If you wish you could connect your wireless headphones to watch seatback entertainment on your next flight, the solution is 21% off during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.
While some of the newest aircraft seats offer Bluetooth connectivity in all classes, most airlines don’t, and if you have ever attempted to endure tinny inflight entertainment audio through cheap, airplane-wired headphones even though you’re traveling with a pair of high-end Bluetooth headphones, we feel your pain. Thankfully, there’s a solution.
Forget untangling cords to shove one-size-fits-all pieces of plastic into your ear and suffer from thin, baseless sound while you watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster.
The Avantree Relay Premium Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter lets you connect your wireless Bluetooth headphones through any single or dual-pin 3.5mm headphone jack with a simple device that can fit in your pocket.
Usually $39.99, you can save 20% and pick up this handy gadget from Amazon for just $31.49 right now.
AMAZON.COM
Even if you are traveling in a premium cabin where higher quality headphones are provided to all passengers, depending on the airline, these may not have noise canceling capabilities, offer the sound quality your personal wireless headphones provide and may not be as comfortable for a long flight.
If traveling with a friend, the Relay device allows you to connect up to two devices simultaneously, so you could even share screens if you don’t mind them leaning in.
With a battery life of up to 20 hours, this nifty device can be used on the world’s longest flights. It ensures you can lose yourself in the hours of entertainment your airline provides without sacrificing sound quality or personal comfort.
You can also adjust the headphone sound on the Avantree Relay Premium Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter device without hunting for a pop-out aircraft remote control or fiddling with a touchscreen.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on drugstore and dining purchases and 1.5% on all other purchases, including Amazon.
Chase Freedom Flex®: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on drugstore and dining purchases and 1% on all other purchases, including Amazon.
Bottom line
You never have to suffer through long flights with poor-quality headphones again.
We love the Avantree Relay Premium Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter for its simplicity and ability to connect your favorite wireless headphones to any 3.5mm headphone jack. Now, you can enjoy all the seatback inflight entertainment you wish, and it’s 21% off during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
This valuable benefit lets you bring a companion along for free (excluding applicable taxes and fees) on unlimited Southwest Airlines flights until the pass expires. For frequent Southwest flyers, this benefit alone can easily amount to thousands of dollars saved annually. So, here’s what you should know about earning and using the Southwest Companion Pass.
How to earn the Southwest Companion Pass
To earn a Southwest Companion Pass valid through the end of the next calendar year, you must accrue 135,000 qualifying points or complete 100 qualifying flights within a calendar year.
You can earn qualifying points through various means, including flying with Southwest and engaging with its partners. The latter includes making purchases via the Rapid Rewards shopping portal, completing hotel stays and car rentals with partners, and using a Southwest credit card for purchases.
MILAN2099/GETTY IMAGES
Cobranded Southwest credit cards are often the simplest way to earn the Companion Pass since you’ll earn qualifying points on purchases, and the welcome bonus points are qualifying. Additionally, travelers with a cobranded Southwest credit card get 10,000 qualifying points each calendar year, effectively reducing the Companion Pass requirement to 125,000 qualifying points yearly.
Speaking of welcome bonuses on Southwest credit cards, here’s a look at some of the current offers:
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Earn a Companion Pass through Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (this offer ends March 31).
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Earn a Companion Pass through Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (this offer ends March 31).
The two consumer Southwest cards offer a Companion Pass valid through Feb. 28, 2026, as part of their welcome offer. However, the bonus points from each offer could help you earn a Companion Pass valid through the end of 2026.
Finally, it’s also worth noting that Southwest occasionally offers promotions for limited-time Companion Passes. For example, for a short time in February, Southwest let travelers earn a two-month Companion Pass for later this year after just one round trip or two one-way flights.
Once you’ve earned a Companion Pass, Southwest makes it incredibly easy to use.
Set up your Companion Pass
After you earn the Companion Pass, Southwest will send you a congratulatory email within a few days. Log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account to track your progress toward earning the Companion Pass.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Upon receiving the email, click the link to set up your initial companion choice. The process is quick, but you’ll need to provide information about your companion, including their legal name (matching their ID) and birth date.
If you want to keep the same companion for the duration of your Companion Pass, you’ll only need to set it up once. However, remember you can change your companion up to three times each calendar year.
Before using your Companion Pass, you must book your own Southwest flight. And if you’re traveling with someone who isn’t your designated companion, book their flight, too. For example, suppose you are a family of four with one adult holding the Companion Pass and the other adult being the companion. In that case, you should initially book tickets for the Companion Pass holder and the two kids.
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You can pay for your flights with cash or redeem Southwest points when using a Companion Pass. However, if you purchase the tickets with cash, remember to include each traveler’s Rapid Rewards number when booking so they can earn Southwest points on their flights.
Once you have booked your flight, you can add your companion to your reservation. Doing so immediately after booking your flight is the best way to ensure you add your companion before the flight sells out.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
However, you can’t change a flight with a companion attached. And you can often save serious points or cash by occasionally checking whether you can rebook at a lower rate. As such, TPG lead writer Katie Genter suggests setting up a Y9 alert in ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures) so you’ll get an email when only nine seats remain on your flight. Then, once your flight is less than two weeks out — the point at which Southwest flights usually become more expensive — or when you get the Y9 alert email, add your companion.
To add your companion to a flight, log in to your Southwest account and find the flight in your upcoming trips. If you haven’t added your companion yet, you should see an “Add companion” button for the flight.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Click the button and double-check the prefilled information. Proceed through the process until you reach the point where you’ll need to pay the taxes and fees for your companion’s flight. Pay the taxes and fees, and your companion will be confirmed on the flight. Your companion will get a different confirmation number than you, though.
The Companion Pass might provide significant value if you frequently fly Southwest with a favorite companion. Likewise, if you would fly Southwest frequently with another traveler if you could do so for about half the cost, the Companion Pass is worth considering.
Southwest credit cards can put earning the Companion Pass within reach even if you don’t meet the standard requirements through flights. Best of all, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card have welcome offers through March 31 for a Companion Pass valid through Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
If you’re looking to enter the United Club, you might want to pay attention to this news.
The Chicago-based airline announced major changes to United Club access policies on Monday. The updates include new membership options, guest policies and timing restrictions. The changes aren’t as sweeping as what Delta Air Line announced for its (often overcrowded) Sky Clubs, but there are some big updates that are sure to catch your attention.
Savvy readers shouldn’t be surprised to see these updates — after all, United Airlines’ head of lounges teased them exclusively to TPG last month — but now that they’re official, here’s what you need to know.
2 membership tiers
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Effective immediately, United will offer two tiers of club membership.
United Club individual membership
This membership will offer unlimited access to all United Club locations for the primary member only. The annual price will be $750 or 94,000 miles, and there are no discounts available for United Premier members. Note that Individual members can pay to bring guests into the lounge on a one-off basis; you’ll need to pay $59 for a one-time pass per guest.
United Club All Access membership
This membership plan offers unlimited United Club access to primary members and up to two guests. This membership also includes access to all Star Alliance member lounges, as well as other select partner locations listed on this website. All Access members can use any Star Alliance member carrier-owned or Star Alliance-branded lounge. In effect, purchasing this membership will give you de facto Star Alliance Gold status, at least in terms of lounge access.
The annual sticker price for this plan is $1,400 or 175,000 miles, but Premier members gain access to the following discounted rates:
Premier Platinum members: $1,300 or 163,000 miles
Premier 1K members: $1,200 or 150,000 miles
Global Service members: $1,000 or 125,000 miles
While these new membership plans are effective immediately for new sign-ups, existing members won’t see any changes until their membership year expires. Upon renewal, you must choose between an individual or All Access plan (and pay the associated higher fees).
United Club membership via credit cards
While you can purchase a stand-alone United Club membership at the rates above, you can also get discounted access via several cobranded credit cards.
Lounge access will be included with the following credit cards:
United Club℠ Infinite Card
United Club℠ Business Card
United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card (no longer accepting new applications)
United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card (no longer accepting new applications)
Note that lounge membership earned via a cobranded credit card offers a unique access policy that includes entry for primary cardmembers, one guest and any dependents under 18.
Cardmembers can unlock an All Access club membership (that bumps up the guest allowance to two and unlocks access to partner lounges) in one of two ways. The first is to earn Premier Gold status or higher in a given year, and the second is to spend at least $50,000 in eligible purchases on their cobranded card in a calendar year.
Note that the annual fee on both the United Club Infinite Card and the United Club Business Card is just $695, so having a card to enter the lounge remains a more attractive option than outright buying membership.
3-hour time limits
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
In recent years, several airline- and credit card-branded lounges have implemented restrictions on how early guests can arrive. This prevents travelers from turning the club into their office (or cafeteria) for an entire day. Now, United is joining the bandwagon — but in a far more limited way.
Starting May 1, travelers using a one-time pass can only enter a United Club up to three hours before their scheduled departure time. This exclusively applies to departure flights, and there will be no time limit for entry on connecting flights. There are also no time limits for club access for members or travelers flying in eligible premium cabins.
Furthermore, grab-and-go Club Fly locations will no longer accept one-time passes. (Note that United sells one-time passes for $59, so be aware of the new restrictions before purchasing one.)
Bottom line
Of course, United’s new membership tiers (and associated annual fees) sting for those who are used to paying for the airline’s existing pricing tiers. Plus, the new time limits on entering the club with a one-time pass will hurt those who enjoy spending lots of time in the lounge before their flight.
But as a whole, these changes aren’t actually all that bad. As we noted earlier, they’re nowhere near as sweeping as what Delta has done with its Sky Club network; that carrier is now limiting cobranded credit card members to a fixed number of annual visits.
Plus, the new three-hour rule only applies to a small subset of travelers who use the lounge with a one-time pass.
But perhaps the best news is that those with select United credit cards will continue to enjoy unlimited access to the United Club network. They’ll just be permitted one fewer guest until they earn Premier Gold status or spend $50,000 on the card. Once you hit either of those milestones, you’ll enjoy a much-upgraded All Access membership that includes partner lounge access and an additional guest.
Editor’s note: TPG’s Gene Sloan accepted a free trip from Avalon Waterways to get an early look at its new France itinerary. The opinions expressed below are entirely his and weren’t subject to review by the line.
Add Avalon Waterways to the list of travel companies operating trips through the famed Bordeaux wine region.
The well-known river cruise operator this week will begin its first sailings on France’s Garonne and Dordogne rivers, which cut through the vineyard-filled region known for some of the world’s best-known red wines.
Taking place on Avalon’s 128-passenger Avalon Artistry 2, the seven-night voyages will begin and end in the riverfront city of Bordeaux, the region’s capital, starting on Tuesday.
Stops on the sailings will include the river towns of Cadillac-Sur-Garonne, Libourne, Bourg and Blaye, which will serve as jumping off points for visits to the many wineries in the region but also other attractions including historic sites.
“Obviously people think about Bordeaux and think about the wine, and that’s a big part of the experience. [But] we wanted to create something that had more than that,” Avalon president Pam Hoffee said Sunday during a press conference on board Avalon Artistry 2.
The press conference came during an abbreviated, four-night preview of the new itinerary for media and travel agents that included a taste of some of the experiences in store for passengers.
As TPG saw first hand during the preview, these included lots of excursions that involved visits to wineries and wine tastings, from a wine-blending class at a winery with expert vintners to a wine and chocolate tasting at a chateau in the famed Margaux section of the Bordeaux region. But they also included non-wine-related excursions to such historic sites as the massive 17th century Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As is typical for Avalon trips, the tour choices also included active options such as a lengthy hike through the vineyards of the Margaux area (starting at the front gate of Chateaux Margaux, one of the world’s best known wineries) and a bike tour through the vineyards around the historic and wine-focused town of St. Emilion.
During the press conference on board, Hoffee said Avalon was trying to do the region differently than some of its competitors by offering excursions to unusual spots such as the seaside town of Arcachon, known for its Victorian villas and oyster farms. Winery tours and tasting were designed to be more intimate and off-the-beaten-path, she suggested.
“We’re going to small family-owned wineries and really having an immersive experience,” she said.
As is always the case with Avalon trips, all the excursions including the winery tours and tastings are included in the price of the cruise.
Originally built to sail the Rhine River, where it has been based since 2013, Avalon Artistry 2 underwent a major overhaul before being moved to the Bordeaux region. The makeover brought fresh decor in public spaces, from flooring to furniture; a revamped sky deck with all-new furnishings; and upgraded internet service as well as other improvements.
The revamped Panorama Lounge on Avalon Artistry 2. AVALON WATERWAYS
Like all vessels currently in the Avalon fleet, Avalon Artistry 2 is part of Avalon’s Suite Class of ships, which began debuting in 2011.
The vessels in the series are known for their large numbers of extra-wide cabins called Panorama Suites that offer a more panoramic view of passing scenery than the standard rooms you’ll find on many other river ships.
Avalon Artistry 2 has 52 of these Panorama Suites, which offer 200 square feet of living space. That’s about 30% more square footage than the standard river ship cabin.
Avalon has long touted the Panorama Suites as a key differentiator between its vessels and those of other river lines in Europe that cater to North Americans. The suites make up nearly 80% of the cabins on Avalon’s ships and have several unusual features. Among them: floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic windows that stretch 11 feet wide and open up 7 feet wide.
A Panorama Suite on Avalon Artistry 2. AVALON WATERWAYS
Founded in 2004, 21-year-old Avalon is known for a young fleet of ships with a stylish, contemporary design, and Avalon Artistry 2 is no exception. Public areas feature modern furniture, clean lines and lots of glass walls that flood the spaces with light.
At 361 feet in length, Avalon Artistry 2 is smaller than most of Avalon’s ships, which typically measure about 443 feet in length and hold up to 166 passengers. That gives it a particularly intimate feel.
Avalon is just the latest major river line to add river cruises through the Bordeaux region. Several of its biggest competitors including AmaWaterways, Viking and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises have been operating in the region for about a decade.
