Weekend Update with TheRewardBoss – July 12, 2014 (Death of Avianca GUM award, United Platinum Trial $100, Uber 20% Off, Citi AA 100K)

Don’t have time to sift through BoardingArea and Flyertalk?  Here are the Rewarding Highlights from the past week:

• USA-Tokyo (aka Guam) now costs 250% more using Avianca LifeMiles – one way coach went up from 12.5k to 32.5k and one way business went up from 25k to 65k. It was good while it lasted!
• Did anyone take advantage of the Delta First Class deal on Gilt?  If only I had travel plans to LAX…
• United Platinum trial status for $100 if you don’t have any ethical concerns

• Hilton had its annual devaluation, I mean category changes – one of the reasons I hold my account balance close to 0
• Reminder that UBER temporarily slashed prices by 20% to compete with NYC taxis
• Death of another great deal:  It seems Citi Exec AA 100k signup bonus is DEAD (UPDATE: as of 7/13/14, its working again!)
  • Having trouble meeting the $10k spend within your first statement end?  Many have noted that Citi can move the first statement end date, increasing the amount of time you have to hit that $10k!  I haven’t tried it myself. Here is the latest data point that supports the theory
• Look out for upcoming posts:
  • Alternate Ways to Use SPG Points
  • Mistake Airfares – How They Work and How to Score One