Bagpocalypse, Rove adds Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue glow-up
Talking Points - Issue 33
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Tax day is almost here. The refund crowd is already planning what to do with the money. The “I owe” crowd is grief-cycling through stages of denial, anger, denial, anger... and finally acceptance — usually around the time they realize they can put it on a card.
A refund is unplanned cash, the kind that’s easy to optimize if you’re intentional about it. And if you owe? A big tax payment on the right card can have you walking away with 200,000 points and a clear conscience. Your accountant won’t mention that part. That’s what I’m here for.
Key Points
In Johannesburg, a politician literally went snorkeling in a giant pothole to dramatize city management failures. Talking Points news this week was slightly less dramatic.
✈️ Rove Miles adds Virgin Atlantic as a transfer partner: Rove now transfers to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at 1:1. Worth paying attention to because Saver awards start at just 6,000 points each way for transatlantic flights, and you can use those points to book partner airlines like Delta and Air France too. Just watch the taxes and fees on redemptions; they can be steep.
🏦 PNC Bank launches a loyalty program: Better late than never, I guess. PNC TotalRewards is a relationship-based tier program. You need a $25k average balance for Silver, $100k for Gold, $500k for Platinum. Platinum gets a 35% credit card rewards boost. Here’s the thing, though: PNC’s card lineup is basically a couple unexciting cash back cards. Launching a loyalty program to reward engagement with... that... is a bold choice.
💳 JetBlue Premier Card gets a real glow-up: When the $499 annual fee JetBlue Premier Card launched in early 2025, the general consensus was... underwhelming. Now, it’s gotten better with the same price tag. New perks include a 25-tile Mosaic status boost at the start of each year (that’s halfway to Mosaic 1), a 15% award rebate, and $300 in TrueBlue Travel portal statement credits. Still a niche product, but the math works if you’re a JetBlue loyalist.
🧳 Every major domestic airline raised bag fees in a week: American, Alaska, United, Delta, Southwest — all of them. FrequentMiler called it “bagpocolypse” and honestly, that describes it. First bag is now $45 across most carriers, $50 at United. The move also conveniently makes every co-branded airline credit card instantly more valuable, since free checked bags are now worth more. I’ve got a timely piece on this coming up next.
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Required Reading
Checked bag fees have always been optional for people who know which card to carry. The math is simple: the right co-branded airline card covers your bags, your companion’s bags, and often pays for the annual fee on the first round-trip.
Recent Wins
I wanted to try something on Threads last month. Instead of just talking points strategy, I decided to show my receipts — tracking my actual earning week by week through March in real time.
The categories were ordinary. Dining, groceries, subscriptions, pet supplies, insurance, transit. I also had a car repair. The kind of stuff you’re already spending money on. The difference is just making sure the right card is in your hand when you do, so you can maximize every dollar spent.
And when a well-timed Bilt Palladium welcome bonus drops mid-month? The math gets interesting fast.
March totals:
Points on spend: 14,100
+Welcome bonus: 50,000
Total points: 64,100 (~$1,250)
Effective spend: $4,041
Average earn rate: 3.5 pts / $1
Points stack faster than you think. You just have to be paying attention.
📌 Did you know? Only six airlines in the world currently have onboard bars or lounges: Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, Qantas, and Etihad. Emirates runs the most of them (100+ A380s), and their A380 bar is staffed the full flight with a full cocktail menu.
Korean Air technically still has a lounge, but stopped serving drinks there. So five, really. This piece from OMAT breaks down exactly what each carrier offers.
Hot Take
Companies are nickel-and-diming travelers in ways that are starting to feel personal.
Recently, Delta and JetBlue quietly started charging $3.50 to check bags at the curbside drop-off at IAH. Same bags you’re already paying $45 to check. Just... $3.50 more if you want to hand it to someone outside instead of inside. They outsourced the service to a contractor, Bags, Inc., turning a cost center into an ancillary revenue line.
Meanwhile, a Priority Pass member at BWI’s Minute Suites got hit with a mandatory $5.30 “cleaning fee” at the door. Not for a mess they made. Just to enter. Priority Pass’s response: lounges can charge whatever they want on top of your access.
These aren’t isolated stories. They’re a pattern. Curbside bag check used to be free. Priority Pass access used to mean access. The fees are getting more creative, more hidden, and more insulting.
Don’t get me started on hotel resort fees. The point is that, regardless of cost, the fees are becoming more unhinged.
Got questions? I’ve got answers. Stuck on a points strategy? Confused about which card to get next? Want me to cover a specific topic that’s been bugging you? Send me your questions – I read every message, and you might get your 15 minutes of fame if featured in a future Talking Points.
Live rewarded,
Jason
Editor’s note: Opinions shared in this article are solely the author’s and do not represent the views of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other organization. The content has not been evaluated, approved, or endorsed by any of the mentioned entities. These are recommendations, not financial advice. I may receive a commission if you click through any of the links in this article.