718 signals tagged policy change.
Changes to airline, hotel and program policies that are neither a price increase nor a promotion: baggage rules, seat assignment, cancellation and change terms, account and points expiry rules, and booking conditions. Stories here state what changed and from when. Changes that make points worth less are also filed under devaluation.
The Priority card still pays 90,000 points after $3,000 spend in 3 months and the Plus card pays 80,000 after $1,000, both short of the Companion Pass threshold.
Lufthansa Group web and app check-in will no longer work with only a booking reference, and U.S. flights join on November 16, 2026.
The second hike of 2026 applies to tickets bought from November 3, while Mosaic members and JetBlue Plus and Premier cardholders still get a free checked bag.
Disrupted American passengers who rebook in the app or on aa.com can list for an earlier nonstop and keep their confirmed flight until they clear.
SkyMiles members now get free inflight Wi-Fi on nearly 1,300 Delta aircraft, with paid service still on 717s and most regionals until early 2027.
The new Subscribe to Miles tier credits 30,000 Flying Blue miles each month, with a 3-month commitment and no elite-qualifying credit.
Flying Blue members again pay €10 per XP for SAF and charity after a hike without notice, but the rate still rises to €15 on 1 December 2026.
Flights, hotels, credit cards, points
Passengers in every cabin on Air Tahiti Nui's four Boeing 787-9s will get complimentary Starlink in 2027, with no month set.
American Express will automatically turn on Pay Over Time on February 1, 2027 for accounts that already have it, including cards with no preset spending limit.
American Express will cap UK Platinum primary cardholders at 20 Priority Pass visits a calendar year from 1 January 2028.
Stay Plus free nights at some hotels now require a minimum of 3 consecutive nights for paid ALL Accor+ Explorer members.
Flying Blue members offsetting Air France KLM flights with sustainable aviation fuel now earn one XP for every €15 spent, up from €10.
IHG One Rewards is beginning to credit a flat nightly points award and elite qualifying nights on master-billed group stays of at least $30 a night.
American Airlines will seat qualifying Flagship Business passengers with first class in the private restaurant at Los Angeles next week after a March 2020 closure.
United's Base domestic first class fare charges $199 to change and earns 0 MileagePlus award miles.
Anyone who wants 4% Bilt Cash needs a Bilt card before January 1, 2027 and must opt out of Housing Only Rewards while that choice is still available.
Etihad Guest members now earn miles on STARLUX flights, with first class F and A tickets crediting 250 percent of miles flown.
Delta business class would lose access to Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse at Heathrow in 2028 under a plan to move the airline to Terminal 4.
TrueBlue and Mosaic members face smaller Perks You Pick bonuses from February 1, 2027, including a TrueBlue point award that falls from 5,000 to 1,000.
Bilt cardholders must opt out in the Bilt app before their next anniversary to keep 4% Flexible Bilt Cash, after which the choice is locked.
New cardholders approved on or after January 1, 2027 will earn Housing-Only Rewards of up to 1.25X on rent or mortgage rather than 4% Flexible Bilt Cash.
British Airways will raise Silver to 8,000 tier points from 1 April 2027 and cut Club World bonuses from 500 to 200 for bookings from 25 November 2026.
New Bilt cards will default to up to 1.25 points per dollar on housing from January 1, 2027 unless applicants accept by December 31, 2026 to keep 4% Bilt Cash.
ANA agents at Osaka Itami refused earlier flight standby on a United MileagePlus award from Itami to Haneda costing 6,000 miles plus $5.60.
Flying Blue members can now redeem miles for Qantas Premium Economy and First awards on routes such as Sydney to Los Angeles.
Cardholders who already hold Membership Rewards cards must choose the link step in the application or contact Amex later to combine balances.
WestJet Rewards will raise Silver, Gold and Platinum TQS to $5,000, $8,000 and $15,000 from 1 January 2027, with elite benefits unchanged.
A-List Preferred members who already hold Companion Pass gain little by pushing to Southwest Platinum at 140,000 points on January 1, 2027.
As of 18 September 2025, eligible cardholders can join the queue for a U.S. Centurion Lounge in the Amex app and have 10 minutes to check in once called.
Access to Southwest's 11 Icon Lounges, starting late 2027 in Austin, Baltimore, Nashville and Honolulu, is expected mainly through a new Chase premium card.
British Airways will lift Silver to 8,000 tier points from 1 April 2027 as Club World bonuses fall from 500 to 200 per flight.
