This week, we discussed several changes to credit cards and hotels that you should be aware of as the year comes to a close. Here’s a quick recap:
Citi will become the exclusive issuer of American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards in 2026, pushing Barclays out of the market. While this change may bring more opportunities for transferring points from Thank You Rewards, it also means fewer chances for new cardmember bonuses.
We also talked about how Hyatt has made it possible to book suite upgrades online, which is both an exciting development and a potential drawback. The increased competition for upgrade awards will make it harder to find availability in some locations.
As we head into the end of 2024, it’s essential to check off several items on your year-end checklist, including using Hilton free night certificates at highly-desirable properties and taking advantage of booking Preferred Hotels with points.
Additionally, Capital One Shopping is still offering generous shopping portal rates, but be aware of the fine print regarding per-transaction caps. We also reviewed the Hyatt Centric Milano Centrale hotel, which has become less appealing due to changes in its category.
Finally, we discussed the sad state of Avianca LifeMiles mixed-cabin awards, which have seen a decline in recent months. If you’re looking to use your Hilton free night certificates or book Preferred Hotels with points, be sure to listen to our discussion on this week’s Frequent Miler On The Air episode for more information.
That’s it for this week at Frequent Miler. Don’t forget to check out last chance deals before they disappear.
Source: https://frequentmiler.com/a-prescient-prediction-confirming-suites-online-the-highest-portal-payouts-and-more