Harsh Changes To Chase Sapphire Reserve And AA Basic Economy

2025-12-24

Download

Watch Us On YouTube! This week on Miles to Go, Ed and Richard cover a packed slate of breaking travel and loyalty news that matters for road warriors. We dig into Chase Sapphire Reserve, which rolled out splashy new redemption options this summer only to quietly walk back its headline-grabbing 2¢-per-point Points Boost just months later. What does this mean for a card with a nearly $800 annual fee, and is it still worth holding? American Airlines quietly eliminated mileage and Loyalty Point earning on Basic Economy fares, raising b...

Watch Us On YouTube!

This week on Miles to Go, Ed and Richard cover a packed slate of breaking travel and loyalty news that matters for road warriors.

We dig into Chase Sapphire Reserve, which rolled out splashy new redemption options this summer only to quietly walk back its headline-grabbing 2¢-per-point Points Boost just months later. What does this mean for a card with a nearly $800 annual fee, and is it still worth holding?

American Airlines quietly eliminated mileage and Loyalty Point earning on Basic Economy fares, raising big questions about who AA is actually trying to reward—and whether Basic Economy is now little more than a stripped-down cash fare.

Plus, we talk about Bilt's newest transfer partner—Spirit Airlines—and why the data shows there's real demand for low-cost carrier redemptions, including Big Front Seat value. Add in holiday travel chaos, turbulence stories, and a few airline rants, and it's a full episode you won't want to miss.

Finally, Mesa appears to be shutting down, leaving cardholders scrambling to figure out what happens to their points. Richard shares lessons learned about startup loyalty programs and when it makes sense to cash out early.

Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun

Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show!

If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience!

If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways.

Monthly access
Annual access
Personal consultation plus annual access

We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast

Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/

Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/

Comments (3)