Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
‘Tis the season for gifts — and that includes gift cards. Unfortunately, you may have received some gift cards for the holidays that you aren’t very excited about. If that’s the case, we have some good news: You can turn those unwanted gift cards into United MileagePlus miles through United’s MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange. Here’s how it works.
On the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange landing page, there’s a link to a “Gift card retailer list” at the bottom. This list currently includes over 30 retailers, such as Best Buy, Sears, Starbucks and Walmart.
MILEAGEPLUS GIFT CARD EXCHANGE
However, note that some merchants on this list may not actually be available for exchange on the website. There are also some merchants available for exchange that aren’t on the list, including The North Face and HP.
United has a chart listing the “Minimum award miles awarded,” which would make you think that some options offer more miles than these rates. But we checked dozens of different merchants, and the mileage offer was the same for each one.
MILEAGEPLUS GIFT CARD EXCHANGE
Despite the chart, you’re not limited to $25, $50 and $100 gift cards. According to the homepage, you can exchange gift cards with at least a $15 minimum balance. However, there are higher minimum balances for some merchants, like $50 at The North Face. If your balance is too low, a red box with the minimum will pop up when you click “Get Mileage offer.”
From what we’ve gathered, the number of miles offered is the gift card value times 26.6, rounded up to the nearest 10 miles. This comes out to between 3.70 and 3.76 cents per mile, depending on how many you’re trading in. For example:
$15 gift cards equal 400 United miles (3.75 cents per mile)
$20 gift cards equal 540 United miles (3.70 cents per mile)
$25 gift cards equal 670 United miles (3.73 cents per mile)
$30 gift cards equal 800 United miles (3.75 cents per mile)
$40 gift cards equal 1,070 United miles (3.74 cents per mile)
$50 gift cards equal 1,330 United miles (3.76 cents per mile)
$100 gift cards equal 2,660 United miles (3.76 cents per mile)
This rate is much higher than TPG’s December 2024 valuation of 1.35 cents per United mile, meaning you’re not getting good value from your gift cards. Still, if you’d rather have the miles than the gift card, this could be a useful way to offload them.
Also, at least United is being consistent. When United isn’t running a buy miles promotion, you can buy United miles at a rate of $35 per 1,000 United miles. After taxes and fees, this comes out to 3.76 cents per mile.
To sell gift cards through the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange, your MileagePlus account must have been open for at least 90 days and have a positive account balance. This means you can’t exchange your gift cards for miles if there are no miles in your account.
But if your account is empty, don’t worry: There are several easy ways to earn United miles without flying, such as through the MileagePlus shopping portal or the MileagePlus Dining program.
PHOTOATTRACTIVE/GETTY IMAGES
Although the site may give you a quote for $10 gift cards at some merchants, the terms and conditions state that “gift cards accepted must have a $15 minimum balance on the card and may have a maximum imposed.” It also appears that the exchange will only accept gift cards up to $100.
If you decide to sell a gift card through the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange, the miles should arrive in your United account within five business days.
While you’re not going to get the best value from exchanging gift cards for United miles, it’s nice to have the option to swap an unwanted gift card for something more useful. The MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange could come in handy if you need United miles for an upcoming redemption, have tapped out your Bilt Rewards Points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and are holding a qualifying gift card. If your only other option is to buy United miles, you might as well liquidate the gift card — especially if it’s one you wouldn’t use soon anyway.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a United redemption in mind, it might be worth checking online for another gift card exchange program (such as CardCash) that may give you a better rate.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Travel to Las Vegas is booming, and the year ahead promises to be another exciting one for the city.
While Fontainebleau Las Vegas and The Sphere (the $1.8 billion entertainment venue and largest spherical structure in the world) opened in 2023, each continues to draw crowds. Of course, travelers also flock to the area for the nonstop, around-the-clock entertainment and casinos, the dynamic food scene and the wealth of hotels.
One thing that can be hard to find in this city, though? Free parking.
If you’d rather spend your money on dinner, drinks, a show or the casino instead of parking, we have good news: We’ve found several ways to park without paying fees.
This includes seeking out hotels offering free parking to guests and visitors. We also have a few workarounds for scoring free parking on The Strip.
Here are all the tips and tricks you need to know.
Stay at a hotel that offers free parking
Whether you’re looking for a budget or a luxury property, several hotels on and around The Strip offer free parking.
If you bring your car and free parking is paramount, plan to visit Strip stalwarts Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Sahara Las Vegas, Trump International Hotel Las Vegas and Treasure Island Las Vegas. These hotels all offer free parking for both visitors and hotel guests.
Some hotels offer free parking for hotel guests only. These include The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (where there’s also free valet), Wynn Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.
Over at the IHG-associated Venetian and Palazzo, Venetian Grazie Rewards Premier members and above receive complimentary self-parking. Nevada residents receive three hours of complimentary self-parking by scanning their valid Nevada driver’s license at a self-parking kiosk. Note: IHG will cut ties with the Venetian in 2025, so this policy may change.
Free parking through MGM and Caesar Rewards
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Elite members of MGM’s rewards program get free parking at MGM Resorts properties — including Cosmopolitan, Bellagio Las Vegas, Aria Resort & Casino and MGM Grand — depending on their status level. Currently, members with Pearl status or higher receive free self-parking, while those with Gold status or higher qualify for free valet.
Self-parking is also complimentary for current MGM Rewards Mastercard cardholders.
MGM Rewards members with Pearl status or higher are eligible for complimentary special event parking, too.
For Caesars loyalists, Caesars Rewards offers free valet and self-parking to those with Platinum status or higher.
Free parking at shopping malls
If you want free parking during the day and don’t mind a short trek to your destination, consider parking at a shopping center. Fashion Show Las Vegas mall, The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay and the Shops at Crystals offer free self-parking.
Parking at a shopping mall for free might be convenient if you visit different nearby casinos that don’t offer free parking. Just be aware of mall hours. Also, move your car when the stores are closed since overnight parking isn’t allowed.
Caesars Entertainment has a special discount program for veterans, active U.S. military members and their spouses.
Salute members receive complimentary parking at Caesars hotels, including Caesars Palace, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and others. Salute also offers discounts on dining and show tickets.
Free parking for local residents
Being a local pays for finding free parking in Las Vegas.
At all MGM resorts, Nevada residents receive up to three hours of complimentary self-parking by showing a valid Nevada driver’s license at the exit gate, except during special events.
Local residents also get three hours of free parking at Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Horseshoe Las Vegas (a Bally’s property) and Hard Rock (formerly The Mirage). Three hours of free parking at Paris Las Vegas is also available for Nevada residents.
If you want to avoid parking fees and the hassle of renting a car, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are the way to go.
You can hail a ride from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to a hotel on The Strip for about $25. Getting around without a rental car is feasible and free, thanks to complimentary shuttles offered between popular hotels on The Strip.
Bottom line
Travel to Vegas is booming, but you don’t need to dip into your entertainment funds to pay for parking.
Instead, follow these tips to avoid parking fees in Las Vegas this coming year, and use the money you save to play and stay in Sin City.
The best feature of the three major airline alliances — Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld — is that you can earn points or miles on any carrier within a given alliance by flying on any other. Likewise, you can use points or miles from any carrier in that alliance for award travel on a flight operated by another. These reciprocal arrangements are easy to understand, even if they don’t always work out so well in practice.
In addition to the major alliances, airlines also have nonalliance partners that passengers can use in a similar fashion. However, many of the nonalliance partners restrict which flights you can earn or redeem miles on, so it’s important to review the requirements on the airline’s website before you book any flights. Below, we’ll go through some of the lesser-known airline partnerships and highlight a few sweet spots to take advantage of them.
Air France business class. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Air France and KLM are both part of the SkyTeam alliance. The miles you earn from flights on Air France and KLM — along with nonalliance partner Transavia — go to Flying Blue, the loyalty program shared among these three airlines.
Flying Blue is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Air Corsica
Air Mauritius
AirBaltic
Aircalin
Chalair Aviation
China Southern Airlines
Copa Airlines
El Al
Etihad Airways
Gol Airlines
Japan Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Oman Air
Qantas
Transavia
WestJet
Winair
Flying Blue also has a partnership with Bangkok Airways, but only redemptions are allowed. You cannot earn miles from paid Bangkok Airways flights.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance. Its Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Aer Lingus
Air Tahiti Nui
Cape Air
Condor
Hainan Airlines
Icelandair
Korean Air
LATAM
Oman Air
Porter Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Starlux Airlines
You can book Condor business class with Alaska miles. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
ANA is a Japanese-based airline and a member of Star Alliance. Its ANA Mileage Club program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Air Dolomiti
Air Macau
Etihad Airways
Eurowings
Garuda Indonesia
Olympic Air
Philippine Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Vietnam Airlines
Virgin Australia
American Airlines
American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance. Its American Airlines AAdvantage program is not part of any credit card transfer programs, but it is a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
You can redeem AAdvantage miles to fly to Tahiti on Air Tahiti Nui. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Nonalliance partners for earning only include:
Aer Lingus
IndiGo
JetSmart — currently earning only but with redemptions coming soon
British Airways and Iberia
British Airways and Iberia are both Oneworld member airlines. They are two of the six airlines that use Avios as rewards currency; the other airlines are Oneworld members Finnair and Qatar Airways and nonalliance members Aer Lingus and Vueling. Though each airline has an individual program, you can freely move your Avios at a 1:1 ratio between all six airlines.
British Airways and Iberia are both transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. The former is also a transfer partner of Capital One miles. Because you can move your Avios between the six participating airlines, any Avios you have in these programs can be used to book multiple nonalliance partners.
British Airways’ nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Aer Lingus
LATAM
Sun-Air
The carrier also has a partnership with China Southern Airlines, but you can only earn Avios for paid flights. You cannot redeem Avios for China Southern flights.
Iberia’s nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Avianca
Binter Canarias
LATAM
Level
Vueling
Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is part of the Oneworld alliance. Its Asia Miles program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Air Canada
Air China
Air New Zealand
Austrian Airlines
Bangkok Airways
Fiji Airways
Gulf Air
HK Express
LATAM
Lufthansa
Shenzhen Airlines
Swiss
Delta Air Lines
Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance. Its Delta SkyMiles program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
AirBaltic
Cape Air
China Southern
El Al
Hawaiian Airlines
LATAM
WestJet
Redemptions on AirBaltic are limited to connections from a transatlantic award flight on Delta, Air France or KLM. Earning and redeeming on Hawaiian Airlines is limited to flights only within Hawaii.
You can redeem Delta SkyMiles to fly on LATAM. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
United is a Star Alliance carrier. Its United MileagePlus program is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Aer Lingus
Air Dolomiti
AirLink
Azul Brazilian Airlines
Cape Air
Discover Airlines
Edelweiss Air
Emirates
Eurowings
Flydubai
Hawaiian Airlines — flights only within Hawaii
JSX
Juneyao Airlines
Lufthansa
Olympic Air
Silver Airways
Virgin Australia
For Emirates and Flydubai, you can only redeem miles on select routes between Dubai and Africa, the Middle East and the South Asian subcontinent as part of an award reservation that includes a United flight between Newark and Dubai, all on the same ticket. Earning and redeeming on Hawaiian Airlines is limited to flights only within Hawaii.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic plane at London’s Heathrow Airport. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Virgin Atlantic is part of the SkyTeam alliance. Its Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program and the Virgin Red rewards program — which you can link to Flying Club — are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
Air New Zealand
All Nippon Airways
El Al
Hawaiian Airlines
LATAM
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Virgin Atlantic also has a partnership with IndiGo, but you can only earn points for paid flights. You cannot redeem Virgin points for IndiGo flights.
Sweet spots among the nonalliance partners
Many airlines have moved to fluctuating award rates, known as dynamic pricing, for redemptions on their own airline. However, most programs still have an award chart for partner redemptions at fixed rates.
Some programs offer zone-based redemptions, where the award rate is determined by what regions you’re traveling between. Other programs have distance-based redemptions, where the award rate is based on the number of miles between the airports you’re traveling.
Reviewing an airline’s partner award charts can help you target redemptions that may be particularly useful or noteworthy. Here are a few sweet spots of the nonalliance partners.
Aeroplan redemptions for United flights in North America
Economy flights on United that are up to 500 miles in length and within North America can be booked for just 6,000 Aeroplan points. Sample itineraries include flights from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Mexico’s Monterrey International Airport (MTY) and ones from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
Alaska is the only airline partner of Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines. Starlux has an impressive business-class product between the U.S. and Taiwan, and award rates start as low as 75,000 Alaska miles each way.
Virgin Atlantic redemptions for ANA business or first class
This redemption is not as sweet as it used to be after several devaluations over the past few years. However, it’s still one of the best uses of Virgin points for premium cabin travel — particularly if you can book The Room business class or The Suite first class as opposed to the airline’s older products. One-way business class between the U.S. and Japan is available for as few as 52,500 Virgin points; first class is available for as few as 72,500 points.
Using Virgin points offers more flexibility than ANA’s own miles; this is because Virgin allows for one-way redemptions while ANA only allows round-trip redemptions. Virgin also has many more options for transfers from credit card points and miles programs.
Bottom line
Airline partners make award travel much easier since they expand the network of carriers and routings available when redeeming your points and miles. It’s not just the partners within the airline’s alliance that may offer good value for earning or redeeming your miles. Keep in mind the nonalliance partners as well.
Editor’s note: Casa Monti provided TPG with a complimentary one-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities shortly after it opened. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.
If “The Golden Girls” were Italian nonnas, they’d feel right at home at Casa Monti, a boutique hotel in the heart of Rome’s oldest neighborhood. Thanks to its never-ending combinations of patterns, textures, prints and tchotchkes, the new hotel feels like an old friend, “a pal and a confidante,” if you will.
Instantly welcoming and overwhelmingly charming, Casa Monti, found on the picture-perfect cobblestoned Via Panisperna, is a feast for the senses and a stunning boutique addition to Rome’s booming hotel scene.
Here’s everything you need to know about staying at Casa Monti.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
What is Casa Monti?
Casa Monti is a small boutique hotel with just 26 rooms and 10 suites from Leitmotiv, a family-owned French hospitality company with other boutique properties in Paris and Megeve, France. The design-forward hotel’s interiors were crafted by Laura Gonzales and inspired by the Italian idea of “sprezzatura,” a sort of intangible style where everything works together even though each individual part tells you otherwise; it’s something that can’t be learned, many Italians say.
Casa Monti is a small player in Rome’s burgeoning hotel scene, which has recently seen the opening of an Edition, Bulgari Hotel and Six Senses, among others. But what makes the hotel so special is its size — and its location in Monti, a neighborhood that dates back to the days of ancient Rome (the Colosseum is a few minutes away by foot).
Today, Monti is a residential-feeling neighborhood full of artists, vintage and boutique shops, cafes, and nightlife.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
How much Casa Monti costs and how to book it
Casa Monti is a boutique hotel that is currently not part of a loyalty or points program.
That said, you can book directly with the hotel, with rates starting around $375 per night (though rates tend to be upward of $600 during the busy summer months).
