Welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast, your daily dose of travel hacking news and tips! I'm Lucas, and today we've got some juicy airline drama, new hotel brands, and credit card offers that might have you booking your next adventure sooner than you think. Let's dive right in!

First up, it seems American Airlines is cracking down on flight attendants who've been turning trip trading into a profitable side hustle. According to reports, some flight attendants have been using code phrases like 'cookies for kisses' to sell their seniority-based trip assignments. If you're not familiar with how this works, flight attendants bid on trips based on their seniority, allowing senior crew members to snag the most desirable routes like flights to Rome. But instead of just trading trips as allowed by policy, some have been selling these premium routes to junior colleagues. American Airlines is now issuing warnings, and interestingly, the flight attendants' union isn't stepping in to protect those involved in this practice.

In other airline news, JetBlue and United Airlines have announced a new partnership, but there's more to the deal than meets the eye. While the partnership gives United access to JFK airport with seven takeoff and landing slots from JetBlue, and some slot exchanges at Newark, reports suggest United may have overpaid significantly to secure this deal. Apparently, JetBlue had talked to virtually every other airline before choosing United, suggesting the terms must have been particularly favorable for JetBlue.

Moving to the hotel space, Hyatt has just announced the launch of a new brand called 'Unscripted by Hyatt.' This upscale brand will join Hyatt's Essentials portfolio alongside Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and others. The new brand is designed for travelers who value the essentials but still want quality accommodations. If you're a World of Hyatt member, this means more opportunities to earn and redeem points in the future.

Speaking of Hyatt, luxury travelers will be excited to learn that a new Park Hyatt is coming to Taormina, Sicily. While details are still limited, this addition to Hyatt's luxury lineup will provide a fantastic new option for redeeming those valuable World of Hyatt points in one of Italy's most picturesque destinations.

Hilton fans also have something to celebrate with the opening of Sax Paris, a new LXR Hotel. Paris may be the world's most competitive market for luxury hotels, but surprisingly, there aren't many luxury points options in the city. This new property might just be Hilton's most luxurious option in Paris, giving Honors members a premium redemption opportunity in the City of Light.

For Universal Orlando fans, here's a tip: you can now skip the line at Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, one of the park's most popular attractions that previously had wait times as long as 14 hours when it first opened. Even better, guests at certain Universal hotels can access this Express Pass benefit for free, potentially saving hours of standing in line.

Now let's talk about some fantastic credit card offers. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card currently has a limited-time welcome offer of five free nights after meeting the minimum spend requirement. These free nights can be used at properties costing up to 40,000 points per night, which means you could stay at some excellent IHG Category 4 properties. For just 99 dollars annual fee, cardholders also get automatic Platinum Elite status, a free night certificate each account anniversary, and fourth night free on award stays.

The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is another card worth considering, especially if you're a frequent American Airlines flyer. While it does carry a 595 dollars annual fee, the card comes with Admirals Club membership, which typically costs 650 dollars on its own. You'll also earn 20,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year without any spending requirement, helping you reach elite status faster. Right now, the card is offering a generous welcome bonus, so if you're interested, click the link in our show notes to apply.

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That wraps up today's episode of the Miles & Points Daily Podcast! Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And don't forget to visit milesandpointsdaily.com for more travel hacking tips and news. I'm Lucas, and I'll be back tomorrow with more ways to maximize your miles and points. Safe travels!