The Sweet Spot Graveyard

The legends, documented to the end.

Every famous redemption that died — dated, sourced, and explained — each linked to the devaluation that killed it. Blogs keep living lists; this is the record that remembers.

Devaluation Tracker·CSV·Markdown

49

documented deaths since 2015

7

average lifespan, years

award-price increase

deadliest cause

2024

deadliest year

Choice Privileges 8,000-point nights in central Tokyo/Osaka/Fukuoka

20182026 · lived 8.5 years · Choice Privileges

award-price increase

World of Hyatt three-tier award chart (Off-Peak/Standard/Peak; Cat 8 max 45,000)

20212026 · lived 5.4 years · Hyatt

program change

Citi ThankYou → Preferred Hotels I Prefer at 1:4

20242026 · lived 2.3 years · Citi

transfer-ratio cut

Citi ThankYou → Choice Privileges at 1:2

20212026 · lived 5.3 years · Citi

transfer-ratio cut

Turkish Miles&Smiles US-domestic United economy (7,500 one-way)

20192025 · lived 7 years · Turkish Airlines

award-price increase

Turkish Miles&Smiles US–Hawaii on United (7,500 one-way)

20192025 · lived 7 years · Turkish Airlines

award-price increase

United Excursionist Perk (free one-way within a region on multi-city awards)

20162025 · lived 9.7 years · United Airlines

program change

Amex → HawaiianMiles → Alaska Mileage Plan backdoor (1:1)

20242025 · lived 1.5 years · American Express

partner cut

ANA Star Alliance Round the World award

20102025 · lived 15.5 years · ANA

program change

Iberia off-peak Business US East Coast/Chicago–Madrid (34,000 Avios one-way)

20162025 · lived 9.4 years · Iberia

award-price increase

Hyatt Category 1-7 certificate at Grand Hyatt Kauai / Park Hyatt Tokyo / Grand Hyatt Tokyo

20212025 · lived 4.3 years · Hyatt

program change

TAP Business JFK–Lisbon via LifeMiles (35,000 one-way)

20192024 · lived 5.7 years · Avianca

award-price increase

ANA Business US–Japan via LifeMiles (67,000 one-way)

20192024 · lived 5.7 years · Avianca

award-price increase

Lufthansa First Class via LifeMiles (87,000 one-way, no surcharges)

20172024 · lived 7.7 years · Avianca

award-price increase

Delta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees)

20192024 · lived 5.6 years · Virgin Atlantic

award-price increase

ANA Business Class via Virgin Atlantic (45k–47.5k one-way; 90k–95k roundtrip)

20142024 · lived 10.4 years · Virgin Atlantic

award-price increase

ANA Business US–Japan on ANA (75,000–90,000 roundtrip)

20142024 · lived 10.3 years · ANA

award-price increase

ANA Star Alliance Business US–Europe (88,000 roundtrip)

20142024 · lived 10.3 years · ANA

award-price increase

Cathay Pacific First Class US–Hong Kong via Alaska (70k one-way)

20112024 · lived 13.3 years · Alaska Airlines

award-price increase

Cathay Pacific Business US–Asia via Alaska (50k one-way, connections included)

20112024 · lived 13.3 years · Alaska Airlines

award-price increase

Turkish Miles&Smiles Business US–Europe (45,000 one-way, Turkish & Star Alliance)

20152024 · lived 9.2 years · Turkish Airlines

award-price increase

Japan Airlines Intra-Asia Business via Alaska (25k one-way)

20162023 · lived 7.3 years · Alaska Airlines

award-price increase

Japan Airlines Business US–Japan via Alaska (60k one-way)

20162023 · lived 7.3 years · Alaska Airlines

award-price increase

ANA First Class via Virgin Atlantic (55k–60k one-way; 110k–120k roundtrip)

20142023 · lived 9.3 years · Virgin Atlantic

award-price increase

Marriott Bonvoy Category 1–8 award chart (fixed points)

20182022 · lived 4.3 years · Marriott

program change

Emirates Business Class via Alaska (any Emirates award via Mileage Plan)

20122021 · lived 9.6 years · Alaska Airlines

partner cut

American Airlines awards via Alaska Mileage Plan

20102020 · lived 10.2 years · Alaska Airlines

partner cut

IHG PointBreaks (5,000 points/night list)

20092020 · lived 11.1 years · IHG

program change

United MileagePlus published saver award chart (own flights)

20102019 · lived 9.9 years · United Airlines

program change

Citi Prestige unlimited 4th Night Free (concierge-booked, loyalty-eligible)

20142019 · lived 5.8 years · Citi

program change

Aeroplan Mini-RTW (two stopovers on a roundtrip)

20102019 · lived 9.8 years · Air Canada

program change

Delta/Hawaiian to Hawaii via Korean Air via Chase (25k–30k roundtrip)

20132018 · lived 5.7 years · Chase

partner cut

Korean Air First Class via Chase (80k one-way US–NE Asia)

20132018 · lived 5.7 years · Chase

partner cut

Marriott Travel Package 7-night Cat 1-5 + 120,000 miles (270,000 points)

20122018 · lived 6.7 years · Marriott

program change

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles roundtrip discount (HKG–JFK business 145,000 roundtrip)

20122018 · lived 6.5 years · Cathay Pacific

award-price increase

Flying Blue "Israel & Morocco as Europe" award pricing (published chart)

20132018 · lived 5.5 years · Air France-KLM

program change

Amex Business Platinum 50% pay-with-points airfare rebate (2 cents/point)

20162017 · lived 1.5 years · American Express

program change

Delta awards via Alaska Mileage Plan

20102017 · lived 7.3 years · Alaska Airlines

partner cut

Southwest Companion Pass via hotel-point transfers (Marriott Travel Package trick)

20132017 · lived 4.3 years · Southwest Airlines

program change

Singapore Suites JFK–Frankfurt via KrisFlyer with 15% online discount (57,375 one-way)

20122017 · lived 5.3 years · Singapore Airlines

award-price increase

Emirates First Class via Alaska (90k–100k one-way)

20122016 · lived 4.3 years · Alaska Airlines

award-price increase

AAdvantage First US–Canada/Alaska (32.5k; Cathay First JFK–YVR)

20112016 · lived 5.3 years · American Airlines

award-price increase

AAdvantage Business US–Asia 2 (55k sAAver)

20112016 · lived 5.3 years · American Airlines

award-price increase

AAdvantage Business US–Europe (50k sAAver)

20112016 · lived 5.3 years · American Airlines

award-price increase

AAdvantage First US–South Pacific (72.5k; Qantas First)

20112016 · lived 5.3 years · American Airlines

award-price increase

AAdvantage First US–Asia 2 (67.5k; Cathay First to Hong Kong)

20112016 · lived 5.3 years · American Airlines

award-price increase

British Airways Avios 4,500 short-haul on American/Alaska within the US

20112016 · lived 5.2 years · British Airways

award-price increase

Club Carlson Visa Bonus Award Night (last night free on 2+ night award stays)

20122015 · lived 3.5 years · Radisson

program change

Delta SkyMiles published award chart

20102015 · lived 5.2 years · Delta Air Lines

program change

Questions

How many famous sweet spots have died?

49 documented deaths on our record since 2015, average lifespan 7 years.

What was the most recent sweet-spot death?

Choice Privileges 8,000-point nights in central Tokyo/Osaka/Fukuoka, died June 8, 2026 (award-price increase).

What kills most sweet spots?

award-price increase — the leading documented cause. Deadliest year so far: 2024.

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Cite this data

Bonus Eagle. “The Sweet Spot Graveyard.” bonuseagle.com. https://www.bonuseagle.com/sweet-spots

Data is free to use with attribution to bonuseagle.com.