Something big is brewing at American Express, IHG's best-ever bonus is about to vanish, and Marriott's latest scandal has travelers double-checking their prepaid bookings. Let's dive into today's most impactful stories...

American Express CEO Steve Squeri just dropped a massive hint about an even more premium card coming soon. With Platinum Card growth generating $10 billion in annual fees, Amex is clearly betting big on the ultra-premium market. If you're considering a premium card application, you might want to wait and see what's coming.

Time's almost up! The IHG Premier Card's historic 165,000-point welcome bonus ends October 23 at 9am. For a $99 annual fee card that includes Platinum status and a free night certificate, this is arguably the best IHG offer we've ever seen.

A shocking story emerged of a guest who prepaid $1,000 for a Marriott stay only to find the hotel permanently closed upon arrival. Even more concerning? Marriott can't locate the money. This serves as a stark warning about prepaid rates - always check recent reviews before booking non-refundable stays.

A lithium battery fire in an overhead bin forced an emergency diversion this week. Flight attendants successfully contained the blaze with extinguishers, but it's a vital reminder to never pack spare batteries in checked luggage and keep them easily accessible in your carry-on.

Citi has finally cracked the premium card code with their latest offering. The first-year value is so high that some analysts are calling it 'almost too good.' The credits alone exceed the annual fee, making this a serious contender in the premium space.

After a two-year hiatus, American Airlines appears to be planning its return to Tel Aviv. The airline is now hiring Hebrew-speaking flight attendants - a strong indicator that route announcements are imminent. This could open up valuable new award opportunities for AAdvantage members.

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: