Welcome back to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast, I'm your host Lucas. Today we're diving into some truly exciting news that's going to make your miles and points heart sing. We've got a record-breaking IHG credit card offer that's literally never been this good, American Express launching a brand new lounge concept, and some fascinating developments in airline pricing that could actually save you money. But first, let me tell you about a tool that's going to revolutionize how you book hotels. 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 never miss an opportunity to save points. Check out the link in our show notes to get started. Now, let's jump into today's biggest story. IHG has just launched what they're calling their richest credit card deal ever, and honestly, that's not hyperbole. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is now offering five free night awards as a sign-up bonus, which can have a total value of up to three hundred thousand points. That's more than double the value of their previous offer. To put this in perspective, this is an absolutely massive deal. Those five free nights can be used at properties worth up to sixty thousand points each, meaning you could potentially stay at some seriously premium IHG properties. My recommendation? If you've been considering an IHG card, this is the time to act. These kinds of offers don't come around often, and Gary Leff mentioned this is only the second time he's seen IHG offer something this generous. You can get this card by clicking the link in our show notes. Moving on to lounge news, American Express is stepping up their game with a brand new lounge concept called Sidecar by Centurion Lounge. This is clearly their response to Capital One's success with their lounge innovations. The Sidecar lounges will have a speakeasy vibe with quick service food and ninety-minute stay limits. What's interesting is that these will be in airports where Amex already has Centurion lounges, essentially creating a two-tier system. The first location is expected to debut in two thousand and twenty-six. This is a smart move by Amex to address overcrowding in their main lounges while still providing value to cardholders. American Airlines is also jumping on the grab-and-go lounge trend with their new Provisions by Admirals Club concept. The first location is opening in Charlotte this summer, and as one headline humorously noted, passengers are already plotting to empty the fridges. This follows the success we've seen with similar concepts from other airlines. While it's not a full-service lounge, it's additional value for American Airlines passengers and a step in the right direction. Now here's something that might surprise you - airlines are increasingly using AI to set ticket prices, and contrary to what you might expect, this could actually be great news for your wallet. The key insight here is that AI doesn't just help airlines charge more; it helps them offer more low fares to more people without cannibalizing high-fare revenue. The AI can better segment customers and offer targeted pricing, which means more opportunities for deals if you're flexible and savvy about your booking strategies. On the international front, we have some exciting lounge news from Tokyo. The new Amex Centurion Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport is opening this week, marking the first-ever Centurion Lounge in Japan. This is huge news for anyone traveling through Tokyo, as Haneda is often more convenient than Narita for many travelers. The lounge will provide that premium Centurion experience we've come to expect from Amex. There's also a great deal worth mentioning - you can currently fly business class to Dublin for just forty-five thousand miles during peak season from several major US cities. This is excellent value for summer and fall travel to Ireland. For those looking at hotel deals, Choice Privileges is offering a forty percent discount on purchased points, bringing the cost down to just zero point six two cents per point. While Choice points have been devalued recently, this could still represent good value for specific redemptions, especially if you have a particular property in mind. Finally, the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York has reopened after an eight-year closure and multibillion-dollar renovation. The property is now welcoming guests months ahead of schedule, which is remarkable given the scope of the renovation. This is a significant development for luxury travelers and Hilton loyalists alike. That wraps up today's major miles and points news. Remember, the IHG credit card offer is truly exceptional and worth serious consideration if you're in the market for a new card. The five free nights could provide incredible value for your next vacation. Before we sign off, if you're looking for the best award flights, I want to tell you about AwardTravelFinder.com. This tool searches availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more, all in one place. You can 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. We'll be back tomorrow with more miles and points news to help you travel better for less. Until then, keep earning and burning those points wisely.