✈️ Avis's Impossible 40K Mile Charge, Amex Gold 100K Bonus & Southwest's Carry-On Chaos

Welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast, your daily dose of travel hacking news and tips. I'm your host Lucas, and I've got to say, it's been a wild day in the miles and points world. If you're planning any travel soon, you'll definitely want to stick around for today's stories. First up, we have a cautionary tale from the car rental world. An Avis customer received what he thought was a 'free upgrade,' only to later be slapped with a two thousand dollar bill. The reason? Avis somehow claimed he drove forty thousand miles in just five days. Now, unless this guy found a teleportation device or broke several laws of physics, that's clearly an error. That would require driving at about 333 miles per hour continuously! This serves as an important reminder to always check your rental car paperwork carefully, take photos of the odometer before and after your rental, and keep all documentation until you're certain the rental has been properly closed out. In immigration news, a traveler flying Cathay Pacific to JFK found himself detained and deported, despite having valid status and no criminal history. According to reports, he was held and interrogated for eight hours before being sent back. This is a stark reminder that U.S. immigration officers have broad discretion and can deny entry for virtually any reason. If you're traveling internationally, especially on certain carriers that might receive additional scrutiny, it's always a good idea to have all your documentation in perfect order. On a more positive note, American Express has increased the welcome bonus for its Business Gold Card to one hundred thousand Membership Rewards points. That's up from the previous offer of seventy thousand points, making this one of the better card offers currently available. If you're a small business owner looking to boost your points balance, this could be a great opportunity. Remember that these Membership Rewards points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners, giving you excellent flexibility for future redemptions. Speaking of airlines, American Airlines appears to be quietly retiring planes despite previous statements to the contrary. The airline flew an Airbus A319 from Phoenix to Roswell, New Mexico this week to be stored. This comes after CEO Robert Isom stated last year that they weren't planning to retire any of their current mainline aircraft. Plans change, of course, but it's worth keeping an eye on airline fleet movements if you're booking far in advance, as equipment changes can significantly impact your travel experience. Southwest Airlines is making headlines as they prepare to implement checked bag fees for the first time in their history. What's concerning is that Southwest has announced they won't limit carry-on size or enforce rules as these fees hit, which is likely to lead to a carry-on overload situation. If you're flying Southwest in the coming months, prepare for potentially crowded overhead bins and longer boarding times. It might be worth considering checking your bag regardless, or packing extra light if you want to ensure your carry-on finds space. In lounge news, the American Express Centurion Lounge at San Francisco International Airport will be temporarily relocating to Terminal 2. If you're planning to use this popular lounge in the coming months, make sure to check its current location. The Centurion Lounges are among the best credit card lounges available, so this is a valuable benefit to keep track of for Platinum and Centurion cardholders. Here's something exciting for Hyatt loyalists: World of Hyatt is offering five hundred extra points per night at thirty-six newly opened properties. This is a nice little bonus if you're planning stays at any of these locations. New hotels often provide a great experience as everything is fresh, and now you can earn extra points too. These types of targeted bonuses are worth keeping track of across all the major hotel programs. For Chicago fans or those considering a visit, The Points Guy is highlighting why now is a great time to visit the Windy City. Despite some negative headlines, Chicago offers incredible architecture, world-class museums, amazing food, and beautiful lakefront views as we head into spring. If you've been hesitant about visiting, it might be worth reconsidering. The city has a vibrant energy that's often overlooked in the news. Virgin Atlantic has opened a new Clubhouse lounge at Los Angeles International Airport. Early reviews indicate it's a beautiful space with the typical Virgin flair. If you're flying Virgin Atlantic business class or have elite status that grants access, this is a nice improvement to the LAX experience. Premium lounges can make a significant difference in your pre-flight experience, especially for long-haul international flights. And finally, a bizarre story from a Singapore Airlines flight: A business class passenger has been sentenced to three weeks in jail for flashing a flight attendant during meal service. The passenger, who had consumed two glasses of champagne, claimed it was 'just a prank.' Unsurprisingly, the airline didn't see the humor and has banned him for life. This serves as yet another reminder that inappropriate behavior on flights can have serious consequences, including jail time and permanent flying restrictions. Now for today's sponsor: Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes. That's all for today's Miles and Points Daily Podcast. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit our website at milesandpointsdaily.com for more great content. Until tomorrow, safe travels and happy points hunting!