Quick Hits: Hilton and United Surprise Travelers with “De-Devaluations” & More!
Nov 7, 2025
DeAndre shares his upcoming trip to Tulum and talks about his speaking engagements at major travel festivals. He dives into significant updates in travel rewards, including Amex's new charge card limit and Hilton's recent drop in redemption rates at select properties. United Airlines is offering better value with reduced partner award rates, while Capital One clarifies bonus rules for the Venture card. Also highlighted are Rove bookings affecting Hyatt upgrades and a listener's inspiring World Series trip made possible by points.
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Tulum Trip And Upcoming Talks
DeAndre is heading to Tulum and will split his stay between Secrets Tulum and an Airbnb.
He announced speaking engagements for 2026 at Chicago Points Travel Festival and Pediatric CEO Intensive.
insights INSIGHT
Amex Limits Personal Charge Cards
American Express appears to cap personal charge cards at five per customer, affecting new applications.
Early data suggests existing cardholders may be grandfathered but business charge cards are unaffected.
insights INSIGHT
Hilton Partially Rolls Back Award Hikes
Hilton rolled back some recent award hikes at select properties after pushing rates higher.
The shifts suggest Hilton may be experimenting with dynamic award pricing rather than full reversals.
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In this week’s Quick Hits, DeAndre Coke checks in before heading to Tulum, Mexico, sharing exciting updates on upcoming speaking engagements and the latest news in the world of points and miles. He previews his visits to Secrets Tulum and a local Airbnb stay, and announces two 2026 conferences where he’ll be speaking — the Chicago Points Travel Festival and the Pediatric CEO Intensive.
On the travel rewards front, DeAndre covers major industry updates, including Amex’s new charge card limits, Hilton and United “de-devaluations”, and Capital One’s clarified Venture bonus rules. He also shares listener data points from the WhatsApp community, such as how Rove bookings impact Hyatt upgrades and how to fix Amex mailer application issues. The episode wraps up with a listener highlight featuring Tom Marsden’s World Series trip, reminding everyone how points and miles can turn passions into unforgettable experiences.
Key takeaways:
Upcoming events: DeAndre will speak at the 2026 Chicago Points Travel Festival and Pediatric CEO Intensive.
Amex limits: American Express now appears to cap personal charge cards at five per customer.
Hilton rollback: Some properties, including Grand Wailea and Hermitage Bay, have reduced redemption rates after recent hikes.
United Airlines update: Partner award rates dropped up to 9%, offering better value on international redemptions.
Capital One clarification: You can still earn Venture X bonuses even if you’ve had Venture or VentureOne.
Community insight: Hyatt stays booked through Rove earn status credit but can’t apply suite upgrade awards.
Amex mailer fix: If you see “offer in use,” try applying in incognito mode or after clearing browser cookies.
Engaged community: The Boldly Go WhatsApp chat continues to offer valuable real-time data points.
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