Welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast, I'm your host Lucas, and boy do we have a packed show for you today! We've got major shakeups in the credit card world, airline earnings revelations, and some controversial lounge advice that's got the internet buzzing. Plus, we'll dive into Delta's artificial intelligence pricing strategy that might just know your wallet better than you do. But first, let me tell you about a tool that could save you serious points on your hotel stays. 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, making sure you're never overpaying in points when rates drop. Now, let's jump into today's biggest stories. Starting with what might be the most significant credit card news of the year: Bilt Rewards is making some massive moves. They've just announced a valuation of ten point seven five billion dollars following a two hundred and fifty million dollar fundraising round. But here's the kicker - they're ditching Wells Fargo and moving to Cardless, with three new cards launching in February. Now, if you're not familiar with Bilt, they're the company that lets you earn points on rent payments without fees, which is pretty revolutionary. The move to Cardless suggests they're going for a more premium, tech-forward approach. While we don't have all the details yet on what these three new cards will offer, this could shake up the entire rent rewards game. My tip? If you're a current Bilt cardholder, keep an eye on your email for migration details, and if you've been considering getting into the Bilt ecosystem, you might want to wait and see what these new premium options bring to the table. Speaking of credit cards, we've got some mixed news from the World of Hyatt card. There's a new welcome offer available - you can now choose between two options. The new one gives you two free night awards for Category one through four properties after spending four thousand dollars in the first three months, plus twenty-five thousand Hyatt points after twelve thousand dollars in total spend. The existing offer gives you sixty thousand points after four thousand dollars in spend. Honestly, both offers are pretty mediocre compared to what we've seen in the past. My recommendation? If you're planning some stays at lower-category Hyatt properties, the free night certificates might work better. But for most people, the sixty thousand points offer probably provides more flexibility. You can get either version of the World of Hyatt card by clicking the link in our show notes. Now, let's talk about Delta, because they dropped some bombshells in their recent earnings call. First, they're implementing artificial intelligence pricing for twenty percent of their fares by the end of the year. This AI will essentially try to figure out exactly how much each individual customer is willing to pay. It's both fascinating and slightly terrifying - imagine an algorithm that knows your travel patterns, your booking history, and your spending habits, all working together to extract maximum revenue. But here's the more interesting news for points and miles enthusiasts: Delta is officially bringing back upgrades! They're also planning what they're calling 'basic business class' - essentially unbundling premium cabin perks. This means you might pay for business class but get fewer amenities unless you pay extra. It's the basic economy model applied to premium cabins. My take? This could actually create opportunities for savvy travelers. If you're primarily interested in the seat and don't care about all the bells and whistles, basic business class might offer good value. But if you want the full experience, you'll need to pay up. Delta also promised to eliminate Sky Club overcrowding within the next eighteen to twenty-four months, which is music to the ears of anyone who's stood in those brutal entry lines. They're likely going to restrict access further, so if you're relying on credit card access, don't be surprised if that gets more limited. Let's shift gears to some lighter news that's causing quite a stir online. A social media influencer has been advising travelers to bring tupperware to airport lounges and smuggle food out, claiming 'If you're not taking takeout containers to airport lounges, you're getting ripped off.' Now, I need to be very clear here - this is generally against lounge rules and could get you banned. Most lounges explicitly prohibit removing food and beverages. My advice? Enjoy the lounge experience while you're there, but don't risk your lounge access privileges for a few snacks. The value of ongoing lounge access far outweighs any food you might sneak out. For our American Express fans, there's a decent bank account bonus available. You can earn thirty thousand Membership Rewards points by opening a new Business Checking account, maintaining a five thousand dollar balance for sixty days, and completing ten transactions. The account also earns one point three percent APY and half a Membership Rewards point per dollar on debit transactions. If you're looking to diversify your Membership Rewards earning, this could be a solid option. There's also a Wells Fargo checking account bonus offering four hundred dollars when you complete three thousand dollars in direct deposits within ninety days. Pretty straightforward bank bonus if you're looking for some quick cash. Now, some quick hits from around the miles and points world: Park Hyatt Los Cabos has delayed its opening, which is disappointing but unfortunately common in the hotel industry. The way they're handling existing reservations isn't great, so if you had plans there, definitely follow up directly. Miami International Airport is getting a new fourteen thousand square foot lounge in Concourse E, which is great news for frequent flyers through Miami. The airport definitely needs more lounge space. And finally, Virgin Atlantic is saying goodbye to its iconic inflight bars. By the start of the next decade, none of their aircraft will have onboard bars. It's the end of an era, but probably makes financial sense for the airline. That wraps up today's miles and points news. Remember, the key to maximizing your rewards is staying informed about these changes and adapting your strategy accordingly. Whether it's switching to new credit cards, adjusting your upgrade expectations, or planning around lounge access changes, staying ahead of the curve is what separates the casual traveler from the miles and points expert. Before you go, if you're looking for the best award flights, I want to tell you about AwardTravelFinder.com. This tool searches availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more airlines. It's an incredible resource for finding those sweet spot redemptions that can save you thousands of dollars. Try it for free with our link in the show notes. Thanks for listening to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. If you found today's episode helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until next time, keep earning and keep exploring!