Top Card Offers for December, Reviewing United Polaris, Trump Doesn’t Want Air Force One and More

Each Saturday, we round up news stories that you may have missed from the week before, including several that already appeared on The Points Guy, and some more that we haven’t covered yet. If you’re an avid TPG reader, scroll down for the new stuff. Here’s the top miles, points and travel news you may have missed this week:

Top 10 Travel Rewards Credit Card Offers for December 2016

If you’re considering signing up for a travel rewards card this month, look no further than this list of top travel rewards offers for December 2016.

Flight Review: United (747) Polaris First From Chicago to Tokyo

United recently rolled out the soft-product component of its new Polaris product, which represents a big step forward for the airline in terms of service, amenities and food offerings. Read TPG Editor-In-Chief Zach Honig’s full review of Polaris first class between Chicago (ORD) and Tokyo (NRT).

Carnival Cruise Line Fined $40 Million for Dumping Feces Into the Ocean

It’s been discovered that Carnival Cruise Line had been illegally dumping toxic waste into the ocean for about 10 years, and thus the cruise operator was hit with a hefty $40 million fine and has since made changes to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again.

The Exit Row Seat No One Wanted — Reader Mistake Story

One reader’s unfortunate experience in coach serves as a reminder to all that not all seats are created equal, and to do your research before selecting your seat — especially on long-haul flights.

Trump Slams ‘$4 Billion’ Air Force One Contract

President-elect Donald Trump said this week that he wants to cancel the Defense Department’s contract with Boeing to update Air Force One from a Boeing 747-200 to a brand-new, more fuel-efficient 747-8.

In Other News…

Wyndham Acquires Latin America-Based Fën Hotels 

Wyndham this week shared that it had acquired a hotel chain called Fën Hotels. The chain predominantly operates in Argentina, but has several other properties spread throughout Latin America as well two properties in the US (Brooklyn and Fort Lauderdale). You should be able to book rooms at Fën properties through Wyndham Rewards by the end of 2017.

American Airlines Makes Minor Changes to Baggage Fees on Select Flights

American Airlines added a $25 seasonal bag fee for flights to SAP (La Lima, Honduras) and TGU (Tegucigalpa, Honduras), and reduced fees on second checked bags to CLO (Valle del Cauca, Colombia) to $40 (originally $55). Changes apply to trips booked on or after July 26, 2016. You can find full details on the airline’s baggage fees here.

You Can Now Use Alaska Miles for Partner Awards to Australia and New Zealand

When American first launched service between the US and Australia and New Zealand, you weren’t able to use Alaska miles for award flights to those destinations. Now, following the addition of using Alaska miles for JAL flights, you can use them on both American’s and Emirates’ service to Australia and New Zealand. However, the awards are pretty expensive and availability might be tough to come by.

Free $10 Google Play Credit for Project Fi Subscribers

If you’re a Google Project Fi subscriber, you’re eligible to receive a free $10 credit to the Google Play store. Simply follow the instructions on this page to claim your $10.

Qantas Becomes First Australian Airline to Partner with Routehappy

Australia’s Qantas becomes that nation’s first airline to provide information on aircraft, cabins, routes and fare types through Routehappy.