Hello and welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm here to serve up the freshest miles and points news with just the right amount of caffeine-fueled enthusiasm. Think of me as your friendly neighborhood points nerd who's spent way too much time reading credit card terms and conditions so you don't have to. Today we've got some exciting updates that'll make your points balance jealous, including a fascinating ranking shake-up in the frequent flyer world and some tempting credit card offers that might just make you reach for your wallet. But first, let me tell you about a tool that could save you thousands of points on your hotel stays. Introducing hotelredemptions.com, a clever tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for less points. It's like having a personal assistant who never sleeps and is obsessed with saving you points - which honestly sounds like my kind of assistant. You can find the link in our shownotes. Now, let's dive into today's news. We start with some absolutely fascinating data that's turned the frequent flyer world on its head. Based on twenty-two million award searches, Air France Flying Blue has claimed the top spot as the world's best frequent flyer program. But here's the real shocker - American Airlines AAdvantage has rocketed to number two, leaving United and Delta in the dust. This ranking is based on actual search data, which gives us a real picture of where travelers are finding the best award availability. If you're not already familiar with Flying Blue, this might be the perfect time to explore their program. They offer some excellent sweet spots, particularly for travel to Europe and beyond. For American Airlines fans, this validates what many of us have been seeing - their award availability has genuinely improved, especially in premium cabins. My recommendation? If you're not already collecting AAdvantage miles, consider picking up the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. You can grab it through our link in the shownotes. Speaking of credit cards, we've got some exciting offers to discuss. The Mesa Homeowners Card is making waves with a fifty thousand point bonus offer, and here's the kicker - it has no annual fee. This card pays points on your mortgage payments plus three times points on daycare, taxes, and insurance. For those wondering if it's too good to be true, this appears to be a legitimate offer from a smaller issuer trying to make a splash in the market. If you're a homeowner with significant expenses in these categories, this could be a goldmine. The card earns Mesa points, which can be redeemed for cash back or travel. You can find the application link in our shownotes. British Airways Club is offering a forty percent bonus on purchased Avios, bringing the cost down to about one point six four cents per Avios. While buying points isn't always the best value, this could make sense for specific redemptions, particularly if you're eyeing business or first class awards where the redemption value significantly exceeds the purchase price. My tip here is to have a specific redemption in mind before buying points - never purchase speculatively. Now for some interesting industry news. United States airlines are pulling in over twenty-eight billion dollars from their credit card partnerships. That's not a typo - twenty-eight billion! This shows just how valuable these partnerships are to airlines. Frontier Airlines leads the pack with sixty-two percent of its revenue coming from ancillary fees, which really drives home the point that your base fare is just the starting point, not the final cost. This is why having the right credit cards and elite status can save you so much money by waiving these fees. IHG One Rewards is running a promotion offering fifteen percent off award nights for cardholders and elite members. You need to book by September sixteenth for stays through December fifteenth, twenty twenty-four. This is a solid deal if you were already planning IHG stays, as it can save you thousands of points on longer trips. The promotion is limited to up to three nights, so it's perfect for weekend getaways or short business trips. There's also exciting news for Rakuten users - they're offering a best-ever fifty dollar bonus for new members who spend at least fifty dollars through their platform. Given that Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers and you can often stack this with credit card bonuses and manufacturer coupons, this is essentially free money for shopping you were probably going to do anyway. You can earn cash back or have it converted to various partner points programs. Check our shownotes for the sign-up link. In airport lounge news, there's an entrepreneurial Priority Pass lounge that's making headlines by turning guests away but still making money. The business model appears to involve collecting payment from Priority Pass while managing capacity by limiting access during peak times. While this might be frustrating for travelers, it highlights the ongoing challenges with lounge overcrowding and the need for better capacity management across the industry. Finally, let's touch on September's best credit card offers according to industry experts. While specific details vary, we're seeing strong competition in the market with elevated sign-up bonuses across multiple issuers. The key is matching the right card to your spending patterns and travel goals. Remember, any credit card offers we discuss can be found through the links in our shownotes, and applying through these links helps support the show. That wraps up today's miles and points news. Remember, the world of miles and points moves fast, so staying informed gives you the edge in maximizing your earning and redemption opportunities. 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 shownotes. Thanks for listening to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. If you found today's show helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, keep earning and keep redeeming!