✈️ Chase Sapphire's 100K Return, Air India's Secret United Sweet Spot, and European Summer Escapes

Hello and welcome to Miles & Points Daily Podcast! I'm your host Lucas, and I'm thrilled to be bringing you the latest and greatest news from the world of travel rewards. It's a beautiful day to maximize your points, and I've got some juicy stories that might just help you do exactly that!

First up, we've got some incredible news for Chase cardholders! Chase has just relaunched one of the best credit card deals we've seen in nearly four years. They're offering a whopping one hundred thousand points bonus on their Sapphire Preferred Card. This is an absolute gem of an offer that we haven't seen since around two thousand and twenty-one. You can redeem these points at one point two five cents each through Chase's travel portal, or better yet, transfer them to airline and hotel partners for potentially even more value. If you've been on the fence about getting a new travel card, this might be the perfect time to jump in!

Now, speaking of incredible value, here's something even the experts might have missed. Did you know that Air India's Maharaja Club offers what might be the absolute best deal for United Airlines domestic flight redemptions? We're talking about United First Class for just seven thousand points or economy for a mere three thousand five hundred points. That's when saver awards are available, of course. This hidden gem is little-known, probably because these points are tough for most Americans to earn, but if you can get your hands on them, it's an absolute steal compared to using United's own MileagePlus program.

In less exciting hotel news, View from the Wing reports that a Holiday Inn Express in Hudson, Wisconsin is charging what might be the most honest resort fee ever. And by honest, I mean they're essentially admitting it gives you absolutely nothing and exists solely to make the advertised price look lower. It's a frustrating reminder of how these junk fees continue to plague the hotel industry. My tip? Always check the final price including all fees when comparing hotel options, and consider booking with hotel programs that waive resort fees on award stays, like Hyatt does for all elite members.

Now, for those planning summer travel to Europe, The Points Guy has a great article on nine European summer destinations where you can beat the heat. With Greece experiencing some of its longest-lasting heat waves in recent years and the Acropolis even closing to visitors during peak heat last summer, you might want to consider alternatives like the Faroe Islands, Iceland, or even the cooler coastal areas of Portugal. These destinations offer beautiful experiences without the sweltering temperatures that have been plaguing southern Europe.

If you're a Citi ThankYou points collector, here's a deal worth noting: Citi is offering a thirty percent transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club through May seventeenth. This means your transferred points will go thirty percent further, potentially creating some excellent sweet spots for redemptions on partners like Air France, KLM, and of course, Virgin Atlantic itself. Frequent Miler notes that this could make some of the best uses of Virgin points significantly better if you find the right availability.

For those of you who are Marriott elite members, One Mile at a Time has a great breakdown of Marriott Bonvoy's complicated breakfast benefit. It's arguably the most complex breakfast policy among major hotel groups, with different benefits depending on the brand you're staying at and your elite status level. For instance, Platinum members and above get free breakfast at most brands, but at Ritz-Carlton properties, it's only offered if you choose it as your welcome amenity. And at Edition hotels? No free breakfast at all. If you're traveling soon, it's worth checking what you're entitled to before your stay.

Oh, and here's a bizarre flight story for you: A Transavia Boeing seven thirty-seven had to declare an emergency and divert over a mysterious iPad. According to One Mile at a Time, flight attendants found an iPad in the lavatory that didn't belong to any passengers or crew members. After the mysterious device couldn't be accounted for, the crew decided not to take any chances and diverted the aircraft. Talk about an abundance of caution! It's a good reminder that unattended electronic devices can cause serious security concerns onboard aircraft.

Speaking of flight disruptions, British Airways passengers experienced quite an ordeal when Mexican authorities conducted a drug raid on their aircraft as families were boarding a flight from Cancun to London Gatwick. The operation led to a more than twenty-four-hour delay, with passengers reportedly not getting hotel rooms until eight in the morning. Just imagine the frustration of those families! It's a stark reminder that when traveling, sometimes things beyond anyone's control can massively disrupt your plans. Always have a backup plan and know your rights as a passenger in these situations.

For those looking to save on gift cards, several good deals are currently available. Office Depot and OfficeMax are offering fifteen dollars off when you buy three hundred dollars or more in Visa gift cards through April nineteenth. And if you're an Apple user, Target is offering a free ten dollar Target gift card when you purchase a one hundred dollar Apple gift card from April thirteenth through the nineteenth. These promotions can be a great way to essentially get a discount on your regular spending.

Finally, if you're a Citi cardholder, check your Citi Offers for a deal with American Telephone and Telegraph Wireless – you might have an offer for fifty dollars off a sixty-five dollar purchase. This should work for existing American Telephone and Telegraph users too, making it a nice discount on your monthly phone bill.

Before we wrap up today's episode, I want to tell you about our 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 & Points Daily Podcast! Thank you so much for tuning in. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, keep earning those points and happy travels!