Rooms at Casa Monti
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
Casa Monti has 10 different types of rooms and suites, ranging from the entry-level Cosy Room, perfect for a solo traveler, all the way up to multiroom suites with plenty of space to spread out.
During my late-August stay, I checked in to a charming Superior Room with windows overlooking the Via Panisperna. Measuring about 269 square feet, my room had a plush king-size bed sitting against a wall of brightly colored wallpaper with a matching headboard and even a matching tissue box on the nightstand.
Also on the nightstands were a Bluetooth speaker, an iPad with information about the hotel, and coffee table books. Above the stands I found international power outlets, including USB outlets, were conveniently placed.
Across from the bed was a striped couch, a TV (with Chromecast!), more of that fun yellow pattern as seen on the headboard, a small armchair and a little coffee table.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
I had let the hotel know ahead of time that the day of our arrival was my husband’s birthday, and they pulled out all the stops and had this beautiful chocolate birthday message and dessert waiting in the room.
With the photo above, you can get a feel for all the textures and patterns throughout the room … sprezzatura.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
In the room’s small entryway, a minibar area had a tea kettle with various tea options, a Nespresso machine, plenty of glassware, and a minifridge with local beers, spirits and the other usual bar fare. One nice surprise was some complimentary Italian snacks, like mixed nuts and sun-dried peppers.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
There was also a large closet in the entryway area, as well as a safe.
In the bathroom, deep-red tile work contrasted with neutral earthy tones and beautiful marble in the shower and on the vanity. The room also consisted of the toilet, a bidet and a towel rack with fluffy towels.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
The water pressure in the rainfall shower was perfect. And after combining that with the lovely smell of the Susanne Kaufmann soaps and shampoos designed exclusively for Casa Monti, it was a true feat to force myself out of the relaxing shower.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
And though my room didn’t have a balcony or terrace, the view out my tall, skinny windows onto Via Panisperna was truly fabulous.
What we ate and drank at Casa Monti
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
Casa Monti has two bars, one off the lobby (pictured above) and a small rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating, plus a restaurant on the main level.
Upon arrival, we enjoyed refreshing welcome cocktails in the colorful lobby bar, aptly called Casa Monti Bar. It was full of patterns and textures, like dark wood accents, zebra-inspired print upholstery on the walls, artsy lamps and a cheeky mirrored ceiling.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
Casa Monti Rooftop is another eclectic experience with a menu of cocktails, wines, beers and snacks (think: mixed cheeses and fried zucchini flowers). Once again, the interior design is a hodgepodge of this, that and everything in between. If anything, the rooftop bar shows that the hotel’s designer, Laura Gonzales, is truly a master of her craft. What could have easily been gaudy or garish turned into something ornate and unexpected — sprezzatura.
Though I didn’t have a reservation, I was able to get a table outside after just a few minutes of waiting, though I’d recommend making reservations ahead of time just to be safe. At my shiny blue table, I wasn’t necessarily able to see out to Rome while sitting down, but the views of the city were magical while standing up. They were even better with my La Fioraia cocktail (18 euros/$19) made with flower-infused Tanqueray gin, raspberry shrub and lemon.
For my husband’s birthday dinner, we sat outside at Casa Monti Ristorante, a restaurant serving seasonal Roman food with slight regional variations from Sicilian chef Umberto Tuccio.
Highlights of our dinner included a mouthwatering caprese salad with burrata over a tower of fresh summer tomatoes and basil (16 euros/$17), a simple but delectable tonnarelli cacio e pepe (21 euros/$22), and a zucchini risotto with gambero rosso shrimp (30 euros/$32). The food was lovely, the service was great and we had a lovely time enjoying the fresh Roman air, even if it was a bit warm in late August.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
Amenities and things to do
Casa Monti might be big on design at first glance, but its list of things to do on-property focuses on eating, drinking and sleeping. The hotel doesn’t have a gym, but it does have the only Susanne Kaufmann spa in Rome. Sadly, I didn’t have time to visit the spa during my whirlwind trip to the Eternal City, but those who do can opt for treatments like a 50-minute alkaline deep-cleansing facial (135 euros/$141) or the 80-minute Susanne Kaufmann signature body treatment that includes a body scrub and massage (190 euros/$200).
In my experience, Rome is best discovered on foot, and Casa Monti is right in the heart of the city. You can quickly walk from the hotel to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain and beyond. Just be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes because Rome can also be steep at times.
Shopping in Monti is serious business. I have found some of my favorite secondhand items at stores in the neighborhood. But my favorite store in Rome is SuperOdra, a concept boutique on Via Leonina, just a few minutes away from the hotel.
If you’re traveling with the family or kids, the Family Suite has a main bedroom with a sofa bed and a bathtub, plus a second bedroom to accommodate, in total, up to six people.
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
Accessibility
TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY
Casa Monti has two accessible rooms, plus wheelchair-friendly elevators (though they aren’t necessarily the largest I’ve come across). Public spaces are also wheelchair accessible and accessible to those with limited mobility.
That said, I always recommend that guests who might need accessible rooms reach out to the hotel directly to confirm what’s available.
Bottom line
Casa Monti is one of the most charming boutique hotels I’ve stayed at in recent years. It’s a little bit kitschy, it’s totally cool and it’s in one of my favorite neighborhoods in the whole world.
If you want a charming place to stay that’s right in the center of the action, look no further than this chic boutique, its magazine-worthy bars and friendly staff. And if you find yourself up on that rooftop sipping cocktails overlooking Rome’s seven hills, you might just hear the voice of a different golden girl, Lizzie McGuire, pop into your head: “This is what dreams are made of.”
While most people are thinking about their New Year’s resolutions, AvGeeks and airline industry enthusiasts have a list of their own to look forward to as the calendar flips from December to January.
That would be the bevy of new airline routes announced last year, many of which launch in 2025. In the U.S. alone, hundreds of new routes were announced in 2024 to varying degrees of fanfare. They included everything from ho-hum expansions — think new flights from a hub to a small city or seasonal routes to vacation hotspots — to outright blockbusters.
TPG’s Aviation team looked back at those to see which ones we were most excited about in the year ahead.
Our picks include some of those blockbusters, but also some that say as much about an evolving airline strategy as the new route itself.
United Airlines was a popular pick from everyone on staff, and how could it not be. The Chicago-based carrier’s network planning team has been aggresive the past few years with a bold international expansion featuring splashy, exotic additions. And 2024 was no exception, where Greenland, Mongolia and Morocco were only some of the highlights.
Still, plenty of other new additions had us talking. Our picks included a bit of everything from new service to big markets (Tokyo) and small (Belleville, Illinois). It’s a likely bet you’ll see some of them nominated for the “sexiest new routes of the year” — yes, that’s a thing.
As for our list, the only criteria were new routes announced in 2024 (regardless of launch date) for flights within or from the U.S. or on a U.S. airline. Read on to see what we picked.
Ben Mutzabaugh, TPG’s managing editor for aviation
You’ll see this route more than once on this list, and for good reason: Mongolia is about as far-flung and exotic a destination as you’ll find for a U.S. airline. United won’t be flying it nonstop from the U.S. but rather from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT), where it’s one of two American carriers with rights to fly to other destinations in the region. Regardless, seeing United Boeing 737s flying into the Mongolian capital is easily one of the most interesting additions for a U.S. airline.
When American’s American Eagle regional affiliates begin flying from Carlsbad next month, it’ll be the only major airline brand operating from McClellan–Palomar Airport (CLD) about 35 miles north of San Diego. This route drew my attention not so much for this particular city pair, but rather for what’s been one of American’s more interesting network strategies of late. It’s increasingly added smaller airports with little or no major airline service, allowing it to carve out niche markets without direct competition from its primary rivals. Other recent similar additions include Utah’s Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) in Hyannis, Massachusetts, Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, and — beginning next month — the little-used South Caicos Airport (XSC) in the Turks and Caicos. (More on that below.)
Unusual airline routes have interested me ever since I was a kid, and — on the surface — this one is as obscure as they come. But it highlights the type of niche market that Allegiant has cultivated this century: expanding to small airports with little or no commercial airline service just outside larger metros. Two of those once-sleepy airports — Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) near Fort Myers, Florida, and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) near Phoenix — are now among the busiest in Allegiant’s network. For the Gulf Shores-Belleville route, which begins May 23, Allegiant will be the only carrier flying from either airport. The leisure carrier has long-served Belleville, where the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) sits about 30 miles from downtown St. Louis. Gulf Shores is a new airport for Allegiant — or any airline, for that matter — and lies about15 miles from the Florida border along the increasingly popular Gulf Coast shoreline.
United’s network team doesn’t shy away from experimenting with new routes, but this one might just be the carrier’s wildest one yet. I, for one, certainly didn’t have United announcing service to Mongolia on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. The airline is taking advantage of its historical fifth-freedom rights to operate this service that operates as part of continuing service between Tokyo and Guam. Travelers will be able to connect with just one stop from the U.S. to Mongolia, all aboard United metal. — Zach Griff, TPG
I also wouldn’t have thought Pualani — the character on the tail of Hawaiian Airlines aircraft — would be found on a route from Seattle to Anchorage, no less on a wide-body Airbus A330. But Alaska Airlines announced just a few weeks ago that it’ll deploy a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 on this route next summer during the peak travel window. The move comes as the two carriers begin their network integration following the merger of Alaska and Hawaiian getting approved. — Zach Griff, TPG
While Sicily has soared in popularity in recent years (thanks, in part, to White Lotus), historically there hasn’t been a nonstop flight from the U.S. to this Italian island. That’ll change next summer when both Delta and United add service to Sicily. Delta announced its new route first; it’ll fly to Catania beginning on May 22. Just a few weeks after Delta’s announcement, United also announced that it’ll start flying from Newark to Palermo (also in Sicily) beginning on May 21. — Zach Griff, TPG
Flying in one of Emirates’ ultra-swanky first-class seats to Dubai can cost thousands of dollars cash, or significantly cut into your stash of points. However, a new, more affordable way to experience the Middle Eastern carrier’s renowned service that was announced (and launched) in 2024. Known in the industry as a “fifth freedom” route, Emirates’ service from Bogota to Miami is one that operates between two destinations that don’t touch an airline’s home country. Though the flight is technically a continuation of Emirates’ service between Dubai and Miami, Emirates is able to sell tickets just on the Miami-Bogota leg. Thanks to this route, TPG’s Eric Rosen was able to redeem 60,000 Emirates Skywards miles for a first-class seat on one of its Boeing 777-300ER jets — not cheap, by any measure, but far less than you’d pay (especially factoring in taxes and fees) for a much longer flight to Dubai. — Sean Cudahy, TPG
In October, I tagged along as United Airlines launched nonstop winter seasonal service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Marrakech, Morocco — in the process becoming the only U.S. airline directly serving the country. In many ways, this route — also announced and launched in 2024 — served as a launching pad for a series of borderline-obscure new routes United is planning in the months to come, from Senegal to Sicily and nonstop service to Greenland the carrier plans to debut in 2025. In the case of United’s Marrakech service, it’s operated with United’s so-called “high-J” Boeing 767, featuring a whopping 46 lie-flat Polaris seats, and unlocks a destination rated among TPG’s 29 best places to travel in 2025. — Sean Cudahy, TPG
American didn’t make as big a splash as, say, United, in announcing where it’ll fly in 2025; there’s no sign of Greenland or Mongolia in its plans. But the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier does have some new plans up its sleeves in the new year. For instance, it will become the only U.S. airline to fly nonstop to the island of South Caicos in February. American will be the only major airline at the airport, which otherwise has only small regional operaters flying within the Turks and Caicos. Speaking to TPG in October, American’s chief network planner touted the carrier’s growing route map in the Caribbean and Latin America as a strength, and an intentional strategy. American, for instance, recently launched nonstop service to Ocho Rios, Jamaica (near a popular Sandals resort) and will fly to Carlsbad, California (not far from the Legoland California theme park), come February. “We’ve added a number of new destinations, niche type destinations,” said Brian Znotins, American’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning. “If we can save people time, this way, that’s something I’m in the business of doing.” — Sean Cudahy, TPG
At first glance, Aer Lingus announcing nonstop service from its Dublin home base to Nashville and Indianapolis wouldn’t come close to qualifying for a list of the most exciting airline routes. But the Irish carrier’s newest U.S. service is notable because of the aircraft flying the two routes — and what it means for air travel in 2025 and beyond. Aer Lingus will fly to Nashville and Indy with its new Airbus A321XLR, a narrow-body jet with particularly long-range. For Aer Lingus and many other airlines, the jet should unlock new types of intercontinental routes, allowing airlines to fly to more “off-the-beaten-path” international destinations … or, in this case, enabling new European routes for smaller U.S. cities. American hopes to do just that with its own XLRs — that is, after it replaces it four-cabin “A321T” with the new aircraft on premium transcontinental routes in 2025. — Sean Cudahy, TPG
AN AER LIGNGUS A321XLR/AER LINGUS
David Slotnick, contributing editor for TPG’s Aviation team
Edinburgh, and Scotland more broadly, is perhaps my favorite place in the world. I lived there for a year for graduate school, and have been back many times to visit friends, explore new places and go back to old favorite sites. Edinburgh may have been slightly off the radar when I first moved there, but that certainly isn’t the case anymore, with the number of international visitors climbing steadily, according to data from the Scottish Tourism Observatory. I’m always thrilled to see it easier to get there from the U.S., and JetBlue’s latest seasonal European flight will be the only one connecting my current hometown to the Scottish capital with nonstop service. I’m looking forward to taking it when it starts next spring and can’t wait for my first visit in a few years! I’m also thrilled to see American begin its first-ever service to the city, launching from its Philadelphia hub around the same time. I’m hoping that one will help expand award availability to Edinburgh, too. — David Slotnick, TPG
Honestly, I’m just so curious about this one. It’s an unusual route for the airline, which serves a handful of Asia-Pacific destinations from its Tokyo hub using Boeing 737 narrowbodies that are based in Guam. But Ulaanbaatar is quite an unusual one. United has said that the destination offers a gateway to off-the-grid, beautiful landscapes across the country, and that there’s an opportunity to win over passengers who previously connected to Ulaanbaatar through Beijing. It’s reflective of United’s post-pandemic strategy of expanding service to less-common international destinations, whether that be secondary cities in countries that are already popular, or places that might not have occurred to Americans to visit before. The airline relies on a mix of passengers who are visiting friends and relatives, along with pure leisure customers, many of whom the airline tries to entice by marketing destinations themselves, rather than the flights. That also helps attract potential customers to engage more with the airline, either by joining its frequent flyer program or by signing up for a cobranded credit card. So far the strategy seems to be working well, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out in Ulaanbaatar. — David Slotnick, TPG
Alaska Airlines announced its first major long-haul flight since its merger with Hawaiian Airlines was approved, giving it new Airbus A330 widebody jets for the first time. The route itself isn’t necessarily that exciting on its own, as there is plenty of service available from the West Coast to Tokyo. Instead, this route — along with Seoul and others to come — signals Alaska’s intent to transform its Seattle hub into a global gateway and compete directly with partner-turned-rival Delta. Demand on the Tokyo route is strong, so it’s a logical one for the combined airlines to add. Plus, it’s interesting (and exciting) to see Alaska make its first big play to plug Hawaiian’s aircraft into its Seattle hub. — David Slotnick, TPG
If you are a frequent forward-cabin flyer, you come to expect certain things: a comfortable and spacious seat, reliable Wi-Fi, and a quality meal with an accompanying cocktail. These amenities are commonplace at 35,000 feet, but a new tourism company is about to take the luxury flight experience to all-new heights — 100,000 feet, to be exact.
Space Perspective, the world’s first stratospheric balloon flight experience company, completed its first uncrewed test flight Sept. 15, 2024. The successful test flight marked a major milestone, and it paved the way for future commercial flights and the company’s first manned flight, which will take place in 2025.
TPG spoke with Space Perspective co-founder Taber MacCallum and interim CEO Michael Savage to learn more about the company’s unique brand of space tourism and what the experience will entail.
What is Space Perspective?
SPACE PERSPECTIVE
Without a rocket, how does Space Perspective transport travelers to the stratosphere and return them safely to Earth? It’s all thanks to the Spaceship Neptune — a spherical pressurized capsule measuring 16 feet in diameter that can accommodate up to eight passengers and a captain.
The journey begins at Marine Spaceport Voyager, a 294-foot-long vessel that acts as the launch and retrieval point for Space Perspective’s spacecraft. The Voyager currently calls Cape Canaveral, Florida, home but is designed to launch from marine-based sites across the globe.
According to MacCallum, a typical flight will start in the morning (though if you purchase a ticket, I assume you will have some sway over your launch time). “We’ll inflate the balloon so it’s standing up over the capsule with the capsule secured to the deck of the Voyager,” he explained. “Then the passengers will enter the capsule, and we’ll give a safety briefing, similar to a preflight briefing on a commercial airliner.”
The Spaceship Netptune capsule is then gently lifted from Voyager via Space Perspective’s patented SpaceBalloon.
When the capsule is released from the launch vessel, it will gently ascend at about 12 miles per hour for two hours, a rate at which MacCallum likened to bicycling speed. “Then we stay floating on top of the Earth’s atmosphere at 100,000 feet [the highest altitude of any commercial balloon flight in the world] for a couple of hours.”
MacCallum continued: “Then we begin the descent, which is sort of the reverse of the ascent. We go down for about two hours to get to the splashdown [where a Splashcone at the capsule’s base will facilitate a gentle water landing] and then the retrieval ship is waiting for us at the splashdown location.”
Boats will stabilize the capsule and lift it back onto the Voyager, a process that takes about 20 minutes.
My most pressing question for MacCallum had nothing to do with the technology and expertise that made this all possible. I was simply dying to know where the name Neptune came from. MacCallum’s answer did not disappoint.
“It came to me in a dream,” MacCallum told me. “I literally had a dream saying, ‘It’s the Spaceship Neptune.’”
It certainly has a nice ring to it, but true to MacCallum’s long history with ballooning and space travel, it holds a significant scientific meaning as well. “What’s fun about the name Neptune is that the atmosphere of the planet Neptune is largely helium and hydrogen,” he explained. Neptune’s atmosphere is essentially made of the types of “lift gas” used to lift balloons into the air.
Who regulates space tourism?
SPACE PERSPECTIVE
When you combine a marine-based launch point and a spacecraft, you get, in MacCallum’s words, “a lot of regulators.”
“Everything we have that flies and all of the ground operations connected to everything that flies is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation as a spacecraft,” MacCallum explained. “And everything we do shipboard is regulated by the Coast Guard.”
Though the FAA does not have a defining limit for what is considered the edge of space, it does classify any vehicle intended to operate about 30 kilometers (or about 98,000 feet) with people inside it as a spacecraft.
“Once you’re at 30 kilometers or above, you are essentially in space,” MacCallum said. “It’s essentially a vacuum, and you have all of the thermal, radiation and navigation concerns of an aircraft.”
Even if Space Perspective does one day launch from sites outside of the U.S., it will still be regulated as a spacecraft under the Outer Space Treaty of 1969. “No matter where we are on the planet, we’re U.S. citizens and a U.S.-run operation, so we will always be regulated by the FAA,” MacCallum explained. Most countries are signatories to the treaty, giving Space Perspective the ability to operate worldwide.
A focus on the passenger experience
From the moment you take off to the moment you land, Space Perspective will provide the comfort, space and amenities to let you fully enjoy this remarkable experience.
The capsule is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views of the scenic journey above Earth. The seats are designed with safety and comfort elements that rival that of any commercial aircraft, and you’ll enjoy a world-class food and beverage service while on board.
SPACE PERSPECTIVE
Even the restroom, dubbed the “Space Spa,” would put the restroom in a first-class airplane cabin to shame. The Space Spa is beautifully designed with a soothing color scheme and windows that allow for uninterrupted views even when nature calls.
The team at Space Perspective didn’t miss a single detail when designing the Neptune capsule and the inflight experience; this included the chance to work with Sir Richard Branson, who will be a co-pilot on the first crewed flight. The other co-pilots will be MacCallum and his wife, Jane Poynter, who is a co-founder of Space Perspective.
“Richard is a very experienced balloonist,” Savage told TPG. Branson’s involvement goes above and beyond that of a typical investor. “This is something he is personally very enthusiastic about, and he brings that expertise to the table along with his commitment to the customer experience.”
While Branson wasn’t formally involved early on, it’s clear that the team at Space Perspective shares his spirit for exceeding customer expectations. “There are challenges that come with things like flying the largest windows in space, but we made it happen because Jane wanted to drive experience,” Savage said.
Prioritizing customer experience similarly informed the layout of the capsule. “We originally thought that everyone would want a seat right in front of their window, and there would be sort of a ring of seats,” MacCallum said. “We immediately realized that this is a social experience that people want to share with each other and rearranged the cabin into two sets of four sort of hemispherical seats that better facilitate that kind of interaction.”
The extended six-hour flight time also gives guests time to savor their time in space in a way that resonates with them. “One of the reasons that having time is important is that you can meditate on the amazing views if you want to, interact with the other people, or have the ultimate Facebook status update,” MacCallum said.
If you want to be among the fortunate few who can tag their Facebook location as “space,” you’ll need $125,000 to purchase a standard ticket for a Space Perspective flight. To date, Space Perspective has sold more than 1,800 reservations.
Many of those are for families or friend groups who want to go on the ultimate getaway, but Space Perspective has received some pretty “out of this world” requests, as well. “We already have people who have bought several tickets because they want to fly and see Italy after seeing all of Florida from the edge of space,” MacCallum said.
He also revealed that the company has been approached by several artists who want to be the first to release music from space; one passenger wants to remove some of the seats and put in a grand piano to perform in space.
Though the journey is designed to last for six hours, the capsule could stay up much longer. “Our long-term road map could include overnight experiences,” Savage said. “We have the ability to design custom experiences, and as we get going, I’m sure we will have a lot of fun things people can do.”
How does it differ from other types of space tourism?
SPACE PERSPECTIVE
Unlike other experiences offered by space tourism companies, a Space Perspective flight is slow and gentle. Rather than a speeding journey to space and the weightlessness and g-forces that come along with it, a Space Perspective flight is closer to the experience of flying in an airplane.
That doesn’t mean the two experiences are in competition with one another. MacCallum shared that Branson even sees the two as complementary. “Someone who is too scared to travel on a rocket might do this first,” he said. “They are such different experiences that he doesn’t really see them as competing at all.”
“If people want that thrill and go up into space to a point where they are weightless, you can do that and have a great experience,” Savage said. Space Perspective, on the other hand, provides the type of transformative experience that astronauts describe after seeing Earth from a different vantage point.
“Many astronauts will tell you that they became an astronaut to go explore space, but what they discovered was that their relationship to Earth was forever changed,” Savage explained.
“The slow ascent and descent Space Perspective provides gives you an understanding of scale that you don’t get with a rocket. You can look out the window and see your neighborhood and then your community and your state and realize, ‘Maybe this Earth isn’t as big as I thought it was and I should take better care of it,’” he added.
By the end of the journey, passengers will have spent six hours traveling to and from the stratosphere, with two full hours built in to look down on our planet from a vantage point very few will ever reach.
Space Perspective is set on making this life-changing journey accessible to as many people as possible.
“Imagine if every school had a teacher who’d actually been to space,” Savage, whose two sisters are school teachers, said. “They could talk to kids about space exploration, and it would affect radical change.”
“There are already charities forming to send people like teachers and other leaders to space,” MacCallum shared. “There is one called Space for Humanity that is raising money to send people on experiences like this. They’ve already sent people on Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, so there is a very large and growing philanthropic component to sending people to space.”
Bottom line
Space was once considered the final frontier (according to “Star Trek,” at least). Now, Space Perspective will soon take passengers “where no man has gone before” in luxury and comfort.
With high-end amenities, panoramic views and a gentle, six-hour flight to soak it all in, Space Perspective’s “atmospheric” journey to the stratosphere is redefining the meaning of space tourism.
I’m doing the SAS EuroBonus million-mile challenge. In total, the challenge will consist of me traveling for 25 days on 18 flights and visiting 15 different countries on 15 different SkyTeam airlines in order to end up with 1 million SAS EuroBonus miles.
My first week on the road took me from Portland to Seoul, South Korea, via Seattle, and on to Bali on a combination of carriers including Delta, Korean Air and Garuda Indonesia.
After several blissful (if rainy) days in Bali, it was time to take to the skies again. Here’s where I went next and what I’ve been up to.
Flight 4: Garuda Indonesia
I arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) on Bali two and a half hours before my flight, which is quite early for me (I tend to be a last-minute flyer).
To my surprise, the airport wasn’t even open when I arrived since it was early in the morning, and there was a queue of people waiting to enter. This might have been because I was in the domestic part of the terminal, since my next flight was just to Jakarta.
Eventually, the doors opened and after I got through security, I proceeded to the Blue Sky Lounge. This might be one of the best Priority Pass lounges I’ve visited, with a full barista-manned coffee bar and even a chocolate fountain. There was also a sizable spread of small bites and other beverages.
Unfortunately, I was stuck with a middle seat on my flight, but it was only a two-hour hop aboard a Boeing 737, so it was not too uncomfortable, especially because the seats had decent padding and seatback entertainment monitors. According to Skytrax, Garuda Indonesia won the award for best cabin crew last year, and I can see why. On this short haul to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), the service was excellent, even in economy, with a full meal and very pleasant interactions.
I was pretty surprised to receive a hot breakfast in economy class on such a short flight. I guess that’s the frequent domestic U.S. flyer in me being surprised by better service outside of the country. It was not a restaurant-quality meal, but the omelet tasted fresh and the sausage was decent. I also appreciated the eco-friendly wooden cutlery.
The only downside of this flight was the lack of Wi-Fi, though since it was so short, that wasn’t an issue for me.
Flight 5: Vietnam Airlines
When I landed in Jakarta, I had about six and a half hours to fill, so I caught a Grab (a ride-hailing service that you can find throughout much of Asia) and headed to the enormous Grand Indonesia mall to kill some time. I’m still amazed at how affordable getting around was. The Grab cost me $8 for a 45-minute airport ride round-trip.
CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY
My day was going pretty smoothly until I returned to CGK and was checking in for my Vietnam Airlines flight. That’s when I encountered a few snafus.
My visa for Vietnam had not been processed originally because there was an error, and it needed some revisions. I had submitted the revisions in time and was told it would be resolved in three working days, but in the end, it had not processed in time. Because of that, I was forced to pay a hefty $370 fee to get an expedited emergency visa on arrival. It was just my luck that my original visa was processed the morning after I got to Vietnam.
CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY
Once I got that sorted out, I asked the Vietnam Airlines check-in agent to add my SAS EuroBonus number to my ticket, and they told me I was the 11th person that day asking to add that. I am really hoping that there are some TPG readers out there chasing these million miles along with me.
After clearing security and immigration, I went to the Plaza Premium lounge, where there were not many food and beverage items on offer and the air conditioning did not seem to be working. Needless to say, I did not linger.
Once I boarded the Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 that would be taking me to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City, I realized I had lucked out with an exit-row seat with extra legroom.
During this flight, there was another full meal service with the choice between a chicken or beef dish. I opted for the beef, whose sauce was flavorful, but the meat itself was very tough.
CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY
Like my earlier Garuda flight, there was no Wi-Fi on this one, but that was fine as the flight time was less than three hours.
Vietnam highlights
From bustling cities with motorbike-clogged streets to coasts and mountains full of beautiful scenery, I wish I had five weeks and not five days to explore Vietnam. I am definitely going to return.
For this trip, I started in Ho Chi Minh City, which was teeming with preholiday activity. I spent a couple days exploring its various neighborhoods and wandered through temples, its imposing central post office and the famous Bui Vien walking street that’s popular with backpackers.
I stayed at the Le Meridien Saigon, which had an outstanding breakfast buffet and was a solid value at around $130 or 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Of course, I ate local Vietnamese cuisine around the city as much as possible, from steamy pho to crusty banh mi sandwiches to ultrafresh goi cuon (summer rolls). It was all delicious.
CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY
After two days in Ho Chi Minh City, I took a quick two-hour shuttle flight to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi, where I spent the next three days.
I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hanoi, where I paid $260 total for three nights. This proved to be an excellent choice as the hotel had free laundry facilities and I had some clothes piled up that needed to be washed.
In Hanoi, I saw temples, pagodas, the Old Quarter and the famous Hanoi Train Street, which was something to behold. The sheer number of markets, cafes and street vendors selling food and other items along the train tracks was astounding. I arrived early enough to get a seat at a cafe so I could watch as the train chugged by within arm’s reach of where I sat. It was exhilarating.
And just like I had in Ho Chin Minh City, I tried just about every local dish I could find, plus what turned out to be a rather delicious pizza at a restaurant called Pizza 4ps.
CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY
Overall, I had an excellent time in Vietnam.
When I return, I want to try doing the Ha Giang Loop, a famous four-day motorcycle route in the northern mountains, and hit the beaches of Da Nang on the central coast.
I also loved how affordable my visit was. My Grab rides averaged less than $1.50 each and my meals, even at sit-down restaurants, were typically below $4. Budget and mid-tier travelers can easily get by on $40-$70 per day without sacrificing anything about the experience. Luckily everywhere I went accepted credit cards, so I was able to pay with my main travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and earn valuable points along the way.
Bottom line
Things have been going smoothly, aside from my visa issue. That said, I’m bracing myself for the second half of my journey, where I have 12 flights in 10 days. I’m hoping that everything goes according to plan, and I’m looking forward to flying on some unique new airlines for me.
Stay tuned for part 3 as I journey to Taiwan, China, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, as it is going to be an action-packed sprint.
If you’ve shopped online for Disney Resort hotel reservations, you may have seen the words “Disney Club Access” on some booking options, and you might have wondered what exactly that means.
It’s easy to tell that these bookings cost more than nonclub rooms, but it’s harder to tell exactly what Disney club access gets you … and whether it is worth it.
Fortunately, I’ve been lucky enough to try out a number of Disney club-level rooms at a few different Disney resorts over the years. Here’s all you need to know about these pricier rooms so you can decide if they’re worth the splurge for your next Disney vacation.
FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG’S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.
What is the club level at Disney hotels?
At its basic level, club level at Walt Disney World means that you are in a room that gets access to a club lounge. The lounge will have food, drinks and snacks available for you at various times during the day, along with a dedicated hangout space and a concierge.
Club lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Club level is not available at every Disney resort, but you will find it at these Disney Deluxe and Moderate properties:
Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (the only Moderate resort that currently has a club level)
Club lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
With a club-level room at Walt Disney World, you are not only assigned a club type of room, but you also have access to a club lounge and the hosts within that lounge. These hosts can help you fix your park reservations, troubleshoot basic tech support issues with the app, give advice on planning your day and generally make your stay more personalized and, dare we say, magical.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
What are Disney club-level benefits?
When you arrive to check into your Disney club-level room, you’ll likely be personally escorted to the club lounge to complete your check-in, which will cover everything you can expect from the lounge and your various club benefits. In fact, it’s possible a Disney cast member will be waiting for you in the lobby to greet you by name if you enter via a security gate by car, as that helps them phone ahead to the club-level rooms to let them know you’ve arrived.
The club rooms are often centrally located, so you usually won’t have to worry about being at the far end of a spread-out resort. For example, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, staying in a club-level room means you’ll be in the atrium, close to the restaurants, monorail and, of course, the club lounge itself.
The most tangible benefit of Disney’s club level is the club lounge, where you’ll have access to food, drinks and snacks from morning to night.
Of the options available, breakfast and evening appetizers are typically the most substantial offerings. In fact, those are the two meals you could make out of your lounge access if you feel so inclined. Be sure to leave room for dessert, as the options are consistently tasty.
When my kids were little years ago and I first booked the club level at the Contemporary, the agent on the phone told me I was in for a treat and that I had to make myself a plate of dessert, grab some wine from the club and retreat to my theme park-facing room for my own personal fireworks viewing party.
He was right. Having the show’s music playing in the background via my TV while enjoying my selection of snacks was every bit as much of a treat as he said it would be.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
What can you expect from Disney club-level lounges?
While I’ve briefly touched on the food-and-beverage options available in Disney’s lounges, let’s break it down further so you know exactly what to expect.
On all of my most recent visits, breakfast was available from 7 to 10:30 a.m. daily, with coffee starting at 6:30 a.m.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Morning options typically include a mix of hot and cold items, such as comforting bites like fried chicken on top of biscuits and creamy grits when we stayed in the Contemporary’s club-level accommodations. Some lighter options, such as avocado toast, fruit and yogurt, cold cuts and a selection of pastries, are available as well.
This is probably a good time to mention that not every Disney club level is created equally — and like the resorts themselves, the club lounges each have their own theme, style and offerings.
For example, at the Grand Floridian, breakfast options reminded me of some of the dishes we had from the buffet at the fantastic 1900 Park Fare character breakfast a few stories down in the same building … including the fun strawberry soup. In fact, I’d say it is my favorite of the Disney club lounges I’ve visited so far.
In the afternoon, the Disney club-level offerings typically thin out a bit. However, the fridge remains stocked, which is quite handy for grabbing a drink between treks to the parks. We’ve also been known to toss an Uncrustable or two from the fridge, along with packaged grapes and maybe a wrapped-up cookie, into our backpacks to enjoy in the parks when we don’t want to stop and eat a real meal.
I do have to say that the unlimited ice cream sandwiches — including Mickey bars — at the Grand Floridan may have been a highlight of that club’s grab-and-go offerings.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
But no matter which Disney club lounge you’re staying at, around 5 to 7 p.m. is when the “good” stuff comes out.
Whether you want a snack to tide you over before heading back to the parks or are aiming to put together a “dinner” with this food you’ve already paid to be able to access, you can accomplish either goal at the lounge … so long as your crew isn’t too picky. There are a handful of hot options each evening, usually from one of the hotel’s restaurant kitchens.
It’s also common to find some kid-pleasers such as nuggets, tater tots and rolls next to more adult-oriented favorites like short ribs, soy-glazed salmon and serrano-wrapped melon.
At the Grand Floridian’s club, we recently loved the hearty potato cakes with prime rib, the pineapple coconut shrimp ceviche and the salmon cakes, to name a few options.
My advice for the best experience in the club lounges each evening is don’t wait until right before the plates are cleared at 7 p.m., as the selections are generally a little better stocked if you don’t wait until the last second.
After the evening snacks (or dinner, as the case may be) are finished, the lounge shifts its focus to desserts and drinks, which are available from about 8 to 10 p.m.
These options are the perfect way to unwind after a busy day at the theme parks, especially if you time your snack consumption just right to coincide with watching the fireworks from the lounge or your room, particularly if you have a theme park view.
The desserts may consist of cookies, cupcakes, tarts and cakes, among other sweet treats.
Adult beverages are included, too. In the Disney club-level lounges, you can expect a selection of a few different wines in the evening, along with a variety of bottled beers and/or a beer or two on tap. Grand Marnier, Baileys, Kahlua and Frangelico are some of the most common cordials I’ve seen on offer.
Speaking of adult beverages, a fun touch at the Grand Floridian’s club lounge was this daytime mimosa bar, complete with a plastic cup option for taking the beverage to the pool.
How much does Disney’s club level cost?
Depending on the resort and time of year, expect Disney club-level rooms to cost between $500 and $1,500 per night. The Gran Destino rooms are often the least expensive because they’re the only Moderate club-level resort option, while the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary and the Polynesian club-level rooms are typically the most expensive since they are located right on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.
I’ve seen Disney club-level rooms start at about a $200 nightly upcharge over nonclub rooms. However, I’ve also seen the price difference between the entry-level room and the club-level room be $300 to $500 per night, especially in cases such as the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary, where the main building’s rooms are just inherently pricier than the outer buildings.
When you layer club-level service on top of the rooms, the spread for nightly rates at resorts with club levels widens in a hurry. To be sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, I highly recommend using a free Disney vacation planner (such as TPG’s booking partner Mouse Counselors) since they help keep you in the loop on discounts and assist with planning other parts of your trip.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Is Disney’s club level worth it?
Now that you know what Disney club rooms are and what they generally cost, it’s time to determine if the Disney club level is worth it.
If you want as much convenience, service and magic as possible while at Disney World, it can be worth splurging for a club-level room. This is much like the equation with concierge-level service on a Disney cruise.
However, if “worth it” means you’re spending more in one area to save in another (aka on food and drinks), then the answer is: It depends. You’re unlikely to ever truly save money by booking a club-level room, but there are situations where the extra money you are spending for the club-level amenities and service can help you trim other expenses here and there.
For example, if you’re a family that’s going to make good use of the food and drinks in the lounge, then it’s not unreasonable to make up a portion of that room price difference by dining in the lounge instead of at the theme parks, where food and beverage prices are notoriously high.
Of course, ordering essentials and having them directly delivered to Disney via a grocery service is still probably cheaper, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t save some on dining expenses by staying in a club-level room.
But beyond that, there’s the extra-extra magical service you’re more likely to receive in a Disney club-level room.
On our recent stay at Grand Floridian’s club level, there was an issue with some of our booked Lightning Lanes. Typically, that means waiting in line in the parks for some help, but while seated in the club, I asked the concierge there if she might be able to help get our issue sorted. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to — but she tried and ultimately was successful, which saved us time and a lot of hassle. That kind of intangible perk is hard to put a value on but really does elevate the trip to a whole different level of service.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
As with all Disney resort rooms, there’s another way you can shave a little more off the out-of-pocket cost: credit card rewards.
Unless you have a very large budget, a long stay in a Disney club-level room may not make sense. However, choosing this type of accommodation for a few days of a trip or for a shorter trip can be worth it, especially if you plan on limiting your meals outside of the club and aren’t set on spending every waking moment in the parks.
Be smart about when you reserve this kind of room. Aim to lock it in when the nightly price differential is no more than $300 above the room you would otherwise book so you can get more value out of the experience and then enjoy what it feels like to have access to Disney’s extra-extra magical spaces and service.
To help your family maximize time at Disney World, here are some articles to get you on your way:
If you have an AvGeek, an outer space enthusiast or an avid reader in your life and you can’t decide what to give them as a holiday gift, consider buying this new book by photographer Ted Huetter. In “Waiting for Spaceships: Scenes from a Desert Community in Love with the Space Shuttle,” Huetter documents the thousands of people who would gather to welcome the space shuttles on their return to Earth.
TED HUETTER
For 30 years — from April 12, 1982, to July 21, 2011 — five orbiters flew in space for NASA’s Space Transportation System, or space shuttle, program. These orbiters were Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantic and Endeavour. (A sixth space shuttle, Enterprise, was a test vehicle that didn’t go into space.)
NASA proudly notes that the space shuttles flew 135 missions. Not only did they repeatedly carry people into orbit, but they also “launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted cutting-edge research and built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station.”
While all the space shuttle missions took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, more than 50 of those missions landed in the Mojave Desert at Edwards Air Force Base in California — about 100 miles from Los Angeles.
TED HUETTER
“Some spectators came because they had helped build the shuttles,” Huetter wrote. He noted that while many viewers came from greater Los Angeles, “adventurous retirees from around the country made Florida to California treks in the recreational vehicles, book ending the trips with the shuttle launch and landing.”
He added: “The only snag was that they had to watch [the landings] from a harsh patch of desert about three miles from the runway.”
To accommodate the enthusiastic and dedicated spectators, the Air Force would open an authorized viewing site a day before each scheduled shuttle landing where people could set up camp.
Huetter reported that at that remote site, the military directed traffic and supplied tanks of potable water, portable sanitary facilities, generators, streetlights, a first aid station and a command post. He added that they “generally kept a low profile and a friendly presence.”
TED HUETTER
Huetter was working in LA and made the trek to the desert to camp with the shuttle aficionados for eight of the space shuttle landings during the 1980s. He began with STS-4, the fourth mission for the space shuttle Columbia, which landed at Edwards Air Force Base on July 4, 1982. STS-4 was also the fourth shuttle mission overall and the final test flight before the program was deemed officially operational.
“I was there as a fan like most of the people at the public landing site, to experience some spaceflight history,” in person instead of watching it on TV, Huetter said.
For each shuttle landing adventure, Huetter packed his camera gear along with his camping gear. The photographs he took during those trips not only document a unique slice of the Space Age but also show the viewing site and the people who gravitated to it year after year.
TED HUETTER
“I quickly fell in love with the photogenic environment of the site and the people there,” Huetter said. He explained that every time he returned to the site, his first motivation was as a space nerd and the second was as a photographer.
That pairing worked well. From 1982 through 1989, Huetter documented what he describes as the site’s “quiet beauty, quirky charm, and unabashed displays of Americana” over the course of eight shuttle landing forays.
TED HUETTER
His images, taken with film in the era before digital cameras, show the landing runways alongside a diverse range of RVs and tents; food and souvenir vendors; and a diverse group of people waiting, mingling, enjoying themselves and welcoming the shuttles home. His selected shots are organized to create a composite of 24 hours at the campsite, from the arrival of the first campers to the touchdown of the shuttles.
TED HUETTER
“Waiting for Spaceships: Scenes from a Desert Community in Love with the Space Shuttle” includes a foreword by pilot and veteran NASA astronaut Tom Jones. It’s available from Amazon for about $25 and from other booksellers.
TED HUETTER
Want to see the retired space shuttles? Here’s where you can find them.
Space shuttle Atlantis is at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. The vehicle is displayed in flight, along with dozens of interactive exhibits about the history, technology and impact of NASA’s space shuttle program.
Space shuttle Discovery is on view at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Space shuttle Endeavour is at the California Science Center in LA. However, it is off-view while construction of a 200,000-square-foot addition to the main building is underway.
When it announced its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines promised that elite members of each program would be able to status match.
That status match is now live, as first flagged by Gary Leff at View from the Wing.
The airlines will eventually have one loyalty program, but in the meantime, reciprocal elite status is pretty cool.
It’s fairly straightforward. You just need to go to this special status match landing page, log in to your Alaska Mileage Plan account, and then log in to your HawaiianMiles account.
Alaska and Hawaiian status match landing page. ALASKA AIRLINES
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K or MVP Gold 100K status
HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum status
HawaiianMiles Pualani Gold status
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP status
HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum status
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold status
Even if you don’t have status with either airline, there’s also an opportunity here to combine your earnings in both programs into one level of status. For example, if you’ve earned 20,000 miles with Alaska and 20,000 miles with Hawaiian, you’d have 40,000 miles in a combined account. That’s enough to get you Alaska Airlines MVP Gold status.
Hawaiian Airlines status match details. HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
Remember that members will retain their current miles and can now also transfer their miles between accounts at a 1:1 ratio.
Hawaiian Airlines miles transfer information. HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
Alaska says members will soon have the ability to earn HawaiianMiles miles on Alaska flights and Mileage Plan miles on Hawaiian Airlines flights. There will also eventually be additional redemption options and the ability to enjoy select elite benefits across both airlines.
This will be helpful as the airlines begin operating flights for each other. For example, I noticed that my upcoming Alaska Airlines flight to Hawaii in April had been hit with a schedule change. When I called Alaska to figure out what was up with the flight, the agent told me that the Bay Area flights currently being flown by Alaska would soon be operated by Hawaiian Airlines.
I don’t currently have elite status with either airline. But if I did, I would have been happy to get Hawaiian Airlines status so that I could pick better seats on those flights that will now be operated by Hawaiian.
Because of my American Airlines status, I was able to choose extra-legroom seats on Alaska flights. Alaska’s partnership with American Airlines means that when I fly on Alaska flights, the carrier recognizes my top-tier American Airlines AAdvantage status. That won’t work with Hawaiian.
You can also still status match from other airlines to Alaska
Alaska status match information page. ALASKA AIRLINES
One other thing to note: Alaska is still offering a status challenge if you have elite status with another airline. You’ll earn instant status for 90 days by matching from your current airline elite status; there’s an opportunity to extend that status through the end of 2025 if you fly as few as 5,000 miles on Alaska-operated flights (20,000 miles for MVP Gold 75K). Since I have top-tier Delta Air Lines Diamond Medallion status, I might consider it.
More reasons Alaska Mileage Plan looks interesting now
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
In fact, I am considering going for Alaska status next year. There are a lot of appealing developments from Alaska Mileage Plan and from the merger.
Alaska is now the only major U.S. airline that lets you earn elite status from flights based on actual flight miles. This makes earning top-tier Mileage Plan status easier if you don’t buy a lot of expensive plane tickets. Alaska also made several positive changes on the status-earning front. Alaska Mileage Plan members will now earn miles on award redemptions, and there will also be new ways to spend toward status.
As of Jan. 1, 2025, cardholders with the current Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card will earn 1 elite qualifying mile for every $3 spent, up to a total of 30,000 EQMs each year on qualified purchases. That could get you a good part of the way toward top-tier 100K status, which requires 100,000 EQMs.
