Editor’s note: TPG’s Gene Sloan accepted a free trip from Princess Cruises to get an early look at Sun Princess. The opinions expressed below are entirely his and weren’t subject to review by the line.
Apparently, I’m not the only cruiser who doesn’t always have the stamina for the drawn-out ship dinners in main dining rooms.
That, or Princess Cruises has just made a colossal mistake with its newest vessel.
As I’m seeing this week during an early look at the still-not-quite-finished Sun Princess, the line has reserved the top level of the ship’s elegant three-deck-high main dining room for passengers looking for a quicker sit-down meal than is typical in a main dining room.
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It’s also changed up the menu for just this one level, offering a set and simple lineup of the sort of comfort food items you find in a diner: a bacon cheeseburger, fish and chips, chicken wings and fried chicken, to name a few.
Renamed Americana by the line, this top floor of the main dining room also offers a solid array of dinerlike breakfast dishes, including made-to-order omelets, a breakfast burrito and a “diner’s hash” made with salt beef or halloumi served with home-style potatoes, fried eggs, roasted bell peppers and griddled onions.
TPG’s Gene Sloan orders breakfast in the afternoon at Americana. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
All of the dishes, including the breakfast items, are available all day.
So, yeah, on Princess, you now can have breakfast for dinner — and in an elegant venue, to boot.
To which I say: Fabulous. Bravo, Princess. Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner? And who doesn’t sometimes want a quicker dinner on a cruise ship that isn’t just a trip to the ship’s buffet?
As I am learning this week, dining at Americana is a much more relaxing alternative to dining at the buffet on Sun Princess — whether it’s at breakfast time, lunchtime or dinnertime.
It’s early days still for Sun Princess, but the ship’s buffet, called The Eatery, has been a madhouse with crowded corridors, slow served-by-staff buffet lines and too few seats — a recipe for frustration. Hopefully, it’ll improve as the currently Mediterranean-based ship sails in warmer climates and more passengers move to outside venues and seating areas for meals.
The all-day breakfast menu at Americana would be right at home at an American diner. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Note that if you want a traditional main dining room dinner, you’ll find that on the two lower levels of the main dining room. The middle level (called Horizons) offers come-anytime-you-want dining with the normal drawn-out service. The lower level (also called Horizons) offers the more traditional fixed-seating dinner format that once was de rigueur at Princess.
Both of those levels offer a classic main dining room menu with such dishes as Norwegian salmon with creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and lemon-caper butter, and grilled New York strip steak with garlic-herb butter and vegetables.
In my one visit to Americana so far, I found the dishes a bit hit or miss. (Again, I’m hoping this will all be worked out in the coming weeks as the ship comes into its own.)
It’s hard to mess up a breakfast burrito too badly, for instance, but the chefs at Americana managed to do just that with the one I ordered for a late lunch — breakfast for lunch, after all, is almost as good as breakfast for dinner.
The burrito came out filled with the same uninspired vat-cooked eggs that are in the buffet line at The Eatery, plus a smattering of tofu and black beans. It was billed as “spicy,” but there was no spice to it at all. The relatively tasteless salsa that came on the side wasn’t much help. Plus, the whole thing was oddly tiny.
Isn’t this a little small for a cruise ship burrito? GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Memo to Princess: Call up the chefs at your lower-priced sister brand Carnival Cruise Line, which has the always reliable Mexican-serving fast food outlet BlueIguana Cantina on ships, to find out how shipboard burritos should be done.
Lest you think I revel in being critical, I’ll say that I was delighted with the loaded French fries that I ordered as a side. They came smothered in buffalo sauce and huge chunks of blue cheese.
Now that’s more like it. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
The burgers and sticky pork ribs that the family at the table next to me were noshing on looked great, too, as did the made-to-order banana splits. Possibly, I just ordered the wrong thing.
The good news: I have a couple more days left on this trip to give it all a try.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The Platinum Card® from American Express overview
The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards on the market. As a cardmember, you’ll earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive over $1,500 in annual statement credits (as long as you can take advantage of them) as well as access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Nowadays, it seems every bank, airline and hotel offers a premium travel rewards card. But for a long time, The Platinum Card from American Express was the only premium rewards card on the market. With its sleek design and hefty metal weight, there was a bit of prestige attached to being an Amex Platinum cardholder.
The Amex Platinum has undergone significant changes in recent years and carries a steep $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) — one of the highest on the market. That’s why people often ask whether the Amex Platinum is still worth the annual fee, even with the new perks.
The recommended credit score for this card is above 690 and it ranks as one of the best travel cards, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for every traveler.
Let’s dig into the details and benefits to see whether having the Amex Platinum in your wallet makes sense for you.
Amex Platinum pros and cons
Pros
Cons
The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative, which TPG values at $1,600
This card has a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more (note that enrollment is required for select benefits)
The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway
The high annual fee is only worth it if you take full advantage of the card’s benefits — infrequent travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost
Outside of the current welcome bonus, you only earn higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories
The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to use compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards
Amex Platinum welcome offer
The current welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum is 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This is slightly above the standard welcome offer we have seen.
THE POINTS GUY
According to TPG’s latest monthly valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,600. That’s nearly three times the card’s $695 annual fee.
Amex sometimes offers up to 150,000 points to targeted individuals through other channels — like the CardMatch tool, so it’s worth checking out if you’re targeted. Just remember that offers are subject to change at any time and are not necessarily available to everyone.
What truly sets The Platinum Card from American Express apart is the fact that it confers so many valuable best perks and travel benefits. Let’s take a look:
Up to a $200 annual hotel credit, in the form of a statement credit, on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum)*
Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash, valid on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (split into monthly $15 credits plus a $20 bonus in December)*
Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credit — with the exception of SiriusXM, which will be removed effective May 8 and no longer be eligible for this benefit — disbursed as up to $20 monthly statement credits when you pay for eligible purchases with the Amex Platinum at eligible partners*
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Up to $300 in annual Equinox credit on Equinox gym and Equinox+ app memberships (subject to auto-renewal)*
Up to a $155 statement credit that covers the cost of a monthly Walmart+ membership when paying with the Amex Platinum (subject to auto-renewal); Plus Up excluded.
A $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an up to $85 fee credit for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years (depending on which application fee is charged to your card first)
Up to a $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, split into two up to $50 statement credits between January and June, then July through December*
Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights; Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight)*
If your trip is delayed by more than six hours because of a covered reason, you may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip for reasonable additional expenses**
If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip because of a covered reason, you may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered trip**
Extended warranty benefit extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less by up to one additional year***
Purchase protection protects recent purchases against theft, accidental damage or loss for up to 90 days from the purchase date***
Even if you can use just a handful of these perks, it’s easy to cover most (or all) of the Amex Platinum’s annual fee.
Here’s how TPG director of content Nick Ewen describes it:
“I have no use for some benefits of the Amex Platinum, and others (like Walmart+) I utilize just because they’re there. However, I always max out the digital entertainment credit ($240). I also easily use all $200 in Uber credits and all $200 in airline statement credits annually. In other words, just three of these perks put $640 back in my pocket every year. As a result, I think of it as paying $55 for all of the other benefits on the card — and that makes it a no brainer to keep in my pocket.”
Your exact situation may vary, but crunch the numbers to see how much real-life value you can get from the card.
*Enrollment is required for select benefits.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
With the Amex Platinum, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year). Plus, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.
RISKA/GETTY IMAGES
These 5-point categories are an excellent way to earn lots of Membership Rewards points. Based on TPG valuations, earning 5 points per dollar provides a 10% return.
All other purchases earn just 1 point per dollar, but Platinum cardmembers are eligible for targeted Amex Offers that could boost earning rates at various merchants (including Amazon).
Membership Rewards points are one of the most valuable and flexible loyalty currencies ever created for redeeming points. The best way to maximize your points is to transfer them to one of their loyalty program partners.
You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book travel directly through American Express Travel. But if the personal Amex Platinum is the only Amex card in your inventory, using points for airfare and hotel redemptions this way won’t get you amazing value.
You’ll get only 1 cent per point when you redeem the points directly for airfare at Amex Travel and less than 1 cent per point when redeeming for hotel rooms.
DANYAL AHMED/THE POINTS GUY
From my experience, 9 out of 10 times, you should never redeem Membership Rewards points for flights through American Express Travel, as you will get much better value utilizing transfer partners.
Here’s how TPG senior editor Matt Moffitt likes to transfer and redeem his Membership Rewards points:
“I look out for transfer bonuses to maximize my points to book long-haul business-class flights. I often transfer to Iberia Plus for lie-flat seats to Madrid. Sometimes, I’ll transfer to Qantas Frequent Flyer to secure hard-to-find business- or first-class flights back to Australia.”
Which cards compete with the Amex Platinum?
Some other compelling premium credit cards go head-to-head with the Amex Platinum:
If you want a much lower annual fee: Capital One’s premium rewards card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, packs a punch and comes with a more affordable $395 annual fee (see rates and fees). The Venture X is potentially more lucrative than the Amex Platinum when it comes to earning, accruing 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on everything else. For more information, read our full review of the Venture X.
If you can take full advantage of more than $1,500 in annual statement credits yearly, The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most compelling rewards cards, especially if you travel enough to make the hotel statuses and lounge benefits useful or shop enough to get substantial value from the shopping protections.
The Amex Platinum’s $695 annual fee is steep, but the various annual credits can recoup the entire cost (and more), even before considering the card’s other perks.
Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for a 150,000-point Platinum Card offer (after meeting minimum spending requirements). These offers are subject to change at any time.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
While some truly excellent credit card bonuses are available right now, sometimes the most lucrative offers are reserved for targeted individuals. One of the best places to look for these elevated targeted offers is by using the CardMatch tool, where you might find introductory bonuses that are much higher than those posted elsewhere.
For the Platinum Card, you could be pre-qualified for an offer of 150,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within your first six months of card membership. The card has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).
This astronomical bonus number is worth grabbing if you’re eligible, as the highest publicly available welcome offer for the card is 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
We also see possibilities for a 90,000-point targeted welcome offer on the American Express Gold Card available for some through the CardMatch tool. This offer is pre-qualified, and the Gold card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees).
THE POINTS GUY
Targeted cardmembers can earn 90,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of account opening. TPG values 90,000 Membership Rewards points at an impressive $1,800. Others may see a pre-qualified 60,000-point offer after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership, which matches the current offer that’s publicly available on the Amex Gold card.
Cardmatch offers vs. public offers
These CardMatch offers are significantly better than those publicly available for both of these American Express cards. Here’s a snapshot for comparison:
The Amex Platinum Card‘s public offer is 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. That means you can get an additional 70,000 bonus points if you’re targeted for the CardMatch offer.
The public offer on the Amex Gold Card is 60,000 bonus points for making $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of account opening. So you may be eligible to get up to 30,000 extra bonus points if you’re targeted for an elevated welcome offer via CardMatch.
It’s important to note that all offers are subject to change at any time, and not everyone will be targeted for an elevated offer.
American Express welcome offers are also “not available to applicants who have or have had this product,” and that limitation also applies to CardMatch offers.
So, if you have had either of these cards in the past (including the Premier Rewards Gold card, the previous version of the Amex Gold), you might be out of luck, even if you are targeted for these offers through CardMatch.
While there are some reports of being able to get a welcome offer for the same card many years after closing the account, this “once-per-lifetime” welcome offer limitation is an important restriction to keep in mind.
Finally, make sure to check your offer closely. Some potential cardholders have reported seeing different offers through the CardMatch tool than those posted here.
How to use CardMatch
CardMatchis straightforward to use, but you may wonder how it works if you haven’t used it before. Here are the simple steps to check your offers:
Enter your first name, last name, home address, last four digits of your social security number and email address
Click “Get matches”
Check the box to accept the terms and conditions and click “Submit”
After a 60-second or less search, your preapproved offers will appear
Note that this process generates a “soft” credit inquiry on your credit report. This means the inquiry will show up on your credit report but won’t impact your credit score, similar to if you checked your credit report through a free annual check or a paid service.
No one knows the exact criteria that banks, airlines and hotels use to target certain customers for elevated bonus offers, but many people may not realize their accounts are eligible.
Make sure to go into your account settings for all your cards and loyalty programs and opt-in for marketing communications and emails, as this is often how targeted offers are communicated.
Opting in is just the first step, though. While no one likes wasting time reading through junk mail, it’s important to at least skim emails or snail mail sent from banks, airlines and hotels to see if they contain any elevated offers.
Some targeted offers require you to apply with a unique invitation code or a specific link. If you throw away the letter or delete the email containing that code, it’s possible that you won’t receive the same offer again.
Is the American Express Platinum Card worth it?
The Amex Platinum’s 150,000-point welcome bonus through CardMatch — which, per TPG’s valuations, equates to a hefty sum of $3,000 — is a fantastic offer.
MORSA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Once you learn to maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points, you can potentially get even more value than that.
Even without the sky-high welcome offer, the Platinum Card is one of the best cards available for frequent travelers.
On the spending side, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made with American Express Travel.
Plus, you’ll get up to $200 in statement credits for airline fees on your selected airline and up to another $200 in annual statement credits toward prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel at Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties (the latter requires a minimum stay of two nights). Enrollment is required for select benefits.
In fact, there are more than $1,500 in annual credits that you can unlock with this card.
Then there are the airport lounges. Cardmembers are granted access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Amex’s own fantastic Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight).
The card has a $695 annual fee, but it can be well worth it if you utilize these perks to their full extent. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The Amex Gold’s 90,000-point welcome bonus through CardMatch is also much better than the current public offer of just 60,000 points and is worth around $1,800 based on TPG’s valuations.
RGSTUDIO/GETTY
With a lower annual fee and more varied bonus-earning categories, the Amex Gold is more versatile than the Amex Platinum for everyday spending.
With the Gold card, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 spent in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and on dining at restaurants, plus 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with an airline or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
You’ll also get a solid lineup of perks, including up to $120 in annual dining credits (available as up to $10 in monthly statement credits for eligible dining partners), $10 per month in Uber Cash credit (up to $120 Uber Cash annually) that you can use for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. and access to The Hotel Collection booking benefits. Just make sure you add the card to your Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The card does charge a $250 annual fee, but that is easily offset when you take full advantage of the card’s built-in perks. Terms apply.
