I like points and miles for two types of uses. I like it for the casual economy use, where you'd like to go somewhere this weekend, let's book a flight with points, use some hotel points and go, trip is all paid. I also like it for the access to products I would never buy in the absense of points, these are first and business class flights as well as $1000+ a night hotel stays
Chase & BILT & Cash Back: Great for Economy & for Luxury - Amex: Great for Luxury
General Strategy
All category spend on Chase, BILT, cash back
All catch all & business spend on status Im trying to achieve
All tax spend (business) on Hilton Free Nights
General open cards for point bonus boost
#1 Hyatt Economy & Fancy Redemptions
Chase, BILT, Cashback (Purchase at 2.0CPP)
I try to earn Hyatt Globalist every other year, good for year you earn and year after
Economy redmetions 8K-15K & Catagory 1-4 Certificates
Luxury Redemptions 25-30K Catagory 7-8 Certifcates & Suite Upgrades
Great program for hotel travel from basic to fancy
#2 Alaska Economy & Business Class Redemptions
BILT, Cashback (Purchase at 1.85CPP)
You can earn Alaska status just by flying dont have to spend a dollar
I earned Alaska MVP Gold / One World Saphire in that way
Great for economy redemtions & for first / business class
#3 Hilton Free Night Certificates (Fancy)
Hilton Free Nights allow you to book any property regardless of price
Each Hilton Aspire / Surpass can produce 3-4 Free Nights
I earn a free night for each Aspire, then earn a night 15K in spend
You can have up to 5 of theses cards
#4 Southwest Companion Pass (Economy)
If you have a companion, this allows half off on flights
Get it the year you earn and the year after. Like Hyatt I go for it every 2 years
*If Denver based look into Frontier Companion Pass
#5 ANA & Air Canada Business Class Redemptions
ANA is the start alliance partner with the lowest redemtions
50K Business on United and partners, 27.5K Economy
Air Canada is anouther solid start alliance option but not as good as ANA
ANA points can only be earned with American Express
Honorable Mention
#6 Virgin Economy Redemptions
Virgin is the best outlet to book Delta flights
Unfortunately there is not inexpensive way to book Delta Business class
Delta might be a good status to try to get so you can book economy and get upgraded
#7 American *especially if Citi becomes transfer partner*
Great economy and international redemptions
If Citi becomes partner easy way to earn a lot of points
Alaska, American, ANA, have top tier point values
#8 Chase Points Boost
Looks like best way to book United first class (2X points per dollar)
Looks like finally a rival to hyatt for booking hotels (2X points per dollar)
#9 Spirit & Frontier
Spriit First Class is first class for the price of economy (please only take nonstop)
Frontier Companion pass is better than Southwests (but you need to be in there hubs)
Frontier Go Wild looks fun if your spontaneous (same thing need to be in hub)
Travel Experience
#1 TSA Pre & Global Entry
If you fly at all this really helps the whole airport exeriance
Clear: not something I would pay for but if it comes with a card it can be helpful
#2 Domestic Lounge Access
Go for the lounge(s) in your home airport
Priority Pass, Sapphire, Centurion, Capital One: will let you in no matter who you fly
Delta, United, American, Alaska, JetBlue: must be flying them so less valuable
"Free" Lounge Access Cards: Venture X & Ritz Carrolton
"Credit" Lounge Access Cards: Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve
"Airline" Lounge Access Cards: Delta Reserve (Amex Platinum), American Executive, United Infinite (JP Morgan Reserve), JetBlue Premium, Alaska Premium, Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite
#3 International Business & First Class Lounge Access
Sky Team: Delta One, Virgin Clubhouse, etc.
Star Alliance: United Polaris, Turkish, etc.
One World: Business & First: American Flagship, Cathay Pacific, etc.
One World Sapphire
One World Sapphire is a status you can earn with Alaska or American
It allows you to go to business class lounges even if you are only flying economy
One World Emerald allows you to go to first class lounges in economy
All other lounges you will need a business or first class ticket
#4 Travel Insurance & Primary Car Insurance
Travel Insurance is great if you ever need it ie get stuck over night somewhere
Car Insurance is great to keep the price of rentals down