Today's lineup includes a shocking hotel partnership implosion, the best LifeMiles deal of 2025, hidden Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits most cardholders miss, and why American Airlines owes some passengers refunds (but won't pay them). Let's dive in.

Marriott's experiment with Sonder—the apartment-style accommodation provider—just came to a sudden and messy end. The partnership, announced just 15 months ago in August 2024, added roughly 9,000 rooms to Marriott's portfolio under the "Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy" collection. Yesterday, it all fell apart.

Guests with confirmed reservations received abrupt cancellation notices. Some travelers already checked in were told to leave. No alternative accommodation was offered. Marriott points back at their feet. The chain cited unspecified "partnership terms" violations, while Sonder blamed "operational disagreements." Either way, customers paid the price for corporate dysfunction.

If you booked a Sonder property through Marriott, check your email immediately. The properties are already removed from Marriott's booking system. For more on Marriott's ever-changing hotel portfolio, we track these developments closely.

Speaking of opportunities that won't last, Avianca LifeMiles just dropped a 170% purchase bonus—the largest percentage boost we've seen from this program all year. This is the rare moment when buying miles makes mathematical sense for premium cabin redemptions.

The math works like this: with the bonus, you're paying roughly 1.4 cents per mile. LifeMiles regularly offers business class to Europe for 63,000 miles one-way or first class to Asia for 90,000 miles. That's $882 for a Star Alliance business class seat to Frankfurt or $1,260 for first class to Tokyo—often less than economy cash fares on the same routes.

The bonus applies to purchased miles only (not gifted or transferred miles). No end date is published, which typically means it could vanish within days. For our complete guide to maximizing LifeMiles sweet spots, including booking tips and partner availability, check our dedicated coverage.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has evolved dramatically since its legendary 2016 launch. Most cardholders know about the $300 travel credit and Priority Pass lounge access. But there's a collection of lesser-known perks worth far more than the $550 annual fee.

The current 125,000-point welcome bonus alone is worth $1,875 when redeemed through Chase's travel portal (at 1.5 cents per point). But here's what most people miss: complimentary Lyft Pink membership (saving $199 annually), cell phone protection up to $800 per claim, DoorDash DashPass membership, and purchase protection that actually works better than most homeowners insurance for travel gear.

The card also includes trip delay reimbursement starting at just 6 hours—most premium cards require 12. That covered a reader's $400 hotel stay in Minneapolis last month when a snowstorm delayed their connection. The trick is paying for your ticket entirely with the card and filing claims within 60 days. For more insights on maximizing premium card benefits, we break down the math regularly.

American Airlines recently started selling first class upgrades for as little as $40—a genuinely exciting development for budget-conscious travelers. Then they discovered a glaring problem: when passengers canceled their trips, American kept the upgrade fee. That's not how it's supposed to work.

The airline attempted a fix. They rolled out updated refund logic that would return upgrade fees on canceled trips. Then they botched the implementation so badly they had to pull it back. Now we're back to square one: buy an upgrade, cancel your flight, lose your money—even if you rebook on another American flight the same day.

The workaround: only purchase upgrades when you're absolutely certain your travel plans won't change. Or book refundable fares where you have more flexibility. This particularly stings for travelers with flexible tickets who thought they were protected. For the latest on American Airlines policy changes, we're tracking every move they make.

Here's some genuinely good news from Marriott: they've finally formalized their elite status soft landing policy. For years, the chain quietly practiced dropping members just one tier if they didn't requalify. Now it's official policy for 2026.

What this means practically: if you're Platinum Elite in 2025 but fall short of requalification, you'll become Gold Elite in 2026 (not drop all the way to basic membership). Titanium drops to Platinum. It's a reasonable approach that rewards long-term loyalty without forcing all-or-nothing qualification.

The timing matters because we're heading into the final stretch of the elite qualification year. If you're within 10-15 nights of requalifying, it's worth pushing to maintain your current tier. But if you're 30+ nights short, knowing you'll only drop one level makes it easier to plan for next year. Check out our complete guide to Marriott elite status benefits to see what you'll keep at each tier.

A sobering reminder about infrastructure: last Friday, a 1960s-era mobile lounge at Dulles Airport crashed into a terminal, hospitalizing up to 18 passengers. These distinctive "people movers" have shuttled passengers between terminals for more than five decades.

The incident highlights a broader aviation infrastructure problem: critical equipment operating decades past its intended lifespan with limited manufacturer support. Dulles continues using these vehicles daily because replacing them would cost tens of millions of dollars. It's a stark contrast to the gleaming new terminals and modern aircraft we typically see featured in travel coverage.

For travelers connecting through Dulles: the mobile lounges primarily serve international arrivals at the midfield concourse. If you have the option to connect through a different terminal (particularly for domestic connections), it might be worth considering until the airport's infrastructure modernization is complete. More updates on airport operations and safety as this story develops.

Today's stories share a common thread: the gap between what companies promise and what they deliver. Marriott expanded with Sonder then abandoned guests mid-stay. American teased cheap upgrades then trapped customers' money. Even decades-old airport equipment continues operating because nobody wants to fund replacements.

The silver lining: opportunities exist for those paying attention. That 170% LifeMiles bonus won't last. Chase Sapphire Reserve's hidden benefits provide real value beyond the headline perks. Marriott's soft landing policy offers genuine flexibility. The key is knowing which opportunities to grab and which promises to view skeptically.

Stay strategic out there, and we'll see you tomorrow with more insights.

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: