Hello and welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. I'm your host Lucas, and I'm here to help you navigate the ever-changing world of miles and points with a smile and maybe a dad joke or two. Because let's face it, earning points should be fun, not feel like work. Today we're diving into some interesting developments in the loyalty space, including some lounge drama, credit card updates, and a partnership shake-up that's worth your attention. But first, let me tell you about a tool that could save you thousands of points on your next hotel stay. 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, so you never miss an opportunity to save points. Now, let's get into today's stories. American Airlines has opened what many are calling one of their most impressive Admirals Clubs at Philadelphia A West, and it's already facing a problem that's both good and bad news. The good news? The lounge is absolutely stunning, joining the ranks of American's premium lounges like Washington National E Concourse, Newark, and Denver. The bad news? It's already bursting at the seams with passengers. The space simply isn't large enough to handle the demand, which honestly isn't surprising given how crowded lounges have become post-pandemic. If you're an American Airlines elite member or have lounge access through your credit card, my tip is to arrive early or consider alternative times if you're planning to visit. American really should have kept the A East Admirals Club open alongside this new space, but hindsight is twenty-twenty. Speaking of credit cards, let's talk about the Hilton Surpass Card, which is getting some renewed attention for good reason. This mid-range hotel credit card offers excellent value with its welcome bonus and perks package. Hotel credit cards are often overlooked compared to airline cards, but they can provide tremendous value, especially if you're a frequent hotel guest. The Hilton Surpass Card offers benefits like automatic Gold status, free nights, and bonus points on Hilton stays. If you're interested in this card, you can find the link in our show notes to apply and get the current sign-up bonus. Now, here's a story that made me shake my head. A Hyatt hotel apparently tried to get out of honoring a legitimately low rate by claiming it was a mistake. This kind of behavior is not only poor customer service but also highly unethical. Hotels need to honor their published rates, period. If you ever encounter this situation, document everything, escalate to the brand's customer service, and don't be afraid to call them out publicly. Most major hotel chains will ultimately do the right thing when faced with bad publicity. Chase has some interesting updates worth noting. First, they've extended their incredible nine hundred dollar bonus for opening both a new Chase Total Checking Account and Chase Savings account. This offer runs until October fifteenth, two thousand and twenty-five, and requires setting up direct deposit and meeting deposit requirements. It's one of the best bank bonuses we've seen from Chase. Additionally, Chase Sapphire cardholders can now earn fifteen thousand bonus points for each successful referral of friends to either the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve. That's a significant bump from previous referral bonuses and could really add up if you have friends interested in getting into the points game. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve both offer excellent welcome bonuses, so if you're considering either card, you can find the links in our show notes. There's also a targeted Citi merchant offer worth mentioning. Some Citi cardholders are seeing a ten percent discount on up to one hundred dollars in purchases at Walmart.com. This appears to be loosely targeted, meaning many people are seeing it across their ThankYou Points-earning cards. If you have Citi cards, check your offers section to see if you're targeted. In partnership news, Air France-KLM is set to take majority control of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, increasing their ownership stake to sixty point five percent by the end of two thousand and twenty-six. This continues SAS's transformation after emerging from bankruptcy and switching from Star Alliance to SkyTeam. For miles and points enthusiasts, this solidifies SAS's position in the SkyTeam alliance and could mean more redemption opportunities between these partners. Finally, let's talk about Capital One Landing at Washington National Airport. They've refreshed their menu with new José Andrés dishes, and if you have the Capital One Venture X card, you can dine there for free. It's genuinely one of the best airport dining experiences in the United States, and honestly, I'd choose it over most airline lounges. The Venture X card offers this perk along with its substantial welcome bonus, making it a compelling option for frequent travelers. You can find the link to apply in our show notes. One quick tip for all of you: July tends to be a great month for points and miles deals, so keep an eye on your email for targeted offers and bonus opportunities. Many programs run summer promotions that can help you top off your accounts before fall travel season. That wraps up today's episode of the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. 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, and remember to subscribe to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for more points and miles news. Until next time, keep earning and keep exploring.