These are Pathward / BlackHawk Network gift cards.
The Emirates partner award chart changed, including some increases and some decreases. Generally it’s a positive change after dozens of bad ones from the program, or as it’s called in the industry, five canceled flights followed by one diverted flight that got you 25% of the way there.
More Saks stores are dying. If one of those is near you, perhaps visit now to cash out American Express Platinum credits before you can’t.
Have a nice Tuesday friends!
I don’t think Mesa and Rove are anything alike, but, uh, they are both four letter names.
Yes, you can get each of these, but once your total credit limit creeps up high, new applications will involve someone looking at your existing accounts which obviously might be bad for some of you.
The Amazing Business card family has new sign-up bonuses in Arizona, California, and Texas:
– Cash Credit Card: $1,000 after $5,000 spend in 120 days – Rewards Credit Card: 100,000 points after $5,000 spend in 120 days
These cards earn 3x on business purchases, 2x on travel, and 1x otherwise. “What are the rewards worth”, you say? Well, 100,000 points is equal to $1,000 in statement credit or gift cards, there’s no uplift. So why go that way? Obviously because points are funner, duh.
Wells Fargo has a tiered business checking bonus for accounts opened by May 5:
You have to have the average balance at or above the tiers between day 30 and day 60 of opening. For churnability even with existing accounts, find your self a new-to-Wells Fargo Tax ID, and don’t tell them I said it’d work.
New SoFi checking and savings accounts are eligible for $415 from Swagbucks on approval and $300 from SoFi after $400 in direct deposits after 45 days.
You can churn these too despite the T&Cs and the naysayers. Again, just don’t tell them I said it’d work.
– There’s a 50% transfer bonus through March 31 – The best new-member bonus for Rove is an affiliate link, don’t use a referral 😭 – Transferred points post instantly – New accounts have to wait until the next time it’s 6:00 PM JST to book – JAL MileageBank miles generally expire 36 months after posting, and new mileage activity doesn’t reset that clock – We can’t have nice things, most of JAL’s low level award space vanished yesterday
Side note, in case you’re like me, you don’t readily know what time 6:00 PM JST is, I converted it to Nepal Time for you to make it easy: New accounts can book at the first 2:45 PM NPT that follows your transfer.
– +5x points in some categories up to 8,000 ThankYou points each month through 2026 – $80 statement credit every month through May with 8 purchases of $75+ – 1,000 ThankYou points for purchases over $500 in March, up to two times
Somehow the card got better after ditching its Sears roots, which in retrospect I guess shouldn’t be shocking, but still is. (Thanks to bird and IAD_Flyer)
– Status match is valid for 120 days – Meeting the challenge to keep status is, relative to other airlines, easy – Extra legroom benefits for status-holders works on already booked flights
Honorary Southwest COO Brian M notes that the terms of Southwest status matches don’t usually match the implementation of status matches, in your favor.
Happy Tuesday!
Sample Southwest business logic explains why implementation may be different.
Before we dive in, it’s time to Monday morning quarterback with your own personalized recap:
I’m really ____________ (adjective) that the ____________ (sportsball team) made their last minute ____________ (action) which prevented me from doing ____________ (action) today. At least now I’ll be able to churn my ____________ (play) while I ________________ (action). Now if on only ________________ (issuer) hadn’t ________________(action, past-tense), everything would be perfect!
I’m sure yours is the best one of these, nice work.
Rove remains notable for its unique transfer partners. If you’re not a member, use a friend’s referral and make their day. If you don’t have a churning friend, reach out to me and I’ll share a random churner’s link.
Two Bank of America Atmos Visas have increased sign-up bonuses:
– Personal Ascent: 85,000 miles after $4,500 spend in 120 days – Business: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in 90 days
If one is good, three is better right? Also, side note, aren’t you glad I don’t have to write “The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®” like everyone else? No, that’s just me? Hmm.
Just like with Bank of America, why have just one? The Triple-Cash card comes with a free monthly subscription to seats.aero, at least sort-of.
There are February shopping portal bonues at major airline portals:
– AA Advantage: 500 miles with $200+ through February 11 – Alaska Atmos: 500 miles with $150+ through February 11 – United MileagePlus: 500 miles with $150+ through February 11
Watch for the Southwest portal bonus to arrive late in the next couple of days as winter weather spreads through their technology stack.
The American Express Delta cards have heightened sign-up bonuses, all of which are available via referrals too so go that route instead of using a blog link, P2 will thank you:
– Business Gold: 90,000 SkyMiles after $6,000 spend in six months, annual fee waived – Business Platinum: 100,000 SkyMiles after $8,000 spend in six months – Business Reserve: 125,000 SkyMiles after $15,000 spend in six months – Personal Gold: 90,000 SkyMiles after $5,000 spend in six months, annual fee waived – Personal Platinum: 100,000 SkyMiles after $6,000 spend in six months – Personal Reserve: 125,000 SkyMiles after $9,000 spend in six months
Four of the Chase United family of cards also has increased sign-up bonuses, and these are available for referrals too, so it’s either your best churning buddy or P2’s time to shine!
– Personal Explorer: 70,000 miles after $3,000 spend in three months, annual fee waived – Personal Quest: 80,000 miles after $4,000 spend in three months – Business MileagePlus: 100,000 miles after $5,000 spend in three months – Business Club: 100,000 miles after $5,000 spend in three months
What’s the difference between the last two? A few things, but also an extra $495 for unlimited cheese cubes at any United Club location. I hope you like cheese!
Obviously you should sign up for Rove with either P2 or a churner buddy’s referral.
Stop & Shop, Giant, and Martins have 10x points on Home Depot cards through Thursday, and Giant Food earns 6x during the same period. You’re limited to $2,000 or $1,500 per loyalty account depending on the brand.
– Pay 1,149 Euros for a one year subscription – Earn 1,500 Euros worth of Accor ALL points (75,000 annually / 6,250 monthly) – Earn 12,000 status points (1,000 monthly)
Gold status requires 7,000 points and Platinum requires 14,000, so earning Platinum becomes almost trivial. Effectively, if you were going to spend 2,000 Euros on Accor hotels in 2026 you’ll come out ahead by about 350 Euros and have Platinum status when you’re done. (Thanks to LL)
Have a nice weekend friends!
Gearing up for Player 2 referral shenanigans. (Thanks to smirley)
– 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in three months – 25,000 miles after $20,000 spend in 12 months – 1.5x on 1x spend through January 15, 2026 up to 20,000 miles
I think banks shouldn’t make you pull out a calculator for a sign-up bonus personally either, but welcome to #2025 again.
The Rove shopping portal, notable for its transferability to Lufthansa Miles & More, has a promotion through Black Friday for 4x-5x at giftcards.com.
If you’re not a member of Rove, use a friend’s referral link. If you don’t have a friend with Rove, reach out to me and I’ll send you a random churner’s link.
Giftcards.com has a $10 gift card with the purchase of $100+ in Visa gift cards with promo code VISABOGO. This code is appearing on most shopping portals, so it should stack with portal earning.
– You’ve still got a few days to earn if this is interesting to you – To decide if it’s interesting, would you trade 1.50-2.00 Avios for a Hyatt point?
Even with a big Hyatt balance, I’d generally still answer the second question with a definite “yuuup”.
Royal Air Maroc has a paid status match opportunity for non-US frequent flyer elites (that is, they’re not matching US airline status). Matches to Gold ($349) get oneworld Sapphire and to Platinum ($749) get oneworld Emerald status though the end of 2026.
Both will get you access to AA and Alaska lounges even when flying domestically with either airline. (Thanks to David)
There are two niche hotel promotions, register for either or both if there’s any chance of you staying with either program in the next quarter:
I’ve been told Best Western has some really nice properties, but I’ve personally yet to see one. I can confirm however that Preferred Hotels does have some really nice properties.
Happy Wednesday, safe travels!
The kind of quirk you should expect from the US Bank shopping portal.
