We recently connected with Luis Lan and have shared our conversation below.

Luis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I started the newsletter and my company because I believe travel isn’t just about going from one place to another, it’s about the moments you create with the people you love.

Too often, incredible experiences feel out of reach because of cost. But I discovered something that changed that for me, the untapped potential of credit card points and airline miles.

Most people don’t realize the value just sitting in their account not being used.

Points aren’t just numbers on a screen; they’re a powerful tool to unlock trips, reunions, and adventures that might have otherwise stayed dreams. They can turn “maybe someday” into “we’re going next month.”

For me, this mission is personal. I’ve seen firsthand how travel can deepen relationships, spark joy, and create memories that last far beyond any physical purchase.

A dinner in Hawaii, a family reunion across the country, a honeymoon in a dream destination, these are the moments people carry for a lifetime.

My goal is to give people the knowledge and tools to make the most of what they already have, so they can travel more, spend less, and create stories they’ll tell forever.

Points are the currency, but the real reward is the time spent together.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into the points and miles world simply by following my passion.

Years ago, I started exploring ways to visit places that once felt completely out of reach because of cost.

I dove deep into learning how to maximize credit card points and airline miles, at first just for myself. That journey allowed me to take trips I never thought I’d afford, from dream destinations to spontaneous adventures, and I shared those experiences online through photos and stories.

What surprised me was how often people asked me, “How did you do that?” That curiosity inspired me to create my newsletter as a single place where I could condense years of research, trial and error, and strategy into practical tips anyone could use.

My goal is simple, to help people unlock the full potential of the rewards they already have, so they can create unforgettable travel memories without the overwhelming price tag.

The main problem I solve is a lack of education and strategy around points and miles.

Most people are sitting on benefits they don’t fully understand or don’t have the time to figure out.

I give away most of my content for free because I want as many people as possible to experience what I have. For those who want a personalized plan and hands on help, I also offer one on one guidance to craft tailored travel strategies.

One of my proudest moments was helping a couple plan their honeymoon from the U.S. to Asia entirely on points. Over a year, I guided them in making a few small but impactful tweaks to their everyday spending. The result were business class flights, multiple luxury stays, suite upgrades, and a trip far beyond what they thought possible, all without the financial stress.

Points and miles aren’t just numbers. They’re a tool to transform your travels, expand your world, and give you and your loved ones memories that will last forever.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that no does not always mean no.

Often it means not right now or you did not ask the right question.

Sometimes it is a no to the specific request you made, but there are other ways to reach the outcome you want. You might have to get creative, look at the situation from a different angle, or simply be more persistent.

The key is to work through the problem until you find the solution.

A good example of this happened during our honeymoon to Japan, which I had booked entirely on points.

We had multiple flights lined up, including a business class flight from Hawaii to Japan.

Before our trip even began, our first flight from Hawaii to Japan was canceled. The first airline representative I spoke to offered to move us to a flight two days later, but that would have completely disrupted the schedule for our two weeks in Japan.

They then offered to return our points, but at the rate they refunded them, we would not have had enough to book anything similar.

This is when persistence became essential. I kept pushing for escalations until I was speaking with a manager for nearly an hour.

That conversation got us a same day flight, closer to our destination, though in economy.

But I did not stop there. By continuing to explore options and advocate for ourselves, we eventually secured a same day business class flight to a different Japanese city, followed by a short connecting flight the next day to our intended destination.

In the end we still arrived in Japan on schedule and in business class for most of the journey.

This experience reinforced the idea that no is often just a signal to change your approach.

Whether in travel or in business, if you remain flexible, ask better questions, and persist, you can often turn a no into the exact result you were hoping for.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Truth be told I am still building my audience on social media and still figuring it out as I go.

Looking back, I may have chosen two of the toughest verticals to grow in. But that challenge comes with an advantage. The harder it is to grow in a space, the stronger the built in moat becomes.

There are platforms where you can gain thousands of followers overnight, but if you can do it quickly, so can someone else.

The growth may come fast, but it can also disappear just as fast. I chose to focus on channels where growth is slower and more deliberate.

For me, the key has been showing up consistently, being present, and providing value every day. Over time, those small, steady steps compound into a meaningful presence.

I believe slow growth builds a stronger, more engaged audience.

You get to know them better, they trust you more, and the connection is real rather than transactional. That makes it easier to create content that resonates and keeps them coming back.

Sometimes the best strategy is to start with the hard thing first. Be persistent. Keep experimenting, see what works, and keep iterating. It may take longer, but the audience you build will be one worth keeping.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://betterthanpoints.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterthanpoints/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-lan/
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheLuisLan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@luislan1