Month: January 2025

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

While it’s wonderful to redeem your points and miles for travel arrangements, such as lodging and flights, there can be many other expenses involved in planning a trip, such as car rentals, train tickets, gas and campsite fees. Luckily, using cash-back rewards in combination with your points and miles can save you even more money on your next vacation.

With that in mind, let’s examine the often-overlooked Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. On top of the simple banking benefits members can expect, consolidating your finances with Bank of America can also boost your cash back earnings with some of the best Bank of America credit cards.

That’s because Bank of America designed its Preferred Rewards program to incentivize consumers to move their checking, savings, investment and retirement accounts to Bank of America and Merrill. The higher your balance of total assets with the bank, the more perks you can unlock, including with its credit cards. Depending on your holdings and the type of rewards you’re looking to accumulate, it might be time to stop ignoring Bank of America Preferred Rewards.

Related: 5 reasons to get the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Bank of America Preferred Rewards Program overview

To start, here’s a general overview of the program:

How to qualify for Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards Program

To qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you must have both of the following:

• An active, eligible Bank of America checking account
• A three-month combined average daily balance of $20,000 or more in qualifying Bank of America deposit accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts

There are five Preferred Rewards tiers. You’ll qualify for each based on your combined average daily balance:

• Gold: $20,000 or more in total assets
• Platinum: $50,000 or more in total assets
• Platinum Honors: $100,000 or more in total assets
• Diamond: $1,000,000 or more in total assets
• Diamond Honors: $10,000,000 or more in total assets

While not exorbitant, even the lowest level requires some pretty high figures. But don’t throw in the towel straight away. If you have an emergency fund, a holiday account, a savings account and a checking account, combining all those balances may qualify you for a Preferred Rewards tier. Once you add in investment accounts, such as IRAs, you may even find that the Platinum or Platinum Honors tiers are within reach.

Your balance doesn’t need to originate with Merrill or Bank of America to count toward each threshold. You can roll existing IRAs and investment accounts over to Merrill or Bank of America and immediately use those balances to begin establishing a three-month average to boost your tier. Of course, you’ll have to consider other things like account management fees and available investment options to decide whether doing so is a good option.

Related: How to maximize your earning with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card

How to move among Preferred Rewards tiers

You can rise from one rung to the next any month after your average daily balance for the three previous months reaches the threshold for the following tier. Once you reach a specific status level, you won’t need to keep all your cash in the Bank of America basket.

Instead, you’ll maintain your Preferred Rewards tier status for a full year. If you no longer meet the qualification requirements after that year, you have a three-month grace period to do so. If you still don’t meet the criteria after the three-month grace period, you’ll either be moved to a lower tier or completely lose your Preferred Rewards benefits.

Related: Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card worth the $95 annual fee?

Benefits of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards Program

Here’s a chart of the five Preferred Rewards tiers, along with the associated benefits of each:

Benefit	Gold	Platinum	Platinum Honors	Diamond	Diamond Honors
Credit card rewards bonus	25%	50%	75%	75%	75%
Savings interest rate booster	5%	10%	20%	20%	20%
Mortgage perks	$200 origination fee reduction	$400 origination fee reduction	$600 origination fee reduction	0.250% interest rate reduction (when PayPlan is established)	0.375% interest rate reduction (when PayPlan is established)
Auto loan interest rate discount	0.25%	0.35%	0.50%	0.50%	0.50%
Home equity interest rate discount	0.125%	0.250%	0.375%	0.625%	0.750%
No-fee banking services	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Free non-Bank of America ATM transactions	N/A	12 per year	Unlimited in the U.S.	Unlimited in the U.S. and internationally	Unlimited in the U.S. and internationally
Merrill Guided Investing fee discount	0.05%	0.10%	0.15%	0.15%	0.15%
Foreign currency exchange rate discount (for mobile and online orders only, includes free standard shipping)	1%	1.5%	2%	2%	2%
Access to exclusive lifestyle benefits	N/A	N/A	N/A	Yes	Yes

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.

Savings Interest Rate Booster

You need to have a Bank of America Advantage Savings account and be an enrolled Preferred Rewards member to enjoy this benefit. If you have an existing savings account, it will not automatically convert to a Bank of America Advantage Savings account when you enroll in Preferred Rewards. Be sure to request the conversion when joining Preferred Rewards.

At Gold, the interest rate boost is 5%. That likely sounds better than it is. If your interest rate is 1.00%, a 5% rate booster would increase it to 1.05%.

Here’s the annual percentage yield on a Bank of America Advantage Savings account as of January 2025 to give you some perspective:

You can check how this boost would affect the current annual percentage yield on a Bank of America Advantage Savings account in your region here.

Related: The best ways to save money & earn travel rewards for kids

Credit card rewards bonus

Preferred Rewards members earn a 25%, 50% or 75% rewards bonus on select Bank of America cards. For credit cards that earn points or cash rewards, you will receive a rewards bonus on every purchase.

Your earning rate is based on your Preferred Rewards tier when the purchase is posted to your account. We’ll get into how this plays out with specific cards below.

You can earn the Preferred Rewards bonus on most Bank of America consumer-branded credit cards, including the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, among others.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards — which should beginner travelers get?

Mortgage origination fee reduction

Any time you can cut down on fees for buying or refinancing a home, you should. Preferred Rewards members are eligible to receive a fixed reduction in one of two ways, depending on your membership tier:

• A dollar amount off of your origination fee (not to exceed its price)
• A percentage off your mortgage APR

The Preferred Rewards fee reduction isn’t transferable. And you may not be able to combine this fee reduction with other discounts.

Related: Credit card strategies for mortgage and home loan applicants

Auto loan interest rate discount

You must complete an auto purchase finance or refinancing loan through Bank of America to qualify for a rate discount. This benefit is not transferable, so only the Preferred Rewards member can take advantage of this perk.

Of course, you’ll need to make sure that Bank of America offers the most competitive rate after the discount. Otherwise, it might not be worth pursuing. Even a quarter of a percent could save or cost you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

Related: What is a good credit score?

Home equity interest rate discount

You can get a home equity line of credit interest rate discount of up to 0.75%, depending on your Preferred Rewards status level.

This benefit is non-transferable, but you may be able to combine this perk with other home equity interest rate discounts. And even co-borrowers are eligible as long as at least one applicant is enrolled or eligible to enroll.

Related: Credit card vs. line of credit: What’s the difference?

No-fee banking services

Preferred Rewards members also enjoy multiple banking services for no fee.

These services include:

• ATM/Debit card rush fees
• ATM international transaction fee
• Monthly maintenance fees on up to four eligible checking and four savings accounts from Bank of America
• Non-Bank of America ATM fees for withdrawals, transfers or balance inquiries
• One overdraft protection transfer fee waived per billing cycle

Additionally, Platinum and above incur no fees for incoming international wire transfers and can open a small safe deposit box for free at a Bank of America branch.

Related: How to avoid ATM fees

Free non-Bank of America ATM transactions

In the U.S. and U.S. territories, Platinum and Platinum Honors members:

• Won’t be charged non-Bank of America ATM fees
• Will receive a refund of the ATM operator or network fee for withdrawals, balance inquiries and balance transfers

Platinum members receive one free transaction per statement cycle (up to 12 annually), and Platinum Honors members have no cap. Meanwhile, Diamond and Diamond Honors members have unlimited no-fee transactions both in the U.S. and internationally.

Related: 7 ways to save on overseas ATM withdrawals

Merrill Guided Investing fee discount

Preferred Rewards members enjoy a fee discount when utilizing Merrill Guided Investing services. You can get started with as little as $1,000 for Merrill Guided Investing or $20,000 for Merrill Guided Investing with an adviser.

Merrill Guided Investing typically charges a fee of 0.45% of assets under management, and Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor typically charges a fee of 0.85% of assets under management.

While those fees might seem small, they add up over time. As such, these charges can become a compound drain on your investments as they increase. So, it may be best to look for a financial advisor that charges a fixed fee instead of a percentage of your assets.

Related: The best apps for money management

Foreign currency exchange rate discount

All Preferred Rewards members will get some form of discount for foreign currency orders through online banking or the mobile banking app.

Depending on your status tier, you’ll receive a discount between 1% and 2%.

Related: Everything you need to know about foreign transaction fees

Access to exclusive lifestyle benefits

Top-tier Diamond and Diamond Honors members will enjoy customized and unique lifestyle experiences, such as travel, wellness, events, food and drink or other personal services. You can preview some of these curated offers here.

Related: The best credit cards available now

How to maximize cash reward earnings with Bank of America credit cards and Preferred Rewards

To maximize the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you’ll want to qualify for at least Platinum Honors and be eligible for the 75% bonus on your credit card rewards.

Of course, it’s not a great idea to make big investment and banking decisions based entirely on credit card bonuses. However, it may be worthwhile if you already plan to invest in Merrill and have an existing banking relationship with Bank of America. If you do, here are some of the bank’s rewards cards to consider and how you can maximize your cash-back earnings.

Related: How to choose the best credit card for you

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is an excellent rewards credit card in its own right. But it gets even more competitive when you add in the bonuses from the Preferred Rewards program.

The card charges a $95 annual fee and offers a modest selection of benefits. For example, cardholders get an up-to-$100 annual airline incidental fee statement credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years (up to $100) and some decent travel protections.

However, this card shines with its earning rates on everyday spending as well as travel and dining purchases. Here’s how the earning rates stack up once you consider the Preferred Rewards credit card rewards bonus:

Spending categories	Regular cardholder	Preferred Rewards Gold (25% bonus)	Preferred Rewards Platinum (50% bonus)	Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors, Diamond and Diamond Honors (75% bonus)
Travel and dining	2 points per dollar spent	2.5 points per dollar spent	3 points per dollar spent	3.5 points per dollar spent
Everything else	1.5 points per dollar spent	1.875 points per dollar spent	2.25 points per dollar spent	2.625 points per dollar spent

The ability to get at least 2.625% on all purchases with this card (for high-tier Preferred Rewards members) is incredible. This return makes the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card one of the best credit cards for everyday spending.

Related: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card full review

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

If you want to avoid paying credit card annual fees, you could opt for the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. The card earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases. Points can be redeemed to cover travel expenses at a rate of 1 cent per point.

By earning 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything plus a 75% Preferred Rewards bonus as a Platinum Honors (or higher) Preferred Rewards member, you effectively earn 2.625% cash rewards toward travel purchases made with the card. That’s a fantastic cash reward rate to earn on all spending — especially for a card with no annual fee.

Related: Bank of America Travel Rewards card full review

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card is great for folks who don’t want to keep track of multiple bonus categories but who still want to earn at a strong fixed rate on all their purchases. This no-annual-fee credit card earns unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on all purchases with no limit.

Platinum Honors and higher members would get back 2.625% on all your purchases — one of the best rewards rates any card offers for nonbonus everyday purchases.

Related: The best Bank of America cards

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Another no-annual-fee card is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card. It earns 3% in one of the following categories of your choice each calendar month:

• Dining
• Drugstores and pharmacies
• Gas and electric vehicle charging stations
• Home improvement and furnishings
• Online shopping (including cable, streaming, internet and phone services)
• Travel

It also earns 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on everything else. Just note that you can only earn 3% and 2% on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%).

So, if you’re at least a Platinum Honors member, you’ll earn up to a whopping 5.25% back on your 3% category. You’d also earn up to 3.5% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1.75% back on all other purchases. That’s pretty phenomenal for a no-annual-fee cash rewards card.

Related: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards full review

How to convert your Bank of America points to cash

Several Bank of America credit cards earn straight-up cash. But some earn “points,” which you can trade for cash.

To redeem your Bank of America points with a card such as the Premium Rewards card, you’ll find a “cash” option within your online account. This allows you to request a statement credit or a cash deposit into your Bank of America checking or savings account (or eligible Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch accounts) at a rate of 1 cent per point. Note that you can also redeem into a 529 College Savings Plan.

Additionally, the Travel Rewards card earns a slightly different rewards currency. You can redeem them as a direct deposit into your Bank of America checking or savings account or as a credit into an eligible Merrill Cash Management Account — but you’ll usually get a paltry value of 0.6 cents per point. You’ll only achieve a value of 1 cent per point when offsetting a travel-related transaction on your card.

Related: How to redeem points using the Bank of America Premium Rewards card

Bottom line

The Bank of America Preferred Rewards program is probably not worth pursuing unless you qualify for at least Platinum Honors to maximize the 75% bonus on credit card earnings.

That said, the program’s perks mean that if you already do business with Bank of America or Merrill, you should consider consolidating your banking and investing to boost your rewards and benefits.

It might even be worth switching to Bank of America if doing so won’t cost you anything extra. After all, the Preferred Rewards program can tip the scale on some of Bank of America’s top card offerings and reward you with significant discounts on other banking services like mortgage and auto loans.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

If Munich is on your must-visit list and you want to travel in style this summer, Lufthansa has some excellent business-class redemptions available right now on its biggest passenger jet. For the first time, the German airline is adding its Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, the world’s largest passenger plane, to regular service out of Denver International Airport (DEN).

The route from DEN to Munich International Airport (MUC) will run during the summer, from April 30 through the end of September. Right now, you can book business-class seats to the Bavarian capital from Denver and some other cities like Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Big thanks to our friends at View from the Wing for first spotting this deal. The website noted that the size of the double-decker A380 jet — 78 business-class seats in the plane’s 2-2-2 configuration — provides many opportunities for award redemptions.

We found a lot of availability from Denver and Boston in May and June, starting from 88,000 miles each way, plus taxes and fees. If you’re flying out of LA or D.C., then July is your best bet to score business-class seats at the lowest redemption rate.

When searching for this deal, I used United Airlines’ website to find the available award flights. This is because I don’t have a lot of miles in my Lufthansa Miles & More account, and the site won’t let me search for award flights without the proper amount of miles.

Tip: If you plan to use miles you’ve accrued on United, go to United’s website and click the “30-day calendar” link to get the best idea of availability for the month you’re searching. Also, don’t forget to hit the “lowest” link under the “Business” tab to sort the results; this way, you will see the lowest redemptions at the top.

Deal basics

Airline: Lufthansa (Star Alliance)
Routes: From Boston, Denver, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to Munich
How to book: Directly with the airline
Travel dates: April 30 to Sept. 30
Book by: As soon as possible

Sample flights

As we mentioned above, we found the best availability at the lowest redemption rates in the following months:

• May (from Denver)
• June (from Boston)
• July (from LA and D.C.)

Here’s the United MileagePlus award calendar showing the availability for business-class redemptions out of Denver in May and early June. As you can see, you have lots of options.

Here’s a nonstop flight from DEN to MUC on May 7 available for 88,000 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees.

Here’s the entire itinerary that you can book for 176,000 miles and $130 in taxes and fees.

Related: United Airlines debuts largest-ever lounge at Denver International Airport

You can fly from Dulles International Airport (IAD) in the Washington, D.C., area to MUC in July for 88,000 miles nonstop.

As we said earlier, May is the sweet spot for finding business-class seats out of Boston to Germany. This mid-May flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to MUC is available for only 88,000 miles.

The return flight to Boston is available at the same redemption rate. The round-trip journey will cost 176,000 miles and $136 in taxes and fees.

