Month: April 2024

Air India is refreshing its identity. It has placed a massive aircraft order, rolled out new crew uniforms, adopted a new aircraft livery and begun installing refreshed seats.

Alongside a new website, the airline has also revamped its Air India Flying Returns loyalty program. Here’s what you need to know about the updated Air India Flying Returns program.

What is Air India Flying Returns?

Air India Flying Returns is the loyalty program for Air India. You can earn and redeem reward points within the Flying Returns program and earn tier points toward elite status.

Air India is a Star Alliance airline, so you may be interested in its loyalty program even if you don’t frequently visit India or fly on Air India.

Related: The best ways to fly to India with points and miles

How to earn Flying Returns points

Within the Air India Flying Returns program, there are two types of points: reward points and tier points. You can redeem reward points for award flights and upgrades, while tier points are what you need to earn Flying Returns elite status.

Reward points expire 24 months after you earn them, but you can extend the expiration date of all your reward points each time you fly on a paid flight operated by Air India.

Earn reward and tier points on Air India flights

You can earn reward and tier points on Air India flights. You’ll earn reward points as follows on Air India flights:

• Red elite members: 6 reward points per 100 Indian rupees (about $1.20)
• Silver elite members: 8 reward points per 100 Indian rupees
• Gold elite members: 9 reward points per 100 Indian rupees
• Platinum elite members: 10 reward points per 100 Indian rupees

Plus, you’ll earn 2 bonus reward points per 100 Indian rupees when you book using the Air India website or mobile app. You also earn 6 tier points per 100 Indian rupees spent on Air India flights regardless of your Flying Returns elite status tier.

Earn reward and tier points on Star Alliance flights

You can earn reward and tier points when you fly in eligible fare classes on Star Alliance airline partners. You’ll earn reward points based on your flight distance and fare class, as shown on the partner airlines page. You’ll also earn 1 tier point per 2 reward points when flying on Star Alliance partner airlines.

Other ways to earn reward points

You can also earn reward points (but not tier points) with select partners. Here’s a quick overview:

• Air India credit cards: Residents of India can apply for an Air India credit card that earns reward points. There aren’t currently any cobranded Air India credit cards available to U.S. residents.
• Convert transferable points: Some banks within India allow cardmembers to transfer rewards to Air India. However, Air India isn’t a transfer partner for major U.S. transferable reward currencies.
• Stays: Several regional hotel brands and properties in India let Flying Returns members earn 5 to 20 reward points per 100 Indian rupees spent on stays.
• Car rentals: Three lesser-known car rental companies — Bookairportcab.com, Discover Cars and Zoomcar — let Flying Returns members earn 5 to 10 reward points per 100 Indian rupees spent.
• Experience and lifestyle purchases: Several merchants, including Antara River Cruises and Sherpa, let Flying Returns members earn 5 to 25 reward points per 100 Indian rupees spent. Meanwhile, one merchant offers a much lower 5 reward points per 4 euros (about $4.27) spent.

Unfortunately, most of these other ways to earn reward points won’t help travelers who don’t spend extensive time in India. Some are inaccessible if you aren’t eligible for credit cards issued by Indian banks.

Related: Staying at the only Category 1 Park Hyatt: My review of the Park Hyatt Chennai

Air India Flying Returns elite status

The Air India Flying Returns program has four tiers, including an entry-level Red tier with no requirements. To reach the other tiers, you must meet specific requirements for tier points or flights with Air India and its Star Alliance partner airlines over the last 365 days.

Once you meet the requirements for a new elite status tier, you’ll enjoy its benefits for one year. After that point, you’ll be downgraded based on your activity within the last 365 days.

Qualification requirements for each Flying Returns elite status tier are as follows:

• Red: No qualification requirements
• Silver: 15,000 tier points (with at least 4,500 tier points on Air India) or 30 flights (with at least four flights on Air India)
• Gold: 30,000 tier points (with at least 9,000 tier points on Air India) or 60 flights (with at least eight flights on Air India)
• Platinum: 45,000 tier points (with at least 13,500 tier points on Air India) or 90 flights (with at least 12 flights on Air India)

The primary benefit of Flying Returns Red status is the ability to earn and redeem points. Here’s a look at the primary benefits you can expect at each Flying Returns elite status tier above what you’d get at the previous tier:

• Silver: Star Alliance Silver status, 50% off on standard seats on domestic Air India flights, one upgrade voucher for a domestic Air India flight, priority check-in and boarding, less expensive change fees on domestic Air India flights, the ability to check 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds) more on Air India flights where the free baggage allowance uses a weight-based system and priority waitlist clearance
• Gold: Star Alliance Gold status, lounge access with one guest, free standard seat selection on Air India flights, two upgrade vouchers for domestic flights, Fly Early benefit on domestic Air India flights, the ability to check 20 kilograms (about 44 pounds) extra or one piece more on Air India flights and Star Alliance partner flights, one free change per ticket on domestic Air India flights up to 24 hours before departure (and on international Air India flights up to 72 hours before departure) and less expensive cancellation fees for domestic Air India flights
• Platinum: free seat selection on Air India flights, three upgrade vouchers for domestic flights, two free changes per ticket on Air India flights up to 24 hours before departure and waived cancellation fees on domestic Air India flights

If you don’t frequently fly on Air India, the primary benefit of status will be the Star Alliance status you can get. However, you must reach Gold for Star Alliance Gold status before seeing any significant benefits.

Related: This 232-year-old fort is part of Hyatt’s luxury Alila brand: Here’s why I loved my stay

How to redeem Flying Returns points

You can redeem Flying Returns points for Air India flights, Star Alliance partner flights and upgrades on Air India flights.

Redeem points on Air India

You can redeem points for flights or upgrades on flights Air India operates. I haven’t found an award chart for flights or upgrades, but you can check the rates for specific routes using the Flying Returns points calculator.

Here’s the award flight and upgrade rates I found using the calculator for a few one-way routes (the calculator wouldn’t give me the award cost for premium economy or business awards on these routes):

• Mumbai to Jaipur, India: 6,000 points for a Value economy award flight, 8,000 points for a Prime economy award flight and 12,000 points to upgrade from economy to business
• Mumbai to Delhi, India: 5,000 to 7,500 points for a Value economy award flight, 9,500 points for a Prime economy award flight and 15,500 points to upgrade from economy to business
• Bengaluru to Delhi, India: 7,800 to 8,000 points for a Value economy award flight, 12,000 points for a Prime economy award flight and 23,000 points to upgrade from economy to business
• Delhi to Chicago: 65,000 points for a Value economy award flight, 84,000 points for a Prime economy award flight, 42,000 points to upgrade from economy to premium economy and 110,000 points to upgrade from economy to business
• Delhi to San Francisco: 77,000 points for a Value economy award flight, 103,000 points for a Prime economy award flight, 47,000 points to upgrade from economy to premium economy and 108,000 points to upgrade from economy to business

Redeem Flying Returns points on Star Alliance partners

Air India claimed all Star Alliance partners would be bookable online when the revamped program launched in early April. However, the Air India website still notes that you can only book award flights operated by United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Austrian Airlines online. You must call to book award flights operated by other Star Alliance airlines.

You can only book one-segment awards on Star Alliance airlines, and there’s no published award chart for Star Alliance partners. Instead, Flying Returns members are instructed to enter their flight details into the points calculator to see award rates. However, each Star Alliance partner route I entered into the calculator gave me a “No routes found” error.

Undeterred, I headed to the award booking tool and found I could book an economy award flight from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on at least one date for 5,500 points. I don’t have 5,500 points in my account, so the website wouldn’t let me see the taxes and fees on this award.

I also found a date on which I could book an economy award flight from EWR to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for 7,500 points.

You can also redeem Flying Returns points for upgrades on Star Alliance flights. However, with the points calculator not working for Star Alliance partner routes and without a potential flight to update, I couldn’t see the upgrade rates.

