Story of the week: Amex to Alaska transfers officially ending
It’s finally officially official: the loophole that allowed you to turn Amex points into ultra-valuable Alaska miles is coming to an end.
Since the Alaska-Hawaiian merger, it has been possible to transfer Amex points to Hawaiian Airlines at a 1:1 ratio and then convert those into Alaska miles. This backdoor was one of the best uses of Amex points, unlocking sweet spots like high-value flights to Japan or Global Getaways.
But the window is closing. June 29 is the last day to transfer Amex points to Hawaiian.
If you:
Have a specific Alaska redemption in mind, or
Earn Alaska miles another way (like with the Bilt card)
it might be worth sending some Amex points over before the door slams shut. I’ll personally be topping up for my next Japan trip.
Sign-up bonus of the week 🎯
The AA Aviator Red has had an elevated offer for a while now, but I’m spotlighting it again this week for a few reasons.
It’s the only welcome offer worth considering right now. Seriously, things are quiet out there.
The bonus posts fast. You only need one purchase and to pay the annual fee—no spending hurdle to clear. That means miles in your account quickly—just in time to grab one of AA’s incredible summer deals.
This card may disappear soon. It’s issued by Barclays, and it won’t be around much longer. Right now, you can still pair it with a Citi AA card too to double up on AA bonuses (nothing exciting from Citi at the moment, but give it time). This double dip opportunity is coming to an end, though.
If AA miles are on your radar, this is a great way to bulk up.
Quick Points of the Week ⚡
News of the week 📰
Alaska loyalty revamp inbound. Alaska’s CEO told TPG to expect “a whole bunch of new features” as the program integrates with Hawaiian. Details TBD, but changes are coming. 👀 I hope it’s as good as the last set of changes.
Delta gets… complicated. Delta is rolling out new “fare experiences” that bundle things like refundability, extra Skymiles, and upgrade priority. It’s confusing. TPG breaks it down here, but it sure looks like bad news for Delta fans (like me!).
Airbnb expands to services. You know Airbnb for its stays and experiences. On the way now? Services, like massages, photography, and personal training. (Still using Airbnb the old-fashioned way? Don’t miss our post on reward-boosting hacks.)
Devaluation 📉
Hilton increases award redemption cap. Hilton points are already some of the least valuable on the market, often charging eye-popping rates even for lower-end properties outside the biggest cities. One upside has been the availability of higher-end properties where the maximum rates were capped, offering some solid value. But that cap is rising (again). (via MilesTalk).
Enjoy the weekend! 🦥
—LazyPoints