October arrived with changes to hotel transfers, airline rewards, and the benefits tucked inside premium credit cards. Some changes mean fewer points for the same transfer. Others offer more flexibility, but come with conditions worth checking.
Here’s what changed this week and what it means for your cards, points, and perks.
1. Hyatt transfers get less generous for some Chase cards, with Bilt following in January
As of October 1, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred cardholders transfer points to World of Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio. Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business retain the 1:1 rate.
Bilt has also announced that its Hyatt transfer ratio will change from 1:1 to 4:3 on January 1, 2027. Bilt members can still transfer at 1:1 through December 31, 2026.
The difference is easy to see: a stay requiring 30,000 Hyatt points now requires 40,000 Chase points from an affected card. You receive 25% fewer Hyatt points for the same transfer, or need roughly 33% more transferable points for the same stay.
PerksRadar’s take: If Hyatt is your main reason for collecting these points, revisit your next redemption and your card’s annual value. Keeping access to 1:1 transfers may help, but a premium card’s higher fee still needs to make sense for you. Before moving Bilt points ahead of January, check availability for a stay you actually want. A deadline alone is a weak reason to give up flexible points.
For business owners considering Sapphire Reserve for Business, Chase is advertising 200,000 bonus points after $30,000 in purchases within six months. That spending requirement deserves as much attention as the bonus. A $4,000 valuation assumes a redemption worth 2 cents per point; it is not a guaranteed cash payout.
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2. Atmos gives travelers a choice in how they earn
Atmos Rewards, the loyalty program for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, is preparing a more personalized earning system for flights departing January 1, 2027 or later.
Members can choose among distance traveled, ticket price, or flight segments. Selection opened October 1. Existing members who make no selection continue earning based on distance; new members joining from January default to price-based earning. Members can change their choice once per calendar year for future travel.
Alaska also plans to introduce transfers from eligible Bank of America cards in 2027. The announcement does not, by itself, confirm that Bilt transfers are ending.
PerksRadar’s take: You can still choose among all three earning methods; everyone is not being moved to ticket-price earning. Look at your typical trips before choosing. Long flights, expensive tickets, and frequent short hops can favor different earning methods. Review both redeemable points and status points, rather than choosing based on one unusually good trip. If you transfer Bilt points to Atmos, wait for explicit partner terms before treating speculation as a change to your account.
3. Chase and IHG introduce a $350 Premier Select card
The new IHG One Rewards Premier Select card launched with a $350 annual fee and an offer of 200,000 bonus points after $5,000 in purchases within three months.
Benefits include an anniversary free night capped at 60,000 points, with the option to add points, automatic Platinum Elite status, and 20 annual elite night credits.
Its advertised $300 annual food-and-beverage benefit comes as one $75 voucher each quarter. Eligible charges must appear on your room bill at participating IHG hotels. Vouchers expire at the end of their quarter, and unused value from a redeemed voucher is forfeited.
PerksRadar’s take: Four quarterly vouchers are harder to use than one annual allowance. Count the quarters when you realistically expect to stay at IHG and buy eligible food or drinks. That gives you a more useful estimate of value than adding every advertised benefit together.
Existing IHG cardholders should also read their upcoming account notices. Chase and IHG say existing members will receive details about benefit changes and effective dates in October, with annual fees adjusted in 2027.
More perks also mean more dates to remember. Get PerksRadar reminders for your cards to help keep track of the benefits you want to use.
4. Premium-card benefits change, but the details matter
Starting October 1, eligible consumer Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive a $15 monthly DoorDash promo replacing the previous $5 restaurant promo. The two separate $10 monthly non-restaurant promos remain available. DoorDash says its app currently displays the highest-value eligible promo first, which can make the others appear missing until that promo is used.
Separately, eligible Amex cardholders lost access to Lufthansa lounges through the Global Lounge Collection benefit on October 1. Travelers may still qualify through a ticket or airline status, but should check their access before departure.
Chase’s move away from a standard 1.5-cent portal redemption also has an important timing exception: qualifying legacy Sapphire Reserve points retain that value through October 26, 2027. This is not a blanket October 2026 expiration.
PerksRadar’s take: Check the benefit attached to your specific card, account, and point balance. Consumer and business cards can have different terms. For credits, confirm the discount before paying; for lounges, check your airport and itinerary before leaving home.
Still forgetting your monthly credits? Sign up for PerksRadar reminders and give yourself a nudge to use your eligible perks before the month ends.
What to check this week
- Recalculate your next Hyatt redemption if you use Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred.
- Compare Atmos earning options against your expected 2027 flights.
- Read IHG account notices before assuming your existing benefits or fee will stay the same.
- Check which DoorDash promo is applied before placing an order.
- Confirm lounge access for upcoming trips through Lufthansa hubs.
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Offers and benefits can change. Check your account’s current terms before applying, transferring points, or making a booking.