New Hilton Points Option Coming To Hawaii

Hilton: The Trump Hotel Waikiki is being reflagged as Wākea Waikiki Beach – LXR Hotels & Resorts in February 2024. Once the property is an LXR, you'll be able to use Hilton points to book.

Points Wire Note: I would expect standard rooms to require at least 90,000 Hilton points per night as this is one of Hilton's three luxury brands and Waikiki Beach is a popular destination.

I would expect you'll be able to book cash rates via Hilton Impresario as well. Impresario benefits include: Daily breakfast for 2, $100 property credit, room upgrade on arrival, double Hilton points, etc. You can book Impresario rates at Conrad, LXR, and Waldorf Astoria properties via our self-service portal.

Southwest Offering 20% Off Flights

Max Miles Points: Max has an exclusive promo code to save 20% on Southwest flights. The code expires November 11, 2023 at 11:59pm PT. Blackout dates include: December 22-23, 26-28, 30, 2023 and January 1, 2024.

Emirates To Install New Business Class (Finally)

One Mile At A Time: "A350-900s, 787-9s, and 777Xs, will all feature a new business class, which is the same product that will be retrofitted on some 777-300ERs starting in 2024. This product will feature direct aisle access and will be in a 1-2-1 configuration, though we’ll see just how good it is."

Points Wire Note: This is long overdue. While Emirates first class is impressive, their business class product has lagged behind even US carriers.

[Update] AARP's British Airways Discount Is Back

One Mile At A Time: "Recently I wrote about how several readers had gotten in touch to point out that the British Airways AARP discount had been pulled."

"Fortunately that has finally changed. This webpage is now back, and you can follow the link there to be taken to the AARP website, which will then redirect you to the British Airways website and apply the discount."

Points Wire Note: An AARP membership is only $12 per year. You can go through the cash back portal Top Cashback (my referral) to sign up and get $12.12 cash back.

Capital One Lounge Opens In Denver

Capital One: "Designed to bring the picturesque and adventure-filled destination to life, the Capital One Lounge at DEN will feature everything you know and love about Capital One Lounges, with premium amenities and locally-inspired culinary offerings that give travelers a taste of The Mile High City."

4 Capital One cards provide access:

Capital One Venture X: Unlimited visits with 2 guests; authorized users have same access
Capital One Venture X Business: Unlimited visits with 2 guests
Capital One Venture: 2 free visits per year
Capital One Spark Miles: 2 free visits per year

Points Wire Note: I've really enjoyed my visits to both the Dallas and Washington Dulles locations.

If you're getting the Venture X, make sure you use a referral with the 90,000-mile offer instead of the standard 75,000-mile offer while it's still available. I've linked to the 90k offer above.

Two Senators Want To Investigate Airline Loyalty Programs

View From The Wing: "As with so much in Washington, there’s more here than meets the eye. These two Senators aren’t concerned for members of the programs, and devaluations don’t actually bother them. They have their own bill that would cause significant devaluation."

"However this new broadside is just regulatory payback. Senators Durbin and Marshall are carrying the retail lobby’s water to cap credit card interchange, having the government mandate that credit card processing be provided to them at lower than market prices. As with Durbin’s cap on debit card interchange, less profitable products mean there’s little incentive to spend on rewards, rebating to the customer to compete for their transactions."

Skip Security Lines At JFK Terminal 1 With Priority Pass

One Mile At A Time: "JFK Terminal 1 is one of my least favorite places in the US to clear security, so it’s awesome that VIP ONE is available there. You can either pay $45 to use the facility, or alternatively, you can now access it with Priority Pass. While VIP ONE has been around for several years, we’ve now seen the opening of a new departures lounge as well."

Priority Pass VIPOne Entry Conditions

A More Secure Way To Pay At Hotel Restaurants

God Save The Points: "Mews is a hotel and hospitality technology company which historically has only really been interesting to people in the business. That very much changed virtually overnight, after a Mews acquisition of a point of sale system created their latest product, allowing you to tap your room key to settle a hotel bill, like breakfast."

Points Wire Note: While you could just use your credit card, putting hotel restaurant and bar bills on your room allows you to earn additional hotel points. I'd certainly like to see the ability to pay for breakfast or a drink with my room key.

The 3 Routes With ANA's New Cabins

One Mile At A Time: "In other words, as it stands, all flights to London and New York, as well as select flights to San Francisco, will feature the new cabins for the winter 2023 schedule. Unfortunately the Boeing 777s flying to Chicago aren’t scheduled to feature the new cabins, while Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, are scheduled to be served by Boeing 787s."

Routes with The Suite (first class) and The Room (business class):

Tokyo Haneda (HND) to London (LHR): NH211/NH212
Tokyo Haneda (HND) to New York (JFK): NH109/NH110, NH159/NH160
Tokyo Haneda (HND) to San Francisco (SFO): NH107/NH108 (until 12/31/23)

Points Wire Note: Award space is sparse these days.

Southwest Adds Digital Bag Tracking

Your Mileage May Vary: "Many savvy travelers already use AirTags, Tiles, etc., to keep track of their luggage. Other airlines, including American, United and Delta, have offered digital bag tracking for a while. But this is a welcome addition to Southwest."