Our roundup of this week's top 5 travel deals

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We may be only a few weeks into 2026, but there's already plenty of travel news to share, including the introduction of three brand new credit cards that completely overhaul how you can earn points on rent and mortgage payments.

This week also brings discounted Singapore Airlines awards to Asia, bonus miles from three airline shopping portals, and elevated cash back (or points) at Rakuten. Plus, Capital One is offering a rare transfer bonus that's worth a look. Let's break down everything you need to know in travel this week.

Without a doubt, the biggest travel rewards news of the week was the launch of Bilt's three new credit cards, all of which earn Bilt points on rent payments — and now mortgages as well.

The new ​Bilt Blue​, ​Bilt Obsidian​, and ​Bilt Palladium​ cards are officially open for pre-order to both new and existing cardholders. The actual cards will be shipped to customers and ready for use by February 7th.

In addition to earning Bilt points, all three cards introduce a new currency called Bilt Cash, which cardholders earn on top of their regular points. Bilt Cash can then be used to unlock additional points on rent and mortgage payments made through Bilt, or redeemed for other Bilt partner credits.

There's a ton of value to be had from these new cards, and Bilt points remain one of the ​most valuable travel rewards currencies around​. However, the overall reaction (and I think a fair one) is that the cards are complicated. So if you're considering one, be prepared to ​take a little time to dig into them​.

Also, for those who missed it on Friday, Bilt has already released an update to these cards. There's now a second way to earn points on housing payments that eliminates Bilt Cash entirely in favor of tiered point multipliers based on monthly spending. You can ​read the details in this letter from Bilt's founder​.

We'll have a lot more to say about these Bilt cards next week, with a full breakdown of them and the new earning system in our daily Points Path newsletter. And if you're not already getting our daily newsletter with tips and tricks on how to travel better and fly further for less, make sure to ​update your subscription settings in your Points Path account​.

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Singapore Airlines has released its monthly sale of discounted award routes, with some noteworthy deals from North America.

The airline's ​Spontaneous Escapes program​ is offering 30% off economy flights from Los Angeles to both Singapore and Tokyo, bringing them down to just 29,750 miles each way. You'll also find awards from San Francisco and Seattle to Singapore priced as low as 30,800 miles.

Premium economy prices run higher, but they could still appeal to passengers seeking extra comfort on these long flights. Plus, travelers departing from New York can find flights to Singapore in premium economy for 59,150 miles each way.

You'll need to book by January 31st for travel between February 1st and February 28th. However, you won't necessarily find these discounts on every single day in February, as availability depends on what the airline anticipates for demand.

The bigger catch is that these tickets are locked once booked, and cannot be changed or cancelled, which is different from standard Singapore award redemptions that allow modifications. Still, if you have firm plans to travel one of these routes in February, the savings could be worthwhile.

A trio of major airline shopping portals are running simultaneous bonus promotions this month, giving you multiple ways to earn extra miles on both online and in-store purchases.

American Airlines is offering ​up to 1,000 bonus AAdvantage miles​ when you shop through its portal between now and January 22nd. This promotion has two tiers: spend $200 to earn 400 bonus miles, or spend $500 to earn the full 1,000 bonus miles.

​United's shopping portal has a similar bonus structure​. Now through January 26th, you'll earn 500 bonus MileagePlus miles when you spend at least $150, or 1,000 when you spend $300.

And ​Alaska Airlines is running its own promotion​ through January 23rd, offering 400 bonus Atmos points at $150 in spending, or 1,200 bonus points when you hit $300. This one stands out because Alaska shopping portal points also count as elite qualifying points toward status, with every 3,000 points earned through the portal converting to 1,000 elite qualifying points.

All three portals include card-linked in-store programs, meaning you can link your credit card and earn bonus miles on qualifying purchases at participating brick-and-mortar retailers without clicking through the portal first.

Before jumping in, make sure to compare the base earning rates across different shopping portals so you know you're getting the best total return even after accounting for these bonuses. Thanks to our friends at ​Frequent Miler for flagging these offers​.

Find the best points deals right on your phone

Your favorite flight search companion has gone mobile! Points Path now works seamlessly on iPhones and iPads through Safari, bringing the best points deals straight to your pocket. Just ​download the extension from the Apple App Store, and start seeing points prices appear right next to cash prices when you search Google Flights on the go. The Points Path iOS browser extension delivers real-time frequent flyer points pricing from American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and United — all at the same time, and it's absolutely free. Whether you're booking from the beach or comparing awards on your commute, Points Path makes finding the best redemptions easier than ever.

Get smarter about points with the Points Path extension

Speaking of shopping portals, two promotions are intersecting at one of our favorite portals right now, and you can use it to get cash back on travel, or earn even more valuable travel points.

It's both ​Travel Week​ and ​Triple Cash Back Weekend​ at Rakuten at the moment, with elevated cash back rates across dozens of popular travel booking sites.

As of this writing, Viator is paying as much as 14% cash back on tour and activity bookings through ​Rakuten​, while Expedia offers up to 10% back, and Hotels.com, Booking.com, and Priceline are all at an 8% return. You'll also find increased rates at Hertz, vacation rental site Vrbo, and on several international airlines.

These elevated rates apply whether you choose to earn cash back at ​Rakuten, or ​opt for American Express or Bilt points​ at a 1-to-1 ratio. Choosing points over cash is usually the way to go, since both Amex and Bilt points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners at rates that can exceed 2 cents per point.

If you're not already a ​Rakuten​ member, now's a great time to join. That's because new members who ​sign up through a referral link​ and spend $50 within 90 days earn a $50 bonus. But you'll only find this offer through referral links, so ask a friend or family member for one, or ​feel free to use ours​ (and thanks if you do!).

Finally, Capital One is temporarily sweetening the deal on transfers to a popular Star Alliance frequent flyer program.

Now through February 11th, Capital One cardholders can transfer miles to Avianca LifeMiles with a 15% bonus. That means every 1,000 Capital One miles you transfer becomes 1,150 Avianca miles.

Even if you're not flying on Avianca itself any time soon, the airline's frequent flyer program offers several notable partner redemption opportunities thanks to its Star Alliance partnership.

You can find business class awards to Europe on Avianca partners from 69,000 to 80,000 miles with no carrier surcharges, which can save hundreds of dollars compared to programs that pass along fees. Another popular redemption option is Lufthansa First Class for as low as 120,000 Avianca miles and just $29 in fees.

Before transferring miles from any bank, always search for award availability rather than assuming space exists. ​Points Path Pro​ and Founders Club members get live Avianca mileage pricing directly in Points Path, as well as access to our ​Lufthansa First Class dashboard​, which includes availability with Avianca miles.

Just keep in mind that if you transfer Capital One miles to Avianca, they'll expire after 12 months of account inactivity. Oddly, redeeming Avianca miles doesn't count as activity.

Packing liquids? These leakproof travel bottles are a must

This leakproof silicone ​Tocelffe 18-Pack Travel Bottle Set​ ensures all your important toiletries — shampoo, conditioner, and more — are safe in your carry-on. And with the included carrying case, taking your liquids out at security is easier than ever.

Get it at Amazon

Those are the highlights from this week in travel. But if you're thinking about getting a credit card with lounge access, check out ​our new guide on whether airport lounge perks are actually worth the high annual fees​. Have a great weekend! ✈️

This story may contain links through which we are compensated when you click on or are approved for offers, and we may receive compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. Points Path may receive a commission from card issuers. This compensation may impact how and where links appear in this story. This story does not necessarily include all financial companies or all available financial offers. The editorial content in this story is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. All prices are accurate as of January 17, 2026, at 11pm ET.