Points & Miles in 2026: Bigger Bonuses, Smarter Cards, and Underrated Loyalty Programs with Andrew Kunesh

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes Andrew Kunesh, a freelance points-and-miles writer and former CNN staffer, to discuss credit card rewards, airline and hotel loyalty programs, travel strategy, and Andrew’s new short-form newsletter, PNM Now: Fast News for Frequent Flyers.

Andrew shares how he got started in points and miles in 2014 through r/churning, using a United Explorer Card bonus and the United Excursionist Perk to visit family in Prague. He also explains how his credit card strategy has changed over time, moving from a premium-card maximalist approach to a slimmer, more cost-effective setup, including closing his Amex Platinum Card.

Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Intro Theme
00:32 Meet Andrew Kunesh
01:42 How He Started Churning
03:40 From Maximalist To Minimalist
05:23 Big Bonuses And Annual Fees
08:07 Is It Worth The Effort?
11:46 Writing For Different Audiences
12:42 Award Search And Program Wins
16:26 Ad Break And Support Links
18:42 2026 Predictions: Hyatt Premium Card
22:48 Underrated Programs: Choice, GHA, And Rove
26:42 Listener Questions: Alaska, Bilt, And Rove
29:23 Elite Status For Casual Flyers
32:12 Trips, Favorites, And Wrap Up
34:37 Outro And Closing Theme

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