Here's something that doesn't happen often - a card sign-up bonus that triples overnight. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card has just launched one of its rarest offers, and it closes on 26th May. If you've been sitting on the fence about this card, today's edition will help you decide whether it's worth jumping in.

We've also got a Flying Blue status match that UK travellers can now access, plus some lounge access news that affects anyone holding Star Alliance business class tickets. Let's get into it.

How many Marriott Bonvoy points do you need to convert to receive 25,000 Avios?

The answer is waiting near the bottom... keep scrolling 👇

This is only the third time ever this offer has appeared on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card - and it typically shows up just once per year. Until 26th May, the sign-up bonus has jumped from 20,000 to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend £3,000 in your first three months. Same spend requirement, three times the reward.

So what are those 60,000 points actually worth? At a conservative 0.5p per point, you're looking at £300 in hotel stays - though on a good day you can stretch that further. Think luxury properties where cash rates are £500+ per night and you're suddenly getting great value.

Or you can take a different route entirely: convert those 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points into 25,000 Avios. The standard conversion rate is 3:1, but Marriott throws in a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer a full 60,000 points - so you end up with 25,000 rather than 20,000. At our 1p per Avios estimate, that's £250 worth of Avios from a single sign-up bonus. Not bad at all.

Here's the catch that will rule out a fair few of you. To receive the bonus, you cannot have held a personal American Express card in the past 24 months. That's the standard Amex eligibility rule in action. Not sure if you qualify? Use our Amex Welcome Bonus Eligibility Tool to check before you apply.

But here's where it gets interesting. You CAN qualify if:

And importantly: getting this card now doesn't block you from later claiming bonuses on the BA Premium Plus Amex or Amex Platinum. It's actually a smart way to re-enter the Amex ecosystem if you've been dormant for two years.

Even if you don't qualify for the bonus, the card comes with 15 Elite Night Credits per year just for holding it. That immediately gives you Silver Elite status. But the real sweet spot is Platinum Elite - the level where you get lounge access, suite upgrades, guaranteed 4pm check-out, and a 50% bonus on base points.

Normally Platinum Elite requires 50 nights. With the card's 15 Elite Night Credits, you only need 35 additional nights - which is genuinely manageable for regular business travellers. And here's the stack worth knowing about: if you also hold a Marriott Bonvoy Debit Card (launched last November), you can get between 10 and 20 additional Elite Night Credits on top.

Add it up: Amex card (15 nights) + Debit card (up to 20 nights) = 35 Elite Night Credits without setting foot in a hotel. You'd only need 15 more actual stays to reach Platinum Elite. That's a genuinely clever way to fast-track status through product stacking rather than hotel spend.

A few other card details worth knowing:

For those who are Marriott-loyal and can comfortably hit 35 nights, this is genuinely one of the most compelling cards in the UK right now. And even if you can't, that 60,000-point bonus (or 25,000 Avios conversion) is hard to ignore for a £95 annual fee.

Good news for anyone who missed the Virgin Atlantic status match wave earlier this year. Flying Blue - the Air France-KLM loyalty programme - has expanded its status match offer to the UK. The promotion had been running for a while but wasn't previously available to UK-based members.

Flying Blue is part of the SkyTeam Alliance and covers Air France, KLM, and dozens of partner carriers. If you hold status with another programme - including British Airways Executive Club - this could be worth investigating as a route to SkyTeam elite benefits.

The key thing to know: Flying Blue has previously offered 'soft landings' even when members don't maintain matched status at the end of the qualification period. That's a low-risk way to trial a new programme and pick up lounge access and priority boarding in the meantime. Worth checking your eligibility if you're a frequent flyer who uses European or transatlantic routes where Air France or KLM operate. For all our Flying Blue coverage, take a look at our Flying Blue stories page.

This one landed quietly but it's a meaningful change if you fly business class on Star Alliance carriers. United Airlines has cut Polaris Lounge access for most Star Alliance business class passengers - effective immediately. Previously, flying in a business or first class seat on any Star Alliance partner would get you into United's premium Polaris Lounges at US hubs.

That's no longer the case. United has tightened access to focus on its own Polaris customers and a small group of joint venture partners. If you're transiting through a US hub on a Star Alliance carrier and were counting on Polaris access - you'll need to make alternative plans. Think United Club access instead, or check what's available at the specific airport via our Airport Lounge Guide.

The move seems designed to ease overcrowding ahead of United rolling out more premium seats and premium transcon access. Logical from their side - but a genuine downgrade if you've built a US connection strategy around Polaris lounge access. Worth flagging to anyone travelling with Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, or any other Star Alliance carrier through a United hub.

The answer is 🔵 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. The conversion works at a 3:1 ratio (60,000 points = 20,000 miles), but most airlines - including Avios and Virgin Flying Club - receive a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer a full 60,000-point block. That brings the total to 25,000 Avios or miles, which at 1p per Avios is worth around £250. Not a bad conversion from a hotel points currency.

Have you ever converted Marriott Bonvoy points into Avios or another airline currency - and if so, was it worth it versus just using them for hotel stays? I'm genuinely curious whether our readers tend to keep points in the hotel ecosystem or move them across to flights. Hit reply - I read every response!

That's all for today. Don't forget - if you're eyeing that Marriott Bonvoy Amex bonus, the Citi to Virgin 30% transfer bonus also ends tomorrow (18th April) if that's relevant to you. Catch you Monday.

- Smart With Points 👋

P.S. For all our Marriott Bonvoy coverage in one place, visit our Marriott Bonvoy stories page. And if you're exploring UK credit card options more broadly, our credit card comparison tool is worth a bookmark.

Looking to redeem your points? Here's what's available right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

Status Matches:

• Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)

• Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)

• Flying Blue (Iberia) - Air France / KLM (SkyTeam)

See all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

Before we wrap up, I wanted to share some timely opportunities I've been tracking (courtesy of our friends at AwardTravelFinder). These deals won't last long, so let's dive in.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs:

These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Business Platinum Card: 120,000 points after spending £12,000 in 3 months (£650/yr)

2. Platinum Card: 50,000 points after spending £6,000 in 3 months (£650/yr)

3. Gold Card: 40,000 points after spending £5,000 in 6 months (£195/yr (waived first year))

4. Business Gold Card: 20,000 points after spending £3,000 in 3 months (£195/yr (waived first year))

Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →