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Deals10 min read

Circle Trip Booking Methods, Ranked by Actual Value

Circle trips start and end at the same airport with stops in between. The math on when they beat separate one-ways — and which loyalty programs make them cheaper — is right here.

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MileIntel
June 14, 2026
Recent
52 articles
a view of the wing of an airplane in the sky01From the Cockpit

She Had 180,000 Aeroplan Points. Then June 1st Happened.

A real user story about the Aeroplan devaluation, what MileIntel caught, and what we're still not fast enough to prevent.

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MileIntel
5 minJun 13
man in gray t-shirt sitting on window during daytime02Guide

How to Use Transfer Bonuses (Without Chasing the Highest Percentage)

A 55% transfer bonus to Marriott destroys value. A 25% bonus to Flying Blue can book Europe in economy for 15,000 points. The numbers explain why.

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MileIntel
9 minJun 11
white and blue passenger plane in flight03Analysis

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 passenger jet flying through a cloudy sky04News

Delta's LAX-HKG Route Looks Like Delta 2018. Here's What Happened Then.

Delta launched daily LAX-HKG flights on June 6, 2026, pricing Delta One awards at 85,000 SkyMiles. The route looks attractive — until you check Delta's Hong Kong track record.

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MileIntel
8 minJun 9
a large cloud is in the sky above the land05Guide

Is Aeroplan Still Worth It in 2026 After the June Devaluation?

Aeroplan's June 2026 devaluation raised partner business class to Asia by 17% and first class to Europe by 20%. But 5 sweet spots survived intact — and one actually got cheaper.

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MileIntel
6 minJun 7
Boats and colorful buildings surround the turquoise water.06News

BermudAir's 14 New Routes Look Like Skybus 2007. Here's What Happened Then.

BermudAir just announced 14 new winter routes on 4 aircraft with zero loyalty program — and a recent airport-fee lawsuit settled via payment plan. The math deserves scrutiny.

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MileIntel
10 minJun 6
a large jetliner sitting on top of an airport runway07Analysis

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
a close up of the nose of an airplane08Guide

Air Canada 787-9 Business Class in 2026: The 4-Step Optimal Booking Path

Aeroplan's June 2026 devaluation pushed transatlantic partner awards to 75,000 points. Avianca LifeMiles books the same seat for 63,000. A complete, step-by-step comparison.

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MileIntel
6 minJun 4
yellow Volkswagen van on road09Deals

5 Car Rental & IHG Redemption Mistakes Most People Make This Summer

Airline miles for car rentals yield as little as 0.5 cpp. The Pay Yourself Back loophole and IHG's 4th Night Free flip that math entirely. Here's what to do instead.

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MileIntel
8 minJun 3
aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytime10News

Alaska Mileage Plan: 85,000 Miles for a Recliner to Reykjavik

Alaska's new Seattle-Reykjavik route spans 3,622 miles on a domestic-configured 737 MAX 8. First class starts at 85,000 miles — for a recliner seat on an 8-hour flight.

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MileIntel
9 minJun 2
white and red kanji text11Analysis

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 plane12Deals

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 hour13From 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 camera14Analysis

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 clouds15News

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 tone16Opinion

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.17Guide

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 sky18News

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 chairs19Deals

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

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