Quick Hits: How We Booked a $22,000 Private Island Stay With Hilton Free Night Certificates & More!

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This week’s Quick Hits is packed with points and miles updates, starting with a targeted IHG promotion offering 20,000 bonus points after just two qualifying nights. DeAndre also breaks down the newly refreshed Chase Aeroplan Card, which now comes with automatic Aeroplan 25K status, Air Canada credits, and a 15% discount on eligible award flights, but also doubles its annual fee and loses some valuable existing benefits. Other updates include a potential TSA PreCheck pilot allowing full water bottles through security, CardPointers Version 8, a 70% Chase transfer bonus to Marriott, and a delay to Symphony’s anticipated transfer partner launch.

The biggest story comes from Hilton, where elevated Amex Hilton card offers now include free night certificates across multiple cards. DeAndre explains how he and Taryn used a similar Hilton card strategy to accumulate five free night certificates and turn them into an incredible five-night stay at Calala Island in Nicaragua that would otherwise cost around $22,000. The episode wraps with Wyndham’s new four-tier award chart, Qatar Airways reversing its restrictive Avios traveler list policy, and unusually strong business class award availability to Dubai on Emirates and from Paris to New York on Air France.

Timestamps:

(00:00) IHG's Targeted 20K Bonus After Two Nights

(01:30) Chase Completely Refreshes the Aeroplan Credit Card

(02:44) TSA PreCheck Could Allow Full Water Bottles Through Security

(04:13) CardPointers Version 8 and Chase's 70% Marriott Transfer Bonus

(05:57) Symphony Transfer Partner Launch Delayed

(08:09) New IHG Card Offer and Huge Amex Hilton Bonuses