This month’s Global Getaways offers feature six destinations across Europe and Asia. One-way economy flights start at 20,000 Atmos Rewards points.
The promotion covers travel between January 15 and March 8, 2027, but there’s a relatively short window to take advantage of the deals. You’ll need to book by October 10, 2026.
October Atmos Rewards Global Getaways Deals
Six destinations are included in October’s promotion.
Destination
One-Way Starting Price
Seoul, South Korea (ICN)
20,000 points
Paris, France (CDG)
25,000 points
Helsinki, Finland (HEL)
25,000 points
Munich, Germany (MUC)
25,000 points
Stavanger, Norway (SVG)
30,000 points
Sapporo, Japan (CTS)
30,000 points
The advertised prices are starting rates, and the number of points required will depend on your departure airport and travel dates.
You’ll be on the hook for the necessary taxes and fees, too.
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Seoul is the least expensive destination in this month’s promotion, while Paris, Helsinki, and Munich all start at 25,000 points one-way.
And with the travel window running through early March, these deals could be useful for anyone considering a winter trip to Europe or Asia.
One lesser-known benefit of redeeming points and miles for flights is that, with some airlines, those trips can still count toward earning elite status.
Yes, it’s possible to fly using your miles and earn credit toward qualifying for elite status at the same time.
Not every airline offers this benefit, but it’s worth knowing about if you’re working toward a new status tier or trying to maintain the one you already have.
Here’s a look at five airline loyalty programs that offer elite status credit on eligible flights booked with points and miles.
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Atmos Rewards is particularly generous when it comes to earning elite status credit on flights booked with points.
Through the end of 2026, members earn 1 status point for every mile flown on eligible flights booked with Atmos Rewards points. That includes flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and eligible partner airlines.
For example, a 2,500-mile flight booked with points could earn 2,500 status points, regardless of how many points you redeemed for the ticket.
But things are changing in 2027.
Starting January 1, Atmos Rewards members will be able to choose how they earn points and status points. And that choice will also determine how much status credit they earn on flights booked with points.
Segments flown: 500 status points per flight segment
For example, a 2,500-mile nonstop flight booked for 20,000 Atmos Rewards points would earn 2,500 status points under the distance-based option, 1,000 under the price-based option, or 500 under the segment-based option.
Of course, the math can change depending on the routes you fly and how many points you’re redeeming. One earning method could be considerably more rewarding than another.
One important distinction is that flights booked with points earn status points only, not additional redeemable Atmos Rewards points.
The earning rate is pretty simple: members earn 1 MQD for every 100 SkyMiles redeemed.
So, a Delta flight costing 40,000 SkyMiles would earn 400 MQDs toward Medallion status. And this benefit also extends to eligible upgrades purchased with miles.
However, Delta’s Main Basic fares are excluded from earning MQDs through mileage redemptions.
Members earn 1 PQP for every 100 MileagePlus miles redeemed, along with one PQF for each eligible United or United Express flight.
For example, a nonstop United flight costing 30,000 miles would earn 300 PQP and one PQF toward Premier status.
Eligible seat upgrades purchased with miles can also earn PQP.
The benefit also applies to United-operated segments on itineraries that include partner airlines. However, flights operated by those partners won’t earn PQP or PQF from the mileage redemption.
Another useful detail is that PQP goes to the person flying, not necessarily the person who redeemed the miles.
So, if you use your MileagePlus miles to book a flight for someone else, that traveler receives the qualifying credit.
United also allows members to use PQP earned from flights booked with miles toward additional PlusPoints, not just Premier status.
Unlike Delta and United, which calculate status earnings based on the number of miles redeemed, Virgin Atlantic awards a fixed number of Tier Points depending on the cabin.
Members earn the following amounts on eligible flights booked with points.
Economy: 25 Tier Points
Premium: 50 Tier Points
Upper Class: 100 Tier Points
That means two passengers redeeming different amounts of points for the same flight and cabin could earn the same number of Tier Points.
The benefit applies to eligible Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, not partner airline redemptions.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas offers a similar benefit, although there’s an additional requirement.
The number of Status Credits depends on the route and cabin. For example, an eligible business-class flight between Australia and the U.S. West Coast earns 72 Status Credits.
However, Qantas is retiring Points Club on December 8, 2026. Existing eligible members will retain their benefits through the end of their next membership year, so this benefit won’t disappear immediately for everyone.
What About Other Airlines?
The majority of major airline loyalty programs don’t offer elite status credit for flights booked with points and miles.
American Airlines AAdvantage, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Southwest Rapid Rewards are among the programs that exclude these flights from their standard flight-based elite qualification requirements.
It’s also worth distinguishing between earning elite status credit and earning additional redeemable miles. Even when a flight booked with points counts toward status, it generally won’t earn more miles for future travel.
If you’re working toward elite status, it’s worth checking whether flights booked with points count toward qualification. Depending on the airline, you could use points for your next trip without giving up progress toward your next status tier.
Japan dominated international flight searches on PointsYeah in September 2026. Routes connecting the United States and Tokyo accounted for four of the top 10 spots.
As part of our monthly series, we’re taking a look at the routes PointsYeah users searched most frequently during the previous month, along with a few interesting findings from the data.
10 Most-Searched International Routes
Here’s how the top 10 international routes ranked in September 2026.
Ranking
Route
1
Los Angeles (LAX) → Tokyo (TYO)
2
New York (NYC) → Tel Aviv (TLV)
3
New York (NYC) → Tokyo (TYO)
4
San Francisco (SFO) → Tokyo (TYO)
5
San Francisco (SFO) → Taipei (TPE)
6
Delhi (DEL) → San Francisco (SFO)
7
Mumbai (BOM) → San Francisco (SFO)
8
Hong Kong (HKG) → San Francisco (SFO)
9
Hong Kong (HKG) → Los Angeles (LAX)
10
Seattle (SEA) → Tokyo (TYO)
These rankings reflect flight searches conducted on PointsYeah during September 2026, not completed bookings. NYC and TYO represent citywide airport searches rather than individual airports.
Tokyo Leads, With San Francisco Close Behind
Los Angeles–Tokyo was the most-searched international route on PointsYeah in September. It was followed by New York–Tel Aviv and New York–Tokyo.
Tokyo appeared four times in the top 10, with routes connecting the Japanese capital to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
San Francisco was another popular city. It appeared in five of the top 10 routes. Beyond Tokyo, users searched for flights connecting San Francisco with Taipei, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hong Kong.
New York–Tel Aviv was the only route outside Asia to make the list, ranking second overall.
Perhaps more surprising was that not a single route between the United States and Europe cracked the top 10.
Search These Routes With PointsYeah
Of course, a route being popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inexpensive to book with points. And searches don’t always turn into confirmed bookings.
International flights can vary considerably in price depending on the airline, loyalty program, and cabin. The same route might require substantially different amounts of points depending on which program you use, even when the flights are operated by the same airline.
You can use PointsYeah to view flights across different airline loyalty programs and see what’s available for your next trip.
New York and California dominated domestic flight searches on PointsYeah in September 2026. Routes connecting the two accounted for three of the top 10 spots.
In fact, seven of the 10 most-searched domestic routes involved the New York area, while transcontinental flights made up the majority of the list.
As part of a monthly series, we’re taking a look at the routes PointsYeah users searched most frequently during the previous month, along with a few interesting findings from the data.
10 Most-Searched Domestic Routes
Here’s how the top 10 domestic routes ranked in September 2026.
Ranking
Route
1
Newark (EWR) → San Francisco (SFO)
2
Los Angeles (LAX) → New York (NYC)
3
New York (NYC) → San Francisco (SFO)
4
Miami (MIA) → New York (NYC)
5
Honolulu (HNL) → Los Angeles (LAX)
6
Boston (BOS) → San Francisco (SFO)
7
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) → New York (NYC)
8
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) → New York (NYC)
9
New York (NYC) → Seattle (SEA)
10
Boston (BOS) → Los Angeles (LAX)
These rankings reflect flight searches conducted on PointsYeah during September 2026, not completed bookings. NYC represents a citywide airport search, while EWR refers specifically to Newark.
New York and Cross-Country Flights Lead the Way
The most-searched route was between Newark and San Francisco, followed by Los Angeles–New York and New York–San Francisco.
That pattern continued elsewhere on the list. Boston–San Francisco, New York–Seattle, and Boston–Los Angeles also made the top 10.
There were a few exceptions to the cross-country theme.
Miami and Fort Lauderdale both appeared alongside New York, while Honolulu–Los Angeles came in fifth. It’s the only route involving Hawaii to crack the top 10.
And just outside the rankings was Orlando–New York, which finished in 11th place.
Search These Routes With PointsYeah
A route being popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inexpensive to book with points. And searches don’t always turn into confirmed bookings.
