The Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard is always popular because of how easy it is to earn the sign-up bonus.
Barclays had pulled the application link, but it's back now.
Here's a quick rundown on what you need to know.
Welcome Bonus
To get the best offer, you'll need to sign up via cardholder's referral link.
If you don't use a referral, the standard offer is 50,000 miles.
Bonus Categories
Benefits
Annual Fee
Points Wire Note:
Beyond this welcome bonus, this is not a top priority card the vast majority of points and miles enthusiasts.
Frequent Miler: "Wyndham Rewards is out with a new offer for those willing to sit through a timeshare presentation – a 3 night getaway plus 30,000 points for $199."
Important Terms
Eligible Locations
Points Wire Note:
Timeshare sales people can be pushy and borderline abusive. Do not feel bad about sitting through a presentation then telling them a firm no. Don't bother engaging if they push you. Say no and move on. You don't owe them anything.
The Points Guy: "Beginning Friday, March 22, travelers will be able to sign up for seat notifications and get automatically moved if their preferred seat is not available at the time of booking, as confirmed by a United spokesperson."
"When booking (or managing) a flight on the mobile app, you'll be able to request your desired seat while browsing the seat map."
Update: The end date has been extended through July 15, 2024. The registration deadline was extended to June 30, 2024.
Hyatt is out with a new promotion for two brands. If you stay at Dream Hotels or Thompson Hotels by July 15, 2024, you can earn double elite night credits. To participate, you must register before your stay. The deadline to register is June 30 2024.
This promo stacks with Hyatt's spring promo as well so you can earn bonus points and bonus elite nights when you stay at Dream and Thompson properties.
Points Wire Note:
You can book via Hyatt Privé to get VIP perks such as daily breakfast for two, up to a $100 property credit, one category upgrade, welcome amenity, etc. There isn't a minimum stay requirement for Thompson Hotels. Hyatt Privé rates are eligible for both promos. That means you can get extra perks, extra points, and extra elite nights!
Update: Shortly after launching the ability for family pooling, United pull the option because of some tech issues. However, it seems they have fixed the issue and it's now on the site again.
While United doesn't have great award rates relative to its competitors, the ability to pool miles among friends and family (for free) could be quite useful. Neither American nor Delta have this feature, but Air Canada Aeroplan does.
Important Details
Joining And Leaving A Pool
Direct link to miles pooling page
Points Wire Note:
If there's one thing that disappoints me about this new feature, it's that you're restricted to booking flights operated by United. It would be much more useful if you could book award tickets on partner airlines.
For example, this restriction will prevent you from booking a United flight to Europe and connecting on a Star Alliance partner such as Austrian, Lufthansa, or Swiss. Since United doesn't fly to a ton of cities in Europe, that really restricts your options.
As for the restrictions on joining and leaving a pool, I think it's clear that you shouldn't join a pool unless you're about to book.
Citi is running a 25% transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles through April 14, 2024. Generally, Citi ThankYou Points transfer to LifeMiles instantly. Just remember that while LifeMiles is Avianca's loyalty program, you need to use the LifeMiles site to search for award space and book not the Avianca site.
Generally, I wouldn't recommend speculative transfers.
Disclosure: I serve on a Bilt advisory board and may earn a commission if you use the links below.
Update: As of today, you can earn 3x on rent with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card. Details below.
In the nearly nine years I've been involved in the points and miles community, I have heard countless people say they want Alaska Airlines to become a partner of a transferable points program. Well, it's finally happened.
Today, Bilt Rewards added Alaska Mileage Plan as a transfer partner.
With Alaska miles, you can book flights on Alaska Airlines, oneworld partner, or non-oneworld partners such as Aer Lingus and Condor.
While many people were sad to see Bilt and American Airlines announce that they'll be parting ways in June of this year, the addition of Alaska Airlines lessens the blow as its another strong oneworld member.
Earn 3x Alaska Miles On Rent
Later this year, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholders will be able to pay rent with their card and earn 3x Alaska miles on up to $50,000 in rent each year. Unlike paying rent with Bilt, there will be a 3% processing fee. However, I'm sure some will find earning 3x more than offsets the fee.
Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you use the links below.
One Mile At A Time: "Unfortunately as of May 15, 2024, Hyatt and SLH will be terminating their relationship, in what they describe as a mutual decision."
Important World Of Hyatt Info
Points Wire Note:
Hilton Honors will have an exclusive partnership with Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) going forward. I don't expect the award rates to be great, but maybe they'll surprise me.
Many SLH properties participate in Virtuoso and SLH's own program withIN. Which program is better will depend on the property. Use this link to search and book with extra benefits.
Disclosure: I serve on an advisory board for Bilt.
Update: Bilt's partnership with American AAdvantage ends on June 24, 2024. If you plan to transfer points, do it before then!
View From The Wing got word that "Bilt Rewards and American AAdvantage are ending their partnership in June. That means it will no longer be possible to transfer Bilt points to American, although the exact last date in (presumably late) June for transfers is not yet certain. I received word yesterday about this plan and reached out to both American and Bilt for comment."
Bilt shared that "Bilt and American have agreed to wind down our partnership beginning in June. We appreciate everything we’ve been able to accomplish together since Bilt’s launch in 2021"
Points Wire Note:
It's never fun to see a transferable points program lose a useful transfer partner. That being said, Bilt has run some amazing transfer bonus promos to other airline partners for Rent Day (first of the month) that make this less of a blow. On the American side of things, you can still earn redeemable miles and Loyalty Points via AA's shopping portal and with hotels stays booked via AAdvantage Hotels.
One Mile At A Time: "As you’d expect, Air France-KLM investing in SAS has major implications for passengers at the airline. SAS will be leaving the Star Alliance, of which it’s a founding member, and will instead join the SkyTeam alliance. While there’s no exact date yet, this is expected to happen in the second quarter of 2024, so somewhere between April and June."
Points Wire Note:
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) has a solid business class product but isn't know for releasing much award space. I'll be curious to see if this changes with Air France-KLM's investment. If SAS does start releasing award space, the next questions will be how many Flying Blue miles will be required and what the carrier-imposed surcharges will be.
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