Tag: Travel Planner

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

Wouldn’t it be great to be a kid again?

Even if you’re just a few years out of school and only beginning your toils in the workforce, you’ve probably already found yourself pining for those carefree days of childhood.

Maybe you want to relive the thrill of endless afternoons racing your friends around go-kart tracks or hunting them down in laser tag battles. Maybe you want to be back at the arcade, rolling 100s in Skeeball. Maybe you just want to spend a day getting soaked at a waterpark again — without needing the excuse of bringing a child or grandchild along to do it.

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We’ve got some good news: Your misspent youth is still there, waiting for you — on a cruise ship.

One of the biggest trends in cruising over the past couple decades has been the transformation of mass-market cruise vessels into giant floating megaresorts that offer every sort of amusement known to humans — from massive water coasters to bumper cars and skydiving simulators.

Often these amusements were designed with teens and tweens in mind. After all, family cruising is one of the hottest things going in the industry these days. But a quick glance at all the millennials, Generation Xers and, yes, even baby boomers waiting in line for many of these attractions on ships proves they aren’t just for young cruisers.

Indeed, if you’re the kind of person who has never wanted to grow up — and aren’t we all — there are few more enticing vacations than a week spent on one of today’s giant megaships.

The best ships for childlike fun

In the early days of cruising, in the 1970s and 1980s, the biggest deck-top attraction on most ships was the pool. Shuffleboard was another hot activity — really, that’s not just a cliché. By the late 1990s, a few waterslides had begun popping up on vessels, as well as such then-wow-inducing activities as miniature golf courses and rock climbing walls.

But it’s only in the last 15 years or so that we’ve begun to see truly over-the-top fun zones at sea. And we do mean over-the-top. In the last few years, we’ve seen cruise lines add everything from sprawling go-kart tracks to a roller coaster to the top of ships. Deck-top waterparks with multiple waterslides are increasingly common. So are features like surfing simulators, zip lines, virtual reality play zones and even ice skating rinks.

Among cruise lines marketing to North Americans, there are four lines, in particular, that have been at the forefront of the trend: Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

The first three of those lines dominate the world of big, bustling megaresorts at sea, with vessels that are as much as twice the size of the biggest cruise ships that existed 25 years ago. Carnival hasn’t gone quite as big with its ships, for the most part. But Carnival still packs its vessels with a lot of fun-focused activities.

Related: TPG’s ultimate guide to picking a cruise line

For the biggest array of back-to-your-youth amusements, you’ll want to stick to the newest, biggest ships from each of the brands, which also boast an overabundance of restaurants, bars, showrooms, spas and casinos. They are, as your kids would say, sick. Or is it dope? While you’re waiting in line for the go-karts, you can ask the nearest 15-year-old.

Here, the four ships that we rate the best for reconnecting with your inner child (along with eight similar sister vessels that expand your choices to 15):

Wonder of the Seas

Line: Royal Caribbean

Similar sister ships: Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas

If your goal is to relive your childhood on a cruise ship, we can think of no better vessel than Wonder of the Seas. It is, quite simply, the ultimate floating fun zone.

At 235,600 tons, Wonder of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship ever built (although it’s about to be eclipsed by the even bigger Icon of the Seas), and it’s packed with every sort of amusement you could imagine, including a trio of monster waterslides, two surfing simulators, two rock climbing walls and a zip line.

There also are multiple pool zones, a miniature golf course, a basketball court, an ice skating rink and an entire New Jersey shore-like Boardwalk area with its very own handmade carousel.

Whether you’re a teenager or teenage-wannabe, you’ll also get a rush from The Ultimate Abyss — the longest slide ever on a cruise ship. It drops nine decks (from the Sports Zone on Deck 16 to the Boardwalk area on Deck 6). Royal Caribbean says this is a 10-deck drop, but don’t be fooled: There’s no Deck 13 on Wonder of the Seas.

In addition, the interior of Wonder of the Seas is chock full of restaurants, bars, a spa, a casino and a giant theater that’s home to Broadway productions.

Unveiled in 2022, Wonder of the Seas is the newest and biggest of Royal Caribbean’s five Oasis Class vessels, which began debuting in 2009. You’ll find many — but not all — of its attractions on the other Oasis Class ships, too, and all five of the ships are mind-blowing in their size and offerings. There’s really nothing quite like them at sea: All five Oasis Class ships are bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat.

A sixth Oasis Class vessel, Utopia of the Seas, is scheduled to debut in July.

Where to find it: Wonder of the Seas sails to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Norwegian Encore

Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

Similar sister ships: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Escape

At 169,116 tons, Norwegian Encore isn’t quite as super-sized as Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. But it still features an insane array of over-the-top activities to excite your inner child.

For starters, there are two serious water slides on the deck top — Aqua Racer and Ocean Loops — that are sure to get your heart racing. Ocean Loops, in particular, is a doozy. It’s one of those horrifying “drop” waterslides that start with you standing above a trap door that opens to send you plunging downward. At one point, you go spinning over the side of the ship.

Still, the standout feature for fun seekers on Norwegian Encore is its massive go-kart track. Nearly 1,150 feet long and sprawling over two decks, the so-called Norwegian Encore Speedway is truly a sight to behold. It includes four sections that extend up to 13 feet over the sides of the vessel. Just to amp things up a bit, it also has a middle-of-the-track observation area where your family and friends can shoot you with “lasers” that’ll give you a power boost.

Note that this is some serious go-karting. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour, as I experienced firsthand during a test run when Norwegian Encore first debuted.

Norwegian Encore also is home to the largest laser tag arena ever put on a ship and a massive gaming and virtual reality zone. Themed after the lost city of Atlantis, the former is at the very back of the vessel and is a romp. The latter area, called Galaxy Pavilion, has an amazing line-up of high-tech virtual reality experiences, including incredibly realistic race car simulators, hang-gliding simulators, virtual mazes and a virtual reality “Jurassic Park” jeep ride (watch out for dinosaurs!).

Just be warned that none of these attractions come cheap. You’ll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap race on the go-karts. Joining a five-minute laser shoot-out costs $10 per person. In both cases, you can buy a week-long pass for $199, and there’s a similar pass available for the Galaxy Pavilion.

Norwegian Encore’s sister ships — Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape — offer many of the same features, but the lineup varies from one vessel to the next. Only Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy have go-kart tracks, for instance, and their versions of the attraction aren’t quite as big.

Where to find it: Norwegian Encore spends its winters sailing to the Caribbean out of Miami. During the summer, it says to Alaska out of Seattle.

Mardi Gras

Line: Carnival Cruise Line

Similar sister ships: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee

Leave it to the so-called Fun Ship line to come up with what just may be the ultimate playground at sea for people who never want to grow up. Unveiled in 2021, this 17-deck-high megacruiser, the new flagship for Carnival, has all sorts of deck-top amusements, including — we kid you not — a full-blown roller coaster.

Dubbed Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first-ever roller coaster at sea is far from the biggest roller coaster in the world, with just under 800 feet of track. The coaster vehicles — which hold two people each — only will reach speeds of 40 miles per hour. But you’ve got to give Carnival top marks for chutzpah.

Other fun-focused diversions on the top deck of Mardi Gras include one of Carnival’s signature WaterWorks waterparks with multiple waterslides, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course.

Mardi Gras was the first of a new series of bigger Carnival ships designed to take the line’s Fun Ship shtick to a new level, and it has since been joined by two more vessels in the, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

In addition to a deck top full of amusements, it also has a far broader array of suites than earlier Carnival vessels and new dining venues such as the first Emeril Lagasse restaurant at sea. It’s also notable as the first ship from a North America-based line designed to operate on liquid natural gas. The fuel is touted as being cleaner than traditional ship fuel.

At around 180,000 tons, Mardi Gras and its sisters Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee are each nearly 35% bigger than Carnival’s next-bigger ship, Carnival Panorama, and one of the biggest new ships to debut in the last two years.

Where to find it: Mardi Gras sails to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Port Canaveral.

MSC Meraviglia

Line: MSC Cruises

Similar sister ships: MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa

Fast-growing MSC Cruises jumped into the activity-packed megaship game in a big way in 2017 with the debut of the U.S.-based MSC Meraviglia. At 171,598 tons, the 15-deck-high MSC Cruises vessel is one of the 20 biggest cruise ships in the world, and it offers such deck-top diversions as a polar-themed waterpark with three waterslides.

There’s also a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course called Himalayan Bridge — the latter also has a polar theme.

Still, it’s not just deck-top activities on MSC Meraviglia that will set off your fun meter. The interior of the vessel is home to one of the coolest virtual reality play zones at sea. Among its highlights: Two of the most sophisticated Formula 1 race car simulators anywhere.

MSC Meraviglia also houses a multisensory, motion-simulating XD theater. For something a little less hardcore, there also are two full-size bowling lanes.

Designed to hold 4,488 passengers at double occupancy, MSC Meraviglia also offers a dozen dining venues, a spa, a casino and a custom-built, high-tech, 450-seat theater that houses exclusive Cirque du Soleil shows.

A nearly identical sister ship to MSC Meraviglia, the MSC Bellissima has a similar array of attractions, as do the slightly bigger MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa. Of the four vessels, MSC Meraviglia is the most appealing to the North American market as it’s based year round in the U.S.

Where to find it: MSC Meraviglia sails year-round out of New York.

Bottom line

You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the wild array of attractions on the new crop of floating megaresorts. If it’s carefree fun you’re after in a vacation, a cruise on one of the giant vessels of Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian or Carnival may be the perfect choice.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, and its AAdvantage loyalty program is popular with many travelers. While AAdvantage has seen some changes over the last few years — including the removal of published award charts — you can still get a ton of value from the program, especially if you can utilize its sweet spots.

In 2022, American completely overhauled how flyers qualify for AAdvantage elite status. Rather than being based solely on flying, you now earn Loyalty Points across various activities in the AAdvantage program — including spending on American Airlines cobranded credit cards, shopping through online shopping portals and dining.

Here’s everything you need to know about the American AAdvantage loyalty program.

American Airlines partners

American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance; therefore, you can earn and redeem miles with a handful of international partners. American elite members often get benefits, such as lounge access and an extra baggage allowance, when flying with partner airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect member)
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

The airline also partners with a handful of airlines outside of Oneworld, including:

• Aer Lingus
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Cape Air
• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Gol Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• IndiGo
• JetBlue
• JetSmart
• Silver Airways

However, each partner has its own criteria on how you can earn or redeem miles with American, so be sure to review the specific partner page for full details.

American Airlines elite status

American AAdvantage has four public levels of elite status — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum — plus an invite-only level called Concierge Key.

AAdvantage members earn Loyalty Points when they fly on American or spend with a cobranded credit card or with select AAdvantage partners. In general, 1 base mile earned is equal to one Loyalty Point. So, if you earn 500 base miles on an American Airlines flight, you earn 500 Loyalty Points. Likewise, spending $1,000 on a cobranded credit card would earn 1,000 Loyalty Points.

Here’s the number of Loyalty Points you must earn during the current qualification period — March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024 — for each elite status tier:

• Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
• Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points

As an AAdvantage Gold member, you’ll get a 40% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats at check-in (when available), and one free checked bag on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Meanwhile, Platinum members get a 60% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats at booking (when available) and two free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Platinum Pro members get an 80% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats at booking (when available) and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

Finally, Executive Platinum members get a 120% mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats at booking (when available) and three free checked bags on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines.

All AAdvantage elite members have access to complimentary upgrades on American-marketed and -operated flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii) and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Central America for themselves and one companion. Complimentary upgrades on award flights are available to elite members, though it is not a guarantee that you will secure an upgrade on your flight.

AAdvantage elite members get Oneworld status, which provides perks when flying on other Oneworld airlines. Specifically, AAdvantage Gold members get Oneworld Ruby, Platinum members get Oneworld Sapphire, and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members get Oneworld Emerald status.

Even if you don’t have elite status with American, there are some notable perks to being an AAdvantage member. American AAdvantage announced the following exclusive benefits for AAdvantage members in 2024 (including entry-level members with no elite status):

• The ability to voluntarily cancel basic economy tickets for a partial travel trip credit for a $99 fee
• Complimentary 24-hour ticket holds
• The ability to purchase single-use Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge entry
• The ability to take an earlier flight on the same day at no extra cost

Also new in 2024 is the ability to redeem Loyalty Points Rewards for additional Loyalty Points to help members reach their elite status goals.

You can choose:

• 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 15,000 Loyalty Points)
• 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 175,000 Loyalty Points)
• 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points (after earning 250,000 Loyalty Points)

Related: American Airlines unveils 10 changes to the AAdvantage program

Coming later in 2024 is the ability to earn redeemable miles and additional Loyalty Points on premium-cabin upgrades paid with cash.

How to earn AAdvantage miles

There are many ways to earn AAdvantage miles. Below is a summary of the top ways.

Fly on American Airlines

When you fly on an American-marketed flight, you’ll usually earn miles according to your ticket’s base price — without taxes and fees. The miles you earn also vary based on your AAdvantage elite status. The higher your status, the more miles you will earn.

Here’s how many miles each status tier earns per dollar spent:

• Member (no status): 5 miles
• Gold: 7 miles
• Platinum: 8 miles
• Platinum Pro: 9 miles
• Executive Platinum: 11 miles

Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Fly on partner airlines

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on flights marketed by American’s partners. For most partners, you’ll earn miles and Loyalty Points based on flight distance. However, the exact earning rate depends on the fare class of your ticket. Here’s an example of the earning chart for Qantas-operated flights:

Get and use American Airlines credit cards

One of the easiest ways to earn American AAdvantage miles is through American Airlines credit cards. Here’s a list of current offers:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 miles after you spend $7,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American’s car rental and hotel booking sites. Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases. Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year (see rates and fees).
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on gas station, restaurant and eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases plus telecom merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rentals and gas stations. Earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®: Earn 15,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery store and eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the annual fee in full in the first 90 days. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
• AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, plus another 25,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in the first 12 months. Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on office supply, telecom, car rental and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.

The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select, AAdvantage Aviator Red, Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Business cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers.

Remember that the sign-up bonuses and bonus category earnings won’t get you Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status. You’ll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on American Airlines cards.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines flyers

Transfer Bilt points

American AAdvantage partners with just one program with a transferable currency: Bilt Rewards. You can transfer your Bilt points to your AAdvantage account at a 1:1 ratio, so if you’re currently earning Bilt points by paying rent, this can be a great option for your rewards.

Click through the AAdvantage shopping portal before shopping online

When you click through the AAdvantage shopping portal, you can earn extra miles when making purchases with select online merchants. Using the portal is simple: Sign up for an account and click through the portal to your merchant of choice before shopping online.

