With the end of the year in sight, now’s the perfect time to inventory your credit card perks and benefits to ensure you’ve used and maximized as many of them as possible this year. Some of these benefits are “use it or lose it” at the end of the calendar year, which means you could…
The Transportation Security Administration screens around 4 million passengers per day at 450 U.S. airports. In 2023 alone, the agency processed more than 858 million passengers, 484 million checked bags and 1.9 billion carry-on items. Going through a TSA checkpoint is not exactly pleasant for most travelers. Most simply want to get through a TSA…
November: What a month — especially this one. There was a lot to get through between the election, the start of the holiday season, the time change and, at least, for those who love and support me and my fellow TPG hotel reporter Cameron Sperance, two Scorpio birthdays. Between all of that, there was still…
When people find out my job is to write about travel credit cards, they usually ask for expert advice. They want to know which of our favorite credit cards I recommend, which cards will complement their existing portfolio and whether their current everyday card is a good one. They also often want to know which…
These days, most of us know a thing or two about avoiding scams. We scoff at emails from foreign princes soliciting Western Union money transfers — if the messages even make it through our spam filters, of course — and even our phones can detect if an incoming call from an unknown number is likely…
Qualifying for and maintaining airline elite status is usually a yearly endeavor unless you have lifetime elite status. As we approach the end of 2024, it’s worth checking that your status qualification requirements are squared away. It’s possible to earn status at any point throughout the year, and each loyalty program is different. So, as…
Checking your cruise luggage with an airline can be a scary proposition, especially when you factor in possible weather delays or missed connections that can separate you from your bags. The farther you have to fly, the scarier it becomes. But what are your options? The obvious choice for most cruisers who fly to their…
Resolve right now to try something new on New Year’s Eve. Instead of staying home in your jammies and watching Andy and Anderson giggle and exchange Champagne spit takes in Times Square, shake off the old year somewhere else. Plus, with New Year’s Day falling on a Wednesday in 2025, you can break up with…
Even if you’re new to the points and miles game, you’ve probably heard the term “mileage run.” A mileage run is when a traveler takes a flight (or series of flights) primarily to earn rewards or airline elite status. Mattress runs are similar to mileage runs. But instead of taking one or more flights as…
The Platinum Card® from American Express takes the cake for the highest annual fee ($695, see rates and fees) and one of the highest number of annual statement credits of any card. As a quick recap, here are the basic features of the Amex Platinum (enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply): New cardmembers…