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The Points Daily
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Thursday, August 6, 2026
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| ✅ SOLID | | Amex Referral Bonuses Spike to 45,000 Points With 5-Per-Card Limit | | Some American Express cardholders are seeing referral bonuses jump to 45,000 Membership Rewards points per approved applicant. Under updated rules, you can earn up to 5 referrals per card instead of the old 100,000-point annual cap, meaning up to 225,000 points if you max out. Amex reports referrals as taxable income at 1 cent per point, so expect a 1099-MISC. This is a legitimate windfall if the elevated offer shows up in your account, but results vary—check your referral dashboard before recruiting the extended family. | | source → |
| 🔥 FIRE | | Delta's Saudi Route Offers 12,700-Mile Awards at Half-Price Levels | | Delta's new Atlanta to Riyadh route is so empty that the airline is practically paying people to fill seats. One-way awards from New York to Riyadh via Atlanta are going for 15,000 SkyMiles, dropping to 12,700 with a co-branded card discount. That's half what Delta charges for just the New York to Atlanta leg. The airline is chasing Saudi subsidies and throwing miles at a demand problem. If you need to get to Saudi Arabia, this is absurdly cheap, but don't book without a real reason to go. | | source → |
| ✅ SOLID | | Alaska's Atmos Day Drops International Awards to 20,000 Points | | Alaska Airlines relaunched its monthly Atmos Members Day promotion for August with discounted award tickets and curated experiences. One-way economy awards to nine international destinations are starting at 20,000 points, with Edinburgh and Madrid available at that price for select fall travel. You can also bid or redeem points on packages like a 7-night Costa Rica cruise for two with airfare, starting at 580,000 points. The booking deadline is August 8, so move quickly if you've already got a fall Europe trip planned. | | source → |
| ✅ SOLID | | AARP Portal Adds $75 Gift Card to Hotel Bookings Through October | | AARP's travel portal is offering a $75 gift card when you book three or more nights at a hotel by August 31, 2026 for stays through October 31, 2026. The gift card is a Tango Card, redeemable for most major brands or cashable via PayPal, effectively worth $25 per night back on a 3-night stay. The catch is that this books as an OTA reservation, so you won't earn elite credits, hotel points, or status perks. Use it for independent hotels or places where those benefits don't matter. | | source → |
| ✅ SOLID | | Flying Blue's 25% Europe Discount Starts at 18,750 Miles | | Flying Blue's August Promo Rewards offer 25% off awards to and from Europe, starting at 18,750 miles for economy and 30,000 for premium economy. There are no business class options this month, but a wide selection of US cities is available, though Los Angeles, Orlando, and Miami require a Flying Blue Extra subscription. Book by August 31, 2026 for travel through January 31, 2027. The discount works if you were already planning a Europe trip, but this isn't the kind of deal that justifies buying miles without a specific trip in mind. | | source → |
| 🔥 STEAL OF THE DAY | | Frontier Airlines is selling miles at 1.08 cents each with a 150% bonus through August 28. This is a solid price if you already have a redemption mapped out and know you're short on miles. Buying without a specific booking in mind is usually a mistake, especially with Frontier's limited route map and award availability. If you've got a flight picked and the math works, act before the 28th. | | source → |
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| 💳 CARD OF THE DAY | | A targeted Amex Offer for the American Express Platinum Card gets you a $75 statement credit after you spend $350 with Hertz in the US by September 30, 2026. That's better math than last year's version, which required $500 to get $100 back. This only works if you were already renting with Hertz and actually receive the offer on your account, so check your enrolled cards before planning a rental around it. | | Apply here → (referral link) |
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