The new Island Tower being built at Disney’s Polynesian on the side of the resort nearest Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is now projected to open to guests in December 2024, and you can make your reservations now.
Disney Vacation Club members can book by calling member services at 1-800-800-9800. Annual passholders and all other guests can call 1-407-934-7639 for reservations.
As with all DVC resorts, you don’t have to book a stay with DVC points that you own (or rent); you can also book stays with cash just like you would for Disney’s other resort hotels. In fact, in a somewhat unusual order of events, at least at first, only cash stays will be bookable to DVC members and nonmembers alike.
This new 10-story tower will not only open up more rooms for guests at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but it’ll also introduce, for the first time, some additional room sizes and types. Similar to many of the other recent DVC developments, including The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Riviera Resort, the new tower will offer small duo studios for just two guests, deluxe studios (most similar in size to the existing rooms), one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas and two-bedroom penthouse villas that sleep up to nine guests.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will continue to offer two-bedroom overwater bungalows that are also bookable with (a lot) of cash or DVC points.
When it comes to styling, the new development appears to have a somewhat distinct look and feel from the existing Polynesian structures. For starters, it is one large hotel building rather than the multiple smaller longhouses that the Polynesian has traditionally used.
Beyond that, Disney shared that the architecture draws inspiration from the property’s early concept art; in regard to the design and feel of the resort, it references the thrill of exploration and the beauty of the natural world.
More specifically, the tower’s lobby features a ceiling art installation inspired by South Pacific islands that highlights a variety of native wildlife. Each animal symbolizes a connection to the islands as well as the values important to the people of the region.
Additionally, Disney shared that it leaned into Polynesian wayfinding and the natural elements of water, earth, wind and fire when styling the new tower. It will feature artwork from contemporary Polynesian artists, along with some art that gives subtle nods to both “Moana” (which is also true of the existing Polynesian rooms) and Disney’s iconic artist, Mary Blair, whose work is also prominent in the lobby mural of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort purists may have some feelings about the departure from the traditional architecture and styling at the resort. However, others are likely excited about the diverse accommodation size options and the ability to book modern, all-new rooms at one of the most popular monorail resorts at Walt Disney World.
There could be a “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” on the horizon for the roughly 50 million guests who visit Walt Disney World annually.
Today, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which oversees land use and public services within the area Disney World owns and operates, unanimously approved an initial reading of a 15-year development plan that could bring major changes to Disney World in the coming decades, including a possible fifth theme park.
Disney published a legal notice detailing the development plan in the May 29 edition of the Orlando Sentinel. It outlined Disney’s planned investment of up to $17 billion over the next 10 to 20 years, with a commitment of $8 billion in the next 10 years.
As outlined in the plan, those funds could be used to develop new office space, hotels, restaurants, retail spaces and theme parks. The proposed agreement encompasses approximately 17,370 acres of land under the CFTOD’s jurisdiction, the majority of the land they oversee.
Under the plan’s terms, Disney World would be approved to raise its total number of hotel rooms from the more than 36,000 it currently has to 53,467 and increase retail and restaurant space. Most exciting for Disney fans, the agreement also calls for a maximum of five “major theme parks” and five “minor theme parks.”
Disney already has four theme parks and two water parks, but if the plan is approved, Disney could potentially build a fifth theme park and additional water parks or similar smaller, more minor parks.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
The agreement also calls for Disney to “donate land for public infrastructure improvements necessary to support the new development,” commit at least $10 million to attainable housing projects and award at least 50% of the goods and services related to design, development and construction under the plan to Florida businesses.
“You can pretty much conclude that they’ll be all over — meaning every single one of our locations will be the beneficiary of increased investment and thus increased capacity, including on the high seas, where we’re currently building three more ships,” Iger said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call in February.
Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
This development agreement, which has so far been supported by both Disney and the CFTOD, solidifies both organizations’ continued commitment to investing in Central Florida. Disney’s investment would bring growth and development to the area through new jobs, more tourists and additional state and local revenue.
Negotiations between Disney and the CFTOD have not historically been amicable. The contentious relationship began in 2022 when Disney spoke out against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill that prohibited discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms, a bill that Gov. Ron DeSantis championed.
Cinderella Castle at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Disney’s criticism drew DeSantis’ ire, leading him to remove Disney’s self-governing status and special taxation benefits by taking control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District), renaming it and appointing five hand-picked representatives to the board that was previously wholly controlled by Disney.
Before they were ousted, Disney’s board members attempted to push through a development deal, which has kept the two in legal battles ever since. On March 27, Disney and the CFTOD reached a settlement that nullified any previous development agreements, with both parties agreeing to negotiate a new development plan.
A second and final public hearing for consideration of Disney’s development agreement is scheduled for June 12, though it seems likely the plan will move forward based on Wednesday’s unanimous vote. If it does, Disney World could get an even better makeover in the coming years than Cinderella did before the royal ball.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are set to return to Israel this week.
Both airlines pulled out of Tel Aviv in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. United returned to the market briefly earlier this year, but it stopped flights again after an escalation between Israel and Iran in April.
Following these suspensions, Israel’s flag carrier, El Al, remained the only airline serving the U.S.-to-Tel Aviv market.
However, that’s all about to change this weekend, with both Delta and United confirming that they are returning to Israel.
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Here’s the latest on when airlines are returning to Israel.
Delta Air Lines Israel flights
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Delta’s daily route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) is set to resume June 7.
The airline will deploy an Airbus A330-900neo, which features 29 Delta One suites, 28 Premium Select recliners, 56 Comfort+ economy seats and 168 standard economy seats, on its daily New York-to-Tel Aviv service.
Delta originally planned to resume Israel flights May 1 but moved the date to about five weeks later, at the start of the peak summer season.
The airline said that it conducted an “extensive security risk assessment” to support its decision to return to Tel Aviv and will work with “government and private-sector partners” to monitor the developing situation in the country.
In recent years, Delta has been busy building its Israel network with new flights from Atlanta and Boston, joining the airline’s existing service from New York.
Flights to Israel from Atlanta and Boston currently aren’t available on Delta’s website, and there’s no published resumption date.
In addition to Delta’s flights, the airline also recently strengthened its presence in Israel through a codeshare agreement with El Al. The carrier currently flies to several U.S. markets, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
United Airlines Israel flights
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United will make its second return to Israel since the war broke out in October; its flights will resume June 6.
The airline’s Flight 84 and Flight 85 — the early afternoon departure from Newark and the day flight from Tel Aviv — are the first to resume on Thursday. The carrier is then scheduled to add Flight 90 and Flight 91 — the evening departure from Newark and the red-eye flight from Tel Aviv — on Thursday, June 20.
United first resumed flights 84 and 85 in early March but suspended them once again in April following the Iranian strike. Now, the airline is seemingly ready to match Delta’s resumption date.
United plans to restart service from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to Israel in late October.
These flights are already available for booking on United’s website, but the carrier will “continue to monitor the situation in Tel Aviv and adjust the schedule as warranted.”
American Airlines Israel flights
American Airlines has just one Israel route left from New York to Tel Aviv. (The carrier scrapped its service from Miami entirely early last year.)
American closed its Tel Aviv outstation after the outbreak of the war, and it doesn’t plan to resume flights until the fall.
The airline’s Tel Aviv flights are currently scheduled to resume Oct. 27. American shared in a statement that “the safety and security of our customers and team members remain our highest priorities.”
Father’s Day may be alarmingly soon if you haven’t recently glanced at a calendar. Father’s Day is June 16 this year, so there’s not much time left to order gifts and secure restaurant reservations.
If you’ve already made all the necessary arrangements, kudos for being better-organized offspring than most of us. But if you’re still at square one, there are some great ways to earn points and miles while purchasing gifts or meals for your dad.
Here are a few strategies to help you get the biggest bang for your bighearted buck.
Online shopping portals are one of the most powerful tools in the world of travel rewards and cash back. When you begin your shopping trip with a portal, you will be redirected to the merchant’s website, so your shopping experience will be the same as if you’d started at the merchant’s site — except you’ll earn extra rewards.
Since shopping portal offers change frequently, I recommend using a shopping portal aggregator site like Cashback Monitor to compare returns and help determine which portal to use once you decide to purchase your gift from a particular retailer.
You can purchase tickets to sporting events and concerts from various sites, and they all provide dramatically different return rates. The returns listed below were available at the time of publication.
Whether you intend to brave the crowds for a Father’s Day meal or stay home and order takeout or delivery, make sure you’re using the right credit card to make your purchase. Many rewards cards offer bonus points on dining purchases, such as:
American Express® Gold Card: 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 3 points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards when you make prepaid restaurant reservations, order takeout or join virtual cooking events; 3 points per dollar spent on other dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
If you have the Chase Freedom Flex℠, don’t forget that restaurants are one of the bonus categories this quarter. Instead of the usual 3% cash back earned on dining, you’ll earn 7% cash back (or 7 points per dollar) through the end of June on up to $1,500 in combined purchases (activation required).
And if your chosen restaurant participates in one of the many airline and hotel dining rewards programs, you can earn even more points or miles by paying with a card linked to your account.
Some rewards cards offer targeted statement credits and bonus rewards on everything from retail stores and restaurants to travel and tickets. It’s worth checking them out to see if there are any helpful offers for your upcoming Father’s Day purchases.
You can often use these offers in tandem with a shopping portal, which is a great way to receive an extra layer of savings or bonus rewards.
For example, here are some of my current Chase offers that could come in handy for Father’s Day.
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I also have a string of Amex Offers that could help me save money or earn extra points on Father’s Day gifts.
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Eligibility for these offers is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming.
You can also check other apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, which now deliver many nonfood items. For example, the Office Depot page on DoorDash has items ranging from office chairs to desk lights. Click on the “Deals” page to see what’s on sale.
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One thing to note is that you may not always be able to use promotional codes and earn bonus rewards through shopping portals. Sometimes a promotional code will cancel the bonus rewards a shopping portal would otherwise provide. Be sure to read the fine print on the shopping portal before you make your purchase.
Bottom line
There are lots of ways to turn your Father’s Day gift-giving into a springboard for your next vacation. Thanks to online shopping portals, targeted deals like Amex Offers and credit card bonus categories, shopping for gifts and experiences can be more rewarding than you might expect.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Nordstrom Visa Signature Card Overview
The Nordstrom Visa Signature Card offers a way to earn rewards on Nordstrom and a few popular spending categories. However, its unimpressive sign-up bonus and inflexible redemption options make it a lackluster card overall. Card Rating: ⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The information for the Nordstrom Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Are you a frequent shopper at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack? The retail brand offers a store credit card that can help you rack up rewards on eligible purchases. In general, department store cards like this aren’t worth your while, but there are some instances where this one may appeal to specific audiences.
The card has no annual fee and a recommended credit score of 740.
Today, we’ll review the card details to help you decide whether this card is a good option for you.
Nordstrom Visa Signature pros and cons
Pros
Cons
No annual fee
Valuable rewards for Nordstrom loyalists
Unimpressive welcome offer
Limited rewards and redemption options outside of Nordstrom
Nordstrom Visa Signature welcome offer
New cardholders can currently earn a $40 bonus to spend on Nordstrom purchases later if they make a Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack or Nordstrom online purchase on their new card on the same day they’re approved.
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A $40 sign-up bonus isn’t great, regardless of the card. To make it worse, the bonus can only be redeemed for eligible Nordstrom purchases. If you’re going to apply for the card anyway, you might as well apply on a day you plan to shop with the brand to get the $40 bonus, but it’s certainly not a strong pull to get the card.
As a Nordstrom Visa Signature Card holder, you’ll receive instant Influencer status with Nordstrom’s loyalty program, The Nordy Club. Influencer status typically requires $500 in annual spending.
You’ll have access to beauty and style workshops, free basic alterations, a $100 alterations benefit for more complicated changes, early access to anniversary sales, curbside pickup, special access to Clear the Rack sales and a personal double points day.
If you spend enough to hit the higher status levels of The Nordy Club, you can get additional alterations credits alongside the other benefits of the individual status levels.
Earning and redeeming points on the Nordstrom Visa Signature
The Nordstrom Visa Signature Card earns 3 points per dollar spent at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook and Trunk Club. You’ll also get 2 points per dollar spent on dining, entertainment and travel purchases.
Even though 2 points per dollar may sound enticing, you probably won’t want to use this card for dining, entertainment or travel purchases. We recommend using a card that earns more valuable rewards for these purchases.
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If you apply for this card to get the Nordstrom benefits and bonus points, you should only use it at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook and Trunk Club. Nordstrom isn’t included in many typical bonus categories, so 3 points per dollar isn’t a horrible return on those purchases specifically.
Like many department store cards, your reward points can only be used on store purchases. You can redeem your Nordstrom points for a Bonus Note, which is essentially like a gift certificate to the store. You can manually redeem 500, 1,000 or 1,500 points for $5, $10 or $15 notes, respectively, through the Nordstrom app. Or, you can wait until you earn 2,000 points for a $20 note to be added to your account automatically.
These rewards are incredibly inflexible. In general, you’d be better off with a standard cash-back card that you could redeem for any purchase (including Nordstrom) at the same redemption rate.
Which cards compete with the Nordstrom Visa Signature?
Department stores aren’t a super common bonus category across cards, but there are still plenty of options out there that will reward you on Nordstrom purchases.
If you want customized rewards: The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card offers 5% back on the category of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined bonus category spending), and one of the potential categories is department stores. Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack are listed as popular merchants within the category, so you know you’ll earn rewards on those purchases with this card. For more details, read our full review of the U.S. Bank Cash+.
If you want more general rewards: Go for the Discover it Cash Back. Both offer 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate each quarter (up to $1,500 in combined bonus spending each quarter). Department stores are a common bonus category for both, especially for the Freedom during Q4 for holiday shopping. For more details, read our full review of the Discover it.
The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® and Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Generally speaking, store cards are rarely a great deal. Unfortunately, that applies to the Nordstrom Visa Signature Card. While there are a few benefits (such as instant Influencer status), most people will be better off with another card option.
Bottom line
The Nordstrom Visa Signature Card might make sense if you’re a rare Nordstrom loyalist.
If not, however, you’ll be better off with any general cash-back card that offers you plenty of value at Nordstrom and beyond.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
College students are at a big disadvantage when it comes to racking up points and miles since most have limited income and little to no credit history. This makes some of the best points and miles cards just out of their reach.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® resolves this dilemma while still providing outsized benefits to those with limited credit history. Read on to see why it should be the first card on every college student’s list.
Since most college students don’t earn a lot, cards with annual fees are often out of reach. The Freedom Unlimited has no annual fee. That means more cash in your pocket to spend on food and activities while traveling. But there’s a long-term benefit to this as well: You can keep this card open forever without worrying about an annual fee, and boost your credit score at the same time.
As the length of your credit history determines 15% of your credit score, you can keep your no-annual-fee card open for a long time and see a boost in your credit score.
Because the Freedom Unlimited has a moderate sign-up bonus- earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back) – and fewer perks than some of Chase’s more premium alternatives, it’s generally one of the easier entry-level cards to get approved for.
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Building credit is like chutes and ladders; a few approvals can boost your score quickly, but a rejection early on can set you back in the short term. It helps to be conservative in the early stages and apply for cards you’re more likely to get approved for. Remember to allow at least a few months to pass between credit card applications; applying for too many cards too quickly can raise a red flag for issuers.
Build credit and establish a good relationship with the issuer
It takes years of consistent payments and responsible spending to build up your credit score, but it helps to make some friends along the way. If you’re new to credit and you show Chase (or any credit issuer) that you can be responsible with the first card it gives you — make all your payments on time, keep a low balance-to-limit ratio, etc. — it will be much more likely to approve you for other valuable cards down the line.
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Having good credit and a good relationship with an issuer isn’t just good for getting approved for new cards. It can also help boost your credit limit. Your first credit card will likely have a low credit limit, with the exact limit depending on factors such as income and credit score. If you’re responsible with the card and use it frequently, the issuer will notice this and be more inclined to raise your credit limit.
Freedom Unlimited cardholders will earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining — including takeout — and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Many college students spend a lot of money on dining every month, so having a card that earns 3% back on dining is a huge plus.
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If you need to buy everyday supplies for your dorm room, like dish soap or toiletries, try to make those purchases at a drugstore to earn extra rewards. There is usually at least one drugstore near a college campus, so doing this should be fairly easy. Even if you have to use this card at a regular grocery store, you’ll still earn 1.5% back.
Many of the best credit cards on the market have minimum spending requirements of $3,000 to $5,000 in the first three months, but how are you supposed to do that if you don’t even have that much money in the bank? Fortunately, the Freedom Unlimited is much more manageable, as it comes with an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back) for new applicants.
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If your income situation improves and you’ve demonstrated responsible credit card habits over a period of time, you can consider adding a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. With a more premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can convert the cash back on your Freedom Unlimited into Ultimate Rewards points. You can then transfer the points to 14 airline and hotel travel partners or redeem them through Chase Travel.
After you open your Freedom Unlimited, you’ll be one step closer to possessing the “Chase Trifecta” of credit cards. Here’s how it breaks down:
Chase Freedom Unlimited: 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on every other purchase.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: The Reserve earns 5 points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases and Lyft rides (through March 2025), 3 points on dining, and 2 points on all other travel. The Reserve has a high annual fee of $550 but has plenty of premium travel benefits. To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: This card offers 3 points per dollar on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (up to $150,000 in combined spending each account anniversary year). It might not make sense when you’re a college student, but it could become a useful card down the line if you decide to start your own business. To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.
Remember: While the Freedom Unlimited has strong earning potential on its own, it’s technically just a cash-back card. To unlock Ultimate Rewards sweet spot redemptions, you need to pair it with a premium UR-earning card like the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve. Get ahead of your post-graduation travel plans by beginning your rewards earning now with the Freedom Unlimited, so that you already have a pool of rewards ready when you open a higher-tier Chase card.
When you first start collecting points and miles, you’re bound to be overwhelmed by a bunch of jargon. Abbreviations such as URs and MRs (Chase Ultimate Rewards points and American Express Membership Rewards points, respectively) are commonly used among points and miles enthusiasts and can be quite confusing for those starting off.
You can and should learn as you go, but it helps to be aware of one thing from the start when applying for Chase cards: the issuer’s infamous 5/24 rule. Simply put, Chase will automatically reject you for most of its credit cards if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months (across all issuers). This means that you generally want to start by filling up your five “slots” with Chase before moving on, and the Freedom Unlimited is a great way to start.
College (if not sooner) is the perfect time to start establishing a credit history, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited is an excellent beginner credit card for students. If you’re a college student or entering the points hobby with a limited credit history, there’s no shame in starting small and applying for cards that you can actually get approved for as you go. When you’re ready to upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll already have built up a meaningful stash of rewards and be well on your way to a free vacation.
If you’re longing to explore Seoul’s rich history and famous food scene, now could be the perfect time to plan a trip. Delta Air Lines has excellent award availability to the South Korean capital this summer — and you can travel in comfort in its Delta One business-class suites for only 130,000 SkyMiles.
First flagged by @FindFlightsforMe, these spacious lie-flat cabins typically cost more than 400,000 SkyMiles. Keep reading to find out how you can snag this one-way flight deal
Book Delta One award availability to Seoul this summer
Delta is currently showing plentiful award availability in Delta One, its business-class suites, from the East Coast to Seoul in July and August. We found flights from New York, Boston, Miami and Washington, D.C., for just 135,000 SkyMiles and $6 one-way. Atlanta to Seoul is even cheaper at 130,000 miles and $6 one-way.
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You can fly into one of Seoul’s two international airports: Incheon International Airport (ICN) or Gimpo International Airport (GMP). It’s easiest to search all Seoul-area airports by typing “SEL” into the destination box.
To check availability across an entire month, tick the “My dates are flexible” box when you begin your search, then click “Price calendar.” Be sure to also check the “Shop with miles” box and select Delta One in the fare drop-down menu.
If you’re not located on the East Coast, don’t feel left out. We found Delta One award availability to Seoul from Dallas, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles for the same price. Or, if you’re not near one of these hubs, you might consider booking a positioning flight.
Plus, if you hold a Delta cobranded credit card, you’ll get a 15% discount on Delta-operated award flights (not including taxes and fees); this means you could pay fewer than 115,000 miles one-way.
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Delta One is a fully enclosed suite in the sky with sliding doors and do-not-disturb indicators. These seats provide extra privacy along with the usual business-class perks, including lie-flat seats, gourmet food, lounge access and more. Delta One seats on long-haul flights can often go for hundreds of thousands of miles each way. So, 130,000 is a great deal.
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While getting to Seoul in Delta One is a steal, coming home is a different story. Award availability from Seoul to the East Coast is currently hovering around 400,000 miles for Delta One (or 135,000 if you downgrade to economy class).
In this case, it’s worth searching for your return flight on other airlines and credit card travel portals to find the best rate, in either points or cash.
Delta is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, allowing you to turn your Membership Rewards points into Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Note that the transfer process requires a fee of $0.0006 per point, up to a maximum of $99, which will be charged to your card account. If you don’t have enough SkyMiles for redemption, this is a quick way to replenish them.
Here are some of our favorite cards for earning Amex Membership Rewards:
It’s rare to find Delta One award availability on a flight like this for just 130,000 miles one-way — and there’s no better time to spring for business-class seats than on a long-haul flight. If Seoul is on your bucket list, consider snagging this deal before it disappears.
Southwest Airlines has just become the latest carrier to increase its ancillary fees.
The Dallas-based airline recently jacked prices for two popular optional services: EarlyBird check-in and Upgraded Boarding. This news was first reported by Danny Deal Guru and later confirmed to TPG by an airline spokesperson.
Southwest’s updated fee structure for these products now ranges from:
EarlyBird check-in: $15 to $99 one-way, per traveler
Upgraded Boarding: $30 to $149 per segment, per traveler
While Southwest didn’t change the minimum amount it charges for these services, it stealthily boosted the maximum amounts. Previously, the airline charged up to $25 and $80 for EarlyBird check-in and Upgraded Boarding, respectively.
The roughly 300% increase for EarlyBird check-in and nearly 100% increase for Upgraded Boarding mark a steep price hike. The airline previously upped these fees a year ago, so some loyal Southwest flyers might feel particularly rankled by these changes.
It follows a larger, industry-wide move to increase ancillary fees that began earlier this year, as airlines look to boost revenues from the entire travel experience. Every major U.S. airline raised its checked bag fees (at least once) earlier this year. Southwest famously doesn’t charge for checked bags, and combined with its lackluster first-quarter financial performance, the airline is likely feeling the pressure to boost profits.
“This price range increase is a result of our regular evaluation of pricing for ancillary products based on market trends and customer demand and will generate incremental revenue in support of the company,” airline spokesperson Tiffany Valdez told TPG.
Southwest is also unique among U.S. airlines in that it doesn’t offer assigned seating on its planes. Rather, seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis to travelers based on when they check in for their flight. This incentivizes flyers to check in exactly at the 24-hour window.
Travelers who don’t want to deal with this can purchase EarlyBird Check-In, which automatically reserves their place in line 36 hours before departure; this way, they won’t need to manually check in when the 24-hour window opens. Southwest doesn’t cap the number of EarlyBird upcharges it sells on each flight, so it’s not uncommon to still get a mediocre seat when using this product.
That’s why Southwest also offers Upgraded Boarding. This is available for purchase anytime during the check-in window and allows travelers to snag one of the first 15 boarding positions. This add-on is even more expensive than EarlyBird check-in and is only available when there are unsold Business Select fares (which guarantee access to this special boarding priority).
These increased fees will particularly sting for groups traveling together. The airline doesn’t offer any volume discounts on these products, and upgrades add up quickly. If you’re looking to avoid paying these fees, it might be time to consider opening a cobranded Southwest credit card.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
American Airlines is one of the largest and most popular airlines in the world. However, when you go to book an award ticket on AA, don’t automatically assume your AAdvantage account will be the best loyalty program to use. Did you know that you can book American Airlines flights on partner carriers? And that it may cost you fewer miles?
Since British Airways is a fellow Oneworld alliance member, members of the British Airways Executive Club can redeem Avios, BA’s loyalty currency, on partner airlines; this includes American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Since you can transfer most credit card points to British Airways, it is worth considering which program you should book with.
Here are some scenarios where it can make sense to book an American Airlines award flight with British Airways Avios rather than American’s own AAdvantage miles.
AAdvantage still operates using an award chart. However, in 2023, it shifted its charts to reflect more of a dynamic pricing model with flights on AA “starting from” 7,500 miles within the U.S. and Canada. However, American will sometimes have award flights priced lower than the award chart.
Meanwhile, Avios redemptions for domestic AA flights start from 8,250 Avios points, each way in economy as follows:
Zone 1 (up to 650 miles): 8,250 Avios
Zone 2 (651-1,151 miles): 11,000 Avios
Zone 3 (1,152-2,000 miles): 14,500 Avios
Zone 4 (2,001-3,000 miles): 16,000 Avios
On off-peak dates, like midweek in winter, you can often find flights through AAdvantage for as low as 7,500 (or sometimes lower). This is a better option than the 8,250 Avios BA would charge.
AA.COM
However, if you want a flight at a specific time or need to fly to a specific airport, using Avios is a cheaper option once the AA prices start to rise dynamically.
For example, flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) to New York area airports in September start from a reasonable 8,500 AAdvantage miles.
AA.COM
However, if you want to take the first flight of the day and fly into LaGuardia Airport (LGA), AA prices this flight at 12,000 miles.
You could book the same Zone 2 flight through British Airways for 11,000 Avios (plus the same taxes and fees AAdvantage charges), saving you 1,000 miles.
BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM
If you are looking to book this same flight in first class, you will pay more than 83,000 miles. If you book this same flight on British Airways using Avios, you’d pay just 20,500 Avios.
Another sweet spot in the Avios versus American Airlines battle is nonstop flights between the West Coast and Hawaii on either American- or Alaska-operated flights. Booking one-way, nonstop award flights less than 3,000 miles long through British Airways will cost just 16,000 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes and fees each way.
American Airlines offers flights between the U.S. and Hawaii starting at 20,000 miles each way, so you can save at least 4,000 miles by booking through BA’s Executive Club rather than AA’s AAdvantage program.
Note that these prices apply to flights on both American and Alaska Airlines, so in either case, you’re likely better off redeeming Avios for awards to Hawaii from multiple West Coast gateways. Remember, too, that the Avios pricing only applies to nonstop flights; if you start adding connections, you’ll want to compare prices in each program before deciding which offers the best value.
Like domestic flights, you can find some sweet spots with shorter international flights using Avios rather than AAdvantage miles.
Looking at routes like:
MIA to Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (BAQ) in Barranquilla, Colombia
MIA to Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) in Cartagena, Colombia
They are just less than 1,150 miles long and cost 11,000 Avios in economy class.
BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM
These flights start at 12,000 miles each way when booked with AAdvantage miles; booking with Avios instead saves only 1,000 miles. However, with American’s dynamic pricing, on the sample date of Dec. 4 above, the same flights are priced at 20,500 (plus the same fees and taxes) — almost twice the number of points.
AA.COM
Nonstop flights to Japan in economy
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
When booking with AAdvantage miles, flights from the West Coast to Japan in economy cost 35,000 miles each way.
However, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) requires just 25,750 Avios that would otherwise cost 35,000 AA miles.
You can also book Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and HND for 31,000 Avios instead of 35,000 AA miles.
Unfortunately, the business and first-class awards aren’t cheaper with Avios than AAdvantage miles.
This card is currently offering new applicants 85,000 Avios after they spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account.
The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per $1 spent.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bottom line
Avios are valuable because they are easy to earn and redeem. The surcharges on British Airways-operated flights can be high. However, the sensible award chart means, unlike on other programs that price flights dynamically, you’ll rarely see a six-figure price for a single premium cabin flight on BA.
Therefore, booking American Airlines flights through British Airways can sometimes be a much more lucrative redemption option. So, it’s always best to double-check both programs before purchasing your award ticket.
Vasu Raja, American Airlines’ chief commercial officer, will depart the company in June, the airline said Tuesday.
Word of Raja’s exit comes a week after the airline denied that he was planning to leave the company, amid rumors that he was not present in the airline’s office and had been ousted by a board that was unhappy with American’s revenue strategy.
In a statement to the Airline Observer newsletter last week, an American Airlines spokesperson said that Raja was working remotely “for a few weeks while he takes care of some personal matters,” but was “not leaving.”
The airline did not elaborate on the reason for Raja’s departure, nor what had changed since last week. It was not clear whether the departure had been decided on since last week, or otherwise.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, American also lowered its financial outlook for the second quarter, saying it now expects revenues to decline as much as 6% compared to the same quarter last year. It previously projected a drop of up to 3% compared to last year.
The airline has trailed major competitors Delta and United in recent months as it has struggled to translate new distribution strategies into improved revenue performance. The airline has recently introduced new policies aimed at incentivizing customers to book tickets directly with the airline or with preferred vendors, rather than through various third-party booking platforms and channels.
During the airline’s first-quarter earnings call in April, CEO Robert Isom said that the airline was still “fine-tuning” the strategy, saying that during the first three months of the year there was “likely some benefit that our competitors received because of some of the changes that we’ve made.”
Isom is expected to present at a Bernstein investor conference on Wednesday, along with executives from United Airlines.
United on Tuesday reaffirmed its previous fiscal guidance for the quarter, which projects earnings of $3.75 to $4.25 per share.
It was not immediately clear what Raja’s departure will mean for consumers, although he was the main driver behind the airline’s new distribution strategy. One way or another, industry observers will likely keep a close eye on a potential change of direction for American.
