Month: March 2024

Choosing and booking shore excursions for your upcoming cruise should be simple. Pick a port, read the list of options provided by your cruise line, choose an activity you enjoy and then sign up.

In reality, the shore tour decision-making process gets more complex — especially if you want to make the most of your eight hours in a port you might never revisit.

I’ve taken more than 50 cruises, and I’ve made my share of tour booking mistakes.

I’ve signed up for hikes that were actually quick walks and spent more time in buses when I wanted to be out exploring the sights. I’ve overpaid for tour experiences that I could have done more cheaply on my own. I’ve also gone on fabulous excursions that enhanced my day in port.

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My top tip for booking the best cruise excursion for your money? Read the tour description carefully and then read between the lines to discover the truths about the excursion hidden behind all the promotional language.

Don’t know how to do that? Read on as I reveal my best shore tour booking tips.

Book must-do tours as early as possible

The most popular excursions and limited-participant tours will sell out — often before you even board your cruise ship. You’ll want to book these online as early as you can. Even better, many cruise lines discount the tours you purchase in advance.

Just make sure you read the fine print regarding tour cancellation policies. Also, in some cases, you cannot use onboard credit to pay for tours booked before sailing.

Related: Shore excursions: What new cruisers need to know

Book less important tours on the ship

If you’re uncertain about a few tours or want to pay for your excursions with onboard credit, wait until you board to book. The excursions desk staff might have additional insight into the shore tours you’re considering that will help you decide.

Make a beeline for the tour desk as soon as you board, and be prepared to wait in line. You can always ask the staff if they recommend you book immediately because a tour is filling up or whether you can take a day to decide.

Determine how much time will be spent in transit

My personal goal when venturing ashore on a cruise is to spend as little time as possible in transit and more time exploring. Folks with mobility issues, on the other hand, might prefer tours that let you sightsee exclusively by bus.

Shore excursions titled “panoramic,” “easy” or “highlights” are often bus-focused tours where you’ll view most sights from your window. If the write-up does not specifically say you’ll venture inside an attraction or building, assume you’ll only view it from the outside.

When looking at daytrips from your port of call to a destination outside the city, add up the transit times before subtracting them from the length of the tour.

A four-hour tour to an attraction an hour from the port equals two hours on a bus and two hours at the destination. Determine whether that’s an acceptable ratio or if you’d make better use of your time sticking closer to the port.

Also, consider whether your kids can handle a long bus ride or if you get motion sick.

Related: 11 cruise ship excursions to avoid

Compare free time vs. guided touring

In a similar vein, compare the amount of free time you’ll have to explore on your own on a tour against how much time you’ll be following a guide. Don’t book the tour if the balance does not work for you.

On a tour in Taormina, Italy, I watched half the group ditch the tour one by one and miss entrance into the ancient Greek theater because the guided portion of the tour went on far too long (and the guide was not very good).

If you like independent touring and merely want an excursion for the transportation and someone to get you pointed in the right direction, book tours titled “on your own.”

Evaluate the activity level

You will not be happy if you book a cruise excursion only to discover you’re physically incapable of participating fully in the tour — or that the activity is much easier than you imagined. Read the tour description carefully to determine if the activity level is right for you.

Don’t book a walking tour in Europe if you’re not able to tramp over uneven cobblestone streets for an hour or more. Skip the mountain biking tour if you’re not in good health or the kayaking tour if you have back or shoulder pain. Be honest with yourself about your current abilities.

On the flip side, hardcore athletes should assume that most active cruise excursions cater to the lowest common denominator. The bike tour will likely be on flat roads and set at a leisurely pace. A hike on a cruise full of retirees is possibly a 20-minute walk on a boardwalk or paved surface.

If the excursion truly is demanding, the tour description will make sure that’s abundantly clear in order to scare off anyone who isn’t up to the challenge.

Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

Compare costs

Before you book that shore excursion, compare the tour price to doing the same activity on your own or with an outside tour operator. Then, decide whether having a guide and the security and ease of booking through your cruise line outweigh any difference in price.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line offers a nearly three-hour ride on Skagway’s White Pass and Yukon Route scenic railway for $199 per adult. But if you go to the railway’s website, you can book the same trip for $146 — $50 less.

Booking a tour for a higher rate won’t add to your experience. The train depot is right in town, close to the cruise docks, so you don’t need bus transportation there. And the guides are part of the train experience, so you will get the informative narration either way.

Many cruise lines also offer slightly different versions of the same tour, such as a beach break with all-inclusive and less-inclusive options. Determine which inclusions or activities you will actually use before deciding which specific excursion will provide you with the best value for money.

Consider alternatives

Some first-time cruisers believe you must book a ship’s tour in every port to get the most out of your cruise. It’s not true.

Consider alternatives before you sign up for all the excursions. Can you walk or take a cab to the beach? Would you rather wander around a city’s center, sampling local cuisine and browsing the shops? Could you rent a car or hire a taxi to see the sights at your own pace? Would you prefer to explore that fort or tour that museum on your own?

You might also prefer to hire a private guide or book a particular activity through a local outfitter, especially if the cruise line’s excursion options don’t include exactly what you’re looking for.

Related: Ship-sponsored vs. independent shore excursions on cruises: Which should you book?

Assess your tour schedule as a whole

Some cruisers are so focused on what to do on each individual day that they never stop to consider their tour schedule as a whole. This is a mistake that can lead to burnout or a disappointing vacation.

Too many tours in a row with early departures or long days in port can be exhausting. You don’t want to book three days straight of all-day excursions, nor do you want to plan to skip a port for a quiet day on board after you’ve just spent a day or two at sea.

Take a high-level look at your schedule, and make sure you have a nice mix of low-key and high-octane activities, organized tours and days to wander around or relax. If possible, try not to book any shore excursions until you’re happy with your vacation plan as a whole.

Bottom line

The key to booking the best shore excursions is knowing what you want from your cruise vacation and making sure that your tour choices support those goals.

Don’t compromise and pay for a tour you’re not thrilled about because there’s usually a better option out there. Make sure you understand what you’re getting with each excursion choice and that you and your travel companions are both able and excited to participate fully in the listed tour activities.

And never feel pressured to book a tour when a leisurely day wandering about port — or even sleeping in and enjoying the ship with fewer people on board — is just what you need for a perfect vacation day.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Fast-growing Porter Airlines is expanding its footprint on the U.S. West Coast.

Last week, the Toronto-based carrier announced it would add new nonstop flights from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Canada to California’s two largest cities.

Starting in late June, Porter will offer seasonal service between Montreal and both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The announcement comes less than two months after the carrier first commenced service to both West Coast cities from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).

It’s also part of a larger growth strategy that has seen the airline dramatically increase its U.S. presence of late.

“These Montreal routes connect to destinations across the globe with Porter’s strategic partners, providing more options that travelers crave,” Porter president Kevin Jackson said in a statement announcing the news.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Porter’s new routes

Porter’s two new routes from Montreal to the U.S. West Coast will be seasonal, launching this summer and wrapping up Oct. 26.

Here’s how the schedule shakes out:

Route	Launches	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Days
YUL-LAX	June 27	7:40 p.m.	10:36 p.m.	Four times weekly	Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday
LAX-YUL	June 28	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.	Four times weekly	Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Sunday
YUL-SFO	June 28	8:00 p.m.	11:12 p.m.	Three times weekly	Tuesday/Friday/Sunday
SFO-YUL	June 29	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.	Three times weekly	Monday/Wednesday/Saturday

Porter will operate each of these routes with its brand-new Embraer E195-E2 jets, which seat 132 passengers in a 2-2 configuration.

The airline placed a $5.82 billion order for 80 of the jets in 2021.

The airline touts its inflight service, which includes free alcoholic beverages in glassware (not plastic or paper cups) for all passengers. It also offers free Wi-Fi.

Larger growth plans

This West Coast scale-up is the latest in a series of steps Porter has taken to increase its presence in the U.S. — particularly out west.

On top of the two Toronto-to-California nonstops launched in January, the carrier also launched inaugural service earlier this month from Toronto to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

✈️ Welcome to Las Vegas, @porterairlines! ✨
Get ready for non-stop thrills as we connect LAS to YYZ! 🎰 pic.twitter.com/3OGRPxFr4q

— Harry Reid International Airport (@LASairport) March 6, 2024

All told, the carrier will fly nearly 70% more seats to the U.S. over the next six months versus the same period last year, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

The airline also notes these new routes will improve its connectivity. That’s thanks, in part, to a recently launched interline agreement with Alaska Airlines. The arrangement allows passengers to book trips with seamless connections between the two carriers (for certain itineraries). It also allows Mileage Plan members to earn miles on certain Porter flights.

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• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations

2023 was the safest year ever for commercial air travel, but after several high-profile aviation incidents in 2024, the general public is paying closer attention to airline safety.

The occurrence of several attention-grabbing events over the past few weeks, in particular, prompted United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to address the topic of airline safety in a memo to customers on Monday.

In his first public comments on the recent spate of safety-related situations, some of which have involved United jets, Kirby said that safety was the airline’s top priority, but acknowledged that United had experienced “a number” of incidents in a short period.

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“While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” Kirby wrote. “Our team is reviewing the details of each case to understand what happened and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups.”

Kirby added that the airline was already in the process of implementing several safety enhancements that were planned before the recent episodes, including adding an extra day of training for pilots and creating a new centralized training curriculum for maintenance technicians.

“I’m confident that we’ll learn the right lessons from these recent incidents and continue to run an operation that puts safety first and makes our employees and customers proud,” Kirby added.

Airline safety has been in the spotlight since a Jan. 5 incident aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, during which a door plug that seals part of the fuselage blew off the jet midflight and caused the cabin to depressurize.

Intense scrutiny has focused on Boeing, with the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary investigation finding that Boeing failed to replace bolts that hold the door plug in place after removing them during assembly.

Since then, a number of incidents involving Boeing aircraft have garnered significant attention, while several episodes involving United flights, specifically, have put the airline at the center of the public discussion

Earlier this month, a United Airlines 737 MAX rolled off a runway into the grass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH), causing part of its landing gear to collapse. A day earlier, a tire fell from a Boeing 777-200 flown by United as it departed from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), damaging cars in an employee parking lot below.

Also earlier this month, a United Airbus A320 en route from San Francisco International Airport to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after an issue with a hydraulics system.

Although it did not involve United, the latest Boeing-related incident occurred on Friday when a 25-year-old United Boeing 737-800 was found to be missing an external panel that covers mechanical equipment on the underside of the plane during a routine inspection after completing a flight to Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) in Oregon.

No one was hurt in any of the incidents.

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Wyndham Rewards offers a three-tier award chart, with award nights costing 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points per night. This award chart means you can get a lot of value from Wyndham Rewards points, especially on peak travel dates.

The Wyndham portfolio includes brands ranging from Days Inn and Super 8 to Wyndham Grand and the Trademark Collection. You can also book select Caesars Rewards properties, Wyndham vacation club properties and Vacasa vacation rentals with Wyndham points.

Even if you don’t stay with Wyndham properties frequently, it’s worth knowing how to earn Wyndham points for when you discover an award stay you want to book. Here’s a closer look at how to earn Wyndham points.

Earn Wyndham points on hotel stays

You’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent or 1,000 points — whichever is more — on qualifying stays at Wyndham vacation club resorts and participating Wyndham brands, Wyndham destinations and Caesars Rewards properties.

Usually, you’ll earn points on the room rate you pay, but at Dolce Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (including Viva Wyndham properties) and Wyndham Garden, you’ll earn points on your total charges. When you book Go Fast awards, you can earn points on the cash part of your redemption.

You’ll only earn Wyndham points on qualifying stays. Specifically, you can earn points when you book through Wyndham’s call centers, websites, mobile app or at a hotel. You won’t earn points if you book through a third-party website, and you won’t earn points at:

• Wyndham Concorde Resort Isla Margarita, The H Hotel and the Bank of Montreal Institute for Learning
• Echo Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham hotels
• Travelodge properties outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico

You can also occasionally earn more through bonus points promotions.

Elite status bonuses

Wyndham Rewards has four membership levels. At enrollment, you’ll be an entry-level Blue member, but you’ll earn Gold elite status after five nights, Platinum after 15 nights and Diamond after 40 nights.

Wyndham Rewards elite members get bonus points on most stays (excluding Go Fast awards) as follows:

• Gold members: 10% of base points (11 points per dollar in total)
• Platinum members: 15% of base points (15 points per dollar in total)
• Diamond members: 20% of base points (20 points per dollar in total)

Wyndham adds these bonus points to your base points before calculating the 1,000-point per stay minimum. So, Wyndham will only round your points up to 1,000 points per stay if your base points plus your bonus points are less than 1,000.

Related: It’s easy to earn Wyndham’s top-tier Diamond status — here’s how and why you should care

Earn Wyndham points with credit cards

Wyndham and Barclays offer several Wyndham Rewards credit cards. Here’s a quick comparison of these cards’ sign-up bonuses, earning rates and annual fees.

Card	Sign-up bonus	Earning rates	Annual fee
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card	75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months	5 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on qualifying gas purchases 2 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	None
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card	100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months	6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on qualifying gas purchases 4 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	$75
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card	50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, plus 50,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 12 months	8 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on qualifying gas purchases 5 points per dollar spent on eligible marketing, advertising and utilities purchases 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases	$95

The information for the Wyndham Earner, Wyndham Earner Plus and Wyndham Business Earner has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

But, as I’ll discuss in the next section, if you’re looking for an everyday spending card that earns Wyndham Rewards points, you may be better off with a card that earns transferable points.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Wyndham stays?

Transfer points to Wyndham Rewards

You can transfer three main travel currencies to Wyndham Rewards: Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Caesars Rewards reward credits. Let’s take a closer look at these transfer options.

Capital One miles

You can transfer Capital One miles to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. So, if you have one or more Capital One credit cards that earn transferable miles, you can turn these miles into Wyndham points once you’re ready to book an award stay.

Citi ThankYou Rewards points

You can also transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Wyndham Rewards. However, the ratio at which you can transfer points to Wyndham depends on your specific Citi ThankYou card.

For example, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio if you have the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees). Know, though, that if you only have the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees) or the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees), you can only transfer points at a 5:4 ratio.

Caesars Rewards reward credits

You can transfer Caesars Rewards reward credits to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. However, you can only transfer reward credits in increments of 5,000, and you can only transfer up to 60,000 reward credits to Wyndham Rewards per year. Transfers may take six to eight weeks to process.

Related: The 12 best Wyndham hotels in the world

Earn Wyndham points by shopping

Wyndham Rewards has an online shopping portal. When you start at the Wyndham Rewards shop and earn site, click through to the merchant of your choice and make a purchase, you can earn bonus Wyndham points on your purchase.

Note that these Wyndham points are on top of any rewards you’d earn from the merchant or the credit card you use for the purchase.

Wyndham Business rewards

Wyndham offers business travel and event planning rewards. Whether you manage company travel, plan events professionally or are planning a one-off event, you may be able to earn some extra Wyndham points.

Small and medium businesses

If you manage company travel, you may earn extra rewards and discounts by enrolling your company at the Wyndham Business website. For example, registered small and medium businesses can get up to 22% off the best available rate if they qualify for a volume-based discount. Business accounts can also earn 4 points per dollar when booking stays for groups of crew members.

Wyndham’s Go Meet program

Through Wyndham’s Go Meet program, you can earn 1 point per dollar when you plan an event. Specifically, you can earn points on:

• Guest sleeping rooms, but only when 10 or more rooms are booked on at least one night of your event
• Event space cost
• Event food and beverage charges

You won’t earn points on taxes, resort fees, facility fees, incidental charges, gratuities and related charges.

Not all Wyndham Rewards hotels participate in the Go Meet program. Some Wyndham Rewards properties offer different bonuses to event planners, so look closely at how you’ll earn before signing an event contract.

Earn Wyndham points on tours and activities

When you book tours and activities through Wyndham Rewards Experiences, you can earn 10 Wyndham points per dollar spent on your booking. Viator powers the tours and activities bookable through Wyndham Rewards Experiences. So, you can earn Wyndham points on Viator activities, tours and experiences worldwide.

Earn Wyndham points by taking surveys

You can earn Wyndham points when you join Opinion Rewards Panel and take surveys. Specifically, when you join through Wyndham’s link, you’ll earn 500 Wyndham Rewards points after completing your first survey. You’ll also earn points for every additional survey you take, presumably at much lower rates.

Buy Wyndham points

Finally, you can also buy Wyndham points for yourself or others in increments of 1,000. Wyndham Rewards points cost $13 per 1,000 points, which equals 1.3 cents per point. TPG’s valuations peg the value of Wyndham points at 1.1 cents each. So, buying points usually won’t make sense unless you have a specific high-value redemption in mind.

If you decide to buy Wyndham points, use one of the best credit cards for buying points. When you buy points, they should post within 72 hours. Each Wyndham Rewards account can only receive up to 100,000 points per calendar year from buying or gifting.

Bottom line

As you can see, there are many ways to earn Wyndham points besides staying at Wyndham hotels. Perhaps you’ve found it easy to get good value from Wyndham points and want to earn more. Or, maybe you need to top off your balance for an upcoming redemption.

Either way, you can earn more Wyndham points using one or more methods described in this guide.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

If you want extra room or perks on an upcoming Hyatt stay, you may be able to redeem points for a club room or suite. Club rooms and suites aren’t available at all World of Hyatt properties and may not be bookable with points for your stay even if the property offers these room types.

However, if the property has club rooms or suites, you may be able to book an upgraded accommodation type using points or a mixture of points and cash. You can also upgrade some paid stays using points even after booking. Here’s what you need to know.

Related: The 23 best Hyatt hotels in the world

Redeem Hyatt points for upgraded rooms and suites

When you look at the World of Hyatt award charts, you’ll see standard room, club room, standard suite and premium suite award pricing. So, if you want to redeem Hyatt points for a club room or suite, you may be able to do so by selecting an upgraded room type.

How to redeem points for club rooms and suites

As mentioned above, just because a World of Hyatt property offers club rooms or suites doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be able to book them with points. So, the first step is to check the options available for the property you want to book on the dates you want to travel.

Search for an award stay as you typically would, and select the property you want to visit. Then, you’ll see the room types bookable with points.

You can click on the “Suites” tab to see suites you can book with Hyatt points. If the “Suites” tab isn’t visible, it means no suites are bookable with points on your dates.

Note that you can sometimes choose whether to book club rooms or suites with points or points plus cash. Points plus cash rates cost 50% of the points required for a free night plus 30% to 50% of the standard rate for the room type. In the below example, you’d need to decide which option offers better value based on how you value Hyatt points.

Before making your decision, click through to see the cash copay, including any taxes and fees. Before using points to upgrade to a club room, consider whether you know any World of Hyatt members who might be willing to gift you a club lounge access award for your stay.

Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions

Use Hyatt points to upgrade paid stays

You can also sometimes redeem Hyatt points to upgrade paid stays. The upgrade cost is 3,000 points per night for a club upgrade, 6,000 points per night for a standard suite upgrade and 9,000 points per night for a premium suite upgrade.

You can often upgrade paid nights during booking; the option may show up as “Club Upgrade With Points” for club upgrades, “Lp Suite Pts Upgr” for standard suite upgrades and “Upgrade Premium Suite” for premium suite upgrades. To use points to upgrade to a club room or suite at a Hyatt resort, you may need to pay at least the standard rate for a deluxe room.

You can also call Hyatt to inquire about upgrading an existing stay. Not all stays will be eligible, but it’s worth calling to check if you want more space or perks on an upcoming stay.

Related: Is the World of Hyatt credit card worth the annual fee?

How to earn Hyatt points

You have plenty of options to earn Hyatt points to book or upgrade an upcoming stay. If you have Bilt Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. You can also buy Hyatt points.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card are great ways to earn Hyatt points if you don’t need them immediately. These cards also offer useful perks for Hyatt loyalists, including earning elite night credits as you reach credit card spending thresholds during the calendar year.

Related: Why I aim to spend $15K on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each year

Bottom line

World of Hyatt offers reasonable rates if you want to redeem Hyatt points for upgraded rooms and suites. However, you won’t always see options to upgrade with points, even if the property offers upgraded rooms or suites.

If you have Hyatt Globalist status, you may not be compelled to redeem points for upgrades. After all, Hyatt Globalist members get club access and space-available upgrades up to standard suites. But, if you want a premium suite — or want to guarantee a standard suite — redeeming points for an upgrade can make a lot of sense, even if you have Globalist status.

A United Airlines jet was found to be missing an external panel after completing a scheduled flight to southern Oregon on Friday.

The Boeing 737-800, operating as United Flight 433, landed at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) shortly before noon after an hour-long flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

There was no mid-flight emergency, a United spokesperson said, nor anything else to suggest that there was damage during what appeared to be a routine flight. The missing panel was only discovered after the flight arrived and passengers disembarked. There were no injuries reported among the 139 passengers and six crewmembers.

After arriving at the gate, a routine inspection found a missing panel on the underside of the aircraft, near where the wing meets the body of the plane, airline and airport officials said. A photo first published by the Rogue Valley Times showed a jagged piece of metal plating appearing as if a piece of it had been torn away. The panel covered mechanical parts next to where the landing gear deploys.

Quite a sight as United #433 lands at Medford Airport this afternoon after panel apparently lost in-flight from San Francisco. No injuries, all safe, per updates coming in from our reporters. Plane is a 25-year-old Boeing 737-824 More coming soon from@RogueValTimes
newsroom. pic.twitter.com/IlN7c1d5mF

— David Sommers (@david_sommers) March 15, 2024

In a statement provided to TPG, United said it was investigating the incident.

“We’ll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service,” the airline said. “We’ll also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred.”

The older “Next Generation” 737 was first delivered to Continental Airlines in 1998, according to Airfleets.net, and became part of United’s fleet when the two airlines merged in 2012.

It was the latest incident featuring a Boeing jet as the planemaker has come under intense scrutiny following an early January incident aboard an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, during which a door plug that seals part of the fuselage blew off the jet mid-flight and caused the cabin to depressurize.

It was also the latest among several incidents that have involved United.

Last week, a United Airlines 737 MAX rolled off of a runway into the grass at IAH, causing part of its landing gear to collapse. A day earlier, a tire fell from a Boeing 777-200 flown by United as it departed from San Francisco International Airport, damaging cars in an employee parking lot.

In an email Friday night, a Boeing spokesperson referred questions to United.

We’ll have more on this developing story as warranted.

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• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

Qatar Airways is developing a new first-class product to introduce aboard its aircraft, according to a new CNBC report.

The airline is also redesigning its award-winning QSuite, which has been broadly considered among the best business-class products in the world since its debut in 2017.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

New Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer, in an interview with CNBC on Thursday, said that the new cabins represented a shift in strategy to align with “a new era.”

Al Meer took the top job at the airline group in November of last year, following the departure of CEO Akbar Al Baker after nearly three decades at the helm. He was previously the CEO of Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH).

The new business class offering will debut at the Farnborough International Airshow, which is slated to run July 22-26 outside of London. It was not immediately clear when the first class cabin would be unveiled; Al Meer told CNBC that the design was “70-80%” complete and “hopefully we will be able to announce it very soon.”

