News You Can Use – AMEX Transfer Bonus to Etihad, 2X Hilton Promo, Discounted Awards From Boston to Europe, Faster Security Clearance With Delta

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1.   Transfer AMEX Membership Rewards Points to Etihad and Get a 30% Bonus

Via Reddit, you’ll get a 30% bonus when you transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points to Etihad through June 15, 2016.  Etihad is AMEX’s newest Membership Rewards transfer partner.

Etihad’s luxurious First Class Apartments are ~117,000 Etihad miles one-way from New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi.  So with this bonus, it would cost ~91,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points for an award seat.  That’s an excellent value considering these tickets cost thousands of dollars!

Flying on Etihad’s partner airlines, like American Airlines, can be a good use of miles.

Because Etihad does NOT charge fuel surcharges for award tickets on partner airlines.  But there are fuel surcharges when booking award tickets on Etihad flights.

Check out my Ultimate Guide to Etihad Miles.

2.   Double Hilton Points Bonus Promotion

Via The Gate, you’ll earn double Hilton points on stays through August 31, 2016.  You must register by August 31, 2016, and before your first stay.

You’ll only receive bonus Hilton points for stays completed during the promotion period.  All Hilton brand hotels are included.

I’d recommend signing-up even if you don’t have a Hilton stay planned.  Because it only takes a few seconds!

And don’t forget you can use the Hilton Honors Card from American Express and Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express cards to earn more points on paid stays.  Both cards are offering their highest-ever sign-up bonuses through May 4, 2016.

3.   Discounted Award Tickets From Boston With Flying Blue 

Don’t forget about Flying Blue Promo Awards, available on the 1st of every month.  Flying Blue is the frequent flyer program for Air France and KLM, and sometimes award tickets are discounted up to 50%.

This month you can save 25% on Business Class award flights between Europe and Boston.  And you don’t have to end your trip in Paris or Amsterdam.  But watch for fuel surcharges.  Also, you must use Flying Blue miles (not SkyTeam partner miles like Delta).

This deal is good for flights booked by May 31, 2016.  And for travel between July 1, 2016, and August 31, 2016.

4.   Get Through Security Faster With Delta and CLEAR

Delta is teaming up with CLEAR to give Delta SkyMiles members a quicker way to get through security.

CLEAR members can access shorter airport security lines at 13 airports.  Any US citizen or permanent resident can sign-up and pay for the service.

Delta will offer it for free to US Diamond Medallion members.  And all Delta SkyMiles members will get discounted pricing.

I’ve written about CLEAR and how it compares to TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. 

You’ll access shorter lines, but you’ll still have to take off your shoes and remove your laptop from your bag.  So most folks will still be better off with TSA PreCheck.

If you’re a Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion member, it’s another helpful (and free!) way to get through security faster.