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The MileIntel Blog

Points of Departure

Airline miles intelligence, loyalty program strategy, and the sharpest thinking in travel rewards.

Analysis
15 articles
a couple of chairs sitting in front of a window01Analysis

Air India's SFO Lounge Is Quietly Arriving. Your Points Strategy Should Change.

Air India opened its first Maharaja Lounge outside India at SFO on May 23, 2026. The ground product is impressive. The loyalty math, however, strongly favors booking through United MileagePlus or KrisFlyer instead.

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MileIntel
7 minJun 15
white and blue passenger plane in flight02Analysis

United-American Merger Talk: The Loyalty Program Math in 2026

United CEO Scott Kirby wants a merger with American Airlines. Before you celebrate, run the loyalty math: MileagePlus miles are worth 1.3¢ vs. AAdvantage's 1.55¢. The gap matters.

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MileIntel
11 minJun 10
a large jetliner sitting on top of an airport runway03Analysis

The 777X vs A380 Long-Haul Trade-Off, Ranked

The 777X promises a better long-haul experience than the A380. We tested that claim across five dimensions: route access, cabin comfort, economy seat width, award strategy, and timeline.

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MileIntel
9 minJun 5
white and red kanji text04Analysis

Why the Airline Name Suffix Tells You Almost Nothing in 2026

Air, Airlines, Airways — the suffix on an airline's name reveals almost nothing about loyalty value. We compare Flying Blue, AAdvantage, and Avios on the dimensions that actually matter.

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MileIntel
6 minJun 1
gray and brown globe toy beside camera05Analysis

5 Transfer Bonuses Ranked by Real CPP Value in 2026

Five active transfer bonuses, scored on a consistent 4-dimension framework. The 55% Marriott bonus ranks last. The ranking will surprise most r/awardtravel readers.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 29
06Analysis

MileIntel vs Seats.aero: An Honest Comparison

Seats.aero is the best award search tool on the market. Here is where it wins, where MileIntel wins, and why most serious travelers want both.

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MileIntel Team
6 minMay 20
07Analysis

MileIntel vs Point.me: The Honest Comparison

Point.me is the concierge service for points redemptions. We cover where it works well, the documented accuracy complaints, and how MileIntel takes a different approach.

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MileIntel Team
6 minMay 19
08Analysis

MileIntel vs Roame: Search vs Full-Portfolio

Roame is the best-designed points search tool on the market. It is also strictly search. Here is where MileIntel fills the larger gap.

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MileIntel Team
6 minMay 18
09Analysis

MileIntel vs AwardWallet: The Incumbent vs the Modern Tracker

AwardWallet is the original miles tracker. We cover the documented sync problems, the password-sharing model, and how MileIntel takes a different approach.

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MileIntel Team
6 minMay 17
An aerial view of a seaside resort.10Analysis

Hyatt vs. Aeroplan vs. Emirates: Who Survived May 2026 Best?

Hyatt's 67% peak price hike looks worst on paper, but Emirates' collapsing transfer network is the real disaster. Here's the data-driven verdict.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 15
a group of credit cards sitting next to a cell phone11Analysis

2026 Airline Earning Penalties: Ranked by Budget Traveler Impact

All three major U.S. legacy carriers now earn zero miles on basic economy. Here's how each program ranks and what budget travelers should do now.

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MileIntel
10 minApr 23
people walking on a building12Analysis

Airline Sale Fares in 2026: How to Actually Win

Airfares are down 10% internationally in 2026, but dynamic award pricing is eating your points. Here's how to find real value during airline sale seasons.

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MileIntel
8 minApr 14
a large jetliner flying over a runway at an airport13Analysis

United MileagePlus 2026: What the Overhaul Means for You

United MileagePlus is splitting its 100M members in two. Non-cardholders lose 40% of base earning starting April 2. Here's exactly what to do.

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MileIntel
8 minMar 28
Premium credit cards arranged on a dark marble surface14Analysis

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold: The 2026 Decision Framework

Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold? We modeled real spending across 6 profiles to find which card actually earns more, with exact dollar figures, not vague 'it depends' answers.

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MileIntel
3 minMar 15
The Mileage Run

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