• 💳 Credit Card News: Bilt launches three new cards with unlimited rent and mortgage points—Wells Fargo partnership officially over

• ✈️ Lounge News: Korean Air announces major lounge network makeover following merger completion

• 🚨 Award Sale: Singapore KrisFlyer offers 30% off award tickets in Spontaneous Escapes promotion

• 💳 Business Card: Amex Business Platinum hits 200,000-point welcome offer with credits that cover the annual fee

Estimated read time: 5 minutes and 30 seconds

I woke up yesterday to an inbox full of Bilt announcements, and I'll be honest—my first reaction was confusion, followed quickly by intrigue.

After years of watching Bilt promise unlimited mortgage points "coming soon," they've finally delivered. But they didn't just flip a switch—they completely reinvented their program with three new credit cards, a mysterious new currency called Bilt Cash, and a cap-free system for earning points on rent and mortgages.

It's a lot to process. Let's break down what actually changed, what it means for your points strategy, and whether the hype matches reality.

Which airline just announced a major lounge network makeover following its merger completion?

🇰🇷 Korean Air🇸🇬 Singapore Airlines🇦🇪 Emirates🇯🇵 ANA

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

Remember when we talked about Bilt's promise to revolutionize rent rewards? Well, yesterday they finally pulled back the curtain on Bilt 2.0—and it's both more generous and more complicated than expected.

The Wells Fargo partnership is officially dead. In its place: three new Bilt credit cards issued through Cardless—the no annual fee Bilt Blue Card, the $95 Bilt Obsidian Card, and the $495 Bilt Palladium Card.

Here's what actually changed: You can now earn 2 Bilt Points per dollar on rent and mortgage payments with no cap. If you're paying $3,000 monthly in rent, that's 72,000 points per year. For a $4,000 mortgage? You're looking at 96,000 points annually.

But there's a twist—and this is where Bilt Cash enters the picture.

Instead of earning 2 Bilt Points per dollar directly on rent and mortgages, you actually earn 4% back in Bilt Cash. Think of Bilt Cash as a stepping stone—you can convert it to Bilt Points at a 2:1 ratio, effectively giving you those 2 points per dollar.

Why the extra step? Bilt says it's to offer flexibility—you can also use Bilt Cash for statement credits, rent payments, or other redemptions. But it does add complexity to a program that was already confusing enough.

For the first time ever, Bilt is offering welcome bonuses. The top-tier Palladium card comes with an exclusive offer through TPG: 50,000 bonus points plus 5 points per dollar on the first $5,000 spent in the first three months. That's potentially 75,000 points total—enough for multiple domestic flights or several hotel nights.

The Palladium card also includes $300 in travel credits annually, Priority Pass Select lounge access, and elite status benefits with select hotel partners. At $495 annually, it's positioning itself as a competitor to cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Bilt announced it will cap credit card interest at 10% for the first year on new purchases—a move that echoes political discussions about interest rate caps but actually functions as a promotional teaser rate. It's a clever marketing play that makes the cards more accessible to younger customers building credit.

The catch? After year one, standard rates apply. And if you're paying your balance in full each month (which you absolutely should be), the interest rate doesn't matter anyway.

While Bilt was stealing headlines, Korean Air quietly announced something that frequent Asia travelers should be paying attention to: a massive lounge network overhaul.

Following the finalized merger between Korean Air and Asiana, the airline revealed plans to completely renovate its global lounge portfolio. This isn't just a fresh coat of paint—we're talking new first class products, the addition of premium economy across the fleet, and significantly upgraded lounge experiences.

Korean Air is a SkyTeam partner, which means you can book their flights using Delta SkyMiles, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, or Virgin Atlantic points. The timing of this lounge upgrade is particularly interesting—it positions Korean Air as a more competitive premium travel option just as Delta continues to devalue its program.

If you're planning Asia travel in the next 12-18 months, keep an eye on Korean Air award availability. The new product might offer better value than you'd find on United or American routes, especially if you're sitting on transferable points.

If you've been hoarding Singapore KrisFlyer miles, now might be the perfect time to spend them.

Singapore Airlines just launched its monthly Spontaneous Escapes promotion, offering 30% off award tickets in select markets. This includes discounts on economy, premium economy, and business class seats—a rare opportunity to save on one of the world's best airlines.

The sale includes several high-value routes between the U.S. and Asia, as well as intra-Asia connections. If you've been eyeing Singapore's new business class product or dreaming about trying their legendary Suites first class, this promotion drops the price significantly.

The catch? Availability is limited and the sale typically runs for about a month. Don't sleep on this one—use Award Travel Finder to quickly scan for the best options before they disappear.

For a deep dive on maximizing KrisFlyer miles, check out our comprehensive guide covering the program's best sweet spots and transfer partners.

While everyone was focused on Bilt's announcements, American Express quietly rolled out one of the most aggressive offers I've seen on the Business Platinum Card: 200,000 points after spending $20,000 in the first three months.

At $895 annually, the Business Platinum isn't cheap. But the credits more than cover the fee if you use them strategically: $200 in airline fee credits, $200 for Dell purchases, $150 for Adobe, and access to Amex's network of premium lounges including Centurion Lounges.

Let's say you're a business owner with legitimate expenses. Hitting $20,000 in three months might sound aggressive, but for consulting firms, marketing agencies, or businesses with recurring software costs, it's manageable.

Those 200,000 Membership Rewards points translate to roughly $4,000 in travel value when transferred to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, or ANA Mileage Club. For business class flights to Europe or Asia, this single welcome bonus could cover an entire trip.

The answer is: Korean Air 🇰🇷

Korean Air announced a major lounge network makeover following the finalized merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. The upgrades include new first class products, premium economy additions, and significantly enhanced lounge experiences across their global network.

Are you planning to apply for one of the new Bilt cards, or are you sticking with your current rent payment strategy? Hit reply and let me know—I read every response and I'm genuinely curious how people are thinking about this program overhaul!

That's it for today, my friends. Tomorrow we'll dig into some interesting developments in the hotel world—stay tuned.

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: