EPISODE · May 23, 2026 · 9 MIN
✈️ British Airways Just Hiked Award Fees — Plus Marriott's Elite Status Problem & A 150K Points Offer You Need To See
from Miles & Points Daily Podcast · host Miles & Points Daily Podcast
British Airways is raising its already steep cash surcharges on Avios award tickets by up to 33%, effective May 27th, and the numbers are staggering — but there are ways to route around the fees entirely. Marriott elite members are being pushed to bid for suite upgrades that are supposed to be a complimentary benefit, raising serious questions about where to park your loyalty. On the bright side, American Express appears to be doubling the size of its famously cramped Philadelphia Centurion Lounge, and Air India just opened a stunning new Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International. We also break down a 150,000-point Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business welcome offer, decode Citi's 48-month bonus rule, and share a secret Kimpton social password that could score you free perks this summer.Subscribe to Miles & Points Daily Newsletter 👉🏼 https://milesandpointsdaily.com/Thanks to Award Travel Finder for sponsoring this episode!Our Free Travel Tools:Award Travel Finder - Search award flights, hotels & status matchesAward Travel Alerts - Get notified when points deals dropFriday Flight Deals - Cheap cash fares & error faresFlight Queue - Airport security & passport control wait timesFlight Seatmap - Seat maps with live availabilitySeatWifi - In-flight WiFi availability, pricing & qualitySupport us - ChaseChase BusinessAmerican ExpressAmerican Express BusinessBilt RewardsCapital OneRampRakuten
What this episode covers
British Airways is raising its already steep cash surcharges on Avios award tickets by up to 33%, effective May 27th, and the numbers are staggering — but there are ways to route around the fees entirely. Marriott elite members are being pushed to bid for suite upgrades that are supposed to be a complimentary benefit, raising serious questions about where to park your loyalty. On the bright side, American Express appears to be doubling the size of its famously cramped Philadelphia Centurion Lounge, and Air India just opened a stunning new Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International. We also break down a 150,000-point Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business welcome offer, decode Citi's 48-month bonus rule, and share a secret Kimpton social password that could score you free perks this summer.Subscribe to Miles & Points Daily Newsletter 👉🏼 https://milesandpointsdaily.com/Thanks to Award Travel Finder for sponsoring this episode!Our Free Travel Tools:Award Travel Finder - Search award flights, hotels & status matchesAward Travel Alerts - Get notified when points deals dropFriday Flight Deals - Cheap cash fares & error faresFlight Queue - Airport security & passport control wait timesFlight Seatmap - Seat maps with live availabilitySeatWifi - In-flight WiFi availability, pricing & qualitySupport us - ChaseChase BusinessAmerican ExpressAmerican Express BusinessBilt RewardsCapital OneRampRakuten
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✈️ British Airways Just Hiked Award Fees — Plus Marriott's Elite Status Problem & A 150K Points Offer You Need To See
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