Happy Thanksgiving! While most Americans are focused on turkey today, smart travelers are eyeing a rare opportunity to buy Oneworld status with full lounge access, preparing for Bilt's biggest transfer bonus of the year on December 1st, and watching JSX race against the clock to launch service from an airport that's being shut down. We've also got a surprising first-class value story and a controversial new airline policy that's already facing lawsuits.

Royal Air Maroc just launched a status match program that's essentially a shortcut to Oneworld business and first class lounge access. The Moroccan carrier will match your existing status from any airline program—even non-Oneworld carriers—up to their top-tier Emerald level, which grants you access to premium lounges when flying American, Alaska, British Airways, Qantas, and other Oneworld airlines.

Here's why this matters: Royal Air Maroc is offering paid memberships alongside the match, making this one of the rare opportunities to effectively purchase alliance-wide lounge benefits. The matched status is valid through 2026, giving you over a year of lounge access when flying Oneworld carriers. If you've been sitting on status with Delta, United, or even Southwest, this could be your ticket to sampling American's Flagship Lounges or British Airways' Concorde Room without earning top-tier status the traditional way. Applications are being processed now, and the window likely won't stay open forever.

Mark your calendars for December 1st—Bilt is bringing back its blockbuster transfer promotion with up to 100% bonus when moving points to British Airways Executive Club. This is one of the richest partner bonuses in the entire points and miles landscape, effectively doubling the value of your Bilt points for British Airways redemptions.

The bonus comes with additional Rent Day perks dropping the same week, including limited-time offers across dining, gift cards, and exclusive events. For those unfamiliar, British Airways Avios are incredibly versatile—they work on American Airlines domestic flights, Aer Lingus transatlantic routes, and short-haul flights throughout Europe and Asia. With a 100% bonus, you could book a one-way transatlantic business class seat for as little as 25,000 Bilt points instead of 50,000. If you've been paying rent or HOA fees with the Bilt card, this is your moment to cash in those points at double value.

JSX has secured approval to launch daily flights from Santa Monica Municipal Airport to Las Vegas starting December 19th, but there's a ticking clock: the city is scheduled to permanently close the airport in 2028. The carrier just started selling tickets after obtaining a city operations permit, despite decades of local opposition to scheduled air service at the facility.

Local activists have already filed a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lawsuit seeking to halt the service before it launches. While CEQA is unlikely to stop the flights entirely, it can impose enough delay and cost to effectively run out the clock before the 2028 closure. JSX is also introducing 30-seat all-business class ATR 42-600 turboprops to its fleet in the coming weeks, marking a shift from its traditional Embraer jet operations. If the Santa Monica service survives the legal challenges, it could offer Angelenos a significantly more convenient alternative to LAX for Vegas trips—at least for a few years.

A traveler just shared why they chose Spirit's first class over American, Delta, and United for a family trip to New York—and the math is eye-opening. Spirit's Big Front Seat with checked bags included came in cheaper than extra-legroom economy on the legacy carriers, while guaranteeing the whole family could sit together.

The booking process was reportedly a headache, but the actual flight experience exceeded expectations. This isn't an endorsement of Spirit across the board, but it's a reminder to run the numbers on every option—sometimes the budget carrier's premium product delivers better value than legacy economy. With Spirit facing financial uncertainty and potential changes from the Frontier merger discussions, these pricing anomalies might not last. If you're booking a short domestic flight where the seat matters more than lounge access or airline status, don't automatically dismiss the ultra-low-cost carriers' premium offerings.

Newly minted Marriott Platinum members often ask the same question: should I expect suite upgrades? The reality check is important. While Marriott's upgrade policy includes suites for Platinum and above "when available," actual suite availability varies wildly by property, season, and your elite tier.

At most hotels, Platinum members typically receive standard room upgrades—think higher floor, better view, or slightly larger room. Titanium and Ambassador members have better odds at genuine suite upgrades, but even then it's not guaranteed. Properties with club-level upgrades often satisfy the "upgrade" requirement without touching suite inventory. The best strategy? Don't count on the suite, but always ensure your Marriott Bonvoy number is on the reservation. Suite upgrades do happen, especially at less busy properties or during off-peak periods, but setting realistic expectations prevents disappointment at check-in.

Etihad Guest already had the most punitive award cancellation policy in the industry—no changes or cancellations within 72 hours of departure. But the policy is actually worse than initially understood: if you book an award ticket with cash payment (for taxes and fees), Etihad refunds the cash portion in miles upon cancellation, not back to your original payment method.

A reader recently experienced this firsthand—paid cash for taxes on an award booking, cancelled outside the 72-hour window, and received the refund as Etihad Guest miles instead of cash. This converts a legitimate cash payment into a currency locked inside Etihad's ecosystem, which may have significantly less value depending on your travel patterns. Combined with the rigid 72-hour cutoff, this makes Etihad awards among the riskiest bookings in the miles and points world. If your travel plans have any chance of changing, consider booking with partners like American Airlines AAdvantage, which offers more flexible cancellation terms for the same Etihad flights.

Iberia announced new daily service from Madrid to Newark starting March 29, 2026, using A321XLR aircraft. While not a complete surprise given the carrier's transatlantic expansion, it adds another Oneworld option for the Northeast and opens more award availability for those sitting on British Airways Avios or American miles.

Air India unveiled its new Boeing 787 business class product coming in early 2026, continuing the carrier's major transformation following privatization. The new seats represent a significant upgrade over the airline's legacy product, though industry-wide delays with aircraft deliveries and seat installations mean the full rollout will take time. For those with United MileagePlus miles or other Star Alliance currencies, this could open up improved award options to India in the coming years.

Southwest announced five new routes from California for 2026, including two new Hawaii services and expanded San Diego operations. The additions highlight the carrier's continued focus on West Coast expansion, particularly important for those working toward Companion Pass status who want more destination options.

That's your rundown for today. The Royal Air Maroc status match and December 1st Bilt bonus are time-sensitive opportunities worth acting on quickly. And if you're planning any travel through Santa Monica to Vegas, book those JSX flights sooner rather than later—who knows how long they'll actually operate.

Safe travels,

Miles & Points Daily

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: