- Alaska MileagePlan has upcoming changes in 2025:
– Earn elite qualifying miles (EQMs) on award travel redemptions based on distance and ticket class, a minimum of 1 EQM per mile flown including partner redemptions
– Earn 1 EQM per $3 spent on a co-brand credit card, up to $90,000 spend
– Earn EQMs for mileage partners, especially the MileagePlan shopping portal
– Milestone rewards like AA
– Multi-partner award redemptions are coming this “winter”
It’ll be relatively easy to earn MileagePlan status via manufactured spend next year, which when coupled with AA status, could make you a double oneworld Sapphire, capable of viewing the Double Rainbow. - The speculation that Barclays would buy the GM credit card portfolio from Marcus Goldman Sachs has been confirmed, and cards will switch issuers in 2025.
If you’re banned from Barlcays, getting a GM card may be a back-door way back in, but historically Barclays is tough on bans so I wouldn’t count on it. - Do this now: Register for your targeted United Mileage Play offer. My offer was “Book and take a trip in a premium seat 2 times to earn 21,000 bonus miles.” My fine print says travel by December 13 and each ticket has to cost $500 before taxes and fees, so best case this is a +2x miles on spend deal.
- United has an economy award sale for travel to and from Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong at 35,000 miles in each direction for travel through February 25, 2025 booked by tonight, but only for Chase co-brand card holders. The regular saver price is 55,000 miles in each direction. (Thanks to DDG)
- American Express Offers has three more offers for hotel stays:
– $100 back on $300+ at Radisson Blu or Cambria hotels through November 30
– $100 back on $300+ at Small Luxury Hotels through December 31
– $150 back on $650+ at The Hotel Collection properties through December 7
The top two are gameable, the bottom one, probably not so much. How do you game these? As always, buying a gift card is the simplest way, but not the only way.
Happy Thursday!
Another important headline from around the US.