Why you should apply for the Hilton Honors Amex Card

The entry-level Hilton Honors American Express Card can be a surprisingly great addition to anyone’s wallet, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a complete newbie. Even if you don’t frequently stay at Hilton properties, this no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) can help you rack up bonus points on your everyday purchases. Then, you can…

The best airline if you don’t want to pay to check a bag

Which U.S. airline has the most customer-friendly bag policies? For years, it’s been an easy question to answer: Southwest Airlines, with two free bags for every traveler on every fare. But that’s set to change May 28, when the Dallas-based carrier begins charging most customers for checked baggage, all but ending a customer-friendly policy that…

Delta SkyMiles removes surcharges for redemptions from Europe to the US

Delta’s SkyMiles loyalty program has made a small but potentially valuable change to its redemption pricing: carrier-imposed surcharges on Delta-operated flights commencing in Europe to the United States are no longer payable. This means that while the miles required may still be high, the cash payment required on these flights is now lower. Dan’s Deals…

Instagram star Captain Kate just announced her next cruise ship – and you’ll never guess what it is

Captain Kate McCue, the first woman from the United States to take the helm of a cruise ship, will soon become the first person to captain a Four Seasons yacht. Following her recent departure from Celebrity Cruises, where she worked for more than 20 years, McCue — who gained social media fame with reels highlighting…

BillPay by Bilt: New payment platform paves way for more rewards

The Bilt Rewards program is preparing to launch a new rent payment platform, BillPay by Bilt, designed to enhance security for members who don’t live at Bilt partner properties. For current Bilt members, this is a relatively small update that requires little or no change on your part. But for homeowners, this is a major…

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,…