Cathay Pacific is the main carrier for China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, so it might not seem to be the best fit for flyers based in North America. But if you need to do a lot of travel to Asia from the U.S., it’s a very safe bet: It won the 2014 Skytrax Award for Worlds Best Airline.
The US Airways Companion Ticket is a great perk of the US Airways Premier World MasterCard issued by Barclays. Cardholders get the companion certificate after every card anniversary as an incentive to keep the account open. This perk will be discontinued in 2015 due to the carriers merger with American Airlines, but the merged airline is expected to offer a similar benefit when that happens.
Despite its distance, Asia is remarkably reasonable on miles. If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest option, American Airlines offers off-peak awards to Japan and Korea that require just 50,000 AAdvantage miles round-trip.
Like the regional carrier for the other U.S. noncontiguous state–Alaska Airlines–Hawaiian Airlines and its frequent flyer program have made themselves valuable to travelers looking for more than just a vacation to Hawaii.
There’s no doubt about it: Traveling in the first class or business class cabin of many international airlines is exciting. You’re treated like royalty, with preferred access to check-in and security lines, entry into the airlines airport lounge, a welcome glass of champagne when you board, a roomy seat that often transforms into a comfortable lie-flat bed and five-course gourmet meals. It’s easy to get used to.
While some point transfer programs have been on the scene for years, 2014 has seen a sudden uptick in credit card programs that allow members to transfer their
When you rent a car, you may have a vague worry in the back of your mind that little nagging feeling you get when you don’t quite understand the rules of the game. Rental car companies have tons of terms and conditions, and many of them can leave the consumer holding the bag in case of an accident or damage to the car. Paying for your rental car with the right credit card can offer you some additional protection and peace of mind.
Avianca, the combination of the national airline of Columbia and a conglomerate of five Central American airlines, is not a carrier you expect your everyday Joe to have a frequent flyer account with, but it is actually set up perfectly for just that type of traveler.
One of the great debates in the world of frequent flyer miles is whether you should hoard your miles or spend them as quickly as you earn them. At first, you might think that it makes the most sense to use miles as soon as possible. After all, the value of a mile almost always goes down over time due to airline devaluations, so why not hedge your bets and use your miles as quickly as you earn them?
In recent years Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program hasn’t garnered any Freddie awards the Oscars of the airline frequent flyer industry but the airline has been consistently raking in accolades from Travel Weekly Globes for favorite airline to Business Traveler magazine for best premium economy.
Similar to Starwood and Deltas Crossover partnership, United and Marriott teamed up last year for RewardsPlus, a joint venture aimed at offering elite members of both programs reciprocal benefits.
Though many Delta flyers end up on codeshare Air France and KLM flights, as the three airlines are technically one but operate like three independent carrier, not very many U.S.-based flyers take advantage of the Flying Blue award program, which is used by Air France, KLM and several other primarily European airlines.
When the Crossover Rewards program offered to Starwood Preferred Guest and Delta SkyMiles elite members debuted last year, it was the only program of its kind. It offered elite members of both programs reciprocal benefits that took membership perks to a whole new level.
Depending on where you live or where you usually fly, you might never have the opportunity to fly Virgin America, let alone fly it often enough to use its frequent flyer program.
Now that you’re learning the ins and outs of miles and points and are traveling the globe on the cheap, there’s probably one downside that you’ve discovered: the long wait to pass through customs upon re-entering the United States after a trip overseas. There’s good news though. Smart travelers can sign up for Global Entry, which eliminates waiting on that long customs line.
LATAM Airlines, which was formed from the LAN and TAM airline merger, is a Chile-based carrier that serves South America, Central America, North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Oceania. If you’re in North America, it can still pay to be a member of its frequent flyer program LATAM Pass, even if you don’t frequently fly to the south.
The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the greatest perks offered by an airline rewards program if you want to bring someone along when you travel.
With its lack of seating assignments, checked bag charges, and change and cancellation fees, Southwest has never fit the mold of your average American airline. It’s gone even farther on its own path since its merger with AirTran.
It can be tough to keep up with airline and
As far as credit points programs go, Citibank is actually an old player in the game, more akin to American Express Membership Rewards than Chase Ultimate Rewards or the Capital One Venture program.
