Welcome to the Miles & Points Daily Podcast. I'm Lucas, your host, and if you're like me, you probably check your credit card points balance more often than your actual bank account. Don't worry, I won't judge - we're all friends here in the points and miles obsession support group.

Before we dive into today's news, let me tell you about a fantastic tool that'll help you stretch those hard-earned hotel points even further. Introducing hotelredemptions.com, a tool that monitors your hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook for less points. Think of it as your personal hotel booking watchdog, making sure you never overpay in points again. Check it out - there's a link in our shownotes.

Now, let's get into today's miles and points news, and boy, do we have some stories that'll make you want to check your loyalty program terms and conditions.

First up, we need to talk about what could be a devastating blow to one of the best loyalty program benefits in the industry. A leaked survey reveals that Southwest Airlines is considering major changes to their Companion Pass program. For those unfamiliar, the Southwest Companion Pass is essentially the holy grail of domestic travel benefits - it lets you bring a companion along for free on almost every Southwest flight for an entire year, just paying taxes and fees.

According to the leaked survey, Southwest is exploring a new tiered elite program with either four or five levels, and here's the kicker - only the highest tier would receive the Companion Pass. The requirements being surveyed range from thirty to fifty roundtrips or one hundred thousand to one hundred sixty thousand points annually. That's a massive increase from the current requirement of one hundred twenty-five thousand points or one hundred qualifying one-way flights.

If you're currently working toward the Companion Pass or thinking about it, my recommendation is to earn it as soon as possible under the current rules. There's no guarantee these changes will happen, but surveys like this often signal the direction airlines are heading. Consider opening a Southwest credit card if you haven't already - the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card typically offers around fifty thousand points as a sign-up bonus, which gets you nearly halfway to the Companion Pass. You can find the link to apply in our shownotes.

Speaking of credit cards worth considering, let's talk about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card. This card has been making waves since its launch in March two thousand and twenty-four, and for good reason. It offers some impressive bonus categories and earns transferable points, which is relatively rare for Wells Fargo.

The card earns five points per dollar on hotels, four points per dollar on airlines, three points per dollar on other travel and transit, and two points per dollar on gas stations. The annual fee is reasonable, and the points transfer to several airline and hotel partners. If you're looking to diversify your credit card portfolio beyond Chase and American Express, this could be worth considering. The current sign-up bonus varies, so check our shownotes for the most up-to-date offer.

Now, let's discuss something that might affect your hotel stays going forward. Starting July fourteenth, Marriott will be using artificial intelligence to assign room upgrades instead of human staff. This is part of their broader push toward automation, but it raises questions about how this will impact the upgrade experience for elite members.

The AI system will consider factors like elite status, length of stay, and room availability, but it lacks the human touch that sometimes results in surprise upgrades or special treatment. My advice? Don't rely solely on automatic upgrades. Continue building relationships with hotel staff, and don't hesitate to politely inquire about upgrades at check-in. Sometimes a friendly conversation can still make the difference that an algorithm might miss.

For our Chase Sapphire Preferred fans out there, it's worth remembering why this card remains one of the best all-around travel rewards cards available. With its current welcome bonus, solid earning rates, and flexible Ultimate Rewards points, it continues to be an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced points enthusiasts. The card earns two points per dollar on travel and dining, and the points transfer to numerous airline and hotel partners at a one-to-one ratio. If you don't have this card yet, you can apply using the link in our shownotes.

Lastly, let's touch on something that shows how cost-cutting can go too far. American Airlines has reportedly restricted flight attendants' use of nitrile gloves, limiting them primarily to trash pickup duties. While this might seem minor, it highlights how airlines are cutting costs in increasingly granular ways. This doesn't directly affect your miles and points earning, but it's worth being aware of as airlines look for savings everywhere.

That wraps up today's Miles & Points Daily Podcast. Before I let you go, let me 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 shownotes.

Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you found this helpful, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com. Until next time, keep earning those points and miles, and remember - life's too short for economy class when you know how to play the points game right.