Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Friday from Buenos Aires! Coffee's ready, the week's almost done. Quick one today: a big-picture shift at Alaska (hello, long-haul 787s) and a small-airport love letter from last night's trip out of Córdoba, plus your IHG points piece up top.
IHG One Rewards: 100% bonus on purchased points (and when it's actually worth it)
Alaska's long-haul era: 787s, Europe… and the Hawaiian effect
Small airports, big happiness (and a quick poll)
IHG One Rewards: 100% bonus on purchased points (and when it's actually worth it)
IHG One Rewards is back with one of its regular 100% bonus on purchased points sales through November 26, 2025. That means you can effectively buy points for about 5 USD per 1000 points, which can open up some solid value if you know where to look.
IHG's program covers over 6,000 hotels globally, everything from Holiday Inns and Kimptons to InterContinentals, Regent, and their iconic Six Senses brand. I personally think InterContinental properties are some of the best-value redemptions in big cities: refined, consistent, and often cheaper than competitors like Marriott or Hilton on the same dates.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
For example: InterContinental Bangkok, InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, or InterContinental Sydney regularly go for 50k - 180k points per night, which, if you're buying points at this promo rate, can mean paying as little as $250 - $900 a night at five-star hotels that often sell for $450 - $1200+.
IHG's "dynamic" pricing means redemption values vary, but during busy periods or in resort destinations, buying points can easily make sense.
A personal note: Earlier this year, you already know I stayed at Six Senses Fort Barwara. I checked whether redeeming IHG points would've been worth it, but in that case, the cash rate was nearly the same as the points rate. Keep in mind that hotels in some places, like India, tend to have a lower cash rate than if they were somewhere else in the world, but still, when cash prices spike, the math can flip, and that's when having IHG points ready can be a big win.
A few other uses:
Kimpton hotels in the U.S. and Europe: trendy, well-run, and often high cash rates
InterContinental Bora Bora, Paris, and London: usually pricey in cash but solid redemptions during promos
Six Senses resorts when available (they're gradually joining the program, and redemption availability can vary)
If you already have a stay in mind, it's worth comparing the points math vs. the cash rate. IHG runs this sale several times a year.
Alaska's long-haul era: 787s, Europe… and the Hawaiian effect
Alaska Airlines just put its first-ever Europe flight on sale: Seattle (SEA) ⇄ Rome (FCO), launching April 28, 2026, and now planned daily for the summer season on a Boeing 787-9. Fares are live; this is a milestone for a carrier that's historically flown a domestic/narrow-body network.
Alaska Airlines 787 Business class (former Hawaiian)
Why this is happening now: The Hawaiian Airlines merger gave Alaska instant wide-body capability and long-haul expertise. Hawaiian's 787-9s and long-haul operations are being folded into Alaska's system; the HA code was retired a short time ago, as operations consolidate under AS and the combined group moves toward a single certificate. In short: Hawaiian's Dreamliners + Alaska's Seattle hub strategy = Europe becomes viable.
The airplane & product: Alaska's Rome flight will use a 787-9 in a new global livery. Alaska has begun sharing soft-product details for the 787, and the company's own announcement frames Rome as the opening move of a broader long-haul push from Seattle. It's genuinely wild to type "Alaska" and "lie-flat transatlantic" in the same sentence.
My take on the merger: This is one of the rare mergers that actually adds consumer choice in the near term. Without Hawaiian's fleet/know-how, Alaska would've waited years to credibly run Europe on its own. There are caveats (brand integration, fleet repainting, staffing bases, etc) but seeing Alaska on true long-haul is fascinating, and competitive pressure from a Seattle-based player on Europe can only help fares and award space.
Loyalty angle: This opens future Mileage Plan earning/redemption plays on Alaska-operated wide-bodies to Europe. We'll dig into the award side once seat maps and fare buckets stabilize.
Alaska + Hawaiian is already changing the US long-haul map. SEA–FCO on a Dreamliner is only the start.
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Small airports, big happiness (and a quick poll)
Last night's micro-case study: I flew to Buenos Aires from my home airport (COR) and it reminded me how nice small airports can be. I arrived, walked straight through security (no checked bag, mobile boarding pass), and was at the gate in ~3 minutes. No drama, no 40-minute queue, no "please remove laptops and liquids" conveyor-belt tango.
Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio Taravella International Airport (COR)
Why I love small airports:
Speed & sanity. Short walks, lighter security lines, friendlier vibes. You can cut arrival buffers way down (don't do what I do, but I've shown up 1h30 before an ultra-long-haul at COR 😅).
Closer to the city. Less time (and money) on the ground. I live 10 minutes away from the airport, and the furthest you can live won't take you more than 30 minutes to arrive.
The trade-offs:
Fewer routes & frequencies. You'll connect more, and sometimes at odd hours.
Limited lounges & amenities. Don't expect a spa and three dining rooms. There was none until a few months ago.
Equipment roulette. Smaller stations may not get the newest cabins. (There are only 2 airlines that operate lie-flat seats from COR: Air Europa to Madrid and Copa to Panama, but this one only on a few frequencies.)
For me, comfort = control. If a tiny airport lets me keep stress low, I choose it, unless I'm chasing a special nonstop or a brand-new cabin (hello, product nerds).
Which airport life do you prefer?
Reply and tell me why, I might include the best responses next time.
That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi