Monthly Valuations, Delta Awards Increase & More
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
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:
What You Need to Know About the Upcoming American Devaluation
The big American Airlines devaluation is nearly upon us. Effective March 22, AA's current award chart will be replaced with a less generous one. Here's what you need to know about it.
What Are Points & Miles Worth? March Monthly Valuations
Our latest points and miles valuations are here. See what your points and miles are worth today and stay tuned for our update following the AAdvantage changes coming soon.
Review: Lufthansa First Class on the A330, A340, A380 and 747-8
Lufthansa's first-class product is one of the most sought after and best ways to get to and from Europe. Follow along with TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig on his round-the-world trip and read about his impressions of four first-class flights with Lufthansa.
A Complete List of SPG Tribute Portfolio and Design Hotels
The Design Hotels and Tribute Portfolio brands offer some of the most unique properties available to SPG members, but there are just a few compared to the total number of SPG hotels and resorts. Check out this list of properties, all of which are now available to redeem for SPG free nights.
The sign-up bonus for the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card was recently bumped up to a whopping 75,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of signing up. Here are five great ways to make the most of this perk.
Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme Diplomatic Suite
Heading to Paris soon? The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is a fantastic option and bookable from 30,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per night. You can earn Hyatt Gold Passport points by using the Hyatt Credit Card or transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
In Other News…
Delta Increases Award Prices to Israel
Delta flyers are no stranger to silent changes of redemption rates. The airline recently bumped up prices on business-class awards to Israel, rising from 70k to 85k miles for a one-way flight.
Singapore A350 Flights Are Now Available to Book
Great news: Singapore Airlines' new A350 flights are now bookable. The carrier will operate the aircraft to just a handful of cities, including Amsterdam and Düsseldorf.
Delta Makes Positive Changes to Diamond Medallion Benefits
Delta news is usually met with a sigh from its fans, but this latest change isn't much to complain about. Diamond Medallion members have access to choice benefits and now there's going to be a bit more flexibility regarding upgrade options — you'll have three choices: 4 systemwide upgrades, 8 regional upgrades or 2 systemwide upgrades and 4 regional upgrades.
Disney Increases Its Prices Again
With attendance on the rise, the happiest theme parks on earth are adopting seasonal rates and will raise prices 18%-20% at certain times of the year with one-day tickets on peak days starting from $119 per adult at Disneyland and from $124 per adult at Walt Disney World. There will also be "regular" and "value" rates that'll cost less during the typically slower off-peak times at each park.
Oneworld Partners LAN and TAM Launch Joint Frequent Flyer Program
LATAM Pass will officially launch in April. Current elite flyers will have their current status transferred to the new program. Visit LAN's website for more details on what changes are in the works.
Gogo Wi-Fi Is Getting an Upgrade
Gogo announced this week that it'll be improving its service and technology, saying it'll soon be similar to your regular home or office connection. The news comes just a few weeks after American Airlines made a move to replace Gogo with service by ViaSat.