Related: Maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases

Use SimplyMiles

American offers a program called SimplyMiles that allows you to earn miles when shopping online or in person with select merchants. You’ll first need to sign up for SimplyMiles, link one or more Mastercards to your profile and enroll in offers.

Then, when you use a linked Mastercard to make an eligible purchase at a merchant for which you’ve enrolled in an offer, you’ll earn AAdvantage miles.

Dine at restaurants that participate in AAdvantage Dining

AAdvantage Dining is similar to the AAdvantage shopping portal but for eating out. Just sign up for an account and link your favorite credit cards for dining. Once you do so, you’ll earn miles when you dine at participating restaurants.

You can earn 5 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a VIP member, 3 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent as a Select member and 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent as a basic member.

Book through AAdvantage travel partners

American Airlines partners with major car rental companies so its members can earn miles on car rentals. Check out AAdvantage’s car rental partner page for information on partners and earning rates.

You can also earn AAdvantage miles on hotel stays as follows:

• American Airlines Hotels: Earn up to 10 times more base miles on hotels.
• Hyatt: Earn 500 miles each stay.
• IHG: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying room rates.
• Marriott: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on qualifying charges.
• Rocketmiles: Earn up to 10,000 miles each night on select hotels.

Additionally, Hyatt and American loyalists can earn more rewards by linking accounts. After linking accounts, AAdvantage elite members can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every eligible dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences.

In addition to the hotel and rental car partners mentioned above, you can earn miles on vacation packages booked at aavacations.com or cruises booked at bookaacruises.com.

Open a savings account

If you open a savings account with Bask Bank, you can elect to earn AAdvantage miles instead of cash as the interest on your account. You can read our analysis here: Introducing Bask Bank, a new way to earn miles. Unfortunately, miles earned with Bask Bank do not count as Loyalty Points.

Buy AAdvantage miles

Finally, you can buy American Airlines miles. Watch for promotions that allow you to buy American Airlines miles with a bonus or a discount.

Related: Book a pricey suite or flight for a fraction of the cost: Points promotions to save you money

How to redeem AAdvantage miles

You’ll usually get the best value when you redeem your American AAdvantage miles for flights. TPG’s most recent valuations estimate American miles to be worth 1.5 cents each, so try to get at least this value when redeeming miles.

Redeeming miles for American-operated flights

To find out how many miles an American-operated flight will cost, head to the American Airlines website or mobile app and do an award search.

AAdvantage redemptions for travel on American are now exclusively priced dynamically, allowing the airline to adjust the award rate for any flight.

In 2024, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key members will be able to redeem miles to visit the Flagship First dining facility, though the mileage cost is not yet known.

Partner awards

American partners with over a dozen airlines, many world-renowned for their excellent premium-cabin products.

However, these flights aren’t always available to partner airlines, as the operating carrier must release saver-level award inventory.

Related: Guide to earning and burning with American Airlines’ Business Extra program

AAdvantage sweet spots

While American makes it relatively easy to redeem miles across its own network, many awards can offer spectacular value. These “sweet spots” typically get you well over TPG’s valuation of AAdvantage miles.

Here are just a few of these terrific redemptions.

Short-haul flights to the Caribbean

Flights to the Caribbean can cost you hundreds of dollars each way.

Instead, you can book flights from New York to the sunny island of Barbados for just 8,000 AAdvantage miles plus $7.10 in fees and taxes.

Premium-cabin flights to Japan or South Korea

American Airlines divides Asia into three award regions: Asia Region 1, Asia Region 2 and South Pacific. Asia 1 covers Japan and Korea, while Asia 2 includes Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The lower prices on premium flights to Asia 1 apply to Oneworld partners such as Japan Airlines. So, you can book JAL first class from San Francisco to Tokyo for only 80,000 miles.

Related: Best sweet spots in the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Etihad business class to the Maldives

You can redeem just 70,000 AAdvantage miles for a flight from the United States to the Maldives via Abu Dhabi in Etihad’s business class, with flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) featuring the carrier’s fantastic new A350 product.

While in theory you can book the same itinerary flying Qatar Airways in its award-winning Qsuite, unfortunately, Qatar is currently only releasing business-class availability from the United States at the last minute to AAdvantage members.

Award pricing

While American eliminated saver and anytime awards in 2023, it isn’t removing award charts entirely.

Instead, American’s refreshed award chart displays initial values for Flight Awards.

Region	Main Cabin starting at	Premium economy starting at	Business/first starting at
Contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada	7,500 miles	N/A	15,000 miles
Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America	10,000 miles	N/A	20,000 miles
South America, short-haul	15,000 miles	N/A	30,000 miles
Hawaii and Alaska	20,000 miles	40,000 miles	60,000 miles
Europe	25,000 miles	50,000 miles	75,000 miles
South America, long haul	30,000 miles	60,000 miles	90,000 miles
Asia, the Middle East and the South Pacific	35,000 miles.	60,000 miles	95,000 miles

Bottom line

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is far from perfect. But if you know how to make it work, there’s still plenty of value, particularly for redemptions on partner airlines, where sensible award charts still exist.

If you’re considering earning miles with the AAdvantage program, we recommend applying for an American Airlines credit card. Doing so can give you a big stash of miles from the sign-up bonus and the ability to continue to earn miles with your daily spending. It’s also worth using the AAdvantage shopping portal and SimplyMiles, especially if you want to earn Loyalty Points and qualify for American Airlines elite status.

Timed with the announcement of eight new nonstop routes, Breeze Airways is offering 35% off its entire network, which includes fares from its latest airport, San Diego International Airport (SAN).

One-way flights from San Diego start at $59 for travel this summer.

Additionally, round-trip flights across the network — including those to and from SAN and the other routes announced today — are available to book 35% off through May.

Deal basics

Airline: Breeze
Routes: Across the Breeze network
How to book: Directly with the airline using the promo code “GETFRESH” for 35% off round-trip fares
Travel dates: April 30 to Sept. 3 for the new one-way routes; Jan. 15 to May 22 for all round-trip flights
Book by: Jan. 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST for the new one-way routes; Jan. 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST for all round-trip flights
Blackout dates: Varies by route

Sample routes

As mentioned, this deal is two-for-one, as all round-trip flights across the Breeze network are currently 35% off starting Jan. 15 through May 22. Use the promo code “GETFRESH” to book discounted round-trip fares through Friday.

Additionally, the eight new nonstop routes announced earlier Tuesday, which begin this spring and summer, are on sale. This includes one-way flights from San Diego starting at $129. The other routes announced Tuesday begin at $59.

The following one-way flights were priced as listed at the time of publication. We cannot guarantee the below flights will be available when you book:

• Westchester County Airport (HPN) to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), from $59
• Bradley International Airport (BDL) to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), from $59
• SAN to RDU, CVG, Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and Norfolk International Airport (ORF), from $129
• South Carolina’s Charleston International Airport (CHS) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), from $129
• SAN to BDL, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD), from $139

The above routes are priced for travel from April 30 through Sept. 3, and you must book them by Jan. 15. Note that you can book the aforementioned round-trip routes using the promo code to receive the discount.

As a reminder, the 35% discount only applies to the base fare and excludes taxes and fees. All Breeze fare types include a personal item, while fees for full-size carry-on items and checked luggage start at $30 and $35, respectively. Standard seat selection begin at $10 each way.

Unlike most low-cost airlines, Breeze does not charge fees if you change or cancel your flight up to 15 minutes before departure. If you cancel your flight, you’ll receive a flight credit valid for rebooking within 24 months.

Maximize your purchase

If you book this deal, use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:

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

Bottom line

All Breeze round-trip flights are currently 35% off, including five new routes from San Diego. You must book travel by Friday to enjoy the discounted routes. One-way routes from San Diego and three other new routes are available starting at $59 but offer slightly more flexibility to book through Jan. 15.

Related reading:

• 1st-time Avelo flyers can earn a $100 flight credit
• TAP Air Portugal has discounted round-trip flights to Europe under $400
• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare in 2024?
• Save up to 40% on Southwest flights, including award redemptions
• Breeze adds San Diego service in 8-route expansion
• United deal: 50,000 miles round-trip to Paris

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

Ultimate Rewards points are the currency of most Chase-branded credit cards. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points for everyday spending and then redeem them for a wide range of rewards.

Despite increasing competition from American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points have maintained their place as one of the most valuable and useful points currencies — especially with valuable products like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

Transferring Ultimate Rewards to travel partners is often the most valuable way to redeem your hard-earned points. With 14 different transfer partners, you have plenty of options, since you can keep your Chase points in your Ultimate Rewards account until you can transfer them.

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Here is everything to know about Chase Ultimate Rewards’ transfer partners.

What are the Chase transfer partners?

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airline programs:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase also partners with three hotel programs:

• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

All transfer ratios are 1:1 (though there are occasional transfer bonuses), and you must transfer points in 1,000-point increments.

How long do Ultimate Rewards transfers take?

Most transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to its partner programs are instantaneous, with two exceptions. In our testing, transfers to both Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Marriott Bonvoy can take up to two business days.

We’ve heard anecdotal stories of delays with other programs, but as long as the name on your Ultimate Rewards account matches that on your loyalty program account, these should process immediately.

Note that transfer bonuses can also be inconsistent. For example, when TPG’s Nick Ewen recently transferred points to Aeroplan to take advantage of a 20% bonus, the base points arrived immediately, but it took three days for the bonus points to post.

How do I transfer Chase points to partners?

You can easily transfer Chase points online. First, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal. Under the Travel drop-down, select “Transfer to Travel Partners” to access the main transfer page.

You will then see the list of transfer partners. Any current transfer bonuses will also be shown (note that the screen shot below may show outdated offers). Select your desired transfer partner, link your external account if you have not already done so, select the number of Ultimate Rewards points you wish to transfer and then submit the transfer.

Remember, Ultimate Rewards transfers cannot be reversed, so it’s best to wait until you have a specific use before transferring them.

What are the best Chase transfer partners?

Given the low award chart rates of the World of Hyatt program, many TPG staffers believe Hyatt is the best hotel transfer option for Ultimate Rewards points.

If you would prefer to transfer to one of the 11 different airline program partners, the best option may depend on which airlines fly to and from the destinations you wish to travel, who the program partners with and which airlines you like to travel with.

There are sweet spots to be found in most airline transfer options, especially those programs that have retained award charts.

Here are some of our favorite Ultimate Rewards sweet spots.

Top-tier Hyatt hotels

The World of Hyatt award chart has two appealing factors. First, its mere existence is notable, given most other hotel programs (including IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, the other Chase hotel partners) have shifted to dynamic pricing.

Beyond that, Hyatt award rates can be incredibly low compared to some competitors. You can book some of the fanciest Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio, including the Park Hyatt New York and Park Hyatt Sydney, for just 35,000 points per night during off-peak dates. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, so 35,000 points are worth $595.

That’s a great deal for hotels that sell for close to $1,000 per night, even when demand is low.

There’s also great value at the lower end of the Hyatt award chart. Category 1 hotels range from 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, depending on whether you travel on peak, standard or off-peak dates.

Iberia flights to Madrid

Round-trip, off-peak flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Spain’s capital will only set you back 34,000 Avios in economy, 51,000 in premium economy or 68,000 in business when you transfer your Chase points to Iberia Plus. Considering that most airlines charge at least 60,000 miles for a one-way business-class award to Europe, you’re essentially getting a 50% discount.

Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots

Flights to Hawaii with Alaska and American

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways, you can book awards with Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. As long as your nonstop flight distance is under 3,000 miles each way (and saver-level award space is available), you can leverage British Airways’ distance-based award chart to fly from any West Coast gateway to Hawaii for only 32,000 Avios round-trip — after a December 2023 devaluation that saw prices increase by up to 32%.

ANA flights booked through Virgin Atlantic

For just 145,000 miles, you can fly round-trip in All Nippon Airways first class between the West Coast and Tokyo. Flights from other U.S. gateways only cost an extra 25,000 miles (170,000 miles round-trip). Business-class redemptions are an even better deal, costing just 90,000-95,000 miles round-trip, depending on your U.S. departure airport. If possible, you’ll want to route through New York-JFK and fly ANA’s new industry-leading “The Room” business class, which is only available on select routes.

However, availability can be difficult to come by.

Short-haul flights to Canada

Aeroplan stuck to an award chart for partner redemptions but added dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights. As a result, you can often find super-cheap short-haul tickets from the U.S. to Canada. For example, New York to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) can be booked for under 6,000 miles one-way on many dates.

However, you can also find very reasonable award rates on Star Alliance partners through Aeroplan — including Lufthansa, Swiss and EVA Airways.

Related: Your complete guide to Star Alliance benefits

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece in our monthly valuations, and we believe you will receive the best value by transferring the points to partners.

However, you’ll get varying values for Chase points if you pursue other redemption opportunities. For example, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase travel portal for Sapphire Reserve cardholders or 1.25 cents for those with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred. You’ll also have access to Chase Pay Yourself Back as a cardholder of any of the above cards, and there are occasionally offers to use Chase points for Apple products or gift cards at an enhanced value.

Finally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece if used for simple cash back.

How do I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

There are many ways to earn Chase points at 1-10 points per dollar spent, depending on the specific Chase credit card you carry.

The first three cards below earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points by themselves, while the remaining four are technically billed as cash-back credit cards.

However, if you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can effectively convert your cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card can make sense to maximize your earning and redeeming potential.

Here are the cards that allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is a fantastic all-around travel credit card. It earns points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on all other travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and has many travel perks, including delayed baggage insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and primary car rental insurance.

Annual fee: $95

Application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

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Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: The Sapphire Reserve offers earning power paired with travel perks that can easily cover the annual fee. It earns points at the following rates:

• 10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal
• 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal
• 3 points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase
• 3 points per dollar on other dining purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Other perks include an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100 once every four years) and Priority Pass Select lounge access as well as the growing list of new Sapphire lounges. This is one of the few cards that allow you to use your Priority Pass membership for discounted meals in airport restaurants. Cardholders also get primary car rental coverage, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and other protections.

Annual fee: $550

Application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome bonus: 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is one of the best credit cards for small-business owners, earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, and points don’t expire as long as your account is open.

Annual fee: $95

Application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

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Cash-back Chase credit cards

Four Chase credit cards are technically billed as cash-back products. However, suppose you have one of the three cards noted above. In that case, you can combine your points in a single account, converting these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

Even better? None of these cards charge an annual fee.

