Hilton Offering New Members 3,000 Points

In 2023, new Hilton Honors members could earn 4,500 Hilton points for signing up and hitting the qualifications. For 2024, that bonus has been reduced to 3,000 Hilton points. Still, if you or friends have upcoming Hilton stays, you might as well sign up and earn the bonus points.

To earn the 3,000 points, you need two paid stays at Hilton properties. After the first stay, you'll earn 1,000 points. You'll earn the remaining 2,000 points after your second stay. Just remember that you need to complete the stays within six months of joining Hilton Honors so it's important to time when you sing up based on upcoming stays.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 10% Transfer Bonus From Multiple Banks

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is running a 10% transfer bonus promo. Unlike many transfer bonuses, this is handled by the airline rather than the bank. This means you won't see an indication of the bonus when transferring points.

The benefit of this promo is that you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou Points and get the 10% bonus. You must make your transfer by March 31, 2024.

Please keep in mind that the 10% bonus miles will post within 8-10 weeks. The bonus is not instant.

You must register for the promo before you transfer points.

Register Here (Promo Terms & Conditions)

See all current transfer bonus promos!

Points Wire Note:

Cathay recently devalued their award chart, but it's still one of the better oneworld programs for business and first class redemptions. While Alaska Airlines and American Airlines generally have better award rates, it's much easier to earn Asia Miles via transferable points programs.

Plus, you have access to additional first class and business class award space on Cathay Pacific. In fact, recently, Asia Miles has been the only way to book business or first class on Cathay.

(It's Back!) Earn 95x Amex Points On LifeLock With Rakuten

Disclosure: I may earn a referral bonus if you use the links below.

Rakuten is offering 95% cash back on LifeLock memberships. However, you can earn 95x Amex points if you link your Amex Membership Rewards account to Rakuten.

Note: This appears to be a targeted offer.

The most expensive LifeLock option is the Ultimate Plus Family Plan which costs $467.88 will earn you the most points. With the 95x offer, you can earn 44,449 Membership Rewards points which is ~1.05 cents per point.

Rakuten exclusions and special terms: "Cash back is not available on free trials and automatic renewals. Cancelling a subscription within 90 days of sign up will void Cash Back. Cash back is only available on initial enrollment. Using coupon codes that are not listed on Rakuten will void Cash Back. To be safe, stick to codes provided by Rakuten."

If you don't have a Rakuten account, you can sign up and earn 3,000 Amex points (or $30 back) when you spend $30.

Rakuten Offer for LifeLock

Points Wire Note:

Check for Amex Offers and Chase Offers. You might be able to earn some cash back as a statement credit on an Amex or Chase card as well.

Office Depot/Max: $15 off $300 In Visa Gift Cards

Disclosure: I may earn a referral bonus if you use the links below.

Office Depot/Max are offering a $15 discount on $300 in Visa gift cards January 21-27, 2024. This discount can offset the activation fees of the gift cards.

You can earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Ink Cash. It's also worth checking to see if you have a Chase Offer for Office Depot/Max as you might be able to get 10% back. Similarly, Dosh sometimes has an Office Depot/Max offer (though it technically excludes gift cards).

Bad News For Fairfield Stays In Select Regions

Two days ago, JT Genter reported that stays at the Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn would only earn 5x points instead of the usual 10x points. This change was buried in the terms.

From Loyalty Lobby, we've learned that "Marriott confirmed that Fairfield branded hotels in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa won’t earn 10 points per USD and full elite qualifying nights, like is currently the case with Protea, City Express, and Four Points Express hotels."

"Now, Fairfield branded hotels in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa have their points earnings cut in half (5 per USD), and you only earn an elite qualifying night for every two nights consumed."

Points Wire Note:

Sadly, this is yet another no-notice change that didn't even come with an announcement. I imagine some Marriott elites are going to be confused and unpleasantly surprised by these changes. Plus, this only adds even more confusion to benefits at Marriott brands. There's already so much inconsistency regarding what elites get at each brand in each region.

IHG One Rewards New Double Points Promo

IHG One Rewards' promo for January 2024 is now open for registration.

You can earn double points on all stays and 2,000 bonus points if you stay at two or more brands. The double points offer isn't capped, but you can only earn the 2,000 bonus points once. Points can take up to six weeks to post.

• Eligible dates: January 1-31, 2024
• Qualifying rates: Cash bookings of at least $30 per night (award nights don't count)

Register here

Points Wire Note:

I would register now just in case you stay at an IHG property in January 2024. While I wouldn't call this the most exciting hotel promo I've seen, there's no point passing up bonus points.

Earn Bonus Points And Miles At Topgolf

Frequent Miler: "Rewards Network runs card-linked dining programs for many airlines and hotel programs including American Airlines, United, Marriott, IHG and more. They’ve just added a nationwide chain to the program that’s more of an activity-based company but which also serves food and drink – Topgolf."

Points Wire Note:

While multiple airline and hotel programs are on Rewards Network, one credit card can only be linked to one program at a time.

There's also an Amex Offer for Topgolf that expires December 31, 2023. If you spend $100, you can get $20 back. You can use this offer twice. Excludes gift cards purchased online and purchases made at Topgolf Swing Suites or Toptracer Range locations. 

Air France Glitch With Flights Booked Via Delta Continues

In early 2022, I booked a round-trip cash ticket sold by Delta from Amsterdam to Washington, DC.

My flight from Amsterdam (AMS) to Detroit (DTW) was operated by Delta as was the connection to Reagan National Airport (DCA). The return journey from Washington Dulles (IAD) to AMS via Paris (CDG) was operated by Air France.

While I'd booked from my Delta account and thus my SkyMiles number was attached, I noticed that the Air France flights credited to Flying Blue instead.

The problem seems to stem from checking in via the Air France app and the fact that I was already logged into Flying Blue. Even though my ticket listed my SkyMiles number, I earned Flying Blue miles. 

Well, it seems this continues to be an issue as The Bulkhead Seat ran into the same problems just recently.

As friends who have dealt with the same issue, it can be tedious to unwind.

Buy Lifemiles With Up To A 155% Bonus

Lifemiles is running a promo for buying miles in which you can get up to a 155% bonus when buy miles. With the 155% bonus offer, you can buy lifemiles for 1.29 cents per mile if you purchase at least 36,000 miles. If you purchase fewer miles, the bonus will be 145%.

While LifeMiles typically offers different promo rates to members, this appears to be a set promo rate available to everyone. This promo runs through July 11, 2024.

This is the lowest bonus offer lifemiles has offered since October 2023.

Direct link to offer

Points Wire Note:

Previously, LifeMiles sold miles directly. However, they're now using the Points.com platform which means the purchase won't code as an airline.

This means your best bet is to use a credit card that earns 2x on everything such as the Capital One Venture, Capital One Venture X, Capital One Venture X Business, Amex Blue Business Plus, or Citi Double Cash. If you recently opened the Chase Freedom Unlimited with the offer for unlimited matched cash back for 12 months, you could earn 3%/3x.