Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...
#DearOhad is back and July’s travel chaos isn’t waiting. Emirates First Class is bookable again (but pricey), ANA redemptions are changing, and CapitalOne just became a serious transfer powerhouse. Your points are powerful — if you move fast. Let’s make them stretch before the next blow lands.
I saw that Capital One added a bunch of new transfer partners, but I’ve always just used my Venture miles to erase travel charges. Is it actually worth learning the whole transfer game now, or is that just for miles nerds with too much time on their hands?
—Tempted in Tampa
Dear Tempted,
It used to be a fair question. But Capital One’s 2025 partner lineup? It’s a whole new ballgame. They just added Finnair Plus (great for Europe), LATAM Pass (oddly useful for South America and island hopping), and upgraded transfer ratios across multiple partners.
Now your Venture miles can stretch 2x–3x further than just erasing a hotel or Airbnb charge at 1 cent per mile. Yes, transfers take a few more clicks — but the payoff is big: think lie-flat business class for what you’d otherwise spend on coach.
ProTip: Start simple. Use your Venture miles to transfer to Flying Blue for cheap U.S.–Europe flights (as low as 50k one-way in biz during promos). Then graduate to bigger plays once you get the bug.
United is hiking the price of Polaris awards again — and I’m sitting on a mountain of MileagePlus miles. Should I burn them now, or is there a smarter way to use them that avoids these constant devaluations?
—Worried in Wichita
Dear Worried,
You’re not wrong. United’s most recent "no-notice" award increase hit hard — Europe in Polaris now routinely runs 100k+ one-way, and even domestic lie-flat routes are creeping into absurd territory.
Your best play? Burn now, but burn wisely. MileagePlus is still useful for partner awards (think: Turkish, Lufthansa, ANA), which haven’t been hit as hard… yet. Look for mixed-cabin or creative routings via United’s site.
ProTip: Don’t forget Excursionist Perk — United’s quirk that gives you a free one-way segment within a region. Example: book NYC–Paris, add a free Paris–Rome leg, then return. Use it before they “simplify” it out of existence.
I’m flying to Tokyo this fall and just saw that ANA is making changes to its award chart. I’ve been saving Amex points for ANA First — is that still the dream redemption everyone says it is, or should I pivot to something more available?
—Planning in Portland
Dear Planning,
ANA First Class is still a top-tier experience — but it’s becoming harder to book, and yes, ANA is tweaking their award pricing in November. That includes higher fuel surcharges and a new “seasonal” structure that punishes peak travel.
You’ve still got a window: book by October 31, 2025, under the current chart. Right now, round-trip First Class from the U.S. to Tokyo is around 110k–120k Amex points via Virgin Atlantic, which is a unicorn-level sweet spot.
ProTip: Forget round-trips — Virgin Atlantic now allows one-way redemptions on ANA. That means you can book a Tokyo outbound in First and return via a different airline or partner — more flexibility, same glam.
Now that Alaska is officially joining Oneworld Connect Asia, will that give us more award opportunities to places like Thailand and Vietnam? Or is this just a headline with no real redemption value?
—Hopeful in Houston
Dear Hopeful,
Good eye — and yes, this is one of the quieter but more promising shifts in 2025. Alaska joining Oneworld Connect Asia opens up award access to partners like Bangkok Airways and VietJet (yes, really).
That means you can now book domestic legs in Southeast Asia (like Bangkok–Chiang Mai or Ho Chi Minh–Phuket) using Alaska miles — something that used to be a cash-only headache.
ProTip: These short hops often cost just 5,000–7,500 miles, with no fuel surcharges. Combine them with longer-haul Oneworld redemptions (like JAL or Cathay) for a full Asia trip on points. It's not splashy, but it stretches your stash.
I’ve been hearing whispers about Hyatt’s new peak/off-peak pricing changes for 2025. I’ve been sitting on a stash of points for a big trip — but now I’m worried I’ll get less value. Should I be rushing to book or waiting this out?
—Nervous in Nashville
Dear Nervous,
You’re not imagining it — Hyatt’s 2025 changes are the biggest shake-up since they introduced peak pricing in the first place. Starting this fall, more properties will flex between off-peak, standard, and peak monthly instead of seasonally — meaning fewer sweet spots and more unpredictable pricing.
That dreamy Category 6 resort that used to be 25,000 points most of the year? It could now hit 29,000+ more often, especially during holiday or event months.
ProTip: Lock in award stays before the new calendar goes live — Hyatt still lets you modify or cancel later, which protects your rate. And look beyond the obvious: some all-inclusives and Asia-Pacific properties still offer outsized value, especially if you book off-peak windows now. Don't panic — pivot.
Now that Aeroplan added Emirates First Class redemptions again (but with surcharges), is it still worth doing? I’ve always wanted to try the “shower in the sky,” but I’m not sure I want to drop 150,000+ points plus hundreds in fees.
—Dreaming in Dallas
Dear Dreaming,
It’s back — and yes, it’s expensive. Emirates First Class via Aeroplan now costs around 150,000–180,000 points one-way plus $300–$500 in surcharges, depending on route. But you do get the A380 shower, Dom champagne, and bar/lounge — no small thing.
Is it a good value? Not by the numbers. But as a bucket-list experience, it’s still among the best in the world. If you’ve got a deep Aeroplan balance (or Amex/Chase/CapOne points to transfer), it’s a solid splurge.
ProTip: Book from Europe to the U.S. rather than vice versa — taxes and fees are often lower. And try to fly from cities like Milan or Frankfurt for better availability and routing options.
Until next time - may your flights be flat, your surcharges low, and your upgrades miraculous.
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