Something is shifting with airfares right now - and it's moving faster than most people expected.

Airlines started warning about fuel surcharges earlier this week. By yesterday, those warnings had become reality. New data shows fares rose sharply in just the past seven days, whether you're paying cash or points. If you've been sitting on a trip you've been meaning to book for spring or summer, today is a genuinely better day to act than next week.

Let's get into everything that matters today.

The World of Hyatt Business Card just posted its highest-ever welcome bonus. But how many Hyatt points do you typically need for a free night at a top-tier Category 8 property?

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

There will be fewer ways to fly Southwest Airlines to Chicago and Washington, D.C., this summer - and the news landed quietly on Friday.

Southwest will end service to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) on June 4, citing ongoing network optimization efforts. The airline framed both exits as part of a broader efficiency push, but the optics aren't great for a carrier that's spent months making big promises about its transformation.

If you're holding Southwest Rapid Rewards points and had been planning to use them on routes through O'Hare or Dulles, you'll want to reroute your thinking before June. Midway (MDW) remains Southwest's Chicago hub, and Reagan National (DCA) stays in play for D.C.-area travelers - so there are still options, just fewer of them.

Speaking of which, there's still a compelling Companion Pass offer on Southwest consumer cards that expires Thursday, March 19 at 9 a.m. EDT. If you've been on the fence about applying, this is genuinely the last week to lock in the pass through February 28, 2027. After that window closes, who knows when the next offer of this size appears.

You can check current Southwest points valuations with our Southwest Points Calculator and see all our Southwest Airlines coverage for the full picture on where the airline is heading.

This isn't a forecast anymore. Earlier this week, analysts warned that fuel surcharges could hit within days. As of yesterday, they're here.

A growing number of airlines are adding fuel surcharges directly to tickets. Others facing the prospect of pricier jet fuel are simply raising base fares. The data released late this week confirmed it: prices jumped sharply since last week's snapshot, and that's across both cash fares and award redemptions on certain carriers.

Here's the thing that often gets missed in these conversations: when cash fares rise, the relative value of your points goes up too - but only if you act before airlines adjust dynamic award pricing to match. That window can close quickly.

Award Travel Finder is tracking live award availability across programs right now - worth checking if you have a trip in mind and want to lock in before pricing adjusts further.

If you'd rather pay cash and skip the points math entirely, Friday Flight Deals found some strong spring fares this week worth a look before surcharges spread further.

The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card just raised the bar on its welcome offer - 80,000 points after $10,000 in spend in the first three months, up from the previous 60,000-point offer. That's the biggest bonus this card has ever offered.

But the bonus points aren't even the most interesting part for a certain type of traveler.

Hyatt makes this card uniquely useful for anyone chasing elite status. Spend on the card earns Tier-Qualifying Night credits faster than most other Hyatt paths - meaning this isn't just a sign-up bonus story, it's a genuine status-building tool. For someone who wants Globalist (Hyatt's top status tier) but doesn't have enough paid nights to get there organically, this card changes the math significantly.

The offer runs through April 30, 2026, so there's a reasonable window - but not forever. If you've been watching Hyatt's program for the right moment to engage, this is a strong one. Use our Hyatt Points Calculator to model what 80,000 points could unlock for you.

For all our Hyatt coverage in one place, see our dedicated Hyatt Hotels stories.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card is currently carrying a 200,000-point limited-time welcome bonus - and by all accounts, that matches the highest offer this card has ever seen.

To put that in context, 200,000 Bonvoy points can get you into some genuinely spectacular properties. Think Lake Como. Think grand canyon-rim lodges. The program recently won back-to-back Best Hotel Loyalty Program recognition, and with more than 9,000 properties across 30-plus brands, there's no shortage of ways to use a haul that size.

There's also a separate Marriott story worth knowing about this weekend. Marriott recently raised its annual free night certificate top-off cap from 15,000 points to 25,000 points per certificate. That sounds like a technical change, but a data analysis published Friday shows it actually unlocks hundreds of additional hotels that were previously out of reach with a standard free night cert. Worth knowing before you decide how to use any certificates sitting in your account.

