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Ryan Smith

Former Senior Editor
Distance Traveled in 2026
Visited in 2026

Ryan is a writer and editor who first wrote for AwardWallet team in 2021 but has been around points and miles for several years. He has written at Forbes Advisor, CNBC Select, Miles to Memories, The Points Guy, and USA Today Blueprint.

After someone at his hostel in China said “I flew here for free using points,” Ryan was hooked. In December 2023, he finished his goal of visiting every country and now plans to return to those that merit another visit.

His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether all of this is illegal.

Travel Summary
Marriott Elites Can Claim Singapore Elite Status, Earn Star Alliance Gold With Just Four Flights
Marriott Elites Can Claim Singapore Elite Status, Earn Star Alliance Gold With Just Four Flights
3

There are plenty of ways to earn elite status with your favorite hotel or airline without meeting a spending requirement or completing a minimum number of nights or flights. In a somewhat unique partnership, you can status match your Marriott Bonvoy elite status to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer — or match in the opposite direction if you have KrisFlyer status. Here's what to know.

Ryan SmithHarrison Pierce
Ryan Smith & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Which Credit Cards Offer the Best Baggage Delay Coverage? Here's an Overview of All Your Options.
Which Credit Cards Offer the Best Baggage Delay Coverage? Here's an Overview of All Your Options.
15

If you’ve ever been the last person standing at an empty luggage carousel waiting for your bags, you’ll understand the frustration of your checked bags getting delayed or disappearing. It can mean hours spent filing reports and on the phone chasing up the location of your bag, not to mention the out-of-pocket expense of purchasing essentials like phone chargers, a change of clothes, and toiletries. We've covered the essential policies to check out and the best cards to use for your trips to get built-in coverage.

Ryan SmithSenitra Horbrook
Ryan Smith & Senitra Horbrook

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

How to Earn Rewards on Bill Payments With Plastiq — and if This Service Is Worth the Fees
How to Earn Rewards on Bill Payments With Plastiq — and if This Service Is Worth the Fees
7

The landscape of paying bills with credit cards has changed, so it's worth overhauling our review of Plastiq — a service that allows you to pay nearly any bill with a credit card. While providing opportunities for increased spending is a positive, Plastiq charges fees for doing so. Are those fees worth it? And how does Plastiq work? Here's a look at Plastiq, plus its strengths and weaknesses in terms of credit card rewards.

Ryan SmithPatrick Stouffer
Ryan Smith & Patrick Stouffer

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Citi Has Some Fantastic No Annual Fee Cards — Here’s the Best Strategy for Getting Them
Citi Has Some Fantastic No Annual Fee Cards — Here’s the Best Strategy for Getting Them
53

Whether you're looking to reduce your annual fees or boost your ThankYou® points earnings, Citi offers three excellent no-annual-fee cards that can add thousands of extra points to your balance every year. Here's the best strategy to getting them without locking yourself out of getting another sign-up bonus in the next 48 months.

Ryan SmithHarrison Pierce
Ryan Smith & Harrison Pierce

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Free FoundersCard Membership for CLEAR Plus Members – Here's How to Claim This Offer
Free FoundersCard Membership for CLEAR Plus Members – Here's How to Claim This Offer
13

It's not every day that I check my email and find a free one-year trial of something that normally costs a few hundred dollars. But that's the magic happening today. CLEAR Plus members are receiving emails to activate a free one-year trial membership for FoundersCard, the travel-meets-business luxury card that normally carries a steep membership fee. What is FoundersCard, and how do you enroll for the free 12 months of it? Read on.

Ryan SmithJT Genter
Ryan Smith & JT Genter
The Cost to Apply for Programs Like Global Entry Is Increasing on October 1. Will Your Credit Card Cover the Higher Fees?
The Cost to Apply for Programs Like Global Entry Is Increasing on October 1. Will Your Credit Card Cover the Higher Fees?
0

If you missed the news, the cost of Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS will increase on October 1, 2024. Since October 1 is just a few short days away, now's a great time to apply for one of these trusted traveler programs before they become more expensive. Or, if you have a credit card offering an application fee waiver as a perk, you may not need to act so swiftly — here's why.

Ryan SmithScott Sikes
Ryan Smith & Scott Sikes
You Can Now Earn and Redeem Flying Blue Miles on Oman Air...Which Is Surprising
You Can Now Earn and Redeem Flying Blue Miles on Oman Air...Which Is Surprising
0

Mere days after confirming the timeline for Oman Air joining Oneworld, which should happen by the end of 2024, Oneworld's next airline has gone and partnered with founding members of the rival SkyTeam alliance. That's interesting, to say the least. That's good news for those who love additional options for earning and redeeming their miles, though. And the fact the partnership comes with one of the easiest programs in which to accrue miles should make you especially happy.

Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith