In its recent updates to the AAdvantage program, American announced plans to add two new Million Miler tiers in 2025. So, let’s discuss the specifics of American Airlines Million Miler status, including how to earn it, what it gets you and how to check your progress toward this status.
How to earn American Airlines Million Miler status
If you want to earn American Airlines Million Miler status, know that only base miles earned by flying on American Airlines, American Eagle and any other eligible airline participating in the AAdvantage program count, according to the AAdvantage Million Miler program terms and conditions.
The economy cabin in an American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
In short, you’ll need to fly many miles on American Airlines and its AAdvantage partners to earn Million Miler status. You can earn Loyalty Points toward American Airlines status through many methods — including spending on cobranded American Airlines credit cards, using the AAdvantage eShopping portal and using SimplyMiles offers. However, only base miles earned via flights count toward Million Miler status.
When looking through my recent flight activity, I found it wasn’t as simple as the base miles earned on flights counting toward Million Miler status. For example, on this American-operated and -marketed flight — for which AAdvantage calculated earnings based on the fare — my base miles were significantly lower than my Million Miler earnings. The flight distance was 4,965 miles, almost exactly what AAdvantage calculated as my Million Miler earnings.
AA.COM
Meanwhile, on this Japan Airlines-operated and -marketed flight — for which AAdvantage calculated my earnings based on distance — my base miles equaled my Million Miler earnings. Japan Airlines fares in the H class credit to AAdvantage at 70% of the flight distance (4,757 miles). This is how my base miles and Million Miler miles ended up at 3,339.
AA.COM
The AAdvantage Million Miler program terms and conditions state base miles are what matters when calculating Million Miler earnings. However, in practice, it’s your flight distance that matters. And for flights that post to AAdvantage based on distance, you’ll seemingly earn toward Million Miler status based on the percentage at which your fare class credits.
Benefits of American Airlines Million Miler status
The American Airlines Million Miler program currently has two tiers:
1,000,000 Million Miler miles: Lifetime AAdvantage Gold status and 35,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
2,000,000 Million Miler miles: Lifetime AAdvantage Platinum status and four one-way systemwide upgrades
As you keep flying with American Airlines and its partner airlines past the 2 million-mile mark, you’ll receive four additional one-way systemwide upgrades for each additional 1 million miles you earn.
The business-class cabin on an American Airlines 777-200. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
How to check your American Airlines Million Miler progress
American AAdvantage makes it easy to check your Million Miler progress. Log in to your account and click on your name in the upper right-hand corner. Select your personal account if you have both a personal and an AAdvantage Business account, and then click “Activity” on the navigation bar on the left. After doing so, a page with your current Loyalty Point balance and Million Miler balance will show.
AA.COM
You can scroll down and select an individual activity to see how AAdvantage posted its earnings. You can also check your activity and Million Miler progress within the American Airlines app.
Even with the two new tiers coming in March 2025, the American Airlines Million Miler program is still underwhelming compared to United Airlines Million Miler and Delta Air Lines Million Miler status. United and Delta offer lifetime Gold status — which isn’t the lowest elite status in either program — to members who reach the 1 million-mile threshold. Meanwhile, American offers lifetime status in its lowest elite tier (Gold) and 35,000 redeemable miles.
But, as a frequent traveler who is nearing Million Miler status with AAdvantage, it’s a carrot to keep me engaged with the program. I considered switching my Oneworld loyalty to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan to earn toward elite status on award flights. As of now, though, I plan to stick with AAdvantage for at least one more elite-qualifying year. This way, I can reach Million Miler status and earn lifetime AAdvantage Gold status.
If AAdvantage doesn’t change the benefits at its Gold tier, then lifetime AAdvantage Gold status will give me a free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, preferred seats at booking, Main Cabin Extra seats at check-in, and Oneworld Ruby status. These benefits will be useful even if my travel decreases or my loyalty changes.
“Will it or won’t it reopen?” hotel cynics have been wondering about Waldorf Astoria New York for years. (Not me, of course. I’m an eternal optimist who always thought it was coming back. Cough.) But now, the Waldorf Astoria New York finally has a clear path to reopening day.
The storied, ultraluxury hotel is now taking reservations for Dec. 10, 2025, after being closed for a multiyear, more than $1 billion renovation. The reopening comes with 375 overhauled guest rooms and suites, a signature restaurant overseen by chef Michael Anthony and the return of the hotel’s famous Peacock Alley cocktail lounge.
But it’s also a major feather in the cap of Hilton and its expansion at the luxury end of the hotel food chain.
“It’s been a labor of love,” Dino Michael, senior vice president and global head of Hilton’s luxury brands, said of the Waldorf renovation in an interview with TPG this month at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes, France. “I think when people go, they’ll realize why it took so long. They’ll see the detail, the silver leaf, the gold leaf, the renovated mosaics, the marble, the paintings, and they’ll be like, ‘Okay, we get it now.’”
Waldorf Astoria New York. NOE & ASSOCIATES/THE BOUNDARY
But it’s more than just the Waldorf Astoria outpost in New York City that’s keeping Hilton busy on the luxury front. Hilton plans to open additional Waldorf Astoria properties in Costa Rica; Osaka, Japan; and Shanghai next year. Waldorf Astoria could have as many as 50 hotels around the world in the next two to three years, Candice D’Cruz, Hilton’s vice president of luxury brands for the Asia-Pacific region, told TPG at ILTM.
Conrad is slated to add hotels in Athens and Hamburg, Germany, next year, while LXR Hotels & Resorts will expand to Casablanca, Morocco, in 2025. The expansion comes amid a flurry of acquisition and partnership deals for Hilton, including a new partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a deal to expand the NoMad brand into Hilton’s leading luxury lifestyle offering.
Waldorf Astoria New York. NOE & ASSOCIATES/THE BOUNDARY
“It’s been a long time coming,” Feisal Jaffer, global head of LXR Hotels & Resorts, said of Hilton’s broader luxury play. “I mean, this is sort of a journey that we’ve been on to really change the perception in luxury.”
But the growth doesn’t come easy. Hilton leadership has to woo hotel owners away from what the competition at Marriott, Hilton and IHG is offering on the brand front.
“They pitch it with all the enthusiasm in the world, and it’s a beauty contest,” Michael said. “You’re pitching against other brands.”
It appears the pitch is working. At a different point of ILTM, leaders with Small Luxury Hotels of the World noted more than 80% of their properties are now participating in the new Hilton partnership; they see value in gaining more exposure and bringing in a new type of customer from the Hilton Honors orbit.
Hilton’s luxury liftoff appears to be on track to hit the stratosphere in the new year.
Editor’s note: This post was updated with new details.
There is more news on the newly announced premium credit card coming in 2025 from Alaska Airlines. The team at Alaska confirmed details on what the card’s new companion certificate feature will benefit, as first reported by Gary Leff at View From the Wing based on a conversation with Brett Catlin, Alaska’s vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales.
As we reported Tuesday, Alaska made some major announcements about its future, including adding flights to Asia from its Seattle hub, readjusting its route network now that its merger with Hawaiian is done, and adding new lounges. It also confirmed that it was adding a premium product to its credit card lineup next summer.
Alaska is calling the enhanced version of the companion benefit a “Global Companion Award Certificate” that will be good on international flights, including on some partner airlines.
Now, Alaska is confirming that the companion certificate will be valid for any class of service (that includes first or business class), on any Alaska mileage redemption, including partner mileage awards.
Cardholders will earn one certificate just for holding the card and will receive a second certificate if they meet certain spending requirements on the card, though we don’t know how much the spending requirement will be.
The certificates will also reportedly come with different mileage caps, which we also don’t yet know. The mileage cap on the certificate you earn through spending will be higher. Caitlin said customers will also be able to “top up” the companion certificates. That sounds similar to how Marriott Bonvoy credit cardholders can add up to 15,000 additional points to the value of free night certificates that come with select Marriott credit cards. The new Alaska certificates might operate in a like fashion.
We’ll have to wait to learn just how valuable the new Global Companion Award Certificates really are, but it is certainly an exciting development.
Here are a few other things we know about the new premium card. The annual fee will be $395. The card will also earn 3 miles per dollar spent on all eligible foreign purchases and dining, which is pretty compelling.
Alaska confirmed the card will allow customers to waive the award ticket booking fee of $12.50 that Alaska applies to partner mileage award bookings. It will not waive the fuel surcharges that partners such as British Airways levy on award redemptions.
Finally, the new card will allow holders to accelerate their path to Alaska Mileage Plan status, though there are no public details as yet.
Get 500 free Alaska Mileage Plan miles just for joining the waitlist
There’s a fun opportunity for Alaska Mileage Plan members right now to earn 500 Alaska Mileage Plan miles just for putting themselves on a waitlist for the newly announced premium card from Alaska, and another 5,000 bonus miles for being one of the first approved for the fancy new card in addition to the welcome bonus it eventually offers.
To earn the bonus 500 Alaska Mileage Plan miles, you must join the waitlist by Dec. 31.
Once card applications are open, you can use an exclusive link sent to you by Alaska. Then, if your application is approved, you will receive 5,000 bonus miles in addition to the card’s welcome bonus (which we expect to be lucrative).
Registration is simple, and you’ll get a confirmation notification after you sign up.
“I think when we looked at our credit card portfolio, we did see that niche missing, and so we talked about it a lot, and we wanted to have a credit card offering that was attractive and had attractive benefits for our customers,” said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci In an interview with The Air Show podcast.
“It will add significant value to our loyalty program,” he added.
As soon as we get more details on the new card and its benefits, we’ll have a full TPG analysis of the pros and cons and who it might be right for, so be sure to check back in.
Editor’s note: Some of the below offers may be targeted.
From bonus points on your next hotel stay to generous sales of airline miles, we’re always looking for travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles better. In other words, we want to help you book the vacation of your dreams.
Recently, we found this exciting Hilton Honors promo that lets members earn double points on all stays from Jan. 1 through April 30, 2025, with no earning cap. If you’re an Alaska Airlines loyalist, you can earn 500 bonus Mileage Plan miles when you join the waitlist for the airline’s new premium credit card and another 5,000 miles if you get approved. And if you hold Hertz Gold Plus Rewards elite status, you can gift it to two loved ones through the end of the year. But that’s not all.
We help our readers each week by rounding up ongoing promotions so they don’t have to scour the internet for the best reward redemptions and offers. This includes everything from frequent flyer programs and hotel rewards programs to credit card offers and rental car deals. Here’s our latest list of noteworthy new points and miles promotions for December.
Airline loyalty program promotions (December 2024)
MESQUITAFMS/GETTY IMAGES
Airline loyalty programs can offer trip discounts on certain dates, the chance to earn more miles for future travel and deals to rack up points toward elite status. Below are some of the offers we found for December.
Up to 160% bonus when you buy Avianca LifeMiles
We don’t often recommend buying miles from airlines because it’s rarely a good deal — except when you can take advantage of a massive bonus like this one. Avianca’s holiday sale is offering bonus miles between 110% and 160%, depending on how many you buy:
Get 110% bonus miles when you purchase 1,000 miles.
Get 140% bonus miles when you purchase 2,000 to 20,000 miles.
Get 150% bonus miles when you purchase 21,000 to 35,000 miles.
Get 160% bonus miles when you purchase 36,000 to 200,000 miles.
This sale ends Dec. 31.
If you buy enough miles to get the maximum 160% bonus, that brings the cost down to 1.27 cents each — well below TPG’s December 2024 valuation of 1.6 cents apiece for LifeMiles. Still, we advise buying points or miles only if you have a specific redemption in mind. Also, always verify that award space is available before you make your purchase.
Hotel loyalty programs occasionally offer discounted stays, ways to earn extra points and deals at various properties. Here are some December deals to consider when booking your next stay.
35,000 Choice points when you stay at Sandals
In an unexpected partnership, budget-friendly Choice Hotels and all-inclusive company Sandals have teamed up to bring you this sweet promotion.
Choice Privileges members who book with Sandals or Beaches can get up to 65% off your stay.
Plus, when you stay three or more consecutive paid nights at a Sandals or Beaches resort, you’ll earn 35,000 Choice points and a one-time boost to Choice Privileges Gold elite status. Your promotional status will be valid for one year after you complete your qualifying stay.
You can use this offer on up to one stay per calendar year.
Book by Jan. 8, 2025. Your qualifying stay(s) must be started and completed between now and Jan. 8, 2027.
This offer gives you a longer booking window than most — over two years to complete your qualifying stay(s) and earn bonus points and elite status. It’s never too early to plan your next getaway.
Stay 2 nights, get 1 free at Wyndham
Wyndham’s newest promotion can earn you 7,500 points — enough for a free night at some properties. You could even get two free nights if you maximize it.
For any two nights that you stay at participating hotels, you’ll earn 7,500 Wyndham Rewards bonus points. Hotels in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan or Mongolia are excluded.
You can use this promotion up to twice for a maximum of 15,000 bonus points total.
Register and then book directly by Jan. 16, 2025; complete your qualified stay by Jan. 20, 2025.
3,000 bonus points per night at Hyatt Vacation Club
If you prefer a little more space or a full kitchen when you travel, Hyatt Vacation Club — the hotel chain’s residential-style brand — has a deal for you.
Earn 3,000 bonus World of Hyatt points per night, up to 30,000 bonus points total, at participating Hyatt Vacation Club properties.
Register here by March 24, 2025. Eligible for stays completed between now and March 30, 2025.
Card issuers sometimes offer deals and discounts for certain cardholders on everything from airfare to restaurant dining. Here are some of the offers we’ve rounded up this week. Keep in mind that you must activate these offers on your card and then use your enrolled card to make the purchase to earn the rewards.
Earn 10% cash back when you spend $100 or more at Fairfield by Marriott ($38 cash-back maximum), Renaissance Hotels ($75 maximum) or Springhill Suites ($43 maximum).
Payment must be made directly with the merchant (as opposed to an online travel agency).
Complete payment for your stay must be made by Dec. 31.
Targeted Amex Offers on cruises
If you’re considering sailing to warmer climes this winter, these offers could save you up to 20% on a Carnival or Norwegian cruise. We found these on The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Get $150 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $750 on one or more transactions on cruise reservations booked through the Carnival website, by calling 1-800-764-7419 or through a Carnival Cruise Line travel adviser by Dec. 31.
Earn a $200 statement credit after spending a minimum of $1,000 in one or more purchases for reservations made at ncl.com or by calling 1-866-234-7350 by Dec. 31.
In addition to these new offers, many others from previous weeks are still available:
This 2024-25 football season, Washington state residents can earn 1 Delta mile for every yard the Seattle Seahawks pass for, thanks to Delta’s 12Status promotion. You’ll also get priority (Group 5) boarding on flights departing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) until the end of the Seahawks’ 2024-25 season and a 12% discount at Seahawks Pro Shop retail stores on the 12th of each Seahawks in-season month. You must first register here (even if you’ve registered for Delta 12Status in previous years).
Save 50% on Alaska Mileage Plan award fares from the U.S. to select snowy destinations. Book by Dec. 31, 2024, for travel from Jan. 1 to April 30, 2025. No registration or promo code is needed; the discount will appear automatically when you search for award flights.
Save roughly 50% on select international Lufthansa Miles & More award flights. Dates vary, but most deals must be booked by Dec. 31, 2024, and flown between March 15 and April 30, 2025. Visit this page for details.
Earn bonus Hilton Honors points on car rentals with Alamo Rent-a-Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. Earn 500 points per day on rentals completed by Dec. 31, 2024. Reserve your car here.
Earn an additional 50 Lufthansa Miles & More miles, qualifying points and HON Circle points per flight segment on select Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss long-haul routes in business and first class. This applies to all eligible flights taken through Dec. 31, 2024, including those already completed. No registration is required for this promotion; just enter your Miles & More number at the time of booking.
Earn 10,000 SAS EuroBonus points when you fly five different SkyTeam airlines, 100,000 bonus points when you fly 10 SkyTeam airlines or 1 million bonus points when you fly 15 SkyTeam airlines; you must first register through the SAS app, then complete your trips by Dec. 31, 2024.
Earn 3,000 bonus points for every two paid nights you stay at participating IHG properties, with no earning cap. Register here first, then complete your stay(s) by Dec. 31, 2024.
Earn IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status when you stay five qualifying nights in a club room at a participating InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property. Qualifying stays must be booked with cash with a room rate exceeding $175; they can be completed in one stay or multiple stays. Register here and stay by Dec. 31, 2024. You must book your stay through that page for the offer to apply.
Earn 2,500 bonus Hilton Honors points per stay (with no earning cap) completed by Dec. 31, 2024, at any hotel or resort within Hilton’s portfolio. You must register for this promotion here.
Get 3,000 or 5,000 bonus Avios when you join Qatar Airways Privilege Club and take your first flight. Sign up using promo code “JOIN0324” by Dec. 31, 2024, then book your first flight and travel by June 30, 2025.
Earn bonus Spirit Airlines Free Spirit points for completing an eligible round-trip flight at any time in 2024. Register with your Free Spirit number to redeem this offer. Travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 2024.
Earn triple points when you stay at select IHG brands (Avid Hotels, Voco, Even Hotels, Atwell Suites and Garner Hotels) through the end of the year. Your stay must be booked directly with IHG, with total spending exceeding $30 or equivalent per night. You can register here anytime between now and the end of the year, and you must complete your stay(s) by Dec. 31, 2024.
If you haven’t set up a Free Spirit account yet, you can get bonus points by registering as a new member through this promotional link. You must register by Dec. 31, 2024.
Earn three times the ALL points you’d normally get on stays of one night or more in select regions. Register and book by Dec. 31, 2024, and stay by Jan. 31, 2025.
If you’re not a member of Qatar Airways Privilege Club, you can earn bonus Avios if you join by Dec. 31, 2024. Register with “PCAMER24,” the deal’s promo code, and book a flight by June 30, 2025, to earn bonus Avios.
Earn 8,000 Choice Privileges points when you stay two or more consecutive nights at a participating hotel; register and stay by Jan. 5, 2025.
Earn 10,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points with this promotion when you book a minimum four-night stay at a participating all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean and Latin America. Book with promo code “S2449” by Jan. 9, 2025, and stay between Jan. 17 and April 26, 2025.
Earn double ALL points on Qatar Airways flights and double Qatar Avios on Accor hotel stays. Before booking, link your accounts here (if you haven’t already) and register for this promotion here. You must link, register, book and complete travel by Jan. 31, 2025.
Earn double ALL base points on up to two separate stays at participating hotels in Europe. This applies to rewards points only, not status points. Register for this promotion here, then book by Jan. 31, 2025, and stay by Feb. 12, 2025.
Earn 5,000 bonus points when you join IHG One Rewards and complete your first stay. Set up your new account through this link, then book and complete your stay within 21 days of joining. This offer has been extended through Jan. 31, 2025.
Earn 5,000 bonus Best Western Rewards points when you stay three nights, either separate or consecutive, at any Best Western hotel in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Register here, then book and complete your stay(s) by Feb. 2, 2025.
Earn one free Avis Preferred rental day for every two two-day rentals you complete in an intermediate-class car or above. You can use this promotion multiple times, up to a maximum of five free days earned each month. Register here and complete your rentals by Feb. 28, 2025.
Enjoy up to 25% off and complimentary breakfast at participating Fairmont properties around the world. Book by March 30, 2025, for stays through May 31, 2025.
Earn 2,000 bonus miles (valid for one year) when you join Emirates Skywards. Register at this link using code “CONDOR” by March 31, 2025.
Earn 20% bonus ALL points on qualifying bookings you make through the app by June 30, 2025. Download the app here.
If you book hotels, car rentals and attractions through the Citi travel portal with your Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees), you will earn 3 additional bonus Citi ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent. This gets you a total of 5 ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible bookings through the Citi travel portal. The offer expires Dec. 31, 2025.
Additionally, there are many stand-alone Amex Offers, a Chase Offer and a Capitol One Offer still available across a variety of credit cards.
Targeted Amex Offers
Earn a one-time $300 statement credit after using your card to spend a minimum of $1,200 on one or more purchases for property rates and charges incurred on a reservation with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. This offer is valid through Dec. 17, 2024.
Earn 1,200 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend a minimum of $150 on one or more purchases at Amazon by Dec. 31, 2024. If you have this offer on multiple cards, you can stack them for a maximum of 3,600 total bonus points.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $500 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood, California. This offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.
Get $75 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $300 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at Destination by Hyatt properties (excluding The Legend Paracas Resort and Vacation Homes at Suncadia Resort). This offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.
Receive a $180 statement credit when you spend $1,200 or more on an EVA Airways flight originating in the U.S. You must book by Dec. 31, 2024, but the flight can take place at a later date.
Earn a one-time $200 statement credit or 20,000 Membership Rewards points (depending on your offer) after using your card to spend a minimum of $1,000 on one or more Air France or KLM flights. This offer is valid through Dec. 31, 2024.
Earn a one-time $50 statement credit after spending a minimum of $250 or more at select IHG Hotels & Resorts properties by Dec. 31, 2024.
Get $20 back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $300 or more on American Express gift cards and e-gift cards at amexgiftcard.com by Dec. 31, 2024. A limit of two statement credits (for a total of $40 back) per eligible cardmember applies.
Get $100 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $500 in one or more room rate and room charge purchases at select Wyndham Hotels & Resorts luxury destinations in the U.S. and overseas. This offer ends Dec. 31, 2024.
Get $75 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $275 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Ascend Hotel Collection and Radisson Hotels in the Americas. This offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.
Earn a one-time $200 statement credit (after spending $1,000 or more) on your next Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss or Discover Airlines flight booked online at amextravel.com using your enrolled card. This offer expires Jan. 15, 2025.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $250 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Staypineapple boutique hotels. This offer ends Jan. 25, 2025.
Get $150 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $750 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Omni Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. Enroll by Feb. 20 and complete your stay by March 20, 2025.
Earn a one-time $100 statement credit after spending $500 or more on room rate and room charge purchases at the Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York City. This offer is valid until Feb. 28, 2025.
Get $100 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $500 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Hilton properties in Nevada. This offer expires March 17, 2025.
Targeted Chase Offer
Earn 10% cash back when you spend $100 or more in a single purchase at Hyatt Place, with a $40 cash-back maximum, by Dec. 24.
Targeted Capital One Offer
Earn 25 miles per dollar spent on one hotel reservation through Capital One Travel, up to a maximum of 100,000 miles. This offer ends Dec. 31. To see if you’re targeted, log in to the Capital One Travel portal and click the wallet icon in the upper right corner. Then, click “My travel offers.”
Remember that these are targeted, and you must activate the offers before making eligible purchases to enjoy the cash back or bonus points.
Avios is quickly becoming one of the most widely used loyalty currencies. Long used by British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways and Finnair have recently joined the party and adopted Avios.
A neat feature of the five airline programs is the ability to transfer Avios between them in any direction at a 1:1 rate at no additional cost. This means a balance in Iberia Plus can easily become a balance in Qatar Airways Privilege Club and vice versa. This offers travelers enormous flexibility to choose the Avios program that is best for them, and move their Avios balance into their program of choice.
I’m based in the United Kingdom, so you may assume I would default to the largest and most popular Avios program, British Airways Executive Club. While it was initially my go-to loyalty program, with so many ways to earn and redeem Avios, with two new programs joining the Avios family in 2024, I’ve kept a keen eye on the benefits of each program to decide if I should jump ship.
While all five programs have unique and rewarding benefits, as someone who analyzes loyalty programs for a living, here is why I’m continuing to focus on British Airways Executive Club as the overall best Avios loyalty program for 2025.
How you earn elite status in any Avios program depends greatly on your personal travel and spending habits. If you’re consistently flying long-haul, business- and first-class products on paid tickets, you’ll likely quickly climb the elite status tiers in any of the five programs.
I’ve held either mid-tier Silver or top-tier Gold status with British Airways for the past six years. Oneworld Emerald status sure is nice, with first-class lounge access even when flying economy and additional redemption seats made available for Gold members, but I haven’t found the benefits significant enough to reach for Gold every year.
Overall, I’m happy to reach Silver status (Oneworld Sapphire) for the foreseeable future. BA Silver status comes with all sorts of perks like priority check-in, security and boarding; additional checked baggage; free seat selection; and worldwide lounge access when flying Oneworld airlines, which I’ve found very valuable when flying in economy.
Plus, I have found this elite status has benefited me on Oneworld partners, especially when flying on American Airlines, which generously gives Sapphire status members Flagship Lounge access and allows them to select Main Cabin Extra seats.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Because Aer Lingus is not a member of a major alliance, I do not value earning elite status in the AerClub loyalty program. While the Qatar Airways Privilege Club program allows you to earn elite status through credit card spending, reaching Gold status (Oneworld Sapphire) through credit card spending would require a significant amount of money. While the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card does offer Gold status, it’s only complimentary for the first year.
The information for the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite 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.
Therefore, to earn the equivalent of Oneworld Sapphire status, I’d need to hit the following thresholds within each Avios loyalty program:
British Airways Executive Club requires earning 600 Tier Points (and taking four qualifying flights)
Qatar Airways Privilege Club requires earning 300 Qpoints
Finnair Plus requires earning 45,000 Tier Points
Iberia Plus Gold requires earning 2,250 Elite Points or taking 50 flights
While Qatar’s 300 Qpoints seem the easiest to earn, crediting the same flight within each program does not earn the same number of status points.
For example, a flight on American Airlines domestic first class from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) would earn:
40 British Airways Tier Points (6.7% of the total required)
16 Qatar Airways Qpoints (5.3% of the total required)
598 Finnair Plus Tier Points (1.3% of the total required)
75 Iberia Plus Elite Points (3.3% of the total required)
So, if you’re flying American Airlines in domestic first class, which can often be an affordable way to earn elite status, it’s quicker to earn Oneworld Sapphire status with British Airways Executive Club than with other Avios loyalty programs.
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Another option would be to fly regular economy V class from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) on British Airways. This would earn:
35 British Airways Tier Points (5.8% of the total required)
16 Qatar Airways Qpoints (5.3% of the total required)
1,725 Finnair Plus Tier Points (3.8% of the total required)
350 Iberia Plus Elite Points (15.5% of the total required)
While Iberia Plus wins in this example, BA is still a solid option for earning status in economy class.
British Airways has also offered a generous double Tier Points promotion where eligible British Airways Holidays of at least five nights will earn double Tier Points for travel until June 30, 2025 (though this offer has been extended numerous times). I have taken advantage of this generous offer to earn Silver status with just one trip to Club Europe and will be looking to do so again when my current Silver status expires next year.
European redemptions from just 4,750 Avios
ROEVIN/GETTY IMAGES
For flights of up to 600 miles in length, British Airways Executive Club charges just 4,750 Avios on off-peak dates plus a set rate of 17.50 British pounds (about $22) in fees, taxes and surcharges thanks to Executive Club’s terrific Reward Flight Saver option. You can also reduce the $22 fees, taxes and surcharges to less than $1 by paying more Avios (9,250 in the case of a Zone 1 off-peak flight).
With a checked bag included and status benefits honored, this is a great deal to visit beautiful destinations like Amsterdam, Bilbao, Geneva and Milan; it has helped me book several inexpensive weekends for myself and my loved ones.
Aer Lingus AerClub, meanwhile, charges just 4,000 Avios for Zone 1 redemptions off-peak. However, this only covers flights between Ireland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, while BA’s 4,750 Avios rates cover many more destinations with its extensive route network.
It’s worth noting Iberia Plus offers a limited number of short-haul seats (including those operated by British Airways) at slightly lower rates than Executive Club. However, their website and call center are more difficult to navigate versus the ease of booking on ba.com.
The same short-haul redemptions flying on BA but booked through Qatar Airways Privilege Club start from 9,250 Avios plus $50.50.
QATARAIRWAYS.COM
Sensible pricing for partner redemptions
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
While British Airways uses award charts for flights operated by partner airlines, it has chosen to adopt some of the best sweet spots of other Avios programs, even if this means offering lower rates than the award charts display.
For example, Executive Club’s award chart for British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus flights show off-peak business-class rates for flights of 3,001 to 4,000 miles in length at 50,000 Avios off-peak and 60,000 Avios on peak dates. While this is reasonable compared with what non-Avios programs charge for transatlantic flights, Iberia Plus has long kept a sweet spot for nonstop flights of this length that they operate between the northeast United States and Spain.
Iberia Plus charges just 34,000 Avios on off-peak dates for flights of this length, an astonishingly low price. While Executive Club should charge a higher 50,000 Avios for these flights per its award chart, it has adopted the lower Iberia Plus rate.
This is a terrific way to redeem points and miles to Europe.
Executive Club has also shown the same generosity toward Qatar Airways-operated flights.
The long-haul journey of 6,704 miles from JFK to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite business-class product should cost a whopping 108,250 Avios each way per person, according to the BA Executive Club partner award chart.
However, as Qatar’s Privilege Club program charges just 70,000 Avios for the same journey, BA has also adopted this pricing, an excellent option for such an impressive product, and it saves you the need to transfer Avios to Qatar’s Privilege Club program.
BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM
A stable platform to redeem Avios
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Each Avios program has vastly different platforms for earning and redeeming Avios.
Although it’s not perfect, I’ve found BA’s Executive Club to be the most stable and show the most results. It’s also quick and easy to cancel and refund Avios redemptions online through Executive Club.
The Qatar Airways website is not user-friendly and makes it difficult to find the right page to search for booking flights with Avios; the Aer Lingus website has been so glitchy that I have not been able to find a long-haul premium cabin seat to book using Avios.
I’ve also found BA’s call center to be pleasant and helpful for the limited number of functions that cannot be performed online.
While the BA app is frustrating with its inability to complete simple tasks like displaying a boarding pass after checking in online, BA recently showed me a sneak preview of their new app, to be launched early in 2025, and the initial features indicate a significant improvement.
Iberia Visa Signature® Card: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
The information for the Aer Lingus and Iberia Visa Signature cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The welcome bonuses, annual fee and earning rates on each card are equal. I have held all three of these cards at different times, and I rate the British Airways Visa Signature Card the highest for the following annual benefits, which the other cards don’t offer:
Get 10% off British Airways-operated revenue flights departing the U.S. to London and beyond, including fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges (excluding excess baggage or seat selection fees) when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
Get a $100 statement credit ($200 for business- and first-class seats) up to three times a year when you book a reward flight to London on British Airways and pay your taxes and fees with your card (up to $600 annually).
Earn a Travel Together Ticket valid for round-trip travel on British Airways, Aer Lingus or Iberia originating anywhere these airlines fly when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year — which can also be redeemed for a 50% discount as a single passenger.
The Iberia Visa Signature Card offers a $1,000 Iberia flight discount voucher, and the Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card offers an economy-only Aer Lingus companion ticket when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. However, I don’t rate these perks as highly as the BA Travel Together Ticket because I would rather travel in a premium cabin than economy. Also, BA has a much larger route network than Aer Lingus or Iberia, giving more options to redeem the companion ticket.
Points transfer from Chase, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. You’ll also get a 5,000 Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily transfer to British Airways Executive Club:
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Bottom line
No program is perfect, and British Airways Executive Club is not without its faults, like those frustrating carrier-imposed surcharges. It’s been exciting to see other programs adopt Avios, a unique business decision in the loyalty industry, especially for Finnair Plus, which does not have an ownership stake in other Avios program airlines and vice versa.
Moving Avios between the programs in any direction is rewarding, so you are not locked into one program. While I eagerly await more innovation in the Avios programs and perhaps even more programs to adopt the already popular currency, British Airways Executive Club will remain my Avios airline loyalty program of choice.
When I booked my October honeymoon in Madagascar roughly six months in advance, I knew my journey to the East African island would involve an 11-hour layover at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). As a Hyatt loyalist who holds the World of Hyatt Credit Card, I booked a night in a Hyatt hotel near the airport with points. Then I sat back to get excited about my trip, knowing the planning was done.
Imagine my surprise when, the morning we were supposed to leave for our trip of a lifetime, I got an automated email asking me to check in online — at the Hyatt Place Chicago/Midway Airport, a 45-minute drive from ORD. How could I have made such an obvious mistake? And could I rebook us at the right hotel without forfeiting my points?
To cut myself some slack, the booking process for our flights had been rather challenging. After booking our flights to Madagascar on points, we’d had a lot of trouble finding flights home due to a quirk in Ethiopian Airlines’ partner award flight policy. It had taken several days of online searching to get our returning flights squared away — and in that time, I had forgotten the details of our outbound flight. I knew we flew through Chicago, but I forgot which airport.
This is one of the few downsides of playing the points and miles game. When you use points and miles to book free travel, things can get a little more complicated, making it easier to overlook small mistakes like this.
Thankfully, my flight left late in the afternoon, giving me plenty of time to address the issue.
I immediately logged into my account to look at my reservation. I had redeemed 8,000 World of Hyatt points for a “standard” night at the Category 2 Hyatt Place Chicago/Midway Airport. There was an almost identical property near ORD: the Hyatt Place Chicago/O’Hare Airport. This hotel is also Category 2, but apparently it classified my date as “peak,” so it cost a slightly higher 9,500 points for one night.
I had no problem paying a few more points to get a hotel where we could easily crash after our flight landed around 11 p.m. However, according to the hotel’s cancellation policy, if I canceled within 24 hours of 11:59 p.m. local time, I would be charged one night’s fee. Oh, well — I figured I’d rather pay 8,000 points for my mistake than the $264 I would have paid with cash.
But when I called a World of Hyatt representative, I learned the cancellation policy is a little different from what I expected. Apparently, when you cancel a points booking after the deadline, your points will be refunded — and your card on file will be charged the current room rate for one night’s stay. Yikes.
But just in case there was a way to avoid paying this cancellation fee, I tried explaining the situation to the representative. I didn’t want to cancel my booking, exactly; I wanted to transfer it to a property closer to the right airport.
The representative started by checking with the second hotel to confirm they had availability. Then she called the first hotel to explain that I was rebooking at another Hyatt, and they agreed to waive the cancellation fee. They canceled my original reservation, and the 8,000 points immediately appeared back in my account. Thanks, Hyatt!
I didn’t have enough points in my World of Hyatt account for the representative to book the new 9,500-point hotel (I had spent them all on my upcoming European Christmas trip), but I told her I could transfer them from my Chase Ultimate Rewards account. Thankfully, because of Chase’s (typically) superfast transfers, the extra points I needed were in my World of Hyatt account a few minutes later, and I was able to book a night at the Hyatt Place Chicago/O’Hare Airport. The cash rate was $295 before taxes and fees, giving me an excellent value of 3.1 cents per point (compared to TPG’s December 2024 valuation of 1.7 cents for Hyatt points).
The entire process took less than an hour, and I had the rest of the morning to pack and prepare for my Madagascar trip before we headed to the airport. Overall, I’m glad Hyatt sent me the check-in email and I realized my mistake early. If I hadn’t noticed it until we arrived at the airport at 11 p.m., it could have been much harder — and more stressful — to fix.
What if I hadn’t been able to get my points back, or the Hyatt I wanted had been fully booked?
My husband and I wouldn’t have had to start our honeymoon by spending the night in ORD, Tom Hanks-style. There are plenty of hotels nearby. I could have transferred Chase points to Marriott Bonvoy to book an award night at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare, for example, or paid cash at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport. Worst case, if there had been absolutely no rooms open around ORD, I could have simply paid for a 45-minute Uber ride to and from my original Midway hotel.
But thanks to Hyatt’s customer service and a few extra Chase points, I was able to make our night in Chicago as streamlined as possible without spending a dime.
Lesson learned: Don’t assume that a city has only one airport or only one international airport. Don’t book the first hotel with “airport” in the name, like I did. And when you finish booking a trip, double-check all your reservations to make sure the dates and locations line up.
Also, if this happens to you, don’t simply rebook online and pay the cancellation fee. It’s worth trying the phone helpline first — they may be more generous than you expect.
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to have some extra transferable points saved up for situations like this. And we recommend setting up any hotel and airline accounts you may use in the future and linking them to your transferable points account now, as this will speed up the process if you end up needing to transfer your points last minute.
After more than a decade of planning and years of tests, Amtrak’s high-speed, next-generation Acela trains are finally set to enter service early next year.
The new Acela trains should enter revenue service at some point during the spring of 2025, the rail operator confirmed this week.
It’s a milestone that should bring far greater comfort — and capacity — to Amtrak’s key Northeast Corridor service that runs between Washington, D.C., and Boston via New York City.
The new trains “will upgrade the travel experience for millions of passengers and set the stage for the next generation of train travel in America and on the Northeast Corridor,” Amtrak said.
The fact that travelers won’t see the new Acela trains until next spring is a delay from Amtrak’s previously announced timeline, to be sure.
In fact, the new Acela trains are well over three years behind schedule, having encountered a series of hurdles — the coronavirus pandemic among them. Last year, a federal watchdog’s report flagged defects on a slew of new Acela train sets, warning the problems threatened to further delay their arrival into service.
This time last year, Amtrak had told me it hoped passengers might board the new trains by the end of 2024.
Final stretch
However, the wait for passengers does seem to be nearing its end.
In an update last week, Amtrak said it recently wrapped up more than 900 test runs of the new Acela trains with Alstom (the train sets’ manufacturer) and planned to soon submit data to the Federal Railroad Administration — a key final step.
BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY
Amtrak’s multibillion-dollar next-generation Acela program will replace its aging Acela fleet with 28 brand-new train sets with personal outlets, USB ports, contactless restrooms and a much-improved cafe car.
Infrastructure improvements along the Northeast Corridor should also, eventually, allow the trains to hit top speeds of up to 160 mph.
This news comes as Amtrak just announced a record-setting ridership and revenue year in fiscal year 2024, which ran from October 2023 to September 2024. That included a 9% increase in Acela passengers over the prior year — and an 18% jump in ridership in the Northeast region, more broadly.
The integration of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines has officially commenced, and with it comes some serious changes to how the two carriers have historically operated.
It starts with combining and expanding the two networks, which will soon see Seattle turned into an international gateway, among other changes. The merger will also bring about some big upgrades to the premium experience offered by the carriers, along with other changes to loyalty, fleeting and more.
Now that the integration is underway, Alaska Airlines is hosting an investor day in New York to share more about its vision for how the combined airlines will operate.
Here’s everything you need to know about the so-called “Alaska Accelerate” growth strategy.
Long-haul flights from Seattle
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Headlining the announcement is that Alaska will turn its hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) into an international gateway.
That means the airline will launch long-haul flights from Seattle. Its inaugural destination, Tokyo’s Narita Internatrional Airport, will take off on May 12, and seats will be available for purchase on Tuesday.
The airline will then follow up with another long-haul route to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) beginning in October. This route will go on sale early next year.
Alaska will deploy Hawaiian Airlines’ Airbus A330-200s on its inaugural transpacific routes from Seattle. The flights will operate using Hawaiian flight numbers until the two carriers get a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. Both flights will be bookable via Alaska and Hawaiian channels.
Note that the aircraft used for these flights may change as Hawaiian adds more widebodies to its fleet, a carrier spokesperson told TPG.
Speaking about this expansion, Alaska Airlines chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison told TPG in an interview that Seattle is the sixth-largest domestic gateway for flights to Asia and Oceania, while Europe is the tenth. Plus, “the beauty of it is that both Narita and Seoul are already served by Hawaiian, so all the infrastructure, the airports, all of that stuff is already plug and play.”
He added that “Seattle is the largest West Coast hub of any U.S. carrier. We’re two times Delta’s North American seats, we have 28% more seats than United in San Francisco. And then the other thing is that the fastest way to Asia is over Seattle. Not San Francisco and Los Angeles.”
As part of this announcement, Alaska will move Hawaiian’s existing flights from Hawaii to Narita to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) instead. This will operate on a twice-daily basis.
“We’re going to move the Narita slot to Seattle, and the Honolulu to Narita was losing a fair bit of money, and so moving it up to Seattle with a point of sale strength in the U.S., we believe is going to be accretive from day one,” he said.
Two other tail winds that support long-haul expansion in Seattle are managed corporate travel and cargo, Harrison said.
Speaking about corporate travel, Harrison shared that “the corporate managed accounts for Alaska Airlines spend over $300 million a year on international travel alone out of Seattle, and our top five corporates spend $200 million. That is corporate travel that we do not participate in today that we can directly participate in tomorrow.”
As for cargo, Harrison didn’t share any numbers, but the airline says that these new routes will also cater to strong cargo demand.
While Alaska will start with two transpacific destinations from Seattle, the carrier is promising that by 2030, it’ll have at least 12 long-haul routes from the city.
Other network, fleet changes
In addition to the new long-haul flying, Alaska is making several other changes to its network.
This includes rethinking how it banks its hubs. Harrison said this is especially important in Seattle and Oregon’s Portland International Airport (PDX) because Seattle is already at capacity, and nearby Portland still has some slack.
Going forward, Alaska will funnel connections via Seattle for its new long-haul routes, while Portland will take over some of the other connecting traffic that has historically gone via Seattle.
Several other changes on the horizon include the addition of 20% more seats between Seattle and Honolulu, accomplished by upgauging three of the airline’s six daily nonstop to be operated by Hawaiian’s wide-body aircraft.
In addition to the aforementioned deployments, Alaska will also use an Airbus A330 between Seattle and Anchorage during the peak summer season, and it’ll fly an A330 from Sacramento to Honolulu as well.
The airline will also add new nonstop routes from San Francisco to both Kona on Hawaii’s “Big Island” and Lihue on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Kona service will operate four times weekly beginning on June 12, while Lihue flights will operate three times a week starting on June 13.
Alaska will also increase utilization of Hawaiian’s Airbus A321s, A330s and Boeing 787s in the coming months. (The airline says that Hawaiian’s Airbus A321s will fly 25% more than they did before the merger.)
In terms of the fleet, Alaska spent recent years consolidating its operations to Boeing 737 aircraft. The Hawaiian integration undoes those synergies since the Honolulu-based carrier operates Airbus A321s and A330s. Hawaiian also flies Boeing 717s, which Alaska does not have.
That said, Harrison says the carrier has a plan for its new consolidated fleet.
“The Boeing 737-8, -9 and -10 are really very ideal aircraft for the historical Alaska network… The Boeing 787s are perfect for longer-haul growth… The only aircraft that’s in the near-field here is the Boeing 717 operating neighboring island service, which we are going to have to look at replacing.”
As for the remaining Airbus A330s and A321s, Alaska seems content to keep them deployed in existing markets.
Premium economy is coming
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Now that Alaska Airlines will fly across the ocean, the airline says that it needs an international premium economy product.
Hawaiian opted not to install premium economy on its Airbus A330s or new Boeing 787s, so these jets will undergo a retrofit program to install this popular cabin in the coming years. “They’re very much under-premium,” Harrison said about Hawaiian’s cabin configurations.
The details and timeline are still in the air, but adding premium economy to these planes should come as no surprise.
This intermediate cabin between business class and economy has soared in popularity (and profitability) in recent years.
“The premium economy cabin on international routes is sometimes spoken to as one of the most profitable cabins. It’s just a real sweet spot and there’s demand for that type of product,” according to Harrison.
New premium credit card
Alaska has clearly heard the news that cobranded credit cards are where the money is. (Just ask Delta that’s brought in about $7 billion this year from its exclusive Amex deal.)
Alaska has never had a premium credit card, but that’ll change next summer when the carrier launches one with a $395 annual fee
Unlike the Big 3 U.S. airlines, which include lounge access for their top-of-the-line credit cards, Alaska’s version will include some other unique perks aimed at capturing sign-ups and providing more value than “getting into crowded lounges,” said Harrison.
These benefits include a so-called Global Companion Award Certificate (similar to the airline’s existing companion fare, but redeemable globally on partner airlines), three times miles on foreign and dining purchases, a faster path to elite status and much more.
Details are mum about what travelers can expect from this new card, but waitlist sign-ups start today at alaskaair.com/premium-card. Travelers who join the waitlist before Dec. 31, 2024, will enjoy an exclusive offer, Alaska said.
Major lounge upgrades
Alaska will further invest in its most luxurious travel experiences to boost its premium appeal.
This includes unveiling new lounges in Honolulu and San Diego, as well as opening an all-new “flagship international lounge” in Seattle by 2027.
Alaska’s media team cut Harrison off from spilling the beans on this new facility (“I can’t tell Zach how big it’s going to be, can I?”), but Harrison promised that Alaska will be doubling its lounge footprint and that the new space will be significantly bigger than Alaska’s North Satellite lounge in Seattle, which currently measures nearly 16,000 square feet.
It’ll be interesting to see how Alaska markets this new lounge when it opens. In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of business-class-only lounges, so it’s possible that this facility will be reserved for those seated in the pointy end of the plane paying the big bucks (or miles).
Alaska already announced premium upgrades coming to its fleet with more premium- and first-class seats, and this announcement builds on that work that’s already underway.
Bottom line
All in all, Alaska Airlines has laid out its vision for what a combined Alaska and Hawaiian look like.
The airline is doubling down on premium — a popular move these days in the airline industry — while also launching long-haul flights from Seattle.
Other upcoming changes include upgraded lounges, retimed and rebanked flights, an all-new premium credit card and much more.
It’s no doubt an exciting time to be an Alaska Airlines flyer, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what comes next.
Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is about to strengthen its European presence.
The luxury hotel brand plans to add Hotel Lutetia in Paris and the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam to its network of ultraluxury hotels worldwide. Following the planned completion of the deal, the Hotel Lutetia will be rebranded as the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris. The Conservatorium Hotel, following an extensive renovation, is slated to be rebranded as the Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam, in January 2026.
“Mandarin Oriental is focused on being a global leader in luxury hospitality,” Laurent Kleitman, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental, said in a statement. “These new long-term management agreements with two of Europe’s great heritage hotels are core to our strategy of expanding and strengthening our brand’s presence in world destinations that appeal to our fans.”
Hotel Lutetia, which dates back to the early 1900s, is on the Left Bank and already has a Mandarin connection. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who designed the Mandarin Oriental Paris, also designed the Hotel Lutetia’s more than $200 million, four-year renovation, which was completed in 2018. The 184-room (including 47 suites) property is one of Paris’s famed Palace hotels, as is the Mandarin Oriental Paris.
“Having soon two Palace hotels in Paris, one on the Left and one on the Right Bank, we are proudly reaffirming our relentless commitment to the French hospitality market and creating a compelling choice for our guests,” Kleitman said.
The Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam first opened in 2011 and is popular for its contemporary accommodations in a historic building that previously served as a bank and then as a music conservatory. The hotel features 129 guest rooms and suites and is centrally located in the Dutch capital near the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.
Mandarin Oriental intends to maintain both properties’ “unique character and local cultural essence.” The two hotels share an owner — Locka Holding BV — and have been members of the Set Collection.
“Likewise, adding the Conservatorium Hotel to our portfolio will bring a new dimension to our presence across Europe’s leading capitals, where we are already well versed in delivering world-class service in cities that value luxury and heritage,” Kleitman added.
News of the expansion comes days after Mandarin Oriental leaders also announced plans to expand the brand’s ultraluxury vacation rental offering, proving that the luxe company is clearly ambitious in offering a variety of product types for guests around the world.
Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here to read more about our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.
When all-inclusive fares, gourmet dining, spacious suites with private balconies and attentive service are the hallmarks of every luxury cruise line, it’s tricky to decide just which brand and ship is right for your next upscale vacation.
All of the major luxury cruise lines have their own signature styles, but one line stands out for taking high-end cruising a step beyond its competitors with more choice and innovation within its vacation offerings. That’s why we’ve named Silversea Cruises the 2024 TPG Awards winner for Best Luxury Cruise Line.
Silversea is an all-inclusive cruise line with fares covering fine dining in multiple onboard venues, premium alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees, crew gratuities, standard Wi-Fi and a shore excursion in every port. Book one of its door-to-door fares and you’ll also receive private car transfers and airfare.
Its ships offer all the hallmarks of luxury cruising. Most accommodations are suites with separate living and sleeping areas, private verandas, walk-in closets and marble bathrooms with plenty of elbow room. Even its smallest cabins have picture windows and sitting areas.
Onboard dining takes travelers on a culinary journey around the world, with multicourse La Dame serving French fare; Indochine, Seishin and Kaiseki elevating Asian flavors; and La Terrazza and Spaccanapoli tempting with authentic Italian dishes.
The staff-to-guest ratio is nearly 1:1, meaning service on board is always attentive and personal; you might even get tired of waiters offering to carry your plate or bring you your favorite drink.
But we expect amenities like those from any cruise line that dares to brand itself as luxury. Here are the five areas where Silversea really stands out from its competitors.
Fleet size and variety
Silver Origin approaching Kicker Rock at sunset, Galapagos Islands. SILVERSEA CRUISES
Silversea has the largest fleet of all the major luxury cruise lines catering to North Americans. Its 12 ships range in size from the 100-passenger Silver Origin, which sails exclusively in the Galapagos, to its two new-builds Silver Ray and Nova, with one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the industry and an energy-efficient design.
The reason for this extensive fleet is that the cruise line offers two distinct categories of ships. Eight of its ships, with passenger capacities of 392 to 728 passengers, are typical (yet upscale) ocean-going ships, offering leisure trips around the world.
The remaining four ships are smaller (100 to 274 passengers) and belong to the line’s hardy expedition fleet. These ships specialize in more adventurous sailings to remote destinations, including Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galapagos and the South Pacific. They offer a different vibe with education-as-entertainment, led by an expedition team of historians, scientists and cultural specialists; active exploration via hikes or kayak outings; and an emphasis on local culture and wildlife.
With so much variety in onboard style and amenities, Silversea can offer guests new experiences with every vacation so they don’t have to research new lines every time they plan another cruise. Plus, the line’s Venetian Society loyalty program rewards repeat passengers even more with perks that range from discounts to free cruises.
Unique itineraries to every continent
ADRIAN WLODARCZYK/SILVERSEA
With 12 ocean and expedition ships, Silversea can offer itineraries to every continent, from pole to pole — something that many of its competitors cannot do. The line claims its ships leave almost no coastline unvisited, traveling to more than 900 destinations each year.
Of course, Silversea cruisers can visit all the cruise staple regions: the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, and Alaska. Expect more off-the-beaten-path ports, with a yacht-y vibe. Ships might stop in Giardini Naxos, Sicily; Casablanca, Morocco; Gustavia, St. Barts; or Wrangell, Alaska.
But Silversea isn’t content to stick with tried-and-true itineraries. For example, it’s the only major luxury cruise line to have a ship dedicated to the Galapagos, with Silver Origin sailing weeklong cruises from San Cristobal year-round.
Three of the line’s expedition ships spend the Southern Hemisphere summer in Antarctica. (The cruise line was an early trendsetter in luxury sailings to Antarctica.) Guests can choose to sail from Puerto Williams, at the southern tip of Chile, across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Or, they can choose to fly over the Drake — skipping the stomach-turning waves — and board their ship at King George Island for a shorter itinerary concentrated all on the southernmost continent.
The luxury line is even building a hotel in Puerto Williams to house guests prior to their cruise or flight; when finished, it will be the southernmost hotel in the world.
Silversea also offers itineraries to bucket list destinations in the Arctic, Africa and the Indian Ocean, French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia. The line started operating in Australia’s remote Kimberley region before it was on many other cruise line’s radars. (You’ll find more small-ship lines there as of this year.)
Simply put: Its reach is unbeatable.
Butlers in every suite
Butler unpacking the guests’ suitcase. LUCA LOCATELLI/SILVERSEA CRUISES
One of the reasons travelers choose a luxury cruise line is to feel pampered, and Silversea takes that desire seriously. To that end, it offers around-the-clock butler service in every suite on all its ships — not just the top accommodation, as some lines do.
Silversea butlers will take all your vacation’s frustrating logistical chores off your to-do list so you can focus on relaxing by the pool or sampling all the signature cocktails. They’ll unpack your bags, make restaurant reservations, whisk away your laundry and return it impeccably folded. Leave your sunglasses on the counter, and you’ll find them wrapped neatly in a microfiber cloth to prevent scratches.
But Silversea butlers can also add to the magic of a luxury vacation. They are happy to bring you complimentary Champagne and caviar at your request — or every afternoon, if you prefer. They’ll draw you aromatherapy baths, serve you gourmet hot chocolate on your balcony and bring you truffled popcorn to enjoy with an in-room movie. They will even help you throw a cocktail party in your cabin for your newfound cruise friends.
And service this good is even more special when it’s delivered by a butler dressed in a tuxedo and white gloves, with a friendly smile on their face.
Immersive destination experience through food
Chef’s Table on Silver Ray. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
All luxury cruise lines stand out for their swoon-worthy cuisine, with stunning grand dining rooms and intimate specialty restaurants serving the best dishes from around the world. Silversea’s innovative S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) program takes fine dining and uses it to immerse you in the destination you’re visiting through tastes and sips.
On board select ships, guests can dine at two restaurants where menus change based on the region your ship is sailing. S.A.L.T. Kitchen is a main dining room with regionally inspired menus at dinner, with half the menu reflecting the larger region and the other half changing daily based on the current port of call. The S.A.L.T. Lab hosts an intimate chef’s table for just diners with an 11-course meal paired with cocktails and wine, again introducing guests to your destination’s cuisine.
Guests who prefer to drink their way to cultural literacy can mosey on over to the S.A.L.T. bar, which specializes in craft cocktails inspired by your itinerary’s ports of call. If you like a concoction, get your fill because it might disappear off the menu when the ship moves on.
For the hands-on learners, Silversea offers S.A.L.T. experiences, culinary-inspired shore excursions that take you to markets, farms, restaurants and wineries, where you can meet the local people carrying on regional food traditions or leading the way in culinary innovation. Or, head to the S.A.L.T. Lab on a sea day and learn to create local dishes under the guidance of a cooking teacher.
Silversea knows that today’s travelers are passionate about having authentic encounters with the destinations they’re visiting and enjoying top-notch, local food. It combines those two goals into one to enhance your sailing through its food-themed activities.
Most innovative new luxury cruise ships
SilverSea Nova. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Royal Caribbean Group absorbed Silversea into its portfolio of cruise brands in 2020 and has since shared its creative juices with its adopted luxury line. The result is that Silversea’s two newest ships, Silver Nova and Silver Ray, are the most innovative new luxury cruise ships afloat.
The line took cruise ship design back to the drawing boards and created a never-seen-before asymmetric design that incorporates light and outside views in most public spaces. The top-deck pool is set along one side of the ship, rather than the middle, so bathers are always looking out to sea or port. All the elevators have glass walls so you have views when waiting to go back to your suite or down to dinner.
No matter where you are on board, you feel immersed in the surroundings outside, rather than stuck on a ship, oblivious to where you are in the world.
Silver Ray in Cadiz, Spain. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
The ships also embrace a more modern and youthful vibe than many luxury cruise ships out there. New restaurant menus reflect Italian and French culinary trends (rather than sticking to the classics), and the S.A.L.T. Bar utilizes all the cutting-edge cocktail mixing techniques.
Plus, as some of the most spacious ships at sea, these ships will kill the notion that vessels with hundreds of passengers must feel crowded. Silversea executives make the claim that if every passenger during a sold-out cruise showed up on the pool deck at the same time, they’d still have plenty of space to themselves. All the suites offer oodles of elbow room, with the smallest suite on the ship still a whopping 357 square feet, including the 56-square-foot balcony.
Bottom line
Silversea takes all the characteristics of all-inclusive, small-ship cruising and adds its own spin to make sure high-end travelers have a wealth of choices for hassle-free vacations around the world. It continues to adapt its offerings to the modern traveler while giving its stalwart loyal customers the indulgent vacations they’ve come to love. The line stands out in an increasingly crowded field of luxury cruise lines for all the right reasons.
