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Points strategies, fare-deal breakdowns, and the stories behind the sweet spots — written by the team that watches award space all day. Updated every week.
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ANA's Round-the-World award is one of the strongest published trip-type redemptions in 2026 — premium-cabin global trip from 125,000 ANA miles.
Etihad Guest devalued aggressively in September 2025 — but specific niche routes still produce reasonable cents-per-mile redemptions for the right traveler.
Iberia and British Airways still publish off-peak award charts in 2026 — and at 22,000 Avios for one-way economy or 34,000 for off-peak business, they're some of the cheapest transatlantic redemptions still available. Here are the exact dates, routes, and traps.
"Should I use points or cash?" has a real answer, and it isn't cents-per-point. Here's the framework: opportunity cost, alternative use, and the threshold below which paying cash wins. With three real bookings worked through end to end.
Most US points travelers default to ANA, JAL, or Cathay for transpacific business class. EVA Air's Royal Laurel — bookable for 75,000 Aeroplan miles or 80,000 United miles — is the underrated alternative with consistently better availability and a competitive product. Here's why and how.
Alaska Air Group closed its $1.9B acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024. Eighteen months in, the unified Atmos Rewards program is live — and if you have miles in either program, the rules changed in your favor.
Atmos Rewards (the program Alaska calls Mileage Plan) opened a tiered buy-points promo April 2: 80% bonus at 3–9k, 90% at 10–19k, and the full 100% at 20–100k. At the top tier you’re paying 1.88¢/point for a currency whose partner sweet spots routinely clear 3–6¢. Here’s the Pointify math.
Summer fares from the East Coast trough at April shoulder; KLM/AF transfer bonuses run ~quarterly. Cash from $480, awards from 50,000 Flying Blue points.
Virgin Atlantic + ANA partner award is the best-kept secret — 55k one-way in ANA business. Cash from $780, awards from 55,000 Virgin Atlantic points.
Short-haul Avios redemptions to LHR from Boston/NYC cost fewer points than the hotel in Heathrow. Cash from $420, awards from 38,000 British Airways Avios points.
ITA Airways joined SkyTeam; the Flying Blue chart plus Promo Rewards make spring a cheap hit. Cash from $520, awards from 55,000 Flying Blue points.
Singapore stopover rule means you can drop into Bali for two nights on the way to/from SIN. Cash from $1,100, awards from 92,000 Singapore KrisFlyer points.
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