Hello and welcome to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm Lucas, your host, and I'm here to keep you updated on all the latest news from the world of miles, points, and travel rewards. It's been another wild week in the points game, and I've got some fascinating stories to share with you today. From Hilton's sneaky breakfast benefit cuts to Delta's surprising new route announcement, and yes, we'll even talk about a bartender who's spreading myths about Sky Club tips. But first, let me tell you about a fantastic tool that could 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 news. Let's start with some disappointing news from Hilton that might have you reconsidering your loyalty. Four years ago, Hilton eliminated free breakfast as a benefit for Honors Gold and Diamond members at U.S. properties. Instead, they replaced it with a small food and beverage credit that can be used throughout the day. Here's the kicker: inflation has been eating away at the value of this credit for years now. What used to buy you a decent breakfast replacement now barely covers a coffee and pastry at most properties. If you're a Hilton elite member, my recommendation is to really maximize that food and beverage credit by using it for higher-value items like premium drinks or room service rather than settling for basic breakfast items. Also, consider booking at properties where the credit goes further, typically those outside major metropolitan areas. Speaking of lounges and tips, there's been some confusion at Delta Sky Clubs that needs clearing up. A bartender was telling customers that when you pay for premium drinks with SkyMiles, Delta pockets the tip and doesn't pass it to the server. This is completely false. Delta has confirmed that tips paid with miles are indeed passed through to the bartenders and servers. The system works just like cash tips. If you're enjoying premium cocktails at a Sky Club and paying with miles, don't let this myth stop you from tipping appropriately. The staff do receive those tips, and they certainly appreciate the gesture. Here's some exciting news for credit card holders who frequent Chicago O'Hare. United and American Airlines are losing their lounge veto power at the airport's new Global Terminal. This means we could finally see Amex, Chase, or Capital One lounges at O'Hare, along with Priority Pass locations. The new terminal opens up opportunities for bank-issued credit card lounges and third-party lounge networks that have been blocked for years. If you have premium credit cards from these issuers, keep an eye on announcements about new lounge openings at O'Hare. It could significantly improve your layover experience in Chicago. Now, let's talk about the Denver Amex Centurion Lounge, which is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Reports suggest forty-minute waits for food, with the main attraction being actual beef dishes, something that's become increasingly rare in Centurion lounges as food budgets appear to have been cut. The question is whether these long waits are worth it for the premium food offerings. My advice: if you're connecting through Denver and have Centurion access, time your visit strategically. Avoid peak meal times if possible, or plan for a longer layover if you really want to experience the food. Consider it more of a dining experience than a quick lounge visit. Let's shift to some credit card news. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve now costing seven hundred and ninety-five dollars annually, many travelers are reconsidering their options. There are several excellent alternatives worth considering, including cards with lower annual fees that still offer substantial value. If you're thinking about moving away from the Sapphire Reserve, look at cards like the Capital One Venture X, which offers similar travel benefits at a lower annual fee, or consider Chase's own business cards if you qualify. The Ink Business Preferred, for example, offers fantastic earning rates and transfer partners without the high personal card annual fee. You can find links to all these cards in our show notes. Here's some interesting news about United's premium economy expansion. The airline is planning to add more seats to its premium economy cabin, citing immense demand from passengers who want that middle ground between economy and business class. This is great news for points and miles enthusiasts because premium economy awards often offer much better value than business class while still providing a significantly more comfortable experience. If you're planning future redemptions, consider looking at United's premium economy options, especially on long-haul routes. The sweet spot for value is often in premium economy, where you get much better comfort for a relatively modest increase in miles compared to economy. For those of you interested in transferring points to Emirates, this is your last chance. The one-to-one transfer ratio from American Express to Emirates Skywards is ending soon. If you have Emirates redemptions planned or are considering their award chart, now is the time to make those transfers. Emirates has some excellent redemption opportunities, particularly for first-class awards to destinations like Dubai and beyond. Just remember that Emirates does impose fuel surcharges on many routes, so factor that into your calculations. Finally, here's some exciting route news from Delta. The airline has announced plans to launch service from Los Angeles to Hong Kong starting in June two thousand and twenty-six. This fills a significant gap in Delta's Asian network and provides a great redemption opportunity for SkyMiles members on the West Coast. Mark your calendars for when these flights go on sale, which should be in the next few days. Hong Kong is an excellent gateway to Asia and often offers good award availability compared to other major Asian destinations. That wraps up today's news roundup. Before we go, I want to tell you about Award Travel Finder. 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 listening 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 burning those points wisely!