Hyatt Elite Carveouts, US Bank's 4% Mistake, Hotel Ice Hack, Up to 185K Bonvoy & Debit Rewards Cards
Mar 19, 2025
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The show kicks off with a chaotic champagne-popping incident mid-flight, raising safety eyebrows. Listeners hear about a disastrous Air India experience and the irritating decline of Hyatt’s elite perks. The conversation shifts to lucrative Marriott Bonvoy card offers, boasting up to 185K points. A spotlight shines on US Bank's overly generous 4% cash back card that seems too good to be true. Clever hotel hacks, like maximizing ice machine usage, are shared, alongside news about exciting new debit reward cards.
Hyatt's recent decision to exempt properties from honoring elite benefits raises concerns about the future of their loyalty program.
American Express has enhanced Marriott card offers, allowing users to earn up to 185,000 points, signaling a competitive shift in rewards.
Deep dives
Champagne Celebrations and Flight Experiences
A woman was seen celebrating a flight by popping a bottle of champagne, raising questions about how she managed to bring it on board. The discussion highlights the inconsistency in TSA regulations, suggesting that while personal items are often restricted, alcohol sometimes slips through. The reaction of passengers in the back of the plane, who could hear the celebration but not see it, could be one of concern or curiosity. This anecdote sets the stage for a deeper exploration into flight experiences, including an incident where an Air India flight had to return due to overflowing toilets, attributed to passengers misusing the facilities.
Southwest Airlines' Major Changes
Southwest Airlines has introduced significant changes to its fare structure, moving from its traditional 'Wanna Get Away' pricing to a basic economy model, causing confusion and dissatisfaction among travelers. This new model eliminates free checked bags and other benefits that long-time customers have come to expect, ultimately removing the differentiation that made Southwest popular. The airline will also alter its points redemption system, which now fluctuates based on ticket prices and demand, potentially devaluing customer loyalty. Collectively, these shifts reflect a broader trend within the airline industry toward reduced customer perks and increased fees, raising concerns about loyalty in the long term.
Hyatt's Struggles with Customer Benefits
Hyatt's elite program, known for its generous benefits, is facing criticism due to recent failures in honoring those perks, particularly at the Hyatt Centric in Waikiki. Reports indicate that the hotel has not provided the promised free breakfast to globalist members and has reduced rewards to a meager amount or eliminated them altogether. This change contradicts Hyatt's longstanding reputation for reliability in providing expected services and raises fears about the future of their loyalty program. Customers express disappointment, noting that other hotel brands manage to offer comparable benefits even when they are not directly affiliated with the hotel.
This week we learned that Hyatt has changed their terms to give another property an exemption from honoring elite benefits. With their exclusion list growing longer and longer is this a move in the wrong direction? Is Hyatt's growth coming at the cost of a consistent loyalty program? In other news American Express released increased offers for two of the Marriott cards where you can get a welcome offer up to 185K. We also discuss: US Bank's way too generous 4% cashback card, Air India's poopy flight, popping champagne on an airplane, Wyndham and Discover debit rewards cards, 20K Amex pay over time offers and a hotel ice machine hack. Episode Guide
0:00 Popping champagne on an airplane
0:51 Air India’s poopy flight
2:40 Southwest gets even worse than last week
5:33 Hyatt’s Globalist benefits are declining
7:16 Hyatt’s growth is pressuring elite benefits
9:10 Up to 185K increased Marriott Bonvoy card offers
11:09 US Bank’s insane 4% back card - Too good to be true?
13:01 Melio $200 offer - Easy spend and profit
14:17 Wyndham launches new debit rewards card
15:59 Discover’s cashback debit card may be a better option
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