Amex has released a targeted Amex Offer in which you can earn 25,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $1,000+ with All Nippon Airways (ANA). To take advantage fo the offer, you must make the purchase by March 10, 2024. However, you can travel after this date.
Important Terms
Points Wire Note:
ANA rarely has great fare deals out of the US, so I imagine this will be tough for many people to leverage. However, if you book two business or first class award tickets with ANA Mileage Club miles, you might hit the $1,000 in taxes/fees because of the carrier-imposed surcharges. Award tickets aren't explicitly excluded, so this might trigger the offer.
Award Wallet: "IHG Business Rewards just brought back a promotion offering members double points on stays, meeting rooms, and events booked before June 30, 2024 and completed before November 30, 2024."
"Any IHG One Rewards member can add an IHG Business Rewards account to their personal account. Thereafter, they will receive 3 points for every dollar spent by travelers connected to their IHG Business Rewards account. However, no points will be earned on their own travel. IHG Business Rewards points will be added to the IHG One Rewards account connected to the business account."
Direct link to register
Create an IHG Business Rewards account
Admittedly, the Delta Amex cards haven't played a big role in my points strategy over the years as SkyMiles are some of the least valuable points or miles on the market. Since there are still niche uses for these cards, let's take a quick look at the changes.
Fun fact: My first travel rewards credit card was a Delta Amex Gold just because I flew Delta quite a bit. Live and learn.
Annual Fee Increases
The following annual fee increases apply to both the personal and business versions of these cards. The increased annual fees apply to new applicants immediately. Current cardholders will see the new annual fee on their first annual fee due date on/after May 1, 2024.
Statement Credits
Amex has turned these cards into small coupon books by adding a bunch of statement credits. You will see Delta Stays credits (stays booked via Delta's hotel portal), Resy credits for Resy restaurants, and rideshare credits.
Companion Certificate Changes
The Delta Amex Platinum and Delta Amex Reserve (personal and business) companion certificates can now be used for flights to/from Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
New Business Card Bonus Categories
Delta Amex Gold Flight Credit
With both the personal and business versions, you'll now receive a $200 Delta flight credit if you spend $10,000 on either card in a year.
Points Wire Note:
If you will naturally utilize the new statement credits, you might find it easy to come out ahead even with the increased annual fees. If you won't use these credits, the fee increase will be tough to stomach.
In my opinion, the real value in these changes are the new companion certificate destination options. Those plus the credits could make the cards worth it for a Delta flyer.
If you've only been using a Delta Amex Gold card for the free checked bag benefit, that alone might not be enough justify the annual fee.
In short, these cards are useful in only a few select circumstances.
Frequent Miler: "A reader sent us an e-mail that they received today from Chase, offering them 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points if they added an employee/authorized user (AU) to their Ink Business Unlimited card before 3/1/24. This particular offer appears to be targeted towards the Business Unlimited; we’re not sure if it extends only to that card or if Ink Cash, Preferred and Premier cardholders are being targeted as well."
File this one under transfer bonuses you can ignore. While a 60% transfer bonus is nice, in theory, IHG One Rewards points just aren't worth enough to make this a good idea. You can get much more value out of Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to airline partners or World of Hyatt. You can even get more out of them by booking via the Chase travel portal.
Frequent Miler: "IHG has opened registration for a new promo which is extremely rewarding if you have any interest in staying at their new (to them) Iberostar all-inclusive brand. They’re giving 40,000 bonus points for every 4 nights you stay which is on top of your standard earnings and will stack with any other promotions you’ve been targeted for."
Disclosure: I serve on an advisory board and may earn a commission if you use the links below.
Bilt started the year off strong with a few mega transfer bonuses for the first Rent Day of the year. Now, they're back with one of their most exciting transfer bonuses to date.
On February 1 (Rent Day), you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan and get up to a 75-150% bonus. Your Bilt status on February 1 will determine your transfer bonus.
If you have Blue status (just for being a member), the minimum transfer is 2,000 points.
To take advantage of this transfer bonus, you must transfer points between 12:00am ET on February 1 and 2:59am ET on February 2.
Double Points On Rent Day
Don't forget, you can earn double Bilt points on all purchases (not including rent) on the first of each month. This includes include the Bilt Card's bonus categories.
You can earn up to 10,000 bonus points on Rent Day. You must use your card 5 times per statement period to earn points.
Points Wire Note:
With Bilt expected to add the ability to earn points on mortgage payments in the future, I think it's going to earn a place in more and more wallets.
Disclosure: I serve on a Bilt advisory board. I may earn a commission if you use the links below.
Bloomberg: "The newly acquired $200 million capital will fuel further expansion of the Bilt Rewards Alliance across multifamily, single-family, and student housing sectors nationwide. A significant portion of the investment will also bolster Bilt's Neighborhood Rewards program, helping local merchants connect and build loyalty with new and existing residents in their community. Additionally, Bilt plans to venture into mortgage payment rewards."
Points Wire Note:
This would be great news for homeowners! I've been bugging them about adding mortgages from day one - while fully understanding why it hasn't happened yet.
Many in the points community were disappointed when MGM Rewards and World of Hyatt ended their partnership. In its place, MGM Rewards has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy.
While some had hoped that this would allow Marriott elite status holders to match to MGM status, that's not the case. However if you have MGM status, you can match to Marriott status.
Marriott elite will receive some benefits at MGM properties. The frustrating part for many will be that only Marriott Ambassador status will provide waived resort fees as a benefit. Staying 75 nights and earning Marriott Titanium won't be enough.
Southwest is offering double points on flights through May 22, 2024. To earn double Rapid Rewards points, you must register then book by January 14, 2024.
The points you'll earn is determined by the base fare (excludes taxes) and fare type you book:
For example, a Wanna Get Away ticket with a $100 base fare would earn 1,200 Rapid Rewards points during this promo instead of the usual 600 points.
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