Hey there, points enthusiasts! Welcome to another episode of Miles & Points Daily. I'm Lucas, and I've got some interesting updates that might affect your travel plans, so let's dive right in!

First up, some major changes coming to United Airlines' MileagePlus program. According to View from the Wing, United is making three significant changes that'll take effect later this year. They're eliminating the popular Excursionist Perk, removing instant upgrades on full-fare tickets, and getting rid of the upgrade award chart. If you're a United frequent flyer, you'll want to lock in any awards using these benefits before the changes take effect.

In credit card news, there are some exciting new offers to discuss. The Citi AAdvantage Executive card is now offering a whopping 100,000 bonus miles after spending 10,000 dollars in the first three months. Based on current valuations, that's worth about 1,400 dollars in travel value. You can apply for this card through our link in the shownotes.

The Chase Aeroplan Card also has a new welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending 4,000 dollars in the first three months. This is a solid offer for anyone interested in Air Canada's loyalty program.

Here's some exciting news for Bilt Rewards members - they've just added Qatar Airways as their newest transfer partner. This means you can now transfer your Bilt points directly to Qatar Airways at a 1:1 ratio, opening up some fantastic opportunities to book Qatar's renowned QSuite business class.

In hotel news, Marriott has just announced its 37th brand - Series by Marriott. This new brand will focus on midscale and upscale properties, particularly starting with properties in India. It's interesting to see Marriott continue to expand its portfolio, though some might argue the hotel giant already has enough brands!

And here's a quirky story - View from the Wing reports that a Howard Johnson's hotel is charging a 15 dollar resort fee... for a 49 dollar room with a closed pool! This might just be the most ridiculous resort fee we've seen yet, and that's saying something in the current climate of hotel fees.

Before we wrap up, here's today's sponsor message:
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That's all for today's episode! Thanks for tuning in to Miles & Points Daily. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and visit us at milesandpointsdaily.com for more travel rewards content. Until next time, safe travels!