Hello, and welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm thrilled to have you join me for another exciting episode. Today we're diving into some fantastic developments in the miles and points world, including some great hotel card offers and sweet spots that are about to get a little less sweet. But first, let me tell you about a game-changing tool that could save you thousands of 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, so you never miss an opportunity to save points. Now, let's get into today's miles and points news. We've got some exciting developments from Flying Blue, some disappointing news from Emirates, and some fantastic credit card offers to discuss. First up, Air France-KLM Flying Blue has just released their Promo Rewards list for August two thousand and twenty-five, offering twenty-five percent savings on both short-haul and long-haul awards. This is a fantastic opportunity to stretch your Flying Blue miles further. Flying Blue regularly offers these promotional awards, and they're genuinely good deals. My tip here is to check the list as soon as possible because the best routes tend to get snapped up quickly. If you've been sitting on Flying Blue miles or can transfer points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, this could be the perfect time to book that European getaway or long-haul adventure. Speaking of programs making changes, Emirates Skywards has unfortunately hiked fees on US fifth freedom award flights. This is a real bummer because these routes were one of the best sweet spots in the Emirates program, especially for US-based members. Fifth freedom flights are when an airline operates between two countries that aren't its home base, and Emirates had some fantastic deals on routes like New York to Milan. The increased fees make these awards significantly less attractive. My recommendation is to book any Emirates awards you've been considering sooner rather than later, as we often see loyalty programs continue to devalue their best redemptions over time. Now, let's talk about some exciting credit card offers. Marriott Bonvoy cards currently have some limited-time elevated bonuses, with the potential to earn up to one hundred and eighty-five thousand points. These offers are available across both Chase and American Express Marriott cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, along with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card, all have competitive welcome bonuses right now. If you're planning any hotel stays in the next year, these cards can provide tremendous value. You can get these cards by clicking the links in our show notes. For those looking at hotel cards with lower spending requirements, there are several excellent options available. Cards like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Credit Card offer solid welcome bonuses without requiring you to spend thousands of dollars in the first few months. These are perfect for people who want to earn hotel points and elite status benefits without the pressure of meeting high spending thresholds. Again, you can find links to apply for these cards in our show notes. Speaking of Hyatt, there's currently a bonus promotion where you can earn fifteen percent more World of Hyatt points by staying at Under Canvas glamping properties through the end of the year. This is a fun way to earn bonus points while trying something different from traditional hotel stays. Just make sure to register for the promotion before you book. If you have Hyatt Category one through four free night certificates lying around, now might be a good time to use them. There are some excellent Category four properties that offer outstanding value, including some Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, and Andaz properties. The key is to look for properties where the cash rate is high but the category stays at four, maximizing the value of your free night certificate. For those interested in American Airlines, there's useful guidance available about the best times to apply for AAdvantage credit cards based on historical offer patterns. The data shows that certain times of the year tend to produce better welcome bonuses, so timing your application can make a significant difference in the value you receive. Finally, let's talk about maximizing Chase Ultimate Rewards points. With one hundred thousand Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can easily get over two thousand dollars of value through strategic redemptions. The key is understanding your transfer partners and knowing when to transfer versus when to book through the Chase portal. Some of the best redemptions include transferring to partners like United, Southwest, or World of Hyatt for premium cabin flights or luxury hotel stays. That wraps up today's miles and points news! Remember, the world of miles and points moves fast, so it's important to act on good deals when you see them. Whether it's those Flying Blue Promo Rewards or the elevated Marriott Bonvoy card offers, the best opportunities don't last forever. 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 tuning in to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! If you found today's episode helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until next time, keep earning and keep exploring!