Here are the four cards that offer this functionality:

• Chase Freedom Flex: Earn $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening. Earn 5% back on select bonus categories, which rotate every quarter and apply on up to $1,500 in combined spending (activation required). Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited: Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.  Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases.
• Ink Business Cash Credit Card: Earn $900 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%). Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%).
• Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card: Earn $900 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards on every purchase.

Note that Chase also issues the Ink Business Premier Credit Card. However, the earnings on this card can’t be combined with others in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.

Read more: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

Bottom line

If you value the flexibility of choosing from 11 airline partners and three hotel partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite credit card programs at TPG.

In the age of no-notice devaluations by some loyalty programs, it is smart to earn Ultimate Rewards via the range of credit card welcome bonuses, category bonuses and everyday spending, and then keep your Ultimate Rewards points until you are ready to transfer and book with an airline or hotel partner.

Hilton’s newest extended-stay hotel chain, which the company announced back in May 2023, finally has a name and the first location should be open for business by the end of this summer.

Originally given the working title, Project H3, the new chain will officially be called LivSmart Studios by Hilton. The first LivSmart Studios, currently under construction in Kokomo, Indiana, is slated to open by late summer of this year, Hilton announced in a release Tuesday morning.

The brand appears to already be a success in terms of owner interest, as Hilton claims more than 350 deals to open outposts are in various stages of negotiation. LivSmart Studios is the newest of Hilton’s 22 brands (including its three club and vacation brands) and was part of the company’s push into more affordable hotel segments last year following the debut of Spark, a so-called premium economy hotel chain.

It had become a bit of a guessing game in the industry as to when Hilton would officially brand Project H3 after some of its competitors moved ahead with official branding for their own extended-stay hotel concepts.

“After much anticipation, we’re thrilled to announce that LivSmart Studios by Hilton is official,” Isaac Lake, brand leader of LivSmart Studios, said in a statement. “With a resilient $300 billion workforce travel market, the extended-stay segment continues to grow. It has never been as primed as it is now for this long-stay brand, and we’re thrilled with the initial excitement we’ve received from owners.”

Why all the extended-stay hotel interest?

LivSmart Studios adds to the growing interest of the broader hotel industry in extended-stay properties, which performed best of any hotel type during the pandemic. Extended-stay hotels typically attract essential workers in fields like construction or healthcare — industries that need people on the road who can’t work remotely — as well as those relying on hotels for temporary residences.

Marriott and Hyatt also launched extended-stay hotel brands — StudioRes and Hyatt Studios, respectively — in the last year.

“From luxury to premium economy, Hilton has a rich history of strategically building brands for every guest and every travel occasion,” Chris Silcock, president of Hilton’s global brands and commercial services said in a statement. “At Hilton, we continue to innovate our brands to meet the needs of the ever-evolving traveler, and we are excited to find an opportunity to better serve the long-stay guest with LivSmart Studios.”

When a LivSmart Studios stay is just right

LivSmart Studios by Hilton hotels will be geared toward travelers expecting to stay 20 nights or longer at a stretch. Hotels will feature common areas like outdoor patios with grills, communal fire pits, fitness centers and laundry areas and retail markets. Hilton previously announced there would be free breakfast with grab-and-go items.

Apartment-style studios will feature fully-equipped kitchens with full-size refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, two-burner stovetops and plenty of storage. Multipurpose furniture in the guest rooms will create versatile spaces for working as well as relaxing and, of course, sleeping

Hilton previously indicated to TPG that a unique on-property elite benefit strategy is in the works for LivSmart Studios — something that Marriott also appears to be doing with StudioRes. That is likely to mean won’t get the full roster of elite benefits, nor earn as many points per dollar, as you would at a full-service Hilton property.

Rates at LivSmart Studios are expected to average around $100 per night, TPG previously reported.

Related reading:

• The award traveler’s guide to Hilton Honors
• How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
• What is Hilton Honors elite status worth?
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

Longtime JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes will retire, the airline announced Monday, and will be succeeded by airline president Joanna Geraghty.

Hayes, who is 57, will step down effective Feb 12., the airline said, citing health reasons.

“I’ve loved working in this industry,” Hayes said in a statement. “However, the extraordinary challenges and pressure of this job have taken their toll, and on the advice of my doctor and after talking to my wife, it’s time I put more focus on my health and well-being.”

Want more aviation news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Geraghty, who has been with JetBlue for nearly 20 years, will be the first woman to lead a major U.S. airline.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last 20-plus years, and I am looking forward to building on this momentum as we execute on our strategic initiatives, return to profitable growth, and generate sustainable value for our shareholders and all our stakeholders,” Geraghty said in a statement.

Hayes has helmed the New York-based carrier since early 2015. He joined the airline in 2008 after working at British Airways as executive vice president for the Americas.

During his time at the airline, through stints as chief commercial officer, president, and eventually chief executive, Hayes led the charge to expand and grow the airline beyond a small, quirky boutique carrier. He led the development and expansion of the airline’s Mint business class product, along with the airline’s first routes to Europe.

He also spearheaded efforts to grow the airline through partnerships and acquisitions. Under Hayes, JetBlue tried to buy Virgin America in 2016, but was eventually outbid by Alaska Airlines.

In 2020, JetBlue and American Airlines announced the Northeast Alliance, a close codeshare and frequent flyer partnership that came to define the airlines’ respective domestic networks over the next two years. The partnership was challenged by the Department of Justice under the Biden Administration and dismantled in 2023 after a judge ruled that it was anti-competitive.

Hayes’ departure comes at an inflection point for the airline as it awaits the decision in another antitrust trial, challenging its planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

In that case, which was heard in federal District Court in Boston late last year, JetBlue argued that it needed to grow through the merger in order to compete effectively with the “big 4” airlines that dominate 80% of the U.S. market — American, Delta, United and Southwest. By acquiring Spirit’s aircraft and employees, JetBlue could effectively double in size to become the fifth-largest U.S. carrier.

The DOJ, however, argued that removing Spirit from the market would cause the lowest fares to rise. JetBlue and Spirit countered that they could bring median fares down by competing effectively against the big 4.

JetBlue has not said what it would do if the merger is blocked.

Regardless of the outcome, it will be on Geraghty to lead the airline forward.

Both Hayes and Geraghty together brought the airline through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Geraghty has been actively involved with the day-to-day operation of the airline, as well as strategic planning, Hayes said in a statement.

In recent years, the airline has put Geraghty forward increasingly as a face of the airline, tapping her to liaise with media, partners and other stakeholders. She has flown on inaugural flights and engaged with partners on the airline’s transatlantic expansion, and been arguably more outspoken than Hayes as the airline began its bid to acquire Spirit.

Geraghty, 51, began her career as an attorney and was a partner at the law firm Holland & Knight before joining JetBlue as a lawyer in 2005.

Related reading:

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

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

There is one common question we get from TPG readers who are cruise enthusiasts: What are the best credit cards for booking cruises? 

It might seem logical that the best way to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded credit card. However, these generally don’t offer as solid of a value as the best travel credit cards.

For example, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Card currently offers a sign-up bonus of 25,000 bonus points (worth $250 in onboard credit) after you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening and an ongoing rate of 2 points per dollar on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises purchases. This might seem like a good bonus, but you can actually get a much better value from the welcome bonus on most general travel credit cards.

The information for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature 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. 

If you want to get the most value from your vacation purchases, here we explore the best credit cards for booking cruises and why you always want to pay for your vacation at sea with a credit card.

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

Why use a credit card to book your cruise?

At TPG, we recommend using a credit card whenever and wherever possible so you always earn rewards on your purchases. When it comes to cruises, you’ll get some serious benefits by booking with a credit card.

Earn points and miles

A cruise is a significant expense, which means it’s an opportunity to earn significant rewards. You can use a cruise booking to help you hit a spending requirement and earn a valuable welcome bonus on a new card or earn rewards to put toward future travel by using a card that earns bonus points on travel purchases.  

Protect from billing mistakes

We’ve all experienced billing mistakes and the headaches that come with them. If you use cash or a debit card for your cruise, a billing mistake can mean money is already gone from your account before you realize there’s an issue. By using a credit card, your money is safe while you work to get the issue resolved.

Protect your spending

Many travel rewards cards come with trip delay and cancellation insurance, so you’ll be protected if your travel plans go awry. If you plan on doing significant shopping while on your ship, you can use a card with purchase protection to ensure your item arrives safely home.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise insurance

The best credit cards for booking cruises

When deciding which credit card to use for booking cruises, you’ll want to consider the rewards a card earns on cruises and benefits like travel and shopping protections. You can also benefit from a card’s more specific perks, like statement credits for travel and airport lounge access.

With this in mind, we recommend these credit cards for booking a cruise:

Card	Annual fee	Earning rate on cruises	What the points are worth (based on TPG’s valuations)	Rewards return
American Express® Green Card	$150 (see rates and fees)	3 Membership Rewards points per dollar	2 cents per point	6%
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card	$95	2 points per dollar (up to 3.5 points per dollar with Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards®)	1 cent per point	2%-3.5%
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	$95 (see rates and fees)	2 Capital One miles per dollar	1.85 cents per point	3.7%
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	$395 (see rates and fees)	2 Capital One miles per dollar	1.85 cents per point	3.7%
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	$95	2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar	2.05 cents per point	4.1%
Chase Sapphire Reserve	$550	3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar (after using your $300 annual travel credit)	2.05 cents per point	6.2%
The Platinum Card® from American Express	$695 (see rates and fees)	1 Membership Rewards point per dollar	2 cents per point	2%
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card	$400	3 points per dollar	1.5 cents per point	4.5%

The information for the American Express Green Card and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

American Express Green Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in your first six months of card membership, worth $800 according to TPG valuations.

Annual fee: $150

Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, including cruises. This means you’ll earn bonus points on the cruise booking as well as any airfare or hotel purchases you make to get to and from your cruise. You’ll also get trip delay insurance* that covers you up to $300 per trip (maximum of two claims per 12-month period) and purchase protection† for up to 90 days after you make a purchase.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
†Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

The information for the American Express Green 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.

For more details, please see our full review of the Amex Green.

Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Green? 

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days of account opening, worth $600.

Annual fee: $95

Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card earns 2 points per dollar on all travel purchases, including cruise line purchases as well as hotel and airline purchases. You’ll also get travel protections such as trip delay/cancellation/interruption insurance and purchase protection for up to 90 days after your date of purchase.

And if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you’ll earn an additional 25%-75% rewards bonus on every purchase — giving you an even greater return on your cruise spending.

For more details, please see our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.

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Apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card 

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Related: Everything you should know about Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,388 according to TPG valuations.

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)

Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Capital One Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, including cruise bookings. You can redeem the rewards you earn for a statement credit to cover travel expenses, including cruise line purchases. You’ll also get travel and emergency assistance services.

For more details, please see our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

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Apply here: Capital One Venture Rewards

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Related: 7 reasons to get the Capital One Venture Rewards card 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,388 according to TPG valuations.

Annual fee: $395 (see rates and fees)

Why it’s great for booking cruises: Like the Venture Rewards, the Venture X earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, including cruises, and comes with several travel protections. What makes the Venture X stand out is that it can make your trip run more smoothly with additional perks like complimentary airport lounge access, a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and a $300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel.

For more details, please see our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

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Apply here: Capital One Venture X

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Related: Is the Venture X worth the annual fee? 

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,230 according to TPG valuations.

Annual fee: $95

Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns a valuable 2 points per dollar on travel purchases, including cruise bookings. What makes this card stand out is its impressive travel protections. When you use it to book travel, you’ll get protection against lost or delayed baggage, as well as trip delays, accidents and cancellations.

For more details, please see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred

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Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is perfect for the average traveler 

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,230 according to TPG valuations.

Annual fee: $550

Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, including cruise bookings. You’ll also get a slightly better suite of travel protections than with the Sapphire Preferred, plus airport lounge access and a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Perhaps the best perk on this card, however, is a $300 annual travel statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases, meaning you can get $300 back on your cruise booking when you use this card to pay.

For more details, please see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve

The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership, worth $1,600 according to TPG valuations.

Annual fee: $695

Why it’s great for booking cruises: You won’t earn bonus points on cruise bookings with this card, but you’ll get access to the Amex Cruise Privileges Program, where you’ll receive onboard credit and an extra onboard amenity for each cruise booking. Plus, the Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar on flights (when booking with the airline or through Amex Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and comes with comprehensive airport lounge access, so it’s also great for booking travel to and from your cruise departure port.

For more details, please see our full review of the Amex Platinum.

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Apply here: Amex Platinum

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Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening, worth $750.

Annual fee: $400.

Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Altitude Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases and comes with up to $325 in annual credits for travel purchases. This means you can get $325 back on your cruise booking when you use this card.

For more details, please see our full review of the Altitude Reserve.

Related: Best credit cards with annual travel statement credits 

Bottom line

Using the right credit card to book your cruise allows you to rack up some serious rewards on your booking and protect yourself against a wide range of mishaps. Whether you’re focused on hitting a valuable sign-up bonus to help fund your next trip or earning bonus points on your onboard cocktails, you can feel great knowing your card is working hard while you’re kicking back at sea.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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

For rates and fees of the American Express Green Card please click here.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Card from American Express please click here.

Despite its hefty $550 annual fee (see rates and fees), the rates and fees are well worth it thanks to its offering of Hilton Honors elite status, statement credits and impressive earning rates.

The most valuable benefit of the Hilton Aspire Amex is its offering of Hilton Honors Diamond status, which earns bonus points on hotel stays, free breakfast, room upgrades, and executive lounge access.

Today, we will dive into the specifics of the Hilton Aspire Amex and what makes it worth paying the annual fee.

The information for the Hilton Aspire 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.

Impressive welcome offer

Currently, the Hilton Aspire Amex is offering 180,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchasing within the first six months of card membership. The offer ends Jan. 17.

The current welcome offer is the highest we have seen and an excellent time to apply for the card. TPG values Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents each, and the welcome offer is worth $1,080.

Related: Choosing the best Hilton credit card

Strong earning rates

As Hilton loyalists, cardmembers are sure to see their Hilton Honors point balances skyrocket with impressive earning rates. The rates and fees offer 14 points per dollar on purchases for Hilton portfolio hotel stays. Charges include hotel stays and incidentals charged to the room bill and paid for using your Aspire card.

Cardmembers also earn 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com, car rentals booked with specific car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery). All other purchases earn 3 points per dollar spent.

As a card meant for Hilton loyalists, it offers a great earning rate when staying at Hilton properties. However, the card falls short for everyday purchases, netting just a 1.8% return — a traditional cash back card will get you better value on everyday purchases.

Elite status

The biggest factor in whether the Hilton Amex Aspire is worth it is elite status. Cardmembers receive complimentary Diamond status with Hilton, which TPG values at nearly $3,000.

Diamond elite status offers 100% bonus points on all Hilton stays, so an extra 10 points per dollar, a remarkable return on a benefit provided to cardholders. Diamond elite members also receive complimentary upgrades on rooms, including suites, based on availability, along with breakfast or a food and beverage credit. Cardmembers also enjoy executive lounge access at applicable properties.

Based on the comprehensive benefits of Hilton Diamond elite status, the $550 annual fee (see rates and fees) may be worth paying for benefits that’ll elevate your hotel stay experience.

Related: How to maximize the Hilton Amex Aspire

Statement credits

Cardmembers receive up to $400 in statement credits each calendar year for eligible purchases at eligible Hilton resorts. This credit is split into two $200 statement credits, January to June and July to December. The statement credit will be applied toward dining, activities, spa treatments and, even better, room rates and taxes.

Cardmembers also receive up to $200 in annual airline purchase statement credits, split into $50 each calendar quarter, for airfare purchased directly from an airline or through AmexTravel.com.

Additionally, cardmembers receive up to $100 Hilton property credit when booking at least a two-night paid stay at Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties through HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard (or over the phone and quote booking code ZZAAP1).

Along with travel credits, the Aspire also provides a statement credit of up to $189 a year toward a Clear Plus membership. Clear is an expedited security program available at more than 50 U.S. airports, stadiums and large venues. If TSA PreCheck lines are long or closed, Clear members can use dedicated security lanes with their kiosks to clear airport security.

Related: 7 reasons to get the Hilton Amex Aspire

Other benefits

Hilton Amex Aspire cardmembers can receive up to three free night awards each year.

The first free night reward is given after opening an account and on the cardmember anniversary each year, with the ability to earn a second-night and third-night reward when spending $30,000 and $60,000 on the card in a calendar year, respectively.

Senior credit cards editor Matt Moffitt uses his free night rewards to stay at luxury properties when he visits New York City, a market with traditionally very high cash prices.

The Aspire provides complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status after enrollment in the Emerald Club program (terms apply) and travel protections, including trip delay reimbursement*, trip cancellation, and interruption insurance*.

Cardmembers also receive cellphone protection for a maximum of $800 per claim in reimbursement for the repair or theft of a device when the wireless bill for the specific cellphone line is paid using the Aspire card. There’s a limit of two approved claims every 12 months, with a $50 deductible each time.

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Bottom line

The Aspire deserves a place in your wallet if you’re a Hilton loyalist who frequently stays at Hilton portfolio properties. You’ll receive elite-status benefits, a high earning rate with Hilton and useful statement credits.

However, for those who stay at Hilton properties occasionally, the lower annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or a general travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred would be a better fit.

To learn more, read our full card review of the Hilton Amex Aspire.

For rates and fees and fees of the Hilton Amex Aspire, click here.

Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information.

A Disney family vacation is almost as classic of an American pastime as baseball games and 4th of July fireworks. It’s an escape from reality and can be a fun dose of magic and happiness. But along with all that joy and anticipation can come sticker shock at the cost of a Disney vacation. Disney can be done on a budget, but it will never be inexpensive.

While there are sometimes deals on Disney dining and lodging, scoring a meaningful discount on Disney tickets is hard. However, you can use some of your credit card points to get Disney tickets without spending a wallet’s worth of cash.

Whether you want to head to Disneyland or Disney World, here’s a look at different ways to use points to cover your Disney park tickets so you can make your next family vacation more affordable.

Disney ticket costs

How much a Disney ticket costs, and therefore the number of points you’ll need to use, depends on several factors.

These factors include guest age (under 3 are free, but at 10, you’re considered an ‘adult’), what date you’re going, how many days you’ll visit, which park(s) you want to visit and whether you want to park-hop.

Related: Everything you need to know about visiting Walt Disney World Resort

One constant with Disney tickets is that the more days you visit a Disney park in one trip, the less your per-day cost.

Looking at the value on a per-day basis, it’s clearly in your best interest to fit as much Disney as possible on a single trip.

Doing so will let you get significantly more bang for your points (or dollars) than taking multiple short Disney trips, unless you’re shopping for a Disney annual pass, which actually isn’t a bad strategy if you plan to visit multiple times in a year. A single-day, one-park tickets to Disney World range from $109 to $184. But your per-day cost on a longer Disney trip of up to 10 days can start as low as $62 per day at certain times of the year.

Park hopping, where you visit more than one of the theme parks in a single day, will make a one-day adult Disney World ticket cost $188 – $252 (plus tax), so you’re looking at a real chunk of change … or points.

How to redeem points for Disney tickets

If you’re looking for a magical way to get outsize value when using your points for Disney tickets the way you might when cashing in airline miles for a first-class ticket, we have some bad news.

It’s generally impossible to get an insane return for your points when using them on Disney tickets. Instead, as you’ll see below, the main ways to redeem points for Disney tickets are via a cash-back card or by redeeming them at a fixed rate.

Related: Save on a Disney vacation by renting Disney Vacation Club points

But, the best use for your points is the one that makes you happy and if Disney is your happy place, your points can unlock the gates for your visit.

Bilt Rewards are very good points for Disney tickets

Bilt Rewards points are some of the best for securing tickets to Disney.

With Bilt Rewards and the Bilt Mastercard®, (see rates and fees) you can earn points that you can use for Disney tickets directly in the activities section of their travel platform at a rate of 1.25 cents per point, which is going to be a better return per point than most of the other options we’ll go through.

While there are more valuable ways to redeem Bilt points with transfer partners, using Bilt points for Disney tickets is pretty solid, especially if you are racking them up at an increased rate on the monthly Rent Day that does things such as result in double the earnings on dining, taking it from 3 points per dollar to 6 points per dollar, etc.

In the example above, Bilt’s travel booking site charges $167.04 for a one-day ticket to Animal Kingdom on Nov. 2, while Disney charges $158.69 directly. So, you are paying about 5% more in that case to use your points, but it’s still one of the better overall uses of points for Disney tickets.

Use Chase points for Disney tickets

Until 2018, you could redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly toward Disney tickets, cruises, resorts and vacation packages at 1.25 cents if you held a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or 1.5 cents each if you had a Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Then, that option went away for many years. However, it’s now back, with some limitations.

In the Chase travel portal, three-day and longer tickets to Walt Disney World are available with points. However, the prices are a bit higher than purchasing directly from Disney in our comparisons. For example, on Nov. 2, 2024, Disney is charging $473 for a three-day adult ticket, while the option on the Chase site costs $544. Unlike the 5% difference with Bilt, that’s a larger 15% price increase in our example dates, so something to pay attention to when pricing out your trip.

That said, the $544 three-day ticket would cost you 36,277 points if you had a Chase Sapphire Reserve, which is mathematically not the best use of Ultimate Rewards points. However, it’s still a decent option compared to some others, considering you’re effectively getting 1.3 cents in value per point redeemed against the price Disney is charging (1.5 cents against the higher rate on the Chase site).

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can also use the card’s annual $300 travel credit toward Disney tickets — again, as long as it codes as a travel charge, so purchasing the tickets from Undercover Tourist is a good strategy for that plan.

Here’s a look at our favorite credit cards and types of credit card rewards for a Disney trip.

Redeem travel points and miles for Disney tickets — with a catch

Like with Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can transfer Capital One miles from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to hotel and airline partners. But you can also redeem Capital One miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent each toward travel purchases made using the card.

The catch with this redemption method is that Disney tickets purchased directly from Disney don’t typically code as a travel charge if purchased by themselves.

If you want to offset the cost by redeeming flexible travel points such as Venture miles, you’ll need the purchase to code as travel.

As mentioned, if you book a larger hotel-and-ticket package directly from Disney, it will likely code as travel. But if you only want to buy Disney tickets without purchasing a broader resort package, again consider purchasing the tickets via a reputable third-party site like Undercover Tourist, as that should then code as travel. As a bonus, some of the tickets available via Undercover Tourists cost a bit less than buying directly with Disney (though some tickets for a shorter trip cost a little bit more).

Going that route means that you could use the 75,000 miles from the welcome bonus from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that you earn after spending $4,000 on the card in the first three months as $750 toward a Disney trip, again, as long as what you are buying codes as travel.

Related: These are our favorite Disney World hotels

Redeem flexible points against the charge

With some of the other credit card programs, the best you can do is earn cash-back rewards that you could use to offset the cost of Disney tickets or anything else for that matter.

For example, Bank of America Preferred Rewards points earned from the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card are worth 1 cent each. This card awards up to 2.625 points per dollar charged on non-bonus transactions and 3.5 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases if you have the highest tier of perks based on total assets on deposit with Bank of America and/or Merrill accounts.

If you are in that preferred earnings tier, it’s just about the most rewarding cash-back card on the market.

Right now, the welcome bonus is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. That has a $600 cash equivalent value that you could use to give yourself a statement credit, essentially offsetting the cost of the Disney tickets charged to that card.

Here’s a look at some of our other favorite cash-back cards.

What about the Disney Visa Card?

If you have a goal of using points for a Disney vacation, it’s logical to wonder why 1,000 words into the story, the namesake Disney® Visa® Card has yet to come up.

There are technically two versions of the Disney Visa. The no-annual-fee Disney Visa earns a simple 1% back on all card purchases in the form of Disney Rewards Dollars you can use at Disney.

Then there’s the Disney® Visa® Premier, which earns 5% back on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com, 2% back on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations, and 1% back everywhere else.

In both cases, the Disney Rewards Dollars you earn can be used toward expenses at the Disney parks, on a Disney cruise, etc. This means that it’s not a bad option if you want to rack up rewards for a Disney trip — especially if you lock in a good sign-up bonus, which I’ve seen as high as $300 – $400 on the Disney Visa Premier card that has the $49 annual fee.

There are some cool perks and discounts that come with the cards, but they aren’t the absolute best options for maximizing your ongoing spending to earn a future Disney vacation.

Here’s an entire story on whether the Disney Visa Card is worth it to help you decide what role that card could play for you in an overall Disney on points and rewards strategy.

Related: How to save money on a Disney vacation

Bottom line

It takes time and a concerted effort to build up enough points for a family’s worth of Disney tickets. However, strategically using one or more big credit card sign-up bonuses can help turn a dream Disney trip into a more wallet-friendly reality.

For example, getting $750 in value toward your trip from the current bonus on the Capital One Venture Rewards Card and another $600 from the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and its welcome bonus can get you a nice head-start on not having to pay cash for Disney tickets.

If you have more time to stockpile points, then the Bilt Mastercard is a great card to add to your wallet since its points are worth 1.25 cents each for Disney tickets. However, it currently doesn’t have a welcome bonus for new cardholders.

Getting the Chase Sapphire Reserve and earning its 60,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months could get you close to two three-day adult tickets as long as they stay available in that travel portal.

While mathematically, there are often better uses of some credit card points than on Disney tickets, the best use of points is always the one that makes your travel dreams come true. So, if Disney is what you want for a future points-fueled trip, you can make that dream come true.

Related reading:

• How to save money at Disney by renting Disney Vacation Club points
• Best credit cards for a trip to Disney World 
• Best hotels at Walt Disney World
• Best hotels at Disneyland

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.

See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

The crash between a Japan Airlines passenger jet and a Japanese coast guard plane in Tokyo this week is resurfacing questions about standards used to evaluate whether aircraft can be safely evacuated during emergencies.

It took about 18 minutes to evacuate Japan Airlines Flight 516, an Airbus A350-900, the Wall Street Journal reported. That’s despite aircraft certification requirements that the plane could be evacuated within 90 seconds, even with half of its emergency exits blocked, and tests that demonstrated that the plane met that target.

Want more aviation news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Although five of the six crew members aboard the coast guard aircraft were killed, all 379 passengers and crew members aboard the JAL flight escaped safely, even as the plane caught fire and smoke filled the cabin. Only a dozen minor injuries were reported — things like bumps, bruises and sprains from the trip down the evacuation slide.

The flight attendants on board have been widely credited with keeping passengers calm and helping ensure an orderly evacuation, while the modern design of the aircraft is seen as having helped to slow the spread of the initial fire, giving passengers time to escape.

Still, the discrepancy between the theoretically achievable 90-second window and the time it took to evacuate in Tokyo has raised old questions about whether that window is even possible, whether certification tests reflect real-world conditions and whether redesigning the test would have unintended consequences.

Legislation introduced in the U.S. in late 2022 by Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., would require the Federal Aviation Administration to test evacuation times using a more realistic setting.

“Putting 60 people on part of a fuselage of an airplane and pretending that no one has carry-on baggage, and there are no children and senior citizens on board” doesn’t reflect real-world conditions, Duckworth told TPG in a Zoom interview at the time. “I wrote the legislation because I saw that these tests were not being done in a realistic way.”

A modified version of the legislation is included in the pending bill to reauthorize the FAA, which is expected to pass this year.

Duckworth — who sits on the Senate subcommittee for aviation and was a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army before losing both legs during combat in Iraq — renewed calls to address the evacuation standards this week following the JAL crash.

“What happened in Tokyo this week was a tragedy, but one that could have been much worse—and while we won’t know the full details for some time, I have been warning that something like this could happen in the U.S. for a long time now,” Duckworth said in a statement provided by her office Friday.

The episode highlights the need to reassess the 90-second rule, Duckworth continued, to “finally establish an emergency evacuation standard that takes real-life conditions into account—such as the presence of carry-on bags, children, seniors and passengers with disabilities—so we can make flying as safe as possible. That’s the least the flying public deserves.”

When first introducing the legislation, Duckworth noted that should aircraft fail the 90-second test under new standards, airlines would not necessarily have to make changes. Rather, the findings could be that the standard is unrealistic, unhelpful or unnecessary, leading to a change to the standard itself.

“I just want to get the basic data,” Duckworth said.

One effect could be to give pilots, flight attendants and ground rescue crews a new, more realistic real-world standard to train to.

“I think that ultimately it’s going to make everybody safer in the long run,” she said during that 2022 interview. “But to have an arbitrary standard and then to finesse the test so that you meet those standards is not how FAA regulations and safety regulations are supposed to work.”

The cause of the Japan crash is under investigation, along with the response to the crash — including the evacuation.

As the remnants of the A350 smoldered on the runway at Haneda Airport, however, it remained clear that regardless of how long the evacuation took, some confluence of factors prevented a tragedy from being significantly worse.