Checked Oct 14: Amex Platinum's lululemon credit stopped posting on our gift card; United 1K rises to 32,000 PQP; Aeroplan status for Hyatt elites; new Delta One.
By Vamsi, RewardsGuru.club. Published October 14, 2026, updated October 26, 2026.
Checked October 14, 2026, against United's MileagePlus "What's new" page (posted October 13), Air Canada's Aeroplan Status Challenge page, Delta's October 14 announcement, American Express's Platinum Card page, and our own lululemon test. Figures are as of October 14, 2026.
TL;DR
Amex's wording for the credit hasn't changed: "Statement credits up to $75 quarterly for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. Enrollment required" (American Express). That's up to $300 a year, in calendar quarters, and the fourth-quarter $75 opened on October 1.
What changed is what posts. We bought a lululemon gift card with the Platinum in September and the $75 credit posted. At the start of October we bought a gift card in a lululemon store, again with the Platinum, and no credit posted. Other cardmembers have reported the same from early October. Product purchases at U.S. lululemon stores and lululemon.com still match Amex's wording. Neither Amex nor lululemon has said anything about gift cards.
What the marketing doesn't tell you: the credit is a quarterly use-it-or-lose-it $75. If a gift card no longer triggers it, this quarter's $75 posts only on lululemon products bought by December 31. Our earlier piece on how the lululemon credit works has the rest of the terms.
The hotel credit today. The Platinum's hotel credit is still "up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 per year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel." The Hotel Collection needs two nights. As of October 14, Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings of one night still counted; on October 22 Amex added that "Effective January 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts® bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $600 Lodging Credit," and Airbnb Luxe stays now count toward the same credit (what changed). The July to December $300 runs through December 31. How the free third night stacks with it. Our Amex Platinum referral link is here if you're weighing the card.
United posted the 2027 rules on October 13: "Starting January 1, you'll reach status by earning Premier qualifying points (PQP) when you fly United, United Express or one of our Star Alliance partners, or spend with an eligible United card" (United).
| Tier | 2026: PQP only | 2026: flights + PQP | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 6,000 PQP | 15 flights + 5,000 PQP | 6,000 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 12,000 PQP | 30 flights + 10,000 PQP | 12,000 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 18,000 PQP | 45 flights + 15,000 PQP | 18,000 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 28,000 PQP | 60 flights + 22,000 PQP | 32,000 PQP |
PQP roughly track the dollars you spend on United fares before taxes. What it means for two kinds of flyers:
United keeps a floor on flying: "you'll still need to take at least four United or United Express flights in 2027."
Starter PQP now comes with a United card. For 2026, everyone who earned Premier status got a starter deposit. For 2027, United says: "If you have an eligible United card by December 31, 2026, and qualify for 2027 Premier status, you'll get 5% of the PQP needed to reach your earned status level." That's 300 PQP for Silver, 600 for Gold, 900 for Platinum and 1,600 for 1K. The deposit is based on your status on February 1, 2027. The United Debit Rewards card doesn't count, and trial status doesn't qualify.
Card spending caps, as United lists them for 2027: the Explorer Card earns up to 1,000 PQP, the Quest Card up to 18,000 PQP and the Club Card up to 32,000 PQP. United says each card's cap "varies by card." Chase's Club Card page still shows the 2026 cap of 28,000 PQP.
One more change on the same page: from February 1, 2027, the PlusPoints needed for an upgrade "may vary based on demand and available seats."
United's status match for Delta and American elites closes October 15. What it matches, tier by tier.
From today, World of Hyatt members with Explorist or Globalist status can register for an Aeroplan status challenge. Air Canada: "Complete an Aeroplan Elite Status Challenge by flying eligible Air Canada flights and accumulating the required Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) within 90 days" (Air Canada).
In fares: 8,000 SQC is CA$2,000 of Flex fares or CA$4,000 of Standard fares in 90 days. Your Aeroplan and World of Hyatt accounts have to be linked first, and the 90 days start once Air Canada confirms your registration by email.
Two related changes: the Chase Aeroplan card now carries Aeroplan 25K for as long as you hold it (what changed on the card), and Hyatt is replacing American Airlines with Delta as its airline partner, with a November 15 deadline to link accounts (the Hyatt and Delta details). Hyatt's own status thresholds and award chart didn't change this month. Our World of Hyatt guide has both.
Delta announced the changes on October 14: "The overhaul is available first on transoceanic Delta One routes departing Los Angeles International Airport ... this fall and will expand across the full global network in early 2027" (Delta).
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Choose your main course up to 18 hours before departure, six hours later than before | With the rollout |
| Skip breakfast for coffee and a croissant before landing | With the rollout |
| Dassai 45 sake on Tokyo-Haneda flights, new Missoni amenity kits | November 3 |
| Blanton's bourbon | December 1 |
| Champagne Taittinger in domestic Delta One | With the rollout |
| Cocktails and mocktails | March 2027 international, April 2027 domestic |
The amenity kit, the Missoni pillow and the menus are for people already sitting in Delta One. Delta's Medallion upgrade page still limits complimentary upgrades to domestic Delta One within the U.S. 50 states, the same as before today's announcement.
On the Platinum, the lululemon credit is still $75 a quarter, and a gift card didn't post it for us this month. United 1K moves from 28,000 to 32,000 PQP, and the 22,000 PQP plus 60 flights path is gone; Gold goes from as little as 10,000 PQP to 12,000. An Explorist needs CA$2,000 to CA$4,000 of Air Canada fares in 90 days for 25K.
This is educational content, not financial advice. Program terms change often, so check the current terms on each program's site before you rely on them.