Welcome to today's newsletter where we're covering everything from tipping culture gone wrong at American Airlines lounges to Capital One's expiring 100K bonus and a surprising preview of what Bilt Card 2.0 might look like. Plus, an easy path to Star Alliance Gold status that just opened up.

A passenger at the DFW Flagship Lounge experienced something bizarre yesterday: after finishing a shower during a flight delay, returning the key, and saying thank you, they were stopped by the employee with an unexpected question: "Where is the tip?"

This isn't hotel housekeeping or a spa service—this is an airline lounge amenity included with first class tickets and qualifying elite status. The incident raises questions about whether tipping culture has finally jumped the shark, especially when lounge attendants are paid by the airline to provide these services as part of the premium experience.

For travelers using Flagship Lounges, this puts you in an awkward position. Should you carry cash specifically for shower tips? The consensus among frequent flyers: no. If American wants to compensate attendants for this service, that's between them and their employees—not passengers who've already paid thousands for the ticket.

If you've been on the fence about the Capital One Venture X, this is your final call. The 100,000-mile welcome bonus is disappearing—and it's the highest offer this card has seen in four years.

The Venture X remains one of the easiest premium cards to justify at $395 annually. You get $300 in travel portal credits, a $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit every four years, unlimited Capital One lounge access (including the impressive new lounges at DFW and Denver), and Priority Pass. The 10,000 anniversary miles effectively reduce the fee to $295, and those Capital One miles transfer 1:1 to partners including Turkish Miles&Smiles, Avianca LifeMiles, and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

You have six months to earn the bonus after approval. With the offer ending imminently, applications submitted today should still qualify for the 100K before it drops to the standard 75K.

Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer just launched a reciprocal status match with a fascinating twist for points enthusiasts. If you hold Marriott Platinum status or higher, you can match to KrisFlyer Elite Silver—and completing just four Singapore Airlines flights gets you upgraded to Elite Gold.

Why does this matter? KrisFlyer Elite Gold is Star Alliance Gold, giving you lounge access, priority boarding, and extra baggage on United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and 23 other airlines. For someone who can book a quick positioning trip on Singapore (think LAX-Tokyo or New York-Frankfurt roundtrips), this is one of the easiest paths to Star Alliance status currently available.

The match works both ways—KrisFlyer Elite Gold members can match to Marriott Platinum. But the real value runs through Marriott since Platinum is relatively easy to earn through credit card spend or mattress running. Check out our full Marriott Bonvoy coverage for strategies on earning status.

An investor claiming inside knowledge just posted a preview of what Bilt Card 2.0 will look like when the new Cardless-issued lineup launches on January 14. While unverified, the details align with other rumors circulating in the community.

The current five-transactions-per-month requirement to earn rent points may be replaced by a minimum monthly spend threshold. Benefits could become tiered based on Bilt status level, and there's speculation about multiple card tiers—possibly including an annual fee option with enhanced perks.

Separately, Bilt just partnered with GoPuff for home delivery, and leaked screenshots show a potential monthly grocery benefit tied to the new cards. Reddit users spotted the feature when checking out, though the exact benefit amount remains unclear. We're exactly two weeks from the official reveal, so current cardholders should watch for migration details.

United CEO Scott Kirby famously predicted his airline would push American out of Chicago O'Hare. American just responded by announcing 100 additional peak daily departures and explicitly framing the expansion as direct competition with United's hub.

The timing is notable: American is simultaneously fighting for two former Spirit gates at O'Hare (a $30 million investment), and United immediately announced retaliatory routes to match American's new Chicago service. For travelers, this schedule battle means more flight options and potentially better award availability on both carriers as they compete for market share.

This is the most aggressive American has been in Chicago in years. Whether they can sustain it against United's dominant position remains to be seen, but AAdvantage members now have significantly more routing options through ORD.

Best Buy launched a promotion offering bonus promotional gift cards when you purchase Marriott digital gift cards. The bonus ranges from $15 to $75 depending on the Marriott card denomination you buy.

This timing is perfect for Citi Strata Elite cardholders who've been procrastinating on their splurge credits. The promotional Best Buy gift card essentially gives you bonus value on top of whatever credit card rewards you earn. Just note that you'll need to use the Marriott gift card for future hotel stays and the Best Buy card separately—but if you were planning Marriott bookings anyway, this is free money.

The deal works on digital gift card purchases through BestBuy.com. Check the terms for minimum purchase amounts required to unlock each bonus tier.

Ever wondered what airlines pay for that economy wine or first class champagne? A fascinating breakdown reveals economy bottles cost airlines around $3, while premium first class selections can run $1,200 per bottle.

Airlines don't buy wine like consumers do—they go through tenders and vendors who handle forecasting, bonded supply, station-by-station distribution, substitutions, and even crew training. That's why both cheap and expensive selections can sometimes disappoint: the procurement process prioritizes logistics over taste.

For premium cabin travelers, this explains why some airlines serve recognizable labels (Dom Pérignon, Krug) while others opt for private selections. The trophy bottles create a halo effect for the airline's brand, even though most passengers couldn't blind-taste the difference at 35,000 feet where altitude affects your palate. Still interesting context next time you're evaluating whether to burn miles on that Emirates A380 bar experience.

Today's stories highlight how quickly things change in the miles and points world. The Capital One Venture X offer ends without warning. New status match opportunities appear overnight. And sometimes, lounge experiences take unexpected turns that remind us tipping culture has reached new extremes.

If you've been waiting on any of these opportunities—especially that Capital One 100K bonus or the Marriott-Singapore status match—now's the time to act. We'll be watching for the official Bilt Card 2.0 announcement on January 14 and bringing you full coverage as soon as details are public.

Safe travels, and remember: you don't owe anyone a tip for handing you a towel in an airline lounge.

Before we wrap up, I wanted to share some timely opportunities I've been tracking (courtesy of our friends at AwardTravelFinder). These deals won't last long, so let's dive in.

Active transfer bonuses worth considering:

Airline programs:

Hotel programs: