Breaking Points: Credit Card News

Targeted Marriott Amex Offers are appearing for certain cardholders, so be sure to check the Amex Offers section of your cards to see if you've received any interesting offers. The best offer we've seen is $150 back after spending $300 at participating Marriott properties, while some cardholders are seeing $200 back after spending $450. Both represent substantial discounts of roughly 50% and 44%, respectively. Offers are valid at participating Marriott properties in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean through November 30, 2026. These appear to be heavily targeted, with early reports suggesting they're showing primarily on Marriott Bonvoy Amex cards, although availability can vary by cardholder.

AARP members can earn I Prefer Gold status plus 2,500 bonus points after completing just one eligible stay. Book a stay using promo code IPAARP, then complete the stay to receive both the status upgrade and bonus points. I Prefer Gold includes benefits such as potential room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout, a welcome amenity, and 20% bonus points on eligible stays. Make sure you compare the AARP rate with other available rates before booking. This could also potentially stack with the targeted Amex Offer for $100 back after spending $500 at participating Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties, but that offer expires on September 13, 2026.

Amex is targeting certain cardholders with an offer for $100 back after spending $500 or more at participating Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties. You must activate the offer and book through the dedicated Preferred Hotels offer page, with eligible stays completed by September 13, 2026. The $500 spending requirement can include both the room rate and room charges, meaning you could potentially trigger the credit on an award stay if you have at least $500 in eligible charges at the hotel.

Amex is targeting certain cardholders with at least two different Airbnb offers. One gives $30 back after spending $250 or more, while another offers 15% back as a statement credit, up to $30 total. You must activate the offer first and make your purchase directly through Airbnb by October 20, 2026, but the actual stay can take place later. Gift card purchases are excluded. This is a solid offer if you're already planning an Airbnb stay, especially the 15% version, since meaningful Airbnb discounts can be hard to find.

If you're a parent who wants travels with a lap infant, Atmos Rewards has introduced a very generous policy on award tickets. When booking an award flight through Atmos, you'll only have to pay the applicable government taxes and fees to add a lap infant under two years old. No additional points will be required. This applies to all award redemptions, whether you're flying Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, or one of Atmos' partner airlines. Many airline programs charge 10% of the adult cash fare for a lap infant, which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars on premium-cabin tickets. Atmos' new policy is among the most generous available, joining programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, which charges just 2,500 points or $25 CAD, while Virgin Atlantic generally charges 1,000 to 7,000 points depending on the cabin. You'll need to call Atmos to add a lap infant to an award booking.