About Nick Ellis
Nick was born and raised in West Michigan and caught the travel bug after a last-minute decision to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina after his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. After that, he got into the points and miles game to help fund subsequent spring break trips to Europe.
Nick has now traveled to 35 countries, largely thanks to travel rewards. Some of his favorite places include Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Tokyo, Japan, and Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Next on his travel bucket list is a trip to the Middle East where he’ll visit Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Nick now lives in Michigan and most recently worked for The Points Guy where he was a writer and editor for more than 5 years.
You can follow Nick’s adventures on Instagram.
Countries Visited
U.S. States Visited
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
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Emirates A380
Qatar Qsuite
Using Marriott Bonvoy points to cover the cost of 3 rooms at the St. Regis Punta Mita over the New Year’s holiday when rates were close to $2,000 per night
American Express Membership Rewards
Nick's Latest Articles
See More ArticlesThe Detroit EDITION To Become Brand’s First in the Midwest
Marriott’s buzzy EDITION brand is expanding again — this time to the Motor City. In a press release, Bedrock, a real estate company founded by billionaire Dan Gilbert, announced that it had reached an agreement with EDITION to bring a…
Everything You Need To Know About Etihad’s Chauffeur Service
Booking a premium cabin flight with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is a treat. Whether you choose the over-the-top 3-room The Residence or a business class “Studio,” rest assured that you’ll have access to some of the very best perks in…
Italy Is Now Issuing Special Visas for Digital Nomads — What to Know
While workers around the world are returning to the office on a more regular schedule, plenty of workers globally have completely untethered from a physical workspace, opening up the possibility for these people to — in theory — work from…
[Expired] JetBlue Offering Discount on Pet Fares for Summer Travel [Book Today!]
Today is National Pet Day, and to celebrate, JetBlue Airways is offering discounts on pet fares for small dogs and cats flying on eligible flights throughout the summer. Here’s what you need to know about this sale for your furry…
Earn Bonus AAdvantage Miles When You Make Dining Reservations With OpenTable
The American Airlines AAdvantage Dining program is out with a new promotion that provides an easy way to earn bonus AAdvantage miles the next time you dine out. Dining programs are typically among the best ways to earn extra airline…
Here’s Why the Hilton Aspire Card Stays in My Wallet Year After Year
Each year, I do a “self-audit” of my credit card inventory to decide which cards I’m going to keep, which ones I’ll consider for downgrading, and which I’ll cancel. That includes an annual assessment of my Hilton Honors American Express…
United Rolls Out New Feature To Match Wheelchair Users With the Appropriate Aircraft
Airlines are constantly looking for ways to make journeys more accessible for all types of travelers. Now, United has introduced a new feature on its online channels that will make it easier for those who use wheelchairs to find flights…
You Can Now Book Southwest Flights Through Chase Travel
Southwest Airlines has long been a favorite choice for flyers across the U.S., but one of the frustrations with the domestic carrier is that its flights were only visible and available for booking through its own website. Now, however, Chase…
Here’s Where You Can Fly Etihad’s Exquisite Airbus A380 Superjumbo Jet
During the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines worldwide quickly began pulling their gigantic Airbus A380s out of service. Demand for flying was at historic lows, and there was no need for the largest commercial jet ever created to…
Points Path Expands Functionality With Addition of JetBlue
Points Path, the browser extension that instantly tells users whether to use cash or points and miles for a given flight, has added a fourth airline to its roster: JetBlue Airways. In addition to adding another frequent flyer program to…
[Expired] [Award Alert] Plenty of Business Class Seats to Germany Through Early 2025 for 63k Miles
Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. If you’re eager to visit Germany — and want to do so in style — you’re going to want to pay attention. Right now, you can book business class…
Coming This Year: Alaska Visa Signature Cardholders Earn 3x Miles on Rent With Bilt
We just learned that Bilt Rewards has added Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan as a transfer partner, which is a major coup. Up to this point, Alaska has not had a partnership with any major transferable currency. In addition, we’ve learned…
MGM Collection With Marriott Bonvoy Is Live; Participating Properties Bookable With Marriott Points
After several months of anticipation, the new MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy partnership is ready for primetime. As of today, March 6, 2024, the 16 MGM properties that participate in this new tie-up are now bookable with cash or Marriott…
Wells Fargo Introduces the New Autograph Journey Card and Points Transfer
San Francisco-based Wells Fargo has introduced a brand-new credit card offering. “Autograph Journey is Wells Fargo’s best travel rewards card to date, designed to help cardholders build journeys as unique as they are by earning points wherever they book travel,”…
American Airlines Orders 260 Narrow-Body Aircraft
American Airlines announced today, March 4, that it has ordered a whopping 260 single-aisle aircraft, encompassing jets from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. “Over the past decade, we have invested heavily to modernize and simplify our fleet, which is the largest…
Proposed Merger Between JetBlue and Spirit Is Officially Dead — What to Know
A proposed merger that would have seen JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines join forces is now officially dead, as the 2 carriers announced today, March 4, that the agreement they had in place has been “officially terminated by mutual agreement,”…
[Expired] Get a 20% Bonus When You Transfer Amex Points to Etihad Guest
Right now, you can take advantage of a rare opportunity to earn a bonus when transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to Etihad’s Guest program. Let’s take a look at all the details of this latest transfer bonus, which is…
Langham’s New Hotel Loyalty Program Launching Soon — What to Know
Langham Hospitality Group (LHG), the parent company of The Langham Hotels & Resorts, Cordis Hotels & Resorts, and more, announced that it would be launching an all-new loyalty program to replace its existing 2 programs. The new Brilliant by Langham…
You Can Now Choose How To Convert Your Rollover Delta MQMs
One of the best things about the former Delta SkyMiles program was that Medallion members could roll over Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that they earned above their Medallion tier into the next year of earning. This would give elite members a boost…
Delta Adding New Routes to Hawaii and Miami
Delta Air Lines is adding new routes to popular vacation destinations, including Hawaii and Miami, giving flyers even more options for accessing some of the country’s most sought-after spots. “Over the past decade, Delta has been dedicated to refining our…
Delta’s Highly Anticipated Premium Lounges Will Open in 3 Airports This Year
Delta’s Sky Club network has long been considered the standard bearer when it comes to airline lounges. But, one area in which the airline’s lounge network has been lacking is dedicated lounges for premium passengers, similar to United’s Polaris Lounges…
Find out about other members of the team
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.