Amex has released another targeted Amex Offer for a couple of Hyatt brands. You can get $200 back as a statement credit if you spend $750+ at Secrets Resorts & Impression By Secrets Resorts. Please note only select properties are eligibile.
Important Details
Frequent Miler: "Chase’s best-ever bonus for opening a new checking and savings account is back again. Until 7/24/24, you can earn $900 when you open a new Chase Total Checking Account and a new Chase Savings account. In order to get the bonus, you have to set up a direct deposit to the checking account and deposit a total of $15,000 into the savings account within 30 days, then maintain the balance for an additional 60 days."
Points Wire Note:
Earning checking and savings account bonuses can be a easy way to build a travel fund to help offset the cost of luxury hotel stays and other fun activities.
When it was announced that the Global Entry application fee would be increasing from $100 to $120, many credit card enthusiasts wondered if their cards would cover the increased fee.
Well, Citi is now the first to move on this. Doctor of Credit flagged that Citi has announced they'll be covering the increased application fee. Both the Citi Prestige (no longer available for application) and the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will cover the $120 fee.
Travel on Points: "Just when I thought the 250K Amex Business Platinum welcome offers were the craziest thing I have seen in miles and points, American Express may have outdone itself. We are now seeing reports of a 150K Amex Business Platinum retention offer being given out. This retention offer blows my mind even more than the 250K welcome offer. For once a bank is giving out what they do to new customers to retain customers."
American Express and CLEAR are extending their partnership which had been set to end at the end of 2024. This means that select Amex cardholders will continue to receive a $189 statement credit that covers the cost of an annual CLEAR membership.
Amex cards that have the CLEAR credit include:
Amex is out with a targeted Amex Offer for Grand Hyatt properties globally. You can get a $50 statement credit when you spend $250+ at Grand Hyatt properties around the world.
Important Terms
Stack With Hyatt Privé
Bookings via Hyatt Privé are direct bookings with Hyatt as it's their own program. This means you can take advantage of additional perks such as daily breakfast for 2, up to a $100 property credit, one category room upgrade, welcome amenity, etc.
You can book via Hyatt Privé via our self-serve booking portal.
If you don't see the property you want to book, you can submit a request.
For a while now, the standard welcome bonus for all three cards has been 75,000 Avios if you spend $5,000 in 3 months. However, Chase has just added an extra incentive. New cardholders can earn 5x on gas, grocery, and dining purchases for the first 12 months with the card (up to $10,000 in spend) in addition to the usual 75,000 Avios.
That temporary 5x bonus spend could net you an additional 50,000 Avios.
If you're interested in applying, you can learn more about each here:
Points Wire Note:
I wouldn't shift a ton of spend to an Avios card, but the British Airways card does have some compelling benefits. Of the three cards, I think it's the best of the bunch for most travelers.
Skift: "The Global Entry application fee will be $120, a 20% increase from its current $100 cost, CBP said Tuesday. Global Entry allows pre-approved travelers expedited entry into the United States. Programs designed to ease crossings at the Mexican and Canadian borders — SENTRI and NEXUS — will have the same price tag. The fee for NEXUS will see a steep 140% increase from its original $50 cost."
"There is one bright spot: Minors will no longer pay an application fee for these programs, as long as their parent or legal guardian is already enrolled or actively applying."
Points Wire Note:
Many credits cards offer a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Hopefully, the reimbursement for Global Entry will be adjust to cover the increased application fee.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is getting revamped and not everyone is happy about it.
Let's take a look at the card's new details.
Welcome Bonus
Bonus Categories
The following categories will no longer earn 6x Hilton points:
Benefits
The Hilton Business card will no longer earn a free night certificate when you spend $15,000 and $60,000 in a calendar year. Additionally, the card will no longer offer 10 free Priority Pass visit per year.
Annual Fee
The Robinhood Gold Card will offer 3% cash back on everyday purchases plus 5% on travel via their travel portal. The card won't have any transfer partners so this is strictly for cash back. The card itself doesn't have an annual fee, but you need to be a Robinhood Gold subscription to have the card which is $50 per year.
They're also giving 10 karat gold cards to the first 5,000 people to refer 10 people. You have to hand it to Robinhood, they're great at getting people's attention!
For people with little to no interest in points and miles, this has a chance to be an excellent card.
The card does not have a sign-up bonus, but that doesn't seem to be dulling the excitement in the points community this time.
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