Breaking Points: Credit Card News

American Express has changed its referral limits to 5 per year, per card. Previously, there was a cap on the number of points you could earn annually, but the new structure limits the number of referrals instead, with no maximum points cap. Amex also allows some Membership Rewards cardholders to refer friends or family to a wide range of Amex cards, not just the one they hold. We don’t view this as a major change for most people, and some may even be able to earn more under the new system.

Major U.S. airlines have increased checked baggage fees over the past week, citing rising fuel costs. Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United have all raised fees by $5 to $10 for first and second bags, with larger increases for additional bags. This is the first widespread increase since the pandemic, and these higher fees are likely to stick even when fuel costs inevitably decline again. If you regularly check bags, co-branded airline credit cards that include free checked bags have become more valuable.

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.