Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Friday from Tokyo!

I am writing today's newsletter from the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi (breathtaking, must I say!), where I am spending a few days before continuing my trip through Japan.

Even while traveling, I have been keeping an eye on what is happening in the points and miles world, and this week there are quite a few promotions worth discussing. Five major loyalty programs are selling points or miles at a discount. Some are worth considering, while others are far less exciting than their advertised bonuses suggest.

Here's what's inside today's post:

Price: $14.66 per 1,000 points, including taxes
Deadline: November 5, 2026

JetBlue is offering up to a 120% bonus when you purchase at least 20,000 points, bringing the price down to roughly $14.66 per 1,000 points.

I would not buy these points to redeem on JetBlue itself. TrueBlue uses revenue-based pricing for its own flights, so there is little room to find exceptional value.

But JetBlue has some interesting partners, including Qatar Airways and Condor. If you find a good business class redemption on one of those airlines, buying points could make sense. I have to say this program doesn't have the best redemption rates, but it might be useful in specific situations.

Price: $20.80 per 1,000 points
Deadline: December 21, 2026

Hyatt is selling points at a 20% discount when you purchase at least 3,000 points.

At $20.80 per 1,000, this is not the best Hyatt promotion we have ever seen, but it is still worth considering. Hyatt has long been one of my favorite hotel programs because you can get great value at expensive luxury properties.

Lately, they have devalued their rates, so it is not as good as it used to be. Always compare with the cash prices.

Price: $5 per 1,000 points
Deadline: November 5, 2026

IHG is offering a 100% bonus when you purchase at least 40,000 points, bringing the price down to $5 per 1,000, in line with the best IHG promotions we typically see.

The program includes brands like InterContinental, Kimpton, and Six Senses, so there are plenty of interesting hotels where you could use these points. But IHG uses dynamic award pricing, so value varies considerably between properties and dates.

Having said that, this program is pretty straightforward to use. You can get good value at properties of all kinds, not only luxury.

Price: $18.81 per 1,000 miles, including taxes
Deadline: October 31, 2026

United is offering targeted bonuses of up to 100%, so you will need to log into your account to see your personal offer. At the maximum bonus, miles cost about $18.81 per 1,000.

United has access to a large network of Star Alliance partners, which makes MileagePlus interesting for international business class redemptions. But United's award prices can be high, and the program has become less attractive for certain partner awards over time.

This one is worth considering for a specific premium cabin redemption, but I would definitely not buy miles speculatively.

Price: $15 per 1,000 points
Deadline: October 29, 2026

Southwest is offering up to a 50% discount when you purchase at least 12,000 points.

At $15 per 1,000, I am not particularly excited about this one. Southwest uses revenue-based award pricing, so the points required are closely tied to the cash fare. In many cases, buying points at this rate costs as much as, or more than, simply buying the flight.

My take: probably one to skip, unless you need a small number of points to complete a specific booking.

Of these five, IHG and Hyatt are my favorites, mainly because hotel points can unlock meaningful savings compared to expensive cash rates. JetBlue and United could also work for premium cabin awards, provided you find the right redemption first.

As always, my biggest advice is simple: find the redemption before buying the points. A 100% bonus sounds fantastic, but it means nothing if those points do not save you money.

That is it for today. I will be continuing my adventures through Japan over the next few days, and I have plenty of hotel and flight experiences to share soon.

Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi from Points Master

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