Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Welcome to Smart With Points, the podcast that turns your everyday business spending into extraordinary travel opportunities. I'm Jack, your host, and today we've got some properly exciting news to dive into. We're talking about the biggest-ever UK business card bonus that's just landed, a not-so-welcome devaluation from Hilton that's going to sting a bit, and your absolute last chance to get to Oktoberfest this year with points. So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's get started.

First up, the big news that's got everyone talking - American Express has just launched their biggest-ever UK business card bonus, and it's a absolute cracker. We're looking at a whopping one hundred and twenty thousand points for new Business Platinum cardholders. Now, if you're not familiar with this card, it's typically one of the premium offerings in the Amex lineup, and this bonus is genuinely unprecedented for the UK market. If you're thinking about applying for the American Express Business Platinum card, you can get it by clicking the link in our show notes - just make sure you meet the spending requirements to unlock those one hundred and twenty thousand points.

Now, unfortunately, it's not all good news in the points and miles world. Hilton has quietly pushed through another devaluation of their top-tier properties, and this one's going to hurt. This marks their third such change in just twelve months, following adjustments back in December two thousand and twenty-four and May two thousand and twenty-five. The damage this time? Their most luxurious properties will now cost up to two hundred and fifty thousand points per night. Yes, you heard that right - two hundred and fifty thousand points for a single night. That's a significant increase, and it really does sting for those of us who love using points for luxury stays. It's particularly frustrating because this is becoming a pattern with Hilton - three devaluations in just one year really tests the patience of loyal members.

But let's move on to something more time-sensitive and fun. If you've been thinking about Oktoberfest, well, time is absolutely running out. With just two weeks until Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich - that's September twentieth through October fifth - now is your absolute last chance to secure accommodation with points. If you're planning to join the millions heading to Bavaria's capital for what is quite possibly the world's most famous beer festival, you'll want to sort this immediately. Munich gets absolutely packed during Oktoberfest, and finding last-minute accommodation can be both expensive and challenging. Using points could be your saving grace here, but you really do need to act fast.

We also have a quick update from the lounge world - Plaza Premium's Terminal Three arrivals lounge at Heathrow has reopened. This is great news for those arriving at Heathrow and looking for a place to freshen up before heading into London. We'll actually be checking it out ourselves next week, so watch this space for a full review.

And speaking of interesting opportunities, Flying Blue is offering two hundred thousand miles as a prize for sharing travel photos in their twentieth anniversary celebration. Two hundred thousand miles is a substantial prize that could get you some incredible redemptions, so if you've got some great travel photos, it might be worth entering.

That's all we've got for you today on Smart With Points. As always, thanks for listening and for making us part of your travel planning routine. If you enjoyed today's episode, please do subscribe to the podcast - you can find us on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, or visit our website at smartwithpoints.co.uk. Your subscriptions really help us continue bringing you the latest in miles and points news and strategy.

Before you go, here's a quick word from our sponsor. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the show notes.