Hello and welcome to another episode of the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and boy do we have a packed show today. We're diving into some fascinating developments in the miles and points world, from British Airways making some questionable decisions about water bottles to Chase Sapphire's seven hundred ninety-five dollar revamp and United's big PlusPoints changes. But first, let me tell you about a fantastic tool that could save you thousands 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, so you never miss an opportunity to save. Now, let's get into today's news. British Airways has quietly implemented what can only be described as an extreme cost-cutting measure on long-haul flights. They've eliminated individual water bottles from economy and premium economy cabins during a trial running through this Sunday. Instead, passengers must rely on flight crew to provide water in paper cups poured from larger plastic bottles. This has understandably caught passengers off guard, especially on those marathon flights where staying hydrated is crucial. My recommendation? If you're flying British Airways long-haul in economy or premium economy during this trial period, bring an empty water bottle through security and fill it up at the gate. Don't rely on the crew to come around frequently enough to keep you properly hydrated. This is a concerning trend that could spread to other carriers if passengers don't push back. Speaking of British Airways and cost-cutting, let's pivot to a carrier that's doing the opposite with their premium offerings. Chase Sapphire's seven hundred ninety-five dollar annual fee revamp is generating a lot of buzz, and much of it hinges on the quality of their upcoming lounges. The Chase Sapphire Lounge at LAX is promising some impressive perks, including private tarmac transfers. However, here's where it gets interesting: while the lounge will have operating costs of about twenty million dollars per year, they're only budgeting eight dollars and forty cents per person for meals. That's quite the contrast between the premium positioning and the actual food budget. For those considering the revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve, remember that the card will offer a five hundred dollar hotel credit with The Edit, among other new benefits. If you're interested in this card, you can find the link in our show notes to apply when it becomes available. Now let's talk about some positive news for Emirates Skywards members. After a suspension that lasted several weeks in late May, points transfers from major transferable currencies to Emirates Skywards are back online. This is huge for those looking to book Emirates' excellent premium cabins or partner awards. If you've been holding Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or other transferable points waiting for this functionality to return, now's your chance. Just remember that Emirates often runs transfer bonuses, so it might be worth waiting to see if any promotions pop up before making large transfers. United Airlines has just unveiled some significant changes to their PlusPoints upgrade system, and it's a mixed bag of good and concerning news. The airline is making PlusPoints more flexible, which sounds great on the surface. However, this increased utility is coming at what many are calling a steep cost. The details are still rolling out via customer emails, but early reports suggest that while you'll have more options for using your PlusPoints, you'll need more of them to secure the same upgrades. If you're a United Premier member, keep an eye on your email for the full details and consider using any existing PlusPoints for upgrades before these changes take full effect. You might find better value under the current system. For Marriott Bonvoy members, there's a new partnership promotion worth noting. Marriott and Uber have teamed up to offer new users up to two thousand five hundred bonus points. The best part? You don't even need to make a purchase to start earning. If you haven't yet linked your Marriott Bonvoy account with Uber, this is a great time to do so. Even if you rarely use Uber or Uber Eats, setting up the connection now means you'll earn points when you do need a ride or food delivery. Over in the credit card world, there's an interesting discussion happening about credit card fatigue among points hobbyists. As the credit card space continues to evolve with higher annual fees, more complex benefits, and constant new products, some longtime enthusiasts are feeling overwhelmed. My take? Focus on the cards that align with your actual spending and travel patterns rather than chasing every new signup bonus. Quality over quantity will serve you better in the long run, especially as issuers get more restrictive about approvals. On the airline route front, China Eastern is launching an interesting new fifth freedom flight from Auckland to Buenos Aires. This will reportedly be the world's most southerly long-haul route and could offer some unique redemption opportunities for those looking to visit South America via New Zealand. Keep this route in mind if you're planning any trips to that part of the world. American Airlines has temporarily suspended its Doha flights due to safety concerns in the region, following U.S. Embassy warnings. This affects the carrier's only route to the Middle East and could impact award availability to other destinations in that region. If you had any American Airlines awards booked through Doha, contact the airline immediately to discuss rebooking options. For those keeping track of airport lounge developments, Capital One has opened what they're calling their flagship lounge at JFK Airport. This twenty-four seven operation is being positioned as a premium offering and could signal Capital One's serious intentions in the lounge space. If you have access through a Capital One Venture X or other qualifying card, it's worth checking out on your next JFK transit. Finally, for those in the New York area, there's some good news for budget-conscious travelers. The Port Authority has reduced AirTrain fares to JFK by fifty percent to ease summer traffic congestion. While this isn't miles and points related, every dollar saved on ground transportation is a dollar you can put toward your next award trip. That wraps up today's miles and points news. Remember, the key to success in this hobby is staying informed about changes and being flexible with your strategies. Before we sign off, if you're 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 another episode of Miles and Points Daily Podcast! If you found today's show helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until next time, keep earning and keep exploring!