RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_c2ac6061-c448-4cc4-961c-414b2879baff -- Rendered At Fri, 06 Nov 2026 21:31:52 +0000 Departure Digest https://redcircle.com/shows/departuredigest en-US All rights reserved. โœˆ๏ธ 5-minute travel voice memos from your savviest friend Departure Digest Departure Digest is your 3x weekly, 5-minute travel voice memo. Think of it as the voice memo your savviest travel friend would send. We break down airline news, hotel updates, travel deals, and points strategies that actually matter. We'll help you avoid the expensive mistakes airlines and hotels hope you make. Clear enough for beginners, sharp enough for pros. Created by travel experts trusted by The Points Guy, CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, The New York Post, and more. ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Start here: https://www.departuredigest.com/start-here c2ac6061-c448-4cc4-961c-414b2879baff Departure Digest is your 3x weekly, 5-minute travel voice memo. Think of it as the voice memo your savviest travel friend would send. We break down airline news, hotel updates, travel deals, and points strategies that actually matter. We'll help you avoid the expensive mistakes airlines and hotels hope you make. Clear enough for beginners, sharp enough for pros.

Created by travel experts trusted by The Points Guy, CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, The New York Post, and more.

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]]> episodic no Departure Digest hello@departuredigest.com false full JetBlue Raised Bag Fees (Again). Hereโ€™s How to Pay Less JetBlue Raised Bag Fees (Again). Hereโ€™s How to Pay Less Departure Digest Donโ€™t rent a car abroad without this ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” JetBlue raised its bag fees for the second time this year, and a first checked bag now starts at $50 each way if you pay at least a day ahead and avoid peak travel dates. Otherwise, it can run up to $70. If history repeats itself, other airlines could follow within a couple of weeks. The best way to avoid the fee is an airline credit card like the JetBlue Plus Card, which can get you and up to three companions a free first checked bag. If you check bags on JetBlue even once or twice a year, the card can pay for itself. Before you rent a car abroad, check whether you need an international driving permit. Countries including Italy, Spain, Austria, and Japan require one, even if the rental counter never asks for it. Itโ€™s $20 through AAA, no membership needed, and often same-day at a branch. And if the grandparents are visiting for the holidays (or youโ€™re visiting the grandkids), Six Flags is offering guests 65 and older free, unlimited admission to their home park through the end of its 2026 season. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:26 JetBlue Raises Checked Bag Fees Again 2:38 When You Need an International Driving Permit 4:01 Free Six Flags Admission for Guests 65+ 4:37 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


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JetBlue raised its bag fees for the second time this year, and a first checked bag now starts at $50 each way if you pay at least a day ahead and avoid peak travel dates. Otherwise, it can run up to $70. If history repeats itself, other airlines could follow within a couple of weeks. The best way to avoid the fee is an airline credit card like the JetBlue Plus Card, which can get you and up to three companions a free first checked bag. If you check bags on JetBlue even once or twice a year, the card can pay for itself.

Before you rent a car abroad, check whether you need an international driving permit. Countries including Italy, Spain, Austria, and Japan require one, even if the rental counter never asks for it. Itโ€™s $20 through AAA, no membership needed, and often same-day at a branch.

And if the grandparents are visiting for the holidays (or youโ€™re visiting the grandkids), Six Flags is offering guests 65 and older free, unlimited admission to their home park through the end of its 2026 season.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:26 JetBlue Raises Checked Bag Fees Again

2:38 When You Need an International Driving Permit

4:01 Free Six Flags Admission for Guests 65+

4:37 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>JetBlue raised its bag fees for the second time this year, and a first checked bag now starts at $50 each way if you pay at least a day ahead and avoid peak travel dates. Otherwise, it can run up to $70. If history repeats itself, other airlines could follow within a couple of weeks. The best way to avoid the fee is an airline credit card like the</span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/jetbluecard" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/jetbluecard" rel="nofollow">JetBlue Plus Card</a><span>, which can get you and up to three companions a free first checked bag. If you check bags on JetBlue even once or twice a year, the card can pay for itself.</span></p><p><span>Before you rent a car abroad, check whether you need an international driving permit. Countries including Italy, Spain, Austria, and Japan require one, even if the rental counter never asks for it. Itโ€™s $20 through AAA, no membership needed, and often same-day at a branch.</span></p><p><span>And if the grandparents are visiting for the holidays (or youโ€™re visiting the grandkids), Six Flags is offering guests 65 and older free, unlimited admission to their home park through the end of its 2026 season.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:26 JetBlue Raises Checked Bag Fees Again</p><p>2:38 When You Need an International Driving Permit</p><p>4:01 Free Six Flags Admission for Guests 65+</p><p>4:37 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> fe55309c-1f92-4dc0-9277-5adb7e9a9b59 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/jetblue-checked-bag-fees Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:30:07 +0000 288 false full I Made an Expensive Travel Mistake. Please Donโ€™t Do What I Did I Made an Expensive Travel Mistake. Please Donโ€™t Do What I Did Departure Digest Robert De Niroโ€™s Nobu resort has a $3,500-a-night tent ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” I let a $300 flight credit expire, even with reminders set the whole time. I had every intention of using it, but it was on an airline I rarely fly, and none of its routes fit my plans. Most travel credits last about a year, often counted from when you first booked. Delta and JetBlue typically let you book by the deadline and fly later, United and American need your trip to start before it, and with Southwest, the whole trip has to be finished by the expiration date. That $300 looks small next to a tent that starts at $3,500 a night. Beginning in late December, you can book one of two tented suites at Robert De Niroโ€™s Nobu resort in Barbuda, about a year before its hotel opens. If thatโ€™s out of budget, you could stop by the resortโ€™s Nobu restaurant for lunch on a day trip from Antigua. Also, check your credit cardโ€™s app for card-linked offers, which can get you a statement credit or bonus points when you spend with specific brands. Novemberโ€™s batch has plenty of travel deals, so add them to your card before you book. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:20 How to Keep Flight Credits From Expiring 2:19 Robert De Niroโ€™s $3,500-a-Night Barbuda Tent 4:05 New Card-Linked Travel Offers 4:36 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


I let a $300 flight credit expire, even with reminders set the whole time. I had every intention of using it, but it was on an airline I rarely fly, and none of its routes fit my plans. Most travel credits last about a year, often counted from when you first booked. Delta and JetBlue typically let you book by the deadline and fly later, United and American need your trip to start before it, and with Southwest, the whole trip has to be finished by the expiration date.

That $300 looks small next to a tent that starts at $3,500 a night. Beginning in late December, you can book one of two tented suites at Robert De Niroโ€™s Nobu resort in Barbuda, about a year before its hotel opens. If thatโ€™s out of budget, you could stop by the resortโ€™s Nobu restaurant for lunch on a day trip from Antigua.

Also, check your credit cardโ€™s app for card-linked offers, which can get you a statement credit or bonus points when you spend with specific brands. Novemberโ€™s batch has plenty of travel deals, so add them to your card before you book.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:20 How to Keep Flight Credits From Expiring

2:19 Robert De Niroโ€™s $3,500-a-Night Barbuda Tent

4:05 New Card-Linked Travel Offers

4:36 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>I let a $300 flight credit expire, even with reminders set the whole time. I had every intention of using it, but it was on an airline I rarely fly, and none of its routes fit my plans. Most travel credits last about a year, often counted from when you first booked. Delta and JetBlue typically let you book by the deadline and fly later, United and American need your trip to start before it, and with Southwest, the whole trip has to be finished by the expiration date.</p><p>That $300 looks small next to a tent that starts at $3,500 a night. Beginning in late December, you can book one of two tented suites at <a href="https://www.thebeachclub.com/the-inn" rel="nofollow">Robert De Niroโ€™s Nobu resort</a> in Barbuda, about a year before its hotel opens. If thatโ€™s out of budget, you could stop by the resortโ€™s Nobu restaurant for lunch on a day trip from Antigua.</p><p>Also, check your credit cardโ€™s app for card-linked offers, which can get you a statement credit or bonus points when you spend with specific brands. Novemberโ€™s batch has plenty of travel deals, so add them to your card before you book.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:20 How to Keep Flight Credits From Expiring</p><p>2:19 Robert De Niroโ€™s $3,500-a-Night Barbuda Tent</p><p>4:05 New Card-Linked Travel Offers</p><p>4:36 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> ef87e0be-ca8d-41e3-aae8-7f4fae4ac80d https://www.departuredigest.com/p/airline-flight-credit-expiration Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:30:18 +0000 285 false full United Just Made First Class a Little More Basic United Just Made First Class a Little More Basic Departure Digest Plus, the easiest way into Monkey Bar in NYC ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” United now sells a basic version of domestic first class, called Base. Think basic economy, but with a bigger seat. Picking a seat costs extra, you get one checked bag instead of two, changes cost about $200, and you earn zero redeemable miles. Standard brings those perks back for a bit more, and for most trips, weโ€™d pay up. Award tickets booked with United miles arenโ€™t affected, at least for now. On the brighter side, one of our favorite no-annual-fee cards has a limited-time welcome offer thatโ€™s ending soon. Through December, it also earns bonus rewards at restaurants and grocery stores, and it doesnโ€™t charge foreign transaction fees. Also, Monkey Bar, from the team behind 4 Charles and Au Cheval, is now serving breakfast. Dinner there is one of the hardest reservations in New York, so this might be the easiest way to finally get in. And yes, the famous $35 truffle monkey bread is on the menu. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Explore limited-time welcome offers: https://go.departuredigest.com/ltos Offers valid at time of posting & may have expired. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:25 Unitedโ€™s New Basic First Class 2:28 A No-Annual-Fee Card Offer Ending Soon 4:06 Monkey Bar Now Serves Breakfast 4:42 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


United now sells a basic version of domestic first class, called Base. Think basic economy, but with a bigger seat. Picking a seat costs extra, you get one checked bag instead of two, changes cost about $200, and you earn zero redeemable miles. Standard brings those perks back for a bit more, and for most trips, weโ€™d pay up. Award tickets booked with United miles arenโ€™t affected, at least for now.

On the brighter side, one of our favorite no-annual-fee cards has a limited-time welcome offer thatโ€™s ending soon. Through December, it also earns bonus rewards at restaurants and grocery stores, and it doesnโ€™t charge foreign transaction fees.

Also, Monkey Bar, from the team behind 4 Charles and Au Cheval, is now serving breakfast. Dinner there is one of the hardest reservations in New York, so this might be the easiest way to finally get in. And yes, the famous $35 truffle monkey bread is on the menu.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Explore limited-time welcome offers

Offers valid at time of posting & may have expired.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:25 Unitedโ€™s New Basic First Class

2:28 A No-Annual-Fee Card Offer Ending Soon

4:06 Monkey Bar Now Serves Breakfast

4:42 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst

โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>United now sells a basic version of domestic first class, called Base. Think basic economy, but with a bigger seat. Picking a seat costs extra, you get one checked bag instead of two, changes cost about $200, and you earn zero redeemable miles. Standard brings those perks back for a bit more, and for most trips, weโ€™d pay up. Award tickets booked with United miles arenโ€™t affected, at least for now.</span></p><p><span>On the brighter side, one of our favorite no-annual-fee cards has a limited-time welcome offer thatโ€™s ending soon. Through December, it also earns bonus rewards at restaurants and grocery stores, and it doesnโ€™t charge foreign transaction fees.</span></p><p><span>Also, Monkey Bar, from the team behind 4 Charles and Au Cheval, is now serving breakfast. Dinner there is one of the hardest reservations in New York, so this might be the easiest way to finally get in. And yes, the famous $35 truffle monkey bread is on the menu.</span></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‰ </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/ltos" rel="nofollow"><strong>Explore limited-time welcome offers</strong></a></p><p><em>Offers valid at time of posting &amp; may have expired.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:25 Unitedโ€™s New Basic First Class</p><p>2:28 A No-Annual-Fee Card Offer Ending Soon</p><p>4:06 Monkey Bar Now Serves Breakfast</p><p>4:42 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 4fb385bc-0281-45e0-9728-1d1e25193111 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/united-basic-first-class Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:30:55 +0000 286 false full Delta Wants You to Talk to AI. Hereโ€™s How to Get a Human Instead Delta Wants You to Talk to AI. Hereโ€™s How to Get a Human Instead Departure Digest Plus, an airport parking reminder and when travel insurance is worth buying ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Texting Delta no longer gets you a real person. Those messages now trigger an auto-reply sending you to Delta Concierge, the AI assistant in Deltaโ€™s app. It can track a bag or find a travel credit just fine, but when a canceled connection leaves you stranded, you want an agent who can find options the app wonโ€™t show you. The humans havenโ€™t gone anywhere. Theyโ€™re just harder to reach, so hereโ€™s how to get through to one faster. Fittingly, a top-tier Delta elite who recently complained about the airlineโ€™s chat support got an email reply that still opened with the AI prompt asking for a warm, empathetic tone. Someone forgot to hit delete. Then thereโ€™s travel insurance, which most of us decline at checkout without a second thought. For a cheap weekend with refundable plans, your travel credit cardโ€™s coverage may be plenty. A separate policy can matter more if you get sick or hurt abroad, or for a honeymoon or group villa you put on your card while youโ€™re still chasing everyone on Venmo. And if youโ€™re driving to the airport for Thanksgiving, consider reserving parking now. Busy airport garages can fill up, even on a normal travel day. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Read our full travel insurance guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/do-you-need-travel-insurance Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:21 How to Reach a Real Person at Delta 2:14 Why You Should Book Airport Parking Early 2:59 When Travel Insurance Makes Sense 4:15 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Texting Delta no longer gets you a real person. Those messages now trigger an auto-reply sending you to Delta Concierge, the AI assistant in Deltaโ€™s app. It can track a bag or find a travel credit just fine, but when a canceled connection leaves you stranded, you want an agent who can find options the app wonโ€™t show you. The humans havenโ€™t gone anywhere. Theyโ€™re just harder to reach, so hereโ€™s how to get through to one faster. Fittingly, a top-tier Delta elite who recently complained about the airlineโ€™s chat support got an email reply that still opened with the AI prompt asking for a warm, empathetic tone. Someone forgot to hit delete.

Then thereโ€™s travel insurance, which most of us decline at checkout without a second thought. For a cheap weekend with refundable plans, your travel credit cardโ€™s coverage may be plenty. A separate policy can matter more if you get sick or hurt abroad, or for a honeymoon or group villa you put on your card while youโ€™re still chasing everyone on Venmo.

And if youโ€™re driving to the airport for Thanksgiving, consider reserving parking now. Busy airport garages can fill up, even on a normal travel day.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read our full travel insurance guide


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 How to Reach a Real Person at Delta

2:14 Why You Should Book Airport Parking Early

2:59 When Travel Insurance Makes Sense

4:15 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


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Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Texting Delta no longer gets you a real person. Those messages now trigger an auto-reply sending you to Delta Concierge, the AI assistant in Deltaโ€™s app. It can track a bag or find a travel credit just fine, but when a canceled connection leaves you stranded, you want an agent who can find options the app wonโ€™t show you. The humans havenโ€™t gone anywhere. Theyโ€™re just harder to reach, so hereโ€™s how to get through to one faster. Fittingly, a top-tier Delta elite who recently complained about the airlineโ€™s chat support got an</span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/delta/s/gEPCfdq1YI" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/delta/s/gEPCfdq1YI" rel="nofollow">email reply</a><span> that still opened with the AI prompt asking for a warm, empathetic tone. Someone forgot to hit delete.</span></p><p><span>Then thereโ€™s travel insurance, which most of us decline at checkout without a second thought. For a cheap weekend with refundable plans,</span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/insurancecards" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/insurancecards" rel="nofollow">your travel credit cardโ€™s coverage</a><span> may be plenty. A separate policy can matter more if you get sick or hurt abroad, or for a honeymoon or group villa you put on your card while youโ€™re still chasing everyone on Venmo.</span></p><p><span>And if youโ€™re driving to the airport for Thanksgiving, consider reserving parking now. Busy airport garages can fill up, even on a normal travel day.</span></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‰</strong><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/do-you-need-travel-insurance" rel="nofollow"><strong> </strong></a><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/do-you-need-travel-insurance" rel="nofollow"><strong>Read our full travel insurance guide</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:21 How to Reach a Real Person at Delta</p><p>2:14 Why You Should Book Airport Parking Early</p><p>2:59 When Travel Insurance Makes Sense</p><p>4:15 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> ca818216-9072-49cd-a6c0-8870fa1f5450 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/delta-customer-service-live-chat Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:30:24 +0000 270 false full How to Spend 48 Hours in Miami How to Spend 48 Hours in Miami Departure Digest Plus, Delta freebies for NYC Marathon weekend ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” As the days get shorter and colder, Miami makes a tempting escape, with warm weather, beach time, rooftop cocktails, and plenty to fit into a quick getaway. Our ideal 48 hours starts at the pool and moves on to a sushi happy hour, a beach day, the murals at Wynwood Walls, and a dressed-up night at Kiki on the River. We also share points-friendly hotel options, including a look at the former W South Beach, which is reopening as a Waldorf Astoria in 2027. Just because you can put that poolside bar tab on points doesn't mean you should. Hilton is starting to let elite members use points for room service and other charges at checkout, and American Airlines is rolling out its own miles-and-cash bookings. Both are convenient, but you'll usually get more for your points by saving them for a regular award night or flight. And for all the NYC Marathon runners, Delta is handing out free treats near baggage claim at JFK and LaGuardia on Oct. 29 and 30, then offering early boarding and a shout-out at the gate on Nov. 1 and 2. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:19 How to Spend 48 Hours in Miami 2:28 When Paying With Points Isn't Worth It 3:45 Delta's NYC Marathon Perks 4:30 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


As the days get shorter and colder, Miami makes a tempting escape, with warm weather, beach time, rooftop cocktails, and plenty to fit into a quick getaway. Our ideal 48 hours starts at the pool and moves on to a sushi happy hour, a beach day, the murals at Wynwood Walls, and a dressed-up night at Kiki on the River. We also share points-friendly hotel options, including a look at the former W South Beach, which is reopening as a Waldorf Astoria in 2027.

Just because you can put that poolside bar tab on points doesn't mean you should. Hilton is starting to let elite members use points for room service and other charges at checkout, and American Airlines is rolling out its own miles-and-cash bookings. Both are convenient, but you'll usually get more for your points by saving them for a regular award night or flight.

And for all the NYC Marathon runners, Delta is handing out free treats near baggage claim at JFK and LaGuardia on Oct. 29 and 30, then offering early boarding and a shout-out at the gate on Nov. 1 and 2.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:19 How to Spend 48 Hours in Miami

2:28 When Paying With Points Isn't Worth It

3:45 Delta's NYC Marathon Perks

4:30 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>As the days get shorter and colder, Miami makes a tempting escape, with warm weather, beach time, rooftop cocktails, and plenty to fit into a quick getaway. </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd3_VHwlqi0/" rel="nofollow">Our ideal 48 hours</a><span> starts at the pool and moves on to a sushi happy hour, a beach day, the murals at Wynwood Walls, and a dressed-up night at Kiki on the River. We also share </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/andaz-miami-beach-review" rel="nofollow">points-friendly hotel options</a><span>, including a look at the former W South Beach, which is reopening as a Waldorf Astoria in 2027.</span></p><p><span>Just because you can put that poolside bar tab on points doesn&#39;t mean you should. Hilton is starting to let elite members use points for room service and other charges at checkout, and American Airlines is rolling out its own miles-and-cash bookings. Both are convenient, but you&#39;ll usually get more for your points by saving them for a regular award night or flight.</span></p><p><span>And for all the NYC Marathon runners, Delta is handing out free treats near baggage claim at JFK and LaGuardia on Oct. 29 and 30, then offering early boarding and a shout-out at the gate on Nov. 1 and 2.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:19 How to Spend 48 Hours in Miami</p><p>2:28 When Paying With Points Isn&#39;t Worth It</p><p>3:45 Delta&#39;s NYC Marathon Perks</p><p>4:30 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> ee89da88-3eb8-4f6f-9b8b-8ed82a5516be https://www.departuredigest.com/p/48-hour-miami-itinerary Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:30:11 +0000 277 false full The Weird Flights You Didnโ€™t Know Existed: Fifth Freedom Routes The Weird Flights You Didnโ€™t Know Existed: Fifth Freedom Routes Departure Digest You can now book Airbnbs through Amex Travel, and Airbnb bans checkout chores ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Thanks to a new Amex Airbnb partnership, you can now book Airbnbs through Amex Travel and earn bonus points on those stays. And if you have The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express or The Business Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express, your up-to-$600 annual hotel credit is now called the lodging credit and now covers eligible Airbnb Luxe homes, too. Those stays can also come with up to $250 for Airbnb Experiences. The bad news is that starting in 2027, youโ€™ll need to book at least two nights to use the credit, so say goodbye to the one-night fancy hotel splurge. In other Airbnb news, the company is cracking down on checkout chores. For bookings made on or after Nov. 20, hosts canโ€™t make you strip the beds or take out the trash, which seems fair when youโ€™re already paying a cleaning fee. Meanwhile, Air China just launched a Copenhagen-to-Reykjavik flight. It sounds like a typo, but itโ€™s a great example of a fifth freedom route. These flights can get you a much nicer seat on a shorter trip, and they can be cheaper, too. We explain what they are and how to book them. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 Amex Travel Adds Airbnb Stays 1:45 Airbnbโ€™s New Checkout Chore Rules 2:38 What Are Fifth Freedom Flights? 4:15 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Thanks to a new Amex Airbnb partnership, you can now book Airbnbs through Amex Travel and earn bonus points on those stays. And if you have The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express or The Business Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express, your up-to-$600 annual hotel credit is now called the lodging credit and now covers eligible Airbnb Luxe homes, too. Those stays can also come with up to $250 for Airbnb Experiences. The bad news is that starting in 2027, youโ€™ll need to book at least two nights to use the credit, so say goodbye to the one-night fancy hotel splurge.

In other Airbnb news, the company is cracking down on checkout chores. For bookings made on or after Nov. 20, hosts canโ€™t make you strip the beds or take out the trash, which seems fair when youโ€™re already paying a cleaning fee.

Meanwhile, Air China just launched a Copenhagen-to-Reykjavik flight. It sounds like a typo, but itโ€™s a great example of a fifth freedom route. These flights can get you a much nicer seat on a shorter trip, and they can be cheaper, too. We explain what they are and how to book them.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 Amex Travel Adds Airbnb Stays

1:45 Airbnbโ€™s New Checkout Chore Rules

2:38 What Are Fifth Freedom Flights?

4:15 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Thanks to a new Amex Airbnb partnership, you can now book Airbnbs through Amex Travel and earn bonus points on those stays. And if you have</span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow"> </a><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express</a><span> or The Business Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express, your up-to-$600 annual hotel credit is now called the lodging credit and now covers eligible Airbnb Luxe homes, too. Those stays can also come with up to $250 for Airbnb Experiences. The bad news is that starting in 2027, youโ€™ll need to book at least two nights to use the credit, so say goodbye to the one-night fancy hotel splurge.</span></p><p><span>In other Airbnb news, the company is cracking down on checkout chores. For bookings made on or after Nov. 20, hosts canโ€™t make you strip the beds or take out the trash, which seems fair when youโ€™re already paying a cleaning fee.</span></p><p><span>Meanwhile, Air China just launched a Copenhagen-to-Reykjavik flight. It sounds like a typo, but itโ€™s a great example of a </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/fifth-freedom-flights" rel="nofollow">fifth freedom route</a><span>. These flights can get you a much nicer seat on a shorter trip, and they can be cheaper, too. We explain what they are and how to book them.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 Amex Travel Adds Airbnb Stays</p><p>1:45 Airbnbโ€™s New Checkout Chore Rules</p><p>2:38 What Are Fifth Freedom Flights?</p><p>4:15 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 77ee3341-3ad4-45ca-a3d2-31832dae2756 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/amex-airbnb-partnership Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:30:48 +0000 266 false full The Second Honeymoon: Use Points for the Trip You Really Want The Second Honeymoon: Use Points for the Trip You Really Want Departure Digest Plus, business class to Europe in 2027 from 43k points ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Think of a second honeymoon as a do-over, your chance to book the trip you couldnโ€™t afford after the wedding. If an overwater villa has been living on your Pinterest board, now could be the time. Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG have resorts with overwater rooms you can book with points. The Caribbean even has a few overwater bungalows of its own. Familymoons are catching on, too, with resorts that once catered to couples adding perks for kids and grandparents. Celebrating at sea instead? Amexโ€™s Cruise & Yacht Collection is now live. Eligible Amex Platinum cardholders can get $100 to $300 in onboard credit on sailings of five nights or more booked through Amex Travel. If youโ€™d rather do Europe, Paris might not be on your list right now, but it could be next year. Air France-KLM Flying Blue released cheap business class award seats there from cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, starting at 60,000 miles one way with dates through August 2027. Through Oct. 31, transfer bonuses from Amex and Rove make it even cheaper, at 48,000 Amex points or about 43,000 Rove Miles. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:21 Planning a Second Honeymoon 2:37 Amexโ€™s Cruise & Yacht Collection 3:04 Flying Blueโ€™s Business Class Award Deal 4:28 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Think of a second honeymoon as a do-over, your chance to book the trip you couldnโ€™t afford after the wedding. If an overwater villa has been living on your Pinterest board, now could be the time. Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG have resorts with overwater rooms you can book with points. The Caribbean even has a few overwater bungalows of its own. Familymoons are catching on, too, with resorts that once catered to couples adding perks for kids and grandparents.

Celebrating at sea instead? Amexโ€™s Cruise & Yacht Collection is now live. Eligible Amex Platinum cardholders can get $100 to $300 in onboard credit on sailings of five nights or more booked through Amex Travel.

If youโ€™d rather do Europe, Paris might not be on your list right now, but it could be next year. Air France-KLM Flying Blue released cheap business class award seats there from cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, starting at 60,000 miles one way with dates through August 2027. Through Oct. 31, transfer bonuses from Amex and Rove make it even cheaper, at 48,000 Amex points or about 43,000 Rove Miles.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 Planning a Second Honeymoon

2:37 Amexโ€™s Cruise & Yacht Collection

3:04 Flying Blueโ€™s Business Class Award Deal

4:28 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Think of a second honeymoon as a do-over, your chance to book the trip you couldnโ€™t afford after the wedding. If an overwater villa has been living on your </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/departuredigest/" rel="nofollow">Pinterest board</a><span>, now could be the time. Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG have resorts with overwater rooms you can book with points. The Caribbean even has </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/destination-dupes-cheaper-alternatives" rel="nofollow">a few overwater bungalows</a><span> of its own. Familymoons are catching on, too, with resorts that once catered to couples adding perks for kids and grandparents.</span></p><p><span>Celebrating at sea instead? Amexโ€™s Cruise &amp; Yacht Collection is now live. Eligible Amex Platinum cardholders can get $100 to $300 in onboard credit on sailings of five nights or more booked through Amex Travel.</span></p><p><span>If youโ€™d rather do Europe, Paris might not be on your list right now, but it could be next year. Air France-KLM Flying Blue released cheap business class award seats there from cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, starting at 60,000 miles one way with dates through August 2027. Through Oct. 31, transfer bonuses from Amex and </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rove" rel="nofollow">Rove</a><span> make it even cheaper, at 48,000 Amex points or about 43,000 Rove Miles.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:21 Planning a Second Honeymoon</p><p>2:37 Amexโ€™s Cruise &amp; Yacht Collection</p><p>3:04 Flying Blueโ€™s Business Class Award Deal</p><p>4:28 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 8d48ba24-6a32-4703-90a4-01c443818024 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/second-honeymoon-ideas Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:30:21 +0000 277 false full What Can You Actually Take Home From Business Class? What Can You Actually Take Home From Business Class? Departure Digest Also, how to save on your next Disney trip ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Business class comes with plenty of goodies, but not everything at your seat is yours to keep. The noise-canceling headphones and bedding stay on the plane, while amenity kits, toiletry gift sets, pajamas, and slippers can go home with you. A few airlines almost expect you to take something, from a decorative Qatar Airways pillow and Virgin Atlantic's cheeky airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers to KLM's gin-filled ceramic Dutch houses. For a souvenir with mouse ears, some Costco locations are selling a two-day Disneyland Park Hopper ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and a $60 dining card for about $330. That could save roughly $170 compared with Disneyland's regular price. Sam's Club members can also get 10% off $300 Disney gift cards from Nov. 6 through 8. And in case you missed it, the Plaza Hotel in New York closes in January 2027 for at least four years to restore its facade. That makes this holiday season the last one for Palm Court tea or Kevin McCallister's 16-scoop sundae until at least 2031. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:21 What You Can Keep From Business Class 2:16 Costco and Sam's Club Disney Deals 3:54 The Plaza Hotel's Four-Year Closure 4:45 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Business class comes with plenty of goodies, but not everything at your seat is yours to keep. The noise-canceling headphones and bedding stay on the plane, while amenity kits, toiletry gift sets, pajamas, and slippers can go home with you. A few airlines almost expect you to take something, from a decorative Qatar Airways pillow and Virgin Atlantic's cheeky airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers to KLM's gin-filled ceramic Dutch houses.

For a souvenir with mouse ears, some Costco locations are selling a two-day Disneyland Park Hopper ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and a $60 dining card for about $330. That could save roughly $170 compared with Disneyland's regular price. Sam's Club members can also get 10% off $300 Disney gift cards from Nov. 6 through 8.

And in case you missed it, the Plaza Hotel in New York closes in January 2027 for at least four years to restore its facade. That makes this holiday season the last one for Palm Court tea or Kevin McCallister's 16-scoop sundae until at least 2031.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 What You Can Keep From Business Class

2:16 Costco and Sam's Club Disney Deals

3:54 The Plaza Hotel's Four-Year Closure

4:45 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst

โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Business class comes with plenty of goodies, but not everything at your seat is yours to keep. The noise-canceling headphones and bedding stay on the plane, while amenity kits, toiletry gift sets, pajamas, and slippers can go home with you. A few airlines almost expect you to take something, from a decorative Qatar Airways pillow and Virgin Atlantic&#39;s cheeky airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers to KLM&#39;s gin-filled ceramic Dutch houses.</span></p><p><span>For a souvenir with mouse ears, some Costco locations are selling a two-day Disneyland Park Hopper ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and a $60 dining card for about $330. That could save roughly $170 compared with Disneyland&#39;s regular price. Sam&#39;s Club members can also get 10% off $300 Disney gift cards from Nov. 6 through 8.</span></p><p><span>And in case you missed it, the Plaza Hotel in New York closes in January 2027 for at least four years to restore its facade. That makes this holiday season the last one for Palm Court tea or Kevin McCallister&#39;s 16-scoop sundae until at least 2031.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:21 What You Can Keep From Business Class</p><p>2:16 Costco and Sam&#39;s Club Disney Deals</p><p>3:54 The Plaza Hotel&#39;s Four-Year Closure</p><p>4:45 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 2832a3ea-1d65-409a-aabf-fe6a3e62696e https://www.departuredigest.com/p/business-class-amenities-you-can-keep Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:30:05 +0000 293 false full Southwest Revamps Its Loyalty Program, Delta One Gets Fancier Southwest Revamps Its Loyalty Program, Delta One Gets Fancier Departure Digest Airfare dropped after you booked? Here's how to claim the difference ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Southwest is overhauling Rapid Rewards in January 2027, and the Companion Pass takes the biggest hit. Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward it, and the full pass will only come with Southwest's new top status. Occasional flyers can pick up smaller rewards, like bonus points or preferred seats, on the way there. The airline also shared an early look at its upcoming Southwest Icon Lounges, which start opening in late 2027. Already booked a flight? The price you paid might not be final. If your fare drops after you book, you can often claim the difference as an airline credit, as long as it isn't basic economy. The hard part is noticing. That's where Junova comes in. It tracks eligible flights booked directly with major U.S. airlines and handles getting the savings back for a 20% fee. For a bigger splurge, Delta is giving Delta One, its long-haul business class, a makeover this fall, starting on flights from Los Angeles. Expect a wagyu burger, sorbet paired with Champagne Taittinger, Blanton's bourbon, and new Missoni amenity kits. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Get $25 in Junova credits with code DD: https://www.junova.ai/?ref=DD Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 Getting Money Back When Your Fare Drops 2:15 Delta One's Onboard Makeover 3:07 Southwest's Rapid Rewards Overhaul 4:43 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

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๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Southwest is overhauling Rapid Rewards in January 2027, and the Companion Pass takes the biggest hit. Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward it, and the full pass will only come with Southwest's new top status. Occasional flyers can pick up smaller rewards, like bonus points or preferred seats, on the way there. The airline also shared an early look at its upcoming Southwest Icon Lounges, which start opening in late 2027.

Already booked a flight? The price you paid might not be final. If your fare drops after you book, you can often claim the difference as an airline credit, as long as it isn't basic economy. The hard part is noticing. That's where Junova comes in. It tracks eligible flights booked directly with major U.S. airlines and handles getting the savings back for a 20% fee.

For a bigger splurge, Delta is giving Delta One, its long-haul business class, a makeover this fall, starting on flights from Los Angeles. Expect a wagyu burger, sorbet paired with Champagne Taittinger, Blanton's bourbon, and new Missoni amenity kits.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Get $25 in Junova credits with code DD: https://www.junova.ai/?ref=DD


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 Getting Money Back When Your Fare Drops

2:15 Delta One's Onboard Makeover

3:07 Southwest's Rapid Rewards Overhaul

4:43 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Southwest is overhauling Rapid Rewards in January 2027, and the Companion Pass takes the biggest hit. Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward it, and the full pass will only come with Southwest&#39;s new top status. Occasional flyers can pick up smaller rewards, like bonus points or preferred seats, on the way there. The airline also shared an early look at its upcoming Southwest Icon Lounges, which start opening in late 2027.</span></p><p><span>Already booked a flight? The price you paid might not be final. If your fare drops after you book, you can often claim the difference as an airline credit, as long as it isn&#39;t basic economy. The hard part is noticing. That&#39;s where Junova comes in. It tracks eligible flights booked directly with major U.S. airlines and handles getting the savings back for a 20% fee.</span></p><p><span>For a bigger splurge, Delta is giving Delta One, its long-haul business class, a makeover this fall, starting on flights from Los Angeles. Expect a wagyu burger, sorbet paired with Champagne Taittinger, Blanton&#39;s bourbon, and new Missoni amenity kits.</span></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‰ Get $25 in Junova credits with code DD: </strong><a href="https://www.junova.ai/?ref=DD" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://www.junova.ai/?ref=DD</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 Getting Money Back When Your Fare Drops</p><p>2:15 Delta One&#39;s Onboard Makeover</p><p>3:07 Southwest&#39;s Rapid Rewards Overhaul</p><p>4:43 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 8f7a4091-3ad0-4f49-b656-f790735f1f4c https://www.departuredigest.com/p/southwest-rapid-rewards-delta-one-changes Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:30:31 +0000 288 false full A New Airline Rule Could Cost You a Free Hotel After a Delay A New Airline Rule Could Cost You a Free Hotel After a Delay Departure Digest You can now book JetBlueโ€™s new first class from $249 one way ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” An airline may no longer owe you a hotel if a last-minute mechanical problem leaves you stuck overnight. Starting Oct. 19, the Department of Transportation wonโ€™t count certain repairs, onboard medical emergencies, and a few other disruptions as the airlineโ€™s fault, which is what triggers meal vouchers and hotel stays. Refund rights arenโ€™t changing, and trip delay coverage on many travel cards can reimburse meals and a hotel, whatever reason the airline gives. If a foldable phone is on your wish list, the iPhone Duo opened for preorders on Oct. 16. It starts at about $2,000 and folds down to roughly the size of a passport. Itโ€™s eSIM-only, and at that price, card phone protection is only a partial safety net. Marriott is leaning into marathon season with race packages at a handful of hotels. At the JW Marriott Essex House New York, that means pasta specials before the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1, a free drink when you show your medal, and some rooms overlooking the finish line. Plus, JetBlueโ€™s new first class is now on sale for flights starting in December, with fares from $249 one-way between LaGuardia and Fort Lauderdale if you book by Oct. 16. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Top cards for trip delay protection: https://go.departuredigest.com/delayperks Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:20 The DOTโ€™s New Flight Delay Rules 1:56 Appleโ€™s Foldable iPhone Duo 3:33 Marriottโ€™s Marathon Perks 4:30 JetBlueโ€™s New First Class Now on Sale 4:48 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


An airline may no longer owe you a hotel if a last-minute mechanical problem leaves you stuck overnight. Starting Oct. 19, the Department of Transportation wonโ€™t count certain repairs, onboard medical emergencies, and a few other disruptions as the airlineโ€™s fault, which is what triggers meal vouchers and hotel stays. Refund rights arenโ€™t changing, and trip delay coverage on many travel cards can reimburse meals and a hotel, whatever reason the airline gives.

If a foldable phone is on your wish list, the iPhone Duo opened for preorders on Oct. 16. It starts at about $2,000 and folds down to roughly the size of a passport. Itโ€™s eSIM-only, and at that price, card phone protection is only a partial safety net.

Marriott is leaning into marathon season with race packages at a handful of hotels. At the JW Marriott Essex House New York, that means pasta specials before the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1, a free drink when you show your medal, and some rooms overlooking the finish line. Plus, JetBlueโ€™s new first class is now on sale for flights starting in December, with fares from $249 one-way between LaGuardia and Fort Lauderdale if you book by Oct. 16.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Top cards for trip delay protection: https://go.departuredigest.com/delayperks


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:20 The DOTโ€™s New Flight Delay Rules

1:56 Appleโ€™s Foldable iPhone Duo

3:33 Marriottโ€™s Marathon Perks

4:30 JetBlueโ€™s New First Class Now on Sale

4:48 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>An airline may no longer owe you a hotel if a last-minute mechanical problem leaves you stuck overnight. Starting Oct. 19, the Department of Transportation wonโ€™t count certain repairs, onboard medical emergencies, and a few other disruptions as the airlineโ€™s fault, which is what triggers meal vouchers and hotel stays. Refund rights arenโ€™t changing, and <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/delayperks" rel="nofollow">trip delay coverage on many travel cards</a> can reimburse meals and a hotel, whatever reason the airline gives.</p><p>If a foldable phone is on your wish list, the iPhone Duo opened for preorders on Oct. 16. It starts at about $2,000 and folds down to roughly the size of a passport. Itโ€™s eSIM-only, and at that price, card phone protection is only a partial safety net.</p><p>Marriott is leaning into marathon season with race packages at a handful of hotels. At the JW Marriott Essex House New York, that means pasta specials before the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1, a free drink when you show your medal, and some rooms overlooking the finish line. Plus, JetBlueโ€™s new first class is now on sale for flights starting in December, with fares from $249 one-way between LaGuardia and Fort Lauderdale if you book by Oct. 16.</p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‰ Top cards for trip delay protection: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/delayperks" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://go.departuredigest.com/delayperks</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:20 The DOTโ€™s New Flight Delay Rules</p><p>1:56 Appleโ€™s Foldable iPhone Duo</p><p>3:33 Marriottโ€™s Marathon Perks</p><p>4:30 JetBlueโ€™s New First Class Now on Sale</p><p>4:48 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 46164f16-31a5-4470-9f02-69e28ae48852 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/dot-airline-delay-rule-change Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:30:20 +0000 294 false full How to Fly Business Class for the First Time How to Fly Business Class for the First Time Departure Digest Plus, an all-you-can-cruise pass ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Flying business class for the first time? Before you head to the airport, check your baggage allowance and whether your ticket gets you into a lounge. Once you're onboard, there are a few things worth knowing, too. That pre-departure glass of champagne isn't a given, and the rules around the call button can depend on which airline you're flying. If you're offered pajamas, go ahead and change. Just leave your bare feet out of the lavatory. On the hotel side, Marriott Bonvoy is testing a new upgrade list in its app, giving some members a look at their spot in line and how many upgraded rooms might be available. Itโ€™s only at a small number of hotels for now, but Marriott says itโ€™ll expand to more than 250 hotels in the U.S. and Canada by November. We like the transparency, but the app wonโ€™t tell you what room youโ€™re actually in line for. Plus, Margaritaville at Sea is selling an all-you-can-cruise pass for two adults starting at around $2,500, good for unlimited sailings through Dec. 31, 2027. It could be a great deal if you plan to cruise often, but there are some restrictions, and taxes, fees, and gratuities still apply. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:21 How to Fly Business Class for the First Time 2:03 Marriott's Airline-Style Upgrade List 3:14 Margaritaville at Sea's Unlimited Cruise Pass 4:44 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Flying business class for the first time? Before you head to the airport, check your baggage allowance and whether your ticket gets you into a lounge. Once you're onboard, there are a few things worth knowing, too. That pre-departure glass of champagne isn't a given, and the rules around the call button can depend on which airline you're flying. If you're offered pajamas, go ahead and change. Just leave your bare feet out of the lavatory.

On the hotel side, Marriott Bonvoy is testing a new upgrade list in its app, giving some members a look at their spot in line and how many upgraded rooms might be available. Itโ€™s only at a small number of hotels for now, but Marriott says itโ€™ll expand to more than 250 hotels in the U.S. and Canada by November. We like the transparency, but the app wonโ€™t tell you what room youโ€™re actually in line for.

Plus, Margaritaville at Sea is selling an all-you-can-cruise pass for two adults starting at around $2,500, good for unlimited sailings through Dec. 31, 2027. It could be a great deal if you plan to cruise often, but there are some restrictions, and taxes, fees, and gratuities still apply.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 How to Fly Business Class for the First Time

2:03 Marriott's Airline-Style Upgrade List

3:14 Margaritaville at Sea's Unlimited Cruise Pass

4:44 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Flying business class for the first time? Before you head to the airport, check your baggage allowance and whether your ticket gets you into a lounge. Once you&#39;re onboard, there are a few things worth knowing, too. That pre-departure glass of champagne isn&#39;t a given, and the rules around the call button can depend on which airline you&#39;re flying. If you&#39;re offered pajamas, go ahead and change. Just leave your bare feet out of the lavatory.</p><p>On the hotel side, Marriott Bonvoy is testing a new upgrade list in its app, giving some members a look at their spot in line and how many upgraded rooms might be available. Itโ€™s only at a small number of hotels for now, but Marriott says itโ€™ll expand to more than 250 hotels in the U.S. and Canada by November. We like the transparency, but the app wonโ€™t tell you what room youโ€™re actually in line for.</p><p>Plus, Margaritaville at Sea is selling an <a href="https://www.margaritavilleatsea.com/current-offers/annual-cruise-membership" rel="nofollow">all-you-can-cruise pass</a> for two adults starting at around $2,500, good for unlimited sailings through Dec. 31, 2027. It could be a great deal if you plan to cruise often, but there are some restrictions, and taxes, fees, and gratuities still apply.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:21 How to Fly Business Class for the First Time</p><p>2:03 Marriott&#39;s Airline-Style Upgrade List</p><p>3:14 Margaritaville at Sea&#39;s Unlimited Cruise Pass</p><p>4:44 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 290f1db4-b60c-4d7e-815a-2c6b703a9386 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/first-time-flying-business-class Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:30:27 +0000 295 false full How We Booked a Flight to Europe for $300 Round Trip How We Booked a Flight to Europe for $300 Round Trip Departure Digest Plus, Amex's biggest Centurion Lounge expansion yet ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Flights from New York to Madrid for $300 round trip, with a checked bag included? Deals like this have become rare, but Thrifty Traveler Premium's cash and points alerts can help you find them. Premium costs about $130 a year, and one or two good deals could cover it if you're flexible about where you go. Meanwhile, Amex dropped big news for its Centurion Lounge network. Newark's lounge opening has been pushed to 2027, but the delay comes with an upgrade. It'll now be more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest Centurion Lounge yet, complete with a gelato terrace that might even make flying out of Newark worth it. London Heathrow is also getting a second location, and Houston's lounge is nearly tripling in size. Before any of that opens, though, Philadelphia's lounge closes this week for renovations and isn't expected to reopen until the end of 2027. Even more surprising, Southwest could be eyeing Dreamliners, wide-body jets built for long-haul routes. It'd be another big shift for an airline that only recently added assigned seats and stopped letting bags fly free. We'll believe a Southwest flight to Rome when we're boarding it. And if you'd rather spend New Year's Eve in flip-flops than snow boots, Andrea Bocelli and Ludacris are both headlining in the Bahamas. Get $20 off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium with code DEPARTUREDIGEST: https://thriftytraveler.com/a/departuredigest Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 A $300 Round Trip to Madrid 0:51 How Thrifty Traveler Premium Works 2:14 Amex's Biggest Centurion Lounge Expansion 3:16 Southwest Eyes Long-Haul Routes 4:00 New Year's Eve in the Bahamas 4:33 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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โ€”โ€”โ€”


Flights from New York to Madrid for $300 round trip, with a checked bag included? Deals like this have become rare, but Thrifty Traveler Premium's cash and points alerts can help you find them. Premium costs about $130 a year, and one or two good deals could cover it if you're flexible about where you go.

Meanwhile, Amex dropped big news for its Centurion Lounge network. Newark's lounge opening has been pushed to 2027, but the delay comes with an upgrade. It'll now be more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest Centurion Lounge yet, complete with a gelato terrace that might even make flying out of Newark worth it. London Heathrow is also getting a second location, and Houston's lounge is nearly tripling in size. Before any of that opens, though, Philadelphia's lounge closes this week for renovations and isn't expected to reopen until the end of 2027.

Even more surprising, Southwest could be eyeing Dreamliners, wide-body jets built for long-haul routes. It'd be another big shift for an airline that only recently added assigned seats and stopped letting bags fly free. We'll believe a Southwest flight to Rome when we're boarding it. And if you'd rather spend New Year's Eve in flip-flops than snow boots, Andrea Bocelli and Ludacris are both headlining in the Bahamas.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Get $20 off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium with code DEPARTUREDIGEST: https://thriftytraveler.com/a/departuredigest


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 A $300 Round Trip to Madrid

0:51 How Thrifty Traveler Premium Works

2:14 Amex's Biggest Centurion Lounge Expansion

3:16 Southwest Eyes Long-Haul Routes

4:00 New Year's Eve in the Bahamas

4:33 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Flights from New York to Madrid for $300 round trip, with a checked bag included? Deals like this have become rare, but <a href="https://thriftytraveler.com/a/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">Thrifty Traveler Premium&#39;s</a> cash and points alerts can help you find them. Premium costs about $130 a year, and one or two good deals could cover it if you&#39;re flexible about where you go.</p><p>Meanwhile, Amex dropped big news for its Centurion Lounge network. Newark&#39;s lounge opening has been pushed to 2027, but the delay comes with an upgrade. It&#39;ll now be more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest Centurion Lounge yet, complete with a gelato terrace that might even make flying out of Newark worth it. London Heathrow is also getting a second location, and Houston&#39;s lounge is nearly tripling in size. Before any of that opens, though, Philadelphia&#39;s lounge closes this week for renovations and isn&#39;t expected to reopen until the end of 2027.</p><p>Even more surprising, Southwest could be eyeing Dreamliners, wide-body jets built for long-haul routes. It&#39;d be another big shift for an airline that only recently added assigned seats and stopped letting bags fly free. We&#39;ll believe a Southwest flight to Rome when we&#39;re boarding it. And if you&#39;d rather spend New Year&#39;s Eve in flip-flops than snow boots, Andrea Bocelli and Ludacris are both headlining in the Bahamas.</p><p>๐Ÿ‘‰ <strong>Get $20 off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium with code DEPARTUREDIGEST:</strong> <a href="https://thriftytraveler.com/a/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://thriftytraveler.com/a/departuredigest</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 A $300 Round Trip to Madrid</p><p>0:51 How Thrifty Traveler Premium Works</p><p>2:14 Amex&#39;s Biggest Centurion Lounge Expansion</p><p>3:16 Southwest Eyes Long-Haul Routes</p><p>4:00 New Year&#39;s Eve in the Bahamas</p><p>4:33 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> e39a7233-ee22-4310-bfea-468dc2b1d835 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/thrifty-traveler-premium-flight-deals Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:30:49 +0000 290 false full A $3K Flight to Florida With Caviar, Champagne, and an $800 Dopp Kit A $3K Flight to Florida With Caviar, Champagne, and an $800 Dopp Kit Departure Digest Delta will now check a case of wine for free on flights out of Northern California ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Caviar, champagne, a Caesar salad prepared at your seat, and an $800 Dopp kit all come standard on Blade's semi-private jets to Florida this winter. The service, called BLADEone and run with Aero, starts flying between Westchester and Miami or Palm Beach in November, with only 16 seats and dining from Major Food Group, the team behind Carbone and Sadelle's. The catch is a fare of close to $3,000 each way. We've flown Blade's Miami shuttle before, and it's as nice as it sounds. But JSX flies the same Westchester-to-South Florida route out of private terminals, with fares that can come in under $1,000, and you can earn United MileagePlus miles or JSX credit along the way. BLADEone is clearly nicer. We're just not sure it's three times nicer. Heading to wine country instead? Delta will check a case of wine for free on flights from five Northern California airports, following similar programs from Alaska and Southwest. And Southwest's Enter Airplane Mode campaign is handing out Rapid Rewards points for your unread notifications and a quick burnout quiz, while supplies last. Get $100 off your first JSX flight: https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx Airplane Mode by Southwest: https://airplanemode.southwest.com/ Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:19 BLADEone's Semi-Private Flights to Florida 3:07 Delta's Free Wine Case Perk 4:22 Southwest's Airplane Mode Points 4:56 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Caviar, champagne, a Caesar salad prepared at your seat, and an $800 Dopp kit all come standard on Blade's semi-private jets to Florida this winter. The service, called BLADEone and run with Aero, starts flying between Westchester and Miami or Palm Beach in November, with only 16 seats and dining from Major Food Group, the team behind Carbone and Sadelle's. The catch is a fare of close to $3,000 each way.

We've flown Blade's Miami shuttle before, and it's as nice as it sounds. But JSX flies the same Westchester-to-South Florida route out of private terminals, with fares that can come in under $1,000, and you can earn United MileagePlus miles or JSX credit along the way. BLADEone is clearly nicer. We're just not sure it's three times nicer.

Heading to wine country instead? Delta will check a case of wine for free on flights from five Northern California airports, following similar programs from Alaska and Southwest. And Southwest's Enter Airplane Mode campaign is handing out Rapid Rewards points for your unread notifications and a quick burnout quiz, while supplies last.

Get $100 off your first JSX flight: https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx

Airplane Mode by Southwest: https://airplanemode.southwest.com/


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:19 BLADEone's Semi-Private Flights to Florida

3:07 Delta's Free Wine Case Perk

4:22 Southwest's Airplane Mode Points

4:56 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Caviar, champagne, a Caesar salad prepared at your seat, and an $800 Dopp kit all come standard on Blade&#39;s semi-private jets to Florida this winter. The service, called BLADEone and run with Aero, starts flying between Westchester and Miami or Palm Beach in November, with only 16 seats and dining from Major Food Group, the team behind Carbone and Sadelle&#39;s. The catch is a fare of close to $3,000 each way.</p><p>We&#39;ve flown Blade&#39;s Miami shuttle before, and it&#39;s as nice as it sounds. But<a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx" rel="nofollow"> JSX</a> flies the same Westchester-to-South Florida route out of private terminals, with fares that can come in under $1,000, and you can earn United MileagePlus miles or JSX credit along the way. BLADEone is clearly nicer. We&#39;re just not sure it&#39;s three times nicer.</p><p>Heading to wine country instead? Delta will check a case of wine for free on flights from five Northern California airports, following similar programs from Alaska and Southwest. And Southwest&#39;s <a href="https://airplanemode.southwest.com/" rel="nofollow">Enter Airplane Mode campaign</a> is handing out Rapid Rewards points for your unread notifications and a quick burnout quiz, while supplies last.</p><p><strong>Get $100 off your first JSX flight: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx</a></p><p><strong>Airplane Mode by Southwest: </strong><a href="https://airplanemode.southwest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://airplanemode.southwest.com/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:19 BLADEone&#39;s Semi-Private Flights to Florida</p><p>3:07 Delta&#39;s Free Wine Case Perk</p><p>4:22 Southwest&#39;s Airplane Mode Points</p><p>4:56 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 250f5f2a-cf65-4bf2-9d49-50a8b27a3608 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/semi-private-jet-new-york-florida Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:30:10 +0000 300 false full The Fight Over In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Heating Up The Fight Over In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Heating Up Departure Digest United is targeting Delta and American elites with a petty new status match ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” If you're still paying for in-flight Wi-Fi, there's a decent chance you don't have to. JetBlue offers it free to everyone. Delta, Southwest, and American offer it to loyalty members, and United and Alaska do on Starlink-equipped planes. Your frequent flyer number is the new Wi-Fi password, so set up the account and add it to your reservation before you're trying to log in on your flight. Free Wi-Fi is quickly becoming standard, so airlines are competing on speed. United is installing Starlink and isn't being subtle about it, courting Delta and American elites with a special status match. If you keep ending up on United anyway, it's a pretty easy trial run. The connectivity conversation doesn't stop when you land. If you're heading abroad, a VPN can help with streaming and hotel Wi-Fi. And if logging into seven different apps on a hotel TV sounds annoying, we share why you might want to pack a Roku on your next trip. Explore our VPN guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/vpn-for-travel Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:15 In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Having a Moment 2:37 Using a VPN Abroad 3:59 Bring Your Roku on Your Next Trip 4:51 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


If you're still paying for in-flight Wi-Fi, there's a decent chance you don't have to. JetBlue offers it free to everyone. Delta, Southwest, and American offer it to loyalty members, and United and Alaska do on Starlink-equipped planes. Your frequent flyer number is the new Wi-Fi password, so set up the account and add it to your reservation before you're trying to log in on your flight.

Free Wi-Fi is quickly becoming standard, so airlines are competing on speed. United is installing Starlink and isn't being subtle about it, courting Delta and American elites with a special status match. If you keep ending up on United anyway, it's a pretty easy trial run.

The connectivity conversation doesn't stop when you land. If you're heading abroad, a VPN can help with streaming and hotel Wi-Fi. And if logging into seven different apps on a hotel TV sounds annoying, we share why you might want to pack a Roku on your next trip.

Explore our VPN guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/vpn-for-travel


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:15 In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Having a Moment

2:37 Using a VPN Abroad

3:59 Bring Your Roku on Your Next Trip

4:51 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>โ€”โ€”โ€”</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span>If you&#39;re still paying for in-flight Wi-Fi, there&#39;s a decent chance you don&#39;t have to. JetBlue offers it free to everyone. Delta, Southwest, and American offer it to loyalty members, and United and Alaska do on Starlink-equipped planes. Your frequent flyer number is the new Wi-Fi password, so set up the account and add it to your reservation before you&#39;re trying to log in on your flight.</span></p><p><span>Free Wi-Fi is quickly becoming standard, so airlines are competing on speed. United is installing Starlink and isn&#39;t being subtle about it, courting Delta and American elites with a special status match. If you keep ending up on United anyway, it&#39;s a pretty easy trial run.</span></p><p><span>The connectivity conversation doesn&#39;t stop when you land. If you&#39;re heading abroad, </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/vpn-for-travel" rel="nofollow">a VPN</a><span> can help with streaming and hotel Wi-Fi. And if logging into seven different apps on a hotel TV sounds annoying, we share why you might want to pack a Roku on your next trip.</span></p><p><strong>Explore our VPN guide:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/vpn-for-travel" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/vpn-for-travel</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:15 In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Having a Moment</p><p>2:37 Using a VPN Abroad</p><p>3:59 Bring Your Roku on Your Next Trip</p><p>4:51 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> b1166fca-f53a-4746-8cd5-c5fb41429127 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/free-in-flight-wifi-airlines Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:30:52 +0000 295 false full Why You Canโ€™t Book That Award Seat (Yet) Why You Canโ€™t Book That Award Seat (Yet) Departure Digest Americanโ€™s app can now stalk the seat map for you ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” You can find the perfect award seat, have the points ready, and still run into a problem because your loyalty account is too new. Some airline programs make new members wait before they can book awards, which is why itโ€™s worth opening the loyalty accounts your credit card points transfer to before you actually need them. American Airlines is also making seat selection easier. A new app feature can automatically move solo travelers into a window or aisle seat when one opens up in the same cabin, at no extra charge. It could save you from constantly checking the seat map yourself. Plus, Atmos Rewards now lets members choose whether to earn based on distance, money spent, or flight segments on flights departing next year. Think of it as picking the earning method that makes the most sense for how you fly. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:20 Why Your Account Age Matters 1:52 Americanโ€™s Automatic Seat Swaps 2:59 Atmos Rewards Lets You Pick How You Earn 4:31 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


You can find the perfect award seat, have the points ready, and still run into a problem because your loyalty account is too new. Some airline programs make new members wait before they can book awards, which is why itโ€™s worth opening the loyalty accounts your credit card points transfer to before you actually need them.

American Airlines is also making seat selection easier. A new app feature can automatically move solo travelers into a window or aisle seat when one opens up in the same cabin, at no extra charge. It could save you from constantly checking the seat map yourself.

Plus, Atmos Rewards now lets members choose whether to earn based on distance, money spent, or flight segments on flights departing next year. Think of it as picking the earning method that makes the most sense for how you fly.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:20 Why Your Account Age Matters

1:52 Americanโ€™s Automatic Seat Swaps

2:59 Atmos Rewards Lets You Pick How You Earn

4:31 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

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โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>โ€”โ€”โ€”</strong></p><p><br></p><p>You can find the perfect award seat, have the points ready, and still run into a problem because your loyalty account is too new. Some airline programs make new members wait before they can book awards, which is why itโ€™s worth opening the loyalty accounts your credit card points transfer to before you actually need them.</p><p>American Airlines is also making seat selection easier. A new app feature can automatically move solo travelers into a window or aisle seat when one opens up in the same cabin, at no extra charge. It could save you from constantly checking the seat map yourself.</p><p>Plus, Atmos Rewards now lets members choose whether to earn based on distance, money spent, or flight segments on flights departing next year. Think of it as picking the earning method that makes the most sense for how you fly.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:20 Why Your Account Age Matters</p><p>1:52 Americanโ€™s Automatic Seat Swaps</p><p>2:59 Atmos Rewards Lets You Pick How You Earn</p><p>4:31 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 221c6a1e-da28-48e3-b0b2-7aaeaa1777a1 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/open-airline-loyalty-accounts Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:30:45 +0000 274 false full Alaska Airlines Is Getting a Major Glow-Up Alaska Airlines Is Getting a Major Glow-Up Departure Digest Glamping is everywhere. But is it worth $300 a night? ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Alaska Airlines is getting serious about premium travel. Starting in 2028, itโ€™s bringing lie-flat Aurora suites to its Boeing 787s and select cross-country flights on its new 737-10 MAXs. Itโ€™s also adding Premium Reserve, a new premium economy cabin with more space, deeper recline, and upgraded food and amenities. For an airline once known for quirky carpeted bulkheads, thatโ€™s quite the 180. Then weโ€™re asking a very important question: Is glamping actually worth it? Hotel programs like World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy are getting in on it, but some glamping stays can cost around $300 a night. Nature and beautiful views sound great, but at that price, the tent has some explaining to do. Same goes for farm stays. The countryside sounds lovely, but a vacation doesnโ€™t need to involve milking a cow. Weโ€™ll also look at how using hotel points can change the math on glamping, including stays with Under Canvas and AutoCamp. And if sleeping outdoors still isnโ€™t for you, places like Soho Farmhouse and Miraval offer the hiking and nature, with a proper hotel room waiting at the end of the day. Register for World of Hyattโ€™s Under Canvas promo: https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/offers/under-canvas-points-back.html Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:16 Alaskaโ€™s Premium Makeover 2:22 Is Glamping Worth It? 3:17 Using Points for Glamping 4:10 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Alaska Airlines is getting serious about premium travel. Starting in 2028, itโ€™s bringing lie-flat Aurora suites to its Boeing 787s and select cross-country flights on its new 737-10 MAXs. Itโ€™s also adding Premium Reserve, a new premium economy cabin with more space, deeper recline, and upgraded food and amenities. For an airline once known for quirky carpeted bulkheads, thatโ€™s quite the 180.

Then weโ€™re asking a very important question: Is glamping actually worth it? Hotel programs like World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy are getting in on it, but some glamping stays can cost around $300 a night. Nature and beautiful views sound great, but at that price, the tent has some explaining to do. Same goes for farm stays. The countryside sounds lovely, but a vacation doesnโ€™t need to involve milking a cow.

Weโ€™ll also look at how using hotel points can change the math on glamping, including stays with Under Canvas and AutoCamp. And if sleeping outdoors still isnโ€™t for you, places like Soho Farmhouse and Miraval offer the hiking and nature, with a proper hotel room waiting at the end of the day.

Register for World of Hyattโ€™s Under Canvas promo: https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/offers/under-canvas-points-back.html


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:16 Alaskaโ€™s Premium Makeover

2:22 Is Glamping Worth It?

3:17 Using Points for Glamping

4:10 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>โ€”โ€”โ€”</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span>Alaska Airlines is getting serious about premium travel. Starting in 2028, itโ€™s bringing lie-flat Aurora suites to its Boeing 787s and select cross-country flights on its new 737-10 MAXs. Itโ€™s also adding Premium Reserve, a new premium economy cabin with more space, deeper recline, and upgraded food and amenities. For an airline once known for quirky carpeted bulkheads, thatโ€™s quite the 180.</span></p><p><span>Then weโ€™re asking a very important question: Is glamping actually worth it? Hotel programs like World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy are getting in on it, but some glamping stays can cost around $300 a night. Nature and beautiful views sound great, but at that price, the tent has some explaining to do. Same goes for farm stays. The countryside sounds lovely, but a vacation doesnโ€™t need to involve milking a cow.</span></p><p><span>Weโ€™ll also look at how using hotel points can change the math on glamping, including stays with </span><a href="https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/offers/under-canvas-points-back.html" rel="nofollow">Under Canvas</a><span> and AutoCamp. And if sleeping outdoors still isnโ€™t for you, places like Soho Farmhouse and Miraval offer the hiking and nature, with a proper hotel room waiting at the end of the day.</span></p><p><strong>Register for World of Hyattโ€™s Under Canvas promo: </strong><a href="https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/offers/under-canvas-points-back.html" rel="nofollow">https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/offers/under-canvas-points-back.html</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:16 Alaskaโ€™s Premium Makeover</p><p>2:22 Is Glamping Worth It?</p><p>3:17 Using Points for Glamping</p><p>4:10 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 7c8ab76c-f7fe-4d48-946a-2f764b139462 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/alaska-airlines-aurora-lie-flat Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:30:51 +0000 261 false full Your Monthly DoorDash Credit Just Got Bigger Your Monthly DoorDash Credit Just Got Bigger Departure Digest Also, you can access airport spas, private suites, and more ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” A popular premium travel card you probably have in your wallet is getting a major DoorDash upgrade as of Oct. 1, with up to $35 a month in credits. The new $15 credit works on any qualifying DoorDash order, while two $10 credits still cover non-restaurant purchases like groceries and drugstore runs (pro tip: this includes many bodegas in NYC). Speaking of premium travel card benefits, did you know Priority Pass isnโ€™t just about airport lounges? Depending on your membership, you may have access to airport spas, private rooms to rest between flights, or even video game lounges. Meanwhile, Bilt Rent Day is bringing transfer bonuses to Amtrak and Hilton, with up to 100% more Amtrak points and up to 200% more Hilton points, depending on your Bilt status. We also cover targeted Amex Offers that could help you save on JetBlue and Frontier flights. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Explore our go-to cards for ordering takeout: https://go.departuredigest.com/takeout Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 A Bigger DoorDash Credit 1:30 Bilt Rent Day Transfer Bonuses 2:17 Priority Pass Beyond the Lounge 3:16 JetBlue and Frontier Amex Offers 4:05 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

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๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


A popular premium travel card you probably have in your wallet is getting a major DoorDash upgrade as of Oct. 1, with up to $35 a month in credits. The new $15 credit works on any qualifying DoorDash order, while two $10 credits still cover non-restaurant purchases like groceries and drugstore runs (pro tip: this includes many bodegas in NYC).

Speaking of premium travel card benefits, did you know Priority Pass isnโ€™t just about airport lounges? Depending on your membership, you may have access to airport spas, private rooms to rest between flights, or even video game lounges.

Meanwhile, Bilt Rent Day is bringing transfer bonuses to Amtrak and Hilton, with up to 100% more Amtrak points and up to 200% more Hilton points, depending on your Bilt status. We also cover targeted Amex Offers that could help you save on JetBlue and Frontier flights.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Explore our go-to cards for ordering takeout: https://go.departuredigest.com/takeout


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 A Bigger DoorDash Credit

1:30 Bilt Rent Day Transfer Bonuses

2:17 Priority Pass Beyond the Lounge

3:16 JetBlue and Frontier Amex Offers

4:05 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>โ€”โ€”โ€”</strong></p><p><br></p><p>A popular premium travel card you probably have in your wallet is getting a major DoorDash upgrade as of Oct. 1, with up to $35 a month in credits. The new $15 credit works on any qualifying DoorDash order, while two $10 credits still cover non-restaurant purchases like groceries and drugstore runs (pro tip: this includes many bodegas in NYC).</p><p>Speaking of premium travel card benefits, did you know Priority Pass isnโ€™t just about airport lounges? Depending on your membership, you may have access to airport spas, private rooms to rest between flights, or even video game lounges.</p><p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards" rel="nofollow">Bilt Rent Day</a> is bringing transfer bonuses to Amtrak and Hilton, with up to 100% more Amtrak points and up to 200% more Hilton points, depending on your Bilt status. We also cover targeted Amex Offers that could help you save on JetBlue and Frontier flights.</p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‰ Explore our go-to cards for ordering takeout: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/takeout" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/takeout</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 A Bigger DoorDash Credit</p><p>1:30 Bilt Rent Day Transfer Bonuses</p><p>2:17 Priority Pass Beyond the Lounge</p><p>3:16 JetBlue and Frontier Amex Offers</p><p>4:05 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> fd905d68-b7e7-426e-8d0a-fc26eec84d26 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/new-doordash-promo Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:30:22 +0000 252 false full How to Get 2,500 Miles When Your Bag Is Late How to Get 2,500 Miles When Your Bag Is Late Departure Digest You donโ€™t have to be retired to get AARP travel discounts ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” A late checked bag could earn you some extra miles. Delta, Alaska, and Hawaiian all offer 2,500 miles or points when your bag misses their 20-minute baggage guarantee. We explain how each one works, how quickly you need to file, and what to know before you leave the airport. If your bag is late on both legs of a round trip, you could walk away with 5,000 miles, which could be enough for a short domestic award flight. Also, did you know AARP isnโ€™t just for retirees? Anyone 18 or older can join for $15, and members can get up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals, plus discounts on hotels, Zipcar, and more. And just in time for National Coffee Day, Delta is offering Starbucks gift cards when you buy Delta gift cards. We cover how the promotion works, how much youโ€™d have to spend to get the full $100 in Starbucks cards, and whether itโ€™s worth it. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 How to Get Free Miles When Your Bag Is Late 1:59 Why You Might Want an AARP Membership 3:03 Deltaโ€™s Starbucks Gift Card Promotion 4:21 Free Dunkinโ€™ Coffee 4:33 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


A late checked bag could earn you some extra miles. Delta, Alaska, and Hawaiian all offer 2,500 miles or points when your bag misses their 20-minute baggage guarantee. We explain how each one works, how quickly you need to file, and what to know before you leave the airport. If your bag is late on both legs of a round trip, you could walk away with 5,000 miles, which could be enough for a short domestic award flight.

Also, did you know AARP isnโ€™t just for retirees? Anyone 18 or older can join for $15, and members can get up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals, plus discounts on hotels, Zipcar, and more.

And just in time for National Coffee Day, Delta is offering Starbucks gift cards when you buy Delta gift cards. We cover how the promotion works, how much youโ€™d have to spend to get the full $100 in Starbucks cards, and whether itโ€™s worth it.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 How to Get Free Miles When Your Bag Is Late

1:59 Why You Might Want an AARP Membership

3:03 Deltaโ€™s Starbucks Gift Card Promotion

4:21 Free Dunkinโ€™ Coffee

4:33 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>โ€”โ€”โ€”</strong></p><p><br></p><p>A late checked bag could earn you some extra miles. Delta, Alaska, and Hawaiian all offer 2,500 miles or points when your bag misses their 20-minute baggage guarantee. We explain how each one works, how quickly you need to file, and what to know before you leave the airport. If your bag is late on both legs of a round trip, you could walk away with 5,000 miles, which could be enough for a short domestic award flight.</p><p>Also, did you know AARP isnโ€™t just for retirees? Anyone 18 or older can join for $15, and members can get up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals, plus discounts on hotels, Zipcar, and more.</p><p>And just in time for National Coffee Day, Delta is offering Starbucks gift cards when you buy Delta gift cards. We cover how the promotion works, how much youโ€™d have to spend to get the full $100 in Starbucks cards, and whether itโ€™s worth it.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 How to Get Free Miles When Your Bag Is Late</p><p>1:59 Why You Might Want an AARP Membership</p><p>3:03 Deltaโ€™s Starbucks Gift Card Promotion</p><p>4:21 Free Dunkinโ€™ Coffee</p><p>4:33 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p><span>โ†’ Newsletter: </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><span>โ†’</span> YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Inst</span>agram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p><span>โ†’</span> X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Ti</span>kTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> d712bc0d-4ecc-489d-ae94-f534b42d3dfb https://www.departuredigest.com/p/late-checked-bag-free-miles Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:30:24 +0000 281 false full Are We Entering a New Golden Age of Cruising? Are We Entering a New Golden Age of Cruising? Departure Digest Plus, Bilt points can now transfer to Amtrak Guest Rewards ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality are betting big on cruising. Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman have brought their brands to the water, with smaller yachts designed to feel more like boutique hotels at sea. Think spacious suites with private terraces, posh beach clubs and, in Amanโ€™s case, even two helipads. And itโ€™s not just the ultra-luxury yacht lines shaking things up. Virgin Voyages skips the traditional buffet, with dining that feels more like choosing a restaurant than filling a tray. It also includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and specialty restaurants for all guests. If youโ€™ve never thought of yourself as a cruise person, maybe itโ€™s time to reconsider. And if youโ€™re a train person, Bilt just added Amtrak as a transfer partner at a 2:1 ratio, so 2,000 Bilt points gets you 1,000 Amtrak points. Amtrak awards start at 400 points, but the number of points youโ€™ll need varies based on the cash price of the trip rather than a traditional award chart. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:22 Bilt Adds Amtrak as a Transfer Partner 1:10 Luxury Hotel Brands Are Betting on Cruising 4:11 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality are betting big on cruising. Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman have brought their brands to the water, with smaller yachts designed to feel more like boutique hotels at sea. Think spacious suites with private terraces, posh beach clubs and, in Amanโ€™s case, even two helipads.

And itโ€™s not just the ultra-luxury yacht lines shaking things up. Virgin Voyages skips the traditional buffet, with dining that feels more like choosing a restaurant than filling a tray. It also includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and specialty restaurants for all guests. If youโ€™ve never thought of yourself as a cruise person, maybe itโ€™s time to reconsider.

And if youโ€™re a train person, Bilt just added Amtrak as a transfer partner at a 2:1 ratio, so 2,000 Bilt points gets you 1,000 Amtrak points. Amtrak awards start at 400 points, but the number of points youโ€™ll need varies based on the cash price of the trip rather than a traditional award chart.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:22 Bilt Adds Amtrak as a Transfer Partner

1:10 Luxury Hotel Brands Are Betting on Cruising

4:11 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality are betting big on cruising. Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman have brought their brands to the water, with smaller yachts designed to feel more like boutique hotels at sea. Think spacious suites with private terraces, posh beach clubs and, in Amanโ€™s case, even </span><em>two</em><span> helipads.</span></p><p><span>And itโ€™s not just the ultra-luxury yacht lines shaking things up. Virgin Voyages skips the traditional buffet, with dining that feels more like choosing a restaurant than filling a tray. It also includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and specialty restaurants for all guests. If youโ€™ve never thought of yourself as a cruise person, maybe itโ€™s time to reconsider.</span></p><p><span>And if youโ€™re a train person, </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards" rel="nofollow">Bilt</a><span> just added Amtrak as a transfer partner at a 2:1 ratio, so 2,000 Bilt points gets you 1,000 Amtrak points. Amtrak awards start at 400 points, but the number of points youโ€™ll need varies based on the cash price of the trip rather than a traditional award chart.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:22 Bilt Adds Amtrak as a Transfer Partner</p><p>1:10 Luxury Hotel Brands Are Betting on Cruising</p><p>4:11 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> b5a6a7e2-f96c-4ec8-a71b-ab8a7b8d97b6 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/luxury-hotel-brands-cruising Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:30:04 +0000 255 false full How to Get a Free Fifth Night at a Hotel With Points How to Get a Free Fifth Night at a Hotel With Points Departure Digest Under 25? Here's how to avoid young-driver rental fees ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” You can stretch your hotel points further than you might think. Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors can both give you a free fifth night when you book five consecutive nights with points. The one caveat is that Hilton requires elite status to unlock the perk, but thatโ€™s pretty easy to get. IHG takes a slightly different approach, giving eligible cardholders a free fourth night. If youโ€™re under 25, thereโ€™s another easy way to save. Rental car companies often charge young-driver fees, but AAA members ages 20 to 24 can have that fee waived on qualifying Hertz rentals. Weโ€™ll explain how to get the benefit and a couple of other ways to save on your next rental. And to round things out, a popular cash-back card just got some useful new travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, elevated value on select hotel bookings and a limited-time welcome offer. Learn more about our favorite cash-back cards: https://go.departuredigest.com/cashback Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:19 Free Fifth Hotel Nights With Points 1:56 How to Avoid Young-Driver Rental Fees 3:41 A Popular Cash-Back Card Gets Travel Benefits 4:10 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


You can stretch your hotel points further than you might think. Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors can both give you a free fifth night when you book five consecutive nights with points. The one caveat is that Hilton requires elite status to unlock the perk, but thatโ€™s pretty easy to get. IHG takes a slightly different approach, giving eligible cardholders a free fourth night.

If youโ€™re under 25, thereโ€™s another easy way to save. Rental car companies often charge young-driver fees, but AAA members ages 20 to 24 can have that fee waived on qualifying Hertz rentals. Weโ€™ll explain how to get the benefit and a couple of other ways to save on your next rental.

And to round things out, a popular cash-back card just got some useful new travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, elevated value on select hotel bookings and a limited-time welcome offer.

Learn more about our favorite cash-back cards: https://go.departuredigest.com/cashback


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:19 Free Fifth Hotel Nights With Points

1:56 How to Avoid Young-Driver Rental Fees

3:41 A Popular Cash-Back Card Gets Travel Benefits

4:10 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><span>โ€”โ€”โ€”</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>You can stretch your hotel points further than you might think. Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors can both give you a free fifth night when you book five consecutive nights with points. The one caveat is that Hilton requires elite status to unlock the perk, but thatโ€™s pretty easy to get. IHG takes a slightly different approach, giving eligible cardholders a free fourth night.</span></p><p><span>If youโ€™re under 25, thereโ€™s another easy way to save. Rental car companies often charge young-driver fees, but AAA members ages 20 to 24 can have that fee waived on qualifying Hertz rentals. Weโ€™ll explain how to get the benefit and a couple of other ways to save on your next rental.</span></p><p><span>And to round things out, a </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/cashback" rel="nofollow">popular cash-back card</a><span> just got some useful new travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, elevated value on select hotel bookings and a limited-time welcome offer.</span></p><p><strong>Learn more about our favorite cash-back cards: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/cashback" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/cashback</a></p><p><br></p><p><span>Timeline</span></p><p><span>0:00 Start Here</span></p><p>0:19 Free Fifth Hotel Nights With Points</p><p>1:56 How to Avoid Young-Driver Rental Fees</p><p>3:41 A Popular Cash-Back Card Gets Travel Benefits</p><p>4:10 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p><span>โ€”โ€”โ€”</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>โ€”โ€”โ€”</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p><span>โ†’ Newsletter: </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><span>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: </span><a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p><span>โ†’ X: </span><a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p><span>โ†’ TikTok: </span><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 3aad4a61-ec83-4463-bfc2-4098e3f61662 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/free-fifth-hotel-night Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:30:52 +0000 265 false full The Secret to Getting a Free Hotel Upgrade The Secret to Getting a Free Hotel Upgrade Departure Digest Plus, the hotel thermostat trick every traveler needs to know ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Getting a free hotel upgrade doesnโ€™t always require elite status. Weโ€™re sharing a few simple ways to improve your odds, from asking nicely and mentioning a special occasion to messaging the hotel before you arrive. Timing can help, too, especially if you have some flexibility around when you check in. And then thereโ€™s our favorite strategy: โ€œsuite talking.โ€ Plus, Hilton Honors and IHG both have new promotions worth registering for. Hilton is offering up to 3,000 bonus points on eligible stays, while IHG is offering up to 3x points depending on how you book. Register now, even if you donโ€™t have a stay booked yet, so you donโ€™t forget when you do. And if youโ€™re someone who needs their hotel room at approximately 60 degrees to sleep, we have a thermostat trick that could help. Weโ€™re also sharing why you should put an AirTag in every checked bag. Register for the Hilton Honors bonus points promo: https://www.hilton.com/en/offers/promotions/more-points-to-play/ Register for the IHG bonus points promo: https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/member-offers/3xpts?offerCode=72539 Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:15 Hilton and IHG Hotel Promotions 1:07 How to Get a Free Hotel Upgrade 3:22 The Hotel Thermostat Trick 3:50 Why You Should AirTag Your Checked Bags 4:21 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Getting a free hotel upgrade doesnโ€™t always require elite status. Weโ€™re sharing a few simple ways to improve your odds, from asking nicely and mentioning a special occasion to messaging the hotel before you arrive. Timing can help, too, especially if you have some flexibility around when you check in. And then thereโ€™s our favorite strategy: โ€œsuite talking.โ€

Plus, Hilton Honors and IHG both have new promotions worth registering for. Hilton is offering up to 3,000 bonus points on eligible stays, while IHG is offering up to 3x points depending on how you book. Register now, even if you donโ€™t have a stay booked yet, so you donโ€™t forget when you do.

And if youโ€™re someone who needs their hotel room at approximately 60 degrees to sleep, we have a thermostat trick that could help. Weโ€™re also sharing why you should put an AirTag in every checked bag.

Register for the Hilton Honors bonus points promo: https://www.hilton.com/en/offers/promotions/more-points-to-play/

Register for the IHG bonus points promo: https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/member-offers/3xpts?offerCode=72539


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:15 Hilton and IHG Hotel Promotions

1:07 How to Get a Free Hotel Upgrade

3:22 The Hotel Thermostat Trick

3:50 Why You Should AirTag Your Checked Bags

4:21 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><span>Getting a free hotel upgrade doesnโ€™t always require elite status. Weโ€™re sharing a few simple ways to improve your odds, from asking nicely and mentioning a special occasion to messaging the hotel before you arrive. Timing can help, too, especially if you have some flexibility around when you check in. And then thereโ€™s our favorite strategy: โ€œsuite talking.โ€</span></p><p><span>Plus, Hilton Honors and IHG both have new promotions worth registering for. Hilton is offering </span><a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/offers/promotions/more-points-to-play/" rel="nofollow">up to 3,000 bonus points</a><span> on eligible stays, while IHG is offering </span><a href="https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/member-offers/3xpts?offerCode=72539" rel="nofollow">up to 3x points</a><span> depending on how you book. Register now, even if you donโ€™t have a stay booked yet, so you donโ€™t forget when you do.</span></p><p><span>And if youโ€™re someone who needs their hotel room at approximately 60 degrees to sleep, we have a thermostat trick that could help. Weโ€™re also sharing why you should put an </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/how-to-use-apple-airtags-track-luggage" rel="nofollow">AirTag</a><span> in every checked bag.</span></p><p><strong>Register for the Hilton Honors bonus points promo:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/offers/promotions/more-points-to-play/" rel="nofollow">https://www.hilton.com/en/offers/promotions/more-points-to-play/</a></p><p><strong>Register for the IHG bonus points promo:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/member-offers/3xpts?offerCode=72539" rel="nofollow">https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/member-offers/3xpts?offerCode=72539</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:15 Hilton and IHG Hotel Promotions</p><p>1:07 How to Get a Free Hotel Upgrade</p><p>3:22 The Hotel Thermostat Trick</p><p>3:50 Why You Should AirTag Your Checked Bags</p><p>4:21 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 15d01fe0-06a0-4b99-91ae-9eed5f2a5b76 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/how-to-get-free-hotel-upgrade Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:30:02 +0000 272 false full New Travel Offers Could Save You Hundreds on Flights and Hotels New Travel Offers Could Save You Hundreds on Flights and Hotels Departure Digest Plus, Europeโ€™s first Centurion Lounge just opened in Amsterdam ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” One of our favorite travel credit cards is celebrating its birthday with hundreds of dollars in limited-time travel offers, including up to $200 back on a JSX flight and up to $125 back on an eligible hotel stay after qualifying spend. Just be sure to activate the offer before you book. The JSX offer alone could cover a big chunk of a one-way semi-private flight. Then we head to Amsterdam Schiphol, where Amex just opened its first Centurion Lounge in Europe. The nearly 6,000-square-foot lounge has local art, floor-to-ceiling windows, a full bar, food and a barista-made coffee bar. We cover where to find it, who can access it and why its relatively small size could mean waits at one of Europeโ€™s busiest airports. And to round things out, the new AirPods 5 are now available with Active Noise Cancellation and Live Translation, which could be especially useful when traveling. Learn more about one of our favorite travel credit cards: https://go.departuredigest.com/travelcard Get $100 off your first JSX flight: https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:20 Travel Offers for Flights and Hotels 1:55 First European Centurion Lounge in Amsterdam 2:54 AirPods 5 for Travelers 3:48 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


One of our favorite travel credit cards is celebrating its birthday with hundreds of dollars in limited-time travel offers, including up to $200 back on a JSX flight and up to $125 back on an eligible hotel stay after qualifying spend. Just be sure to activate the offer before you book. The JSX offer alone could cover a big chunk of a one-way semi-private flight.

Then we head to Amsterdam Schiphol, where Amex just opened its first Centurion Lounge in Europe. The nearly 6,000-square-foot lounge has local art, floor-to-ceiling windows, a full bar, food and a barista-made coffee bar. We cover where to find it, who can access it and why its relatively small size could mean waits at one of Europeโ€™s busiest airports.

And to round things out, the new AirPods 5 are now available with Active Noise Cancellation and Live Translation, which could be especially useful when traveling.

Learn more about one of our favorite travel credit cards: https://go.departuredigest.com/travelcard

Get $100 off your first JSX flight: https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:20 Travel Offers for Flights and Hotels

1:55 First European Centurion Lounge in Amsterdam

2:54 AirPods 5 for Travelers

3:48 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>One of our <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/travelcard" rel="nofollow">favorite travel credit cards</a> is celebrating its birthday with hundreds of dollars in limited-time travel offers, including up to $200 back on a <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx" rel="nofollow">JSX</a> flight and up to $125 back on an eligible hotel stay after qualifying spend. Just be sure to activate the offer before you book. The JSX offer alone could cover a big chunk of a one-way semi-private flight.</p><p>Then we head to Amsterdam Schiphol, where Amex just opened its first Centurion Lounge in Europe. The nearly 6,000-square-foot lounge has local art, floor-to-ceiling windows, a full bar, food and a barista-made coffee bar. We cover where to find it, who can access it and why its relatively small size could mean waits at one of Europeโ€™s busiest airports.</p><p>And to round things out, the new AirPods 5 are now available with Active Noise Cancellation and Live Translation, which could be especially useful when traveling.</p><p><strong>Learn more about one of our favorite travel credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/travelcard" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/travelcard</a></p><p><strong>Get $100 off your first JSX flight:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:20 Travel Offers for Flights and Hotels</p><p>1:55 First European Centurion Lounge in Amsterdam</p><p>2:54 AirPods 5 for Travelers</p><p>3:48 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 1de6a814-a3c5-413e-a3a7-04bd3b7c7a05 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/travel-card-anniversary-offers Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:30:06 +0000 236 false full How to Spot Fake Hotel Reviews Before You Book How to Spot Fake Hotel Reviews Before You Book Departure Digest That five-star hotel review might not be as real as it looks ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Spotting a fake hotel review starts with knowing what to look for, from overly polished marketing phrases and buzzwords to suspicious reviewer profiles and photos that seem too perfect. Real reviews tend to include specific details, like weak shower pressure or thin walls, that give you a better sense of the stay. AI has made this harder since a fake review can now sound completely human, but searching a hotel on Reddit can help you see what actual travelers are saying. Then we head to New Orleans, where the 13-room Blackbird Hotel has something you don't find at most boutique hotels: a resident mystic. Every Thursday and Friday evening, guests can stop by the lobby bar for tarot, astrology, palm readings and psychic readings. The hotel isn't part of a major loyalty program, so you can't use points here, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth considering. Finally, it's time for some credit card homework. With Q3 ending Sept. 30, it's worth checking your credit card accounts for quarterly statement credits that are about to reset. For example, you might have easy-to-use Resy or Lululemon credits expiring. Also, if your card has rotating 5% cash-back categories, make sure you're using the current ones before the deadline and activate the new categories once October begins. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:21 How to Spot Fake Hotel Reviews 2:26 The Blackbird Hotel's Resident Mystic 3:12 Credit Card Benefits Expiring Sept. 30 3:57 Rotating 5% Cash-Back Categories 4:15 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Spotting a fake hotel review starts with knowing what to look for, from overly polished marketing phrases and buzzwords to suspicious reviewer profiles and photos that seem too perfect. Real reviews tend to include specific details, like weak shower pressure or thin walls, that give you a better sense of the stay. AI has made this harder since a fake review can now sound completely human, but searching a hotel on Reddit can help you see what actual travelers are saying.

Then we head to New Orleans, where the 13-room Blackbird Hotel has something you don't find at most boutique hotels: a resident mystic. Every Thursday and Friday evening, guests can stop by the lobby bar for tarot, astrology, palm readings and psychic readings. The hotel isn't part of a major loyalty program, so you can't use points here, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth considering.

Finally, it's time for some credit card homework. With Q3 ending Sept. 30, it's worth checking your credit card accounts for quarterly statement credits that are about to reset. For example, you might have easy-to-use Resy or Lululemon credits expiring. Also, if your card has rotating 5% cash-back categories, make sure you're using the current ones before the deadline and activate the new categories once October begins.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 How to Spot Fake Hotel Reviews

2:26 The Blackbird Hotel's Resident Mystic

3:12 Credit Card Benefits Expiring Sept. 30

3:57 Rotating 5% Cash-Back Categories

4:15 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Spotting a fake hotel review starts with knowing what to look for, from overly polished marketing phrases and buzzwords to suspicious reviewer profiles and photos that seem too perfect. Real reviews tend to include specific details, like weak shower pressure or thin walls, that give you a better sense of the stay. AI has made this harder since a fake review can now sound completely human, but searching a hotel on Reddit can help you see what actual travelers are saying.</p><p>Then we head to New Orleans, where the 13-room <a href="https://www.theblackbirdnola.com/" rel="nofollow">Blackbird Hotel</a> has something you don&#39;t find at most boutique hotels: a resident mystic. Every Thursday and Friday evening, guests can stop by the lobby bar for tarot, astrology, palm readings and psychic readings. The hotel isn&#39;t part of a major loyalty program, so you can&#39;t use points here, but that doesn&#39;t mean it isn&#39;t worth considering.</p><p>Finally, it&#39;s time for some <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">credit card homework</a>. With Q3 ending Sept. 30, it&#39;s worth checking your credit card accounts for quarterly statement credits that are about to reset. For example, you might have easy-to-use Resy or Lululemon credits expiring. Also, if your card has rotating 5% cash-back categories, make sure you&#39;re using the current ones before the deadline and activate the new categories once October begins.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:21 How to Spot Fake Hotel Reviews</p><p>2:26 The Blackbird Hotel&#39;s Resident Mystic</p><p>3:12 Credit Card Benefits Expiring Sept. 30</p><p>3:57 Rotating 5% Cash-Back Categories</p><p>4:15 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 842450cc-9fef-4500-b102-5ee924bfc2a5 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/spot-fake-hotel-reviews Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:30:21 +0000 262 false full When Is It Worth Buying Points and Miles? When Is It Worth Buying Points and Miles? Departure Digest You might be able to bring liquids through airport security soon ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Ever see a points sale and think, wow, that looks like a bargain? Before you buy, there's one question to ask: What would you actually pay in cash for this trip? If a business-class ticket costs $4,000 but you'd really only pay $500 for economy, that $500 is the number that matters. We break down how to tell when buying points and miles makes sense, when it doesn't, and why a sale isn't automatically a deal. Hilton's co-branded credit cards are also offering elevated welcome bonuses right now, and two cards in particular caught our attention with some of the best offers we've seen: the Hilton Honors American Expressยฎ Surpassยฎ Card and Hilton Honors American Expressยฎ Aspire Card. We look at what these offers actually get you, from Hilton elite status to free night certificates, and whether either card belongs in your wallet. TSA may also be getting closer to letting some PreCheck travelers bring full water bottles through security at airports with newer scanners, although nothing is confirmed yet. We explain what TSA is considering and what it could mean for your next trip. Explore Hilton's limited-time card offers: https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:23 Hilton Amex Card Offers 2:04 The Reality Check on Buying Points 3:47 TSA and Full Water Bottles 4:48 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Ever see a points sale and think, wow, that looks like a bargain? Before you buy, there's one question to ask: What would you actually pay in cash for this trip? If a business-class ticket costs $4,000 but you'd really only pay $500 for economy, that $500 is the number that matters. We break down how to tell when buying points and miles makes sense, when it doesn't, and why a sale isn't automatically a deal.

Hilton's co-branded credit cards are also offering elevated welcome bonuses right now, and two cards in particular caught our attention with some of the best offers we've seen: the Hilton Honors American Expressยฎ Surpassยฎ Card and Hilton Honors American Expressยฎ Aspire Card. We look at what these offers actually get you, from Hilton elite status to free night certificates, and whether either card belongs in your wallet.

TSA may also be getting closer to letting some PreCheck travelers bring full water bottles through security at airports with newer scanners, although nothing is confirmed yet. We explain what TSA is considering and what it could mean for your next trip.ย 

Explore Hilton's limited-time card offers: https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:23 Hilton Amex Card Offers

2:04 The Reality Check on Buying Points

3:47 TSA and Full Water Bottles

4:48 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

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โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Ever see a points sale and think, wow, that looks like a bargain? Before you buy, there&#39;s one question to ask: What would you actually pay in cash for this trip? If a business-class ticket costs $4,000 but you&#39;d really only pay $500 for economy, that $500 is the number that matters. We break down how to tell when buying points and miles makes sense, when it doesn&#39;t, and why a sale isn&#39;t automatically a deal.</p><p>Hilton&#39;s co-branded credit cards are also offering <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton" rel="nofollow">elevated welcome bonuses</a> right now, and two cards in particular caught our attention with some of the best offers we&#39;ve seen: the <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton" rel="nofollow">Hilton Honors American Expressยฎ Surpassยฎ Card</a> and <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton" rel="nofollow">Hilton Honors American Expressยฎ Aspire Card</a>. We look at what these offers actually get you, from Hilton elite status to free night certificates, and whether either card belongs in your wallet.</p><p>TSA may also be getting closer to letting some PreCheck travelers bring full water bottles through security at airports with newer scanners, although nothing is confirmed yet. We explain what TSA is considering and what it could mean for your next trip.ย </p><p><strong>Explore Hilton&#39;s limited-time card offers:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/hilton</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:23 Hilton Amex Card Offers</p><p>2:04 The Reality Check on Buying Points</p><p>3:47 TSA and Full Water Bottles</p><p>4:48 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> c08168bc-674b-4f3c-8837-32703ece4358 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/when-to-buy-points-miles Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:30:00 +0000 290 false full How to Plan the Perfect 48-Hour Austin Weekend How to Plan the Perfect 48-Hour Austin Weekend Departure Digest Plus, Marriott is offering up to 4,500 bonus points per qualifying stay ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Austin is basically the perfect weekend getaway, with good food, good shopping, pool time, and a night out that might end with you on a mechanical bull. We made a 48-hour itinerary covering South Congress, breakfast tacos, Barton Springs, West Sixth, and some of our favorite spots to eat and drink. Cowboy boots strongly encouraged. For hotels, you can use points at the Thompson Austin, The Driskill, or W Austin. Also, start booking Thanksgiving and Christmas flights now. Prices are only going up from here. Marriott is offering up to 4,500 bonus points per qualifying stay. Meanwhile, Delta and Hyatt are teaming up, letting Delta SkyMiles members earn miles on qualifying Hyatt stays and World of Hyatt members earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta flights. Register for Marriottโ€™s latest promotion and earn bonus points on upcoming stays: https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=WL26 Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:23 Booking Holiday Flights 0:42 Marriottโ€™s New Global Promo 1:07 New Delta + Hyatt Partnership 1:41 The Perfect 48-Hour Austin Weekend 3:52 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Austin is basically the perfect weekend getaway, with good food, good shopping, pool time, and a night out that might end with you on a mechanical bull. We made a 48-hour itinerary covering South Congress, breakfast tacos, Barton Springs, West Sixth, and some of our favorite spots to eat and drink. Cowboy boots strongly encouraged. For hotels, you can use points at the Thompson Austin, The Driskill, or W Austin.

Also, start booking Thanksgiving and Christmas flights now. Prices are only going up from here. Marriott is offering up to 4,500 bonus points per qualifying stay. Meanwhile, Delta and Hyatt are teaming up, letting Delta SkyMiles members earn miles on qualifying Hyatt stays and World of Hyatt members earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta flights.

Register for Marriottโ€™s latest promotion and earn bonus points on upcoming stays: https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=WL26


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:23 Booking Holiday Flights

0:42 Marriottโ€™s New Global Promo

1:07 New Delta + Hyatt Partnership

1:41 The Perfect 48-Hour Austin Weekend

3:52 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Austin is basically the perfect weekend getaway, with good food, good shopping, pool time, and a night out that might end with you on a mechanical bull. We made a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcjVgjJFp03/" rel="nofollow">48-hour itinerary</a> covering South Congress, breakfast tacos, Barton Springs, West Sixth, and some of our favorite spots to eat and drink. Cowboy boots strongly encouraged. For hotels, you can use points at the Thompson Austin, The Driskill, or W Austin.</p><p>Also, start booking Thanksgiving and Christmas flights now. Prices are only going up from here. Marriott is offering up to <a href="https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=WL26" rel="nofollow">4,500 bonus points</a> per qualifying stay. Meanwhile, Delta and Hyatt are teaming up, letting Delta SkyMiles members earn miles on qualifying Hyatt stays and World of Hyatt members earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta flights.</p><p><strong>Register for Marriottโ€™s latest promotion and earn bonus points on upcoming stays: </strong><a href="https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=WL26" rel="nofollow">https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=WL26</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:23 Booking Holiday Flights</p><p>0:42 Marriottโ€™s New Global Promo</p><p>1:07 New Delta + Hyatt Partnership</p><p>1:41 The Perfect 48-Hour Austin Weekend</p><p>3:52 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 122f6bab-ebc5-4da7-87f3-fa22e785f6b7 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/austin-weekend-itinerary Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:30:20 +0000 251 false full The One Thing You're Forgetting to Check Before Booking a Flight The One Thing You're Forgetting to Check Before Booking a Flight Departure Digest Plus, you can now get past airport security without a boarding pass ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Before you book your next flight, take a second to check the aircraft type. More airlines are starting to fly A321XLRs across the Atlantic, including United and American. These planes can have lie-flat seats and premium economy, but there's still only one aisle, fewer lavatories, and less room to move around than on a wide-body jet. You can usually find the aircraft type in the flight details on Google Flights. TSA also just launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, letting certain members get through security and into the gate area without a boarding pass. You could meet someone at their gate when they arrive or walk a loved one all the way to the gate before they leave. It's starting at 13 airports, including LAX, DFW, and PHX. There's no fee, and children under 18 can come along with an approved adult. Just don't expect it to help get you into an airport lounge. Plus, EEEEEATSCON is coming back to New York, with tickets on sale exclusively to Chase credit and debit cardholders. And before we go, there's one genuinely sweet father-daughter moment on an air traffic control frequency that's worth hearing for yourself. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:21 Why Aircraft Type Matters When Booking 2:08 TSA's New Gateside Program 3:14 EEEEEATSCON Returns to New York 3:40 A Father-Daughter Air Traffic Control Moment โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Before you book your next flight, take a second to check the aircraft type. More airlines are starting to fly A321XLRs across the Atlantic, including United and American. These planes can have lie-flat seats and premium economy, but there's still only one aisle, fewer lavatories, and less room to move around than on a wide-body jet. You can usually find the aircraft type in the flight details on Google Flights.

TSA also just launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, letting certain members get through security and into the gate area without a boarding pass. You could meet someone at their gate when they arrive or walk a loved one all the way to the gate before they leave. It's starting at 13 airports, including LAX, DFW, and PHX. There's no fee, and children under 18 can come along with an approved adult. Just don't expect it to help get you into an airport lounge.

Plus, EEEEEATSCON is coming back to New York, with tickets on sale exclusively to Chase credit and debit cardholders. And before we go, there's one genuinely sweet father-daughter moment on an air traffic control frequency that's worth hearing for yourself.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 Why Aircraft Type Matters When Booking

2:08 TSA's New Gateside Program

3:14 EEEEEATSCON Returns to New York

3:40 A Father-Daughter Air Traffic Control Moment


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Before you book your next flight, take a second to check the aircraft type. More airlines are starting to fly A321XLRs across the Atlantic, including United and American. These planes can have lie-flat seats and premium economy, but there&#39;s still only one aisle, fewer lavatories, and less room to move around than on a wide-body jet. You can usually find the aircraft type in the flight details on Google Flights.</p><p>TSA also just launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, letting certain members get through security and into the gate area without a boarding pass. You could meet someone at their gate when they arrive or walk a loved one all the way to the gate before they leave. It&#39;s starting at 13 airports, including LAX, DFW, and PHX. There&#39;s no fee, and children under 18 can come along with an approved adult. Just don&#39;t expect it to help get you into an airport lounge.</p><p>Plus, EEEEEATSCON is coming back to New York, with tickets on sale exclusively to Chase credit and debit cardholders. And before we go, there&#39;s one genuinely sweet father-daughter moment on an air traffic control frequency that&#39;s worth hearing for yourself.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:21 Why Aircraft Type Matters When Booking</p><p>2:08 TSA&#39;s New Gateside Program</p><p>3:14 EEEEEATSCON Returns to New York</p><p>3:40 A Father-Daughter Air Traffic Control Moment</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 979dbbb6-2fab-42a9-951d-8eefdc5bdec8 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/check-aircraft-type-before-booking Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:30:25 +0000 257 false full Southwest Is Opening Airport Lounges. Yes, Really. Southwest Is Opening Airport Lounges. Yes, Really. Departure Digest Plus: a new NYC rideshare app and the best premium hotel perk ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Southwest is opening airport lounges, with its first four locations planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. It's another sign that Southwest is becoming a lot more like every other airline. After adding bag fees and assigned seating, its CEO has even hinted that first class could be next. Then, we're comparing four premium hotel programs from Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Bilt. Fine Hotels + Resortsยฎ, Premier Collection, The Editโ„ , and Home Away from Homeยฎ can offer extras like free breakfast, property credits, and possible upgrades, but it's still important to compare rates before you book. When it comes to perks, though, Amex's guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout is hard to beat. Plus, meet Throo, a new rideshare app in NYC that could be worth checking before your next airport trip. It offers flat rates from Manhattan to JFK and LGA, though wait times can be longer and it won't necessarily be cheaper than Uber or Lyft every time. More competition is never a bad thing for riders. Try Throo and get 10% off your first ride: https://throo-rider.app.link/referral?referralCode=DJCBSI Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 Southwest's First Airport Lounges 1:36 Throo, NYC's New Rideshare App 2:48 Comparing Premium Hotel Programs 4:22 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Southwest is opening airport lounges, with its first four locations planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. It's another sign that Southwest is becoming a lot more like every other airline. After adding bag fees and assigned seating, its CEO has even hinted that first class could be next.

Then, we're comparing four premium hotel programs from Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Bilt. Fine Hotels + Resortsยฎ, Premier Collection, The Editโ„ , and Home Away from Homeยฎ can offer extras like free breakfast, property credits, and possible upgrades, but it's still important to compare rates before you book. When it comes to perks, though, Amex's guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout is hard to beat.

Plus, meet Throo, a new rideshare app in NYC that could be worth checking before your next airport trip. It offers flat rates from Manhattan to JFK and LGA, though wait times can be longer and it won't necessarily be cheaper than Uber or Lyft every time. More competition is never a bad thing for riders.

Try Throo and get 10% off your first ride: https://throo-rider.app.link/referral?referralCode=DJCBSI


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 Southwest's First Airport Lounges

1:36 Throo, NYC's New Rideshare App

2:48 Comparing Premium Hotel Programs

4:22 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Southwest is opening airport lounges, with its first four locations planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. It&#39;s another sign that Southwest is becoming a lot more like every other airline. After adding bag fees and assigned seating, its CEO has even hinted that first class could be next.</p><p>Then, we&#39;re comparing four premium hotel programs from Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Bilt. Fine Hotels + Resortsยฎ, Premier Collection, The Editโ„ , and Home Away from Homeยฎ can offer extras like free breakfast, property credits, and possible upgrades, but it&#39;s still important to compare rates before you book. When it comes to perks, though, Amex&#39;s guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout is hard to beat.</p><p>Plus, meet <a href="https://throo-rider.app.link/referral?referralCode=DJCBSI" rel="nofollow">Throo</a>, a new rideshare app in NYC that could be worth checking before your next airport trip. It offers flat rates from Manhattan to JFK and LGA, though wait times can be longer and it won&#39;t necessarily be cheaper than Uber or Lyft every time. More competition is never a bad thing for riders.</p><p><strong>Try Throo and get 10% off your first ride: </strong><a href="https://throo-rider.app.link/referral?referralCode=DJCBSI" rel="nofollow">https://throo-rider.app.link/referral?referralCode=DJCBSI</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 Southwest&#39;s First Airport Lounges</p><p>1:36 Throo, NYC&#39;s New Rideshare App</p><p>2:48 Comparing Premium Hotel Programs</p><p>4:22 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 94002db5-de9d-403c-970f-0a740ec588dd https://www.departuredigest.com/p/southwest-airport-lounges Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:30:48 +0000 272 false full JetBlue's New First Class Comes With a Catch JetBlue's New First Class Comes With a Catch Departure Digest Plus: It's not too late to book a Labor Day getaway ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” JetBlue is finally getting domestic first class, but it's bad news for everyone else in the back of the plane. The airline's new BlueFirst cabin will have bigger recliner-style seats and Bluetooth connectivity. But to make room, JetBlue is cutting about two inches of legroom from regular economy, which has long been one of its biggest selling points. If you're still figuring out a last-minute Labor Day getaway, don't panic. International airfare is actually down about 4% compared to last year. We share why it can pay to let the price pick your destination by searching broadly on Google Flights or Seats.aero. Plus, United's app can now help you get on standby for an earlier flight if your travel plans get disrupted. Flying Blue also has new Promo Rewards for September, with flights between the U.S. and Europe starting around 19,000 miles one-way in economy or 30,000 miles in premium economy. The discounted awards can be booked for travel through Feb. 28, 2027, and it's worth booking before Sept. 8, when new award ticket options with more restrictions take effect. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:17 Last-Minute Labor Day Travel 1:18 United's New Standby Feature 2:14 JetBlue's New BlueFirst Cabin 3:45 Flying Blue Promo Rewards and New Award Fares 4:37 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


JetBlue is finally getting domestic first class, but it's bad news for everyone else in the back of the plane. The airline's new BlueFirst cabin will have bigger recliner-style seats and Bluetooth connectivity. But to make room, JetBlue is cutting about two inches of legroom from regular economy, which has long been one of its biggest selling points.

If you're still figuring out a last-minute Labor Day getaway, don't panic. International airfare is actually down about 4% compared to last year. We share why it can pay to let the price pick your destination by searching broadly on Google Flights or Seats.aero. Plus, United's app can now help you get on standby for an earlier flight if your travel plans get disrupted.

Flying Blue also has new Promo Rewards for September, with flights between the U.S. and Europe starting around 19,000 miles one-way in economy or 30,000 miles in premium economy. The discounted awards can be booked for travel through Feb. 28, 2027, and it's worth booking before Sept. 8, when new award ticket options with more restrictions take effect.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 Last-Minute Labor Day Travel

1:18 United's New Standby Feature

2:14 JetBlue's New BlueFirst Cabin

3:45 Flying Blue Promo Rewards and New Award Fares

4:37 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>JetBlue is finally getting domestic first class, but it&#39;s bad news for everyone else in the back of the plane. The airline&#39;s new BlueFirst cabin will have bigger recliner-style seats and Bluetooth connectivity. But to make room, JetBlue is cutting about two inches of legroom from regular economy, which has long been one of its biggest selling points.</p><p>If you&#39;re still figuring out a last-minute Labor Day getaway, don&#39;t panic. International airfare is actually down about 4% compared to last year. We share why it can pay to let the price pick your destination by searching broadly on Google Flights or Seats.aero. Plus, United&#39;s app can now help you get on standby for an earlier flight if your travel plans get disrupted.</p><p>Flying Blue also has new Promo Rewards for September, with flights between the U.S. and Europe starting around 19,000 miles one-way in economy or 30,000 miles in premium economy. The discounted awards can be booked for travel through Feb. 28, 2027, and it&#39;s worth booking before Sept. 8, when new award ticket options with more restrictions take effect.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:17 Last-Minute Labor Day Travel</p><p>1:18 United&#39;s New Standby Feature</p><p>2:14 JetBlue&#39;s New BlueFirst Cabin</p><p>3:45 Flying Blue Promo Rewards and New Award Fares</p><p>4:37 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 5aec610a-218e-42b3-89e1-fba90562fcdf https://www.departuredigest.com/p/jetblue-bluefirst-first-class Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:30:28 +0000 283 false full Bilt's Rent Day Bonus Could Get You to London for 3,000 Points Bilt's Rent Day Bonus Could Get You to London for 3,000 Points Departure Digest Up to 100% more Virgin points, plus a shortcut to airline elite status ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Bilt's September Rent Day transfer bonus could get you to London for just 3,000 Bilt points. On Sept. 1, Bilt Rewards is offering up to a 100% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red, with the size of the bonus depending on your Bilt status. Virgin Atlantic awards from the East Coast to London can be as low as 6,000 points one-way in economy, so a full 100% bonus could cut the points cost in half. United is also offering a shortcut to airline elite status, with a special challenge for members in New York and Chicago. Members can get matched elite status for 120 days, then lock it in through next year by completing just two qualifying flights. And Google is making it easier to see award pricing for programs including Alaska, American, and Hilton through AI Mode. It's helpful when it works, but the results can be hit or miss. Sign up for a free Bilt Rewards account: https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards Unitedโ€™s New York status match: https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchnewyork Unitedโ€™s Chicago status match: https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchchicago Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:19 Bilt's September Rent Day Perks 2:00 United Status Match Shortcut 3:35 Google AI Mode for Points Pricing 4:15 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Bilt's September Rent Day transfer bonus could get you to London for just 3,000 Bilt points. On Sept. 1, Bilt Rewards is offering up to a 100% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red, with the size of the bonus depending on your Bilt status. Virgin Atlantic awards from the East Coast to London can be as low as 6,000 points one-way in economy, so a full 100% bonus could cut the points cost in half.

United is also offering a shortcut to airline elite status, with a special challenge for members in New York and Chicago. Members can get matched elite status for 120 days, then lock it in through next year by completing just two qualifying flights.

And Google is making it easier to see award pricing for programs including Alaska, American, and Hilton through AI Mode. It's helpful when it works, but the results can be hit or miss.

Sign up for a free Bilt Rewards account: https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards

Unitedโ€™s New York status match: https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchnewyork

Unitedโ€™s Chicago status match: https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchchicago


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:19 Bilt's September Rent Day Perks

2:00 United Status Match Shortcut

3:35 Google AI Mode for Points Pricing

4:15 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Bilt&#39;s September Rent Day transfer bonus could get you to London for just 3,000 Bilt points. On Sept. 1, <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards" rel="nofollow">Bilt Rewards</a> is offering up to a 100% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red, with the size of the bonus depending on your Bilt status. Virgin Atlantic awards from the East Coast to London can be as low as 6,000 points one-way in economy, so a full 100% bonus could cut the points cost in half.</p><p>United is also offering a shortcut to airline elite status, with a special challenge for members in New York and Chicago. Members can get matched elite status for 120 days, then lock it in through next year by completing just two qualifying flights.</p><p>And Google is making it easier to see award pricing for programs including Alaska, American, and Hilton through AI Mode. It&#39;s helpful when it works, but the results can be hit or miss.</p><p><strong>Sign up for a free Bilt Rewards account: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt-rewards</a></p><p><strong>Unitedโ€™s New York status match:</strong> <a href="https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchnewyork" rel="nofollow">https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchnewyork</a></p><p><strong>Unitedโ€™s Chicago status match: </strong><a href="https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchchicago" rel="nofollow">https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatchchicago</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:19 Bilt&#39;s September Rent Day Perks</p><p>2:00 United Status Match Shortcut</p><p>3:35 Google AI Mode for Points Pricing</p><p>4:15 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 50a6c32e-d99c-4648-9dd1-b47d8b24c282 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/bilt-september-rent-day Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:30:47 +0000 268 false full Rove Lets You Earn More Travel Rewards Without Another Credit Card Rove Lets You Earn More Travel Rewards Without Another Credit Card Departure Digest Triple dip your rewards on one hotel stay, plus a free 1,000-mile bonus ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Today's episode is a deep dive into Rove, one of the easiest ways to earn more travel rewards without opening another credit card. Rove is a free program that lets you earn a separate currency called Rove Miles using the cards you already have, including up to 25x miles on hotels. The real standout is Rove's Loyalty Eligible hotel rate, which can let you earn Rove Miles while still earning hotel points and elite night credits, plus rewards from your credit card. Rove Miles can also be transferred to a bunch of airline and hotel partners, including Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa's Miles & More. We get into how those transfer partners work and why Miles & More can sometimes offer wildly cheap award flights, including economy tickets between North America and Europe for as little as 88 miles (though taxes and fees can still be significant). We also look at a few Amex Offers worth checking, including targeted deals on Hilton, Hyatt, Lufthansa Group flights, and more. Read the full Rove Miles guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/rove-miles-guide Join Rove and get a 1,000-mile welcome bonus: https://go.departuredigest.com/rove Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:26 New Travel Amex Offers 1:11 Rove: How It Works 1:52 The Rove Triple Dip 2:39 Rove Transfer Partners 3:01 The 88-Mile Europe Award 3:53 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Today's episode is a deep dive into Rove, one of the easiest ways to earn more travel rewards without opening another credit card. Rove is a free program that lets you earn a separate currency called Rove Miles using the cards you already have, including up to 25x miles on hotels. The real standout is Rove's Loyalty Eligible hotel rate, which can let you earn Rove Miles while still earning hotel points and elite night credits, plus rewards from your credit card.

Rove Miles can also be transferred to a bunch of airline and hotel partners, including Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa's Miles & More. We get into how those transfer partners work and why Miles & More can sometimes offer wildly cheap award flights, including economy tickets between North America and Europe for as little as 88 miles (though taxes and fees can still be significant).

We also look at a few Amex Offers worth checking, including targeted deals on Hilton, Hyatt, Lufthansa Group flights, and more.

Read the full Rove Miles guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/rove-miles-guide

Join Rove and get a 1,000-mile welcome bonus: https://go.departuredigest.com/rove


Timeline

0:26 New Travel Amex Offers

1:11 Rove: How It Works

1:52 The Rove Triple Dip

2:39 Rove Transfer Partners

3:01 The 88-Mile Europe Award

3:53 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Today&#39;s episode is a deep dive into <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rove" rel="nofollow">Rove</a>, one of the easiest ways to earn more travel rewards without opening another credit card. Rove is a free program that lets you earn a separate currency called <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/rove-miles-guide" rel="nofollow">Rove Miles</a> using the cards you already have, including up to 25x miles on hotels. The real standout is Rove&#39;s Loyalty Eligible hotel rate, which can let you earn Rove Miles while still earning hotel points and elite night credits, plus rewards from your credit card.</p><p>Rove Miles can also be transferred to a bunch of airline and hotel partners, including Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa&#39;s Miles &amp; More. We get into how those transfer partners work and why Miles &amp; More can sometimes offer wildly cheap award flights, including economy tickets between North America and Europe for as little as 88 miles (though taxes and fees can still be significant).</p><p>We also look at a few Amex Offers worth checking, including targeted deals on Hilton, Hyatt, Lufthansa Group flights, and more.</p><p><strong>Read the full Rove Miles guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/rove-miles-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/rove-miles-guide</a></p><p><strong>Join Rove and get a 1,000-mile welcome bonus: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rove" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rove</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:26 New Travel Amex Offers</p><p>1:11 Rove: How It Works</p><p>1:52 The Rove Triple Dip</p><p>2:39 Rove Transfer Partners</p><p>3:01 The 88-Mile Europe Award</p><p>3:53 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> f816e566-6220-4865-aac1-277854358b5a https://www.departuredigest.com/p/rove-travel-rewards Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:30:16 +0000 251 false full United Just Announced Its Biggest International Expansion Ever United Just Announced Its Biggest International Expansion Ever Departure Digest 5,000 Delta miles up for grabs, a huge United route expansion, and more airline news ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” United just announced its biggest international expansion ever, adding 10 cities next summer, including new nonstop routes from Newark to Luxembourg, Ibiza, Valencia, Sardinia, and Sicily. Denver will also get new nonstop service to Paris, while Los Angeles gets a daily flight to Osaka. Eight of the 10 new cities won't have another U.S. airline serving them nonstop, and many of the new routes will be operated by United's new A321XLR, with lie-flat seats and Starlink Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, JetBlue's second BlueHouse lounge opens at Boston Logan on Aug. 27, and Mint and Mint Flex passengers, including those flying domestically, will gain complimentary lounge access. At the same time, JetBlue is introducing a basic Mint fare with fewer included perks, including no lounge access, giving travelers another fare option but more to consider when comparing business-class prices. American is also expanding Flagship Dining access to Flagship Business and Flagship Business Plus passengers on qualifying routes, giving more travelers access to its sit-down airport dining experience. Finally, Delta is offering new SkyMiles members up to 5,000 bonus miles for completing three simple tasks within three months. It's a refreshingly easy way to start building a SkyMiles balance, especially if you don't already have a Delta account (though hopefully that doesn't apply to you!). Enroll in the SkyMiles Starter Pack challenge: https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/promotions/skymiles-starter-pack Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:14 JetBlue Boston Lounge + Basic Mint Fare 1:23 American Flagship Dining Expansion 2:32 United's Biggest International Expansion 3:38 Delta's 5,000-Mile SkyMiles Bonus 4:27 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


United just announced its biggest international expansion ever, adding 10 cities next summer, including new nonstop routes from Newark to Luxembourg, Ibiza, Valencia, Sardinia, and Sicily. Denver will also get new nonstop service to Paris, while Los Angeles gets a daily flight to Osaka. Eight of the 10 new cities won't have another U.S. airline serving them nonstop, and many of the new routes will be operated by United's new A321XLR, with lie-flat seats and Starlink Wi-Fi.

Meanwhile, JetBlue's second BlueHouse lounge opens at Boston Logan on Aug. 27, and Mint and Mint Flex passengers, including those flying domestically, will gain complimentary lounge access. At the same time, JetBlue is introducing a basic Mint fare with fewer included perks, including no lounge access, giving travelers another fare option but more to consider when comparing business-class prices. American is also expanding Flagship Dining access to Flagship Business and Flagship Business Plus passengers on qualifying routes, giving more travelers access to its sit-down airport dining experience.

Finally, Delta is offering new SkyMiles members up to 5,000 bonus miles for completing three simple tasks within three months. It's a refreshingly easy way to start building a SkyMiles balance, especially if you don't already have a Delta account (though hopefully that doesn't apply to you!).

Enroll in the SkyMiles Starter Pack challenge: https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/promotions/skymiles-starter-pack


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:14 JetBlue Boston Lounge + Basic Mint Fare

1:23 American Flagship Dining Expansion

2:32 United's Biggest International Expansion

3:38 Delta's 5,000-Mile SkyMiles Bonus

4:27 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>United just announced its biggest international expansion ever, adding 10 cities next summer, including new nonstop routes from Newark to Luxembourg, Ibiza, Valencia, Sardinia, and Sicily. Denver will also get new nonstop service to Paris, while Los Angeles gets a daily flight to Osaka. Eight of the 10 new cities won&#39;t have another U.S. airline serving them nonstop, and many of the new routes will be operated by United&#39;s new A321XLR, with lie-flat seats and Starlink Wi-Fi.</p><p>Meanwhile, JetBlue&#39;s second BlueHouse lounge opens at Boston Logan on Aug. 27, and Mint and Mint Flex passengers, including those flying domestically, will gain complimentary lounge access. At the same time, JetBlue is introducing a basic Mint fare with fewer included perks, including no lounge access, giving travelers another fare option but more to consider when comparing business-class prices. American is also expanding Flagship Dining access to Flagship Business and Flagship Business Plus passengers on qualifying routes, giving more travelers access to its sit-down airport dining experience.</p><p>Finally, Delta is offering new SkyMiles members up to <a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/promotions/skymiles-starter-pack" rel="nofollow">5,000 bonus miles</a> for completing three simple tasks within three months. It&#39;s a refreshingly easy way to start building a SkyMiles balance, especially if you don&#39;t already have a Delta account (though hopefully that doesn&#39;t apply to you!).</p><p><strong>Enroll in the SkyMiles Starter Pack challenge: </strong><a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/promotions/skymiles-starter-pack" rel="nofollow">https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/promotions/skymiles-starter-pack</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:14 JetBlue Boston Lounge + Basic Mint Fare</p><p>1:23 American Flagship Dining Expansion</p><p>2:32 United&#39;s Biggest International Expansion</p><p>3:38 Delta&#39;s 5,000-Mile SkyMiles Bonus</p><p>4:27 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 08bb25d5-5596-47d6-9fcf-adb84e35409d https://www.departuredigest.com/p/united-international-expansion Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:30:38 +0000 281 false full The Easiest Travel Rewards Come From Dinner, Not Flights The Easiest Travel Rewards Come From Dinner, Not Flights Departure Digest Earn more points from dinner, Uber rides, and accounts you forgot to link ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” You don't have to book a flight to earn more travel rewards. Dining out, Uber Eats, and other everyday purchases can become opportunities to earn extra points and miles when you stack the right programs. We break down how dining rewards work, how inKind can help you save on meals while still earning your credit card's dining bonus, and a way to buy inKind credit for less through Costco. If you're looking for Marriott elite status without opening another credit card, CitizenM's paid mycitizenM Plus membership includes instant Bonvoy Gold status and access to its coworking spaces, even when you're not staying there. We also cover a few easy ways to earn more Marriott points by linking Uber and Starbucks accounts. You won't earn a ton of points from these alone, but they're easy to set up and can add up if you're already using Uber and Starbucks. Flying Blue is offering 10,000 bonus miles on eligible economy flights to Paris or Amsterdam by Aug. 31, while introducing new Light award tickets with lower mileage prices in some cases but more restrictions. We explain what to know before booking, along with a few other ways to turn spending you're already doing into more travel rewards. Join inKind for $25 off your first $50+ meal: https://go.departuredigest.com/inkind Link your Uber account to Marriott Bonvoy: https://www.uber.com/us/en/u/marriott-bonvoy/ Link your Starbucks account to Marriott Bonvoy: https://www.starbucks.com/account/signin?returnUrl=/rewards/partnerships/marriottbonvoy/redirect Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:20 Dining Rewards + InKind 2:07 Marriott Points With Uber + Starbucks 2:42 Marriott Gold Status Shortcut 3:39 Flying Blue 10,000-Mile Bonus 4:29 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


You don't have to book a flight to earn more travel rewards. Dining out, Uber Eats, and other everyday purchases can become opportunities to earn extra points and miles when you stack the right programs. We break down how dining rewards work, how inKind can help you save on meals while still earning your credit card's dining bonus, and a way to buy inKind credit for less through Costco.

If you're looking for Marriott elite status without opening another credit card, CitizenM's paid mycitizenM Plus membership includes instant Bonvoy Gold status and access to its coworking spaces, even when you're not staying there. We also cover a few easy ways to earn more Marriott points by linking Uber and Starbucks accounts. You won't earn a ton of points from these alone, but they're easy to set up and can add up if you're already using Uber and Starbucks.

Flying Blue is offering 10,000 bonus miles on eligible economy flights to Paris or Amsterdam by Aug. 31, while introducing new Light award tickets with lower mileage prices in some cases but more restrictions. We explain what to know before booking, along with a few other ways to turn spending you're already doing into more travel rewards.

Join inKind for $25 off your first $50+ meal: https://go.departuredigest.com/inkind

Link your Uber account to Marriott Bonvoy: https://www.uber.com/us/en/u/marriott-bonvoy/

Link your Starbucks account to Marriott Bonvoy: https://www.starbucks.com/account/signin?returnUrl=/rewards/partnerships/marriottbonvoy/redirect


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:20 Dining Rewards + InKind

2:07 Marriott Points With Uber + Starbucks

2:42 Marriott Gold Status Shortcut

3:39 Flying Blue 10,000-Mile Bonus

4:29 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

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โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>You don&#39;t have to book a flight to earn more travel rewards. Dining out, Uber Eats, and other everyday purchases can become opportunities to earn extra points and miles when you stack the right programs. We break down how dining rewards work, how <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/inkind" rel="nofollow">inKind</a> can help you save on meals while still earning your credit card&#39;s dining bonus, and a way to buy inKind credit for less through <a href="https://www.costco.com/p/-/inkind-one-egift-card-thousands-of-restaurants-100-value/4000233859" rel="nofollow">Costco</a>.</p><p>If you&#39;re looking for Marriott elite status without opening another <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">credit card</a>, CitizenM&#39;s paid mycitizenM Plus membership includes instant Bonvoy Gold status and access to its coworking spaces, even when you&#39;re not staying there. We also cover a few easy ways to earn more Marriott points by linking <a href="https://www.uber.com/us/en/u/marriott-bonvoy/" rel="nofollow">Uber</a> and <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/account/signin?returnUrl=%2Frewards%2Fpartnerships%2Fmarriottbonvoy%2Fredirect" rel="nofollow">Starbucks</a> accounts. You won&#39;t earn a ton of points from these alone, but they&#39;re easy to set up and can add up if you&#39;re already using Uber and Starbucks.</p><p>Flying Blue is offering 10,000 bonus miles on eligible economy flights to Paris or Amsterdam by Aug. 31, while introducing new Light award tickets with lower mileage prices in some cases but more restrictions. We explain what to know before booking, along with a few other ways to turn spending you&#39;re already doing into more travel rewards.</p><p><strong>Join inKind for $25 off your first $50+ meal:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/inkind" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/inkind</a></p><p><strong>Link your Uber account to Marriott Bonvoy:</strong> <a href="https://www.uber.com/us/en/u/marriott-bonvoy/" rel="nofollow">https://www.uber.com/us/en/u/marriott-bonvoy/</a></p><p><strong>Link your Starbucks account to Marriott Bonvoy:</strong> <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/account/signin?returnUrl=%2Frewards%2Fpartnerships%2Fmarriottbonvoy%2Fredirect" rel="nofollow">https://www.starbucks.com/account/signin?returnUrl=/rewards/partnerships/marriottbonvoy/redirect</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:20 Dining Rewards + InKind</p><p>2:07 Marriott Points With Uber + Starbucks</p><p>2:42 Marriott Gold Status Shortcut</p><p>3:39 Flying Blue 10,000-Mile Bonus</p><p>4:29 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 94f6d66e-f757-4ac0-8925-d69a8e3c835a https://www.departuredigest.com/p/inkind-dining-rewards Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:30:27 +0000 287 false full JetBlue Is Betting Big on Premium Travel JetBlue Is Betting Big on Premium Travel Departure Digest Plus California's Europe dupes and the Peace Tax on group trips ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” JetBlue's second BlueHouse lounge is coming to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and it's bigger than the airline's first lounge at JFK. It's also getting a full kitchen, something the JFK lounge doesn't have. It's another sign JetBlue is moving beyond its old reputation as the airline with better economy perks and making a serious push into premium travel, with Mint, a premium credit card, domestic first class, and now lounges all part of the strategy. If you want the feeling of Europe without the heat, flight cost, or jet lag, California has some surprisingly good destination dupes. From a Danish-style village to Mediterranean-looking coastlines and wine country, a few destinations can deliver the feeling of a European getaway without leaving the state. We also look at the Peace Tax, the money travelers quietly spend to avoid awkward budget conversations on group trips. Bilt also announced a partnership with Equinox, letting members redeem Bilt Cash toward Equinox credits, with the redemption amount tied to your Bilt status. There's no ongoing opportunity to earn or redeem Bilt points through an Equinox membership, but there are a few limited-time perks worth knowing about. And if you have The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express, don't forget it comes with a $300 Equinox credit. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:16 JetBlue BlueHouse Lounge Boston 2:01 California's Europe Dupes 2:49 The Peace Tax on Group Trips 3:53 Bilt and Equinox 4:19 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


JetBlue's second BlueHouse lounge is coming to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and it's bigger than the airline's first lounge at JFK. It's also getting a full kitchen, something the JFK lounge doesn't have. It's another sign JetBlue is moving beyond its old reputation as the airline with better economy perks and making a serious push into premium travel, with Mint, a premium credit card, domestic first class, and now lounges all part of the strategy.

If you want the feeling of Europe without the heat, flight cost, or jet lag, California has some surprisingly good destination dupes. From a Danish-style village to Mediterranean-looking coastlines and wine country, a few destinations can deliver the feeling of a European getaway without leaving the state. We also look at the Peace Tax, the money travelers quietly spend to avoid awkward budget conversations on group trips.

Bilt also announced a partnership with Equinox, letting members redeem Bilt Cash toward Equinox credits, with the redemption amount tied to your Bilt status. There's no ongoing opportunity to earn or redeem Bilt points through an Equinox membership, but there are a few limited-time perks worth knowing about. And if you have The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express, don't forget it comes with a $300 Equinox credit.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:16 JetBlue BlueHouse Lounge Boston

2:01 California's Europe Dupes

2:49 The Peace Tax on Group Trips

3:53 Bilt and Equinox

4:19 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>JetBlue&#39;s second BlueHouse lounge is coming to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and it&#39;s bigger than the airline&#39;s first lounge at JFK. It&#39;s also getting a full kitchen, something the JFK lounge doesn&#39;t have. It&#39;s another sign JetBlue is moving beyond its old reputation as the airline with better economy perks and making a serious push into premium travel, with Mint, a premium credit card, domestic first class, and now lounges all part of the strategy.</p><p>If you want the feeling of Europe without the heat, flight cost, or jet lag, California has some surprisingly good destination dupes. From a Danish-style village to Mediterranean-looking coastlines and wine country, a few destinations can deliver the feeling of a European getaway without leaving the state. We also look at the Peace Tax, the money travelers quietly spend to avoid awkward budget conversations on group trips.</p><p><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/bilt" rel="nofollow">Bilt</a> also announced a partnership with Equinox, letting members redeem Bilt Cash toward Equinox credits, with the redemption amount tied to your Bilt status. There&#39;s no ongoing opportunity to earn or redeem Bilt points through an Equinox membership, but there are a few limited-time perks worth knowing about. And if you have <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express</a>, don&#39;t forget it comes with a $300 Equinox credit.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:16 JetBlue BlueHouse Lounge Boston</p><p>2:01 California&#39;s Europe Dupes</p><p>2:49 The Peace Tax on Group Trips</p><p>3:53 Bilt and Equinox</p><p>4:19 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 3a58a83f-d79a-4e06-a9ef-078b1d873035 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/jetblue-premium-travel Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:30:07 +0000 270 false full U.S. Open Credit Card Perks That Can Save You Money U.S. Open Credit Card Perks That Can Save You Money Departure Digest Plus, American is bringing back seatback screens and other airline upgrades ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Heading to the U.S. Open? Your credit card can get you some serious perks around the tournament, and potentially save you money along the way. Chase and Amex cardholders can access lounges with free food and drinks, shaded seating, and even free MTA ticket giveaways. We break down which cards get you into which spaces and when you need to reserve a spot. If you don't want to spend $23 on a Honey Deuce or splurge on chicken nuggets topped with caviar, these lounges can be pretty appealing. American Airlines is bringing seatback screens back to its narrowbody planes after years of removing them. The new 4K screens will have Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and more personalized entertainment, but the rollout won't start until 2028. It's a pretty major reversal for an airline that spent years betting travelers would rather use their own devices. Allegiant also just started selling tickets for its new first class, and we look at what you actually get with the new cabin and whether it's worth the upgrade. On the cruise front, Disney Cruise Line extended a savings offer worth up to $500 per guest on select seven-night sailings, including trips you've already booked, as long as you lock it in by August 30. If you've got a cruise coming up, it's worth checking your reservation. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:23 U.S. Open Credit Card Perks 2:04 American Airlines Brings Back Seatback Screens 3:14 Allegiant First Class 4:11 Disney Cruise Line Savings 4:46 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Heading to the U.S. Open? Your credit card can get you some serious perks around the tournament, and potentially save you money along the way. Chase and Amex cardholders can access lounges with free food and drinks, shaded seating, and even free MTA ticket giveaways. We break down which cards get you into which spaces and when you need to reserve a spot. If you don't want to spend $23 on a Honey Deuce or splurge on chicken nuggets topped with caviar, these lounges can be pretty appealing.

American Airlines is bringing seatback screens back to its narrowbody planes after years of removing them. The new 4K screens will have Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and more personalized entertainment, but the rollout won't start until 2028. It's a pretty major reversal for an airline that spent years betting travelers would rather use their own devices. Allegiant also just started selling tickets for its new first class, and we look at what you actually get with the new cabin and whether it's worth the upgrade.

On the cruise front, Disney Cruise Line extended a savings offer worth up to $500 per guest on select seven-night sailings, including trips you've already booked, as long as you lock it in by August 30. If you've got a cruise coming up, it's worth checking your reservation.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:23 U.S. Open Credit Card Perks

2:04 American Airlines Brings Back Seatback Screens

3:14 Allegiant First Class

4:11 Disney Cruise Line Savings

4:46 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Heading to the U.S. Open? Your credit card can get you some serious perks around the tournament, and potentially save you money along the way. <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/about/sponsors/chase.html" rel="nofollow">Chase</a> and <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/visit/american_express_on_site_benefits.html" rel="nofollow">Amex</a> cardholders can access lounges with free food and drinks, shaded seating, and even free MTA ticket giveaways. We break down which cards get you into which spaces and when you need to reserve a spot. If you don&#39;t want to spend $23 on a Honey Deuce or splurge on chicken nuggets topped with caviar, these lounges can be pretty appealing.</p><p>American Airlines is bringing seatback screens back to its narrowbody planes after years of removing them. The new 4K screens will have Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and more personalized entertainment, but the rollout won&#39;t start until 2028. It&#39;s a pretty major reversal for an airline that spent years betting travelers would rather use their own devices. Allegiant also just started selling tickets for its new first class, and we look at what you actually get with the new cabin and whether it&#39;s worth the upgrade.</p><p>On the cruise front, Disney Cruise Line extended a <a href="https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/en-gb/special-offers/save-select-sailings/" rel="nofollow">savings offer</a> worth up to $500 per guest on select seven-night sailings, including trips you&#39;ve already booked, as long as you lock it in by August 30. If you&#39;ve got a cruise coming up, it&#39;s worth checking your reservation.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:23 U.S. Open Credit Card Perks</p><p>2:04 American Airlines Brings Back Seatback Screens</p><p>3:14 Allegiant First Class</p><p>4:11 Disney Cruise Line Savings</p><p>4:46 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 22fbefe5-45e7-449b-878d-2598da9b5f58 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/us-open-credit-card-perks Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:30:45 +0000 290 false full This Hotel Is Hiding Behind a Fake Name and AI Photos This Hotel Is Hiding Behind a Fake Name and AI Photos Departure Digest Emirates may add a strange new route, plus a Hilton promo and a sauna island ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” One of Vegas's newest-looking hotels is actually just OYO Las Vegas, the former Hooters Hotel and one of the city's lowest-rated properties, relisted under a fake name with AI-generated photos. We share a few simple ways to verify any unfamiliar hotel before you book. Airlines catfish too. Emirates loves showing off its Game Changer suite, but it's still only installed on nine planes nearly a decade after launch. Before you fall for a fancy seat online, check which plane you'll actually be flying on. Hilton is also targeting some Honors members with a promo worth up to 15,000 bonus points across five stays, as long as you register by Dec. 31 and complete the stays within six months. Emirates may also add a fifth freedom route between Milan and Lima, Peru. Nothing is confirmed yet, but we explain what the route could mean for travelers. And in Helsinki, a new sauna island called Saunasaari just opened to individual visitors for the first time this summer. Think Othership, but on an actual island, with wood-fired hot tubs and the Baltic Sea to cool off. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:29 OYO Las Vegas Fake Listing 2:17 Hilton Stay More Earn More 3:04 Emirates Milan Expansion 3:50 Helsinki Saunasaari and Finnair Lounge Sauna 4:53 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


One of Vegas's newest-looking hotels is actually just OYO Las Vegas, the former Hooters Hotel and one of the city's lowest-rated properties, relisted under a fake name with AI-generated photos. We share a few simple ways to verify any unfamiliar hotel before you book.

Airlines catfish too. Emirates loves showing off its Game Changer suite, but it's still only installed on nine planes nearly a decade after launch. Before you fall for a fancy seat online, check which plane you'll actually be flying on.

Hilton is also targeting some Honors members with a promo worth up to 15,000 bonus points across five stays, as long as you register by Dec. 31 and complete the stays within six months. Emirates may also add a fifth freedom route between Milan and Lima, Peru. Nothing is confirmed yet, but we explain what the route could mean for travelers. And in Helsinki, a new sauna island called Saunasaari just opened to individual visitors for the first time this summer. Think Othership, but on an actual island, with wood-fired hot tubs and the Baltic Sea to cool off.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:29 OYO Las Vegas Fake Listing

2:17 Hilton Stay More Earn More

3:04 Emirates Milan Expansion

3:50 Helsinki Saunasaari and Finnair Lounge Sauna

4:53 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>One of Vegas&#39;s newest-looking hotels is actually just OYO Las Vegas, the former Hooters Hotel and one of the city&#39;s lowest-rated properties, relisted under a fake name with AI-generated photos. We share a few simple ways to verify any unfamiliar hotel before you book.</p><p>Airlines catfish too. Emirates loves showing off its Game Changer suite, but it&#39;s still only installed on nine planes nearly a decade after launch. Before you fall for a fancy seat online, check which plane you&#39;ll actually be flying on.</p><p>Hilton is also targeting some Honors members with a promo worth up to 15,000 bonus points across five stays, as long as you register by Dec. 31 and complete the stays within six months. Emirates may also add a fifth freedom route between Milan and Lima, Peru. Nothing is confirmed yet, but we explain what the route could mean for travelers. And in Helsinki, a new sauna island called Saunasaari just opened to individual visitors for the first time this summer. Think Othership, but on an actual island, with wood-fired hot tubs and the Baltic Sea to cool off.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:29 OYO Las Vegas Fake Listing</p><p>2:17 Hilton Stay More Earn More</p><p>3:04 Emirates Milan Expansion</p><p>3:50 Helsinki Saunasaari and Finnair Lounge Sauna</p><p>4:53 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> e1d344bd-3dbb-4e37-9f5e-8712ca15245c https://www.departuredigest.com/p/hotel-fake-name-ai-photos Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:30:15 +0000 298 false full T-Mobile's Hidden Perks Include Free Hilton Status T-Mobile's Hidden Perks Include Free Hilton Status Departure Digest An Aeroplan bonus, European rideshare tips, and a KLM downgrade ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Did you know most T-Mobile plans come with unlimited texting and data abroad? And there are more travel perks hiding in your plan too, including a free premium drink on Delta flights, a free year of AAA membership, and Hilton Honors Silver status with 15% off at most Hilton brands. Meanwhile, Chase Ultimate Rewardsยฎ just launched a 20% transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan through Sept. 30, 2026, or 30% with the Aeroplanยฎ Credit Card. Aeroplan is one of the stronger programs for booking Star Alliance flights to Europe, including Lufthansa, Austrian, and Swiss, so a bonus like this can meaningfully cut the points you need for a flight. Once you land, Uber isn't universal in Europe and is banned in a few countries, so it's worth having Bolt or FreeNow as a backup. There's bad news for KLM's cheese sandwich fans too. Free beer, wine, and the sandwich disappear from European economy flights starting in October, joining most other European full-service airlines that have already made a similar move. And Atlanta's new grab-and-go lounge, Poppin, lets Priority Pass holders grab snacks and drinks without camping out in a crowded lounge, following a concept also offered by United, American, and Air Canada. Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:15 T-Mobile International Perks 1:14 Chase Aeroplan Transfer Bonus 1:48 European Rideshare Apps and Safety Tips 3:20 KLM Buy-on-Board 3:59 Grab-and-Go Lounges 4:48 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Departure Digest will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Departure Digest is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies, or all available credit card offers. The content in this episode is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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โ€”โ€”โ€”


Did you know most T-Mobile plans come with unlimited texting and data abroad? And there are more travel perks hiding in your plan too, including a free premium drink on Delta flights, a free year of AAA membership, and a 15% discount at most Hilton brands.

Meanwhile, Chase Ultimate Rewardsยฎ just launched a 20% transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan through Sept. 30, 2026, or 30% with the Aeroplanยฎ Credit Card. Aeroplan is one of the stronger programs for booking Star Alliance flights to Europe, including Lufthansa, Austrian, and Swiss, so a bonus like this can meaningfully cut the points you need for a flight.

Once you land, Uber isn't universal in Europe and is banned in a few countries, so it's worth having Bolt or FreeNow as a backup. There's bad news for KLM's cheese sandwich fans too. Free beer, wine, and the sandwich disappear from European economy flights starting in October, joining most other European full-service airlines that have already made a similar move. And Atlanta's new grab-and-go lounge, Poppin, lets Priority Pass holders grab snacks and drinks without camping out in a crowded lounge, following a concept also offered by United, American, and Air Canada.


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:15 T-Mobile International Perks

1:14 Chase Aeroplan Transfer Bonus

1:48 European Rideshare Apps and Safety Tips

3:20 KLM Buy-on-Board

3:59 Grab-and-Go Lounges

4:48 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Did you know most T-Mobile plans come with unlimited texting and data abroad? And there are more travel perks hiding in your plan too, including a free premium drink on Delta flights, a free year of AAA membership, and a 15% discount at most Hilton brands.</p><p>Meanwhile, Chase Ultimate Rewardsยฎ just launched a 20% <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide" rel="nofollow">transfer bonus</a> to Air Canada Aeroplan through Sept. 30, 2026, or 30% with the Aeroplanยฎ Credit Card. Aeroplan is one of the stronger programs for booking Star Alliance flights to Europe, including Lufthansa, Austrian, and Swiss, so a bonus like this can meaningfully cut the points you need for a flight.</p><p>Once you land, <a href="https://referrals.uber.com/refer?id=242n9zucympf" rel="nofollow">Uber</a> isn&#39;t universal in Europe and is banned in a few countries, so it&#39;s worth having Bolt or FreeNow as a backup. There&#39;s bad news for KLM&#39;s cheese sandwich fans too. Free beer, wine, and the sandwich disappear from European economy flights starting in October, joining most other European full-service airlines that have already made a similar move. And Atlanta&#39;s new grab-and-go lounge, Poppin, lets Priority Pass holders grab snacks and drinks without camping out in a crowded lounge, following a concept also offered by United, American, and Air Canada.</p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:15 T-Mobile International Perks</p><p>1:14 Chase Aeroplan Transfer Bonus</p><p>1:48 European Rideshare Apps and Safety Tips</p><p>3:20 KLM Buy-on-Board</p><p>3:59 Grab-and-Go Lounges</p><p>4:48 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 87a29faf-6765-4618-a0c2-d874a57a8bfe https://www.departuredigest.com/p/tmobile-travel-perks Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:30:40 +0000 295 false full Peloton Workouts Can Earn You Hyatt Points Peloton Workouts Can Earn You Hyatt Points Departure Digest Link your accounts before your stay, since it won't work retroactively ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” If you're staying at a Hyatt with Peloton bikes, you can earn World of Hyatt points for your workout. Link your World of Hyatt and Peloton accounts before your stay, then complete at least 10 minutes on an eligible bike or rower to earn 100 bonus points per workout, up to 1,000 points a month. Certain travel credit cards can also earn bonus points on eligible Peloton purchases and memberships, so it's worth checking what you already have. Beyond workouts, Hyatt rewards staying across different brands through a program called Brand Explorer. Think of it as hotel bingo. Stay at five different World of Hyatt brands and you'll earn a Category 1-4 free night award. Keep going and you can earn up to seven total. If you tend to book the same familiar brand out of habit, it might be worth trying something new next time. Over at Hilton, Yotel has started joining Hilton Honors through a new collection called Select by Hilton. It's a compact, budget-friendly brand found mostly in cities and near airports, though stays currently earn Hilton points at a slightly lower rate than most other Hilton brands. We also cover Southwest's flash sale of up to 40% off flights, plus a quick reminder to check whether you've been targeted for a personalized United MilePlay offer. Link your World of Hyatt and Peloton accounts: https://www.onepeloton.com/partners/hyatt/connect Check your United MilePlay Offer: https://promo.united.com/offers/mileplay Timeline: 0:00 Start Here 0:19 Hyatt-Peloton Points Partnership 1:08 World of Hyatt Brand Explorer 2:03 Select by Hilton Adds Yotel 3:23 Southwest Flash Sale 3:52 United MilePlay 4:29 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

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โ€”โ€”โ€”


If you're staying at a Hyatt with Peloton bikes, you can earn World of Hyatt points for your workout. Link your World of Hyatt and Peloton accounts before your stay, then complete at least 10 minutes on an eligible bike or rower to earn 100 bonus points per workout, up to 1,000 points a month. Certain travel credit cards can also earn bonus points on eligible Peloton purchases and memberships, so it's worth checking what you already have.

Beyond workouts, Hyatt rewards staying across different brands through a program called Brand Explorer. Think of it as hotel bingo. Stay at five different World of Hyatt brands and you'll earn a Category 1-4 free night award. Keep going and you can earn up to seven total. If you tend to book the same familiar brand out of habit, it might be worth trying something new next time.

Over at Hilton, Yotel has started joining Hilton Honors through a new collection called Select by Hilton. It's a compact, budget-friendly brand found mostly in cities and near airports, though stays currently earn Hilton points at a slightly lower rate than most other Hilton brands. We also cover Southwest's flash sale of up to 40% off flights, plus a quick reminder to check whether you've been targeted for a personalized United MilePlay offer.

Link your World of Hyatt and Peloton accounts: https://www.onepeloton.com/partners/hyatt/connect

Check your United MilePlay Offer: https://promo.united.com/offers/mileplay


Timeline:ย 

0:00 Start Here

0:19 Hyatt-Peloton Points Partnership

1:08 World of Hyatt Brand Explorer

2:03 Select by Hilton Adds Yotel

3:23 Southwest Flash Sale

3:52 United MilePlay

4:29 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>If you&#39;re staying at a Hyatt with Peloton bikes, you can earn World of Hyatt points for your workout. <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/partners/hyatt/connect" rel="nofollow">Link your World of Hyatt and Peloton accounts</a> before your stay, then complete at least 10 minutes on an eligible bike or rower to earn 100 bonus points per workout, up to 1,000 points a month. Certain <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">travel credit cards</a> can also earn bonus points on eligible Peloton purchases and memberships, so it&#39;s worth checking what you already have.</p><p>Beyond workouts, Hyatt rewards staying across different brands through a program called Brand Explorer. Think of it as hotel bingo. Stay at five different World of Hyatt brands and you&#39;ll earn a Category 1-4 free night award. Keep going and you can earn up to seven total. If you tend to book the same familiar brand out of habit, it might be worth trying something new next time.</p><p>Over at Hilton, Yotel has started joining Hilton Honors through a new collection called Select by Hilton. It&#39;s a compact, budget-friendly brand found mostly in cities and near airports, though stays currently earn Hilton points at a slightly lower rate than most other Hilton brands. We also cover Southwest&#39;s flash sale of up to 40% off flights, plus a quick reminder to check whether you&#39;ve been targeted for a personalized <a href="https://promo.united.com/offers/mileplay" rel="nofollow">United MilePlay offer</a>.</p><p><strong>Link your World of Hyatt and Peloton accounts:</strong> <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/partners/hyatt/connect" rel="nofollow">https://www.onepeloton.com/partners/hyatt/connect</a></p><p><strong>Check your United MilePlay Offer:</strong> <a href="https://promo.united.com/offers/mileplay" rel="nofollow">https://promo.united.com/offers/mileplay</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline:ย </p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:19 Hyatt-Peloton Points Partnership</p><p>1:08 World of Hyatt Brand Explorer</p><p>2:03 Select by Hilton Adds Yotel</p><p>3:23 Southwest Flash Sale</p><p>3:52 United MilePlay</p><p>4:29 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 2b3f8ae9-ecb1-4ac5-88b2-cb6898c047a9 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/hyatt-peloton-points Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:30:55 +0000 280 false full Paze Is Giving Away Free Money, Plus 3 Travel Promos Paze Is Giving Away Free Money, Plus 3 Travel Promos Departure Digest โœˆ๏ธ Plus a $199 unlimited flights pass, a great transfer bonus, and free hotel nights ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Paze, a new digital wallet backed by the same company behind Zelle, is giving up to $10 back on purchases of $10 or more, up to 10 times per eligible card, for up to $100 back per card, or up to $300 with three eligible cards. Link your card through your bank's digital wallet settings, then choose Paze at checkout instead of entering your card manually. No registration is required, and the credit typically posts within two billing cycles, through September 10. American Express Membership Rewardsยฎ is running a 30% transfer bonus to British Airways through September 27, turning the usual 1:1 rate into 1:1.3, but the smartest move may be what you do after the points land. Once transferred, miles can be moved again to Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia, or Aer Lingus for stronger value, including real savings on routes like JetBlue Mint. This bonus shows up about once a year, worth acting on if you're sitting on Amex points. Frontier's new all-you-can-fly pass costs $199 for nearly seven months of flights through early January, with each flight costing basically just the taxes and fees, though seats are limited and blackout dates apply around major holidays. World of Hyatt also has a promo worth registering for now. Complete three qualifying nights at a participating all-inclusive resort in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, or Costa Rica between January and March to earn a free night award at any Category 1 to 4 hotel, up to five times, through June 30, 2027. Frontierโ€™s GoWild Pass: https://www.flyfrontier.com/deals/gowild-pass/ Register for the World of Hyatt promo: https://discover.hyatt.com/en-us/latin-america-free-night-offer Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:23 Paze $100 Cash Back Promo 1:55 Amex British Airways Transfer Bonus 2:53 Frontier All-You-Can-Fly Pass 3:43 Hyatt Free Night Promo 4:35 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Paze, a new digital wallet backed by the same company behind Zelle, is giving up to $10 back on purchases of $10 or more, up to 10 times per eligible card, for up to $100 back per card, or up to $300 with three eligible cards. Link your card through your bank's digital wallet settings, then choose Paze at checkout instead of entering your card manually. No registration is required, and the credit typically posts within two billing cycles, through September 10.

American Express Membership Rewardsยฎ is running a 30% transfer bonus to British Airways through September 27, turning the usual 1:1 rate into 1:1.3, but the smartest move may be what you do after the points land. Once transferred, miles can be moved again to Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia, or Aer Lingus for stronger value, including real savings on routes like JetBlue Mint. This bonus shows up about once a year, worth acting on if you're sitting on Amex points.

Frontier's new all-you-can-fly pass costs $199 for nearly seven months of flights through early January, with each flight costing basically just the taxes and fees, though seats are limited and blackout dates apply around major holidays. World of Hyatt also has a promo worth registering for now. Complete three qualifying nights at a participating all-inclusive resort in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, or Costa Rica between January and March to earn a free night award at any Category 1 to 4 hotel, up to five times, through June 30, 2027.

Frontierโ€™s GoWild Pass: https://www.flyfrontier.com/deals/gowild-pass/

Register for the World of Hyatt promo: https://discover.hyatt.com/en-us/latin-america-free-night-offer


Timeline

0:00 Start Hereย 

0:23 Paze $100 Cash Back Promoย 

1:55 Amex British Airways Transfer Bonusย 

2:53 Frontier All-You-Can-Fly Passย 

3:43 Hyatt Free Night Promoย 

4:35 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Paze, a new digital wallet backed by the same company behind Zelle, is giving up to $10 back on purchases of $10 or more, up to 10 times per eligible card, for up to $100 back per card, or up to $300 with three eligible cards. Link your card through your bank&#39;s digital wallet settings, then choose Paze at checkout instead of entering your card manually. No registration is required, and the credit typically posts within two billing cycles, through September 10.</p><p><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide" rel="nofollow">American Express Membership Rewardsยฎ</a> is running a 30% transfer bonus to British Airways through September 27, turning the usual 1:1 rate into 1:1.3, but the smartest move may be what you do after the points land. Once transferred, miles can be moved again to Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia, or Aer Lingus for stronger value, including real savings on routes like JetBlue Mint. This bonus shows up about once a year, worth acting on if you&#39;re sitting on Amex points.</p><p>Frontier&#39;s new <a href="https://www.flyfrontier.com/deals/gowild-pass/" rel="nofollow">all-you-can-fly pass</a> costs $199 for nearly seven months of flights through early January, with each flight costing basically just the taxes and fees, though seats are limited and blackout dates apply around major holidays. World of Hyatt also has a promo worth <a href="https://discover.hyatt.com/en-us/latin-america-free-night-offer" rel="nofollow">registering</a> for now. Complete three qualifying nights at a participating all-inclusive resort in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, or Costa Rica between January and March to earn a free night award at any Category 1 to 4 hotel, up to five times, through June 30, 2027.</p><p><strong>Frontierโ€™s GoWild Pass: </strong><a href="https://www.flyfrontier.com/deals/gowild-pass/" rel="nofollow">https://www.flyfrontier.com/deals/gowild-pass/</a></p><p><strong>Register for the World of Hyatt promo: </strong><a href="https://discover.hyatt.com/en-us/latin-america-free-night-offer" rel="nofollow">https://discover.hyatt.com/en-us/latin-america-free-night-offer</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Hereย </p><p>0:23 Paze $100 Cash Back Promoย </p><p>1:55 Amex British Airways Transfer Bonusย </p><p>2:53 Frontier All-You-Can-Fly Passย </p><p>3:43 Hyatt Free Night Promoย </p><p>4:35 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> beac6e23-c0f4-44da-bd52-6d30e1ac9eb1 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/paze-free-money-promo Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:30:23 +0000 284 false full Should You Book Norse Atlantic? Plus the New Business Class Catch Should You Book Norse Atlantic? Plus the New Business Class Catch Departure Digest Business class now has its own version of basic economy ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Norse Atlantic is dealing with serious financial trouble and exploring a possible sale, merger, or partnership, complicating those ultra-cheap fares between cities like New York and London. Flights in the next few weeks are probably fine, but trips booked a few months out deserve more caution. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue are some alternatives to consider if you want to book with points, and since both are transfer partners with just about every major rewards program, you may already have the points to book through them. Airlines are bringing the basic economy playbook to business class. United, Delta, and JetBlue now all sell stripped-down premium fares with fewer perks, and American will likely follow. We also cover a new American Airlines policy affecting elite upgrades on select premium transcontinental and long-haul Hawaii routes starting Aug. 25, 2026. Elsewhere, The Reach Hotel, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, launched Key West's first all-inclusive package. Hilton is also selling points for 0.5 cents each through Sept. 25, 2026. Learn more about transferable points: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:15 Norse Atlantic's Money Trouble 1:45 Basic Business Class 3:02 American Elite Upgrade Changes 3:23 The Reach Key West All-Inclusive 4:01 Hilton's Buy Points Sale 4:38 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Norse Atlantic is dealing with serious financial trouble and exploring a possible sale, merger, or partnership, complicating those ultra-cheap fares between cities like New York and London. Flights in the next few weeks are probably fine, but trips booked a few months out deserve more caution. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue are some alternatives to consider if you want to book with points, and since both are transfer partners with just about every major rewards program, you may already have the points to book through them.

Airlines are bringing the basic economy playbook to business class. United, Delta, and JetBlue now all sell stripped-down premium fares with fewer perks, and American will likely follow. We also cover a new American Airlines policy affecting elite upgrades on select premium transcontinental and long-haul Hawaii routes starting Aug. 25, 2026.

Elsewhere, The Reach Hotel, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, launched Key West's first all-inclusive package. Hilton is also selling points for 0.5 cents each through Sept. 25, 2026.

Learn more about transferable points: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:15 Norse Atlantic's Money Trouble

1:45 Basic Business Class

3:02 American Elite Upgrade Changes

3:23 The Reach Key West All-Inclusive

4:01 Hilton's Buy Points Sale

4:38 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

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โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Norse Atlantic is dealing with serious financial trouble and exploring a possible sale, merger, or partnership, complicating those ultra-cheap fares between cities like New York and London. Flights in the next few weeks are probably fine, but trips booked a few months out deserve more caution. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue are some alternatives to consider if you want to book with points, and since both are <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide" rel="nofollow">transfer partners</a> with just about every major rewards program, you may already have the points to book through them.</p><p>Airlines are bringing the basic economy playbook to business class. United, Delta, and JetBlue now all sell stripped-down premium fares with fewer perks, and American will likely follow. We also cover a new American Airlines policy affecting elite upgrades on select premium transcontinental and long-haul Hawaii routes starting Aug. 25, 2026.</p><p>Elsewhere, <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/eywqqqq-the-reach-key-west/" rel="nofollow">The Reach Hotel</a>, part of Hilton&#39;s Curio Collection, launched Key West&#39;s first all-inclusive package. Hilton is also selling points for 0.5 cents each through Sept. 25, 2026.</p><p>Learn more about transferable points: <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:15 Norse Atlantic&#39;s Money Trouble</p><p>1:45 Basic Business Class</p><p>3:02 American Elite Upgrade Changes</p><p>3:23 The Reach Key West All-Inclusive</p><p>4:01 Hilton&#39;s Buy Points Sale</p><p>4:38 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 57d95328-0592-4c13-82fb-31133906b3b8 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/norse-atlantic-trouble Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:30:40 +0000 284 false full Southwest's Companion Pass Just Got a Lot Easier to Earn Southwest's Companion Pass Just Got a Lot Easier to Earn Departure Digest One round trip could unlock unlimited companion flights. ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” Southwest brought back a sweet promotion that lets you earn a promotional Companion Pass after just one round trip instead of the usual 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a year. Register first, then book a qualifying flight by Thursday, Aug. 6, with cash, points, or a mix. Complete the trip by Nov. 18 to unlock unlimited companion flights from Jan. 5 through March 3, 2027. Your companion only pays the required taxes and fees, which are typically just $5.60 each way on domestic flights. You can change your designated companion up to three times during the promotional period. As of today, Delta and Starbucks updated how their mileage partnership works. Once your accounts are linked, you'll earn one SkyMile for every dollar spent at Starbucks, and you no longer need to preload a Starbucks gift card. The catch is a new requirement to have flown Delta within the past 12 months to keep earning, though a grace period through Oct. 5 covers everyone for now. If you fly Delta regularly, you should link your accounts today. It's also worth checking your inbox for a targeted $50 Starbucks gift card offer tied to that deadline. Harrah's Resort Southern California is running a 48-hour flash sale starting Thursday, Aug. 6, where a second night costs just $10 with code MK10S for eligible Monday through Thursday stays through Dec. 22. Also, award availability at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica is wide open through November for up to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night. Register for Southwest Companion Pass promo: https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/promotion-detail?id=2-5I3T8GAU Link your Delta and Starbucks accounts: https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:18 Southwest Companion Pass Promotion 1:36 Delta and Starbucks SkyMiles Update 2:57 Harrah's Resort Southern California Flash Sale 3:46 Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Award Availability 4:19 Sign-Off โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Southwest brought back a sweet promotion that lets you earn a promotional Companion Pass after just one round trip instead of the usual 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a year. Register first, then book a qualifying flight by Thursday, Aug. 6, with cash, points, or a mix. Complete the trip by Nov. 18 to unlock unlimited companion flights from Jan. 5 through March 3, 2027. Your companion only pays the required taxes and fees, which are typically just $5.60 each way on domestic flights. You can change your designated companion up to three times during the promotional period.

As of today, Delta and Starbucks updated how their mileage partnership works. Once your accounts are linked, you'll earn one SkyMile for every dollar spent at Starbucks, and you no longer need to preload a Starbucks gift card. The catch is a new requirement to have flown Delta within the past 12 months to keep earning, though a grace period through Oct. 5 covers everyone for now. If you fly Delta regularly, you should link your accounts today. It's also worth checking your inbox for a targeted $50 Starbucks gift card offer tied to that deadline.

Harrah's Resort Southern California is running a 48-hour flash sale starting Thursday, Aug. 6, where a second night costs just $10 with code MK10S for eligible Monday through Thursday stays through Dec. 22. Also, award availability at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica is wide open through November for up to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Register for Southwest Companion Pass promo: https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/promotion-detail?id=2-5I3T8GAU

Link your Delta and Starbucks accounts: https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:18 Southwest Companion Pass Promotion

1:36 Delta and Starbucks SkyMiles Update

2:57 Harrah's Resort Southern California Flash Sale

3:46 Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Award Availability

4:19 Sign-Off


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.


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]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong> <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Southwest brought back a sweet promotion that lets you earn a promotional Companion Pass after just one round trip instead of the usual 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a year. <a href="https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/promotion-detail?id=2-5I3T8GAU" rel="nofollow">Register first</a>, then book a qualifying flight by Thursday, Aug. 6, with cash, points, or a mix. Complete the trip by Nov. 18 to unlock unlimited companion flights from Jan. 5 through March 3, 2027. Your companion only pays the required taxes and fees, which are typically just $5.60 each way on domestic flights. You can change your designated companion up to three times during the promotional period.</p><p>As of today, Delta and Starbucks updated how their mileage partnership works. Once your accounts are <a href="https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html" rel="nofollow">linked</a>, you&#39;ll earn one SkyMile for every dollar spent at Starbucks, and you no longer need to preload a Starbucks gift card. The catch is a new requirement to have flown Delta within the past 12 months to keep earning, though a grace period through Oct. 5 covers everyone for now. If you fly Delta regularly, you should link your accounts today. It&#39;s also worth checking your inbox for a targeted $50 Starbucks gift card offer tied to that deadline.</p><p>Harrah&#39;s Resort Southern California is running a 48-hour flash sale starting Thursday, Aug. 6, where a second night costs just $10 with code MK10S for eligible Monday through Thursday stays through Dec. 22. Also, award availability at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica is wide open through November for up to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.</p><p>Register for Southwest Companion Pass promo: <a href="https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/promotion-detail?id=2-5I3T8GAU" rel="nofollow">https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/promotion-detail?id=2-5I3T8GAU</a></p><p>Link your Delta and Starbucks accounts: <a href="https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html</a></p><p><br></p><p>Timeline</p><p>0:00 Start Here</p><p>0:18 Southwest Companion Pass Promotion</p><p>1:36 Delta and Starbucks SkyMiles Update</p><p>2:57 Harrah&#39;s Resort Southern California Flash Sale</p><p>3:46 Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Award Availability</p><p>4:19 Sign-Off</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the authorโ€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> f5cf6c47-073e-42e3-982d-893fa6b26cae https://www.departuredigest.com/p/southwest-companion-pass-promo Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:30:14 +0000 271 false full Why This New 4:1 Hotel Transfer Is Better Than It Looks Why This New 4:1 Hotel Transfer Is Better Than It Looks Departure Digest Plus what to do about the WestJet strike and JetBlue's new Mint menus. ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com ๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten ๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards โ€”โ€”โ€” WestJet flight attendants have been on strike since Sunday, grounding nearly all of the airline's flights except a few regional routes. We explain what affected travelers should do next: WestJet is legally required to rebook passengers on the next available flight, even on another airline, and your travel credit card's trip delay protection may help if your trip is disrupted. Then there's Amex's newest hotel transfer partner, Leaders Club from Leading Hotels of the World. At first glance, the 4:1 transfer ratio looks far less attractive than the 1:1 transfers many travelers are used to. But the value of Leaders Club points tells a very different story. This may be one of the strongest hotel redemption opportunities available through Membership Rewards, especially for travelers who love independent luxury hotels like the Ritz Paris. Some cardholders can also unlock complimentary elite status, which may include perks like free breakfast and early check-in. We also visit Il Borro, the Tuscan estate where Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco celebrated her birthday, where Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits can make a stay more rewarding. JetBlue debuts new Mint menus from Michelin-starred Crown Shy and Brooklyn's Birdee bakery, and United, Delta, and Southwest have all banned humanoid and animal-like robots from flying as passengers. Transferable Points Guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide Timeline 0:00 Start Here 0:22 WestJet Flight Attendant Strike 1:06 Amex Leaders Club Transfer Partner 2:31 Selena Gomez's Tuscan Vacation 3:43 JetBlue's New Mint Menus 4:05 Airlines Ban Humanoid Robots โ€”โ€”โ€” Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Departure Digest will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Departure Digest is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies, or all available credit card offers. The content in this episode is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com

๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten: https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten

๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards


โ€”โ€”โ€”


WestJet flight attendants have been on strike since Sunday, grounding nearly all of the airline's flights except a few regional routes. We explain what affected travelers should do next: WestJet is legally required to rebook passengers on the next available flight, even on another airline, and your travel credit card's trip delay protection may help if your trip is disrupted.

Then there's Amex's newest hotel transfer partner, Leaders Club from Leading Hotels of the World. At first glance, the 4:1 transfer ratio looks far less attractive than the 1:1 transfers many travelers are used to. But the value of Leaders Club points tells a very different story. This may be one of the strongest hotel redemption opportunities available through Membership Rewards, especially for travelers who love independent luxury hotels like the Ritz Paris. Some cardholders can also unlock complimentary elite status, which may include perks like free breakfast and early check-in.

We also visit Il Borro, the Tuscan estate where Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco celebrated her birthday, where Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits can make a stay more rewarding. JetBlue debuts new Mint menus from Michelin-starred Crown Shy and Brooklyn's Birdee bakery, and United, Delta, and Southwest have all banned humanoid and animal-like robots from flying as passengers.

Transferable Points Guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide


Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:22 WestJet Flight Attendant Strike

1:06 Amex Leaders Club Transfer Partner

2:31 Selena Gomez's Tuscan Vacation

3:43 JetBlue's New Mint Menus

4:05 Airlines Ban Humanoid Robots


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Departure Digest will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Departure Digest is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies, or all available credit card offers. The content in this episode is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest

โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst

โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest

โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest

]]> <p><strong>๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿงญ Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿค‘ Get a $50 bonus at Rakuten:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/rakuten</a></p><p><strong>๐Ÿ‘‘ Our favorite credit cards:</strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards</a></p><p><br></p><p><span>โ€”โ€”โ€”</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>WestJet flight attendants have been on strike since Sunday, grounding nearly all of the airline&#39;s flights except a few regional routes. We explain what affected travelers should do next: WestJet is legally required to rebook passengers on the next available flight, even on another airline, and your </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/best-credit-cards" rel="nofollow">travel credit card&#39;s</a><span> trip delay protection may help if your trip is disrupted.</span></p><p><span>Then there&#39;s Amex&#39;s newest hotel </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide" rel="nofollow">transfer partner</a><span>, Leaders Club from Leading Hotels of the World. At first glance, the 4:1 transfer ratio looks far less attractive than the 1:1 transfers many travelers are used to. But the value of Leaders Club points tells a very different story. This may be one of the strongest hotel redemption opportunities available through Membership Rewards, especially for travelers who love independent luxury hotels like the Ritz Paris. Some cardholders can also unlock complimentary elite status, which may include perks like free breakfast and early check-in.</span></p><p><span>We also visit Il Borro, the Tuscan estate where Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco celebrated her birthday, where Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits can make a stay more rewarding. JetBlue debuts new Mint menus from Michelin-starred Crown Shy and Brooklyn&#39;s Birdee bakery, and United, Delta, and Southwest have all banned humanoid and animal-like robots from flying as passengers.</span></p><p><span>Transferable Points Guide: </span><a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/transferable-points-guide</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Timeline</strong></p><p><span>0:00 Start Here</span></p><p><span>0:22 WestJet Flight Attendant Strike</span></p><p><span>1:06 Amex Leaders Club Transfer Partner</span></p><p><span>2:31 Selena Gomez&#39;s Tuscan Vacation</span></p><p><span>3:43 JetBlue&#39;s New Mint Menus</span></p><p><span>4:05 Airlines Ban Humanoid Robots</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>โ€”โ€”โ€”</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which Departure Digest will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Departure Digest is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies, or all available credit card offers. The content in this episode is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>โ€”โ€”โ€”</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p><span>โ†’ Newsletter: </span><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p><span>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: </span><a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p><span>โ†’ X: </span><a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p><span>โ†’ Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p><span>โ†’ TikTok: </span><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> 741b0561-d011-48cc-88eb-a7c06f18475c https://www.departuredigest.com/p/amex-leaders-club-transfer-partner Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:30:20 +0000 271 false full Meet Departure Digest: Your 5-Minute Travel Voice Memo Meet Departure Digest: Your 5-Minute Travel Voice Memo Departure Digest Airline news, hotel updates, and points strategies, 3x a week ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com/ ๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide โ€”โ€”โ€” Meet Departure Digest, your five-minute, audio-first travel voice memo. We cut through the noise on airline news, hotel updates, and points strategies, so you don't have to spend hours bouncing between open tabs and group chats. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we break down what's worth booking and how to avoid the expensive mistakes airlines and hotels hope you make. Our goal is simple: help you book the first-class experience on a coach budget by turning travel headlines and points strategies into clear takeaways and next steps. Clear enough for beginners, sharp enough for pros. We're travel nerds who've spent years earning points, testing loyalty programs, and shaping travel coverage for some of the biggest names in media. We're the friend who already did the research. Think of each episode as a quick voice memo from your savviest travel friend, delivered before your coffee gets cold. โ€”โ€”โ€” Stay up to date: โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com โ†’ Newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe โ†’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest โ†’ X: https://x.com/departuredgst โ†’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest โ†’ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest ๐Ÿ“ฉ Join the newsletter: https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shop Departure Digest merch: https://shop.departuredigest.com/

๐Ÿงญ Free points & miles beginner's guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Meet Departure Digest, your five-minute, audio-first travel voice memo. We cut through the noise on airline news, hotel updates, and points strategies, so you don't have to spend hours bouncing between open tabs and group chats.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we break down what's worth booking and how to avoid the expensive mistakes airlines and hotels hope you make. Our goal is simple: help you book the first-class experience on a coach budget by turning travel headlines and points strategies into clear takeaways and next steps. Clear enough for beginners, sharp enough for pros.

We're travel nerds who've spent years earning points, testing loyalty programs, and shaping travel coverage for some of the biggest names in media. We're the friend who already did the research. Think of each episode as a quick voice memo from your savviest travel friend, delivered before your coffee gets cold.


โ€”โ€”โ€”


Stay up to date:

โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: https://yt.departuredigest.com

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]]> <p>๐Ÿ“ฉ <strong>Join the newsletter: </strong><a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>๐Ÿ›๏ธ <strong>Shop Departure Digest merch:</strong> <a href="https://shop.departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.departuredigest.com/</a></p><p>๐Ÿงญ <strong>Free points &amp; miles beginner&#39;s guide:</strong> <a href="https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide" rel="nofollow">https://www.departuredigest.com/p/points-miles-beginners-guide</a></p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p>Meet <a href="https://departuredigest.com/" rel="nofollow">Departure Digest</a>, your five-minute, audio-first travel voice memo. We cut through the noise on airline news, hotel updates, and points strategies, so you don&#39;t have to spend hours bouncing between open tabs and group chats.</p><p>Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we break down what&#39;s worth booking and how to avoid the expensive mistakes airlines and hotels hope you make. Our goal is simple: help you book the first-class experience on a coach budget by turning travel headlines and points strategies into clear takeaways and next steps. Clear enough for beginners, sharp enough for pros.</p><p>We&#39;re travel nerds who&#39;ve spent years earning points, testing loyalty programs, and shaping travel coverage for some of the biggest names in media. We&#39;re the friend who already did the research. Think of each episode as a quick voice memo from your savviest travel friend, delivered before your coffee gets cold.</p><p><br></p><p>โ€”โ€”โ€”</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Stay up to date:</strong></p><p>โ†’ YouTube Subscribe: <a href="https://yt.departuredigest.com" rel="nofollow">https://yt.departuredigest.com</a></p><p>โ†’ Newsletter: <a href="https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow">https://go.departuredigest.com/subscribe</a></p><p>โ†’ Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ X: <a href="https://x.com/departuredgst" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/departuredgst</a></p><p>โ†’ Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/departuredigest</a></p><p>โ†’ TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest" rel="nofollow">https://www.tiktok.com/@departuredigest</a></p> c72ec88c-c243-4b26-ac84-c6167d8bd984 https://www.departuredigest.com/p/meet-departure-digest Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:41:52 +0000 63 false