Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
By this point, you’ve likely at least heard about, if not tried, the expedited airport security program TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck can be one of the most valuable investments you can make as a frequent traveler, thanks to the amount of time it saves and the peace of mind it provides.
TSA PreCheck is a “trusted traveler” program administered by the U.S. government. It allows prescreened, low-risk travelers at the airport to use a PreCheck-designated security line rather than pass through the normal Transportation Security Administration line.
PreCheck users typically pass through security faster than they would otherwise because they do not have to remove their shoes, belts, light jackets, quart-size plastic bag of liquids or electronics from their carry-on luggage.
These travelers are generally screened via walk-through security machines versus full-body scanners.
The program fees vary by provider. Applying through Idemia costs $78, and applying through Telos costs $85. Online renewal costs $70 through either provider.
To pay for application fees, be sure to use one of the roughly 40 cobranded airline, hotel and other credit cards that offer up to $120 in statement credit reimbursement for the fees associated with trusted traveler programs, including TSA PreCheck. Some popular travel rewards cards that cover PreCheck application fees include:
A full list of credit cards with this feature is available here.
Additionally, some loyalty programs allow you to use points or miles to cover the membership fees. However, the return per point is usually less than current TPG points valuations, so we would suggest using a credit card to get a statement credit instead.
Does TSA PreCheck save you time at the airport?
TSA PreCheck can save you the time you would otherwise spend waiting in line for security.
Not only can I personally attest to this, but 99% of PreCheck passengers reported waiting less than 10 minutes at airport security checkpoints nationwide as of October 2024, per TSA data.
There may be rare occasions when there is a wait at the PreCheck line, particularly during high travel seasons or at certain airports. However, on average, this should not be the case for most PreCheck users.
I could sing the praises of TSA PreCheck all day long but don’t just take my word for it. I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for TSA PreCheck; TPG managing editor Clint Henderson said it saved him “hours of waiting time over the years,” including on a recent trip to Hawaii.
“I absolutely love TSA PreCheck. I traveled to Hawaii with my family members who didn’t have PreCheck. I took my nieces and nephews in the PreCheck lanes while my brother had to wait in the regular line,” he said. “We beat him through security by about 20 minutes, and it was a similar story on the way back.”
That’s because travelers aged 12 and younger may use TSA PreCheck lanes when traveling with a parent or guardian who has it.
As our staffers have experienced, the benefits of TSA PreCheck are particularly clear when traveling with people who aren’t enrolled in the program.
“A friend and I flew from Houston to Miami and didn’t really think through how busy the airport would be during spring break. I had PreCheck; my friend didn’t,” said TPG senior credit cards editor Matt Moffit. “I got to the gate with about five minutes to spare before boarding ended. My friend was 20 minutes behind me. Luckily, our flight was delayed by 40 minutes, so we both made it, but it was a good lesson in how valuable the perk is.”
If you know you’re going to pass through a particularly busy airport or are just traveling at a busy time of year, such as during the holidays, TSA PreCheck can be a lifesaver.
GEORGE FREY/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
“Every time I go through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), especially during the holidays, I’m very happy I have TSA PreCheck. I take one look at the normal line — which is often looping back on itself many times — and am happy I don’t have to wait in it,” said TPG senior writer Katie Genter. “It’s not just Atlanta — I have similar experiences in many U.S. airports and am always annoyed when I’m flying an airline that doesn’t participate in PreCheck.”
TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau is also grateful for TSA PreCheck since she usually waits less than five minutes in line.
“Every time I fly home to Orlando for the holidays, I’m always grateful to have TSA PreCheck. Typically, I wait no more than five minutes, whereas the regular TSA line is often substantially longer,” she said. “In the days before PreCheck, I was a solo traveler stuck waiting behind all the families so I’m very relieved to be able to get to the gate faster so I can try to grab a hard-to-find seat as I wait to board.”
Beyond the time saved, passing through a PreCheck lane is just easier logistically since you don’t have to remove any of your belongings from your suitcase or your body.
“Is it wrong that I only have PreCheck because I hate taking my shoes off?” joked TPG senior vice president of content Jamie Page. “It’s like my socks know when I have to go through standard screening and start disintegrating as I walk over there. But seriously, PreCheck has saved me from waiting in long lines with cranky kids.”
Bottom line
TSA PreCheck is just one tool that truly makes navigating air travel and airports much easier, quicker and overall more efficient than it would be without it.
If you are considering purchasing TSA PreCheck, remember that membership also includes a five-year membership to Global Entry, so you can reap the benefits of both programs for an extra $42 (as of October 2024). Global Entry provides preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad at more than 75 airports.
If sailing a luxury yacht from Venice is on your travel wish list, take note.
For the first time ever, Sea Cloud Cruises’ newest and largest vessel, Sea Cloud Spirit, will launch sailings from Venice beginning in the summer of 2025.
While many cruise lines claim itineraries departing from Venice, few cruise ships can actually sail from the city’s historic center. Venice began restricting large ships in 2021 to protect the fragile local environment and temper overtourism. Larger vessels have since been diverted to cruise ports outside of Venice, such as Ravenna, Trieste and Marghera (the latter is a different borough of the larger city of Venice). Only ships under 590 feet long and measuring less than 25,000 tons are permitted to dock within the historic center.
Luckily for luxury lovers, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit falls within those parameters. The ship will berth at San Basilio Terminal, in the city’s historic area, providing cruisers easy access to the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs and other Venice landmarks. (Other cruise lines still permitted to sail from San Basilio Terminal include Windstar Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises and SeaDream Yacht Club.)
A full-rigged, three-masted sailing yacht, Sea Cloud Spirit is driven by 28 huge sails unfurled by hand by a team of deckhands. Two diesel-electric engines power the vessel when it’s not sailing. While Sea Cloud Spirit is modeled on classic sailing ships of old, it features all the modern conveniences you would expect on a new cruise vessel — elegant cabins, upscale dining and modern amenities such as a spa and a fitness center with a sea view.
Sea Cloud Spirit will sail four round-trip, nine-night voyages, including an overnight in the City of Canals. These “Enchanting Croatian Coast” itineraries feature ports of call in Sibenik, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Vis and Rovinj in Croatia, as well as two days under full sail in the Adriatic Sea.
The 2025 nine-night sailings depart July 24, Aug. 2, Aug. 11 and Aug. 20. Passengers on the Aug. 2 sailing will enjoy a special cabaret-inspired theme while on board. Called the “Cabaret Cultivated Journey,” the cruise will feature exclusive performances from notable cabaret, concert and recording artist Travis Moser.
Rates for Enchanting Croatian Coast sailings start from $8,545 per person (based on double occupancy). Beyond accommodations, gratuities and all meals, fares include a complimentary stocked in-room minibar (sodas, wines and other alcoholic beverages), free access to the ship’s thermal spa and 1 gigabyte of Starlink Internet (per passenger). Some shore excursions are also included in the fare.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.
Hotel elite status can greatly enhance your vacation experience. From snagging room upgrades to bonus points and even indulging in a complimentary breakfast, having the right status can save you money and add more perks to your trips.
If you haven’t accumulated enough points to earn (or retain) your elite status this year, here are some last-minute tips to help you secure your benefits for another year.
To earn hotel elite status, you can follow these common methods:
Elite night credits: You generally receive one credit for each eligible paid night at a participating property in a major hotel loyalty program. Award nights, “points and cash” stays and certain credit cards may also earn you elite night credits.
Stays: Some programs allow you to qualify based on stays — which can be any number of nights.
Points earned: You earn points based on your spending at participating hotels. Usually, only “base points” count toward elite status, excluding bonus points from status, promotions and other offers. Some programs also count spending with partner companies.
Credit card elite status: Many hotel and travel credit cards provide automatic elite status as a benefit.
Spending on credit card: Certain hotel credit cards allow you to earn elite status or progress toward it based on your annual spending.
Here’s a quick overview of how to close the gap and lock in status with the major hotel programs before the end of the year.
Hilton Honors elite status
The Lloyd Stamford, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. CHRIS RANDALL/HILTON
Qualification method
Silver
Gold
Diamond
Nights
10
40
60
Stays
4
20
30
Base points
25,000
75,000
120,000
End of the elite year: Dec. 31.
Hilton Honors is one hotel loyalty program that counts award stays toward elite status qualifications. If you have Hilton Honors points or free night certificates, redeeming them for free nights gets you closer to your next elite tier. Hilton also allows you to roll over any extra elite night credits at the end of the year and put them toward your status goals for the following year.
For travelers who want Hilton elite status benefits immediately, getting one of Hilton’s many cobranded credit cards is the quickest path. Even the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees) includes complimentary Silver status, with the ability to earn Gold status through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card includes complimentary Gold status, and you’ll be upgraded to Diamond through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card gives small-business owners the same elite status benefits, complimentary Gold status and the chance to upgrade their status to Diamond through the end of the next calendar year after spending 40,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. For members who don’t want to deal with the high spending hurdle, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Diamond elite status.
The information for the Amex Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Qualification method
Silver Elite
Gold Elite
Platinum Elite
Diamond Elite
Qualified nights
10
20
40
70
Qualified points
N/A
40,000
60,000
120,000
End of the elite year: Dec. 31.
IHG One Rewards provides several ways to earn elite status, including booking award stays using points or free night certificates and spending with partners like Hertz and Viator. However, points you earn from spending on IHG cobranded cards do not count toward elite status points qualification.
Another option for earning IHG One Rewards elite status is to buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership. For $200 or 40,000 points, you’ll enjoy Ambassador benefits — which include Platinum Elite status — for 12 months from purchase.
A Marriott sign in Hamburg, Germany. JEREMY MOELLER/GETTY IMAGES
Qualification method
Silver Elite
Gold Elite
Platinum Elite
Titanium Elite
Ambassador Elite
Nights
10
25
50
75
100 plus $23,000 in qualifying spend
End of the elite year: Dec. 31.
Marriott Bonvoy makes earning elite status simple. You must earn elite night credits, either through hotel stays or credit cards, or hold a card that provides elite status. Nights booked with Marriott Bonvoy points and free night certificates also count toward elite status qualification.
In addition, some Marriott cobranded cards include 15 elite night credits toward your desired status level each year, and the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex includes 25 elite night credits annually. Moreover, members can stack elite night credits from any business and personal card for a total of 30 or 40 credits, putting higher elite tiers easily within reach. You can also earn one elite night credit for every $5,000 you spend on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card each year.
And finally, as with Hilton status, the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum both include complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status (enrollment required).
Park Hyatt London River Thames. BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Qualification method
Discoverist
Explorist
Globalist
Nights
10
30
60
Base Points
25,000
50,000
100,000
End of the elite year: Dec. 31.
With World of Hyatt, you can achieve elite status based on nights stayed or base points earned at Hyatt properties. Elite night credits also include nights booked with points or free night certificates.
Two Hyatt credit cards are available — one for consumers and one for business owners. Both cards have unique features that can help you earn Hyatt elite status quickly.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card includes entry-level Discoverist elite status. While this status may not offer many standout benefits, you can spend your way to a higher tier. The card provides five qualifying night credits every year, and you’ll earn an additional two credits for every $5,000 you spend on the card.
Business owners also receive Discoverist status with the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. However, this business card is unique on this list because it allows the cardholder to give the gift of Discoverist status to up to five employees. Additionally, you’ll receive five tier-qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar year. This rate is 25% higher than what’s offered by the personal version of the Hyatt card.
World of Hyatt used to allow members to earn status by hosting a certain number of meetings or events — three for Discoverist, 10 for Explorist or 20 for Globalist — but this is being discontinued on Dec. 31, 2024. In 2025, event planners will earn night credits toward status at a rate of 2 credits per $5,000 spent on meetings and events (up to $150,000 or 60 credits, enough for Globalist status).
