Hello and welcome to Miles and Points Daily Podcast, where we bring you the latest news from the world of travel rewards every day. I'm Lucas, your host, and whether you're chasing elite status, maximizing credit card sign-up bonuses, or just trying to figure out which points program to focus on, we've got you covered. Let's jump into today's top stories from the miles and points world.

But first, let me tell you about a tool that could save you thousands of points on your hotel stays. Introducing hotelredemptions.com, a service that monitors your existing hotel bookings and alerts you when you can rebook the same stay for fewer points. It's like having a personal assistant watching the award charts twenty-four seven, so you never miss out on a better redemption rate. Check it out using our link in the show notes.

Let's start with some exciting airline news from Turkish Airlines, which has just announced a massive order for up to seventy-five Boeing seven eight sevens. This includes firm orders for thirty-five seven eight seven dash nines and fifteen seven eight seven dash tens, with options for twenty-five more aircraft. What makes this particularly interesting for points enthusiasts is that Turkish Airlines is continuing its aggressive expansion, which could mean more award availability and new routes to chase. The airline is aiming to double its fleet size as part of its two thousand thirty-three vision, which is fantastic news if you're sitting on a stash of Turkish Miles and Smiles points. My tip: Keep an eye on Turkish's transfer partners like Citi ThankYou Rewards, as more aircraft often means better award space on popular routes.

Speaking of aircraft orders, Boeing is getting some much-needed good news. The F A A is allowing Boeing to issue its own airworthiness certificates again for new seven three seven M A X and seven eight seven aircraft. This hasn't been possible for the seven three seven M A X since two thousand nineteen and for the seven eight seven since two thousand twenty-two. For those of us who fly frequently, this should help airlines receive their new planes faster, which means better aircraft availability and potentially more award seats. The F A A claims they're confident in Boeing's quality improvements, and frankly, faster plane deliveries benefit everyone in the points game.

Now let's talk about some fantastic news for United Airlines flyers. United is continuing its rollout of free Starlink Wi-Fi, and we're about to see it on mainline aircraft for the first time. The first Boeing seven three seven eight hundred with Starlink is expected to enter service on October fifteenth, launching from Newark. Over half of the United Express fleet already has Starlink installed, and United plans to eventually outfit more than one thousand aircraft with this service. This is completely free for all MileagePlus members, which makes United's Wi-Fi offering extremely competitive. If you're a frequent United flyer, this upgrade alone could justify focusing your loyalty on United over other carriers.

Delta is adding some exciting new European service for summer two thousand twenty-six. The airline will launch daily seasonal flights between New York J F K and Porto, Portugal, starting May twenty-first. This will be Delta's first route to Porto and their second Portuguese destination after Lisbon. They'll use Boeing seven six seven three hundreds for this route. Porto is a beautiful destination, and having direct service from New York makes it much more accessible for points redemptions. Keep in mind that this is seasonal service, so plan accordingly if you're looking to use Delta miles for a Portuguese adventure.

Let's talk about some concerning news from Spirit Airlines. The budget carrier is pulling out of Minneapolis and Hartford entirely and cutting around forty routes - that's about a quarter of their network. This is part of their chapter eleven bankruptcy restructuring process. For points enthusiasts, this is a reminder of why diversification matters. While Spirit doesn't have a traditional loyalty program, their route cuts could affect award availability on partner airlines serving these markets. If you were planning to use Spirit for positioning flights to save on award ticket costs, you'll need to adjust your strategy.

Air Tahiti Nui is making some tough decisions, canceling their Seattle to Papeete route as of January twenty-eighth, two thousand twenty-six. This route was the airline's most unprofitable, losing sixteen point three million dollars in two thousand twenty-four alone. For those with French Polynesia travel dreams, this means fewer options from the Pacific Northwest. Los Angeles remains their only profitable U.S. route, so that's likely where you'll need to focus your award travel plans for Tahiti.

On the hotel side, Lufthansa has unveiled a stunning centennial livery on their new Boeing seven eight seven nine. While this doesn't directly affect miles and points, special liveries like this often become collector's items for aviation enthusiasts, and Lufthansa's Miles and More program offers some unique redemption opportunities. The airline is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary in two thousand twenty-six, so we might see some special promotions for Miles and More members.

Here's some practical credit card advice: The Points Guy has updated their comparison of credit cards for Uber and Lyft purchases. The Chase Sapphire Reserve leads with five points per dollar on Lyft through September thirtieth, two thousand twenty-seven, giving you about ten point two five percent return value. The American Express Green Card offers three points per dollar on all transit, including both Uber and Lyft, for a solid six percent return. If you're a frequent ride-share user, using the right card can add up to thousands of extra points per year.

Speaking of American Express, their Membership Rewards points continue to be valued at two cents each according to The Points Guy's September valuations. This makes them among the most valuable transferable points currencies available. If you're building up Amex points, remember that transfer partners like Air France-K L M Flying Blue, British Airways, and Singapore KrisFlyer often offer the best redemption values.

For those interested in maximizing multiple premium cards, there's compelling logic in holding both the American Express Gold and Platinum cards simultaneously. While the combined annual fees exceed twelve hundred dollars, the earning rates and benefits complement each other perfectly. Use the Platinum for flights and hotels to earn five points per dollar, and use the Gold for dining and grocery purchases to earn four points per dollar. The statement credits alone can more than offset the annual fees if you maximize them properly.

There are some great ongoing promotions worth highlighting. I H G One Rewards is offering triple points at participating Voco, Even, Garner, Avid, and Atwell Suites properties through September thirtieth. Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can earn seven hundred fifty bonus Avios on their first Hilton stay by September thirtieth. And World of Hyatt is offering seven hundred seventy-seven bonus points per night at participating properties worldwide through September thirtieth.

For those planning trips to Zion National Park, there are some excellent points-friendly glamping options. Under Canvas Zion, bookable through World of Hyatt, offers luxury safari-style tents starting around twenty-eight thousand two hundred fifty points per night. AutoCamp Zion, bookable through Hilton Honors, offers Airstream suites starting at sixty-one thousand points per night. Both provide unique experiences that combine outdoor adventure with luxury amenities.

Before we wrap up, let me share a quick tip about the new Citi Strata Elite Card and their Citi Nights promotion. Every Friday and Saturday between six P M and six A M Eastern time, you'll earn six points per dollar at restaurants instead of the usual three points. This is a fifty percent bonus during weekend dining hours, which can really add up if you time your meals strategically. Just remember, it's based on Eastern time regardless of where you are.

That's all for today's episode of Miles and Points Daily Podcast. If you found this helpful, please subscribe to get our daily updates on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for show notes and links to all the stories we discussed today.

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, and happy travels!