Today brings an unusual mix: JetBlue's operational meltdown while the rest of the industry sailed through the same crisis, a stunning Citi business card offer that's breaking all previous records, and Chase launching a transfer bonus that most people probably shouldn't use. Let's unpack what actually matters.

An urgent Airbus A320 flight computer software problem forced thousands of jets worldwide into maintenance bays this weekend. Most airlines handled the fix seamlessly — Delta, United, and American barely saw a blip in their operations. JetBlue? They've cancelled a massive chunk of their schedule and are still scrambling to source replacement computers.

The contrast is stark. While other carriers had the spare parts inventory and maintenance infrastructure to push planes through repairs quickly, JetBlue's leaner operation exposed a vulnerability. If you're booked on JetBlue in the coming days, check your flight status obsessively and consider rebooking if you have time-sensitive plans. The carrier is clearly still working through a backlog that competitors resolved over the weekend.

While JetBlue struggles, American Airlines' credit card partner just launched its best-ever offer on the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard. You'll earn 75,000 miles after spending $5,000, and crucially, the $99 annual fee is waived the first year.

That's enough for a round-trip domestic coach ticket or a one-way business class flight to parts of Central America. Early reports suggest approval rates are strong, even for those with moderate business revenue. If you've been considering an AAdvantage-earning card, this no-fee first year makes the decision considerably easier.

IHG already had a decent 3x points promotion running through year-end. For Cyber Monday, they've upgraded it to 5x points on new bookings made by tomorrow. The catch? You need to actually complete those stays before December 31st.

The math works if you already have travel planned. A $200-per-night Holiday Inn booking for three nights would normally earn around 3,000 points. With this promo, you're looking at 15,000 points — enough for a free night at many properties. Register by tomorrow, book your stays, and you're locked in. For more on maximizing IHG promotions, we've tracked these patterns extensively.

Speaking of IHG, Chase just launched a 70% bonus on transfers to IHG One Rewards through January 15, 2026. That means 1,000 Chase points become 1,700 IHG points. Before you jump, consider the math: Chase points are typically worth around 1.8-2 cents each when used for travel through the Chase portal or transferred to airline partners. IHG points? More like 0.5 cents each.

Even with the 70% bonus, you're converting premium currency into budget currency. The only time this makes sense is if you're just short of a specific redemption — say you need 60,000 IHG points for a high-value InterContinental stay and only need to transfer 36,000 Chase points to get there. Otherwise, save your Chase Ultimate Rewards for better opportunities.

December 1st means another Bilt Rent Day, and this month's headliner is a tiered transfer bonus to British Airways. Transfer 5,000+ Bilt points and get 50% bonus Avios. Transfer 25,000+ and that bonus jumps to 100%, meaning 25,000 Bilt points become 50,000 Avios.

British Airways Avios excel for short-haul flights on American Airlines within the US, where you can book flights for as little as 7,500 Avios one-way. With this bonus, you're essentially converting 3,750 Bilt points into a domestic flight. That's exceptional value, especially if you're already paying rent with Bilt anyway. Check out our Bilt Rewards coverage for more strategies.

Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program published its December Promo Rewards list, offering 25% discounts on select routes. Most deals are in economy, and many are short-haul European flights, but there are a few long-haul opportunities to the Americas worth checking if you have Flying Blue miles sitting around.

The challenge with Flying Blue Promo Rewards is always availability — discounted routes sell out quickly. If you see something that matches your travel plans, book immediately. These promotions rarely last more than a few days once deal hunters discover them. For more on Flying Blue strategies, we track these monthly releases religiously.

American Express continues running its elevated 200,000-point welcome bonus on The Business Platinum Card. With the recent refresh adding new perks while increasing the annual fee to $695, this bonus helps offset that first-year cost significantly.

The spending requirement is substantial — $15,000 in the first three months — but business owners with legitimate expenses can hit that naturally. Those 200,000 Membership Rewards points transfer to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan and Virgin Atlantic, where they can book premium cabin flights worth thousands of dollars. Just remember Amex's once-per-lifetime bonus rule applies here.

Today's collection of news tells a story about operational excellence versus mediocrity. JetBlue's inability to handle a crisis that competitors managed smoothly raises questions about infrastructure investment. Meanwhile, the credit card world continues offering historically high bonuses — that Citi AAdvantage offer with no first-year fee is genuinely remarkable.

The IHG promotions stacking with the Chase transfer bonus creates an interesting scenario, even if that transfer bonus isn't ideal on its own. And Bilt's 100% British Airways bonus remains one of the best ways to convert rent payments into real travel value. Check tomorrow's deadline on that IHG Cyber Monday promo if you have year-end travel booked.

— Daily Miles

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: