There's a window open right now in the World of Hyatt that closes faster than most people expect - and once it shuts in May, the math on some of the program's best redemptions changes permanently.

That's the lead today, but we've also got a fascinating story about Delta hiding a major international route inside a regulatory filing, a Bilt card surprise that nobody saw coming, and a last-call offer worth 175,000 hotel points. Let's get into it.

Delta's newly revealed Manila service will operate out of which U.S. city?

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

If World of Hyatt is your go-to hotel program, you need to read this carefully. Hyatt has confirmed that new 5-price-tiers-per-category award charts will take effect in May 2026, and on average, awards are going to cost more points.

The upside of Hyatt's program has always been its point value - top-tier properties that other programs charge 80,000+ points for have historically been accessible at much better rates. Those days are getting harder to sustain, and smart Hyatt loyalists are already thinking through their strategy for what comes after.

The move that makes the most sense right now? Book anything you've had your eye on before May arrives. If you've been sitting on a balance and have a specific property in mind, this is a genuine deadline worth respecting.

For those doing the math on what their Hyatt points are actually worth today versus what they'll be worth post-devaluation, our Hyatt Points Calculator is a good place to start. And if you want all our Hyatt coverage in one place, we've tracked every development at the Hyatt tag page.

This one is genuinely wild. Delta has been quietly planning to return to Manila, and rather than making a splashy announcement, the airline revealed its Los Angeles to Manila daily service in a DOT filing - one specifically designed to delay Philippine Airlines from launching a Chicago route.

The detail buried in the filing: Delta wants to operate the LAX-Manila route with an Airbus A350-900, targeting next summer. The airline's argument to the DOT is essentially that Philippine Airlines shouldn't get better slot access at Manila Airport until Delta can secure its own position there.

For miles and points purposes, this is a route worth watching. A350 service out of LAX to a major Southeast Asian hub means premium cabin availability is coming - and Delta SkyMiles redemptions to Manila could become a realistic option. For context on what those SkyMiles might be worth on a long-haul redemption, check our Delta SkyMiles Calculator. All our Delta route news lives at the Delta tag page.

This is a last-call situation. IHG's two personal credit cards are currently offering welcome bonuses that stack up to 175,000 IHG One Rewards points - and the elevated offers are ending very soon.

IHG points are particularly strong when used at top-tier properties like InterContinental and Regent hotels, where a single night can easily deliver several cents per point in value. At 175,000 points, you're looking at multiple free nights at genuinely impressive properties.

If you've been on the fence about an IHG card, this is the moment to decide. The offers drop after this window closes, and there's no guarantee the elevated bonus comes back soon. See all our IHG credit card coverage at the IHG credit cards page.

Here's an uncomfortable one. Bilt 2.0 cards - including the no-annual-fee Bilt Blue - are marketed as having no foreign transaction fees. That's a key selling point for travelers who want to earn Bilt points abroad. Except it turns out that's not quite accurate.

Reports are surfacing from cardholders who noticed a 0.2% charge on international transactions. That's technically not a traditional foreign transaction fee, but it's also clearly not zero - which is what Bilt has been advertising. The discrepancy between what's marketed and what's actually being charged is the issue here, not just the amount itself.

If you've been using your Bilt 2.0 card internationally and assumed you were paying zero fees, it's worth checking your recent statements. This is the kind of thing that adds up quietly. If you're still interested in earning Bilt points, apply through our link here - but factor this in if you travel internationally often.

The Citi Strata Elite has been making waves since launch, and the card just got more interesting for American Airlines loyalists. Citi ThankYou points now transfer to AAdvantage, which opens up a whole new redemption pathway for anyone sitting on a Citi balance.

The current welcome offer delivers 75,000 ThankYou points alongside up to $1,200 in credits across the first year. That's a strong combination - the credits alone can offset a significant chunk of carrying costs, while the points open up award flights through Citi's growing transfer partner list.

The AA transfer angle is worth noting specifically. Citi ThankYou points transferring to AAdvantage means you now have another pathway to top up your AA balance without flying or paying cash for miles. Use the American Airlines Miles Calculator to figure out if the math works for a specific redemption you have in mind. For all things American Airlines, check out our American Airlines coverage and the dedicated Citi Strata Elite tag page.

