Hilton Acquires Luxury Lifestyle Brand NoMad

The Bulkhead Seat: "Hilton Hotels & Resorts announced today that it’s purchasing NoMad Hotels to enter the luxury lifestyle hotel market. While NoMad currently has locations in Las Vegas and London, Hilton projects over 100 new hotels under the brand umbrella with 10 already in the works."

Points Wire Note:

This seems to be Hilton's attempt to compete with luxury lifestyle brands such as EDITION and W from Marriott and Andaz and Thompson from Hyatt.

British Airways Executive Club: Aer Lingus Flights Now Earn Tier Points

Travel Dealz flagged that Aer Lingus flights are now eligible to earn Tier Points toward elite status with British Airways Executive Club. While BA and Aer Lingus are both owned by IAG, you haven't been able to earn Tier Points on Aer Lingus flights until now.

I'll note that BA Sliver (oneworld Sapphire) and BA Gold (oneworld Emerald) status can often be more useful for Americans than the equivalent status with Alaska Airlines or American Airlines. Specifically, if you'd rather have lounge access on domestic flights than upgrades, BA status can be useful.

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh Rebranding As Curio Collection Property

The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian is leaving the Waldorf brand.

Head for Points: "It is not leaving Hilton entirely, however. It will be rebranded as ‘The Caledonian Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton’."

"The Caledonian was sold to Henderson Park, a property investment fund, last year and had already announced a £35 million refurbishment."

"The work will increase the number of bedrooms from 240 to over 300. There is talk of an ‘extension’ whch I presume will involve replacing the existing modern extension to the rear of the hotel."

Alaska Mileage Plan Removes Ability To Link Preferred Loyalty Account

Loyalty Lobby: "Alaska has made a small but significant change for Mileage Plan members with frequent flier status with any of their Oneworld partners. You can no longer switch the frequent flier number on Alaska awards issued using Mileage Plan miles for benefits purposes."

Visa And Mastercard Settle Dispute With Merchants

Bloomberg: "Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. agreed to cap credit-card swipe fees — a deal that US merchants say will save them at least $30 billion over five years — in one of the most significant antitrust settlements ever, following a legal fight that spanned almost two decades."

"The deal, which is subject to court approval, also would allow retailers to charge consumers extra at checkout for using Visa or Mastercard credit cards and use pricing tactics to steer customers to lower-cost cards, according to a statement Tuesday from attorneys representing the merchants."

View From The Wing notes that this "will not have a material impact to credit card rewards."

If you're curious how this impacts the push by some members of Congress to wreck credit card rewards, don't expect this to stop that push. He notes that "It does undermine the case for Durbin-Marshall legislation to limit card interchange although retailers will argue that it does not – when I debated the law’s main lobbyist/proponent in November, he conceded that the legislation was just a start and they would keep pushing for more."

New Southwest Companion Pass Promo

Monkey Miles: "Southwest is running another Companion Pass promotion ( they just had a flash promo ) on their much desired Southwest Companion Pass where you can nominate another person to fly with you and just pay the taxes and fees on their ticket. This time around it’s a trial Companion Pass that lasts for a couple months as long as you buy a roundtrip, or two one-ways, in the next couple days."

Important Details

• Register and book flights by March 27, 2024
• Travel by May 22, 2024
• Cash tickets only
• One round-trip ticket or two one-way booking required

If you complete the necessary steps, you'll get the Southwest Companion Pass between August 5 and October 2, 2024.

Direct link to register

460+ Delta Short-Haul Economy Flights Bookable With 7,500 Virgin Points

Delta SkyMiles is notorious for not publishing award charts and for having some of the worst award rates in the industry. However, you can sometimes book Delta flights with Virgin points at reasonable rates. Business class to Europe (not the UK) is one of the best sweet spots.

However, you can also use Virgin points to book short-haul flights on Delta in economy. Award Wallet flagged 462 routes on which you can use 7,500 Virgin points for a one-way economy flight on Delta.

Whether you're booking a short flight for a vacation or to position for an international trip, these could come in handy.

Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, and Citi points can be transferred to Virgin Atlantic.

You can find the best credit card welcome bonus offers here.

Fast Track To Oneworld Sapphire Status

The Mile Lion: "Trip.com has launched an interesting fast-track offer with Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (JMB), that allows you to earn JMB Sapphire status (equivalent to oneworld Sapphire) after completing a single round-trip JAL Business Class flight."

You must book by April 14, 2024 and travel between May 15 and July 31, 2024 to be eligible for this promotion. Only select flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore are eligible for this promotion.

Points Wire Note:

If you'll be in Southeast Asia during that timeframe, this could be a fun way to fast track your way to Oneworld Sapphire status. Onewold Sapphire status via Japan Airlines provides lounge access when on domestic American Air and/or Alaska Airlines flights.

Book Preferred Hotels Online With Choice Points

Frequent Miler: "Choice Privileges has long partnered with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and it has previously been possible, but usually very, very difficult, to book participating Preferred hotels with Choice points. Not anymore! It’s now very easy! You can now book Preferred hotels online with your Choice points!"

Points Wire Note:

You can transfer Citi ThankYou Points and Wells Fargo points to Choice Privileges at a 1:2 ratio.

If booking a cash rate at a Preferred Hotels & Resorts property, you can book with Preferred Platinum Partner benefits via select travel advisors - click here to book. Benefits can include daily breakfast for 2, a $100 property credit, room upgrade (if available), and more.

American Air Loyalty Points Slow To Post, But On The Way

View From The Wing: "American’s status year runs March through February. All loyalty points earned before the end of February count towards that year’s status. In the past what mattered was the date Barclays or Citibank sent the batch over to American."

"Under the new approach, card charges dated in February count towards status in one member year, while card charges in March count towards status in the next member year – regardless of your credit card statement close date. In the past, savvy customers would decide for themselves when spend counted by changing their Citibank statement end date. That no longer works."