From Waldorf Astoria in Maui to a Suite in Puerto Rico: How My Family Saved Thousands by Buying Points by Sidharth Krishnan January 18, 2025 0 Buying points and miles can help you unlock luxury travel without juggling several credit cards. When discounts and bonuses come around , points can become a cost-effective way to save thousands on hotels and flights. Here's how I used this strategy to plan affordable, dream vacations in Maui and Puerto Rico — and how you can too.
How To Change Your Preferred Airline for the Amex Airline Fee Credit by JT Genter and Toni Southam January 18, 2025 3 One great perk that American Express has long offered on its premium products is the annual airline fee credit. Although you have to select an airline to use the credit with each year, you can actually change it quite simply. Here's how to change your preferred airline for the Amex airline fee credit.
United’s Gift Card Exchange: Convert Unwanted Gift Cards Into Miles — But Is It Worth It? by Samantha Holland January 12, 2025 0 If you've got a gift card you'll never use, there's no sense in letting it collect dust. You can turn your gift card into a sum of United miles through the MileagePlus gift card exchange. Here's how — and whether or not it's worth doing.
JFK Delta One Lounge Guide: What’s It’s Really Like and How To Maximize Your Visit by JT Genter January 10, 2025 2 The new JFK Delta One Lounge was hailed as "one of the best in the world" after it opened. My experience fell short of that. Here's my review of the lounge before a recent Delta One flight.
I Applied for the U.K. ETA as a U.S. Citizen — Here’s How Long It Took and Which Card to Use by JT Genter January 9, 2025 3 Starting this week, U.S. citizens must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or visa before traveling to the United Kingdom. Ahead of my travel to the Scottish isles later this month, my wife and I went through the process ourselves -- one on the website and one through the app. Here's our experience, including which method was faster and how the payments coded on our credit cards.
ZorkFest 2025 Tickets Now On Sale: Here’s What It Was Like Last Year by JT Genter January 9, 2025 0 The dates and city have been announced for ZorkFest 2025, and presale tickets are now on sale. Learn what you need to know about next year's event, as well as my experience at ZorkFest 2024.
Paying Tuition With Credit Cards: When It’s Worth It and Which Cards Are the Most Rewarding by Tyler Glatt and Max Prosperi January 8, 2025 2 College tuition is a huge expense, which presents a lucrative opportunity for those looking to earn additional points, miles, or cash back with credit cards. But is it a good idea? Here are some considerations you'll want to make before paying with a credit card, plus some cards you should use.
Airalo, GigSky, and FlexiRoam: Which eSIM Should You Use on Your Next International Trip? by Lauren Wynn January 6, 2025 0 eSIMs can keep you connected as you travel without the expense of international data plans or the hassle of buying a physical SIM cards in each destination. But choosing the right eSIM is critical. Here's our comparison of three top options, including which is best for affordable coverage for short trips, long-term travelers with multiple profiles, and for region-specific plans.
From Maldives in Qatar Qsuite to Sydney in First: My 9 Best Mileage Redemptions of 2024 by JT Genter January 1, 2025 0 In 2024, my wife and I redeemed over 1.5 million points and miles to travel around the world, mostly in business and first class. From Qatar Qsuite to Lufthansa First Class, here are our 9 best redemptions for 2024.
Earn Airline Elite Status Without Flying: Status Match, Fast Track, Card Spending Opportunities [2025] by Patrick Stouffer and Jenna Hansen December 31, 2024 114 Earn airline elite status presents a conundrum. Status improves your travel, but airlines typically only reward those who fly (and suffer) a ton without it. But what if you could shortcut your way to elite status without paying your dues first? Here's how to earn airline elite status without stepping on a plane, from status matches to card spending.
2024 Points and Miles Checklist: What To Do Before the Clock Strikes Midnight by Mark Jackson December 30, 2024 0 Between pooling balances with family, using expiring credits, achieving hotel and airline status, and hitting yearly spending thresholds, there are plenty of points and miles to-dos to consider doing before the calendar hits January 1. Check out our handy guide to what you should act on across your accounts before year's end!
Chasing AAdvantage Elite Status? Here’s How to Earn 25K Miles and Loyalty Points From Home by Tyler Glatt December 28, 2024 6 If you're looking to stock up on American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points, leveraging AAdvantage eShopping and SimplyMiles offers can help you earn 24,960 miles and status credits quickly. Here's how.
Bad Flight or Subpar Stay? Here’s How To Get Fair Compensation From Airlines and Hotels by Skye Class and Jess Farley December 27, 2024 26 Exploring the beauty of a foreign country, flying to exotic locales in luxury, sampling outlandish foods, and opening yourself up to new experiences are the best parts of travel. However, reality can sometimes fall short of our expectations, and there are valid situations when travelers need reimbursement. If you've wondered how to get fair compensation for a bad hotel stay or a problematic flight, follow these nine steps.
Family Points Pooling: Combine Miles for Faster Free Travel by Jenna Hansen and Kennedy Miller December 26, 2024 1 Family pooling lets you combine miles into one account, making it easier for families (and sometimes friends) to reach award redemptions faster. Many airlines and hotel programs offer this for free, helping groups travel together using shared points. Here’s how pooling miles can bring your family closer to their next trip.
Here’s How To Gift Hertz Elite Status to Two People in 2024 by Skye Class January 1, 2025 21 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members can gift their elite status to two friends or family members through December 31, 2024. Recipients will enjoy the same perks through December 31, 2025. Here's how to gift your Hertz status.
Book a Stopover Hotel Package in Doha From $14 Per Person When Flying Qatar Airways by Skye Class December 19, 2024 13 The little-known Qatar Airways stopover program provides excellent value. Travelers can book a stopover to explore Doha for as little as $14 per person — or as little as $24 per person for one night at a five-star hotel. But this offer has some conditions and caveats. Here are the details.
Delta One Lounge Boston: A Fine Dining Experience That Happens To Be In an Airport by JT Genter December 12, 2024 2 Today, Delta opened its newest Delta One Lounge in Boston airport. This new lounge is different than other Delta One Lounges as it's practically a luxury dining experience. Here's my experience checking out the lounge on opening day.
Year-End Strategies for Earning Top-Tier Hotel Elite Status by Ryan Smith and Scott Sikes December 9, 2024 10 There's not much time left in the year, but there is still time to plan for and achieve top-tier hotel elite status with several programs. You can earn elite status now through these strategies and shortcuts and carry it through 2025 — or even part of 2026, depending on the program.
Earn More From Holiday Spending: Cash Back Strategies for the Holidays by Carissa Rawson July 21, 2025 0 The holiday season is upon us, which means many are spending more than usual. Maximize the cash back that you earn this year by making smart money moves, such as using the right credit card and tracking purchases on shopping portals.
Make Flying Spirit Airlines Much Cheaper (And More Pleasant) Via a Free Status Match by JT Genter February 1, 2025 3 For a limited time, Spirit Airlines is offering a free elite status match from 7 airline loyalty programs. You'll get 90 days of elite status with no flight or spending requirements! Then you can hit SQP thresholds to keep that status through 2025. Here's an overview of the perks of Spirit Airlines elite status and just how much you can save when flying as a "Free Spirit" elite.
How to Score Free Car Rental Upgrades: Tips, Tricks, and Credit Card Perks by Scott Sikes December 4, 2024 54 Many credit cards offer complimentary car rental elite status, and several major U.S. rental agencies provide formalized status matches. From leveraging elite benefits to using coupons and corporate codes, we’ve rounded up the best ways to secure free rental car upgrades and elevate your travel experience.
Buy Now, Pay Later Programs — And Why You Should Skip Them by Carissa Rawson and Scott Sikes June 23, 2025 1 Buy now, pay later financing offers can be tempting, especially if you have a large purchase to make. However, they're usually a bad idea. Here's an overview of the pros and cons of using such services and why you should ultimately decide to skip them.
Amex Centurion Lounge Charlotte Review: Hours, Details, Amenities, and More by Tyler Glatt November 24, 2024 1 The American Express Centurion Lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a cozy place to dine and relax at a tremendously busy airport. Here's what you need to know about the Amex Centurion Lounge CLT, including how to find it, when it's open, and what it looks like inside.
My Experience Using the Ethiopian Airlines Stopover Program for a Free Hotel and Meals by Lauren Wynn November 23, 2024 2 Ethiopian Airlines currently offers the only stopover program in Africa. Travelers with a layover between eight and 24 hours can get a free hotel and meals. Here's an overview of the Ethiopian Airlines stopover program and my experience utilizing it.
How to Use SeatsAero to Find American Airlines Systemwide Upgrade Space (Even For Free) by JT Genter April 28, 2025 0 For years, I've used and recommended ExpertFlyer to search for American Airlines systemwide upgrade availability. But travelers can use a free tool to easily find dates that should have upgrade availability. Here's how to use SeatsAero's American Airlines Explore tool to find American Airlines systemwide upgrade availability.
Shopping Portals Explained: Earn Bonus Rewards Without (Much) Extra Effort by Jenna Hansen and Tyler Glatt June 24, 2025 15 Online shoppers, listen up! If you regularly make purchases from online stores, you should be using a shopping portal to maximize your earnings. But how do you choose which portal to use? In this post, we walk you through all of the best shopping portals to make selecting the right one a piece of cake.
U.S. Passport Renewal Just Got Easier: Here’s How To Do It Online by Brie Bash November 8, 2024 1 The State Department now offers an online passport renewal option for eligible U.S. adults. The process is quick and user-friendly. Here’s what you need to know to renew your passport online — and what my experience was like.
How Uber Shuttle Saved Me $150 on My LaGuardia-to-Manhattan Commute by Tyler Glatt October 29, 2024 3 Uber Shuttle is a great, cost-effective way to get between LaGuardia Airport and Midtown Manhattan. I used this service, and it saved me around $150 on my round-trip commute between New York's LaGuardia airport and New York City. Here's what you need to know about this new economical option for getting into NYC.
How To Unlock Your Qatar Privilege Club Account by JT Genter October 25, 2024 4 Getting an error if you try to log into your Qatar Privilege Club account? Based on conversations with Qatar support reps, Qatar has flagged a significant number of accounts for "security" reasons. Here's how to check if you're affected, the steps to unlock your account, and why you'll want to act now -- even if you don't plan to use your Privilege Club account anytime soon.
Earn Qantas Points By Renting Apollo Campervans in Australia by Skye Class October 22, 2024 0 Airlines often offer unique ways to earn bonus points beyond the usual avenues, such as flights, hotel stays, and car rentals. For example, Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn points when renting Apollo campervans in Australia. Wondering how to get in on the action? Here's what you need to know.
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