If you're unsure which Marriott card makes sense for you, our Marriott card eligibility tool can help narrow it down before you apply.

See all our Marriott coverage and hotel promotions for more on the Bonvoy program.

Avianca LifeMiles is running a 160% bonus on purchased miles right now, bringing the cost down to approximately 1.27 cents per mile. That's a genuinely competitive price for a program that has some of the most useful Star Alliance award space around.

LifeMiles lets you book United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and other Star Alliance partners at rates that are often significantly cheaper than booking directly. A transatlantic business class redemption at 1.27 cents per mile can represent outstanding value when the underlying cash fare is several thousand dollars.

The catch: this offer ends March 22 and these LifeMiles promotions tend to be at least partially targeted, so your mileage (literally) may vary on the exact bonus shown. There's also an Amex Membership Rewards transfer bonus to LifeMiles - a 15% bonus running through March 28 - so if you're thinking about topping up via transfer rather than purchase, that's another route worth knowing about. Check all current transfer bonuses and buy points offers for the full picture.

Here's a story that perfectly illustrates how conflict-driven disruption creates unusual travel windows. Both Emirates and Qatar are flying some remarkably light loads right now as traffic to Dubai and Doha thins out during the regional conflict in the Middle East.

In at least two reported cases, passengers have found themselves with what travelers almost never get - an entire first or business class cabin effectively to themselves. That's a level of service and privacy that money rarely buys, happening simply because fewer people are booking these routes right now.

When load factors drop, award availability typically opens up. If you've been eyeing Emirates First Class or Qatar Qsuites and have struggled to find redemption space, this may be the quieter window you've been waiting for. Use our Emirates Miles Calculator to check what a redemption would cost, and our Qatar Airways Avios Award Flight Finder to search for available seats right now.

For all our Emirates coverage and Qatar coverage, those tag pages have the latest on both programs.

If you're flying this weekend, give yourself extra time at the airport. The partial government shutdown has now hit the one-month mark, and TSA officers are still working without pay. That's creating real operational strain - more agents calling out, longer lines snaking through terminals, and a genuine risk of missing flights if you cut your arrival time too close.

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry holders will fare better, but even expedited lanes are moving slower than usual at busier airports. Check FlightQueue for estimated security wait times at your specific departure airport before you leave the house - it's a genuinely useful tool when conditions are unpredictable like this.

The answer: A top-tier Category 8 Hyatt property costs 45,000 points per night. So that new 80,000-point World of Hyatt Business Card bonus covers nearly two full nights at the absolute best properties in the program - Park Hyatt Maldives, Park Hyatt New York, and similar flagship hotels. Not bad for a single welcome offer.

Chase Ultimate Rewards currently has a 20% transfer bonus to British Airways Avios, Iberia Avios, and Aer Lingus Avios - all running through March 31. That's a meaningful stack for anyone building toward a Avios redemption. There's also a 30% Chase bonus to Wyndham (through March 31) and a 25% Citi ThankYou bonus to Wyndham running through March 21 - so if you've been eyeing a Wyndham redemption, this week is the time to move. See all current transfer bonuses for the complete list.

Beyond LifeMiles, there are a few other buy points deals worth flagging this weekend. Air Canada Aeroplan has a 90% bonus running through March 19 - that's expiring in four days. Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards has a 90% bonus through March 18, which means tomorrow is effectively your last day. JetBlue TrueBlue has a 125% bonus through April 18 at 1.43 cents per mile if you want a longer runway. See all current buy points offers for the full breakdown.

With Southwest dropping Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles, I'm curious: are you a Southwest loyalist who's sticking with them through the changes, or has your go-to airline shifted recently? Hit reply and let me know - I read every response and genuinely love hearing where you all stand on this.

That's it for today - see you tomorrow with more.

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

Hotels:

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort - 3.0cpp value

Waldorf Astoria Orlando - An Official Walt Disney World® Hotel - 1.5cpp value

See all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

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 13, 2026)

Avianca (LifeMiles): 160% bonus at 1.27¢ (expires March 22, 2026)

Copa Airlines (ConnectMiles): 60% bonus at 1.88¢ (expires March 27, 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 03, 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 →