Like other river cruise lines that cater to North Americans, Avalon has grown notably over the past two decades. With several additions in recent years, it now has 15 ships in Europe. It also operates one ship in Asia on the Mekong River and sells trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Amazon in South America, too.
Fares for the new seven-night Bordeaux region sailings start at $2,830 per person.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express have established themselves as the cards to have if you’re interested in luxury travel benefits. With an overlapping rewards structure and similar benefits, it’s logical to question which of the two is the best for you. Or, if you already have one of the cards, you may be wondering whether you should also go for the other.
It could actually work out in your favor to make room for both cards in your wallet — even with the $695 annual fees on each (see rates and fees for the Amex Platinum and rates and fees for the Amex Business Platinum).
Each card has benefits to complement the other and travelers will have no problem earning back the steep yearly fees, making them a great combination when it comes to getting the most out of your trips.
Here’s why you may want both in your wallet.
Incredible welcome offer value
Both cards come with pretty substantial welcome offers. Right now, new Business Platinum Card cardmembers can earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in the first three months of cardmembership.
With the Amex Platinum, new cardmembers can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of cardmembership (although you may be targeted for a higher offer via the CardMatch Tool — subject to change at any time and not everyone will be targeted for the same offers).
If you apply for both cards and earn the full welcome bonuses, you’ll get at least 230,000 Membership Rewards points. Based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations, that’s worth $4,600— more than triple the combined cost of the annual fees.
Both cards have a number of credits to help cardmembers get value year after year. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Typically, one of the easiest perks to take advantage of with the Platinum cards is the annual airline fee statement credit you’ll receive each calendar year.
On top of the airline fee credits, the personal Platinum card is loaded with annual offers. Cardmembers enjoy the following (some benefits require enrollment):
Up to $200 per calendar year in annual Uber statement credits (up to $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus up to $20 in December; for use in the U.S.). Your Amex Plat must be added to your Uber account and you can redeem with any Amex card.
Up to $200 per calendar year in hotel statement credits for prepaid stays booked through American Express Travel at participating properties with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (the latter requires a two-night minimum stay).
$120 in credits for your Global Entry application every 4 years, or up to $85 in credits for your TSA PreCheck application every 4½ years
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When it comes to annual statement credits, the Business Platinum is no slouch, either. It offers up to $400 in Dell statement credits each calendar year (up to $200 semi-annually), up to $360 in statement credits for Indeed per calendar year (up to $90 each quarter), up to $200 per calendar year in Hilton statement credits (up to $50 per quarter), up to $150 each calendar year in Adobe statement credits (subject to auto-renewal) and up to $120 per calendar year in statement credits for purchases with U.S. wireless cellphone providers (up to $10 per month). The Dell and Adobe credits will end on June. 30.
The Business Platinum also matches the personal Platinum in offering statement credits for both Clear Plus and your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (which you can use to pay for a frequent travel companion’s application). These credits are worth the same as the Amex Platinum’s, and are issued in the same timeframe.
Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Amex Offers
All American Express cards, including the Platinum and Business Platinum cards, come with access to Amex Offers. You can find your available offers if you scroll down to “Amex Offers & Benefits” on your online account page or click on the “Offers” tab on the Amex app. They are targeted to each cardmember and come from merchants including hotels, travel providers, restaurants and clothing and jewelry stores. These offers are usually either:
Spend $X, get Y number of bonus points.
Spend $X, get $Y back.
Get additional points for each dollar you spend at a select merchant.
AMEX
While Amex Offers can be a great deal alone, you can do even better when you stack them with online shopping portals to earn extra cash back or bonus points on your purchase.
Be warned: Depending on the terms of the offer, using online portals, promo codes or other savings methods could cause your Amex Offer not to trigger, so always read the fine print in the terms.
That said, the good news is that you can stack the top Amex Offers with other popular Amex perks, including some of the annual statement credits that come with the Platinum and the Business Platinum cards. Eligibility for these offers is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Some cards have eliminated these protections over the last few years, so these benefits provide another reason to book your travel with an Amex Platinum.
The Platinum cards not only protect you from several travel disasters but can also enhance your travel experience.
The Platinum cards get you access to The Global Lounge Collection, giving cardmembers free entry into any Amex Centurion Lounge plus access to a number of additional airport lounges as well. Access is limited to eligible cardmembers. Overall, the collection grants access to over 1,400 VIP lounge locations across 140 countries — a very valuable benefit.
Surely to be sought out by frequent flyers, the Platinum cards also provide some supplemental benefits to make travels a bit easier: Platinum Travel Service counselors can help set an itinerary to make the most of your trips, while Global Dining Access by Resy can get you into your most desired restaurants. Preferred Access is even a way to snag exclusive seats at cultural and sporting events.
Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Hotel benefits
One area where these two cards overlap is access to an array of hotel benefits. With both the personal and business Amex Platinum, you’ll receive complimentary Gold status at Hilton and Marriott and have access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
LORI ZAINO/THE POINTS GUY
Gold status at Hilton comes with perks like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades when available and an 80% point bonus on paid stays. Marriott Bonvoy Gold status comes with benefits such as priority late checkout, upgrades when available and a 25% point bonus.
Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts is a program that offers elitelike benefits at properties around the world. These perks include guaranteed late checkout, daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available and a unique property amenity (valued at $100 or more).
Some properties in this program will also offer third, fourth or fifth nights free, which is a valuable benefit when you’re not looking to use your hotel points for a stay.
While you only need one Platinum card to enjoy these benefits, having both ensures you’re taking advantage of benefits while maximizing earning, whether your trip is for business or pleasure.
Maximizing personal and business spending
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of having both the personal and business versions of the Amex Platinum is that you can effectively earn 7.7% back on every airfare purchase you put on your personal Platinum Card (airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel earns 5 points per dollar on up to $500,000 spent on these purchases per calendar year; 1 point per dollar thereafter). This earning rate also holds true for prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel.
This is because, when you have the Business Platinum Card, you have the ability to Pay with Points to book flights with Amex Travel, and doing so will get you 35% of your points back (up to 1 million points per calendar year). This essentially gets you a value of 1.54 cents per point.
If you earn 5 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and then redeem those points at a value of 1.54 cents, you’re getting a return of 7.7%.
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That said, if you maximize American Express’s array of valuable transfer partners, you may be able to get even more value. After all, TPG values Amex Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece as of our March 2025 valuations.
Something else to consider is that the Amex Business Platinumearns 1.5 points per dollar on U.S. construction material and hardware purchases, U.S. electronics, cloud system providers and software purchases and U.S. shipping providers. To top it off, the Business Platinum also earns 1.5 points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more. Purchases that earn 1.5 points per dollar are limited to the first $2 million every calendar year (1 point per dollar thereafter).
Say, for example, you’re making an $11,500 purchase, and you wouldn’t be eligible for a bonus with another card. In total, you’d earn 17,250 Membership Rewards points on the Business Platinum card — worth about $345 based on TPG’s valuations.
If you were to use another eligible Amex card without a category bonus for what you’re buying, you’d earn 11,500 Membership Rewards points — worth about $230.
Effectively, you’d be getting more than $100 extra in value by using the Business Platinum.
Using both the personal Amex Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card can get you the maximum value on both your rewards-earning and redemptions, in addition to some great cardmember perks.
The combo is perfect for business-owning travelers who have a high budget and want to take advantage of huge savings, generous credits and luxurious travel opportunities.
Although the annual costs are high, the right cardmembers will have no issue getting massive value out of this pairing. Each is a great card on its own, but having both in your wallet can get you even more Membership Rewards points and help you stretch those points further when it comes time to use them for travel.
About four in 10 flights were delayed or canceled last month at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) as disruptions persisted in the wake of the deadliest U.S. commercial airline crash in more than two decades.
The Federal Aviation Administration continued to limit the number of planes arriving at the airport — the closest one to our nation’s capital — in the interest of safety following the Jan. 29 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that claimed 67 lives.
Still, the air traffic limitations have fueled travel difficulties at the busy airport, DCA’s governing body revealed this week.
Flight disruptions mounted at DCA
During the month of February, close to 34% of flights encountered delays arriving at DCA, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said in a new report. That’s about three times more than last February.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaking to reporters following the Jan. 29 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). NATHAN POSNER/ANADOLU/GETTY IMAGES
Close to 8% of flights headed to DCA were canceled last month, the MWAA said — up significantly from around 0.5% of flights axed during that same period last year.
The FAA began limiting air traffic at DCA immediately after the late-January crash, initially halting all flights and diverting planes to nearby Dulles International Airport (IAD) amid a large-scale investigation.
Then, as runways reopened in the ensuing days and weeks, the FAA maintained caps on the number of hourly flights that could land at DCA. For most of February, the number of flights that could land each hour was down by more than 10% from the normally allowed rate.
Adding to the disruptions: routine halts in air traffic due to helicopters in the area.
Following the deadly collision, the FAA quickly implemented restrictions on helicopter traffic and said last week it would heed urgent safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board by closing off chopper routes near the airport and only allowing essential helicopter traffic.
Still, some helicopter flights — including Marine One transportation of President Donald Trump — are still allowed and frequently lead the agency to halt all flights at DCA, the MWAA noted.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). KAYLA BARTKOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES
Delays have been less widespread in recent weeks, the MWAA reported. On Feb. 28, the FAA inched up the number of hourly arrivals allowed at the airport to nearly 95% of ordinary levels.
At the time of writing this story on the afternoon of March 20, about 12% of DCA-bound flights on the day’s schedule had been delayed, according to FlightAware.
Travelers particularly concerned about encountering a flight delay could always consider flying out of IAD or nearby Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
While both airports are farther from the center of Washington, D.C., IAD is accessible via the region’s Metro transportation system. BWI travelers can connect to the airport on Amtrak via Union Station in D.C.
Situated along the Potomac River in Virginia, DCA is a popular regional airport. Several of the largest U.S. airlines have a sizable presence there — most notably American Airlines, which operates its mid-Atlantic hub at the airport.
DCA passenger traffic down
This week, airport officials also revealed a marked drop in passenger traffic in recent weeks.
The number of passengers that boarded flights at DCA last month was down about 12% to 13% versus last year, the MWAA said in its report this week.
Travelers check their flight status at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Airport officials said this reduction in travel was due in large part to reduced government travel and economic concerns amid the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal and contractor workforces.
The total number of passengers who transited through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints nationally in February 2025 was roughly even with that of February 2024, according to data reviewed by TPG. This trend differs from the 6% to 7% year-over-year surge we’ve become used to seeing since the coronavirus pandemic.
Bottom line
It’s worth noting the recent increase in flight disruptions — and decrease in passenger traffic — at DCA comes as several airlines launched new transcontinental routes from the airport in the last month. Congress authorized these routes last year in a controversial move.
Those new routes included nonstop American Airlines service to San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Alaska Airlines service to San Diego International Airport (SAN), Southwest Airlines flights to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Delta Air Lines service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
United Airlines was also set to launch a second daily nonstop flight to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as part of congressionally authorized exceptions to DCA’s long-standing limits on long-distance flights.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card overview
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers sufficient perks that, if utilized, can easily justify the card’s annual fee of $99. However, business owners who aren’t loyal to IHG One Rewards may be better off with another business card. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Considering that the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has an annual fee of only $99, it offers many perks for travelers and small-business owners who frequently stay with IHG. Compared to other hotel-branded business credit cards, the IHG Premier Business card has one of the lowest annual fees and may prove attractive simply for that reason.
Benefits include automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you’re a cardholder, a unique fourth-night-free reward perk when redeeming points for hotel stays and a valuable welcome bonus. One key perk — the free night certificate received each year — can easily cover the annual fee on the IHG Premier Business card. We recommend a credit score of at least 670 to be approved for this card.
Let’s look at the details of the IHG Premier Business card to see if it’s right for your company.
Redemption options outside IHG properties aren’t as valuable
$99 annual fee
IHG Premier Business welcome offer
New applicants for the IHG One Premier Business card can earn up to 200,000 points: 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and another 60,000 bonus points after spending a total of $9,000 in the first six months from account opening.
Your bonus will come in the form of IHG points, which are worth 0.5 cents each according to TPG’s March 2025 valuations. Thus, this bonus is worth up to $1,000.
THE POINTS GUY
This is one of the highest offers we’ve seen on this card. The usual offer is about 140,000 bonus points (worth $700, according to TPG’s March 2025 valuations), so the current elevated bonus is one to jump on.
It’s worth noting there is a warning on the application page that you are not eligible for this bonus if you’ve received a welcome bonus on this card within the past 24 months.
This card is ideal for Chase customers under 5/24. While most business credit cards will not affect your 5/24 status, you do need to be under 5/24 to apply.
The IHG One Premier Business card has a modest $99 annual fee, but is it worth it? The card’s value depends on whether you’ll use its benefits frequently enough to justify that annual fee.
First, on your cardmember anniversary each year (starting at the one-year mark and continuing each year after that, for as long as you keep the account open), you’ll receive a free night award valid for a single night, worth up to 40,000 points.
Cardholders also automatically enjoy IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, as long as their account remains open. Platinum members receive 60% bonus earnings on paid stays booked directly with IHG One Rewards, space-available room upgrades, a welcome amenity (in the form of points or a drink/snack) and a handful of other perks.
Those interested in earning top-tier Diamond Elite status can attain this by spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. After meeting the spending threshold, the status is valid through Dec. 31 of the following year.
You’ll also pay zero points for every fourth night when redeeming IHG points for stays of four nights or longer. This is an automatic perk that is reflected when booking. This is essentially a 25% discount on stays of exactly four nights, so it’s a great way to get even more value out of the card.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
That said, if you rarely redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or more, this perk may be of limited value.
Each calendar year you spend $20,000, you’ll earn 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit. TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg these bonus points at $50, which translates to a total value of $150 with the statement credit.
IHG Premier Business cardholders have a handful of other perks to utilize when you swipe your card:
TSAPrecheck/Global Entry application fee credit: You can be reimbursed up to $120 every four years when you charge a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee to your card.
Save 20% on the purchase of IHG points when you pay with your card.
Up to $50 in United Airlines TravelBank cash each calendar year when you register your IHG One Premier card with your MileagePlus account.
Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card, you’ll get coverage against theft and collision. Coverage is secondary when renting within the U.S., but primary when renting for business purposes.
Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance: You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason.
Purchase protection: Your new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft. There is a limit of $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per account.
These benefits can be nice to have when things go wrong.
Earning points on the IHG Premier Business card
Generally, you won’t get fantastic earning rates on most hotel credit cards — especially on broad categories like dining and groceries. That said, the IHG One Premier Business card could be a solid option, especially at participating IHG properties.
INTERCONTINENTAL PHUKET RESORT
When you use your card at IHG hotels and resorts, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent on your stay. This is in addition to the 10 base points that all IHG One Rewards members accrue at most participating brands. And since you have automatic Platinum Elite status with the card, that’ll give you another 60% bonus on top of the base points. This combination translates to a total of 26 points per dollar spent on most IHG stays — or a 13% return on spending, based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.
Beyond IHG purchases, cardholders of the IHG Premier Business will earn points at the following rates:
5 points per dollar spent on travel, hotels (non-IHG properties), dining and gas purchases
5 points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising and at office supply stores
3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
That translates to a 2.5% return on the bonus categories based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations, though it drops to 1.5% on everyday purchases — a rate of return lower than many other cards.
Like many competitors, IHG One Rewards doesn’t publish an award chart; instead, it uses dynamic award pricing. The program’s website indicates that free nights start at 5,000 points.
On the other end, there’s no published maximum rate, although for IHG’s core brands, the highest we’ve seen is 120,000 points per night. However, properties in partner brands such as Six Senses frequently exceed this.
SIX SENSES SOUTHERN DUNES, THE RED SEA/DANYAL AHMED
You’re not limited to only using points for your stay. You can also book rooms using a combination of points and cash, which can offer decent value in certain circumstances.
However, it’s worth noting just how these reservations are confirmed. IHG effectively sells you the extra points (for cash) and then uses the full number of points for the stay. You usually pay 0.63 to 0.66 cents for each IHG point used to make up the difference. IHG often sells points at this price (or cheaper), which can be another way to top off your account.
IHG.COM
As noted above, when you redeem points for a stay of four nights or longer, every fourth night will cost zero points. There’s no limit to how often you can use this benefit — though it only applies to full award stays, not those booked using cash and points.
Which cards compete with the IHG Premier Business card?
As the IHG One Premier Business card is a hotel credit card aimed at small-business owners, it’s worth looking at how it stacks up against other hotel-branded business credit cards.
If you’re looking for a card with Hyatt status and perks: The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card offers automatic Discoverist status with World of Hyatt (the lowest tier). It does have a higher annual fee at $199 but offers perks like up to $100 in spending credits with Hyatt each cardmember year. For more information, check out our full review of the World of Hyatt Business card.
If you’re looking for top-tier status with a low annual fee: The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card from Barclays comes with automatic top-tier Wyndham Rewards Diamond status for an annual fee of only $95. This card also carries perks like 10% points discounts on award stays and 15,000 bonus points on each cardmember anniversary. For more information, see our post on which Wyndham card is right for you.
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Yes — as long as you can make the most of the card’s perks. The IHG One Premier Business card has an annual fee of $99 and offers an annual free night award that can easily be redeemed for more value than that. Cardholders also earn points at solid rates when making purchases in bonus categories, though the earning rate on everyday purchases isn’t fantastic.
Bottom line
Small-business owners loyal to IHG or those simply looking to diversify their travel strategy can find sufficient value to justify the card’s annual fee each year. If you find yourself underutilizing the perks or booking stays at varying hotel brands, we’d recommend a more general business credit card instead to maximize your chance of earning valuable rewards.
Editor’s note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
Quick take: The new Aria Suites are taking Cathay Pacific’s already stellar business class to the next level.
Pros
The new seats offer up-to-the-minute tech.
Luxurious amenities include Bamford bedding and skin care products.
Inflight menus offer plenty of delicious Asian and Western options.
Cons
Only a few planes feature the new Aria Suites at the moment.
Tray tables are designed in such a way that they can feel tight.
Award availability through partner programs is virtually nil.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Back in March 2024, Cathay Pacific released details on a new business-class product called “Aria Suites.” These seats represent the first major overhaul of the airline’s business class in several years, so, naturally, frequent flyers were waiting with bated breath for them to go into service.
Along with closing doors for privacy, Aria Suites feature latest-generation technology, including 4K entertainment screens with innovative experiential features, as well as some ergonomic improvements over the airline’s older seats.
After a stint flying between Hong Kong and Beijing, Cathay Pacific deployed planes with Aria Suites on one of its premier long-haul routes, between Hong Kong and London, in January 2025.
Award availability on the route has been decent (just be careful which flight you book to ensure your plane has the new suites), so I took the opportunity to test out the new Aria Suites for myself in early March.
Here’s what it was like flying Cathay Pacific business class in the new Aria Suite and how I booked it.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
How much does it cost to book Cathay Pacific business class?
The cost of a Cathay Pacific business-class ticket will depend on both where and when you are flying. For my route from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), one-way fares are currently around $4,500, with round-trip fares costing about $6,200. (Airfare pricing is downright mind-boggling, isn’t it?)
So, if you want to fly the Aria Suite for yourself, your best bet will be to use miles from Cathay Pacific’s own Asia Miles program. The cost of my ticket was 84,000 Asia Miles plus $389 in taxes and fees.
Even if you don’t regularly credit flights to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles — or if you haven’t even heard of the program — the good news is that you can stock up your account quickly since it’s a transfer partner of the following programs:
Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for transferring 60,000 points)
The following cards all currently offer considerable welcome bonuses or everyday earning potential with points and miles that you can transfer into your Cathay Pacific Asia Miles account:
Once you book your ticket, you will be able to select a seat for free.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Just note that Cathay Pacific currently operates four (yes, four) different Boeing 777-300ER configurations. One is mainly for regional flights, but the other three are deployed on some of its premier long-haul routes.
In order to ensure that you are on a plane with the new Aria Suites, cross-check the flight you are on with Cathay’s site. It should be denoted as a 77J and will have 45 business-class seats aboard.
Checking into and boarding Cathay Pacific business class
Cathay Pacific business-class passengers can enjoy the following priority services at the airport.
Priority check-in
Yes
Luggage allowance
Two checked bags of up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds) each
Lounge access
Yes, Cathay Pacific lounges and Oneworld partner lounges
Does the airline participate in TSA PreCheck?
Yes
Priority boarding
Yes, after preboarding
Cathay Pacific operates from Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport. The airline has dedicated check-in counters for first- and business-class passengers, and no one was in line when I got there, so I checked in quickly and then made my way through security.
The lounges in this terminal are all clustered close to the main concourse, where you’ll also find restaurants and shopping.
Cathay Pacific operates lounge “C,” which you must access via elevators. The space comprises a first-class section, a separate section for business class and a shared set of shower facilities available on a first-come, first-served basis.
I had access to the business-class lounge, which overlooked part of the tarmac. The first section of the lounge is a dining area with plenty of booth-style seating and a counter where you can order various types of noodles, soups and dim sum.
Past this is a small self-serve buffet area with various hot and cold dishes, plus some fresh fruit and salads, pastries, a coffee machine and a selection of Jing teas.
Beyond this is the main living room-style lounge area, which has a row of chairs and ottomans facing the windows and a variety of other seating vignettes. There is also a staffed bar where you can order complimentary wine, beer, cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Despite visiting the smaller space during a busy time of day — Cathay flights to Hong Kong depart at both 4:50 and 5:50 p.m. daily — the lounge did not feel crowded.
After eating a bowl of wonton soup and sending a few last emails via the complimentary Wi-Fi, I made my way to the gate, which was a five-minute walk away. There were two lines — one for economy and premium economy passengers and another for business- and first-class passengers. After having my boarding pass scanned, I was admitted to the gate area.
Boarding commenced 50 minutes before departure time and was completed in just over 30 minutes, so we pushed back right on time.
How comfortable is Cathay Pacific business class?
The Boeing 777-300ERs that have been reconfigured with Aria Suites have 45 seats in business class and no first-class cabin. The airline’s other 777-300ER configuration has between 40 and 53 seats, so this falls squarely in the middle.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Here’s a snapshot of the business-class cabin and seat stats:
Number of seats
45
Cabin layout
1-2-1
Seat recline
78 inches, fully flat
Seat width
21 inches
Screen size
24 inches
The business-class cabin aboard the reconfigured Boeing 777-300ERs consists of two sections.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The forward, larger section has 25 seats in six rows of four seats each plus a single seat — 18K — off on its own in the back on the right-hand side. I’d avoid that one, as it’s practically in the galley.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The smaller aft section where I sat has five rows of four seats each. All rows are laid out in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration; those on the sides face out toward the window while the two-seat sections running down the middle are angled toward one another.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
That makes the side seats — A and K — better for solo travelers and the center seats — D and G — better for couples. Don’t worry, those center seats still have substantial sliding privacy dividers in case you want some alone time.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The new Aria Suites are modified versions of Collins Aerospace Elements seats that you will also find aboard Starlux’s flagship A350s. These feel slightly roomier than previous versions of the popular reverse-herringbone seating style you’ll find on Cathay Pacific’s other long-haul jets.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Aria Suites have 43 inches of pitch, measure 21 inches wide at the armrest and around 25 inches at the shoulders, and recline to lie-flat beds that are 78 inches long.
You can lower the larger armrest along the aisle for a few extra inches of room, and you can even pull it forward and flat to create a little more surface area in lie-flat mode — an intelligent feature.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The gap between the large armrest and the preceding seatback is about 10 inches, which can be a squeeze to get through.
Also notable is a departure from the airline’s signature green upholstery. Instead, these new seats are in a much more neutral palette with throughlines of cream, taupe, sand and brown. This creates a more grounded inflight look that feels like a style evolution for the airline, though you will still find some pops of green, including along the privacy dividers between middle seats and as accents in the cubbies.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Instead of laminatelike surfaces, passengers should enjoy the wood grain finishes of the armrests and tray tables, as well as a marbleized seat-side shelf that lends the suites a more upscale feel.
One ingenious feature is a shallow cubby set within the suite’s larger armrest that has a sliding top panel rather than one that flips up, so you can keep a device or drink on it, even while accessing it.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
There’s also an elongated desk-style lamp mounted on the seatback for ample lighting. This is actually the main lighting source for the seat since there are no overhead lights. You can control it via the inflight entertainment screen and use its various small, focused beams to light up different parts of the seat and tray table.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
There are both USB-A and USB-C charging ports, plus a universal power plug to the side of the seat. There is also a wireless charging pad on the wide armrest, though this is not marked and does not seem to be functional yet.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The seat shell along the wider armrest also has an embedded touchscreen control for the entertainment system, a cabinet holding a provided pair of noise-canceling headphones and a pop-out vanity mirror for prelanding primping.
Under the armrest, there is a touchscreen console with preset seating positions as well as the ability to maneuver individual components like the seatback and legrest. This made the seat feel more versatile than many other business-class fixtures out there, and I could customize the various parts of it to my liking. This screen also had controls for the light as well as a flight attendant call button. When I was not using those, I could tap it to see how much time there was left in the flight, which was a handy feature.
The seat’s tray table slides out from under the entertainment system and unfolds to a full area of 15 inches by 18 inches, with a tablet holder integrated into its design.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
After meal service, the flight attendants came through the cabin to unlatch the suites’ doors. Interestingly, many other airlines do this shortly after takeoff so passengers can enjoy privacy even during meal service, but I found I did not mind waiting since opening and closing a seat’s door can feel like a chore when you are trying to eat.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Of all the airplane seat doors I’ve encountered, these were among the easiest to maneuver, sliding open and shut quite easily.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
They do not fully enclose the seat as they only reach the top of the seat shell, and there is a little gap when they are fully extended, which is probably to reduce rattling. They also have a 12-inch gap to the floor. That said, they provided plenty of shielding from activity on the aisle.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Each seat reclines to a lie-flat bed, which flight attendants will help you make up with the provided Bamford-branded fitted mattress pad, lightweight duvet and full-size pillow. These were cozy but breathable — a plus since Cathay’s 777s don’t have overhead air nozzles — and were quite comfortable for a long midflight snooze.
Another highlight of these new cabins is the bespoke artwork created by Hong Kong artists that spotlights the city’s natural surroundings and bustling streets. Most passengers are unlikely to see these, though, since they are between the front cabin and the cockpit.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The business-class section has just three lavatories for 45 passengers. That’s a pretty high ratio, but there were rarely any waits, partly because one of the inflight entertainment system’s new features is a screen where you can monitor which lavatories are in use.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
It did not seem functional for the one in the aft galley, but it was accurate for the two at the front of the plane.
The restrooms were kept spotless throughout the flight, and they were stocked with Bamford hand wash and body lotion plus disinfectant hand gel. I especially appreciated the touchless sinks and toilet flush.
Amenities in Cathay Pacific Aria Suites
I found the Bamford pillow and bedding, the food and drink menus, and the Bamford amenity kits (which came in four colors) waiting at my seat when I boarded.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The kits contained mouthwash, a dental kit, an eye mask, ear plugs and Bamford-branded cooling body gel, body balm and herb-scented pillow mist.
Aria Suites have 24-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. Although the airline provides basic noise-canceling headphones, you can connect your own Bluetooth headphones to the system for an even better viewing experience (and I would suggest doing so).
The system was ultra-crisp and provided hundreds of viewing and listening options, including new movies such as “Moana 2,” “Gladiator II” and “Heretic,” along with plenty of options from China, the rest of Asia and a special section devoted to K-dramas from Korea. As for TV options, there were recent episodes of “High Potential” and “The Day of the Jackal,” among other choices, plus hundreds of musical albums to choose from, including Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Among the games were “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” and “Angry Birds.” There was even an option for duty-free shopping, which offered spirits, electronics and high-end beauty products.
Passengers who wanted to rest could use the “do not disturb” function. If they wished to be roused, they could customize the function with “wake-up service” options before the first and second meal services.
The airline offers free Wi-Fi for first- and business-class passengers. Otherwise, it’s $9.95 for a one-hour pass and $21.95 for the full-flight option with no data caps. I was able to switch Wi-Fi access back and forth between my phone and computer easily, and the speeds were very good, allowing me to get a lot of work done while surfing online.
How was the food in Cathay Pacific business class?
Business-class passengers are invited to preorder their main meal from 10 days up to 24 hours before departure, though in reality, the options were available when I was logged into my reservation more than two weeks in advance.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Among the nondietary-specific choices were:
Noodle soup with fish and shrimp balls, preserved cabbage and choy sum
Roasted chicken breast in jus and bread sauce with baby carrots and green beans
Shanghainese braised pork belly with pak choy, shiitake mushrooms and steamed jasmine rice
Roasted cauliflower in chickpea stew with mint raita
Spice-crusted cod with roasted cherry tomato sauce, sauteed spinach and coconut lentils
Classic beef hamburger with Gruyere cheese, coleslaw and pickles on a brioche bun with fries
These were the same choices presented on the inflight menus, so the advantage of ordering ahead is mainly to ensure you get the entree of your choice.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The appetizers included pea soup with ricotta and micro greens, as well as poached prawns with horseradish and tomato sauce, baby gem lettuce, avocado and sieved egg.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
I selected the shrimp, followed by the pork. The shrimp tasted quite fresh, though the pork was a little chewy.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
There was also a cheese course of brie, cheddar and Roquefort, or a choice of desserts, including:
Green tea tiramisu
Glazed lemon tart with raspberry
Various Haagen-Dazs ice cream flavors
Pralines
Seasonal fruit
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The drinks menu included Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne, which flight attendants also served as a predeparture beverage, along with water and juice.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The other wines included:
A 2020 Domaine de la Bressande rully from Burgundy in France
A 2023 Framingham sauvignon blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand
Echo de Lynch-Bages from Bordeaux in France
A 2020 Grant Burge Filsell shiraz from the Barossa Valley in Australia
A 2018 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage port from the Duoro Valley in Portugal
There was also a selection of spirits, juices, Illy coffees, Jing teas, Hong Kong-style milk tea, classic cocktails and a signature cocktail and mocktail.
The main meal service commenced about 80 minutes into the flight and concluded within 2 1/2 hours. Except for dessert, the flight attendants brought drinks and dishes individually to each passenger rather than via a trolley — an upscale touch, but one that causes the service to take longer. Given the length of this flight, that’s not a major issue, though.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The second meal menu, which flight attendants asked passengers to fill out ahead of time, was more like a breakfast or brunch. It featured fruit plates and pastries, plus a choice of main dishes, including:
Cacao-chia pudding with coconut yogurt and blackberries
A twice-baked souffle omelet with sauteed kale and cherry tomatoes
Salted chicken and mushroom congee with pan-fried turnip cake and XO sauce
Poached eggs with grilled bacon, sauteed mushrooms, vine tomatoes and potato rosti
Express breakfast with a pastry and hot drink
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The first meal was large and I was anticipating a big dinner with friends upon landing in Hong Kong, so I chose the healthiest option: the pudding with berries. It was tangy and refreshing, just what I needed before hitting the ground. Along with it, I enjoyed a cappuccino to perk me up.
Would you recommend Cathay Pacific Aria Suites?
Cathay Pacific business-class Aria Suites represent a sophisticated evolution from the airline’s other business-class seats. Not only do they feel more spacious and thoughtfully designed, but the entertainment system is excellent, with all kinds of innovative features.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The closing door works as well as, if not better than, any other I have experienced while flying and lends these seats a high degree of privacy that makes flights even more relaxing.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
While it can be downright impossible to redeem partner miles for Cathay Pacific business class, availability is fairly widespread when redeeming the airline’s own Asia Miles, making this a treat within reach for many flyers.
To get an even better idea of what the Cathay Pacific experience is like, check out our video review:
There are many great reasons to stay at independent hotels and vacation rentals. Unfortunately, the ease of earning rewards on these stays is not one of them — or so you might think. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed a variety of unforgettable stays and picked up several tricks to maximize my savings and rewards on them. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Sometimes I stay at independent boutique hotels or vacation rentals out of necessity — maybe the small mountain town I’m visiting doesn’t have any chain hotels, or my friend group needs more space and can save big bucks by splitting an Airbnb. Other times, I choose independent hotels because of the unique amenities and experiences they provide.
For instance, I once spent a night outside Mount Rainier National Park in a cabin with an authentic Ukrainian restaurant and “cannibal” hot tub heated by a wood fire. Another memorable stay was at a Kyoto ryokan complete with a seven-course Japanese meal and an in-room onsen. I also spent a week in an Airbnb in Paris, which gave me more of a glimpse into “real” Parisian life than I could get at a points hotel in the prime tourist neighborhood.
The downside is that there are usually no elite benefits or points to be earned at these properties. Thankfully, I’ve still found plenty of ways to maximize my travel when I stay at independent hotels and vacation rentals.
It is possible to redeem rewards for stays at independent hotels, such as by booking with points or miles through a credit card travel portal. But since this doesn’t provide great value for my rewards, I usually book these stays with cash and focus on trying to save money.
For instance, I recently used my Venture X credit on a two-night stay at a bed-and-breakfast in the Wicklow Mountains outside of Dublin (no points hotels there) and a rental car to get there. After my $300 credit was applied, I spent a grand total of $4 on my two-day hiking trip.
Here are some other cards with travel credits that you can put toward stays at independent hotels:
I love using shopping portals to earn cash back on my everyday purchases. But they’re not just for retail shopping — you can earn cash back at many hotel-booking platforms, like Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz and Tripadvisor.
Though reward rates vary from day to day, they often aren’t too shabby. At the time of writing, Rakuten was offering up to 10% cash back at some of these sites.
RAKUTEN
However, it’s important to read the fine print on Rakuten before you decide which site to book through. In this example, Rakuten is offering 6% back on hotels and vacation rentals but only 1% back on cars and a measly $1.25 back on flights.
RAKUTEN
Travelers who hold a card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points can get extra value out of Rakuten by switching their earning preference to Amex points instead of cash back.
Other shopping portals to consider include Extrabux, Mr. Rebates and TopCashback. You can also sometimes find hotel-booking sites on airline shopping portals and credit card portals like Capital One Shopping. A shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor can help you spot which portals offer the best returns for your purchase.
Search for deals
Before I book a stay, I always check multiple sites because prices can vary widely. For instance, part of my recent trip to Dublin involved spending two nights in the city with my husband and a friend. We wanted an apartment with room for the three of us, but most Dublin Airbnbs required a four-night minimum stay. I settled on an apartment-style hotel with multiple bedrooms and a kitchen that was running a sale for 10% off on direct bookings — saving me roughly $100 on our stay.
Price isn’t the only thing I compare from one site to another. I look at cancellation policies too, and I often prioritize booking through a site with a flexible cancellation policy, even if it costs a little more. That way, if my plans change or I find a better rate later, I can cancel for free and rebook.
The more points I can earn on a hotel I booked with cash, the sooner I can redeem those points for my next free flight or Hyatt stay.
Earn transferable points with credit card travel portals
Many popular travel cards offer portals through which you can book hotels, flights, rental cars and more — and earn bonus points on these purchases. The number of points you’ll earn depends on which card you hold, but it’s typically 5 or more points per dollar spent.
Since I’m not loyal to any one hotel program, earning transferable points is extremely valuable to me. I can transfer my Chase points to Hyatt or Marriott, for example, or transfer my Capital One miles to Choice or Wyndham, depending on which hotel chain makes the most sense for my trip.
Most airline booking platforms offer subpar earning rates. However, I love Southwest Hotels because you can earn up to 25 points per dollar spent on select properties, so I always search here first.
Vacation rentals may be a little behind the times in the world of points and miles, but this doesn’t mean you can’t earn any valuable rewards on your next home away from home.
I’ve set up my Airbnb account to earn British Airways Avios by entering my frequent flyer number here.
AIRBNB
That’s because I can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on Airbnb bookings, and I’ve found Avios useful for booking international flights out of Denver. However, you can also opt to earn 1 Delta Air Lines SkyMile per dollar or 1 Qantas point per Australian dollar ($0.64) spent on Airbnb bookings. Choose the currency that’s most valuable to you.
If you prefer Vrbo, you can earn 3 United Airlines miles per dollar spent on Vrbo rentals when you book through this page with your MileagePlus number.
Introduced in 2023, Expedia’s One Key is a relatively new loyalty program for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. Members can not only save 10% on stays booked through these sites but also earn OneKeyCash to spend toward hotels, flights, rental cars and more ($1 in OneKeyCash saves you $1 on purchases through these sites).
Since OneKeyCash is redeemed at a flat rate, you won’t get the outsize value that you could with other hotel loyalty programs’ award charts and sweet spots. However, One Key’s simplicity could be a draw for some travelers, especially since you’ll be able to choose from the huge variety of hotels on three different sites.
Although I usually end up booking through a credit card portal instead, I’m very intrigued by the One Key loyalty program, and I’m considering adding a One Key credit card to my wallet. I’m also anxiously awaiting the day when Airbnb comes out with a cobranded credit card.
Which credit card should you use to book independent hotels?
ROCKAA/GETTY IMAGES
If I can book a hotel through a credit card portal such as Chase Travel or Capital One Travel, I always use the applicable card to earn bonus points. It’s a no-brainer.
But sometimes I need to book a hotel directly in order to get a deal, or I want to stay in an Airbnb, which isn’t available on any platform discussed above. Though it is possible to redeem points for Airbnb gift cards, such as redeeming my Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1 cent per point, this is far below TPG’s March 2025 valuation of Chase points and doesn’t get me the best value for my points.
Therefore, my best bet is to book with a card that earns bonus rewards on travel purchases — but that’s not the only thing I consider.
Don’t forget that many travel cards come with built-in trip insurance. If you end up canceling a nonrefundable hotel booking, these perks can put a lot of dollars back in your wallet. And if you’re booking a hotel in another country, be sure to pay with a card with no foreign transaction fees.
For me, this means I book most independent hotels with my Chase Sapphire Preferred. This card offers trip protection and no foreign transaction fees, and it earns 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on all travel purchases plus a 10% points boost every account anniversary. Since Chase points are worth 2.05 cents apiece based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations, that’s a 4.5% return.
There are plenty of ways to save money and maximize your rewards on independent hotels and vacation rentals. It may take a little extra effort to sift through these options, but it will pay off in the long run.
Plus, I love the variety independent hotels offer. Since there are so many choices, you’re bound to find something unique and perfect to make for a memorable trip.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
Lufthansa’s swanky new jets featuring its all-new first-class cabin — complete with a suite for two passengers — are finally getting set to touch down in the U.S.
Later this month, the German flag carrier will deploy its all-new Allegris cabins on three U.S. routes for the first time, with more to come between now and late summer.
A milestone that’s been years in the making, TPG got a first look at the new upscale aircraft interior last spring when Lufthansa inaugurated its Allegris cabin with a nonstop flight from Munich to Vancouver.
However, the aircraft at the time lacked the three truly state-of-the-art, first-class suites at the front end of the plane. And, until now, no U.S. cities have enjoyed regular nonstop service on jets sporting the upgraded onboard experience.
That’s about to change, though.
Lufthansa launches US Allegris service
Starting March 30, Lufthansa will fly its Allegris-equipped Airbus A350-900 with nonstop service between Munich International Airport (MUC) and three U.S. airports: Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), San Diego International Airport (SAN) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY
Then, next month, the New York City region will see the Allegris product for the first time — albeit without first class — when a three-cabin Lufthansa A350 kicks off service from MUC to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Lufthansa first announced this cabin in the late 2010s to significant fanfare, but it encountered a myriad of delays in bringing Allegris to market. This is the latest milestone in the cabin deployment process.
While the business, premium economy and economy experience on Lufthansa’s new A350s is undoubtedly an upgrade over its legacy hard product, the airline’s nicest first-class cabin to date will certainly steal the show.
Allegris first class takes flight
The Allegris first-class experience includes two individual suites and a spacious “suite plus” capable of hosting two passengers, thanks to lie-flat seats that form a double bed.
LUFTHANSA
The ultra-premium quarters sport floor-to-ceiling dividing walls with lockable doors and a 43-inch entertainment screen inside, which the airline said will “define a new standard of comfort and individuality.”
Adding ambience and practicality, Allegris first-class passengers will have access to a personal wardrobe for changing and storage. Plus, individual lamps offer an alternative to standard aircraft lighting.
LUFTHANSA
“We are completely reinventing the Lufthansa First Class travel experience with Allegris and making it even more exclusive,” Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter said in a statement Wednesday.
More Allegris in more cities
More cities around the world will see the Allegris product in the not-so-distant future.
As of last month, the airline was flying nine A350-900s featuring the new cabin. Eight feature the first-class product.
Later this year, Lufthansa will begin retrofitting its existing airplanes with the updated Allegris interior. Retrofits will begin later this year on the Boeing 747-8, an aircraft that flies to more than a half dozen U.S. airports.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
In the meantime, Lufthansa already has its sights on another American airport for the Allegris-equipped A350: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), beginning in August.
Can you transfer credit card points to Lufthansa?
Travelers hoping to use points to score a seat on an Allegris jet — whether in the main cabin or in one of the enticing suites upfront — have a few options. While Lufthansa’s Miles & More loyalty program doesn’t accept transfers from major U.S. credit card programs, you may be able to score a Lufthansa award seat via a Star Alliance partner program like United Airlines MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan or Singapore KrisFlyer.
