• 💳 Credit Card News: Citi Strata Elite now earns American Airlines miles faster than any AAdvantage card - with a 100k point bonus • ✈️ Airline Crisis: American flight attendants call for CEO ouster as crews sleep on airport floors during 10,000-flight meltdown • ✈️ Earnings Alert: Southwest's profits drop despite bag fees and seating changes - cheaper fuel kept them profitable • 🏨 Hotel News: Emirates and Marriott unveil first Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Australia's Blue Mountains, opening mid-2026

I nearly did a double-take when I saw this one...

Citi just made their premium Strata Elite card the fastest way to earn American Airlines miles - and it's not even an American co-brand. Meanwhile, American Airlines is dealing with one of its worst operational meltdowns in years, with flight attendants calling for the CEO's head and crews literally sleeping on airport floors.

Let's break down why today matters for your miles strategy.

Which credit card now offers the highest earning rate for American Airlines miles?

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

Here's something I didn't see coming: Citi's premium transferable points card now earns American Airlines miles faster than any co-brand AAdvantage card. The Strata Elite just got a massive boost with a 100,000-point welcome bonus after $6,000 spend in three months, plus earning rates that hit 12X on certain categories.

But here's where it gets interesting: ThankYou Points transfer to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. That means you can earn up to 12 AAdvantage miles per dollar on select purchases - something no AAdvantage co-brand can match. The highest earning AAdvantage card tops out at 4X on American purchases.

The card earns 5X on dining and 3X on travel and gas, with bonus multipliers that can push certain spending to 12X. Add in credits that can be double-dipped in the first year, Admirals Club passes, and full travel protections, and Citi's new flagship card suddenly looks like a must-watch player in the premium rewards space.

For anyone who flies American regularly but wants flexibility, this card just became impossible to ignore. You're earning American miles through a transferable currency, which means you can also pivot to other Citi ThankYou transfer partners like Turkish Airlines or Virgin Atlantic when better redemption opportunities appear.

Southwest Airlines released their full-year earnings yesterday, and the results tell a story that doesn't match the 'turnaround' narrative management has been selling. Revenue barely grew while net profit actually fell compared to 2024. The airline stayed profitable largely thanks to cheaper jet fuel and cost cuts - not because assigned seating, bag fees, and extra legroom seats delivered the revenue lift Wall Street was promised.

I just flew Southwest on Day One of their new assigned seating system, and let me tell you - the execution left a lot to be desired. Boarding was chaotic, with passengers still queuing early despite having assigned seats. The real problem? Bin space turned into complete chaos, with passengers backtracking down the aisle to stow bags while the entire boarding process ground to a halt.

The financial numbers back up what I saw on the ground. Southwest's changes might generate more revenue eventually, but they're not moving the needle yet. And based on my experience, there's a real risk these changes could actually hurt the customer experience that Southwest built its brand on.

For Rapid Rewards members, this matters because a struggling Southwest could mean devaluations down the line. The airline needs these changes to work financially, which puts pressure on every lever they can pull - including their loyalty program. Remember, Southwest is currently offering a 50% discount on purchased points through February 23rd. That's one of their better offers, and if you're sitting on the fence about topping off your account, the next few months could be your last chance before program changes hit.

Speaking of operational disasters... American Airlines flight attendants just called for the ouster of CEO Robert Isom in a scathing letter released Tuesday. And honestly? They have a point.

The airline has canceled nearly 10,000 flights during recent storms, leaving crews sleeping on airport floors and passengers stranded without hotel support. But the union's focus isn't just on the operational chaos - it's on American's poor financial performance and what that means for profit sharing. Employees learned this week they'd receive just 0.3% of their wages in profit sharing, down from 1.9% the previous year.

Here's the kicker: one passenger reported sitting on a plane when they heard rushing water, then watched a pipe burst and water gush from the back of the cabin, pooling across multiple rows. American treated it as 'weather-related' and refused hotel assistance. That's... not weather-related.

For AAdvantage members, this matters beyond just operational reliability. A struggling American with poor management and low employee morale means worse service, more delays, and potentially program devaluations to shore up finances. If you've been considering a status match to Delta or United, this might be your sign.

While American struggles, Delta just ordered 31 more wide-body jets: 16 A330-900neos and 15 A350-900s, with deliveries starting in 2029. This comes on top of their recent order for up to 60 Boeing 787-10s.

The timing is interesting. Delta is betting big on premium international travel while American struggles with basic operations and Southwest tries to figure out assigned seating. These new Airbus jets will likely feature Delta's industry-leading business class products, which consistently command higher fares and better SkyMiles redemption values.

For SkyMiles members, this signals continued investment in the premium cabin experience that makes Delta the gold standard in U.S. carriers. More premium seats could mean more award availability at the top end - though knowing Delta's dynamic pricing, don't expect bargains.

In much more pleasant news, Emirates and Marriott just announced the world's first Ritz-Carlton Lodge - a 40-room, all-inclusive luxury property opening mid-2026 in Australia's stunning Blue Mountains. The Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will be bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points, though expect premium category pricing.

This is significant because it creates an entirely new category within the Marriott ecosystem. The 'Lodge' concept focuses on immersive nature experiences with all-inclusive pricing - think more safari lodge than traditional hotel. For points enthusiasts, this could be an incredible redemption opportunity if award pricing is reasonable relative to the cash rates.

The Blue Mountains location is about 90 minutes from Sydney, making it accessible as either a standalone trip or an extension of an Australia visit. If you've been hoarding Marriott points for something special, this could be your moment. With Marriott currently offering reasonable points purchase rates through various buy points promotions, topping off your account before this opens might be worth considering.

The answer: Citi Strata Elite. With earning rates up to 12X that transfer 1:1 to American AAdvantage, it's now the fastest way to earn American miles - even faster than any AAdvantage co-brand card.

I read every response, and I'd love to hear how you're thinking about airline loyalty in 2026.

That's it for today, my friends. See you tomorrow with more miles & points news!

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:

Other programs: