Month: September 2024

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

What is Chase Travel?

However, you will need to have some Chase points before booking with points through Chase Travel. If you’re unfamiliar with Chase’s most common cards and welcome offers, here are a few popular options.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a TPG favorite. It currently comes with one of the highest sign-up bonuses from Chase — 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Based on our September 2024 valuations, the bonus points alone are worth $1,845 when you transfer them to travel partners. However, you can redeem these points through Chase Travel for a fixed value of 1.25 cents apiece.

Read more: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review: A great all-around business card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is another fantastic addition to your wallet. The Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. The bonus is worth $1,230 based on TPG valuations.

Like the Ink Business Preferred, you’ll get a value of 1.25 cents per point when booking directly through Chase Travel with the Sapphire Preferred. You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar on paid travel purchased through Chase Travel (excluding the first $50 in hotel purchases that qualify for the card’s annual hotel credit).

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review: A top travel and dining card

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, which is worth $1,230 based on TPG valuations.

This card includes additional perks, like a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, Priority Pass lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit. This card also boosts your Chase Travel redemption rate to 1.5 cents per point, giving you 0.25 cents per point in additional purchase power over the Sapphire Preferred. When you book travel through Chase with the Sapphire Reserve, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 5 points per dollar on flights (excluding purchases that qualify for the $300 travel credit).

Read more: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review: Luxury perks and valuable rewards

Cash-back cards

Chase also issues a number of cash-back credit cards, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. The rewards you earn on these cards are worth 1 cent apiece toward travel in Chase Travel. However, since Chase allows you to combine your earnings into a single account, you can effectively convert these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you also have the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred.

Related: 10 no-annual-fee credit cards that earn transferable points

How to use Chase Travel

You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and other travel through Chase Travel, and it’s relatively simple to access. First, you’ll need to log into your Chase account, then navigate to the right side of the page, where you’ll see a box with your total Ultimate Rewards balance. Click the box, and it will bring you to the Ultimate Rewards dashboard, which looks like this:

Click “Travel” and choose “Book travel” in the dropdown to access the travel homepage, where you can search for airfare, hotels and more. When you select your travel, you’ll be given the option to pay with cash or points.

Remember that when you book hotels through the portal, you typically will not earn hotel points and elite credits, and you may not receive elite status perks because it’s considered a third-party booking. However, flights booked through the portal will typically earn frequent flyer miles and help you qualify for elite status.

Related: Why you don’t earn hotel points when booking through online travel agencies

How to book flights using Chase Travel

Booking your flights is fairly straightforward once you’ve navigated to the portal’s travel page. Type in your arrival and departure airports and travel dates then hit the search button. For this example, I looked for a one-way flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

You’ll then see the available flight options. When you find a flight you like, select the fare type you want to book and click the blue “Add to trip” button.

Once you’ve selected your preferred flights, you’ll be taken to the next page, where you can review your flight information and select any upgrades you’d like to make.

Then, you’ll be directed to the checkout page, where you can choose to pay with cash, points or a combination of the two. Again, points linked to a Chase Sapphire Reserve account are worth 1.5 cents each. If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, points are worth 1.25 cents each.

Finally, you’ll be directed to a page where you will enter the traveler’s information (you can book flights for others as well as yourself) and finalize your booking.

How to book hotels using Chase Travel

Booking hotels is similar to booking flights on the Chase Travel portal. Not all hotels are available on the portal, and your options may be limited if you’re heading to a small town or a little-known destination. But if you find a property you like on the portal, there are several advantages to booking this way.

For instance, if you’re looking at boutique or independent hotels, you can earn bonus points even if your hotel isn’t part of a points hotel chain like Hyatt or Marriott. Or if you’d rather earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points on your booking than, for example, World of Hyatt points, you may find it advantageous to book a Hyatt property through Chase Travel rather than directly through the hotel.

However, prices on Chase Travel don’t always match those on the hotel’s site or other online booking platforms, so always compare rates to ensure you’re getting the best deal. The same goes if you plan to book a points hotel that is one of Chase’s transfer partners (IHG, Marriott or Hyatt) — compare the award rates required by these hotel loyalty programs to the number of points you’d pay on the Chase Travel portal before booking.

Although you won’t usually be able to use elite perks at points hotels booked through Chase Travel, you can get elitelike perks at over 1,000 luxury properties worldwide if you hold a card that provides access to The Edit by Chase Travel. Participating cards include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, United℠ Explorer Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card, United Quest℠ Card and United℠ Business Card.

Here’s a sample search for lodging in Olso, which hosts mostly boutique hotels.

The search results will show each hotel’s price per night and the total price in cash and points at the bottom. You can filter by brand, price, ratings, neighborhood and more. Click on a property you like to select an available room, then click “Add to trip.”

On the checkout page, you can choose to book with cash or specify how many points you want to use. Then run through the on-screen prompts to finalize your booking, and you’ll get an email confirmation.

Remember, as a Sapphire Preferred cardholder, you’ll receive up to $50 in statement credits yearly for hotel reservations made through Chase Travel.

Related: Book low-end or luxury hotels to get the best value from your points

How to book car rentals, cruises and other travel using Chase Travel

Using Chase Travel, you can rent cars, pay with points and still receive the excellent primary car rental insurance offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. The process of renting cars is similar to booking flights and hotels — just navigate to the “Cars” header from the main landing page, type in your itinerary and click “Search.”

Once you choose your car from the results page, you’ll be prompted to select add-ons. Then you’ll head to the booking page, where you’ll input your personal information and choose how many points you’d like to spend. Remember that to qualify for your card’s rental car insurance, you must decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and ensure that anyone driving the car is on the rental agreement.

You can also book activities through Chase Travel, including fantastic tours like a Washington, D.C., night monument tour and Singapore heritage food tour. As with flights, hotels and cars, you can book these with Ultimate Rewards points at a rate of 1.25 or 1.5 cents each, or you can earn bonus points by booking them with cash. This can help you book an entire free vacation (not just hotels and flights) using points and miles.

Cruises, tours and vacation packages are also available, though you’ll have to call to book those.

Related: Save money on your next trip: Use these tips to never pay full price for a rental car

More things to consider about Chase Travel

We recommend comparing the points needed through Chase Travel with those required for transfer partner redemptions, factoring in taxes and fees. If you have or want hotel elite status, avoid booking hotels through the portal, as these stays generally won’t count toward status or qualify for elite benefits.

Booking through Chase Travel with cash can earn you extra points. Ink Business Preferred and Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on all travel, and Sapphire Reserve cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and rental cars. You might find better rates by booking directly with the travel provider, but if your plans are firm and rates are comparable, booking through the portal can be worthwhile for earning extra points.

Remember that booking through third-party sites may result in issues if you change your plans, though. Travel providers are more likely to assist you if you’ve booked directly with them.

Bottom line

Chase Travel is a valuable tool that lets you earn and burn Ultimate Rewards points on a range of travel purchases, from flights and hotels to rental cars, cruises and activities. If award flights aren’t available or you find a cheap fare that requires fewer points, booking through the portal can be a good option. Similarly, the portal can be a great way to earn points on independent hotels or, if cash rates are low, to book award stays for less. But always compare your options to see if using the portal or transferring points to partners for an award is more advantageous.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … for airfare.

Autumn “shoulder season” is here. That means lower flight prices as the crowds taper off in the wake of summer before returning for the busy holiday rush.

The season started in August, as earlier school start dates helped thin out congestion on airport concourses. Transportation Security Agency checkpoints saw about 5% fewer passengers in August than in July — a refreshing bit of (relative) calm after a summer that brought the 10 busiest days ever at U.S. airports.

That trend should continue into the fall months, bringing lower fares with it.

Want more aviation news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

How expensive is airfare right now?

September domestic round-trip airfare is trending about 8% below 2023 levels, according to booking app Hopper. In October, prices are down about 7%, year over year.

This is despite airlines’ best efforts to shift route networks and flight frequencies in hopes of disrupting a downward shift in fares. It’s a trend that has hurt carriers’ profitability all year amid a glut of domestic flight offerings.

Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses for September

Between September and November, the total number of seats airlines will offer on domestic flights is up a modest 2.5% over last year, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

It’s up even though several airlines are slashing late-year flying. For example, budget carrier Frontier Airlines is eliminating scores of flights on low-demand days like Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The carrier predicted that its moves — along with those of Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and others — would help fuel fare increases in the late-summer and early-fall months.

“More likely … I think we’re going to see prices continue to dip where we are now — and stay low, because it’s the shoulder season, demand could be low,” countered Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist.

Here’s what to know if you’re thinking of taking advantage of deals and booking a fall getaway.

How early should I book a flight?

Google Flights is seeing domestic fares at their lowest about 38 days before departure. The ideal booking range is 21 to 52 days before takeoff.

Translation: If you’re thinking of a mid-October getaway to catch fall foliage, now would be a good time to get serious about booking.

Read more: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare in 2024

If you’re flying internationally, book as early as possible. The “sweet spot,” these days, is about 101 days ahead of takeoff. However, you’ll want to look at least 50 days in advance for the lowest price.

Fifty days from now puts you in the vicinity of a late-October or early-November trip.

Book a trip for a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday

Those midweek days are often the least crowded at airports, airlines consistently say.

Look no further than the almost deafening calm I found on a recent Wednesday morning at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Airlines have been talking about “lower trough demand” on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, particularly as school goes back. Here’s what RDU looks like this morning – in the midst of back-to-school week here pic.twitter.com/G9pSh5Tc2r

— Sean Cudahy (@SeanCudahy) August 28, 2024

Flying on a Friday or a Sunday? That’s a very different story.

If you have to fly on a weekend day, Saturday is routinely one of the cheapest — and quietest — days of the entire week.

Hop on the postsummer Europe bandwagon

Though we’ve mostly talked about lower demand during the fall months, airlines have taken notice of a somewhat paradoxical trend: More and more travelers are opting to fly to Europe during the supposed “off-peak months.”

“We are really seeing an extension into September and October, and really into November, that European demand across the board is remaining strong,” Delta Air Lines president Glen Hauenstein told financial analysts in July. “It’s actually a better time to go to Europe in September and October than it is potentially in July and August, when the weather is so hot, and everything is so packed.”

Southern Europe popular in fall

This is especially true in southern Europe. This fall, Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines will offer 55% more seats to Italy than they did in 2019, for instance, Cirium data shows.

Airlines across the board will fly with 45% more seats to Portugal this fall than five years ago.

How expensive are Europe flights?

Flight prices to many European cities are trending lower. According to FCM Travel and Corporate Traveler — the flagship business travel divisions of Flight Centre Travel Group — data shows a nearly 20% drop in fares to France in recent months and around an 18% drop in fares to the U.K., year over year.

Don’t forget about your points and miles

The fact that so many airlines have ditched award charts is, by and large, not a positive development for consumers. It is perhaps among the tactics that have caught the U.S. Department of Transportation’s attention.

However, dynamic award pricing can work in your favor when demand is low and prices are low. Points pricing is more closely tied to the algorithmic forces that drive cash prices.

For that reason, certainly consider using your points and miles.

Mile watch: DOT launches formal probe of big airline frequent flyer programs

At the same time, you may want to consider using cash to book a flight and miles to upgrade to a business-class seat on a long-haul flight. Or, consider using your points on a high-value hotel redemption, such as with World of Hyatt. (You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate.)

Hotel prices have remained steady or even higher than last year, of late.

Start looking at the holidays

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the looming holiday season, when airport crowds are sure to ramp back up.

Google Flights suggests booking your Thanksgiving flights by early October and your Christmas and New Year’s flights no later than than second half of October.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status

The onboard experience on some American Airlines jets is about to get much better.

In 2022, the Fort Worth-based carrier revealed its new Flagship Suites business-class product, as well as a new premium economy recliner and other improvements coming to some of its new and newly retrofitted planes.

The airline hasn’t formally announced when these new seats and aircraft will take off. However, Brian Znotins, American’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning, shared some updates that are sure to grab your attention.

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

Airbus A321XLR will replace the A321T

American has outstanding orders for 50 Airbus A321XLR, or extra-long-range, jets. These single-aisle Airbus planes are primarily expected to connect some of American’s biggest Northeast markets with secondary cities in Europe that aren’t as highly demanded.

But when the A321XLR deliveries start, American isn’t going to immediately deploy them to Europe. Instead, those planes will fly the airline’s premium transcontinental routes from Boston and New York City to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

That’s because American is retiring its existing premium transcontinental aircraft, the Airbus A321T; it is currently configured with 10 Flagship First suites, 20 Flagship Business lie-flats and 72 economy seats (half of which are in an extra-legroom layout). The A321T will be converted into American’s standard “Oasis” configuration, leaving the A321XLR as American’s primary premium transcontinental aircraft.

“As the A321XLRs come in, they’re going to be focused on replacing the A321Ts on transcons. So that’s our first priority with those airplanes for reconfiguration of the A321Ts and for maintenance reasons of the A321Ts. We probably won’t be seeing new A321XLRs on long-haul flying at least until deep 2025 or 2026,” Znotins said.

The Airbus A321XLR won’t feature Flagship First. (In fact, American is completely retiring this cabin.) However, these jets will sport 20 new Flagship Suites business-class seats in a 1-1 configuration, as well as a 16-seat premium economy cabin.

American’s Boeing 777-300ER retrofits are starting soon

American is also retrofitting its existing fleet of 20 Boeing 777-300ERs. These planes will lose their Flagship First cabins in exchange for an all-new Flagship Suites business-class product that, based on the renderings, looks to be top-notch.

Znotins said that “the 777-300ER reconfigurations are being worked on this summer and winter moving into next summer as well.”

Once the retrofits are complete, these planes will feature just three cabins in the following configuration:

• 70 Flagship Suites
• 44 premium economy recliners
• 216 economy seats

With this new configuration, American is adding 18 business-class seats and 16 premium economy recliners to these jets without touching the economy capacity. (The airline is removing the eight-seat first-class cabin.) This is a “‘have your cake and eat it too’ situation,” Znotins explained. “I get to add all of these great seats to the airplane and not have to give anything up. Economically, it’ll be fantastic.”

Znotins wasn’t ready to speculate about when travelers could expect to experience the retrofitted jets.

“As we see that program progress, we’ll be able to get really good visibility on when those airplanes will be available, and we’ll start publishing the new configurations of where they’re flying closer to that time,” he said. “We just don’t want to do it too far in advance when there’s still so much uncertainty.”

Znotins focused on London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) when discussing where these retrofitted planes will fly.

“Heathrow is the leading premium-heavy market in the country [internationally from the U.S.], and so whenever we have premium-heavy airplanes, it will not be exclusively focused on Heathrow, but it’ll be disproportionately focused on Heathrow,” he said.

In depth: Inside the dizzying process of commercial aircraft maintenance 

New 787-9P Dreamliners are coming soon

American’s wide-body fleet consists exclusively of Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. These planes don’t all have the same interior configuration, and yet another layout will debut in the coming months. American’s upcoming deliveries of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will be arranged in a 787-9P layout.

The P stands for premium, and these planes will feature:

• 51 Flagship Suites
• 32 premium economy recliners
• 18 Main Cabin Extra seats
• 143 standard economy seats

Originally, the plan was to inaugurate the 787-9P configuration on the airline’s upcoming new longest route from Dallas-Forth Worth to Brisbane, Australia. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case since the airline is facing delivery delays from Boeing, but the airline is “taking a number of them next year,” Znotins said, referring to the 787-9P configured jets.

“The 787-9Ps will be in the network the next summer,” he added. This week, the carrier announced its hotly anticipated summer 2025 transatlantic schedule, which includes five new long-haul routes. The carrier isn’t deploying the 787-9P on any of the new routes but plans to use existing aircraft that will be freed up by introducing the 787-9P into other existing markets.

Znotins isn’t sure exactly when the 787-9Ps will arrive, so he isn’t ready to assign a specific configuration to a given route.

“I can’t say what that date is, but the bar that we have to pass is that we don’t want to be in a situation where we’re having to downgrade airplanes and deal with oversales up front … we’ll forgo some selling capability on it in order to make sure we can deliver for our customers,” Znotins said.

Reading between the lines, it seems like American is planning to “soft-launch” the 787-9P configuration. That should spell great news for travelers looking for upgrades since the plane has many more premium seats than the existing configurations.

Either way, TPG will closely follow the delivery and route schedule and will update you with more information as it becomes available.

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

China was a booming opportunity when United Airlines launched flights to Chengdu a decade ago.

“China is a market that is an economy that continues to grow at a very strong pace. And there are many opportunities in China that you can develop markets with, particularly with the [Boeing] 787,” Jim Compton, United’s then-chief revenue officer, said in July 2014.

Chengdu was part of the Chicago-based carrier’s “secondary Asian city strategy.” It also included returning to Taipei, Taiwan, the same year the Chengdu service launched and, in 2016, adding the Chinese city of Xi’an to its map. The airline’s future in China looked bright.

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

United was not alone. The number of seats flown by all airlines between the U.S. and China grew by nearly 67% from 2014; it reached a peak of 5.3 million in 2018, according to Cirium Diio schedules. Airlines served the market with 5.2 million seats in 2019.

While there were complaints of competitive pressures — especially by U.S. airlines of their Chinese competitors — the area was widely seen as an opportunity.

Fast forward to today — one global pandemic and geopolitical adjustment later — and things look very, very different for airlines on U.S.-China routes.

“Demand for China is down dramatically than where it was in 2019,” Andrew Nocella, United’s current chief commercial officer, said in July. “And it’s also difficult to fly there because of the lack of Russian overflight ability. So those two combinations just make this the new normal.”

That “new normal,” as Nocella put it, is one where flights are severely restricted to 100 a week (50 for each country’s airlines). It’s one where Russian airspace is closed to U.S. airlines but not to the country’s Chinese counterparts. It’s also one where fewer Americans are traveling to China than Chinese nationals to the U.S.

And United’s Chengdu flight? It hasn’t operated in four years.

Few nonstop US-China flight options

David Yu knows firsthand what it’s like to fly between the U.S. and China. A professor of finance at New York University Shanghai and the chair of Asia Aviation Valuation Advisors, he flies back and forth between the Washington, D.C., area and Shanghai frequently.

When asked about the experience, Yu’s first reaction was: “It costs a lot.”

When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight

The high cost is the result of scarce supply. U.S. airlines are flying just 39 weekly nonstop flights, and their Chinese counterparts are flying 50 flights for 89 total, Cirium Diio schedules show. Before the coronavirus pandemic, there were around 340 weekly flights — nearly four times more than now.

American Airlines serves Shanghai daily from its Dallas-Fort Worth hub, and Delta Air Lines connects the city to Detroit and Seattle. Meanwhile, United Airlines links Beijing and Shanghai to San Francisco, according to Cirium Diio. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines have also resumed select flights.

“From the U.S., the flights are very expensive,” Yu said. “I’m looking at flights from $2,000 to $2,500 for round-trip economy, and before COVID-19, these were $800 to $1,000 tickets.”

The cost of an economy round-trip ticket between Washington, D.C., and Shanghai with just one connection in each direction — the shortest itinerary available — is more than $1,900 on American and Delta in mid-September, Google Flights shows. Travelers may find no-frills basic economy fares closer to $1,500, but those don’t allow seat selection or free changes.

‘Aeropolitical challenges’

Delta, in a February filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation, cited “ongoing aeropolitical challenges” for its request to idle 32 of its 42 weekly U.S.-China flight rights through October.

A Delta spokesperson was not available to elaborate on the airline’s meaning of “aeropolitical challenges.”

In a letter to the U.S. State Department and the DOT in April, trade group Airlines for America — which counts American, Delta and United among its members — highlighted the “competitive disadvantage” U.S. airlines face compared to their Sino peers due to their inability to overfly Russian airspace.

The time difference can be dramatic. Delta’s nonstop flight to Shanghai from Detroit — the easternmost airport gateway to China among U.S. airlines that avoids Russian airspace — is scheduled at 15 hours and 40 minutes, according to Cirium Diio. It takes 40 minutes more than China Eastern Airlines’ New York City-to-Shanghai nonstop route that overflies Russia (even though the Detroit-Shanghai route is physically about 250 miles shorter).

A slow return of American travelers

Even after the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions, the number of travelers between the U.S. and China remains a fraction of what it was in 2019. Only 1.2 million people flew between the two countries during the first seven months of 2024, compared to 5.1 million five years earlier, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Administration.

Not only is the overall number of U.S.-China travelers down, but the market has been hit especially hard by a decline in the number of American travelers — who are more likely to buy a ticket on a U.S. airline. The drop in the number of Chinese travelers is less steep, possibly offering a boost to Chinese-flagged carriers as compared to their U.S. counterparts. The share of Americans flying between the two countries was three percentage points lower during the first seven months of this year than in 2019, the data shows. The number of foreign travelers, the majority of which would be Chinese nationals, is up a commensurate amount.

The ITA data encompasses anyone flying between China and the U.S. This includes those taking a nonstop flight, as well as travelers who opt for a connecting flight through a hub in a third country, like South Korea or Japan.

There are undoubtedly many variables causing the slower rebound in Americans traveling to China. Some of these include high airfares and changes in business travel habits, Yu said.

