Katie Genter travel tips

It's been a year and a half since American Airlines launched Loyalty Points, an entirely different way to qualify for AAdvantage elite status. Instead of solely crediting status based on flight activity, American flyers can also earn status through non-flight activities such as staying at hotels, spending on cobranded credit cards and using the airline's shopping portal.

Everything started out as normal. I went to Miami for a conference and stayed in a perfectly adequate hotel. It did not offer coffee makers in the room, so the staff lent me a kettle to make my evening cup of tea. I attended the Wednesday morning sunrise yoga class on the hotel's rooftop terrace ("free" with my daily $35 — plus tax! — resort fee). I scanned the printed bill at checkout and everything looked fine.

All-inclusive resort getaways are even more attainable for IHG One Rewards members starting this month.

Last month, American Express announced some major changes to a pair of its cobranded cards with Hilton Honors. Both the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card got a major overhaul — including some new perks and a handful of modified benefits.

American Express has recently introduced a new set of Amex Offers for targeted cardholders on eligible Amazon purchases. In this latest round of offers, some cardholders can earn an enticing bonus of 5 extra Membership Rewards points per eligible dollar spent on Amazon — just in time for your holiday shopping needs.

One of our favorite online shopping portals is back with Labor Day weekend promotions. From Sept. 2 to 4, Rakuten is offering triple cash back on purchases with more than 100 merchants. Plus, Rakuten is offering 15% cash back on purchases with select merchants on Sept. 4.