Here’s your miles, points, and travel news for today:
American's 2026 Europe Expansion
American Airlines will launch six long-haul routes for summer 2026, though only the Dallas-Fort Worth to Athens service using a Boeing 787-8 starting May 21 represents an entirely new route for the carrier, making it the fifth U.S. gateway from which American will serve the Greek capital.
The airline will resume Philadelphia to Budapest flights on May 21, 2026, using Boeing 787-8s for summer seasonal service, positioning American as the only U.S. carrier serving the Hungarian capital after LOT Polish Airlines exited the market in 2022.
Philadelphia to Prague service returns May 21, 2026, also operating with Boeing 787-8s as summer seasonal flights, competing directly with Delta’s existing New York JFK service to the Czech capital while addressing high customer search demand on American’s website.
Dallas-Fort Worth to Zurich will restart May 21 through August 4, 2026, using Boeing 777-200ERs for what American describes as service targeting soccer fans attending the FIFA World Cup, marking the route’s first operation since 2007.
Miami to Milan Malpensa resumes as year-round service starting March 29, 2026, with Boeing 787-8s, complementing the carrier’s recently launched Miami-Rome flights and returning after a pandemic-driven suspension in 2020.
Dallas-Fort Worth to Buenos Aires Ezeiza will operate seasonally from May 21 to August 3, 2026, though American has consistently flown this route during winter seasons, making this more of a seasonal shift than a true resumption.
American will also upgauge its Tokyo Haneda flights from both Dallas (to Boeing 777-300ER) and Los Angeles (to Boeing 777-200) starting March 29, 2026, increasing premium seating capacity by over 45% compared to the current Boeing 787-9 service.
Marriott Hawaiian Transfer Partnership Ends
Marriott Bonvoy will stop allowing points transfers to HawaiianMiles on August 20, 2025, as the airline winds down its loyalty program ahead of the Alaska Airlines merger.
The current transfer rate remains 3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, effectively giving you 25,000 HawaiianMiles for 60,000 hotel points.
You can still transfer Marriott points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan at the same rate to book Hawaiian flights, since HawaiianMiles will fully integrate into Alaska’s program by October 1, 2025.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Aeroplan Certificate
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can snag a free Aeroplan flight reward certificate worth 5,000 points through a limited-time promotion running until August 18, 2025.
You’ll need to register with your name, Aeroplan number, and the last four digits of your Chase Sapphire Reserve card number, with the Aeroplan account information matching what’s on your credit card.
The certificate arrives within 14 days of registration and stays valid for 365 days, letting you knock 5,000 points off any award flight whether you’re booking Air Canada or partner airline redemptions.
This certificate works on virtually any award flight across the Star Alliance network and other Aeroplan partners, making it a no-brainer freebie for Reserve cardholders who use Aeroplan for redemptions.
Air Canada Strike Looming
Air Canada’s over 10,000 flight attendants voted 99.7% in favor of authorizing a strike, with the walkout potentially beginning as early as August 16 if ongoing negotiations fail.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is demanding compensation for currently unpaid work that occurs before doors close and after they open, plus pay for safety duties and medical emergencies that flight attendants currently handle without compensation.
Additional union demands include addressing wages that have only increased 10% over the past decade despite inflation, longer layovers for long-haul flights crossing multiple time zones, and higher per diem rates to account for rising food costs.
If negotiations scheduled to resume Friday don’t produce an agreement, Air Canada faces massive operational disruptions during peak summer travel season, with the carrier liable for rebookings, accommodation costs, and passenger compensation across Canada’s largest airline network.
Southwest Now Available On Priceline
Southwest Airlines flights can now be booked through Priceline and other Booking Holdings platforms including Booking.com, marking a significant shift from the airline’s historically direct-booking-only approach.
You can search for Southwest flights on Priceline just like any other airline by entering your city pair and travel dates, with all fare types available and the option to upgrade to Comfort Extra after selecting a Comfort fare.
American Airlines Offers Ryder Cup Tickets
American Airlines cobranded credit cardholders from Citi can now redeem AAdvantage miles for tickets and experiences at the 2025 Ryder Cup taking place September 26-28 in Farmingdale, New York.
The redemption options include general admission tickets (pricing not yet announced but expect high mile costs given paid tickets start at $421), an exclusive American Airlines Chalet experience with gourmet dining and premium views, and an ongoing auction for first tee tickets that’s currently at 100,000 miles through August 18.
Cardholders can access these redemptions through MasterCard’s Priceless website, though general tickets aren’t available yet, and you’ll want to act fast once they drop since this major golf event will sell out quickly.
