Two transfer bonuses expire today. One is 30%, the other is 25%. If you have Citi ThankYou points sitting idle, that clock is ticking right now - more on those below.

But the bigger stories today involve a legendary hotel going dark, a credit card bonus that genuinely deserves your attention, and a status shortcut on United that is circulating online right now and could absolutely destroy your frequent flyer account if you take the bait.

Let's get into it.

The Burj Al Arab in Dubai is often called the world's 'only seven-star hotel' - but what is the building's shape modeled after?

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

If you have been eyeing a stay at one of the world's most recognizable hotels, you are going to need to be patient. The Burj Al Arab in Dubai - Jumeirah's crown jewel and arguably the most photographed hotel on the planet - has officially closed for an 18-month renovation.

The closure is the property's first major refresh in years, and the timing makes sense. The hotel opened in 1999, and while it has been maintained meticulously, it has been competing in a market where new ultra-luxury properties keep raising the bar. Renovating now - before the announcement of any major travel events in the region - is a smart move.

For points travelers, this means Burj Al Arab availability through Jumeirah One rewards is off the table until at least late 2027. If a Dubai luxury stay was on your bucket list and you were hoping to use points, that window is firmly closed for now.

If the Middle East is still calling to you in the meantime, there is no shortage of extraordinary options in the region. Our friends at Award Travel Finder track award availability at premium properties daily - worth a look if you are planning something special.

This one is worth pausing on. The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card from Chase has brought back its all-time best welcome offer: 200,000 IHG points after meeting the spending requirement. That is a genuinely remarkable number for a hotel card with just a $99 annual fee.

Here is what makes this card unusual beyond the bonus: the fourth-night-free benefit. When you book a standard award stay, the fourth night comes at zero cost. Combine that with 200,000 points and you are looking at multiple multi-night stays at well-reviewed IHG properties. Holiday Inn Express loyalists and InterContinental devotees alike should pay attention.

There is also a transfer angle here worth noting. If you are sitting on Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the transfer bonus to IHG is currently running at a 70% bonus - and that ends April 30. That means every 10,000 Chase points becomes 17,000 IHG points right now. Stack that with the card offer and you are building a substantial hotel stash quickly. Check the full list of current transfer bonuses for everything running right now.

The offer is listed as 'ends soon' - which typically means days, not weeks. For all our IHG credit card coverage, it's worth checking the full picture before applying.

If you have been eyeing a JetBlue redemption, today is the last day to buy TrueBlue points at a 125% bonus - bringing the cost to just 1.43 cents per point. That is one of the more aggressive buy-points offers we have seen from JetBlue in a while.

Before you pull the trigger, run the math on your specific redemption to make sure you are coming out ahead. Our JetBlue Points Calculator can help you figure out what your target redemption is actually worth - and whether buying at 1.43 cents makes sense compared to what you would pay in cash.

Something is circulating online right now that deserves a warning. United Airlines top-tier 1K status - the level that typically requires 100,000 Premier Qualifying Points and $15,000 in spend - is being sold online for just $330. Third-party sellers are advertising it, and some travelers are clicking buy.

The problem is not just that the deal might not work. It is that United almost certainly considers this an unauthorized sale. If the airline discovers you obtained status this way, you risk having your account terminated entirely - including any miles you have accumulated over years of flying. The $330 price point makes it feel low-risk, but the actual downside is losing an account worth potentially thousands of dollars.

United's MileagePlus terms are explicit about this kind of thing, and the airline has shown a willingness to act when it detects unusual account activity. If legitimate status with United is your goal, the better play is to earn it - or wait for an official status challenge or match. For all our United coverage and the latest MileagePlus updates, see our United Airlines stories.

This one is a significant development for anyone flying within Europe on Lufthansa-operated routes. The airline group has permanently shut down Lufthansa CityLine - its regional subsidiary - with essentially zero notice. CityLine was responsible for a meaningful portion of Lufthansa's European connections, operating smaller aircraft on shorter routes that feed the main Lufthansa long-haul network.

The closure is part of a broader Lufthansa group response to a brutal combination of high jet fuel prices and ongoing labor disputes. Separately, the airline has also announced it will be outsourcing some A350-900 operations, retiring its A340-600 fleet, and grounding its remaining 747-400s. The speed and scale of these moves signals that things are more serious than a typical fleet optimization exercise.

For travelers with upcoming bookings on Lufthansa-operated European segments, check your itinerary now. Rebooking options should be offered, but the earlier you act the better your alternatives will be. For more on the Lufthansa situation and European airline news, see our full Lufthansa coverage.

While the IHG card is getting most of the attention today, there is another hotel bonus worth flagging. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is currently offering its best-ever welcome bonus: 80,000 points after $10,000 in spending in the first three months. The previous offer was 60,000 points - so this is a meaningful step up.

The reason this card is interesting beyond just the bonus is how Hyatt structures its status earning. Spend on this card counts toward elite status more efficiently than other Hyatt cards, making it the fastest path if you are trying to spend your way to Globalist. For Hyatt loyalists who are close to a status tier, running significant business expenses through this card this quarter could push you over.

Use our Hyatt Points Calculator to figure out what 80,000 points is worth against your preferred properties - the answer might surprise you, especially if you are targeting Category 6 or 7 hotels.

Both the Hyatt and IHG offers are flagged as ending soon. If either is on your radar, do not let this be a 'I'll check it out this weekend' situation.

This is the most time-sensitive item in today's newsletter. Two Citi ThankYou transfer bonuses expire today, April 18 - meaning if you have been thinking about moving points, tonight is the deadline.

The Virgin Atlantic bonus is particularly interesting. Flying Club is one of the best programs for booking Delta flights using points, and with a 30% bonus those transfers go significantly further. If you have been sitting on Citi points and have a Delta flight in mind, this combination is worth doing the math on tonight.

Not sure if your target redemption is worth it? The Award vs Cash Calculator can help you compare your options quickly before committing.

Beyond the two Citi bonuses expiring tonight, there are a handful of other transfer bonuses still running through the end of April. The Chase to IHG 70% bonus is the standout given today's IHG card story - and the Chase to Air Canada Aeroplan 20% bonus runs through April 30 as well, which pairs nicely with the elevated Aeroplan card offer currently on the market. See all current transfer bonuses for the full picture.

A few buy points offers deserve a mention. Avianca LifeMiles is running a 160% bonus at just 1.27 cents per mile through April 28 - one of the best rates on the market right now for a program with strong Star Alliance redemptions. Alaska Atmos Rewards is also running a 100% bonus at 1.88 cents through May 2, which is worth considering if you have been following the program's expanded partner chart. See all current buy points promotions for the complete list.

The answer is B - a sail. The Burj Al Arab's dramatic silhouette is designed to resemble the sail of a traditional dhow, a type of boat historically used throughout the Arabian Gulf. The building sits on its own artificial island just off the Jumeirah beach coastline, which adds to the visual effect. At 321 meters tall, it was the tallest hotel in the world when it opened in 1999 - a title it has since ceded but a reputation it has never lost.

Hit reply and let me know - I read every response and the answers to this one are always interesting. Especially curious whether anyone has shifted their strategy based on a hotel program change or devaluation recently.

That's it for today. A lot happening on the hotel side of the world right now - between the Burj closure, a record Hyatt bonus, and a best-ever IHG offer, it is a genuinely good weekend to think about where your next hotel points move goes.

See you tomorrow with more.

- The Miles & Points Daily Team

P.S. - If you have been meaning to check what all your points are worth in one place, our Points & Miles Value Calculator is a quick way to take stock before making any moves this weekend.

Here's what we're seeing in award availability right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

Status Matches & Challenges:

• Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

• Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

• Flying Blue (Iberia) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

See all status matches →

Browse all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

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:

These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Business Gold Card: 200,000 points after spending $15,000 in 3 months ($375/yr)

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve: 125,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months ($795/yr)

3. American Express Gold Card: 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in 6 months ($325/yr)

4. Ink Business Preferred: 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in 3 months ($95/yr)

Friday Flight Deals finds the best flight deals when paying cash beats using points.

Browse all deals at FridayFlightDeals.com →