The Points Daily archive

The Points Daily — August 10, 2026

Daily briefing of points, miles, and travel deals. This page archives today's newsletter. For the timely morning briefing, subscribe below.

Qatar Airways Washington Dulles to Chennai at $878 roundtrip

Qatar Airways is selling roundtrip fares from Washington Dulles to Chennai for $878, all taxes included. Dates run through late November 2026 and again mid-January through March 2027. You'll need a minimum 7-night stay and must book at least 3 days in advance.

Why it matters: This is solid pricing to India's tech hub on one of the region's better long-haul carriers. Availability is already thin and will tighten further.

TPD take: If Chennai was already on your travel list, don't sit on this. The useful booking window is now through early next week.

Source: The Flight Deal

Eastern Bank $750 checking and savings bonus for New England accounts

Eastern Bank is offering up to $750 when you open both a checking account and a statement savings account. The offer runs through September 14, 2026, and requires two direct deposits totaling $3,000 for the $350 checking bonus, plus $15,000 deposited and maintained for 90 days in savings for the $250 savings bonus. Complete both and you get an additional $150 on top. No monthly fees apply.

Why it matters: $750 is a strong offer for dual account openings, with no catch beyond deposit verification.

TPD take: Availability is limited to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. If you're in those states and looking to move a banking relationship, the math works.

Source: Doctor of Credit

Roame award-search subscription discount expires August 16

Roame is discounting its award-search subscription 25% with code UP25 through August 16. The tool searches multiple loyalty programs simultaneously and alerts you when award space opens. The promo applies to both monthly and annual plans. Because the annual plan already discounts monthly pricing by 30%, stacking the code brings an annual Friends of Roame subscription to roughly $82.

Why it matters: If you actively search for award availability across programs, Roame saves time. At $82 annual, it's a reasonable tool cost.

TPD take: This is a deadline play. If you've been on the fence, the math on annual pricing is now worth it.

Source: Upgraded Points

American Express targeted offer: up to $80 off Amazon with $3 in rewards

American Express is offering select cardholders up to $80 off at Amazon if they use at least $3 in cash back rewards on a purchase. Discounts range from 30% to 50% depending on your targeted offer, and the credit applies only to items sold and shipped by Amazon directly. You must click through a specific activation button on the promotion page to qualify. The offer runs through December 31, 2026.

Why it matters: This stacks rewards redemption with a substantial back-end discount. The activation button is easy to miss.

TPD take: Check your Amex account to see if you're targeted. If you are, the discount effectively gives you back-end value on a redemption method most people ignore.

Source: Miles to Memories

Reagan National Airport plans $835 million expansion with 9 new gates

Reagan National Airport (DCA) is planning a new 9-gate concourse for Southwest, Air Canada, and Frontier, targeting an opening in 2031. The $835 million project will replace the outdated Terminal 1 concourse built in 1970. Southwest, the primary Terminal 1 user, is coordinating with the airport authority on the plans. This expansion comes 5 years after Reagan completed a $1 billion project that added 14 gates and relocated security checkpoints.

Why it matters: DCA has been constrained by aging infrastructure and gate scarcity, particularly for Southwest. More capacity helps regular travelers and frequent flyers.

TPD take: This won't solve crowding anytime soon, but it signals serious investment in DCA's long-term future. Worth noting if you route through Reagan frequently.

Source: The Points Guy

Steal of the day: Asiana LAX to Angeles, Philippines at $796 roundtrip

Asiana is pricing roundtrip flights from Los Angeles to Angeles, Philippines at $796 all-in. Angeles (Clark) is a secondary Philippine gateway that rarely discounts to this level.

TPD take: If the Clark region or nearby areas were already on your list, this is the fare to grab now.

Source: The Flight Deal

Card of the day: Chase Ink Business Cash + Office Depot Visa gift card stack

Chase Ink Business Cash earns 5x points at office supply stores. Office Depot is running a promotion through August 16: buy $300 in Visa gift cards and get $15 off at the register. Gift card fees typically run $5–$8 each, but the instant discount offsets that with the right purchase structure.

TPD take: If you already carry the card and have a use case for prepaid Visa cards, this is a workable stack. Don't chase it otherwise.