Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here with you today. You know, there's something truly magical about turning everyday spending into exotic adventures, and boy do I have some exciting news to share with you today. From massive credit card bonuses to Southwest's Companion Pass strategies, we've got a jam-packed episode that might just change your travel game forever. So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's dive into today's miles and points news that's guaranteed to get your wanderlust wheels turning. But first, let me tell you about a fantastic tool that could save you thousands of points on your hotel stays. Introducing hotelredemptions.com, a tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for less points. It's like having a personal assistant watching your reservations twenty-four seven, ensuring you never overpay for your hotel stays again.

Now, let's jump into our first major story, and this one is absolutely massive for Southwest fans. There's currently a way to earn one hundred and twenty thousand Southwest points, and if you time this right, you could potentially lock in Companion Pass status through two thousand and twenty-seven. Yes, you heard that correctly - nearly two full years of bringing a companion along for free on Southwest flights. The key here is all about timing your application and spending strategy. If you can earn these points and hit the Companion Pass qualification requirements by the end of this year, your pass will be valid through December thirty-first, two thousand and twenty-six. Then, if you qualify again in two thousand and twenty-six, you'll extend it through two thousand and twenty-seven. My recommendation? If you're considering this strategy, don't wait. The earlier you start earning those qualifying points in the calendar year, the better positioned you'll be to maximize this incredible benefit.

Speaking of incredible credit card offers, American Express has just rolled out some absolutely stunning welcome bonuses that are making waves in the miles and points community. The Business Platinum Card from American Express is now offering an unprecedented two hundred thousand Membership Rewards points welcome bonus. This is the highest bonus we've ever seen on this card, and considering Membership Rewards points transfer to over twenty airline and hotel partners, this could be worth well over three thousand dollars in travel value. The card does come with an annual fee of eight hundred and ninety-five dollars, but with perks like airport lounge access, airline fee credits, and travel insurance, it can easily pay for itself for the right traveler. You can get this card by clicking the link in our show notes.

But that's not all from American Express. The personal Platinum Card is also offering a massive welcome bonus of up to one hundred and seventy-five thousand Membership Rewards points. What makes this even more exciting is that American Express has just added a new two hundred dollar Oura Ring credit to the personal Platinum card benefits. For those unfamiliar, Oura is a premium health and sleep tracking ring that normally costs around three hundred to four hundred dollars. So essentially, you're getting a high-end health tracking device at a significant discount while earning one of the largest credit card bonuses available. Again, you can apply for this card through the link in our show notes.

For our Canadian listeners, there's also fantastic news with the Aeroplan Credit Card now offering up to one hundred thousand bonus Aeroplan points as a welcome offer. Air Canada's Aeroplan program has become increasingly valuable over the past few years, with excellent award availability and reasonable redemption rates, especially for travel within North America and to Europe.

Now, let's talk about a situation that's been frustrating loyal airline customers across the industry. We're seeing reports of passengers who spend thirty thousand dollars annually with airlines still being stuck in coach, while airlines are now selling first-class upgrades to once-a-year flyers for as little as forty dollars. This represents a fundamental shift in how airlines view loyalty programs. My advice here is to diversify your loyalty strategy. Don't put all your eggs in one airline's basket. Consider credit cards that offer flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, which can transfer to multiple airlines. This gives you more options and leverage when airlines change their policies.

On a lighter note, there's been some buzz about a passenger who decided to create his own 'economy flat bed' by lying on the floor of an Airbus A three twenty-one in the exit row area, using his backpack as a pillow. While the crew apparently didn't seem too concerned, this is definitely not something I'd recommend trying. Airlines have strict safety regulations for a reason, and blocking exit areas can create serious safety hazards. If you're looking for more comfortable sleeping options on flights, consider investing in a good travel pillow, compression socks, and maybe even upgrading to premium economy when the price is right.

For deal hunters, there's currently a twenty percent discount on SAS EuroBonus awards, but you need to act fast - bookings must be made by September twenty-first for travel through November thirtieth. SAS has some excellent routes to Scandinavia and beyond, and a twenty percent discount can represent significant savings, especially on premium cabin awards.

There's also a best-ever fifty dollar Rakuten new member bonus available right now. While this isn't directly miles and points related, Rakuten is an excellent way to earn cash back on purchases you're already making, which you can then use to offset travel expenses or redirect toward meeting credit card minimum spending requirements.

Before we wrap up today's episode, let me address something that's been on many travelers' minds - the difference between nonstop and direct flights. While many people use these terms interchangeably, they actually mean different things. A nonstop flight takes you from point A to point B without any stops. A direct flight, however, may make stops along the way, but you don't change planes. This distinction can be important when booking awards, as direct flights with stops might have different award pricing or availability than true nonstop flights.

That's all for today's episode of the Miles and Points Daily Podcast. I hope you found these updates helpful for your own travel planning and miles and points strategies. Remember, the best deals often have limited timeframes, so if something caught your attention today, don't wait too long to act. 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.

Thank you so much for listening to today's episode. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, whether that's Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also visit our website at milesandpointsdaily.com for more miles and points news, tips, and strategies. Until next time, keep earning those miles and points, and happy travels!