❌ No points.

❌ No credit cards.

❌ No airline or hotel status.

🤔 Can you still travel the world for free in 2025?

In this episode of The Great Indian Points & Miles Show, we’ve got the blueprint. 🗺️

We break down the step-by-step 2025 strategy for anyone in India starting from zero — and still dreaming of luxury stays, flight redemptions, and curated travel experiences.

Joining us is Aly Hajiani – one of India’s top points & miles creators with over 600,000 Instagram followers, who shares how he built a lifestyle powered by rewards. Alongside him are Dhimant, Ameya, and Aadil, mapping out real-world travel tips, combos, and practical credit card strategies for beginners.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

✅ The best starter credit cards for 2025

✅ Smart credit card combos to unlock maximum value

✅ How to avoid rookie mistakes (yes, we’ve made them too!)

✅ Creative redemptions that don’t break the bank

✅ Why this ecosystem is more accessible than ever before

Whether you’re just entering the game or looking to reboot your strategy, this episode is your ultimate jumpstart.

🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

🛫 It’s time to earn smart and travel well.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Can You Start From Zero? The 2025 Beginner’s Dilemma

04:21 – Meet Ali: India’s Top Credit Card Influencer Joins the Show

05:45 – How Would Ali Start From Scratch? First Credit Card Strategy

07:00 – Building Credit: Why The First Card Matters (and Which One)

08:40 – Laddering Up: Card #2, #3, and Monthly Spend Benchmarks

10:20 – Dhimant & Ameya’s Approaches: How the Pros Would Start Today

11:40 – Cashback vs Miles: Choosing The Right Beginner Card

13:30 – Why Starting Young Matters: Credit Building & Discipline

14:30 – Early Co-branded Cards: Marriott, Qatar, and Easy Redemptions

15:40 – Learning Values: How to Judge Points, Miles, and Cashbacks

16:40 – Every Journey Is Unique: Find Your Own Card Strategy

17:10 – Biggest Beginner Mistakes: Poor Redemptions & Not Reading Fine Print

18:50 – The Mistake of Not Planning Ahead for Top-Tier Cards

20:30 – Critical Advice: Pay Your Bills In Full, Avoid Speculative Transfers

22:20 – Dispute Resolutions: How Not Paying Hurts Your Credit Score

24:15 – More Mistakes: Missing Out on Bonus Points & Misreading T&Cs

26:10 – Early Redemptions: What Should Be Your First Flight & Hotel?

27:40 – Realistic First Goals: Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, and Accor Hacks

30:10 – Hotel Redemptions: Domestic & International Value Sweet Spots

33:00 – Family Travel: Redeeming for Group Vacations in India & Abroad

35:30 – Leveling Up: Year Two—Upgrading Your Card Stack

36:45 – Building The Trio: Atlas, Amex Plat Travel, Flexible Third Card

39:30 – Multi-Country Trips: How The Right Stack Funds Your Vacation

41:10 – Taj Voucher Tips & Best Properties for Upgrades

44:05 – Loyalty Dilemmas: Marriott vs Accor vs Taj—Which To Prioritize?

46:30 – Traveler vs Tourist: Matching Hotel Programs to Your Travel Style

49:00 – Planning Year 2: Optimizing Card Stack for Life Events & Spends

52:50 – Card Choices for Spenders: Magnus, Atlas, and When To Level Up

54:55 – Avoiding Overspend: Why Discipline Beats Chasing Rewards

55:20 – Three-Year Framework: Analyze, Optimize, Emphasize

57:10 – Custom Gameplans: 50K/month Spenders—What Cards Should You Use?

1:01:05 – Persona 2: Small Business Owners—Best Cards for Taxes & Business Spends

1:08:05 – Persona 3: Freelancers & Self-Employed—How To Build Without Salary

1:11:05 – Persona 4: High Spenders (2-3L/month)—Magnus Burgundy, Infinia & EPM

1:15:10 – Caution: Why Lifestyle Cards Aren’t For Everyone

1:17:00 – Maximizing Returns: Smart Combos and When To Diversify

1:20:45 – Wrap-up: Summary & Key Takeaways