Airlines can charge very different amounts for the same flight, particularly when booking through different loyalty programs. Depending on the route, it might also be worth checking nearby airports or adjusting travel dates to find a better option.
You can use PointsYeah to view flights across different airline loyalty programs and see what’s available for your next trip.
American Airlines is planning a massive new Admirals Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). And once it opens, it’ll be the largest Admirals Club in the airline’s network.
The new lounge will span more than 40,000 square feet. Construction is expected to begin later this year, although American hasn’t announced an opening date.
The new Admirals Club will occupy the mezzanine level overlooking Charlotte’s central atrium.
American says the lounge will have separate areas for dining, working, and relaxing, along with bars, food service areas, and spa-style shower suites. The design will also incorporate elements inspired by Charlotte’s tree canopy and textile heritage.
Charlotte is American’s second-largest hub, where the airline operates more than 650 flights on peak days to over 180 destinations across 27 countries. Given the number of passengers connecting through the airport, the additional space should be a massive improvement and help ease crowding at American’s existing lounges.
What Happens to Charlotte’s Existing Lounges?
American currently operates Admirals Clubs in Concourses B and C/D, along with its newer Provisions by Admirals Club location near Gate A1.
All three locations will remain open during construction. However, American hasn’t said what will happen to them once the new lounge opens.
There’s also the matter of Charlotte’s first Flagship lounge, which will offer a more premium experience for eligible international premium cabin passengers and certain elite members. American hasn’t announced where that lounge will be located or when it might open.
Booking Air France or KLM flights to Europe through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club can come with some hefty taxes and fees. For example, a one-way Air France economy flight from Los Angeles to Paris currently carries more than $293 in taxes and fees on top of the points required.
But there’s an interesting exception for flights departing Minneapolis.
We’re finding nonstop flights to Paris and Amsterdam for as little as 15,000 Virgin points plus just $5.60 in taxes and fees. That’s a pretty unusual price for a transatlantic flight on either airline.
Flights From Minneapolis to Europe With Just $5.60 in Fees
Here are two examples we found when searching Virgin Atlantic Flying Club:
Minneapolis (MSP) to Amsterdam (AMS): 15,000 points plus $5.60 on KLM, departing Oct. 19, 2026.
Minneapolis (MSP) to Paris (CDG): 25,000 points plus $5.60 on Air France, departing Jul. 25, 2027.
VIRGIN ATLANTICVIRGIN ATLANTIC
For comparison, the Los Angeles-to-Paris example carries over $287 more in taxes and fees.
The low fees appear to apply specifically to nonstop economy flights departing Minneapolis. Connecting beyond Paris or Amsterdam can increase the taxes and fees, and mileage prices vary by date.
How to Find These Flights
Search for flights from Minneapolis to Paris or Amsterdam on Virgin Atlantic’s website and select the option to book with points or via PointsYeah.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a transfer partner of several major credit card rewards programs, so there’s no need to earn the points by flying Virgin Atlantic.
Minneapolis won’t be a convenient departure point for everyone. But for anyone who can get there inexpensively, these flights are worth a look, particularly with taxes and fees this low.
It’s not exactly necessary to save your Marriott Bonvoy points for one big trip. Sometimes a particular hotel you saw on social media, an event, or an experience is reason enough to plan a weekend getaway.
That’s especially true in the fall. We went looking for Marriott properties where there’s something interesting happening this season and found four with nights bookable with points.
Some of the experiences Marriott is offering this fall cost extra or require a separate package. But Bonvoy points can take care of the room, whether the trip involves fall foliage in Shenandoah, Halloween in San Francisco, wine and live music in Tucson, or a Patriots game outside Boston.
Here are four that caught our attention.
Postcard Cabins Shenandoah, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy
Postcard Cabins Shenandoah puts a Bonvoy redemption just outside one of the country’s best-known places for fall foliage.
The private cabins sit near Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, with hiking trails and rivers nearby. Back at the cabin, there’s a private campfire area, and s’mores are included.
There’s still decent availability heading into late fall. When we checked on Oct. 6, November nights started at 32,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, although many dates were priced at 48,000 points.
Award stays are subject to an additional $40 daily destination fee.
Postcard Cabins Shenandoah, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy. MARRIOTT
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
Things get considerably spookier at the historic Westin St. Francis this October.
The hotel’s seasonal Haunted Suite turns the space into a haunted manor, complete with a fireplace, tombstones, cobwebs, and other Halloween decor. The experience also draws on some of the property’s more macabre history.
The Haunted Suite requires a special paid package, so Bonvoy points won’t get you into the themed room. But regular rooms are still an option for spending Halloween at the property.
When we checked on Oct. 6, nights were available for 52,000 Bonvoy points on both Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Other available October dates climbed as high as 81,000 points.
There’s also a $38 daily destination fee.
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square. MARRIOTT
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
The Westin La Paloma in Tucson is hosting Moonlight Vines this fall, an outdoor event with live jazz, wine, and food beneath the Santa Catalina Mountains.
It’s also the cheapest of the four properties we searched. When we checked on Oct. 6, November nights started at 35,000 Bonvoy points, with many dates ranging from 35,000 to 55,000 points.
Award stays carry an additional $45 daily resort fee.
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. MARRIOTT
Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel
In New England, fall is synonymous with football.
The Renaissance Boston Patriot Place is only a short walk from Gillette Stadium. So it’s an unusually convenient place to stay for a Patriots game.
Marriott also sells a Touchdown Package that bundles a stay with two lower-level tickets to a home game, breakfast for two, and valet parking.
That package requires a paid booking. But anyone putting the trip together separately can use Bonvoy points for a regular room and buy game tickets separately.
When we searched on Oct. 6, November nights started at 67,000 Bonvoy points, with most available dates between 67,000 and 82,000 points. There’s an additional $25 daily destination fee.
Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel. MARRIOTT
Search for More Fall Trips With PointsYeah
These are only four pieces of inspiration for your fall travels, and Marriott Bonvoy pricing changes regularly.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that PointsYeah can search Marriott alongside other hotel programs. This makes it easier to see where points can cover a fall stay and view all of what’s available.
United credit cards are useful for several reasons beyond their welcome bonuses.
For anyone who flies United, carrying one can unlock lower mileage prices, help with earning Premier status, and provide benefits ranging from free checked bags to United Club access.
There are several United cards to choose from, and the differences become more meaningful depending on how often someone flies the airline and which benefits they’ll use. Eligible United cardholders can also save 10% or more when booking eligible flights with miles, or 15% or more for Premier members.
One thing worth noting about the current offers: Each includes an opportunity to earn another 10,000 miles after adding an authorized user within the first three months.
Here are four United cards that make sense to consider.
United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card is the most approachable of the personal cards here. It’s a great option for someone who flies United a few times a year.
Its benefits include a free first checked bag, priority boarding, two United Club one-time passes each year, and savings of 10% or more when booking eligible flights with miles.
Click “Learn More” below for the current offer, full benefits, and application details.
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United Quest Card
The United Quest Card makes more sense for someone spending more time onboard United and looking for benefits beyond a checked bag.
It comes with an annual United travel credit and flight discount, two free checked bags, and an annual allotment of Premier qualifying points (PQP). That makes the card particularly relevant for someone working toward United Premier status. Cardholders can also save 10% or more when booking eligible flights with miles.
Click “Learn More” below for the current offer, full benefits, and application details.
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United Club Card
The United Club Card is the premium personal option. The headline benefit is a United Club membership.
It also offers two free checked bags, Premier Access benefits, savings of 10% or more when booking eligible flights with miles, and opportunities to earn PQP toward Premier status. For frequent United flyers who would otherwise pay for lounge access, the Club membership is likely to be the biggest reason to carry it.
Click “Learn More” below for the current offer, full benefits, and application details.
The United Business Card offers many of the benefits found on the personal cards, including a free first checked bag, priority boarding, two United Club one-time passes, and savings of 10% or more when booking eligible flights with miles.
There’s also a reason to pair it with a personal United card: Cardholders with both receive a 5,000-mile bonus each account anniversary.
Click “Learn More” below for the current offer, full benefits, and application details.
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United Credit Card Application Rules
The Explorer and Quest cards aren’t available to current cardholders of the respective card or previous cardholders who received a new-cardmember bonus on that card within the past 24 months.
The Club Card has broader restrictions. It’s unavailable to current cardholders of any United Club credit card or previous United Club cardholders who received a new-cardmember bonus for the current Club Card within the past 24 months.
The United Business Card doesn’t list a similar 24-month restriction, although applicants need an eligible business.
Offer terms and eligibility can change, so check the current terms before applying.
Amazon is offering a targeted discount for American Express cardholders with a Membership Rewards-earning card, and some versions can take as much as $50 off a purchase.
