Michael's Miles Round-Up

​Previous Issues​

Happy Friday Reader!

Listen to this segment on: Spotify or Apple Podcasts

If you’re not aware, there's a sweet spot with Japan Airlines miles that lets you fly between the East Coast and Paris in Air France business class for just 42,000 miles one way. Japan Airlines miles are becoming more and more popular, both because of sweet spots like this one and because they’re getting easier to earn through Capital One, Citi, Bilt, and Rove.

That availability is relatively easy to find. Booking it, though, is a different story, as I found out when I tried to book it myself this past week. (Here's how to find the availability)

I personally was looking for a flight from Paris to JFK. I found availability by searching on AwardTool, where it showed up as available through Etihad. I then knew to check those same flights on Japan Airlines.

When I went to the Japan Airlines site, it showed the seats as available, but it would throw an error every time I tried to check out. And of course, it only gives you the error after you put in all the passenger information, so it took extra long to figure out it wasn’t going to work, which is even more frustrating.

I’d heard other people were having issues booking these flights online, so I tried calling. Of course, I’d already transferred my points because I saw the availability and assumed I could book it.

I was hoping the agent could get around the error, but she couldn’t. Instead, she told me those seats weren’t actually available. They were waitlisted, and the waitlist was full. She told me the same thing about five different flights across a couple of dates.

That’s what’s known as phantom availability, where seats show up as available in searches but can’t actually be booked.

I hate talking on the phone, so instead of finding more dates and running each one by her, I went back online and kept checking different routes and dates myself. Luckily, I eventually found something on a date I wanted, and it let me book online. It just ended up being Paris to Boston instead of JFK.

So from my experience, it doesn’t seem like you HAVE to book these flights by phone. But not every flight that looks available actually is.

Next time I go about this, I’ll definitely call to confirm the seats are actually available before transferring my points. Otherwise, you’ll just have to keep trying one flight at a time and hope something goes through.

My guess is that this is more of an issue specific to booking Air France flights through Japan Airlines, rather than something that extends to its Oneworld partners. But honestly, I didn’t get a chance to check that out to confirm.

On that note, I’m in the process of booking my trip to Greece next year, and I’ll be sharing some of those details and how I go about it in the coming weeks!

But for now, be warned, and happy booking.

Stop Guessing Where Your Points Will Go Furthest

The Redemption System includes the Sweet Spot Explorer.

Tell the Award Explorer which points you have, and it shows your best options, the lowest cost available, and where to search. Then hop to another region and compare.

• Southwest has announced huge changes to its program starting in 2027, to be discussed in-depth at 11am Central today live on Youtube.
  • A-List & A-List Preferred status is being replaced by Silver & Gold status
  • You'll no longer be able to earn the Companion Pass with sign-up bonuses.
  • Ability to redeem points on partner airlines, and more
• Hyatt's online points transfer is now live! You can transfer up to 525k points annually between individuals.
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• Rove added JetBlue as a new transfer partner with a 20% transfer bonus now live.
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• It's been confirmed that the new Elite Night Credit benefits from the refreshed IHG credit cards stack if you have multiple cards.
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• If you've had the Capital One Venture X Business Card since before 9/27 this year, you may be targeted to earn $500 Capital One Business Travel credit after $3,000 via the Capital One Travel portal by Dec. 15.
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• Earn 1.5X Aeroplan points per dollar on Hyatt stays through February 14, 2027; register by 11/11.
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• Japan Airlines has an award sale for flights through 2/28/27. From the U.S. you can find economy awards to Japan from 18.9k miles one way, from Europe you can find business class from 38,500 miles. Book by 10/31.
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• PointsYeah released a Chrome Extension that will show you relevant points options when looking at travel on: Kayak, Expedia and travel portals from Chase, Amex, Capital One and Citi.

Point Sales:

Purchasing points on sale is a way to access travel sweet spots at a cash discount, especially useful for those who can't earn points quickly through credit cards (those living outside the U.S.) or those who want to fast-track specific luxury redemptions.

I recommend only purchasing points with a redemption in mind, or if you're topping off an account. ​
​
Air Canada up to 80% bonus as low as 1.36 cents each, exp 10/29
​Alaska Airlines up to 110% bonus as low as 1.79 cents each, exp 10/19​
American Airlines up to 40% bonus as low as 2.26 cents each, tiered
​Avianca LifeMiles up to 145% bonus as low as 1.35 cents each, exp 10/20
​Choice Hotels up to 40% discount as low as 0.62 cents each, exp 10/22
​Delta SkyMiles up to 50% bonus as low as 2.51 cents each, exp 10/31
​Hilton Honors up to 120% bonus as low as 0.45 cents each, exp 11/21
​Lufthansa up to 50% bonus as low as 1.39 cents each, exp unk.
​Marriott Bonvoy up to 55% bonus as low as 0.81 cents each, exp 11/23
​Southwest up to 50% discount as low as 1.50 cents each, exp 10/29
​Virgin Atlantic up to 50% bonus as low as 1.67 cents each, exp unk.
​Wyndham up to 90% bonus as low as 0.68 cents each, exp 10/21

Join me live at 11am Central or catch the replay to learn about Southwest's changes including its (bad) impact on this year's Companion Pass season!

Here are some of the best sign-up bonuses that I've found. I've included referral links to the offers I have access to. For offers not linked, I'd recommend applying through other channels to support creators' work.

"***" = Different from last week

Flexible Points Cards:​
-Chase Sapphire Preferred $95 - 75k, after $5k spend.​
​-Chase Sapphire Reserve $795 - 100k after $6k spend.
-Chase Sapphire Reserve Business $795 - 200k after $30k spend in 6 months
-Chase Freedom Unlimited $0 - 20k/$200 after $500 spend in 3 months
-Chase Freedom Flex $0 - 25k/$250 after $500 spend in 3 months
-Chase Ink Unlimited $0 - 75k points after $6,000 spent in 3 months
-Chase Ink Cash $0 - 75k points after $6,000 spent in 3 months
-Chase Ink Business Preferred $95 - 100k points after $8,000 spent in 3 months.

​
-AMEX Gold $325 has an offer for "as high as" 100k
​-AMEX Business Gold $375 - "as high as" 200k Targeted Offer after $15,000 spent in 3 months. Try copying and pasting link into Private/Incognito browser. ​
​-AMEX Platinum $895 - "as high as" 175k after $12k spend
-AMEX Business Platinum $895 - "as high as 300k" after $20,000 spent in 3 months; Also here's a 200k No Lifetime Language link.
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-Capital One Venture X $395 - 75k points after $4,000 in 3 months.
-Capital One Venture $95 - 75k + $300 travel credit after $4,000 in 3 months.
-Capital One Venture Business $95 - 100k after $10k in 3 months.
-Capital One Venture X Business $395 - 150k bonus, after $30,000 in 3 months.
-Capital One Savor $0 - $200 cash back (20k points) after $500 in 3 months
-Citi Strata Elite $595 - 75k points after $6,000 in 3 months
-Citi Strata Premier $95 - 60k points after $4,000 in 3 months

Hotel Cards​
​-Amex Hilton Honors $0 - 70k + Free Night Certificate after $2,000 spent in 6 months. Ends 1/13/27​
-Amex Hilton Surpass $150 - 130k + Free Night Certificate after $3,000 spent in 6 months. Ends 1/13/27​
-Amex Hilton Aspire $550 - 200k after $6,000 spent in 6 months. Ends 1/13/27
-Chase IHG Premier $150 - 180k after $3,000 spent in 3 months. Ends 11/18
-Chase IHG Premier Select $350 - 200k after $5,000 spent in 3 months. Ends 11/18

Airline cards:​
-Chase Southwest Premier Business - 80k miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months. Ends 10/26​
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select $99, waived first year - 80k miles after $3,500 spend in 4 months.
- Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard $695 - 125k miles after $15,000 in 5 months.
-Delta SkyMiles Gold $150, waived first year - "as high as" 80k miles + $250 statement credit after $3,000 spend in 6 months. Ends 11/4.
(Business version also available)
-Delta SkyMiles Platinum $350 — as high as 90k miles + $300 statement credit after $4,000 spend in 6 months. Ends 11/4
(Business version also available)
-Delta SkyMiles Reserve $650 — 50k miles + two domestic round-trip Comfort certificates after $10,000 spend in 6 months. Ends 11/4
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business​ $650 — 200k miles after $20,000 spend in 6 months. Ends 11/4

Atlanta (ATL) - Beijing (PEK): Economy for 30k Miles
Austin (AUS) - Europe: Premium Economy for 30k Miles
Boston (BOS) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles
Chicago (ORD) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles
Chicago (ORD) - Europe: Premium Economy for 30k Miles
Chicago (ORD) - Shanghai (PVG): Business for 86.25k Miles
Houston (IAH) - Beijing (PEK): Premium Economy for 48.75k Miles
Houston (IAH) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles
Las Vegas (LAS) - Europe: Premium Economy for 30k Miles
Miami (MIA) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles
Miami (MIA) - Europe: Premium Economy for 30k Miles
New York (JFK) - Mauritius: Economy for 30k Miles
New York (JFK) - Nairobi (NBO): Premium Economy for 48.75k Miles
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles
Seattle (SEA) - Europe: Business for 45k Miles
Toronto (YYZ) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles

**New York (JFK) - Europe: Premium Economy for 30k Miles
​**Orlando (MCO) - Europe: Business for 45k Miles
​**Vancouver (YVR) - Europe: Economy for 18.75k Miles

**These awards are only available for Flying Blue Extra subscribers, this subscription starts at 379 EUR per year.

- Book by the end of October for travel dates up to March 31st, 2027. Includes reversed routing.
(Here's how to book it step by step.)

- Flying Blue Promo Awards are 25% discounted fares offered by KLM & Air France. Offer changes every month, and is released on the first weekday of the month. Above are U.S.-based routes, click here for other international-based deals.

American Express:​
​Aeromexico 20% - Ends 10/30​
Flying Blue 25% - Ends 10/30​
​
Capital One:​
​British Airways 20% - Ends 10/31

Chase: ​
​None.

Citi:​
​Avianca 25% - Ends 10/24
​JAL 30% - Ends 10/24
​Qatar 15-35% - Ends 10/31 (Offered by Qatar, may not get points until November)

Rove:​
​JetBlue 20% - Ends 11/14​
Japan Airlines 50% - Ends 10/31
Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) 40% - Ends 10/31
Qatar up to 35% - Ends 10/31

Have a good weekend!
​
​Michael​
​Nurse Michael Travels