Luis Enrique Lan

Better Than Points

"It’s annoying that every time I fly, I see empty business class seats I could have gotten if I knew how to play the system."

"It's frustrating knowing my credit cards could be doing more for me, but I don’t have the time to figure it out."

"I’m embarrassed that after all these years of spending, I still don’t know how to make the most of my credit card points."

These are real concerns for high revenue entrepreneurs.

You work hard and spend a lot, your points should work just as hard.

- You want to maximize your travel without lifting a finger.
- You want to stop leaving points and rewards on the table.
- You want to finally unlock those luxury flights and five-star hotels.

That’s where I come in.

I help entrepreneurs turn their everyday spend into points that open the door to first-class travel.

Ready to stop missing out?

Let’s make your spending work for you.

My booking link: https://betterthanpoints.com/book-call/

Or DM me on LinkedIn. Just say "Hey Luis"! ✈️

Founder

Pavilion

First rule of Pavilion? We don’t talk about Pavilion.

But since you’re here, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

see more...

Member

Prince of Travel

So, you want to learn how to fly first class using points and miles?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

I break down miles and points, analyze them, and transform them into delectable amuse bouche that anyone can savor.

From credit card quirks to insider hacks, I make sense of the numbers so you can take off in style.

Writer, Technical Points & Miles

Atmosphere

I sharpened my selling chops.

From talking to business owners to building ad partnerships, I was in the thick of it.

It was our own little corner of Wolf of Wall Street.

Given that it was a startup, absolute chaos, but that’s where I thrived.

Things moved fast, but I moved faster.

It pumped me up but slowed me down, and I looked forward to the thrill of it all.

Through all the twists and turns, I adapted, delivered, and kept chugging along.

Choo Choo!

Account Executive

U.S. Risk, LLC

Now that I’d proven myself, I worked my way up the ranks.

Took charge of a $28 million book of business, generating $3 million in annual revenue.

And boy, did I grow it!

10% year over year was nothing to scoff at.

Like Batman and Robin, I reported directly to the VP, monitoring account performance.

But, alas, all things must come to an end.

I rode off into the sunset after U.S. Risk was acquired by USI Insurance Services.

Underwriter

I was the guy behind the scenes.

Every policy started with gathering and analyzing data, making sure clients met all insurance requirements.

It wasn’t just about the numbers, though. Each case required precision and care.

One of my main roles was handling backend responsibilities. Processing endorsements and issuing policies.

Behind every policy, there s guy making sure everything is right, and I made sure no detail was missed.

Associate Underwriter

Progressive Insurance

It’s like being the calm oasis within the storm.

Handling insurance claims, you’re often the first person people speak to after something goes wrong.

I remember one family, shaken after a major accident.

They were overwhelmed, not sure what to do next.

I guided them through the process, from starting a claim to helping them understand their coverage. Every step, I made sure they felt supported.

At Progressive, it wasn’t just about the paperwork. It was about giving people back peace of mind.

Central Loss Representative - Bilingual 

Hyatt Regency

Cocktail Server

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa

Server

Girl Dad | Building Relationships and Driving Growth | Credit Card Points | Bilingual Sales Professional | Helping Businesses Grow 🤙🏿 | Open to New Opportunities

I can’t stand paying full price for travel.

So I started learning how to fly first class and stay in luxury hotels using points.

Travel is amazing.
It opens your mind and gives you unforgettable experiences. 
But let’s be real: it’s too expensive, stressful, and uncomfortable. 

That’s where I come in.

To help turn your points into:

First and business class flights.
Amazing hotel stays around the world.
Luxury experiences you didn’t think possible. 

I’ve spent years figuring out how to unlock free travel using credit card points, and I’m here to share it all with you.

My newsletter will help you:

Travel more, for less.
Maximize your points and miles.
Experience the world traveling in comfort.

From booking two weeks in Japan with points to discovering hidden gems like Rarotonga. 

I live the points life, and you can too.

Ready to make travel easier and cheaper? 

Subscribe to my newsletter below and let’s make it happen. 🇵🇦

Pavilion formally known as (Revenue Collective) is a private, invitation-only community of sales and marketing executives at growth-focused companies

The power of live events is real.

But in Austin it's amplified, and here's why.

There's something awesome in this city and you can't explain it until you feel it.

Yesterday was a perfect example.

I went to Kit's live podcast recording with Nathan Barry & Ryan Holiday.

Cool event and great insights. 

But the real magic was the people in the room.

I got to meet Brandon Turner, someone whose real estate content helped me buy my first property at 23.

Years of listening to him online and I'd never imagined actually running into him, yet we're both standing in Austin talking about his multifamily project in town he's checking on.

I also met Tristan, who funny enough also lives in Maui.
His company Ultraspeaking hosted a workshop before the event on becoming a stronger speaker and presenter.

Sitting in and hearing from him and Michael on becoming a better communicator doesn't just help you speak.
It makes you better in so many other skills.

And that's the thing about live events.
You can't predict them.
You can't script them.
You can't replicate them over Zoom.
You just show up and serendipity takes care of the rest.

The people you meet.
The conversations you have.
The ideas that spark.
You can't get that through a screen.

Austin takes that to a whole different level.
People fly here.
Founders show up.
Creators build here.
And when you put yourself in the room, things happen.

If life has taught me anything, it's this.
You never know who you'll sit next to, what conversation will change your direction, or who you'll end up learning from if you just show up.

Put yourself in the room.
Luck will take care of the rest.

Luis Enrique Lan 💳

Brand Partnerships for Newsletters | Simplifying credit card points to help you book unforgettable trips | Girl Dad | Helping Smart Travelers Travel Better 🤙🏿

This is Saleem

He gave me a great networking tip when you meet someone in person.

Take a selfie with them and send it to them.

It does 3 things

1) Helps remind them what event it was

2) Cuts through all the messages they probably get

3) You have photo evidence to use as blackmail later

A quick and easy way to help people you're connecting with do less work.

Today is my wife’s and my three year anniversary.
Not even 24 hours after getting married we were leaving the US.
But it almost didn’t happen.

The day after our wedding, we rushed to the airport for our one way flight to Japan.
I trip I had been working on for over a year.
I thought everything was set.

Then I found out something I never knew.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁.
You need proof you’re leaving the country.

Cue the chaos.

Running between ticket counters.
Crying.
Skipp­ing the line.
Being told no more times than I can count.

And what made is worse was that some airlines won’t even sell you a ticket at the desk.
So we had to get creative.
I booked a placeholder return flight just to board the plane, knowing I could cancel it within 24 hours.

Somehow we made it.
The last two on before closing the doors
We got on that flight.
Sat in our first class seats. 
And that moment, stressful as it was, feels like the perfect summary of our relationship.

Life throws unexpected problems at you.
Plans fall apart.
You get blindsided.
But with the right partner?
You figure it out together.

You troubleshoot.
You improvise.
You support each other when the other one is breaking down.
You push forward even when you just want to break down and cry.

That’s what having a real teammate looks like.

A great partner doesn’t just make life easier.
They make you better.
They help you grow into the person you’re supposed to become.

I’m grateful I married someone who:
• says yes to my crazy ideas
• is always down for an adventure (after a little convincing)
• doesn’t mind standing out
• believes we only get one shot at this life
• and encourages me every step of the way

Three years in, and I’m still reminded that choosing the right person is one of the most important decisions you ever make.

Because with the right partner, even the turbulence becomes part of the story.

20 years from now, the only people who will remember that you worked late are your kids.

Before my daughter was born, I faced a really hard decision.

Would I take a higher paying job that meant long hours?
Or would I take the riskier path?

A career that gave me more freedom to be there for my wife and daughter
To watch her grow.

I chose freedom. 

And while I'll admit it's a struggle.
It was the right choice for me.

It’s given me the chance to not only be present for the moments that matter.
But also to use points and miles to show my daughter the world.

From weekend getaways to bucket list trips.

We’re already starting to create memories that will last us a lifetime.

Those moments are priceless.

It’s easy to get caught up in the grind and put off creating memories for “someday” 

But someday isn’t guaranteed.

Make the moments. 
Take the trips. 
Be there.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.

When I was 22, all I wanted was to move up in insurance.

I stayed late, took the ugly accounts, did the work no one wanted, because I was promised that one day I’d run my own part of the business.

When another agency approached me, my boss suddenly had all the right words.
Don’t go. We’ll move you up. Bigger bonus. Higher pay. You’re next.

So I stayed.

Bonus time came.
No promotion. No big jump. Just,

Well, it’s better than what you got last year.
Around the same time, we got acquired by a bigger company.
Every email said the same thing:
Nothing will change.

Then people started getting let go.

That was the first time I really 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 it.
You can give a company 110%.
They can offer you the moon.
And they will have no problem taking it away.

And you getting fired was not a reflection of your effort or work ethic.

After many short stents at companies getting hit with restructures, running out of money to pay employees, SEO changes tanking revenue. I was lost. 

I didn’t start my business because it sounded fun or because I always dreamed of being an entrepreneur.

I did dream of it, but not under these terms. 

I started it because I needed to.

I needed to build 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 that couldn’t be taken away from me in a single reorg, a single acquisition, or a single “we’ve decided to go in a different direction” email.

Along the way, I kept getting passed over for roles I was overqualified for.

The feedback?
• “You’re not professional enough.”
• “You don’t have enough startup experience.”
• “We’re looking for more of a lone wolf mentality.”
I’ve watched jobs go to people not because of skill or results, but because of relationships and optics.

I’ve seen wave after wave of layoffs hit good, loyal people who did everything right.

So here’s where I’ve landed.

Yes, keep applying. Go after the job. Negotiate. Learn the game.

But don’t let that be your only plan.

Use this time to 𝗯𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳:

• Learn new skills.
• Build something on the side.
• Use the tools and information we have now that didn’t exist decades ago.
• Create work that 𝘺𝘰𝘶 own, not just work that lives on a company server.
Because titles, bonuses, and promises can disappear overnight.

The skills you build and the things you create for yourself?
Those are a lot harder to take away.

P.S. The job market is crazy right now, give yourself some slack. It will work out, but you have to stay persistent.

I tossed the dog in the car and drove straight from Austin up north to visit my wife's family for the holiday.
1,400 miles, 26 hours, and one dog. 

The drive was long, but it went smoothly.

And honestly… I look forward to it.

There’s something about a long road trip that forces you to slow down and sit with your thoughts.

No distractions.
No rushing.

Just you, the road, and whatever’s been swirling around in your head that you haven’t had time to unpack.

It’s the only time when:

• You can learn
• You can actually reflect 
• You can catch up on podcasts
• You can think without being interrupted
• You can finish the drive a little smarter than when you started

We don’t give ourselves enough space for that kind of quiet.

But it’s amazing what a few hundred miles can do for your clarity.

And while spending hours in the car isn't glamorous.
What waits on the other side is family, connection, time away.

Sometimes the journey is the lesson.
Sometimes the silence is the teacher.

And sometimes… the dog is the best travel partner you could ask for.

For so long I didn't think my knowledge was valuable or worth sharing.
Imposter syndrome ruled my thoughts.

I don't know enough to help other people.

When I'm an expert that's when I'll do it.

The truth is, I don't know if I'll ever feel ready.

Having my name attached to something brings me so much joy. 
But held me back from releasing it out into the world.

I felt like it needed to be perfect.

It never will be, but I can always update and improve it.

That's the power of just putting it out into the world and getting feedback on it.

And while I'll be the first one to admit that I was scared putting it out there. 

It's good to know that my book, something I've been slowly working on for years is already being so well received.

My hope is just that people will read it and start to implement it to take trips they never would have thought possible.

Neighbors stopped by to say hi.
Don't think they realized what day it is.

You don’t need permission to start.
Or to try.
Or to become who you want to be.

Most people wait for the perfect moment to make a career move, start a new project, or try something they’ve been thinking about for years.

But the truth is, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
You have to make your own openings.
You have to create your own opportunities.

If you start doing something well enough, people 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 notice.

Look at Casey Neistat.
He didn’t wait for Nike or Mercedes or a huge brand to hire him.
He just started making videos he liked consistently, obsessively, creatively.
And eventually the work spoke so loudly
that the companies came to him.

He didn’t ask for permission.
He just 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

If you keep waiting for someone to give you permission.
Your turn will never come.

Start messy.
Start small.
Start unqualified.

Just start.
Because the moment you’re waiting for might already be passing you by.

From getting thanks for helping a family of 5 get to Kauai for Thanksgiving.
To finding flights for a husband sending his wife and her friends to Scotland.
That’s how my morning started.

Two completely different trips.
Two completely different stories.
But the same reminder I needed:

What I do actually 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 to people.

Life has had its ups and downs lately.
With plenty of days feeling heavy and chaotic.
But every once in a while, you get a moment that hits, and these were some of them.
The kind that makes you pause and think.

“Yeah… I'm helpful.”

It’s not just about booking flights.

It’s about helping people create memories that become part of their family’s story.

It’s about the dad who wants to remember experiences with his kids by taking them to Hawaii.

It’s about the wife who will remember her Scotland trip for the rest of her life.

It’s about giving people access to experiences they didn’t think were possible.

Those moments make the work worth it.

And today was one of those mornings.

Black Friday.
The one day a year all the companies that have my email reach out.
Where I then unsubscribe.

You have to stink before you get good.
And sometimes that means doing it in front of 73,000 people.

I went to the Vikings game today.

JJ McCarthy is a 22 years old, first year starting QB was back on the field after being out with a concussion.

Most of us get to learn behind closed doors.
He has to learn in real time, with an entire stadium watching his every move.

People weren’t expecting him to be perfect.

They just wanted to see improvement.
And every time he made a good read, throw, or a smart decision,
you could feel the crowd get behind him.

It reminded me that every great player looked like a beginner once.

There's going to be a learning curve when moving onto the next level.
Whether that's moving from college to the NFL or from one task to another.


Every confident leader used to look shaky.
Every expert was once someone just trying not to mess up.

You might be starting a new role, trying a new skill, or building something from scratch.
You don’t get to skip the early reps.
You don’t get great without going through the part where you don’t feel great yet.

If a 22 year old can show up and grow in front of 73,000 people.
The rest of us can show up in our own lives too.

You have to stink before you get good.
And good before you get great.

And while a win isn't given, a 31 - 0 win sure is nice.

I had two drastically different conversations this morning.

The first one went like this:

I call a store looking for a specific item.

The guy picks up.
“What do you need?” he says.
I tell him I’m looking for something,
and before I can even say what it is, he cuts in:
“Sorry, we don’t have that.”

Confused, I told him.
“But I didn’t even tell you what I was looking for.”
He says, “Okay, what is it?”
I tell him. (I already knew where this was going)
A few seconds of silence.
“Yeah… we don’t have that.”

I thank him, hang up, and call the store down the street.

This time, completely different.
The guy answers with energy, happy to help.
He listens, checks inventory,
and a few minutes later says,
“Yep, we’ve got it in stock.”

Guess which store got my business.

Even if the first store didn't actually have it.
You think I would believe him? 

The moral?
You can’t always control who crosses your path,
but you can control the energy you bring into an interaction.

The first guy wasn’t interested in helping.
Or frankly, came across like he didn't even want my business.

The second guy showed a little effort.
And that made all the difference.

Sometimes it’s not about how much effort you give.
It’s just about showing up like you care.

P.S. Check out this set I passed by in Austin, I wonder what they're filming

Something happened to me 3 years ago that still pisses me off today.

And the only person I have to blame is myself.

Three years ago, my wife and I went on an unbelievable 2 week honeymoon across Japan.
Eleven cities.
Business class flights.
Some of the best food I’ve ever had.

If you know me, you know how much I love taking pictures.
And how much I've been wanting to go to Japan. 
This was my first time there, so I photographed everything.

Food, streets, trains, temples, random vending machines, all of it.

A few days into the trip, a tiny notification kept popping up on my phone.
“𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹.”
Delete files or upgrade storage.

I ignored it.
I’m stubborn and cheap. 
I didn’t want to delete anything, and I definitely wasn’t about to pay for more storage.
So I turned auto backup off and thought, I’ll deal with it when I get home.

