Breaking Points: Credit Card News

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.

Check your Amex Offers as there is a targeted Hertz offer that gives you $75 back after spending $350 or more on one or more rentals. That's just over 21% back when spending exactly $350. The offer expires October 14, 2026, and eligible rentals must be made directly with participating Hertz corporate-owned locations in the U.S. Independently licensed locations do not qualify. One of the best parts of this promo is that the $350 spending requirement can be spread across multiple rentals, which makes the offer easier to use if you have more than one trip planned. This offer appears to be showing primarily on the personal Amex Platinum Card.

Chase has updated its Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables lineup, adding 40 restaurants and removing 12, bringing the total to 436 participating restaurants. If you are a Sapphire Reserve cardholder (personal card only, not Business), you can use your twice-yearly $150 dining credits at any of the participating restaurants. The credits are split into two periods, one from January through June and another from July through December. You only need to pay with your Sapphire Reserve at the restaurant. You do not need to book through Chase or OpenTable to trigger the credit, but you should check the current list before dining because participating restaurants can change. Chase has confirmed that if you booked a reservation before a restaurant was removed, you can still receive the dining credit for up to 60 days after the removal. Frequent Miler has updated its full list, crossing out restaurants that no longer participate and bolding newly added or returning restaurants. You can see that full updated restaurant list here or check Chase's current Exclusive Tables directly through OpenTable here.