Quick Hits: Amex Platinum's Fine Hotel & Resorts Credit Could Get MUCH Worse & More!

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This week's Quick Hits comes straight from the Admirals Club lounge in Honolulu, where DeAndre Coke is wrapping up an incredible Hawaii anniversary trip before heading to Points Travel Festival Chicago. Before diving into the latest points and miles news, he shares a special shoutout to BoldlyGo listeners Dan and Megan, whom he met at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Then it's straight into several important credit card, hotel, and airline loyalty updates, starting with an opportunity to earn 15,000 American Airlines miles through the AAdvantage Business program and an extended promotion that could help Citi AAdvantage Business cardholders earn elite status faster.

The biggest potential shakeup involves the American Express Platinum Card. Information reportedly discovered on an Amex test server suggests the card could add a $250 Airbnb Experiences credit while introducing a two-night minimum stay requirement for its hotel credit starting in 2027. DeAndre explains why this rumored change could make the benefit significantly harder to maximize, especially for travelers who currently stack credits across multiple cards for single-night hotel stays. Meanwhile, United Airlines is moving toward a spending-focused elite status system by eliminating flight segments as a qualification path, and Chase has clarified that elite night credits from certain IHG credit cards can stack, potentially giving cardholders 35 elite nights annually before checking into a hotel.

Other updates include Marriott testing an upgrade waitlist inside its app, Cathay Pacific temporarily suspending Japan Airlines award bookings through Asia Miles, targeted 75,000 point Chase Sapphire Reserve upgrade offers, and reports that Lululemon gift card purchases may no longer trigger the Amex Platinum quarterly credit. DeAndre closes with a preview of the upcoming Chicago conference, the BoldlyGo Miami meetup, and more Hawaii travel content coming soon.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro: Recording From Honolulu and a BoldlyGo Community Shoutout

(01:10) Earn 15,000 American Airlines Miles With AAdvantage Business

(01:54) Citi AAdvantage Business Cardholders Can Double Up on Loyalty Points

(03:03) Marriott Tests an In-App Hotel Upgrade Waitlist

(03:17) Cathay Pacific Suspends