Hello everyone and welcome back to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast! I'm your host Lucas, and I'm here to help you navigate the wonderful world of miles, points, and credit card rewards. Today is September twenty-sixth, two thousand and twenty-four, and wow, do we have some exciting updates to share with you! From massive credit card bonuses to insider tips on maximizing your points, we've got everything you need to know to make your miles and points work harder for you. But first, let me tell you about a tool that's been a game-changer for many of our listeners. 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, ensuring you never miss out on savings. Now, let's dive into today's news! We're starting with some absolutely massive credit card bonuses that you definitely don't want to miss. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is currently offering an incredible one hundred and twenty thousand bonus points welcome offer. This is Southwest's most premium card and we're seeing the card's best offer of the year right now. The beauty of this bonus is that it could actually help you earn Southwest's coveted Companion Pass, which lets you bring a friend or family member along for free on every flight. If you're interested in this Southwest Performance Business card, you can get it by clicking the link in our show notes. Speaking of massive bonuses, there's an interesting story about unlocking one hundred thousand Star Alliance points with just a ninety-five dollar annual fee card. What makes this particularly exciting is that you can redeem these points across Star Alliance, Emirates, Etihad, Oman Air, and more airlines than virtually any other program. The flexibility here is incredible - you're not locked into just one airline alliance, which gives you so many more redemption options. For those of you who like to think outside the box with your points earning, there's some fascinating news about the Mesa Card. This no-fee card lets you earn airline miles on your mortgage payments, plus three times points on daycare, insurance, and even taxes. Right now, they're offering a rare fifty thousand point bonus, but here's the catch - this offer is only available until September thirtieth, so if you're interested, time is running out fast. The Mesa Card rarely offers bonuses, so this is definitely worth considering if you have large expenses in those categories. Now, let's talk about some important reminders for American Express Platinum cardholders. If you have either the personal Platinum or Business Platinum card, make sure you're taking advantage of your monthly and quarterly credits before the end of September. We're talking about up to two hundred and thirty-eight dollars in credits that you could be missing out on if you don't use them. These credits reset, so it's literally use them or lose them. Check your Amex app and see what credits you still have available. For our listeners who love aspirational hotel stays, there's a great guide out about twenty-four of the best points hotels around the world, covering everything from Iceland to the Red Sea. These are the types of properties that can make your points feel incredibly valuable - we're talking about hotels that would normally cost thousands of dollars per night, but can be booked with points for a fraction of that cost. It's these kinds of redemptions that make the miles and points game so rewarding. There's also comprehensive coverage of the current credit card landscape, with twenty-three cards currently offering welcome bonuses of one hundred thousand points or more. This shows just how competitive the credit card market is right now, which is fantastic news for consumers. The key is finding the right card that matches your spending patterns and travel goals. And for our business travelers and frequent Southwest flyers, the Southwest Performance Business card review highlights why this card offers solid benefits for those who fly Southwest regularly. With the current one hundred and twenty thousand point bonus, the value proposition is even stronger. Remember, you can get this card by clicking the link in our show notes. If you're looking to maximize your American Express Membership Rewards points, there's excellent guidance available on how to earn, redeem, and transfer points effectively. Membership Rewards is one of the most flexible point currencies out there, with transfer partners including many major airlines and hotel chains. The key is understanding which transfers offer the best value for your specific travel goals. For Alaska Airlines flyers, there's updated information about their status match and challenge programs. If you have status with another airline and are considering a switch to Alaska, their status match program could be a great way to maintain your elite benefits while exploring what Alaska has to offer. Finally, there are some great points and miles travel deals available for September two thousand and twenty-five. Yes, you heard that right - we're already seeing deals for next September! This shows the importance of planning ahead in the miles and points world. The best award availability often gets snapped up quickly, so thinking ahead can really pay off. Before we wrap up, I want to remind everyone that managing schedule changes effectively can actually work in your favor. Airlines change schedules frequently, and knowing your rights and options when this happens can sometimes lead to better flights or even full refunds when you want them. It's all about knowing the rules and using them to your advantage. That wraps up today's Miles and Points Daily Podcast! 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 so much for listening today! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the Miles and Points Daily Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and don't forget to visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for even more tips, tricks, and deals. Until next time, keep earning and keep traveling!