Alaska Airlines Miles – Revolutionizing Your Journey

Quick Hits: Insane Rakuten Deals, an Unfortunate End to the Amex to Alaska Airlines Loophole, and More!

By Bakir Djulic | May 23, 2025

Looking to maximize your points game and stay ahead of the travel curve?

In this extended Quick Hits episode, DeAndre Coke dives into one of the busiest travel news weeks yet. From Rakuten and SoFi points play to Delta’s award rate drops and United’s sleek new Polaris business class suites, there’s something for every traveler. He covers the Hilton Honors devaluation, a limited-time AA award sale, and the end of the valuable Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska Airlines transfer loophole. Plus, there’s new info on Chase’s Instacart perks, updates on the Zil Money saga, and a reminder that May is prime time for booking summer travel.

Packed with strategy, news, and savings hacks—you won’t want to miss it.

Key takeaways:

Rakuten deals: Huge Amex point earning opportunities—some merchants offering up to 95x points.
SoFi bonus: Opening a new SoFi account with a $500 direct deposit can earn 25,000 Amex points.
Delta award rates drop: Flying Blue redemptions on Delta-operated flights are ~20% cheaper for 2026.
United upgrades: New Polaris Studio Suites will offer luxury in-flight experiences starting in 2026.
Hilton devaluation: Standard award nights at top-tier hotels now cost up to 200,000 points.
American Airlines sale: Over 1 million award seats available from 5,000 miles—book by May 28.
Amex transfer loophole: The Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska points route ends June 30.
Chase Instacart perks: New $10–$20 monthly credits across many cards, plus free Instacart+ trials.
Zil Money update: The payroll on credit card feature was delayed another month, which is now expected in June.
Book now for summer: Prices for flights and hotels are lower than usual—rebooking could save $$$.

Resources:

LTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course:
- Use coupon code “BOLDYGO” for a 50% discount!
BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook Group
Truicity Wealth Management
Thrifty Traveler Premium
Daily Drop Newsletter

Connect with DeAndre Coke:

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Quick Hits: Chase & Amex Pause Emirates Transfers, The Zil Money Payroll Saga Continues and More!

By Bakir Djulic | May 2, 2025

Is travel finally getting cheaper again? In this Quick Hits episode, DeAndre Coke breaks down the latest shifts in travel trends, including a noticeable drop in flight prices and increased award seat availability, especially in business and first class. He explains why now might be the ideal time to snag flight deals using points or cash and shares valuable tools for smarter travel booking, including the newly launched hotel search tool Gondola.

DeAndre also provides an update on the ongoing saga of using payroll for your credit cards with Zil Money, which has been down for over a month now. He also covers a fast-closing loophole that lets travelers transfer Amex points to Alaska Airlines miles. He warns listeners about the upcoming temporary suspension of point transfers from Chase and Amex to Emirates. The episode closes with a heads-up on an active 30% transfer bonus from Citi ThankYou Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, along with key considerations for making the most of those points.

From smart booking strategies to maximizing redemptions, this update helps you make the most of the current travel climate.

Key takeaways:

Flight Prices Dropping: Demand is cooling, bringing cheaper cash fares and improved award availability.
Alaska Airlines Loophole: The Amex → Hawaiian → Alaska transfer hack may end soon—act fast.
Gondola Tool: A new site showing cash vs. points hotel prices, elite benefits, and price tracking, though it requires email read access.
Emirates Transfers Paused: Chase (May 28–June 30) and Amex (starting May 29) are temporarily pausing point transfers to Emirates, hinting at a likely devaluation.
Virgin Atlantic Transfer Bonus: 30% bonus on Citi ThankYou Rewards transfers to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club through May 17.
Thrifty Traveler & Daily Drop: Helpful tools for spotting mistake fares and daily point deals.
Cash vs Points Strategy: When flight prices drop, cash may offer better value than points.