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The Points Daily
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Monday, June 8, 2026
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| 🔥 FIRE | | United's Flight Training Experience: 40,000 Miles for Houston Access | | United is opening ticket sales next Friday for a behind-the-scenes experience at their Flight Training Center in Houston. MileagePlus cardholders can buy up to 2 tickets at 40,000 miles each for a July 29th event that includes flight attendant training demos, emergency simulations, a 777 cabin tour, and meals. This is classic experiential marketing—offering something you genuinely can't buy with cash to drive card engagement. The 40,000-mile price tag isn't cheap, but these events typically sell out fast since they're actually exclusive. | | source → |
| 🔥 FIRE | | Staples Drops Fees on $200 Digital Visa Cards Again (4 per Order) | | Staples is waiving purchase fees on $200 digital Visa gift cards again with a 4-card limit per order, which is cleaner than driving to stores that run out of physical cards by Sunday afternoon. Digital cards arrive via email within 30 minutes and activate immediately, avoiding the hassle of buying 9 cards at a time and worrying about tampered packaging. The author notes they've successfully placed multiple orders back-to-back with the same credit card, though your bank might have different ideas. This is manufactured spending 101—nothing fancy, but it works, so act on this if you need the volume since fee-free gift card promos don't stick around long. | | source → |
| ✅ SOLID | | Philippine Airlines Joins oneworld in 2027 as 16th Member | | Philippine Airlines is joining oneworld in 2027 as the alliance's 16th member and only the second full member from Southeast Asia after Malaysia Airlines, filling a notable gap where oneworld has been underrepresented compared to Star Alliance and SkyTeam. The move opens up PAL's domestic Philippines network and broader Southeast Asia routes for earning and burning with American, British Airways, and other oneworld partners, plus you'll get elite perks like lounge access and priority check-in when flying PAL with oneworld status. Alliance additions have been rare lately, so this actually matters for expanding your redemption options in a region where oneworld needed more coverage. | | source → |
| ✅ SOLID | | Cathay Pacific LA-Haikou at $861 with 30-Day US Visa-Free Entry | | Cathay Pacific has Los Angeles to Haikou, China roundtrip fares at $861 including taxes, which is solid pricing for getting into China with a useful quirk: US citizens can visit for up to 30 days without a visa as long as you don't enter from mainland China. The fare covers late August through September travel on Monday through Thursday departures with at least 7 days advance purchase required, though availability is limited as you'd expect at this price point. If you've been wanting to get to China without the visa hassle, this combination of price and convenience doesn't come around often. | | source → |
| ✅ SOLID | | Delta Launches LA-Hong Kong on A350 After 7-Year Gap | | Delta just launched its new daily nonstop from Los Angeles to Hong Kong—its first Hong Kong service in nearly 7 years on the A350-900 with Delta One suites and access to the Delta One Lounge at LAX with its sushi bar and outdoor terrace. Delta is walking into a competitive market where Cathay Pacific runs 3 daily flights on this exact route and United has 2, so Delta is betting that premium service and LA hub connections will grab market share. Economy starts at $720 one-way and Delta One at $3,300, but the route unlocks 30+ one-stop connections through LAX, meaning more Hong Kong options from the West Coast translates to better award availability across the board. | | source → |
| 🔥 STEAL OF THE DAY | | If you're making estimated tax payments to the IRS, you can route them through a credit card and earn points, miles, or cash back in the process. The IRS charges a processing fee, but depending on your card's rewards rate and payment size, you can come out ahead. The math only works at scale, so this isn't for everyone, but if you're writing a check anyway, it's worth running the numbers first since the estimated tax deadline is 6/16. | | source → |
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