For loyal Southwest Airlines flyers, it’s the first day of the rest of their lives. Tuesday kicks off a new era for the Dallas-based carrier: It’s the day the airline officially bids farewell to its famous first-come, first-served seating policy and one-of–a-kind boarding process. From this day forward, Southwest will have assigned seats on every…

“I’ve never been more excited about the business than I am today,” Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton, told a group of journalists in a recent roundtable interview conducted at the reborn Waldorf Astoria New York (“the hotel that literally invented luxury in the [hospitality] world,” he’d said). Over the interview, Nassetta gave snippets…

Cruising is easy — or so cruisers will tell you. For starters, you only have to unpack once, even as you travel from place to place. You also don’t have to go hunting for a restaurant every night. Dining spots are usually just steps away from your cabin, with tables waiting for you. You’ll also…

If you want to collect Atmos Rewards points to use for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights, you may be interested in applying for one of their cobranded credit cards. The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card and the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card are two mid-tier options to consider. Even if you…

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs, including Marriott Bonvoy. Though Marriott Bonvoy isn’t one of the most valuable Chase transfer partners, it is one of the most well-known hotel loyalty programs. It can be daunting the first time you transfer Chase points. But don’t worry: It’s relatively…

Some lucky folks are getting a nice surprise when they check their email or log in to their airline loyalty account — they’ve been gifted status. We are getting reports that members of both Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus are being gifted elite status or having their existing status extended — even when they haven’t…

Recent years have brought us all too many reminders about the importance of knowing your air travel rights as a passenger. From winter weather to summer storms and last fall’s government shutdown, it’s clear that knowing what you should ask for when your flight is delayed or canceled is critical when you’re preparing to fly….

Regardless of who I’m traveling with, I always look for hotels that participate in major hotel loyalty programs, allowing me to earn points and enjoy elite status benefits, such as room upgrades and late checkout. Aside from that, though, the types of hotels I look for when traveling with my family can differ vastly from…

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to pay an eye-watering annual fee to get a travel credit card. If you don’t travel enough to use all the benefits that come with a top-tier card — or simply don’t have room in your budget to justify these fees each year — there are still plenty…

If you haven’t stepped on an Alaska Airlines plane in awhile, chances are you’ll notice more premium seats next time you board. The Seattle-based carrier is nearing the finish line of a two-year push to retrofit its planes with more first-class and extra-legroom seats. It’s part of an effort to add 1.3 million higher-priced seats…