English · 00:08:49
Oct 18, 2025 12:18 AM

how to legally steal free vacations for life

SUMMARY

Colin Jerkens, a world traveler, explains using credit cards like Bilt Rewards and Chase Sapphire to earn points for free luxury vacations, including first-class flights and hotel suites, through strategic spending and transfers.

STATEMENTS

  • The Bilt Rewards card from Wells Fargo offers unique transfer partners like Alaska Airlines for optimal point redemptions, no annual fee, travel protections, and one point per dollar on rent or mortgages without fees.
  • Chase Sapphire cards, including the new business version, provide a 50% redemption boost through the Chase portal and premium travel protections like trip delay and lost luggage coverage.
  • The Chase Trifecta—Ink Business Cash, Ink Business Unlimited, and Ink Business Preferred—delivers high earning rates, such as 5x on office supplies and internet, with massive signup bonuses up to 100,000 points and no annual fees on some.
  • The American Express Business Gold card earns 4x points on advertising, technology, restaurants, and airfare up to $150,000 annually, ideal for business spending, with strong transfer partners and signup bonuses.
  • Capital One cards offer unlimited 2x points on all purchases, instant redemptions, premium perks like Priority Pass and $300 travel credits, enabling massive point accumulation like 650,000 in one year.
  • The American Express Business Platinum card features a 35% pay-with-points rebate on flights, 1.5x points on purchases over $5,000, Centurion Lounge access, and top-tier transfer partners.
  • The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card grants automatic Platinum Elite status for perks like suite upgrades, free breakfast, lounge access, and a free night award up to 85,000 points annually, plus 6x points at Marriott properties.
  • Accumulating points from multiple cards allows transfers to airline partners for high-value redemptions, such as first-class flights from Miami to Europe or LA to Tokyo for 75,000 points.

IDEAS

  • Earning points on rent payments through the Bilt card eliminates the typical 3% fees associated with other cards, turning a major expense into free travel rewards.
  • Transferring Chase points to partners during bonus periods can yield better value than portal redemptions, unlocking luxury overseas flights at a fraction of cash cost.
  • The Chase Ink Business Cash card's 5x points on office supplies can be "hacked" for gift cards, enabling manufactured spending to chase signup bonuses without personal funds.
  • American Express Business Gold maximizes ad spend for businesses, potentially earning hundreds of thousands of points yearly on routine marketing expenses.
  • Capital One's instant point transfers contrast with slower competitors, allowing quick bookings for spontaneous luxury travel opportunities.
  • Holding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card bypasses the need for 50 nights of stays to achieve Platinum status, instantly providing suite upgrades and free breakfast worldwide.
  • Redeeming points via transfer partners like Japan Airlines can secure first-class experiences, including caviar and premium whiskey, for as low as 75,000 points on long-haul routes.
  • Combining cards from Chase, Amex, and Capital One forms a "trifecta" that covers diverse earning categories and partners, amplifying overall point value for elite travel.
  • Signup bonuses on Ink cards often reach 85,000 to 100,000 points, equivalent to multiple free flights, without annual fees on key options.
  • Programs like Credit Class offer personalized plans to acquire cards and deploy 0% capital into income-generating opportunities, freeing up time for travel with loved ones.

INSIGHTS

  • Strategic credit card selection transforms everyday expenses like rent and ads into high-value travel assets, democratizing luxury for disciplined users.
  • Transferring points to niche partners like Alaska Airlines maximizes redemption rates, revealing how banks' ecosystems can outpace direct bookings for global adventures.
  • Manufactured spending through gift card hacks on business cards decouples point earning from actual consumption, enabling sustainable reward cycles without lifestyle inflation.
  • Automatic elite status from hotel cards like Marriott Bonvoy eliminates grinding for perks, highlighting how holding power accelerates hospitality benefits.
  • Instant redemptions and rebates on cards like Capital One and Amex Platinum reduce opportunity costs, turning points into fluid currency for life's spontaneities.
  • Building a multi-issuer wallet creates synergies across ecosystems, where pooled points fund aspirational experiences like first-class caviar feasts at minimal effective cost.

QUOTES

  • "I have been traveling the world in luxury for free for the past six years. I fly in first class. I stay in the top hotels in the best suites getting free breakfast and all the luxuries without ever spending a dime."
  • "You can literally spend, you know, four, five, 10K, whatever your rent is. And you can get up to one point per dollar spent."
  • "Last year with this card, I earned 650,000 points in one calendar year. Okay, this got me all kinds of free travel."
  • "You can get first class for 75,000 points on Japan Airlines and be eating caviar and drinking thousand champagne and having some amazing Japanese whiskey."
  • "I'm helping over a thousand individuals right now get the credit set up, provide them with a custom game plan, and get them capital so that they can deploy it in their current business or brand new businesses to get them millions of points."

