Vol. II No. 45 Morning Edition Boston · New York
Business Travel Today
The Daily Briefing All the news the wire will carry Independent since MMXXV

Vol. II 11 briefs on file Established MMXXV

Loyalty

Frequent-flyer programs, hotel rewards, and the credit-card status game.

United MileagePlus, Q2 2026
Loyalty

United MileagePlus, Q2 2026

United held 1K thresholds at 28K PQP (or 22K PQP + 60 PQF) for 2026, loosened Polaris Saver access for cardmembers, and kept Global Services unwritten.

May 1, 2026
Chase Ultimate Rewards 2026: Transfer Partner Briefing
Loyalty

Chase Ultimate Rewards 2026: Transfer Partner Briefing

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to 14 airline and hotel partners at 1:1 in 2026. Transfer increments are 1,000 points.

April 17, 2026
Avios Household and Family Pooling: 2026 Briefing
Loyalty

Avios Household and Family Pooling: 2026 Briefing

British Airways Household Accounts pool up to seven, draw pro-rata. Iberia Family Accounts launched February 2026 with up to seven and no kinship requirement.

April 6, 2026
Marriott Bonvoy 2026: Elite Thresholds, Ambassador Math, and the Brand Portfolio That Keeps Expanding
Loyalty

Marriott Bonvoy 2026: Elite Thresholds, Ambassador Math, and the Brand Portfolio That Keeps Expanding

Marriott Bonvoy enters 2026 with the same five-tier elite ladder it has run since the Starwood integration, a hardened twenty-three thousand dollar…

January 5, 2026
American AAdvantage 2026: The Status State Briefing
Loyalty

American AAdvantage 2026: The Status State Briefing

AAdvantage status thresholds hold for the third straight year: 40K Gold, 75K Platinum, 125K Platinum Pro, 200K Executive Platinum Loyalty Points.

December 20, 2025
Alaska Mileage Plan, Q2 2026
Loyalty

Alaska Mileage Plan, Q2 2026

Alaska's post-March-2024 distance-based partner chart held into year two. Hawaiian Airlines formally joined oneworld on April 22, 2026.

October 21, 2025
Marriott Bonvoy Cat 8, Q2 2026
Loyalty

Marriott Bonvoy Cat 8, Q2 2026

Bonvoy's dynamic pricing has settled with Category 8 properties pricing 52K-140K per night.

October 8, 2025
Delta SkyMiles, Q2 2026: MQD Walkback Holds, Diamond Sticks at $28K, Amex Headstart Stays Live
Loyalty

Delta SkyMiles, Q2 2026: MQD Walkback Holds, Diamond Sticks at $28K, Amex Headstart Stays Live

Delta held MQD thresholds for the 2026 qualifying year — Diamond $28K, Platinum $15K, Gold $10K, Silver $5K — after 2024's walkback.

September 12, 2025
Hilton Honors, Q2 2026: Diamond Drops to 50 Nights, New Diamond Reserve Tier Lands
Loyalty

Hilton Honors, Q2 2026: Diamond Drops to 50 Nights, New Diamond Reserve Tier Lands

Hilton lowered Diamond to 50 nights or 25 stays starting January 1, 2026, and launched a Diamond Reserve top tier.

September 5, 2025
World of Hyatt Globalist 2026: The Qualification Briefing
Loyalty

World of Hyatt Globalist 2026: The Qualification Briefing

Hyatt Globalist requires 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points in 2026. Benefits include 4 PM late checkout, suite upgrades, and lounge-or-breakfast.

July 17, 2025
Aeroplan Super Elite, Q2 2026
Loyalty

Aeroplan Super Elite, Q2 2026

Aeroplan's 2026 cycle replaced miles-flown with Status Qualifying Credits. Super Elite requires 125,000 SQC.

June 26, 2025