Related: The best websites to search for Star Alliance award availability

Best credit cards to book Air India flights

Out of the cards available to U.S. residents, you’ll want to use some of our best cards for airfare when booking Air India flights. My favorite is the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, which offers 3 points per dollar spent on purchases in select categories, including travel (on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year), trip delay protection and delayed baggage protection.

If you aren’t eligible for a business credit card, here are some of the best personal cards and what they earn on flights:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 5 points per dollar spent on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 3 points per dollar spent on other travel
• American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
• Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on air travel
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 5 points per dollar spent on flights purchased through Chase Travel and 2 points per dollar spent on other travel

These cards are great regardless of whether you’re booking a paid flight or an award flight. Remember that it may be worth using a card with a lower earning rate if it offers better travel insurance benefits, especially in cases when you’re only paying the taxes and fees for an award flight.

Related: The best credit cards with travel insurance

Bottom line

Air India didn’t have the best reputation historically, as covered by TPG contributors in past stories about a honeymoon disaster and a horrendous transatlantic flight. Thankfully, it seems the airline and its loyalty program are improving, even though its points calculator and award search aren’t as functional as I’d like.

Air India says it may add transfer partners and credit cards for U.S. residents in the future. But until then, there’s little reason for most travelers based in the U.S. to utilize Air India Flying Returns.

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

Few cards — for consumers or small-business owners — capture the “wow” factor quite like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

A welcome bonus worth more than three times the card’s annual fee? Check. Exceptional rewards on common business expenses, airfare and prepaid hotel bookings? Check. Massive travel perks, including an annual airline fee credit and exclusive airport lounge access? Check again.

It’s no wonder this is a must-have card among business travelers. Still, that doesn’t mean every small-business owner can justify carrying this card. It’s a great card, but it’s not the right one for everyone. So, let’s look at who should — and shouldn’t — hold the Amex Business Platinum.

Amex Business Platinum benefits

The Business Platinum card is offering 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth $3,000.

The spending minimum may be a tall order for many small-business owners. Still, if you have high inventory turnover or are growing your business, this card may help make your normal business activity much more rewarding.

The welcome offer is far from the only reason to consider this card. Here are some perks that you can get, including some benefits not available on The Platinum Card® from American Express (the personal version of this card):

• Earn 1.5 points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more and eligible U.S. purchases for electronic goods retailers, software, cloud service providers, construction materials and hardware supplies and shipping providers (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 35% rebate when you Pay With Points for a first-class or business-class ticket on a selected qualifying airline booked through amextravel.com (up to 1 million points per calendar year)
• Annual statement credits — worth over $1,000 combined — with Dell, Indeed, Adobe, Clear and wireless telephone services. Enrollment required

Just like the personal version of this card, you’ll enjoy these benefits, too:

• 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels (through Amex Travel without the annual spend cap that the personal Platinum Card has)
• Annual up to $200 annual airline fee statement credit (enrollment required)
• Access to Amex’s lounge network, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) and Priority Pass lounges; 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
• A $100 Global Entry statement credit every 4 years or up to $85 TSA PreCheck statement credit every 4 1/2 years
• Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required)

For all of these benefits, you’ll pay a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Who should get the Amex Business Platinum?

Frequent travelers

This is a no-brainer, especially with all this card offers to the global traveler. One perk not mentioned above is no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), meaning you won’t get dinged for purchases made outside the U.S.

Businesses with large expenses

Most cards offer 1 point per dollar on non-bonus spending. But if your business routinely makes large purchases of $5,000 or more, the 1.5 points per dollar bonus on big purchases is better than you’ll find elsewhere. And if your business makes thousands of dollars in card purchases monthly, that spending requirement on the welcome bonus won’t seem daunting.

Owners who value flexible points

The most lucrative way to redeem Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to one of Amex’s many partner airline or hotel programs. If you’re willing to put in the time and research, going the transfer route can increase the value of your points even above our valuations.

For example, The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly transferred 68,000 points to British Airways to fly first class from London (LHR) to Accra (ACC) plus under $500 in taxes/fees — a flight that would have cost him over $11,000 in cash. That redemption netted a value of 16 cents a point.

Someone who already has the American Express® Business Gold Card

If you already have the American Express® Business Gold Card, this could provide a one-two punch when it comes to earning Membership Rewards. Use the Business Gold Amex to fill in the blanks left by the Business Platinum card. With the Business Gold, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar on the two categories in which you spend the most each month from the following list (terms and limitations apply):

• U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
• U.S. purchases at gas stations
• U.S. purchases at restaurants
• U.S. purchases made from select technology providers
• Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service in the U.S.
• Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, ridesharing services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses and subways

While you’re capped at $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year for this 4 points per dollar earning (you only earn 1 point per dollar after hitting that ceiling), that 8% return (based on TPG valuations) is pretty sweet.

Plus, Amex will even recalculate your top spending categories each month to make sure you earn the maximum number of points possible.

Related: Card review: American Express Business Gold Card

Who shouldn’t get the Amex Business Platinum?

Businesses with modest operating expenses

If you can’t meet the spending requirement for the welcome bonus or justify paying the $695 annual fee, there are better options for you, including the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card from Chase.

Someone who already has the personal version of the card

Since there are so many similarities between the business and personal versions of this card, it can be hard to justify having both. First, you’ll need to determine if you can spend enough to earn both bonuses. Outside of the bonus, another key consideration in whether or not to get the business version is keeping your personal and business expenses separate and whether or not you can stomach paying almost $1,400 in annual fees for your cards (see rates and fees for the personal Amex Platinum).

Businesses that need multiple employee cards

Although you can get up to 99 Platinum employee cards, Amex says it will charge you $350 annually for each additional Business Platinum card you request (see rates and fees) and $50 annually if you request Amex Business Gold cards for your employees to use (see rates and fees).

That’s a pretty hefty price to pay, given there are other business card options that offer free employee cards, like the Capital One Spark Miles for Business (see rates and fees).

Bottom line

TPG considers the Amex Business Platinum to be one of the best business cards with good reason: It has fantastic value for the frequent business traveler, and it’s currently offering one of the most valuable welcome offers on the market. If you’re able to meet the hefty spending requirement, you probably don’t need much more convincing to get this card.

On the other hand, it’s a much more dicey proposition (all right, probably a bad idea) for a business owner who sticks to the ground — particularly when there are so many great options out there to earn points, miles and cash back on expenses that matter most to you.

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Apply here: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

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For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.

As if Universal Orlando doesn’t have enough excitement on the horizon with an entirely new theme park opening in 2025, it is planning a blockbuster summer at Universal Studios Florida.

On Monday, Universal announced a new parade, a nighttime lagoon show, a projection show in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more. The first of these new experiences debuts June 14. Here’s the “mega” movie fun you can experience this summer.

Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular

On June 14, Universal Studios Florida will debut an all-new nighttime show that will bring the park’s lagoon to life with music, fountains, projection mapping and drones. The show will lean into Universal’s legacy of blockbuster films that have inspired past, present and current theme park attractions.

Guests will experience music from iconic films like “Jurassic World,” “Jaws,” “Ghostbusters,” “Back to the Future,” “Harry Potter,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Minions” and more; favorite scenes and characters will be projected onto fountains over the lagoon. Meanwhile, more than 600 drones will fly overhead, making the show even more spectacular.

Universal Mega Movie Parade

In sticking with the theme of bringing cinematic masterpieces off the big screen and into its parks, the Universal Mega Movie Parade will debut July 3 at the Universal Studios Florida park. The parade will celebrate classic films like “E.T.,” “Back to the Future,” “Jaws” and “Ghostbusters,” as well as recent blockbusters like “Jurassic World,” “Minions,” “Sing,” “Trolls,” and “Kung Fu Panda.”

Universal Mega Movie Parade will feature 13 new floats, special effects and nearly 100 dancers, skaters, stilt walkers and other performers. You’ll have to see it in person to see how “mega” this parade really is, but Universal did share that there will be a 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on the “Ghostbusters” float, a Caterbus and rainbows on the “Trolls” float and more than one massive dinosaur atop the “Jurassic World” float.

To celebrate the new parade, the park will open a limited-time Summer Tribute Store with themed rooms, merchandise and photo ops inspired by the films featured in the parade.

Hogwarts Always

Hogwarts Always will debut on June 14 at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure. On select nights, guests can watch scenes from a school year at Hogwarts, from shopping for supplies in Diagon Alley to riding the Hogwarts Express, participating in the sorting ceremony and more projected onto the facade of Hogwarts Castle.

As an extra surprise, the show will have four different endings. Each one honors a different Hogwarts house, and you never know which house will come out on top.

DreamWorks Land opening

Universal Orlando’s newest land is also opening June 14. DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida will feature attractions, play areas, meet-and-greets, restaurants and retail locations themed to popular DreamWorks films like “Shrek,” “Trolls” and “Kung Fu Panda.”

Related: Universal Orlando’s new DreamWorks Land opening this June

In addition to fun-filled experiences — like taking a ride on the Trollercoaster and playing in Shrek’s Swamp — guests can attend a multi-sensory live show called DreamWorks Imagination Celebration that brings these beloved films to life in all-new ways.

Bottom line

If you don’t have your summer visit planned, now is the time to choose your favorite Universal hotel, read up on our favorite restaurants and scope out the best rides. Book your trip now because this summer will be a big hit at Universal Orlando.

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for Universal vacations
• Universal Orlando guide: Tips from frequent visitors
• These are the best Universal Orlando hotels for 2024
• Best restaurants at Universal Orlando Resort

Frequent cruisers are likely familiar with popular East Coast cruise ports, such as Boston, Baltimore, New York City and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. But did you know you can also cruise from the Carolinas? The cruise port in Charleston, South Carolina, is a driveable distance from several cities, including Charlotte (three hours) and Raleigh (four hours) in North Carolina.

Charleston might not be a bustling cruise home port like PortMiami, but the city is a destination in its own right. And if you’re sailing with American Cruise Lines or Carnival Cruise Line, you’ll find plenty to do in the Holy City before or after your cruise.

Plus, the Port of Charleston is easy to get to from Charleston International Airport (CHS), and the city offers a good selection of points hotels for a pre- or post-cruise stay.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Here’s everything you need to know about cruising from the Port of Charleston.

Port of Charleston fast facts

Port of Charleston cruise terminal information

Address: 32 Washington St., Charleston, SC 29401

Number of terminals: 1 (passenger terminal)

Map (PDF link)

Cruise lines sailing from the Port of Charleston

Currently, two cruise lines depart from the Port of Charleston.

American Cruise Lines’ Historic South & Golden Isles Cruise and Holidays in the Southeast cruise depart from Charleston. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line‘s Carnival Sunshine cruises out of Charleston on round-trip four- to 10-night sailings to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

Charleston also serves as a port of call on repositioning cruises or longer East Coast and Bahamas/Bermuda itineraries with cruise lines such as Viking, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Airport near the Port of Charleston

The Port of Charleston is 12 miles (about 25 minutes) from Charleston International Airport (CHS). Various airlines fly to CHS from other U.S. cities, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines.

Your disembarkation time might not align with your outbound flight time. So, if you have time to kill at the airport, you can spend it at The Club CHS lounge. The lounge is in the main terminal on the second level toward Concourse B. A daypass is $50 per person unless you have a Priority Pass membership through premium credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required). AAA members get in at a discounted rate of $42.50.

How to get to the Port of Charleston

You have a few options for getting to the cruise port from the airport or a hotel in Charleston.

Hotel shuttles

On-site parking isn’t available at every hotel in downtown Charleston, so leaving your car at the hotel while you cruise likely won’t be the best way to go. However, some area hotels offer shuttle service to the port or provide complimentary transportation within a certain distance from the property. For example, The Dewberry Charleston offers guests complimentary transportation within 5 square miles of the hotel via its Volvo house cars. The cruise port is just over a mile from the hotel.

When you are choosing a pre-cruise hotel, inquire about transportation to the cruise port before you make your reservations.

Independent van/car services

You can arrange private pickup and drop-off through car and van services like GCT Chauffeured Services, which will cost between $100 and $199 for up to three people.

Taxis and ride-hailing services

Hailing a taxi to get to the Port of Charleston is simple. At the airport, taxi service is at the center median just outside baggage claim. Taxis charge a $17 minimum fee from CHS. Taxi fares are based on a trip meter rate of $3 per mile, which includes up to two passengers. You’ll either pay the $17 minimum or the fee displayed on the meter at the end of the trip (whichever is the greater amount). Additional passengers are $7 per passenger, per trip. Based on taxi rates in Charleston and the distance from the airport to the cruise port, the estimated fare is $30 to $40.

Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are also an option. Follow the signs outside the baggage claim area to the sheltered pickup area across both roadways. You’ll find it to the right of the last sidewalk.

Public transportation

Charleston’s public bus service, Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, does not currently provide a convenient station or stop to the cruise port.

Port of Charleston parking

The majority of cruisers sailing out of the Port of Charleston will be driving to the port, arriving the day of departure or the night before. Therefore, the port offers plentiful on-site parking.

Long-term parking for cruise passengers’ vehicles at the port does not require reservations. Parking is located within a gated area available only to cruise passengers and not the general public, and port police secure and patrol the site during the cruise.

A complimentary shuttle bus runs between the vehicle parking areas and the passenger terminal on both departure and return dates of the cruise.

The cost for parking standard-size vehicles is $21 per day. The parking fee for oversize vehicles longer than 20 feet (campers, recreational vehicles, buses) is $50 per day. You can pay for cruise parking with a credit card, debit card or money order. Cash is no longer accepted as payment for parking.

The Port of Charleston provides free parking for vehicles displaying a valid accessible parking placard or license plate with ID. Wheelchair services are available inside the terminal. Alert a cruise port staff member for assistance.

Off-site parking is available with private companies like Park & Go, which offers cruise parking for $10 per day. It does not provide shuttle transportation from the lot to the cruise terminal, so you would need to take a taxi or Uber to the port.

A public parking garage is also an option. The maximum rate is $18 per day. The Cumberland Street parking garage (90 Cumberland St.) is the closest one to the port, less than a mile away.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Hotels near the Port of Charleston

The Charleston area offers an abundance of hotels, including some properties at which you can use or earn points. Whether you want convenient access to the cruise port and the city’s historic downtown or to enjoy a riverfront pre- or post-cruise stay, here are a few to consider.

Hilton hotels near the Port of Charleston

For a quick overnight before a cruise, the Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Waterfront/Downtown is an ideal option (41,000 to 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night).

Its location on Ashley Marina provides easy access to the Charleston Historic District and other downtown attractions, and it’s just under 2 miles from the cruise port. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness center and free breakfast.

If you’re looking for an upscale stay, Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton is an excellent choice (80,000 to 459,000 Hilton Honors points per night). It exudes laid-back luxury with a distinctly Southern style, and the rooftop pool bar area is a prime spot for spectacular views of Charleston’s steeple-filled skyline.

Related: Best Hilton credit cards

Marriott hotels near the Port of Charleston

For Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, there’s the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront (30,000 to 59,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night), which sits about 3 miles from the cruise port. On certain dates throughout the year, you can also use a Marriott 35,000-point free night certificate to cover a stay here.

Relax by the fire pit, or take a dip in the outdoor waterfront pool. The Bistro is the hotel’s only restaurant, but it also serves specialty Starbucks beverages if you can’t function without your morning caramel macchiato latte.

For a boutique hotel experience, book a stay at The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel, available from 40,000 to 81,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. An outdoor saltwater pool and upscale on-site dining venues like Vivian Howard’s Handy & Hot and Lenoir are among many reasons to overnight here before or after your cruise.

Hyatt hotels near the Port of Charleston

Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District is a lovely hotel right in the heart of Charleston’s historic area and within walking distance of area restaurants, bars and shopping. It also has a rooftop bar area for a nightcap with nice city views. Nights start at 12,000 World of Hyatt points, and your stay includes free breakfast.

Non-points hotels near the Port of Charleston

Charleston teems with hotels that don’t participate in traditional loyalty programs. When it comes to those, here are a few of our favorites.

For a mid-mod vibe, check out The Dewberry Charleston. Overlooking Marion Square, the hotel is convenient to King Street shopping, restaurants and historic sites.

Families will love the resort-style vacation atmosphere of The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Though not located downtown, it’s right on the water, with taxi service from the marina to the city center.

Related: The 18 best hotels in Charleston, from historic inns to modern stays

Restaurants near the Port of Charleston

Charleston lands on many “best foodie destination” lists — and for good reason. Visitors can choose among just-caught seafood, local Lowcountry cuisine and upscale meals from James Beard Award-winning chefs. The Port of Charleston is convenient to the historic downtown area, so cruisers will find a bevy of destination dining and solid local eateries within walking distance or a short taxi ride away.

Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar (186 Concord St.), the place for fresh seafood and waterfront views, is right next door to the cruise port. Head to Poogan’s Porch (72 Queen St.) for traditional Southern dishes served in a historic Victorian home (five minutes from the port). Other options within a 10-minute drive of the port include Chubby Fish (252 Coming St.) or local favorites like Rodney Scott’s BBQ (1011 King St.) and Cru Cafe (18 Pinckney St.).

Related: Best dining credit cards

Things to do in Charleston before or after your cruise

Charleston tops many “best destinations” lists thanks to its array of historic sites, cultural attractions and natural diversions. If you decide to spend more time in the Holy City before or after your cruise, here are some things to do in Charleston.

Hit the beach

The city of Charleston is on a peninsula surrounded by a harbor, so there’s no beach access within its limits. However, if you crave a little extra sand time, you’ll find some popular beaches within a fairly short drive.

A little over 9 miles (about 20 minutes) from Charleston, Sullivan’s Island is a charming beach town that offers wide beach areas with water sports opportunities (kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing). Peruse local shops, or explore history at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.

Folly Beach is less than 12 miles (about 21 minutes) from downtown. Its 6 miles of beach provide plenty of room for shelling, surfing or shark-tooth hunting. Or, take a guided kayak tour to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve for a closer look at the historic Morris Island Lighthouse.

Visit the International African American Museum

This 150,000-square-foot museum houses more than 150 artifacts, artwork and interactive digital exhibits that chronicle the survival and resilience of slaves who likely made their way to Charleston through Gadsden’s Wharf, the country’s largest slave auction site from 1772 to 1808. The museum resides on that site (Gadsden’s Wharf, 14 Wharfside St.).

Explore the aquarium

Cruising with the kids? Families will want to check out the South Carolina Aquarium (100 Aquarium Wharf), less than a mile from the cruise port (about a four-minute drive). The waterfront facility is home to more than 5,000 animals, including rehabilitating sea turtles in the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery facility. Two touch tanks hold sharks, horseshoe crabs, stingrays and sea stars. The aquarium also hosts daily dive shows and rotating exhibits.

Take in some art

If you’re into art, two Charleston museums should definitely be on your radar. The three-story Gibbes Museum of Art (135 Meeting St.) is the oldest museum facility in the South. Here, you’ll find a collection of more than 10,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs and furniture.

Head to the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston (161 Calhoun St.) to peruse innovative works of emerging artists, seasonal shows and rotating exhibits. Admission is free.

Related: How to spend 48 hours in Charleston

Shopping near the Port of Charleston

Pick up last-minute cruise items at Tanger Outlets Charleston (4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd.), about a seven-minute drive from CHS. Harris Teeter (290 East Bay St.) is less than half a mile from the cruise port, should you wish to grab snacks, drinks and other groceries.

If souvenirs or upscale items are on your list, spend some time along Charleston’s iconic King Street. Retailers like Free People, Urban Outfitters and Kate Spade line the cobblestone street along with locally owned shops offering jewelry, home goods and Charleston-branded items.

One of the city’s most popular attractions is the historic Charleston City Market (188 Meeting St.). The open-air spot showcases local artisans selling paintings, spices and crafts, including hand-woven sweetgrass baskets.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Marriott PointSavers lets you book select room types at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels at lower award rates on some dates. I figured PointSavers rates would disappear after Marriott adopted dynamic award pricing, but they’re still around. So, here’s what you need to know about Marriott PointSavers.

What is Marriott PointSavers?

Marriott PointSavers lets you save up to 20% off the regular point redemption rates when booking select standard or premium room types at participating properties on select dates. There’s no published list of Marriott PointSavers properties; the properties that are part of PointSavers change periodically, and some stay dates at participating properties may not feature PointSavers rates.

Related: Marriott Bonvoy program: How to redeem points for hotel stays, airfare and more

How to find Marriott PointSavers

Unfortunately, there’s no published list of Marriott Bonvoy properties currently featuring PointSavers award pricing for some rooms. So, you’ll need to look for PointSavers award rates when searching for hotels.

Luckily, you’ll see hotels with PointSavers rates denoted in the search results when they exist for your stay dates.

Click “View Rates” for a hotel to see what room type (or types) offers PointSavers award pricing. In this case, only one of four standard room types offers PointSavers award pricing.

If you decide to book a room type offering PointSavers award pricing, click “Select” and continue with your award booking as you normally would.

You can use Marriott’s “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” perk with PointSavers award pricing. So, feel free to book a longer stay if you prefer.

However, as mentioned above, some dates may offer award space at standard rates in the room type that offers PointSavers award pricing on other dates. For example, consider this relatively expensive night that doesn’t use PointSavers award pricing for the room type with two double beds at the same Fairfield Inn & Suites shown above.

Related: 5 ways to maximize Marriott Bonvoy award night redemptions

How to earn Marriott points

You have several options if you need to earn Marriott points to book a PointSavers award stay. The quickest options are buying Marriott points or transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. All three programs let you transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio.

But, if you don’t need to book a stay immediately, a better option might be to sign up for a new Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Here’s a look at some of your options and their current welcome offers:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn three free night awards valued at up to 150,000 points (each night valued at up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three free night awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership (each free night award has a redemption level of up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy). Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening.

Most Marriott Bonvoy cards offer a variety of other perks that can improve your Marriott stays. In particular, most cards offer complimentary Marriott elite status and elite night credits each calendar year toward a higher status tier.

Related: The complete guide to earning Marriott elite status with credit cards

Bottom line

Marriott PointSavers can let you save some points and get a better redemption value if you’re flexible regarding the specific property and the room type you stay in. I’ve booked Marriott PointSavers award stays in Houston, Austin and even the Maldives this year — so check your options carefully when booking upcoming Marriott stays.

American Airlines’ newest onboard innovations won’t be flying as soon as flyers might’ve expected.

It’s all part of major changes that the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is making to its wide-body network, reducing service on 12 routes due to delivery delays from Boeing. The news was first communicated to flight attendants in an internal memo obtained by TPG and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.

Perhaps even bigger news is that as part of this network update, American is delaying the introduction of its new Flagship Business Suites and premium economy products that were supposed to debut on a special new “787-9P” Dreamliner configuration.

Originally, the plan was to introduce these new seats, which were first unveiled in 2022, on the airline’s new longest route from Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane, Australia. This 8,303-mile route was announced in February and was supposed to be operated by a new 787-9P.

However, because of ongoing delivery delays, American will instead operate this flight using an existing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that features 30 of the airline’s existing reverse-herringbone business-class pods, as well 21 premium economy recliners, 36 extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra seats and 198 standard economy seats. Aside from the equipment change, this daily seasonal flight will launch as planned Oct. 26.

