From a game-changing credit card launch to shocking airline revelations, today's lineup is packed with news you can't afford to miss. Let's dive in!

Citi just unleashed their biggest Strata Elite offer yet: 100,000 bonus ThankYou points after $6,000 spend in 3 months. The real story? An incredible $1,200 in first-year credits including hotel and Blacklane benefits you can double-dip. With points transferring to American AAdvantage, this could be the premium card deal of the year.

In a revealing Reddit AMA, Alaska's VP of loyalty just confirmed what many suspected: their top elites enjoy a 60% upgrade success rate. He also took a not-so-subtle dig at Delta regarding the LATAM partnership and revealed upcoming improvements to phantom award space issues.

A disturbing report emerged of Spirit Airlines demanding an additional $306 at check-in from a passenger who booked directly through their website. This type of post-purchase price hike isn't just outrageous - it's potentially illegal under federal law. Consider this your warning to document everything when booking with ultra-low-cost carriers.

The ambitious Saudi startup is making waves with their new loyalty program that includes exclusive founding member benefits like early booking access, free Wi-Fi, and the ability to share elite status perks with family. They're also launching invitation-only London flights before their full launch.

In a troubling development, IHG is welcoming back a Colorado property whose owner previously pled guilty to entering a female guest's room at 3 AM. This raises serious questions about chain oversight and guest safety standards. Always use your door lock and safety latch, regardless of the hotel brand.

Hilton just launched a 100% bonus points sale bringing the cost down to 0.5 cents each. While not always the best deal, this could be worth considering if you're eyeing high-end properties where points regularly return 1+ cent per point in value.

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: