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Southwest brought back a sweet promotion that lets you earn a promotional Companion Pass after just one round trip instead of the usual 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a year. Register first, then book a qualifying flight by Thursday, Aug. 6, with cash, points, or a mix. Complete the trip by Nov. 18 to unlock unlimited companion flights from Jan. 5 through March 3, 2027. Your companion only pays the required taxes and fees, which are typically just $5.60 each way on domestic flights. You can change your designated companion up to three times during the promotional period.

As of today, Delta and Starbucks updated how their mileage partnership works. Once your accounts are linked, you'll earn one SkyMile for every dollar spent at Starbucks, and you no longer need to preload a Starbucks gift card. The catch is a new requirement to have flown Delta within the past 12 months to keep earning, though a grace period through Oct. 5 covers everyone for now. If you fly Delta regularly, you should link your accounts today. It's also worth checking your inbox for a targeted $50 Starbucks gift card offer tied to that deadline.

Harrah's Resort Southern California is running a 48-hour flash sale starting Thursday, Aug. 6, where a second night costs just $10 with code MK10S for eligible Monday through Thursday stays through Dec. 22. Also, award availability at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica is wide open through November for up to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Register for Southwest Companion Pass promo: https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/promotion-detail?id=2-5I3T8GAU

Link your Delta and Starbucks accounts: https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:18 Southwest Companion Pass Promotion

1:36 Delta and Starbucks SkyMiles Update

2:57 Harrah's Resort Southern California Flash Sale

3:46 Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Award Availability

4:19 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Departure Digest will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Departure Digest is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies, or all available credit card offers. The content in this episode is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

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WestJet flight attendants have been on strike since Sunday, grounding nearly all of the airline's flights except a few regional routes. We explain what affected travelers should do next: WestJet is legally required to rebook passengers on the next available flight, even on another airline, and your travel credit card's trip delay protection may help if your trip is disrupted.

Then there's Amex's newest hotel transfer partner, Leaders Club from Leading Hotels of the World. At first glance, the 4:1 transfer ratio looks far less attractive than the 1:1 transfers many travelers are used to. But the value of Leaders Club points tells a very different story. This may be one of the strongest hotel redemption opportunities available through Membership Rewards, especially for travelers who love independent luxury hotels like the Ritz Paris. Some cardholders can also unlock complimentary elite status, which may include perks like free breakfast and early check-in.

We also visit Il Borro, the Tuscan estate where Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco celebrated her birthday, where Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits can make a stay more rewarding. JetBlue debuts new Mint menus from Michelin-starred Crown Shy and Brooklyn's Birdee bakery, and United, Delta, and Southwest have all banned humanoid and animal-like robots from flying as passengers.

Transferable Points Guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:22 WestJet Flight Attendant Strike

1:06 Amex Leaders Club Transfer Partner

2:31 Selena Gomez's Tuscan Vacation

3:43 JetBlue's New Mint Menus

4:05 Airlines Ban Humanoid Robots

———

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Departure Digest will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Departure Digest is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies, or all available credit card offers. The content in this episode is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

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Meet Departure Digest, your five-minute, audio-first travel voice memo. We cut through the noise on airline news, hotel updates, and points strategies, so you don't have to spend hours bouncing between open tabs and group chats.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we break down what's worth booking and how to avoid the expensive mistakes airlines and hotels hope you make. Our goal is simple: help you book the first-class experience on a coach budget by turning travel headlines and points strategies into clear takeaways and next steps. Clear enough for beginners, sharp enough for pros.

We're travel nerds who've spent years earning points, testing loyalty programs, and shaping travel coverage for some of the biggest names in media. We're the friend who already did the research. Think of each episode as a quick voice memo from your savviest travel friend, delivered before your coffee gets cold.

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