Chase just launched the biggest Marriott credit card bonus in history. Citi quietly unveiled a premium card that out-earns American's own cards on AAdvantage miles. And a California Marriott sent guests to an outhouse in the parking lot. Let's unpack what actually matters from the last 24 hours.

The Chase Marriott Boundless just launched an unprecedented welcome offer: 5 Free Night Awards after spending just $3,000 in 3 months. Each certificate is valid for properties up to 50,000 points per night, and you can top off each one with up to 15,000 points if you need a pricier property.

Here's the math: that's potentially 325,000 points worth of stays (5 nights × 65,000 points) for a $3,000 spend and a $95 annual fee. The card also includes a $100 statement credit toward 2026 airline purchases that can be double-dipped if you time it right. Meanwhile, the no-annual-fee Marriott Bold now offers 2 Free Night Awards after just $1,000 in spend—a solid entry point if you're under 5/24 and want to test the waters. For all our Marriott coverage, check our dedicated page.

While everyone was watching Chase, Citi rolled out a major upgrade to the Strata Elite—and it's now offering 100,000 points after $6,000 spend in three months. But here's what makes this card fascinating: it earns up to 12X points on select categories, and it's the only transferable points card that lets you move points to American AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio.

That means you can out-earn American's own cobranded cards on AAdvantage miles while maintaining flexibility to transfer to 18 other programs if a better redemption comes along. The card also includes Admirals Club day passes, comprehensive travel protections, and credits that can be double-dipped in your first cardmember year. For anyone who values American miles but wants transferable currency flexibility, this is a game-changer.

A Marriott property in Newport Beach shut off water for repairs without advance warning to guests—leaving rooms with no working toilets or showers. The hotel's solution? An outhouse in the parking lot. Guests say they received no notification before arrival and were still charged full price for rooms without functioning bathrooms.

When one reader complained, the hotel offered 10,000 Marriott points as compensation—roughly $80 in value for a stay that likely cost several times that. This is a stark reminder to always check recent reviews before checking in, especially if you booked with points. If you encounter a similar situation, document everything and escalate immediately to corporate customer service rather than accepting on-site compensation offers. The hotel should have offered full refunds and relocation to nearby properties.

A woman told her family she'd landed a flight attendant job, then showed up at the airport in uniform with a bogus crew ID. She used the crew fast-track lane and boarded as a ticketed passenger—but real cabin crew noticed the uniform details didn't match and exposed the impersonation during the flight.

This happened on a Batik Air flight in Indonesia, and she's now facing charges. Beyond the obvious security concerns, this highlights why airlines are tightening crew verification processes. If you're using legitimate crew benefits or jumpseating, expect more scrutiny at security checkpoints. The days of casual ID checks are ending as airports invest in biometric verification and cross-reference systems.

Delta announced it would end service to New York's Greater Binghamton Airport on February 14—the airport's only commercial route. Within days of local politicians applying pressure, Delta reversed the decision and committed to maintaining the once-daily Detroit connection.

The 378-mile route on Delta Connection was likely operating at a loss, which makes the reversal interesting. Airlines typically don't back down on route cuts unless there's significant political or contractual leverage involved. This could signal that smaller cities with political capital can still influence airline decisions—or it might indicate that Essential Air Service subsidies or other government programs are at play. Either way, if you rely on routes to small airports, vocal political advocacy apparently still works.

Budget carrier Avelo Airlines is consolidating operations, closing three bases and realigning its network around four remaining hubs. The startup airline is also ending deportation charter flights as part of a wider turnaround effort following a period of financial losses.

For travelers, this means fewer flight options from smaller secondary airports where Avelo focused its service. The consolidation likely signals that the ultra-low-cost carrier model is struggling in markets where passengers have alternatives. If you've been relying on Avelo for specific routes, now's the time to book backup options or pivot to legacy carriers. Check your upcoming reservations at Award Travel Finder to compare award availability if you need to rebook on partner airlines.

An Air Canada Rouge flight from Toronto to Moncton returned to the gate after passengers heard screaming from the cargo hold. A baggage handler had been accidentally trapped during loading and was banging on the fuselage mid-flight.

The December 13 incident on an Airbus A321 ended with the handler rescued safely, but it raises questions about ground crew safety protocols and pre-flight cargo checks. For passengers, this is a reminder that gate returns aren't always mechanical issues—sometimes they're genuine emergencies. If you hear unusual sounds during flight, alert crew immediately rather than dismissing them as normal aircraft noise.

Have you ever had a hotel stay go sideways due to unexpected maintenance or facility issues? What was your compensation strategy? Hit reply and let me know—I read every response and I'm curious how you handled it!

A few buy points offers worth considering if you have specific redemptions in mind:

• United MileagePlus: 100% bonus at 1.88¢ per mile through January 26. Worth it if you're booking business class to Europe or Asia where cash fares are $3,000+.

• Southwest Rapid Rewards: 50% discount at 1.5¢ through February 23. Since Southwest points are worth exactly what you pay, this effectively gives you 33% off any flight.

• American AAdvantage: 40% discount at 2.26¢ through February 10. Expensive even with the discount, but viable for last-minute business class to Europe if award space is gone.

As always, only buy points when you have a specific redemption that delivers outsized value. Use Award Travel Finder to confirm availability before purchasing, and run the numbers with our Award vs Cash Calculator to ensure you're actually saving money versus booking cash fares.

That's it for today. Chase's Marriott bonus is legitimately historic—if you were waiting for the right time to grab a Marriott card, this is it. And Citi's Strata Elite deserves a closer look if you value American miles but want flexibility. Stay strategic out there.

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:

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