Favorite Chase Sapphire Reserve benefit: Stack your hotel credit with Points Boost

There’s a great new way to stack perks if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). I’ve been kind of obsessed with some of the new Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits after the popular card underwent a revamp over the summer. That’s especially true now that existing cardholders, including myself, receive all of…

Convert Rakuten cash-back rewards into Bilt Rewards points

Bilt Rewards and Rakuten — one of our favorite online shopping portals — just announced a new partnership. Through this partnership, you can redeem cash-back rewards from Rakuten for Bilt Points. Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain wrote in a press release, “We’re thrilled to launch this partnership today, just as the holiday shopping season…

United Airlines announces partnership with Lyft

There’s good news for United Airlines loyalists: Your next Lyft ride could earn you United MileagePlus miles. The Chicago-based airline and ride-hailing service announced a new partnership Wednesday that will allow members of United’s loyalty program to boost their mileage balance when hailing a ride. How many miles you’ll earn depends on the type of…

Help stock food banks using your monthly credit card benefits

You probably don’t need us to tell you that many Americans are currently without their normal financial safety net, resulting in an enormous need to stock their pantries at the moment. Food pantries can be lifelines for those in need, and maintaining a steady flow of donations and food into the food banks is crucial…

Fly to Hawaii from 7,500 miles with new Alaska Airlines award sale

Hot on the heels of a big Global Getaways sale, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines dropped another great offer. This time, it’s aimed squarely at Atmos Rewards plan members (formerly Mileage Plan). One-way awards redemptions begin at just 4,000 miles to various U.S. West Coast destinations such as Seattle and San Diego. Meanwhile, one-way tickets…

Major flight cuts to start Friday if shutdown drags on, FAA announces

The government shutdown is about to affect air travel in a big way. Starting Friday morning, airlines will have to cancel thousands of flights per day if Congress can’t reach an agreement to reopen the federal government, the Trump administration announced. Speaking Wednesday afternoon, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration will…

Spirit ends flights to 5 destinations

Spirit Airlines will exit five cities in January, the latest cuts from the bankrupt carrier. The Dania Beach, Florida-based discounter will end service to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) in New York and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) on Jan. 8,…

Marriott just opened a Maldives Autograph Collection resort

Marriott Bonvoy members have no shortage of Maldives resorts they can book with points. But Marriott Bonvoy just gained its first Autograph Collection resort in the island nation: The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection. The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives is a luxurious 38-villa resort situated on two private islands. One island houses the beachfront…

Do flights cost more through credit card travel portals?

Many top travel rewards cards offer bonus rewards when you book flights, hotels and rental cars through the issuer’s travel portal. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) offers 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ but just 2 points per dollar spent on other travel, including…