☀️ TRENDING MILES & POINTS NEWS

• ✈️ Airline News: American Airlines reopens elite status buy-ups through February 28th

• 💳 Credit Card News: Citi Strata Elite's 100K bonus plus double-dip credits might be too good to last

• 🚨 Points Bonus: Alaska Atmos Rewards offering 100% bonus on purchased points through February 18th

• ✈️ Fleet News: Singapore Airlines' new first class likely debuting from Los Angeles before New York

Estimated read time: 5 minutes and 30 seconds

Three things jumped out at me from yesterday's news, and they're all about surprising value opportunities.

American Airlines just opened its annual elite status buy-up window—and while the prices look steep at first glance, there's method to this madness. Meanwhile, Citi's new Strata Elite card is delivering so much first-year value that it almost feels like a mistake. And Alaska launched its first buy points bonus of 2026, matching the best rate we've seen from them.

Let's break down what's actually worth your attention.

Which airline loyalty program just launched a 100% bonus on purchased points?

🇺🇸 American Airlines AAdvantage🇺🇸 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards🇺🇸 United Airlines MileagePlus🇺🇸 JetBlue TrueBlue

The answer is chillin' near the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling.👇

The Citi Strata Elite card launched with a $595 annual fee, which usually means you'll work hard to extract value through various credits and benefits. But here's the thing: this card's first-year math is almost absurdly good.

You're getting 100,000 Citi ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. That's already worth around $1,000 when transferred to partners like Virgin Atlantic or Air France KLM. But the real surprise is how the credits stack.

The card includes a $500 anniversary travel credit plus monthly credits that total another $360 per year ($30 monthly for dining, entertainment, or fitness). If you time your application right, you can use these credits twice before the second annual fee hits.

Apply in January 2026, use your first year of credits through January 2027, then use them again before canceling or downgrading before the second annual fee posts. That's potentially $1,720 in credits for one $595 fee.

Add the 100,000-point bonus, and your first-year return is well over $2,000 on a $595 investment. Premium cards have turned into coupon books lately—we covered this fatigue phenomenon extensively—but this one actually makes the math work without contorting yourself.

American Airlines rolled out its annual elite status buy-up offers yesterday, letting AAdvantage members pay cash or redeem miles to maintain or upgrade their status for 2026. The window closes February 28, 2026.

Here's where it gets interesting: the prices range from a few hundred dollars for Gold status all the way up to $2,000+ for Executive Platinum. That sounds steep, but there's context missing from the sticker shock.

If you're already 75% of the way to requalifying for status, spending a few hundred dollars to bridge the gap can be smarter than rushing to book unnecessary flights before the qualification deadline. American's status year runs March through February, so you're buying status that lasts through February 2027.

The value equation shifts based on how often you fly American. If you're on 3-4 domestic trips per year, Gold status (with priority boarding and free checked bags) could save you $100+ per trip in bag fees alone. If you're flying weekly, Executive Platinum's systemwide upgrades and complimentary upgrades on every flight start to justify that $2,000 price tag.

But here's the reality check: there are often cheaper ways to qualify before the status year ends. The buy-up offers feel like American conditioning customers to pay for perks that used to come from flying. For most people, you're better off earning status the traditional way or using a co-branded credit card that grants automatic Gold status.

For all our American Airlines coverage, check out our AAdvantage stories.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards (formerly Mileage Plan) launched its first buy points bonus of 2026, offering a 100% bonus through February 18th. That brings the effective cost down to 1.88 cents per point.

This matches the best rate we've seen from Alaska, and it's worth considering if you're sitting on a specific redemption that needs topping off. Alaska miles are particularly valuable for booking Japan Airlines first class (60,000 miles one-way from the West Coast to Tokyo) or Cathay Pacific business class to Hong Kong.

The math: if you buy 10,000 miles at the 100% bonus rate, you're paying $188 for 20,000 miles total. That Japan Airlines first class ticket would cost you $564 if you bought all 60,000 miles at this rate—still a bargain compared to cash fares that regularly exceed $6,000.

But don't buy speculatively. Alaska frequently runs these bonuses, and points purchases should always be tied to a specific redemption where you've already confirmed award availability. Check Award Travel Finder first to confirm seats exist before pulling the trigger on any points purchase.

Singapore Airlines' highly anticipated new first class cabin—originally destined for Boeing 777-9 aircraft that never materialized—is finally launching this year. The latest schedule changes suggest Los Angeles will see the debut before New York.

This is significant because Singapore's current first class product, while excellent, dates back years. The new suites promise to push luxury boundaries even further, building on the success of their Airbus A380 suites that set industry standards. If you're sitting on KrisFlyer miles or have transferable points from Amex, Chase, or Citi, this is the redemption worth waiting for.

The Los Angeles route makes strategic sense—it's a flagship route with strong premium demand, and it gives Singapore Airlines a chance to showcase the new product to the North American market. Expect award availability to be tight when these flights launch, so having points ready to transfer immediately when bookings open will be crucial.

Speaking of Citi Strata Elite, there's a broader trend worth addressing: premium credit cards increasingly feel like coupon books where you're constantly chasing small monthly credits to justify massive annual fees.

The Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve both fall into this trap. You're doing mental math on $15 Uber credits, $10 monthly dining credits, and $20 streaming credits, trying to squeeze out value when the annual fee is $695 or $550. The fatigue is real.

Treat these cards differently: cover the annual fee with credits you'd genuinely use anyway (like travel credits you were going to spend regardless), value the lounge network you'll actually visit, and put spending where the earning rates make sense. The 'extras' should feel like bonuses, not homework.

If you're spending mental energy tracking down every $10 credit, the card probably isn't worth it for your situation. The Chase Sapphire Reserve makes sense if you're using Priority Pass lounges regularly and redeeming points through the Chase portal at 1.5 cents each. The Amex Platinum works if you're accessing Centurion Lounges and using airline fee credits strategically.

Otherwise? Downgrade to a no-fee card and save yourself the headache.

The answer: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards launched a 100% bonus on purchased points through February 18th, bringing the effective cost to 1.88 cents per point. United is also running a 100% bonus through January 26th, but Alaska's offer extends longer and the points tend to offer better redemption value on partner airlines like Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Have you ever bought elite status or points directly from an airline? Was it worth it for your specific situation, or would you rather earn them through flying and credit card spending? Hit reply and let me know—I read every response and love hearing your strategies!

That's all for today—see you tomorrow with more miles and points news!

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.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs: