Tag: Travel Planner

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

Most airline and hotel loyalty programs offer a dining rewards program. If you enroll in one of these programs and then use a registered card to pay for your bill at a participating restaurant, bar or club, you’ll earn extra points or miles with the airline or hotel loyalty program. These points or miles are on top of the credit card rewards you’d already earn when paying for your bill with a rewards credit card.

Since so many hotel and airline loyalty programs offer dining rewards programs, you may wonder which program is best. The best dining rewards program depends on your preferences and goals, so let’s look closely at each program.

How dining rewards programs work

Most airline and hotel dining rewards programs are operated by Rewards Network. As such, they tend to all work similarly.

Before you can use a dining rewards program, you have to sign up for the program online and then register at least one credit or debit card with the program. Then, you’ll automatically earn rewards through the dining rewards program when you use your card to pay for eligible charges at participating restaurants, bars and clubs.

The number of points or miles you’ll earn per dollar depends on the specific dining rewards program. Often, you’ll earn more points or miles if you’ve opted in to receive emails from the dining rewards program. Some dining rewards programs offer more points or miles to consumers who frequently use the program or have elite status with the associated hotel or airline loyalty program.

Dining rewards programs often include a mixture of chain restaurants and independent eateries among their participating venues. To find out which restaurants, bars and clubs near you participate in a specific dining rewards program, visit the dining program website and enter your ZIP code into the location field.

Related: Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?

Many dining rewards programs offer a first-dine bonus to new members. The first-dine bonus often requires you to spend a certain amount at a participating venue within a specific period of joining the program, remain opted in for emails from the program and submit an online review. So, you may want to register for a new program shortly before you dine at a participating venue.

Although you can join all the dining rewards programs listed below, you can’t register the same card with more than one program at a time. So, you could register different cards with each program, but you may find it better to choose the best program for you and enroll all your cards.

Related: Best frequent flyer programs for US travelers

Airline dining rewards programs

Airline miles are often worth more than hotel points, as indicated by TPG’s valuations. So, here’s a look at some of the best airline dining rewards programs.

American AAdvantage Dining

• 1 mile per $1 if you don’t opt in to emails from AAdvantage Dining
• 3 miles per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 5 miles per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

One great thing about the AAdvantage Dining program is that it can help you earn American Airlines elite status. Every mile you earn via AAdvantage Dining — sans first-dine bonuses and other bonus miles — also counts as a Loyalty Point. This means each dine gets you closer to your desired AAdvantage status tier.

American Airlines AAdvantage miles are also valuable. TPG’s valuations peg the value of American miles at 1.55 cents each, so you’ll get a return of 1.55% to 7.75% from the AAdvantage Dining program when you dine at participating venues and use an enrolled card to pay.

Alaska Mileage Plan Dining

• 1 mile per $2 if you don’t opt in to emails from Alaska Mileage Plan Dining
• 3 miles per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 5 miles per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

TPG values Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles at 1.5 cents each, so you’ll get a return of 0.75% to 7.5%. Keep in mind that if you want to earn Alaska miles, the Mileage Plan Dining program is one of the few ways to do so other than by flying the airline, using the MileagePlan shopping portal, transferring rewards from Marriott Bonvoy or Bilt Rewards and spending on a cobranded Alaska MileagePlan card.

Delta SkyMiles Dining

• 1 mile per $2 if you don’t opt in to emails from Delta SkyMiles Dining
• 3 miles per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 5 miles per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

TPG values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, meaning you’ll get a 0.6% to 6% return with the SkyMiles Dining program. This is lower than with the American AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan dining rewards programs but may still be useful if Delta is your airline currency of choice.

Free Spirit Dining

• 1 point per $2 if you don’t opt in to emails from Free Spirit Dining
• 3 points per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 5 points per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

Spirit Airlines may not be the most popular carrier, but its low fares are tough to beat. Free flights start at just 2,500 Free Spirit points, so points earned through Free Spirit Dining can go a long way. Plus, earning Free Spirit points keeps your rewards from expiring, so it may be worth earning a few points through Free Spirit Dining at least once a year to keep your points alive.

TPG values Free Spirit points at 1.1 cents each, so you’ll get a 0.55% to 5.5% return with the Free Spirit Dining program.

JetBlue TrueBlue Dining

• 1 point per $1 if you don’t opt in to emails from JetBlue TrueBlue Dining
• 3 points per $1 if you opt in to emails
• Join here

TPG values JetBlue TrueBlue points at 1.35 cents each, so you’ll get a 4.05% return from the TrueBlue Dining program if you opt in to emails. Unlike some dining rewards programs, you won’t get higher earning rates if you frequently use the JetBlue TrueBlue Dining program.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining

• 1 point per $2 if you don’t opt in to emails from Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining
• 3 points per $1 and 10 points per completed review if you opt in to emails
• Join here

The Southwest Rapid Rewards dining program is unique in that it offers 10 extra points for every dining review you submit. You’ll also earn 300 bonus points for every 1,000 points you earn from dining and completing reviews.

Best of all, base points (but not bonus points) earned through Rapid Rewards Dining count toward the Southwest Companion Pass. If Southwest is your airline of choice or you’re striving to earn a Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll likely want to use the Rapid Rewards Dining program.

United MileagePlus Dining

• 1 mile per $2 if you don’t opt in to emails from United MileagePlus Dining
• 3 miles per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 5 miles per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

TPG values United MileagePlus miles at 1.4 cents each, meaning you’ll get a return of 0.7% to 7% with the MileagePlus Dining program. This is a reasonable return if you want to earn United miles for an upcoming redemption.

Hotel dining rewards programs

While the earning rates are often higher with hotel dining programs, you should remember that TPG usually values hotel points lower than airline miles. As such, we wouldn’t recommend earning hotel points through dining rewards programs unless you need to top off your account for a high-value redemption or keep your points from expiring.

Choice Eat & Earn

• 5 points per $1 through Choice Privileges Eat & Earn
• Join here

The Choice Privileges Eat & Earn program is one of the newest additions to the dining rewards program space. TPG values Choice Privileges points at 0.6 cents each, meaning you’ll get a return of 3% when you use the Eat & Earn program. Note, though, that even if you need to earn Choice points, you’ll often get better value using another dining rewards program and buying Choice points during sales.

Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy

• 4 points per $1 if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member
• 6 points per $1 if you have Marriott elite status
• Join here

You’ll find many ways to earn Marriott points, and Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy is one of them. This hotel dining rewards program often offers lucrative new member bonuses where you can earn an increasingly appealing amount on each of your first three meals at participating restaurants.

TPG values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.84 cents each. This means you can expect a return of 5.04% if you have Marriott status and a return of 3.36% if you are only an entry-level Marriott member.

Hilton Honors Dining

• 2 points per $1 if you don’t opt in to emails from Hilton Honors Dining
• 5 points per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 8 points per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

TPG values Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents each, so you’ll get a 1.2% to 4.8% return when you use the Hilton Honors Dining program.

You’ll obviously get a higher return with select airline dining rewards programs, such as AAdvantage Dining or Alaska Mileage Plan Dining. If you use an airline dining rewards program, you can still enroll a Hilton Honors credit card — many of which offer bonus points on purchases at U.S. restaurants — to get the best of both worlds.

IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn

• 1 point per $1 if you don’t opt in to emails from IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn
• 5 points per $1 if you opt in to emails
• 8 points per $1 through the end of the next year if you dine with the program at least 11 times within a calendar year and remain opted in to emails
• Join here

TPG values IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents each, so you’ll get a return of 0.5% to 4% through the IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn program. Even if you get more value from IHG points than our valuations suggest, an airline dining rewards program may provide a higher return rate. There are many other ways to earn IHG points, including cobranded IHG credit cards and buying IHG points.

Related: How and why you should maximize your hotel stays by using multiple loyalty programs

Best credit cards to use with dining rewards programs

You can register multiple cards with each dining rewards program. Ideally, you should enroll and use one of the best credit cards for dining, as these cards offer bonus points or miles when you dine at restaurants. Here are a few of our currently available favorites:

• American Express® Gold Card: 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus on takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: 3% cash back on dining
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: 6 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants located in the U.S.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services

The best card for dining rewards programs comes down to both the earning rate of your card and which type of points or miles you want to earn. It’s often a good choice to use a card that earns transferable points, as then you won’t be tied down to one currency and will have flexibility when redeeming your points.

Related: Can you earn rewards with a dining rewards program and a credit card at the same time?

Bottom line

The best dining rewards program for you depends on the rewards you want to earn, whether you plan to opt in to program emails and how frequently you plan on using the program. For example, if you don’t want to opt in to emails, you’ll want to use Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy or Choice Eat & Earn since these programs don’t reduce your rewards if you opt out of emails.

Likewise, American AAdvantage Dining is best for those who want to earn Loyalty Points for American Airlines elite status, and Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining is a good option if you want to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. Meanwhile, Free Spirit Dining can help you keep your points from expiring.

Dining rewards programs are a great way to earn extra points and miles with minimal effort. However, remember to use an enrolled credit card that earns bonus points on dining and time your registration so you can meet the requirements to earn the first-dine bonus. Then, you can use that program or join more dining rewards programs and earn more first-dine bonuses.

In late 2023, American Airlines AAdvantage announced that credit card spending would earn Loyalty Points based on purchase date.

But after the most recent AAdvantage elite status qualification year ended Feb. 29, there’s been a lot of consternation from American Airlines flyers (including me). Facebook groups have been full of confused AAdvantage members who are wondering why they received base miles from their credit card spending this month but not Loyalty Points.

As you can see from the screenshot below, I earned more than 10,000 base miles on my most recent Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) statement. But notice the big zero under Loyalty Points.

This is what the activity tracker usually looks like when my AAdvantage credit card spending posts.

So, where are the Loyalty Points? They are coming — despite what my statement currently shows.

American Airlines has this banner on its website under the account information overview. The carrier also gave frequent flyers a formal notice via email that had the same language (though I never received that email).

It’s unclear why the Loyalty Points had to be posted separately this time. To shed some light on the situation, we reached out to American Airlines to learn more.

According to a carrier spokesperson, “To ensure all AAdvantage members get their miles and Loyalty Points deposited correctly and in a timely manner, this year the process entailed several separate actions. All Loyalty Points earned in February will be posted in March, and all Loyalty Points earned in March will be posted in April. The process results in more members earning status and Loyalty Point Rewards. As the new program year ramps up, we look forward to our members unlocking Loyalty Point Rewards and status toward an even better travel experience.”

I imagine splitting the Loyalty Points into two different status years was no small IT task.

For additional insight, you’ll find the following explainer on how March statements work on the American Airlines website:

As an example, if your monthly AAdvantage® credit card statement closes on March 5 (which includes purchases posted to your credit card account between February 6 and March 5), all the Loyalty Points earned from purchases made between February 6 through 29 will count toward 2024 status. All Loyalty Points earned between March 1 and 5 count toward the 2025 qualification year.

It may take up to 8 – 10 weeks after March 5 to post to your account in this example.

In other words, all your Loyalty Points earned until Feb. 29, 2024, count toward reaching status for the previous qualification year and all the Loyalty Points earned beginning March 1, 2024, will count for the current qualification year.

I assume that all my Loyalty Points for the previous qualification year (which ended Feb. 29, 2024) will eventually show up in the tracker at the top of my account overview (as you can see below), but that raises additional questions that we don’t have answers for yet.

As you can see, I earned 240,479 Loyalty Points in the previous qualification year, but I’m still confused about how many of the 10,431 Loyalty Points I earned on my most recent credit card statement will go toward my previous qualification year. I’m so close to 250,000 Loyalty Points for the previous qualification year that it would unlock two more rewards if I made it.

Will I get two more systemwide upgrade certificates, the same perk I chose when I reached 175,000 Loyalty Points and earned AAdvantage Executive Platinum status? Only time will tell. It would be lovely to get two more.

Another wrinkle to consider is that frequent flyers must choose their Loyalty Point Rewards by April 5, 2024. So what happens if the Loyalty Points don’t post by then? Having them appear eight to 10 weeks from now would be well past the April 5 deadline, so I’d seemingly be out of luck.

There’s some speculation that you may have to call customer service for assistance in choosing your award if the Loyalty Points don’t post before the April 5 deadline to choose awards. If we find out more about this from American Airlines, we’ll be sure to let you know.

No matter what happens, remember to make any outstanding Loyalty Point Rewards choices that may be waiting in your account.

Related reading:

• How American Airlines sucked me back into AAdvantage with Loyalty Points
• 6 ways that American Airlines could enhance Loyalty Points
• From zero to Executive Platinum: Why and how I qualified for American’s top-tier status without plans to fly the airline
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines

United’s mobile app has long been one of the best in the industry, and it’s getting even more useful with this new feature.

Beginning on Friday, March 22, travelers will be able to sign up for seat notifications if their preferred seat is not available at the time of booking, as confirmed by a United spokesperson.

When booking (or managing) a flight on the mobile app, you’ll be able to request your desired seat while browsing the seat map.

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

For instance, if you’re booking just a few days before departure and only middle seats are left, you can set an alert to be notified if a window or aisle seat becomes available.

The app will also allow you to opt into notifications for exit rows and bulkhead (first-row) seats.

If your desired seat choice becomes available, the app will automatically notify you and prompt you to process the seat change.

United didn’t share how frequently it will check the seat map on your behalf or whether it would automatically switch you to your preferred seat if it became available.

Landing gear in the kitchen? Touring United’s renovated Chicago headquarters in the Willis Tower 

This new app feature will begin rolling out on Friday to a small group of customers, followed in the weeks ahead by a broader rollout to additional flyers. United didn’t share which travelers would be in the first tranche of eligible users, but we’ll update this story with some firsthand experiences when we get our hands on the feature.

For United travelers, however, this is a nifty new (and free) service that should incentivize more downloads and engagement with the app. United says that three million flyers use its app on a daily basis.

It’s also the latest feature that United has debuted to simplify the digital travel experience, building on initiatives such as Live Activities on the latest iPhone devices and a new all-in-one rebooking center for delays and cancellations.

As part of the news, United becomes the first and only U.S. airline to offer a seat preference feature.

For those booking tickets on other airlines, there are several third-party tools that can monitor your seat assignment and notify you if better seats become available.

This includes ExpertFlyer, which allows you to set seat alerts on most major airlines and sends email and text notifications when seats open up. (ExpertFlyer is owned by TPG parent company Red Ventures.)

Related reading:

• 6 things you need to know about United Airlines MileagePlus
• The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers
• What is United Airlines elite status worth?
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• How to survive basic economy on United Airlines

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

After a long flight, you just want to get from the airport to your hotel in the easiest (and, ideally, the most cost-effective) way possible. 

With an airport as vast as London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) — the biggest and busiest flight hub in the United Kingdom — achieving that goal can seem daunting even though it’s only 16 miles from central London.

There are several options for getting from Heathrow to the city center, depending on your flexibility, the amount of luggage you’re carrying, your budget or your time constraints. You can choose between taxis, the Tube, Uber, dedicated train services and even the bus.

Here are the best options for traveling from Heathrow to London — along with how long they take and other pros and cons — so that you can start your trip off on the right foot.

London Underground (aka the Tube)

Heathrow is on the London Underground’s Piccadilly line. To spot it, simply look out for the dark blue line on any Tube map. 

The popular service — run by the Transport for London (or the TfL for short) — connects the airport to plenty of central city locations. Often, you won’t even need to transfer once you’ve made it to the city center.

If you’re looking for the cheapest option to get you from Heathrow into the city, this is likely it. However, it may not be the most comfortable if you are carrying lots of luggage or traveling during peak commuter hours — especially during summer.

Depart from: Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5; the latter two have Underground stations in Zone 6.

Possible destinations: The Piccadilly line directly serves Hammersmith, Gloucester Road, South Kensington, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Holborn and King’s Cross St. Pancras, among other stops. The first and last stops on the line are Uxbridge (Zone 6) and Wood Green (Zone 3).

When does it run? Typically, you can expect Tubes to run from all terminals from around 5 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.; nighttime services from stations in Terminals 2, 3 and 5 run on Fridays and Saturdays. You can check the timetable from all stations here. 

Transit time: This will obviously vary depending on your final destination. As a guide, it takes approximately 50 minutes to reach Piccadilly Circus from Heathrow’s Terminal 5 or an hour to reach King’s Cross St. Pancras.

Estimated cost: Single journeys from Heathrow to destinations in Zone 1 (such as Piccadilly and King’s Cross) cost 5.60 British pounds ($7.09) if you pay contactless or with an Oyster card. Buying a ticket to central London at a machine will cost around 6.70 pounds (about $8.29) per person. Children under 11 travel free with a fare-paying adult.

If you’re going outside of Zone 1 (such as to Hammersmith, in Zone 2), then you’re looking at a smaller fare of 2.10 pounds (around $2.60) during peak times and 3.40 pounds (around $4.21) at off-peak times.

Paying for your trip: You can pay as you pass through the gates or by buying a ticket. The most convenient method is to use your contactless payment card by touching it on the yellow card readers found at Tube entrances and some platforms.

Note: The card readers aren’t always connected to gates and are sometimes free-standing. Keep an eye out for them. If you don’t tap in and out at the start and end of your journey, you’ll get charged for traveling through Zones 1 to 9.

You can also tap in using a prepaid Oyster card, which is available to buy at all Tube and Overground stations, plus most Elizabeth Line stations, for 7 pounds (about $8.69); they’re also available at some newsstands and visitor centers throughout London.

After purchasing an Oyster card, you can add money to the card using the ticket machines found inside Underground stations. You can then purchase daily or weekly travel cards covering various zones.

Alternatively, you can buy paper tickets from the ticket machines at each Tube, Overground and Docklands Light Railway station. One-way, return, daily and weekly travel cards are available. 

Some stations also have staffed kiosks instead of ticket machines; you can ask for advice here on the best tickets to buy or routes to take.

Related: The best lounges at London Heathrow — and how to get inside

Elizabeth Line

A relatively recent addition to the TfL network, the Elizabeth Line opened in 2022. It is one of the fastest and cheapest options for traveling into central London from Heathrow Airport.

While not as cheap as the Tube, the Elizabeth Line trains are newer, roomier, air-conditioned and equipped with Wi-Fi. It’s not quite as fast as the Heathrow Express (more details below), but it is more affordable.

Depart from: Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 railway stations.

Possible destinations: The Elizabeth Line travels direct from Heathrow to Abbey Wood, serving Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. You can see the full map on TfL’s website.

There are no direct services between Canary Wharf and Terminal 5 except for some early morning and late evening services; instead, you must go via Paddington or transfer at Terminal 4. Trains arriving at Heathrow from Canary end at Terminal 4.

When does it run? Times vary by terminal and whether you’re traveling during a weekday or weekend. Typically, the first trains leave between 5:15 and 6:05 a.m., and the last trains leave the airport between 11:46 p.m. and 12:13 a.m. Depending on your destination or starting point, you may find trains start slightly earlier or run marginally later. Find specific timing here.

Transit time: It depends on where you’re headed. As a guide, Terminal 5 station to Paddington takes around 35 minutes, while traveling from stations in Terminal 2 and 3 to Liverpool Street takes about 45 minutes.

Estimated cost: Heathrow claims journeys to or from the airport that start or end in Zone 1 cost up to 12.80 pounds ($15.83) per person. However, if you use contactless payment or Oyster, TfL’s single fare finder shows a single journey from Terminal 5 to Paddington on the Elizabeth Line costs 12.20 pounds ($15.44). 

A journey from stations in Terminals 2 and 3 to Liverpool Street costs 13.30 pounds ($16.45). These prices only apply to contactless payments or Oyster payments. Buying a paper ticket via station ticket machines costs a small amount more — as discovered by TPG recently when we paid 14.30 pounds for an off-peak ticket from Liverpool Street to Heathrow via the Elizabeth Line. 

Generally speaking, while savings are only minor, it’s better to pay by contactless or Oyster card. Children under the age of 11 travel free with a fare-paying adult.

Heathrow Express

The direct train, Heathrow Express, is the fastest option to get from Heathrow to Paddington. The trains are relatively modern and, despite the short distance between its sole stop, they also have luggage racks and plugs for charging phones — handy if you’re boarding after a long journey.

For onward journeys, Paddington is well connected to multiple Tube lines. Do note, however, that the Heathrow Express is more expensive than all other rail options. 

Depart from: Terminals 2 and 3 station and Terminal 5 railway station; you’ll need to take a free connecting shuttle to the station if you land in Terminal 4.

Possible destinations: Paddington station; for an extra cost, you can add connecting Tube travel.

When does it run? It typically operates from around 5 a.m. until midnight. Trains run every 15 minutes. See the full Heathrow Express timetable here.

Transit time: It takes 15 minutes to get to Paddington from Terminals 2 and 3 or 20 minutes from Terminal 5. 

Estimated cost: A single Heathrow Express journey from Paddington to Heathrow usually costs 25 pounds ($31.65) per person, but you can sometimes pay less if you book in advance. If you’re from Great Britain and have a National Railcard, you could pay as little as 16.50 pounds ($20.89). 

Alternatively, you can sometimes find discounts online by searching for Heathrow Express vouchers or coupon codes.

The trains also have Business First Class carriages that start around 32 pounds ($40.51) for a single journey. This may not seem worth it given the short distance and travel time. However, Heathrow Express Business First Class ticket holders are also eligible to use Heathrow Airport’s fast-track security service — it may be worth it if you’re in a rush. 

While the Heathrow Express is more expensive than other options, it can sometimes be a good deal for families; children under 15 travel free with a fare-paying adult.

If you are returning to the airport within one month of your ticket, an anytime ticket is cheaper overall than booking two single journeys, which start at 32 pounds ($40.51).

Frequent travelers can also save by buying carnets — starting at six tickets for 109.80 pounds ($138.99) for standard class or 160 pounds ($202.54) for Business First class.

Uber

If public transport isn’t your thing or you need to travel between Heathrow and central London when other transport isn’t running, you can easily book Uber rides. Naturally, this will cost more than a Tube or train ride.

Depart from: Short-stay parking lot in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5; the app will tell you where to go once you’ve requested a ride and your driver is confirmed, depending on the terminal you’re in.

You can typically find Uber pickup spots in the following locations:

• Terminal 2: Level 4, Row H (Short Stay Car Park 2)
• Terminal 3: Level 3, Row A (Short Stay Car Park 3)
• Terminal 4: Level 1, Private Hire Pickup
• Terminal 5: Level 1, Row R (Short Stay Car Park 5)

Possible destinations: You can use Uber to go wherever you like.

When does it run? In theory, you can get an Uber at any hour, but be wary of long waits during peak times. 

Transit time: It varies depending on traffic, destination and other factors. (Pay attention to rush hour and commuting times.) As a rough guide, it typically takes approximately 50 minutes to reach Paddington by car or one hour to reach Piccadilly Circus from Terminal 5 (on a good day). 

Note that despite its convenience, Uber isn’t necessarily the quickest way to reach Heathrow from most locations. 

Estimated cost: The cost of an Uber depends on traffic, your destination and other factors. As an example, it can cost 59 British pounds ($74.69) from Terminal 5 to Paddington or 63 British pounds ($79.75) to Piccadilly Circus for UberX rides, excluding tips.

Do note that groups of four or more with more than small suitcases will need to order either a larger car or multiple cars. Expect to pay more for an Uber Lux or Comfort journey.

Related: Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you

Taxis (including black cabs, WeKnow and Addison Lee)

Beyond Uber, there are plenty of other taxi services in London. Options include hailing an iconic London black cab, prebooking an electric car from Heathrow’s private hire transfer service WeKnow or arranging a pickup from a company such as Addison Lee.

The latter two options provide a meet-and-greet service to help get you and your luggage straight into the car. 

If booking with Addison Lee, you’ll be required to share your flight number at booking so the driver can adjust your ride in case of a delay. 

Again, this mode of transport will be more expensive than using public transport.

Depart from: The relevant taxi rank outside Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 for a black cab; other services will specify the pickup location when you book, or the driver will meet you at the terminal. 

Possible destinations: You can use this option to go wherever you’d like.

When does it run? In theory, you should be able to arrange a taxi or car transfer anytime.

Transit time: As with Uber, it varies depending on traffic, destination and other factors. Terminal 5 to Paddington will typically take around 50 minutes while heading to Picadilly Circus will usually take roughly one hour.

Estimated cost: Prices vary depending on the taxi service you opt for and traffic. Some estimates are below.

• Black cab: The meter starts when your ride begins. TfL — which manages London’s black cabs — says trips from Heathrow to central London cost between 52 pounds ($65.83) and 97 pounds ($122.79). More information about black cabs is available here.
• WeKnow: Prices are fixed, so you’ll know what you’re paying when you book. Terminal 5 to Paddington or Piccadilly Circus typically costs 70 pounds ($88.61) to 94 pounds (around $118.99), depending on the car booked. A meet-and-greet service costs 9.99 pounds (about $12.65) extra. Book here.
• Addison Lee: Like WeKnow, prices for Addison Lee rides are fixed. A sample Terminal 5 to Paddington journey (leaving ASAP) was quoted online as 94.32 pounds ($119.40) or up to 122 pounds ($154.44), depending on the car size needed. The meet-and-greet is included in both prices. For an exact quote, visit Addison Lee’s website and input your flight number and journey details.

Coach (including National Express and Megabus)

From Heathrow, National Express and Megabus coaches can drop you off at Victoria Coach station. They’re usually inexpensive and often have Wi-Fi and power outlets. They can also carry your luggage in the hold. Here’s where you can find Megabus luggage allowances and National Express luggage allowances.

While cheap, buses are not the quickest way to reach central London, as times fluctuate considerably depending on traffic, time of day and other factors.

Depart from: Heathrow’s Central Bus Station between Terminals 2 and 3 is the quickest departure point for both National Express and Megabus coaches. From Terminal 4, you’ll need to take the free shuttle to the bus station. You can also board a coach from Terminal 5 (look for arrivals level stops 13, 14 and 15 for the Megabus).

Possible destinations: You can use these modes of transportation to reach Victoria Coach station, which is a short five-minute walk from the Victoria Line at Victoria station. This line stops at Green Park, Oxford Circus, Warren Street and King’s Cross.

When does it run? National Express coaches run throughout the day, with a service gap between 1 and 3:45 a.m. You can check times and prices here. For Megabus times, head here.

Transit time: From Terminals 2 and 3, National Express coaches take between 55 minutes and one hour and 20 minutes to reach Victoria Coach station. Megabus takes between 45 and 55 minutes for the same journey. 

From Terminal 5, National Express coaches can take anywhere from one hour and 20 minutes to one hour and 35 minutes.

Estimated cost: National Express coach rides start from 6 pounds ($7.60) per person. For Megabus coaches, a single journey starts from 8 pounds ($10.13).

Other travel options

The 285 bus from Heathrow’s Central Bus Station (serving Terminals 2 and 3) will take you to Feltham train station — it’s 16 stops away. From there, you can take a 30- or 45-minute train to Waterloo via Clapham Junction. 

London bus hopper fares cost 1.75 British pounds ($2.22), and train tickets start from 8.60 pounds ($10.89) per person. The hopper fares allow you to take unlimited journeys from one hour of tapping in. 

This is probably the cheapest option from Heathrow to central London, but it is a long-winded option.

There are several local bus routes from the airport for those traveling somewhere in Greater London rather than central London. View them here.

Bottom line

The best route from Heathrow to central London depends on your budget, the amount of luggage you’re traveling with and the amount of time and hassle you are willing to put up with.

The Elizabeth Line and Tube are our top picks to avoid street traffic and save money. If speed is your primary concern, then consider the Heathrow Express. 

Need to get away from dragging luggage around or just want the absolutely simplest path from point A to point B? Consider an Uber or taxi.

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

When searching for a hotel, what matters most to you? Price? Location? Amenities?

Here’s a valuable tip: If you’re not booking through hotel loyalty programs, you’re missing out on great deals and leaving money on the table. These programs offer free upgrades, luxurious rooms, complimentary breakfast, access to exclusive lounges and even free nights once you accumulate enough points. Now the question is, which hotel program suits you best?

We’ve examined nine worldwide hotel rewards programs:

• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt
• Wyndham Rewards
• IHG One Rewards
• ALL — Accor Live Limitless
• Choice Privileges
• Best Western Rewards
• Radisson Rewards

Let’s take a quick look at each loyalty program so you can more easily decide which one to invest in.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott is an international hotel mega-chain. Its portfolio features over 30 brands and nearly 8,700 properties across 139 countries and territories. No matter where you’re going, there’s bound to be a Marriott hotel nearby.

A key perk of the Marriott Bonvoy program is its fifth-night-free benefit. You’ll receive the lowest-priced night for zero points when you book five consecutive reward nights. This can save you a ton of points on expensive stays, especially if you redeem your points in a high-end destination like the Maldives.

Another notable benefit is that Marriott Bonvoy members can transfer points to its 40 airline partners. Its list of transfer partners includes some of the hardest airline currencies to earn, like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Asiana Club.

In terms of elite status, there are five Marriott elite status tiers. Some benefits include room upgrades, Nightly Upgrade Awards (formerly Suite Night Awards) and executive lounge access.

There are several cards you can use to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but six are available to new applicants — three from American Express and three from Chase:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for Marriott loyalists looking for perks
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for Marriott loyalists who travel for business
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Solid bonus with lackluster benefits
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best for Marriott loyalists looking for a modest annual fee
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for Marriott loyalists looking for a no-annual-fee option
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Best for Marriott loyalists who value a solid sign-up bonus over benefits

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful 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.

Marriott is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, meaning you have plenty of ways to earn points.

Marriott Bonvoy is good for travelers who:

• Aren’t sure where in the world they plan to travel
• Want a huge collection of luxury properties
• Want a selection of unique, non-cookie-cutter hotels
• Frequently redeem points in five-night increments
• Want to book extended-stay hotel rooms
• Want to turn their points into airline miles

Related: When does it make sense to transfer Marriott points to airlines?