Delta said 2027 Medallion qualification will match 2026 for SkyMiles members, keeping Silver at 5,000 MQDs and Diamond at 28,000 MQDs.
Singapore Airlines now assigns Suites and First Class passengers at Changi a personal concierge from First Class check in to the aircraft door.
Frontier will install 2 rows of first class seats that do not recline in a 2 by 2 configuration and put tickets on sale for travel from March 5, 2027.
Business class passengers with tickets issued on or before 15 October 2026 for EY472 and EY473 may move to an Etihad operated Jakarta flight within 5 days of departure.
Silver elite and higher Hilton Honors members can redeem points for folio charges at 150 U.S. hotels during digital checkout.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles members can book Japan Airlines awards in every cabin again after award space vanished earlier this month.
SkyMiles members can expect free internet on almost every Delta flight, including transpacific routes, now that more than 95% of the fleet is outfitted.
Passengers may get fewer meals and hotels from airlines after some unscheduled mechanical delays starting January 1, 2027.
MileagePlus members who want Premier 1K for the 2027 earning year will need 32,000 PQP and four flights operated by United or United Express.
Norwegian Air rebuilt Norwegian Reward in early September 2026, with elite status now stepping from Member at 0 flights to Gold at 32.
Lufthansa will cancel unused segments without recalculating remaining fares for German residents and tickets whose origin or destination is in Germany.
IHG quietly replaced the Hertz bonus of 1,500 points with 10 points per dollar of base fare for bookings through IHG Trip Extras.
Southwest will replace A List and A List Preferred with Silver, Gold and a new Platinum tier that includes unlimited Companion Pass on January 1, 2027.
Southwest cobrand cards approved by December 2, 2026 will still count their welcome bonuses toward Companion Pass even if the minimum spend lands in early 2027.
World of Hyatt members can gift points to one another for free at a 1:1 ratio with the Points.com tool that replaced the PDF and paper form on October 15, 2026.
TSA has pulled Gateside for PreCheck members back from about 300 U.S. airports to the original 13 that launched as a pilot in September 2026.
Senator and HON Circle members will lose complimentary seat selection on Lufthansa Economy Light intercontinental fares from October 27, 2026.
Southwest elite status will shift to Silver, Gold and Platinum on January 1, 2027, with Platinum including unlimited Companion Pass at 140,000 TQPs.
Southwest said 135,000 points posted by December 31, 2026 would still produce a Companion Pass valid through December 2027.
American Express now puts each newly opened Membership Rewards card into its own rewards account rather than joining an existing pooled balance.
From January 1, 2027, Southwest Companion Pass will be a Platinum benefit requiring 140,000 TQPs, and credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count.
Paying DINR Premium members receive 1,000 bonus Aeroplan points in the first $95 year and at least 100 points per completed restaurant booking in Canada.
World of Hyatt members can combine points on the website from October 15, 2026, under new yearly caps of 525,000 points sent and 525,000 received.
From 2027, MileagePlus Premier status will be earned only with PQP, so members who relied on flight volume lose that shortcut.
Passengers on select KLM short-haul flights will pay for meals from 25 October 2026, with Flying Blue elite snack and drink benefits still undefined.
Lululemon gift cards bought in stores stopped triggering the $75 quarterly statement credit for American Express Platinum cardholders around October 5, 2026.
United MileagePlus members will earn 2027 Premier status on Premier Qualifying Points only, and the Silver through Platinum bars do not move.
United MileagePlus members who mixed Premier qualifying flights with lower spend will need full PQP totals next year, with 1K rising to 32,000 PQPs.
MileagePlus members will qualify for 2028 Premier status on 2027 Premier Qualifying Points only, with a 4-flight United minimum still required.
Eligible Elite members at participating Premium hotels in Asia Pacific and Greater China will find the new lounges through a filter in the Bonvoy app.
Brilliant by Langham members have until 11 January 2028 to redeem unused award points, which then expire with no grace period.
Frequent flyers delayed overnight by unscheduled maintenance may have to pay for hotels and meals themselves after a rule takes effect October 19, 2026.
Platinum cardholders on evening non-Schengen flights from Amsterdam Schiphol no longer have Centurion Lounge access after 6 PM.
Points travellers will not get a new Westin with terminal access at Miami International in 2026 after the FAA rejected the 150-foot design.
KLM short-haul award and revenue passengers will not get the same meal service on every European flight, and buy-on-board will exist only on the longer routes.
Alaska Airlines no longer issues a credit when a main or first class fare drops, and Wallet funds may not cover Companion Fares or paid seats.
Members cannot book or change Japan Airlines awards in Asia Miles until further notice, though tickets already issued can still be flown.
American Airlines will install Starlink on every mainline Airbus and Boeing jet in early 2027, and AAdvantage members are expected to get it free.
Flying Blue members in every cabin will get free Starlink internet on KLM intercontinental flights from mid-2027, with no date yet for a finished rollout.
Choice Privileges members can now send 5,000 to 100,000 points to other members at no charge in 1,000 point steps.
American Express cardholders can mix personal and business cards in one list or keep them in separate groups.
Miles+Bonus members who credit Air China flights will earn far fewer miles on P-class tickets after October 12, 2026, when a new earning chart takes effect.
Lounge-eligible domestic passengers at Vancouver lose access to the Maple Leaf Lounge after October 13, 2026 and may use two Air Canada Cafes.
Some First Class Miles & More awards to the United States now cost up to 71% more in fuel surcharges after the latest Lufthansa increase.
Invited coach passengers can pre-order meals on American's Dallas-Fort Worth to Los Angeles flights from October 20, 2026, with reservations opening October 13.
World of Hyatt ended its automatic 500 point nightly bonus at newly added hotels on October 1, 2026 and now requires a special rate for matching points.
Atmos Rewards members who select price paid earning on tickets not issued on Alaska stock 027 will receive stronger partner rates from 1 January 2027.
American Airlines has told staff to keep soliciting volunteers rather than bumping passengers, after around 15,000 involuntary denied boardings in 2025.
Existing holders of the discontinued IHG Select card will pay $99 a year from their 2027 anniversary, up from $49, for a free night of up to 50,000 points.
American Airlines is telling employees to stop involuntarily bumping passengers and even giving them permission to confirm volunteers on the very next flight even when it’s already full to make volunteering less of a hassle
Accor Plus Explorer members can lose hotel dining discounts entirely or drop to 15 percent at more Mercure and Fairmont outlets in 2026.
Delta Air Lines is introducing an interesting and potentially useful perk for travelers visiting California wine country: eligible SkyMiles members can check a case of wine free on flights departing five participating airports. I like this…though there are a few restrictions…
Business Gold cardholders can apply the $20 monthly statement credit to UPS.com shipments as of October 1, 2026, after FedEx stopped qualifying.
A 100,000-point Hyatt stay will cost 134,000 Bilt points after January 1, 2027, a 34% increase that applies to every card and every member.
Atmos Rewards members who choose fare-paid earning will get higher first- and business-class rates on partner tickets booked direct starting January 1, 2027.
Domestic first-class buyers will soon see a basic fare that cuts MileagePlus earning and most perks, according to an internal memo reviewed by The Points Guy.
Selections open October 1, 2026 for flights from January 1, 2027, and Atmos Rewards members who make no choice keep earning by distance.
Atmos Rewards members can choose a 2027 earning method from Oct. 1, covering award points and elite status on Alaska and Hawaiian flights.
AAdvantage members can set seat preferences in the American app and be moved automatically to a matching same-cabin seat from 24 hours before departure.
Porter became Blue Rewards' preferred airline on September 24, 2026, so linked members earn extra VIPorter points on Porter with a 2:1 conversion still to come.
Miles+Bonus members can earn 1 award mile per euro on Wolt orders in Greece and Cyprus and claim 3 free months of Wolt+ if they have not subscribed in 6 months.
Bonvoy members must verify employment with a company email before they can book negotiated or corporate rates on the website or app.
Turkish Airlines now charges Miles&Smiles members 25,000 extra miles to upgrade EcoFly tickets to business on Far East and North America routes.
The 1:1 Ultimate Rewards transfer to World of Hyatt ends October 1, 2026 for Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred, while Sapphire Reserve stays at 1:1.
KLM short-haul passengers can pre-order paid meals from 25 October 2026, including a Caesar salad at $14.30 that LoyaltyLobby called grossly overpriced.
Select Blue and Obsidian cardholders may see upgrade options in Card settings, with one reported Palladium offer of 50,000 points plus $100 after $4,000 spend.
Korean Air published cabin connectivity rules on September 22 that require headphones for videos and games and prohibit filming without consent.
American Airlines and World of Hyatt members who link accounts by November 15, 2026 will keep remaining cross program awards through each program year.
