ Promotion](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/United-Polaris-business-class-787-10-seat-closeup-HND-LAX.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=500&height=236&fit=crop)
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.
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.
Leigh Rowan
Director of Special Projects
Leigh brings a wealth of travel expertise and connections to the growing UP Team. Leigh has visited over 60 countries, often traveling with his family in premium classes for little more than the cost of an economy ticket.
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.
Keri Stooksbury
Editor-in-Chief
Editing with Upgraded Points for over 6 years, as editor-in-chief, Keri manages the editorial calendar and oversees the efforts of the editing team and over 20 content contributors, reviewing thousands of articles in the process.
Stella Shon
Senior Features 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.
Ryan Smith
News Managing Editor
Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and is letting his wife choose their destinations, including revisiting some favorites. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, Point.me, and Forbes Advisor.
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.
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.
Jessica Merritt
Senior 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.
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.
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 8 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year, and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
Christine Krzyszton
Senior Finance Contributor
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices. 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.
Katie Corrigan Seemann
Travel Partnerships Manager and Podcast Co-Host
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, LongWeekends Magazine, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Forbes and has taken points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.
Michael Y. Park
Senior Editor and Content Contributor
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.