Welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm here to keep you updated on the latest news in the world of miles, points, and credit card rewards. Whether you're dreaming of your next first-class flight or hunting for the perfect hotel redemption, I've got the scoop that'll help you maximize every point. Let's dive into today's news! Before we get started, 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, making sure you're always getting the best deal. Check it out in our shownotes. Now, let's talk about one of the biggest stories in credit cards right now. Gary from View from the Wing has unboxed the new Citi Strata Elite Card and found over two thousand four hundred dollars in value waiting inside. This is part of Citi's complete overhaul of their ThankYou points earning card portfolio. The Citi Strata lineup now includes three products: the Citi Strata Elite Card, the Citi Strata Premier Card, and the basic Citi Strata Card. Ben from One Mile at a Time has also covered the eligibility rules for these new cards, which is crucial information if you're considering applying. My recommendation? If you're interested in the Citi Strata Elite Card, make sure you understand the eligibility requirements before applying. Check out the link in our shownotes to get the card and don't miss out on that impressive sign-up bonus. Speaking of valuable companion benefits, let's talk about the Alaska and Hawaiian ninety-nine dollar companion fare credit card benefit. Ben Schlappig has explained how this works, and it's one of the most valuable companion tickets available. The benefit is valid for flights on both Alaska and Hawaiian airlines, making it incredibly versatile for West Coast and Pacific travel. If you're a frequent traveler on these routes, this companion fare can save you hundreds of dollars annually. My tip here is to plan ahead - companion fares often have blackout dates, so booking early gives you the best shot at availability. Now, shifting to some concerning industry news - we're seeing significant labor tensions at American Airlines. Six unions have staged what they're calling a rare 'intervention' over what they perceive as failing management. The unions are worried that an underperforming airline means less money for wages and job security in the long run. This is particularly notable because American has been falling behind Delta and United in financial performance. For travelers, this could mean potential service disruptions down the line, so if you're heavily invested in American Airlines miles, you might want to diversify your loyalty strategy. Here's something that caught my attention from the Frequent Miler team - Avios transfers between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus have been temporarily suspended. This is a major blow to one of Avios' biggest strengths - the ability to freely move points between all airlines that use Avios as their currency. Nick Reyes is reporting this as potentially temporary, but it's definitely something to watch. If you have Avios spread across these programs, you might want to consolidate them in your preferred program before making any major redemptions. The suspension affects the methods you typically use to combine Avios for better award availability. Looking at some banking news from Doctor of Credit, there are several interesting checking account bonuses available. S and T Bank is offering up to four hundred dollars for new checking accounts in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Teachers Federal Credit Union has a three hundred dollar checking bonus for New York and Florida residents. And Grasshopper Bank is offering a two hundred dollar business checking referral bonus. For those of you who like to maximize bank account bonuses alongside your credit card churning, these could be worth considering. Just make sure you can meet the requirements and that the accounts make sense for your banking needs. There's also an interesting development from Chase that curmudgeon shared with Doctor of Credit. Chase has something called 'Float Pay' where they hold your payment for seven days even after you've paid off your card in full. This means your available credit limit won't show up immediately, which could be problematic if you're trying to hit spending requirements on a new card. If this happens to you, contact Chase directly - they should be able to explain what's going on with your specific account. Finally, let's end on a high note with some great last chance deals from Frequent Miler. Stephen Pepper has identified three transfer bonuses ending soon, along with many hotel promotions and Flying Blue Promo Rewards. With Sunday August thirty-first being the last day of the month, there are more than twenty-five deals ending this week, including three transfer bonuses to Avianca. My advice? Take a quick look at these deals today and see if any align with your upcoming travel plans. Transfer bonuses can be incredibly valuable when you have a specific redemption in mind. That wraps up today's Miles and Points Daily Podcast! 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 shownotes. Thanks for listening to today's episode! If you found this helpful, please subscribe to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until next time, keep earning those points and miles!