Good news for Hilton Honors members: Hilton's first-ever Curio Collection property in Hawaii is coming to Kauai this fall. The Hale Hokuala Kauai will open in November with 210 rooms, ocean and mountain views, and a signature restaurant - just 15 minutes from Wailua Falls.

This matters for points travelers because Hilton Honors awards work at Curio Collection properties. If you're holding Hilton free night certificates - the kind that come with the Hilton Amex cards - a brand-new Hawaii property opening in November is a solid target. New properties often have attractive initial award pricing before they find their footing on the dynamic pricing scale.

For anyone considering getting a Hilton card specifically to position for Hawaii stays, this is a good time to look at the options. UK readers planning a Hawaii trip should check out Smart With Points for Hilton earning strategies from a UK perspective.

A quick reminder that's genuinely worth acting on: Chase Ultimate Rewards is currently offering a 20% transfer bonus to British Airways Avios, Iberia Avios, and Aer Lingus Avios - all through March 31. That means 100,000 Chase points becomes 120,000 Avios.

Given that we just covered an Aer Lingus business class review recently, this bonus stacks nicely if you're targeting a specific redemption. The Award Travel Finder is tracking Avios award availability right now if you want to search before committing to the transfer. For the full picture on current transfer bonuses, see our transfer bonuses tracker.

And while we're talking about planning award flights - if you'd prefer to skip the points game entirely on your next trip, Friday Flight Deals finds cash fares that sometimes beat what you'd spend in miles anyway.

The answer is Los Angeles (LAX). Delta's plan, buried inside a DOT filing opposing Philippine Airlines' Chicago route, calls for daily LAX-Manila service operated by an Airbus A350-900 - launching next summer.

Hyatt loyalists - are you booking anything before the May devaluation hits, or have you already written off the program for your big trip this year? Hit reply and let me know your strategy. I read every response and genuinely want to hear how you're thinking about this one.

That's it for today, friends. Big week in the points world - keep your Hyatt bookings moving and double-check those Bilt statements if you've been traveling internationally. See you tomorrow.

Looking to redeem your points? Here's what's available right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua - 1.6cpp value

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach - 2.4cpp value

See all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

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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.

Amex Membership Rewards to Avianca LifeMiles: +15% bonus - ends March 28, 2026

Capital One Miles to Preferred Hotels & Resorts I Prefer: +30% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to Aer Lingus Avios: +20% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Avios: +20% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to Iberia Avios: +20% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Chase Ultimate Rewards to Wyndham: +30% bonus - ends March 31, 2026

Citi ThankYou Rewards to Wyndham: +25% bonus - ends March 21, 2026

Rove Miles to Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) EuroBonus [Targeted]: +20% bonus - ends April 08, 2026

Airline programs:

Air Canada (Aeroplan): 90% bonus at 1.44¢ (expires March 19, 2026)

Alaska Airlines (Atmos Rewards): 90% bonus at 1.98¢ (expires March 18, 2026)

American Airlines (AAdvantage®): 40% discount at 2.26¢ (expires April 11, 2026)

Copa Airlines (ConnectMiles): 60% bonus at 1.88¢ (expires March 27, 2026)

Etihad (Guest): 35% discount at 2.08¢ (expires April 07, 2026)

Hotel programs:

Choice (Privileges): 30% discount at 0.72¢ (expires March 15, 2026)

Hilton (Honors): 100% bonus at 0.5¢ (expires March 14, 2026)

Hyatt (World of Hyatt): 20% discount at 2.08¢ (expires April 07, 2026)

IHG (One Rewards): 100% bonus at 0.5¢ (expires March 17, 2026)

Leading Hotels of the World (Leaders Club): 100% bonus at 6.0¢ (expires April 07, 2026)

These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

Business Platinum Card: 200,000 points after spending $20,000 in 3 months ($895/yr)

Chase Sapphire Reserve: 125,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months ($795/yr)

Business Gold Card: 100,000 points after spending $15,000 in 3 months ($375/yr)

Capital One Venture X Rewards: 100,000 points after spending $10,000 in 6 months ($395/yr)

Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →