✈️ IHG's Biggest Card Offer Ever, United's New Australia Route, and Southwest Asks for Customer Feedback

Welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast, your daily dose of travel hacking news and tips. I'm your host Lucas, and we've got a jam-packed episode today with all the latest miles, points, and travel news from the past 24 hours. Let's dive right into today's biggest story - IHG has just dropped what they're calling their biggest-ever credit card offer! According to View from the Wing, the new offer includes a whopping two hundred thousand IHG points plus automatic Platinum Elite status. The card comes with a ninety-nine dollar annual fee, but that's easily justified considering you get an anniversary free night certificate each year. Plus, cardholders get that fourth night free benefit when redeeming points for consecutive four-night stays, which can really stretch your points further. This is definitely one to consider if you're looking to add a new card to your wallet. Speaking of hotels, there's a helpful tip from Doctor of Credit worth mentioning - IHG is offering ten percent off the cash portion of Points plus Cash stays. While these hybrid rates aren't always the best value, there are some properties where this could work out well, so it's worth checking if you have a stay in mind. Next up, let's talk about airline news. United Airlines made a splash yesterday with some exciting route announcements. They're launching the first-ever nonstop service between the United States and Adelaide, Australia, operating from San Francisco. They're also adding new routes from Hong Kong to both Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. As View from the Wing points out, United has established itself as the truly global carrier among U.S. airlines, often pioneering routes to destinations without established partners or connecting traffic. Point Hacks notes that reward seats on the Adelaide route are already available through partner programs, so if you've been dreaming of visiting South Australia, now's your chance to plan ahead. In slightly more concerning airline news, American Airlines has frozen flight attendant hiring, which Gary Leff at View from the Wing suggests might be a sign of a travel recession. The U.S. economy appears to be slowing, and airlines are particularly vulnerable to economic downturns as businesses cut travel spending and consumers view leisure travel as discretionary. We're already seeing some pullback in airline schedules and lower fares in the market. On a different note, Southwest Airlines is asking customers if they've gone too far with recent changes to what was once a beloved airline. According to View from the Wing, Southwest is conducting a survey to gauge customer reaction to the various changes they've implemented over recent years. If you're a Southwest flyer, this might be a good time to provide your feedback. And speaking of Southwest, they're currently offering up to thirty percent off select paid and award flights with promo code TAKE30, as reported by Doctor of Credit. There's also a targeted promotion where you can earn five thousand bonus Rapid Rewards points when flying a round trip or two one-ways by April 30th, according to Frequent Miler. For international travelers, the UK has added a sixteen pound visa waiver fee for foreign visitors, including those from the United States. One Mile at a Time reports that this policy, which was introduced for Americans and select other foreigners earlier this year, has now been extended to those from the European Union. So if you're planning a trip to the UK, be aware of this extra step and cost. For those who love premium cabin travel, One Mile at a Time has a review of Austrian Airlines' new Boeing 787 business class from Vienna to Washington. Air France has also unveiled a refreshed business-class lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, catering specifically to long-haul travelers. Now here's a funny story - according to One Mile at a Time, authorities in Jamaica have claimed that Emirates is launching flights to their country. Emirates has denied this, but Jamaican officials are essentially claiming the airline doesn't know what it's talking about. We'll see how that plays out! For points enthusiasts, there are several transfer bonuses worth noting. American Express is offering a twenty percent transfer bonus to both Etihad and AeroMexico. Meanwhile, Chase Ultimate Rewards has an eighty percent transfer bonus to IHG, though as Frequent Miler points out, this is one to ignore as it's poor value for your points. And if you're a JetBlue TrueBlue member, there's good news - The Points Guy reports that you can now redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points on Icelandair flights, deepening the partnership between these two airlines. For Wyndham fans, it's the last week of Wyndham Member Month, and there are some new deals out today. Frequent Miler reports that for three-plus night stays at all-inclusives, you'll get a one hundred dollar property credit. There are also deals related to Wyndham's partnership with Caesars Rewards. The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program has published a new Promo Rewards list for April two thousand and twenty-five, offering discounted short haul and long haul awards. According to Prince of Travel, this includes deals to cities in North America and across the world. Finally, here's an interesting tidbit from View from the Wing - a Frontier Airlines pilot was spotted wearing a Trump hat on a flight from Los Angeles to Dallas-Fort Worth, which has sparked some controversy as this is generally not allowed by airlines and the photo is going viral across social media platforms. And now, a word from our sponsor: Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes. That wraps up our news for today. Thanks so much for listening to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe on all major podcast platforms or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until tomorrow, happy travels and even happier point collecting!