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Promo Code: Chicago Seminars - Hyatt Regency O'Hare

August 14, 2024 at 10:31 EDT By Spencer Howard

If you've been looking for a group of people who love points and travel as much as you do or you're simply trying to get a better understanding of points and miles, check out the Chicago Seminars at Hyatt Regency O'Hare!

I've been attending and speaking at the Chicago Seminars for years. It's still one of my favorite points and miles conferences!

One of the reasons I've loved this event is that it's a chance a wide variety of experience levels to come together.

Neither the organizers or speakers get paid for this event. Instead, the focus of the event is giving back to the points community. To be transparent, I believe using my promo code potentially helps offset some of my flight and hotel costs.

If you'd like to attend, my promo code can get you a discount on the event ticket and afterparty ticket. 

Event Details

  • Dates: September 20-22, 2024
  • Location: Hyatt Regency O'Hare
  • Cost: $329 (General Admission); $30 (Afterparty)
  • Promo Code: SpencerHCS10Discount

If you get an general admission ticket and an afterparty ticket with my promo code the total cost will be $339.

Hope to see you there!

Card Spotlight: Chase Ink Business Preferred, Bonus Now 120K Points

August 23, 2024 at 11:00 EDT By Spencer Howard

Update: We're hearing this bonus is expected to end at 7:00am ET on September 5, 2024.

The sign-up bonus for the Chase Ink Business Preferred has been increased and is now available online.

Sign-up Bonus

  • Earn 120,000 Ultimate Rewards points if you spend $8,000 in 3 months

Bonus Categories

  • 3x on cable and phone services, internet, social media and search engine ads, shipping, and travel (up to $150,000 combined per cardmember year)

Benefits

  • Airlines and hotel transfers partners
  • Points are worth 1.25 cents per point via the Chase travel portal
  • Trip delay protection
  • Primary rental car collision damage waiver (CDW)
  • Cell phone coverage
  • No foreign transaction fees

Annual Fee

  • $95

More info here

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Hyatt To Buy Standard Hotels

August 20, 2024 at 18:10 EDT By Spencer Howard

Skift: "Hyatt Hotels said Tuesday it planned to buy the brands of Standard International, owner of 21 open hotels across five hospitality brands, including the luxury lifestyle brand The Standard."

"Hyatt will pay a base purchase price of $150 million, with up to an additional $185 million over time as additional properties enter the portfolio. Standard International has more than 30 projects with a signed agreement or letter of intent."

"The companies expect the deal to close later this year, subject to approvals."

Earn 6K Aeroplan Points On Select Flights

August 20, 2024 at 14:36 EDT By Spencer Howard

You can earn 6,000 bonus Aeroplan points if you book a select flights from the U.S. to Canada. To earn the bonus points, you can book two one-way tickets or a round-trip ticket. Flights must be booked by September 1, 2024 but you can travel between September 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

Please note that you need to register with your Aeroplan number to earn the bonus points.

Direct link to register

Sonesta Pricing All Award Nights At 60,000 Points

August 20, 2024 at 12:41 EDT By Spencer Howard

Frequent Miler: "Sonesta doesn’t have a published award chart, but the properties do have fixed redemption levels that range from 10K-50K points/night. There’s no off-peak/on-peak variance, so a 30K property always prices at 30K if there’s an award available, regardless of the time of year or cash price."

"However, an FM reader noticed that some of the 30K properties that she has been tracking were now pricing at 60K…effectively doubling the rate with no notice. Upon looking I found out that, not only was she right, but it was much more odd…every single Sonesta property appears to be priced at 60,000 points per night."

Qatar Airways Acquires Stake In South African Carrier Airlink

August 20, 2024 at 12:40 EDT By Spencer Howard

Skift: "The Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% equity holding in one of Africa’s largest regional airlines. On Tuesday, the Doha-based company confirmed the stake in Johannesburg-based Airlink."

"The carrier’s primary focus is South Africa, but its route network stretches into 14 other African nations. More than 45 destinations are served by Airlink on a scheduled and charter basis."

Citi Strata Select Card To Replace Citi Rewards+?

August 20, 2024 at 12:38 EDT By Spencer Howard

Doctor of Credit: "Citi has filed a trademark for ‘Citi Strata Select’. Earlier this year Citi launched the Citi Strata Premier (rebrand of the Citi Premier) after filing trademarks for Citi Strata Premier & Citi Strata Elite. It’s unclear if the Citi Strata Select would be a completely new product or a rebrand of an existing card."

"The most likely option would be that this is a rebrand of the Citi Rewards+ card. This is backed up by this reddit post from a month ago citing the Select name and stating that the Rewards+ needs to be refreshed before the launch"

JetBlue TrueBlue Launches Mosaic Status Match

August 20, 2024 at 12:36 EDT By Spencer Howard

One Mile At A Time: "JetBlue TrueBlue now has an ongoing status match called Match to Mosaic, whereby those with elite status on other eligible US airlines are able to receive Mosaic status. Qualifying members can receive complimentary Mosaic 1 or Mosaic 2 status for three months, with the opportunity to keep their current status, or even “level up” to Mosaic 3."

"JetBlue TrueBlue will match status with Alaska Mileage Plan, American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, and United MileagePlus."

Direct link to status match

Alaska Airlines And Hawaiian Airlines Merger Gets DOJ Approval

August 20, 2024 at 12:35 EDT By Spencer Howard

View From The Wing: "Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines has quietly received Department of Justice approval. After two extensions of the deadline for DOJ to file an anti-trust suit, that looked as though there were ongoing negotiations that would have led to a possible settlement – and DOJ filing an appearance in court in Honolulu in case there wasn’t – the government allowed the time to file to lapse."

American Airlines Improves Domestic First Class Redeye Flights

August 17, 2024 at 09:45 EDT By Spencer Howard

One Mile At A Time: "American Airlines has made a minor but noteworthy improvement to first class on its domestic redeye flights, which I’m happy to see."

"Going back many years, it was standard to have a pillow and blanket in first class on virtually any domestic flight. Over time, the scale of this was greatly reduced, and then the pandemic caused even more cuts."

"Since the start of the pandemic, American hasn’t offered pillows and blankets in first class on any “standard” domestic flights (the exception is “premium” domestic routes, as well as flights to Hawaii)."

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In August 2018, I started the Straight To The Points flight alerts newsletter with the goal of making it easier to book business and first class flights with points & miles and fare deals.

I started Points Wire to make it easier for you to keep up with the news you need to know without all of the fluff.

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