Tag: Travel Planner

Hilton recently expanded its portfolio with the addition of roughly 400 Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties (which were formerly part of World of Hyatt). SLH is a collection of boutique hotels ranging from romantic cliffside retreats in Greece to cowboy-themed ranches in Colorado. It prides itself on offering unique properties that reflect the local culture better than your average chain hotel.

Hilton’s partnership with SLH stands to bring together the best of both worlds, providing travelers with more memorable stays while allowing them to earn and redeem Hilton Honors points.

Not all SLH properties are part of the Hilton Honors program, though more are expected to be added as the partnership continues to grow. You can see a list of the hotels that currently participate on Hilton’s website.

Hilton Honors members can now experience these boutique hotels with all the benefits of Hilton’s loyalty program — like redeeming points, earning points and using elite status perks. Let’s dive into all the ways you can take advantage of Hilton’s new SLH collection.

Related: Hilton snatches Small Luxury Hotels of the World alliance away from Hyatt

How to redeem points at SLH Hilton properties

Since Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties are, by definition, luxurious, they often come with hefty price tags. Thus, they offer some great ways to maximize your Hilton Honors points.

To see what SLH properties are available in your destination, pull up Hilton’s map of SLH partners.

As you zoom in, rates will pop up at each hotel. You can check the “Use Points” box at the top to see rates for award stays. (At the time of writing, point values weren’t showing up at some SLH properties, but that should change as Hilton irons out the wrinkles on its site.)

Click on the hotel that interests you, then click “Select Dates” in the pop-up box to see a calendar with rates across several months. You can toggle between cash and award rates by clicking “Special Rates” and checking or unchecking the “Use Points” box.

Though Hilton does not operate using an award chart, the SLH properties follow standard award room pricing. This means that rooms considered “standard” will max out at a certain number of points.

However, if you’re looking to book nonstandard rooms, those are priced dynamically, which means award travelers typically won’t get the best redemption rate for their Hilton points.

For example, you can experience your own fairy tale in Hungary’s Botaniq Castle of Tura for just 80,000 points per night for a standard award room or a cash rate of $468 per night. This would give you a redemption rate of 0.59 cents per point, which is close to TPG’s July 2024 Hilton Honors valuation of 0.6 cents per point. Note that premium rooms in November start at 408,000 points per night or a cash rate of $831 per night. This would give you a value of 0.2 cents per point, which is significantly lower than our valuation.

Since Hilton prices nonstandard rooms dynamically, you can typically expect to get about 0.2 cents per point, making them not the best use of your Hilton points.

When searching Hilton’s website to redeem your points, be sure to put in specific dates, as some search results claim the hotels are “sold out” when viewed via the calendar feature.

Check the “Use Points” box to show the room types available and how many points they cost (or whether you can use a standard room reward).

Additionally, be sure to scroll down because the points prices may not be arranged from lowest to highest. For example, at Sowaka — a restored ryokan in Kyoto, Japan — standard room rewards cost only 120,000 points per night, but they’re hidden among much pricier options.

These rooms go for 196,000 yen (or around $1,215) per night, giving you a value of 1 cent per point — an excellent use of Hilton Honors points, which TPG values at 0.6 cents each.

If you happen to have one of Hilton’s valuable free night reward certificates, which are valid on any standard room reward (up to 150,000 points per night), the SLH collection gives you some excellent new options for redeeming it.

However, keep in mind that standard room award rates are subject to availability, so you may have to be a bit flexible with your travel plans.

Related: Everything to know about the Hilton Honors loyalty program

How to earn points at SLH Hilton properties

Redeeming points may allow you to stay at high-end properties that might otherwise be out of reach, especially on peak travel dates. But when cash rates are low, you may be better off booking paid stays at these places and watching your Hilton Honors points stack up.

Earning Hilton points at SLH properties is easy, thanks to the new partnership. All you have to do is log in to your Hilton Honors account, search for your dates and destination, and book your stay through Hilton’s site.

There are many other avenues to book SLH properties, including online travel agencies like Expedia, credit card portals and the hotel’s website. But you won’t earn Hilton Honors points if you book through any of these, and you won’t be eligible for elite benefits. You may, however, earn other rewards and perks through credit card portals like Chase Travel℠ and American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts. Always consider the pros and cons of each option before deciding how to book.

When you book a Small Luxury Hotel through Hilton, you’ll earn Honors points just like you would at any Hilton property. Members earn points at varying rates depending on their status tier:

• Basic members: 10 points per dollar
• Silver members: 12 points per dollar
• Gold members: 18 points per dollar
• Diamond members: 20 points per dollar

At most Hilton properties, these points accrue not only on your room rate but on eligible room charges like room service, spa treatments and parking fees. But at SLH properties, you’ll only earn Honors points on the room rate.

These points are in addition to the rewards you earn on the credit card you use to pay for your room. If you don’t have a Hilton cobranded card that earns bonus Honors points on Hilton stays, consider using one of our favorite hotel cards.

Related: Ways you can earn more Hilton Honors points

Elite status benefits at SLH Hilton properties

Thanks to the new partnership, Hilton Honors members (both basic and elite) can take advantage of several perks when staying at SLH properties. However, these benefits look a little different at the SLH collection than at other hotels.

For basic members, many key benefits are the same, including guaranteed member discounts on paid stays, waived resort fees on award stays and complimentary standard Wi-Fi. But some benefits may not be available at SLH properties, like digital check-in and room keys, the ability to choose your room, and access to Hilton Honors Experiences. And some new benefits have been added at SLH properties: complimentary late checkout and bottled water.

Silver members still get 20% tier bonus points and a fifth night free on award stays at SLH properties, which is a great perk if you want to save thousands of points. Plus, it’s easy to earn Hilton Silver status, especially if you hold the right card, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express, which gives cardholders complimentary Hilton Gold elite status (enrollment required).

But elite members may not have access to their usual 15% discount at all-inclusive spas.

Gold and Diamond members will still get their 80% and 100% points-earning bonus and space-available upgrades. Instead of the usual food and beverage credit, they’ll receive complimentary breakfast for up to two guests at SLH properties. Diamond members may miss out on their usual premium Wi-Fi (complimentary standard Wi-Fi is included), 48-hour room guarantee and executive lounge access.

Members also have access to special offers and promotions. We recommend checking out Hilton’s current offers before you book any stay and registering for all that apply.

If you’re working your way toward Hilton’s next status tier, stays at SLH properties now count toward this goal. Hilton status is earned by staying a minimum number of nights, completing a minimum number of stays or earning a minimum number of points. Staying at SLH properties can now get you closer to your next status tier, just like any other Hilton property.

Related: Your guide to Hilton Honors elite status

Bottom line

Hilton’s new partnership with SLH is a boost for Hilton Honors members, who can now access nearly 400 unique luxury and lifestyle properties around the world — and that number is expected to grow. SLH hotels offer plenty of ways for members to maximize their points and free night certificates, grow their Hilton Honors balance, and take advantage of elite perks.

Between buffets, dining rooms, specialty restaurants and pool deck grills, it might not seem necessary to bring your own food on a cruise. But you’d be surprised by the number of times you find yourself wishing for a granola bar between meals or in the middle of a particularly long shore excursion.

Perhaps you or someone with whom you’re traveling has dietary restrictions or medication that needs to be taken with food. Or maybe you’ve got picky kids who might turn up their noses at dinner or a spouse who has 2 a.m. cravings but doesn’t want to spend extra for late-night room service.

So, what’s the deal with bringing snacks on a cruise? Is it allowed, and if so, are there restrictions? And can you bring your own drinks on a cruise, too?

Here’s everything you need to know.

Note: If you have a special need or dietary restriction, it’s a good idea to contact your cruise line’s special requests department well in advance of sailing to make sure they will provide the food you need or allow you to bring it on board.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Can you bring food on a cruise?

The short answer is yes, you can. However, there are restrictions that limit the types of food and how they’re packaged. You can’t, for example, waltz on board with several dozen of grandma’s freshly baked cookies or the ingredients to make your own salad.

What kind of snacks can I bring on a cruise?

Cruise ships permit just about any food that’s prepackaged. That includes items like granola, protein and cereal bars; packs of crackers and cookies; nuts; beef jerky; and bagged items like chips, crackers and popcorn. It also includes baby food and formula.

Candy is also allowed, so pack all the fruit snacks, M&M’s and licorice you’d like.

The catch is that your treats have to be shelf-stable and sealed, so don’t crack open a giant bag of Reese’s Pieces, Life Savers Gummies or Doritos, eat a few handfuls and then try to board with the bag open.

You should also avoid bringing anything that’s fresh, that requires refrigeration or that you prepared at home and put in your own container. If it can spoil at any time during your sailing, it’s a no-go.

Can you bring drinks on a cruise?

This answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. You can bring drinks, but there are limits, especially when it comes to alcohol.

Each cruise line has its own policy, but generally, each person can bring a limited amount of their favorite nonalcoholic drinks, including water, juice, soda, coffee, sports drinks and energy drinks. Lines that allow it are Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages. Lines that do not allow this are Holland America (with the exception of bottled water, which is allowed in limited quantities), MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Note that all major cruise lines do have alternative milks, including soy and almond. Some also offer oat and coconut milks. If you require a specific type, your cruise line should be able to accommodate you with advance notice, so you do not have to bring your own.

In terms of alcohol policies, just about every mainstream cruise line allows one bottle of wine, sparkling wine or Champagne of up to 750 mL per person 21 years of age or older. Sometimes the line will charge a corkage fee of between $15 and $25 per bottle; some lines will only charge it if you consume the bottle outside of your cabin.

None of the major lines allow passengers to bring their own beer or liquor.

The exception is luxury cruise lines. Because they include alcohol in their fares and don’t stand to miss out on the related onboard revenue, they allow cruisers to bring as much alcohol as they’d like, within reason and regardless of type.

All cruise lines will also allow passengers to bring distilled water onto ships for use in medical devices, such as CPAP machines.

How to bring drinks on a cruise

If you’re traveling with drinks that don’t include alcohol, the most common rule is that each person can have up to 12 cans or cartons. Sometimes plastic bottles are allowed, but you should check with your cruise line to be certain. Glass bottles are almost always prohibited. Drinks must be sealed; open containers aren’t allowed, even if they comply with the above rules.

If you’re bringing wine, sparkling wine or Champagne, glass bottles are permitted.

All drinks must be carried on and cannot be put inside checked bags for boarding. If they’re found in checked luggage during the embarkation process, your bags will be held until you can claim them. You will be required to open your bags in front of security personnel, who will decide if what you’ve packed falls within your ship’s rules. If it doesn’t, your items will be confiscated.

With all of this in mind, there are still cruisers who will try to sneak alcohol on board. Don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk that you’ll be caught, have your alcohol confiscated and be labeled a cheapskate or a rule breaker.

Can you take food off a cruise ship? How about drinks?

The answer here, again, depends on the types of food and drinks. In many ports of call, you can have prepackaged items, but fresh ones will be confiscated. In other words, don’t expect to grab fresh fruit from the buffet at breakfast to take ashore as a midday snack. You often won’t be allowed to have it. In certain ports, including some in Mexico, officials use trained dogs to sniff out any contraband produce.

Ports are often a bit more flexible about drinks. This is especially true in warm-weather destinations where it’s easier to dehydrate. Be smart about what you bring, though. Bottles of water (whether single-use or reusable ones you fill yourself) are a better idea than to-go cups of coffee, which are sometimes banned.

Can you bring food or drink items back to your ship from port?

The rules here are similar for what you can bring onto a cruise. You can bring back prepackaged, shelf-stable foods, but you’ll want to avoid anything that’s homemade, fresh, not in sealed packaging and not shelf-stable. I once had to throw away (read: eat and give away as many as I could before reboarding) six of the most beautiful doughnuts because I didn’t realize I couldn’t bring them with me back on board. I only found out when a ship security guard told me I couldn’t board the tender boat with my treats.

You can also bring nonalcoholic drinks that are sealed and fall within your cruise line’s limits.

The difference between bringing alcohol on board in port, versus at embarkation, is that passengers are allowed to do it — but there are stipulations.

Cruise lines understand that travelers often spring for duty-free booze as a souvenir. Should you decide to purchase a bottle (or several) to take home with you, you can bring it back to your ship. However, you won’t be allowed to keep it with you.

When you reboard your vessel and pass through security, you’ll have to leave your haul with a crew member. They will take your name and cabin number, and you can either pick your purchases up on the last night of the sailing, or it will be sent to your room. The same rule applies if you buy bottles in the onboard shops.

Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• Packing for a cruise? These items aren’t allowed on board
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• Gentlemen hosts on cruises: Who they are and what they do
• What is the Jones Act and how does it impact cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What’s a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What’s the difference between a cruise ship concierge and a butler?

At TPG, we often praise Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program as one of the most underrated and high-powered frequent flyer programs. Flying Club is a transfer partner of all major credit card programs, so Virgin points are easy to earn.

However, just because the points are easy to earn does not mean they are easy to use.

Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam alliance in 2023 and has several other nonalliance airline partners with which you can earn and redeem Virgin points. Unfortunately, Virgin’s website is not the most user-friendly and has many limitations.

Some Flying Club redemption partners can be booked online, while others require you to hunt for award space and call in to book.

What are the Flying Club airline partners?

You can earn and redeem Virgin Atlantic points on the following member airlines of the SkyTeam alliance:

• Aerolinas Argentinas
• Aeromexico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• Czech Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Garuda Indonesia
• ITA Airways
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Middle East Airlines
• Saudia
• TAROM
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Xiamen Airlines

In addition to these airlines, you can also book award flights with the following non-SkyTeam airlines using Virgin points:

• Air New Zealand (Star Alliance)
• All Nippon Airways (Star Alliance)
• El Al
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)
• South African Airways (Star Alliance)
• Virgin Australia

You can also earn Virgin points — but not redeem them — with partners Scandinavian Airlines, IndiGo and LATAM.

Which Flying Club partner airlines can be booked online?

In addition to flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, Flying Club members can redeem their Virgin points on the following partner airlines (for all other airlines, you must call 800-862-8621 to book).

Related: Is Virgin Atlantic premium economy worth it on the A330-900neo?

Air France-KLM

To avoid the significant surcharges Flying Club imposes on flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, booking flights operated by Air France-KLM can be an affordable way to use Virgin points to fly to Europe and beyond. While premium economy on these airlines is not usually available to book online or by phone, economy and business class can be booked online at the following rates:

• One-way economy flight to Europe from the West Coast for 15,000 points
• One-way economy flight to the Middle East from the East Coast for 25,000 points
• One-way business-class flight to Europe from the East Coast for 48,500 points
• One-way business-class flight from the East Coast to North Africa for 66,500 points

Related: Private suites and high-tech touches: What it’s like flying Air France’s new business class

Delta Air Lines

With Delta taking dynamic pricing to the extreme and charging 300,000-plus miles for one-way, international, business-class awards, using Virgin Atlantic to score cheap awards can be great.

Long-haul flights to Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and South America are fairly easy to find and can be booked online.

Related: A review of Delta Air Lines economy on the Boeing 767 from London to New York

Unfortunately, Delta’s premium economy product is unavailable to book with Virgin points, and while Delta One business-class seats can technically be booked online, they are very rarely available and now come with huge surcharges.

Short-haul flights operated by Delta are easy to book online. Prices start at a reasonable 7,500 Virgin points in economy class or 21,000 points in first class.

Korean Air

Based in Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN), Korean Air flights can be booked with Virgin points online, though availability outside of Asia is difficult to find.

ITA Airways

Rising from the ashes of the now-defunct Alitalia, ITA Airways has excellent award availability using Virgin points and can be booked online. ITA’s long-haul business-class product is excellent, with a solid lounge in Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO), elaborate onboard meals and stylish Italian finishes.

Related: A review of ITA Airways business class on the A330neo from Rome

LATAM

South American carrier LATAM can be booked online with Virgin points, and availability is generally good between North America and South America, with business-class flights from Florida to Brazil costing just 50,000 points plus minimal fees and taxes.

El Al

Flying Club quietly added Israel’s flag carrier El Al to its partner airline list earlier in 2024, and fortunately, these flights can be booked online, though the rates between the United States and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) are steep.

Related: Inside El Al’s first retrofitted — and massively upgraded — Boeing 777

Middle East Airlines

One of SkyTeam’s lesser-known airlines, Middle East Airlines (commonly referred to as MEA), is based in Lebanon’s Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY).

While MEA does not operate long-haul flights, it has a decent route network to Europe and can be booked online using Virgin points.

China Airlines

While Flying Club insists that flights on Taiwanese carrier and SkyTeam member China Airlines (not to be confused with China-based Star Alliance member Air China) can be booked online with Virgin points, TPG has not found any availability on China Airlines through Virgin’s website.

Xiamen Airlines

Based in Xiamen, China, SkyTeam member Xiamen Airlines operates numerous flights within Asia and a handful of routes to Australia and Europe. Its current North American destinations include New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

You can book Xiamen Airlines redemptions using Virgin points online.

How to earn Virgin points

It’s easy to boost your Virgin points balance with the right credit card, as Flying Club is a transfer partner of every major program with a transferable currency, including:

• American Express Membership Rewards (1:1)
• Bilt Rewards (1:1)
• Capital One (1:1)
• Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
• Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1)
• Marriott Bonvoy (3:1, with a 5,000-point bonus for transferring 60,000 points and a 48-hour transfer time)

Some of the above programs offer regular transfer bonuses to Flying Club, meaning you might need even fewer points than you first thought.

Many of these programs offer cards that feature terrific welcome bonuses. Here are some of our favorite travel rewards credit cards that earn transferable points that can be converted to Virgin points:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Bottom line

Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program boasts an impressive list of redemption partners inside and outside of the SkyTeam alliance. Unfortunately, the program’s website is less impressive, with most partner redemptions unavailable online, requiring a little extra legwork and a phone call to 800-862-8621.

You may wish to use an external resource to check award availability through other programs and then contact the Flying Club program to book the seats you know are available.

There are some excellent deals to be had, so it’s worth the effort.

Generally, you should arrive at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight or 3 hours before an international flight, but that depends on the details of your trip.

The potential for unexpected and disruptive mishaps during your cruise is not something to ignore. Flight delays can lead to missed embarkations. A sudden medical emergency can result in passengers getting abandoned during port stops. Cruise lines can go bankrupt and strand travelers abroad.

As a consumer advocate, I receive hundreds of help requests each year from distraught cruisers whose trips didn’t go as planned. Each time, I’m struck by how different their situation might have been if they’d only purchased an insurance policy. Cruise travel insurance can often save the day if you get hit by a surprise calamity before or during your cruise.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Of course, though, that’s only true if you have a policy with the correct type of insurance coverage. Travel insurance mistakes and misunderstandings are common among cruise ship passengers and can lead to travelers finding themselves uninsured or under-insured when they encounter a problem on their trip.

That’s something TPG wants to help you avoid. Here are the most common cruise travel insurance mistakes I’ve encountered so you will know how to make better choices for your next vacation at sea.

Not buying travel insurance because you expect to take the cruise

Not even considering travel insurance is by far the top mistake I see made by cruise ship passengers. I’m always surprised when a cruiser tells me they didn’t buy travel insurance because they didn’t expect to cancel their trip.

This is a common defense offered by travelers caught in expensive situations that travel insurance would have easily covered.

The idea that you don’t need travel insurance because you don’t expect to cancel your cruise is flawed at its most basic level. The fact is, travel insurance is meant to protect you from unexpected events that cause you to cancel or interrupt your cruise.

Before you reject the idea of travel insurance to protect your next cruise, consider what will happen if:

• You get sick or injured before or during the trip.
• You lose your job and can’t afford to go.
• You or a family member is hospitalized or dies.
• Your flight is canceled or delayed and you miss embarkation.
• The airline loses your bags on the way to the cruise ship.

That’s just a sampling of surprise events that comprehensive travel insurance could cover (depending on the policy). However, if you don’t have a policy protecting you and you’re in your cruise contract’s penalty zone, you will miss your vacation and won’t get your money back.

Related: Is travel insurance worth it?

Not budgeting for travel insurance

Another frequent excuse I hear from cruise ship passengers about why they didn’t purchase travel insurance is the cost. That can be a short-sighted decision, though; if something goes wrong, an uninsured traveler can end up owing far more than the price of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Consider what would happen if you had an accident during a shore excursion and needed to be medically evacuated. Those emergency services can easily cost $50,000 or more, depending on your location. During a recent cruise to Antarctica, I was required by Aurora Expeditions to have $250,000 of medical evacuation insurance. Traveling to remote locations — or even not-so-remote locations — without medical evacuation coverage could be life-altering if you end up in a catastrophic emergency.

If you intend to spend thousands of dollars to take a cruise, it’s always a good idea to budget some of your vacation funds for a travel insurance policy that minimally covers medical care and evacuation home. If you don’t, you leave yourself wide open to medical bills, cancellation penalties and more.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Buying travel ‘protection’ from your tour operator

A handful of tour operators and cruise lines sell something called “Travel Protection” or “Travel Waiver,” which a sales rep will offer to you when you purchase your cruise. If you’re booking online, a pop-up will appear before you complete your reservation. It will say something like “Warning! Protect your investment with our Travel Protection Plan” or “Get peace of mind with Travel Protection.”

This product isn’t called travel insurance because it isn’t travel insurance — it’s a hybrid product.

The travel insurance industry is highly regulated. If you buy a policy through an actual travel insurance company, you will be protected by specific laws and regulations. If you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or claim, you can escalate your problem to your state’s insurance board.

Most importantly, travel insurance companies have underwriters, so consumers have a safety net if something goes catastrophically wrong with the travel insurance company.

If you purchase travel protection instead, many safety protocols meant to protect consumers who buy travel insurance will not apply to you.

Before buying one of these policies, it’s critical to understand what you’re purchasing. Travel Protection has two parts:

Part A: This is predeparture cancellation protection (the passenger’s cancellation) and is a self-insured product provided entirely by the cruise line or tour operator. There is no underwriter. This is often advertised as a “cancel for any reason” policy, but that moniker is often misunderstood by the travelers who buy this product. I’ll explain further below.

Part B: This is post-departure protection and will be an actual travel insurance policy provided by a third-party insurance company. That part of the plan will provide medical coverage, emergency evacuation protection, trip interruption and more.

Because Part A is not a travel insurance product, passengers are putting their “investment” in a precarious situation should the cruise line or tour operator go out of business or become insolvent. If the operator has no money to pay the claims, there is no safety net without an underwriter. Thus, the customers will be left empty-handed.

That’s the unfortunate situation that many Vantage Deluxe World Travel customers found themselves in last June. When the tour operator canceled all future tours and filed for bankruptcy, it owed $108 million to roughly 10,000 customers. Many of those would-be travelers had approved Part A (predeparture) Vantage Travel Protection claims and were waiting for payment when the company went belly-up.

Other Vantage customers erroneously believed that Part B of the pricey travel protection plan would protect them under all circumstances — including bankruptcy.

Far too late, these stunned travelers read through their policies and discovered the truth about that expensive protection: It was worthless if the company had no money to pay its bills, and neither part of the plan had an insolvency or bankruptcy clause.

Of course, that is an extreme case. A typical cruise ship passenger is much more likely to encounter a less dramatic issue with this type of travel protection, usually regarding “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Travel protection policies are often advertised as having “cancel for any reason” coverage, but the fine print reveals that only a few specific circumstances allow a traveler to cancel and receive a cash refund. For anything not listed as a legitimate reason to cancel for a monetary payment, the cruiser will receive a future travel voucher.

If you choose to buy a travel protection product instead of a travel insurance policy, make absolutely certain you read through the entire document and understand what you’re buying.

Related: The 5 best cruise travel insurance plans

Assuming your health insurance will cover you on the ship

Hopefully, you’ll never discover through experience that shipboard medical care can come at an astronomical cost. Many cruise passengers have learned this lesson only after falling ill during their trip. But the worst news comes after the bill arrives: Most domestic health insurance plans — including basic Medicare — do not provide international coverage.

That means as soon as your cruise ship sails into international waters, you’re medically uninsured. Any healthcare bills you accrue during your trip will be your responsibility.

It’s not hard to imagine just how expensive and devastating it could be for an uninsured cruiser who becomes sick or injured on vacation. To make matters worse, cruise lines and foreign hospitals expect payment at the time services are rendered. No matter the circumstances, you’ll be expected to pay immediately.

And I do mean no matter what the circumstances. A widow once contacted me soon after her husband had suddenly died aboard Holland America‘s Eurodam.

The shock of losing her spouse was made even worse by what she viewed as the callous attitude of the crew member who handed her a bill for her husband’s failed treatment — and expected her to pay before she was disembarked at the next port of call.

Unfortunately, that couple had assumed their Medicare plan was protecting them during their Caribbean cruise. It wasn’t. (Note: There are supplementary Medigap plans that can provide international health care benefits for Medicare beneficiaries. These policies come at an additional cost and have coverage limitations and caps. Before using one, travelers should review all the details of the plan.)

While this woman’s situation was extreme, accidents and illnesses happen all the time on fun-filled cruises. You don’t want a lack of insurance to make those events more catastrophic than they are.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy can provide not only healthcare coverage abroad but also medical evacuation and repatriation — services that can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Related: What happens if you get sick on a cruise?

Not reading and understanding the travel insurance policy

Travel insurance policies are many pages long and often contain confusing terms. Many travelers buy policies that seem acceptable, and they gloss over the details. However, if you don’t review and understand the travel insurance policy you’ve purchased, that mistake can have giant repercussions.

A one-size-fits-all travel insurance policy does not exist. The choices of travel insurance products available for cruise ship passengers are extensive, with options from basic to full coverage.

To know exactly which protections you’ve purchased, you must thoroughly read all the details of your plan. Each policy will have a list of named perils. If something on that list causes the cancellation or interruption of your trip, you can claim coverage. If the circumstances you’re facing are not on that list, you’re out of luck.

Not only should you pay attention to the named covered events, but equally important are the exclusions — conditions that can invalidate your policy. For instance, if you’re planning on zip lining, bungee jumping, rock climbing or participating in any other extreme adventure, you’ll want to make sure your policy doesn’t exclude risky activities.

The travel insurance industry provides a generous lookover period, usually 10 to 15 days after purchase. Always use that two-week window to carefully review your policy. Do not skim over details you don’t understand and hope for the best. If you need help understanding the fine print, contact the travel insurance company for clarification.

If you determine during that time that the policy doesn’t provide the coverage you want and need, you can request a refund and continue your search. After that lookover period, your travel insurance policy is neither refundable nor changeable.

Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers

Waiting too long to purchase travel insurance for the cruise

A common mistake some cruise ship passengers make is waiting too long to buy travel insurance.

The general rule of thumb is that if you intend to insure your trip, you should purchase that protection at the same time you start to make prepaid, nonrefundable reservations. That includes airfare, excursions, pre- or post-cruise hotels and anything else for which you will not receive a refund if you need to cancel the trip.

Travel insurance coverage typically begins to protect you the day after you purchase the policy. So, at any time after that, if a covered event happens to you and causes you to cancel your trip, you’ll be protected from financial penalties. Of course, if you wait too long to purchase your travel insurance for your cruise and an unexpected event occurs, you won’t be able to buy a retroactive policy.

If you enter the cancellation penalty phase of your cruise contract, you’ve waited too long to buy travel insurance. In fact, some companies won’t allow you to purchase travel insurance after that date.

Not disclosing a preexisting condition

Not disclosing a preexisting condition is a travel insurance mistake that can have devastating consequences. Although buying a policy that covers a preexisting condition is possible, it’s a bit more complicated.

Cruise ship passengers with preexisting conditions should be aware that their window to purchase travel insurance is abbreviated. Most travel insurance companies require travelers with preexisting conditions to purchase travel insurance within 14 to 21 days after making their initial trip deposit.

If you’ve been diagnosed with any medical problems in the 12 months preceding your trip or have a persistent condition, you must be certain to:

• Buy a policy that specifically names coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Make your travel insurance purchase within the first 14 to 21 days after putting a deposit down on your trip.

Cruisers who file a travel insurance claim for a medical problem related to a preexisting condition will be at great risk of having that claim rejected.

Underinsuring the cost of the entire cruise package

Travel insurance can significantly increase the cost of your cruise vacation. Prices vary based on the level of protection you choose, the age of all travelers on the policy, the length of the trip and the state where you live. If you wish to be fully protected, it’s critical not to undervalue your trip.

If you lowball the cost of your cruise and something goes wrong, your claim will only be paid based on the value of what you insured. Passengers who have purchased an annual insurance plan should pay careful attention to the limits on their policy. It can be easy to accidentally underinsure your cruise if you’re relying on an annual travel insurance policy with a per-trip or per-year cap.

Cruise ship passengers should always insure every nonrefundable, prepaid part of their itinerary. That includes the cruise, airfare, hotels and third-party excursions.

Bottom line

Cruise travel insurance can provide peace of mind and protection from the repercussions of unexpected events that could ruin your vacation and wreck your wallet.

Purchasing travel insurance does not have to be a chore. Follow these easy steps for success:

• Use a website like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth to compare various policies and cruise travel insurance providers.
• Read your policy and ensure you understand what’s covered and how to file a claim if needed.
• Carry a copy of your travel insurance card during your cruise, which will have a toll-free number if you need help.
• Enjoy your cruise.

If you have a problem with a travel insurance company, cruise line, airline, car rental agency or hotel, send your request for help to ombudsman@thepointsguy.com, and I’ll be happy to investigate.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

 

With beautiful beaches, a delightful culinary scene and vibrant nightlife, the Bahamas is always a hot ticket item for travelers.

Now, there’s a new fare sale offering great prices on flights from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to Nassau, Bahamas, that’ll get you to paradise on the cheap — some itineraries are even available for half of their usual cost. Even better, the window for this sale encompasses travel from now through February, which means you can book an escape from the chilly Northeast winter weather at a steep discount.

The fares in this sale are for basic economy tickets. You will get a free carry-on bag on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue (provided that you travel after Sept. 6; prior to that date, a gate-checked carry-on will cost $65), but not on United Airlines. You can only bring a personal item if you purchase a basic economy ticket with United Airlines, and checked bags start at $40 each way (there’s an extra $25 fee if you gate-check).

Some of the lowest fares spotlighted in this deal come from booking through an online travel agency.

Deal basics

Airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and United Airlines

Routes: From Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to Nassau, Bahamas

How to book: By browsing Google Flights, then booking directly with the airline

Travel dates: From now through February 2025, with select routes available in April and May 2025

This deal was originally sent out by the deal alert company Going. Sign up for Going to get up to 90% off select flights via its Premium membership, which users can try for free for 14 days and then $69 per year. You can also upgrade to the Elite tier for $199 per year to access all the Premium deals, plus premium economy, business-class and first-class alerts.

You can also sign up for a free trial through this link.

Sample flights

Let’s start with the nonstop options in this deal. We saw the best prices for flights out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C. This nonstop itinerary from Dulles to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in August is just $258 round-trip.

We found flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, D.C., to Nassau in November priced at $268 round-trip.

If it’s more convenient for you to travel in the spring, you can snag the same itinerary for the same price in April.

During the Christmas travel season, you can fly United out of Dulles to the Bahamas for $263 round-trip. This itinerary has a layover in Newark on the departure flight, but the return is nonstop.

United has flights from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Nassau in December for $273. This route involves a layover each way.

The same itinerary is available in April at the same knockout price.

 Related: Bahamas bliss: What it’s like staying at the Rosewood Baha Mar

Maximize your purchase

When you book this deal or any flights, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:

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

Bottom line

If at first you can’t find a great deal for your preferred travel dates, keep checking. The prices fluctuated quite a bit during our search. But, of course, remember that being flexible is a sure way to score the best prices.

Related reading:

• Here are the best credit card welcome offers
• 7 things to understand about credit before applying for a new card
• How to apply for a credit card
• What is APR on a credit card?
• How to check your credit score for free

Flight cancellations are piling up Hurricane Beryl menaces the Texas Gulf Coast. Airlines have canceled more than 1,300 flights Monday amid concerns over the storm’s heavy rains and high winds, which are expected to produce dangerous storm surge conditions and hamper travel in parts of the country.

Coastal cities in Texas are expected to feel the brunt of the storm through Monday evening, according to the National Hurricane Center, after Beryl made landfall overnight as a Category 1 hurricane.

4AM CDT July 8: #Beryl makes landfall near Matagorda, Texas with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Life-threatening storm surge and strong winds are occurring with considerable flash and urban flooding expected. For more information visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/UP7pRftxum

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 8, 2024

Monday’s flight disruptions are most heavily concentrated at Houston’s two major airports.

Nearly 80% of departures have been scrapped for Monday at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), with 519 cancellations and counting as of 7:30 a.m. ET, according to data from flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Overnight, the airport took to social media to warn travelers of the impending disruptions. The airport said it’s working to “streamline operations” in the midst of the storm. United Airlines flights are operating out of the airport’s Terminal C Monday, with Terminal B temporarily closed. The TSA checkpoint at Terminal D is operating at reduced capacity, too, the airport said.

4AM CDT July 8: #Beryl makes landfall near Matagorda, Texas with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Life-threatening storm surge and strong winds are occurring with considerable flash and urban flooding expected. For more information visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/UP7pRftxum

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 8, 2024

United Airlines, which operates a major hub out of Houston’s Intercontinental, leads all U.S. airlines with more than 400 cancellations for Monday, about 14% of its operation, FlightAware data shows.

Southwest Airlines is second with 268 cancellations, network-wide — about 5% of its Monday schedule. Southwest is the top carrier at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), where around 60% of departures have been canceled for Monday.

Help! Here’s what to do if your flight is canceled or delayed 

Several airlines have issued travel alerts amid the storm. These advisories typically allow customers flying to, from or between certain affected cities, even when flying on ordinarily restrictive tickets. Notably, both United and Southwest have issued alerts for key airports in Texas, including Houston’s two major airports as well as Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT).

Beryl’s flight disruptions in the U.S. come after the storm left a trail of destruction in parts of the Caribbean and Latin America. The storm caused significant damage in Jamaica, before hitting Mexico, causing major flight cancellations over the weekend at Cancun International Airport (CUN) and the new Tulum International Airport (TQO) — but the region was spared from more catastrophic impacts, according to reports there.

Monday’s disruptions in the U.S. follow more than 600 cancellations Sunday, on what was poised to be one of the busiest air travel days of all time, with travelers returning from Fourth of July getaways.

If you have travel plans for Monday, be sure to heed the warnings from the National Weather Service and local authorities, first and foremost, when deciding whether to head to an airport or travel to a potentially affected area.

Download your airline’s app and monitor it closely for potential signs of trouble, and options for re-booking in the event your itinerary is affected.

Read up on your rights as a flyer, too. Keep in mind, under U.S. Department of Transportation policy, you’re entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your trip if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed for any reason — though that only applies if you ultimately choose not to fly, and don’t accept re-booking from the airline.

If you do run into travel disruptions due to the storm, consider whether you have a travel insurance plan or trip insurance protections through a credit card that might help you recoup any incurred costs. Typically, any insurance plans must have been purchased prior to the storm being named in order to be claim-eligible. And, most often, if you have travel insurance through a credit card, you’ll need to have booked the trip with that card in order to be eligible for the protections.

Related reading:

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

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

Whether you frequently use the Choice Privileges program or are only an occasional guest, it’s worth keeping track of the current Choice Privileges promotions.

One promotion worth knowing about, even if you don’t frequently stay at Choice Hotels, is Personalized Weeknight Benefits. (This promotion was formally called Your Extras, and the Your Extras terminology is still used on some parts of the Choice Hotels website.)

Enrolling in this promotion takes less than a minute, but you can get personalized benefits on each weeknight stay with Choice Hotels once you enroll. These benefits should provide at least a few dollars of extra value on each weeknight stay, so here’s what you need to know.

What are Personalized Weeknight Benefits?

Personalized Weeknight Benefits give you something extra when you check in on a points-eligible stay that includes a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night. To earn benefits on eligible stays, you must opt into this program (directions included below) and select your reward preference on the Choice Hotels app or website.

You can only earn a Personalized Weeknight Benefit on one reservation per day, and you can only earn one Personalized Weeknight Benefit per qualifying points-eligible stay, regardless of the number of rooms, nights, check-ins and checkouts. In particular, checking out of a hotel only to check back into the same hotel later that day won’t net you an additional benefit.

Related: How to earn points with the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn dining rewards program

What Personalized Weeknight Benefits can I choose?

Your Personalized Weeknight Benefits options depend on your country of residence. If you’re a U.S. resident, you can choose one of the following:

• 400 Choice Privileges points
• 100 miles with one of six airline loyalty programs (including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and United Airlines MileagePlus)
• $2.50 Amazon credit
• $5 Starbucks coffee card
• $3 Uber trip discount

If you’re a Canadian resident, you can choose one of the following:

• 400 Choice Privileges points
• 100 miles with a participating airline loyalty program
• CA$2.50 Amazon.ca gift certificate
• CA$5 Tim Hortons gift card
• CA$5 coffee gift card

If you’re not a U.S. or Canadian resident, you can choose one of the following:

• 400 Choice Privileges points
• 100 miles with a participating airline loyalty program

You can change your earning preference at any point. However, you’ll earn a benefit for each eligible stay based on your account selection before check-in. You will receive most benefits during your stay or shortly after the end of your stay, although airline miles may take up to six weeks from the end of your stay to post.

Related: Choice Privileges award nights no longer top out at 35,000 points per night

How do I register for Personalized Weeknight Benefits?

Even if you don’t have any weeknight Choice stays planned, register for Personalized Weeknight Benefits now so you don’t miss out if a stay comes up in the future. Here’s how to do it:

• Log into your Choice account, click your name in the upper right-hand corner and click “My Profile.”
• Scroll to the “Your Extras Preferences” section and follow the prompts.

This is also the area of your account to visit if you want to change your selection.

You only need to register for Personalized Weeknight Benefits once. However, you must set your earning preference to Choice Privileges points in your online account to earn Personalized Weeknight Benefits. Here’s how to set your earning preference to Choice Privileges points:

• Log into your account, click your name in the upper right-hand corner and select “My Profile.”
• On the right-hand side of the page, in the “Loyalty Programs” tile, click “Edit.”
• Select “Choice Privileges® Reward Points” as your earning preference and click “Save Earning Preference.”

Finally, note that certain properties — WoodSpring Suites locations, some third-party (non-Choice) hotels and some MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, Everhome Suites and Ascend Hotel Collection locations — don’t participate in the Personalized Weeknight Benefits program.

Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Choice points

Bottom line

If you have a Choice Privileges account, you should register for Personalized Weeknight Benefits. Earning Starbucks coffee cards will provide the best monetary value for most U.S. residents. However, I prefer to earn Choice Privileges points since I believe they offer similar value, and I don’t often go to Starbucks.

The Personalized Weeknight Benefits program may not significantly change your travel habits, but it’s a good tie-breaker if you’re considering two hotels for a weeknight stay. In short, it’s certainly worth spending a minute or two to opt into the Personalized Weeknight Benefits program if you haven’t already.

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

I stayed at the Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton in South Africa shortly after it opened in 2021. When I checked my account activity after my stay, I noticed an “opening bonus” of 2,000 points. Then, I remembered that Hyatt offers 500 bonus points per night on qualifying stays at new hotels.

I unknowingly received the benefit since Hyatt doesn’t require members to register for this promotion. Perhaps you, too, have forgotten this promotion or never knew about it. In either case, here’s what you should know about World of Hyatt‘s new hotel promotions, which allow you to earn 500 bonus points per night.

How to earn 500 bonus Hyatt points per night

This promotion is simple: World of Hyatt members receive 500 bonus points per night for qualifying stays at select hotels that are new to the Hyatt portfolio. You must stay within a set time frame to earn the bonus points, typically in the first few months after the property opens. Specifically, you’ll only earn bonus points if your checkout date takes place within the offer period for your hotel.

To get the bonus points, you must provide your World of Hyatt number when you check in. You must also pay an eligible rate or redeem a Hyatt free night award (including redeeming Hyatt points). You’ll only earn bonus points for one room per night.

The terms of this promotion note that it may take three to four weeks for the bonus points to appear in your account. In practice, though, Hyatt typically posts the new hotel bonus simultaneously with the other points you earned during your stay.

Related: The 23 best Hyatt hotels in the world

Eligible new Hyatt hotels

Hyatt displays an updated list of participating properties on its website. Here’s a quick overview of where you can currently earn 500 extra points per night.

3 hotels in North America

• Munster, Indiana: Hyatt Place Munster from April 4 to July 31
• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Secrets Tides Punta Cana from April 15 to July 31
• Mazatlan, Mexico: Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlan Golf & Spa Resort from May 1 to July 31

10 hotels in China

• Shanghai: Caption by Hyatt Zhongshan Park Shanghai from April 18 to July 31
• Shanghai: Hyatt Centric Zhongshan Park Shanghai from April 18 to July 31
• Yixing: Yada Xishan Hotel Yixing from May 1 to July 31
• Shenzhen: UrCove Shenzhen Bay Nanyou from May 1 to July 31
• Guangzhou: UrCove Guangzhou Canton Tower Exhibition Center from May 1 to July 31
• Nantong: Hyatt Place Nantong, Xinghu City Plaza from May 28 to Aug. 31
• Changsha: Park Hyatt Changsha from June 1 to Aug. 31
• Shenzhen: UrCove Shenzhen Nanshan Hi-Tech Headquarters from July 1 to Sept. 30
• Nanjing: UrCove Nanjing Confucius Temple from July 1 to Sept. 30
• Weifang: UrCove Weifang City Center from July 6 to Oct. 31

8 hotels in other regions

• Boltenhagen, Germany: Lindner Hotel Boltenhagen from May 1 to July 31
• Bengaluru, India: Hyatt Centric Hebbal Bengaluru from May 1 to July 31
• Taipei, Taiwan: Episode Daan Taipei from June 1 to Aug. 31
• Osaka, Japan: Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka from June 12 to Sept. 30
• Rouen, France: Hyatt Place Rouen from June 18 to Sept. 30
• Paracas, Peru: The Legend Paracas Resort from July 1 to Sept. 30
• Marrakech, Morocco: Park Hyatt Marrakech from July 1 to Sept. 30
• Nairobi, Kenya: Hyatt Place Nairobi Westlands from July 31 to Oct. 31

The 500 Hyatt points you’ll get per night when booking an eligible rate or free night are worth about $8.50, based on TPG’s July 2024 valuations. So, this promotion may be the tiebreaker when considering where to stay the next time you travel to a destination with a new Hyatt hotel.

Related: Here’s how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

Bottom line

On top of earning 500 extra points per night, staying at a new Hyatt hotel can also be fun since you’ll likely get to stay in a room with new furnishings. However, new hotels may still be working through some issues, and it’s possible that not everything on-site will be completely functional.

The current list includes 11 Hyatt Category 1 hotels, three Category 2 hotels and one Category B all-inclusive resort. So, if you want to redeem World of Hyatt points for your stay, you can find many low-category options on the current list of new hotels.

Frontier Airlines continues to make big changes to its network.

This time, the Denver-based carrier slashed eight domestic routes, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson. The cuts are far-reaching and touch multiple airports across the country.

You’ll find a map of the affected routes below, but highlights include two flights cut from El Paso, Texas, and two from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

In fact, the routes to El Paso just launched a few weeks ago in May, and they’re now being cut effective immediately. After flights from Ontario, California, and San Diego to El Paso are suspended, Frontier will only serve the Texas city from Denver and Las Vegas.

Frontier’s cuts don’t represent any market exits for the airline, but the San Juan drawbacks are notable due to the fact that the airline operates a base in the Puerto Rican capital.

That said, San Juan has recently become the latest battleground for airline dominance. JetBlue Airways, which has historically operated a focus city in San Juan, recently announced that it would double down on service there, as it ceded market share in recent years to other carriers that entered the market more recently, including Frontier and its ultra-low-cost rival Spirit Airlines.

Loyalty basics: Best ways to earn airline miles 

In recent months, Frontier has been shifting from a purely leisure-focused network strategy to one that touches many more major metropolitan centers, including most notably New York. In fact, the airline added two routes from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in March, and it just followed up with a third route from JFK to Atlanta launching in August.

This focus on going head-to-head with major carriers from their megahubs comes as there’s seemingly been too much capacity added to cities such as Orlando and Las Vegas.

Earlier this year, Frontier added a whopping 54 new routes followed by 17 more just a few weeks later. It also slashed 16 in February, followed by 14 more in March.

For its part, Frontier declined to comment on the route changes, with spokesperson Jen de la Cruz saying succinctly that “they have been discontinued at least seasonally.”