This Week in Points & Miles: September 27–October 3
October 1 packed a month of news into one day. Chase cut Hyatt transfers, refreshed its IHG cards and raised every United welcome offer, while three issuers piled bonuses onto Flying Blue.
Here is every deal, launch and rule change TravelPointsPro tracked from September 27 to October 3, each one linked to its source.
The short version
Amex (25 percent), Capital One (20 percent) and Rove (40 percent) all run Flying Blue transfer bonuses through October 31. Amex points plus the October promo awards put one-way transatlantic business class at 36,000 Membership Rewards points.
Chase cut Hyatt transfers from Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred to 4:3 on October 1. Bilt follows on January 1, 2027.
Chase launched the $350 IHG One Rewards Premier Select with 200,000 points and refreshed the other three IHG cards. All four offers end November 18.
Every United personal card got a bigger bonus on October 1, from 40,000 miles on the Gateway to 90,000 on the Club Infinite.
Chase added once-per-lifetime wording to Southwest business card pages, then called it an error on September 30. The 24-month rule stands.
Delta now pays two round-trip Comfort certificates plus 50,000 miles on the SkyMiles Reserve, with $10,000 of spend required.
Deadlines this week
Seven promotions end between October 8 and October 31. The first three close within ten days, so start at the top of the table and work down.
Deal | Details | Ends |
|---|---|---|
Up to 20 percent off TrueBlue points. The discount is smaller than the August round. | October 8, 2026 | |
Up to 30 percent off, which prices Aeroplan points at 1.85 cents each on purchases of 110,000 or more. Most people should skip it. See our math in the full post. | October 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT | |
Amex to Hilton Honors transfer bonus | 30 percent bonus on Membership Rewards transfers to Hilton. | October 14, 2026 |
70 percent bonus on Ultimate Rewards transfers to Marriott. Both bonus dates come from The Points Guy's transfer bonus tracker. | October 15, 2026 | |
20 percent bonus. Business class to Mexico City starts at 19,000 points and Europe at 79,000 each way. | October 30, 2026 | |
Amex pays 25 percent and Capital One pays 20 percent. October promo awards price one-way transatlantic business at 45,000 miles (AwardWallet). | October 31, 2026 | |
50 percent to Japan Airlines, 40 percent to Flying Blue and up to 35 percent to Qatar Airways, with a 2,000-mile minimum on each (Thrifty Traveler). | October 31, 2026 |
New & elevated card offers
Chase raised all four United MileagePlus personal cards: Explorer pays 70,000 miles after $3,000, Quest 80,000 after $4,000, Club Infinite 90,000 after $5,000 and Gateway 40,000 after $1,000. Each adds 10,000 miles for an authorized user, and no end date is published (Thrifty Traveler).
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex offers two round-trip Delta Comfort certificates plus 50,000 miles after $10,000 in six months. The annual fee is $650 and the offer ends November 4 (The Points Guy).
Chase launched the IHG One Rewards Premier Select with a $350 fee and 200,000 points after $5,000 in three months. Welcome offers on all four IHG cards expire November 18 (Chase press release).
Doctor of Credit now lists the targeted Chase $900 checking and savings bonus as extended to January 27, 2027, past the October 14 date in our original post (Doctor of Credit).
Bank of America's Air France-KLM Visa now pays 70,000 miles plus enough XP for Flying Blue Silver status (AwardWallet).
Chase is sending some Sapphire Preferred holders a 75,000-point offer to upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve after $4,000 of spend by December 15. The upgrade deadline is December 1 (Doctor of Credit).
Devaluations & program changes
Chase cut Hyatt transfers to 4:3 on October 1 for the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred. Chase said there are “no planned changes to transfers from the Sapphire Reserve at this time” (The Points Guy).
Bilt will cut Hyatt transfers to 4:3 on January 1, 2027, on every Bilt card with no carve-out. Bilt's wording: “The transfer ratio for World of Hyatt will change to 4:3 beginning January 1, 2027.” (AwardWallet)
World of Hyatt replaced 500 bonus points per night at new hotels with double points capped at 25,000 per stay. The qualifying rate often costs more than the cheapest room (Hyatt's terms).
The IHG One Rewards Premier moves from $99 to $150 in 2027 and its automatic Platinum status drops to Gold. The business card goes from $99 to $200 (Danny the Deal Guru).
Amex swapped FedEx for UPS.com in the Business Gold $240 Flexible Business Credit on October 1. Grubhub and office supply stores stay (Amex benefit page).
Bilt wrote upgrade and downgrade rules into its card terms. You get one product change per rolling 12 months, and a fast downgrade claws back the welcome bonus (Bilt card offer terms).
Chase called the once-per-lifetime Southwest business bonus wording an error on September 30 and restored the 24-month rule (Travel on Point(s)).
Worth a read / deeper dives
Amex Points Turn Into Flying Blue Miles at 1:1.25 Until October 31. The 36,000-point business class math is in here.
Rove Is Running Three Transfer Bonuses at Once. Only one of them earns your miles.
Every United Credit Card Got a Bigger Bonus. The best one is not the expensive one.
Chase Added a $350 IHG Card & Raised the Fee on the One You Already Have.
Delta Is Giving New Reserve Cardholders Two Round-Trip Flights. The spend is $10,000.
Bilt Is Cutting Hyatt Transfers to 4:3 on January 1. You have 92 days.
Hyatt's New-Hotel Bonus Got Bigger and Worse at the Same Time.
Amex Swapped FedEx for UPS on the Business Gold. Check your shipping account.
Delta Is Selling Round-Trip Australia Awards From 25,400 SkyMiles.
Air Canada Is Selling Aeroplan Points at 1.85 Cents Until October 13. Most people should pass.
Chase Is Handing Out 10x Grocery and Gas Offers for Q4. Check every card you own.
Capital One Miles Transfer to Japan Airlines at Nearly 1:1. The bonus ended September 30.
Chase Says the Southwest Business Lifetime Bonus Language Was a Mistake.
Bilt Put Its Card Upgrade Rules in Writing. You get one change a year.
American Airlines and STARLUX Launched a Codeshare. You earn miles but cannot redeem them yet.
What Happens to Your U.S. Points and Miles When You Move Abroad Permanently?
What to watch next week
The JetBlue sale ends October 8, Aeroplan on October 13, and the Amex to Hilton and Chase to Marriott bonuses on October 14 and 15. Chase's IHG referral links are due back on October 8 (Doctor of Credit).
Bank of America points will transfer to Alaska Atmos Rewards starting in 2027, but the ratio and eligible cards are unannounced (Thrifty Traveler). Expect more detail before year end.
FAQ
Which transfer bonus is worth using before October 31?
The Amex Membership Rewards 25 percent bonus to Flying Blue is the strongest option for most people. It turns 1,000 points into 1,250 miles, and October promo awards price one-way transatlantic business class at 45,000 miles. That works out to 36,000 Amex points. Transfer only after you find the seat.
Did Chase and Bilt both cut their Hyatt transfer rates?
Yes. Chase moved the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred to a 4:3 Hyatt ratio on October 1, 2026, and the Sapphire Reserve stays at 1:1. Bilt moves all of its cards to 4:3 on January 1, 2027. Hyatt transfers from Bilt are still 1:1 until then.
What is the best United card welcome offer right now?
The United Explorer Card is the easiest yes. It pays 70,000 miles after $3,000 of spend in three months, plus 10,000 for an authorized user, with no first-year fee. The $695 Club Infinite pays 90,000 miles but requires $5,000 of spend.
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