A quartermaster is the person who makes sure everyone heading out on a trip is properly supplied. They aren’t the star of the expedition. Their job is making sure you leave better prepared than you arrived.
That’s my job here.
I’m the Quartermaster (“QM”). I run Points Quest, and I write every guide in the first person, sharing what I’ve actually done with credit card points, airline miles, and bank bonuses.
Why I started Points Quest
I got into points and miles the same way a lot of people do: chasing a better trip without spending more cash than I had to. Once I saw how welcome bonuses and transfer partners could stretch a budget, I wanted a clear next step — not another pile of news headlines.
The big points sites are great at news and card reviews. The deal blogs are great at speed and detail. What I wanted when I started was simpler: someone to tell me what to do next, and why. So Points Quest is organized around practical next steps, from your first no-annual-fee card to booking a premium-cabin flight with points.
Why the pen name?
I write anonymously for two reasons:
- Privacy. Points posts involve card applications, travel dates, and account screenshots. I’d rather not attach my legal name and home airport to all of that.
- The work should stand on its own. You shouldn’t have to trust me. You should be able to check the numbers, follow the links to the issuer’s terms, and decide for yourself.
A pen name is not a license to make things up. My rules:
- Every story on this site is my real experience. If I haven’t done something, I’ll say so.
- Every number in my ledger is a real number. Details that could identify me (dates, airports, routes) may be shifted or generalized, but the points and dollars stay accurate.
- Reader stories are only shared with written permission.
My running totals
I track every bonus I earn and every redemption I make, mistakes included. The public ledger and running totals will appear here once the first trip reports and ledger post are published. Until then, treat this page as the introduction to how I work — not a claim of specific numbers.
What I believe about this hobby
- Never carry a balance for points. Interest wipes out rewards fast. If you can’t pay in full every month, paying down debt is the better move.
- Credit health first. Points are a side effect of good habits, not a reason to abandon them.
- Clarity over hype. No “best card ever.” No countdown timers. Offers change, so I date-stamp them and link the terms.
- Show your work. Wins, losses, and the math.
How Points Quest makes money
Points Quest may earn commissions from some links on this site, through affiliate programs and personal referral links where the issuer’s terms allow it. That never changes how I rate a product, and I don’t cover every offer on the market. Full details: Advertiser Disclosure and Editorial Policy.
A few things I’m not
- Not a financial advisor. Points Quest is educational. I can explain how things work, but I can’t tell you which card you should open. That depends on your finances, and you know them better than I do.
- Not affiliated with any bank, card issuer, airline, or hotel program, unless a page says otherwise.
Say hi
Questions, corrections, or a win you want to share? Use the Contact page. I read everything, and corrections are always welcome.
— QM
Educational content only, not personalized financial advice. Advertiser Disclosure