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The MileIntel Blog

Points of Departure

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

Recent
42 articles
white and red kanji text01Analysis

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
people sitting inside plane02Deals

How to Book ITA Business Class for Under 72,000 Flying Blue Miles

Flying Blue members can book ITA Airways business class for 72,000 miles transatlantic or 20,000 miles intra-Europe — but awards must be issued by November 15, 2025.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 31
airplane over clouds during golden hour03From the Cockpit

I Built a Devaluation Alert System. It Wasn't Ready for Aeroplan.

I thought our alert pipeline was solid. Then Aeroplan restructured its entire award chart in under 2 weeks and exposed every gap I'd ignored.

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MileIntel
5 minMay 30
gray and brown globe toy beside camera04Analysis

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
British Airways aircraft wing over clouds05News

The BA Amex Companion Voucher Now Works on Avios Holidays

On May 20, 2026, BA and Amex made the Companion Voucher usable on British Airways Holidays packages paid with Avios, returning 25% of the Avios spent. It sidesteps the voucher's biggest problem: scarce reward seats.

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MileIntel
4 minMay 28
Airplane window view at altitude, contemplative tone06Opinion

Stop Earning Airline Miles. Earn Transferable Points.

In 2026, hoarding airline-specific miles is a slow bleed. Earn transferable points instead — they let you route around any single program's worst day. Earn flexible, burn specific.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 28
Modern white hotel building with balconies and palm trees.07Guide

The Hyatt 5-Tier Award Chart Trade-Off, Explained

Hyatt's new 5-tier award chart is live as of May 20, 2026. The real-world impact for most travelers is a 10% average increase, not the alarming 67% headline figure.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 28
A united airlines plane flying in the sky08News

United's 737 MAX Transatlantic Move Looks Like Its Azores Play. Here's What Happened Then.

United launches EWR-Santiago de Compostela on a 737 MAX 8 starting May 27, 2026. Economy saver awards start at 40,000 MileagePlus miles. Here's the full breakdown.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 26
a sandy beach with palm trees and lounge chairs09Deals

5 EVA Air Award Deals Worth Booking This Summer 2026

EVA Air business class to Asia runs $4,000–$6,000 cash. These 5 award paths show you exactly how to close that gap, including the group-booking angle most guides skip.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 23
A southwest airlines jet flying over a city10News

Why Southwest's 20 New June Routes Miss the Real Story

Southwest launches 20 new routes on June 4 and June 6, 2026 — but overall capacity falls 1% YoY, 11 international routes are cut simultaneously, and dynamic pricing means award costs will exceed the 1.3¢ baseline on high-demand new routes.

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MileIntel
9 minMay 22
KLM airplane window photo11Guide

Is the KLM Flying Blue Transfer Bonus Still Worth It in 2026?

Flying Blue's 20% transfer bonus from Chase expires May 27, 2026. Before you transfer, read why the 2025 devaluation may have already spent it for you.

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MileIntel
10 minMay 21
12Analysis

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
a group of people in a room13Deals

VIP-VIP, IPS-NEW, OXO-OXO: Why These Fare Codes Don't Exist

VIP-VIP, IPS-NEW, and OXO-OXO are not real airline fare codes. Here's how actual fare basis codes work and what frequent flyers should track instead.

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MileIntel
14 minMay 20
14Analysis

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
15Analysis

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
16Analysis

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
yellow sale text printed on glass window17Deals

May 2026 Deals Roundup: Which Bonuses Actually Deliver

53 active deals flood the market this May, but most transfer bonuses mask eroding point values. Here's what's worth acting on—and what to skip.

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MileIntel
11 minMay 17
An aerial view of a seaside resort.18Analysis

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
macro shot of gray plane seats19Guide

How to Book Aeroplan Awards Before the June 1 Devaluation

Aeroplan raises partner award rates June 1, 2026. Book first-class and business-class awards now to lock in rates up to 20% lower. Step-by-step guide inside.

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MileIntel
6 minMay 14

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