Breaking Points: Credit Card News

Hilton is offering up to a 100% bonus on purchased Hilton Honors points through May 29, 2026. Offers are targeted, so you’ll need to log in to see if you’re eligible for the full bonus. With the top offer, points cost as little as 0.5¢ each with a minimum purchase of 5,000 points. We value Hilton points at around 0.5¢ each, so this can make sense if you have an immediate redemption in mind, but we wouldn’t recommend buying speculatively.

Rove Miles continues to expand its list of transfer partners following its 2025 launch, adding both Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Red. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, and you can link the two Virgin programs to move points between them. While most major transferable currencies already partner with Virgin, this gives Rove users another option within the ecosystem.

The JetBlue Premier card is adding several new benefits later this spring. Cardmembers will receive a 25-Tile bonus each year, putting them halfway to Mosaic 1 status, along with a 15% rebate on TrueBlue award redemptions. The $300 travel credit is also improving, now usable on any purchase through TrueBlue Travel with no minimum requirement, rather than being split into six $50 credits. Cardholders can also unlock companion passes with $15,000 and $75,000 in annual spend. These changes are not yet live, but they represent a much-needed upgrade for a card that has offered limited value relative to its $499 annual fee.

Many Chase cards, from the $795 Sapphire Reserve to several co-branded cards, offer a DoorDash benefit that includes $10 off monthly or quarterly non-restaurant orders. In practice, inflated prices, fees, and tips often offset that value. One workaround has been using pickup orders to avoid those extra costs, but DoorDash has begun implementing a $20 minimum on pickup orders. While this doesn’t appear to be a company-wide policy yet, with reports varying by store and location, it may become more widespread. This was already a frustrating benefit to use, and this change makes it even less valuable.

United Airlines has introduced more restrictive “basic” fare classes for its premium economy and business class cabins. There are now three fare types: basic, standard, and flexible, with basic fares removing perks typically expected in premium cabins. Basic fares charge for seat selection, do not allow ticket changes, and limit upgrade opportunities from premium economy. Basic business class fares also do not include Polaris lounge access, though United Club access remains. This is a disappointing shift, as premium cabins are now seeing the same unbundling as economy, though it reflects the broader trend of airlines maximizing revenue.