Breaking Points: Credit Card News

United and JetBlue’s Blue Sky partnership has entered its next phase. Travelers have been able to earn and redeem United miles on JetBlue flights (and vice versa) since October 2025. Now elite members from each airline can begin taking advantage of reciprocal elite perks when flying the other carrier, including priority boarding, extra legroom seating with EvenMore and Economy Plus seats, preferred seating, priority check-in, free checked bags, and same-day standby. The elite reciprocity is broader than expected and even applies to lower-tier elites. The biggest downside is that earning and redemption rates are not especially generous, making this partnership more about convenience and network access than outsized rewards value. This partnership could be especially useful for travelers on the east coast.

Update: While this elevated offer has been available for more than a month, there was previously no way to refer someone to the Marriott Bonvoy Business card. Referrals are now live. If you have any Membership Rewards-earning Amex card, you can refer to the Marriott Bonvoy Business card. Referral bonuses vary by card, so be sure to check all of your Amex cards if you have multiple options.

Marriott Bonvoy Business is offering 150,000 points plus a $125 statement credit after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. That's up from the standard offer of 3 free night awards after spending $6,000 in 6 months. The annual fee is $125. Offer expires 7/15/26.

Scandinavian Airlines is offering 25% off award flights booked by May 17, 2026 for travel through September 30, 2026. SAS already has some strong sweet spots, with flights between the U.S. and Europe normally pricing at 30,000 miles in economy, 45,000 in premium economy, and 60,000 in business from anywhere in the U.S. With the discount, those prices drop to 22,500 / 33,750 / 45,000 miles respectively, which is especially attractive from the Midwest and West Coast. SAS also charges children ages 2-11 half the normal points price, making this a potentially strong deal for families. The biggest drawback is that Rove remains the only transferable points currency that partners with SAS.

If you hold an Amex Business Gold or Green card, you may be targeted to upgrade to the Business Platinum card for 120,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 in purchases. This can be a strong option if you currently have or previously held the Business Platinum, since upgrade offers bypass Amex’s lifetime language restrictions. If you’ve never had the card before, however, it may still make more sense to pursue a new card offer, as targeted offers have recently reached as high as 300,000 points for some applicants. Still, the lower spending requirement on the upgrade offer could make it appealing for those unable to organically meet the $20,000 spend typically required on the highest public offers. To check if you’re targeted, click this link and log in to your Amex account. If you receive a message saying “We’re sorry. This offer is no longer available,” you are not targeted.

Accor is running a flash sale offering up to 30% off participating hotels across the Americas. Book by May 19, 2026 for stays through December 30, 2026. When searching, look for properties marked with a pink “Special Offer” tag and Super Sale pricing. This promotion is especially useful because Accor points have a fixed redemption value of €0.02 per point, meaning lower cash prices also reduce the points needed for award stays. Even better, the sale stacks with the 10% discount available to all Accor loyalty members.