Welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast, your go-to source for all things miles and points. I'm Lucas, your host, and today we've got some really exciting news to dive into. Before we get started, I want to tell you about a fantastic tool that's been saving me tons of points lately. Introducing HotelRedemptions.com, a tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for fewer points. It's like having a personal assistant watching your reservations twenty-four seven. Check out the link in our show notes to start saving on your hotel stays today.

Now, let's jump into today's top stories. First up, we have some big news from Chase. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has just launched a seventy-five thousand point sign-up bonus, which is absolutely massive for this card. What makes this even more interesting is that the Preferred is now preserving a crucial benefit that the Sapphire Reserve recently dropped. This comes at a time when Chase's new rules make it possible to hold both a Sapphire Preferred and Reserve simultaneously, though you won't likely be offered the initial bonus if you have an open Sapphire account or if you've gotten a bonus for the card in the past.

My recommendation here is pretty straightforward. If you're eligible for this bonus and don't currently have a Sapphire product, this is an excellent time to jump on the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Seventy-five thousand points is worth at least seven hundred and fifty dollars when transferred to travel partners, and potentially much more depending on how you redeem them. You can get this card by clicking the link in our show notes.

Speaking of Chase Sapphire benefits, there's also news about a unique Chase Sapphire Preferred ten percent anniversary bonus points feature. This is something that sets the Preferred apart and adds real long-term value to cardholders. It's these kinds of benefits that make the annual fee worthwhile over time.

Now, let's talk about some major route announcements from Delta. We're hearing leaked reports that Delta is planning some significant Middle East expansion with Atlanta nonstops to both Israel and Saudi Arabia coming in an end-of-year announcement. This would be a major strategic move for Delta, especially the Saudi Arabia route, as the kingdom continues to open up to tourism and business travel.

Additionally, Delta is reportedly planning to announce Los Angeles to Hong Kong service in the coming weeks, with flights expected to launch in two thousand and twenty-six. This is particularly interesting because Delta has tried this route before and it didn't work out. The question is whether conditions have changed enough to make this route viable now.

For miles and points enthusiasts, these new Delta routes could open up some excellent redemption opportunities, especially if you're sitting on Delta SkyMiles or have transferable points from American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards. Keep an eye on these announcements because new routes often come with promotional award pricing.

In other news, American Airlines is adding three new routes in a big Latin America expansion. This gives winter-weary travelers some warm-weather escapes later this year. New routes mean new opportunities for award travel, so if you have American Airlines AAdvantage miles or transferable points, these could be worth exploring.

On the hotel side, we have an interesting story about a Marriott guest who refused to put up with a hotel denying elite benefits. The guest actually handed staff a form demanding a one hundred dollar cash penalty when the Sheraton Grand Seattle wouldn't honor Marriott elite benefits. This highlights an ongoing issue where some properties, particularly those that might be older franchise agreements, don't always honor the benefits they're supposed to provide to elite members.

My tip here is to always know your elite benefits and don't be afraid to politely but firmly insist on receiving what you're entitled to. If a hotel refuses to honor your elite benefits, document everything and file a complaint with the hotel chain's customer service after your stay. Most major chains take these complaints seriously and will often provide compensation for the inconvenience.

There's also some concerning news in the car rental space. Advantage Rent A Car appears to be shutting down again, with locations in Las Vegas, Orlando, Dallas, and Denver reportedly closing. This would be their fourth bankruptcy if they file again. For those who earn miles and points through car rentals, this is a good reminder to diversify your rental partners and not rely too heavily on any one company.

We're also hearing about Hertz using AI to go after five times as many customers as before for minor damage claims. The rate at which they're sending out bills is apparently skyrocketing. This is something to keep in mind when renting cars - always do a thorough inspection before and after your rental, and take photos of any existing damage.

Finally, there's a great Caesars American Express Offer available right now. You can spend two hundred dollars and get forty dollars back at Caesars properties in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Reno. There's also a higher tier offer of eighty dollars back on four hundred dollars or more in spend. If you're planning a trip to any of these destinations, this could be a nice way to save some money.

That wraps up today's miles and points news. Before we go, I want to tell you about Award Travel Finder. 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. You can 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. We'll be back tomorrow with more miles and points news. Until then, happy travels!