Welcome Back!

Hope everyone is doing well 😊 

Something that I’ve thought about as of late: What are the most watched movies on flights? A lot of flights around the world have overlapping movies (every single in-flight entertainment system seems to have Crazy Rich Asians). I did some digging, and I don’t have exact answers but partial answers!

Based on 2019 data from Southwest, Alaska, and United, movies like A Star is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, Aquaman, and Captain Marvel seemed to stream a lot!

In 2023, based on Azul data, it looks like newer movies get streamed more, such as King Richard, Black Adam, and The Whale. Another 2023 report from some Etihad flights to/from Australia also showed that more recent films were getting more watched onboard!

So basically, the answer seems to be: Whatever released generally recently.

Regardless, I hope you all are watching interesting things on your flights, and with that, I give you today’s stories!

In today’s edition:

• ☕️ Starbucks Rewards? ☕️ 

• 🏦 Transfer Bonuses ✈️

• 🔃 Status Match Roundup 🔃

• 📰 Other Stories & Deals 💰️

• 💳️ Best Card Signup Bonuses 💳️ 

☕️ Starbucks Rewards ☕️

I know these can’t be used for travel, but the newsletter is called Sense per Point, not Sense per only travel Point - so for better or worse, I feel a need to cover this rewards program.

Well, yes, Starbucks has a new rewards program as of Tuesday, March 10th. There are once again elite status tiers in this rewards program (there was for a while, and then they removed it, and now it’s back).

I will say, Reserve members getting 30 days for their birthday treat is hilarious, because those people will probably use their treat within a few hours of it entering their account. But a benefit is a benefit, I guess 🤷

As for digital reloads, reloading $30 or more will earn 10 stars, and reloading $50 or more will earn 25 stars. Gold status requires 500 stars in a 12-month period, and Reserve status requires 2500 stars in a 12-month period.

The redemption options for stars are largely unchanged except for one new option, which is to use 60 stars to take $2 off any item:

On paper, 60 stars for $2 off makes each star worth about 3.33 cents per point - in the travel points and miles space, that’s usually very good, but I’m not as sure how good that is in the coffee space ☕️

Do keep in mind that you can also link your Starbucks account with Delta and Marriott for more stars and rewards!

To be clear, anytime a company’s rewards program changes for “more meaningful value, personalization and engagement to members”, that means nothing and will never mean anything more than that they’ve figured out how to extract more value for the company. But in any case, if they are gonna get theirs, you might as well get yours the best you can.

I’d rather not cover the rewards program for a coffee, but we have to make sense of all points here, not just travel rewards and miles! And if you frequent Starbucks, hope the new rewards program works for you 👍️

🏦➡️✈️ Transfer Bonuses

A chart of transfer partners by bank, along with other information, can be found here! New transfer bonuses not present the week before are in bold. A note that any transfers to Avios essentially include British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair, and Qatar 👍️

🔃 Status Match Roundup 🔃

I did this not too long ago, but with some new opportunities in the mix, I thought I’d go through some status match offers again!

Again, I’ve got two disclaimers: The first is that some of these offers require already having status elsewhere. The other is that I personally wouldn’t do these unless I’m absolutely sure I will get out of status what I put into getting it, if not more. Assuming that is the case, why not travel a bit nicer? ✈️

I’ll first start by mentioning some offers that are still ongoing from last time. United still has a targeted offer going around for their cards, but with an extra Silver status component to these offers! There will be a signup bonus part to the offer (3 months as usual), and then if you take 4 United or United Express flights anytime in 2026, you can get Premier Silver Status until January ‘28.

Hyatt also still has its corporate challenge for 2026! I’ve mentioned this one before, but you can signup with anyone’s corporate email with your Hyatt membership #, as they aren’t checking too carefully on it. You have 90 days after signing up to stay 10 nights at Hyatt properties to maintain Explorist status through February 2028, or to stay 20 nights at Hyatt properties within those 90 days to get Globalist status through February 2028!

Now for some new status match offers - Starting with a chance to buy Spirit Silver status for $79!

Silver status gives you:

• Dedicated Guest Care Support

• Standard & Exit Row Seat Selection (Pre-Boarding)

• Priority Boarding

• Shortcut Security

• Same-day Standby

• Priority Check-In (Subject to Availability)

• Overweight Fee Waiver For 1st Checked Bag Up To 70 lbs.

• Space Available Upgrade

If you fly Spirit enough in a year, this is probably worth it for the exit row selection 👍️

There’s also a MGM Rewards status match going on, to get MGM Gold and Platinum status. Both of these statuses waive resort fees, which really do add up when staying at these properties, so this could be useful for the right person! Eligible statuses for match are here.

Last of all, for non-US residents, there is a Royal Jordanian status match available to get status with Royal Jordanian and OneWorld. Great thing with this one is you can match either airline or hotel status! Not so great thing is that this one costs money ($49 to match to Oneworld Ruby, and $149-$199 to match to Oneworld Sapphire). Eligible statuses for match are here.

These status matches come and go all the time, so don’t get too impatient with these, and time them for when you do have travel plans if you are interested and eligible for these. If you can get the value out of this, why would you not take status?

Happy travels 🧳 

📰 Other Stories & Deals 💰️

• 💳️ Current rumors suggest that Bilt may be incorrectly charging cardholders a 0.2% foreign transaction fee…

• 🏨 Marriott free night certificates can now be topped off with up to 25k points, up from the previous 15k!

💳️ Best Card Signup Bonuses 💳️ 

Again, the usual solid cards:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred^® / Reserve®

• Chase Freedom Unlimited^®/Flex^®

• Amex Gold & Plat

• Capital One Venture X

Do search for public links for the above cards to compare signup bonuses to make sure you get the highest one (incognito mode, Resy, etc.).

For cards with elevated signup bonuses (targeted bonuses are not included), I’ve got:

📤️ Spread the Word! 📤️

Thanks for subscribing! This newsletter is committed to helping you maximize your points and rewards, at no direct cost to you! (appreciate you using any of my referral links, though!)

If you do find this newsletter informative, helpful, or entertaining, I’d greatly appreciate you spreading the word about it! If not, please do give me feedback on how I can improve your Sense per Point experience.

Also, if my newsletter helps you to book travel using points, let me know! It’ll make me so happy 😄 

Hope that all makes sense! That’s all for this week’s edition of Sense per Point.

Wishing everyone a wonderful rest of your day and week 😊 

- Sean Kim

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