Reading Time: 6 minThis week brought some true surprises in the world of travel rewards, including a brand-new airline debit card, a rare transfer bonus, and a noteworthy move from a bank that’s usually an afterthought in points and miles, but now seems determined to compete with the major rewards programs.
Plus, I've got fresh ways to earn miles when you're shopping for the holidays, and if you’ve ever wanted to learn how to spot those elusive “sweet spot” flight deals, there’s a free live seminar coming up that’s worth marking on your calendar. Let’s dive into this week’s stories and see what’s new in points, miles, and travel.
Debit cards have rarely made headlines in the travel world over the last several years. But a new airline debit card that launched this week appears to signal the start of a new trend.
The new Southwest debit card is the first major airline debit card in years to offer both the ability to earn points as well as status-qualifying perks. The card earns 1 point per dollar on Southwest purchases, dining, and subscriptions, plus 1 point per $2 on all other spending.
There’s a modest 2,500-point signup bonus after meeting small deposit and spending requirements, and cardholders can earn up to an additional 7,500 bonus points each year, along with the same number of Companion Pass qualifying points. The card's $6.99 monthly fee is waived with a $2,500 average balance.
And Southwest isn’t the only airline going this route. Our friends at MilesTalk recently noted that United is preparing its own debit card, suggesting this could be the start of a new wave of airline cards aimed at customers who prefer debit over credit.
For most travelers, a good travel credit card will still deliver better returns and stronger benefits. But if you’re someone who can’t or doesn’t want to use a credit card, this could be an easy way to earn a little extra value on the things you buy every day.
Speaking of Southwest, the airline doesn’t often sweeten its partnership with Chase. But a new limited-time promotion makes transferring points between the two more rewarding than usual.
Now through November 6th, Chase is offering a 25% bonus when you transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest. That means 1,000 Chase points turn into 1,250 Southwest points. The promotion applies to transfers of at least 1,000 points and the extra points will post instantly, as usual (though transferred points don't count toward Companion Pass or elite status).
The value of Southwest points typically fluctuates between 1.1 and 1.5 cents apiece. So if you take the middle of that range at 1.3 cents, this 25% boost can raise the effective value of your Chase points to around 1.6 cents each.
But there's potentially another good reason to book Southwest flights with points instead of cash. If you need to cancel a Southwest flight and it's booked with cash, in most cases, you'll get a travel credit that expires in 6-12 months. On the other hand, cancelling a flight booked with Southwest points means the points go back into your account with no penalty or expiration.
While I typically don't advocate transferring points without a specific redemption in mind, it could be worth making a transfer in this case since it's so rare to see a bonus offer between Chase and Southwest.
It's officially November and the holiday shopping season is gearing up. That means we're going to be seeing plenty of holiday bonus offers, and all the major airline shopping portals are already in full swing.
As of today, there are currently a whopping five bonus offers at airline shopping portals:
To qualify, you need to start your online shopping trip by clicking through the airline’s portal before making your purchase. Be sure to check the terms for each store, as returns or canceled items may reduce your total spend and affect eligibility.
These offers usually pop up a few times a year, but stacking one with upcoming holiday sales is an easy way to earn extra rewards for purchases you were already planning to make. Thanks to Danny the Deal Guru for flagging these offers.
Until recently, Wells Fargo was mostly an afterthought when it came to travel points. But last year the bank launched its first set of transfer partners, and this week it made another quiet but meaningful addition to its points program.
Travelers earning Wells Fargo Rewards can now transfer points directly to JetBlue TrueBlue. Transfers are at a 1-to-1 ratio, meaning one Wells Fargo point equals one TrueBlue point, and in most cases, transfers should be instant.
That 1-to-1 ratio is a bit surprising since earlier this year when Capital One re-added JetBlue, it did so at a much lower 5-to-3 ratio (and Amex has kept JetBlue at a 5-to-4 ratio for years). Even better, Wells Fargo has no minimum transfer amount, so you don't have to transfer in bunches of 500 or 1,000 points.
This addition also brings Wells Fargo to a total of 8 transfer partners — even airlines and Choice Hotels. That's a smaller roster than the other flexible bank programs, but the issuer is clearly intent on growing its program to make it competitive.
A lot of people have residual negative feelings toward Wells Fargo as a result of the bank's fraud scandals several years ago. That lack of trust is well deserved, but the bank has been working to try and turn its reputation around, and its travel credit cards may be worth a second look at this point.
If you’ve ever wondered how expert travelers always seem to find incredible award flights, there’s a free opportunity coming up to learn their secret methods.
Julia Menez at Geobreeze Travel is one of the best educators in the travel rewards space, and she's hosting a new live training series. Her sessions break down the tools and strategies that make it easier to find “sweet spot” redemptions — those rare deals where your points stretch further than you’d expect.
You’ll pick up practical techniques for searching smarter, comparing programs, and avoiding common booking mistakes. Plus, you'll find out how the folks you see on social media manage to book those luxury trips in first and business class.
Whether you’re just getting started or already well-versed in points and miles, this masterclass is a great chance to sharpen your skills and get more value from the points you already have. Registration is free and open now, and I highly recommend checking it out!
That’s it for this week’s edition of travel news, tips, and deals. But before you go, take a peek at our new guide on maximizing shopping portals and how to make every online purchase count. Have a great weekend! ✈️
