Credit card news and devaluations

Best Western Rewards becomes WorldHotels Rewards on 5 Jan 2027, with three membership tiers instead of five

BWH Hotels is folding Best Western Rewards and WorldHotels Rewards into one program, WorldHotels Rewards, from 5 January 2027. Points keep their value and still do not expire; the tier rules arrive on 16 November 2026.

Effective 5 Jan 2027

Chase Freedom Flex drops its foreign transaction fee and loses cell phone protection

Chase's no-annual-fee Freedom Flex no longer charges a foreign transaction fee, per Chase's own card page. The same change, dated 20 September 2026 by AwardWallet, removed the card's cell phone protection. The refreshed card is now live with new card art.

Effective 20 Sept 2026

Navy Federal launches the Flagship Premier Visa Signature: 4x travel, 3x dining, $95 fee

Navy Federal Credit Union's new Flagship Premier Visa Signature earns 4x points on travel and 3x on dining, carries a $95 annual fee and a $100 annual airline credit, and opens with 50,000 bonus points after $4,000 spend in 90 days. Existing Flagship Rewards cardholders were told a $95 fee applies from 2 November 2026.

Effective 3 Nov 2026

Amex UK Platinum caps Priority Pass at 20 visits a year from 2028, unless you spend £30,000

From 1 January 2028, the UK Platinum Card from American Express limits Priority Pass to 20 free visits a year for the main cardmember and 10 for each supplementary cardmember. Spend £30,000 on the account in 2027 and 2028 stays unlimited. Centurion and other Global Lounge Collection lounges are not capped.

Effective 1 Jan 2028

Capital One adds Copa ConnectMiles at 2:1.5, with a 30% launch bonus to 1 December

Since 2 November 2026, Capital One miles transfer to Copa Airlines' ConnectMiles at 1,000 to 750. A 30% launch bonus lifts that to 1,000 to 975 until 11:59pm ET on 1 December 2026. Citi already transfers to Copa at a better rate.

Effective 2 Nov 2026

Amex Pay Over Time locks to Active from 1 February 2027, with no way to switch it off

From 1 February 2027, Pay Over Time on US American Express cards that have it is permanently set to Active and the setting can no longer be changed. Charge cards gain a Minimum Payment Due. Here is what to check before then, starting with AutoPay.

Effective 1 Feb 2027

SBI Card MILES drops Flying Blue and Etihad Guest from its transfer list, with no notice we can find

SBI Card's MILES rewards terms listed 18 airline partners in an August 2026 copy. The version dated 23 September lists 16: Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Etihad Guest are gone.

Delta holds Medallion thresholds flat for spending in 2027, while United and Southwest tighten

Delta confirmed on 22 October 2026 that Medallion Qualification Dollar thresholds stay at $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 and $28,000 for 2027 activity. MQDs still reset on 1 January, and Delta Amex holders keep their Headstart.

Effective 1 Jan 2027

Axis memberships and Priority Pass stop auto-renewing from 15 November 2026: which cards, and what lapses

Axis Bank's own opt-in terms list the benefits that renew only with your consent from 15 November 2026: Priority Pass on nine cards, plus Accor+ Explorer, Club Marriott, Taj Epicure and Club ITC on three.

Effective 15 Nov 2026

AU Zenith and Vetta lose their low forex rates: 3.49% markup now, and the fuel waiver falls to ₹100

AU Small Finance Bank's charges sheet dated 30 September 2026 moves the Zenith and Vetta credit cards to a 3.49% forex markup and caps their fuel surcharge waiver at ₹100 a month. Zenith+ is not affected.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

Tata Neu HDFC cards stop auto-crediting NeuCoins from 25 November 2026: claim them within 12 months or lose them

From 25 November 2026, NeuCoins earned on Tata Neu Infinity and Tata Neu Plus HDFC cards no longer reach your Tata Neu account on their own. The primary cardholder has to claim them in the app within 12 months of the statement date.

Effective 25 Nov 2026

Amex lets Blue Cash and Graphite cardholders send Reward Dollars to a savings or business checking account

American Express announced on 29 October 2026 that Reward Dollars can go straight to an Amex deposit account at 1:1. Blue Cash cards pay into a High Yield Savings Account and the Graphite Business card into Business Checking.

Effective 29 Oct 2026

Air India and SBI Card announce a new co-branded Visa card, two years after closing the old ones

Air India, SBI Card and Visa announced a new Maharaja Club credit card on 28 October 2026. No fee, earn rate or launch date is out yet. The old Air India SBI cards have been closed to new applicants since October 2024.

