Katie Genter
Lead writer
TPG since 2015
Katie Genter is a lead points and miles writer at The Points Guy, where she has been helping readers maximize credit card rewards, airline miles and hotel points since 2015. She began contributing to TPG while pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science at The University of Texas at Austin, bringing a data-driven, analytical approach to travel rewards and loyalty programs.
While in graduate school, Katie also worked as an outdoor recreation guide, planning and leading trips — an experience that sharpened her travel logistics skills and deepened her love of exploring new places. Around the same time, she became interested in points and miles as a way to travel more frequently and affordably, a passion that ultimately led her to The Points Guy.
After completing her dissertation in 2017, Katie and her husband set out to travel full-time as digital nomads, living out of hotels while working remotely. That hands-on experience — paired with her portfolio of more than 20 credit cards and a deep roster of airline and hotel elite statuses — gives her firsthand insight into how loyalty programs actually work for frequent travelers.
Katie joined The Points Guy full-time in 2019 as a senior credit cards writer and now covers topics including earning and redeeming points and miles, airline and hotel loyalty programs, elite status strategies, and the practical realities of long-term travel. She has spoken multiple times at Frequent Traveler University (FTU), Chicago Seminars, and CardCon, sharing expert insights on credit cards and loyalty programs.
While in graduate school, Katie also worked as an outdoor recreation guide, planning and leading trips — an experience that sharpened her travel logistics skills and deepened her love of exploring new places. Around the same time, she became interested in points and miles as a way to travel more frequently and affordably, a passion that ultimately led her to The Points Guy.
After completing her dissertation in 2017, Katie and her husband set out to travel full-time as digital nomads, living out of hotels while working remotely. That hands-on experience — paired with her portfolio of more than 20 credit cards and a deep roster of airline and hotel elite statuses — gives her firsthand insight into how loyalty programs actually work for frequent travelers.
Katie joined The Points Guy full-time in 2019 as a senior credit cards writer and now covers topics including earning and redeeming points and miles, airline and hotel loyalty programs, elite status strategies, and the practical realities of long-term travel. She has spoken multiple times at Frequent Traveler University (FTU), Chicago Seminars, and CardCon, sharing expert insights on credit cards and loyalty programs.
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Set award alerts — and book a backup flight you can cancel for little or no cost — if the award space you want isn’t available. Then wait. More often than not, better award availability will open up, letting you rebook a better flight later.