025 - 2:24:26, 22.39

[00:00:00] I am John and my goal is simple to visit all 47 Prefectures of Japan. The only reason that goal is even possible is because of points and miles turning everyday spending into flights, hotels, and experiences across Japan and the rest of Asia. This is rewarding routes, a podcast about making travel like that realistic and repeatable.

Each episode I'll share what I'm learning so you can plan smarter, travel more often, and feel confident using points and mouths without feeling overwhelmed. From booking award travel and choosing the right credit cards to build a meaningful itinerary and exploring regions, traditions, and moments that just make Japan so special, we'll figure it out together.

If Japan is on your bucket list or you want to keep going back and explore Asia along the way, you're in the right place. Let's build your rewarding route one trip at a time. Hello, and in this week's episode we're going to be talking about [00:01:00] leveling up your travel strategy with a player two. So I've briefly mentioned player two and in several episodes, but in this episode we're gonna dive a little bit deeper and, and talk about what exactly.

Is a player too. And how you can leverage having a player too, to gain even more points for more opportunities to travel either to Japan or to other parts of Asia, or to anywhere in the world really. So in this episode, we're gonna break it down. We're gonna talk about what Player two is. Um, we're even gonna talk about authorized users.

Um, should you do it, should you not? Um. Referral bonuses, which are a really big part of Player two systems. Uh, again, we're gonna be talking about five and 24 'cause that has a little part to do with it. And yeah, overall we'll just go over everything and just kind of put it all together and, and go into a deep dive on what [00:02:00] exactly is a player too, and how can you use it to form more opportunities and gain even more points.

To travel and to make more experiences, um, very affordable and, you know, just more manageable and, uh, accessible for yourself. So let's get into it. So what exactly is a player two? Well, a player two is when two people are working together. Strategically to gain more points in miles. Uh, usually a player two is a couple.

Um, so for example, it would be myself and my wife, but there can be many ways to do Player twos. It could be a sibling, it could be a parent, it could be a, a travel companion, uh, a friend of yours. Um, somebody who is also willing to do these, um. Dive deeper into points and miles and, and really take the hobby and, you know, take it to the next level and be able to.

Gain [00:03:00] even more points for, for those opportunities to travel more. So let's break it down a little bit further, and I'll use myself as an example here. Uh, I'm normally the one in charge of, uh, of the, you know, the cards that we get and what makes sense for us and our goals of traveling to Japan every year and trying to, you know, hit the different prefectures in Japan.

I'll use the Chase Sapphire Preferred as an example because it's one of my go-to cards. It's something I recommend to everyone, so it's an easy card to use that as, as an example. Um, but currently there's a 75,000 point bonus on the card when you spend 5,000 in three months. So what I would do in this situation is I would apply for that card, I would hit the signup bonus, um, and the 5,000 in three months, getting the 75,000 points.

That's about $1,666, uh, a month. Um, you just have to make sure that you're, um, [00:04:00] organizing yourself and you're making sure that you have these things budgeted or, or some kind of way to make sure that you're. Organize in your daily spend so that you know you're on track to hit these signup bonuses. Um, but once I would hit the signup bonus on that card, I would then take the referral link that I have, uh, on Chase's website or on the app, and I would send that forward to my wife.

So my wife would apply for the Chase Sapphire preferred card if she didn't have it. Using the referral link that I sent her. So once she's approved for that card, I am going to get a 15,000, uh, point referral bonus for referring my wife. So that's an additional 15,000. And then she'll go ahead and hit the signup bonus on that card, gaining an additional 75 uh, thousand point bonus with Chase and.

Right there alone [00:05:00] after getting two signup bonuses after the 15 k uh, referral link, and then spending 5K in three months for both of us. So that's 10 K in six months, then you would come out to about 175. Thousand Chase ultimate reward points, which are very valuable in the points in Miles space. So you can see that working together and you know, referring my wife getting an extra 15 K, all these points are going to be combined to use for a trip together.

And that's the real benefit because if it was just me doing the solo, uh, yeah, it'll be, um. It'll be good. And I, I could still hit the 70 5K bonus on this and then, you know, after the three months it should be fine for me to definitely apply for another card and get a bonus that way. But by having a player too, we can kind of combine all of our points to make even bigger trips [00:06:00] and, you know, save money on all of our flights and hotels for entire trips or the ma majority of these trips.

So. You can see the real benefit there. Um, but it does come with, you know, being strategic and being organized and making sure that you both are on the same page and at least you're communicating. And, um, somebody's in charge of like making sure that you're both, um. Just staying on top of your daily spend, making sure you're on track to hit these signup bonuses, but without having to make extra purchases or, or going into debt, making sure you pay these off on time and in full.

So yeah, it's a really great benefit just making sure that both of you are on the same page, especially if it's like a friend or or another family member. Who's maybe not that informed about points and miles. Um, you just want to make sure that you guys are on the [00:07:00] same page when you're doing this because it, it just makes things easier and then you both can enjoy incredible trips together.

So, yeah, it's, it is a real benefit of having a player to, uh, system working for, um, for yourselves. Also a ni a nice benefit is, you know, once I sign up for a card and I hit the signup bonus and then I refer it over to my wife, then it gives me some time before I can apply for another card, which is good because , you want a space out when you apply for cards just to give yourself some space.

And, um, it makes it a little bit higher for approval rates when you're not going back to back to back. Uh, sometimes you get flagged for those things. So. Yeah, it's nice, um, when you can space 'em out and, and when you use a Player two system, you normally can spread it out like that because once I'm working on a signup bonus and I refer my wife, then we're both working on trying to get her signup bonus and I'll explain how we do that together.

Because , some of you're probably [00:08:00] wondering like, how are you able to do that when the other person doesn't have the card with them? Right. Like. I'm like the primary card holder. How do I work on a signup bonus when my wife doesn't have the card? So what we do is actually, I'll add, if it's my card that I'm, I applied for and we're both working on a signup bonus, uh, I'll go online and I'll change all of our, like, automatic payments for like subscriptions and, and other services over to that card.

But I'll also download. In the Apple wallet on her phone. I'll put my card That way. If she ever needs to go grocery shopping or needs to buy something, um, outside, then she has my card on her phone while I have the physical card. That way we're both working on the signing up bonus on one card together.

Really, um, speeding up the process of that. Um, because it works for us, right? And it's whatever works for you. Um, but that's how we go about it. And [00:09:00] then once she has the card, then I'll put her card in my Apple wallet and then I'll use it whenever I get gas or groceries or whenever I'm out. So I'm always using that card and that card becomes our primary card for everything until we hit the signup bonus.

So. I'm sure this is gonna come up and I'll briefly talk about it, but it's authorized users, so I'm sure some of you are going to be wondering. Well then why don't I just add 'em as an authorized user and they, they can have the card too. Well, with an authorized user, you're not getting the welcome bonus.

So if I was to get a card and an add, my wife as an authorized user, she's not going to get the signup bonus on her card. Um, because she's just an authorized user of mine and as well as that card that she gets, because she's an authorized user, is going to count towards her five and 24, and we've talked about five and 24, uh, in many [00:10:00] episodes already.

But there can be benefits to having an authorized user. It's just not a player two strategy. But the benefits, I'll just explain it here, are, you know, it keeps things simple. Um, say if one person doesn't have great credit, having them as an authorized user can really help them build up their credit in time, and then potentially become a player too of yours.

Right? So, uh, also there's no hard inquiry for getting, um, being an authorized user and. It just keeps things simple overall, but it's not a Player two strategy, but it could be an option for, for people who want to get into points of miles and maybe they have a player two, but they just need to help, um, build up their credit.

This can be a way to do that. But, you know, we do the separate applications, uh, that's the player two, just to double down on welcome bonuses, get referral bonuses, um, just get more points and miles. Overall, [00:11:00] you know, the downfalls for that are like, you know, you're doubling your minimum spend right on these cards.

So like spending 10, 10 K in six months between, you know, both of you. Uh, if you're doing like the Chase Sapphire preferred. And this requires planning. So it makes sure that you are communicating with your player two, that you guys are organized, you're staying on top of your daily spend, and you're doing it together, you know, and that's what's really important.

So when it comes to player two, just make sure that you're on top of those things you. So that you can reap the benefits of, of getting all those welcome bonuses and the referral bonuses, and you can just grow together and take these bigger trips and, and really take your trips a lot further with points and miles.

So, yeah, that's the, uh, path with authorized user. I thought I just mentioned it because I'm sure some people are going to wonder about. What about authorized users? So I was just there [00:12:00] to clear, like, to clear things up and, and to explain a little bit further, uh, about that. So now on to combining points.

So I'll use Chase again as an example. Uh, say we both got the Sapphire preferreds and we did exactly what I said, uh, we did in the example. Uh, then we're able to combine these points because we live in the same household. So Chase. We'll allow you to combine points, uh, within the same household. Uh, so just a heads up, like if it's somebody not in your, like a friend who doesn't live in your house, then obviously, uh, you might not be able to combine your chase points.

But many times what my wife and I. Have done is I'll book like a segment of the trip and she'll just book the other part of the trip. And I found that just as fine. It's not really that difficult to do. And uh, you know, we have combined points in the past and from time to [00:13:00] time we will book it. Like I'll book a segment.

She'll book a segment too. So, there are ways around it. You don't have to all combine your points together. You can just book different parts of the trip with your points. I understand it's easier to have everything in one account and it makes things a little bit easier and cleaner, but. Sometimes that's just not the case and you're not able to combine points.

So if that's your situation, then yeah, you can just have your, your part of the segment booked with your points and then the other part with your player too. And then they can book the, uh, other portion of the trip with their points and you guys can communicate on that part and make sure, or maybe one person can take charge and book the entire trip.

Uh, using all of the points, uh, on both of the accounts. So yeah, there's different ways of managing that. Everyone has their own different situation. Uh, with us, we're married and it's a little bit easier for us. We live in the [00:14:00] same household, so I can combine points and I'm, I'm the one booking the trips and, and finding the redemption.

So that works for us. And just find whatever works best for you. And there are really good articles out there and. Videos and I'll, I'll post those in the show notes. Uh, if you want more examples and, and other people's experiences, because I'm speaking from my experience, but I know there are other, uh, people's experiences that might relate closer to your own.

So I'll make sure to post those so that you get a different view. From somebody else's, um, experience and examples, and then maybe be a little bit more clear on, on how to book these trips with a player too, if they're not in the same household and they, you know, have their own account. So to make things a little bit easier and to kind of, uh, just make things a little bit clearer for, for the both of you.

So how do you know if somebody's the right player to, or. How can you even [00:15:00] convince somebody to be a player too? And trust here goes a long way. You want to have trust with the person that you're doing a player two with. Um, you want to have shared goals. You want to have someone who's on board with the idea of points and miles.

Uh, I remember starting off and, and my wife is very supportive of me and you know, I'm very. Very lucky for that and I'm glad she hopped on right away and trusted me from the very beginning. 'cause we already had that trust with each other. But if you have somebody who's a little bit hesitant on the idea, you can always start small.

You don't have to start off with these, you know, high annual fee cards. You can start off with no annual fee cards and work your way up. Show them how. This process is done and work together. And, you know, some, sometimes I know that one person's going to do everything and just slightly guide the other person [00:16:00] or just take over for that other person.

Uh, in my case, I normally take over the entire process. But if both of you want to be in, that's great. But if one of you want to be in it and the other person's supportive, then you know, that's fine too. You can do that. And you know, it works that way. But there, there has to be a level of trust there too.

Uh, especially if this person's not like a spouse or is like a friend, then you know, it changes things a little bit more because. There's a little bit more trust in there. Um, since you're not in the same household, you're, you're gonna have to communicate a lot more in that circumstance. Um, but yeah, it's, it's very possible and it's, you know, it's possible to get people on board with the ideas by starting small.

You don't have to start big. Um, but if you are comfortable with, you know. Points and miles and, and applying for credit cards, then you can take it to the next level if you want. So it's, you know, everybody's at different stages with this hobby and, and as long as you [00:17:00] guys have the same goals and, you know, want to take these amazing trips together and, and just build more points to, to continue traveling more and more, you know, that's the main goal.

One thing I'll point out is, you know, someone who shouldn't be a player to, uh, is maybe someone with who's carrying some debt. Usually you would want somebody not to have debt because the last thing you want , is to have somebody carry on more debt, uh, to do points in miles because they hear so much about it and want to get into it.

But it's really important. I, I, I want. Always stress this, that, you know, I, I don't want anyone to ever get into debt for points and miles. It's being responsible and paying your cards off in full to really maximize what points and miles are and to really take it to the next level to really benefit you.

So, to benefit you in the moment, if you know somebody who wants to be a player too, but they carry that. It's best to just [00:18:00] have them just wipe out that debt, then get into the points in miles. That way they don't have to worry about getting into more debt and then paying off interest on. You know, these higher travel cards, if that's what they're interested in.

So yeah, there's, you know, there are, there are certain circumstances where, you know, some people don't make sense to be a player to, uh, if, if that's the, um, situation. But you know, every, every. Situation is unique. So just make sure you assess the situation and you understand who your player to is, and then go into to, uh, into it together with trust and excitement, excitement for, you know, a big goal, uh, a big shared goal together.

And, you know, to find a way to accumulate even more points and miles to take you further. Uh, with these trips and booking and saving money on these trips using points of miles for your flights and hotels. So, yeah, [00:19:00] it's overall, overall having a player too can be so beneficial. Uh, when it's done the right way, it's, you know, it does require trust, it does require planning, but you unlock so much you can unlock, you know, business class flights together.

Like what an experience that would be, um, going on a business class, flight A across the world. With your best friend or a family member or your spouse for the first time. You know, these things can be core memories, um, for, for someone. And everyone has their, you know, unique thing that they work towards, their goals that they wanna, uh, achieve or bug bucket list things that they want to do.

So. It's great to have somebody there supporting you, trusting you, and going on this journey with points and miles and taking this hobby together as a team to, you know, really maximize how many points you can [00:20:00] accumulate and the trips that you can take together and. Yeah, it's just a, a great benefit, um, that you can have when it comes to this hobby.

So I have a whole episode actually about us using a Player two system. Uh, I believe it was episode five on how we took a trip that was worth $15,000 to Japan and South Korea. We only pay $221. Uh, and spent just under 600,000 points. This was for flights in hotels. So if you wanted to hear how we accumulated points, I talk about the cards that we used, the redemptions we used.

Um, that was all using, you know, the player two system on referring each other back and forth, gaining the referral bonuses, doing the spend on the, uh, minimum. The minimum spend for the the signup bonuses and then getting the signup bonuses on top of it. So we're really stacking our points, combining [00:21:00] 'em for these trips to make trips like that possible.

So you know, if it's possible for us, it's definitely possible for you. So if you're interested, you can go back to episode five and listen to how we took that trip and how I used those cards for the redemptions and how we did a player two system to do that trip. So, yeah, this was a, a little bit of a shorter episode, but I hope you enjoyed it.

I hope you got some, uh, some value from this episode and understand what a Player two is, and maybe you can, you know, have a player two in the future if you don't have one already. So, uh, let me know if you, you already have a player two, if you plan on getting a player or two or, or just any other questions that you may have.

If you have questions about points and miles or. Just traveling in general or traveling to Japan. Uh, I'd love to hear from you. So that'll wrap it up for now and I'll see you on the next episode. See [00:22:00] ya.