Today's lineup includes unusually wide-open Swiss business class awards for summer 2026, a premium credit card that delivers far more value than its $595 fee suggests, and why your Holiday Inn breakfast is about to get significantly worse. Let's dive in.

Swiss just released an unprecedented amount of business class award space for summer 2026 — and we're not talking about the usual one or two seats. We're seeing up to nine seats available on the same flight, which is virtually unheard of for a premium European carrier.

Routes from Boston, New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington Dulles, and Montreal are all showing wide-open availability. The best part? You can book these through United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, or Avianca LifeMiles — all three of which accept transfers from major credit card programs. If you've been sitting on Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, or Citi ThankYou points, this is your moment to move them for a summer European getaway.

For those keeping track, United MileagePlus currently has a 30% discount on purchased miles through December 31st at 2.63¢ per mile. That could make topping off your account for these Swiss awards even more attractive. Check out our award travel guide for more redemption strategies.

The new Citi Strata Elite card carries a $595 annual fee, but here's where things get interesting: the first-year value appears to far exceed what Citi likely intended. We're seeing 100,000 bonus points available with a limited-time online welcome offer, and the credits stack in ways that deliver outsized returns.

The credits structure allows savvy users to effectively double-dip on several benefits during the first year, creating a scenario where the card practically pays you to hold it. The bonus structure is aggressive enough that industry observers are calling it one of the best first-year values in the premium card space right now. For detailed comparisons with other premium cards, see our premium credit cards coverage.

If you're a Holiday Inn regular, mark December 1st on your calendar — and not in a good way. The brand is eliminating all cooked-to-order and à la carte breakfast options at U.S. and Canadian properties, moving to a standardized buffet-only model.

According to internal brand guidelines, the new buffet operation is designed to run with just two staff members during the entire service window. The required menu is tightly limited, and here's the kicker: pastries can legally be held and reused for up to 24 hours. So that croissant you're eyeing might be yesterday's leftovers — completely by design. This is clearly a cost-cutting move dressed up as standardization, and it's another example of hotel breakfast benefits eroding across the industry. More on IHG program changes.

Royal Air Maroc has requested DOT approval to launch flights between Casablanca and Los Angeles, using Boeing 787 aircraft. While that's interesting on its own for travelers looking to reach Morocco or connect beyond to Africa, the real story is what this means for LAX.

If approved, LAX would join an exclusive club of airports serving six continents with scheduled service. That's a rare achievement, and it reinforces Los Angeles' position as one of the world's most globally connected airports. For SkyTeam alliance members, this also creates another redemption option for reaching North Africa, with Royal Air Maroc being a partner of Delta SkyMiles and other programs.

You've probably noticed bright red "wait here" lines appearing at Delta gates, positioned before the podium. Many passengers are finding them confusing or even annoying, but here's what Delta isn't saying loudly: these lines aren't designed for passenger convenience.

The red lines serve three operational goals: preventing stowaways from slipping past gate agents, improving the accuracy of biometric facial recognition scans, and making it easier for single-agent boarding operations. In other words, this is about security and staffing efficiency. The passenger experience improvement angle is marketing spin on what's fundamentally an operational security measure prompted by recent incidents of unauthorized boarding.

The San Francisco Centurion Lounge is shaking up its Thursday offerings in a big way. Out go the sad salads and chicken thighs that have become running jokes in the lounge community. In come tomahawk steaks and crab legs as the new Thursday signature items.

This is notable because Amex has been facing criticism about Centurion Lounge overcrowding and declining food quality. Rolling out premium proteins on a weekly basis suggests the company is trying to restore some of the prestige that made these lounges special in the first place. If you're traveling through SFO on a Thursday with Platinum card access, it might be worth timing your visit for the dinner service. For more on American Express benefits and lounge access, check our dedicated coverage.

If you've been waiting for the right time to book European business class for summer 2026, that time is now with Swiss' unprecedented award availability. Those planning to book should move quickly — nine-seat award releases don't last long once the booking community catches on.

The Citi Strata Elite first-year math is worth running if you're in the market for a new premium card, while Holiday Inn's breakfast changes remind us that hotel loyalty programs continue to chip away at benefits. And if you're routing through SFO on a Thursday, that tomahawk steak might be worth the Centurion Lounge visit.

Until tomorrow,

The Miles & Points Daily Team

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: