If you have have the World of Hyatt credit card, you can now earn 4x points per dollar when you stay at a Mr. & Mrs. Smith property. Redeeming Hyatt points for a stay at Mr. & Mrs. Smith properties is still a poor value proposition but at least you can earn more points on cash stays.
Keep in mind that Mr. & Mrs. Smith doesn't own any properties. It is a booking platform that has a collection of luxury hotels. Booking via Hyatt may not be the best way to book these properties as some are part of preferred booking programs like Virtuoso. By booking via one of these preferred booking programs, you can get VIP perks added to your stay.
I'll need to confirm, but it seems like you could still earn 4x when paying at the property when booking via one of these programs.
If you'd like to book your hotel stay with VIP perks, you can submit a request here.
For a limited time, Citi has increased the sign-up bonus for the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card to 100,000 American miles.
Sign-up Bonus
Bonus Categories
Benefits
Annual Fee
Virgin Red is launching a co-branded credit card in the U.S. with Synchrony Bank and Mastercard. The new credit card is expected to launch in the second half of 2024.
Bilt Rewards and Capital One Miles already transfer to Virgin Red directly. However, you can also transfer Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Points can be moved between Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
In most cases, your best bet is to use these points for flights.
Travel on Points: "American Express just keeps sweetening the pot, this time with a 200,000 Amex Business Platinum referral offer."
"And, I'll tell you what, I am here for all of it. Just as those amazing 10x restaurant referral bonuses are ending in steps a large Business Platinum referral offer, but is the offer big enough?"
Cardless has launched two co-branded credit cards with avianca lifemiles for the U.S. market. These cards will be on the American Express network, but is not considered an Amex card when it comes to application and bonus restrictions.
Let's take a look at each card.
avianca lifemiles American Express Elite Card
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 lifemiles if you spend $4,500 in 90 days; an extra 40,000 miles if you spend $25,000 within 365 days (10,000 bonus miles if you joined the waitlist)
Bonus Categories:
Card Benefits:
Annual Fee: $249
avianca lifemiles American Express Card
Welcome Bonus:
Bonus Categories:
Card Benefits:
Annual Fee: $99
Points Wire Note:
If you use lifemiles regularly, the lifemiles+ subscription could be useful. Similarly, Silver status will be beneficial if you often fly avianca. Other than that, the cards don't have any benefits that are going to blow you away.
Loyalty Lobby: "After several other countries have already expanded their list of countries whose citizens can pass immigration through electronic gates, Taiwan has expanded its own list as well."
Eligible Countries
If you have IHG stays coming up soon, you can forgo earning IHG One Rewards points to earn triple United miles (up to 15,000 miles). You must register and book by June 30, 2024 and complete your stay by August 31, 2024.
Doctor of Credit flagged that the welcome bonus for the Morgan Stanley version of the Amex Platinum has been increased from the standard 80,000 Membership Rewards to 125,000 Membership Rewards. The minimum spend requirement is $6,000 in 6 months.
The card mirrors the Amex Platinum except for a couple of benefits.
With the Morgan Stanley version, you can add one authorized user for free. Additionally, Morgan Stanley Members who have a Platinum CashPlus account can receive a $695 annual engagement bonus in their CashPlus account. This bonus is received upon opening the card and upon renewal each year.
Technically, a third difference is that you can cash out Membership Rewards points at one cent per point to your Morgan Stanley brokerage account. Travelers will generally be better off using their Amex points for flights.
It comes with a $695 annual fee.
There are some welcome bonus restrictions.
Citi has relaunched the Citi Premier Card under a new name - the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Citi Strata Premier Welcome Bonus
While the Citi Premier bonus has reached 75,000 points in the past, it's been at 60,000 points recently.
Bonus Categories
3x on EV charging is a new bonus category. The 10x on car rentals and hotels via the Citi Travel Portal has been a temporary bonus category of the Citi Premier, but it will now be a permanent bonus category.
Sign-up Bonus Eligibility
If you've received a sign-up bonus for the Citi Premier in the last 48 months, you won't be eligible for the Citi Strata Premier sign-up bonus when it launches on May 16. Similarly, if you open the Citi Strata Premier and get the bonus, you'll have to wait 48 months to get the bonus again.
Annual Fee
Marriott Bonvoy is running a promo for a stay of 2+ nights at a Homes & Villas rental property.
Offer Details
Terms & Conditions
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