Happy Thursday. Here’s your miles, points, travel, and deals news for November 21, 2024:
Deals and Points News
Wyndham Points Sale: Through November 30, 2024, targeted Wyndham Rewards members can purchase points with up to 60% bonus when buying at least 3,000 points, with purchase limits doubled from 100,000 to 200,000 points per calendar year before bonuses. Points cost 1.3 cents each before bonuses, dropping to as low as 0.81 cents per point with the 60% bonus tier, representing one of Wyndham’s most generous points purchase promotions compared to typical 30-40% bonus or 25-30% discount offers.
Aeroplan Points 80% Bonus: Through December 11, 2024, Air Canada Aeroplan is offering an 80% bonus when purchasing at least 15,000 points, bringing the cost to approximately 1.4 cents USD per point with a maximum purchase of 500,000 pre-bonus points per transaction.
Bilt Home Purchase Rewards: Bilt’s new homebuying platform, launched with eXp Realty, allows users to search homes by total monthly payment costs while earning 1 point per $2 of purchase price when working with an eXp agent. The tool integrates mortgage estimates, HOA fees, property taxes, and insurance into the search interface, featuring an affordability rating system based on users’ credit scores and income, plus the ability to compare buying power across different geographical locations.
Marriott Brilliant Rate Launch: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card has introduced a new Luxury Experience Rate at over 300 properties for bookings from November 11, 2024, through July 31, 2025 (for stays through August 31, 2025), offering two tiers of benefits – a standard package including $125 property credit, 1,500 bonus points, welcome letter, and welcome amenity, while the premium package adds daily breakfast for two and increases the credit to $150 with 2,500 bonus points.
La Compagnie Blue Friday Sale: La Compagnie’s transatlantic business class fare sale offers $2,200 roundtrip flights from Newark (EWR) to Paris (ORY), Milan (MXP), and seasonal Nice (NCE) routes, with tickets available for purchase November 21-25, 2024, for travel through April 30, 2025. The carrier’s A321neo aircraft features 76 all-business-class seats with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, good food and beverage service, and while tickets are non-refundable, they are changeable with fare differences applying.
Hyatt Homes & Hideaways Promo: World of Hyatt offers 20% points back on Homes & Hideaways redemptions for stays from November 13, 2024, through March 9, 2025, with bonus points posting within 2-3 weeks. The promotion covers all vacation rental properties including villas, condos, and homes, though stays must be completed within the promotion period to qualify.
Qatar $300 Amex Offer: Through December 31, 2024, targeted Amex cardholders can earn a $300 statement credit after spending $2,000 on Qatar Airways US-originating flights booked via qatarairways.com in USD.
Conoco 76 Phillips Amex Offer: Targeted American Express cardholders can earn either a $5 statement credit or 500 points when spending $25+ in a single pump purchase at Phillips 66®, 76®, or Conoco® gas stations through December 31, 2024.
Best Buy Amex Offer: An Amex Offer is now available through December 27, 2024, providing a $25 statement credit after spending $250 at Best Buy retail stores or BestBuy.com.
AMEX Miami Art Access: American Express cardholders will receive exclusive access to special events at Miami Art Week from December 4-8, 2024, including the Resy Lounge at Untitled Art Fair with complimentary Jon & Vinny’s dining for Delta cardholders, and a special WANDERLUST event at W Hotel South Beach on December 7 for Marriott Bonvoy cardmembers featuring DJ Uncle Waffles. Additional perks include an invitation-only Night Shift party at Jon & Vinny’s Residency on December 5, and early museum access with complimentary Breakfast Pizza at the Rubell Museum on December 6 from 9-11am.
Travel and Other News
Air Tahiti Nui Cuts Seattle: Air Tahiti Nui will discontinue its twice-weekly Seattle (SEA) to Paris (CDG) service effective January 5, 2025, while maintaining the Papeete (PPT) to Seattle route with 2x weekly flights. The airline will shift its Paris frequencies back to Los Angeles (LAX), returning to daily service on the LAX-CDG route.
Alaska’s New Route Network: Alaska Airlines is launching nonstop flights from LA to La Paz with year-round 2-3x weekly service, Fresno to Guadalajara with daily flights through February 2025, Boise to Bozeman with 5x weekly service through April 2025, Boise to Orange County with year-round daily flights, LA to Kelowna with daily service through March 2025, San Diego to Reno with daily flights through April 2025, Seattle and San Diego to Vail with 3x weekly service through March 2025, plus Seattle and San Francisco to Liberia with weekly flights through May 2025.
Air Canada Cuts Cities: Air Canada will end Toronto flights to Hartford, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Portland while suspending Montreal-New Orleans service after March 9, but will boost Toronto-Chicago frequencies to 6x daily and add A220-300 service to Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis and Charlotte in Summer 2025.
AA Boarding Tech Expands: American Airlines is expanding its boarding pass scanning technology that prevents early boarding attempts to over 100 airports nationwide for the holiday season, after successful tests in Albuquerque, Tucson, and Washington Reagan showed the system effectively deters premature boarding without slowing down the process. The technology triggers an audible alert when passengers attempt to board before their group is called, though gate agents can override the system for legitimate exceptions like companions traveling together in different groups.
