Let's face it: American Express' top travel credit cards have become not-so-luxurious coupon books, loaded with an overwhelming number of benefits and credits that many travelers (us included) have difficulty keeping track of.  Staying organized with all these perks is the key to coming out ahead as annual fees increase. But considering the many money-saving credits might lapse each month, quarter, or year, it requires a lot of extra work to make sure you use them – and don't lose them.  While we wish it weren't necessary, it can be done with some extra legwork. We've got you covered ..read more

Love it or hate it, Southwest Airlines does things differently, flying all-economy Boeing 737s with a first-come, first-served seating model. But now the airline is considering the unthinkable: Could assigned seating (for an extra fee) be coming to Southwest flights? Or extra legroom seats – maybe even first class? Southwest president and CEO Bob Jordan hinted Thursday that some kind of major change is on the horizon in a news release, saying the airline is “evaluating options to enhance our customer experience as we study product preferences and expectations, including onboard seating and our ..read more

Back in the summer of 2022, Delta and American Express practically broke the internet and delighted aviation geeks nationwide with arguably the coolest-looking credit card to date: A sleek *delta reserve card*  made from the metal of a scrapped Delta Boeing 747. They're running it back. On Thursday, the companies unveiled another special 747 edition Reserve Card, available until June 5 – or until they run out, whichever comes first. This time around, Delta and Amex ditched the jet black look from 2022 in favor of a glossy white design, each emblazoned with a silhouette and statistics from ..read more

To live in the United States is to live among some of the greatest natural wonders on earth. And thanks to the efforts of presidents Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt in the late 1800s and early 1900s, we've protected many of these gems under the banner of the National Park Service.  In 2023, there were more than 325 million visits to the over 400 U.S. national parks and recreation areas. Visitation at the national parks has gone up every year since the pandemic, and we suspect this trend will continue in 2024. (Don't worry: There are some tried and true ways to avoid crowds at even the ..read more

The Biden Administration has been pressuring the airline industry for years to offer more protections for U.S.-based travelers. Some significant changes are finally being put down in law. The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday unveiled two new rules that clearly define when travelers are entitled to a refund after flights are delayed or canceled while also forcing airlines disclose additional fees far earlier in the booking process in a bid to increase transparency in airfare pricing. Under the new rules, airlines will be required to offer travelers a refund (not just a voucher or ..read more

We've all been there: Sitting with a spouse or travel pal on the plane, trying to hit play on a movie or show at exactly the right time to watch together. “Nope, not quite. Try again. One, two, three, now!” JetBlue has a solution.  The New York-based airline is launching a brand-new “Watch Party” feature, allowing up to six flyers to simultaneously watch the same content no matter where they're sitting – and control it all at once. This first-of-its-kind feature is rolling out to many JetBlue planes as we speak.    Photo courtesy of JetBlue   That's undeniably the cool ..read more

It's a question that comes up for everybody who has ever opened a travel credit card: “What happens to my points and miles after I close a credit card?” The answer? It depends. Exactly what happens to your points and miles depends on the specific credit card and which airline, hotel or points program it's associated with. If you're closing a co-branded credit card – a partnership between an airline or hotel and a bank like the American Express Delta SkyMiles cards, the Citi American Airlines cards, or the Chase Marriott cards – your points are safe no matter what you do with your card. But if ..read more

Want to get a free checked bag and ensure you aren't randomly assigned a middle seat between two strangers on your way to Europe? You'll need to pay up to avoid the strictest basic economy fares – and airlines keep forcing passengers to fork over more and more to do so. What was once a flat, $120 extra roundtrip to bump up to a standard main cabin fare across the Atlantic has steadily risen as travel demand soared since the pandemic. Just in time for the summer 2024 travel season, major airlines are now charging an additional $200 (and in some cases, $220 or more) to avoid basic economy flying ..read more

We've got good news and bad news, Southwest fans.  Let's start with the good news: The airline's long-awaited “Cash + Points” redemptions are live, giving flyers with just a few thousand Rapid Rewards an avenue to put those points to use. As first noticed by Award Wallet, it began rolling out this week – though not to everyone: Just a small subset of Southwest Rapid Rewards members will see it available (including yours truly). Now for the bad news: It's a terrible deal. By using this new Cash + Points option, you're getting half as much value out of your Southwest points as you woul ..read more

The U.S. is home to some incredible natural beauty, and nowhere is that more evident than in our national parks. From the geothermal activity in Yellowstone in Wyoming to the mountains and fjords in Glacier Bay in Alaska to the dramatic coastline of Acadia in Maine, the national parks are found in nearly every corner of the U.S. and even the ocean. But if you're planning to visit a national park in 2024, you're not alone. The U.S. national parks and recreation areas are more popular than ever, with the National Park Service reporting more than 325 million visits last year. Whether you're plann ..read more