Award News

Hey AwardTrailblazers! Want to become a true award travel ninja? Then you NEED to know about ExpertFlyer. It's basically a super-powered tool that gives you insider access to things airlines usually keep hidden. We're talking about peeking at real-time seat maps, finding elusive award availability (that sweet spot for using points!), and tracking down upgrade space so you can finally snag that lie-flat seat. Think of ExpertFlyer as your secret weapon for scoring the best travel deals and experiences. It lets you see exactly how many award seats are left on a flight, which can be a game-changer when planning trips with limited points or miles. Plus, you can set up alerts to notify you when a specific award seat opens up. No more constantly refreshing airline websites! Our friends at AwardWallet Blog put together an ultimate guide on how to use ExpertFlyer to its full potential. They walk you through all the key features and show you how to set up searches and alerts. Whether you're a seasoned points pro or just starting out, this guide is a must-read to make the most out of ExpertFlyer and take your award travel game to the next level! So dive in and start uncovering those hidden travel gems.

Heads up, deal hunters! Amazon's playing Santa early by offering a sneaky discount on Mastercard e-gift cards. You can snag a $100 Mastercard e-gift card for slightly less than its face value. Why should you care? Basically, it's like free money! If you shop at Amazon anyway (who doesn't?), you're getting a discount on future purchases. Plus, if your credit card gives you bonus points or cash back for Amazon purchases, you're stacking the savings. Keep in mind these deals tend to disappear faster than cookies on Christmas Eve, so act fast! There's a limit to how many you can buy.

Heads up, awardtrail readers! Staples is running their popular promotion where they waive the purchase fee on Visa gift cards. This means you can buy gift cards without paying the usual activation fee, essentially getting them at face value. The current deal is valid from December 14th to December 27th. Why should you care? This is a fantastic way to rack up points, miles, or cashback on your rewards credit cards. Just use a card that offers bonus rewards at office supply stores (like the Amex Business Gold), or stack it with a Chase Offer for even MORE savings. Just remember, this offer is only valid in-store. Essentially, you're buying something you can easily spend later (the gift card) while simultaneously earning rewards on your credit card. It's like getting paid to shop! Don't forget that limits may apply (historically up to 9 cards), so check the fine print before you load up. Happy spending!

Heads up, awardtrail readers! If you recently snagged a sweet bonus for opening a Chase Business checking account, you might have noticed a surprise debit. Chase is apparently withholding 24% of the bonus amount to cover estimated IRS taxes. So, if you scored that $500 bonus, expect to see around $120 disappear as "FEDERAL INTEREST WITHHELD." Why is this happening? Usually, banks only withhold taxes if you tell them you're subject to backup withholding (meaning you're not paying your taxes correctly). But in this case, Chase is doing it regardless, which is a bit unusual. The good news is many readers are now reporting that they have received the withheld tax amount back in their account. It might show up as a direct deposit, or a paper check. Don't panic! It seems like a minor hiccup. Just make sure you've got enough funds in your account to cover the debit so you don't overdraft. Most importantly, keep a record of this withheld amount when you file your taxes so you are not paying taxes twice.

Hey Award Trailblazers! Heads up – there's a sweet deal happening over at Giftcards.com that could save you some serious cash on everyday eats. Right now, you can snag a 10% discount when you buy three gift cards from a bunch of popular spots like Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera, and even McDonald's. Why should you care? Well, if you're already hitting up these places regularly, it's basically free money! But the real magic is in the stacking. Always click through a shopping portal like Kudos (currently at 5% cashback!) before you make your purchase. Then, check your Chase Offers – you might find an additional 5% back on Giftcards.com purchases. And don't forget you'll also earn rewards from Giftcards.com itself! You can also use your Chase Freedom card through Paypal to get 5x points this month!

Heads up, deal hunters! Dollar General is offering a sweet discount of 20% off select gift cards on December 19th (that's tomorrow!). The lucky brands included are Uber/Uber Eats, Buffalo Wild Wings, Darden (think Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, etc.), and Bath & Body Works. Why should you care? Well, if you regularly use Uber or love dining out, this is practically free money. Stocking up on discounted gift cards is an easy way to save on everyday expenses. Just remember that not all Dollar General locations let you buy gift cards with a credit card, so it's worth checking with your local store beforehand. Also, be sure to check your Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo accounts for potential bonus offers for spending at Dollar General. Stack those savings for even more rewards! As DoC reminds us, Costco members get 20% off Uber regularly from Costco.com.

Heads up, deal hunters! Office Depot/OfficeMax is running a promotion where you can snag $15 off when you buy $300 worth of Mastercard gift cards. This deal is back from December 14th to December 20th, so don't wait too long. It's only valid in-store, and there's a limit of one per household/business. Why should you care? Well, this is a great way to manufacture spend and rack up those valuable credit card rewards! You can buy multiple gift cards to hit the $300 threshold. Remember that the fee on each $200 Mastercard is $7.95. To maximize your return, use a credit card that earns bonus points at office supply stores. Even better, check your Amex Business Gold card for a potential $20 credit or your Chase Offers for 10% back. Dosh offers 2% back but excludes gift cards in the fine print. These deals pop up pretty frequently, so it's worth keeping an eye out if you missed it this time. The Doctor of Credit article has a history of when the deal has been available in the past!

Get ready to boost your points stash! Chase just announced the Q1 2026 bonus categories for the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, and they're pretty tasty. We're talking 5% cash back or 5x points per dollar on up to $1,500 in spending at restaurants, with Norwegian Cruise Lines and the American Heart Association thrown in as well. Dining is always a welcome category and is a great chance to earn bonus rewards on things you're already buying! Here's why this matters to you: If you have either of these cards (and you should!), you can earn some serious rewards on everyday spending like grabbing dinner or ordering in. And the Freedom Flex card has an even sweeter deal: it already earns 3x on dining, so you'll actually be racking up a whopping 7x points per dollar during Q1 2026! Don't forget to activate the bonus categories starting December 15, 2025 so you can start earning January 1, 2026 and max out those bonus rewards!

Hot deal alert! If you've been eyeing the brand-spankin' new 2025 Macbook Air M4, now's the time to pounce. Amazon is currently offering these beauties for a cool $150 less than what you'd pay directly from Apple. But wait, there's more! They're also throwing in a $25 Amazon credit with select 13-inch models. This is a big deal because it's the lowest price we've seen yet on these new Macbooks. We're talking about configurations with 16GB or even 24GB of RAM and solid state drives up to 512GB. The extra RAM is great if you like to keep a bunch of tabs open like me when planning my trips! And here's where your rewards savvy comes in: you can potentially save even *more* by stacking this deal with a "Shop With Points" promotion if you have a credit card that participates. Always be sure to check the math and redeem wisely for maximum value, but this could be a fantastic way to snag a new Macbook while using up some of those hard-earned points or miles. Happy shopping!

Heads up, award travelers! Remember that MGM data breach from 2019 and 2023? Well, a settlement has been reached, and payouts are starting to hit accounts. If you were an MGM customer or guest and think your personal information might have been compromised, it's time to check your email (look for one from mgmdatasettlement@e.epiqnotice.com) for a PIN to file a claim. The settlement offers different tiers of compensation depending on what type of information was exposed. You could be eligible for up to $15,000 for documented financial losses related to the breach. Even without documented losses, you could get a flat cash payment: around $75 if your Social Security or military ID was exposed, $50 for passport or driver's license, and $20 if your name, address, and/or date of birth were compromised. Why does this matter to you? Data breaches are a pain, and this settlement is a chance to get some compensation for the hassle and potential risk. Make sure to file a claim if you're eligible – it's free money for something that wasn't your fault!