The Points Tool You've Always Wanted

American Airlines is rolling out a new option that will allow AAdvantage members to combine cash and miles when booking American Airlines flights. The feature will appear during checkout on AA.com and in the American app, where you'll be able to use a slider to choose how many miles you want to apply toward the cost of your ticket while being able to pay the remainder in cash. American has not said how much each mile will be worth, so while this could be useful if you don't have enough miles for an award or simply want to reduce the cash cost of a flight, it will completely depend on how they value each mile. The feature is expected to roll out to eligible members over the coming weeks, and we'll update here as soon as we have more information.

Atmos Rewards has launched a new Communities feature, allowing members to choose one of six groups based on how and where they travel. Joining is completely free, and members are allowed to switch communities once per calendar year. The six options are Club 49 for Alaska residents, Huakaʻi by Hawaiian for Hawaii residents, Global Locals for international travelers, Active Escapes for outdoor travelers, Culinary Journeys for food-focused travelers, and Families on the Go for families with children. Global Locals and Families on the Go offer the most intriguing benefits. Global Locals members earn 10% bonus status points on international travel and 1 status point for every 25 Atmos points transferred from an eligible loyalty partner. Families on the Go members receive 20% of the points back on award flights for children 12 and younger, including eligible partner awards, with no annual cap. Be aware this is a points rebate, so you still have to pay for the full points price, and then you'll receive 20% back after travel is completed. All six communities also include bonus-point challenges, exclusive flight deals, 20% off community-specific Atmos Rewards Unlocked experiences, and partner offers.

Amex has a targeted Wyndham offer that gives you $20 back after spending $100 or more in one or more qualifying purchases at participating Wyndham properties in the U.S. and Canada. The offer expires October 31, 2026, and reservations must be booked directly through Wyndham. Nearly 3,500 properties participate, so this should be relatively easy to use if you have an upcoming Wyndham stay. There is also a separate targeted Wyndham Amex Offer for select luxury properties that gives you $100 back after spending $500, so check your account to see which offers you have.

Amex has a targeted Marriott Homes & Villas promo out that offers $350 back after spending $1,000 or more in one or more qualifying purchases. The offer is valid through December 31, 2026, at participating Homes & Villas properties in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Reservations must be made directly through Homes & Villas, and the qualifying charges must post during the offer period. Since Homes & Villas often allows you to pay part of the stay upfront and the remainder later, make sure enough of your payments are made by December 31 to reach the $1,000 threshold, where the discount would give you 35% back. This offer could also stack with separate Homes & Villas promotions or shopping portal rewards, making it especially valuable for an upcoming vacation rental.