Points of Interest: Emirates Slashes Mileage Earnings, IHG Doubles Point Earnings, Marriott Inks New Partnership, And More

While you've been buried in Black Friday shopping, holiday meals, or just managing your day-to-day, airlines and hotels have continued to work behind the scenes to make minor changes to their loyalty programs. Many of these modifications fly under the radar, as they're rarely shared with members and aren't objectively flashy.

In our second installment of “Points of Interest,” we'll introduce you to several changes that have occurred in the loyalty landscape within the past couple of months.

Accor Drops Turkish Airlines as Transfer Partner, Adds Brazilian Partners

If you prefer to convert your Accor Live Limitless reward points to airline miles, you have no shortage of options. However, that gigantic list is now one airline shorter. Accor removed Turkish Airlines as a transfer partner.

The transfer webpage is still live, but the fields don't work. Moreover, Accor has updated its terms and conditions to signal this transfer partner is going away for good. This isn't necessarily bad, though, as 4,000 ALL points are generally more valuable than the 2,000 Miles & Smiles miles you'd get in return.

Credit: Accor Live Limitless

In addition to ending this partnership, Accor has added two new transfer options and enhanced another. However, unless you live in Brazil, you'll unlikely be able to take advantage of them.

• New: Convert ESFERA points into ALL reward points at a ratio of 3,500 ESFERA points for every 1,000 ALL reward points.
• New: Transfer travel credits earned on your SBI Card MILES to ALL Reward Points at a ratio of 2 travel credits = 1 ALL reward point.
• Enhanced: Convert BRB points into ALL reward points at a ratio of 3,500 BRB points = 1,000 ALL reward points. This ratio improved from 4,000 BRB points = 1,000 ALL Reward Points.

Here's the updated list of points that transfer to Accor Live Limitless:

Transfer Choice Privileges Points to Saudia Al Fursan

Like Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges also has airline transfer partners. As of October 30, 2024, this list got a bit longer with the addition of Saudia Al Fursan. Choice Privileges members can now transfer points to Saudia at a rate of 1,000 Choice points = 200 AlFursan miles, with a minimum transfer of 5,000 Choice points.

With that addition, here's the updated list of Choice airline transfer partners:

Emirates Decreases Earning Rates on Air Canada Flights

Emirates and Air Canada partnered up in 2022, and it's an intriguing partnership. You can use Aeroplan points to book Emirates award flights — including for Emirates First Class. But, Aeroplan uses dynamic award pricing instead of a fixed rate for Emirates flights.

Now, this partnership has become a bit less lucrative. Emirates Skywards members will now earn fewer miles on select Air Canada flights — with one fare class now reduced to earning zero miles! Here's how the changes break down:

Note that we only listed the fare classes with changes. Click here to see all Emirates Skywards earning rates on Air Canada flights.

IHG Enhances Earning Rates at Four InterContinental Residence Properties

As an IHG One Rewards member, you'll earn 2.5X points per dollar spent at IHG-branded Residence properties. You'll earn even more with IHG elite status or if you pay for your reservation with a co-branded credit card.

But on January 1, 2025, four properties will have their base earning rate doubled — from 2.5X to 5X points per dollar spent (or local currency equivalent):

• InterContinental Residences Jakarta Pondok Indah
• InterContinental Doha Residences
• InterContinental Residences Suites Dubai F.C.
• Crowne Plaza Residences Port Moresby

Note that two other InterContinental Residences properties were bumped up to 5x points earnings as of September 1, 2024: InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay.

InterContinental Doha Residences. Credit: IHG

Marriott Adds Tribute Portfolio Properties Through Betterwood Partnership

Effective December 5, 2024, Marriott Bonvoy is implementing its new partnership with the Delonix Group and Betterwood. This partnership will integrate two properties — the Grand New Century Hotel, Hangzhou Boao and the Wonderland Resort, Hangzhou Jiande — into Marriott Bonvoy's Tribute Portfolio.

Betterwood doesn’t offer points or miles, so this partnership with Marriott Bonvoy adds a way for travelers to earn rewards at select properties. However, dual members must select a program to credit their qualifying activity, or they won't earn anything.

Additionally, Marriott Ambassador Elite members will enjoy an exclusive on-property benefit at these new Tribute Portfolio properties. This benefit varies by property, and there are few further details about what it entails. Maybe it's an upgrade to a room with a boat-shaped bed? We could dream.

Wonderland Resort, Hangzhou Jiande. Credit: Marriott

Marriott City Express Properties to Offer Welcome Amenities… in Two Countries

In May 2023, Marriott International acquired the City Express brand portfolio. At the time of purchase, this affordable hotel brand predominantly had locations in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile. However, in October 2024, Marriott shared plans to expand the brand's reach and build properties in the United States and Canada.

Since integration, Marriott has opted not to offer welcome amenities to Bonvoy elite members staying at City Express properties in the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and South America. But there's a twist.

This restriction won't apply to City Express properties in the U.S. and Canada. Marriott has amended its program terms and conditions to offer a welcome gift of 500 points per stay at these properties once they open.

City Express Junior by Marriott Bogota Aeropuerto. Credit: City Express

Marriott Renames “Four Points Express” as “Four Points Flex”

Staying on the topic of Marriott, the massive hotel chain recently tweaked the name of one of its newest brands. Instead of “Four Points Express,” Marriott now names the brand “Four Points Flex.” Marriott won't have to change the signage at many hotels as there are only 19 locations open — with 14 of those being in Japan and four in Turkey.

All perks (or lack thereof) remain the same. Marriott Bonvoy members will earn just 5 points per dollar spent and earn 1 Marriott Elite Night Credit per 2 qualifying nights stayed. Both of those are half of the earning rates at most Marriott properties.

Wyndham Rewards Axes Partnership With Aeromexico

On November 1, 2024, Wyndham Rewards ended its partnership with Aeromexico. Consequently, Wyndham Rewards members can no longer earn Aeromexico Rewards on qualifying stays — or transfer their points to Aeromexico.

You now have fewer options if you want to continue earning airline miles instead of Wyndham Rewards points on your Wyndham stays. And you'll need to make a new selection, as your preference has been reverted. Here's the current list of Wyndham's airline partners whose miles you can earn on stays:

• Air Canada
• Air China
• Avianca
• China Eastern
• Frontier Airlines
• Hainan Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines

You can make changes to your earning preferences in the “My Profile” section of your Wyndham account.

Credit: Jose Pablo Dominguez/Unsplash

Final Thoughts

The world of travel rewards and loyalty moves pretty fast. Even if you keep your finger on the pulse, you'll likely miss plenty of niche changes — especially negative ones, which programs like to bury. That's where Points of Interest comes in: to inform you of things airlines, hotels, and more do not.

Missed the last issue of Points of Interest? Click here to read about the American Express Centurion Lounge spa closures, Delta's amended partner earning rates, and more.

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