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  • Last call: 70% bonus on Chase to Marriott and 30% on Amex to Hilton

    Two hotel transfer bonuses are about to expire:

    • Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy: 70% bonus, ends October 15, 2026. Chase normally transfers to Marriott 1:1, so 10,000 Chase points become 17,000 Marriott points.
    • Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors: 30% bonus, ends October 14, 2026. Amex normally transfers to Hilton at 1:2, so 10,000 Amex points become 26,000 Hilton points.

    Should you transfer?

    Only if you have a specific stay in mind. Marriott and Hilton points are usually worth less per point than flexible bank points, so even with a big bonus you are often just breaking even. Chase points in particular usually go further with Hyatt or with airline partners.

    Where these bonuses shine is when you are a few thousand points short of a stay you actually want to book, or when a hotel’s award price is low compared with its cash rate. Look up the exact award price first, then transfer only what you need. Transfers cannot be reversed.

    Source: Frequent Miler

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  • Your airline may no longer owe you a hotel when the plane breaks

    Starting October 19, 2026, a new Department of Transportation rule narrows when U.S. airlines have to give you meals and a hotel room after a delay or cancellation caused by a mechanical problem.

    What changed

    The rule comes out of the 2024 FAA reauthorization law. Problems found outside a scheduled maintenance program that have to be fixed before the plane can fly, like leaks, engine warnings, cracked windshields, or brake and tire defects, can now be treated as outside the airline’s control. When that happens, the airline is no longer required to pay for your meals or hotel.

    Airlines still owe care when a delay is truly their fault, and your right to a refund when a flight is canceled or significantly delayed is a separate rule that still applies.

    How to protect yourself

    • Pay with a card that has trip delay insurance. Several premium travel cards reimburse meals and hotels after a covered delay, often after 6 to 12 hours. Check your card’s benefit guide for the exact threshold.
    • Ask anyway. Many airlines will still offer vouchers as goodwill, especially to elite members. It never hurts to ask the agent.
    • Book the last flight of the day with care. A late evening mechanical issue is the most likely to strand you overnight.
    • Know your refund rights. If you choose not to travel after a cancellation, you can request a cash refund instead of a voucher.

    Source: View from the Wing

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  • Citi now tells you if you qualify for the Strata bonus before you apply

    Citi has added a pop-up to applications for its Strata cards that tells you whether you are eligible for the welcome bonus before you finish applying. If you can get the card but not the bonus, you can stop there.

    Why this matters

    The Strata Premier and Strata Elite now have lifetime language: if you have held that card before, you cannot earn its welcome bonus again. That makes it easy to accidentally apply for a card with no bonus attached, which wastes an application and possibly a credit inquiry.

    American Express and Chase already have similar eligibility checks, and they have saved a lot of people from wasted applications. Citi joining them is good news.

    What to do

    • If you see the pop-up saying you are not eligible, stop the application. A card is rarely worth opening without its bonus.
    • It is not yet clear whether Citi pulls your credit before showing the pop-up, so do not use it to test your eligibility casually.
    • If you held the older Citi Premier but never the Strata Premier, early reports suggest you may still be told you are not eligible, so check before counting on the bonus.

    Source: Frequent Miler

    Want help turning your points into a trip?

    Tell us where you want to go and what points you have. We will find the best options and help you book.

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