Do this now: Choose a free Alaska Atmos Community for extra mileage earning and benefits in 2026. The best options for most of the US are:
– Global Locals: 10% extra status points on international travel – National Parks: Incremental extra miles and status points on some US destinations – Families on the Go: 20% miles rebate on award flights for kids 12 years and younger
For the last n years, where n = 1, United has had a 20% bonus for incoming hotel miles in the second half of October. With counting statistics, that puts the error at ± 1, so you’ve got a chance of between 0% and 100% of this returning again this year. Thanks math! (Thanks to mmrose1980)
Hyatt is back on Capital One Shopping, which currently means at least a 1% rebate on paid Hyatt stays without forgoing elite benefits. Gamers will probably find a lot more than 1% too. (Thanks to FM)
– $699 annual fee – Effectively 2% earner on purchases, at least as long as you redeem for airfare – $200 annual airline credit – $100 annual dining credit – A Priority Pass with restaurant access
If you’ve got the right angle and dig deep, there’s a little hidden value in this card.
– Hyatt charges Bilt more than its other partners – Chase paved the road with its devaluation – They wanted to see how affiliates downplay the devaluation – Richard Kerr doesn’t like puppies
To Bilt’s credit, you’ve got three months notice of impending doom.
– Club: 90,000+10,000 miles after $5,000 spend in three months – Quest: 80,000+10,000 miles after $4,000 spend in three months – Explorer: 70,000+10,000 miles after $3,000 spend in three months – Gateway: 40,000+10,000 miles after $1,000 spend in three months
Business – Annual fee increased from $99 to $200 – Free night worth 50,000 points – Lots of stupid coupons including $25 quarterly in food credits at IHG – $100 airline credit with $250+ annual airline spend – 15 elite nights annually
Premier – Annual fee increased from $99 to $150 – Gold status instead of previous platinum – Free night worth 50,000 points – Lots of stupid coupons including $25 quarterly in food credits at IHG – $100 airline credit with $250+ annual airline spend – 15 elite nights annually
Premier Select (new card) – Annual fee increased from divide-by-zero to $350 – 200,000 points after $5,000 spend in three months – 6x on dining and travel, 3x elsewhere – Free night worth 60,000 points and another after $40,000 annual spend – Lots of stupid coupons including $75 quarterly in food credits at IHG – $200 airline credit with $250+ annual airline spend – 20 elite nights annually, earn more with spend – Another Global Entry credit to throw in the pile One – Five elite nights annually
The new Premier Select card is a great card for the first year (only).
In case you’re curious about dumb things, there are 25 three night blocks between now and December 15, which is 13 more than are eligible for the bonus.
– Business Essentials: New card with $500 bonus after $5,000 spend in 150 days, 2% base earn – Business Essentials Plus: New card with $1,000 bonus after $15,000 spend in 150 days, 2% base earn, 5% back in your monthly top category up to $200,000 spend
The Essentials card can earn 2.5% with $10,000 on deposit for up to $10,000 spend monthly. The Essentials Plus card can earn up to 3.5% cash back on all purchases up to $200,000 annually with up to $150,000 in assets on deposit.
The effectively 0% APR on the money makes this deal barely interesting, except that you fast track to Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors during account creation to make the Business cash rewards cards pay an extra 75% in rewards.
– $50 off of $200 with Frontier through December 31 – $60 off of $400 with JetBlue through December 14
There’s a very specific breed that can go nuts with the Frontier GoWild Pass, currently priced at $249. I’m not that very specific breed but game recognizes game.
– 25%-125% to Amtrak based on status and Bilt Cash – 75%-200% to Hilton based on status and Bilt Cash – A 90 day Hilton status challenge when transferring to Hilton, based on status
Both are typically a 1:1 transfer ratio and are limited to 100,000 base points, and only Amtrak makes sense generally speaking. You’ve still got time to earn for Thursday.
ShopRite and Fairway stores each have $20 off of your next transaction when you buy $150+ in Visa or Mastercard gift cards.
These are Pathward / BlackHawk Network gift cards. (Thanks to GCA)
We have a series on risk that won’t write itself, so I guess that’s what I’m here for. Smart readers can guess today’s entrant (because it’s in the title): Shutdown risk. What’s that? Well, (a) duh, and (b) the risk that a bank, FinTech, credit card issuer, or other counterparty throws its virtual hands up in the air and says “that’s a nah from me son.”
Shutdowns as a Spectrum
Shutdowns come in many forms, much like your crazy ex’s promises. A few examples:
The Gentle Backoff: When you say jail to a churner, the first thing they’ll think of isn’t metal bars and locks, but rather AmEx Pop-Up Jail, which prevents you from getting future sign-up bonuses.
The Not-so-gentle Backoff: Small to medium sized credit unions are great at this, generally something like “if you don’t stop refunding those travel redemptions the week after you book them, we’re going to close your account”.
The Cold, Calculated Axe: Banks famously don’t care about feelings, and the good ones have a risk algorithm or two that, when alarms, leads to immediate shutdown. The really good ones will send you a polite letter telling you to pound sand and kick rocks while you’re at it too.
The Random Wildcards: Gift card sites, obscure portal aggregators, and fly-by-night buying groups don’t have compliance departments, instead they have automated ban-hammers. Breathe on them sideways when the wrong Toby analyst is looking and your account is locked instantly, often taking your pending payouts, rewards, and maybe your money with it.
Some shutdowns obviously sting more than others.
Managing Shutdown Risk
I know, I know, no one likes to be managed. So do the managing yourself:
Earn and Burn: Points sitting in an account aren’t assets, they’re unbacked IOUs
Learn about an Institution’s Triggers: Some issuers that rhyme with schminkrony hate cycling for example, while other FinTechs hate when you taek them as nothing but a hub, while others hate it when you chase their deposit accounts; know the pitfalls so you can dodge ’em
Isolate Your Real Accounts: Is your mortgage payment coming out of the same account that you’re depositing buyer’s group checks into? Well, cut it out. Would P2 be eternally mad if you lost your Kohl’s card? Maybe be careful with Capital One
Consider horizontal scaling: A dozen accounts for your friends and family each spending $50,000 a month is a lot less likely to ring alarms at a FinTech compared to spending $600,000 a month in a single account
As a corollary, perhaps develop a thick skin.
Coping
Remember: If you haven’t been shutdown by an institution, you haven’t gone hard enough yet.