“The people who want to go will go, who think there’s opportunities, will go. The people who it’s more casual, I’m sure they’re Zooming and telecommuting more these days versus flying,” he said.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status

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

I stayed at the Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton in South Africa shortly after it opened in 2021. When I checked my account activity after my stay, I noticed an “opening bonus” of 2,000 points. Then I remembered that Hyatt offers 500 bonus points per night on qualifying stays at new hotels.

I unknowingly received the benefit since Hyatt doesn’t require members to register for this promotion. Perhaps you, too, have forgotten this promotion or never knew about it. In either case, here’s what you should know about World of Hyatt‘s new hotel promotion, which allows you to earn 500 bonus points per night.

How to earn 500 bonus Hyatt points per night

This promotion is simple: World of Hyatt members receive 500 bonus points per night for qualifying stays at select new-to-the-Hyatt-portfolio hotels. You must stay within a set time frame to earn the bonus points, typically in the first few months after the property opens. Specifically, you’ll only earn bonus points if your checkout date takes place within the offer period for your hotel.

To get the bonus points, you must provide your World of Hyatt number when you check in. You must also pay an eligible rate or redeem a Hyatt free night award (including redeeming Hyatt points). You’ll only earn bonus points for one room per night.

The terms of this promotion note that it may take three to four weeks for the bonus points to appear in your account. In practice, though, Hyatt typically posts the new hotel bonus with the other points you earned during your stay.

Related: 22 best Hyatt hotels in the world

Eligible new Hyatt hotels

Hyatt’s website displays an updated list of participating properties. Here’s a quick overview of where you can currently earn 500 extra points per night.

4 hotels in North America

• Mazatlan, Mexico: Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlan Golf & Spa Resort from June 16 to Sept. 30
• Linthicum Heights, Maryland: Hyatt House BWI Airport / Baltimore from Aug. 29 to Nov. 30
• Palm Springs, California: Thompson Palm Springs from Sept. 5 to Dec. 31
• Southampton, New York: The Bentley Hotel Southampton from Sept. 11 to Dec. 31

10 hotels in China

• Fuzhou: UrCove Pingtan Tannan Bay from July 1 to Sept. 30
• Weifang: UrCove Weifang City Center from July 12 to Sept. 30
• Kunming: Grand Hyatt Kunming from Aug. 6 to Nov. 30
• Lanzhou: UrCove Lanzhou Xiguan Cross Zhongshan Bridge from Aug. 13 to Nov. 30
• Ningbo: UrCove Ningbo International Exhibition Center from Sept. 8 to Dec. 31
• Xi’an: UrCove Xi’an Qujiang Great Tang All Day Mall from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31
• Nanjing: UrCove Nanjing Confucius Temple from Sept. 20 to Dec. 31
• Nanjing: UrCove Nanjing Zhongshan Mountain National Park from Sept. 28 to Dec. 31
• Shenzhen: UrCove Shenzhen Nanshan Hi-Tech Headquarters from Sept. 25 to Dec. 31
• Shanghai: Alila Shanghai from Sept. 25 to Dec. 31

6 hotels in other regions

• Paracas, Peru: The Legend Paracas Resort from June 11 to Sept. 30
• Osaka, Japan: Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka from June 12 to Sept. 30
• Marrakech, Morocco: Park Hyatt Marrakech from July 1 to Sept. 30
• Rouen, France: Hyatt Place Rouen from Aug. 27 to Nov. 30
• Mainz, Germany: Brunfels Hotel from Aug. 29 to Nov. 30
• Maharashtra, India: Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30

The 500 Hyatt points you’ll get per night when booking an eligible rate or free night are worth about $8.50, based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations. So this promotion may be the tiebreaker when considering where to stay the next time you travel to a destination with a new Hyatt hotel.

Related: Here’s how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

Bottom line

On top of earning 500 extra points per night, staying at a new Hyatt hotel can also be fun since you’ll likely get to stay in a room with new furnishings. However, new hotels may still be working through some issues, and not everything on-site may be completely functional.

The current list includes 11 Hyatt Category 1 hotels, two Category 2 hotels and one Category B all-inclusive resort. So, if you want to redeem World of Hyatt points for your stay, you can find many low-category options on the current list of new hotels.

Air Canada Aeroplan has announced a new way to redeem points — but only for elite status members.

Aeroplan members with elite status can now transfer their Aeroplan points to Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 1:1. You must transfer a minimum of 500 points, and you can transfer up to 100,000 points per day or 250,000 points per week.

Aeroplan members have the ability to earn up to 2 Aeroplan points per dollar on select Marriott stays; they can also transfer Marriott points to their Aeroplan account at a 3:1 ratio, with the ability to earn an extra 5,000 Aeroplan points for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred. This new Aeroplan-to-Marriott transfer option gives Aeroplan elite members more flexibility.

But just because you can transfer your points, does that mean you should? Let’s take a look at why you may or may not want to use this new transfer option.

Related: Post-Miles&Smiles devaluation: Why I’m using Aeroplan for Star Alliance redemptions

Should you transfer your Aeroplan points to Marriott Bonvoy?

Although the transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning you won’t lose any points in the process, you will lose some value when transferring Aeroplan points to Marriott. That’s because, as of September 2024, TPG values Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents each and Marriott Bonvoy points at only 0.85 cents each.

You could, in theory, get considerably more value by keeping those Aeroplan points in your account and redeeming them for Air Canada and partner flights than by transferring them to Marriott and redeeming them for hotel stays. Since Aeroplan is a member of Star Alliance, there are often great ways to maximize your points by booking transatlantic business-class flights to Europe for as low as 60,000 Aeroplan points. A night at some Marriott properties, on the other hand, can cost well over 60,000 Bonvoy points, thanks to Marriott’s dynamic pricing.

However, if you have some Aeroplan points you don’t plan to use in the near future, or you’re short a few points for a Marriott redemption, this is a good option. With program devaluations, remember that hoarding your rewards as a long-term investment is never a good idea.

Additionally, for Aeroplan members with elite status who also earn Capital One miles, such as with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you can transfer your Capital One miles to Aeroplan and then transfer your points to Marriott.

Marriott is already a direct transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Related: You can get 50,000 Aeroplan points back when you redeem for hotel stays, but is it a good deal?

Bottom line

While transferring your points from Aeroplan to Marriott Bonvoy may not be the best way to maximize their value, there are cases where it could make sense. You can only take advantage of this new option if you’re an Aeroplan elite member, but your status might be closer than you think. For example, the Aeroplan® Credit Card grants you complimentary Aeroplan 25K elite status for the remainder of the calendar year plus the following calendar year.

Editor’s note: Citi is a TPG advertising partner.

Qatar Airways is one of the world’s top airlines, with an excellent business-class product and great lounges at its hub in Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH). The airline has a huge route network as well, with routes to major U.S. airports like Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

The Oneworld member has its own loyalty program called Qatar Airways Privilege Club and uses the increasingly popular Avios currency. With this loyalty program, you can earn and redeem Avios when flying Qatar Airways and its Oneworld partners. Plus, it has three elite status levels that give frequent flyers special privileges like entry to lounges and access to preferred seating.

New to the carrier’s Privilege Club? You’re in the right place. Here is everything you need to know about the program.

What is Avios?

Avios is the currency used by the following loyalty programs:

• British Airways Executive Club
• Iberia Plus
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Finnair Plus

Avios can be transferred between any of these programs at a ratio of 1:1, so each Avios is theoretically worth the same in each program. However, there are different ways in which Avios can be redeemed in each program, meaning the savvy reader can achieve different values depending on which program they are used in … and how.

This guide focuses on Avios earned and redeemed through the Qatar Airways Privilege Club program.

Related: 5 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways elite status

Qatar Airways has three elite status tiers beyond the entry-level Burgundy level: Silver, Gold and Platinum. You can qualify for these tiers by earning a certain number of Qpoints when flying with Qatar Airways and its partners (these are separate from Avios and only used to count toward your status). To view how many Qpoints you’ll earn with each flight, use Qatar Airways’ My Calculator.

Below is a look at how many Qpoints you’ll need to qualify for each tier. You must earn these within a single 12-month period. Once you’ve qualified for Silver, you can upgrade by earning more points within 12 months. This is considered your renewal date.

Tier	Qpoints required
Silver	150
Gold	300
Platinum	600

Fewer Qpoints are required to renew your elite status. You can either earn a smaller number of Qpoints in 12 months or a higher number in 24 months — each calculated from your renewal date.

Tier	Qpoints required (12 months from renewal date)	Qpoints required (24 months from renewal date)
Silver	135	270
Gold	270	540
Platinum	540	1,080

If you fail to meet renewal requirements, you’ll drop to the tier you did qualify for.

Additionally, you must earn at least 20% of your Qpoints on flights marketed or operated by Qatar Airways to qualify. Alternatively, you can fly four Qatar Airways segments on 12-month renewals or eight Qatar Airways segments on 24-month renewals to meet this requirement.

Elite status benefits

Silver (Oneworld Ruby) is Qatar’s lowest elite status tier and includes the following benefits:

• Discounted seat reservation
• 25% bonus Avios
• Family member bonus
• Lounge access (no guests)
• Two guest lounge passes
• Free checked baggage
• Priority boarding and check-in
• Priority wait-listing

Gold status (Oneworld Sapphire) includes all Silver benefits, plus the following perks:

• Preferred seating
• Guaranteed economy awards
• 75% bonus Avios
• 5% discount on redemptions
• Award-fee waivers
• Lounge access (one guest)
• Four guest lounge passes
• Priority baggage handling
• Extra baggage
• Priority phone support
• Al Maha Gold service

Qatar’s top-tier Platinum elite status is the equivalent of the valuable Oneworld Emerald status. This tier includes all Gold status benefits, plus the following perks:

• 100% bonus Avios
• Lounge access (two guests), with first-class lounge access when flying in business class
• Five guest lounge passes

How to earn Avios with Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Cardless credit cards

Cardless has recently launched two new Qatar Airways cobranded credit cards.

The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, which comes with a $499 annual fee, offers:

• A welcome offer of up to 70,000 Avios: 45,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 25,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints after you spend $5,000 in the first 90 days; this is slightly lower than the current welcome bonuses on Chase’s three Avios-earning credit cards
• 5 Avios per dollar spent on Qatar Airways purchases, 3 Avios per dollar spent on restaurant purchases and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases
• 2 Qpoints for every 1,500 Avios earned
• One year of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold status
• Visa Infinite benefits like concierge services, access to the Luxury Hotel Collection and rental car privileges

The information for the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite and Signature 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.

With this card, you can effectively buy Gold status with the program for $499 annually. Also, with the 150 Qpoints in the welcome offer, you’ll be 25% of the way to Platinum status.

The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, the other cobranded card option, has a $99 annual fee and comes with:

• A welcome offer of up to 50,000 Avios: 30,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 20,000 Avios after you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days
• 4 Avios per dollar spent on Qatar Airways purchases, 2 Avios per dollar spent on restaurant purchases and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases
• 2 Qpoints for every 2,000 Avios earned
• Automatic Silver status with Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Another easy way for U.S. travelers to earn Qatar Avios is by transferring Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Points transfer to Qatar at a 1:1 ratio, though transfers usually take around two days to process.

Note that if you’re still holding on to the Citi Prestige® Card, which is no longer open to new applicants, you can transfer ThankYou Rewards points to Privilege Club.

That said, as with Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can combine your Citi ThankYou Rewards points into a single account for select products, allowing you to effectively “convert” your fixed-value earnings from cards like the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees) and the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) into fully transferable ThankYou points.

The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Better together: Why the Citi Strata Premier and Rewards+ cards are a great pair

Transfer from other Avios programs

You can also transfer Avios from British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus or Aer Lingus AerClub at a 1:1 rate in any direction.

The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios in these three programs (and then transfer to Qatar Airways Privilege Club):

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you’re targeted for a higher welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus a $250 Capital One Travel credit in the first cardholder year.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy

Alternatively, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 3:1 ratio. As an added perk, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus when you transfer 60,000 points. This means transferring 60,000 points nets you 25,000 Privilege Club Avios.

Earn Avios by flying Qatar Airways

You can also earn Avios when taking paid Qatar-operated flights around the world. The number of Avios you earn depends on your cabin and ticketed fare class. Qatar Airways Privilege Club still awards Avios based on the distance flown, but remember that most discounted fare classes will earn much lower than higher-tier fares.

Here’s a table that details how you’ll accrue Avios on Qatar flights.

You can use Qatar’s online calculator to see information for a specific itinerary.

Earn Avios with program partners

You can also earn Qatar Avios for flights on any of the following Oneworld airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect partner; fully joining the Oneworld alliance by 2025)
• Finnair
• Iberia, including Iberia Express and Air Nostrum
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas, including QantasLink and Jetconnect
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• S7 Airlines (currently suspended)
• SriLankan Airlines

Qatar Airways Privilege Club also partners with the following airlines outside of Oneworld:

• Bangkok Airways
• JetBlue
• LATAM
• Middle East Airlines
• Oman Air (joining the Oneworld alliance in 2024)
• RwandAir
• Virgin Australia

Flights on these airlines follow Qatar Airways’ earning scheme, but you can use the calculator for more details.

Redeeming Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios

Booking Qatar Airways flights with Avios

Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite product is widely considered one of the world’s best business-class products. Even the carrier’s economy product is a solid option. Here are the prices for popular one-way itineraries per person on any date (there is now peak and off-peak pricing).

Availability can be limited, especially in premium cabins, so the further in advance you can book, the more likely you are to find one or more seats on the dates you need.

Off-peak redemption rates in business class are a great way to redeem Qatar Avios if you can find availability, given the carrier’s excellent product.

Upgrading Qatar Airways flights with Avios

You can also use your Qatar Avios to upgrade paid flights operated by the airline. You must use the airline’s calculator to find the cost of upgrading a specific flight based on your route and fare class.

For example, you can upgrade the cheapest economy ticket from the East Coast to Doha to a business-class seat on the same route for 55,000 Avios one-way. This isn’t much cheaper than booking an award ticket, so we recommend steering clear of this option unless you have booked an extremely cheap cash fare.

Additionally, you need to find available upgrade space in order to upgrade your ticket. You can do this by calling the airline or attempting to upgrade a ticket online.

Booking partner flights with Avios

Qatar has lowered the award prices for many partner-operated flights, bringing them in line with other Avios programs. Here’s the award chart for all Qatar Airways Privilege Club partner redemptions, including Oneworld members and other carriers, except for flights 3,000 miles and under and those operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines:

Distance (miles)	Economy class (Avios)	Premium economy (Avios)	Business class (Avios)	First class (Avios)
0-650	6,000	9,000	12,500	24,000
651-1,151	9,000	12,500	16,500	33,000
1,152-2,000	11,000	16,500	22,000	44,000
2,001-3,000	13,000	25,250	38,750	51,500
3,001-4,000	20,750	41,250	62,000	82,500
4,001-5,500	25,750	51,500	77,250	103,000
5,501-6,500	31,000	62,000	92,750	123,750
6,501-7,000	36,250	72,250	108,250	144,250
7,001-plus	51,500	103,000	154,500	206,000

Being able to book flights from just 6,000 Avios is a terrific deal.

Following a recent devaluation, short-haul flights operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are now priced as follows:

Distance (miles)	Economy class (Avios)	Business class/domestic first (Avios)
0-650	9,500	20,000
651-1,151	13,000	27,000
1,152-2,000	14,500	34,000
2,001-3,000	16,000	43,000

You can redeem many partner awards, including flights operated by American Airlines, JetBlue, British Airways and Virgin Australia, online. To redeem your Qatar Avios on a partner flight that does not appear online, you can call Qatar Airways Privilege Club at 800-988-6128. Know, though, that the call center is only open during working hours on weekdays.

You can also see partner flight schedules by selecting “Book my award flight” on Qatar’s website. You can then submit a request to book a partner flight, and a Qatar agent will process your reservation if there’s award space. We don’t recommend this option since award space can rapidly change. Instead, we suggest transferring Avios to British Airways so you have more partner flight options you can book online.

