Month: November 2024

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

Loyalty programs naturally want to reward their most loyal and valuable travelers, and many do so by offering elite status to travelers who spend the most money or time with them.

If you hold mid- to top-tier elite status with a loyalty program — and travel with the program frequently — you’ll likely get thousands of dollars’ worth of value from your status each year. So, once you have elite status, it’s often compelling to continue spending, staying and flying with certain programs to reap the rewards of your status while requalifying for another year.

From World of Hyatt Discoverist to American AAdvantage Executive Platinum, TPG staffers hold many status levels. This article will share some of my favorite elite status perks and discuss some benefits other TPG staffers told me they love.

My favorite elite benefits

Since 2017, I’ve traveled full time as a digital nomad. When my husband and I gave up our apartment and sold or donated most of our belongings in 2017, we only had a few elite statuses. But, while living on the road, we’ve picked up multiple airline and hotel elite statuses.

Currently, I hold American AAdvantage Platinum Pro (Oneworld Emerald), Asiana Club Diamond (Star Alliance Gold) and United Premier Silver. My husband also earned a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass in January 2023, which we’ve earned value from for almost two years.

Meanwhile, my husband and I split our stays on the hotel side, so we each hold high-tier hotel elite status in several programs. But we typically travel together and benefit from our combined hotel elite statuses. Between the two of us, we currently hold Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Honors Diamond, World of Hyatt Globalist, IHG One Rewards Diamond Ambassador, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Caesars Rewards Diamond and Choice Privileges Gold.

Thanks to our elite statuses, we get significant value from free checked bags, elevated earning rates, waived resort fees, complimentary hotel breakfast, and priority check-in and boarding. But here’s a quick look at my three favorite elite status perks.

Upgrades

Like many other travelers with elite status, I get a lot of value from upgrades. Upgrades on domestic flights are one of the primary reasons I strive to earn at least Platinum Pro status each year with American AAdvantage.

Holding Star Alliance Gold and Oneworld Emerald status has let me snag preferred seats with extra legroom when flying in economy on some Oneworld and Star Alliance carriers. The extra few inches of legroom in these seats can make a massive difference if I’m looking to work on my laptop in flight. If the flight isn’t sold out, some carriers even preemptively block the seat next to Oneworld Emerald elite members in the economy cabin.

We’ve also received some notable upgrades at Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG hotels from holding high-level elite status with these programs. Suite upgrades are relatively rare, but we frequently get upgrades to rooms with impressive views, extra windows or more space. And we usually get our preference for a nonconnecting room on a high floor. These small but frequent upgrades provide significant value since we work from our room on most trips.

Related: Stuck in coach with no elite status? That upgrade might be cheaper than you think

Lounge access

One of my favorite elite status perks is lounge access. Thanks to an IHG annual lounge membership as well as Hilton Diamond, World of Hyatt Globalist and Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status, my husband and I can access the club-level lounge when staying at most IHG, Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott properties that have one.

Although lounges within the U.S. often aren’t all that impressive, we’ve enjoyed some lounges abroad that offer full breakfasts, afternoon snacks and evening drinks.

But perhaps even more valuable than hotel lounge access is airport lounge access. Oneworld Emerald status unlocks some amazing lounges when flying internationally. I love using my Oneworld Emerald status to visit some of the best airport lounges, including The Pier First Class in Hong Kong, Japan Airlines’ First Class Lounge in Tokyo and Malaysia Airlines’ First Class Lounge in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From a sushi station in Tokyo to sit-down dining in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, I always enjoy the culinary offerings at these lounges.

Related: Ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight

Guaranteed 4 pm late checkout

The most valuable hotel elite status perk for my husband and me is guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout. Many hotel elite statuses offer late checkout as a benefit, but availability and checkout time are typically at the hotel’s discretion. So you often won’t know until your checkout date whether the hotel will approve your request for late checkout.

Luckily, World of Hyatt Globalist status and Marriott Platinum Elite status or higher provide guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout with relatively few exclusions. So, when we stay with Hyatt or Marriott, we know we can rely on having our room until 4 p.m.

As such, we’re often willing to pay more to stay at a Hyatt or Marriott. After all, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout usually allows us to work a full day before checking out. And 4 p.m. checkout is extremely valuable before catching evening flights to our next destination.

Related: What to do when a hotel doesn’t want to honor your elite benefits

Favorite airline elite benefits of other TPG staffers

To better understand what other types of travelers might enjoy most about their airline elite status, I checked in with some of my fellow TPG staffers.

Some favorite airline elite status perks are practical. TPG Managing Editor Erica Silverstein loves United Airlines Silver Premier status because it gives her the ability to score extra-legroom Economy Plus seats at check-in for herself and a companion. “I’m Silver Premier on United, so sometimes I can luck into Economy Plus seats for free at check-in. I’m desperately trying to reach Gold for free Economy Plus seats at booking. I’m a simple (yet tall) girl with simple needs,” she said.

TPG Engineering Manager Zoe Jablow also mentioned enjoying Economy Plus seats at check-in as a perk of United Silver Premier status. But she also noted: “Jumping toward the top of the list of standby lines and free same-day confirmed changes have all saved me over the last couple of years.”

TPG Managing Editor Clint Henderson has top-tier elite status with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. He noted upgrade certificates as his favorite perk. “I’ve been able to use systemwide upgrade certificates with American AAdvantage as an Executive Platinum and Delta upgrade certificates as a Diamond Medallion to upgrade some long-haul international flights,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Meanwhile, TPG Director of Content Operations Andrea Rotondo is loyal to American and enjoys one specific Loyalty Point Rewards benefit. “When you hit 60,000 Loyalty Points earned in a status year, you get a 20% Loyalty Point bonus for spending with select partners (things like SimplyMiles, the AAdvantage eShopping portal, AAdvantage Dining and more),” she said. “Once you hit 100,000 Loyalty Points, the bump is 30%.” This perk helps boost her rolling 12-month balance of Loyalty Points, which AAdvantage uses to determine upgrade priority.

TPG Senior Writer Ben Smithson‘s favorite airline benefit is from his mid-tier British Airways Executive Club Silver status. This status gives him Oneworld Sapphire status via a non-U.S. airline. This means he gets Flagship Lounge access even when flying American within the U.S. He’s visited a few Flagship Lounges, and he noted: “I love the Champagne desk on entry, the high-quality food, friendly staff and peaceful vibe.”

Related: So, what exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?

Favorite hotel elite benefits of other TPG staffers

Multiple TPG staffers mentioned upgrades as their favorite hotel elite status perk. Clint and Andrea both mentioned Hyatt suite upgrade awards as their favorite benefit. Clint said he has recently used suite upgrade awards for hotels in Monterey, California, and London.

Andrea told me that suite upgrade awards are her all-time favorite perk. “I value premium rooms with separate living and sleeping areas, so this is what keeps me loyal to Hyatt above other brands,” she said. “With Hyatt, I know when I make a reservation that my suite upgrade award has been applied and that suite is guaranteed.”

TPG Senior Writer Tarah Chieffi also said upgrades are her favorite hotel perk, but she specifically mentioned the room upgrades she gets as a Marriott Gold Elite member. “More often than not, I am able to upgrade to a better room,” she said, even though upgrades are subject to availability. “At Gaylord Opryland, I was upgraded from a standard room to a room with a balcony overlooking the gorgeous glass atrium, and at the Walt Disney World Swan, I was upgraded to a room with a balcony that overlooked the resort.”

TPG Senior Editor Christine Gallipeau went a different direction with her favorite elite perk. “As an IHG One Rewards member with Diamond Elite and Ambassador status, I’ve loved having the ability to choose free daily breakfast for two as my Diamond Elite welcome amenity, especially since several InterContinental and Kimpton properties have let me apply the benefit to room service orders or pick up my food from the restaurant,” she said. “This perk has helped me save money and made stays with my pup easier, as I’m able to take advantage of the amenity without leaving her behind.”

Zoe echoed one of my favorite elite benefits, saying her favorite hotel perk is the 4 p.m. late checkout she can get as a Marriott Platinum Elite or higher at most properties. She found this perk especially valuable while traveling full time for two years as a digital nomad. “Especially on the West Coast of the country, it meant being able to work an entire (Eastern time) workday uninterrupted,” she said.

TPG Associate Points and Miles writer Rachel Craft also mentioned late checkout as her favorite elite status perk. She has World of Hyatt Discoverist status as a perk of the World of Hyatt Credit Card and loves the benefit of a 2 p.m. late checkout. “It’s always nice getting some extra rest on my last day of vacation and not worrying about staying up late the night before,” she said. “It’s especially useful when I stay at Hyatt properties for conferences, as then I can enjoy the last-day morning activities without having to wake up early to pack and check out.”

Related: My top picks for the best cobranded hotel credit card

Bottom line

Elite status provides many valuable perks, but earning elite status often requires significant spending and travel. Luckily, it is possible to use cards to earn elite status in some programs. For example, those with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can enroll to get Marriott Gold Elite and Hilton Gold status as a card perk. Enrollment is required.

Meanwhile, other cobranded credit cards can allow you to jump-start elite status. For example, you can earn up to 40 elite night credits per year with a combination of Marriott Bonvoy cards. I like to spend $15,000 on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each calendar year to earn six elite night credits and a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

Finally, you may also be able to status match to earn elite status in a new program. Whether you earn elite status as a card benefit, through a status match or via traveling with the program, consider how to best use the program’s elite status perks on your travels. After all, elite status perks are only valuable when you travel with the program.

You pay hundreds of dollars annually for a card that offers you lounge access — and then you get to the airport only to face a long line at the lounge entrance.

Many TPG readers and staffers have experienced this as the number of those receiving access to issuer-branded lounges has swelled over the past few years.

Luckily, American Express has some good news: As View From the Wing first reported, Amex has rolled out its online waitlist feature to most Centurion Lounges in the U.S.

This wider reach comes after Amex trialed it at select locations over the past few years. (Amex’s competitor Capital One rolled this app feature out for its lounges in February.)

While the feature doesn’t guarantee access without a wait, it’s a useful tool to have in your travel toolbox. Here’s how it works.

How to get into an Amex Centurion Lounge quickly

Open the American Express app when arriving at the airport or getting off a connecting flight. You should do this when you’re 10 minutes or less from the lounge.

Log in and select the card that gives you lounge access — most likely The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.

Then, click on the “Membership” tab at the bottom of the screen.

Scroll down to “Airport Lounge Access,” and the airport you’re at should automatically appear (if not, search for it in the top-right corner). Select “The Centurion Lounge.”

If the lounge isn’t full, you’ll click “Get Eligibility Code”; if it is full, you’ll click “Join Waitlist.”

Next, you’ll confirm entry requirements and additional guest information.

If the lounge isn’t full, you’ll get a QR code then and there to show at the entrance. It’s valid for 10 minutes and means you won’t have to show your physical Amex card.

If there is a waitlist, you can elect to receive a text message or email notification when it’s your turn to enter. Unfortunately, this notification won’t give you an estimate of the wait time.

When it’s your turn, you have 10 minutes to enter with the QR code provided.

However, it remains to be seen whether each lounge will have separate lines for those who have and don’t have a QR code for entry.

TPG senior travel editor Lyndsey Matthews did the right thing by getting a QR code when flying out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) this week, but there was no way for her to get to the front of the line to actually enter the lounge.

Hopefully, Amex will rectify this issue promptly, as it negates the value of this option if there is no “express” lane.

Bottom line

Lounge overcrowding has become a major issue and a common complaint among travelers who have premium credit cards. Issuers need to do a better job of managing capacity by providing live wait times, reservation systems and express lanes.

Luckily, this is a step in the right direction by Amex. However, the issuer needs to ensure that those who join the waitlist and are granted entry get priority access over those who simply join the line.

Related: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight

Attention Delta SkyMiles enthusiasts: The U.S.-based loyalty program is giving members more ways to spend their hard-earned miles. The carrier announced the launch of the all-new SkyMiles Experiences platform, which will allow Delta members to redeem their SkyMiles for epic activities. The upgraded booking platform will not only let members bid on experiences, but they’ll now also be able to purchase a number of experiences outright using miles.

SkyMiles members can choose from a variety of experiences that fall within the following spaces: culinary, music and film, wellness and adventure, sports and fashion and art.

From dinner at “The Bachelor” mansion to premium tickets to Broadway’s “Wicked” — plus a postshow meet and greet — there are plenty of ways members can use their SkyMiles beyond just travel.

So, how does Delta’s SkyMiles Experiences booking platform work? And is it worth it to redeem your miles?

Related: Delta SkyMiles: Your complete guide to earning, redeeming and elite status

How to use Delta’s SkyMiles Experiences booking platform

Officially launching on Nov. 18, SkyMiles members will have the opportunity to either directly purchase or bid on experiences. SkyMiles members can choose from a lengthy list of activities, including:

• A private performance by Tinashe during her world tour: Delta is offering the chance for you and a friend to enjoy a VIP experience at a Tinashe concert. Aside from the concert, you’ll get access to the preshow soundcheck, a special keepsake, exclusive merch and a signed tour poster.
• Cocktails and style session with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe: Get a personalized shopping experience with A-list stylist Rachel Zoe. Not only will you have a chance to upgrade your wardrobe with a shopping trip, which includes a $1,000 gift card, but you’ll also get to talk about trends and ask for fashion tips at a happy hour hosted by Zoe.
• Dinner at “The Bachelor” mansion: Diehard Bachelor Nation fans can visit the iconic mansion where you and a guest will enjoy an intimate dinner with Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt from Season 7 of “Bachelor in Paradise.”

Other activities include a visit to the Minnesota Vikings training facility to attend a “Chalk Talk” session with an NFL player, a dining experience at the former Versace mansion in Miami Beach and a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the wintery woods of Utah’s Deer Valley Resort — which includes dinner and a luxury king room at Stein Eriksen Lodge.

Note that while some experiences will only be auctioned off as one package, other activities will have multiple packages available for members to bid on or purchase directly.

Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value

Is it worth it to redeem Delta SkyMiles for experiences?

Delta had not officially launched its revamped booking platform at the time of publishing. The updated platform will go live on Monday, Nov. 18. Therefore, we do not know how Delta will price the experiences you can buy outright with your SkyMiles.

If you are looking to bid on an experience, you must bid in increments of 1,000 miles. According to TPG’s November 2024 valuations, SkyMiles are worth 1.2 cents per mile. So, if you can get a great redemption price or have a stockpile of Delta SkyMiles at your disposal, bidding on a VIP experience may be worth it.

For example, the SkyMiles Experiences platform auctioned off two premium orchestra-level seats to see “The Outsiders” on Broadway in New York City on Jan. 30, 2025. The package also comes with two playbills autographed by cast members, a postshow meet and greet and two branded tote bags. At the time of writing, the bid was at 35,001 SkyMiles, which we value at $420.

On Broadway.com, if I purchased a premium orchestra-level ticket for that specific showtime, one ticket would cost me at least $388. Therefore, redeeming your SkyMiles to bid on not one but two tickets would save you money. You’ll also get valuable swag like the autographed playbills and two tote bags, plus get to meet some of the cast members. Not a bad deal!

However, if this experience was up to 100,000 SkyMiles, which we value at $1,200, you may feel it’s more worth it to save your SkyMiles to book a flight and buy the Broadway tickets with cash. As always, we recommend comparing the cash rates to the value of the miles. That being said, if there is an ultraexclusive or VIP experience that really catches your eye, bidding or purchasing the activity with your SkyMiles could be worth it, no matter the cost.

Additionally, before purchasing or bidding on a package, make sure to read the terms and conditions pertaining to the package. All bids and purchases for SkyMiles Experiences packages are final; therefore, you will not receive a mileage refund.

How to earn Delta SkyMiles

There are several ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, including flying with Delta and partners, shopping, dining and more. Check out our full guide to earning Delta SkyMiles here.

If you want to earn a large amount of miles at one time, consider opening a Delta cobranded credit card. Here are a few of our favorite personal cards:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership.

If opening a Delta cobranded card is not of interest, American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to Delta at a 1:1 ratio. Note that you will pay a fee of $0.0006 per mile (up to $99) to offset the federal excise tax. However, earning transferable credit card points gives you flexibility with your rewards.

These American Express cards are currently offering lucrative welcome offers:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Related: Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it

Bottom line:

While many people use their SkyMiles to book flights, redeeming your miles for an exclusive experience package could be worthwhile. Delta’s upgraded Experiences platform allows members to bid or purchase unique activities — and who doesn’t love choices when it comes to how we use our rewards?

There’s a new plane in the sky that you might fly on your next trip to Europe.

The Airbus A321XLR (which stands for extra long range) is the world’s longest-range single-aisle commercial aircraft with a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (just over 5,400 miles), which will open up new possibilities for mid- and long-haul travel, particularly across the Atlantic.

Related: American mulls new international routes, more lie-flat domestic seats with new ‘XLR’ jet

Spanish carrier Iberia is the launch customer of the new jet type. It recently received the first of eight A321XLRs it has ordered from French aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the remainder of which will be delivered quickly over the next 15 months.

Although Iberia has been operating training and familiarization flights within Europe for the past week or so, the plane operated its first long-haul flight from Iberia’s hub at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) across the Atlantic to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Thursday, and TPG was on board to try out Iberia’s all-new business-class seat after attending a media event to show off the plane.

TPG booked a flight from Madrid to Boston on Iberia’s A321XLR for just 34,000 British Airways Avios and $152 in fees, taxes and surcharges that was originally scheduled for a few days after the inaugural, though the airline eventually let us change our ticket for free to the first flight.

Given that’s the standard off-peak redemption requirement for this flight, hopefully we’ll see more awards open up as the jet goes into regular service.

Here’s what the experience was like and what passengers can expect on board.

Airbus A321XLR basics

The new XLR has a nautical range of 4,700 nautical miles, longer than any other single-aisle (or “narrow-body”) aircraft thanks to new technology that includes a third fuel tank. Airbus also claims the jet burns 30% less fuel per seat than previous generation aircraft from competitors.

To put that top distance into perspective, from New York City, this plane, at maximum range, could travel virtually anywhere in Europe nonstop, including as far as Istanbul as well as to much of South America.

In comparison, the previous A321LR variant (which stands for long range) can only fly a maximum of 4,000 nautical miles with a full load of passengers, baggage and cargo, it’s unlikely either plane would operate flights to its maximum distance, however, given the complicated logistics and potential safety issues of doing so.

Some other airlines, like Aer Lingus, JetBlue and Scandinavian Airlines, have operated the A321LR across the Atlantic for several years. However, the variant’s comparatively limited range means these carriers have only been able to fly the jet on specific routes between Western Europe and the northeast United States.

Related: Flying business class on Scandinavian Airlines’ new A321LR from Copenhagen to Washington

The XLR changes this calculus. With a 15% more range than the LR, the XLR can fly well beyond the edges of North America and Europe, opening up routes and frequencies that weren’t possible with earlier A321 models as well as so-called “thinner” routes where demand might not justify operating a wide-body aircraft with a longer range.

With the XLR joining its fleet, Iberia should be able to optimize some seasonal routes and continue operating some routes year round by strategically switching aircraft types.

Destinations like Boston and Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) have enough passenger demand in summer to warrant wide-body services on the airline’s larger jets, namely the Airbus A330 and A350, but the airline previously might not have operated these flights during the winter months, when transatlantic demand drops sharply.

The XLR can easily operate a 3,410-mile flight like Madrid to Boston with a full cabin, and with only 182 seats onboard Iberia’s version, it’s much easier to fill than the 292 seats on their wide-body Airbus A330-300 during the winter months.

In summer, with wide-bodies operating high-demand existing routes, Ibera could even consider new long-haul routes, with the A321XLR capable of flying as far as the Midwest or parts of Canada from Madrid, though the airline has not announced any plans to do so at this stage.

Iberia isn’t the only airline hoping to capitalize upon the XLR’s capabilities. A total of 25 carriers, including major players like American Airlines, United Airlines and Air Canada have already ordered 500 frames, keeping the Airbus production line busy for many years.

Fellow International Airlines Group (IAG) member Aer Lingus should be the second airline to receive the A321XLR, with the first of six on order to be delivered early next year, though Airbus is experiencing production and delivery delays.

Rather than extend seasonal routes to year-round operations like Iberia has indicated it will do, Aer Lingus plans to use the aircraft to launch new routes from Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis, two possibilities that might not have been priorities without this jet’s unique characteristics.

Iberia A321XLR business class

In business class, Iberia has installed 14 Thompson Aero Vantage Solo seats in a premium 1-1 configuration across the first seven rows of the aircraft. These seats recline to lie-flat beds and offer direct aisle access, though they face away from the windows, a decision that may not be popular with all passengers.

Travelers who have flown JetBlue’s A321LR Mint to Europe will be familiar with this cabin layout and seat design, though Iberia has opted not to include sliding doors on its seats, so they feel less private than JetBlue’s version.

The seats in the first row are not a type of premium business class suite like JetBlue’s Mint Suites, but are just regular business-class seats with a small additional surface for more storage.

The seats initially felt snug around the waist and shoulders, though not uncomfortably so, and was about 23 inches across.

The gray and beige color scheme of the cabin also felt muted, though it does match the tone of the cabins on the airline’s other planes, and occasional pops of bright red lend some color to the space.

Related: A review of Iberia’s new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

While the seats do not seem to possess much storage at first glance, several open compartments including large spaces below the footwell and under the window become apparent once you sit down and I was ultimately impressed with the amount of storage offered.

USB-A and C charging ports along with a universal power plug were available in a console running alongside the armrest, making it easy to keep devices charged.

The airline provided bedding, including a mattress topper, a plush pillow and a comforter, even on the daytime flight.

The seat reclined to a fully flat bed about 76 inches long, which was plenty of space for my six-foot frame.

The 18.5-inch 4K inflight entertainment screen folded out of the seat in front, allowing easy access for business class passengers in and out of their seats, and tilted up and down slightly, which was a thoughtful design touch since it meant that watching content was easy to do in upright or lie-flat position.

One lavatory was available at the front of the aircraft for business-class passengers with an especially stylish light fixture.

Wi-Fi should be available for all passengers to purchase, though unfortunately, it was inoperable on the inaugural long-haul flight.

A sturdy tray table swung out from the aisle console and could be adjusted back and forth for additional comfort.

Smart navy-blue amenity kits from Spanish designer Teresa Helbig, containing basic items like an eyemask and dental kit plus lip balm and hand cream from organic skincare brand Uvas Frescas, were handed out after boarding.

Business-class passengers on Iberia’s A321XLR can expect the full long-haul meal service despite the limited galley space, starting with a fun and (oh-so-)Spanish tapas course of jamon, Manchego cheese and quince paste.

Multicourse meal service, with options including beef fillet in oxtail juice and handmade mezzaluna pasta, followed this. There was a selection of Spanish cava and other Spanish wines on offer as well.

Before landing a lighter meal of tortilla (and omelet-style egg dish) or vegetarian pie was served.

Iberia’s A321XLR aircraft also has an espresso machine on board for the business-class cabin, which should help passengers perk up before landing.

There is no premium economy class on Iberia’s A321XLR

Despite offering premium economy on its wide-body aircraft, Iberia took the somewhat surprising decision not to install a premium economy cabin on this aircraft given its growing popularity among travelers.

SAS, for instance, operates a separate premium economy product on their A321LRs across the Atlantic.

According to airline representatives, this decision was not made lightly and was subject to much internal debate. Ultimately, with limited space on the jet and the 14 business-class seats taking up a significant amount of real estate, not to mention the small galley space to prepare and serve meals across multiple cabins, premium economy just did not seem like the right fit for Iberia.

Iberia A321XLR economy class

Most of the plane is taken up by the relatively large economy cabin, which has 168 seats total.

These are configured in a 3-3 layout across 28 rows and are upholstered in an austere gray fabric with bright red headrests.

They are about 18 inches wide with 30 inches of pitch and 4 inches of recline for the most part.

The headrests can be adjusted up and down, depending on your height, and have wings that you can move to cradle your head.

The large overhead bins should allow nearly all passengers to stow large carry-on bags rather than having to check them.

Economy passengers on Iberia’s A321XLR will also find USB-A and C charging ports (though no AC power outlets) and enjoy entertainment on individual 12-inch 4K seatback entertainment screens. Iberia Plus members should also receive complimentary Wi-Fi messaging.

The best seats in the economy class cabin are the bulkhead row 21 and the exit rows 28 and 29, which provide additional legroom and are about as good as you would find on any airline in economy class.

Three bathrooms are located at the rear of the cabin for the economy cabin, equipped with antibacterial surfaces, motion-sensor taps and pedal-operated waste bins.

Due to the fact that they were shared among 168 passengers, I noticed lines forming after the meal service.

Speaking of the meal service, Iberia A321XLR passengers in economy class can expect hot meals and complimentary beverages as well, much as they would on the airline’s wide-body transatlantic flights.

What it’s like flying the A321XLR across the Atlantic

I was a little apprehensive about taking a 7-hour, 30-minute flight to Boston in a narrow-body aircraft, especially when I realized the seats would be facing away from the windows. Having no working Wi-Fi on this flight also gave me time to ponder the seats and service.

Overall, the experience was very comfortable in business class. It was even comparable to my flight on Iberia’s flagship A350 Next cabin to Mexico City last year, although those seats have closing privacy doors.

Still, I found the Thompson Aero Vantage Solo seats to be private and have plenty of storage. The footwell felt larger than on many reverse herringbone seats you’ll find on wide-body aircraft.

Compared with the SAS A321LR business class experience from Copenhagen to Washington, the in-flight experience felt more comfortable, spacious and premium thanks to the more advanced seats and the level of service.

What the A321XLR lacks in space, with no two aisles or much room to move about the cabin, it makes up for with the exclusive feel of its 1-1 seat layout in busienss class.

Even the economy-class passengers stopped to admire and photograph the new business-class seats as they boarded, I noticed.

I would happily fly Iberia’s A321XLR across the Atlantic again and am excited to see new routes made possible by the jet’s next-generation technology. I’m already eyeing Aer Lingus’s new Nashville route in 2025.

Bottom line

The A321XLR represents the start of an exciting new chapter for mid- and long-haul travel, especially the possibilities it opens up for flights between Europe and North America.

As more of the planes are delivered to different airline customers, expect to see seasonal routes become year-round and new routes you might not have expected to launch going into service. Hopefully we’ll see some interesting new seat types in business class and economy, too. But even more important, I hope that airlines will make flights on these jets available for mileage redemptions at saver levels on a regular basis.

Lufthansa Group has grown a ton in recent years. The group bought several European airlines while expanding the Lufthansa route network from its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Munich Airport (MUC) hubs. One thing you may not know about Lufthansa is that several airlines around Europe use its Miles & More loyalty program, some of which aren’t part of Star Alliance.

Additionally, Miles & More has some interesting sweet spots that make it worth taking a closer look at if you’re based in Europe. Plus, U.S.-based flyers that frequently fly to Europe on Lufthansa or another Lufthansa Group airline may find more use in earning Miles & More miles than miles with United Airlines or another Star Alliance partner.

You’re in the right place if you are curious about the Miles & More program. Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know, starting with elite status and partner airlines and moving on to earning and redeeming miles.

Related: On board the first Lufthansa Allegris flight — was the new cabin worth the wait?

An overview of Lufthansa’s  Miles & More program

Lufthansa Group owns Miles & More, but it’s used as the primary loyalty program for many different airlines throughout Europe. The airlines that use Miles & More as their primary loyalty program are:

• Air Dolomiti
• Austrian Airlines
• Brussels Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• Discover Airlines
• Eurowings
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Lufthansa City
• Luxair
• Swiss

Many of these airlines are either entirely owned by Lufthansa Group or have previously been partially or wholly owned by the group. However, some airlines — namely LOT Polish Airlines and Croatia Airlines — have never been affiliated with Lufthansa Group but still opt to use Miles & More as a loyalty program.

As most of these airlines are members of Star Alliance, you won’t be surprised to learn you can earn and redeem miles on the Star Alliance airlines:

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• All Nippon Airways
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca
• Brussels Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• Egyptair
• Ethiopian Airlines
• EVA Airways
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Swiss
• TAP Air Portugal
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines

The program also partners with a handful of other airlines, including:

• Air Astana
• Air Malta
• Cathay Pacific
• LATAM
• Vistara

Note that there may be restrictions regarding the flights on which you can earn or redeem miles within these partnerships. Review the airline’s partner page on the Miles & More website before you plan your travels so you know what to expect.

Miles & More elite status tiers

Like most airline loyalty programs, Miles & More offers a variety of elite status tiers that offer elevated mileage earnings and benefits like lounge access, upgrades and fast-track security. There are three status tiers: Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle.

Earning Miles & More elite status

If you want to earn Miles & More elite status, you must earn both points and qualifying points. You can earn points on carriers that use Miles & More as their loyalty program, as well as on Star Alliance partners. Qualifying points and HON Circle points can only be earned on the following airlines: Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City, Luxair and Swiss.

Additionally, HON Circle points are only earned on business- and first-class flights.

Here are the following point thresholds needed to achieve status:

• Frequent Traveller status: 650 points and 325 qualifying points in a calendar year
• Senator status: 2,000 points and 1,000 qualifying points in a calendar year
• HON Circle status: 6,000 HON Circle points in a calendar year

You can only earn points, qualifying points and HON Circle points for elite status through flying, as opposed to some other programs that allow you to earn status from credit card spending. However, a limited number of points, qualifying points and Hon Circle points can be earned on journeys with Austrian AIRail, Lufthansa Express Rail and Swiss Air Rail (with a maximum of around a quarter of the points needed for each status level).

You earn points, qualifying points and HON Circle points based on two factors: travel class and whether your flight is considered intercontinental or continental. All points are awarded as follows:

	Economy class	Premium economy class	Business class	First class
Flights within Europe (including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia)	20	20	40	40
Intercontinental flights (all other destinations)	60	80	200	300

Earning Lufthansa status isn’t easy, but each status tier comes with interesting benefits. Top-tier HON Circle status comes with some of the most premium perks of all airline statuses. Here’s a look at each tier’s respective benefits:

Frequent Traveller

• Business-class check-in with Miles & More airline partners.
• Access to the First Class Terminal (only with a first-class ticket on Lufthansa and/or Swiss flights).
• One extra checked bag in economy, two extra bags in premium economy and business class, and three extra bags in first class.
• Access to Lufthansa Business lounges when flying on Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance carriers.
• Earn up to 50% more redeemable miles: You can earn 25% bonus miles on flights operated by Discover Airlines, Eurowings, Luxair and other Miles & More airline partners, and a 50% bonus with select carriers including Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City, Swiss and United Airlines.
• Miles won’t expire as long as your status remains.
• Dedicated phone support.

These benefits are surprisingly rich for low-tier elite status. Remember that you can only access Lufthansa Business lounges, not Star Alliance partner lounges like United Clubs or the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges. This is because Frequent Traveller includes Star Alliance Silver benefits, not Star Alliance Gold.

Related: Remade and remodeled: First look at Lufthansa’s shiny new lounge at Newark Liberty

Senator

• All of the benefits of Frequent Traveller.
• Senator and Star Alliance Gold lounge access.
• First-class check-in.
• Priority security.
• Priority boarding.
• Two upgrade eVouchers each year that you can use for a one-class upgrade. You can use one eVoucher for an upgrade within a single region or two vouchers for an intercontinental one-class upgrade. For example, upgrading from premium economy to business on a transatlantic flight requires two eVouchers.
• 48-hour booking guarantee before departure in the highest booking class.
• Companion Award: This lets you add a companion to all award tickets at a 50% mileage discount. This applies when flying award tickets on Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City, Luxair and Swiss.
• Free seat selection.

HON Circle

HON Circle is the cream of the crop for Miles & More status. It includes all Senator status benefits already mentioned and access to the famous First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport on all Miles & More flights regardless of the class of service. This is a huge perk as the terminal is a dedicated space for first-class and HON Circle travelers, with upgraded lounges and more. Plus, members will get the following perks:

• Limousine transfer on flights operated by Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss.
• Receive four upgrade vouchers, which can be used in the same way that Senator members can use certificates.
• 24-hour booking guarantee before departure in the highest booking class.
• Increased award availability up to 14 days prior to departure.
• Two or three bags in economy class (depending on the route), three bags in premium economy and business class, and four bags in first class.

Related: The holy grail of award tickets: Flying Lufthansa first class on the Boeing 747-8

Earning miles with Miles & More

Miles & More miles are significantly harder to earn than other airline miles. Though the loyalty program doesn’t have transfer partners, that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to earn — here are all the best ways.

Earn by flying on Miles & More and Star Alliance carriers

You can earn Miles & More miles by flying on Miles & More and Star Alliance airlines. Tickets booked with a Miles & More member airline — like Lufthansa or Swiss — will earn miles based on fare cost. If you’re traveling on a Star Alliance partner flight not ticketed by a Miles & More airline, you’ll earn miles based on the following calculations:

• Miles on continental flights: You’ll earn a flat rate according to the booking class.
• Miles on intercontinental flights: You’ll earn based on the booking class and distance flown.

Earning rates can differ from carrier to carrier and depend on how the ticket was booked. Check each carrier’s earning rate for the most up-to-date information.

Spend on a Miles & More credit card

In the U.S., Lufthansa and Miles & More offer a cobranded credit card issued by Barclays called the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard. The card is offering a current welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. You can use this card to earn 2 miles per dollar spent with Miles & More airline partners and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Additional card perks include two Lufthansa Business lounge passes and a complimentary annual companion ticket for each account anniversary.

This card has an $89 annual fee and can be a good option for earning Miles & More miles.

The information for the Miles & More World Elite 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.

Book hotel rooms and rental cars

You can also earn Miles & More miles when you book hotel rooms with the Miles & More hotel booking platform. For example, you’ll earn 500 miles per qualifying stay at select Hyatt hotels. Just note that you generally won’t be able to earn hotel points or use hotel elite status benefits on these bookings since you’re booking through an online travel agency. However, many boutique and independent hotels are listed on the Miles & More portal, so it may be worthwhile to use it to book hotels that you wouldn’t otherwise earn points with.

You can also book rental cars through the portal but may not be able to use car rental status benefits or earn rental car status. As always, consider whether earning Miles & More miles outweighs these possible exclusions.

One thing to keep in mind: Always cross-check hotel and rental car prices when using the Miles & More hotel portal. While the prices are usually comparable to booking directly, sometimes the prices can vary.

Redeeming miles with Miles & More

We generally recommend redeeming your Miles & More miles for award travel. While you can redeem for merchandise, hotel stays and gift cards, this isn’t recommended as you’ll get a much lower redemption value than for flights.

Redeeming Miles & More miles for award flights

Miles & More employs a standard award chart, meaning that flights don’t fluctuate in price. Award flights are priced based on zone and class of service, and you can book any Star Alliance flight with award space. As for pricing, award flights are surprisingly reasonable. For example, transatlantic flights are 30,000 miles in economy, 40,000 in premium economy class, 56,000 in business class and 91,000 in first class. The business-class rate especially is excellent.

You can view the complete Miles & More award chart on the loyalty program’s website (PDF link); note that the award chart shows round-trip prices.

Do note that Miles & More adds fuel surcharges for most tickets — in practice, this is about $850 per round-trip ticket for intercontinental flights in first class. The only exceptions are Air Canada flights within North America and United Airlines flights within North America, South America and Oceania; these awards incur minimal taxes and fees.

Redeeming miles for flights is easy, with one large caveat. Head to the Miles & More website and navigate to the “Spend miles for flights” page. Scroll to the center of the screen, enter your flight details and click the blue “Search flights” button. Then, your flight options will appear at the center of the screen; click on the flight you want to book and follow the on-screen prompts to book.

However, there is a maddening restriction on the ability to search award flights: You must have at least 7,000 miles in your account before you can even search for award availability, let alone book it.

The best uses of Miles & More miles

Redeeming Miles & More miles is one thing, but finding a great redemption is another. The award chart is very reasonable and some real sweet spots can be found. Here’s a look at a few of our personal favorites for U.S.-based travelers:

• Lufthansa first class: Miles & More offers a decent redemption value for transatlantic tickets in Lufthansa first class following the recent LifeMiles devaluation. However, Lufthansa only opens first-class award space to its partners a maximum of two weeks before departure (and usually only three days before the departure date), but this isn’t the case for Miles & More. You can access Lufthansa’s first-class award space months beforehand, so planning vacations on one of the world’s best first-class products is easier.
• Economy flights to Hawaii: You can book United economy flights from anywhere in the United States to Hawaii for just 20,000 miles each way in economy class, which is a great deal, especially if you are originating on the East Coast.
• North America to Oceania in business class: Flights from the U.S. to Australia, New Zealand and the rest of Oceania cost just 71,000 miles one-way.
• North America to Southeast Asia in business class: Likewise, flights from North America to Southeast Asia cost just 71,000 miles one-way in business class. You’ll have to pay fuel surcharges on these tickets, but you can fly awesome business-class products on carriers like Air Canada, All Nippon Airways and EVA Airways for a fraction of a revenue ticket.

Related: Is United Polaris business class worth it to Singapore?

Bottom line

Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More program is among the most rewarding loyalty programs. HON Circle and Senator status offer standout benefits, and its redemption rates for premium-cabin awards are some of the best. However, its miles are also one of the hardest currencies to earn, especially for those of us based in the U.S.

Chase’s portfolio of airport lounges continues to grow with the opening of two new outposts.

The issuer announced on Tuesday that its newest Sapphire Lounge by The Club is now open. As of Nov. 12, the location in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is welcoming travelers.

The next location to open, at San Diego International Airport (SAN), will open Friday, Dec. 6.

Furthermore, Chase also shared an updated timeline for when its three other upcoming domestic lounges will open. It includes:

• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): Terminal D/E Connector — opening early 2025
• Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): Terminal 1 C gates — opening mid-2025
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Tom Bradley International Terminal — opening TBD

Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Chase’s new Phoenix outpost is in the South 1 Concourse of Terminal 4 near the gates for Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. The San Diego location will open in Terminal 2 West.

The issuer didn’t host pre-opening tours in Phoenix, but it teased some of the top amenities that travelers can find in this new lounge, including panoramic tarmac views from large windows, a flagship bar and an indoor “patio” space in the airport’s concourse area.

The lounge’s dining offerings are served from a retrofitted Airstream food truck that is being catered by Phoenix’s popular The Larder & The Delta restaurant. Coffee will be served from Arizona-based Press Coffee, while wine picks will be curated from Parcelle.

Note that this lounge measures just over 3,500 square feet, making it one of the smallest in the entire portfolio. At this size, I’d expect the Phoenix lounge to operate on a waitlist throughout the day. (It’ll be open from 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.)

Meanwhile, the San Diego outpost will measure just over 10,000 square feet and feature a wellness area with private rest pods, facial treatments from Face Haus and digital meditations from Devi Brown. There will also be a la carte dining options curated by San Diego’s Oscar’s Mexican Seafood and coffee from California’s Groundwork Coffee.

In terms of design, Chase says that the new outpost is built to reflect the locale. With surfboards designed by a local muralist and a large digital wall displaying drone footage of the San Diego coastline, this lounge is poised to be unmistakably Southern Californian.

The more you know: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare

The San Diego location will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

In addition to the airport lounges, Chase said that it’ll debut a limited-time pop-up lounge in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 16. The lounge, which will be located in Aria Resort & Casino, will offer food from Momofuku and cocktails from Apotheke. Note that this pop-up will exclusively be limited to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers.

“When we opened our first domestic lounge, we were clear that expanding our footprint and elevating the on-trip experience for our Sapphire Reserve cardmembers was a priority. Our openings in Phoenix and San Diego, in addition to the expansion of lounge access in locations where our customers live and travel, continues along our goal of delivering this highly sought after benefit,” Dana Pouwels, Chase’s head of airport lounge benefits, said in a statement.

All of these new lounges join the issuer’s existing outposts in six airports worldwide:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City

There is some bad news, though. Chase’s terrace at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) will be closing early next year. When this space opened, the issuer had shared that it would be temporary (but it didn’t share how long it would be open). It turns out, airport authorities want to repurpose this space for public use, so Chase will be forced to vacate next year.

In an exclusive statement to TPG confirming the move, Chase said that “we’ve loved bringing our Chase Sapphire Terrace experience to life at Austin Bergstrom. As this was always a temporary activation, the space will close in March of 2025. We look forward to our cardmember’s continued enjoyment of this space through the coming holiday season before its planned closure.”

For more details about the Chase Sapphire Lounge network, be sure to check out TPG’s complete guide to the issuer’s lounges.

Related reading:

• Best credit cards for airport lounge access
• The 8 do’s and don’ts of visiting an airport lounge
• 9 domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for
• Best Chase credit cards

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

Believe it or not, the holiday season is truly creeping up. If you haven’t locked down your travel plans yet, now is the time to do so.

If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve or any other holidays, you probably have quite a few things on your to-do list, such as booking your flights (if you haven’t already) and renewing your passport (if it’s set to expire soon). These aren’t the only details to stay on top of, though.

Here are four tasks to take care of now ahead of the holidays.

Book your flights

If you haven’t purchased your holiday flights yet, you should do so.

Typically, according to the booking app Hopper, September and October are the best months to buy a holiday flight. From here on, prices will steadily begin to rise, so you really don’t want to leave it much longer if you don’t want to spend an extortionate amount on airfare.

This advice aligns with the timeline in Google Flights’ booking trends report, which notes that average airfare prices around Christmas were at their lowest 71 days before departure.

It’s still not too late, but we wouldn’t wait much longer if we were you.

If you’re able to be super flexible, we’ve seen some of the cheaper Thanksgiving week fares right now on both the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving day itself.

Check your passport

If you’re planning to venture abroad for the holidays, you should check your passport expiration date now if you haven’t already, as you’re cutting it close for renewing if its expiration date is approaching.

Routine passport processing times are currently estimated to take between six and eight weeks, while expedited service could take at least two to three weeks. Act with haste if you need a renewal.

Processing times have been the same since last December, and the U.S. Department of State would not comment on whether those figures would remain throughout the rest of 2024.

Generally speaking, the State Department advises travelers to renew their passports at least six months before they plan to travel. Keep in mind that most countries also require visitors’ passports to be valid for six months at the time of their trip. Be sure to check the requirements of each country you will visit since some prefer there to be six months left on your passport from your date of entry while others prefer there to be six months of validity from the date of intended departure.

For urgent international travel, you can request in-person processing appointments under two circumstances (these are limited):

• Life-or-death emergencies: You can request an appointment if an immediate family member has passed away, is dying or is facing a life-threatening illness or injury. You will need to provide documentation of the emergency.
• Other urgent travel situations: If you must travel abroad within the next 14 days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days, you may request an in-person appointment to expedite the process. However, it’s better (and less stressful) to simply renew your passport before it expires.

Keep an eye on the State Department’s website, which is regularly updated with the latest passport processing times for travelers.

Related: Cheap and hassle-free: What it was like getting an expedited passport via rush service ItsEasy.com

Enroll in an expedited security program

Whether or not you are planning to fly during the holidays, programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear can provide travelers with an expedited security experience all year long.

TSA PreCheck allows users to pass through a separate, dedicated security line. Unlike passengers in the regular Transportation Security Administration line, those in a TSA PreCheck line do not have to remove their shoes, laptop, liquids, belt or light jacket.

Clear users also begin the security process in a Clear-only lane, where users are biometrically identified via fingerprint or iris scans, typically sparing them from showing their ID during security screening. However, all travelers, including Clear users, remain subject to random TSA-administered ID checks.

Users are then taken to the front of the line for the security screening machines — either the front of the TSA PreCheck screening line for those with Clear and TSA PreCheck or the front of the normal TSA screening line.

A third program to consider is Global Entry, which is most helpful for frequent international travelers. It allows preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad. Global Entry users can enter the country through automated kiosks at more than 50 airports.

Enrollment in the three programs costs money: Clear users must pay $199 per year, while TSA PreCheck and Global Entry cost $78 to $85 (depending on the enrollment program) for a five-year membership and $100 for a five-year membership, respectively. Do note that if you are approved for Global Entry, it comes with TSA PreCheck.

While these programs can be worth their retail price tags for users, some credit cards, airline and hotel elite status levels and frequent flyer memberships offer them for free or at a discounted price.

Ship your presents in advance

Although you can technically carry wrapped presents through security at airports, it may be risky depending on whether the TSA agent inspecting your packages permits them to go through without further inspection.

Instead, consider shipping your presents and other large items to your relatives’ homes or wherever you will be staying. Do so well before you leave in case of mailing delays.

Bottom line

Traveling during the holidays can be stressful due to family dynamics and larger-than-usual airport crowds, but you can take steps to make it a little more bearable.

Several things you can do to mitigate the stress include enrolling in expedited security programs, submitting your passport for renewal at least six months before travel, booking your flights well in advance and shipping your presents to help make the holiday travel experience easier.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Best travel credit cards
• Why you should use points and miles to book holiday travel

Would you like to spend more than 130 days exploring Asia, the Pacific and Alaska? Princess Cruises has switched up its previously announced world cruise itinerary to make the voyage more immersive in the Pacific region.

With ongoing unrest affecting the Red Sea region, Princess decided not to send a ship through the area to bring passengers from Asia to Europe. It has replaced calls on ports in Greece, Cyprus, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, France, Belgium, England and Portugal and other countries with new calls in China, Japan and Alaska.

The new route on the 2,000-passenger Coral Princess now includes two overnights — one in Bangkok and one in Hanoi, Vietnam — plus 12 late nights that will allow passengers to spend more time in places like Honolulu, Tahiti, Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Osaka, Japan, among others.

“This Circle Pacific Voyage is more than just an itinerary,” John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement. “It’s an invitation to explore some of the Pacific’s most iconic and remote destinations in a single, unforgettable journey.”

The revised cruise will depart on Jan. 5, 2026, from Fort Lauderdale, and sail for 131 days. It will visit 60 destinations across 19 countries. For travelers who wish to depart from the U.S. West Coast, Princess is also offering a slightly shorter 115-day segment, departing Jan. 21, 2026, from Los Angeles. Both will conclude in Los Angeles on May 16, 2026.

While on board Coral Princess, passengers can expect activities typical of a Princess sailing, such as cooking and dance classes, enrichment programs, musical productions, spa services and outdoor movies. There are also some activities unique to this voyage. Among them are themed deck parties and special entertainment reflecting the history and folklore of the countries visited.

Inside cabin prices start from $32,549 per person for the longer voyage and $28,309 per person for the shorter one. Both fares are based on double occupancy, and they include taxes and fees.

Passengers who don’t have that much cash or vacation time to spare can seek out one of several shorter and more specific segment options. Examples include a 16-night Panama Canal crossing from $2,019 per person; a 30-day Hawaii and South Pacific crossing from $5,048 per person; a nine-day Australia and New Zealand voyage from $1,678 per person; an 11-day Japan, Taiwan and Korea cruise from $1,938 per person; and a nine-day California coastal sailing from $1,349 per person. All fares are for inside accommodations and are based on double occupancy; they include taxes and fees.

Cruisers who reserve the full voyage or the 115-day segment by Dec. 31 will be booked under the Princess Premier package. This package features perks like a premium beverage package, streaming Wi-Fi for up to four devices, free specialty restaurant dining, crew tips, unlimited fitness classes and a photo package. Other freebies include free airfare, up to $500 in onboard credit and complimentary transfers from select airports.

Learn more about Princess cruises here:

• Ultimate guide to Princess Cruises
• Princess Cruises’ Captain’s Circle loyalty program
• All you need to know about Princess Cruises cabins
• All about Princess Cruises’ beverage packages
• Princess cruise ship classes explained
• Princess cruise ships, newest to oldest
• Princess cruise ships, biggest to smallest
• The best destinations you can visit on a Princess ship
• What is Princess’ OceanMedallion?

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

As a frequent user of the IHG One Rewards program, I often redeem IHG points for stays. Luckily, IHG periodically offers buy points promotions that let me boost my account balance.

However, you don’t always want to buy IHG points during a buy points sale if you’re looking for the best deal. Instead, you’ll typically want to wait for a 100% bonus promotion, which usually appears once or twice each year. During 100% bonus promotions, you can buy IHG points for just 0.5 cents per point — significantly lower than the redemption rate I regularly get when redeeming IHG points.

IHG is running a buy points promotion through Nov. 16, although members will see different bonus rates when they log in. TPG staffers have seen between 60% and 100% bonus offers, so let’s take a closer look at this IHG buy points promotion and whether you should consider it.

IHG buy points sale details

IHG’s current buy points sale offers members up to a 100% bonus when they buy at least 5,000 points through Nov. 16. I’m only targeted for a 60% bonus, but TPG senior writer Ben Smithson is targeted for a 100% bonus.

You can only purchase 200,000 IHG points per calendar year. However, if you are targeted for the 100% bonus and purchase 200,000 points for $2,000 during this sale, you’ll get a total of 400,000 points.

There are certain points thresholds at which costs decrease with volume, so you’ll usually need to buy 26,000 IHG points or more at a time to get the best purchase rate. For example, it’s more expensive to buy 25,000 points ($287.50) than 26,000 points ($260).

Note that point purchases are nonrefundable, and it may take up to 72 hours for purchased points to appear in your account. You can buy IHG points by going to IHG’s buy points page and logging in.

Related: The 19 best IHG hotels in the world

Should I buy IHG points now?

If you are targeted for a 100% bonus and usually get more than 0.5 cents per point when redeeming IHG points, you should consider buying IHG points during this buy points promotion.

My husband and I usually buy the maximum number of IHG points each year during 100% bonus buy points promotions. After all, IHG buy points promotions don’t get better than 0.5 cents per point, and we can easily get more than 0.5 cents per point when redeeming IHG points.

We frequently use the fourth-night-free reward perk — a benefit of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card — to get more value from our IHG points. This perk, which is also available to cardholders of the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, lets us pay zero points for every fourth night when redeeming IHG points for a stay of four nights or longer.

Plus, most IHG award bookings are flexible until shortly before your arrival date. So, you can buy IHG points now and snag low award rates for upcoming trips without much risk.

Remember, though, that IHG uses dynamic award pricing. So, although it’s currently easy to get more than 0.5 cents per point when redeeming IHG points, IHG could change its award pricing algorithm at any time.

Related: How to maximize award redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

Frequently asked questions about buying IHG points

You may have other questions about buying IHG points. Here are some of the most common.

How else can I earn IHG points?

This buy points promotion isn’t the only way to earn IHG points.

For example, you could sign up for an IHG credit card. My personal favorite is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card since it provides automatic Platinum Elite status, an anniversary night worth up to 40,000 points each year, up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each calendar year and access to the previously mentioned fourth-night-free reward when I redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or longer.

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG One Rewards. However, I don’t recommend doing this since you’ll typically find more value when transferring Ultimate Rewards points to other programs.

Bilt Rewards Points also transfer to IHG One Rewards. Still, you’ll usually get a better value from your Bilt points when transferring to a higher-value partner like World of Hyatt.

Related: Current IHG promotions: Earn bonus points, fast-track to elite status, discounts and more

How much does it cost to buy IHG One Rewards points?

Targeted members can buy IHG points for as low as 0.5 cents per point through Nov. 16. This is much lower than the standard purchase rate of 1 to 1.35 cents per point that you’ll see when there isn’t a buy points promotion.

Related: When does it make sense to buy points and miles?

Which credit card should I use to buy IHG points?

When you buy IHG points, points.com processes the transaction instead of IHG. Your purchase won’t code as travel, and you won’t earn a travel category bonus if you use one of the best travel rewards cards.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card give you a 20% discount when you buy IHG points. You can’t combine this discount with any other points purchase offer, so you won’t get the discount unless you buy IHG points at full price outside of a buy points promotion.

As such, you’ll usually want to buy IHG points with one of the best cards for everyday spending or a card for which you’re currently working to meet a minimum spending requirement.

Related: The best credit cards for buying points and miles

Bottom line

When IHG One Rewards offers a 100% buy points promotion, it’s time to consider whether you need more IHG points for upcoming trips. Since IHG uses dynamic pricing, buying points carries a small risk if you aren’t confident you’ll go on the award trip you book with the points you’ve purchased.

If you’ve ever seen the back of a cruise ship and wondered why it bears the name of a seemingly random city, you’re not alone. That city represents the country in which the ship is registered. But, with cruisers from the United States making up the largest number of passengers in the global cruise market, why are cruise ships not registered in the U.S.?

Here, I’ll explain why you’re unlikely to see the names of U.S. cities emblazoned on cruise ships.

Where are cruise ships registered?

The names you’ll most often see on ships are cities in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Panama, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, among others. (For decades, Liberia also flew its flag on ships from several popular cruise lines, but that has since changed.) Registering ships in foreign countries — which charge cruise lines for the privilege of being registered there — is known as “flags of convenience.”

Why are cruise ships registered in the Bahamas, Panama and other countries?

Because the ships weren’t built in the U.S.

United States law doesn’t allow vessels to be U.S. flagged unless they were built there. Unfortunately, there are no U.S. shipyards with the capacity or expertise to construct ships as large as today’s behemoths, so they’re built overseas — mostly in Europe.

Because cruise lines want to pay less in taxes

Cruise lines pay taxes to their home countries — the nations where their ships are registered. Lines often pay less in taxes when their ships are flagged in countries like Panama and the Bahamas, which saves them money.

That’s not to say cruise lines don’t pay taxes, though, including in the United States. Although the U.S. has a reciprocal agreement with most of the countries in which cruise ships are registered — meaning that if the U.S. doesn’t federally tax those nations’ vessels, they won’t tax America’s, either — cruise lines still pay taxes in the United States annually but at a reduced federal rate.

As an example, in 2023, Carnival Corporation & PLC — which operates Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard, Seabourn and other brands — paid $13 million in taxes on a loss of $62 million, according to its annual report. It also pays port docking fees and, in some ports, such as those in Alaska, a per-passenger head tax levied each time the ship visits.

Cruise industry spending in the U.S. in 2019 — before the COVID-19 shutdown — supported approximately $2.6 billion in direct taxes and more than $7.2 billion in total taxes (including direct, indirect and induced) for U.S. federal, state and local governments, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. On average, each $1 million the cruise industry spends in the U.S. supports approximately $102,000 of direct U.S. federal, state and local tax revenue.

Because cruise lines want lower labor costs

Salaries for the lowest-paid workers on cruise ships are low by American standards, but many crew members can earn more money on ships than they’d make working on land in their home countries. In addition to their pay, crew receive gratuities from passengers and opportunities to advance to a higher-salaried position.

Ships that are registered in the U.S. are required to employ American crew and pay them according to United States laws that require minimum wage. That, of course, drives up costs for the lines — and, subsequently, passengers — so it’s more economical for cruise lines to flag their ships abroad.

By registering their vessels outside the U.S., cruise lines can also require their employees to work more than 40 hours per week without overtime pay — something that’s necessary due to the nearly 24/7 operational nature of cruise ships and limited number of crew berths.

What cruise ship is registered in the U.S.?

The only mainstream megaship registered in the United States is Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Pride of America, which required a special government exception for its registration. Because it’s flagged in the U.S., it can exclusively sail intra-island cruises around Hawaii without calling on a foreign port — something required for foreign-flagged ships under the Passenger Vessel Services Act.

Additionally, some smaller cruise ships registered in the United States include those in the fleets belonging to UnCruise Adventures and American Cruise Lines. Those companies operate smaller expedition-style vessels, riverboats and Great Lakes vessels that are U.S.-flagged. Due to their smaller sizes, they could be constructed and, therefore, registered in the U.S.

Bottom line

Cruise lines almost always register their ships in countries outside of the United States to reap benefits like lower taxes and reduced labor regulations. With lower operating costs, cruise lines can pass on those savings to passengers and keep cruise fares affordable.

Learn more about cruising with these TPG resources:

• Packing for a cruise? These items aren’t allowed on board
• Man overboard: Cruise ship overboards and how they happen
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is the Jones Act, and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What’s a cruise cabin guarantee — and will it save you money?
• What’s the difference between a cruise ship concierge and a butler?