HABITS

  • Pay rent and mortgages using the Bilt Rewards card to earn points fee-free on large monthly expenses.
  • Rotate cards by category, like using Amex Business Gold for dining and ads to maximize 4x earnings.
  • Transfer points from all cards to premium partners during bonus periods for optimal redemption value.
  • Hold multiple cards in a "trifecta" from Chase, Amex, and Capital One to cover diverse spending and perks.
  • Book hotel stays and bills with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card to leverage automatic Platinum status and multipliers.

FACTS

  • Alaska Airlines offers the best point redemption rates among Bilt's transfer partners for domestic and international flights.
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve bookings through the portal yield 50% more value on point redemptions for travel.
  • Amex Business Platinum provides a 35% rebate on points used for airfare in the portal.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card holders receive one free night award annually up to 85,000 points, covering luxury properties like Ritz-Carlton.
  • Japan Airlines first-class tickets from LA to Tokyo can be redeemed for just 75,000 points via transfers.

REFERENCES

  • Bilt Rewards card (Wells Fargo)
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve and Business cards
  • Chase Ink Business Cash, Unlimited, and Preferred cards
  • American Express Business Gold and Platinum cards
  • Capital One Venture card
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card
  • Credit Class program for personalized credit strategies
  • Seats.aero (tool for point redemptions and transfers)

HOW TO APPLY

  • Apply for the Bilt Rewards card and set up rent payments through their portal to earn one point per dollar without fees, building points passively on housing costs.
  • Open Chase Ink cards as part of the Trifecta, targeting 5x categories like office supplies for gift card purchases to manufacture spend and hit signup bonuses.
  • Use the American Express Business Gold for all ad and dining expenses up to $150,000 yearly, tracking categories via the app to ensure 4x point accrual.
  • Transfer accumulated points from Capital One and Amex to partners like Alaska or Japan Airlines during transfer bonuses, then book awards on sites like seats.aero for high-value flights.
  • Hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card for automatic Platinum status, applying it to every hotel stay and bill to gain upgrades, breakfast, and a yearly free night at elite properties.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Master credit card points through targeted spending and transfers to unlock lifelong free luxury travel without personal expenditure.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Prioritize no-fee cards like Bilt and Ink Unlimited for everyday spending to avoid costs while earning steadily.
  • Chase signup bonuses during application windows to rapidly accumulate 85,000-100,000 points for immediate travel redemptions.
  • Integrate Amex Business Platinum's 35% rebate for portal bookings when transfers aren't optimal, preserving point longevity.
  • Leverage Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant's elite status for hassle-free upgrades, especially on international stays at St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton.
  • Join programs like Credit Class for custom plans to scale points into business capital and passive income streams.

MEMO

In an era where wanderlust meets wallet wisdom, Colin Jerkens has turned the credit card industry into his personal passport to paradise. For six years, the savvy traveler has jetted first-class and lounged in Ritz-Carlton suites without dipping into his own pockets, all thanks to a meticulously curated stack of rewards cards. "This is how you're legally going to steal free vacations for life," he declares in a recent video, demystifying the arcane world of points and miles for aspiring globetrotters.

Jerkens begins with the Bilt Rewards card from Wells Fargo, a newcomer that stands out for its fee-free rent payments—earning one point per dollar on what could be thousands monthly. Unlike competitors that slap a 3% fee on such transactions, Bilt's model transforms fixed costs into flight fuel. He pairs it with Chase's powerhouse lineup, including the Sapphire Reserve, which boosts redemptions by 50% when booking through their portal, and the Trifecta of Ink Business cards. These offer explosive earning potential: 5x on office supplies for the Cash card, limitless 1.5x on the Unlimited, and 3x on travel for the Preferred—often capped with signup bonuses nearing 100,000 points.

Venturing into American Express territory, Jerkens champions the Business Gold for its 4x multipliers on ads, dining, and airfare, perfect for entrepreneurs fueling their ventures. He recounts amassing 650,000 Capital One points in a single year through their flat 2x on everything, redeemed instantly for perks like Priority Pass lounge access. The Business Platinum adds a 35% rebate on flights, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card fast-tracks Platinum Elite status, unlocking suite upgrades and free breakfasts without the usual 50-night grind.

The true alchemy, Jerkens explains, lies in transfers: shuttling points to partners like Alaska Airlines or Japan Airlines during bonuses to snag first-class seats for as little as 75,000 points. From Miami to Europe or LA to Tokyo, these redemptions yield caviar-fueled journeys that cash buyers could only dream of. Yet he warns that cards alone aren't enough; strategic spending—hacking categories, manufacturing via gift cards—is key.

For those ready to level up, Jerkens offers Credit Class, a program guiding over a thousand users to bespoke credit setups and 0% capital deployment into income streams. It's a reminder that in the points game, freedom isn't just about escaping to St. Regis spas—it's reclaiming time for what matters, with who matters, every day. As travel costs soar, this blueprint invites a new generation to board the luxury express, one swipe at a time.

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