You can earn hotel elite status — or at least receive similar benefits — in other ways than having a hotel cobranded credit card. Use these strategies if you don’t want to be tied to one hotel’s card:
American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts: This is an exclusive hotel booking program for Amex cardmembers with a Platinum or Centurion-branded card. It offers elite-level benefits and promotions at premium properties worldwide, including an on-property spending credit, room upgrade and late checkout. Personal Platinum cardmembers can even receive up to $200 in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts stays charged to the card. Enrollment is required.
The Hotel Collection: This program offers benefits at participating properties on stays of at least two nights, and it’s available to those with an Amex Platinum or American Express® Gold Card.
Capital One’s Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection: These two boutique hotel programs are available to select Capital One cardholders and offer benefits like free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and bonus miles.
The Edit by Chase Travel: Formerly known as Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, The Edit offers elite benefits to select Chase cardholders at over 1,000 highly rated properties (including Four Seasons) worldwide, including daily breakfast for two, a unique benefit worth up to $100, complimentary Wi-Fi, room upgrades and early check-in/late checkout at select properties.
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: When you have a Visa Signature card and book through the Visa Signature website, you’ll receive exclusive perks at participating properties.
Options are available if you haven’t locked in your hotel status this year.
Many popular hotel loyalty programs offer alternative ways to achieve elite status without going on an expensive mattress run. Holding the right credit card can often grant you elite status or allow you to earn additional nights through card spending to reach an even higher tier.
If these options don’t work for you, consider looking into hotel booking programs affiliated with your credit card issuer. These programs offer on-property benefits without requiring loyalty to any specific hotel program.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the currency of most Chase-branded credit cards. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points for everyday spending and then redeem them for a wide range of rewards.
Transferring Ultimate Rewards to travel partners is often the most valuable way to redeem your hard-earned points. With 14 different transfer partners, you have plenty of options since you can keep your Chase points in your Ultimate Rewards account until you can transfer them.
Here is everything to know about Chase Ultimate Rewards’ transfer partners.
Note that transfer bonuses can also be inconsistent. For example, when TPG’s senior editorial director Nick Ewen transferred points to Aeroplan to take advantage of a 20% bonus, the base points arrived immediately, but it took three days for the bonus points to post to his account.
While most transfers through the Chase portal should be instantaneous, delays can happen when transferring your points. To help with the transfer process, we recommend making sure that the name on your Ultimate Rewards account matches that on your loyalty program account. Additionally, make sure you have signed up with a loyalty program in advance, as a new account may also cause a delay in the transfer process.
How do I transfer Chase points to partners?
You can easily transfer Chase points online. First, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal. Under the Travel drop-down, select “Transfer to Travel Partners” to access the main transfer page.
CHASE.COM/THE POINTS GUY
You will then see the list of transfer partners and any current transfer bonuses. Select your desired transfer partner, link your external account if you have not already done so, select the number of Ultimate Rewards points you wish to transfer and then submit the transfer.
CHASE.COM/THE POINTS GUY
CHASE.COM/THE POINTS GUY
Remember, Ultimate Rewards transfers cannot be reversed, so it’s best to wait until you have a specific use before transferring them.
What are the best Chase transfer partners?
HYATT REGENCY LAKE TAHOE
Given the low award chart rates of the World of Hyatt program, many TPG staffers believe Hyatt is the best hotel transfer option for redeeming Ultimate Rewards points.
If you would prefer to transfer to one of the 11 different airline program partners, the best option may depend on which airlines fly to and from the destinations you wish to travel, who the program partners with and which airlines you like to travel with.
There are sweet spots to be found in most airline transfer options, especially those programs that have retained award charts.
The World of Hyatt award chart has two appealing factors. First, its mere existence is notable, given most other hotel programs (including IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, the other Chase hotel partners) have shifted to dynamic pricing.
Beyond that, Hyatt’s award rates can be incredibly low compared to some competitors. You can book some of the fanciest Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio, including the Park Hyatt New York and Park Hyatt Sydney, for just 35,000 points per night during off-peak dates. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each (per our October 2024 valuations), so 35,000 points are worth $595.
That’s a great deal for hotels that sell for close to $1,000 per night, even when demand is low.
There’s also great value at the lower end of the Hyatt award chart. Category 1 hotels range from 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, depending on whether you travel on peak, standard or off-peak dates.
Iberia flights to Madrid
Round-trip, off-peak flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Spain’s capital will only set you back 34,000 Avios in economy, 51,000 in premium economy or 68,000 in business when you transfer your Chase points to Iberia Plus. Considering that most airlines charge at least 60,000 miles for a one-way business-class award to Europe, you’re essentially getting a 50% discount.
By transferring your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways, you can book awards with Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. As long as your nonstop flight distance is under 3,000 miles each way (and saver-level award space is available), you can leverage British Airways’ distance-based award chart to fly from any West Coast gateway to Hawaii for 40,000 Avios round-trip — after a December 2023 and July 2024 devaluation that saw prices increase.
ANA flights booked through Virgin Atlantic
For just 145,000 Flying Club points, you can fly round-trip in All Nippon Airways first class between the West Coast and Tokyo. Flights from other U.S. gateways only cost an extra 25,000 points (170,000 points round-trip). Business-class redemptions are an even better deal, costing just 105,000 to 120,000 points round-trip, depending on your U.S. departure airport. If possible, you’ll want to route through New York-JFK and fly ANA’s industry-leading “The Room” business class, which is only available on select routes.
However, availability can be difficult to come by.
Short-haul flights to Canada
Aeroplan stuck to an award chart for partner redemptions but added dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights. As a result, you can often find super-cheap short-haul tickets from the U.S. to Canada. For example, New York to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) can be booked for under 6,000 miles one-way on many dates.
However, you can also find very reasonable award rates on Star Alliance partners through Aeroplan — including Lufthansa, Swiss and EVA Airways.
TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece, per our October 2024 valuations, and we believe you will receive the best value by transferring points to airline and hotel partners.
Finally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece if used for simple cash back.
How do I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?
There are many ways to earn Chase points at 1-10 points per dollar spent, depending on the specific Chase credit card you carry.
