Happy Sunday! Today's lineup includes a significant Chase Sapphire Reserve enhancement that just went live, the frustrating reality of booking Emirates first class awards, and why Southwest's inevitable first class cabin will be unlike anything you're expecting. Plus, we'll tackle the complicated world of infant award travel and share an incredible story of American Airlines going above and beyond.

As of January 1st, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ cardholders now have access to a one-time $250 credit for select Chase Travel℠ hotels. Even better, the two existing up-to-$250 The Edit by Chase Travel℠ credits have become more flexible than ever.

This represents a dramatic improvement in how Reserve cardholders can extract value from their $550 annual fee. The Edit credits can now be used across a wider selection of properties, making them actually usable rather than aspirational. Combined with the existing benefits, Reserve cardholders effectively have $750 in potential hotel credits to deploy throughout 2026.

There's even a targeted Chase Offer circulating that provides an additional $100 statement credit when you book $600+ through Chase Travel. Stack that with the $250 Edit credit, and you're looking at serious savings on your next hotel stay.

Emirates operates one of the world's most coveted first class products — from the shower suite on the A380 to the stunning new 777 first class. But here's the frustrating reality: you probably can't book it with miles. At least not without Emirates Skywards elite status.

Emirates releases virtually zero first class award space to partner programs. Your only realistic path is through Emirates' own Skywards program, which requires substantial elite status to access meaningful first class availability. Even then, you're competing with other elites for extremely limited space.

The silver lining? If you can secure Emirates elite status through flying or status matches, the award rates become relatively reasonable compared to buying a cash ticket that often exceeds $10,000. But for the average points collector, that Emirates first class redemption remains frustratingly out of reach. Find more details on Emirates award strategies in our dedicated coverage.

Booking award tickets is already complicated enough. Add an infant to the equation, and things get exponentially more complex. Most airlines charge 10% of the adult fare for lap infants on international flights, while domestic flights are often free — but not always.

The real headache comes with award bookings. Some programs let you add infants during online booking, others require phone calls, and a few force you to book the adult ticket first and add the infant later. Award Travel Finder can help you search award availability across programs, but adding that infant often requires insider knowledge of each program's quirks.

The best approach? Book your own ticket first, then immediately call the airline to add the infant. Some programs charge just a few thousand miles plus minimal taxes, while others hit you with 10% of the standard award rate. It varies wildly by carrier, and there's no universal rule.

Southwest Airlines adding first class isn't a question of if — it's when. Once the airline commits to basic economy and bag fees, a premium cabin becomes mathematically inevitable. Without a top-tier product, their new fare structure lacks the upsell opportunity that makes segmented pricing work.

But don't expect anything close to traditional first class. Southwest's fleet isn't built for it. No seatback screens, limited power outlets, and a galley setup that makes hot meal service nearly impossible without significant investment. They'd need to retrofit hundreds of aircraft, a capital expenditure that doesn't align with their low-cost model.

The likely outcome? A "Business Select Plus" product featuring extra legroom, priority boarding (which they already offer), and maybe free drinks. It'll be marketed as first class, priced above current Business Select, but deliver far less than what American, Delta, or United offer in domestic first. Still, for Southwest's pricing strategy to work long-term, they need that top rung on the ladder.

Here's a story that restores faith in airline customer service. After a cascading delay from Los Angeles threatened to make travelers miss a Sydney rabbi's funeral following the tragic Bondi Beach attacks, United Airlines refused to hold its connecting flight.

American Airlines stepped in with something airlines almost never do: they moved gates to eliminate the terminal scramble, held their own Sydney departure despite the delay, and then comped an entirely new ticket for the affected passengers. It's a behind-the-scenes relay of gate agents, customer service reps, and operations staff coordinating to make the impossible happen.

This wasn't about points or status. It was about recognizing a genuine emergency and mobilizing the entire airline to help. When airlines operate at their best, they're not just transportation — they're capable of profound human kindness.

Shopping portals remain one of the easiest ways to earn bonus points on purchases you're making anyway. Rakuten is offering its best-ever $50 new member bonus right now, which can be converted to Amex Membership Rewards points if you prefer.

The beauty of Rakuten is the portal works across thousands of retailers, from airlines to hotels to everyday shopping. That $50 bonus hits after your first $50 purchase, making it one of the easiest bonuses to trigger. Stack it with credit card rewards and you're looking at triple-dipping on a single transaction.

The British Airways Club's shopping portal is currently showing 250 Avios per dollar on Kate Spade purchases. That's an insane return that's almost certainly a mistake — but mistakes do track sometimes.

The skeptical approach: make a small test purchase, wait to see if the points post, then decide whether to go bigger. These portal glitches sometimes honor and sometimes don't, but at 250 Avios per dollar, even a $100 handbag would net you 25,000 Avios. That's enough for a one-way business class flight to Europe on an Iberia short-haul route. Worth documenting and waiting to see what happens.

Several buy miles opportunities worth considering if you have specific redemptions in mind:

Frontier Airlines is offering a 150% bonus at 1.08¢ per mile through January 9th. If you're booking domestic budget flights, this can work out cheaper than cash fares.

American Airlines AAdvantage has a 40% discount bringing the cost to 2.26¢ per mile through February 2nd. Only makes sense if you're short on miles for a specific high-value redemption.

Lufthansa Miles & More offers a 50% bonus at 1.39¢ per mile through February 2nd. Consider this only if you're booking Star Alliance awards where Miles & More offers better pricing than United or other partners.

Remember: buying miles speculatively rarely makes sense. But if you're 10,000 miles short of a business class redemption to Europe that would cost $3,000 in cash, spending $139 to bridge that gap is absolutely worth it.

Chase's new hotel credits make the Sapphire Reserve more valuable than ever for hotel stays, while Emirates first class remains frustratingly out of reach for most points collectors. Southwest's eventual first class will redefine "bare bones premium," but infant award travel proves that sometimes the simplest trips require the most complicated planning.

Most importantly, American's gesture reminds us that behind every delayed flight and operational challenge, there are real people capable of extraordinary compassion. That's the kind of travel story worth celebrating.

Safe travels,

The Miles & Points Daily Team

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: