Hello and welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast. I'm Lucas, your host, and if you're like me, you probably check your credit card account balance more often than your actual bank account balance. Today we've got some exciting news from the credit card world, including a major new addition to Citi's transfer partners that's going to make American Airlines fans very happy. But first, let me tell you about a fantastic tool that can save you 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. Check out the link in our show notes to learn more.

Now, let's dive into today's biggest story. Citi has just launched their highly anticipated Strata Elite card, and more importantly, they've added American Airlines as a one-to-one transfer partner for their ThankYou points program. This is huge news, folks. The Citi Strata Elite card comes with a five hundred and ninety-five dollar annual fee and an eighty thousand ThankYou points welcome bonus after spending four thousand dollars in the first three months. What makes this particularly exciting is that you can now transfer those points directly to American Airlines AAdvantage at a one-to-one ratio. The card also offers some nice perks like Admirals Club lounge passes and solid earning rates on travel and dining. If you're interested in applying, you can find the link in our show notes.

But here's the even better news - this American Airlines transfer partnership isn't just for the new Strata Elite card. Existing Citi Prestige and Strata Premier cardholders can also now transfer their ThankYou points to American Airlines. This significantly expands the value proposition of Citi's ThankYou program, especially if you're loyal to American Airlines or Oneworld partners.

Speaking of Citi, they've also rebranded their Rewards Plus card as the new Citi Strata card. It's getting some positive improvements to its bonus categories while maintaining its no annual fee structure. It's worth checking out if you're looking for a solid everyday spending card.

Now, let me share some interesting intel from the hotel world. According to a report from View from the Wing, Marriott has allegedly extended their property renovation requirements, now allowing hotels to go up to twenty-one years without major renovations. This could explain why you sometimes encounter those dated hotel rooms that clearly haven't seen an update since the early two thousands. As a points and miles enthusiast, this is something to keep in mind when booking with your hard-earned points. You might want to check recent reviews and photos before confirming your reservation.

On a more positive hotel note, we're hearing great things about Hyatt's elite benefits continuing to shine. A recent trip report highlighted how Hyatt Globalist status delivered exceptional value at The Chatwal in New York, including a suite upgrade with a three hundred and twenty square foot terrace. This is exactly why many of us chase hotel elite status - those moments when it really pays off. If you're working towards Hyatt elite status, remember that the World of Hyatt credit card can help accelerate your progress.

Shifting gears to airline lounges, Air New Zealand is planning an impressive two-tier flagship Koru Lounge at Auckland Airport, complete with an elite area for their highest-tier members. It's always exciting to see airlines investing in their lounge products, especially in competitive markets like Auckland.

For those of you into shopping portals, there's a limited-time offer running today only - up to four times bonus airline miles on Apple purchases through various airline shopping portals. If you were planning any Apple purchases, today would be the day to do it. Just make sure to check which portal offers the best rate for your preferred airline program.

Now here's a cautionary tale from Las Vegas that all travelers should hear. A guest at Paris Las Vegas was charged fifty dollars for unplugging a cord to charge their laptop. Yes, you heard that right - fifty dollars for using an electrical outlet. This is on top of reports of twenty-six dollar bottles of water at other Vegas properties. These kinds of fees are exactly why it's crucial to read the fine print and understand what you're getting into, especially when booking with points where you might not scrutinize the property details as closely as when paying cash.

For our international travelers, there's an amusing story from China where an airport lounge requires visitors to have two point eight million dollars in assets for entry. While most of us won't qualify for that particular lounge, it's a good reminder that Priority Pass and credit card lounge access can provide great value when traveling.

One more quick update for U.S. Bank Smartly cardholders - the bank is making some changes to existing cardholders starting September fifteenth. If you have this card, make sure to check any recent communications from U.S. Bank about how these changes might affect your rewards earning.

Before we wrap up, I want to remind you about an excellent resource for finding award flights. 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 a wrap for today's Miles and Points Daily Podcast. The addition of American Airlines as a Citi transfer partner is genuinely exciting news that opens up new redemption possibilities for ThankYou points holders. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for more miles and points news. Until tomorrow, keep earning and burning those points wisely.