✈️ TRENDING AWARD TRAVEL NEWS 🚨 Deal Alert: Amex Platinum UK is offering 80,000 Membership Rewards points plus a £150 Selfridges eGift card until 12 January. ✈️ Airline Loyalty: Hotel status matches for UK travellers can get you Gold or better without the nights, from Amex Platinum's four bundled statuses to Hilton's Diamond challenge. 🏨 Hotel Loyalty: The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is at 200,000 points plus a $100 airfare credit after $3,000 spend in three months, valid until 11/11/26. 💳 Credit Cards: Capital One Shopping is offering 34% back on Viator tours, transfers and activities. |
If you've been sitting on a stash of miles and wondering what to do with it, this week gives you a few places to start. London to Sydney has opened up in two cabins, a Maldives Hyatt is hitting an eye-watering 11.2 cents per point, and a big Marriott card offer is about to end.
Cash fares can sometimes beat points, so keep an eye on Friday Flight Deals. And if you're a UK-based reader, Smart With Points has the full breakdown of the Amex Platinum UK offer and the hotel status match routes mentioned above.
Miles & Points Trivia
Which hotel program pairs a points-based 5th night free perk with its award stays on many redemptions?
Marriott Bonvoy
World of Hyatt
IHG One Rewards
Hilton Honors
The answer is at the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling!
| 🚨 Deal of the Week: London to Sydney in Economy for 55,000 Points |
Early December dates, low availability
Route: London to Sydney, Economy class
Cost: just 55,000 points at the off-peak rate. The peak rate for this route is 60,500 points, so you're saving a little by hitting these dates.
Available: Dec 1, Dec 2 and Dec 6. That's Tuesday and Wednesday around Thanksgiving, plus a Sunday.
Why it's special: Sydney is one of the longest flights you can book, and economy award space on it is rarely easy to find. Availability is listed as low, so if the dates work for you, don't sit on this one.
Value: we don't have a cash price attached to this one, so we're not putting a cents-per-point figure on it. Compare it against current cash fares before you commit.
How to book: check availability using our London to Sydney search, then book through the airline program that holds the space.
The bottom line
55,000 points for London to Sydney is a strong price, and low availability means the window is probably short. If early December fits your plans, check the dates now rather than next week.
| Economy Deals: Departing from Europe |
*London to Sydney** - Economy - **55,000 points** - Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 6 - Low availability (see Deal of the Week above)
No economy deals from North America or Asia-Pacific made the cut this week.
| 🏨 Featured Hotel Redemptions |
*Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa** (Gaafu Alifu Atoll, MV) - about **30,000 points/night** - **11.2 cents per point**. That is an outstanding return for an overwater-style luxury stay.
*Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort** (Wailea, HI) - about **40,000 points/night** - **3.6 cents per point**. A strong Hawaii option at a Hyatt-friendly price.
Premium subscribers get the full list across Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Hyatt below. You can also search anytime at awardtravelfinder.com/hotels.
| Featured Hotel Redemptions |
Top hotel award values this week:
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa (Hyatt) - Gaafu Alifu Atoll, MV | 11.2cpp value
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa (IHG) - Grand Cayman, KY | 4.6cpp value
Unlock 10+ more hotel redemptions across all major programs with Premium.
| 🔓 Unlock premium cabin award space |
Premium subscribers see business and first class award availability for every deal above - the hardest space to find, often 10–20x cheaper than cash fares.
Subscribe to our premium plan to see premium economy, business and first class.
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