Educational Posts on Loyalty Programs

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Flying Apps and Programs That Will Make Your Journey Smoother

Zipping through the sky in an aluminum tube is standard procedure for many travelers, but some find it as thrilling and exciting as ever.

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How to Place Your Next Award Ticket on Hold Before Booking

There are many times when you’ll want to put your travel plans on pause before you book. Maybe you hope to find something better or you need to check with a companion. Whatever the reason, it can be helpful to be familiar with the award change and hold policies before you book your ticket. If you fail to book or hold your award, there’s no guarantee that it will still be available when you check back later.

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JetBlue Airways Expands Its Popular Transcontinental “Mint” Service

Days after losing an intense bidding war to buy Californian-based Virgin America, JetBlue Airways has upped the ante in the battle for high-paying fliers from the Golden State.

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How to Make the Delta SkyMiles Program Work

Delta SkyMiles members have been jerked around a lot over the past few years. Delta was the first of the major airlines to go revenue-based creating a domino effect with other airlines and limiting the mileage-earning potential of frequent flyers.

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Change and Cancellation Policies for 12 Common Airline Loyalty Programs

Planning the perfect travel award can be difficult and time consuming, which makes it especially frustrating when those plans go astray.

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Will You Have a Problem in Europe with a U.S. Issued Credit Card?

If you travel overseas with any kind of frequency, you already know what EMV cards are. And if you don’t, you might’ve noticed the new types of terminals in stores here in the U.S. Instead of swiping your card, you’re often asked to enter it into the slot in front of the terminal.

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Frequent Flyer 101: How Does it All Work?

In the complex world of airline award travel, there is some terminology that needs a bit of explaining. If you understand the terms it will make your travel planning much easier. So let’s talk about how it all works and decipher the jargon along the way.

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How Will the New Chase Credit Card Rules Affect Frequent Flyers?

Chase is tightening restrictions on credit card applications. They are limiting the number of new cards a customer can get to five within a 24-month period. So if you apply for a sixth new card in a two-year period, Chase is very likely to turn you down.

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Alaska Air and Virgin America Vow Frequent Flyers’ Experience Will Remain Intact Following Merger

On April 4, Alaska Air Group Inc. announced it will purchase Virgin America Inc. in a $2.6 billion deal that vaults the combined company to the top carrier on America’s West Coast.

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Don’t Miss the Benefits of American Express OPEN

Do you have an American Express business credit or charge card? If so, have you delved into everything the company’s OPEN program offers? Probably not because it’s not as sexy as earning a ton of points via a sign-up bonus. But, you can definitely earn additional Membership Rewards points through the program so let’s talk about how you can benefit from some other really valuable Amex perks.

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Two New Airlines Enter the A350 Space

Singapore Airlines and TAM became the newest airlines to join the A350 flying family, taking delivery of their aircraft on March 2, 2016 and December 17, 2015 respectively. Singapore Airlines is the second airline to fly the planes in Asia and TAM is the first in South America.

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The Insider Guide to Delta Sky Clubs

A tip of the hat is deserved toward Delta Air Lines for being the first of the major North American carriers to heavily invest in reinventing its lounge network.

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The Insider Guide to United Clubs

United flyers have been pleasantly surprised over the past year thanks to significant investment being made in the airline’s club network and amenities. When the airline merged with Continental years ago, it acquired several more clubs into its vast network, which spans North America and many international locations including Hong Kong, London’s Heathrow, and Tokyo’s Narita.

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Extra Bonus Points With Virgin America’s Flights With Bennies Campaign

If you’re a member of Virgin America’s Elevate loyalty program you can get up to 2,500 points when you refer your friends, and if you’ve been thinking of joining, its a good time to get started because you’ll get 500 Elevate Points as a sign-up bonus.

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The Insider Guide to American Airlines Admirals Clubs

American has a strong roster of airport clubs, which ballooned in number when it acquired the network of former US Airways Clubs. Now, all are known as Admirals Clubs, which offer a slew of benefits for those with access. This guide gives you the ins and outs of how to get in, what to enjoy inside, and some tips on the best clubs and discounts to enjoy them.

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How to Book a Flight with Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints

Booking flights with SPG Starpoints is easy. They have over 32 airline partners, including several international carriers. They also offer a fixed-price booking option. This allows members to book any flight on any airline with no blackout dates.

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How to Search for Award Space on Etihad Airways

One of the most luxurious options for redeeming American AAdvantage miles is on Etihad Airways, which operates out of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Etihad has received significant press for The Residence, a private three-room cabin on its Airbus A380 aircraft.

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How to Predict and Avoid Fuel Surcharges on Award Tickets

In addition to saving up miles for a “free” trip, don’t forget to consider the taxes, fees and fuel surcharges you may have to pay. It’s impossible to avoid government taxes and fees, but the fuel surcharge is very dependent on the specifics of your ticket.

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Five Reasons to Use the Venture From Capital One Card at Home and Abroad

benefits venture card

There are two types of travel rewards credit cards. Airline and hotel co-branded cards help you earn miles or points in one frequent flyer or hotel loyalty program. General rewards credit cards, on the other hand, let you use the points you earn on any kind of travel, be it airlines, hotels, cruises, or car rental.

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How to Avoid Baggage Fees on JetBlue

Paying a fee to check your luggage on any airline can seem insulting. After all, you paid good money for your ticket and now you have to shell out more dough just to check your luggage. It’s a drag but it’s a reality in air travel today. JetBlue levies various fees for checked bags—regardless of if you booked a Blue, Blue Plus, or Blue Flex fare. We’ll tell you how to avoid those fees.

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