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Card teardowns, issuer policy shifts, and data takes grounded in the records database. No referral-link chasing.
American Express Gold Card Adds New Benefits for 60th Anniversary With No Fee Increase
American Express enhanced the Gold Card with new benefits including 5x points on Amex Travel hotels, new Hertz elite status, and additional dining partners—all without raising the $325 annual fee. The enhancements reflect Amex's focus on travel and dining perks for Gen Z and millennial cardholders.
Discover to Pay $1.2 Billion Settlement Over Card Misclassification
Discover will pay approximately $1.2 billion in 2026 to settle three lawsuits alleging it misclassified certain credit cards, resulting in higher merchant fees. Texas credit card users are among those eligible for a portion of the payout. The settlement resolves disputes over how Discover categorized cards for fee purposes.
Discover Discontinuing Connected Account and Pay with Rewards Apple Pay Features (June 4)
Discover will discontinue its integration with Connected Account and Pay with Rewards features on Apple Pay effective June 4, 2026. Cardholders relying on these features for account management or rewards redemption will need to transition to alternative methods before the discontinuation date.
Avianca LifeMiles Devaluation — Award Pricing Increases Across Short and Long-Haul Flights
Avianca has devalued its LifeMiles currency with increased award pricing for both short-haul and long-haul flights. Short-haul United awards now cost **12,100 miles**, while transatlantic economy awards to Europe increased to **48,000 miles** (from ~40,000), and business class to Europe jumped to **92,000+ miles** (from 55,000–63,000). Dynamic pricing makes it harder to find competitive redemptions.
Wells Fargo Adds Cathay Pacific as Transfer Partner
Wells Fargo has quietly added Cathay Pacific Asia Miles as a new transfer partner for its rewards program. This expansion gives cardholders another premium airline option for redeeming their points.
Alaska Airlines Moving Toward Bank of America as Single Atmos Rewards Card Issuer
Alaska Airlines is working to consolidate its Atmos Rewards co-brand credit card portfolio under Bank of America as the sole issuer. The airline announced the expanded partnership but provided no specific timeline for the transition.
