Why Hotel Owners Are Fighting To Cost You More and Is Points Even Fun Anymore?

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It was a wild week in the points world. An email to Chase Ink Plus cardholders made it look like 5X on office supplies was getting axed, the internet panicked, and we called it as a likely mistake before Chase confirmed it was just human error. We also break down the Paze spend 10 dollars get 10 dollars promo that people abused so hard with New Egg gift cards that Chase started shutting down options in a single day, and the new Amex Resy credit changes coming August 1 that may or may not be a big deal. Then we get into the meatier stuff: a great One Mile at a Time piece on hotel owners pushing Marriott for a bigger cut, why that means points will likely cost all of us more, and Ben's editorial on whether miles and points is even fun anymore. Plus a Capital One Shopping shout out and why those targeted offers are worth a look. 

Episode Guide:

• 0:00 - Intro: The Great Office Supply 5X Scare of 2026
• 1:37 - Chase Ink Plus 5X Email: Mistake or Devaluation?
• 3:55 - The Paze Promo That Got Abused (and Nerfed)
• 6:54 - Amex Resy Credit Changes Coming August 1
• 10:14 - Capital One Shopping: Don't Sleep on the Offers
• 12:09 - Hotel Owners vs Marriott: Why Points Will Cost More
• 17:01 - Is Miles and Points Even Fun Anymore?
• 20:08 - Better Earning vs Worse Availability
• 22:20 - Going Mainstream Killed the Simplicity
• 24:55 - Social Media Killed the Loophole
• 26:52 - A Tip of the Cap to Lucky and Wrap-Up

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• Cardpointers Sale - https://milestomemories.com/go/cardpointers/
• OMAAT points editorial - https://onemileatatime.com/insights/miles-points-worth-it/
• Marriott owners fighting back - https://onemileatatime.com/news/marriott-hotel-owners-demand-more-money-bonvoy-award-stays/
• Paze deal - https://milestomemories.com/100-in-free-spend-with-new-paze-promo/
• Resy changes - https://milestomemories.com/bad-news-for-amex-cardholders-with-resy-credits/