Hello and welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm thrilled you've joined us for another episode packed with the latest miles and points news. Today, we've got some significant updates including a major devaluation from American Express, exciting lounge news from Capital One, and some important changes to United's upgrade system. Before we dive in, let me tell you about a fantastic tool that could save you a ton of points. 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. Now, let's get into today's news. First up, we have some disappointing news for American Express Business Platinum cardholders. Starting September eighteenth, Amex is making a major change to the beloved thirty-five percent Pay with Points bonus. Currently, this bonus applies to first and business class tickets on any airline, or tickets in any cabin with your selected airline. However, the new restriction will significantly limit where you can use this valuable perk. This is a substantial devaluation that will impact how Business Platinum cardholders redeem their points for maximum value. My recommendation here is to book any planned premium cabin flights before September eighteenth if you want to take advantage of the current, more generous terms. If you're considering the Business Platinum card, you'll want to factor this change into your decision. Now for some exciting lounge news. Capital One has opened what they're calling their flagship lounge at New York JFK airport today, and this isn't your typical airport lounge. This twenty-four seven facility represents Capital One's most ambitious lounge project yet. The lounge offers round-the-clock access, which is particularly valuable at a busy international hub like JFK. If you're a Capital One Venture X or Venture cardholder, this new flagship location should definitely be on your radar for your next trip through JFK. The Venture X card continues to offer excellent lounge access benefits. Speaking of card benefits, let's talk about the Chase Sapphire Reserve's upcoming refresh. The card is getting a new five hundred dollar hotel credit with The Edit, but the annual fee is also increasing to seven hundred and ninety-five dollars. The key here is understanding exactly how this hotel credit works and whether it provides genuine value for your travel patterns. Additionally, Chase is launching the new Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card as part of this refresh. If you're interested in either the personal or business version, you can find the application links in our show notes. United Airlines has unveiled major changes to their PlusPoints upgrade system. The airline is making PlusPoints far more flexible, allowing Premier elite members to exchange them for various perks beyond just upgrades. However, this increased flexibility comes at a steep cost. The changes represent United's effort to provide more value to elite members, but you'll need to carefully evaluate whether the new exchange rates work in your favor. My tip is to review your upgrade patterns and calculate whether the new system provides better value for your specific travel needs. In hotel news, we're covering five ways to maximize Marriott Bonvoy award night redemptions. Despite some recent devaluations, Marriott's massive global footprint means many travelers continue using the program. The key strategies include taking advantage of peak and off-peak pricing, utilizing the fifth night free benefit on award stays, and strategically timing your redemptions around Marriott's promotional periods. For those looking at hotel credit cards, both the Hilton Honors Aspire card and the Hilton Honors American Express Business card continue to offer strong value propositions. The Aspire card provides premium perks that can easily justify its annual fee, while the business card offers Hilton Gold elite status at a more accessible price point. You can find links to both cards in our show notes. Finally, we have some interesting route news. China Eastern is launching a new fifth freedom flight from Auckland to Buenos Aires, which will be the world's most southerly long haul route. While this might not directly impact your points earning, it's worth noting for those planning Southern Hemisphere travel using SkyTeam partners. That wraps up today's miles and points news. Remember, these card offers and program changes happen quickly, so if something caught your interest, don't wait too long to act. Before we sign off, I want to tell you about Award Travel Finder. 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 to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast. If you found today's episode helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. We'll be back tomorrow with more miles and points news to help you maximize your travel rewards. Until then, happy travels!