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Why Business Spending is the New Mining

Why Business Spending is the New Mining

Every business spends. Few mine. Cashback caps you at 2%, but points (earned right) deliver 5–15% ROI. That’s $100K+ in travel from $1M spend. Multipliers, blended earn rates, and smart card strategy turn expenses into leverage. Stop settling for scraps. Start digging for gold.

From Cashback to Compounded Stretch: How Smart Companies Unlock Real Travel ROI

From Cashback to Compounded Stretch: How Smart Companies Unlock Real Travel ROI

Most Businesses settle for 1.5% cashback: $200K spend for a $3K ticket. With optimized points at 4.2% earn and 1.35¢ value, the same flight costs ~$111K spend. That’s nearly half the outlay, turning travel from sunk cost into growth. UpNonStop makes every dollar do double duty.

The Rewards Ponzi (And Why It Keeps Working)

The Rewards Ponzi (And Why It Keeps Working)

If everyone’s “winning,” who’s paying? Answer: the merchants and the suckers paying 19.99% APR | Or: Why Everyone Keeps Playing Even Though It’s a Rigged Game?

The Bank in Your Wallet

The Bank in Your Wallet

Think airlines run the points game? Cute. The banks own the house, mint the chips, and set the odds. Every swipe funds the show: cheap miles bought in bulk, annual fees as cover charge, and interest as the trapdoor. Your “free” trip? A payout planned on their spreadsheet.

The Rewards Cartel: Hotels do not fly planes, but they sure as hell sell points.

The Rewards Cartel: Hotels do not fly planes, but they sure as hell sell points.

Hotels don’t fly planes - they mint currency. Every swipe of a Hilton or Marriott card prints points sold to banks for cash, then redeemed for rooms that cost pennies. Your “free” night? Margin play. The buffet cost more. Dynamic pricing quietly taxes your balance. Burn fast or get devalued.

Airlines Are Banks That Happen to Fly Planes

Airlines Are Banks That Happen to Fly Planes

Airlines aren’t in transport - they’re minting money. United sold $6B+ in miles to banks at ~1¢; you redeem at 2–5¢ while dynamic pricing and breakage pad profit. The planes are props. The real business? A spreadsheet that prints cash.

The $100 Avocado

The $100 Avocado

What Actually Happens When You Buy Groceries With a Credit Card | Or: A person walks into Trader Joe’s and pays $100 dollars with an American Express. Where does that money go? | Spoiler: Trader Joe’s does not get 100 dollars.

The Three Levels of Points Optimization

The Three Levels of Points Optimization

Your credit card points aren’t a perk - they’re untapped profit. Most SMB owners treat them like icing, but smart owners use them like cash flow. We’ve helped businesses unlock $25K-$100K+ a year in value. You’re not overspending... you’re under-redeeming.

How a Plumbing Company Turned Card Spend into First-Class Flights (+ Presidents Club Trip) Without Changing Their Budget

How a Plumbing Company Turned Card Spend into First-Class Flights (+ Presidents Club Trip) Without Changing Their Budget

A Phoenix-based plumber was earning just 1.5% cash back on $80K/month in business spend - until he brought us in to unlock $40K+ in first-class flights and team retreats. No extra spend. No gimmicks. Just strategy. Here’s how he turned everyday expenses into luxury travel and loyalty.

United Airlines Just Moved the Goalposts Again—Here’s Why You Should Stop Playing Their Game

United Airlines Just Moved the Goalposts Again—Here’s Why You Should Stop Playing Their Game

United just gutted MileagePlus—again. Higher status thresholds, fewer upgrade perks, and a nerfed Excursionist Perk. Loyalty programs aren’t rewarding you—they’re squeezing you. In 2025, flexibility beats loyalty. Play smart, not loyal. Here's why.

Building Company Culture at 35,000 Feet

Building Company Culture at 35,000 Feet

Forget ping-pong tables—real team loyalty is built miles above the office. Discover how smart SMB founders are using points-funded travel to create unforgettable offsites that boost trust, alignment, and retention—all without blowing the budget. Ready to fly higher together?

Stuck at a Non-Gateway Hub? Here's Your UpNonStop Playbook

Stuck at a Non-Gateway Hub? Here's Your UpNonStop Playbook

Locked in Philly or a non-gateway city? Don’t chase nonstop flights - chase value • The best redemptions often start elsewhere • Use positioning flights to JFK, BOS, or IAD to unlock Qsuites, ANA Business, or Emirates First for fewer miles • Your airport’s the on-ramp, not the destination.