Breaking Points: Credit Card News

Some Amex and Hilton cardholders are being targeted with bonus points offers on spending. Check your Membership Rewards and Hilton cards to see if you’ve been targeted. We’ve seen a wide range of offers, from 1,000 bonus points after $500 in spend to as much as 200,000 points after $59,000. Hilton offers include 8,500 points after $4,500, 15,500 after $5,500, or 45,500 after $15,500, all within 90 days and up to three times per offer. If you’re not currently working toward a signup bonus, these can be a solid way to earn extra points, especially since they stack with existing category multipliers.

Southwest is offering up to 40% off base fares with promo code FLOWERS (taxes and fees excluded). The “up to” language matters, as many routes will see smaller discounts. The offer applies to both cash and award bookings made by April 23 for travel between May 10 and June 10, 2026 and August 11 through September 30, 2026. If you already have flights booked during these windows, it may be worth checking to see if you can reprice at a lower cost.

JAL and ANA are increasing fuel surcharges on award flights starting May 1, 2026, with many routes seeing increases close to 100%. Travelers currently pay around $180 in surcharges for one-way flights between North America and Japan, but that will jump to roughly $350 in business class. The increase is expected to run through June 30, 2026, though it may last longer depending on fuel costs. If you’re planning an award flight to Japan, it may be worth booking before May 1 to avoid the higher fees.

Rakuten is offering a $75 bonus (or 7,500 points if set to earn Bilt Rewards) when applying for the Chase Freedom Unlimited as a new Chase customer. This stacks with the card’s current elevated welcome offer of 25,000 points (up from the standard 20,000). Note that this offer excludes users earning Rakuten rewards as Amex Membership Rewards. While the Freedom Unlimited isn’t a top use of a 5/24 slot, it can still be a solid addition when paired with cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, like a Sapphire card.

Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 25% transfer bonus to Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club. The standard transfer ratio is 5:1, so with the bonus, you’ll receive 250 Leaders Club points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points transferred. A minimum transfer of 1,000 points is required. Offer expires May 16, 2026.