SBI Card adds a 1% fee on transport payments over ₹30,000 and on fuel above ₹50,000 a cycle from 1 December 2026

From 1 December 2026, every SBI credit card charges 1% on each transportation transaction above ₹30,000, and 1% on your whole fuel spend once it crosses ₹50,000 in a billing cycle. Here is how the two rules differ and who pays.

Effective 1 Dec 2026

Bilt 2027: 4% Bilt Cash ends for new cardholders, hotel credits become Bilt Cash, hotel redemptions drop to twice a year

Bilt is retiring its 4% Flexible Bilt Cash mode for new cardholders from 1 January 2027, turning the Palladium and Obsidian hotel credits into Bilt Cash, and limiting Bilt Cash hotel redemptions to twice a year. Existing cardholders can keep 4% by opting out before their card anniversary.

Effective 1 Jan 2027

MakeMyTrip ICICI card goes zero forex from 10 Nov 2026, but stops rewarding international spends and puts a 24-month expiry on myCash

From 10 November 2026 the MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card drops its forex markup and DCC fee to zero, ends myCash on international spends outside MakeMyTrip, and new myCash expires after 24 months. The older Signature and Platinum MakeMyTrip cards are excluded.

Effective 10 Nov 2026

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select and Business cards get new categories and credits, and the fee rises to $150 from 24 Jan 2027

Citi and American Airlines are refreshing the AAdvantage Platinum Select and Business World Elite Mastercards: 3x on AAdvantage Hotels and Cars, new 2x categories, a $100 inflight credit and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. The annual fee rises to $150 at renewals after 24 January 2027.

Effective 24 Jan 2027

Amex Platinum adds Airbnb: 5X on prepaid stays via Amex Travel, a $250 Airbnb Experiences credit, and the hotel credit becomes a Lodging Credit

Airbnb homes are now bookable on Amex Travel. Platinum and Business Platinum earn 5X Membership Rewards on prepaid Airbnb stays, the $600 hotel credit becomes a Lodging Credit that covers Airbnb Luxe, and a $250 Airbnb Experiences credit unlocks after a Luxe booking. Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings need two nights from 1 Jan 2027.

Effective 22 Oct 2026

Paytm AU SFB Credit Card launches: lifetime free RuPay, up to 2% on Paytm UPI, family lounge visits

AU Small Finance Bank and Paytm launched a lifetime-free RuPay credit card on 21 October 2026: up to 2% on eligible Paytm UPI spends, 5% on Paytm Travel and Paytm Gold, and up to 12 family lounge visits a year tied to round-trip flights booked on Paytm.

Effective 21 Oct 2026

Citi ThankYou adds Copa ConnectMiles: 1:1 on premium cards, 1,000:700 on no-fee cards

Since 25 October 2026, Citi ThankYou points transfer to Copa Airlines' ConnectMiles. Strata Elite, Strata Premier and Prestige points move 1:1; Double Cash, Custom Cash and other no-annual-fee cards get 700 miles per 1,000 points.

Effective 25 Oct 2026

Citi AAdvantage Executive adds a $200 inKind dining credit, split into two $100 halves

From 25 October 2026, Citi AAdvantage Executive cardmembers get up to $200 a year in dining credits through the inKind app: $100 for January to June and $100 for July to December. Citi confirmed it to View From The Wing. You have to add the card to inKind and pay through the app.

Effective 25 Oct 2026

Equitas PowerMiles reportedly adds Air India Maharaja Club as its first transfer partner

Equitas Small Finance Bank's PowerMiles credit card has reportedly switched on its first points transfer partner, Air India Maharaja Club, at 1:1 through the Xchange Rewards portal, after more than a year of delays. The other announced airline and hotel partners are not live yet.

Effective 23 Oct 2026

Amex Business Platinum limits 2x shipping and the wireless credit to named companies from 17 February 2027

From 17 February 2027 the American Express Business Platinum Card earns its 2x shipping bonus only on purchases made directly with seven named shippers, and the up to $10 monthly wireless credit only on bills paid directly to 11 named US carriers. It is the same narrowing Amex announced for the Business Gold a week earlier.

Effective 17 Feb 2027

World of Hyatt now lets members transfer points online, free, up to 525,000 a year

Since 15 October 2026, World of Hyatt members can send points to another member online at 1:1 and no fee, replacing the old paper form. Limits: 1,000-point minimum, one transfer a month, six a year, 525,000 sent and received per calendar year.

Effective 15 Oct 2026

PNB credit cards: ₹99 redemption fee, 1% utility fee and higher cash and late charges from 1 November

Punjab National Bank's public notice revises credit card charges from 1 November 2026. Visa and RuPay variants get a ₹99 fee per reward redemption, a 1% fee on utility payments above ₹50,000 a cycle, and steeper cash advance and late payment charges.

Effective 1 Nov 2026

Bilt adds JetBlue TrueBlue as a 1:1 transfer partner

From 20 October 2026, Bilt Rewards points transfer to JetBlue TrueBlue at 1:1 in 1,000-point increments. Bilt was the last major US transferable currency without a JetBlue route. No transfer bonus has been announced.

Effective 20 Oct 2026

Amex Business Platinum adds free ZO Clubhouse and Studio membership from 22 October

From 22 October 2026, US Business Platinum and Corporate Platinum cardholders get unlimited ZO Clubhouse access, 4 guest passes a week, 4 Studio day passes a month and up to $500 a year in ZO credits. No enrollment with Amex; the annual fee is unchanged.

Effective 22 Oct 2026

Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card is being phased out: what the auto-migration to Ornge means

HDFC's own migration FAQ confirms the original Swiggy HDFC card is being retired in phases. If you do not pick a variant in time, you are moved to the lifetime-free Swiggy Ornge card, with a new card number, a reset renewal date and no carried-over mandates.

Effective 30 Sept 2026

Southwest Companion Pass: card welcome bonuses stop counting from 1 January 2027

Southwest announced on 15 October 2026 that, from 2027, credit card welcome bonuses, bonus-category points, anniversary points, referrals and partner earning no longer count toward the Companion Pass. Card spend still earns 1 TQP per dollar. Cards approved by 2 December 2026 keep a path for their welcome bonus.

Effective 1 Jan 2027

Eternal SBI Card launches: 10% off Zomato, District and Bistro, capped at ₹2,000 a month

SBI Card and Eternal (Zomato's parent) have launched the Eternal SBI Card on Mastercard and RuPay. It gives instant discounts on Zomato, Blinkit, District and Bistro, 5% cashback on four partner apps, and 1% elsewhere, with monthly caps on each. Invitations to apply roll out in phases from 22 October 2026.

Effective 22 Oct 2026

Former Barclays Aviator cardholders lose their grandfathered Citi perks on 25 October

Citi ends the Barclays-era benefits on converted AAdvantage Platinum Select and Globe cards from 25 October 2026: Wi-Fi credits, the Globe's 2x hotels and car rentals and daily food credit, and the Companion Certificate after one final earn.

Effective 25 Oct 2026

Chase co-brand cards: the $10 DoorDash non-restaurant credit is now monthly, but only for new activations

Chase's DashPass terms for co-brand cards now give a $10 non-restaurant DoorDash discount every month if you first activated DashPass on or after 1 September 2026. Earlier activations stay quarterly. Freedom and Slate remain quarterly per DoorDash.

Effective 1 Sept 2026

Amex stops automatically pooling Membership Rewards points from new cards

American Express's October 2026 Membership Rewards terms say a new card now gets its own rewards account instead of joining your existing points balance. You can still combine them through Manage Connections. Cards you already hold are not affected.

Effective 15 Oct 2026

Amex Business Gold limits 4x on ads and wireless to named merchants from 17 February 2027

From 17 February 2027 the American Express Business Gold Card earns 4x on advertising only when you buy directly from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy or Yelp, and on wireless only when you pay one of 11 named US carriers. The top-two-category structure and the $150,000 yearly cap do not change.

Effective 17 Feb 2027

United drops flight-count status in 2027 and raises Premier 1K to 32,000 PQP

From 1 January 2027, United MileagePlus Premier status is earned on Premier Qualifying Points alone. The flights-plus-points path ends, 1K rises from 28,000 to 32,000 PQP, and the United co-brand cards become a bigger part of how status gets earned.

Effective 1 Jan 2027

ICICI launches 1838 Reserve: an invite-only ₹1.75 lakh card with 3% domestic rewards and zero forex

ICICI Bank's 1838 Reserve, issued with Times Internet and Visa, is now live on ICICI's site. ₹1,75,000 plus GST every year with no waiver, 3% back on domestic spends, 2% on international, zero forex markup, and a monthly cap of 1,00,000 points.