Hilton Honors

Hilton is another enormous hotel chain, with over 1.1 million rooms across nearly 7,400 hotels in 124 countries and territories.

Couple the hotel chain’s size with the relative effortlessness it takes to earn Hilton Honors points, and it’s clear that the Hilton Honors program may be the most all-around convenient hotel rewards option.

Hilton is an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner. For every Amex point you transfer, you’ll get 2 Hilton points. Not to mention, you may occasionally find a transfer bonus.

The hotel group also has four cobranded credit cards, all issued by American Express. You can frequently find them offering welcome bonuses of 100,000 points (or more).

Cardholders of the following American Express cards automatically get Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment is required) for as long as they keep their card account open:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: $150 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: $95 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee (see rates and fees)

Additionally, those with the Hilton Honors American Express Card can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the following calendar year by spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Like Marriott, Hilton offers the fifth consecutive award night free — but you must have at least Hilton Silver elite status to unlock this benefit. Thankfully, you can achieve this simply by holding a Hilton credit card. With your Hilton elite status, you’ll enjoy benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast (or a food and beverage credit on U.S. stays) and bonus points.

Hilton Honors is good for travelers who:

• Collect Amex Membership Rewards points
• Aren’t sure where in the world they plan to travel
• Frequently stay in five-night increments
• Want to book extended-stay hotel rooms
• Are satisfied with a modest collection of (amazing) luxury hotels
• Are road warriors

Related: I transferred Amex points to Hilton — a notoriously bad idea — to book one of the best hotels in the world

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt program is the favorite hotel loyalty program of most TPG staff.

More than 1,200 hotels participate in the World of Hyatt loyalty program in over 70 countries. Hyatt hotels are generally found exclusively in popular destinations and cities. If you’re looking for a stay in rural areas, Hyatt points likely will not serve you.

Hyatt’s award rates are relatively cheap compared to other hotels like Marriott and Hilton. For example, an upscale Hyatt hotel may cost 30,000 points per night, while a luxury Hilton hotel may cost 120,000 points. Perhaps most importantly, Hyatt still publishes award charts, making planning for your trip easy.

It’s true that Hyatt points aren’t quite as easy to accrue as Hilton points (Hyatt only offers two cobranded credit cards). However, Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can also transfer Bilt Rewards points to Hyatt, which can be a great option for those who earn points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year).

Hyatt Globalist elite status has been proven repeatedly by TPG staff and readers to be the most valuable hotel elite status. With free breakfast, waived resort fees and parking fees on award nights, consistent suite upgrades and more, it’s just about as VIP as you can get in the hospitality world.

Hyatt offers a personal credit card and a business credit card, which are both great ways to earn points.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card has a $95 annual fee and offers 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Plus, you can get up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 point (on up to $15,000 spent).

Meanwhile, the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card has a $199 annual fee and offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.

Bilt Rewards from the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) transfer to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 rate. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

World of Hyatt is good for travelers who:

• Collect Chase Ultimate Rewards points
• Earn Bilt Points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year)
• Want luxury stays in popular destinations
• Don’t often book hotels in smaller cities or remote locations
• Want a ton of all-inclusive hotel options

Related: World of Hyatt elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Wyndham Rewards

For stays in small-town America, there’s no better hotel points currency than Wyndham Rewards. Wyndham has the most properties of any hotel chain on this list, with over 9,000 hotels across 24 brands in 95 countries. While Wyndham offers some upscale properties, most are budget hotels.

Wyndham’s economical brands — such as Super 8, Days Inn and Microtel — are ubiquitous in areas where you won’t find a Hyatt or Marriott. If your travel goals revolve around visiting towns with populations under 10,000, this is a great program to focus on.

Wyndham also offers three cobranded credit cards, all issued by Barclays, to help you earn free nights. The cards offer between 7,500 and 15,000 points for every card anniversary. Additionally, you can transfer Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

You can even use your points to book free nights at Vacasa properties, which start at 15,000 points per bedroom. If you look hard enough, you can find absolute steals.

Wyndham Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Travel to small towns
• Aren’t interested in luxury stays
• Want to book Vacasa vacation rentals

Related: How to earn Wyndham points for your next redemption

IHG One Rewards

The IHG One Rewards program recently received a refresh, making it compete more with the most popular hotel programs. Due to dynamic pricing, IHG hotels are often a poor value for the points. However, they’re easy to use, and IHG hotels are in almost as many locations as Hilton properties. Plus, you can also frequently purchase IHG One Rewards points at a steep discount.

IHG offers three cobranded credit cards, all of which automatically offer the ability to receive the fourth consecutive award night for free. That’s unique among loyalty programs and a better value than Marriott and Hilton’s fifth-night-free policy.

• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (no annual fee): 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery), at gas stations and on utilities, internet, cable and phone services, and select streaming services; and 2 points per dollar spent on other purchases
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee): Up to 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 5 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery), at gas stations and on travel and hotels; and 3 points per dollar spent on other purchases
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card ($99 annual fee): Up to 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 5 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery), at gas stations, at office supply stores and on travel, hotels, social media and search engine advertising; and 3 points per dollar spent on other purchases

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points to IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, you can use IHG points to book some Six Senses resorts. These are extremely sought-after properties and a great win for IHG points collectors.

The program revamped its elite status tiers last year, too, meaning top-tier Diamond Elite members now get additional perks like free breakfast and a dedicated support line. Elite members can also earn Milestone Rewards by staying a certain number of nights in a calendar year. Some options include an annual lounge membership, bonus points and confirmed suite upgrades.

IHG One Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Are road warriors
• Are satisfied with a small collection of luxury hotels

Related: How to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

ALL — Accor Live Limitless

Accor has many hotel brands (more than 40), with a slew of upscale and luxury options.

Points in the ALL — Accor Live Limitless program are some of the most valuable (and straightforward) rewards. You can redeem them in increments of 2,000 points to receive 40 euros (or an equivalent amount in dollars) off your hotel bill.

There are two areas in which Accor underdelivers:

• The vast majority of its properties are concentrated in Europe or Asia.
• Accor does not offer a cobranded credit card to help you earn points quickly.

Though Accor is a transfer partner of both Capital One and Citi, the transfer ratio is an underwhelming 2:1 (2 Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou Rewards points equal 1 Accor point). Still, Accor can be a great place to earn your hotel points if you’re primarily traveling in Asia or Europe.

The program has four status tiers, with the top-tier Diamond elite level offering free breakfast on weekends (or every day in the Asia-Pacific region), suite night upgrades and executive lounge access. You’ll also find brand-specific benefits at each status tier, which may include perks like complimentary bike rentals at Fairmont properties.

ALL — Accor Live Limitless is good for travelers who:

• Travel to Europe and Asia often
• Want a huge selection of luxury properties
• Want a points redemption process that requires no expertise

Related: The dark horse of the hotel world: Why it’s time to pay attention to Accor

Choice Privileges

Choice places third behind Wyndham and Marriott for the number of properties it has worldwide. Its brands, such as Comfort Inn, WoodSpring Suites and Quality Inn, are no-frills experiences. However, the Choice Privileges program can serve you similarly to Wyndham Rewards in that its participating hotels are more prolific in smaller towns. It has now integrated properties from the Radisson Rewards Americas program into its portfolio as well.

Choice is famously valuable for anyone staying in Scandinavia, as hotels in the region can be costly, but award stays at Choice Hotels remain extremely reasonable. Also, there are many properties to choose from, and the program regularly offers discounted redemption rates through its Sweet Spot Rewards promotion. Additionally, the brand intermittently offers notable promotions that allow you to earn enough points for a free night after completing relatively simple tasks.

In terms of earning points, Choice now offers two cobranded credit cards, and you can also transfer Amex points and Capital One miles to Choice at a 1:1 ratio. Citi points transfer to Choice at a better 1:2 ratio. This halves the price of Choice awards if you’re redeeming Citi points.

Unfortunately, Choice Privileges’ elite status tiers don’t bring much to the table. There are limited room upgrades and only a handful of brands that offer complimentary breakfast to top-tier elite members.

Choice Privileges is best for travelers who:

• Are road warriors
• Travel to Scandinavia
• Travel to small-town America
• Aren’t concerned about free stays in luxury hotels
• Don’t value extensive elite status perks

Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Choice points

Best Western Rewards

Best Western has suffered due to low marks in its luxury hotel offerings and a relatively small hotel portfolio.

That said, the Best Western Rewards program’s top-tier elite status is easy to earn if you have even mid-tier elite status from a competing hotel chain. Historically, Best Western continues to offer status matches.

Best Western collaborates with First National Bank of Omaha to issue two credit cards. Like Choice, its elite status tiers bring very little value, with only minor benefits.

Best Western Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Want free breakfast without elite status
• Don’t care about free luxury hotel stays

Related: The best no-annual-fee hotel credit cards

Radisson Rewards

Radisson Rewards used to have an incredible loyalty program. Over the years, it’s stripped any noteworthy value from it.

Radisson has never offered a formidable number of hotels, and only a few of them are notable.

Until recently, there were two Radisson loyalty programs: Radisson Rewards Americas used to cover North and South America, but those properties have now joined Choice Privileges. The rest of the world uses the Radisson Rewards program.

This international bend means Radisson Rewards no longer offers a U.S. cobranded credit card and has no transfer partners. Your only way to earn these points is by staying at hotels. Even if you earn enough points for a free stay, the value of your redemptions will be minimal.

Radisson Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Limit their travels to Europe and other destinations outside North and South America
• Don’t care about free luxury hotel stays

Related: How to choose a hotel loyalty program

Bottom line

A hotel can be far more than just a place to rest your head. Loyalty programs can dramatically enhance your vacation — and even make it practically free.

We encourage TPG readers to sign up for all hotel loyalty programs, as there is generally no out-of-pocket cost to join. Even if you don’t think you’ll stay at a certain hotel chain, circumstances may dictate otherwise. You will be glad you enrolled beforehand and will fund your future vacations with minimal effort.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

If you’ve ever taken a westbound flight, you may have noticed the flight time was shorter coming home than on the way there. For example, a direct flight from New York to Los Angeles takes about six hours and four minutes. However, you shave about an hour off the flight time on the return flight, which clocks in at just five hours and eight minutes.

If you look at flight times for a transatlantic flight, the time savings can increase even more: A flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong, for example, clocks in at about 14 hours and 45 minutes, but coming back takes around 12 hours and 35 minutes.

Related: Why the quickest flight route might not always be the obvious one

This discrepancy in flight times has nothing to do with the earth’s rotation, time zones or any other theories you may have heard. Strong air currents that flow from west to east at high altitudes, called jet streams, are the actual cause.

TPG spoke with aviation and meteorology experts to learn about jet streams, how they affect flight times and how pilots utilize them when planning their flight paths.

What are jet streams?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, jet streams are “relatively narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere, typically occurring around 30,000 feet (9,100 meters) in elevation.”

“Jet streams exist because of temperature contrasts,” Marc Weinberg, chief meteorologist at WDRB in Louisville, Kentucky, told TPG. Jet streams form at the boundaries between warm air and cold air.

They flow from west to east but can shift from north to south based on air temperature. “Jet streams will always form over the largest temperature contrast,” Weinberg explained. “Winter pushes the jet streams south as the cold air moves south, and as temperatures warm up in the summer, they push farther north again,” he added.

In winter, you will typically see stronger jet streams because the more pronounced difference between the hot and cold air boundaries causes the intensity of the jet stream to increase. Other climate patterns, like El Nino and La Nina, add to this intensity.

There are several jet streams — or jets — across the globe: two polar jet streams near the North and South poles and two subtropical jet streams closer to the equator, according to the NOAA.

Why do jet streams affect flight times?

Because the air inside a jet stream moves faster than the air around it, planes traveling through the stream get a speed boost.

“On average, the jets usually move at about 110 or 120 miles per hour,” Amanda Martin, acting warning coordination meteorologist for the Aviation Weather Center, told TPG. A plane flying within that jet stream will move faster, as demonstrated in the above examples between New York and LA or San Fransisco and Hong Kong.

This is true when the jets are moving at their typical speed, but it becomes even more pronounced when the jets are stronger. Take, for example, a notable Virgin Atlantic flight in February 2024 that was flying from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) bound for London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR). The average cruising speed for a commercial flight is about 575 to 600 miles per hour, but this flight reached 802 miles per hour, according to data from FlightAware.

The jet that this flight utilized peaked at around 265 miles per hour (more than 100 miles per hour more than average), providing a major speed boost. Thanks to the increased speed of the jet, the flight landed 45 minutes earlier than originally scheduled.

“Jet streams in that range are uncommon,” Weinberg said. “A jet moving at 100 miles per hour will save you some time, but when the jet is moving at 200 miles per hour or more, you can more than double the amount of time you gain,” he continued.

The Baltimore-Washington, D.C., branch of the National Weather Service reported it was the second-strongest upper-level wind recorded in local history. “For those flying eastbound in this jet, there will be quite a tail wind,” it stated in a social media post.

This evening’s weather balloon launch detected the 2nd strongest upper-level wind recorded in local history going back to the mid 20th century! Around 34,000-35,000 ft, winds peaked around 230 kt (265 mph!). For those flying eastbound in this jet, there will be quite a tail wind. pic.twitter.com/0MXK0HvsCV

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 18, 2024

How can pilots utilize jet streams?

It’s not just by chance that pilots use jet streams to get to their destination ahead of schedule.

“Our dispatchers and flight planners will try to route us in such a way that best takes advantage of tailwinds provided by jet streams,” Patrick Smith, airline pilot and bestselling author of “Cockpit Confidential,” told TPG.

In fact, one of the tools the Aviation Weather Center has available on its website is a flight planning tool that displays the speed and elevation of the jets. The jets are represented by the green arrows in the above chart and labeled with the elevation and wind speed (only when the wind speed is above 80 knots, or 92 miles, per hour).

Related: How pilots spend their downtime

Flight planners can use this information to plan their routes when the jet streams will benefit flight times, but anybody can access these charts. From the Aviation Weather Center homepage, click on “Decision Support Imagery” under the “Tools” menu. The “SigWx – high level” product is the one that displays jet streams.

Jet streams are only one factor that airlines must consider when planning their flights. The Aviation Weather Service also has forecasting tools that display turbulence, thunderstorms and other weather patterns. “We want to provide forecasts and promote safe and efficient flights across the national airspace system,” Martin said. “We have several connective products that are used for flight planning,” she added.

The downside to jet streams

It should come as no surprise that if jet streams are advantageous in one direction, they can have the opposite effect going in the other.

TPG managing editor Clint Henderson experienced this firsthand on a flight from New York City to San Francisco. His arrival in San Francisco was delayed by 46 minutes due to a strong headwind courtesy of a jet stream.

Pilots try to avoid the jets when flying from east to west, but it isn’t always possible to avoid them completely. “When flying from east to west, the flight planner can route us in a way that avoids the strongest winds,” Smith said.

Jet streams can also contribute to turbulence in certain weather conditions, but turbulence has more to do with the overall weather than just the speed of the jets. “The boundaries of a jet stream are sometimes turbulent, but not always,” Smith said.

“If it’s clear skies in a strong jet, it can sometimes be a little bumpy, but nothing out of the norm,” Weinberg said. “If you experience extreme turbulence, it’s more likely related to a storm system versus just the jet stream,” he added.

Bottom line

Most of us are happy to get to our destination early, but now you know exactly why planes fly faster when heading east versus west. Next time you arrive early, you can thank your pilot and the jet streams.

Related reading:

• How to use Google Flights to find cheap flights and maximize your next travel booking
• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare in 2024
• Is climate change leading to more turbulence on flights?
• 14 best travel credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases

Two of the largest airports in the New York City area have come away with significant recognition in recent days, reflecting the major transformations passengers have witnessed at both LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

On Tuesday, Newark’s new Terminal A became one of only two terminals in North America to receive a five-star rating from aviation industry ratings firm Skytrax. The rating came after a detailed audit of the terminal’s facilities, operations and customer service.

It’s a significant accolade for the $2.7 billion, 1 million-square-foot terminal, which opened in phases over the last 15 months with all-new gates, concourses and a host of lounges — including perhaps the nicest in United Airlines’ network.

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

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey called the rating a “global benchmark of airport excellence.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5 stars for Terminal A!!

Terminal A at @EWRairport is one of only two airport terminals in North America to be awarded the prestigious 5-star rating from @Skytrax_UK, a global benchmark of airport excellence!

Learn more: https://t.co/8ungHFsd43 pic.twitter.com/b0zdfwI8LZ

— Port Authority of NY & NJ (@PANYNJ) March 19, 2024

 “We’re delivering world-class facilities that befit this world-class region,” Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton said in a statement Tuesday.

The news comes just days after LaGuardia received a best-in-class ranking of its own.

LaGuardia’s improvements recognized

Last week, Airports Council International released its 2023 airport service quality awards and gave LaGuardia a top ranking among North American facilities serving 25 to 40 million passengers annually.

The survey accounted for passenger experience factors like overall ambience, cleanliness, security screening, dining facilities and the comfort of gate areas — many of which, frequent LaGuardia passengers know, did not excel until recent years.

It’s a “stunning reversal of fortunes,” acknowledged the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — one that arose from scores on passenger surveys up some 20% from 2018, five years earlier.

“We transformed [LaGuardia] into a world-class travel hub worthy of New York — it’s no surprise it’s soaring high,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a March 11 post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

We transformed @LGAairport into a world-class travel hub worthy of New York — it’s no surprise it’s soaring high ✈️ https://t.co/wZ3uKsrcOp

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) March 11, 2024

Indeed, ACI’s top ranking for LaGuardia followed that airport’s significant $8 billion redevelopment in recent years.

Those changes led to an entirely new passenger experience for Delta Air Lines passengers in Terminal C. The same goes for Terminal B, where American Airlines operates its LaGuardia hub alongside a handful of other carriers.

“Those terminals are state-of-the-art — big, beautiful, light airy, with the retail we take for granted today at airports,” Shea Oakley, a commercial aviation historian based in New Jersey, said. “From a passenger terminal experience, LaGuardia has now been completely transformed and they’ve done a great job.”

LaGuardia’s progress has even caught the attention of President Joe Biden, who infamously once likened the airport’s facilities to that of a “third-world country.”

“It’s turning into a world-class airport again,” Biden acknowledged in 2022 remarks amid the administration’s infrastructure push.

More changes coming

Likely the biggest changes planned for New York area airports are in the works at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

The region’s biggest international hub is getting two brand-new terminals: 1 and 6. They are both multi-billion dollar facilities that will begin welcoming passengers in 2026 as part of phased openings.

That construction comes in the wake of significant investments by Delta and American into overhauls of JFK terminals 4 and 8, respectively.

Altogether, it’s a significant shift for the region’s airports. They have long carried a lot of flights but with limited fanfare for the passenger experience.

“From a landside customer service standpoint, it’s a complete turnaround,” Oakley said.

Still, he predicts that the heavily constrained airspace around New York (exacerbated by air traffic control challenges) and the limited space on the ground for additional construction means some of the operational challenges — like flight delays — may persist for years to come.

“On the aeronautical side at all three airports, there’s not a lot more they can do with it,” Oakley offered. “But while you’re perhaps waiting for your delayed flight, you’re going to be in a much larger, more comfortable, more modern facility than you were.”

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

Choosing and booking shore excursions for your upcoming cruise should be simple. Pick a port, read the list of options provided by your cruise line, choose an activity you enjoy and then sign up.

In reality, the shore tour decision-making process gets more complex — especially if you want to make the most of your eight hours in a port you might never revisit.

I’ve taken more than 50 cruises, and I’ve made my share of tour booking mistakes.

I’ve signed up for hikes that were actually quick walks and spent more time in buses when I wanted to be out exploring the sights. I’ve overpaid for tour experiences that I could have done more cheaply on my own. I’ve also gone on fabulous excursions that enhanced my day in port.

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

My top tip for booking the best cruise excursion for your money? Read the tour description carefully and then read between the lines to discover the truths about the excursion hidden behind all the promotional language.

Don’t know how to do that? Read on as I reveal my best shore tour booking tips.

Book must-do tours as early as possible

The most popular excursions and limited-participant tours will sell out — often before you even board your cruise ship. You’ll want to book these online as early as you can. Even better, many cruise lines discount the tours you purchase in advance.

Just make sure you read the fine print regarding tour cancellation policies. Also, in some cases, you cannot use onboard credit to pay for tours booked before sailing.

Related: Shore excursions: What new cruisers need to know

Book less important tours on the ship

If you’re uncertain about a few tours or want to pay for your excursions with onboard credit, wait until you board to book. The excursions desk staff might have additional insight into the shore tours you’re considering that will help you decide.

Make a beeline for the tour desk as soon as you board, and be prepared to wait in line. You can always ask the staff if they recommend you book immediately because a tour is filling up or whether you can take a day to decide.

Determine how much time will be spent in transit

My personal goal when venturing ashore on a cruise is to spend as little time as possible in transit and more time exploring. Folks with mobility issues, on the other hand, might prefer tours that let you sightsee exclusively by bus.

Shore excursions titled “panoramic,” “easy” or “highlights” are often bus-focused tours where you’ll view most sights from your window. If the write-up does not specifically say you’ll venture inside an attraction or building, assume you’ll only view it from the outside.

When looking at daytrips from your port of call to a destination outside the city, add up the transit times before subtracting them from the length of the tour.

A four-hour tour to an attraction an hour from the port equals two hours on a bus and two hours at the destination. Determine whether that’s an acceptable ratio or if you’d make better use of your time sticking closer to the port.

Also, consider whether your kids can handle a long bus ride or if you get motion sick.

Related: 11 cruise ship excursions to avoid

Compare free time vs. guided touring

In a similar vein, compare the amount of free time you’ll have to explore on your own on a tour against how much time you’ll be following a guide. Don’t book the tour if the balance does not work for you.

On a tour in Taormina, Italy, I watched half the group ditch the tour one by one and miss entrance into the ancient Greek theater because the guided portion of the tour went on far too long (and the guide was not very good).

If you like independent touring and merely want an excursion for the transportation and someone to get you pointed in the right direction, book tours titled “on your own.”

Evaluate the activity level

You will not be happy if you book a cruise excursion only to discover you’re physically incapable of participating fully in the tour — or that the activity is much easier than you imagined. Read the tour description carefully to determine if the activity level is right for you.

Don’t book a walking tour in Europe if you’re not able to tramp over uneven cobblestone streets for an hour or more. Skip the mountain biking tour if you’re not in good health or the kayaking tour if you have back or shoulder pain. Be honest with yourself about your current abilities.

On the flip side, hardcore athletes should assume that most active cruise excursions cater to the lowest common denominator. The bike tour will likely be on flat roads and set at a leisurely pace. A hike on a cruise full of retirees is possibly a 20-minute walk on a boardwalk or paved surface.

If the excursion truly is demanding, the tour description will make sure that’s abundantly clear in order to scare off anyone who isn’t up to the challenge.

Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

Compare costs

Before you book that shore excursion, compare the tour price to doing the same activity on your own or with an outside tour operator. Then, decide whether having a guide and the security and ease of booking through your cruise line outweigh any difference in price.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line offers a nearly three-hour ride on Skagway’s White Pass and Yukon Route scenic railway for $199 per adult. But if you go to the railway’s website, you can book the same trip for $146 — $50 less.

Booking a tour for a higher rate won’t add to your experience. The train depot is right in town, close to the cruise docks, so you don’t need bus transportation there. And the guides are part of the train experience, so you will get the informative narration either way.

Many cruise lines also offer slightly different versions of the same tour, such as a beach break with all-inclusive and less-inclusive options. Determine which inclusions or activities you will actually use before deciding which specific excursion will provide you with the best value for money.

Consider alternatives

Some first-time cruisers believe you must book a ship’s tour in every port to get the most out of your cruise. It’s not true.

Consider alternatives before you sign up for all the excursions. Can you walk or take a cab to the beach? Would you rather wander around a city’s center, sampling local cuisine and browsing the shops? Could you rent a car or hire a taxi to see the sights at your own pace? Would you prefer to explore that fort or tour that museum on your own?

You might also prefer to hire a private guide or book a particular activity through a local outfitter, especially if the cruise line’s excursion options don’t include exactly what you’re looking for.

Related: Ship-sponsored vs. independent shore excursions on cruises: Which should you book?

Assess your tour schedule as a whole

Some cruisers are so focused on what to do on each individual day that they never stop to consider their tour schedule as a whole. This is a mistake that can lead to burnout or a disappointing vacation.

Too many tours in a row with early departures or long days in port can be exhausting. You don’t want to book three days straight of all-day excursions, nor do you want to plan to skip a port for a quiet day on board after you’ve just spent a day or two at sea.

Take a high-level look at your schedule, and make sure you have a nice mix of low-key and high-octane activities, organized tours and days to wander around or relax. If possible, try not to book any shore excursions until you’re happy with your vacation plan as a whole.

Bottom line

The key to booking the best shore excursions is knowing what you want from your cruise vacation and making sure that your tour choices support those goals.

Don’t compromise and pay for a tour you’re not thrilled about because there’s usually a better option out there. Make sure you understand what you’re getting with each excursion choice and that you and your travel companions are both able and excited to participate fully in the listed tour activities.

And never feel pressured to book a tour when a leisurely day wandering about port — or even sleeping in and enjoying the ship with fewer people on board — is just what you need for a perfect vacation day.

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Fast-growing Porter Airlines is expanding its footprint on the U.S. West Coast.

Last week, the Toronto-based carrier announced it would add new nonstop flights from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Canada to California’s two largest cities.

Starting in late June, Porter will offer seasonal service between Montreal and both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The announcement comes less than two months after the carrier first commenced service to both West Coast cities from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).

It’s also part of a larger growth strategy that has seen the airline dramatically increase its U.S. presence of late.

“These Montreal routes connect to destinations across the globe with Porter’s strategic partners, providing more options that travelers crave,” Porter president Kevin Jackson said in a statement announcing the news.

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Porter’s new routes

Porter’s two new routes from Montreal to the U.S. West Coast will be seasonal, launching this summer and wrapping up Oct. 26.

Here’s how the schedule shakes out:

Route	Launches	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Days
YUL-LAX	June 27	7:40 p.m.	10:36 p.m.	Four times weekly	Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday
LAX-YUL	June 28	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.	Four times weekly	Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Sunday
YUL-SFO	June 28	8:00 p.m.	11:12 p.m.	Three times weekly	Tuesday/Friday/Sunday
SFO-YUL	June 29	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.	Three times weekly	Monday/Wednesday/Saturday

Porter will operate each of these routes with its brand-new Embraer E195-E2 jets, which seat 132 passengers in a 2-2 configuration.

The airline placed a $5.82 billion order for 80 of the jets in 2021.

The airline touts its inflight service, which includes free alcoholic beverages in glassware (not plastic or paper cups) for all passengers. It also offers free Wi-Fi.

Larger growth plans

This West Coast scale-up is the latest in a series of steps Porter has taken to increase its presence in the U.S. — particularly out west.

On top of the two Toronto-to-California nonstops launched in January, the carrier also launched inaugural service earlier this month from Toronto to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

✈️ Welcome to Las Vegas, @porterairlines! ✨
Get ready for non-stop thrills as we connect LAS to YYZ! 🎰 pic.twitter.com/3OGRPxFr4q

— Harry Reid International Airport (@LASairport) March 6, 2024

All told, the carrier will fly nearly 70% more seats to the U.S. over the next six months versus the same period last year, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

The airline also notes these new routes will improve its connectivity. That’s thanks, in part, to a recently launched interline agreement with Alaska Airlines. The arrangement allows passengers to book trips with seamless connections between the two carriers (for certain itineraries). It also allows Mileage Plan members to earn miles on certain Porter flights.

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2023 was the safest year ever for commercial air travel, but after several high-profile aviation incidents in 2024, the general public is paying closer attention to airline safety.

The occurrence of several attention-grabbing events over the past few weeks, in particular, prompted United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to address the topic of airline safety in a memo to customers on Monday.

In his first public comments on the recent spate of safety-related situations, some of which have involved United jets, Kirby said that safety was the airline’s top priority, but acknowledged that United had experienced “a number” of incidents in a short period.

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“While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” Kirby wrote. “Our team is reviewing the details of each case to understand what happened and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups.”

Kirby added that the airline was already in the process of implementing several safety enhancements that were planned before the recent episodes, including adding an extra day of training for pilots and creating a new centralized training curriculum for maintenance technicians.

“I’m confident that we’ll learn the right lessons from these recent incidents and continue to run an operation that puts safety first and makes our employees and customers proud,” Kirby added.

Airline safety has been in the spotlight since a Jan. 5 incident aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, during which a door plug that seals part of the fuselage blew off the jet midflight and caused the cabin to depressurize.

Intense scrutiny has focused on Boeing, with the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary investigation finding that Boeing failed to replace bolts that hold the door plug in place after removing them during assembly.

Since then, a number of incidents involving Boeing aircraft have garnered significant attention, while several episodes involving United flights, specifically, have put the airline at the center of the public discussion

Earlier this month, a United Airlines 737 MAX rolled off a runway into the grass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH), causing part of its landing gear to collapse. A day earlier, a tire fell from a Boeing 777-200 flown by United as it departed from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), damaging cars in an employee parking lot below.

Also earlier this month, a United Airbus A320 en route from San Francisco International Airport to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after an issue with a hydraulics system.

Although it did not involve United, the latest Boeing-related incident occurred on Friday when a 25-year-old United Boeing 737-800 was found to be missing an external panel that covers mechanical equipment on the underside of the plane during a routine inspection after completing a flight to Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) in Oregon.

No one was hurt in any of the incidents.

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