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🤙🏿 Welcome back to the Better Than Points Newsletter - the premier place for all things Credit Card Points News and Travel

My name’s Luis and I’m the one writing this (hit me up here!)

Consider me your points sherpa because I’m about to lead you to the land of points and travel. I hear you, and I take your feedback seriously. In fact, based on your requests, I've been busy in the kitchen whipping up a delectable spread of travel intel, more delicious than any canapé you've ever devoured. Introducing the Better Than Points Digest – a smorgasbord of the most valuable points and travel information you can get your hands on. Hungry for more details? Read the newsletter to find out more about it.

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Here are 3 headlines, 2 hacks, and 1 question answered this week…

3 Headlines

One.

You can renew your passport online again (LINK)

Back in 2022 The US Department of State opened up an online renewal program but ended up stopping it. After a hiatus since March 2023, the online renewal program is finally back up and running. However, there's a catch: a limited number of applications are available daily at 1:00 PM EST on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're interested in this convenient option, make sure you meet the eligibility guidelines and avoid common pitfalls before applying.

Two.

SLH Hotels are starting to show up online (LINK)

After Hyatt lost the SLH partnership to Hilton, some SLH hotels are finally bookable online with points. However, the selection is currently limited (what exactly "limited inventory" means remains to be seen). Hilton recently added some exciting properties to the mix, including Teranka (Formentera, Spain), Nobu Hotel Marbella (Marbella, Spain), and Flemings Mayfair (London, England). While the progress might seem slow, it's encouraging to see movement towards integrating these unique hotels. We, like many of you, adore the SLH collection – the Pacific Resort Aitutaki remains a personal favorite!

Three. 

[DEAL ALERT] United States to Spain (LINK)

With point redemptions starting at 34K from the East Coast, this is a deal that's hard to beat! Iberia just released a ton of award availability, which you can book through Iberia's Oneworld partners or directly through Iberia. Interestingly, booking through Iberia itself might reveal more award seats than searching through partner airlines. The best routes originate or go to Madrid (MAD). Target US cities include BOS, IAD, DFW, MIA, and JFK. Here's an old post in case you need some guidance on booking.

2 Hacks

One.

If you've ever traveled to Europe, you know the pain of not being able to use your Amex cards. It especially hurts when you can't pay for those delicious (and maybe expensive) meals with your Gold Card. Well, you no longer have to feel this pain! Uploading your Amex cards to your Apple Pay wallet allows you to use them for tap to pay even if the merchant doesn't typically accept Amex directly.

Two.

Tired of watching your cash languish in a low-interest savings account? Bask Bank (owned and operated by Texas Capital Bank) offers a unique alternative: earn American Airlines miles instead of interest on your deposited funds. For example $50,000 in their Mileage Savings Account and you could rack up 125,000 AA miles in a year – just for keeping your money there! Intrigued? Here's more info.

1 Question From You

Every week I answer one question from the community. Reply to this email with yours because you’re probably not the only one that has it.

Question

Kyle asked how long it takes for points to be transferred over from a credit card account to his airline carrier account.

I hate to say this, but transfer times can vary significantly. Some programs, like Air Canada, offer instantaneous transfers, while others, like ANA, can take up to 3 days. On top of that, it's crucial to create your airline account in advance. It takes time for the airlines' database to connect to the banks' database for point transfers, which can add extra processing time. You might get lucky and be able to call your bank to expedite the transfer, but I wouldn't recommend counting on it.