🌎 TRENDING TRAVEL NEWS 🌎
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• Heads Up: Delta is cutting back on NYC flights this winter.
• Spooky Season: Halloween decorations are going up at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
• Warning: The U.S. issued a new travel advisory for Mexico visitors — here’s what to know.
☀️ Good morning and welcome back to Daily Drop — the newsletter that treats hotel promos like an all-you-can-eat buffet, stacking perks until the plate is structurally unsound.
Here’s what’s on the menu today:
✈️ Our award tool just got even more powerful
If you thought Daily Drop Pro was already good at finding hidden award deals… it just got a massive upgrade.
We’ve officially added Southwest, Aer Lingus, Etihad, and Aeromexico to our search tool — plus Air Canada and Singapore Airlines are fully back online. And we’re not done yet… Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and British Airways are already in the pipeline.
That means you can now uncover deals you’d probably never find otherwise — like this quick hop from Atlanta to Orlando on Southwest for just 5,500 points + $5.60 👇
Screenshot from Daily Drop Pro
No wasting time hunting for awards — just a cheap, easy way to get to Disney or the beach without draining your stash.
Or this gem: nonstop Aer Lingus from Nashville to Dublin for 13,000 Avios in economy or just 50,000 points in business class.
While other airlines are charging 100k+ points, I found plenty of dates in February 2026 with availability in one of my favorite transatlantic business-class seats:
Photo by Mike Dodge/Daily Drop
With Daily Drop Pro, you’d see this fare instantly, transfer your points, and save yourself thousands of points — the kind of difference that could cover an entirely separate trip.
This is exactly why Daily Drop Pro exists: more airlines, more award space, fewer points.
🏨 Another IHG promo? In this economy??
IHG One Rewards is back with another targeted offer — and this time, the odds of being included are looking pretty good.
Screenshot from ihg.com
Through September 30, 2025, select members can earn up to 30,000 bonus points just for staying at IHG hotels.
Your exact offer will vary depending on your account, but one of the most common versions we’ve seen is to earn 10,000 bonus points after completing two qualifying nights (which you can do up to three times).
That’s it — no special rate codes, no juggling multiple bookings. Just register, book directly with IHG, and watch the points roll in.
How this plays out in the real world
Let’s take the Holiday Inn Nord-Zara in Milan, Italy — a solid property that’s running $141 per night next month.
Screenshot from ihg.com
Here is what you’ll walk away with:
Two nights = $282 total spend
As an IHG One Rewards member (free to join), you earn 10 points per $1, which comes out to 2,820 points for the stay.
With the promo, you tack on 10,000 bonus points, bringing your haul to 12,820 points total.
That’s roughly $64 in value toward future IHG stays — more than 22% of your money back… before we even start stacking. 😎
Stack #1: The cobranded card boost
If you’ve got the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, your earning rate jumps by another 16x points on paid stays.
On that Milan example, that’s an extra 4,512 points — worth about $22 in free nights. Now we’re looking at a total of 17,332 points from just two nights, which edges your effective rebate closer to 30%.
Stack #2: Portal power
Right now, Rakuten is offering up to 10% cash back or 10 Membership Rewards points per dollar on IHG bookings.
If you click through Rakuten before booking, that’s another $28 in your pocket (or 2,820 MR points if you pick the points option).
Why this is worth it
Even if you only have a quick weekend getaway planned, this is one of those offers where the math just makes sense — a low threshold, easy qualification, and stackable perks that can turn an ordinary two-night stay into:
17,000+ IHG points
2,800 Membership Rewards points (or $28 cash back)
A rebate worth roughly $86–$90 on a $282 booking.
That’s the kind of return that makes booking an extra night or two a lot easier to justify.
✅ Your move: Register for the offer, search rates, and lock in your dates before September 30. If you weren’t targeted for the last IHG promo, this might just be your turn to clean up.
🎾 VIP perks at the US Open
If you’re heading to New York for the US Open, the right plastic (or metal) in your wallet could mean a lot more than just a spot in the stands.
Two major banks are serving up exclusive cardholder perks — think lounges, free swag, on-court action, and even player meet-and-greets.
Photo by Benji Stawski / Daily Drop
Exclusive indoor lounge – Air-conditioned space with free snacks and drinks, a cash bar, happy hour specials, free hats, and live ESPN coverage. Reservations open 9 a.m. ET the day before each session; space is very limited.
Outdoor terrace – Shaded seating, snacks, drinks, cash bar, and elevated court views. First come, first served.
Local treats & giveaways – Tennis-shaped candy, art prints, and other goodies from NYC small businesses, plus discounts at pop-ups.
Free charging – Complimentary portable charger rentals so your phone doesn’t run out before the fifth set.
If you’ve got the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (or the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠), you also get:
Private court time at Seaport Square (Aug 18–21) – Open play, clinics, and lessons with tennis pros, including a top-ranked player.
Exclusive party (Aug 20) – Bites, cocktails, music, and the chance to mingle with stars of the sport.
All experiences bookable with Ultimate Rewards points through your account.
👀 Heads up: We can’t use card names here due to our affiliate relationships and strict marketing rules — but trust us, you’ll know if you’ve got the right one.
For cardholders with another bank:
Centurion Lounge – Airport-style lounge with premium food, drinks, and other perks for eligible cardholders. Reservations will be released daily at 9:30 a.m. ET starting 8/24/25.
Fan Experience – 20,000-sq-ft playground with free games, merch customization, and immersive tennis activities.
$10 cash back – Enroll your eligible card to get $10 back when you spend $100 with participating merchants.
Discounted bag check – Save $5 when checking extra or oversized bags.
Complimentary radios – Listen to live ESPN coverage anywhere in the stadium.
💡 Pro Tip: If you have premium cards from both banks, you could spend the day bouncing between lounges, racking up freebies, and eating and drinking your way through the entire tournament without missing a single serve. 🎾
Whether you’re there for the tennis, perks, bragging rights, these are the kinds of benefits that make your card feel like a courtside ticket.
🤣 Meme
Meme by @goldenbiscuit.tx
That’s all for today, folks! I hope you enjoyed this well-rounded set of tips and perks from getting better redemptions to enjoying some lesser-known perks of the card you already have.
See you tomorrow,
With contributions by McKay Moffitt and Benji Stawski
