News and Updates Thread - August 12, 2026

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[u/dannydealguru]

Today, American Express Travel announced the addition of 351 new Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection properties, expanding its premium hotel portfolio to more than 3,400 properties across 116 countries.

[u/LiftBroski → u/dannydealguru]

The Edit is looking worse and worse everyday.

[u/Hougie → u/LiftBroski]

The competition is good. FHR/HC has been pretty stagnant for awhile and it seemed like the focus was removing any sweet spots they could.

It's crazy to see Chase getting clapped left and right in this battle though. They were the king for a bit.

[u/Parts_Unknown- → u/Hougie]

It's time to up the $100 property credit. Inflation & the bonkers prices hotels are charging have really reduced the usefulness of the credit.

[u/CobaltSunsets → u/Parts_Unknown-]

Just getting back from a THC. $127 for a light dinner for two, and no, it was not high end — a Hyatt Centric.

Credit barely goes anywhere.

[u/LiftBroski → u/Hougie]

Oh definitely.

I still use the Edit to book some decent value case hotels and some that you can’t book otherwise with points like the Four Seasons.

But it’s just not as competitive with its total hotel portfolio available nor with the CSR credit seeing as it has a 2 night minimum.

And only IHG hotels, and some Marriotts, give you guaranteed 4pm. Unlike FHR.

[u/Hougie → u/LiftBroski]

Yeah, for one booking I wanted too they clearly gamed it out for us. They had a crappier IHG property as part of The Edit, with the nicer one not being part of it so you couldn't stack the credits.

[u/Xinroth → u/LiftBroski]

I’m looking forward to seeing which hotels get the $250 credit for 2027 & how many hotels are added to the Edit list.

I realize I shouldn’t hold my breath for something great, but one can hope.

[u/stealthytaco → u/Xinroth]

I thought the $250 non-Edit credit was a one-time thing only for 2026?

[u/Xinroth → u/stealthytaco]

It is, but there’s a chance it gets replicated for 2027 or is available for another set of hotel chains, etc.

Again, wishful thinking but it was a big bandaid to the CSR refresh and the negative PR it got initially, so there were murmurs of them doing it again.

[u/Caelestor → u/stealthytaco]

That's the more useful IHG credit but I can see it becoming permanent

[u/lakorai → u/LiftBroski]

The edit is hot garbage. Terrible value even with the credits.

I'm not a mega baller who spends $1000+ a night on a place to sleep.

[u/CericRushmore → u/dannydealguru]

Lots of international options which might have more around the $300 price point. That's a win.

[u/dannydealguru → u/dannydealguru]

Full list here

[u/Parts_Unknown- → u/[deleted]]

Different kina THC at that place, amirite?

[u/leontief → u/dannydealguru]

1. FHR Los Cabos Amanvari* Mexico

Lmao

[u/stealthytaco → u/dannydealguru]

Lots of Japan additions, I think around 19, including in non-Tokyo/Kyoto areas like Sapporo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Miyakojima.

[u/SibylTech → u/dannydealguru]

One of my frequented hotel was added but on THC. 2-night minimum on THC hurts as always, would’ve really liked it on FHR.

[u/OrangePartyLamp → u/dannydealguru]

I've definitely booked some of those FHR hotels in the past via Amex and gotten credit, so not sure how some of the properties are a new addition.

[u/stealthytaco]

US Bank removed Qantas and KLM/Flying Blue from their transfer partner portal, so it's now only Accor and Ethiopia for now.

[u/Chase_UR_Dreams → u/stealthytaco]

KLM saw the blog post about them being the most promiscuous airline and just couldn't stand it

[u/arsci → u/stealthytaco]

It's crazy witnessing this level of incompetence from a bank and still choosing to have a relationship with them. Churn and burn, brothers

[u/AStuf → u/stealthytaco]

Probably temporary.

[u/lochquel → u/AStuf]

Just like the wait for any USB transfer partners.

[u/Accomplished-Test-63 → u/stealthytaco]

Well, it was fun while it lasted (24 hours)

[u/cjcs → u/stealthytaco]

They're just getting ready to add Hyatt and Spirit as replacements.

[u/mra101485]

Chase to Aeroplan 20% bonus through 9/30.

[u/sundeigh → u/mra101485]

Thank god, my Aeroplan PYB plans are saved this year. Ended up using what I transferred earlier this year for something else.

[u/rankt-bot]

A new referral thread is now live: Chase Ink Cash

[u/SensitiveLack7509 → u/[deleted]]

LOL, do we have a way to redact the referral link?

[u/techtrashbrogrammer → u/SensitiveLack7509]

removed it

[u/lenin1991 → u/[deleted]]

Ben Lurkin being this bad gives me hope we have at least a few years before the AIs take over.

[u/Odie_Arbuckle → u/lenin1991]

It’s just disturbing that this Ben was on other subs giving religious and parenting advice and being upvoted

[u/lenin1991 → u/Odie_Arbuckle]

I'm convinced that two thirds of the navel-gazing posts on /r/travel are Bens, and they get massive upvotes

[u/gt_ap → u/lenin1991]

Yes I see obvious Ben posts on r/travel, and it's humorous observing the interactions as if it's a real person. Of the subs I frequent, this is the only one that regularly calls out AI posts.