The Points Tool You've Always Wanted

American Airlines appears to be blocking partner airlines from accessing many nonstop saver awards within six days of departure, eliminating a valuable sweet spot for last-minute travelers. Starting exactly 144 hours before departure, award space that was previously available through partner programs like Alaska (Atmos), British Airways, Japan Airlines, Finnair, and Qantas disappears, despite remaining available when booked directly through American. Many of these flights can be booked for as little as 4,500 miles through Alaska but now cost around 10,000 American miles when booked within the six-day window. This is especially disappointing because partner programs have long offered a way to save miles on last-minute bookings when cash fares are often at their highest. Dan's Deals first uncovered the change, and you can read an in-depth article here explaining the nuances.

World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members, along with World of Hyatt personal and business cardholders, will receive one month of early access to award bookings starting June 30, 2026. Hyatt members can currently book award stays up to 12 months in advance. Under the new policy, eligible members will be able to book award stays 13 months out, giving them a head start on everyone else. This could become a meaningful perk for travelers targeting Hyatt's most sought-after properties, where award availability can disappear quickly, and adds another valuable benefit to holding Hyatt elite status or one of its co-branded credit cards.

Update: This rumor is now confirmed as Citi ended applications for the Custom Cash card on May 28, 2026. As of now, there do not appear to be any changes for existing cardholders. Data points are mixed on if you can still product change now that applications are closed. We will update as more information comes in.

May 26, 2026

Doctor of Credit is reporting that Citi will discontinue applications for the Custom Cash card, possibly as soon as the end of this week. The Custom Cash is one of Citi’s most popular cards and a key part of many Citi trifecta setups thanks to its automatic 5x category earnings each billing cycle. Many users pair it with the Citi Double Cash and a Strata card to maximize earnings and unlock transfer partner access. Applications for the card are still currently live, so if this is a card you’ve been considering, now may be the time to apply. If you already have another Citi card you no longer use, it may also be worth calling to see if you can product change to the Custom Cash, though product change options vary by customer. Citi has not announced any changes for current cardholders.

Wyndham is offering up to an 80% bonus on purchased points through July 3, 2026. This is a targeted offer, so some members may only receive a 70% bonus. Wyndham normally sells points for 1.3¢ each, so with the full 80% bonus, points cost as little as 0.72¢ apiece. That’s a solid price, though we’d generally only recommend buying Wyndham points if you have a specific redemption in mind. The standard annual purchase limit of 100,000 points still applies, and members must purchase at least 3,000 points to qualify.