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2 Southwest Business Card Offers to Have on the Radar

Southwest Airlines has two business credit cards, and both currently come with welcome offers of 80,000 Rapid Rewards points, though the minimum spending requirements differ.

Beyond the bonus, each card has different annual fees and benefits, but either can provide a sizable boost toward a Rapid Rewards balance.

There’s another reason these offers can be interesting: points earned from Southwest credit card welcome offers count toward earning a Companion Pass.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The Premier Business card is the less expensive of Southwest’s two business cards and currently comes with an 80,000-point welcome offer after meeting the minimum spending requirement.

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The card includes a free first checked bag for the cardmember and up to eight others on the same reservation, Preferred or Standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure when available, and boarding no later than Group 5.

It also comes with 6,000 anniversary points, a 15% flight discount each cardmember year, and a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each year.

Click “Learn More” above for the current offer, full benefits, and application details.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

The Performance Business card also currently offers 80,000 Rapid Rewards points after meeting the minimum spending requirement, along with several additional Southwest benefits.

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Preferred or Standard seats can be selected at booking when available, rather than waiting until 48 hours before departure. The card also provides complimentary upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours of departure when available.

Other benefits include a free first checked bag, 9,000 anniversary points, a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost, and up to a $120 credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.

Click “Learn More” above for the current offer, full benefits, and application details.

Both Offers Can Help Toward a Companion Pass

Southwest’s Companion Pass lets a member designate one person to fly with them for only the taxes and fees whenever they fly Southwest.

That includes when the original ticket was booked with points.

Earning one requires 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, and points from Southwest credit card welcome offers count toward that requirement. Both cards also provide a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each year.

That makes an 80,000-point welcome offer a substantial chunk of the requirement. Timing matters, though, since qualifying points reset at the beginning of each calendar year.

Who Is Eligible for the Offers?

A business credit card does require a business. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a company with employees, an office, or a huge amount of revenue.

Traditional businesses can qualify, but so can many sole proprietors, freelancers, independent contractors, and people earning money from a side business.

The welcome offer has another set of eligibility rules. They’re the same for both cards but apply separately to each product.

“The offer isn’t available to current cardmembers of that specific business card or previous cardmembers who received a welcome bonus on that same card within the past 24 months.”

That means having or previously having one Southwest business card doesn’t, by itself, trigger the restriction on the other card.

September 30, 2026
Delta Is Offering a $100 eCredit for Select International Trips
Delta SkyMiles members planning an international trip early next year could get $100 toward another flight.

The airline is offering a $100 eCredit after a paid Delta Main flight from the U.S. to select destinations between January 15 and March 31, 2027.

SkyMiles members can log into their account to see if it’s available and register before booking.

How to Earn the $100 eCredit

The promotion covers 25 destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand:
- Europe and Africa: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Paris, Dublin, Edinburgh, Rome, Frankfurt, London, Lisbon, Madrid, Munich, Milan, Marrakesh, Venice, and Zurich
- Asia and Pacific: Auckland, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Melbourne, Shanghai, Sydney, and Taipei
Some routes only operate during part of the promotional period.

SkyMiles bookings don’t qualify, and neither do Delta Comfort or Delta Premium Select tickets. The flight must be marketed and operated by Delta or Delta Connection.

Members can earn one $100 eCredit, which should arrive within 30 days after the flight and expires six months after it’s issued.

The offer isn’t enough on its own to make a Delta trip worthwhile. But for someone already planning a paid economy trip to one of these destinations, it’s an extra $100 toward a future Delta flight.
September 30, 2026
Asiana Revises Deadlines for Star Alliance Redemptions

Asiana Club members planning to use miles for Star Alliance partner tickets have a few new dates to keep track of.

Asiana Airlines announced revised ticketing and travel deadlines for three partners ahead of its December 17 integration with Korean Air. Copa Airlines and ANA are getting more time, while the window for LOT Polish Airlines is getting shorter.

The changes come at the request of the partner airlines and affect both mileage tickets and upgrades. They’re part of a broader wind-down of Asiana’s Star Alliance relationships, with deadlines varying considerably from one airline to another.

Copa and ANA Get More Time, While LOT’s Window Shrinks

Asiana Club members can now book and travel on Copa Airlines through December 16, extending the previous October 31 deadline.

ANA also moves to December 16, rather than November 30.

LOT Polish Airlines goes the other direction. Its deadline moves forward from November 30 to November 5. Asiana says travel will still be honored for LOT tickets booked and issued on or before September 30.

Most Star Alliance Redemptions End by December 16

December 16 is the final date for mileage tickets and upgrades with many of Asiana’s Star Alliance partners, including Air Canada, EVA Air, Air China, Copa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, TAP Air Portugal, United, and several others.

Some disappear sooner. Lufthansa, SWISS, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines are available through October 31. LOT now ends November 5, while Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, and EgyptAir run through November 30.

Four Partners Can Still Be Flown Through 2027

Four airlines get a considerably longer travel window.

Asiana Club members can use miles for Aegean Airlines, Avianca, Croatia Airlines, and Turkish Airlines flights through December 16, 2027, as long as tickets are issued by December 16, 2026.

Reservations for flights departing December 17, 2026, or later open October 15. Once Asiana’s Star Alliance partnership ends, those tickets can’t be newly issued or changed. Existing tickets can still be refunded within their validity period, but expired miles won’t be restored.

More on This: What Happens to Asiana Miles When Korean Air and Asiana Combine

Mileage Earning Is Winding Down, Too

Asiana is also winding down mileage earning with Star Alliance partners.

For flights taken through October 15, missing Asiana Club miles must be claimed by October 31.

For flights between October 16 and December 16, automatic Asiana Club mileage accrual won’t be available. Members will instead need to submit a claim after flying with both the boarding pass and e-ticket receipt.

Asiana’s Star Alliance exit is approaching quickly, but December 16 isn’t the only date that matters. Some partners disappear weeks earlier, while four remain available for travel well into 2027.

September 30, 2026
Singapore Airlines Is Adding 100+ New Dishes and Overhauling In-Flight Dining

Singapore Airlines is making a fairly substantial update to what gets served onboard.

The airline is introducing more than 100 new and refreshed dishes across all four cabin classes, along with new wines and spirits, redesigned tableware in its premium cabins, and several changes to how meals are presented and served.

Some of the new dishes are already appearing onboard, while the broader dining changes will begin rolling out in November.

More Than 100 Dishes Are New or Getting an Update

At the center of the changes is a new menu category called SIA Chefs’ Selection.

It brings together more than 100 new and refreshed appetizers, main courses, and desserts developed by Singapore Airlines’ in-house and guest chefs. The selections span everything from regional dishes to reworked classics, and they’re not limited to premium cabins.

Among the new dishes are char siew wonton noodles in business class, beef short rib with sambal percik and blue pea rice in Suites and first class, Irish lamb stew in premium economy, and roasted chicken with black pepper sauce in economy.

Some dishes are also being interpreted differently depending on the cabin. Tandoor-roasted paneer, for example, will appear across every cabin, with different preparations in the premium cabins and premium economy and economy.

Premium Cabins Are Getting New Tableware, Too

Singapore Airlines is also replacing some of what’s underneath the food.

Suites, first class, and business class will receive custom-designed serviceware created with French tableware company Christofle. Singapore Airlines says it will be the first airline to use Christofle chinaware onboard, with designs incorporating the airline’s familiar batik pattern.

Suites and first class will also get custom Christofle glassware, including tulip-shaped Champagne glasses.

The beverage list is changing alongside it. New wines are coming to Suites, first class, and business class, while new spirits will appear throughout the aircraft. That includes a Singapore Airlines-exclusive Japanese blended whisky from Komoro Distillery in Suites and first class.

There are some smaller service changes as well. Cabin crew in Suites and first class may recommend drinks to pair with meals, while selected dishes will receive new presentation touches. Singapore Airlines is also introducing face-to-face companion dining with its forthcoming first-class seats.

The first dishes are already rolling out, with the new beverages, serviceware, and other changes beginning in November.

September 30, 2026
First-Time U.S. Passport Applications Are Moving Online

Getting a first U.S. passport is about to involve a lot less paper.

Beginning next year, Americans will be able to apply for their first passport entirely online, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday, September 29. The State Department is also preparing a redesigned U.S. passport that will begin arriving in 2028.

Both are part of a broader overhaul of the passport process built around the government’s new America.gov website.

First-Time Passport Applications Are Going Online

The biggest change comes first.

Starting next year, first-time applicants will be able to complete the passport application process online through America.gov. That means no printing an application, scheduling an appointment, or visiting an acceptance facility just to submit it.

After signing in through Login.gov, applicants will be able to use information the government already has on file, take a passport photo with a phone or upload one from another device, preview how the photo will look in the finished passport, and pay online.

The new system will also show the status of an application and provide an estimated delivery date.

Online passport service itself isn’t entirely new. Eligible Americans can already renew passports online. What’s changing is the ability to get a first passport without going through the traditional in-person application process.

And the State Department plans to go further. Rubio said the goal is for the “vast majority” of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through America.gov by the end of 2027.

U.S. Passports Are Getting a New Look in 2028

The passport itself is changing, too.

In 2028, the State Department plans to introduce a redesigned U.S. passport built around the American eagle. The familiar blue cover remains, but “United States of America” moves to the top and the Great Seal becomes larger and more prominent.

The changes continue inside. Pages will depict different periods of American history, including Lexington, westward expansion, early aviation, Iwo Jima, and space exploration.

There’s also a considerably less serious detail: flip through the pages quickly and an eagle appears to fly.

Rubio joked that people will soon be sitting in airports repeatedly flipping through their passports.

The packaging is getting an upgrade as well. Instead of arriving in the envelope used today, the redesigned passport will come in new presentation packaging.

The new passport is still a couple of years away. The application overhaul comes sooner, and should remove several of the more cumbersome parts of getting a first passport starting next year.

September 29, 2026
5 Hotel Promotions Worth Knowing About This Fall

Hotel promotions aren’t typically reasons on their own to book a trip. But when a stay is already on the calendar, registering for the right one can mean an easy opportunity to earn a few more points.

Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Hilton, and Wyndham all have promotions for stays this fall, ranging from a few thousand bonus points to 4X bonus points.

Marriott Bonvoy: Up to 4,500 Bonus Points Per Stay

Marriott Bonvoy members can earn 1,500 bonus points on each eligible paid stay of at least two nights through November 22.

Stay at a participating resort and Marriott adds another 3,000 points, bringing the total to 4,500 bonus points per stay.

There’s no limit to the number of qualifying stays, but registration is required by November 13. Only eligible paid stays completed after registering qualify, so it’s worth registering before the next Marriott stay rather than waiting until checkout.

Points bookings don’t count for this one.

Register for this Marriott Bonvoy promotion

IHG One Rewards: Earn Up to 3X Points

IHG One Rewards is offering up to 3X points on stays from October 1 through December 31.

There’s a catch, though: the first qualifying stay doesn’t earn any bonus points.

Starting with the second stay, members earn 2X points when booking through an IHG direct channel. Book through the IHG app, WeChat, or LINE instead and that increases to 3X points.

There’s no cap on the number of bonus points that can be earned.

Registration is required, and stays completed before registering don’t count. That makes this one worth registering for before the first IHG stay of the promotion, even though the extra points don’t start until stay number two.

Register for this IHG One Rewards promotion

World of Hyatt: 3,000 Points for Every 3 Nights

World of Hyatt is keeping the math relatively simple.