Axis gates its buy-one-get-one movie offer behind ₹25,000 of spend from 1 November 2026

From 1 November 2026, Axis Bank's buy-one-get-one movie benefit on MyZone, Select, Privilege and Neo becomes conditional: you need ₹25,000 of settled spend in the previous three calendar months to qualify. Membership renewals on premium Axis cards also move to opt-in.

Effective 1 Nov 2026

Amex Platinum loses Lufthansa lounge access from 1 October 2026

American Express has ended its Lufthansa lounge agreement. From 1 October 2026, Platinum and Centurion cardmembers can no longer use Lufthansa Business, Senator or First lounges on a same-day Lufthansa Group flight. Here is what you still have.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

Air India and Singapore Airlines widen their tie-up: standalone partner bookings from 15 Oct, elite perks from Q2 2027

From 15 October 2026 you can book an eligible Air India or Singapore Airlines flight between India and Singapore on the other airline's site without pairing it. Reciprocal Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer elite perks follow in Q2 2027. No award prices change.

Effective 15 Oct 2026

Visa Power Travel returns for Indian cardholders: up to 20% back on overseas spends until 31 January 2027

Visa's Power Travel campaign now covers spends in any country for India-issued Visa cards from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027: 0.5% on overseas in-store spend and ATM withdrawals, 10% on Google Pay or Samsung Pay taps, and a one-time ₹10,000 bonus after ₹1 lakh across 20 transactions. Registration is required and rewards cap at ₹50,000 per card.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

HDFC lets Infinia and Diners Black holders buy ALL Accor+ Explorer for 10,000 reward points until 17 December 2026

HDFC's top cards can reportedly redeem 10,000 reward points for an ALL Accor+ Explorer membership through SmartBuy until 17 December 2026. It carries the 30 status nights that make you ALL Accor Gold, but not the two Stay Plus free nights a paid membership includes.

Effective 6 Oct 2026

U.S. Bank launches two Business Essentials cards: 2% flat, up to 3.5% with checking balances, and a $295 Plus card with 5% on your top category

U.S. Bank's new Business Essentials Visa (no annual fee) and Business Essentials Plus Visa Signature ($295) cards launched on 28 September 2026. Both earn 2% everywhere; the boosted rates depend on balances held in a qualifying U.S. Bank business checking account.

Effective 28 Sept 2026

Amex Business Gold swaps FedEx for UPS.com in its $20 monthly flexible credit

From 1 October 2026 the American Express Business Gold Card's flexible business credit no longer covers FedEx. UPS.com shipments now qualify instead, alongside Grubhub and US office supply stores. Enrollment is still required, and UPS Store counters do not count.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

IHG overhauls its Chase cards: Premier goes to $150 and loses Platinum status, Business goes to $200, and a $350 Premier Select arrives

Chase's IHG One Rewards cards were refreshed in October 2026. The Premier's fee rises from $99 to $150 and its automatic status drops from Platinum to Gold Elite, the Business card rises from $99 to $200 and keeps Platinum, and a new $350 Premier Select card carries Platinum Elite.

Bilt cuts World of Hyatt transfers from 1:1 to 4:3 on 1 January 2027, with no exception for top-tier members

Bilt Rewards will transfer to World of Hyatt at 4:3 from 1 January 2027, so 1,000 Bilt points become 750 Hyatt points. 31 December 2026 is the last day at 1:1, and the cut applies whatever your Bilt status or card.

Effective 1 Jan 2027

Citi ThankYou adds Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, with a 30% transfer bonus until 24 October

Citi made Japan Airlines Mileage Bank a ThankYou transfer partner on 20 September 2026. Annual-fee cards such as the Strata Premier transfer 1:1, no-fee cards such as the Double Cash transfer 1:0.7, and a 30% launch bonus runs through 24 October 2026.

Effective 20 Sept 2026

Apple Pay goes live in India, but only for Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards

Apple Pay launched in India at the end of September 2026 with a single issuer. Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards can be added to Apple Wallet; RuPay is not supported, and HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card are reportedly still negotiating terms.

Effective 30 Sept 2026

Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business caps 3x on advertising at $1M a year from 15 November

From 15 November 2026 the Sapphire Reserve for Business earns 3x on social media and search advertising only on the first $1 million per account anniversary year, then 1x. The Edit hotel credit doubles to $1,000 from 1 January 2027.

Effective 15 Nov 2026

Bank of America points will transfer to Alaska's Atmos Rewards from 2027

Alaska Airlines said on 29 September 2026 that customers with eligible Bank of America card products will be able to transfer points into Atmos Rewards in 2027. Which cards and at what ratio are not announced yet.

The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST credit card stops working on 1 October 2026; holders are being moved to a lifetime-free Diamond Reserve

IDFC FIRST Bank says the Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card programme ends on 30 September 2026 and the card will not work for any transaction from 1 October. Live From A Lounge and CardInsider report that holders get the Diamond Reserve card lifetime free as the replacement.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

Citi's Strata cards switch to once-per-lifetime welcome bonus language (was 48 months)

Citi quietly changed the terms on the Strata, Strata Premier and Strata Elite cards around 20 September 2026: the new account bonus is not available if you currently have or previously had that account. The old rule looked back 48 months from the last bonus.

Effective 20 Sept 2026

BOBCARD ends lifetime free on Easy, Select, Premier and Eterna: first year free now, then a fee

From 1 September 2026, BOBCARD's four mainstream cards are first year free only. From year two they carry annual fees of ₹500 to ₹2,499, each waived on a spend threshold between ₹35,000 and ₹2,50,000 a year.

Effective 1 Sept 2026

Axis adds Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa and Hilton, brings Accor back, and moves Air India, Flying Blue and Qantas into the smaller transfer pool

Around 22-23 September 2026 Axis Bank reshuffled its EDGE transfer partners: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Lufthansa Miles & More and Hilton Honors were added, Accor returned at a worse ratio, Club ITC was removed, and three popular airlines moved into the lower-capped Group A.

Effective 22 Sept 2026

Jupiter Edge+ puts its 50% shopping Jewels behind a ₹15,000 cycle spend from 10 October 2026

From 10 October 2026 the Edge+ CSB Bank RuPay card pays its full 50% Jewels on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and other listed shopping merchants only when qualified statement-cycle spend is greater than ₹15,000. Below that, shopping earns 5%, the same as every other spend, and the held-back 45% is cancelled.

Effective 10 Oct 2026

Chase adds "Invest Your Points": Ultimate Rewards can now be cashed into a J.P. Morgan investment account at 1 cent each

Chase announced on 16 September 2026 that Ultimate Rewards points from Sapphire, Freedom and Ink cards can be redeemed for cash to invest in an eligible J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account or an advisor-managed taxable account. The rate is 100 points to $1, the same as a plain cash redemption.

Effective 16 Sept 2026

IDFC FIRST drops the forex markup on every credit card, and its own press release now says international spends keep earning rewards

IDFC FIRST Bank now charges zero forex markup on all its credit cards, existing ones included, with no upgrade or spend condition. A reported plan to stop rewards on international spends from 26 October 2026 is contradicted by IDFC's own 17 September press release, though Ashva's page still shows its international earn falling from 5X to 2X.

Effective 26 Oct 2026

Amazon Pay and Kotak launch a business credit card: 5% back on Amazon Business for Prime members, sole proprietors only

The Amazon Pay Kotak Business Credit Card pays 5% cashback on eligible Amazon Business purchases and flight and hotel bookings for Prime members (3% otherwise), 2% on Amazon Pay bills and 1% elsewhere. The annual fee waiver counts only off-Amazon spend, and the top tier is capped at 5% of your monthly credit limit.

Effective 11 Sept 2026

Wyndham Rewards adds a 45,000-point tier: top hotels get 50% pricier, cheapest get 33% cheaper (15 Sep 2026)

From 15 September 2026 Wyndham Rewards moves from three flat award tiers to four, adding a new 45,000-point top band for its most expensive hotels while dropping the entry tier to 5,000 points. Book the top properties before the switch.

Effective 15 Sept 2026

World of Hyatt drops American Airlines for Delta: what points holders should do before the deadlines

Hyatt is ending its American Airlines AAdvantage tie-up and starting a new Delta SkyMiles partnership. Announced 9 September 2026, with a 15 November linking deadline and earning wind-downs into 2027. Here is the timeline that matters.

Effective 15 Nov 2026

Amex raises every Hilton welcome offer, including a record 200,000-point Aspire bonus

From 10 September 2026 Amex lifted the welcome bonus on all four Hilton Honors cards, adding a free night reward to three of them and pushing the Aspire to a record 200,000 points. The elevated offers run through 13 January 2027.

Effective 10 Sept 2026

Amex India tightens Membership Rewards: the 50% fee waiver goes and points stop pooling across cards (now 15 Nov 2026)

The main India Membership Rewards changes have moved from 11 October to 15 November 2026: American Express removes the half-price fee waiver band on the Membership Rewards Credit Card, stops letting you pool points across two Amex cards, and switches milestone tracking to posting date. Here is what actually changes.

Effective 15 Nov 2026

Wells Fargo stops letting you gift rewards to another cardholder on 25 September, and your balances stop pooling automatically

From 25 September 2026, Wells Fargo Rewards can no longer be gifted to another Wells Fargo customer, automatic redemptions end, and points stop combining into a single balance across your cards. Moving points between your own accounts survives.

Effective 25 Sept 2026

Axis Bank and Scapia launch a zero-fee, zero-forex travel card, and the issuer's own release leaves out the lounge condition

The Scapia Axis Bank Credit Card opened for onboarding on 3 September 2026 with no joining or annual fee, no markup on foreign currency, and up to 20% back in Scapia Coins on in-app travel bookings. It ships on two networks. The lounge spend threshold appears only in outlet coverage, not in the issuer press release.

Effective 3 Sept 2026

ICICI publishes its dynamic currency conversion charges, and on most of its cards the number is 3.50%

ICICI Bank's own upcoming-changes page sets a tiered dynamic currency conversion charge from 15 January 2026, running from 0.99% to 3.50% depending on the card. It applies when you are billed in rupees abroad, and to India-based merchants registered overseas.

Effective 15 Jan 2026

Chase Sapphire Lounges left Priority Pass and LoungeKey on 15 August 2026, and your Priority Pass got quietly smaller

From 15 August 2026, Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations are no longer part of the Priority Pass or LoungeKey networks. The once-a-year complimentary visit and the discounted walk-in rate are both gone for members who do not hold a qualifying Chase card.

Effective 15 Aug 2026

Amex Platinum Travel India, second cut of 2026: the ₹1.9 lakh milestone is gone and lounge access now depends on last quarter's spend

From 10 September 2026 the ₹1.9 lakh milestone disappears and the ₹7 lakh milestone stops paying points at all. From 1 October, complimentary domestic lounge visits require ₹1 lakh of eligible spend in the preceding calendar quarter.

Effective 10 Sept 2026

Amex India is shutting down Reward Multiplier on 30 September, and the deadline is the night before

American Express India confirms on its own site that the Reward Multiplier programme ends effective 30 September 2026. Purchases must be fully completed by 11:59 PM on 29 September to earn the accelerated points. ShopWise survives as a separate platform.

Effective 30 Sept 2026

US Bank finally has transfer partners, on a card you can no longer apply for

US Bank Altitude Reserve points now move 1:1 to Flying Blue, Qantas, Ethiopian ShebaMiles and Avianca LifeMiles, and 2:1 to Accor. Avianca was added on 30 August. The card itself has been closed to new applicants for some time.

Effective 30 Aug 2026

IDFC First's second cut of 2026: movie tickets need ₹20,000 of spend, points now expire, and rewards stop at your credit limit

From 18 June 2026 the buy-one-get-one movie benefit on IDFC First cards requires ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month, and rewards are earned only on spends up to your credit limit per cycle. From the July 2026 statement, FIRST Wealth and FIRST Millennia points expire after 24 months.

Effective 18 Jun 2026

HDFC's own August document: ₹3,500 to replace a metal card, 1.75% on rupee-billed foreign spends, $27 a head for Priority Pass in India

HDFC Bank's MITC was updated on 28 August 2026. Buried in it: a ₹3,500 re-issuance fee for metal cards, a new 1.75% dynamic currency conversion markup live since 15 May, and Priority Pass visits inside India charged at $27 plus taxes per person on the Regalia family.

Effective 15 May 2026

Capital One Venture X: authorised users cost $125 a year for lounge access, and free guests now need $75,000 of spend

Since 1 February 2026 authorised users on the Venture X get no lounge access unless you pay $125 each, guests cost $45 at Capital One Lounges, and Priority Pass guests cost $35. Complimentary guests come back only at $75,000 of annual spend.

Effective 1 Feb 2026

United cut base earning from 5x to 3x and made the co-brand card the only way back

Since 2 April 2026 MileagePlus members without a United card earn 3 miles per dollar instead of 5, and basic economy earns nothing for general members. Cardholders earn 6x and get at least 10% off award flights. We also found the Explorer's annual fee had moved and corrected it.

Effective 2 Apr 2026

British Airways raised the cash you pay on Avios reward flights again, the second increase in five months

From 27 May 2026 the Avios price of a British Airways reward flight is unchanged, but the cash co-pay rose roughly 10% to 33% depending on the route. It is the second cash-element increase in five months, after the December 2025 change.

Effective 27 May 2026

BOBCARD raises its lounge gate from ₹40,000 to ₹75,000 a quarter, and its finance charge to 45% a year

From 1 October 2026 unlimited domestic lounge access on BOBCARD Eterna, Tiara and Varunah Premium requires ₹75,000 of spend in the preceding quarter, up from ₹40,000. Finance charges rose to 3.75% a month on 15 July, and accidental death cover ended for existing cardholders on 25 August.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

Amex Platinum Travel loses 30,000 milestone points and puts lounge access behind ₹1 lakh a quarter

From 10 September 2026 the ₹1.9 lakh milestone disappears and the ₹7 lakh milestone pays a Taj voucher instead of points, cutting milestone Membership Rewards at ₹7 lakh from 40,000 to 10,000. From 1 October, domestic lounge visits require ₹1 lakh of spend in the previous quarter.

Effective 10 Sept 2026

The Amex Gold turned 60 with 5x on prepaid hotels, and the $325 fee held flat

American Express refreshed the Gold Card on 30 April 2026 for its 60th anniversary: prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel now earn 5x (up from 2x), car rentals and cruises earn 2x, and the annual fee stayed at $325. A rare enhancement in a year of cuts.

Effective 30 Apr 2026

HSBC India drops forex markup to zero on every credit card until September 15, 2026

From August 15 to September 15, 2026 HSBC India charges no foreign exchange markup on any of its credit cards, covering both in-store and online foreign currency spend. It is a one-month promotional window, not a permanent product change.

Effective 15 Aug 2026

Flying Blue splits award tickets into Light, Standard and Flex from September 8, 2026: the headline price stays, the ticket gets worse

From September 8, 2026 Air France and KLM award tickets book in three tiers. Light keeps today's mileage price but drops the checked bag, seat selection, lounge access and any right to change or refund. Paris to New York business goes from 60,000 miles to 75,000 for the ticket you get today.

Effective 8 Sept 2026

Amex India improves Membership Rewards transfers: Virgin Atlantic up 60%, Hilton Honors up 67% from August 18, 2026

American Express India rerated two Membership Rewards transfer partners on August 18, 2026. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club moves from 2:1 to 5:4, and Hilton Honors from 1:0.9 to 1:1.5. Both are permanent rate changes, not a limited-time transfer bonus.

Effective 18 Aug 2026

Chase Ink Business Preferred loses the 1:1 Hyatt transfer too, dropping to 4:3 on October 1, 2026

The Hyatt transfer cut is not Sapphire-Preferred-only. Chase Ink Business Preferred, Ink Plus and Corporate Flex also move from 1:1 to 4:3 on October 1, 2026, a roughly 25% haircut. Only Sapphire Reserve keeps 1:1.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

Axis Bank credit card rules change August 28, 2026: DCC fee triples to 3.5%, rewards pulled from gift cards and tolls

From August 28, 2026 Axis raises the dynamic currency conversion fee to 3.5% on most cards, stops reward points on gift cards, tolls and road fees, and lifts the top late fee to Rs 1,300. Movie BOGO and lounge access get spend gates too.

Effective 28 Aug 2026

World of Hyatt goes from three award tiers to five, and the top Category 8 night now costs 75,000 points

Hyatt's first award-chart restructure in five years replaced Off-Peak, Standard and Peak with five tiers on 20 May 2026. A Category 8 night at the top tier rose from 45,000 points to 75,000, a 67% increase, and 112 of 136 repriced hotels moved up.

Effective 20 May 2026

IndusInd puts domestic lounge access behind quarterly spend, and asks for up to ₹5,00,000 a quarter

IndusInd now requires quarterly spend before it unlocks complimentary domestic lounge visits the following quarter. Tracking began with the April to June 2026 quarter and access is gated from July to September. The thresholds are the steepest any Indian issuer has set.

Effective 1 Apr 2026

Amex ends the Etihad Guest partnership worldwide, closes Mumbai's Centurion Lounge, and cuts guests to one

American Express removed Etihad Guest as a Membership Rewards transfer partner across every major market between 15 June and 1 July 2026, shut the Mumbai Centurion Lounge on 1 July, and from 8 July admits only one guest, travelling on the same flight.

Effective 1 Jul 2026

HDFC puts Regalia Gold's domestic lounge access behind a ₹60,000 quarterly spend gate

HDFC recalibrated Regalia Gold, Diners Club Privilege and BizPower: base earn moved from 4 points per ₹150 to 5 per ₹200 on 15 May 2026, and from the July quarter domestic lounge visits require ₹60,000 of spend in the quarter before.

Effective 1 Jul 2026

Citi AAdvantage Executive: annual fee climbs to $695, new credits arrive August 23

The Citi AAdvantage Executive's annual fee rises $100 to $695 on 23 August 2026. New AA Vacations and inflight credits, a bigger Lyft credit, and two new Loyalty Point tiers are the offset.

Effective 23 Aug 2026

Bank of America's 75% rewards boost now needs $1M in assets, up from $100k

Preferred Rewards became BofA Rewards on 27 May 2026. The 75% credit card earnings boost moved to a new $1M tier, and the $100k to $1M band drops from 75% to 50%.

Effective 27 May 2026

Axis Bank drops Accor, Marriott and Qatar Airways as transfer partners, and halves the ratios on what is left

On 2 April 2026 Axis removed Accor Live Limitless, Marriott Bonvoy and Qatar Airways Privilege Club with no notice, adding British Airways, Finnair and Vietnam Airlines at materially worse transfer ratios.

Effective 2 Apr 2026

Axis Bank's August 28 sweep: DCC charges up, Priority Pass loses domestic lounges, gift cards stop counting

From 28 August 2026, Axis more than doubles the DCC rate on mid-tier cards, invalidates Priority Pass at domestic lounges, and stops gift card spends from counting toward milestones and fee waivers.

Effective 28 Aug 2026

Amex adds Leading Hotels of the World as a Membership Rewards transfer partner at 4:1

Membership Rewards now transfers to LHW's Leaders Club: 1,000 points become 250 Leaders Club points, entry free nights start at 16,000 MR, and Amex Platinum holders get Sterling status.

Effective 28 Jul 2026

SBI Cashback Card caps rewards at ₹4,000/cycle and cuts out gaming, tolls & govt spends

India's most-recommended cashback card gets a hard ₹4,000 per-cycle ceiling and new exclusions from April 2026. Here's what still earns and what to do about it.

Effective 1 Apr 2026

Marriott Bonvoy reportedly raises award prices 5–10% across the board

A broad Marriott Bonvoy award-price increase of roughly 5–10% was spotted in July 2026, a rare all-at-once devaluation since Marriott went fully dynamic. What it means for your transferable points.

Effective 10 Jul 2026

IDFC First devalues its lifetime-free cards: base earn cut 25%, forex rewards halved

IDFC First, long the 'generous' issuer, moved its base earn from per ₹150 to per ₹200 (a 25% cut) and dropped forex rewards from 10X to 5X from April 2026.

Effective 1 Apr 2026

ICICI reworks rewards: Emeralde stops earning on rent, fuel, govt & tax; 2% gaming fee added

From January 2026, ICICI's Emeralde Metal drops reward earning on several everyday categories and ICICI adds a 2% fee on online gaming platforms like Dream11 and MPL.

Effective 15 Jan 2026

HDFC caps SmartBuy brand-voucher earnings at 3,000 points/month: Infinia hit hardest

From July 2026, HDFC's SmartBuy brand vouchers earn accelerated points only up to 3,000 RP/month. The favourite Infinia and Diners Black points-maximising trick just got smaller.

Effective 1 Jul 2026

HDFC Infinia now demands ₹18L annual spend or ₹50L relationship value to keep the card

For 2026–27, Infinia holders must hit ₹18 lakh in card spend or park ₹50 lakh with HDFC, or risk downgrade/termination in 2027. What the new retention rule means.

Effective 1 Apr 2026

Discover cards move to the Capital One app & website, starting July 27, 2026

After the Capital One and Discover merger, Discover accounts began moving to Capital One's app and website on July 27, 2026, in waves that run into 2027. Rewards stay the same. Here's what actually changes.

Effective 27 Jul 2026

Chase cuts Sapphire Preferred → Hyatt transfers from 1:1 to 4:3 (a ~25% haircut)

Chase is reducing the Sapphire Preferred's World of Hyatt transfer ratio to 4:3. Existing holders keep 1:1 only until Oct 1, 2026, so transfer before the deadline if you're sitting on points.

Effective 1 Oct 2026

Amex Platinum annual fee jumps to $895 (from $695), a 29% increase

The Amex Platinum's annual fee rises to $895. It's effective immediately for new cardmembers and from Jan 2, 2026 for existing ones. Is the card still worth it?

Effective 2 Jan 2026