Today we're unpacking TSA's controversial new fee that could cost unprepared travelers $18, a rare 40% transfer bonus that makes Virgin Atlantic redemptions significantly more attractive, and the shocking truth about just how many Hilton Diamond members actually exist. Plus, why the new Citi Strata Elite might be the most undervalued premium card right now.

Starting soon, showing up to the airport without your REAL ID or passport could cost you $18. TSA is rolling out an "alternative identity verification" system that uses biometric screening for travelers who arrive without acceptable identification. The fee is non-refundable, and here's the controversial part: TSA claims it can impose this charge without congressional approval by invoking authority originally meant for registered-traveler programs like PreCheck.

The agency's logic is questionable at best. Congress intended those fees for voluntary expedited screening programs, not mandatory identification verification. For frequent travelers, this reinforces why keeping your REAL ID or passport in your travel bag isn't optional anymore. The May 2025 deadline technically went into effect, but TSA has been lenient — until now. This fee structure suggests that leniency is ending.

American Express Membership Rewards just dropped a 40% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, running through December 31, 2025. This is the first significant Amex transfer bonus we've seen since late last year, making it worth serious consideration for anyone sitting on a pile of Membership Rewards points.

Virgin Atlantic miles unlock some of the best redemption opportunities in the game. We're talking about ANA first class availability that's nearly impossible to find through other programs, competitive rates on Delta flights, and access to Air France-KLM award space. With the 40% bonus, transferring 50,000 Amex points nets you 70,000 Virgin miles — enough for a round-trip business class flight to Europe on Delta. For those eyeing ANA's legendary first class, that round-trip from the U.S. to Japan typically runs 110,000 miles. Thanks to this bonus, you'd need just 78,571 Amex points instead of the usual 110,000.

Remember when hotel elite status felt exclusive? Hilton just revealed numbers that put that notion to rest. The program appears to have well over a million Diamond members — potentially as many as 1.4 million. To put that in perspective, that's roughly the population of San Diego carrying Hilton's top-tier status.

This explains a lot about the Diamond experience lately. When you've got over a million "elite" members competing for upgrades, executive lounge access, and premium perks, the math simply doesn't work. Many properties can't possibly accommodate that volume of high-status guests. This revelation comes alongside Hilton's recent loyalty program overhaul, which introduced an even higher Diamond Reserve tier. Now we understand why — the existing Diamond tier had become effectively meaningless at properties with high elite guest counts.

While everyone debates premium card annual fees, Citi's new Strata Elite is quietly delivering exceptional first-year value through its credit structure. We're talking airfare credits, hotel credits, car service reimbursements, and even Best Buy credits that stack up fast when you know how to use them.

The key is treating each credit as a separate optimization opportunity. The $300 airfare credit works on Southwest gift cards purchased through their portal. The hotel credit applies to prepaid rates at major chains. The car service credit covers Uber — not just Uber Black, but regular Uber rides too. Smart players are already maximizing every dollar, and when you add up the value across all credits, this card's effective annual fee becomes negligible in year one. For anyone spending on travel categories anyway, it's worth a closer look at Citi's strategy with this product.

United confirmed this week it's ending service to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) and Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) in Dakar, Senegal. The Washington Dulles to Dakar route ends March 5, 2026, while Newark to Stockholm won't return after its seasonal run ends in early 2026.

These cuts reflect United's ongoing route optimization as the carrier focuses capacity on higher-performing markets. If you've been eyeing either destination using United MileagePlus awards, book before these routes disappear. Once they're gone, reaching these cities on Star Alliance partners will likely cost more miles or require less convenient connections.

Air Canada just announced it's transferring all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its Rouge subsidiary in 2026, while Rouge transitions away from its aging Airbus A320 fleet. This represents a major shift in how the carrier positions its low-cost arm versus mainline service.

For travelers, this means Rouge routes will operate on newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft with updated interiors. The MAX aircraft offer better economics for leisure routes where Rouge typically operates. However, if you've been avoiding the MAX for personal reasons, you'll now know that any Air Canada Rouge flight will likely operate on this aircraft type. The transition happens throughout 2026, so check your aircraft type before booking if this matters to your travel decisions.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched a campaign this week encouraging travelers to bring back civility and manners to air travel. He's even suggesting passengers dress better for flights, hoping to recapture some of the "golden age" travel experience.

While the sentiment is admirable, dress codes won't fix today's inflight behavior problems. The real issues stem from overcrowding, reduced seat pitch, eliminated amenities, and the stress of modern air travel. That said, if Duffy's campaign leads to even a marginal improvement in passenger behavior — like not grinding dead skin off your feet midflight (yes, that happened on American Airlines recently) — most of us would consider it a win. The larger point stands: treating fellow passengers and crew with basic respect costs nothing and makes everyone's journey better.

That wraps today's essential miles and points news. The Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus alone could save you tens of thousands of points on premium cabin redemptions, while Hilton's Diamond numbers explain why that status hasn't felt particularly elite lately. Most importantly, make sure you've got your REAL ID sorted before TSA starts enforcing that $18 fee.

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: