Lufthansa Bringing New Business Class to A380s

One Mile At A Time: "Lufthansa has confirmed plans to introduce a new business class product on Airbus A380s as of the second half of 2025. Rather interestingly, it’s only business class that’s getting new cabins, while first class, premium economy, and economy, will remain the same, aside from some minor upgrades (like improved inflight entertainment)."

Hilton Honors Status Match/Challenge

Hilton Honors is running a great status match/challenge promotion.

Before we dive into the details, keep in mind that you can receive complimentary Hilton status by holding any of several credit cards:

• Hilton Amex Aspire: Diamond status
• Hilton Amex Surpass: Gold status
• Hilton Amex Business: Gold status
• Amex Platinum: Gold status
• Amex Business Platinum: Gold status
  

Here's how the status match works:

You'll be matched to Hilton Gold status for 90 days once approved. To maintain Gold through March 26, you'll need to stay 8 nights within 90 days. Even better, you can earn Diamond if you stay 14 nights within 90 days.

You can match from the following programs.

• Marriott Bonvoy
• IHG One Rewards
• World of Hyatt
• Best Western Rewards
• Choice Privileges

Other Important Terms

• Status match requests can take 7-12 business days to process
• You can't currently have Gold or Diamond status
• Award stays won't count as stays for the status match promo
• You can only participate in a Hilton status match once

Direct link to offer

(Ending Soon) Marriott Amex Cards: Two New Best Welcome Bonus Offers

UPDATE: These welcome bonus offers are expected to end on May 1, 2024.

Amex has rolled out two all-time high welcome bonus offers for Marriott cards. 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

• Welcome Bonus: 185,000 Marriott points
• Minimum Spend: $6,000 in 6 months
• Annual Fee: $650

Benefits Of Note

• Complimentary Marriott Platinum status
• 25 elite night credits
• Anniversary free night award worth up to 85,000 points
• $25 in restaurant credits per month
• Priority Pass Select membership

Learn More

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card

• Welcome Bonus: 155,000 Marriott points
• Minimum Spend: $5,000 in 6 months
• Annual Fee: $250

Benefits Of Note

• Complimentary Marriott Gold status
• 15 elite night credits
• Anniversary free night (up to 50,000 points) if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year

Learn More

Eligibility Restrictions

Please keep in mind that there are a ton of eligibility restrictions that are based on if/when you've previously had a co-branded Marriott card from both Amex and Chase.

Points Wire Note:

Marriott credit cards aren't generally top priority cards, but this is a good time to get the Brilliant or Bevy since the welcome bonuses have been increased to all-time highs.

Ramp Adds Transfer Partners, Poor Transfer Ratio

Award Travel: "What was first reported last week by AwardWallet as a rumor, has now been confirmed. Earlier today, when I logged into the AwardTravel Ramp Account, I saw, for the first time ever, the ability to transfer your Ramp Rewards out to nearly a dozen travel partners."

"Ramp is an all-in-one spend management platform for businesses. When you sign up for Ramp, you're issued a spending card, and also get access to their software that makes spend management incredibly easy."

Ramp Transfer Partners

• Aeromexico Rewards
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Etihad Guest
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• TAP Portugal Miles & Go
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Wyndham Rewards

Points Wire Note:

It's a solid list of transfer partners that overlap with other transferable points programs. Unfortunately, Ramp has a 1.5 to 1 transfer ratio to airline and hotel partners. 

If they can find a way to make a 1:1 transfer ratio work, this would be a more interesting option. I'm not counting on it, but Capital One was able to improve their transfer ratios to 1:1 on all but one partner so there's a chance.

New Targeted Hyatt Promos

World of Hyatt is sending targeted offers via email. It's definitely worth checking your email just in case. Some of these offers are impressive while others aren't particularly exciting.

