The Points Tool You've Always Wanted

American Express Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders can now earn 5X Membership Rewards points on regular Airbnb bookings made through Amex Travel. This applies to standard Airbnb properties, not just Airbnb Luxe rentals, and bookings can be initiated through the Amex Travel website or app before being completed on Airbnb. The 5X earning rate is particularly useful for expensive Airbnb stays, where earning bonus points has traditionally been more difficult. Keep in mind that regular Airbnb bookings do not qualify for the Platinum cards' $600 annual hotel credit, which is limited to eligible Fine Hotels + Resorts, The Hotel Collection, and Airbnb Luxe bookings. Make sure to check for pricing discrepancies, as portal bookings can be higher sometimes. Booking through Amex Travel may also prevent you from using other cashback portals, so it's worth comparing all your options before booking.

October 25, 2026 Update: This deal is back again with $150/15,000 Bilt points. These generally don't last long, so if you were thinking about jumping on it, we suggest doing it sooner rather than later.

Rakuten is offering an extra $150 when you apply for the Citi Strata Premier Card through Rakuten and are approved. If you have your Rakuten account set to earn Bilt points and have Bilt Silver status or higher, you'll earn at a 1:1 rate, turning that $150 into 15,000 Bilt points. If your Rakuten account is set to earn Amex Membership Rewards points, then you won't see this offer, and members who have their accounts set to cash back can earn the $150 instead. The Citi Strata Premier currently offers its standard 60,000 ThankYou Point signup bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months, so this can effectively add 15,000 Bilt points to that offer. Citi's last elevated Strata Premier offer was 75,000 points, but that ended in early 2025, while the all-time high of 80,000 points dates back to 2023. With Citi recently adding a lifetime signup bonus restriction to the Strata Premier, we'd normally prefer to wait for an elevated offer before using your one opportunity to earn the bonus. But if you value Bilt points and don't want to wait for an elevated Citi offer that may or may not arrive soon, 60,000 ThankYou points plus 15,000 Bilt points makes the current offer much more competitive.

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has added a new benefit to their highest tier card. Cardholders receive a semiannual $100 inKind dining credit from January through June and another $100 from July through December at participating inKind restaurants. The benefit is available immediately, meaning cardholders can use up to $100 before December 31, 2026, with another $100 becoming available January 1, 2027. To use the credit, simply add your Citi AAdvantage Executive Card as a payment method in the inKind app and then use it to pay at a participating restaurant. The credit is applied automatically, but it cannot be combined with existing inKind rewards or credits on the same transaction. While this is a useful addition for cardholders who frequent participating restaurants, its value depends on your location and how many inKind restaurants are near you.

Citi ThankYou Rewards has added a new airline transfer partner with Copa Airlines ConnectMiles. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio for Citi Strata Elite, Strata Premier, Prestige, and AT&T Access More cardholders. Other eligible Citi cards, including the Citi Double Cash, Custom Cash, and no-annual-fee Strata, can transfer points at a lower ratio of 1,000 ThankYou points to 700 ConnectMiles. Copa ConnectMiles has some interesting sweet spot redemption opportunities, like booking Emirates award flights without the crazy high fuel surcharges, though points prices are often higher than other partners.