TPG credits cards writer Chris Nelson says, “I can use the credits each month organically, bringing the effective annual fee to $10 for me, which is a no-brainer considering it earns 4 points per dollar on dining and 3 points per dollar on flights and these are some of my biggest spending categories.”
While the Platinum and Gold offers are likely the most appealing, you may see other appealing offers through CardMatch.
Previous cards have included the American Express Cash Magnet® Card and the American Express® Green Card. We recommend comparing any offers you receive against the publicly available offers to make sure that the targeted offers through CardMatch are better.
The information for the Amex Cash Magnet and Amex Green cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Other ways to find good welcome offers
Targeted offers can be a great way to get extra bonus points on a card you already planned to apply for, but they aren’t the only way to find a good deal.
Banks often extend limited-time, elevated bonuses that are publicly available to anyone who wants to apply for them, and you can check our list of the best elevated bonuses available right now — which is updated regularly.
If you’ve been on the hunt for the best credit card that suits your spending habits and also features a generous welcome offer, using the CardMatch tool can help you get there.
If you’re looking to fill a specific hole in your points and miles strategy, you may want to consider the following curated lists of best credit cards:
The CardMatch tool is great because it allows you to find better welcome offers than what is publicly available.
The Amex Platinum and Gold are two of Amex’s most popular cards. The 150,000 point offer for the Amex Platinum and the 90,000 point offer for the Amex Gold available to eligible targeted customers are the highest we have seen. If you’re in the market for a new reward card, now is a great time to see if you qualify for one of these offers.
Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for up to a 150,000-point welcome offer on The Platinum Card® from American Express offer or up to a 90,000-point American Express® Gold Card offer. These offers are subject to change at any time.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees on the Amex Gold Card, click here.
I’m just back from the christening sailing on Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship. In addition to six zones that include everything from a digital octopus to a roller coaster, the vessel offers fantastic food and great service, but you can make your experience even better with a few insider tips.
During my weeklong voyage, I picked up a few pointers that I found useful and want to share with future cruisers. Here are six little-known tricks that you can use on Carnival Jubilee (and, in some cases, on other ships, too) to help you steer clear of lines, save money and even avoid embarrassment.
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Look beyond the main dining room
Chibang! on Carnival Jubilee. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
For those who don’t know, Carnival offers two types of dining on its ships: set seating, which assigns you to a specific dining time at a set table with the same waiters every night, and Your Time Dining, which allows you to eat at any time in your assigned dining room between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
If you opt for the latter, you could be in for long lines to enter the main dining room during peak times, even if you check in ahead of time using Carnival’s Hub app.
If you want to avoid the wait and dodge the extra fees that come with eating in most specialty restaurants, consider dining in Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano or Mexican-meets-Asian Chibang! instead of the main dining room. Originally designed as overflow eateries for Carnival Jubilee’s sister ship Mardi Gras, they allow Your Time Dining passengers to enjoy their evening meal at any time during regular dinner hours for no additional charge.
Both restaurants will remain free to all guests through the ship’s inaugural season. Your Time Dining guests receive priority, and passengers with traditional set-seating dining aren’t allowed to eat there until after 7:45 p.m.
Use the line’s app to request a table shortly before you’re ready to head to your restaurant of choice.
Head to the Marina Bar for coffee
The Marina Bar on Carnival Jubilee. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
If you can’t function without your morning coffee and the complimentary stuff in the buffet won’t cut it, take note. Carnival Jubilee’s main cafe, JavaBlue, almost always has a line that spills out into the Grand Central area on Deck 6. If you’re in a hurry and don’t feel like waiting, check out the Marina Bar on Deck 8, where you can snag the same coffee beverages with a shorter (or nonexistent) line. The ladies there made my almond milk coconut lattes perfectly every time.
Bonus tip: Make sure to ask for a punch card and bring it with you each time you visit the Marina Bar (or JavaBlue). If you buy six specialty coffees, your seventh is on the house.
The thermal suite in the Cloud 9 Spa on Carnival Jubilee. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
It’s no secret that deals abound at cruise ship spas if you know where to look and when to book. Whether you’re yearning for a facial or have your heart set on a massage, you can often bag bargains when you reserve more than one treatment or schedule yourself for services on port days, when most passengers are ashore.
But, when a spa attendant flagged me down on the pool deck to offer me a same-day appointment on the second day of the voyage, I discovered there were potentially decent savings to be had on the first full day on board (the day after embarkation). Because everyone is so busy exploring the ship (or port, if it’s not a sea day), they’re generally not thinking about the spa.
In my case, it was a sea day, and I saved 30% — about $60 — on an excellent 75-minute full-body Swedish massage. Later, I learned that, by taking the offer, I made out better than a travel companion who saved only 20% on the same service by attending a spa seminar a couple of days later.
Hang out in Grand Central
Passengers can watch members of the entertainment team rehearse at Center Stage on Carnival Jubilee. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Are you the type of cruiser who loves to look behind the scenes? I am, but I hate to pay for the privilege. Several cruise lines, including Carnival, allow a peek behind the proverbial curtain if you pay for tours that take you to places the average passenger can’t go — the galley, the bridge, the laundry and engine rooms and maybe even backstage in the theater.
But who needs backstage when there’s a theater right in the atrium? In Carnival Jubilee’s Grand Central zone, Center Stage takes … well, center stage. The performance space isn’t enclosed like a typical theater, so there’s no way for it to be shielded from passengers’ view during rehearsals. If you stick around during the day, you can watch some of the ship’s performers practicing their blocking, their vocals and, occasionally, acrobatic routines before that night’s show.
Don’t miss special dining room events
Thing 1 and Thing 2 at the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast on Carnival Jubilee. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Unless you’re in the know, it’s possible to miss some of the fun meal options in the main dining rooms on board.
The first is brunch. There are two types: Seaday Brunch, held in the Pacific dining room on sea days only, and the Dr. Seuss-themed Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast, which was held on the last sea day during my sailing in the Atlantic dining room. The former is free, while the latter is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Both require reservations; check the daily schedule for days and times.
Note: Some Carnival ships have the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast instead of the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast. It’s a similar experience with a slightly different menu for the same price. Check the daily schedule for details.
The second daytime dining room event I enjoyed was afternoon tea, which is free (unless you choose to upgrade to a gourmet tea option for $3). You can choose from green, black and chamomile tea and a selection of sandwiches and pastries, including scones with cream. Check the daily schedule, or meander over to the Atlantic dining room around 3 p.m. on sea days.
Stop guessing in public restrooms
It’s always awkward to use public restrooms if you aren’t sure whether a stall is in use, especially if there’s a line. On Carnival Jubilee, if you’re wondering whether a stall is occupied, check the door. If the cutouts in the silver disc below the door handle are white, the stall is unlocked (and likely available, but proceed with caution). If they show red, the door is locked, and the stall is occupied.
When you’re finished and washing your hands, if the water temperature seems off, you can control it using the small handle to the right of the spigot — a secret I didn’t learn until halfway through my sailing, when a kind fellow passenger clued me in after I unwittingly scalded myself.
Amtrak is adding more trains to its schedule along the busy Northeast Corridor, owing to major strides in ridership after pandemic setbacks between 2020 and 2022.
This week the rail operator launched four additional weekday round trips between Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station and Union Station in Washington, D.C.
It’ll mean more trains and more seats between the two major East Coast hubs, and along the critical corridor that stretches from Washington to Boston.
We know you love trains. How about even more trains?
Starting today, Amtrak is adding more daily departures on Northeast Regional!
This results in:
– 20% increase in weekday service
– 10% in Sunday service
– Additional capacity of 1MM+ seats per year on the Northeast Regional pic.twitter.com/QX31LQ9H42
Amtrak is also adding an additional weekday morning departure from Philadelphia to New York.
Altogether, it’s a 20% spike in weekday capacity along the corridor, Amtrak said.
“More people are taking the train than ever before and we’re proud to offer our customers additional travel options,” Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch said in a statement announcing the news.
Moynihan Train Hall in New York City. BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY
Ridership rebound
Indeed, after the pandemic and remote working patterns hurt capacity for a couple of years, Amtrak made distinct progress in 2023.
Over the full fiscal year, which ended in October, ridership on Northeast Regional trains was up 29% over 2022 levels.
The longer the year went on, the better it got.
Full Northeast Corridor ridership in the final quarter of the fiscal year — in July, August and September 2023 — was up 8% over pre-pandemic levels.
In fact, ever since early last summer, the corridor consistently exceeded pre-pandemic passenger levels, said Laura Mason, Amtrak executive vice president for capital delivery, in a November interview with TPG.
“We have less of a commute ridership pattern, and much more of a leisure travel pattern,” Mason noted at the time. “We’re seeing a little less business travel, a lot more leisure travel, so we’re adapting our routes and our pricing to meet that need.”
To that end, it’s not just Amtrak’s weekday service getting a boost.
The company is also adding a new weekend trip from Philadelphia to Boston’s South Station, helping to grow Amtrak’s Sunday seat capacity by around 10%, the company said.
Collectively, these additional frequencies will boost Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor capacity by more than 1 million annual seats.
This significant growth in train capacity along the Northeast Corridor is just the latest step for Amtrak amid an ambitious growth plan.
In late January, the company announced a goal to double nationwide passenger capacity by 2040, to an annual 66 million passengers.
Helping with that growth, no doubt, is the billions of dollars in infrastructure grants doled out by the Biden administration in recent months. That money will support the construction of new tunnels under the Hudson River in New York and the building of a new Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore — both key chokepoints.
Meanwhile, after years of delays, Amtrak says its new Acela trains, which are undergoing live testing, remain on pace to be in service by the end of this year.
There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship.
To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world’s oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging.
It’s an experience that’s all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean of the vessel (known as the heel) as it’s pushed by the wind and the sway from the waves (which is actually smoother than what you get on a motor ship).
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In contrast to what you’ll find on so many motor-powered ships, cruising on a masted ship is about the simple thrill of traveling across the sea and not about all the many attractions you’ll find on board.
Only a handful of small cruise brands — so small that you might never have heard of them — offer trips on sailing ships. Here, we look at the three biggest players in this niche subset of the cruise industry.
Sea Cloud Cruises
Sea Cloud Spirit. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
If it’s an authentic, old-style sailing experience you want, then Sea Cloud Cruises is the line for you. The Germany-based company operates three large sailing ships where the sails are unfurled by hand, just as they were on sailing ships centuries ago.
On the biggest of these three vessels, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit, 18 deckhands scurry high into the rigging on sea days to manually untie and prepare the sails, an amazing sight. Unveiled in 2021, it’s a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship of the sort that hasn’t been common on the world’s oceans for more than a century.
Sea Cloud Cruises’ two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.
The original Sea Cloud was built in 1931 and was the world’s largest yacht at the time. SEA CLOUD CRUISES
Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E. F. Hutton. At the time, the vessel was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the U.S. Navy as a weather ship during World War II, after which it became the presidential yacht for the Dominican Republic. It only began sailing as a cruise vessel in the 1980s.
If you have money to spare, you can still book Post’s opulent private quarters on Sea Cloud, now its owner’s suite. It’ll set you back around $5,000 per day per couple. Her husband’s slightly smaller quarters are also available to book at a similar rate.
Post, the wealthiest woman in the U.S. during her lifetime, notably also built Mar-a-Lago, the massive estate in Florida that is now the official residence of Donald Trump.
Sea Cloud Cruises is the most all-inclusive and upscale of the three brands listed in this story, with pricing to match. Expect to pay nearly $1,000 per person per day or more for many sailings.
Sea Cloud Cruises’ three vessels offer a diverse array of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.
Wind Spirit visiting the French Polynesian island of Moorea. WINDSTAR CRUISES
Founded in the 1980s, Windstar Cruises got its start as a sailing ship line. While it now operates traditional motor-powered ships, too, voyages on sailing ships are still a big part of its business.
Three of the Seattle-based brand’s six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.
Two of the three vessels (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are particularly intimate, measuring 5,407 tons and carrying just 148 passengers with every berth full.
The line’s third sailing vessel, Wind Surf, is nearly three times the size at 14,745 tons. It’s one of the biggest sailing ships in the world (only a sister vessel that sails for Club Med is bigger). Wind Surf carries 342 people, an enormous number for a sailing ship.
The 342-passenger Wind Surf is one of the biggest sailing ships in the world. WINDSTAR CRUISES
Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar’s sailing ships aren’t unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It’s a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic.
Still, the experience of slicing through the waves by the power of the wind alone on Windstar ships is as glorious and romantic as it is on the Sea Cloud ships.
Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries.
For an extra $89 per person per day, passengers can also make the experience more all-inclusive with included Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities (three things that aren’t included in regular fares).
The line’s three vessels typically spend nearly all of their time sailing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.
Star Clippers’ Royal Clipper sailing ship. STAR CLIPPERS
Like Sea Cloud and Windstar, Star Clippers operates three sailing vessels that are among the biggest and most elegant sailing vessels in the world.
The belle of the ball at the line is Royal Clipper, a stunning five-masted ship that is billed as the largest square-rigged ship in the world. Its enormous array of 42 sails has a sail area of 56,000 square feet — significantly more than the sails atop any of the Sea Cloud or Windstar vessels. (Only Sea Cloud Spirit comes relatively close with a sail area of 44,100 square feet spread across 28 sails.)
Built to resemble Preussen, a legendary tall ship of the 19th century, the 24-year-old Royal Clipper shares the spotlight at Star Clippers with two smaller sister vessels, Star Flyer and Star Clipper.
Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size.
Star Flyer is a speedy clipper ship of the sort that sailed the world in the 19th century. DCIM100MEDIA
When it comes to the setting of sails, Star Clippers vessels offer a level of old-style authenticity that is in between the ships of Sea Cloud and Windstar. Like on Sea Cloud vessels, the sails are pulled into position by a team of deckhands using hand power and winches to tighten the “sheets,” or ropes.
Unlike on Sea Cloud vessels, the deck hands don’t climb high into the rigging to untie and prepare the sails for winching. That part is done automatically at the push of a button from the bridge, as it is on Windstar vessels.
In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow’s nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it’s way up there.
Star Clippers sailings are the most affordable option among the three sailing brands, in part because the onboard experience is less all-inclusive and upscale.
The three Star Clippers vessels mostly operate sailings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and along the west coast of Central America.
Bottom line
It’s still possible to get a taste of what traveling the world’s oceans was like in the days before motor power. Three small cruise companies — Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers — offer voyages on large sailing ships that are as majestic as anything that has sailed the seas in centuries past.
Travelers headed to Hawaii are about to enjoy an upgraded experience thanks to the stunning new cabins that Hawaiian Airlines has unveiled aboard its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which it just started taking delivery of in February.
The Honolulu-based carrier will put these new planes into service in April. But we got a sneak peek at Hawaiian Airlines’ first Dreamliner Saturday during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where we got to check out the new business-class and economy seats for ourselves.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
We also got to chat with the airline’s Chief Marketing Officer, Avi Mannis, to hear more about the innovative designs incorporated into the 787-9 and what passengers can expect.
“We knew that when we came to market with a new aircraft,” Mannis said, “we wanted to deliver something that elevated the level of service…in all the classes of service. This isn’t just about the new lie-flat business-class suites. It’s about delivering a better experience to the guest no matter where on the aircraft they’re sitting.”
Here’s our first look at the new Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and all the exciting new features on board.
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9 new business class
Perhaps most exciting of all, Hawaiian Airlines decided to install all-new suite-style Adient Aerospace Ascent seats aboard its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for an experience it has dubbed, “Leihoku,” or lei of stars. Mannis noted that these suites, which were on order before the pandemic, have been a long time coming, especially as premium travel demand to Hawaii has boomed both during and after the pandemic.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
There are just 34 of these fixtures, each with a closing door for privacy. They are configured in a 1-2-1 pattern with 9 rows of single seats along each side of the cabin and 8 rows of two seats each running down the center.
Seats in the middle section, however, have their head and backrests next to one another and are angled out toward the aisle. There are tiered privacy dividers between them that can be raised above eye level, or lowered all the way to seat level for passengers traveling together who want to create a more intimate shared space. To manipulate them, you can use electronic buttons, and to lower them, both passengers need to press the down arrow at the same time.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
All the business-class seats are 21 inches wide between armrests (though you can lower the adjustable armrest to open up five more inches) and recline to lie-flat beds that are around 77 inches long.
The aesthetic of Leihoku should look familiar to the airline’s A330 first-class seats, though, with inky-brown upholstery reminiscent of the island’s rich, volcanic soils accented with turquoise trimming hearkening to the warm South Pacific waters.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
However, there are plenty of exciting technological features, too, like 18-inch entertainment screens (Hawaiian Airlines A330 first-class passengers borrow airline iPads for entertainment) along with universal power plugs and USB-A (but not USB-C) ports.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Along their larger, aisle-side armrests, seats have dual-level surfaces (a wider one for devices and a narrower shelf for beverages), handheld remotes for the entertainment systems and a set of controls to maneuver the seats into various positions including upright for takeoff and landing, lounging positions and lie-flat bed mode.
There’s also a do-not-disturb button, which turns the seat number sign orange and should come in handy for overnight red-eyes where folks want to maximize their rest.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The tray table slides out from beneath the entertainment screen and then pivots to become perpendicular to the seatback and can be moved forward and back if you need to get out of your seat.
When it comes time to extend the seat to bed mode, passengers are given fitted seat covers to provide some padding, plus medium-size pillows and light duvets. The foot cubbies are a little restrictive, but if your feet aren’t very large, you shouldn’t have trouble turning from side to side.
These seats have plenty more storage than their predecessors. Their seat-side cupboards have adjustable interior mirrors and enough space to stow headphones and amenity kits. Just to the side, there is a little rack with an extendable bar for stowing a phone, which is also handy since this is a Qi wireless charging surface.
Stylish cylindrical sconce lights and flip-out reading lights create an updated look while wooden accent paneling and cabin ceilings dotted by star-like lighting features evoke the seafaring past of the ancient Hawaiians.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
One downside is the lack of overhead air nozzles, so passengers are at the mercy of flight attendants to keep the cabin at a comfortable temperature.
There are just two lavatories for the cabin, one at the front near the forward galley, and one by the aft galley. Both have sleek finishes and current hygienic features including touch-free sinks and toilet flushing.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Overall, the look is contemporary, chic and sleek, but with enough Hawaiian flair to convey the airline’s signature brand of hospitality.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9 Extra Comfort
Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 economy section comprises a total of 266 seats, 79 of which – mostly located along the sides in the forward section and the first row of the aft section – are designated as Extra Comfort.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
All seats in economy, including the Extra Comfort ones, are Collins Aerospace Aspire fixtures laid out in a standard 3-3-3 pattern. The seats have a slimline profile, but are more padded than what you’ll find on a low-cost carrier, and are upholstered in the same palette of teal and chocolate as the seats in business class with plant-like patterning.
Like regular economy seats, those in Extra Comfort are around 17.5 inches wide between armrests, but have 35 inches of pitch, which is 4 more than standard economy. They recline three inches.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
In addition to USB-A and USB-C ports embedded in their 12-inch HD touchscreen entertainment monitors, Extra Comfort seats share two universal power plugs per three-seat block. In all other ways, though, they’re identical to the regular economy seats.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
For comparison’s sake, economy and Extra Comfort seats on the airline’s Airbus A330s are mostly laid out in a 2-4-2 pattern. These jets have 68 Extra Comfort seats aboard with 36 inches of pitch, while their 192 standard economy seats have 31 inches of pitch – the same as on the Dreamliner. Their entertainment screens are 9 inches across diagonally and have embedded USB-A ports.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The economy section has a total of six lavatories; five in the central are separating the two economy cabins and one at the very back of the plane near the main galley.
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9 economy seats
Hawaiian Airlines’ latest economy seats are the same as those in Extra Comfort, but have just 31 inches of pitch, and there are a few rows in a 2-3-2 pattern toward the back of the aircraft.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Their tray tables pop down from the preceding seatback and are maneuverable forward and backward by about 3 inches.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Their touchscreen entertainment systems are 12 inches across diagonally and have embedded USB-A and USB-C ports. These seats do not have AC power plugs, though.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The headrests have side wings to cradle your head but do not adjust up and down. Overall, they are a nice but only slight update over the airline’s economy seats on its other aircraft.
Other Hawaiian accents
Perceptive passengers will notice a few other Hawaiian-specific features board the airline’s Boeing 787-9s, including an entry area near door 2L with wooden slats inspired by native Hawaiian hardwood that resembles the ribbing of an outrigger canoe, leaf-like texturing along the ceiling panels and purple lighting reminiscent of the islands’ tropical flora.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
“All of our competitors fly the same aircraft,” Mannis told us, “so a lot of what differentiates the experience beyond our frontline employees and the hospitality we deliver is the story behind the design.” That was key, he said, to differentiating the experience of flying a Hawaiian Airlines 787-9 versus that of a competitor.
