Welcome back to Miles and Points Daily, I'm your host Lucas, and if you're anything like me, you probably woke up this morning wondering if there was a way to make hotel booking even more confusing than it already is. Well, good news – the airlines heard your prayers and said 'hold our champagne,' but we'll get to that in a minute. First, let me tell you about a tool that's actually making hotel booking easier. Before we dive into today's news, I want to tell you about HotelRedemptions.com, a fantastic tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for fewer points. It's like having a personal assistant who never sleeps and is obsessed with saving you points – which, let's be honest, sounds exactly like all of us. Let's start with some genuinely exciting news from the hotel world. Hyatt has finally launched something we've all been waiting for – a new award availability calendar that shows live availability for free nights. This isn't just showing you what the hotel would cost if it's available, but actual real-time award availability in calendar format. If you've ever tried to book a Hyatt award night and found yourself clicking through date after date wondering if anything is actually available, this is a game-changer. My tip here is to bookmark this feature and use it for planning your future trips. Being able to see availability at a glance across multiple dates will save you hours of frustration. Speaking of Hyatt, they've also been busy with acquisitions. The hotel giant has officially integrated Bunkhouse properties into the World of Hyatt program. This follows their earlier integration of The Standard hotels back in May. For those not familiar, Bunkhouse operates unique boutique properties, and now you can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points at these locations. If you're a World of Hyatt member, keep an eye out for these new redemption opportunities, especially in markets where Bunkhouse has a presence. Now, let's talk about Bilt Rewards, because they've just launched something that might actually fix what we all hate about travel portals. Their new travel portal promises direct airline and hotel booking, plus they're offering Virtuoso luxury benefits through their 'Home Away From Home' program. What makes this interesting is that you don't need an expensive credit card to get these luxury travel benefits – they're extending them to their members regardless. If you're a Bilt member, this could be worth exploring, especially if you're looking for luxury hotel perks without the hefty annual fee. Here's a quick earning opportunity for those of you who use Lyft. The rideshare company has boosted Alaska Airlines mileage earning up to three times. Make sure you're linking your Lyft account to either Alaska Airlines or Bilt Rewards to maximize your earning potential. If you're in a market where you regularly use Lyft, this could add up to meaningful miles over time. The key here is stacking – use a credit card that earns bonus points on transportation spending, link to your preferred loyalty program, and watch the miles accumulate. Now, let's talk about some credit card news. United has some impressive welcome bonuses right now, particularly on the United Quest Card, which is offering what they're calling their highest-ever bonus worth thirteen hundred dollars. If you're considering a United credit card, this could be an excellent time to apply. You can get the card by clicking the link in our show notes. Speaking of credit cards, there's news about a new premium card from Citi called the Strata Elite that's launching soon. Details are still limited, but it's positioned as a premium offering, so we'll be keeping an eye on this one for you. And here's something interesting for those with select Delta Amex cards or the Apple Card – you can now get a complimentary Uber One membership through statement credits or a free trial. It's a small perk, but if you're already using Uber regularly, it's essentially free money. Now, let's get to some of the more concerning news from the airline world. Both United and Delta have been dropping hints about something called 'basic business class' – essentially unbundling their premium cabins. This could mean extra charges for things like bags and seats on fares that already cost twenty-five hundred dollars. As one airline executive put it, 'not everybody wants the full experience.' My advice? If you're planning to book business class, do it sooner rather than later, and pay attention to what's actually included in your fare. The era of premium cabin nickel-and-diming might be upon us. Finally, there's been some concerning news about British Airways first class awards. Award availability seems to have virtually disappeared, and it's unclear whether this is a temporary technical issue or a permanent change to their award release strategy. If you've been hoping to book British Airways first class with points, you might want to start looking at alternatives. That's all for today's Miles and Points Daily. Remember, the world of miles and points moves fast, but that's why we're here – to keep you informed and help you maximize your travel rewards. 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 Miles and Points Daily. Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for more travel rewards news and tips. Until tomorrow, keep earning those points!