Singapore Airlines has announced similar restriction re: power banks. Most likely others will follow suit.

Today is the last day for the elevated Marriott Bonvoy Business card 125k welcome offer.

Typically, you get more value redeeming Bonvoy points in Southeast Asia, ex Singapore. Depending on city/date, ~30k points can get you a night at W or St. Regis.

Gentle Reminder: American Express Delta cards increased welcome offers will end April 2nd.

Keep in mind, the Platinum and Reserve offer 2.5k MQDs headstart, in addition to Skymiles, enough for one or two business class flights. Lmk if you need help picking the right version.

Let’s talk about Delta Skymiles. Many assume Skymiles as SkyPesos, SkyRupiahs, SkyRupees, but that’s only if you don’t know where to look.

What can Skymiles redemption get you?
✈️ 93.5k miles? 1 business class US-Asia
✈️ 80k? 1 business class Europe-Asia
✈️ 40k? 1 business class Intra-Asia

Looks like ALL Taiwanese based airlines - EVA Air, China Airlines, Starlux have announced that they’re banning the use of charging devices ie power banks for the entire duration of the flight.

Korean based airlines have the same ban in place since Feb 13.

Transfer bonus alert

✅ 20% American Express to Qatar Airways Avios. Ends Mar 31.

Fly Qatar Business Class QSuites from JFK to Doha DOH for 59,000 miles, after 20% bonus.

Shopping for Apple products at Apple Store online? Extra multipliers for Airlines are back.

Earn 3.5X miles at American & Delta Airlines, 4X miles at Alaska & United. The iPhone 16e is excluded.

EVA Air business class or Royal Laurel, consists of 2 configurations
✅777-300ER Reverse Herringbone. Seats are showing their age, older tech though still sleep comfortably
✅ 787s newer & staggered seats. Personal favorite. Available only on SEA-TPE within North America & some Europe/Asia routes 👇

EVA fly from SEA, LAX, SFO, JFK, ORD, IAH to Taipei. Redeem business class from 75k using Aeroplan miles, transferable from chase/capital one/american express.

For those last minute flights, there’s a biz class IAH-TPE for 87.5k on Feb 26.

The name EVA Air initially was called E.V.A Air, acronym for “EVergreen Airways”, which makes the word “Air” kind of redundant.

They couldn’t use Evergreen Airways at that time as there’s another airline w/ identical name.

EVA is part of Star Alliance - redeemable via United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca Lifemiles. Can’t wait for their next generation business class w/ suites.

In the meantime, their existing 787 business class is pretty good.

EVA Air, the pioneer in Premium Economy introduces their 4th generation PE seats. Initially on 787-9 from Taipei TPE to Jakarta CGK, will expand to Munich MUC, Milan MXP, Vienna VIE, San Francisco SFO.

Some updated news on Southwest Airlines $LUV
✅ Will allow Elliot Investment Management to increase stake in the airline from 14.9% to 19.9%
✅ Chief Transformation Officer Ryan Green will leave Apr 1. He is responsible for $LUV implementations of assigned seating and premium seats

Southwest Airlines $LUV will be laying off 15% or 1,750 of its corporate employees. This large scale restructuring is a first in the history of the airline. Yes, $LUV aren’t in the best financial shape, but this is an interesting development.

Starbucks and Marriott Bonvoy
✅ Make 2 purchases between Feb 17-23, Earn 200 Bonvoy points. Accounts must be linked. Not much points, but free is free.

United Airlines and Martha Stewart collaboration, focusing on United’s premium offerings - Polaris flights, lounge, food. There’s a segment of the demographic this is targeting.

Charging of power banks w/ inflight USB ports will also be banned.

Korean-owned Airlines ie. Asiana, Korean Air, beginning March 1 will ban storing of power banks, e-cigarette in the overhead bins. Power banks w/ >160 Wh are not allowed onboard

Passengers will be required to keep the items in protective pouches/transparent bags, or wrap them up w/ insulating tapes

Hyatt Hotels $H Q4 earnings released & they missed. Results were weaker than peers. Stock’s down ~12%.

Some notable highlights
• In Q4, 81 new hotels joined Hyatt portfolio
• World of Hyatt loyalty membership at ~54 million

Hyatt recently acquired Playa Hotels & Resorts $PLYA for $2.5B.

110k Skymiles can get you from US to Asia on Delta One, plus 2.5k/5k MQDs. That’s Silver Medallion.

As w/ Marriott Biz, you’ll receive 15 Elite Nights, & Gold Elite status.

American Express currently has increased bonus offers
✅Delta Platinum & Reserve
• Personal 90k / 100k ending 4/2
• Business 100k / 110k ending 4/2
✅Marriot Bonvoy Business 125k ending 3/12

56,000 Chase or American Express points (with transfer bonus) for👇ANA First Class US to Japan. Flexibility is key in order to redeem the seat.

Chase is currently having a 30% transfer bonus for Virgin Atlantic miles. Not as good as the prior 40% (potentially a one time extra 10% bonus due to recent devaluation and changes)

If you’re flying solo, and last minute T-14, you can redeem for a First class US-Tokyo on ANA from ~56,000 points

Yes, most redemptions w/Skymiles are expensive. However, there’re tons of sweet spot redemptions on their own metals as well as SkyTeam members.

American Express Delta credit cards are offering increased bonuses. In addition, Platinum & Reserve cardholders, personal & business versions will earn 2,500 MQDs. That’s halfway to Silver Medallion. If you get both, 5,000 MQDs, that’s Silver & halfway to Gold.

Periodically, credit card issuers will increase their signup bonuses. When these happen, best to apply ASAP.

There’re tons of value redemptions - business class to Europe/Asia for 60,000 miles (lower with transfer bonus). If you need help, lmk.

In the world of Points/Miles, devaluation is as certain as death and taxes.

Airlines and hotels are proactively increasing their redemption rates, or switching to “dynamic pricing”.

By transferring to certain airlines miles ie American Airlines, you’re increasing the value of Marriott pts

ie 180k=60k AA=One business class US-Japan in AA/Japan Airlines. Your Bonvoy pts just increased in value.

Devaluation on some Marriott properties? If you’ve tons of Bonvoy points & it’s getting harder to find value/use them, there an alternative.

Marriott points are transferable to 39 airlines @ 3:1 ratio. 60k=20k+(5k bonus)=25k miles.

Hilton $HLT reported Q4 earnings beat, stock up ~4.8%, all time high.

Some highlights:
• Plans to reopen Waldorf Astoria New York, Costa Rica Punta Cacique, Shanghai Qiantan, Japan Osaka, Morocco Rabat Sale in 2025
• As of 12/31/24, Hilton Honors had 211 million members, 17% increase yoy.