Hey {{first name | reader}},

Happy Wednesday!

Today's post is a mix of points news, one devaluation I do not like, and Dan's latest hotel video.

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

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has a new promotion on purchased Avios, offering up to a 50% bonus.

At the top tier, buying 250,000 Avios gives you 375,000 total Avios for $5,750, which works out to about $15.30 per 1,000 Avios.

That can be interesting for the right redemption.

Qatar Airways Avios can unlock Qatar business class, including Qsuites when space is available. Some rough pricing examples:

The key phrase there is "when available." Qatar saver award space can be excellent, but it is not something I would assume will always be there. When saver space is gone, pricing can double (that is a flexi award) and the math becomes much less appealing.

Worth knowing though: inside Points Master, we teach how to acquire Avios at closer to $12 per 1,000, which changes the math meaningfully.

Flying Blue is introducing new award fare bundles for Air France and KLM redemptions: Light, Standard, and Flex.

In simple terms, the cheapest award level becomes the Light fare. But Light comes with fewer inclusions and less flexibility. If you want something closer to what Flying Blue awards used to include, you may need to book the more expensive Standard or Flex option.

Flying Blue frames this as giving members more choice. I understand the logic. Airlines want to reward loyalty and keep people inside their ecosystem.

But I do not like this direction.

The whole point of miles and points, at least for many of us, is flexibility. Points let you fly different airlines, compare programs, and book the best option for the trip you actually want to take. Not everyone can build their travel life around one airline. Maybe you live in a city where Air France and KLM are not an option, like in my case. Maybe you fly different routes every year. Maybe you only do one or two long-haul trips per year and just want a good redemption when the time comes.

This type of change pushes things in the wrong direction. Instead of making points feel more flexible, it makes them feel more like cash fares: branded bundles, additional restrictions, and more decisions at checkout.

Flying Blue is still useful. Promo Rewards can still be excellent. Air France and KLM still have very good networks, and Flying Blue remains one of the easiest programs to access through transferable points.

But this is a reminder not to sit on huge balances in one airline program without a clear plan. Programs can change quickly, and this one just did.

Is the most expensive option always the best? Dan's latest video answers that question directly: he compares Bali hotels across very different price points, from a roughly $100 private pool villa all the way up to Raffles Bali at over $1,000 per night.

And the surprising part is that the most expensive hotel is not automatically the one they enjoyed most.

In the video, Dan and Oskar compare properties including Cross Bali Breakers, Sofitel Nusa Dua, The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Alila Villas Uluwatu, and Raffles Bali. The big takeaway is that the middle of the range can often be the sweet spot.

A hotel does not need to be the most expensive to be the best choice. Sometimes the $400 to $800 range gives you the best combination of luxury, wow factor, service, location, and value. The extra money at the very top does not always translate into a proportionally better experience.

And that is exactly how I think about hotels too.

The goal is not to book the most expensive property. The goal is to book the right property for the trip you are actually planning.

Luxury hotels are not just about price. They are about what you personally value: service, room size, a dramatic location, a great breakfast, a beautiful pool, or just a place that feels memorable. Knowing what matters to you is the most useful thing you can bring to any hotel search.

Buying Qatar Avios can be worthwhile. Flying Blue is still useful, but these new award fare bundles make the program less simple and less flexible than it was. And Dan's Bali video is a great reminder that price does not automatically equal enjoyment.

Same lesson as always: do the math, compare your options, check the rules, and book the thing that actually makes sense for your trip.

That's it for today. More deals, news, and trip ideas coming your way on Friday.

Catch you in the clouds,

Tomi from Points Master

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