Members can earn 3,000 bonus points for every three eligible nights after registering, up to a maximum of 36,000 bonus points.

Participating Hyatt hotels and resorts count, along with participating Mr & Mrs Smith properties, The Venetian Resort, and Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt.

There’s another useful difference here: points stays do count. An eligible night can be booked with an eligible paid rate or a free night award.

The bonus starts with the first eligible stay after registration.

Register for this World of Hyatt promotion

Hilton Honors: Up to 3,000 Bonus Points Per Stay

Hilton’s More Points to Play promotion starts October 15 and runs through December 31.

Registered Hilton Honors members earn 3,000 bonus points per stay at participating luxury, lifestyle, and resort properties. Stays at other Hilton properties earn 1,000 bonus points.

There’s no overall cap on the number of bonus points that can be earned.

This promotion rewards stays rather than nights, which makes shorter stays particularly interesting. Three separate one-night stays at eligible luxury, lifestyle, or resort properties, for example, would earn 9,000 bonus points.

Registration is required before completing a qualifying stay.

Register for this Hilton Honors promotion

Wyndham Rewards: Earn 4X Points

Wyndham Rewards members can earn 4X points on qualifying stays this fall, with up to 15,000 bonus points available through the promotion.

There’s a little more time to use this one. Stays must be booked directly with Wyndham by January 15, 2027, and completed by January 19.

Wyndham says 15,000 points is enough for as many as three free nights at the more than 1,000 properties in its new 5,000-point redemption tier.

Registration is required before booking.

Register for this Wyndham Rewards promotion

Hotel promotions tend to come with plenty of fine print, but there’s an easy way to avoid missing out: register before the next stay. It takes a few seconds and keeps an eligible stay from leaving bonus points behind.

September 29, 2026
Marriott Is Selling Bonvoy Points With up to a 55% Bonus
Buying hotel points might sound like an unnecessary extra step. After all, if a room is available, why not just pay for it?

Sometimes there’s a good reason. Buying the points needed to book a room can cost less than paying the hotel directly.

Marriott Bonvoy sells points throughout the year and periodically runs promotions that lower their cost. There’s little reason to buy just because a sale is happening. But with a Marriott stay already in mind, it takes only a few seconds to see whether buying points could save money.

Current Marriott Buy Points Offer

Marriott is currently offering up to a 55% bonus when buying Bonvoy points, dropping the purchase price to about 0.81 cents each.
- Current promotion: 55% bonus
- Price per point: 0.81 cents
- Offer ends: November 23, 2026
- Offer purchase limit: 200,000 points before the bonus
- Annual purchase limit: 200,000 points before any bonus
Buy Marriott Bonvoy points directly from Marriott

Marriott runs points sales periodically, so there’s rarely a reason to buy solely because a promotion is ending. The history below shows how the current offer compares with previous ones. Click the arrow to see past offers.

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More on This: Current Buy Points and Miles Offers

When Buying Marriott Points Makes Sense

The easiest way to decide whether buying points makes sense is to compare two prices.

First, find how many Marriott points a hotel requires. Then figure out how much it would cost to buy those points under the current promotion and compare that with the cash price for the same stay.

The math is simple:

Points needed × current price per point = cost to buy the points

Say a Marriott hotel costs 50,000 points per night. At roughly 0.81 cents per point, buying 50,000 points would cost about $405.

If the same room costs $550 in cash, buying the points could save about $145. If the room costs $350, paying cash is the easy choice.

That’s really all there is to it.

Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. WINHORSE / ISTOCK

There are a few things that can change the math even more. Marriott Bonvoy members get the lowest-priced night free when redeeming points for five consecutive nights, for example. On a longer stay, that can reduce the number of points needed enough to make buying them more interesting.

It’s also worth comparing the same room and dates. Taxes, resort fees, and other charges can differ depending on how a stay is booked, so the headline room rate doesn’t always tell the whole story.

More on This: How to Search Hotels With Points and Miles Using PointsYeah

Don’t Buy Points Just Because They’re on Sale

There’s little reason to stock up on Marriott points without a stay in mind. Marriott runs purchase promotions periodically, and another offer will eventually come along.

Instead, start with the hotel. Check the cash price, check the points price, and calculate what those points would cost to buy.

Sometimes cash wins. Sometimes points do.

And when buying the points is cheaper, it’s a pretty easy way to save money on the exact same room.
September 29, 2026
Atmos Rewards Is Adding New Ways to Earn, Family Benefits, and Bank Transfers

Atmos Rewards is on the verge of becoming a lot more customizable.

Starting October 1, members will be able to choose how they earn points and status points on flights, join new groups that unlock benefits based on how they travel, and get several new perks.

And there’s considerably more coming in 2027.

Alaska Air Group announced a broad expansion of Atmos Rewards on Tuesday, September 29, including a new debit card and the ability to transfer points from eligible Bank of America cards. The latter could make Atmos Rewards points considerably easier to earn without flying Alaska or Hawaiian or spending on one of their cobranded credit cards.

There’s a lot changing, and some of it takes effect this week.

Atmos Rewards Members Can Choose How They Earn

Starting October 1, Atmos Rewards members can select one of three ways to earn points and status points on flights: distance traveled, dollars spent, or segments flown.

The choice will apply to flights departing January 1, 2027 or later.

Existing members who don’t make a selection will continue earning based on distance, while new members joining January 1 or later will default to earning based on the price of the ticket. Members can change their selection once per calendar year for future flights.

It’s an unusual amount of control for an airline loyalty program.

Someone taking frequent short flights could choose to earn based on segments, while another member could stick with distance. Higher-spending members have the option of tying earnings to the price of their tickets instead.

And earning is only one part of the customization Alaska is adding.

DAVEALAN / ISTOCK

New Atmos Rewards Communities Come With Different Benefits

Atmos Rewards is expanding its Communities program from two groups to six on October 1.

Club 49 and Huakaʻi by Hawaiian, which are built around Alaska and Hawaii residents respectively, will be joined by Global Locals, Families on the Go, Culinary Journeys, and Active Escapes.

Depending on the group, perks can include free checked bags, flight deals, bonus point challenges, partner offers, discounts on Atmos Rewards Unlocked experiences, bonus status points for international travel, and discounts on points bookings for children.

The last one is particularly interesting for families, while the international status point bonuses give Atmos Rewards another way to reward members differently based on how they actually travel.

Bank of America Points Will Become Transferable to Atmos Rewards

One of the bigger changes isn’t arriving until 2027.

Alaska says customers with eligible Bank of America cards will be able to transfer points directly into Atmos Rewards.

There are still some important blanks. Alaska hasn’t said which Bank of America cards will participate, which rewards will be transferable, or what the transfer ratio will be.

But the concept itself is notable.

Bank of America already issues the Atmos Rewards credit cards. Allowing points from other eligible cards to transfer into Atmos Rewards would create another path into the program without requiring spending directly on an Atmos Rewards card.

And Bank of America won’t necessarily be alone. Alaska says Atmos Rewards eventually plans to add points transfers from other select financial institutions around the world.

An Atmos Rewards Debit Card Is Coming, Too

Atmos Rewards is also moving beyond credit cards.

A new Atmos Rewards debit card is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with preregistration open now. The card will earn Atmos Rewards points and status points on purchases, but Alaska is also teasing something less typical for a debit card: the ability to earn rewards on savings.

Other announced benefits include an annual flight discount, discounts on flights and onboard purchases, free points sharing, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to use points toward certain account fees.

MAK STUDIO / ISTOCK

There aren’t many specifics yet about how earning on purchases or savings will work, or the value of the annual flight discount.

There is, however, an incentive to register early. Atmos Rewards members who join the early access list by October 31 will receive a code for 20% off an eligible Alaska flight for travel from January 6 through March 10, 2027. Registration doesn’t open an account or guarantee eligibility for the debit card.

The card will be issued by Cross River Bank and managed by Alviere rather than Bank of America, which issues the Atmos Rewards credit cards.

There’s another card update coming sooner. Alaska plans to refresh its Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card later this year with lounge passes, free same-day confirmed flight changes, and 10X points on eligible purchases through Atmos Rewards for Business.

More details are expected later this fall.

More Benefits Are Coming for Platinum and Titanium Members

Higher-tier Atmos Rewards members are getting another change beginning November 2.

Platinum and Titanium members will be able to bring eligible children and one companion into Premium Class at no additional charge when space is available.

Alaska has also introduced a dedicated Titanium check-in facility in Seattle and is offering Titanium members global upgrades into Alaska’s premium cabins.

There’s a lot happening to Atmos Rewards at once, but the common thread is choice. Members can choose how they earn, join communities based on how they travel, and soon have more ways to earn or move points into the program.

The Bank of America piece could be particularly important once Alaska fills in the missing details. For now, though, the first round of changes starts October 1.

September 29, 2026
Alaska Is Going Much More Premium With Lie-Flat 737s, New Cabins, and Huge Lounges

Alaska Airlines has spent the last couple of years building a much bigger airline. Now it’s starting to show what it wants that airline to become in the years ahead.

On Tuesday, September 29, Alaska Air Group announced new premium cabins for both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, a new premium economy product, and multiple major lounge projects. The changes will start arriving over the next couple of years as Alaska expands farther into Europe and Asia.

There’s a lot here. But some of the more interesting changes isn’t happening on a long-haul Dreamliner.

Alaska Is Putting Lie-Flat Seats on Some 737s

Alaska’s new top-end product will be called Aurora Suites, and it’ll eventually appear on both the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners and at least 25 new Boeing 737-10s.

The 787-9 will have 34 Aurora Suites with lie-flat beds, privacy doors, direct aisle access, 19-inch 4K screens, and upgraded dining. The updated aircraft will be about 46% premium seating, up from 38% today.

ALASKA AIRLINES

The 737-10 is where things get more interesting.

At least 25 will be configured with 12 lie-flat Aurora Suites. Alaska says they’ll be used on select transcontinental flights beginning in 2028, bringing lie-flat seats to the airline’s narrowbody fleet for the first time.

ALASKA AIRLINES

These won’t exactly blend into the rest of Alaska’s 737 fleet. They’ll wear the same northern lights-inspired Aurora livery as the 787s and add another 12 Premium Reserve seats behind the suites.

Premium Reserve is Alaska’s new premium economy cabin, sitting above the extra-legroom economy seats it currently sells as Premium Class. Seats will have 38 inches of pitch, more recline, leg and calf rests, 16-inch 4K screens, and upgraded dining.

There will be 35 Premium Reserve seats on Alaska’s 787s, 28 on Hawaiian’s A330s, and 12 on the specially configured 737-10s. The seats go on sale next summer before entering service in 2028.

ALASKA AIRLINES

The Aurora experience won’t start at the airplane, either. Suite passengers will get dedicated check-in and concierge service in Seattle, access to a separate Aurora Lounge, and upgraded onboard dining. Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi will also be available to Atmos Rewards members.

Put it all together and Alaska is creating a pretty unusual 737, with lie-flat suites and premium economy ahead of its existing Premium Class and Main Cabin.

Hawaiian’s A330s Are Getting Rebuilt Too

Hawaiian isn’t getting the same cabin with a different logo.

Its fleet of 24 Airbus A330s will receive completely new interiors beginning in 2028, including 22 new Leihōkū Suites. They’ll have lie-flat seats with privacy doors and direct aisle access, along with 19-inch 4K screens, hotel-quality bedding, and upgraded dining.

ALASKA AIRLINES

Another 28 seats will be Premium Reserve.

