EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ve got two special characters in the title today, let’s see what fragile internet infrastructure chokes, you know, for science.
- United blocks some Star Alliance redemptions from its US members, but Roame discovered that switching your location in the web site’s header to another country, like, I dunno, Zimbabwe, opens up more award inventory.
- Yesterday Bilt added Southwest Rapid Rewards as a transfer partner, which can be interesting given Southwest’s double-variable award redemption pricing that occasionally pushes its value up to ~1.8 cents per point. For people that don’t think in US currencies, that’s a whole 0.8 cents more than a penny worth 1.0 cents per point.
Side note: I’m often simultaneously both “annoyed at” and “awestruck by” Bilt. Something they’ve been really good at is staying in the news every month with Rent Day, and lately they’ve been good at staying in the news weekly or more with program changes, like JAL MileageBank leakage, adding student loan redemptions for certain loans, earning a point per dollar and paying a 3% for third party credit card rent payments. The card and its benefits are decidedly average and acceptable, so don’t let its marketing machine make you think it’s better than it is. - Staples reportedly has fee-free $200 Visa gift cards starting Sunday and running through the following Saturday, limit nine per transaction.
These are Pathward gift cards. - Citi is devaluing transfers for the Rewards+ card only on July 27:
– JetBlue TrueBlue: 10:7
– Choice Hotels: 10:14
– Wyndham Rewards: 10:7
Other cards are unaffected. This coincides with the Emirates Skywards devaluation of 10:8 on the same date, which unfortunately affects all cards.
Have a nice weekend friends!
Bilt’s marketing versus reality, but as a chess set.