Welcome to today's most compelling travel stories. We're covering a federal government clash with Hilton that's making headlines, a luxury spa treatment gone terribly wrong, and British Airways' little-known award seat guarantee that could change how you book flights. Plus, Hawaiian Airlines is about to join oneworld with massive upgrades planned.

The Department of Homeland Security just went public with accusations against Hilton-branded properties in Minneapolis. According to DHS, multiple hotels canceled government-rate reservations for immigration personnel and refused to house them, with at least one Hampton Inn franchise allegedly sending a "no ICE" email.

This isn't just about politics—it raises serious questions about loyalty programs and government contracts. Hotels typically honor government rates through official agreements, and canceling confirmed reservations sets a concerning precedent. Activist groups like "No Sleep for ICE" have been pressuring hotels for years, but this marks one of the first times the federal government has publicly called out a major hotel brand. The situation could impact everything from government travel policies to how Hilton Honors members view the brand's reliability. For more on this developing story, see our Hilton coverage.

A guest at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island—one of Hilton's most prestigious properties—required neck surgery after a spa massage went catastrophically wrong. The massage led to a permanent neck injury during what should have been a relaxing, once-in-a-lifetime trip to this iconic resort.

Here's the reality: most travelers never consider that luxury spa treatments carry risks, especially at high-end resorts where you'd expect world-class training. This incident serves as a stark reminder to ask about therapist credentials before treatments and to speak up immediately if anything feels wrong. The Conrad Maldives typically commands 120,000+ Hilton Honors points per night, making this an extraordinarily expensive mistake—both financially and physically—for the guest involved. Always verify spa therapist qualifications, even at five-star properties.

Here's something most travelers don't know: British Airways guarantees 12-14 award seats on every single long-haul flight. That's right—there's always availability if you know how to find it. This isn't a promotion or temporary offer; it's a permanent feature of the British Airways Executive Club program.

The breakdown: 4 seats in Club World (business class), 8 seats in World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and typically 2 in First when operating on routes with that cabin. While you'll pay peak pricing during high-demand periods, the seats are genuinely there. This makes British Airways Avios—transferable from Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points—more valuable than many realize. When other programs show zero availability, BA often has seats. Check out our guide on transferring Chase points to British Airways for more strategic insights.

Hawaiian Airlines confirmed yesterday that it will officially join the oneworld alliance by late April 2026. This move, anticipated since Alaska Airlines' parent company acquired the carrier in 2024, comes with a massive $600 million investment in airport facilities, aircraft upgrades, and new lounges.

What this means for you: Hawaiian flights will become bookable with British Airways Avios, American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and other oneworld currencies. Even better, elite status with any oneworld carrier—including Alaska, American, or British Airways—will grant you benefits on Hawaiian flights. The timing couldn't be better as Hawaiian expands its mainland U.S. presence. If you're sitting on Alaska Mileage Plan miles or American AAdvantage miles, Hawaiian's Honolulu hub just became much more accessible.

A viral video captured a United Global Services passenger barking "let me go first!" while shoving past a family with toddlers during preboarding. The elite member apparently couldn't stand being the second passenger to board the aircraft, despite Global Services members boarding immediately after families with young children.

This incident highlights a growing tension in airline boarding processes. While elite status absolutely provides valuable perks—including priority boarding—it doesn't grant the right to steamroll other passengers. United's Global Services is invitation-only and typically requires spending well over $50,000 annually, but that investment buys convenience, not immunity from basic courtesy. The video serves as a reminder that no matter how much you've spent to earn status, families with small children preboard first on every U.S. carrier for legitimate safety and logistics reasons.

One Mile at a Time just published an insightful guide on deciding which flights warrant splurging on premium cabins versus saving your miles. The core principle: flight length matters more than destination prestige. A 2-hour domestic first class flight delivers minimal value compared to saving those miles for transatlantic or transpacific business class.

The sweet spot? Flights between 6-12 hours where you'll actually sleep and arrive refreshed. Think New York to London, Los Angeles to Tokyo, or Miami to Buenos Aires. Under 4 hours, the premium cabin experience barely differs from economy plus a free drink. Over 14 hours, even the best business class seat gets uncomfortable. When planning your award strategy, prioritize these medium-haul international flights where lie-flat seats and quality meals make the biggest difference. Use tools like Award Travel Finder to search award availability across multiple airlines and find the best redemption opportunities.

Hyatt members receive Milestone Rewards for every 10 qualifying nights, but many travelers don't optimize these perks. The program offers choices at each tier, and picking the right reward can add serious value to your stays throughout the year.

At 30 nights, you'll choose between a Category 1-4 free night certificate or 5,000 bonus points. The smart play depends on your travel patterns: if you frequently stay at lower-category properties, the certificate is gold. But if you're chasing aspirational redemptions at Park Hyatts and luxury properties, the points add flexibility. By 60 nights, you're looking at Category 1-7 certificates—potentially worth $500+ at top-tier properties. The key insight: Globalists report receiving significantly fewer points for expired certificates than in previous years, making it more important than ever to use these awards before they expire. Check out the complete Hyatt Milestone Rewards guide for strategic planning.

Several buy miles opportunities are available now through early February:

• Frontier Airlines is offering a 150% bonus through January 9 at 1.08¢ per mile after the bonus. While Frontier miles have limited uses, this could work for domestic bargain hunters.

• American Airlines continues its 40% discount through February 5, bringing the price down to 2.26¢ per mile. This works for topping off your account before a specific redemption, but rarely makes sense for speculative buying.

• Air Canada Aeroplan offers a 30% discount through January 24 at 1.91¢ per point. Given Aeroplan's strong Star Alliance award chart and reduced carrier surcharges, this could be worthwhile for specific premium cabin bookings.

Remember: buying miles speculatively almost never makes financial sense. These promotions work best when you've already identified a specific high-value redemption and need just enough miles to complete the booking. Check out our buy points offers page for current deals and analysis.

Citi cardholders are receiving targeted merchant offers for $50 back when spending $200+ at JetBlue. The catch: purchases for multiple passengers often post as separate charges, so you need the fare for a single passenger to total $200 or more. This effectively gives you 25% off JetBlue flights—better than most credit card earning rates. Check your Citi accounts for this offer and book soon if you have JetBlue travel planned.

Today's stories reveal the unpredictable nature of travel—from federal standoffs with major hotel chains to life-changing spa injuries at luxury resorts. But they also highlight opportunities: British Airways' guaranteed award seats, Hawaiian's oneworld integration, and strategic thinking about when premium cabins truly deliver value. Stay informed, stay flexible, and always read the fine print.

Safe travels, and we'll see you tomorrow with more miles and 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: