Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...
Southwest’s loyalty glow-up, sneaky sweet spots to Asia & Europe, and your last shot at that juicy 20% Amex → Qatar transfer bonus—because Avios are the gift that keeps on giving. Plus, why hoarding points is a crime, and why booking domestic economy with miles should be illegal. #BuckleUp! 🚀
Southwest just changed their loyalty program. Is this an “enhancement” (a.k.a. bad news), or did they actually do something good for once?
— Wanna Get Away… But Not Get Screwed
Dear Wanna Get Away,
You know how airlines love to use “enhancement” like it’s a good thing? (Looking at you, Delta.) Well, Southwest’s latest revamp isn’t all bad—but it’s definitely a mixed bag.
The good? **Companion Pass holders now get boarding benefits. (Finally!) If you have A-List status or early boarding, your companion will board with you instead of getting stuck in boarding group Siberia.
The bad? Same-day confirmed changes are no longer free for A-List members. This used to be a key perk—now, you’ll have to pay the fare difference. Not great if you relied on last-minute flexibility.
The meh? They’re tweaking how you earn status, but unless you’re flying Southwest weekly, it’s not a game-changer.
Verdict? Not the worst loyalty change of the year (again, Delta exists), but if you loved free same-day changes, pour one out.
I have a stash of points and want to fly to Asia or Europe. I keep hearing about “sweet spots” with transfer bonuses. Any hidden gems?
— Miles to Burn
Dear Miles Burner,
Yes! And right now, transfer bonuses are making some of these deals even sweeter. Here’s how to play it smart:
📍 Asia:
🔥 Turkish Miles & Smiles: 67.5K miles for business class to Asia (United charges 100K+ for the same route). Transfer Citi or Capital One.
🔥 ANA (Amex transfer partner): Round-trip biz class to Japan for 75K–90K miles (cheaper than most one-ways). Just book way in advance.
🔥 Avios + Qatar Airways: Fly QSuites to Asia with Avios (see next question for how to optimize this!).
📍 Europe:
🔥 Flying Blue (Air France/KLM): Monthly promo awards mean business class to Europe for 50K–55K miles.
🔥 Virgin Atlantic (Amex/Chase/Capital One/Citi transfers): 50K miles for Delta One to Europe, but book ASAP because seats disappear fast.
With the right transfer bonus, these deals get even better—which brings us to…
I heard there’s a 20% Amex transfer bonus to Qatar Airways, but I don’t fly Qatar much. Is it still worth it?
— Avios Curious
Dear Avios Explorer,
Yes, and here’s why: Qatar uses Avios, and Avios are basically the Swiss Army knife of points.
✅ Transfer your Amex points to Qatar (with the 20% bonus)
✅ Move those Avios freely between Qatar, British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus
✅ Book flights across multiple airlines using the best Avios sweet spots
For example:
✈️ QSuites (aka the best business class out there) to the Middle East or Asia for as low as 70K Avios one-way
✈️ British Airways off-peak economy to Europe for under 20K Avios
✈️ Iberia biz class to Madrid for just 34K Avios (off-peak)
This Amex 20% bonus ends tomorrow, so if you have travel in mind, now’s the time to lock it in. Worst case? You move them to British Airways later and use them there.
What’s the most underrated credit card right now? Everyone talks about Amex Platinum, but is there a better sleeper pick?
— Looking for an Edge
Dear Edge Seeker,
Amex Platinum is great for flexing at airport lounges, but if you want actual value, consider these sleepers:
💳 Citi Strata Premier (formerly Premier) – Earn 3X points on dining, airfare, groceries, and gas, and transfer to sweet spots like Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. No outrageous annual fee, either.
💳 Capital One Venture X – Think of it as the cooler, cheaper Amex Platinum. You get lounge access, 2X miles on everything, and a $300 travel credit—but at $395/year (instead of $695).
💳 Chase Ink Business Preferred – If you own a business (or "own a business" for credit card purposes), this gets 3X on travel, shipping, and ads, plus a 100K sign-up bonus—all with a low annual fee.
Want fancy lounge access and hotel perks? Stick with Amex Platinum. But if you actually want solid earnings without a sky-high fee, these are the ones to check out.
I have 500K Amex points but analysis paralysis. What’s the smartest way to use them?
— Hoarding and Hoping
Dear Points Hoarder,
First off, hoarding points is like hoarding airline snacks—you think you’re being smart, but eventually, they just get stale.
Here’s how to actually use them for maximum value:
🚀 Want First/Business Class? Transfer to ANA, Virgin Atlantic, or Qatar and fly like a boss.
🏨 Need hotels? Amex transfers to Hilton (meh), Marriott (double meh), or Choice (weirdly useful in Europe). Or book through Amex Travel at 1 cent per point if you’re lazy.
💰 Cash back? Only if you hate value (Amex only gives 0.6 cents per point—trash).
Best current move? Qatar 20% transfer bonus (see above) or taking advantage of transfer bonuses to Asia/Europe. Don’t let your points rot—use them!
Until next time, keep earning, keep burning, and please, for the love of good redemptions, don’t cash out your points at 0.6 cents per point. That’s how airlines win.
Got a question? Hit me up at ohad@upnonstop.com!