Altogether, about 40% of the A330 will be premium seating, up from 30% today. The rest of the airplane is getting attention too, with new interiors throughout and upgraded entertainment with 4K screens and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Leihōkū experience will also include dedicated check-in and concierge service in Honolulu and Seattle.

Keeping Aurora and Leihōkū separate is also intentional. Alaska and Hawaiian are increasingly becoming one airline behind the scenes, but the company is still trying to preserve what makes the two brands distinct.

That extends to the food. Seattle chef Renee Erickson will develop menus for Alaska’s European flights, including London, Rome, Athens, and Paris, while James Beard Award-winning chef Brady Ishiwata Williams will handle routes to Asia. Hawaiian will continue building its menus around local chefs and ingredients.

Seattle Is Getting a 41,000-Square-Foot Lounge Complex

The premium push starts well before boarding.

Alaska plans to open a nearly 41,000-square-foot lounge complex in Seattle’s expanded C Concourse in late 2027. The airline says it’ll be Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s largest lounge and one of the largest in the country.

ALASKA AIRLINES

It’s actually two connected lounges.

A 500-seat Alaska Lounge will occupy the main level and follow Alaska’s existing access policies. A separate 200-seat Aurora Lounge will be reserved for Aurora Suites passengers traveling on intercontinental flights.

The complex will have an outdoor patio with a fireplace, private work pods, three bars, a pizza oven, and what Alaska calls a coffee lab.

The Aurora side goes further with private showers, wellness spaces, made-to-order food, à la carte dining, and tableside service.

Hawaiian is getting a substantial lounge of its own. A nearly 13,000-square-foot, 200-seat lounge is scheduled to open in Honolulu in early 2028. Alaska also plans a new 14,000-square-foot lounge in San Diego that year.

ALASKA AIRLINES

All of this starts to make more sense alongside where Alaska wants to fly.

The company currently serves seven intercontinental destinations and plans to reach at least 15 by 2030. Long-haul flying is expected to grow from about 8% of capacity today to roughly 15% by then.

Premium is becoming a bigger part of the business, too. Alaska expects premium revenue to grow from 35% to more than 40% of total revenue by 2030.

September 29, 2026
Chase Is Changing Hyatt Transfers for Select Cards on Oct. 1

Time is fleeting to transfer Chase points to World of Hyatt at 1:1 with some Ultimate Rewards cards.

Starting October 1, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred will transfer points to Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio. For every 1,000 Chase points transferred, that means 750 Hyatt points instead of 1,000.

Some Sapphire Preferred cardholders are already living with the new ratio. Anyone who opened the card on or after June 15 got the 4:3 ratio from the start.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business, meanwhile, are keeping 1:1 transfers.

That’s a pretty meaningful divide for people who regularly use Chase points to book Hyatt hotels.

A Hyatt stay costing 20,000 points currently takes 20,000 Chase points with a 1:1 transfer. At 4:3, it takes 27,000 Chase points, since Chase processes transfers in 1,000-point increments.

Three nights at that price goes from 60,000 Chase points to 80,000.

What to Do Before October 1

If there’s a Hyatt stay somewhere in the plans, now is a good time to price it out.

That doesn’t have to mean booking a hotel today. Check trips already planned for next year, weekends under consideration, or anywhere Hyatt was already a possibility.

If a hotel is available with points and the trip is likely to happen, waiting until after October 1 to transfer could mean spending considerably more Chase points for exactly the same stay.

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That doesn’t mean emptying an Ultimate Rewards account into Hyatt. Transfers are final, and keeping points with Chase leaves more options if plans change.

There is another way to keep the 1:1 ratio.

Chase is effectively making it a perk of its more expensive Sapphire Reserve cards. Someone who uses Hyatt regularly now has another reason to compare the Sapphire Preferred with the Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Business Preferred with the Sapphire Reserve for Business.

That’s a bigger decision than what to do before October 1. For now, if a Hyatt stay is somewhere on the horizon, it’s worth seeing what it costs before the transfer rate changes.

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September 28, 2026