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Only the latest slick travel news
Southwest wouldn’t really start charging for bags — right?
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-no-plans-to-end-bags-fly-free/
Southwest Airlines insists its hallmark “bags fly free” policy is not on the chopping block, even as the carrier prepares to unveil scores of details in the coming days about sweeping changes to some of its longest-standing policies. Next week, executives at the Dallas-based carrier are expected to delve into the specifics of a massive …
Marriott Bonvoy fall promo: Get 20% off weekend bookings if you move fast
https://thepointsguy.com/news/marriott-bonvoy-fall-flash-sale/
The morning air is getting crisp, the leaves are turning amber and pumpkin spice lattes are flooding everyone’s Instagram feeds (alongside some carefully curated plaid photo shoots). This means it’s fall promo time at the world’s largest hotel company. Marriott Bonvoy announced Wednesday the dates of its upcoming Fall Flash Sale, so travelers should be …
These are North America’s best airports, according to J.D. Power’s 2024 rankings
https://thepointsguy.com/news/jd-power-best-airports-2024/
It’s been a busy and expensive year for travel, with record-breaking crowds and rising prices across the board. But according to a new report from J.D. Power, that hasn’t stopped travelers from enjoying the journey — especially if they’re traveling through some of the country’s best airports. This year, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), John …
The best credit card welcome bonuses of September 2024
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/limited-time-card-offers/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. With holiday travel approaching, now may be a great time to evaluate your credit card portfolio. Credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers are the quickest and easiest way to rake in lots of points and miles, so we regularly update …
Current IHG promotions: Earn bonus points, fast-track to elite status, discounts and more
https://thepointsguy.com/news/ihg-bonus-points-promotion/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. One of the most satisfying ways to earn hotel points is to leverage lucrative hotel promotions. Luckily, you can earn bonus points through several current IHG promotions. One current IHG promotion even lets you save points on select award stays, while …
The price of Disney+ is going up, but you can get it for no out-of-pocket cost with these cards
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/disney-plus-streaming-c2d4l/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Disney+ is a much-loved entertainment fixture in many homes — more than 150 million households, to be exact — for Disney shows and movies, old and new. Since its release in 2019, the streaming service has also added packages that include …
How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/redeeming-chase-ultimate-rewards-maximum-value/
You can never have too many Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This transferable rewards currency gives you access to some of the best hotel and airline transfer partners in the business, as well as the easy-to-use Chase Travel℠ portal, which allows you to cover a wide variety of different costs for your trip, including car rentals, hotels, …
Close to Disneyland for half the price: My stay at the Hyatt Regency Orange County
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/hyatt-regency-orange-county/
[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420184479″] Most hotels near Disneyland have theme park perks like a shuttle service and a gift shop with Disney souvenirs, but they also have some things you won’t find in an official Disney hotel — the ability to earn or spend hotel loyalty points and reap the benefits of elite status. Related: Best …
Hilton adds another 100-plus hotels thanks to Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership
https://thepointsguy.com/news/hilton-small-luxury-hotels-additions/
A new partnership between Hilton and Small Luxury Hotels of the World continues to grow mere months after its initial rollout. Another 102 SLH properties are now available for booking through Hilton’s direct reservations channels. This completes a growth target announced earlier in the summer that the SLH-Hilton partnership count would rise to nearly 400 …
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card review: Complimentary Sky Club access
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/delta-reserve-amex-review/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card overview The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is Delta’s top-tier cobranded business credit card, offering benefits best suited for high-budget businesses loyal to Delta. If Delta Medallion elite status and lounge access …
United elite status is slipping further out of my reach — here’s what I’m doing as a result
https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-elite-status-hard-to-earn/
I fly a lot compared to the average person. It’s pretty common for me to be in the air multiple times a month for a mix of work and fun, and the overwhelming majority of my trips are on one airline. If you didn’t know better, you’d probably think that flying more than 40 times …
American cuts 4 more Austin routes, adds new international destination
https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-airlines-more-austin-cuts-tampico-mexico/
American Airlines continues to downsize in Austin, where the carrier is exiting another four markets. The Fort Worth-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to cut four routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by an airline spokesperson. The affected markets are: Boston Nashville Raleigh-Durham Orange County, …
New England road trip: Where to see the most spectacular foliage this fall
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/new-england-fall-road-trip/
Editor’s note: This is a reccurring post, regularly updated with new information. No place in the United States puts on a more breathtaking display of changing fall foliage than New England — particularly the region’s densely forested, ruggedly mountainous interior. Here, you’ll find vast forests of the trees best known for their eye-popping color: Maple …
What is a cruise director? Meet the person in charge of onboard fun
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/what-is-a-cruise-director/
The cruise director is one of the busiest staff members you’ll encounter on board a cruise ship. They work long hours throughout the cruise to keep guests entertained and informed, providing a steady stream of details about shipboard activities and even passenger safety. They’re your emcee, introducing each act during evening shows, and your social …
How to get Marriott Bonvoy elite status for life
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/marriott-bonvoy-lifetime-elite-status/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Marriott elite status offers perks ranging from free breakfast and room upgrades to late checkout. The benefits depend on your Marriott elite status tier and can vary from brand to brand. You don’t have to be a road warrior to earn higher tiers …
