Loyalty Shakeups: United Tweaks Mileage Plus, Hyatt Rumors, and American Surprises

An episode of the Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss! podcast, hosted by Ed Pizza, Richard Kerr, titled "Loyalty Shakeups: United Tweaks Mileage Plus, Hyatt Rumors, and American Surprises" was published on February 25, 2026 and runs 43 minutes.

February 25, 2026 ·43m · Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!

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Episode Description

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***At time of distribution, TSA PreCheck is operational, though Global Entry remains shuttered.

United is making adjustments to MileagePlus — and while they're not dramatic, they're definitely impactful. This week, Ed and Julian break down what's changing on the earning side, how credit cards factor in, and whether these updates actually move the needle for everyday travelers.

From there, the conversation shifts to Hyatt after a detailed (but ultimately false) rumor sparked debate about a premium credit card and new award categories. Could something like this still happen? And what would it mean for Globalist members?

Plus, an unexpected development in the Chase Travel portal: American Airlines flights are now showing up with Points Boost pricing. What does that mean for Chase cardholders — and could this signal a bigger shift in airline partnerships?

And yes, somewhere in the background….the U.S. men's hockey team wins Olympic gold in hockey during the broadcast.

✈️ What We Cover in This Episode

✈️ United MileagePlus Changes

Lower base earning rates without a United credit card
Slightly higher earning with a co-branded card
Basic Economy no longer earning miles (without a card)
Who should (and shouldn't) consider a United card

✈️ Credit Cards vs Transferable Points

Why flexible currencies may still win
Opportunity cost of airline spend
When a United card actually makes sense

✈️ Hyatt Premium Card Rumor (Debunked)

The proposed $795 card details
Category 9 and 10 award talk
Would this have flooded Globalist status?
Why Hyatt will likely evolve anyway

✈️ Points Boost and American Airlines

AA flights appearing in Chase Travel
How Points Boost changes redemption math
What this could mean for airline partnerships

✈️ TSA PreCheck & Travel Friction

Reports of possible program suspension
Throughput vs security concerns
Why consistency matters for travelers

✈️ Points Path Founders Club Update

New Google Flights interface
Points Wallet feature

Scroll down for timestamps and details.

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⏱️ Episode 425 Timestamps

0:00 – Hockey chaos and cold open

4:00 – United Mileage Plus earning changes explained

9:30 – Credit card impact and who benefits

14:45 – Should you get a United card now?

19:20 – Basic Economy changes and flexibility tradeoffs

23:45 – Hyatt premium card rumor breakdown

29:10 – Would a new card create too many Globalists?