Related: The best ways to redeem British Airways Avios

Other redemption options

You can also use your Qatar Avios for merchandise, duty-free items, hotel stays and more. However, we generally recommend staying away from these types of redemptions, as they almost always offer less value than a free flight, often dropping the value to half a cent per Avios (or less).

Bottom line

Qatar Airways has fabulous products on the ground and in the air. If you have never flown long-haul business class, you cannot go wrong with the world-famous Qsuite to Doha and beyond.

While the program previously flew under the radar due to some uncompetitive pricing and complex booking options, adopting the already popular Avios currency in 2022 has opened up new ways to easily earn and redeem Avios in the program.

The ability to easily transfer Avios between five airline loyalty programs makes the program much more attractive, especially as Qatar Airways Privilege Club now has similar short-haul pricing that many appreciate when redeeming Avios through the British Airways Executive Club program.

One of TPG’s most anticipated hotel openings of the year — in one of the most picturesque destinations on earth — is finally here.

The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa officially opened this week, boasting the highest count of overwater bungalows for any resort on the French Polynesian island. The resort, formerly a Le Meridien property, underwent an extensive renovation before becoming Westin-affiliated.

The new Westin includes 128 overwater bungalows, many of which include a private plunge pool. All have views of either the property’s lagoon, island or Bora Bora’s towering Mount Otemanu. The resort also features 14 family-friendly bungalows overlooking the lagoon.

Related: 8 best all-inclusive resorts and packages in Bora Bora

“We are excited to unveil this property as the first resort to open in Bora Bora since 2017, bringing the dream of Bora Bora alive like never before,” César Marques, general manager of The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, said in a statement. “The Westin Bora Bora blends the serene landscape of the island with top-tier accommodations, breathtaking ocean views, and a wide array of on- and off-property experiences, ensuring an unforgettable stay for every guest.”

On the amenity front, The Westin Bora Bora includes an infinity pool at the center of the resort with six cabanas, a swim-up pool bar, a private lagoon, locally inspired wellness offerings and six dining options leaning into French Polynesian fare. Those looking to unwind can check out the Heavenly Spa for a treatment or keep up with their fitness regimen at the Westin Workout Fitness studio.

Of course, guests can end the day by sinking into a decadent Westin Heavenly Bed.

Rates at the new Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa start at $1,000 per night. Points availability appears extremely limited at the moment, but some award night redemptions next year dip as low as 74,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Related reading:

• Best Marriott credit cards
• Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Best hotel credit cards
• Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?

Ah, scenic Juneau, Alaska — where the allure of lush forests, cascading waterfalls and majestic glaciers draws as many as 16,000 cruise passengers a day. The downside? The constant influx of visitors is putting a strain on local infrastructure.

Royal Caribbean Group — which operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — has partnered with Alaska Native corporation Goldbelt, Inc., to eliminate the problem of slow, unreliable Wi-Fi in port by bringing Starlink to several public areas and Juneau businesses.

You might think connectivity isn’t a big concern for people visiting the 49th state’s remote, nature-forward capital, which can only be reached by air or sea, but it turns out that isn’t the case. When the port is at maximum capacity, up to six ships can call there in a single day. With that many people in town, public Wi-Fi offered by local businesses is often difficult and frustrating to use for both visitors and locals.

“The number one complaint from this summer was a slow-down of internet speed during busy days downtown,” McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “We are excited to collaborate with Royal Caribbean Group to explore a solution and add satellite internet capacity to town. This project will help locals and visitors have a better internet experience every day of the week.”

Installation began the week of Aug. 26 at the Goldbelt Tram Lower Terminal and will continue north on Franklin Street. The pilot program’s full range will be activated in the coming weeks. As each new hub becomes available, passengers, other visitors and locals will be able to connect for free and stay connected via one seamless network as they move about Juneau’s downtown.

Royal Caribbean isn’t new to Starlink, which was developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. In 2022, the Royal Caribbean family of brands was the first to commit to adding Starlink to its ships for faster connections at sea that allow everything from surfing the internet and checking email to video calling and streaming.

Cruise terminals where Royal Caribbean home ports its ships also provide connectivity for passengers, but this is the first time a cruise line has outfitted a large part of a downtown port area ashore with Wi-Fi.

“We are constantly striving to find innovative solutions to support our communities and enhance the travel experience for residents and cruise guests alike,” Preston Carnahan, associate vice president of West Coast destinations for Royal Caribbean Group, said. “Our new pilot program aims to alleviate internet congestion and provide additional bandwidth for locals while providing internet connectivity for our guests from ship to shore.”

The line’s statement also stresses the need for user feedback to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and determine whether similar initiatives will be rolled out in other ports.

For years, Juneau’s borough officials have heard complaints that the influx of cruise passengers detracts from everyone’s enjoyment of the city. On June 3, several major cruise lines — including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and others that are members of the Cruise Lines International Association — agreed to limit the total number of ships per day to five and the total number of passengers to 16,000 Sunday through Friday and 12,000 on Saturdays.

Want to learn more about Alaska cruises? Check out our other articles below.

• Alaska cruise guide: Itineraries, planning tips and more
• Top Alaska cruise shore excursions
• The best time to cruise to Alaska
• The best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler
• Alaska cruise packing list: Here’s everything you should bring
• The best Alaska cruises for families
• How to see the northern lights on a cruise