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.
49
documented deaths since 2015
7
average lifespan, years
award-price increase
deadliest cause
2024
deadliest year
World of Hyatt three-tier award chart (Off-Peak/Standard/Peak; Cat 8 max 45,000)
2021–2026 · lived 5.4 years · Hyatt
United Excursionist Perk (free one-way within a region on multi-city awards)
2016–2025 · lived 9.7 years · United Airlines
ANA Star Alliance Round the World award
2010–2025 · lived 15.5 years · ANA
Hyatt Category 1-7 certificate at Grand Hyatt Kauai / Park Hyatt Tokyo / Grand Hyatt Tokyo
2021–2025 · lived 4.3 years · Hyatt
Marriott Bonvoy Category 1–8 award chart (fixed points)
2018–2022 · lived 4.3 years · Marriott
IHG PointBreaks (5,000 points/night list)
2009–2020 · lived 11.1 years · IHG
United MileagePlus published saver award chart (own flights)
2010–2019 · lived 9.9 years · United Airlines
Citi Prestige unlimited 4th Night Free (concierge-booked, loyalty-eligible)
2014–2019 · lived 5.8 years · Citi
Aeroplan Mini-RTW (two stopovers on a roundtrip)
2010–2019 · lived 9.8 years · Air Canada
Marriott Travel Package 7-night Cat 1-5 + 120,000 miles (270,000 points)
2012–2018 · lived 6.7 years · Marriott
Flying Blue "Israel & Morocco as Europe" award pricing (published chart)
2013–2018 · lived 5.5 years · Air France-KLM
Amex Business Platinum 50% pay-with-points airfare rebate (2 cents/point)
2016–2017 · lived 1.5 years · American Express
Southwest Companion Pass via hotel-point transfers (Marriott Travel Package trick)
2013–2017 · lived 4.3 years · Southwest Airlines
Club Carlson Visa Bonus Award Night (last night free on 2+ night award stays)
2012–2015 · lived 3.5 years · Radisson
Delta SkyMiles published award chart
2010–2015 · lived 5.2 years · Delta Air Lines
The Watchlist
Spots the record watches. No status claims — a spot moves to the Graveyard only when a documented change on the tracker kills it.
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.
Cite this data
Bonus Eagle. “The Sweet Spot Graveyard.” bonuseagle.com. https://www.bonuseagle.com/sweet-spots