The season is in full swing with holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. At TPG, this means we’re making lists of our top places to visit and checking them twice.
We’re also reflecting on how our credit card strategies served us over the past year and what changes we’ll make in 2026. This includes what benefits and statement credits we missed out on and how we plan to use them in the future.
While taking inventory of our card-specific perks, some TPG staffers got to thinking about the broader loyalty program landscape and what we love — and wish we could tweak — about our favorite credit cards and airline and hotel programs.
Here’s what’s on our staff wish list this holiday season.
Related: Why the holiday season is the best time to start earning points and miles
2026 credit card wish list
More points on groceries and travel
For most of us, groceries are an unavoidable recurring expense.
This is the case for TPG Credit Cards Writer Augusta Stone, who “would absolutely love to see the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) add in-person grocery purchases to its 3-points-per-dollar-spent category (instead of only online).” She’d be willing to pay a $150 annual fee for that (higher than the current $95).
4045/GETTY IMAGES
Similarly, TPG Travel Writer Rachel Craft would like to see more cards offer better-than-standard earning rates on general travel purchases like vacation rentals and parking. She notes that earning more than 2 points per dollar spent on these purchases is increasingly important — and she’d also welcome the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) bringing back its former 3-points-per-dollar-spent rate on general travel.
More lounges — and more flexible lounge access
When it comes to lounge access, Augusta is hoping Capital One will expand into the South or Southeast — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) or Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) would be her top pick.
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Meanwhile, I’d personally love to receive lounge passes on cards like the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card all at once (instead of receiving two each quarter).
An Alaska Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Augusta is also calling for clearer welcome offers. She finds targeted “check your offer” tools more frustrating than helpful and would rather issuers present one simple, up-front offer instead of a range applicants may or may not qualify for.
A premium Hyatt card and broader bonus categories
A carryover from last year’s wish list: I’m still hoping to see a premium World of Hyatt card enter the market. With Hyatt publicly signaling that it plans to expand its cobranded card portfolio next year, this wish feels more realistic than ever.
In the meantime, I’d also welcome a richer welcome offer on the existing World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) — something like a flat 75,000-point bonus rather than the current “up to” 60,000-point structure (earn 30,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening; plus, up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 points per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 point, on up to $15,000 spent).
TPG Lead Writer Katie Genter, one of our most seasoned travelers, also hopes to see issuers loosen restrictions on bonus categories for purchases made abroad. She’d particularly like American Express to expand its U.S.-only bonus categories globally.
Related: Best credit card welcome bonuses
2026 loyalty program and points and miles wish list
Hotel loyalty improvements
Katie would love to see hotel programs offer more consistency across their portfolios.
For example, even when a Courtyard property in the U.S. serves breakfast, elite members still can’t choose it as a welcome amenity. Instead, Platinum Elite members and above receive either a modest food-and-beverage credit or a small points award — a discrepancy she’d like to see fixed so benefits align across brands.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Katie also hopes hotel groups will standardize points earning and elite night credits among their lower-cost brands. She often sees similarly priced properties — such as Four Points Flex and Moxy — offering very different earning rates, which can make it harder for travelers to predict their rewards and progress toward status.
Elite status challenges and promotions
Having completed the ambitious Turkish Airlines Million Mile Challenge this year, Katie would love to see more airlines introduce creative status challenges and promotional earning opportunities for flyers.
Related: SAS EuroBonus challenge — how I’m flying around the world in 3 weeks to earn 1 million points
A key transfer partner we want to keep
On the points-transfer side, TPG Senior Writer Ben Smithson hopes Citi ThankYou Rewards will continue to offer American Airlines AAdvantage as a transfer partner throughout 2026, given it’s a valuable relationship for many travelers.
A look back at our 2025 wish list
Many of our staff wishes carry over from last year, including the launch of a premium World of Hyatt card.
That being said, some of our wishes have come to fruition (or will be launched in early 2026).
A major transfer partner we wished for — and got
One of the biggest wins arrived July 27, when Citi announced that select cards now allow transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage at up to a 1:1 ratio. This was a major milestone for travelers who rely on AAdvantage miles.
American Airlines Airbus A321XLR. AMERICAN AIRLINES
A hotel loyalty upgrade we asked for — and received
On the hotel side, Hilton delivered a significant upgrade to its elite structure. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Hilton Honors members will be able to qualify for a new premium tier: Diamond Reserve. Among its headline perks is guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, a benefit many TPG staffers specifically wished for last year.
A stronger rewards ecosystem for homeowners — coming soon
Finally, some staffers wished for a premium version of the Bilt card that would offer enhanced perks and improved earning rates (even if that meant paying an annual fee for said product).
This led to conversations among TPG teammates about the lack of a card for homeowners who want to earn points on their mortgages, and once again, Bilt — and/or Santa — delivered. In early February 2026, Bilt will launch Bilt Card 2.0, a suite of three new cards that will replace the current Bilt Mastercard®.
TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor. The information for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Bilt Cash will replace milestone rewards in 2026
Bottom line
Whether it’s more rewarding hotel benefits, expanded transfer options or stronger premium card offerings, many of the improvements we hoped for last year have already started taking shape. And if recent developments are any indication, we’re optimistic that even more of our 2026 wishes will come true in the year ahead.
Related: Why flexibility and maximizing travel tools are key to a successful 2026 award travel strategy