Spoiler alert, I didn’t.

Fast forward to weeks after we got back to the U.S.
I’m on a call, driving to work… and my phone suddenly shuts off.
Black screen.
Dead.
Never turned back on again.

I took it to multiple recovery experts.
Everyone said the same thing:
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁.

Thousands of memories, our honeymoon, our first trip to Japan, pictures I’ll never get back, locked forever in a device that no longer works.

All because I didn’t take 5 seconds to upgrade my storage.
All because I didn’t want to spend a few dollars a month.
All because I told myself, I’ll deal with it later.

It still frustrates me years later.

And it taught me something simple but painful.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝘂𝗻.
The 5 second annoyances.
The small decisions.
The I’ll do it later moments.

They add up.
And sometimes the consequences hit harder than you expect.

Today, if something takes less than 30 seconds, I try just doing it.
I'm still not perfect. 

Because the alternative is living with the regret of losing thousands of honeymoon memories, and every picture of incredible food I’ll never get to drool over again.

The silver lining is that maybe one day technology will be advanced enough to crack that encryption.
Until then, it’s a lesson I’ll never forget.

P.S. If you're a Sony Xperia 1 recovery expert hmu.

5 Things to Know Before Applying for Your First Card

1️⃣ Applying for a card will lower your credit score, but not by much.

Many people avoid credit cards, fearing they’ll ruin their credit.
But only 10% of your FICO score is based on new credit.
Opening a new card might lower your score temporarily,
But it also increases your credit utilization ratio, which is a good thing.

2️⃣ More credit cards won’t lower your credit score.

Yes, there’s a slight hit when you open a card,
But the benefits, like more credit, a better credit mix,
And showing banks you’re responsible, outweigh the temporary hit.

3️⃣ Avoid co branded credit cards as your first card.

Too many people come to me with only Delta or United points,
And they’re stuck with one flavor of ice cream.
Instead, start with a card that transfers points to multiple programs,
Giving you flexibility when it’s time to book.

4️⃣ Keep it simple, start with one card.

Don’t overwhelm yourself.
Start with one card, use it responsibly,
And only apply for more when you’re confident.
Credit cards are powerful tools, but they can be dangerous without financial literacy.

5️⃣ Leverage where you spend the most money.

The average American spends $10k a year on food.
Cards like the Amex Gold, Bilt, or Capital One Savor maximize those expenses.
If housing is your biggest expense, the Bilt Card could be a smart choice.

What did I miss?

Are you on a rowboat or a sailboat?
Both get you to the same destination.
But how you get there makes all the difference.

A rowboat forces you to grind your way forward.
Every inch is effort.
Every mile requires strength.
And while you'll arrive a little faster.
You’ll be exhausted when you get there.

A sailboat, on the other hand, moves with the wind.
It lets momentum carry it.
And while the wind might take it on a detour.
It ends up getting to the destination,
Arriving energized and ready to take on what's ahead.

Most people think success is about rowing harder.
But sometimes the real skill is learning how to catch the wind.

Effort alone gets you somewhere.
But aligned effort gets you where you’re meant to be.

It's all fun and games until you drill a hole in the lake and the ice cracks.

Even when you know the path.
That doesn’t make the journey any easier.

A roadmap can tell you where to go.
But it can’t prepare you for what the road actually feels like.

Last year, I flew to Oregon for a friend’s wedding.
During some downtime, I took the family to visit the Skylight Cave.

We had the directions.
We knew exactly where it was.

But what the map didn’t show was the reality of getting there.

Miles of unmaintained roads.
Loose gravel.
Backroads that looked like no one had touched them.
A route that made us question whether we were still going the right way.

But we kept going.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Trusting the path, even when it didn’t make sense.

But when we were leaving, we found a much easier route out, smooth, simple, obvious.

It only felt easy because we had taken the harder path first.

Life works the same way.

Sometimes you’re handed the map and the tough road.

Not to punish you, but to prepare you.

The challenges make the easier routes feel like a walk in the park later.

The hard path builds clarity, confidence, and resilience you’ll need for what comes next.

A roadmap is helpful.
But the hard miles are what shape you.

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