Qatar Airways currently offers a first-class cabin on its Airbus A380, which operates on some frequencies between the airline’s Doha hub and Bangkok, Paris, London, Sydney and Perth, Australia.

Related: The ultimate guide to Qatar Qsuite

Qatar had planned to phase out the A380s under Al Baker, but Al Meer said the airline would keep the jets active.

The current first-class hard product, while more spacious than the business-class seats, is fairly dated compared to the offerings on Persian Gulf rivals Emirates and Etihad. It’s also missing some features from the QSuites, including closing doors for added privacy.

There were no details available on what the new product would entail. Al Meer told CNBC that the airline was looking to build a product comparable to flying private.

“We wanted to combine the experience of flying commercial and flying on a private jet and develop something new,” he said.

QSuites is available on some of Qatar’s Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft. Other aircraft — including the A380, the Airbus A330, the Boeing 787 and some of the airline’s 777s and A350s — have older business-class seats. However, they offer an identical “soft product” — or service items like food options, on-demand service and other amenities.

Close to perfect: Qatar Qsuite on a 777-300ER from Doha to New York JFK

Al Meer said that the airline is in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a “big” new aircraft order. However, it was not immediately clear whether the new first and business-class seats would be retrofitted on existing aircraft or only installed on newly ordered jets.

Qatar initially seemed inclined to phase out its first class altogether and instead enhance its onboard business class by introducing QSuites along with elevated dining options and top-tier service; numerous flight attendants would enable customized options like dining on demand instead of during a single meal service.

Emirates and Etihad, on the other hand, have kept the high-yielding top cabin and used it to distinguish themselves among travelers crossing the globe; the branding benefits from the opulence of first class — private suites, caviar, even on-board showers — trickle down to boost the airlines’ reputations across all of their service classes.

Related: Emirates first class still wows: Fully enclosed suites and unlimited caviar

Timing on the new products remains unclear, but they could debut on Qatar’s first Boeing 777X. The airline has 74 of Boeing’s newest jet series on order. The 777X is still undergoing the Federal Aviation Administration’s certification process, and timing for the already-delayed airplane remains unclear. Also unclear is whether the current crisis at Boeing surrounding the 737 MAX will impact the 777X program’s development. But, Al Meer said that the airline expects to receive the first of the new planes by the end of 2025.

Related reading:

• Can you still book Qatar Airways Qsuite awards with American AAdvantage miles?
• Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• What is American Airlines elite status worth?
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines

TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.

Bilt Rewards keeps adding enhancements and transfer partners at a pace unmatched by most other credit card rewards programs. Now, Bilt Rewards has announced a new strategic partnership with Alaska Airlines.

Effective immediately, Bilt Rewards members can transfer points to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio. This is huge news for award travelers, as Marriott Bonvoy points are the only other major transferable currency that transfers to Alaska Mileage Plan.

Due to award chart devaluations, Alaska Mileage Plan miles have become less valuable over the years. Alaska Mileage Plan implemented its most recent award chart changes earlier this week. Now, the starting rates for many awards are higher than ever — and, of course, the award rates you see may be much higher than the listed starting rate. But there are still some high-value uses of Alaska miles, and you can still book free stopovers with Alaska Mileage Plan.

The partnership between Bilt Rewards and Alaska Airlines extends beyond point transfers, though. Later this spring, Alaska Airlines cardholders will start earning 3 miles per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 annually) when using their Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card to pay rent through Bilt. That’s even better than the 1 point per dollar spent on rent payments (up to 100,000 points per calendar year) offered by the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees). You must use the card five times each statement period to earn points (see rewards and benefits).

Related: 6 reasons I love my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the most expensive city in the US

You can read more about this partnership on Bilt’s website. Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty at Alaska Airlines, stated via press release:

We have a rich history of connecting communities across the United States. This extraordinary new partnership with Bilt will reward our guests where they live while also connecting them to Alaska Airlines and our oneworld partners’ 1,000+ destinations across the globe.

Meanwhile, Bilt Rewards CEO Ankur Jain commented via press release:

From the Northwestern tip of Alaska to the most southeastern point of Florida, at Bilt we want to continuously reward our members no matter where they live in the United States. As one of the most loved brands in aviation, this first-of-its-kind partnership with Alaska Airlines not only broadens Bilt’s members’ ability to travel everywhere Alaska and its partners fly but also exemplifies our commitment to providing Americans with more valuable ways to earn and redeem rewards on their largest monthly expense, rent, and within their local neighborhood.

Related: How to earn ‘interest’ on your points balance with Bilt Rewards

Bottom line

This new partnership is one more reason to utilize the Bilt Rewards program. If you pay rent, it may also be worth adding the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card to your wallet to earn 3 miles per dollar spent when paying rent through Bilt starting later this spring. Check out our Alaska Airlines Visa credit card review to learn more about this card.

For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

There’s a newly reopened upscale lounge option for passengers flying out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C. It’s now available, free of charge, for travelers who carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.

Last week, Etihad Airways‘ Dulles lounge quietly reopened following a major face-lift — one that appears to bring it into Chase’s growing portfolio of Sapphire Lounges.

Officially, the club remains known as an Etihad Lounge. The airline’s logo remains on prominent display as you enter the space along Dulles’ A concourse.

But Etihad’s website notes the space is a collaboration with JPMorgan Chase and airport lounge operator Airport Dimensions.

Throughout the two-level facility, you’ll find plenty of similarities to other clubs in Chase’s Sapphire Lounge portfolio, from impressive food and drink offerings to a family room and reflection space.

In fact, the front desk itself is adorned with a logo that says “Sapphire Lounge by The Club.” This is the official name of some other Chase lounges, such as the ones at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

In an unusual twist, though, this lounge opened with little fanfare and no formal announcement from Chase, Etihad or Priority Pass.

So, last weekend, I shuffled my travel plans and booked a flight through Dulles to check out the space for myself.

Here’s what I found.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles location

The new Etihad-Chase collaboration lounge is in Dulles’ Terminal A — specifically, near Gate A14.

After you clear security and take the AeroTrain to the terminal, the lounge is just to the left as you enter the concourse.

The lounge’s location puts it in close proximity to many international carriers’ gates at Dulles.

You should also be able to reach the lounge within minutes if you’re departing from a B gate on another U.S. carrier like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines or JetBlue.

Notably, the lounge is quite far from a majority of the gates used by United Airlines, which operates a hub at Dulles.

You can technically move between all Dulles gates airside, but it’ll be more of a hike to get to the lounge from terminals C and D, where a majority of United’s gates are.

The lounge is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles access

As with the other Sapphire Lounge locations, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive unlimited complimentary access for themselves and up to two guests per visit. Just make sure you’ve activated your Priority Pass membership through this card, as that’s what they’ll check to admit you to the lounge.

You’ll also get access if you’re flying in business or first class on an Etihad flight or if you have Gold or Platinum elite status with Etihad Guest.

Additionally, travelers who earn Priority Pass through a different card will receive one complimentary visit to any Sapphire Lounge per year. This is an especially great option for Capital One Venture X cardholders who are turned away from the Dulles Capital One Lounge when it’s full.

Additional guest visits and any visit above the one allowed will cost $75 each.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles layout

Despite the lack of fanfare for this lounge’s reopening, it’s a beautiful space.

It’s a far cry from the massive 21,000-square-foot location at LaGuardia, but this didn’t come as a huge surprise. We expected this space to be similar in size to the Sapphire Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which is also a revamped Etihad Lounge.

However, it’s a mere 5,200 square feet, according to the Washington Business Journal, meaning it’s actually much smaller than the 7,600-square-foot space in JFK.

Immediately upon entering, it feels like you’re in a Sapphire Lounge — in no small part because of the sign that says so at the welcome desk. 

The color motif and seating areas are precisely what we’ve come to expect from a Sapphire-branded space.

From the reception area, you’ll notice the bar immediately to your right.

Along the windows straight ahead, you can choose a cozy chair to settle in for some work or to do some planespotting. It was rainy and dark when I was there, but the floor-to-ceiling windows along the back wall mean you can enjoy some great plane views from multiple areas in the lounge.

To your right, you’ll see a stairwell that leads to the second floor and two entrances into the small dining area. Don’t forget to turn all the way to your left to see the space’s most eye-catching, library-themed area.

The shower, meditation room and bathrooms are all on the far side of the dining room.

Upstairs, you’ll find various seating options, including a large center banquette with built-in outlets to charge your devices while you work. It also has its own small snack area.

In such a small space, overcrowding could become a concern. However, the distinct spaces and ample seating throughout the lounge will likely help mitigate the issue significantly.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles amenities

There are fewer amenity offerings here than what you’ll find in the Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia. Don’t expect to make a facial appointment during your layover here.

Still, the space offers several amenities to make your stay more comfortable.

Just through the dining room, you’ll find three gender-neutral restrooms, a backlit vanity with two stools, a reflection room and a shower. The separate vanity is especially nice for those who need to refresh their hair or makeup, allowing you to do so without taking up one of the limited restrooms.

If you want to use the shower or reflection room, you’ll need to make a reservation at the reception desk or by scanning the QR code on any of the tables.

Additionally, there is a family area just off the bar. It is somewhat small but includes some games and an area for children to run around in a contained space.

Chase Sapphire Lounge Dulles food and drinks

As with its other lounge locations, Chase offers an impressive selection of food and beverages in this lounge.

You can order a drink at the bar or by scanning the QR code on any of the tables on the first level. There are several signature cocktails, including the locally inspired “In Bloom,” which is a cherry blossom take on a mimosa.

As you enter the dining area, you’ll find a grab-and-go section to your left with canned seltzers and soft drinks, espresso machines, locally roasted coffee and a few snacks. Farther back is the hot bar, which offers a variety of individually plated selections.

I was there during breakfast, and the options included a cheese plate, overnight oats, yogurt parfait, shakshuka, brioche French toast and curry potatoes. I highly recommend the shakshuka, which has pomegranate seeds that add an unexpected bright pop to the savory dish.

Additionally, you can scan the QR code on any of the tables on the first floor to order a dish from the made-to-order menu. At breakfast, the choices include breakfast bao, salmon Benedict, gluten-free bagel and gluten-free muffin. This is especially good news for those who just want to walk in and settle in the bar or a corner seating area without venturing into the dining room.

On the second level, you’ll find a smaller snack bar with water, coffee and a few small bites. However, you don’t have the option to order food from the second level. You may want to get some more substantive snacks and a drink to bring up with you if you plan to settle up there.

The staff was extremely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. If you’re like me and can’t decide what to order or want a recommendation on the best spot to get some work done, don’t hesitate to ask.

Bottom line

This lounge opened quietly in early March. But whatever the reason why Chase and Priority Pass did not give it more lip service, the lounge will be a welcome addition to flyers traveling out of Dulles’ A gates. 

If you’re a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder or Priority Pass member, don’t skip it the next time you find yourself passing through. 

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for airport lounge access
• How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access
• The complete guide to Chase Sapphire lounges
• The do’s and don’ts in an airport lounge

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Citi is a TPG advertising partner. 

If you’re looking to boost your summer travel with a nice haul of transferable points, you might want to think about one of Citi’s most viable cards on the market.

The Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) is offering 60,000 ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. According to TPG valuations that peg ThankYou points at 1.8 cents apiece, that’s a bonus worth $1,080.

In the past, Citi has offered up to 80,000 ThankYou bonus points — and while that’s a pretty solid deal, 60,000 ThankYou points also offer tons of value. Let’s dive deeper into Citi’s Premier Card to see what other perks it offers.

Aside from the potential points haul the sign-up bonus offers, the Citi Premier is one of the best earners among rewards credit cards thanks to its various bonus categories. They include:

• 3 ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants
• 3 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets
• 3 ThankYou points per dollar at gas stations
• 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel and hotels

Currently, Citi is offering 10 points per dollar on airfare, hotel and car rental bookings when booked through the Citi Travel portal on ThankYou.com through June 30, 2024. You’ll also receive 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

What can you do with Citi ThankYou points?

What’s particularly valuable about ThankYou points is the ability to utilize the issuer’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

After you meet the initial spending requirement of $4,000 in the first three months, you’ll have at least 60,000 ThankYou points — and even more, if you’ve spent in the bonus categories listed above — that you can use to book travel that includes flights and hotels.

If you value simplicity, the 60,000-point sign-up bonus will let you book $600 of paid travel directly through the Citi ThankYou travel portal. You’ll earn miles and elite status on these flights by redeeming points this way, and you don’t have to worry about award availability. You could also redeem your points for $600 in gift cards.

TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is a huge fan of the Citi Premier and utilizes his points exclusively by transferring them to some of Citi’s transfer partners.

He finds value in programs such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, thanks to their standardized award chart between the U.S. and Europe, which offers business-class tickets for 50,000 points one-way while having the ability to add a free stopover.

Before its devaluation, Danyal often transferred his Citi ThankYou points to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles to secure business-class seats for as little as 47,000 miles one-way to the Middle East. However, another phenomenal use of Citi points is to transfer them to Qatar Airways Privilege Club to book the renowned QSuite business-class product.

Related: Everything you need to know about ThankYou points

Things to consider

Here’s the specific verbiage on application restrictions for this offer:

Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier® account in the past 48 months.

Additional perks offered by the Citi Premier include:

• $100 annual hotel credit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
• Free FICO credit score monitoring
• Citi Quick Lock so you can block new purchases without interrupting recurring ones
• Lost wallet protection for emergency cash
• Citi Concierge access
• Complimentary ShopRunner membership
• No foreign transaction fees
• Citi Entertainment
• Extended warranty on purchases and cellphone insurance

Related: Review of the Citi Premier Card

Bottom line

Between the sign-up bonus, earning 3 points per dollar on a wide range of popular bonus categories, and valuable transfer partners, the Citi Premier Card is a great travel rewards credit card.

You can easily rack up ThankYou points through everyday spending on gas, groceries and dining purchases without a cap on how many points you can earn.

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Apply here: Citi Premier with a 60,000-point bonus offer

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