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Stay ahead of the points and miles game with Miles & Points Daily Podcast - your essential morning briefing on everything happening in the world of travel rewards. Each weekday, we deliver a quick yet comprehensive roundup of the latest credit card offers, airline and hotel promotions, award sweet spots, and insider tips to help you maximize your travel rewards.
Whether it's breaking news about limited-time bonuses, analysis of program changes, or timely reminders about expiring deals, we keep you informed in just minutes a day. Perfect for your morning commute or daily routine, this podcast ensures you never miss an opportunity to earn and burn your miles and points effectively.
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Hello and welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. I'm your host Lucas, and I've got some seriously exciting news for you today. We're talking massive credit card bonuses, airline policy changes that could save or cost you money, and some hotel shenanigans that'll make your jaw drop. Plus, I'll share a game-changing tool for managing your Chase credit cards. So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's dive into today's miles and points news.
First up, American Express has just dropped a massive bomb in the best possible way. The American Express Business Gold Card is now offering one hundred thousand Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus. This is a significant jump from the previous seventy thousand point offer. The Business Gold Card is already one of the best earning cards for business expenses, offering four points per dollar on your top two spending categories each billing period. With this elevated bonus, you're looking at serious value - that's enough points for multiple business class flights or countless hotel nights. If you're considering this card, you can get it by clicking the link in our show notes. This is definitely one of the better business card offers we've seen recently.
Now let's talk about some airline policy changes that could seriously impact your travel plans. Southwest Airlines passengers are learning the hard way about a new policy that's causing major headaches. Previously, if you needed to change just your outbound flight, your return flight would remain untouched. Not anymore. Now, changing even just the outbound portion of your ticket affects your entire reservation, potentially causing you to lose free bags, perks, and travel credits. This even applies to same-day flight changes. My advice? If you have a Southwest booking and need to make changes, call and specifically ask about the impact on your return flight and any perks you might lose. It's worth the extra few minutes on the phone to avoid nasty surprises at the airport.
Speaking of airline issues, there's a troubling story about American Airlines that highlights the importance of arriving early for flights. A family rushed to their gate after a delay, found their plane still boarding, but discovered their seats had already been given away by the airline's software system. Even though they were physically present while boarding was still happening, the gate agents wouldn't help them understand what happened or get them on the flight. This is a reminder that airline systems can work against you even when you do everything right. Always build in buffer time, and if you're running late due to an airline delay, call ahead to let them know you're coming.
Here's some fantastic news for Chase cardholders. Chase has introduced a new self-service feature that lets you move credit lines between your cards online or through their app. Previously, you had to call customer service to shift credit from one card to another. Now you can do this yourself for personal cards or business cards within the same category. This is incredibly useful for optimizing your credit utilization or preparing for new card applications. The feature appears under the 'More' section in your Chase account. This is the kind of improvement that makes managing multiple cards so much easier.
Over in the hotel world, Marriott is making some questionable moves. Le Meridien Maldives hit guests with a twenty-four hour ultimatum regarding mistake rates they had booked. This is part of a concerning trend where hotels are becoming increasingly aggressive about canceling reservations they consider to be pricing errors, even when those bookings were made in good faith. If you've booked what seems like an unusually good deal, screenshot everything and be prepared for potential cancellation attempts. Document your booking confirmation and any communications with the hotel.
In positive hotel news, let's talk about a no annual fee option that might be perfect for casual Marriott stays. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card offers Silver Elite status with no annual fee. While it's not the most generous card in terms of earning rates, getting Silver status for free is valuable if you stay at Marriott properties occasionally. Silver status includes benefits like late checkout and bonus points on stays. If you're just starting your Marriott journey or want elite status without paying an annual fee, this could be worth considering. You can get the card by clicking the link in our show notes.
For those interested in premium business cards, the Capital One Venture X Business Card deserves serious consideration. With the current welcome offer, you can earn up to three hundred fifty thousand miles. The card has a three hundred ninety-five dollar annual fee, but the perks more than justify it. You get access to Capital One Lounges, a three hundred dollar annual travel credit, and excellent earning rates on purchases. If you're a business owner looking for a premium card with exceptional benefits, you can get the Venture X Business by clicking the link in our show notes.
Finally, here's a travel tip that could save you significant time at airports. A new alternative to Global Entry is now available at eight US airports this summer. Enhanced Passenger Processing uses facial recognition technology to speed up passport control without requiring membership, interviews, or fees. It's being called a game-changer for international travelers who don't have Global Entry. While it's still limited to certain airports, this could expand significantly if successful.
That wraps up today's miles and points news. Remember, the credit card landscape changes quickly, so these offers might not last long.
Before we go, here's a quick message about Award Travel Finder. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the show notes.
Thanks for listening to Miles & Points Daily Podcast. If you found today's episode helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, visit our website at milesandpointsdaily.com, and sign up for our daily newsletter at mail.milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, happy travels and happy earning!