Hyatt's Brutal Award Changes, Shutdowns Galore, Best New Airport Lounge & White Lotus Holidome?

Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week Hyatt released their annual hotel category changes and they are about as brutal as we have seen in years. While no new categories are being introduced, many of the most popular properties are increasing in price including a ton to category 8. A lot of lower category hotels are moving up as well. Is there any good news?   In other news lounges were the talk this week with the Amex Centurion Charlotte having a horid health inspection and two new lounges opening in Philadelphia and Vegas. Is the new Chase Sapphire Philadelphia lounge the best in the country? We also discuss: Delta's recent crash and payment, Capital One Venture's increased offer, a new no lifetime Amex Business Gold offer, shutdowns from AA and Amex plus Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park.   Episode Guide 0:00 White Lotus Holidome? 1:02 Delta pays $30K/passenger for recent crash 2:33 Why you shouldn't film an evacuation 3:07 Amex Centurion Charlotte's terrible health inspection 5:09 Chase Sapphire Philadelphia opens - Best lounge in the US? 7:08 Capital One Lounge LAS opens - Does it measure up? 8:38 LAS lounges have come a long way! 9:27 Increased offer on Capital One Venture card 11:07 Amex Business Gold 125 "no lifetime language" offer 12:45 The week of shutdowns - Amex and AA give the axe 15:33 Amex shutdowns and avoiding FOMO 19:07 Hyatt's brutal award category changes & strategy 22:13 Cool S - Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion National Park Links Amex Centurion Charlotte - https://viewfromthewing.com/inspection-fail-amex-centurion-lounge-received-one-of-five-worst-health-scores-in-all-of-charlotte/ Sapphire PHL - https://x.com/_zachgriff/status/1892247084805321104?s=46 Capital One LAS - https://viewfromthewing.com/step-inside-capital-ones-new-las-vegas-airport-lounge-caviar-craft-cocktails-and-relaxing-views-worth-arriving-early-for/ Amex 125K - https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/campaigns/small-business/charge-cards/business-gold/add-a-card/apply-today/?sourcecode=A0000HHVEK Canyon Overlook Trail - https://www.facebook.com/reel/882891453865670/?share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fr%2F15YJ8VsT5R&rdid=F6xiXldrYJOhIjpg Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!