Hello and welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I've got to say, I'm feeling a bit parched today after reading about British Airways' latest cost-cutting measure. But more on that in just a moment. First, let me tell you about something that'll save you points rather than cost you water. 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, so you never miss an opportunity to save. Now, let's dive into today's miles and points news, starting with what might be the most surprising penny-pinching move of the year. British Airways has quietly removed individual water bottles from economy and premium economy cabins on long-haul flights as part of a trial running through Sunday. Instead, passengers must now rely on flight crew to pour water from larger bottles into paper cups. This move has caught passengers completely off guard, with many discovering the change mid-flight when they reached for a bottle that simply wasn't there. My tip here is simple: if you're flying British Airways in the coming weeks, bring your own water bottle and fill it up after security. It's a basic necessity that shouldn't be subject to cost-cutting measures, especially on long-haul flights where hydration is crucial. Speaking of premium experiences, let's talk about the upcoming Chase Sapphire Reserve refresh. The card's annual fee is jumping to seven hundred and ninety-five dollars, but it's getting significant enhancements, including access to Chase Sapphire Lounges. Documents from Los Angeles reveal some interesting details about the new LAX lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. While the lounge promises premium features like private tarmac transfers, they're budgeting just eight dollars and forty cents per person for meals. That's quite modest for a lounge targeting ultra-premium cardholders. The lounge will have twenty million dollars in annual operating costs, so it'll be interesting to see how they balance luxury with cost control. If you're interested in the Chase Sapphire Reserve, check the link in our show notes for current offers. Now, here's a story with a happy ending that showcases both the frustrations and occasional victories in airline customer service. A mother and child racing to see a dying grandfather had their Delta flight from Kalispell diverted to Sioux Falls due to crew timing out. When offered rebooking a full day later, Delta suggested they rent a car and drive, providing written assurance they'd cover the cost. Initially, Delta refused to honor this promise, but after social media attention, they eventually came through and covered the rental car expenses. This highlights an important tip: always get promises from airline staff in writing, whether it's an email, text, or handwritten note. Documentation is your best friend when dealing with irregular operations. In other news, Emirates Skywards points transfers are back online after being suspended in late May. This is great news for anyone looking to transfer points from major programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points to Emirates. The suspension lasted several weeks, so if you've been waiting to book that Emirates business or first-class award, now's the time to move forward with your plans. There's also a new promotion worth noting for Marriott Bonvoy members. If you're new to the Marriott and Uber partnership, you can earn up to two thousand five hundred bonus Bonvoy points just for linking your accounts - no purchase required. This is an easy way to boost your points balance, and once linked, you'll continue earning points on Uber and Uber Eats purchases. Simply link your accounts through the Marriott Bonvoy app or website. American Airlines has suspended its Philadelphia to Doha route due to safety concerns in the region, following U.S. Embassy warnings advising Americans to keep a low profile. This affects American's only Middle Eastern destination and comes at a time when regional tensions are high. If you had award tickets booked on this route, American should automatically rebook you or offer a full refund. For future bookings to the Middle East, consider Qatar Airways or Emirates as alternatives, both of which continue operating to the region. Finally, Capital One has opened its new flagship lounge at JFK Airport in New York, and it's operating twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This is Capital One's most ambitious lounge project yet, featuring premium amenities and positioning itself as a competitor to the American Express Centurion Lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges. Access is available to Capital One Venture X cardholders and their guests. If you're considering the Venture X card, check our show notes for current sign-up bonus offers. Before we wrap up, let me 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. That's all for today's Miles and Points Daily Podcast. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, keep earning and burning those points wisely!