Aaron Hurd

About the author

Aaron Hurd

Aaron Hurd is a credit card, travel rewards, and loyalty program expert. Over the past 15 years, he has authored over a thousand expert contributions published by leading outlets including WSJ, TIME, Newsweek, Forbes, NerdWallet, The Points Guy, Bankrate, CNET, and many others. He has also served in consulting roles for many of these same outlets, designing content strategy, hiring teams of teams of editors and contributors, developing thought-leadership pieces, and ghost-editing for senior editors. Aaron is well-known in the miles and points community and regularly presents about travel rewards at conferences like the Chicago Seminars and Minnebar. Aaron has enjoyed the game of optimizing credit card rewards since getting his first credit card shortly after he turned 18. He started learning about credit cards and travel rewards from the (now defunct) FatWallet Finance forums and FlyerTalk. He holds more than 40 open credit cards and has first-hand experience with almost every major credit card product.
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Close up of saleswoman hands accounting, billing some goods for sale, finance concept

Guides to Cards, Guides

JCPenney Credit Card: Is it a good deal?

by Aaron Hurd September 11, 2024 0

If you shop at JCPenney, you have undoubtedly been offered the JCPenney credit card at checkout or have seen advertisements for the card in-store and online. The... Read more.

Delta

How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?

by Aaron Hurd September 10, 2024 0

If you’re trying to decide whether to put your spending on a cash back card or weigh going for a Delta credit card welcome bonus or a cash back welcome bonus,... Read more.

Delta

Delta schedule changes: Your options and how to use them to your advantage

by Aaron Hurd September 9, 2024 0

Getting an email from Delta saying that your flight schedule has changed might induce a moment of panic. Did Delta decide to stop flying to Orlando? Are you now... Read more.

Ultimate Rewards, Chase

Do Chase Ultimate Rewards® points expire?

by Aaron Hurd September 6, 2024 0

Do Chase Ultimate Rewards® points expire? The short answer is no. As long as your account is open and in good standing, your Chase Ultimate® Rewards points are... Read more.

Uncategorized

Editorial policies: How we create content

by Aaron Hurd September 4, 2024 0

At Cards and Points, we strive to publish the best, most informative content about credit cards, rewards, travel rewards, miles, and points. Our guiding principles... Read more.

Worker with a forklift in a large carpentry workshop with many timbers in the background.

Uncategorized

Buying groups: What questions I ask and my experiences

by Aaron Hurd August 29, 2024 0

If you’re thinking of getting into buying groups, either as a side-hustle source of income or a way to earn more credit card rewards points, you would be wise... Read more.

Card changes, Amex

Changes to American Express® Gold Card: Annual fee increased, more statement credits

by Aaron Hurd July 25, 2024 0

July 25, 2024: Today, American Express announced changes to the American Express® Gold Card, including an increase in the card’s annual fee, changes to its... Read more.

Foundations, Credit

Will a bank close cards you don’t use? Yes. Here’s what happens.

by Aaron Hurd July 24, 2024 0

If you don’t make at least an occasional purchase with your credit card, most banks will automatically close no-annual-fee cards after a certain period of... Read more.

Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer's toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success. Design thinking has a human-centered core. It encourages organizations to focus on the people they're creating for, which leads to better products, services, and internal processes.

Uncategorized

What is a common carrier? Definition of common carrier.

by Aaron Hurd July 20, 2024 0

You may see the term common carrier in your credit card’s Guide to Benefits. Or you might read that you must book your common carrier travel using your card... Read more.

Card changes, Amex, Delta

Changes to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Loss of unlimited SkyClub access starting in 2025

by Aaron Hurd July 19, 2024 0

Update July 19, 2024: We noticed a subtle change in how the one-time guest passes are promoted. You no longer have to be traveling on the same Delta flight as someone... Read more.