Breaking Points: Credit Card News

We have seen multiple reports of Amex Membership Rewards transfers to ANA not arriving at all, even well beyond the normal 2-4 day processing time. Amex and ANA representatives have not always been able to resolve the issue, and there is conflicting information about when the problem began, with some reports pointing to early September while Amex has reportedly said issues were occurring throughout August. Some transfers are still posting normally, so this does not appear to be a systemwide failure, but there is enough evidence that we would be cautious about transferring points to ANA right now for a time-sensitive award. If you do transfer, take screenshots throughout the process and keep records of the transaction in case you need to escalate with Amex or ANA. We'll update this story as more information becomes available.

Southwest is offering up to 40% off select flights when you book by September 17, 2026, for travel between October 5, 2026 and March 3, 2027. The discount is applied automatically to both cash and points fares, with no promo code required. There are no clear parameters around which flights are on sale and which aren't, so you'll just have to search the route you're interested in. If you're planning a trip and may fly Southwest, it's certainly worth checking to see if your route is discounted. More importantly, if you already have an eligible Southwest flight booked, it's definitely worth checking the current price to see if it's cheaper than what you originally booked. If you booked Choice or above, those fares can be changed without a fee. Even if you booked a Basic fare, which cannot be changed, you can cancel and rebook if the new fare is cheaper.

Qatar Airways has removed its qualifying-activity requirement for creating My List and Family & Friends groups, making it easier to redeem Avios for other travelers again. Privilege Club members now only need to have had their account created and opened for at least 30 days before adding other travelers. Qatar introduced the restriction just a few months ago in June 2026, requiring Burgundy and Silver members to earn Avios from a Qatar Airways or partner flight or an eligible Qatar co-branded credit card before they could add other travelers. Transfers from credit card reward programs weren't enough to satisfy the requirement. The language has been changed on Qatar's website for My List, but the Family & Friends terms have not yet been updated to reflect the changes. But we have seen multiple data points of people being able to add family members to both My List and Family & Friends since the reversal was made, and Qatar confirmed to Miles Talk that the restriction was removed effective September 14.

The Chase Aeroplan Card is offering up to 115,000 points: 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, plus 40,000 more after spending $20,000 total in the first 12 months. The card also received a major refresh, with the annual fee increasing from $95 to $195. New benefits include automatic Aeroplan 25K Status with no spending requirement, 15% off eligible Air Canada award flights, up to $100 per year in Air Canada credits, and 5,000 Status Qualifying Credits each year. The card now earns 3X on travel and 2X on groceries, dining, and gas, but loses the 10% bonus on Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Aeroplan and the 500-point bonus for every $2,000 spent each month.

IHG is targeting certain members with an offer to earn 20,000 bonus points after completing just two qualifying paid nights. You must be invited and register for the offer, then complete both nights within 60 days of registration. You can click here and log in to see if you are targeted. The nights can be consecutive or part of separate stays, but each must cost at least $30 and be booked directly with IHG or through another qualifying channel. Reward Nights and Points & Cash stays do not qualify. We value IHG points at around 0.6¢ each, making the 20,000-point bonus worth roughly $120, which is a very good return for just two nights.