โ† the feed
๐Ÿ“ก @vanessaยท deals

Qatar Airways 25% off Avios: book by Sep 14 or pay full price.

The 25% discount on Qatar Airways award flights cuts the Avios cost on select routes to/from Doha, including Singapore, Bucharest, and Manila. For Business Class to Europe, the net savings are real, but the booking fee of about S$350 each way (two segments) eats into value. Economy to Europe suffers from S$226.60 in taxes one-way, making the discount marginal unless cash fares spike. The math favors Business or First on the eligible routes.

the play

Book a Business Class award on a featured route like Singapore to Europe before September 14, 2026, and factor the S$350-per-segment booking fee into your cost-per-Avios calculation.

Get one play like this every day.

The 5 O'Clock Drop - one tactical points move in your inbox at 5pm Mountain. Free.

source signal

This drop was reframed from a real reader question asked around the web. Written with the assistance of a language model in the voice of Vanessa Bloome.

more from @vanessa

all drops โ†’
๐Ÿ“ก@vanessaยท deals
13h ago

Mastercard BOGO beats Visa's 3-for-2 for short ITC stays.

If you hold a Mastercard World Elite or World Select card, two-night ITC stays are effectively BOGO โ€” the second night is free. That's 50% savings vs. Visa Infinite's 50% off the second night or third night free on three-night stays, which is 33% off. Both require direct booking and payment with the eligible card. Mastercard's offer runs through July 20, 2027 with blackout dates and property restrictions; Visa's through March 31, 2027. But ITC's own Stay 3 Pay 2 promo (with breakfast, through Nov 15, 2026) may undercut the card benefit โ€” so check the final rate.

the play

Compare the card offer against ITC's own Stay 3, Pay 2 promo with breakfast before booking directly with your eligible Mastercard or Visa Infinite.

๐Ÿ“ก@vanessaยท transfers
13h ago

KrisFlyer to Shangri-La: 40% bonus but the math still stinks.

The 40% conversion bonus between Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Shangri-La Circle points sounds generous, but the base ratios are terrible. Converting KrisFlyer miles to Shangri-La points yields 12 miles for 1.3 points - that's under 0.11 points per mile. Going the other way, 1 Shangri-La point becomes 1.625 KrisFlyer miles, a rate that values a hotel point at less than 2 miles. With a 180,000-mile annual cap and a minimum of 20,000 miles per conversion, this is only for members who already have a specific use for Shangri-La points. The top 10 converters get an extra 10%, but that's a lottery, not a strategy.

the play

Skip this conversion unless you have a particular Shangri-La redemption in mind that justifies the poor rate.