Educational Posts on Loyalty Programs

Whether you’re planning a school trip, yoga retreat, culinary tour, photography workshop or family gathering, none of us want to find ourselves responsible for covering expenses such as airfare or lodging if an expected participant fails to show up and pay his or her fair share. Fortunately, WeTravel’s group-trip planning website was designed to prevent that problem.

Johannes Koeppel, a WeTravel co-founder and current CEO, recently spoke with RewardExpert about the inspiration behind the site, how you can use it to plan your next group excursion, and an exciting new feature slated for early 2017.

One of the finer things in life is being able to stay and play on a luxury ship in the middle of some of the most serene locales on the planet.

Companies like Paul Gauguin Cruises makes those recreational dreams realities, taking passengers from around the world on idyllic voyages to destinations like Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and the South Pacific.

Star Alliance is the biggest airline alliance in the world with 28 member airlines including Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca Brazil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. In the second quarter of 2017 Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines is set to become the Alliance’s “connecting member.”

Next to airline tickets, hotel stays can be the biggest ticket item on the travel budget. Just a few nights can add up to hundreds of dollars. Getting the best rate, however, is all about timing. The price of a room can change daily, according to demand.

TRIPBAM uses this principle to find significant savings on quality hotels for their customers and clients. Steve Reynolds, the company’s founder and CEO recently talked to RewardExpert and shared the company’s secret for catching hotel rooms at their lowest possible price.

Every week I see a post or a picture in one of the frequent flyer communities of someone celebrating their Million Miler status with one of the legacy carriers. Often the elated and relieved poster will recall countless years and flights it took to achieve the milestone. This is followed by congratulatory remarks, memes, and GIFs from onlookers who themselves recall their personal victory or their current journey towards that goal.

I hope I never achieve it, and I hope you don’t either. I do have an alternative goal to strive for though.

Owning a yacht is part of a luxurious lifestyle. However, many fail to realize that the upkeep of a personal maritime vessel comes with a lot of responsibility and work. Often, those who were once gung-ho about owning a yacht eventually lose interest and end up selling their boat to someone else looking to get into the hobby of recreational sailing.

Food might not be the sole reason why people travel, but savoring foreign delicacies still remains a vital part of the traveling experience. There are plenty of services out there looking to connect you to restaurants while abroad, but how many are able to treat you to a fresh, home cooked meal?

Alaska bought Virgin America last December, and though have released a few details on how the merger would impact elite benefits, mileage earning, and other short-term concerns, they have kept travelers waiting for a bigger picture view of what these airlines will look like when the merger is complete.

Now, we finally have the answers. In general, there are more positives than negatives, especially for Alaska elites, though some features will be disappearing that Virgin America loyalists will probably miss.

Ever dream of venturing to far-flung places, such as the Andes or Thailand? Do you hesitate because of safety concerns? Global Rescue reduces the risks associated with traveling abroad by providing advisory and emergency services to travelers anywhere in the world.

In the world of wanderlust, life’s daily rituals don’t usually become monotonous or commonplace. That feeling is multiplied when you share adventures with other people—notably significant others who know your tastes and life goals.

And, sometimes, a loving relationship centered on exploring the globe can result in an even more romantic relationship. In the case of Scott and Collette Stohler, their migrant journeys encouraged them to base their professional lives around their own recreational interests.

You might think that international airlines only fly to and from their home country, but that’s not always true. Many fly “Fifth Freedom” routes as a result of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation. According to the ICAO, the fifth of the nine freedoms guarantees the right of an airline to fly between two foreign countries en route to or originating from their home country.

If you have to fly from Point A to Point B—whether for business or for pleasure—wouldn’t you like to be comfortable doing so? While a first-class or business-class ticket may score you a wider, more cushiony seat and extra legroom along with perks like pre-flight drinks and meals served with actual metal utensils, they also carry a hefty price tag. So, what’s an economy flyer with a limited budget to do?

The merger between Alaska Airlines and Virgin America continues to create new opportunities. The most recent announcement is that companion fares are now eligible to be redeemed on Virgin America flights. In this post, we will explain the process for booking companion tickets, give some useful tips, and talk about new possibilities that the Virgin America merger makes possible.

Would you to pack up and move your life to a completely different location? Many people travel for leisure and business, but there are those for whom travel is a way of life. These adventurous individuals must surely face many hurdles given the costs associated with such a style of living.

Did you know that unlike airlines and most hotel chains, car rental agencies do not penalize you for canceling and rebooking? A website called AutoSlash takes advantage of that phenomenon by checking your booking information multiple times per day, looking for a better rate from virtually all rental agencies and if it finds one, automatically rebooks for you.

It doesn’t always make sense to use miles or points for a domestic ticket. You have to compare the price of the ticket to the amount of miles you would have to use for the same route. But beware of the extras you would have to pay if you are comparing the price of a ticket on one of the legacy carriers to one of the ultra low-cost carriers (ULCCs).

Do you hate lugging heavy bags to and from the airport? Are you tired of hauling luggage while wrangling your children? Have exorbitant baggage fees decimated your travel budget? Have you ever spent half of your vacation waiting for lost suitcases to arrive? If so, it might be time to turn the tables and let your luggage wait for you instead.

It can be certainly be argued that the digital age is one of simplification, where individuals literally have the world at their fingertips and possibilities are endless.

However, sometimes clutter can intensify. That is where companies like Umapped form a bridge between information, global industry brands, travel advisors and their customers.

If you had a chance to meet two of the world’s most famous astronauts, what would you talk about? On the Thursday before the Super Bowl last month, I was invited to attend the NFL Player’s Association VIP party at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Among the hundreds of attendees were dozens of current and former players, who easily stood out because of their size.

If you’re like most of us these days, you probably enjoy saving money on travel. After all, discount booking and rate comparison websites abound to help us do exactly that. But what if you could make the world a little better while scoring an exclusive deal? You actually can—if you use Kind Traveler.

RewardExpert recently spoke with Jessica Blotter (CEO) and Sean Krejci (COO)—Kind Traveler’s co-founders—about the inspiration behind the give-and-get hotel booking platform and how you can use it to save money on your next vacation.