American doesn’t have an updated timeline for when it will introduce its new onboard products. Originally, the plan was to inaugurate these seats on board the 787-9P and simultaneously retrofit the existing Boeing 777-300ERs with the new products. (As part of the retrofit process, American is retiring Flagship First and replacing it with a new four-seat business-class-plus Flagship Suite Preferred section.)

Because of the delivery delays, it’s possible that the first 777 retrofit might be completed before the first new Dreamliner is inaugurated. American declined to share an updated rollout timeline with TPG, but we’ll be sure to follow up with details as they become available.

As for the routes that American is shuffling, the changes are pretty extensive, covering service to Europe, South America and even Hawaii.

You’ll find all the details in the table below, but it’s worth noting that American’s Dallas-Fort Worth-to-Kona route won’t (re)launch as planned. It was last operated in 2021, and American was originally supposed to fly it again starting in October.

Other big changes include reducing late summer service from New York to Rome to just one daily flight and ending a few other seasonal summer routes before they were originally supposed to wrap up.

In the winter season, American will increase service on four routes as it scales up pilot training and accelerates its retrofit schedule.

“As a result of ongoing Boeing 787 delivery delays, American is adjusting service on certain routes in the second half of 2024 and first quarter of 2025. We’re making these adjustments now to ensure we’re able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights. We’ll be proactively reaching out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements. We remain committed to our customers and team members and mitigating the impact of these delays while continuing to offer a comprehensive global network,” American shared in a statement about the news.

Even though the carrier is making some big tweaks, American will continue to offer service on 55 long-haul international routes this winter, and it’s not pulling out of any destinations as part of this adjustment.

While the airline is adjusting its schedule due to delivery delays, the carrier reaffirmed that it expects to grow full-year capacity by single digits in line with its recently issued guidance.

“While Boeing delivery delays have impacted mainline capacity production, they have been largely offset by improvement in our regional aircraft utilization. Aircraft delivery delays are impacting the entire industry, but they are not having the same impact on American as other carriers since we are not as dependent on new aircraft deliveries as most of our peers,” chief financial officer Devon May said on the airline’s first-quarter earnings call.

American plans to increase regional flying across the Sunbelt and in its Chicago hub.

The airline will file all these changes over the weekend, and they will be visible to customers by Sunday, April 28.

American’s wide-body reductions

Route	Impact
New York to Rome	Reduce from two to one daily flight effective Aug. 5
New York to Athens, Greece	Early seasonal suspension effective Sept. 3
Philadelphia to Venice, Italy	Early seasonal suspension effective Oct. 5
Chicago to Paris	Suspend service starting Sept. 3; service will resume in summer 2025
New York to Barcelona	Suspend service starting Sept. 3; service will resume in summer 2025
New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina	Reduce to one daily flight effective Oct. 27
Dallas-Fort Worth to Kona, Hawaii	Will not operate this winter
Dallas-Fort Worth to Dublin	Will suspend effective Oct. 26; service will resume in summer 2025
Dallas-Fort Worth to Rome	Will suspend effective Oct. 26; service will resume in summer 2025
Miami to Montevideo, Uruguay	Delay seasonal resumption to Nov. 18
Miami to Rio de Janeiro	Reduce to 10 weekly flights for winter season (except Dec. 16, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2025)
Phoenix to Honolulu	Service will no longer operate on Boeing 787 equipment this winter (except Nov. 16 to Dec. 2)

 

American’s wide-body increases

Route	Impact
Philadelphia to Barcelona	Will operate daily in January 2025
Miami to Montevideo	Will operate daily from Dec. 16, 2024, to Feb. 9, 2025
New York to Rio de Janeiro	Will operate daily from Oct. 27, 2024, to March 29, 2025
Miami to Sao Paulo	Will operate three times per day from Oct. 27, 2024, to March 29, 2025

 

Related reading:

• Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• 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

Before joining TPG in 2021, I was a newbie to the world of points and miles. Despite traveling frequently throughout the previous decade, I was oblivious to the benefits of loyalty programs or how straightforward it could be to earn points or miles for airfare and hotel stays.

For the last few years, I’ve immersed myself in points and miles, keen to understand every facet and maximize the value I get from every trip I take or penny I spend. Fast forward three years and I’ve accrued a healthy stash of Avios and, until very recently, was also sitting pretty with British Airways Executive Club Silver status.

At this point, however, I’ve hit something of a points and miles crossroads, and I’m now adjusting my earning and redemption strategies to eke out as much value from my points as possible.

Here’s how and why I’m changing up my points and miles strategy for 2024 to no longer focus my energy on earning Avios to redeem for flights.

I don’t need any more Avios

I won’t divulge the total number of Avios I currently have in my British Airways Executive Club account, but let’s just say it’s more than enough to book a few luxury flights across the globe.

Until now, my strategy was simple: Earn as many Avios as possible and redeem them on as many great flight experiences as possible. I did this through a variety of methods, initially starting out without a credit card by using British Airways’ online shopping portal for as much of my regular spending as possible.

While it wasn’t getting me the most Avios imaginable, it was a great gateway to understanding points and miles accrual, and I was frequently able to earn double and triple Avios or higher on retail purchases and subscriptions that I’d buy anyway.

After this, I briefly flirted with British Airways’ now-defunct prepay travel card, which would earn 1 Avios per British pound ($1.25) spent. It wasn’t quite the earning rate I could have had with a points credit card, but at least I was earning something — and at that point, I was still approaching points and miles with some trepidation. 

I quickly graduated from the debit travel card to taking the plunge and getting myself a British Airways Avios-earning credit card offering 1.5 Avios per pound spent. This was a turning point, and on top of the card’s generous welcome bonus, combined with stacking the card’s regular earnings with shopping portals, I very quickly saw my Avios account bloom. I also managed to earn a British Airways upgrade voucher after I hit a certain spending threshold.

As my Avios stash has grown, I’ve taken advantage of British Airways’ Reward Flight Saver redemptions on short-haul economy and Club Europe (the carrier’s European business-class cabin) fares to destinations such as Sicily, Italy; Athens, Greece; Dublin; and Porto, Portugal. Thus far, I’ve kept these redemptions low in terms of Avios expense to help me save for some bigger Club World redemptions I hope to make this year for myself and my partner.

I have now reached what I consider to be a healthy Avios threshold.

Simply put, I have no real need for more (although some of my TPG colleagues would probably disagree). For my current personal needs and plans, the Avios I’ve accrued in this period are enough to keep me flying for the rest of the year and (possibly) beyond, depending on how extravagant my redemptions are.

I no longer need to worry about earning Avios in the same way, and while I could focus my energy on a different airline, I’d much rather earn points and miles for travel expenses beyond flights.

I want more flexibility

While I’ve enjoyed being able to earn Avios with everyday spending, one of my biggest concerns with primarily using a credit card tied to a very specific currency has been the lack of flexibility with redemptions. 

Sure, Avios aren’t restricted to just British Airways flights and can also be used across the carrier’s Oneworld partners (and Aer Lingus), but I want even more flexibility. Avios can be used across a varied selection of airlines, but they don’t cover everything. For example, they can’t be redeemed with Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa or Air France, among other airlines that are convenient for me as a United Kingdom resident.

On top of this, I feel like I’m missing out on the opportunity to redeem my points on hotel stays unless you’re counting British Airways Holidays redemptions, which offer far less bang for your buck than a standard flight redemption. 

Thus, I’ve decided it’s time to diversify the way I earn, which has led me to sign up for a new points-earning card, specifically the American Express® Gold Card.

Theoretically, I could have diversified by taking out a cobranded hotel card such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card, but I would have once again found myself tied to one specific loyalty currency. With the Amex Gold, I am unlocking a new world of earning and redeeming potential courtesy of Amex Membership Rewards points.

Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

At TPG, we consider Membership Rewards points to be one of the most valuable loyalty currencies due to their ability to be transferred at a somewhat consistent 1:1 ratio to many leading loyalty programs, such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, to name a few. We currently value Membership Rewards points at 2 cents per point. 

While I’ve retained my original Avios-earning card simply to keep the embers alive, it’s no longer my primary earning card, and I’m now accruing a much more valuable currency that I will later be able to transfer and redeem, broadly speaking, anywhere I like — including with hotel loyalty programs such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. 

To me, this is a much more sensible approach to earning loyalty points, as you’re provided with much greater opportunities to maximize their end-use. I can still earn Avios through my old credit card, should I wish, or by spending on shopping portals with my new one. But now I can also earn points to transfer to other airline and hotel loyalty programs. 

The power of my points will now be much stronger. 

I want to be more strategic about how I earn

When I was limited to earning only Avios with my daily spending, it meant that I also focused all of my energy there by using certain offers or shopping portals to boost my earnings. It made little sense to step out beyond the Avios bubble, as the returns elsewhere would be marginal, with slow growth compared to the impact on my Executive Club balance.

This isn’t to say I haven’t earned points with other loyalty programs at all over the last few years. I have, but only in small amounts with little options to boost them further. 

Related: 4 reasons why the Amex Gold is the 1 card we can’t live without

With my shiny new Amex, I can now stack points (including Avios) through various shopping portals to top up my other loyalty accounts when I want to redeem points. 

No longer am I glued to British Airways and Oneworld routes and cabins. The world has become a deliciously rotund points oyster.  

Best points credit cards for beginners

If this is new to you and you’re just getting started with points-earning credit cards, we recommend checking out some of the following articles:

• Credit vs. debit cards: Which is the smarter choice?
• How I treat credit cards like debit cards: The updated envelope system
• 6 lessons I’d tell my younger self about credit cards
• New year, new approach: How to choose your best credit card strategy
• How to choose the best credit card for you

Here are a few of our favorite cards to consider:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: One of our favorite starter cards, this Chase option earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery orders, plus 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 1 point per dollar spent on most other charges. These points are transferable to lots of travel partners, including World of Hyatt, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways and Marriott Bonvoy.
• American Express Gold Card: This card has great earning rates on dining and grocery purchases, plus monthly statement credits, including up to a $120 annual dining credit (up to $10 per month; enrollment required), up to a $120 annual Uber credit (up to $10 per month) and $100 in hotel credits (two-night stay required). You’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants (including delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar), plus 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. You’ll be able to transfer your points to a number of travel partners, including Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

Bottom line

Since starting as a beginner in the points and miles world, I’ve managed to earn a decent number of Avios.

I’ve now decided that I want more flexibility with earning and redeeming my points. This has led me to sign up for a second credit card to earn much more valuable Amex Membership Rewards points, which will now be the main focus of my points-earning for the foreseeable future.

Related reading:

• 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

Make that five new ships for Carnival Cruise Line in just 18 months.

The world’s second-biggest cruise brand on Thursday welcomed the first cruisers aboard yet another new vessel, the 4,126-passenger Carnival Firenze, in Long Beach, California.

The 135,156-ton ship is debuting just four months after Carnival unveiled the even bigger 5,374-passenger Carnival Jubilee and 11 months after the line began operating the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

The latter two ships operate out of Galveston, Texas, and New York City, respectively. Carnival Venezia also spends part of the year sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Over the past 18 months, Carnival has also added the Miami-based, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration and the Australia-based, 2,260-passenger Carnival Luminosa. Carnival Luminosa also spends part of the year sailing out of Seattle.

The addition of the five ships to the Carnival fleet over such a short time span marks one of the fastest expansions of any cruise brand in the history of cruising.

With the addition of the five ships, Carnival now has a record 27 vessels in its fleet.

A new ship with an asterisk

Scheduled to sail year-round out of Long Beach, California, Carnival Firenze is a new ship for Carnival, but it’s new with an asterisk. The 15-deck-high vessel has sailed before for another cruise line, Italy-based Costa Cruises.

Originally called Costa Firenze, the vessel sailed its maiden voyage for Costa, a sister brand to Carnival, in July 2021, making it nearly three years old.

Carnival Firenze is just one of several Costa vessels that Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Costa and Carnival, has transferred from Costa to Carnival in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic and its aftermath hurt the Costa brand much more than the Carnival brand. This was in part because the Costa brand had big operations in China, where cruising shut down during the pandemic for far longer than it did in North America.

Carnival operates most of its ships out of U.S. ports and draws a lot of the customers for these ships from the states near these ports — a segment of close-to-home cruising that has been booming since cruising resumed in 2021.

The result has been a stronger demand for Carnival ships than Costa ships.

Carnival Firenze’s first sailing for Carnival, starting Thursday, will be a seven-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera that includes stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Carnival cruising with an Italian twist

Like Carnival Venezia, which also is a former Costa ship, Carnival Firenze is something of an outlier in the Carnival fleet as the vessel retains much of its Italian theming from when it sailed for Costa.

The ship also still has its original, distinctive gold-and-blue funnel that is a trademark of Costa’s vessels.

That said, Carnival Firenze won’t be devoid of Carnival’s signature shipboard venues. In recent months, the ship has undergone a significant overhaul in a dry dock in Spain that included the re-theming of many interior eateries and bars, as well as top-deck attractions to make them more consistent with the Carnival brand.

For instance, the ship will have a Carnival Waterworks water play area and a Steakhouse — a signature Carnival venue.

Related: The 8 classes of Carnival Cruise Line ships, explained

Other venues now on the ship that will be familiar to Carnival fans include a Guy Fieri-inspired Guy’s Burger Joint, a Bonsai Sushi eatery, a Chef’s Table, Lido Marketplace, Seafood Shack, a Pizzeria del Capitano pizza outlet and a Heroes Tribute Bar.

The ship also will have a new crew made up of Carnival staffers.

In short, Carnival Firenze will combine elements of both Costa and Carnival ships.

Carnival originally planned to call the ship a “Costa by Carnival” product to differentiate it from the rest of the Carnival fleet, but it eventually switched to marketing Carnival Firenze as a vessel that offers “Carnival Fun Italian Style.”

Carnival Firenze, notably, was originally purpose-built to sail out of China with Chinese travelers but with Italian theming that played up Costa’s Italian roots. Its theming is specifically tied to Florence, Italy — Firenze is what Italians call Florence.

The Carnival and Costa brands have long had similarities that make a transfer of ships between the two lines less complex than one might think. Ships for both Costa and Carnival often are built on the same platforms — that is, they share the same basic structural design and rough interior spaces. In such cases, the main difference between the ships of the two brands is the theming of specific spaces.

As of this week, fares for Carnival Firenze sailings start at $214 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a four-night sailing from Long Beach to Mexico.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information.

American Airlines really doesn’t want you shopping around, but the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is now delaying the previously announced changes to booking travel experiences that would encourage flyers to transact directly with the airline.

It teased many of these updates in the past several months, but things like earning miles and Loyalty Points will soon only be possible when booking through an American-approved channel. That may not include some popular third-party booking channels like corporate travel booking sites.

The changes will now go into effect July 11 instead of May 1, as originally reported.

American Airlines told TPG:

“We’ve decided to extend the update to the way customers earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights to July 11. This extension gives an opportunity for those agencies to complete the transition. We’ll continue to work closely with travel agencies to support them through this transition for our mutual customers.”

It was clear that companies needed more time to get the systems in place to allow customers to keep earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points.

You’ll find some details of the now-delayed changes below. We’ll have more on the new booking policies in the coming days.

Earning AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points

Starting with tickets issued July 11, American will exclusively award AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points for flights booked through select partners and preferred travel agencies.

American didn’t share the full list yet — that’s expected to drop in June. However, the carrier did outline the three booking channels that will qualify for earning miles and status credits:

• Book directly with American and eligible partner airlines.
• Book travel anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or as a contracted corporate traveler.
• Book through preferred travel agencies.