Here’s the calendar view showing the availability for business-class seats out of Los Angeles in late June and early July. As you can see, you have lots of options for scoring a great redemption.

The one caveat for those looking to take advantage of this deal in Los Angeles is that all the lowest redemptions are for flights with a layover in Denver. Still, flying business class from the West Coast to Munich for 88,000 miles each way is too good to pass up.

Maximize your purchase

Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2 points per dollar spent on travel
• American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly through the airline or amextravel.com
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly through the airline or American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 3 points per dollar spent on travel

Bottom line

These award flights are not just a great way to score a luxurious seat for a trip across the Atlantic; they’re also ideal for families looking to visit Munich and who have the miles to splurge on luxury seating for a summer vacation.

Related reading:

• Maximize your rewards: Your points and miles checklist for 2025
• Best United Airlines credit cards
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status

If you’ve been excited about the possibility of flying a United Airlines Boeing 737 to Mongolia, you’re in luck. The airline has just officially started selling flights to Ulaanbaatar.

The Chicago-based carrier just filed the details of this creative new route, as first seen in Cirium schedules.

CIRIUM

United’s new 1,900-mile route from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) will commence on May 1 with three times weekly service in each direction. (The westbound service will operate on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, while the eastbound flight will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.)

Pro tips: The biggest mistakes people make with travel rewards credit cards

Flights from Tokyo will depart at 4:30 p.m. and land in Ulaanbaatar at 8:55 p.m. The return service will leave at 9:55 a.m. and land in Toyko at 3:45 p.m.

United plans seasonal service in this new market with flights scheduled to end on Oct. 12, 2025.

These flights are timed to connect with United’s primary transpacific departure and arrival banks from Narita. United operates long-haul flights from Narita to Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark and San Francisco.

United will deploy a Guam-based Boeing 737-800 on this route, featuring 16 business-class recliners, 48 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats and 102 standard economy seats.

Seeing a United Boeing 737 in Mongolia might be puzzling for some, but it’s being operated as part of historical fifth-freedom rights that United has in Tokyo for flights that originate in the U.S. and continue onwards to other countries.

In recent years, United hasn’t really taken advantage of these rights, instead focusing on boosting its hub in Guam. That said, Guam hasn’t been as busy or lucrative as it has in the past, so United seems to be experimenting with new uses for the jets it stations in Micronesia.

Flight review: Is United Airlines premium economy worth it to Europe?

In fact, United has been busy in recent months turning its presence at NRT into a de facto gateway hub within the larger region. The airline recently commenced new flights from Tokyo to Cebu in the Philippines, and now it’s adding three more short-haul regional routes from the airport (Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Koror, Palau; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia).

United says that its joint venture partnership with Japanese airline All Nippon Airways will help these routes take off. (For instance, ANA doesn’t currently fly from Narita to Ulaanbaatar.) The new flights will also be supported by travelers looking for one-stop connections from the U.S.

“We are thinking about Tokyo differently than how it’s been thought of in the past. I think Tokyo is a real asset to us. … And when we went through the data, a lot of this traffic was connecting over Beijing, but is not doing so anymore. And so this is a way to connect it over Tokyo,” United’s network chief Patrick Quayle told TPG back when the routes were announced in October.

If you’re looking to book the new route, one-way fares start at $326 in economy and $753 in business class. Introductory mileage rates are quite steep, with one-way economy flights starting at 30,000 miles and business-class flights starting at a whopping 75,000 miles.

There was no saver award availability on the new routes as of time of publication.

As Los Angeles slowly begins to assess the damage caused by recent wildfires, it’s clear that rebuilding will take years and cost an astronomical sum of money. Some reports estimate a cost as high as $40 billion. Not to mention the threat of more fires remains strong as the Santa Ana winds and dry conditions persist. The possibility of rain showers this weekend offers hope that the worst of the fires could be over — though the rain could bring new challenges to the area.

In response to the devastation and lingering conditions, LA Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order on Jan. 21 ordering expedited cleanup in burn areas and mitigation of fire-related pollutants in local stormwater systems, beaches and ocean water. The order also directs the city’s department of public works crews to clear and remove vegetation, shore up hillsides with reinforced concrete barriers, lay down sandbags and clear debris from affected neighborhoods ahead of rainfall.

“With rain in the forecast, it’s imperative we take aggressive action to prevent additional damage in burn areas and to protect our water and ocean from hazardous runoff,” Bass said in a press release. “These communities have already endured unimaginable loss — we are taking action against further harm.”

The Eaton and Palisades fires have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. According to the Associated Press, the Palisades fire had reached 61% containment and the Eaton fire had reached 87% as of Tuesday.

As city and county leaders begin the recovery process, tourism and hospitality officials have announced that the City of Angels wants and needs the support of visitors.

“Los Angeles has always been a beacon to the world — a place where dreams are born and stories unfold from the silver screen to iconic landmarks,” Visit California president and CEO Caroline Beteta said in a press release sent to TPG. “One of the best ways to support the comeback of Los Angeles is to plan a trip.”

Much like Maui after it suffered its own horrific wildfires, Los Angeles is hoping tourism can help kickstart its economic recovery from the calamitous event. The fires not only destroyed homes and entire neighborhoods, but local businesses as well.

“The city, along with its iconic sites and experiences — the Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood, the Santa Monica Pier, Getty and Getty Villa, Griffith Observatory and many more — remain intact and accessible to visitors from around the world,” Beteta said. Of course, some wonder if the time is right to visit the city so soon after the destruction.

Is now the right time to visit Los Angeles?

This is a tricky question. Just as Maui struggled with balancing its all-important tourism industry and locals’ rebuilding needs, LA has to manage a similarly delicate situation.

Obviously, the areas most affected by the fires, like Pacific Palisades, should be off-limits to visitors. Many residents are still unable to return home to survey damage; the last thing they or first responders need is intrusive tourists trying to get a close-up look. The air quality remains poor in some parts of LA, so that’s also something to consider before booking a trip.

However, many shops and restaurants have reopened in popular areas such as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and West Hollywood. To highlight the urgency of keeping tourism alive and aiding recovery efforts, city hotel and tourism officials put out a call to action on Jan. 21 urging visitors to not cancel their travel plans.

According to their statement in a press release sent to TPG, more than 540,000 people work in the LA tourism industry in some capacity, and a significant number of those employees were likely affected in some way by the wildfires. The influx of visitors and the money they spend helps them get back on their feet.

To give you an idea of just how important tourism is to the city’s bottom line, nearly 50 million people visited Los Angeles in 2023, contributing more than $40 billion in sales to the local economy along the way. Additionally, visitors in 2023 contributed $312 million in Transient Occupancy Tax revenue from their hotel stays.

What’s open in Los Angeles?

As we mentioned earlier, many of the city’s most popular attractions have already reopened. Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures have both resumed studio tours on their Hollywood lots. Major theme parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knott’s Berry Farm have all resumed operations, as have the world-renowned Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park (in view of the iconic Hollywood sign).

Most museums — including the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, the La Brea Tar Pits, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures — are also operational again.

Speaking of the Oscars, the film adaptation of “Wicked” just scored 10 Academy Award nominations. If you are in LA and want to see the touring production of the stage musical, it has resumed performances at the Pantages Theatre and is playing through Feb. 2.

There are still a number of attractions that have not reopened, though. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles remains closed through Jan. 27. Meanwhile, the Getty Villa — which, despite being located in Pacific Palisades, escaped major damage from the wildfires — is closed until further notice. The popular Runyon Canyon and Will Rogers State Historic parks are also closed.

How you can help Los Angeles recover

One of the easiest ways to contribute to recovery efforts as a visitor is to give the local economy a little help. Dine LA Restaurant Week is going on from Jan. 24 through Feb. 7; you can find a list of participating restaurants and make reservations here. Each reservation at one of these restaurants will benefit wildfire relief efforts coordinated by the American Red Cross.

Another easy way to contribute is to attend one of several fundraising events occurring in the city over the next few weeks. Discover Los Angeles has an extensive list of upcoming relief efforts on their website.

Something else that’s desperately needed? Volunteers. Some LA-based organizations that need help include:

• Habitat for Humanity LA: It needs contributions and volunteers to help wildfire survivors rebuild.
• LA Food Bank: It needs many people to help the local food bank feed some of the thousands of people affected by the fires.
• LA Animal Services: It needs foster pet parents to help with the number of dogs and cats who have ended up in local shelters since the start of the fires.

More volunteer resources are available on the city’s official website.

We’ll keep this story updated as we get more information.

Startup airline Breeze Airway turned a profit in the fourth quarter of 2024, the airline said Thursday, its first-ever quarterly profit since beginning operations in 2021.

It was a major milestone for Breeze, the latest airline from serial entrepreneur David Neeleman, who previously founded JetBlue and Brazilian carrier Azul, and ran TAP Portugal before the airline was nationalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breeze uses a point-to-point operating model that aims to operate nonstop flights between smaller markets that do not otherwise have direct air connectivity. The airline began by operating short flights of less than two hours with a fleet of Embraer jets leased from Azul, before building a fleet of brand-new Airbus A220 jets.

The early use of the Embraer jets allowed Breeze to keep its capital expenses low as it began operations, although it now uses those jets primarily for charter service, preferring the more efficient A220 on regularly scheduled routes.

Pro tips: The biggest mistakes people make with travel rewards credit cards

Because Breeze is a privately held company, it is not required to disclose as much detailed financial information as larger, publicly traded airlines. In Thursday’s announcement, the airline said that it had made a profit for the quarter, but did not provide details as to the actual amount of profit, revenue, or the yield. Breeze previously said that March of last year had been its first profitable operating month.

Still, it was a landmark for the airline, which began operating during the pandemic in a largely oversaturated domestic market. Its focus on leaner routes without nonstop competition helped it continue to expand, however.

“In under four years, we have managed to grow and expand Breeze at an unprecedented rate while establishing a robust presence in dozens of underserved markets across the U.S.,” Neeleman said in a statement. “Most importantly, we’ve done so safely, providing millions of people access to efficient, affordable, and elevated air travel.”

Breeze has grown rapidly and relentlessly since its launch. In 2024 alone, the airline added 29 destinations and grew its capacity by more than 52%, it said. While the airline operated at a loss for the full year — common for new airlines — it earned 78% more revenue compared to 2023.

Related reading:

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

 

[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420186883″]

Editor’s note: The Fairmont Breakers Long Beach provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.

When it originally opened in September 1926, the Breakers loomed large on the Long Beach, California, skyline … at a soaring (for the time) 14 stories.  

After it was reflagged as the world’s eighth Hilton in the 1930s, it became known as one of the best hotels on the West Coast, attracting Hollywood golden age glitterati like Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant. Since then, it has changed hands several times and was most recently a retirement home.

Related: TPG’s 16 favorite hotels in California for every type of traveler

These days, the hotel — which reopened as a Fairmont in November 2024 after a multiyear, $150 million renovation — might be dwarfed by the surrounding edifices. But it retains a regal air thanks to its inimitable Spanish Revival style and imposing silhouette. 

The interiors, meanwhile, have been gorgeously redone with an eye toward art deco flair (think: rounded velvet furniture and polished brass light fixtures) while retaining original elements like ornate crown molding and old-fashioned mail chutes still intact. 

We got a first look at the hotel days after its opening. Here’s what the experience was like.

Fairmont Breakers Long Beach location

The Fairmont Breakers Long Beach sits smack dab in the middle of downtown Long Beach, right along Ocean Boulevard. The hotel is just under 7 miles away from Long Beach Airport (LGB), which takes around 20 to 30 minutes by car to reach. Depending on traffic, you can expect to pay around $40 to get to and from the airport via a ride-hailing service.

The property is also 25 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and a ride from there can take anywhere from 40 to 75 minutes and cost upward of $80 if you are using a ride-hailing service. Another option is John Wayne Airport (SNA), which is 25 miles southeast of the hotel in Santa Ana, California. The drive from there can take around 40 to 60 minutes and cost approximately $70 when using a service like Uber or Lyft. 

If you’re already visiting Los Angeles, it’s easy to reach the hotel via main thoroughfares. It sits just a short distance off Interstate 710 (also known as the Long Beach Freeway).

Fairmont Breakers Long Beach booking details

The Fairmont brand is part of Accor and participates in the Accor Live Limitless loyalty program. Members can earn points on stays when booking directly through Accor at a rate of 25 points per 10 euros ($11) spent and redeem them in increments of 2,000 points to save 40 euros ($44) on hotel bills. Booking as a member through Accor also opens up preferential rates that might include discounts and add-ons such as free breakfast or on-property credits.

Rates at the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach start at $349 per night.

Standout features

• You’ll want to check out the hotel’s several swanky watering holes, including the rooftop Halo venue and the lobby jazz lounge Alter Ego.
• The building has gorgeous historical features, as well as beautifully redone rooms and public spaces.
• Guests can anticipate affordable room rates with on-property benefits when booking directly through Accor.

Drawbacks

• Though renovated, the building is old, so some rooms have quirky configurations.
• Staff are still finding their footing, and while service is genuine and warm, it is not as polished as it should be soon.
• Unfortunately, the hotel isn’t part of any of the credit card luxury hotel booking programs yet.

The vibe at Fairmont Breakers Long Beach

“That’s the mayor of Long Beach,” our server at Nettuno said as she set down a plate of Caledonian prawns with Calabrian chili butter, indicating a man entertaining a large dinner party at a nearby table. 

He was just one of many locals we found checking out the newly opened hotel in November. The spa was mostly booked during our two-night stay, and both the glamorous dining room at Sky Room and the gardenlike lounge at Halo on the upper floors were packed with curious Long Beachers eager to try the food and drinks at the city’s hottest new hotel.

No doubt the fanfare will calm down over time and the crowd mix will veer more toward out-of-town business travelers and families checking out Long Beach’s longstanding attractions. But for now, it was nice to see a mix of visitors and locals alike.

Rooms at Fairmont Breakers Long Beach

Although it had 330 accommodations back in its original heyday, after the recent renovation, the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach now houses just 185 rooms and suites. These start with 279-square-foot Fairmont King rooms and range up to the Breakers Two Bedroom Suite on the 12th floor.

I stayed in a Fairmont Bay View King, which is a few categories higher, about 20 square feet larger and around $50 per night more expensive than a standard room. It was at the end of the hallway on the hotel’s ninth floor and offered views of the Port of Long Beach and San Pedro Bay through large windows that let in plenty of natural light.

The room had a short entry hallway and a small closet that were probably vestiges of the historical room footprint.

The room’s color palette was inspired by the port, with tones of industrial grays, cloudlike whites and swirls of blue and gold on the rugs, plus some framed seashells above the king-size bed. The spotless white linens, woven straw wall accents and bleached wooden floors gave the room a clean, contemporary look.

Attached to the wall in one corner was a large flat-screen TV. To the other side of the bed, there was a small sort of multipurpose area featuring a round, marble-topped table that doubled as a place to eat and work. It had one heavy armchair with a ropelike frame (another nod to the nearby port’s industries) next to it. There were also a Nespresso machine and complimentary bottles of water.

The most impressive feature was the bathroom, which was surprisingly large for an old hotel building. The space included a long marble countertop with two sinks and mirrors, a separate water closet with a frosted-glass door and a marble spa-style wet area that contained both the bathtub and the shower.

There was a wall-mounted, hand-held showerhead and another overhead one with several stream functions, including a mister. Both the vanity and the shower area were stocked with Le Labo Rose 31 products.

Though on the small side, the room’s fresh look and spacious bathroom created a luxurious ambience equally suited to both leisure and work trips. 

Food and drink at Fairmont Breakers Long Beach

There are five bars and restaurants at the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, and even a short stay is enough to experience most, if not all, of them.

Nettuno

Nettuno is the hotel’s main restaurant and sits next to the reception area in the lobby. Its dining room has soaring double-height ceilings anchored by squared-off columns with antiqued-mirrored surfaces and Corinthian capitals that are beautiful contrasts to the contemporary art on the walls and the chainlike chandeliers strung across the ceiling.

The breakfast menu offers standards like avocado toast with baby kale, cherry tomatoes and stracciatella on seedy whole wheat ($18) and an egg white omelet with seasonal herbs, mushrooms and goat cheese ($20), plus pastries like a fluffy blueberry-olive oil muffin ($6) and a variety of coffees, teas, juices and smoothies ($6 to $16).

The lunch and dinner menus feature mostly coastal Italian fare like zucchini blossoms filled with lemon-herb ricotta ($24), artichoke tortelli with brown butter and sage ($28) and tiramisu ($10).

Sky Room

Sky Room, which takes up most of the hotel’s 13th floor, dates to 1938, when Conrad Hilton took over the property and turned a penthouse suite into one of the West Coast’s toniest restaurants. 

It is looking as splendorous as ever again thanks to a complete restoration. It’s easy to picture yourself here during its prewar pinnacle as you cozy up in one of the enormous circular velvet booths or at the intimate two-tops by the windows, all illuminated by a dazzling fluted light fixture that appears to ripple as it runs nearly the length of the dining room.

Open only for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, Sky Room feels like a throwback to the supper clubs of yore thanks to the bustling, neatly uniformed staff, a cocktail list of old favorites and a roster of continental classics you might have found on some of the original menus — oysters Rockefeller and clams casino, anyone? You can actually spot some of the 1930s menus decorating the walls near the entrance.

Start with piping-hot parkerhouse rolls with whipped cultured butter ($8), then tuck into specialties like luscious Dungeness crabcakes with smoked trout roe and caviar butter ($28) — there’s even a whole caviar menu, if that’s your thing. 

Bring a few friends to indulge in the California wagyu beef Wellington with mushroom duxelle, bordelaise sauce and prosciutto encased in a flaky pastry crust ($165), or go lighter with the juicy whole John Dory (fileted tableside, of course) with yuzu-kosho beurre blanc and herb salad (market price based on weight). The wine list features bottles from around the world, including the likes of chardonnay from Western Australia’s vaunted Vasse Felix winery ($105 per bottle).

Order the bananas Foster ($22) to end your meal with a bang … or rather a flambe as the staff sets the dish alight right at your table.

Halo

Halo feels like a little secret tucked away on the hotel’s top floor. Inside, glazed green tiling, pink wallpaper with exotic leaf motifs and a beautifully lit, deep-veined alabaster bar all create the feeling of a Caribbean garden party. 

That’s only heightened by the tropical cocktails, like the startlingly blue Clarified Top Floor Mai Tai ($19) with Bacardi Ocho rum, Plantation Stiggins pineapple rum, Wray & Nephew overproof rum, Grand Marnier, lime, mango and pineapple.

Come the warmer months, the outdoor terrace should be the best place in town to catch the sunset and views of Catalina Island across the channel.

An added historical oddity? If you look up at the hotel’s belvedere, you can still spot a World War II pillbox gun turret from when the building formed part of the country’s coastal defense.

La Sala

On the street side of the lobby, La Sala is designed to feel like a cozy solarium with jade-green chinoiserie wallpaper adorned with blossoming trees and a palm-shaped brass and crystal chandelier overhead. Guests and visitors can stop in for barista-made coffee and tea drinks, cocktails and light bites throughout the day and evening.

Alter Ego

Moodily lit and decorated with emerald velvet chairs and Henri Rousseau-like floral prints on the walls, Alter Ego is located just off the lobby. There will be live jazz most nights to accompany creative twists on classic cocktails, including updates on the daiquiri and the dirty martini.

The drinks to order, though, are the specialty Old-Fashioneds, including one inspired by California’s redwoods with Old Forester bourbon, various house-made botanical tinctures, “campfire” bitters, a smoky mist and even an edible pine cone ($23).

Amenities and service at Fairmont Breakers Long Beach

On the eastern end of the ground floor, the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach has a small fitness center and a bi-level spa.

The fitness center has a plethora of window-facing Technogym cardio machines, including treadmills and stationary bikes, plus racks of weights, resistance bands, kettlebells and balance balls, among other equipment. There’s also a water dispenser so you can fill up your own bottle.

Next door, the Fairmont Spa has an airy reception area replete with cream-colored marble and contemporary brushed brass light fixtures, plus plenty of counter space to display the products incorporated into the treatments, including items from Biologique Recherche, Venn and Lola’s Apothecary. 

There are separate men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam rooms and shower facilities, as well as a pre- or post-treatment lounge area with blond timber walls and chaise-style seats separated by diaphanous curtains.

The treatment menu includes intriguing options like a Venn supercharged facial (60 minutes for $260) and the signature Breakers massage that you can tailor to your preferences (60 minutes for $220).   

Up on the third floor, the hotel now features a small outdoor pool and deck with plenty of lounge chairs, some seating vignettes and a pool bar (though it was not open during our stay). 

Service at the hotel could not have been warmer or more enthusiastic. There were a few opening-week hiccups, such as a server bringing the wrong dish or a certain glass of wine on the menu not being available, but those have likely been ironed out by now.

Out and about

For those not familiar with the area, there is plenty to see and do in Long Beach.

Families might want to walk to the Aquarium of the Pacific and the waterfront where harbor cruises and ferries to Catalina depart. The nearby Terrace Theater hosts performances throughout the year, and various beaches as well as the Long Beach Museum of Art are quick drives away. There is also outlet shopping, plus the independent boutiques of Retro Row, nearby. As for business travelers in town for meetings or conferences, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is conveniently situated next door. 

Accessibility at Fairmont Breakers Long Beach

Old hotels, especially those with landmark status that prohibits drastic changes to their infrastructure, can sometimes be hit or miss when it comes to accessibility, but the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach has incorporated plenty of accessible features into its renovation.

The hotel’s main entrance and ground floor are step-free, so those in wheelchairs can access all the spaces. There are also elevators to every floor, including a small wheelchair lift up to the pool deck from the third floor. Speaking of the pool, it has a chairlift at one end to assist folks with limited mobility into the water. The spa also has wheelchair-accessible showers in its locker rooms.

The hotel’s hallways are all wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, and there are seven room and suite categories with mobility- and hearing-accessible facilities. They include toilet and shower grab bars, and closet rods, towel racks and viewports less than 48 inches high. Those designed for hearing-impaired guests include visual alarms and doorbells.

Checking out

Unlike many of the other entries on our list of the best hotels that opened in 2024, the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach is not a new hotel. Rather, it is a landmark reborn, one with a storied legacy dating back nearly a century that still manages to feel completely fresh thanks to its new lease on life. Having already garnered the interest of locals, who come to hang out in its grand public spaces, it’s only a matter of time until word gets out and travelers from farther afield start realizing what a special stay awaits them.

Related reading:

• Best hotel credit cards
• When is the best time to book a hotel? Experts weigh in — and debunk a few myths
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?

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

Lounge access is not just for the rich and famous — it’s for anyone who wants to make their airport travel experience more luxurious and less stressful.

Many top rewards credit cards offer access to the worldwide Priority Pass. Although you may already have a Priority Pass card in your wallet or on your phone, it’s sometimes unclear what that means and what’s included in your membership.

It’s also worth noting that Priority Pass membership isn’t automatic; if you have a credit card that offers membership, you still need to enroll to activate your membership benefits.

Let’s take a closer look at the different levels of Priority Pass membership as well as which cards offer the benefit and how to get the most out of your access.

What is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is a network of airport lounges, minisuites and even airport restaurants. The company currently boasts 1,700 eligible locations in over 600 cities in 148 countries. For example, you may see a Plaza Premium Lounge that is accessible via your Priority Pass membership.

Although those numbers are impressive, many lounges are outside the U.S.

So, while the network is large, there’s no guarantee you’ll have access to a lounge on every trip you take. However, there’s a good chance Priority Pass can help you on many of your trips.

Priority Pass lounges are at more than 40 U.S. airports, and some have multiple lounges, including:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
• Charleston International Airport (CHS)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
• Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Related: The 9 best Priority Pass lounges in the US

When traveling internationally, you may find lounges in small to midsize airports such as Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport  (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica, and Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Entebbe, Uganda. There’s even a lounge with a pool in the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ).

The facilities in the Priority Pass network vary by owner and location. Some lounges, like The Club ATL in Atlanta, are independent facilities, while others are affiliated with airlines. The Lufthansa Business Lounge in Detroit and the Air France Lounge in Boston are examples of this.

As is always the case, it’s worth doing a little bit of research before you plan to visit a Priority Pass lounge, because their quality can vary quite dramatically. Some, like the Vienna Lounge at Vienna International Airport (VIE), are in a class of their own (think priceless artworks and high-end food); others, such as the Bellini VIP Lounge at Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport (CTA) in Sicily, are almost laughable in how bad they are.

Related: Inside Priority Pass’ most highly rated lounge

If you are traveling with guests and children, you’ll also want to check the rules of your desired lounge location and your Priority Pass membership to find out if there will be an additional charge or a guest limit.

Priority Pass restaurants and Minute Suites

Priority Pass also has a partnership with some airport restaurants, lounges with beds (Minute Suites) and more. This allows members to enjoy perks at locations that don’t have a traditional lounge or gives them the chance to eat at a restaurant rather than an airport lounge for a change.

Note: American Express removed the restaurant benefit from its Priority Pass memberships some time ago, and Capital One removed this benefit at the start of 2023 for personal Venture X cardholders.

Similarly, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card* offers eight Priority Pass visits per year, but these cannot be used for Priority Pass restaurants, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Bank.

The credit cards offering Priority Pass memberships that still include nonlounge visits, such as at spas and restaurants, include:

• Capital One Venture X Business (only for eligible cardholders who applied before May of 2024, not for new applicants)
• Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants)*
• UBS Visa Infinite Card*

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

There are currently more than 30 Priority Pass-participating airport restaurants within the U.S., and more are available internationally. Some examples include:

• • Miami International Airport (MIA): Corona Beach House
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): Landry’s Seafood
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Bobby Van’s Steakhouse
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO): San Francisco Giants Clubhouse

 

The amount of the Priority Pass restaurant credit varies, but it averages $28 per person. Some restaurants also cap the number of guests.

At bars and restaurants, gratuity is not included, so be sure to tip on the bill amount before the credit is applied. Many locations do not allow you to take items to go, so it might not be the best option if you are in a rush.

Priority Pass also has some less conventional airport options. For example, the PGA MSP Lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) offers free access to a putting green, along with golf lessons and a golf simulator for a fee. This lounge also offers a $15 credit you can apply toward food, drinks or a golf experience. Remember that this location has the same limitations as other nonlounge visits mentioned above.

Finally, Priority Pass provides access to Minute Suites in Atlanta, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Dallas-Fort Worth and Philadelphia. The first hour is included with your Priority Pass membership, and you can rent additional hours at a discounted rate of $34.

On the other side of the world, sleep pods are available at Dubai International Airport (DXB) for two to three hours, depending on the time of day.

Related: The 10 best Priority Pass lounges around the world

What is the difference between Priority Pass and Priority Pass Select?

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the terms “Priority Pass” and “Priority Pass Select,” so we want to clear the air.

Priority Pass is the name of the company that offers memberships to lounges in its network. You can purchase Priority Pass memberships directly on the site, with annual fees starting at $99. Here’s a breakdown of the membership options:

• Standard membership: $99 per year; includes visits for $35 each for the member and any guests.
• Standard Plus membership: $329 per year; includes 10 free visits, with subsequent visits for $35 each (the same price as all guest visits).
• Prestige membership: $469 per year. All visits are included for the member, though guests are charged $35 per visit.

If you’re considering one of the above Priority Pass membership packages, Standard is best for occasional travelers. Standard Plus is best suited to frequent travelers who would visit airport lounges several times per year. The Prestige membership is for those frequent flyers who would make good use of unlimited lounge visits due to how often they travel.

Many U.S. credit cards offer Priority Pass access benefits called Priority Pass Select. Some are for just one person, while others include guests, depending on the card.

In either case, Priority Pass and Priority Pass Select members can pay for additional guests beyond what is included with their membership.

Related: Is a Priority Pass lounge membership actually worth it?

Credit cards that offer Priority Pass Select memberships

These are multiple credit cards through which you can get a Priority Pass Select membership.

These include not only premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required) but also hotel credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card  (enrollment required) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which even includes two guests. 

Other cards that offer Priority Pass benefits include:

• Capital One Venture X Business
• Citi Prestige® Card
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card*
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card*

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

Note that the number of visits included and guest policies with each card can vary and will generally require that you enroll for the perk.

Check out this guide for more information on the best credit cards to access Priority Pass lounges.

How to use Priority Pass benefits

Even if you have a card with a Priority Pass Select membership, you usually can’t just present your credit card at a participating lounge, restaurant or Minute Suite and receive complimentary access.

First, you must enroll in the program using a link associated with your credit card account. Find the link under “Benefits” when you log in to your account.

Related: How to enroll in Priority Pass with eligible credit cards

Because it can take a week or two to receive your membership card in the mail, it’s best to enroll as soon as you receive your credit card if you’re interested in this benefit.

In the meantime, you can download the Priority Pass app, which includes a digital membership card that you can use to access most, but not all, facilities.

Make sure to know if guests are permitted as part of your benefit — and how many — ahead of your visit; the reception team at the lounge won’t always know your specific guest privileges.

Because you’re never asked to present your credit card at the lounge, you might not know you’re charged until you see your statement.

The lounge might be full

Your best-laid lounge plans may not work out. Nowadays, many travelers have lounge access, and the lounges sometimes reach capacity. Some lounges are available to Priority Pass members during select hours only. Check the Priority Pass website before your next trip for available locations and their hours. Don’t be shocked if some lounges are temporarily at capacity during peak times and deny access to Priority Pass members.

Bottom line

Several cards offer Priority Pass Select membership as a benefit. This program can improve your travel experience with goodies like free food and drinks, as well as a comfortable place to relax or get some work done.

Check specific details of your membership, because the guest policies vary from card to card.

Related reading:

• TPG’s 2025 travel trends report
• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

Could Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines eventually merge, after all? 

“That’s my prediction,” the CEO of a competing low-cost airline told TPG.

Talks have swirled for years about the possibility of the nation’s two leading budget carriers joining forces.

Spirit and Frontier explored merging in 2022, but Spirit backed out of the talks to instead pursue a marriage with JetBlue — a deal ultimately blocked in court by the Biden administration.

Then, late last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that the airlines had reignited acquisition talks. However, the deal reportedly fell apart days before Spirit announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Spirit’s financial turmoil — owed to mounting debt, sagging revenue and a myriad of other factors — came in the midst of a tumultuous run for budget airlines overall. 

A tougher landscape for budget airlines

In recent years, the lower-cost end of the U.S. airline sector has lost ground to the larger “legacy” carriers, which boast the long-haul international routes scores of travelers are craving right now. Not to mention, larger carriers offer amenities like premium cabins, lie-flat seats and those highly lucrative frequent flyer and credit card programs that have played an outsize role in profitability since the coronavirus pandemic. 

Some in the industry — United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, most vociferously — have predicted the demise of some budget airlines, particularly Frontier and Spirit. These carriers have long been known for offering ultra-low base fares but adding on charges for most other inflight services.

In a wide-ranging interview last month with TPG, fellow low-cost airline executive David Neeleman, CEO of Breeze Airways, offered his own take.

“I think Spirit and Frontier will survive,” Neeleman said. “But, I think it’d be a lot easier if they’d merge. If they become one.”

Asked if he’d outright predict a future merger between the two carriers, Neeleman didn’t mince words: “Yes,” he said.

Both airlines have repeatedly declined to comment on any lingering merger or acquisition talks. It may also be worth noting that the incoming Trump administration is widely expected to take a less stringent regulatory posture than the administration before it, perhaps encouraging another attempt at consolidation.

Low-cost airlines eye premium offerings

Either way, Neeleman said he generally agrees with a blunt assessment United’s Kirby has made about the state of the U.S. airline industry — namely, about the Chicago-based carrier’s advantage over budget carriers (of which Breeze is one).

Repeatedly in 2024, Kirby asserted United’s “structural, permanent and irreversible” advantage in the industry — along with that of Delta Air Lines.

Now that major carriers have mostly eliminated change fees and have added their own types of cheap, no-frills basic economy fares, Kirby and others have questioned why travelers would opt for a budget carrier if a similar fare is available on a full-service carrier.

Other budget airline executives have dismissed predictions of the industry’s demise.

“That’s funny,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said sarcastically, addressing the claim in an interview with TPG last month.

But Neeleman offered a slightly different take.

“Scott [Kirby] has figured out a way to get people on United the same thing they’re getting on Spirit, knowing that nobody would pick to fly Spirit if they can come and fly United,” Neeleman said.

“If you get on a United Airlines [Boeing 737] MAX 9 [jet] today, it’s perfectly configured for what people want,” Neeleman continued, noting United’s offerings that range from first class to extra legroom to a bare-bones option.

It’s a wider menu of features that travelers can also find at Delta and American Airlines. Such a variety is also in the works at a fast-growing list of budget carriers: Frontier announced new first-class-style seats in December, Southwest has new extra-legroom rows planned for 2026 and JetBlue plans to add a domestic first-class cabin. (Neeleman is perhaps best known in the U.S. for founding JetBlue back in 2000).

Breeze sees opportunity

Today, Neeleman thinks travelers’ shifting preferences — namely, a craving for extra-space rows, premium seats and overall more choices — bode well for his latest startup, Breeze. The airline launched in 2021 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since its launch, the Utah-based airline has offered free bags, Wi-Fi service and first-class-esque recliners for passengers who select its “Nicest” fares. These fares are an alternative to classic budget airline stripped-down fares (“Nice”) for those bargain shoppers.

“When I go against those guys,” Neeleman said of Spirit and Frontier, “we do really well. Because people want to fly Breeze.”

Of course, his airline could find more competition in the coming years, as travelers increasingly find extra-space options on more and more low-cost airlines’ planes. This is a key reason Breeze is “really seriously considering” upping the number of “Nicest” seats on board its Airbus A220s, Neeleman said.

“We started with 24 [first-class seats on board] and we went to 12, and I think we’re really seriously considering going back to 16 because there’s so much demand,” he said, noting the airline can reconfigure its planes “overnight” to make such changes.

International flights on the horizon

But what about international service?

Last time I spoke with Neeleman, about eight months ago, he teased an upcoming international expansion tied into major long-term growth plans at Providence’s Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD). 

In fact, Breeze’s fellow startup airline, Avelo — which also launched in 2021 — beat it to the punch with new Mexico, Jamaica and Dominican Republic service from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) and North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). BDL and RDU are airports where the two newcomer airlines have focused outsize attention.

Neeleman cited delays in Federal Aviation Administration approvals that would allow Breeze to fly its aircraft internationally. That process should wrap up by the end of March, he told TPG. 

“And then we can do Hawaii, kind of North Atlantic — mainly just to the British Isles, and to Ireland. Places like that,” he said.

Up first, though?

“Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, those kinds of things,” he said.

Breeze currently offers 280 nonstop flights — and it has no competition on 86% of them, the carrier noted this month. 

Its growth is expected to continue in 2025. According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, its number of seats in the first half of this year is set to rise about 49% over the same period last year.

Whether that focus is on international or domestic flights, or on economy or premium cabins remains to be seen amid a historic shift in traveler preferences. Stay tuned.

Related reading:

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

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

In March 2019, I rode the rails from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago in an Amtrak Roomette. I earned some Amtrak Guest Rewards points on this journey but haven’t traveled with Amtrak since then. So, I wasn’t surprised when I recently received a notification from AwardWallet that my Amtrak points were set to expire April 6.

I’m not sure I’ll ever use these points, but I figured I’d look into the Amtrak expiration policy and whether I could extend them. Here’s what I found.

Do Amtrak points expire?

Amtrak points expire after 24 months of inactivity.

According to section D of Amtrak’s terms and conditions, “Points earned under the Program will not expire as long as the Program continues and the Member’s Program account is active. ‘Active’ means that the Member earns and/or redeems Program points using his or her Membership Number within a 24-month period. If no Member initiated qualifying activity is recorded or reported within 24 months for a Member, the Member’s points will expire.”

So, the key to keeping your Amtrak points from expiring is account activity.

Related: The best credit cards for Amtrak and train travel

How to determine when your Amtrak points expire

If you log into your Amtrak Guest Rewards account and look around, you won’t see an expiration date for your points anywhere. The solution is a slightly convoluted workaround.

After logging into your account, click on your name in the top right-hand corner of the window and select “My Account.” From here, click “My transactions” on the left sidebar to see your recent Amtrak Guest Rewards activity.

Your recent activity won’t be helpful if you’re worried about your points expiring. So, change the “from” date to 24 months before the current date and click “Search.”

My most recent account activity was canceling an award booking April 5, 2023. Based on that, if I did nothing, my Amtrak points would expire April 6 after 24 months of inactivity.

Related: The Jet vs. Amtrak: What is the best way to get between New York City and Washington, DC?

How I kept my Amtrak account active

Amtrak’s terms and conditions note that any earning or redemption activity on my account will keep my points from expiring.

I have many options since my points won’t expire for almost two months. As an infrequent Amtrak user, the options that’d make the most sense to consider would be to earn points on Amtrak travel, earn points by taking a Survey Points Club survey, buy Amtrak points, redeem points for Amtrak travel or earn points by shopping with one of Amtrak’s retail partners.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any upcoming Amtrak travel needs, so earning or redeeming points for Amtrak travel isn’t a useful way to keep my account active. Amtrak no longer charges award cancellation fees, so it’s unclear whether you’d reset your expiration clock if you booked and canceled an award.

I also don’t need to shop with Amtrak retail partners like 1-800-Flowers.com, Teleflora or Vinesse Wines.

Related: You can now search Amtrak routes on Google Flights

The smallest amount of points I could buy is 500, which would cost me $18.85 at a purchase rate of 3.77 cents per point. Since I may never redeem my Amtrak points, I’m not willing to pay $18.85 for 500 more points to extend the validity of my existing points.

My best option is to earn a few Amtrak points by taking a Survey Points Club survey. Points from completing surveys often post instantly but can take up to a week. I enrolled in the Survey Points Club, answered some demographic questions and started my first survey.

After starting the survey, I didn’t get past the first few pages of questions. Once I said a doctor hadn’t prescribed me any prescription pain medicine in the past six months, the survey loaded a message stating I wasn’t a good fit. However, I still got five points for starting the survey.

Now, my Amtrak points should expire Jan. 12, 2027. However, I’d feel better if Amtrak stated the expiration date in my account.

Related: How to keep your airline, hotel and rental car points and miles from expiring

Bottom line

It’s annoying that Amtrak points expire if your account is inactive for 24 months. However, earning points through Survey Points Club was a relatively easy way to keep my Amtrak account active. The points posted to my account almost immediately, so Survey Points Club may be an option even if your points are set to expire in just a few days.

Remember that you must manually track when your Amtrak points expire or rely on an award travel tool that tracks your points and miles expiration dates. After all, your Amtrak points expiration date won’t appear in your Amtrak account, and Amtrak won’t notify you before your points expire.

Air travel is off to a smooth start this long weekend, but that’s likely to change — first from snow in the Northeast then in the Deep South thanks to a second winter storm, this one a potential whopper now brewing off the Texas coast.

First, wintry weather could snarl air traffic in the Northeast and New England on Sunday.

The second of a one-two punch to air travel could then come Monday, where airports in the Deep South are already warning another blast of wintry conditions could wreak havoc in parts of the country that seldom see snow.

That includes the possibility of accumulating snow stretching from Texas along the Gulf Coast into northern Florida and — perhaps most ominously for flyers — north across megahubs in Atlanta and Charlotte by Tuesday.

Weekend flight cancellations and delays likely

For now, travelers have not yet seen many flight delays or cancellations.

TPG’s picks: The most-exciting new airline routes for 2025

However, the fast-moving winter storm forecast for Sunday threatens to dump snow on portions of the New York metropolitan area, New England and the surrounding region, the National Weather Service warned — with up to a half-foot of accumulation expected inland.

Here is the latest briefing on the potential winter storm for later this weekend. For the full briefing, click the link here : https://t.co/XOyNs6MCfJ
Arctic air with sub zero windchills arrives after the storm departs for the first half of next week !! pic.twitter.com/RFYlJ2XP30

— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 18, 2025

Most major U.S. airlines have now issued travel advisories for the next couple of days, which cover many of the biggest Northeast hubs, from the three large airports in the New York City area, to Boston, Philadelphia the Washington, D.C. region.

Those waivers give travelers extra flexibility to make free ticket changes, even when flying on an ultra-restrictive ticket.

Northeast winter weather

Travelers should plan for disruptions getting to or from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and especially John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Friday.

Those airports’ governing body urged travelers to check with their airline and build in extra time getting to the airport — particularly at JFK, amid ongoing construction at the region’s largest hub.

DC region marred by bitter cold

Making matters worse: Travelers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) had to contend with an outage to its heating system in the terminals, leading to plunging temperatures inside as travelers descended upon the city — itself bracing for bitter cold temperatures — ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.

Our maintenance team is working through the night to repair an airport-wide heating system outage. Indoor temperatures by Saturday morning could drop to colder than normal temperatures, but we will remain open. Airlines, TSA and shopping and dining will operate at their normal… pic.twitter.com/3qpVgwbI8V

— Reagan Airport (@Reagan_Airport) January 18, 2025

More winter weather possible next week
While this weekend’s winter storm is likely to disrupt air travel Sunday and Monday, parts of the Deep South are already planning for the possibility of a winter storm that could bring travel to a standstill. 

The National Weather Service warned of “increasing potential” for a storm that could sweep across portions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia — perhaps bringing “accumulating snow and ice. That could even include cities like Houston, New Orleans and Tallahassee, Florida, that rarely see wintry weather.

In addition to the winter storm in the Northeast, another winter storm may develop and impact much of the Deep South early next week. Here is our first Key Message about that potential winter storm. pic.twitter.com/2AUuq4TY7z

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 17, 2025

United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), has already issued an additional travel waiver for next week’s developing storm, covering a slew of southern airports, including its Houston base.

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) likewise took to social media to note its preparations ahead of the impending storm.

❄️ Winter weather at AUS means teamwork, preparation, & coordination! 🛫 From de-icing runways to keeping roadways safe, our dedicated teams work 24/7 to ensure smooth operations.

Read all about it here: https://t.co/sYHyqMl53n

— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AUStinAirport) January 17, 2025

The region has already been marred by severe storms, snow and ice in recent weeks. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the nation’s second busiest, has seen thousands of flight cancellations over the past month, owed to a barrage of foul weather.

Whether your travels take you to the East Coast this weekend or parts of the South next week, here’s how you can start preparing now:

Watch for a travel advisory

Check your airline’s website. If you’re planning to fly to the mid-Atlantic or Northeast over the next couple of days, it’s likely your flight could be covered by one of the many travel advisories issued by major U.S. carriers.

This could allow you to more easily make complimentary itinerary changes right from your airline’s app — even if you’re flying on an ordinarily restrictive ticket like basic economy.

American Airlines’ advisory, for instance, covers four of its major hubs: LaGuardia, JFK, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and DCA.

Southwest Airlines’ covers its busy Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) base, among other airports.

Here’s a rundown of the largest U.S. carriers’ current alerts:

• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• JetBlue
• Spirit Airlines

Note that United has two separate alerts: one for the Northeast weather system this weekend covering a slew of East Coast airports, including its hubs at Newark and Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAH).

The Chicago-based carrier has a second advisory for the Deep South weather system next week, so you can start planning ahead, now, for potential disruptions.

Keep an eye on your airline’s app

Make sure you download your airline’s app, and watch it closely. You may get notifications about flight delays or cancellations, and you’ll be able to spot early signs of trouble with your travel plans.

Also: if your flight is delayed or canceled, your airline may allow you to book yourself on a new flight right in the app.

This could save you significant time you’d otherwise spend waiting on hold with customer service.

Read more: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next

See a good rebooking option? Don’t delay

If you’re battling flight delays and see a halfway decent rebooking option pop up in your airline’s app, don’t waste a second: Lock it in!

With thousands of flights likely to be affected by winter weather in the coming days, many other passengers will be “competing” for seats on flights that do get out on time. That means those open spots will fill up quickly.

Don’t forget about the lounge

If using your airline’s app to make itinerary changes isn’t cutting it, you might consider visiting your airline’s lounge (if you’re a member, of course). The customer service desks in airlines’ clubs can often have much shorter waits for assistance than you’ll find along the airport concourse.

Just keep in mind: this applies only to airport lounges that are affiliated with your airline; credit card-branded clubs like the American Express Centurion Lounge or Capital One Lounge — while a great place to kill time during a delay — won’t be able to help you work on changing your flights.

Review your refund rights

Now is a good time to brush up on your rights to a refund when it comes to air travel.

Under U.S. Department of Transportation policy, airlines are required to refund you for the unflown portion of your ticket when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed — only if you choose not to travel (and don’t accept rebooking).

This rule applies even when the flight disruption is due to bad weather, and it can come in handy if you opt to stay home instead of taking a later flight in the midst of a winter storm.

Getting compensation for a delayed flight

Airlines have made a wide range of promises to the DOT for meals, hotel accommodations and other guarantees in the event of flight cancellations and major delays. However, keep in mind, these typically apply to “controllable” disruptions (like maintenance or staffing issues) and generally do not apply when bad weather affects travel.

This is where a travel credit card that offers travel insurance protections can come in handy, helping you recoup unexpected costs when flight trouble leaves you stranded. The one catch: In most cases, you’ll typically need to book your trip with that card in order to make a successful claim.

Related reading:

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