The first three cards below earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points by themselves, while the remaining four are technically billed as cash-back credit cards.
However, if you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can effectively convert your cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card can make sense to maximize your earning and redeeming potential.
Here are the cards that allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, plus a $300 statement credit on Chase Travel℠ purchases within the first year.
Why you want it: This is a fantastic all-around travel credit card. It earns points at the following rates:
5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel
3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
3 points per dollar on select streaming services
3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Why you want it: The Sapphire Reserve offers earning power paired with travel perks that can easily cover the annual fee. It earns points at the following rates:
10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases through the Chase Travel
5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through Chase Travel
3 points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase
Welcome bonus: 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Why you want it: This is one of the best credit cards for small-business owners, earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchaseson travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, and points don’t expire as long as your account is open.
Four Chase credit cards are technically billed as cash-back products. However, suppose you have one of the three cards noted above. In that case, you can combine your points in a single account, converting these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
Even better? None of these cards charge an annual fee.
Here are the four cards that offer this functionality:
Chase Freedom Flex®: Earn $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening. Earn 5% back on select bonus categories, which rotate every quarter and apply on up to $1,500 in combined spending (activation required). Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back. Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn up to $750: $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%). Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%).
Note that Chase also issues the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card. However, the earnings on this card can’t be combined with others in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.
If you value the flexibility of choosing from 11 airline partners and three hotel partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite credit card programs at TPG.
In the age of no-notice devaluations by some loyalty programs, it is smart to earn Ultimate Rewards via the range of credit card welcome offers, category bonuses and everyday spending, and then keep your Ultimate Rewards points until you are ready to transfer and book with an airline or hotel partner.
TPG readers and staff members are huge fans of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program — even those on the East Coast who never actually fly with the carrier. Even though we’ve seen devaluations of Mileage Plan miles in previous years, there are still sweet spots within the program’s Oneworld and nonalliance partners. You can redeem miles for some of the most sought-after premium award seats on airlines like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and many more.
You can redeem Mileage Plan miles for great rewards, including saving up to 50% on award redemptions to popular destinations using the airline’s Global Getaway promotion.
Are you unfamiliar with earning Mileage Plan miles? We’ll show you how to earn Alaska miles to put your next award trip within reach.
How to earn Alaska miles by flying
ALASKA AIRLINES
The most straightforward way to earn Alaska miles is to fly Alaska Airlines or one of its partner airlines. Alaska is one of the few airlines that still issues miles based on flight distance, not how much money you spend on the ticket. That being said, several factors determine how many miles you’ll earn on a given ticket.
Earn miles by flying on Alaska Airlines
When traveling on an Alaska-operated flight, you’ll earn Alaska miles based on the distance you fly. Unfortunately, Alaska’s basic economy “Saver fare” product earns just 30% of the miles flown.
Meanwhile, tickets booked in higher fare classes earn bonus miles. Here’s the earning chart for Alaska-operated and -marketed flights to determine how many miles you’ll earn on your next trip (while there are two tables depending on whether your travel is in 2024 or 2025, the earning rates on Alaska Airlines flights are the same):
ALASKAAIR.COM
To figure out your flight distance, we recommend using Great Circle Mapper. For example, a one-way ticket from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) booked in a C-class first-class cabin would earn 3,003 miles. These fares earn 100% of base miles (1,716 miles flown) and a 75% class-of-service bonus (1,287 miles).
Elite status bonus
Additionally, those with Alaska Airlines elite status will earn additional bonuses on their Alaska-operated tickets. Here’s how many bonus Mileage Plan miles each MVP status tier earns on these flights through 2024:
Alaska MVP: 50% bonus
MVP Gold: 100% bonus
MVP Gold 75K: 125% bonus
MVP Gold 100K: 150% bonus
From Jan. 1, 2025, the bonus miles will be awarded as follows:
Alaska MVP: 25% bonus
MVP Gold: 50% bonus
MVP Gold 75K: 100% bonus
MVP Gold 100K: 150% bonus
These bonuses only apply to the 100% base miles flown, not any class-of-service bonuses for higher fare classes.
When flying a partner airline booked on Alaska Airlines ticket stock (a codeshare flight operated by a partner but booked with an Alaska flight number), you’ll earn 100% of the base miles flown except for basic economy (fare code X), which awards 30%. However, how you earn Alaska miles varies slightly when you book a partner flight on the partner’s ticket stock and add your Mileage Plan number.
When you do this, the exact number will vary based on the airline, status tier and booking class. Generally speaking, you won’t earn 100% of the miles flown for every fare class, though flights booked in higher fare classes will still earn more.
For travel in 2024, each partner has a different earning rate. To check how many miles you’ll earn on your partner ticket, head to Alaska Airlines’ partner page, find the partner you’re flying and check the chart for your booking class, as each chart will be slightly different.
Here’s the British Airways earning chart for travel in 2024:
ALASKAAIR.COM
Starting in January, Mileage Plan is simplifying how frequent flyers earn miles when traveling on partners. The number of miles you earn will depend on whether the flight is booked through Alaska’s website or a partner’s website and your fare class.
Note that Starlux Airlines flights booked via a partner site are not eligible to earn Mileage Plan elite-qualifying miles.
Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, and you can earn miles on all Oneworld airlines, including:
American Airlines
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect partner)
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Jordanian Airlines
SriLankan Airlines
Further, the airline has a plethora of nonalliance partners with which to earn miles, including:
One of the easiest ways to earn a large chunk of Mileage Plan miles without flying is through Alaska Airlines co-branded credit cards issued by Bank of America.
One option is the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, which carries a $95 annual fee. New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
If you have a small business, you might prefer the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card. This card has a $70 annual fee for the company and $25 per card. As a limited-time welcome offer, receive 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Note that these cards both offer a free checked bag for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation when you pay for your flight with the card and include discounts on inflight purchases and lounge passes.
When spending with either the personal or business card, you will earn the following miles:
3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Additionally, starting on Jan. 1, 2025, if you hold the Alaska personal or business credit card, you will earn 1 elite qualifying mile for every $3 spent (up to 30,000 EQMs each year).