“In Hawaii, we have such a rich storytelling tradition,” Mannis said. “We always start with a story. In this case it’s the story of Pacific voyagers who traveled by canoe across vast distances in the Pacific. Once you have that story down, you can build detail into the design … that is immersive and makes it feel different than getting on anyone else’s 787.”
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The plane’s lighting effects, for instance, were programmed to mimic Hawaiian optics like the archipelago’s stunning Technicolor sunsets and misty midday sun. Carpeting and seat accents have aqua patterning that is a play on the color saturation and gradients of Pacific waveforms and currents. Squint your eyes slightly and look at the wall stenciling near the lavatories and you might feel like you’re taking a snooze in the shadow of an indigenous tree. Speaking of which, this is Mannis’s favorite touch: Each of the lavatory’s floral wall patterning is of a different Hawaiian plant, so you might want to try visiting them all during a long flight between the Mainland and Hawaii.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Each Hawaiian Airlines 787-9 will be given a culturally significant name derived from the stars and constellations used by Polynesian navigators. With the tail number N781HA, this particular plane’s official name is Kapuahi, which is the Hawaiian word for the star Aldebaran.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Flyers will find Hawaiian language labeling on seats and other signs throughout the cabin, too, while the lavatory signs have male and female figures in traditional Hawaiian garb. Once in the lavatories, take a moment to look down – the black flooring shimmers like a newly cooled lava flow.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Though small, these facets help to imbue the flight experience with a uniquely Hawaiian ambience that communicates the carrier’s heritage and home.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
We asked Mannis if any of that Hawaiian-specific character is likely to fade once the airline merges with Alaska. Though he could not give any details at this point, Mannis did aver that, “Alaska is committed to keeping the Hawaiian Airlines brand and they see the value in a brand like ours that really stands for a place and has such great consumer love around it.”
Where will the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9 fly?
So far, the airline has revealed plans to fly its new Boeing 787-9s on just a handful of routes as it continues to take delivery of its full order of 12 Dreamliners.
Initially, the jets will operate certain flights on the following routes:
Between Honolulu and San Francisco daily from April 15-May 13, 2024
Between Honolulu and Los Angeles on select flights starting May 14, 2024
Between Honolulu and Phoenix on select flights starting May 15, 2024
Schedules for an aircraft’s debut into service sometimes change, though, so always double-check the aircraft operating flights you are interested in directly on Hawaiian Airlines’ site before making a reservation.
How to book a flight on the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9
If you want to experience Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9s for yourself, there are a few possible ways of booking.
First, you can simply make your reservations directly through the Hawaiian Airlines website, which will have the most current information on schedules and aircraft and use one of the best credit cards for booking flights to earn the most points or miles.
Without getting too granular, here’s a look at sample starting round-trip airfares and mileage redemptions on the airline’s upcoming flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) over the next few months. These prices are specifically for flights operated by the Dreamliner, and award availability is currently scarce, though it will hopefully open up slightly as more the jets go into service.
Class
Economy
Extra Comfort
Business class
Airfare
$605.40
$784.40
$3,020.50
HawaiianMiles
40,000 miles
N/A
80,000 miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points
40,000 points
N/A
80,000 points
JetBlue TrueBlue points
40,000 points
N/A
100,000 points
As always, be sure to double-check your flight numbers and aircraft type before booking to ensure that your itinerary will indeed be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Bottom line
It’s been a long time coming, but Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is finally here and preparing to go into service next month.
Our quick overview of the aircraft at LAX revealed that its interiors are as exciting as we anticipated, with all-new business-class suites that are a huge leap forward for the carrier. The Extra Comfort and economy seats are looking pretty spruce, too, and the uniquely Hawaiian decor elements help create an island-inspired vibe as soon as you set foot on board.
Time will tell how the airline’s character and route network will evolve pending Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. But hopefully these planes will remain in service for some time to come so travelers get to experience Hawaiian’s distinctive sense of aloha coupled with competitive, contemporary seats and amenities.
The main attraction to the world of points and miles is the ability to redeem your rewards for “free” travel. What I find even more lucrative is securing premium airline seats in business and first class using my points and miles for a fraction of the cash price. Whether you’re earning points and miles on an airline cobranded card or a transferable points-earning credit card, it’s a great way to maximize your rewards.
However, one of the biggest worries of points and miles is devaluation. When a program gets devalued, it means your hard-earned and saved-up rewards become less valuable; this causes the amount of points or miles needed for a flight or hotel to increase.
In February 2024, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles devalued its award charts, which affected many people (myself included) who regularly utilize this under-the-radar program for its sweet spots and amazingly priced premium cabin redemption rates.
I was a committed Miles&Smiles redemption user who frequently took advantage of the program, but since its devaluation, I have decided to pivot to a new program to maximize my hard-earned miles. Keep reading to find out why I am using Air Canada’s Aeroplan after Turkish Airlines’ devaluation.
Air Canada has an Impressive list of Airline partners
Naturally, as a Star Alliance carrier, Air Canada’s Aeroplan frequent flyer program allows you to book award tickets with your usual Star Alliance partners, including Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines and more. Aeroplan has an astonishing 47 partners, far greater than any other Star Alliance carrier’s frequent flyer program.
Aeroplan triumphs over Miles&Smiles thanks to its impressive list of non-Star Alliance partners with whom you can earn and redeem miles.
The major downside of the Miles&Smiles program for me is the limitation of transferable currency options. Essentially, the three types of currencies that allow a 1:1 transfer to Miles&Smiles are Bilt Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One miles.
Aeroplan partners with the four major transferable currencies: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. This makes it easier to transfer rewards for an award ticket because even though redemption rates may not be as low as Miles&Smiles’ previous chart, the ability to dip into multiple accounts to transfer miles is notably a win.
However, when booking with Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa or Swiss, the carrier-imposed surcharges can skyrocket upward of $700; this is a bummer for those who want to save money by using miles and not paying cash fares.
I previously avoided booking Star Alliance carriers through Miles&Smiles primarily due to the sky-high taxes.
SWISSMEDIAVISION/GETTY IMAGES
This can be a huge pain point for many, as massive cash surcharges, along with the redemption cost in miles, can turn people off from certain programs. Luckily, Aeroplan does not pass on carrier-imposed surcharges on award bookings.
The only additional cost of booking with Aeroplan is a 39 Canadian dollar ($29) partner booking fee, which is minimal compared to what other programs can charge.
Stretching your hard-earned points and miles is even more rewarding when booking through Aeroplan, thanks to its excellent stopover program. While Miles&Smiles has a stopover option, it cannot be used on one-way award tickets. Because many frequent flyer programs don’t allow stopovers, especially on one-way awards, this helps Aeroplan stand out and gives this program the upper hand.
IMGORTHAND/GETTY IMAGES
Aeroplan allows stopovers for up to 45 days everywhere except in the U.S. and Canada. Amazingly enough, you can book these online or over the phone, and Aeroplan has better, consistent customer service in relation to that of Miles&Smiles.
For just 5,000 points, you can add a stopover on one-way awards; this saves you points or cash because you won’t have to book two one-way tickets to get to your destination. This is an excellent way to maximize your points and miles while also being able to visit multiple destinations on one trip.
Some examples of how this could be maximized while also utilizing Aeroplan’s impressive partners are:
Flying from the U.S. to Oman: Flying to London on United, add a stopover for 5,000 points, and then continue onward to Oman.
Flying from the U.S. to Singapore: You could fly to Japan on ANA, add a stopover for 5,000 points and then continue onward to Singapore.
Aeroplan continues to have the upper hand over Miles&Smiles after the devaluation thanks to transfer bonus promotions. When transferring points and miles to Aeroplan, it may seem like a sting sending over such large amounts. But, from time to time, issuers offer promotions for transferring rewards.
XAVIER LORENZO/GETTY IMAGES
In the last few years, American Express Membership Rewards has offered transfer bonuses to Aeroplan for as little as 10% and up to 20% while also offering a transfer bonus promotion twice a year on some occasions. On the other hand, Chase Ultimate Rewards has offered up to a 30% transfer bonus to Aeroplan over the last two years.
In comparison, Citi ThankYou only had one transfer bonus promotion in February 2019 for Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles. The added benefit of having multiple transferable currencies connected with Aeroplan is that you to take advantage of two transfer bonus promotions from different issuers within the same year. This reduces the number of miles needed for transfer, thus saving you money.
The Miles&Smiles program is mostly dead to me. Apart from utilizing one or two redemption options, it’s a program I don’t see myself booking with anymore. Devaluations are a common thing in the world of points and miles, and it’s best to have diversity in your credit card portfolio so you can pivot to the next program.
Although I have used Aeroplan several times before, considering all of the program’s perks, I will be using it more regularly from now on.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here. For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
You can already use American Airlines miles to upgrade American flights. You can also redeem American miles to upgrade British Airways and Iberia flights booked into some high-fare classes.
The good news is that you can redeem American miles or cash to upgrade most Qantas-operated flights through the Plusgrade website. Almost all fares — including AAdvantage award tickets and travel booked through online travel agencies — can be upgraded, with the primary exception being sale fare classes for international flights.
Once you’ve booked your Qantas-operated flight, you can check whether your flight is eligible and the upgrade rates by heading to the Plusgrade website. Once there, you must enter your Qantas confirmation code and last name.
PLUSGRADE.COM
You must upgrade each segment individually if you have multiple Qantas-operated flights on your ticket. Assuming your fare is eligible, you’ll initially see an option to bid for a cash upgrade. Using the slider, you can choose a specific amount to bid for your upgrade.
Here’s the default bid for me to move from Qantas premium economy to business class on a long-haul flight from Sydney Airport (SYD) to Santiago Airport (SCL) this summer. For my flight, the potential bids range from $585 to $3,490 per person.
PLUSGRADE.COM
You can also toggle from cash to miles to see the number of American miles required for an upgrade. You can’t change the number of miles you bid for the upgrade, as it is static for your specific flight and date.
PLUSGRADE.COM
You may see multiple upgrade options depending on the class you’ve booked and the cabins offered on your flight. If you have multiple passengers on your reservation, you must request to upgrade all of the passengers. If you only want to upgrade some passengers, you may be able to contact the agency or airline you booked with and ask to separate the travelers you don’t want to upgrade from your reservation.
Once you submit an upgrade request, you’ll get a confirmation email from Qantas. However, upgrades won’t be confirmed until 24 hours or less before departure. So, you won’t know until shortly before your flight whether your upgrade bid was successful.
You can cancel your request anytime before Qantas confirms your upgrade. If you requested an upgrade with cash, you can change your bid anytime before your upgrade is confirmed. You can only submit new upgrade requests up to five hours before departure for domestic flights and 10 hours before departure for international flights.
Is using American miles to upgrade your Qantas flight a good deal?
The short answer is no. Using American miles to upgrade Qantas flights usually won’t be a good idea. Let’s look at a few real-life examples that will give you an idea of what value you can expect to get when redeeming American miles to upgrade your Qantas flight.
MATT MOFFITT/THE POINTS GUY
For my premium economy flight from Sydney to Santiago this summer, I could request an upgrade for 64,400 American miles per person. But I’d only find out within 24 hours of my flight whether my upgrade cleared, and the upgrade cost would be on top of the 70,000 American miles and $72 I already paid per person for my fare.
The upgrade rates are pretty unimpressive when you consider you could redeem 82,500 miles per person — just 12,500 miles per person more than I paid for my premium economy award ticket — to book into the Qantas business-class cabin on this flight. Of course, there wasn’t award availability when I booked (and there still isn’t), but the upgrade still comes at a hefty premium over the standard award pricing.
But perhaps the more damning aspect is that I could outright buy a one-way, business-class ticket through Qantas’ codeshare partner LATAM on the same flight for $2,309.50 per person. Not only would my business-class seat be guaranteed then, but I’d also save the miles I redeemed for my premium economy flight and earn rewards on my fare and credit card spending.
LATAMAIRLINES.COM
But let’s check another flight to get a second data point. Based on the American AAdvantage partner award chart, I can fly from the continental U.S. to the Asia Pacific region for 40,000 miles per person in economy, 65,000 miles in premium economy, 80,000 miles in business or 110,000 miles in first (assuming award availability permits).
For a one-way economy award flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney, Plusgrade quoted me a rate of 66,900 miles or between $800 and $3,625 for an upgrade to premium economy. But, if I found premium economy award availability on this flight, I’d only need to redeem 25,000 more miles based on American Airlines’ partner award chart to book a confirmed premium economy award.
Meanwhile, I could request an upgrade from economy to business class on this flight for 95,500 miles or between $1,215 and $5,165. Remember that if I found business-class award availability on this flight, I’d only need to redeem 40,000 more miles than I’d redeemed for my economy fare to book a confirmed business-class award.
You can often find premium economy tickets for around $3,000 round-trip on the Qantas flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, so you may find better value by either buying a paid premium economy fare or setting up award availability alerts for your dates if you don’t want to fly in economy on this long-haul flight.
Especially considering the massive difference between the award rates you could book via the AAdvantage partner award chart (if you find award availability) and the upgrade rates, I can’t say it’s a good value to redeem American miles to upgrade your Qantas flight.
American AAdvantage now lets its members upgrade Qantas flights using American miles. The loyalty program has indicated it will also add the ability to redeem American miles for upgrades on other Oneworld partners in the future.
More options to upgrade flights using miles are always welcome. However, consider whether you’ll get good value before using cash or American miles to upgrade Qantas flights. In many cases, you may be better off redeeming for a premium-cabin award (if there’s availability) or booking a paid fare in the higher cabin — assuming you haven’t booked your flight yet or you’ve booked a fare you can freely cancel.
There’s just over a month until one of the most memorable moments of the year.
On April 8, millions of Americans will experience a total solar eclipse as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, darkening the afternoon sky. It’s a phenomenon that won’t happen again in North America for 20 years.
To witness the spectacle, travelers are planning spring getaways to Texas, the Midwest and parts of the East Coast set to experience the eclipse most dramatically. This is fueling high hotel prices and earned the event a spot in TPG’s 2024 Travel Trends Report.
But the excitement isn’t only coming from spectators on the ground.
In recent weeks, one major airline has announced special flights specifically scheduled to give passengers a high-flying view of the eclipse. Plus, other carriers have pointed passengers to flights that are likely to provide a bird’s-eye view of the natural phenomenon.
Delta Air Lines has perhaps leaned into the excitement around the eclipse more than any other U.S. airline.
The Atlanta-based carrier added two flights timed specifically to give passengers maximum time in the path of totality to its April 8 schedule.
The flights drew so much interest that you may be out of luck if you didn’t act quickly.
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The first eclipse flight Delta announced on Feb. 19 sold out in less than 24 hours.
DELTA AIR LINES
The sold-out flight takes off at 12:15 p.m. CDT on April 8 from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), with a final destination at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
Travelers quickly snagged seats and helped Delta track a 1,500% spike in search interest for Austin-to-Detroit flights for April 8, the carrier said.
As a result, Delta came back a week later with a second Detroit-bound flight, also meant to maximize passengers’ time within the path of totality. DL1010 will depart Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on a larger Airbus A321neo aircraft at 12:30 p.m. CDT on April 8.
As of this writing, seats aren’t quite sold out just yet, but you’ll certainly have to pay up.
A main cabin ticket sits at $949 one-way.
DELTA AIR LINES
Or, if you want to tap into your Delta SkyMiles, you can book the trip for 90,000 miles one-way.
DELTA AIR LINES
As you can see, it appears Delta has already sold out its first class and Comfort+ space on the flight.
Other Delta options
Delta has also noted four April 8 flights that may give passengers a view of the eclipse.
Those include:
DL5699: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN) — departs at 2:59 p.m. EDT on an Embraer 175
DL942: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to DTW — departs at 8:40 a.m. PDT on an Airbus A320
DL2869: LAX to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) — departs at 9 a.m. PDT on an Airbus A220-300
DL1683: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) — departs at 9:55 a.m. MDT on an Airbus A320
United Airlines
United Airlines has also unveiled a slate of flights it says will “potentially” be in the path of the solar eclipse. Those routes for April 8 include a half-dozen flights out of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and five more from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Those flights include:
UA5693: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas — departs at 12:45 p.m. CDT
UA0490: ORD to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — departs at 12:47 p.m. CDT
UA0455: ORD to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — departs at 12:49 p.m. CDT
UA0247: ORD to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — departs at 1 p.m. CDT
UA2187: ORD to Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) — departs at 1:20 p.m. CDT
UA1438: IAH to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) — departs at 11:55 a.m. CDT
UA6128: IAH to John Glenn International Airport (CMH) in Columbus, Ohio — departs at noon CDT
UA6109: IAH to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) — departs at 12:05 p.m. CDT
UA1318: IAH to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) — departs at 12:23 p.m. CDT
UA1687: IAH to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) — departs at 12:25 p.m. CDT
Customers on some of these flights will receive special United-themed eclipse glasses for safe viewing, the airline told TPG.
“United is seeing incredibly strong demand to top viewing destinations like Cleveland, Little Rock and San Antonio in the days leading up to and after the eclipse,” the airline said in a statement.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Most notably, inbound bookings to San Antonio between April 4 and 7 are up 127%, the carrier said. Outbound bookings from San Antonio on April 9 and 10 are up 288%.
Good eclipse flight deals are available
We found a few reasonable deals on some of these flights that, again, may offer passengers a view of the eclipse, per United.
Pricing currently starts at $105 for a United flight from Chicago to Little Rock on April 8. However, that’s in basic economy, which doesn’t include complimentary seat selection. You may want to pay $140 for a full-fare economy ticket so you can snag a window seat.
UNITED AIRLINES
The Chicago-to-Houston flight starts at $165 one-way.
You’ll pay more for what will likely be the more high-demand routes. For the 12:05 p.m. flight from Houston to Detroit, you’ll pay $595 for a main cabin ticket, which will be on board an Embraer 175 jet. It gets into Detroit just before 4 p.m. EDT.
Southwest Airlines is pointing passengers to a handful of flights for the solar eclipse.
A Southwest Airlines aircraft on final approach at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The first list includes flights that, according to the carrier’s network and schedule planners, “have the greatest likelihood of offering customers the best view” of the eclipse.
Those three flights include:
WN1252: Dallas Love Field (DAL) to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) — departs at 12:40 p.m. CDT
WN1721: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) — departs at 12:50 p.m. CDT
WN1910: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) — departs at 1:20 p.m. CDT
These flights will cost you.
The Dallas-to-Pittsburgh flight starts at $660 for a Business Select fare.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Slightly cheaper, the Austin-to-Indianapolis route currently goes for $552 one-way.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Or, your least expensive option of the three: the St. Louis-to-Houston flight starts at $224 for a Wanna Get Away fare, or you can also book it for 16,711 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Additional Southwest options
Southwest has also identified a handful of other flights that “may also cross the path of totality.”
WN955: Dallas Love Field (DAL) to Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW) — departs at 12:50 p.m. CDT
WN506: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to DAL — departs at 1:05 p.m. CDT
WN1734: William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) — departs at 1:35 p.m. CDT
WN1682: MDW to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) — departs at 1:30 p.m. CDT
WN3108: Nashville International Airport (BNA) to DAL — departs at 1:40 p.m. CDT
What to know if you’re booking an eclipse flight
If you even think you might want to book a flight for the solar eclipse on April 8, you should act quickly.
Between seats selling out fast and the possibility that fares could risein the coming weeks, you’ll want to lock in your fare now.
If you book a ticket on Southwest or a main cabin ticket on Delta or United (not a basic economy ticket), you can typically cancel and at least get the value back in the form of a trip credit.
MICHAEL ALLEN SIEBOLD/MOMENT VIA GETTY IMAGES
Is an eclipse flight worth it?
These solar eclipse flights certainly don’t come cheap, but there are some clear benefits to experiencing the eclipse from cruising altitude.
Flying above the clouds
For starters, there’s the weather. After all, there’s the all-too-common “April showers” and the clouds that come with those showers, which could mean a somewhat obstructed view from the ground if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.
At 30,000 feet, you’re almost assured a clear view.
A bird’s-eye view
Experiencing the phenomenon inflight should also bring an unforgettable view, Austin Chaney, chief meteorologist at CBS affiliate WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio, said.
“When you’re 30,000 feet in the air, the horizon is almost 200 miles away. That’s way more than the roughly 3 miles you can ‘see’ when you’re standing on the ground,” Chaney told TPG.
That could make for a rare view when flying through — or even near — the path of totality.
“Because the horizon is so far away … you should also be able to see the light on the outskirts of the shadow when you’re in totality,” Chaney said. “Passengers on these planes should easily be able to see the light coming in from places that aren’t in the shadow, which I imagine will be a spectacular sight to see.”
Bottom line
Of course, factors like air traffic control, weather delays and maintenance disruptions could also interfere on April 8 — just like any other day.
But if all goes according to plan, it should be a memorable experience on the ground and in the air.
THE POINTS GUY
