If you've been procrastinating on United's buy miles offer, this is your final warning.

The clock is ticking on one of the better opportunities we've seen this year, and I'm also noticing some interesting developments at Alaska Airlines that could affect your award booking strategy moving forward.

How many additional premium seats per year did Alaska Airlines add through their recent cabin retrofits?

The answer is waiting for you near the bottom... keep scrolling.👇

United's 100% bonus on purchased miles ends tonight at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. After the bonus, you're paying 1.88¢ per mile instead of the standard 3.76¢ - basically buying miles at half price.

Here's what makes this timing interesting: United just opened up more Polaris business class award availability to Europe for spring and early summer travel. I'm seeing saver awards at 60,000 miles one-way from the East Coast to major European cities, which works out to about $1,128 at the bonus rate versus $3,000+ for paid tickets.

The math gets even better if you're booking close-in awards. That same route prices at 88,000 miles without advance planning, but at 1.88¢ per mile, you're still only paying $1,654 for a business class seat that might cost $4,000+ at the last minute.

Two important notes: United MileagePlus allows you to buy up to 200,000 miles per calendar year, and purchased miles post to your account within 24 hours. That means you could buy miles tonight and book your summer trip to Europe tomorrow morning.

For more on United's program, check out all our coverage.

Alaska Airlines just wrapped up a two-year cabin retrofit project that adds 1.3 million premium seats annually to their schedule. As of Friday, 75% of their mainline fleet now features more first-class and extra-legroom seats.

This isn't just good news for cash passengers willing to pay up. It's potentially excellent news for award travelers and Mileage Plan members looking to use miles for upgrades.

More premium inventory means better odds of snagging those sweet upgrade deals using Alaska miles. And if you're booking awards through Alaska's program for travel on their partners (Emirates first class, anyone?), having more ways to earn Alaska miles through premium flying helps build your balance faster.

The timing couldn't be better. Alaska is also rolling out Starlink WiFi across their fleet, with 18 aircraft already equipped and the full rollout expected by mid-2025. Free WiFi for all passengers - no status required, no payment needed.

This connects nicely to what we've been discussing about airline WiFi improvements. Check out SeatWifi before your next flight to see what connectivity options are available.

For all our Alaska Airlines coverage, including award sweet spots and program updates, see our dedicated page.

World of Hyatt Credit Card holders just got an email about two new DoorDash promotions. First: earn 3x World of Hyatt points on DoorDash restaurant orders. Second: enjoy benefits like DashPass membership perks when you link your accounts.

Let's talk about why this matters more than it might seem at first glance.

The base World of Hyatt card earns 2x points on dining, so this DoorDash promo effectively gives you an extra point per dollar on takeout orders. If you're already ordering delivery regularly, that's found money. A $50 DoorDash order nets you 150 Hyatt points instead of the 50 you'd normally earn using the card at a restaurant.

World of Hyatt points are worth roughly 1.5 cents each on average (more at top-tier properties), so those 150 points represent about $2.25 in hotel value. Over a month of regular takeout, you could easily rack up enough points for a free night at a Category 1 property or get closer to that aspirational Park Hyatt booking.

The promotion doesn't list an end date in the email, which usually means it's an ongoing partnership. Check your email for the specific terms and activation instructions.

We've covered Hyatt extensively - see all our stories about maximizing World of Hyatt points.

Airlines have preemptively canceled nearly 15,000 flights through Monday as a major winter storm hammers the eastern United States. FlightAware data shows cancellations stretching from Texas to the Carolinas, up through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

This is shaping up to be the worst stretch of weather-related cancellations we've seen in several years. If you have travel plans this weekend or Monday, you should already be checking your flight status and considering backup options.

Here's what to remember: If the airline cancels your flight due to weather, you're entitled to rebooking on the next available flight at no charge. You're NOT entitled to meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, or other compensation since weather events are considered outside the airline's control.

But here's the strategic move many travelers miss: If you proactively cancel before the airline cancels the flight, you might lose rebooking flexibility. Wait for the airline to cancel, and your options improve dramatically. Many airlines will rebook you on partner carriers if their own flights are full.

If you're headed to an affected airport, check FlightQueue for real-time security wait times before you leave home. No point arriving extra early if the airport is empty.

For more on flight cancellations and passenger rights, check out our coverage.

Speaking of strategic moves, there's an interesting analysis out there about the best times to apply for popular Capital One credit cards based on historical offer data.

The Venture X regularly fluctuates between 75,000 and 100,000 miles for the welcome bonus. The Venture card bounces between 50,000 and 75,000 miles. If you're considering a Capital One card, timing matters more than you might think.

Right now isn't a peak bonus period for Capital One cards, which means if you can wait a few weeks or months, you might land a significantly better offer. The difference between a 75,000-mile and 100,000-mile welcome bonus on the Venture X is worth $250-500 in travel value depending on how you redeem.

The key insight: Don't rush into a Capital One application unless you need the card immediately. These offers cycle predictably, and patience usually pays off.

Six Senses, the wellness-focused luxury brand under IHG Hotels & Resorts, just announced a new property in southern Utah. Six Senses Camp Korongo will open near some of the country's most stunning national parks.

This is notable for points collectors because Six Senses properties participate in IHG One Rewards, though they typically price at the top end of the redemption chart. The brand currently operates bucket-list properties in destinations like the Maldives and Seychelles, so having a domestic option makes the program more accessible.

IHG is currently running a 100% bonus on purchased points through February 5th, bringing the cost down to 0.5¢ per point. If you're already planning luxury hotel stays and want to book future Six Senses properties, buying points during promotions like this can make sense - especially since Six Senses redemptions often deliver outsized value.

For more on IHG One Rewards and hotel points strategies, see our dedicated coverage.

The answer is 🇨: Alaska Airlines added 1.3 million premium seats per year through their two-year retrofit project. That's a massive increase in premium inventory, which should improve upgrade opportunities and award availability for flyers.

Did you take advantage of any buy miles promotions this month, or are you waiting for transfer bonuses instead? I'm curious about your strategy - hit reply and let me know! I read every response.

That's all for today - see you 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.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs: