The season is in full swing with holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. At TPG, this implies we’re making lists of our high locations to go to and checking them twice.
We’re additionally reflecting on how our bank card methods served us over the previous 12 months and what modifications we’ll make in 2026. This consists of what advantages and assertion credit we missed out on and the way we plan to make use of them sooner or later.
Whereas taking stock of our card-specific perks, some TPG staffers obtained to eager about the broader loyalty program panorama and what we love — and want we might tweak — about our favourite bank cards and airline and lodge applications.
Right here’s what’s on our workers want checklist this vacation season.
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2026 bank card want checklist
Extra factors on groceries and journey
For many of us, groceries are an unavoidable recurring expense.
That is the case for TPG Credit score Playing cards Author Augusta Stone, who “would completely like to see the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) add in-person grocery purchases to its 3-points-per-dollar-spent class (as a substitute of solely on-line).” She’d be keen to pay a $150 annual charge for that (larger than the present $95).
Equally, TPG Journey Author Rachel Craft want to see extra playing cards supply better-than-standard incomes charges on basic journey purchases like trip leases and parking. She notes that incomes greater than 2 factors per greenback spent on these purchases is more and more essential — and she or he’d additionally welcome the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) bringing again its former 3-points-per-dollar-spent charge on basic journey.
Extra lounges — and extra versatile lounge entry
In the case of lounge entry, Augusta is hoping Capital One will develop into the South or Southeast — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL) or Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) could be her high decide.
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In the meantime, I might personally like to obtain lounge passes on playing cards just like the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit score Card all of sudden (as a substitute of receiving two every quarter).
Augusta can also be calling for clearer welcome presents. She finds focused “verify your supply” instruments extra irritating than useful and would slightly issuers current one easy, up-front supply as a substitute of a variety candidates might or might not qualify for.
A premium Hyatt card and broader bonus classes
A carryover from final 12 months’s want checklist: I’m nonetheless hoping to see a premium World of Hyatt card enter the market. With Hyatt publicly signaling that it plans to develop its cobranded card portfolio subsequent 12 months, this want feels extra practical than ever.
Within the meantime, I’d additionally welcome a richer welcome supply on the prevailing World of Hyatt Credit score Card (see charges and costs) — one thing like a flat 75,000-point bonus slightly than the present “as much as” 60,000-point construction (earn 30,000 factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening; plus, as much as 30,000 extra factors by incomes 2 factors per $1 spent within the first six months from account opening on purchases that usually earn 1 level, on as much as $15,000 spent).
TPG Lead Author Katie Genter, considered one of our most seasoned vacationers, additionally hopes to see issuers loosen restrictions on bonus classes for purchases made overseas. She’d significantly like American Categorical to develop its U.S.-only bonus classes globally.
Associated: Finest bank card welcome bonuses
2026 loyalty program and factors and miles want checklist
Lodge loyalty enhancements
Katie would like to see lodge applications supply extra consistency throughout their portfolios.
For instance, even when a Courtyard property within the U.S. serves breakfast, elite members nonetheless can’t select it as a welcome amenity. As an alternative, Platinum Elite members and above obtain both a modest food-and-beverage credit score or a small factors award — a discrepancy she’d wish to see fastened so advantages align throughout manufacturers.
Katie additionally hopes lodge teams will standardize factors incomes and elite evening credit amongst their lower-cost manufacturers. She typically sees equally priced properties — akin to 4 Factors Flex and Moxy — providing very totally different incomes charges, which may make it more durable for vacationers to foretell their rewards and progress towards standing.
Elite standing challenges and promotions
Having accomplished the bold Turkish Airways Million Mile Problem this 12 months, Katie would like to see extra airways introduce inventive standing challenges and promotional incomes alternatives for flyers.
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A key switch accomplice we wish to hold
On the points-transfer aspect, TPG Senior Author Ben Smithson hopes Citi ThankYou Rewards will proceed to supply American Airways AAdvantage as a switch accomplice all through 2026, given it is a beneficial relationship for a lot of vacationers.
A glance again at our 2025 want checklist
Lots of our workers needs carry over from final 12 months, together with the launch of a premium World of Hyatt card.
That being stated, a few of our needs have come to fruition (or can be launched in early 2026).
A significant switch accomplice we wished for — and obtained
One of many largest wins arrived July 27, when Citi introduced that choose playing cards now enable transfers to American Airways AAdvantage at as much as a 1:1 ratio. This was a serious milestone for vacationers who depend on AAdvantage miles.
A lodge loyalty improve we requested for — and acquired
On the lodge aspect, Hilton delivered a major improve to its elite construction. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Hilton Honors members will be capable to qualify for a brand new premium tier: Diamond Reserve. Amongst its headline perks is assured 4 p.m. late checkout, a profit many TPG staffers particularly wished for final 12 months.
A stronger rewards ecosystem for householders — coming quickly
Lastly, some staffers wished for a premium model of the Bilt card that may supply enhanced perks and improved incomes charges (even when that meant paying an annual charge for stated product).
This led to conversations amongst TPG teammates concerning the lack of a card for householders who wish to earn factors on their mortgages, and as soon as once more, Bilt — and/or Santa — delivered. In early February 2026, Bilt will launch Bilt Card 2.0, a set of three new playing cards that can substitute the present Bilt Mastercard®.
TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor. The data for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
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Backside line
Whether or not it’s extra rewarding lodge advantages, expanded switch choices or stronger premium card choices, most of the enhancements we hoped for final 12 months have already began taking form. And if latest developments are any indication, we’re optimistic that much more of our 2026 needs will come true within the 12 months forward.
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