Helloooooo, weekend party people!
Well, January is officially done (did anyone else feel like it lasted 97 days?). And what a way to close out the month – airlines got messy, lounges got restrictive, and some of you actually got free elite status without even asking for it. 👀
Before we flip the calendar to February, let's quickly finish strong with this past week's biggest hits from the points and miles world.
This Week's Big Stories
💳 A transferable points card is now better at earning American miles than... actual American Airlines co-brand cards. (Yeah, we're confused too.)
🚪 Amex is tightening Centurion Lounge access starting in July – and this time, even premium cardholders might feel the squeeze.
💺 Southwest's open seating era officially ended this week. Here's what the new boarding process actually looks like.
✈️ Delta and United just surprised members with free status upgrades. No, seriously – completely free.
🎁 Air Canada dropped a 100% transfer bonus that's actually worth your attention (rare for point purchase promos, tbh).
🏆 Our Favorite Pick: Citi Strata Elite Quietly Became The Best American Airlines Card
Okay, this one is genuinely wild. Through a combination of transfer bonuses and smart category spending, the Citi Strata Elite – a transferable points card – is now earning American Airlines miles faster and more efficiently than American's own co-branded credit cards.
Let that sink in for a second. The card that's not even branded by American Airlines is beating the cards that literally have the airline's logo plastered on them. How? Current transfer bonuses from Citi ThankYou points to AAdvantage are making the math work heavily in Strata Elite's favor – especially in bonus categories.
But here's where it gets interesting: You're not locked into American. With the Strata Elite, you're earning flexible points that can transfer to multiple airlines and hotel programs. So if American has a meltdown (which... they kinda did this week with that 87% profit collapse 🙃), you've got options.
Key takeaways:
With current bonuses, Strata Elite earns MORE AAdvantage miles per dollar than co-brand cards in many categories
You keep transfer flexibility to 19+ partners instead of being locked into one airline
This works especially well if you're already in the Citi ecosystem
Transfer bonuses won't last forever, but this strategy is solid while they do
Bottom line: If you're chasing American miles specifically right now, a non-American card might be your best bet. Wild times, my friends. Read the full story here.
👀 This Week's Must-Reads
Amex Centurion Lounges Getting More Restrictive (Again)
Starting July 2026, American Express is adding new restrictions to Centurion Lounge access – and this time it's hitting closer to home for premium cardholders. Meanwhile, United is trying to sell 1K status for $12,670 (yes, really), and we finally learned why Southwest actually devalued their points last year. Spoiler: it wasn't just about award pricing. Read more here.
Delta & United Surprise Drop Free Elite Status
In a move nobody saw coming, both Delta and United started gifting free status upgrades to select members this week. No challenges, no spend requirements – just straight-up free elite status. Also in this edition: Air Canada launched a legitimate 100% Aeroplan bonus (actually worth considering), and Costco made a major shift in their gift card lineup that affects how many of us manufacture spending. Read more here.
Southwest's Boarding Revolution Goes Live
After 50+ years of open seating chaos, Southwest officially launched assigned seating this week. The new boarding process is live as of Thursday, and early reports are... mixed. We break down what actually changed, what stayed the same, and whether this "revolution" is living up to the hype. Also: American reported an 87% profit collapse that's got everyone talking. Read more here.
American Finishes Free Wi-Fi Rollout Early
In rare "airline does something ahead of schedule" news, American Airlines completed their free Wi-Fi rollout early. Every domestic mainline aircraft now has free Wi-Fi for loyalty members. We also dove deep into Star Alliance sweet spots and how to maximize Hilton points after their recent devaluation – because one airline doing something good doesn't mean we can ignore the program changes happening elsewhere. Read more here.
🌍 Week in Review
Here's what went down each day this week:
Sunday: 🧴 Heathrow finally ditched liquid limits (and Chase Southwest cardholders are still waiting on missing points)
Monday: ✈️ United's 100% buy miles bonus ended (hope you caught it!) + Alaska finished adding 1.3M premium seats
Tuesday: 📶 American finished free Wi-Fi rollout early + the Star Alliance sweet spots you need to know
Wednesday: 🎁 Delta and United surprise-dropped free status + Air Canada's 100% Aeroplan bonus + Costco's gift card shakeup
Thursday: 💺 Southwest's assigned seating era officially began + American's profit collapsed 87%
Friday: 💳 Citi Strata Elite is somehow better at earning American miles than American's own cards
Saturday: 🚪 Amex Centurion Lounges add new restrictions + United tries selling status for $12,670
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and here's to a great week ahead.
Cheers,
Miles & Points Daily