The Points Daily — August 6, 2026
Archive & Show Notes
This page expands on today's *Points Daily* briefing. For the timely morning summary, subscribe for tomorrow's email.
Amex Referral Bonuses Hit 45K Points Per Approved Applicant
Some American Express cardholders are now seeing referral bonuses climb to 45,000 Membership Rewards points per approved applicant. The updated structure lets you earn 5 referrals per card instead of the old annual 100,000-point cap—meaning up to 225,000 points if you max out all slots.
The catch: Amex treats referral income as taxable at 1 cent per point, so you'll receive a 1099-MISC at tax time. This is legitimate windfall territory if the offer actually lands in your account, but it's YMMV. Check your referral dashboard before you start recruiting.
Source: Miles to Memories
Delta's Riyadh Route Has So Many Empty Seats It's Practically Giving Them Away
Delta's new Atlanta–Riyadh service is so empty the airline is throwing miles at the problem. One-way awards from New York to Riyadh via Atlanta cost just 15,000 SkyMiles—or 12,700 with a co-branded card discount. For context: that's half what Delta charges for a New York to Atlanta leg alone.
The airline is chasing Saudi subsidies and appears willing to absorb weak demand by discounting aggressively. This is absurdly cheap if you actually need to reach Saudi Arabia. Don't manufacture a trip to take advantage of it.
Source: One Mile at a Time
Alaska Airlines Launches August Members Day With 20K-Point International Awards
Alaska's Atmos Members Day promotion is live for August, featuring discounted award tickets and bundled experiences. The main draw: one-way economy awards to 9 international destinations starting at 20,000 points, including Edinburgh and Madrid for select fall travel dates.
You can also bid or redeem on curated packages—like a 7-night Costa Rica cruise for two with airfare starting at 580,000 points. The booking deadline is August 8, so move if you've got a fall Europe trip sketched out.
Source: Upgraded Points
AARP Members Get $75 Tango Card Credit on 3+ Night Hotel Bookings
AARP's Expedia portal is offering a $75 Tango Card (redeemable for most major brands or PayPal cash) when you book 3 or more nights at a hotel. That's roughly $25 per night back on a minimum 3-night stay.
Book by August 31 for stays through October 31. The OTA-booking structure means you won't earn elite status credits, hotel points, or loyalty perks—useful mainly for independent properties or situations where those benefits don't factor into your decision anyway.
Source: Frequent Miler
Flying Blue Offers 25% Off Europe Awards in August
Flying Blue's August Promo Rewards discount economy and premium economy redemptions to and from Europe by 25%, with deals starting at 18,750 miles for economy and 30,000 for premium economy. Business class is excluded this month.
Book by August 31 for travel through January 31, 2027. Note that Los Angeles, Orlando, and Miami require a Flying Blue Extra subscription to access. This works if you already have a Europe trip planned; don't buy miles specifically to chase the discount.
Source: Frequent Miler
Steal of the Day: Frontier Miles at 1.08¢ Each With 150% Bonus
Frontier Airlines is selling miles at 1.08 cents each through August 28 with a 150% purchase bonus. That's a competitive price if you've already mapped out a specific redemption and know you're short. Buying without a booked flight in mind is usually a mistake, especially with Frontier's limited route network and spotty availability.
Source: Award Wallet
Card of the Day: Amex Platinum Hertz Offer — $75 Credit After $350 Spend
A targeted American Express Platinum offer is circulating: $75 statement credit after $350 Hertz spending in the US by September 30, 2026. That's better value than last year's $100-back-on-$500 version.
This only triggers if the offer shows in your account and you actually rent with Hertz. Check your enrolled cards before planning a rental around it.
Source: Traveling for Miles
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