Today we're unpacking United's sneaky 2026 status move, Delta's war on upgrades that left a Diamond sitting in economy while 20+ Comfort+ seats flew empty, and a premium card delivering $2,700 in first-year value. Plus American finally starts its long-delayed 777 retrofit, Chase's tiny Vegas lounge surprises with premium champagne, and why you might want to grab those Marriott points before Wednesday's deadline.

United announced yesterday it won't raise elite status thresholds for 2026—good news on the surface. But here's the twist: instead of making qualification harder, they're quietly devaluing the benefits you get when you earn status. PlusPoints are moving to dynamic pricing, and business class saver awards are getting harder to book without status or the co-brand card.

This is the airline loyalty playbook in 2025: freeze the qualification requirements to avoid backlash, then quietly chip away at what those status levels actually get you. PlusPoints have been one of United's most valuable elite perks—the ability to confirm upgrades with a fixed cost. Now that cost will fluctuate based on demand, making premium cabin access even more unpredictable for elites.

For more on United's evolving MileagePlus program, we've been tracking these changes closely.

Here's where Delta's upgrade restrictions have gotten absurd: a Diamond Medallion member reported flying transcon with over 20 Comfort+ seats sitting completely empty—and Delta wouldn't let them move up. The airline has been throttling Comfort+ upgrades so aggressively that even top-tier elites are stuck in basic economy while extra legroom seats fly empty.

Delta's strategy is clear: they don't consider Comfort+ a real upgrade anymore, which means they're under no obligation to give it to elites. This is the logical endpoint of treating extra legroom as a separate fare class rather than an upgrade tier. The airline would rather have those seats fly empty than give them away to status holders who might otherwise pay for them.

Check out all our Delta coverage for the full picture of how the SkyMiles program is evolving.

Readers keep getting approved for Citi's new Strata Elite card, and the math is compelling: 100,000 ThankYou points after meeting spend requirements, plus roughly $2,700 in stacked travel and retail credits in year one. The approval process has been surprisingly smooth, with reports of instant approvals even for applicants with moderate credit profiles.

The credits include travel statement credits, hotel benefits, and retail perks that are actually usable if you plan strategically. Those 100,000 ThankYou points transfer to 14 airline partners including Virgin Atlantic at 1:1 (especially valuable with the current 40% targeted transfer bonus some Amex holders are seeing). For anyone who can meet the spending requirements and use the credits, this delivers premium card value with a clear path to breaking even.

See our full credit card strategy coverage for more on maximizing sign-up bonuses.

American has finally sent its first Boeing 777-300ER to Hong Kong to begin the long-delayed Project Olympus retrofit. The plane will emerge with all-new business class suites with doors and a significantly expanded premium cabin—but at the cost of eliminating Flagship First entirely.

This is the same Flagship Suite product American has been rolling out on its new 787-9s, and it's a genuine improvement over the current 777 business class. The retrofit will add more business class seats while removing first class, reflecting where American sees demand (and revenue) concentrated. The timeline matters: this retrofit has been delayed repeatedly, and the pace of completion will determine how quickly American can compete with Delta and United's newer premium products on key international routes.

For the latest on American Airlines updates, including route changes and product improvements, we track it all.

Chase's new Sapphire Lounge at Las Vegas just opened with only 87 seats and a waitlist at the door—but the experience inside is worth the surprisingly short wait. Premium champagne, quality breakfast options, and a vibe that beats everything else in the concourse make this a legitimate upgrade for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders.

The tiny footprint means you might face a queue, but early reports suggest waits of 15-20 minutes during regular operations. Once inside, the food quality exceeds typical airport lounge fare, and the champagne selection rivals some international lounges. For Vegas travelers with the Reserve card, this becomes an easy pre-flight stop that delivers real value beyond the standard Priority Pass options.

We've covered Chase lounges extensively—see our full lounge access guide for strategies on maximizing lounge benefits.

Marriott's current buy points promotion was supposed to end over the weekend but got extended through Wednesday, December 11. The 40% bonus brings the cost down to 0.89 cents per point—potentially valuable if you're close to an award threshold or planning a high-value redemption at a property where cash rates are inflated.

The math works best when you're buying points to top off an account for a specific redemption where the points value exceeds the purchase cost. At 0.89 cents per point, you need to redeem at roughly 1.1-1.2 cents per point or better to come out ahead after accounting for the value of paying cash and earning points naturally. This isn't a blanket buy recommendation, but for strategic redemptions—especially at peak properties where cash rates spike—it can make sense.

See our complete Marriott Bonvoy coverage for redemption sweet spots and strategy.

Delta reached a milestone this week with free Wi-Fi now installed on 1,000 aircraft, with the rest of the fleet scheduled for completion in 2026. This matters: free Wi-Fi has become a genuine differentiator, and Delta's early move here puts pressure on competitors. American bought two Spirit gates at Chicago O'Hare for $30 million after losing four gates to United in a recent airport reallocation. And the U.S. finally ended contact tracing requirements for international air travel—a pandemic-era policy that quietly persisted long after it served any useful purpose.

IHG is offering 15% off award nights at new or refreshed properties through February 28, 2026—no registration required. And Hilton announced Hilton Honors Adventures, a new category letting members book luxury cruises and glamping experiences with points. It's an expansion beyond hotels, though the value proposition will depend entirely on how they price these redemptions compared to cash rates.

The pattern across today's stories is clear: airlines are finding creative ways to extract more revenue from loyal customers without technically devaluing. United freezes status requirements but devalues benefits. Delta blocks upgrades to preserve revenue. The game is changing, and staying ahead means understanding these moves before they become official policy.

Have a great Wednesday, and we'll see you back here tomorrow with more miles and points news.

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:

Hotel programs: