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Loyalty program news and transfer bonuses — page 3

Airline miles, hotel points, bank rewards, and transfer bonuses: the stories behind your points.

73 stories · Updated Oct 13, 2026

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October 2026

Airline miles
JAL business class to Europe for 38,500 miles: JAL's 30% off award sale, and the catches
JAL's award time sale cuts Frankfurt and Helsinki business class from 55,000 to 38,500 miles one way. Book by October 31; seats, dates and surcharges matter.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Flying Qatar to Australia next year? This code earns up to 12,000 bonus Avios a flight
Book Qatar Airways flights between Doha and six Australian cities by October 30 with code FLYQRVA27 and earn up to 12,000 bonus Avios per flight in 2027.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Qatar backs down: you can use card points to book family again, with strings attached
Qatar has dropped its June rule that blocked many members from booking Avios awards for others. My List and Family & Friends limits still apply.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Three Qatar Avios deals are live this month, and the first one ends in days
Qatar Privilege Club has up to 35% bonus on points transfers, 25% off awards to 19 cities and 75% bonus Avios on Rocketmiles hotels. Here's which one to use.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
Qatar's new Qsuite has a 'Make My Bed' button. Here's when you might actually fly it
Qatar showed off Qsuite Next Gen in Dubai, with 4K OLED screens and suites for up to four. Its CEO now points to summer 2027, and no route is set.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
British Airways is back in Doha, and Qatar Airways rolled out the welcome
BA's London–Doha flights have restarted after a months-long pause. Trade data points to a daily 777 now and twice-daily service from March 2027.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
Lost your Qatar Airways status this year? You can get it back by flying from Doha
Qatar's Privilege Club is offering double Qpoints on Doha departures booked by October 10, then a Tier Restoration offer from October 11 to December 18 for members who were downgraded.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Who Killed Spirit?
Some blame Lina Khan for Spirit Airlines' collapse. The record points to a merger block, engine groundings, two bankruptcies, bigger rivals and a fuel shock.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Alaska will let you trade miles for heli-skiing, Pebble Beach golf and private Nordstrom shopping
Atmos Rewards is adding Ikon Pass ski trips, Pebble Beach getaways and private holiday shopping events at Nordstrom to its Atmos Unlocked marketplace. Alaska hasn't said how many points any of them will cost.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Hotel points
Chase's new $350 IHG card hands out Platinum status and 200,000 points, but zero lounge access
The IHG One Rewards Premier Select card adds a $200 airline credit, up to $300 in hotel food and drink rewards and a free night each year. Chase says fees on the whole IHG card lineup will be adjusted in 2027.
Oct 10, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
Air Canada's new Embarq program gives small-business travelers 50% more Aeroplan points
Air Canada Embarq is free for Canadian small businesses and non-profits. Staff earn 50% more Aeroplan points on eligible work trips, but it adds no lounge access.
Oct 9, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
American now lets AAdvantage members pay for flights with a mix of cash and miles
A slider at checkout on aa.com and the app splits the fare between miles and a card. It rolls out over the coming weeks. Here is how it works and when it pays off.
Oct 9, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Southwest is the first US airline with a ChatGPT plugin, but you can't book with points yet
Since October 6, you can search and compare Southwest flights inside ChatGPT. It is the first step in a phased plan with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services. Rapid Rewards point bookings are not supported for now.
Oct 8, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Korean Air absorbs Asiana on Dec. 17: what it means for lounges, miles and Star Alliance
Asiana leaves Star Alliance Dec. 16 and becomes part of Korean Air the next day. Award deadlines, mile conversions and where to wait at Incheon.
Oct 8, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
WestJet will pour Tim Hortons "Flight Roast" coffee from Nov. 30, with linked rewards in 2027
A Tim Hortons blend made for WestJet goes onboard Nov. 30, and the two loyalty programs link up in 2027. The release says nothing about lounges.
Oct 8, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
KLM will make Wi-Fi free on long-haul flights from mid-2027, using Starlink
KLM says fast, unlimited Starlink Wi-Fi will be free in every cabin on its intercontinental flights from mid-2027, for anyone with a Flying Blue account. The rollout will be phased, and KLM has not said which planes go first.
Oct 8, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Lufthansa Group is adding free Starlink Wi-Fi to all 850 of its planes by 2029
Free high-speed Wi-Fi is now flying on Lufthansa and coming to SWISS, Austrian, Brussels and the rest of the group. You'll need a free Miles & More or Travel ID account, and video calls aren't allowed.
Oct 7, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
Atmos Rewards adds free Premium Class for elite companions, a choice in how to earn, and a debit card
Alaska and Hawaiian's loyalty program will let Platinum and Titanium members bring a companion and children into Premium Class from Nov. 2. Members can also pick how flights earn from 2027, join six new Communities and pre-register for a debit card due in early 2027.
Oct 7, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Alaska Airlines plans to join American's Atlantic and Pacific joint businesses
Alaska and American said on Sept. 29 that Alaska intends to join American's joint businesses with British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus, LEVEL and Japan Airlines. It is only a plan: the airlines still need U.S. and foreign approvals and have not detailed changes to routes, points or lounges.
Oct 7, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
JetBlue and United's Blue Sky: book either airline on both sites, with shared elite perks but no lounges
You can now buy JetBlue and United flights on either airline's website with cash, points or miles. Elite members get priority boarding and a free bag on both airlines, but no lounge access.
Oct 7, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Loyalty programs
Aeroplan credit cards add 15% off flight rewards and worldwide Maple Leaf Lounge access
From January 12, 2027, Canadian Aeroplan cardholders save 15% in points on Air Canada flights. Premium cards also get Maple Leaf Lounge access worldwide with a guest.
Oct 7, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
British Airways can now sell you Porter flights to 17 Canadian cities
A new codeshare lets BA customers connect to 17 Porter Airlines destinations through Toronto and Montreal, and earn Avios and tier points on Porter flights.
Oct 7, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Four years into Delta–LATAM: what the partnership means for lounge access in South America
The joint venture has carried 17.4 million passengers on 28 routes, with Brazil one of its fastest-growing markets. Eligible SkyMiles and LATAM Pass members can use each other's lounges. Here's what that covers.
Oct 6, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Airline miles
Delta One's new wine list: Silver Oak, Trefethen and Taittinger on domestic flights
From Oct. 1, Delta One pours 13 wines from 11 wineries, picked with help from SkyMiles members in blind tastings. Champagne Taittinger, already free in Delta One Lounges, now reaches domestic Delta One too.
Oct 6, 2026By Patrick Karsh