Basic economy tickets will earn miles and Loyalty Points exclusively when booked directly with American.

For the average traveler, this move means that any trips booked through non-preferred travel agencies will no longer earn miles or Loyalty Points.

It remains to be seen which agencies will qualify as “preferred,” but hopefully, this includes some of the biggest names.

This could be especially big news for those who like to redeem transferable credit card points directly through the American Express, Chase and Capital One platforms.

Hopefully, these partners will be on the list because otherwise, booking through those portals may no longer earn miles or status credits.

All told, this is a big move from American — the first of any U.S. airline to limit mileage earnings to certain booking channels.

From the airline’s perspective, the move makes sense. It allows the carrier to keep tighter control of the overall experience, and it can lead to additional upsell opportunities, such as upgrades and preferred seats, during the booking process.

In a statement to TPG, American Airlines said:

“Customers are at the center of what we do. American is evolving to give our customers the travel management experience they have come to expect, and we’ve invited the industry to come along with us. We’ve seen a great response from agencies increasingly adopting modern retailing technology and many have already achieved preferred retailer status. The majority of our indirect bookings are now made via an agency with NDC capabilities, and the current list of agencies beyond 30% NDC bookings is already impressive. We anticipate even more who are on the cusp of meeting the threshold to do so very soon, which will provide customers with excellent preferred agency options to go along with our offerings on aa.com.”

It remains to be seen if other airlines match, but this move shouldn’t necessarily be surprising to industry insiders. In recent years, the carrier has been rethinking how it conducts business with travel agencies, forcing many of them to adopt the latest tech standards if they even want to sell American flights.

“We want to just make sure that customers understand what they’re getting when they book with their specific agency. … So it’s really for the customer so they understand that there is a better way to find products and understand what they’re buying,” Scott Chandler, American’s senior vice president of revenue management and loyalty, said in an interview with TPG earlier this year.

American raised checked bag fees

Back in February, the airline also announced it was raising checked bag fees across the board, effective immediately.

The new fees for domestic flights are:

• $35 for the first checked bag purchased online
• $40 for the first checked bag purchased at the airport
• $45 for the second checked bag purchased online or at the airport

Short-haul international flights, including Canada and Mexico routes, have a different fee structure:

• $35 for the first checked bag purchased online or at the airport
• $45 for the second checked bag purchased online or at the airport

With this move, American now holds the title of the most expensive checked bag fees of all the major U.S. network airlines.

Alaska Airlines raised the first checked bag fee from $30 to $35 just a few weeks before, and now American is one-upping its Oneworld partner.

Not to be outdone, JetBlue also raised its baggage fees and then went one higher saying it was instituting dynamic pricing in its baggage fees. In other words, if you fly during busy periods, you can expect to pay higher costs for each bag.

“We haven’t adjusted domestic baggage fees since 2018. Due to inflationary pressures, we are making our first adjustments since that time,” Chandler explained to TPG.

The good news is that American will maintain all the existing bag fee waivers that it currently offers.

Those with AAdvantage or Oneworld elite status or those flying in a premium cabin will continue to receive their allotment of complimentary checked bags, as will those who hold one of American’s cobranded credit cards.

With this move, American is making it more attractive to pick up one of the carrier’s credit cards to avoid the higher first checked bag fee. We’ll see if this actually translates to more sign-ups, though.

Note that the aforementioned bag fees exclusively apply to standard-size checked bags. Bags that exceed the standard dimensions (62 linear inches) and weight restrictions (50 pounds) will be on the hook for additional fees, as you can see below.

American’s new overweight and oversize bag fees

Along with the increased bag fees, the airline changed how it priced overweight and oversize bags.

Previously, any bag heavier than 50 pounds but lighter than 70 pounds would cost an additional $100 to $200. (The same is true for bags bigger than 62 linear inches.)

Now, that fee will be broken down into two bands, as the following table shows.

Checked item	Previous fee	Travel on/after April 17
Bags between 50 to 70 pounds	$100 to $200	For bags between 50 and 53 pounds: $30
		For bags between 53 and 70 pounds: $100 to $200
Bags between 70 and 100 pounds	$200 to $450	$200 to $450
Bags more than 62 linear inches	For bags between 62 and 126 inches: $150 to $200	For bags between 62 and 65 inches: $30
		For bags between 65 and 115 inches: $150 to $200
Items that are both oversize and between 50 and 70 pounds overweight	$250 to $400	$30 to $200 (one single fee instead of two)
Items that are both oversize and between 70 and 100 pounds overweight	$350 to $650	$200 to $450 (one single fee instead of two)

As part of the move, American is reducing the oversize limit from 126 linear inches to 115 linear inches; this means that the biggest bags will no longer be accepted on American flights. Javelins, pole vaults and hang gliders will also no longer be accepted.

More AAdvantage-only benefits

At the beginning of the year, American shared its big 2024 loyalty update, which included news that some benefits would soon be restricted to AAdvantage members.

The airline made good on that promise with the following news:

• Same-day standby: Any AAdvantage members can stand by for an earlier domestic flight free of charge.
• Extended Trip Credit: AAdvantage members now have six more months to use Trip Credits when canceling online. Non-AAdvantage members will only receive six months to use Trip Credits.
• Cancel basic economy tickets: American already rolled out the ability to cancel basic economy tickets for a partial Trip Credit (less a $99 cancellation fee). This benefit is exclusive to AAdvantage members.
• Transfer AAdvantage miles: American says that transfer costs for moving miles between AAdvantage accounts are now 66% cheaper than before.
• Upgrade with partners: American teased this big update in January. The airline declined to provide any additional details, but it said that you’ll be able to redeem miles for upgrades with “select partners” later this year.
• Redeem miles for Wi-Fi: Unlike some of its biggest competitors, American has done nothing to make its Wi-Fi offering more attractive. Flight passes still start around $19 for domestic flights. That said, the airline will introduce the ability to redeem AAdvantage miles for Wi-Fi later this year at an undisclosed rate.

Several other AAdvantage-only perks and benefits, such as free 24-hour holds and the ability to purchase lounge passes, were announced in January.

Though American says these benefits are now an exclusive perk of being an AAdvantage member, the airline used to offer all of these perks to every traveler, regardless of AAdvantage membership.

As such, American seems to be focused on growing its member base with these new benefits. It appears the airline is moving full steam ahead with adding new perks and restricting access to other benefits for AAdvantage members.

Bottom line

American is making some major changes to how you do business with the airline, but it has delayed some of those changes a bit longer.

The carrier will limit the ability to earn miles and Loyalty Points depending on how you book your flights beginning in July. We’ll have a deeper dive into these changes in an upcoming story.

In the meantime, the carrier is adding more perks and limiting certain benefits to AAdvantage members as it continues to double down on its mission to boost loyalty program sign-ups and engagement.

The carrier has long said that loyalty program members transact more with the airline, and with these announcements, American sweetened the deal to encourage people to become an AAdvantage member, book directly with the carrier and sign up for a cobranded credit card.

Whether this happens is anyone’s guess, but it sure seems to be the airline’s focus right now.

Related reading:

• American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• 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

In many respects, 2023 was a record-setting year at airports. The Transportation Security Administration saw its busiest summer ever. All-time, single-day passenger traffic records fell on two occasions. Airlines fielded historic demand for overseas travel, prompting carriers to shift their schedules to meet an enduring craving for travel.

By all accounts, 2024 will be more of the same.

But it remains a very different story at many of America’s smallest airports.

Nearly four years after the pandemic shuttered air travel and helped precipitate a pilot shortage that had been brewing for years, travelers in many rural and midsize communities have far fewer flight options than they did before March 2020.

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Take Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as an example: To get to the nearest major hub, you have to drive three hours to Philadelphia.

Before the pandemic, there was no need for the trek. You could just fly out of Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT).

Sure, you’d have to make a connection at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), but with that one stop, you could easily be on your way to the West Coast, Europe or elsewhere.

But those days are long gone. Today, no major carrier flies out of IPT … and it’s been that way there — and at far too many other airports across the country — for a few years now.

Dwindling service at smaller airports

After some back-and-forth at the height of the pandemic, American Airlines — then Williamsport’s only major airline — decided in 2020 to drop service at IPT for good, citing pandemic-era head winds.

That left the airport with no commercial service.

“It was a long two years trying to figure out what we could do next,” Richard Howell, IPT’s executive director, acknowledged in a recent interview with TPG.

Howell ran into dead ends as he tried to lure an airline back to the city. A key challenge: Others were trying to do the same.

Since 2020, airlines have exited at least 121 markets nationwide, according to the Regional Airline Association, which advocates for regional carriers — including smaller airlines like SkyWest Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways and Horizon Air — that feed into larger network carriers and fly between big hubs and smaller communities under names like American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.

Pilot shortage

As TPG has reported for two years, regional carriers were hit especially hard by the nationwide pilot shortage. When travel ramped back up after the down days of the pandemic, the big “mainline” airlines went on hiring sprees, replenishing their ranks after offering pilots buyouts and early retirements in 2020.

When they hired, they often hired away from the regional carriers, where many pilots begin their careers.

On top of that siphoning off the regional airlines’ staff, the larger carriers are increasingly using fewer — but larger — planes to transport more passengers. That’s made the landscape even more of an uphill climb for communities like Williamsport, which is capable of filling a small aircraft but likely not a larger one.

“For a small market like ours that’s ideally suited for a 50-seat jet, that was really problematic,” Howell said.

Service cuts have mounted

The results are troubling.

Nationwide, a dozen airports have lost all commercial service in recent years, according to the RAA. Thirty-seven airports have lost at least half. Many more still have service but have seen their number of flights drop significantly.

Through the first six months of 2024, Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) in New York will see airlines offer 34% fewer seats than that same period in 2019, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. That’s despite the airport’s having undergone a $34.8 million renovation that wrapped up in 2019, which more than doubled the size of the terminal and saw the airport go from one jet bridge to four.

It’s not just ultrarural communities, either.

During the first half of this year, seats from Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport (TOL) in Ohio are down 51% from 2019. They’re down 64% at Joplin Regional Airport (JLN) in southwest Missouri; down by 31% at Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY) in North Carolina, near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg); and down by 36% at Dayton International Airport (DAY) in Ohio, which is near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base — not to mention the former home of the Wright brothers.

“Dozens of airports continue to have less than half the flights they had before the pandemic. And a quarter of the country is still missing, on average, 1 in 4 flights,” RAA CEO Faye Malarkey Black told TPG, noting that some 400 regional jets nationwide are parked. The ones that aren’t parked are underused.

Examples of airports that have lost significant service

Airport	% of departing seats lost (first 6 months of 2024 vs. 2019)
Del Rio International Airport (DRT), Texas	-100%
Easterwood Airport (CLL); College Station, Texas	-34%
Evansville Regional Airport (EVV), Indiana	-27%
La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE), Wisconsin	-57%
Lansing Airport (LAN), Michigan	– 30%
Lincoln Airport (LNK), Nebraska	-33%
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), New Hampshire	-31%
Meridian Regional Airport (MEI), Mississippi	-45%
Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX); Sioux City, Iowa	-43%
Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA); Wausau, Wisconsin	-30%

Data sourced from Cirium Diio 

A challenge for travelers and communities

It takes a toll.

Williamsport, widely known as the host city for the Little League World Series each summer, is also the headquarters for numerous businesses.

As time has passed, Howell has started to hear concerns from local leaders.

“Rumblings that we’re starting to have potential issues with recruitment to bring new businesses into the area,” he said.

It’s not just Williamsport.

That frustration is apparent in Dubuque, Iowa, too, where American Airlines offered 2,100 flights in 2019, per Cirium — an average of five daily departures.

But just weeks after the airport flooded with fans headed to another iconic baseball spectacle in 2022 — professional games at the “Field of Dreams” site near Dyersville, Iowa — Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) saw its only commercial service come to an end.

The airport has since welcomed upstart budget carrier Avelo Airlines, but it’s not the same. The airline flies twice weekly to Orlando, though it just paused its service until November as part of a seasonal cycle.

Clearly, there’s still a void, said Todd Dalsing, the airport’s director.

“We’re hoping we can eventually pick up — even if it’s not seven days a week — maybe it’s Monday to Friday, starting with one flight a day,” Dalsing said. “To get us back into the system, and be able to show the support of our community.”

US states with highest rate of air service lost

Rank	State	% of departures lost (January 2020 vs. January 2024)
1.	Vermont	– 33%
2.	New Hampshire	-29%
3.	Iowa	-28%
4.	Michigan	-28%
5.	Pennsylvania	-27%
6.	Maine	-26%
7.	Wisconsin	-24%
8.	Oregon	-24%
9.	North Dakota	-23%
10.	Ohio	-23%

Data sourced from the Regional Airline Association

Reasons for optimism? Maybe

There are at least some reasons to be optimistic.

Down the road from Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP), another hard-hit airport, has seen its seats in the first half of this year increase by 20% versus last year, per Cirium, thanks in large part to the arrival of another startup low-cost carrier, Breeze Airways — though seats from the airport will still be roughly a third short of 2019 levels.

In January, Williamsport itself secured flights to Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., aboard commuter carrier Southern Airways Express. The twice-daily service begins next month. Still, it’s an imperfect replacement for the seamless connections American Airlines once offered via its Philadelphia hub.

Avelo, in particular, has brought new life to other airports that didn’t have commercial service previously, such as in Wilmington, Delaware; New Haven, Connecticut; and Lakeland, Florida.

Regional service a stronger focus?

The larger airlines have also signaled interest in restoring service to smaller communities.

At an industry conference last fall, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom noted that the carrier’s growth plans in 2024 largely centered on getting regional aircraft back into the air.

“As I take a look out into 2024, there’s good news for a lot of regional communities that saw massive reductions in terms of capacity,” Isom said during a panel moderated by aviation journalist and current TPG contributor Edward Russell.

“It’s Roanoke [in Virginia] and Lubbock [in Texas] and a lot of small cities — [Michigan’s] Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids,” Isom said. “It’s going to be a lot of small cities throughout the United States.”

Delta Air Lines executives have likewise noted the carrier’s hope to bring regional jets back into the mix as part of a larger effort to rebuild capacity across parts of its network that haven’t fully recovered since the start of the pandemic.

“The final stage of our core hub restoration will be the full return of regional flying,” Delta President Glen Hauenstein said on the company’s most recent earnings call April 10. “We still have probably at least 50 regionals either not flying, or underutilized — probably almost 100 when you include the underutilization.”

Yet, Black of the RAA believes any signs of progress are modest at best, with the number of pilots in the pipeline still not sufficient to fully overcome the service cuts of recent years — and a wave of pilot retirements expected later in the 2020s.

“We are not seeing communities fall off the map in vast numbers like we did in 2022 and 2023. But we aren’t seeing recovery at any scale,” Black said. “Air service remains in crisis.”

Small, local airports still popular

That’s not to say Americans have lost interest in small airports.

A majority of Dubuque citizens would support air service if it came back, Dalsing said, citing preliminary survey data from the local chamber of commerce.

After all, the same factors that made these airports convenient before the pandemic still exist today.

“Being 10 minutes from your home … short wait times, very short TSA line, friendly, accommodating staff … that definitely played a role,” Dalsing said.

Free parking doesn’t hurt, either, in Dubuque’s case.

More plainly, there’s obvious appeal in departing from an airport just down the street.

But across the country, it’s an option far fewer travelers have today than they did five years ago — and it’s not clear when that might change. 

“It’s an economic impact to your community. It’s your connection to, not only the nation, but the world,” Dalsing said. “And, obviously, we don’t want rural America to be left behind.”