Some of our favorite ways to use Delta SkyMiles
https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-skymiles-best-uses/
As a Delta Diamond Medallion member, I’ve found that although the value of Delta’s award currency has fallen lately, and many of the best outsize value sweet spots are gone, there are still many ways to find value. Delta SkyMiles is the loyalty program of Delta Air Lines, and I’ve been collecting the currency for …
Breeze to launch 4 new routes from Washington Dulles, but delay 2 from New Orleans
https://thepointsguy.com/news/breeze-airways-new-dulles-routes/
Breeze Airways is launching its first-ever service from one of the major airports in the Washington, D.C., area — and planning four new routes in the process. Meanwhile, aircraft delivery delays plaguing the global aerospace industry will see the airline push back the launch of two new routes from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport …
Southwest makes it easier to change your Companion Pass online
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-companion-pass-changes/
Southwest Airlines’ Companion Pass is one of the best travel perks in the industry. With the pass, a friend or family member can fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) on Southwest flights an unlimited number of times until the pass expires. While this might seem like one of those “too good to …
Hawaiian Airlines-Alaska Airlines merger: Miles will transfer at 1:1 ratio, plus more loyalty program details revealed
https://thepointsguy.com/news/hawaiian-alaska-airlines-loyalty-program-details/
In August, the Department of Justice opted not to block the proposed merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The news came just eight months after the two U.S. carriers announced the $1.9 billion deal. Less than one month later, the Department of Transportation is taking another (giant) step forward in approving the airline merger. For Hawaiian …
SAS returns to Seattle, bolsters ties to Delta after switch to SkyTeam
https://thepointsguy.com/news/sas-scandinavian-airlines-seattle-nonstop-flights/
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) will add Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to its map next summer as it builds connections with its new SkyTeam Alliance partner, Delta Air Lines. The airline, which only joined SkyTeam on Sept. 1, plans five weekly flights between its Copenhagen Airport (CPH) hub and SEA from May 21, 2025, SAS said Tuesday. …
Synchrony Premier World Mastercard review: Automatic cash-back redemptions
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/synchrony-premier-world-mastercard-review/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Synchrony Premier World Mastercard Overview The Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® is a solid no-annual-fee credit card that earns an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase. With automatic rewards and no changing categories, this could be the most straightforward cash-back card …
United to open its second grab-and-go Club Fly and largest-ever lounge in Houston
https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-new-club-fly-houston/
United Airlines is building on its popular grab-and-go lounge concept by introducing its second United Club Fly. The Chicago-based flyer will open its newest United Club Fly at its Houston hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) next year. United started construction on the new lounge within the past few weeks, though the carrier hasn’t …
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card review: A worthy business card contender
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/platinum-delta-skymiles-business-card-review/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card overview The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is a worthy card contender for frequent flyers of Delta. While its highest bonus category is only for Delta and hotel purchases, this card offers …
Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card worth the $95 annual fee?
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/bofa-premium-rewards-card-worth-fee/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Bank of America®️ Premium Rewards®️ credit card has the potential to be one of the highest-earning cash-back rewards cards on the market, but it carries qualification requirements and, of course, an annual fee. Let’s review the benefits of the card to help you …
The 5 best cruise lines for solo travelers
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cruise-lines-for-solo-travelers/
Thinking of taking a cruise as a solo traveler? Here’s the bad news: With many lines, you could end up paying twice as much as someone traveling with a companion. Most cruise ship cabins are designed for two, and the cruise rates you see advertised for these cabins are per person, based on double occupancy. …
Chase Freedom Q4 categories: McDonald’s, PayPal, pet shops and charities
https://thepointsguy.com/news/activate-chase-freedom-5x-earnings/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Somehow, we’re almost in the last quarter of the year. Whether this brings up excitement for the holidays or stress about all that still needs to be done, it also brings the exciting news of a new Chase Freedom bonus category …
How do Apple’s new cheaper AirPods with noise cancellation stack up for travelers?
https://thepointsguy.com/news/apple-airpods-4-travel-review/
Take a look around the airport or airplane, and odds are that you’ll see at least a few pairs of AirPods nearby. Apple’s popular headphones have become a staple of the travel experience for many flyers. They pair across all of your Apple devices, and you can also connect them to some seatback TVs that …
Air Canada, pilots avert strike with midnight deal
https://thepointsguy.com/news/air-canada-pilots-stirke-averted-midnight-deal/
Air Canada and its pilots union reached an eleventh-hour deal on Saturday night that averted a strike at Canada’s largest airline. Pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), were expected to issue a 72-hour strike notice on Sunday that could have grounded the airline as soon as Sept. 18. Air Canada was prepared …
Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex card review: Perfect for casual Delta travelers
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/gold-delta-skymiles-amex-credit-card-review/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card overview The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card provides valuable elitelike benefits at an affordable price point for casual Delta flyers. These benefits, which include a first checked bag free and priority boarding for you …
Use Delta SkyMiles Shopping to earn bonus miles on online purchases
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/delta-skymiles-shopping-portal/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. One major misconception is that the only ways to earn miles are to fly an airline regularly or carry a travel rewards credit card. But one of the easiest ways to earn airline miles is to leverage online shopping portals. In …