Alaska Airlines transfer partners
Transfer Bilt Points to Alaska Mileage Plan
In March 2024, Bilt Rewards added Alaska Mileage Plan as a transfer partner. Therefore, you can transfer Bilt Points to Alaska at a 1:1 rate. Plus, Alaska Airlines cardholders earn 3 miles per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 annually) when paying rent through Bilt using their Alaska Airlines Visa credit card.
Transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan
Since the merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, you can also transfer miles between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines at a 1:1 rate.
Therefore, if you’re in the market for a new credit card and a way to earn additional Alaska miles without opening an Alaska credit card, you can consider opening a Hawaiian Airlines cobranded credit card.
Hawaiian Airlines cards are currently offering the following welcome bonuses:
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
The information for the Hawaiian Mastercard and Hawaiian Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you don’t have any HawaiianMiles, remember that the program is currently a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, meaning that you could earn a generous welcome bonus from an Amex rewards card and transfer those points to HawaiianMiles, and then transfer them to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. However, it has been reported that this transfer option may become obsolete in 2025.
INN AT BELLEFIELD, RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT HYDE PARK/FACEBOOK
Even if you don’t have any Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines credit cards in your wallet, it’s still possible to generate miles by transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio. You’ll also earn a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
If you want to transfer your points to book an award flight, make sure you check/find availability before making any point transfers, as transfers are irreversible.
Earn business rewards with EasyBiz
Alaska Airlines has a business rewards program called EasyBiz. This program rewards businesses for employee travel based on the price of a ticket. Rewards earned with EasyBiz are in addition to the employee’s mileage earnings, so both parties win.
Businesses earn 1 Alaska mile for every dollar spent on base airfare. You can also access features like 24-hour reservation holds, travel management tools and ticket reports. Tools like this help your business better manage employee travel and get more value from the money you’re already spending.
You can enroll in EasyBiz on Alaska’s website. After doing this, you’ll receive an EasyBiz number that you, your employees or your travel agent can attach to Alaska bookings.
Note that according to Alaska’s website, “new EasyBiz enrollments are currently unavailable as we make system updates.”
You can also earn Alaska miles with other travel partners. This lets you earn Alaska miles on other aspects of your trip, like hotels and rental cars.
Book hotels with Alaska partners
You can earn bonus Mileage Plan miles by booking with Alaska Airlines Hotels. If you go this route, you may not earn hotel points on your booking. In other words, you’ll need to decide which rewards currency you value most.
You can also earn Alaska miles when booking car rentals through Alaska Airlines Car Rental. The miles you’ll earn depend on how much you spend on a rental. You won’t earn rental car points on these bookings; prices may differ from booking directly.
You can also book directly with rental car companies and earn Alaska miles instead of rental car points at the following rates:
Rental car company
Earning rate
Alamo
50 miles per day on qualifying rentals. Offer valid in the U.S. and Canada.
Avis
Up to 1,250 miles per rental
Budget
Up to 1,250 miles per rental
Dollar
150 miles on rentals three days or longer through Dec. 31, 2024
Hertz
200 miles per day on rentals of one to four days or 2,000 miles per rental on rentals of five or more days until Dec. 31, 2024.
Additionally, you can earn Alaska miles through several Alaska Mileage Plan partners for everyday purchases like dining out and even shopping online.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping is a great way to earn bonus Alaska miles on your online purchases in addition to the miles you already earn with your credit card. Sign up for a Mileage Plan Shopping account and find your merchant on the portal before purchasing.
Please note that each participating merchant offers a different number of miles per dollar spent, and their rates fluctuate frequently. Use a shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor to compare earning potential across various sites.
Mileage Plan Shopping periodically offers promotions for spending a set amount of money or buying products from a specific merchant — keep an eye out for promotions.
Do you dine out a lot? Make sure you’re a Mileage Plan Dining member. The program is free to join. Sign up, link a credit card and earn extra Alaska miles when dining at participating restaurants. These miles are in addition to the rewards you already earn with your card, so make sure to use one of the best credit cards for dining out.
The number of points you earn on purchases depends on your Mileage Plan Dining membership status. There are currently three status tiers: basic, select member and VIP. You become a select member by signing up for email alerts. You’ll be upgraded to VIP status once you dine 11 times in 12 months.
Select members earn 3 miles per dollar, while VIP members earn 5 miles per dollar. On the other hand, if you don’t sign up for email alerts, you will remain a basic member and earn 1 mile per $2 spent.
If you’re not already signed up for Alaska’s dining plan, you can earn 500 bonus Alaska miles after your first purchase. To qualify for this offer, you must spend $30 or more at a participating restaurant and review it on the Mileage Plan Dining website.
Another way to earn Alaska miles is to purchase them outright. However, buying miles without a promotion typically offers a poor value proposition.
But Alaska frequently runs promotions for buying miles with bonuses of up to 50%. With up to a 50% bonus, your effective purchase price is 1.97 cents apiece, and while that is above TPG’s October 2024 valuations (which pegged Mileage Plan miles at 1.45 cents each), it can still unlock some great value.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are among the most sought-after in the points and miles game. Even though earning Alaska miles can be generally harder to earn if you don’t often fly with the carrier, the transfer partner options and Alaska’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines have opened up new avenues for frequent flyers to beef up their account balances.
The information for the Frontier Airlines Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The welcome bonus
I’m a sucker for a solid welcome bonus on a travel credit card, and the Frontier Airlines Mastercard definitely has one. New cardholders can earn 50,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full within 90 days of account opening.
THE POINTS GUY
No, it’s not going to get me a business-class flight to Europe, but based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, it’s still worth $550. It’s also among the easiest welcome bonuses to earn thanks to the reasonable spending requirement.
I earned these 50,000 miles in the first month of card membership, and I promptly put them to good use.
I’m traveling to New Orleans in February for Mardi Gras, and there was a perfectly timed return flight on Frontier from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). This would’ve been $133.98 per person, but the award flight was just 10,000 miles (plus the $5.60 U.S. passenger security fee). That gave me a value of 1.34 cents per mile.
Now, it’s worth noting that this redemption is for Frontier’s basic fare, which includes just the flight and no extras. Thankfully, I can avoid many of those added costs with another part of the card’s current offer.
Beyond the bonus miles, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard is currently offering instant Elite Gold status after the first purchase with your card in the first 90 days after account opening. This status will be valid for just 90 days after your account opening date, but you can extend it for a full 12 months by spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.
So naturally, that’s exactly what I did.
Selecting any seat on Frontier can be pricey — but my Gold status includes standard seats at no charge. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Gold status on Frontier can effectively turn your basic fare into a more flexible ticket with many additional inclusions. Here’s a snapshot of what I will get on every Frontier flight I take through August 2025:
No change and cancellation fees (seven or more days ahead of departure)
To give you an idea of how valuable this can be, my one-way flight from New Orleans to Orlando has the Economy Bundle available for an extra $59 — which includes seat selection, a carry-on and similar flight flexibility. And that’s just on a single flight.
This can also be super valuable if you book a flight and the price drops closer to departure.
For example, I had a ticket booked to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in mid-October that I ultimately needed to cancel due to Hurricane Milton. However, the ticket dropped in price two separate times prior to that.
The original itinerary for me, my wife and my daughter was $450.94 (including seat selection for them, since the above perks only apply to those with elite status). The first time I got a notification of a lower price via Google Flights, I canceled and rebooked for $289.94 — giving me a voucher of $161.
Then, just a week and a half later, it dropped again, so I canceled and rebooked a second time for $241.94. That’s another $48 in future flight credit.
Even when my Gold status expires — assuming I don’t extend it with spending or flying — the card still offers some really solid perks. As a cardholder, my miles never expire as long as I make at least one purchase a year.
I also enjoy a redemption fee waiver whenever I book an award ticket; this fee starts at $5.60 per passenger for a one-way fare. With my award ticket from New Orleans to Orlando, I saved $45 just by holding the credit card.
Recently, Frontier added free checked bags as a perk on the card. HINTERHAUSPRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES
I can also get a $100 flight voucher after my account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases with my card in an account year. Since I needed to spend $3,000 to extend my Gold status, I’ve already hit that threshold, so when my card renews, I’ll have $100 to use for a future Frontier flight.
Finally, shortly after I applied, the card became even more valuable when it began offering two free checked bags to cardholders.
While these are limited to 40 pounds apiece, it effectively means that I can travel with my wife and daughter for the next year without paying any bag fees, as we can easily pack into a carry-on and medium-size checked bag for just about all of our trips.
The best part? All of this is available for just a $99 annual fee.
Bottom line
As someone who typically aims for aspirational travel opportunities with my points and miles, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard was never really on my radar.
However, Frontier has extensive service from Orlando, one of my primary airports, and the array of benefits on the card (including the current offer for Gold status) allows me to book inexpensive flights and avoid many of the extra fees that travelers hate about low-cost carriers.
I’ve already earned the 50,000-mile welcome bonus, and I’m looking forward to booking multiple additional flights to utilize these benefits over the coming year. And when the card comes up for renewal, I just may keep it open as the newest valuable addition to my wallet.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Frequent Delta Air Lines flyers have two fantastic card choices that can elevate their airport and flying experience. While some may gawk at the hefty annual fees, these two cards are well worth the price for those who are loyal to the Atlanta-based carrier.
For those who value Delta Medallion elite status, Sky Club access and the annual round-trip companion certificate, you may already carry Delta’s most premium card in your wallet.
But, for $45 more every year, I’d argue that the Amex Platinum may actually make more sense for most travelers.
Here are the five reasons why you should consider switching from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum.
Comparing the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum
Feature
Delta Reserve
Amex Platinum
Welcome offer
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases on your new card in your first three months of cardmembership.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership.
1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar)
5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Delta perks*
Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight for complimentary Delta Sky Club access (no access for basic economy fares; complimentary access will be limited to 15 visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025). Receive unlimited visits if you spend $75,000 or more on your card per calendar year
Complimentary access to the American Express Centurion lounge if you have a same-day Delta flight
Annual round-trip companion certificate for domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin each year upon renewal of the card
Upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same Medallion level and fare class grouping
Access to complimentary upgrades for non-elite members
Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $30,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times
Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver toward Platinum, Gold or Silver Medallion status if you make at least $25,000 in purchases in a year with your card
First checked bag free on Delta flights
20% discount on inflight purchases
Delta Sky Club access on a same-day Delta flight; complimentary access will be limited to 10 visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025. If you spend $75,000 or more on your Amex Platinum card during a calendar year, you can unlock unlimited Sky Club access through the end of the next program year
Annual $200 airline statement credit, eligible for charges like baggage fees, inflight purchases and more by one U.S. airline you designate each year — so you could pick Delta Air Lines
Other benefits*
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, once every four/four and a half years, respectively
Access to the Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion lounges, Priority Pass lounges and more, as long as you show a same-day confirmed boarding pass on any airline. You can also bring up to two guests for no additional fee
Up to a $200 annual prepaid hotel statement credit, up to a $199 annual Clear Plus statement credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash and more annual statement credits
Up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck, once every four/four and a half years, respectively
Complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
Complimentary memberships in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive
Elite-like privileges when you book through the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program
At $695 per year, the Amex Platinum isn’t the most affordable card — but neither is the Delta Reserve. For a difference of $45, the Amex Platinum can offer better value since there’s a long list of non-Delta benefits that are useful for other parts of the travel experience, whether that’s with hotels or rental cars.
Let’s take a closer look at the top five reasons the Amex Platinum wins over the Delta Reserve.
Expanded lounge access when there’s not a Sky Club
With the Amex Platinum, you get access to thousands of lounges worldwide. With 50 Sky Clubs, the odds are likely that some of your travels bring you to places where you might not find a Sky Club. And while you can visit the Amex Centurion lounge with the Delta Reserve, this is also strictly limited to if you’re flying Delta the same day.
Delta Sky Clubs (10 visits per year on same-day Delta flights starting Feb. 1, 2025).
Plaza Premium lounge
Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner
Lufthansa lounges
Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges
On the off chance you aren’t flying Delta, you won’t be able to enter any airport lounge if you carry the Delta Reserve alone. But, with the Amex Platinum, the airline you fly won’t matter (in most instances) — just show your same-day boarding pass, and you’ll be able to enter most of the lounges as part of the Global Lounge Collection.
Plus, the Amex Platinum includes a Priority Pass Select membership, which the Delta Reserve does not.
Both cards require guests to pay $50 to enter SkyClubs or Centurion lounges. However, if Amex Platinum cardmembers spend $75,000 per calendar year, then two guests can enter the Centurion lounge with the cardmember for free.
If you’re a frequent traveler, this benefit alone is worth at least the $45 difference in the annual fees.
Just note that Sky Club access when flying Delta with either card is restricted to the primary cardmember only — unless one of the following holds true:
Your guests are authorized users on your Amex Platinum or cardmember in their own right — which gets them Sky Club access
You use one of your annual guest passes as a Delta Reserve cardmember
An annual airline credit more suitable for Delta elite members
If you switch from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum, you’ll largely lose out on many of the Delta-specific benefits, such as a free checked bag and the 20% discount on inflight purchases.
A taste of Delta One. DARREN MURPH/THE POINTS GUY
But it’s likely that you’re already a Delta Medallion member. Even at the lowest level (Silver Medallion), you’ll get a free first checked bag, so the Delta Reserve doesn’t really present any added value.
However, the Amex Platinum comes with an up-to-$200 credit for airline incidentals every year. You’ll pick one qualifying airline (Delta is on this list), and you’ll be reimbursed throughout the year anytime you’re charged for baggage, seat selection, onboard food and beverages, and more (up to a total of $200 per calendar year).
This could allow you to designate a different airline if you’re loyal to Delta and have Medallion status but occasionally find yourself on another carrier. Without elite status, you’d likely need to pay for things like checked bags and extra-legroom seats. Selecting another airline could allow you to still use this airline incidentals statement credit — beyond what the Delta Reserve can offer you.
Holistic travel perks, rather than just with Delta
By switching to the Amex Platinum, there are a few benefits that may be sorely missed, such as the companion certificate and the elite qualification boosts.
There’s a lengthy list of travel benefits that come with the Amex Platinum, and many of them can help you save money or elevate your travel experience. Here are a few of my notable favorites:
An up to $200 annual prepaid hotel statement credit: Eligible on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum
Up to $200 in Uber Cash: Distributed in the form of $15 monthly credits for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders — plus a $20 bonus in December. Your Amex Plat must be added to your Uber account and you can redeem with any Amex card
An up to $155 annual Walmart+ statement credit: This covers the cost of one Walmart+ monthly membership (subject to auto-renewal); Plus Ups are excluded
Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits: Distributed as statement credits to cover up to $50 in purchases, one between January through June and another July through December
Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment statement credits: Distributed in the form of up to $20 in monthly statement credits when you pay for participating digital entertainment services with the Amex Platinum
Even if you don’t use up every single credit or benefit, it’s more than likely that you’ll be able to make up that $45 difference in the annual fees. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Ability to earn Membership Rewards points — worth significantly more than Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles have been devalued a lot over the years. While you can find some great value when redeeming for domestic economy flights, you’re out of luck if you’re trying to find a long-haul business-class flight for reasonable rates.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Unfortunately, those devaluations will likely continue, but the best way to protect yourself from airline and hotel valuations is to open a card that earns transferable points, like the Amex Platinum.
With the American Express Membership Rewards program, you can transfer your points to 20-plus airline and hotel loyalty programs — including Delta SkyMiles. It’s also worth noting that per TPG’s October 2024 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are valued at 2 cents each and Delta SkyMiles at 1.41 cents apiece.
These valuations also factor into the ongoing earning rates of these cards:
Amex Platinum:
5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline and through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) — 10% return
5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel — 10% return
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases — 2% return
Delta Reserve:
3 points per dollar spent on Delta purchases — 3.6% return
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases — 1.2% return
Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year
Earn $1 MQD for each $20 in you spend on purchases
Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card
DARREN MURPH/THE POINTS GUY
And if you fly Delta enough organically to not need these MQD waivers from these cobranded cards, then there’s no reason why the Amex Platinum shouldn’t be in your wallet rather than the Delta Reserve.
Although both cards are issued by American Express, you won’t be able to request a product change for your cards. If you decide the Amex Platinum is the right choice for you, you’ll need to put in a new application outright — though be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).
THE POINTS GUY
While that has a temporary effect on your credit score, you’ll be able to work toward the 80,000-point welcome bonus.
To gauge your likelihood of approval, you can review Amex’s eligibility requirements, but anecdotes report that you can carry up to five American Express cards at a time. In addition, you’ll likely only be eligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve never held the Amex Platinum before. So, if you’re clear on both fronts, then submitting an application would be your next step.
Then, you’ll need to decide what to do with your Delta Reserve.
Your options are to cancel your card or downgrade to another Delta cobranded card. Here are those options:
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: If you want Delta benefits such as a free checked bag and an inflight discount but for a reasonable annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150; see rates and fees).
If you do decide to cancel the Delta Reserve once your annual fee posts, be sure to call customer service and see if you’re eligible for a retention offer. Issuers sometimes provide incentives to existing cardmembers to keep their cards open — including statement credits or bonus miles. That could make the difference between keeping versus canceling your card.
Airline mile devaluations are frequent — and among the best ways to protect yourself is opening a card that earns transferable points instead. For those who already carry the Delta Reserve, the Amex Platinum can make a lot of sense in many ways, especially since you’ll enjoy some Delta benefits and still be able to transfer your rewards to Delta SkyMiles in a pinch.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Blue, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click here. For rates and fees of the Platinum Amex, click here.
Pop culture icon Paris Hilton is serving up her latest project, a glittery pink waffle, to Hampton by Hilton guests in the U.S. and Canada.
Hilton teamed up with Hampton to introduce the latest seasonal flavor, dubbed the Sparkling Strawberry Hampton Waffle, alongside a special Sparkling Strawberry Hampton Waffle Kit that can be purchased online for $29.99 and includes everything you need to make the new waffle, like waffle mix and edible glitter.
“The Sparkling Strawberry Hampton Waffle is totally iconic, sweet, and so me,” Hilton said in a statement about the waffle. “I’m excited for everyone to try it and start their mornings with a little sparkle.”
HILTON
The waffle was unveiled at an event in New York City at the Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central, attended by TPG. At the event, one of Hampton by Hilton’s U.S. Waffle Bosses, Beverly Christmas of the Hampton Inn Paris in Paris, Illinois, was able to showcase just how fun decorating a waffle with toppings (like whipped cream, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, strawberries and, of course, edible glitter) actually is, whether you’re making it at one of the 2,400 locations in the U.S. and Canada or right at home.
In fact, this is the first time Hampton’s waffle mix has been available for purchase since the chain first introduced its now-iconic waffle back in 2009.
As TPG previously reported in August, when the Hilton Honors-affiliated hotel brand celebrated its 40th birthday, guests at Hampton by Hilton properties eat a whopping 30 million regular waffles each year and about 120 million miniwaffles. Over the years, new seasonal flavors have rolled out to much fanfare, including lemon, pumpkin spice, red velvet and birthday cake.
“At Hampton by Hilton, breakfast is such a key part of what we offer, and our waffles have become an iconic symbol of that tradition of providing a friendly and reliable stay,” said Shruti Gandhi Buckley, Hampton by Hilton’s global brand leader. “This collaboration with Paris Hilton brings a fresh, playful twist to something that’s already so loved.”
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The city of Venice, Italy, will double the number of days that tourists will be charged an entry fee in 2025.
The tourist tax, which aims to help combat overtourism in the city, was initially trialed for 29 days between April 25 and July 14, 2024, including weekends and public holidays. For 2025, the city will impose the tax for 54 days — payable every Friday to Sunday and public holidays between April 18 and July 27.
Day-trippers who can book ahead of time will be charged 5 euros (about $5.40 at current exchange rates) to enter the city. This charge increases to 10 euros for bookings less than four days in advance.
Prior to its trial in 2024, the Venice tourist tax was hotly debated for several years; it faced numerous delays and setbacks before its eventual launch in April.
During the trial, visitors who entered the city before 8:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m. (or those staying in hotels who had already paid a lodging tax) were exempt from paying the fee. Visitors who didn’t pay were subject to immediate fines of between 50 and 300 euros if they failed a random spot check. This is expected to continue the same way in 2025.
The tourist tax was initially launched to combat overtourism in Venice, which is arguably one of Europe’s most well-known and popular destinations. However, few travelers were discouraged by the fee — an average of 75,000 visitors came to the city each day during the first 11 days of the trial.
Back in July, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Deputy Mayor Assessore Simone Venturini hinted that the tax would continue and potentially increase with amplified enforcement.
While the trial period didn’t drastically reduce visitor numbers, it generated around 2.4 million euros in additional income. According to city officials, the money will be used to fund essential municipal services within Venice, such as garbage removal and canal maintenance. According to Brugnaro, further analysis is still required to assess whether the scheme managed to break even.
Bottom line
After years of discussion, Venice implemented a tourist tax during a 29-day trial in April. The trial has now been deemed a success and will continue in 2025 for a total of 54 days — every Friday to Sunday and public holidays between April 18 and July 27.
Royal Caribbean is about to take more than 4,000 passengers even farther northwest into Alaska. Starting in spring 2026, Ovation of the Seas will become the line’s largest-ever ship to sail one-way voyages to The Last Frontier, offering both cruises and cruisetours — something that wasn’t available to Royal Caribbean passengers before on a big ship.
The Quantum Class ship, which is part of the line’s third-largest class of vessels, will replace Radiance of the Seas on weeklong one-way voyages between Seward, Alaska, and Vancouver, British Columbia. The ship will call on the ports of Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point and Sitka, Alaska. Ovation will also traverse the top part of the Gulf of Alaska between Hubbard Glacier and Seward during its sailings, opening up access to Anchorage and Alaska’s interior.
For that, passengers have the option to tack on up to six additional nights for land-based exploration, featuring Alaskan destinations like Anchorage, Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna and Alyeska. Tundra trekking and glass-dome train rides are among the excursion selections.
What’s notable about Ovation of the Seas’ cruisetours is that the ship dwarfs the other vessels offering one-way sailings with cruisetour add-ons. That’s because most cruise lines put their biggest Alaska ships on round-trip Seattle cruises and save older, smaller ships for the one-way runs. When Ovation begins these itineraries in 2026, megaship fans who want to spend time in Alaska’s interior before or after their cruise won’t have to choose between their preferred ship size and their desired itinerary.
Although one-way itineraries provide travelers with a way to explore places ships can’t reach, travel to and from a one-way Alaska cruise is often more expensive. That’s because you’ll need to book two one-way flights, including one from an Alaskan city, which can be pricier than round-trip Seattle or Vancouver flights. This can affect your bottom line if you’re on a budget.
For the 2026 season, Ovation of the Seas, a regular on the Alaska cruise scene, will join 4,180-passenger classmate Anthem of the Seas and 3,602-passenger Voyager Class fleetmate Voyager of the Seas in the region. (This season will be Voyager’s first sailing Alaska.) The latter two ships are set to operate weeklong sailings round-trip from Seattle. Ports of call include a mix of Juneau, Sitka, Skagway and Icy Strait Point with scenic sailing offered for Alaska’s Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier.
A fourth ship, 2,143-passenger Serenade of the Seas — a member of the Radiance Class of vessels — is scheduled to sail seven-night cruises round-trip from Vancouver during the 2026 Alaska season. Ports include Sitka, Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan in Alaska and Prince Rupert in British Columbia, plus scenic sailing through the Inside Passage and to Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord.
