Bilt's 4% Deadline Hits December 31 - And Chase's Hyatt Business Card Still Offers 70,000 Points

Fifty days. That's how long you have to lock in Bilt's 4% Bilt Cash option before it closes to new cardholders after December 31, according to The Points Guy, and it is not the only clock ticking in today's issue.

If you've been waiting for a sign to tidy up your card lineup before year-end, today is a decent one. Three separate offers have deadlines or big bonuses attached, and one status play could save you from a 2027 you don't want.

Which airline did Alaska Airlines combine with in 2024?

The answer is chillin' near the bottom of today's newsletter... keep scrolling.👇

The World of Hyatt Business Card is still offering 70,000 bonus points after $7,000 in spending within three months. That is up from the standard 60,000 after $5,000, and the higher offer has run since July. Beyond the headline number, the card earns five elite nights for every $10,000 spent, comes with up to $100 in annual Hyatt credits and has a $199 annual fee.

That elite-night earning is the sleeper feature. If your business spend is steady, the card can help you chip away at Hyatt status while the points pile up for award stays.

If you have real business expenses and $7,000 in three months is reachable without forcing spend, this is a strong offer to compare against whatever Hyatt card you hold today. If you'd have to manufacture the spend, skip it.

Bilt is changing how its credit cards earn rewards, and anyone who wants to keep earning 4% Bilt Cash on everyday spending needs to act. New applicants must apply, get approved and accept their offer by December 31, per Doctor of Credit. Existing cardholders must opt in before their 2027 card anniversary, and that choice can't be reversed. One View from the Wing writer already opted to keep the benefit, saying it is the reason their Bilt Palladium gets most of their spending.

Bilt is also widening its ambitions, with new Hyatt, Marriott and sports-team deals that stretch well beyond earning points on rent. Those integrations roll out in 2027.

If you're weighing the $495 Palladium, the test is simple: can you use the $400 hotel credit (paid as $200 per half-year on Bilt Travel stays of two nights or more, and converting to Bilt Cash in 2027) and feed the card enough everyday spend? Frequent Miler's six-month Palladium review is a good place to start.

If you were already planning to get a Bilt card, do it before December 31 so you keep the choice. If you were on the fence, run your own spend numbers first, because the $495 Palladium only pays off if you can use the credits and the spend fits.

The American Express Platinum currently carries a welcome offer as high as 175,000 bonus points after $12,000 in spending within six months, though the amount you see depends on your targeting (Upgraded Points). The $895 annual fee is steep, so the bonus is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the first-year math.

Before you apply, check which number your browser and logged-in Amex account actually show. A bigger offer in a different session is common, so it is worth a minute of digging.

If a 175,000-point offer shows up for you, that is the moment to apply, as long as you can use the credits to offset the fee. If you only see a lower number, waiting for a better public offer is reasonable.

If you're short of the United MileagePlus status level you want for 2027, there are only weeks left to close the gap, because all qualifying activity must be done by December 31. The options include earning Premier qualifying points with a United card (most personal cards earn 1 PQP per $20 spent) and booking a last-minute flight to top off your balance.

The smart move is to check exactly how many Premier qualifying points you need before spending a dime. A short mileage run only makes sense if the gap is small and the status is worth what it costs you.

Count your gap today. If you're within reach, a card bonus is usually cheaper than a flight just for credit. If you're far off, save your money and start fresh in January.

Alaska Airlines is increasingly acting like one of the big three US carriers as it expands globally after its 2024 purchase of Hawaiian Airlines. The latest sign is Atmos Global Concierge, a new invitation-only elite status above Titanium, valid through December 31, 2027.

Invite-only tiers are usually reserved for a program's most valuable customers, so this one isn't something you can earn by flying more. It does signal that Alaska wants a top-shelf tier to match its growing network.

You can't chase this one, so don't. Just know that Alaska is building a higher ceiling for its best customers, which may eventually shift how the rest of the elite ladder feels.

We just shipped a layover checker on FlightQueue. It estimates the minutes you need from walking time, security, passport control and EES wait data, then tells you if your connection is enough, tight or too short. Try it at flightqueue.com/connection-checker before you book a tight award itinerary.

Several buy-points sales are live right now, including up to 30% off Aeroplan through November 18 and up to 50% off Finnair Plus through November 16. American AAdvantage also has its ongoing discount of up to 40%. Check the full list on our buy points tracker and only buy if you have a specific redemption in mind.

The answer is Hawaiian Airlines. Alaska closed its purchase of Hawaiian in September 2024, and the two now share the Atmos Rewards program.

Are you going to try for United status before December 31, or are you saving your effort for 2027? Hit reply and tell me - I read every response!

That's it from me today. Mark December 31 on your calendar, because a couple of these deals disappear quietly.

- Jack

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These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on t... ($550/yr)

2. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases in t... ($195/yr)

3. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 mon... ($150/yr)

If you're planning a redemption, check these out first. Data from Award Travel Finder:

Hotels:

• JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge - Mara Simba, Narok County, KE | 1.8cpp value | 212,000 pts/night

• The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands - Male, MV | 3.5cpp value | 128,000 pts/night

• Calala Island, an SLH Hotel - NiCaribbean, NI | 3.7cpp value | 150,000 pts/night

• InterContinental Osaka - Osaka, Osaka Prefect..., JP | 1.1cpp value | 118,000 pts/night

Status Matches & Challenges:

• Vietnam Airlines Status Match - Vietnam Airlines | SkyTeam

• Kenya Airways Asante Rewards Status Match - Kenya Airways | SkyTeam

• Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles Status Match - Philippine Airlines

Buy Points & Miles Deals:

• Air Canada (Aeroplan): 30% discount - ends Wednesday November 18 (in 7 days)

• American Airlines (AAdvantage): up to 40% discount - ongoing, no published end date

• Etihad Airways (Etihad Guest): up to 25% bonus

• Finnair Plus: 50% discount - ends this Monday (November 16, in 5 days)

• Garuda (GarudaMiles): up to 25% bonus

Full live tracker → milesandpointsdaily.com/buy-points-promotions

Browse every award deal we track at AwardTravelFinder.com →

Friday Flight Deals finds the best flight deals when paying cash beats using points.

Browse all deals at FridayFlightDeals.com →