Is the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard worth it?

If you fly American Airlines frequently, you may consider getting one of their cobranded cards from Citi. At the top of the hierarchy is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which offers the most AA-specific perks of any credit card. But it comes with a hefty $595 annual fee….

United Airlines cuts Clear priority security benefit for top-tier elites

Beginning in May, there will be one less benefit of being a top-tier United Airlines elite member. The Chicago-based airline emailed Premier 1K flyers this week to announce that it would cut the free Clear Plus membership effective May 1. Existing Clear Plus members who have already signed up for complimentary access will continue to…

Southwest Rapid Rewards: How to earn and redeem points, elite status and more

Southwest Airlines once prided itself on its “transfarency” philosophy — low fares and no change fees, hidden fees or unexpected bag fees. Therefore, it was no surprise that some TPG staffers regarded Southwest as one of their top airline choices. However, following several (mostly negative) recent announcements, from new checked-bag fees to lower points-earning rates,…

Earn MileagePlus miles with United’s airline, hotel and credit card partners

Many of the world’s major airlines partner with other airlines, hotel groups and rental car companies. These partnerships can open up opportunities to visit more destinations and provide loyalty program members with more ways to earn and redeem airline miles. Chances are your airline of choice may have more partners than you think. In the…

Some Asian airlines are cracking down on portable chargers — how it could affect your trip

In response to an airplane catching fire in South Korea earlier this year, several Asian airlines have issued new regulations for passengers who travel with portable batteries, including portable chargers. As officials investigate the cause of an Air Busan plane that caught fire before it was scheduled to depart from Gimhae International Airport (PUS) in…

‘Airport theory’: Unpacking the risky TikTok travel trend causing travelers to miss their flights

The TikTok trend cycle never stops churning. But while catchy dances and memes are fairly innocuous, some trends are riskier than others. A new travel-related trend eschews common guidance from most major airlines for a more cavalier approach to air travel. Following the “airport theory” method, travelers aim to arrive at the airport as close…

Frontier tries to poach Southwest flyers with free-bag deal

Is it poaching season on Southwest Airlines after its abrupt about-face on its longstanding “Bags Fly Free” policy? We may be about to find out. Frontier Airlines has become one of the first U.S. airlines to take aim at the low-cost behemoth for its decision to begin charging customers to check bags. ‘The Day Southwest…