Welcome to October, Q4 and the final — but certainly busy — home stretch of 2026.
A lot has happened since our last rapid-fire “get to the points” check-in back in July. So let’s catch up on some of the biggest changes in travel and loyalty — and look ahead at what’s still to come before we turn the page to 2027.
The airport lounge boom shows no signs of slowing down. Since July, we’ve gotten a swanky new Chase Sapphire Lounge at DFW — complete with a whiskey lounge — and an Amex Centurion Lounge in Amsterdam. And before 2026 is over, we’re still expecting United Airlines’ largest-ever lounge in Houston, plus new United lounges at Dulles and San Francisco. The big question: Will Amex’s forthcoming Centurion Lounge at Newark make the 2026 cut, too?
Europe is … still complicated. The good news is the EU has delayed its ETIAS “visa” program again. But unfortunately, its EES biometric entry and exit system is still in play for European airports (much of the time, at least) and is still causing some headaches for travelers. So plan ahead and allow extra time when entering and leaving the EU.
Some Amex credits have gotten easier to use — and one continues to get harder. Resy credits are now more flexible thanks to the addition of select Tock restaurants and experiences, but some “off-label” uses of the $200 Amex airline fee credit have become tougher. If you still have yours sitting around, here’s how to use it before December 31.
If the first nine months of 2026 are any indication, there will be plenty more changes coming to offers, programs, airlines and more before we ring in 2027.
And as always, we’ll be here to help you keep up with it all — and, more importantly, make the most of the changes that can help you travel better and get more from your points.
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