Some offers that people have seen:

• Stay 2 nights, get a free night award (Category 1-4)
• Earn 1,000 bonus points per night up to 10,000 bonus points
• Earn double points on each stay
• Get a 20% points rebate on award stays, points & cash stays, room upgrades
• Earn 3,000 points with every 5-night stay
• Earn double elite nights up to 10 bonus elite nights
• Earn 1,500 bonus points per night up to 15,000 bonus points
• Earn 2,000 bonus points every 2 nights up to 20,000 bonus points
• Earn 10,000 bonus points every 5 nights up to 50,000 points

Amex Business Platinum: Targeted 300K Welcome Offer

Travel on Points: "Things are getting weird around here. Or Amex is just drunk–drunk on giving out points that is. They are having their Oprah moment it appears. You get 200K, no you get 250K, NO you get 300k! That is right, there is a new 300K Amex Business Platinum offer floating around. I was beside myself at 250K, and this is even nuttier."

Lufthansa First Class Bookable With LifeMiles Again

Award Wallet: "On April 11, data points started appearing on Reddit indicating that Lufthansa First Class was no longer bookable through LifeMiles. Our LifeMiles contact confirmed there was a temporary issue that eliminated this booking option. However, as of today, we are once again seeing Lufthansa First Class bookable through LifeMiles."

Points Wire Note:

Of course, Lufthansa has only been making first class award space available to partner programs within 3 days of departure - if at all.

New DOT Rules Provide New Passenger Rights

The Department of Transportation announced a rule with new passenger protections for several scenarios. Here are the details:

• Canceled Flights: Passengers are owed a refund if their flight is canceled and they don't accept alternative options or travel credits.
• Significantly Changed Flights: Passengers are owed a refund if there flight departure or arrival times are delayed 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally, an airport change, additional connections, they're downgraded, or changes that are less accessible or accommodating for those with disabilities.
• Delayed Bags: Passengers are owed a refund if they paid for checked bags that are delayed 12 hours domestically or 15-30 hours internationally (depends on flight length).
• Failure To Provide Purchased Extras: Passengers will be owed a refund if they pay for additional services including inflight entertainment, inflight Wi-Fi, or seat selection, but not provided by the airline

Additionally, airlines are required to provide refunds automatically without passengers needing to request them. Refunds must be issued within 7 business days if a purchase was made by credit card or within 20 days for other payment types.

Airlines may not issue vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation in lieu of a refund unless a passenger actively chooses an alternative.

Hyatt Adds Redemptions At Mr. And Mrs. Smith Properties

View From The Wing: "Hyatt is making any paid rate room at a participating Mr & Mrs Smith property available for redemption. In one sense, that’s better than some SLH properties, where availability was perennially a problem. But it suggests they’re really just using Hyatt points as a currency against prevailing room price – as opposed to offering outsized value like you can sometimes get redeeming a fixed number of points for a hotel when room rates are high."

"Many hotels offer their best rates when booking direct. You’ll need to book through Hyatt to earn points and stay credit, but Hyatt’s own Best Rate Guarantee doesn’t apply so you may pay more for Hyatt benefits."

(Update) American Airlines To Restrict Mileage Earning On Third Party Bookings

Update: American has pushed the start date to July 11, 2024.

Paddle Your Own Kanoo: "American Airlines said on Tuesday that it will soon stop awarding frequent flyer miles and status Loyalty Points through its AAdvantage program to passengers who don’t book direct with AA or a small number of partner airlines and ‘preferred’ travel agents."

"The change will come into effect on May 1, 2024, but tickets issued before that date, regardless of the date of travel, will earn miles and Loyalty Points no matter where the ticket was bought from."

Points Wire Note:

While you'll continue to earn American miles and Loyalty Points on non-basic economy tickets booked through select travel agents, we don't have any indication of who the eligible agents are at this point. Given how small commissions are on flight bookings, this feels like they're playing at the margins rather than focusing on driving revenue from the core business.

I have a feeling that corporate travel agents may be exempt from this change. Can you imagine the outrage from road warriors if they no longer earned elite status and miles for all their time traveling around the country or world?!