Card Spotlight: IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has an increased welcome offer of up to 200,000 points.

Welcome Bonus

Thew new welcome bonus offer comes in two parts:

• Earn 140,000 IHG One Rewards points if you spend $4,000 in 3 months
• Earn 60,000 more points if you spend a total of $9,000 in 6 months
  

Bonus Categories

• 10x at IHG properties
• 5x on gas stations, office supply stores, search engine ads, social media, and travel
• 3x on everything else

Benefits

• Annual free night award (worth up to 40,000 points)
• IHG One Reward Platinum Elite status
• 4th night free on award stays
• 20% off when purchasing points
• Statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck (up to $100)
• 10,000 IHG points + a $100 statement credit if you spend $20,000 in a calendar year

Annual Fee

$99

Direct link to offer

Points Wire Note:

IHG points are some of the least valuable points. As you can buy them during some promos for 0.5 cents per point, that's about how much you can generally expect to get from them. There are some great exceptions to this and booking a 4th night free award really help you squeeze out more value. Personally, I wouldn't shift much spend to this card as there are other cards that earn more valuable points.

Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes - July 2024

Each month, Singapore Airlines releases a new round of Spontaneous Escapes. This monthly promo provides a 30% discount on the Singapore KrisFlyer award rate on select routes/flights operated by Singapore Airlines. As their award rates are often steep, Spontaneous Escapes are one of the best ways to use your KrisFlyer miles.

U.S Routes - Economy

• San Francisco to Singapore: 29,400 miles

U.S Routes - Premium Economy

• JFK to Frankfurt: 36,400 miles
• Los Angeles to Singapore: 52,500 miles
• JFK to Singapore: 56,350 miles
• Newark to Singapore: 56,350 miles

U.S Routes - Business Class

• None

You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi points to Singapore KrisFlyer. Unlike many bank/airline partnerships, transfers are not always instant and can take a day or two. I've found that having done a previous transfer helps speed up the process. Personally, I have found that Capital One miles transfer instantly.

Direct link to promo details

Rakuten: Earn 12K Amex Points With Alliant Credit Union

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

If you're looking for a way to boost your Amex Membership Rewards balance, Rakuten has an interesting offer for opening a CD with Alliant Credit Union. You can earn $120 or 12,000 points if you've linked your Membership Rewards account to Rakuten.

Sign up for Rakuten

Rakuten Offer Terms & Conditions

Exclusions: Cash Back is only available for new customers, one per person. Customer must fund a minimum deposit of $1,000.00 on a new Alliant Certificate. The account must remain open for a minimum of 60 days. This offer and any payouts are from Rakuten, not Alliant Credit Union.

Posting Time: Cash Back will be automatically added to your Rakuten account within a few weeks.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Can't Book Air France Or KLM

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club continues to have trouble booking Air France and KLM flights. There's now a note on the site that indicates they expect this will be an issue until "the start of August."

We'll keep an eye out for an update on this. Hopefully, they actually fix the issue by August!

Amex Offer: Earn Bonus Points On ITA Airways Flights

With this targeted Amex Offer, you can earn 30,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $2,000+ with ITA Airways through September 16, 2024.

I don't have this offer on any of my Amex cards, but if the terms are the same as the last time Amex ran a similar offer, they'll look something like this:

• Offer valid only on flights booked directly with ITA Airways online at US website ita-airways.com or through the ITA Airways US mobile app.
• Flight must originate in US and be charged in USD to qualify.
• Not valid for purchases made through partner sites, agents, affiliates, and third parties.
• Excludes tickets purchased by phone or in-person at airport ticket offices, event organizer purchases, charters, car rentals, transport to/from the airport, Mozio eSIM service, and purchases made on-board flights.
• Additional points will be credited to your Membership Rewards program account within 90 days after 9/16/2024, provided that American Express receives information from the merchant about your qualifying purchase.
  

Points Wire Note:

If you have the option, add this offer to the Amex Platinum so you can earn 5x points on the purchase and get trip delay coverage for your trip.

(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.

IHG Americas Summer Sale: Save Up To 25%

IHG is running a sale for stays in the Americas through October 12, 2024. The member discount is 20% or 25% depending on the days you stay. You must book by July 29, 2024.

Please note that these are advance purchase rates (non-refundable, non-cancelable).

Direct link to promo

Card Spotlight: Wells Fargo Choice Privileges Cards

Danny the Deal Guru: "Choice Hotels revealed last year a multi-year agreement with Wells Fargo and Mastercard to launch a new cobranded credit card program. Now the two credit cards have best ever bonuses. The no-fee Choice Privileges Mastercard has a 70,000 points bonus and the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard has an offer for 100,000 bonus points.

Amex Offer: Save On Virgin Atlantic Flights

If you're planning to book cash tickets on Virgin Atlantic in the next few months, a new Amex Offer could help you save.

You can receive $250 back as a statement credit when you spend $1,800+ with Virgin Atlantic. 

Important Terms

• Expires September 30, 2024 (you can travel after this)
• You must book via Virgin Atlantic's website
• You must originate in the US and be charged in USD
• Purchases over the phone, in lounges, on board, or at terminals are not eligible
  

Ideally, you'll have Amex Offer on the Amex Platinum so you can earn 5x on the flight purchase.

Points Wire Note:

Keep an eye out for business class fares under $2,500 to really maximized this offer. Additionally, make sure your flights are operated by either an Airbus A350 or Airbus A330-900neo to ensure you have the best possible inflight experience.

British Airways Devalues Award Rates For LATAM Flights

Head for Points flagged that British Airways devalued award rates for LATAM flights. You might recall that British Airways just recently increased award rates for flights on Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.

New Economy Award Rates By Flight Distance

• Up to 650 miles: 8,500 Avios, up from 6,000 Avios
• 651-1,150 miles: 13,500 Avios, up from 9,000 Avios
• 1,151-2,000 miles: 15,500 Avios, up from 11,000 Avios
• 2,001-3,000 miles: 17,000 Avios, up from 13,000 Avios
• 3,001-4,000 miles: 31,250 Avios, up from 20,750 Avios
• 4,001-5,000 miles: 41,250 Avios, up from 25,750 Avios

I would imagine business class award rates have been devalued as well, but I haven't had a chance to dig into it yet.