Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm thrilled to be here with you today bringing you the latest news from the world of miles and points. Whether you're a seasoned points collector or just getting started on your journey to travel the world for less, we've got some fantastic updates to share with you today.

Before we dive into today's news, I want to tell you about a tool that could save you serious points on your hotel stays. Have you ever booked a hotel room with points only to find out later that the price dropped? Well, say hello to hotelredemptions.com - a clever tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for fewer points. It's like having a personal assistant watching your reservations around the clock, so you never miss an opportunity to save. Check out the link in our shownotes to give it a try.

Now, let's jump into today's miles and points news, and we've got some significant updates that could affect how you earn and use your rewards.

First up, we have a major development in the American Airlines credit card world. American Airlines has officially said goodbye to Barclays as their co-branded credit card partner. The AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard is no longer accepting new applications, and all Barclays Aviator cardholders will be transitioned to Citi products sometime in two thousand and twenty-six. This move makes Citi the exclusive issuer for American Airlines credit cards.

While this is sad news for sign-up bonus chasers - the Barclays cards always offered hefty welcome bonuses with minimal spending requirements - it makes business sense for American. Having two banks issuing very similar products was confusing and left money on the table. The good news is that existing Barclays cardholders can continue using their cards for now, and we should see more details about the transition in the coming months. If you're an American Airlines flyer, keep an eye out for new Citi products that might emerge from this exclusive partnership.

Speaking of credit cards, we have some excellent limited-time offers on Hilton Honors American Express cards running through January fourteenth, two thousand and twenty-six. The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card is offering one hundred thousand points after spending two thousand dollars in six months. The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is offering one hundred and fifty-five thousand points after spending three thousand dollars, while both the Business Card and Aspire Card are offering one hundred and seventy-five thousand points with different spending requirements.

While these are solid bonuses, keep in mind that Hilton recently devalued their points, with some premium properties now costing up to two hundred and fifty thousand points per night. Still, if you stay at Hiltons regularly, these cards offer valuable perks like Gold or Diamond elite status and can be great value. You can get any of these cards by clicking the links in our shownotes.

Here's an interesting development for those looking for elite status benefits - Royal Jordanian is offering a lucrative status match opportunity that's now open to US residents. For just one hundred and forty-nine dollars, you can match your existing airline or hotel status to Royal Jordanian's Gold Sparrow level, which comes with oneworld Sapphire benefits.

Why is this exciting? Well, as a oneworld Sapphire member with a foreign airline, you get access to American Airlines Flagship Lounges and Admirals Clubs even on domestic flights - something that American's own elite members don't get unless they're traveling internationally. The process takes just minutes online and typically gets approved within hours. If you're an American Airlines flyer with status from another program like Delta or United, this could be an absolute game-changer for your domestic lounge access. Check out the link in our shownotes to apply.

Now let's talk about an unusual credit card that's offering a rare bonus. The Mesa Card, which has no annual fee and lets you earn airline miles on mortgage payments plus three times points on daycare, insurance, and even taxes, is offering fifty thousand points through October fifteenth. This card rarely offers bonuses, so if you have significant spending in those categories - especially mortgage payments - this could be worth considering.

In operational news, American Airlines is making a curious change by removing carry-on bag sizers from all gate areas starting Monday. Gate agents will now use their judgment to determine if bags are oversized, and they're being told to err on the side of the customer if it's a close call. This follows a similar move by United back in twenty twenty. While the logic behind this change isn't entirely clear, it could mean your slightly oversized carry-on might suddenly be allowed through.

Delta is making headlines for all the wrong reasons when it comes to elite upgrades. The airline is now selling first-class upgrades for as little as twenty-six dollars - the lowest price we've ever seen. This points to how determined Delta is to avoid giving complimentary upgrades to their elite members. After a ten-year journey to phase out free upgrades, they've nearly accomplished their goal, prioritizing revenue over elite member benefits.

There's some good news for Air Canada passengers though. The airline has expanded its complimentary beer, wine, and snacks offering to all flights systemwide, including domestic flights and services to Mexico and the Caribbean. This enhancement, combined with their rollout of free Wi-Fi, makes Air Canada increasingly attractive, especially when compared to US carriers that charge for everything.

In other news, we're seeing some interesting developments in the hotel world. Aman Singapore has announced plans to open in two thousand and twenty-eight in what will be the country's new tallest skyscraper. The ultra-luxury hotel will occupy floors twenty-four through twenty-six of The Skywaters building, promising to be among Singapore's finest accommodations when it opens.

Finally, there's a targeted Amex Offers promotion for Best Western hotels offering fifty dollars back when you spend two hundred and fifty dollars or more. If you're targeted for this offer and can stack it with Best Western's current double points promotion, you could see some excellent value on your stays.

That wraps up today's miles and points news. Whether you're taking advantage of credit card bonuses, exploring new elite status opportunities, or planning your next hotel stay, there are plenty of ways to maximize your travel rewards right now.

Before I let you go, I want to tell you about Award Travel Finder. Looking for the best award flights? AwardTravelFinder.com lets you search award availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and more airlines all in one place. It's a huge time-saver when you're hunting for those elusive award seats. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.

Thanks for listening to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. We're here Monday through Friday bringing you the latest news and tips to help you travel the world for less. Until tomorrow, keep earning and keep exploring!