Eligible cardholders can save as much as 50% on eligible Amazon purchases after activating the offer and using a small number of Membership Rewards points at checkout.
Offers vary by account.
The best version we’ve seen offers 50% off when using at least 429 Membership Rewards points. Other cardholders are seeing 40% off after using at least 1,429 points, while another version offers 15% off with the same 1,429-point requirement.
So it’s worth checking which version Amazon has targeted to an account before placing an order.
How the Amex Amazon Discount Works
First, an eligible American Express card needs to be enrolled in Amazon’s Shop with Points program.
For the 40% offer we’re seeing, at least 1,429 Membership Rewards points need to be used toward the purchase. The rest can be paid normally.
There’s no reason to pay for the entire purchase with Membership Rewards points just to trigger the discount.
The offer applies to eligible products that can be purchased through Shop with Points, and the discount is applied before shipping, taxes, and fees. Amazon gift cards aren’t eligible.
And for anyone who shops Amazon regularly, Amazon Prime also comes with free shipping on eligible purchases and other benefits.
Check Your Offer
Not everyone will be targeted with an offer. Even among eligible cardholders on the PointsYeah team, the discount and required number of points differ.
The promotion is scheduled to run through 5 p.m. PT on December 31, 2026, although offers can end sooner if their redemption limits are reached. The terms on the 40% version, for example, limit it to the first 57,142 customers who redeem it.
A few thousand airline points might not seem particularly useful. But with Atmos Rewards, they can get you farther than you might expect.
Short flights are one of the more interesting parts of the Atmos Rewards redemption charts. Partner flights within the Americas covering less than 600 miles start at just 4,500 points each way in economy.
Flights operated by Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines work a little differently. Routes covering less than 700 miles can also be particularly cheap, and we’ve found some starting below 4,500 points.
Here are seven examples we’ve found on PointsYeah, from the Bahamas and Canada to Hawaii and Alaska.
Miami to Nassau on American Airlines
One of the more fun uses of 4,500 points doesn’t even keep you in the U.S.
American Airlines flies from Miami (MIA) to Nassau (NAS). That flight covers less than 200 miles. And when the lowest partner price is available, it costs just 4,500 Atmos Rewards points in economy.
That’s not bad for a flight to the Bahamas.
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Phoenix to Salt Lake City on American Airlines
The same pricing works for more ordinary domestic travel.
American’s flight from Phoenix (PHX) to Salt Lake City (SLC) falls within the lowest distance band, and we’ve found seats for 4,500 points.
It’s a good example of how a small balance can cover a practical trip, too.
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Boston to Toronto on Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines opens up another set of possibilities. The Canadian carrier joined Alaska’s partner network in 2023, and it gives Atmos Rewards members access to its growing network in Canada and the U.S.
Its flight from Boston (BOS) to Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) is available for 4,500 Atmos Rewards points.
Billy Bishop sits just outside downtown Toronto. It’s also a much smaller (and more convenient) airport than Toronto Pearson (YYZ).
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New York to Toronto on Porter Airlines
Porter also flies from New York-LaGuardia (LGA) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ).
We’ve found the route starting at the same 4,500-point price, giving Boston another inexpensive way to get to Toronto with Atmos Rewards points.
POINTSYEAH
Honolulu to Lihue on Hawaiian Airlines
Atmos Rewards can also be useful for getting between the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines flights from Honolulu (HNL) to Lihue (LIH) is available for 4,500 points. Similar pricing can show up on other Neighbor Island routes as well.
POINTSYEAH
Seattle to Ketchikan on Alaska Airlines
Here’s where the pricing gets a little more interesting.
Alaska-operated flights use a different chart, and some short flights actually dip below 4,500 points.
We’ve found Seattle (SEA) to Ketchikan (KTN) for as few as 4,000 Atmos Rewards points, getting you from the Lower 48 to Southeast Alaska.
POINTSYEAH
Anchorage to Kodiak on Alaska Airlines
We’ve also found Anchorage (ANC) to Kodiak (ADQ) starting at 4,000 points.
That’s below the 4,500-point starting price for short partner flights within the Americas.
POINTSYEAH
Search Beyond These 7 Routes
These are just a few examples. It’s nowhere near a definitive list. American and Porter alone operate plenty of other routes short enough to fall within the lowest partner distance band, while Alaska and Hawaiian have their own short-haul possibilities.
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Availability and pricing vary by date. But a balance of 4,000 or 5,000 Atmos Rewards points can be more useful than it may seem at a glance.
