He just had a fascinating interview covering a wide variety of topics. While nothing he said is particularly shocking, I can’t help but dedicate a post to a detailed look at his daily schedule, which is quite something.

Scott Kirby details his unusual daily schedule

Semafor’s The CEO Signal show just had Scott Kirby on as a guest, and he covers a variety of topics. Perhaps the most widely interesting topic involves his daily schedule.

Kirby was asked about how he’s known to be very fierce about protecting his time, and about how he has said in the past that if you’re spending too much time managing the day-to-day, you’re doing something wrong. So he was quizzed about what his average day look like.

Kirby started by explaining that he probably has “the most unusual day of almost any executive you’ll meet.” What does that entail?

• Kirby sleeps 8.5 hours per night, and wakes up at 5:30AM without an alarm (hey, this is an area where Kirby and I are the same, except I’m usually an hour earlier!)
• He then reads his emails, but that just takes five minutes
• Then he works out, and he has a rotating set of four workouts; he only misses workouts if he’s traveling, because he prioritizes sleep over working out
• He reads for around three hours per day — he reads The Wall Street Journal cover-to-cover (this allows him to learn all kinds of interesting stuff he would’ve never otherwise known), then he reads The New York Times for around 15 minutes, then he reads five magazines, and he also reads two books per week, with a strong preference for science fiction
• Kirby also shares that he thinks reading is the number one thing that you can do to “connect dots” that other people don’t see
• Kirby tries to collectively limit his work meetings to at most four hours per day, typically much less than that, and he tries to keep his meetings quick and conversational, rather than just having presentations where presenters go through decks
• Kirby also takes a 15-minute nap every day, and he has a couch in his office on which he does so

Kirby explained that when you’re CEO, your job isn’t to work hard, but it’s to think hard. He suggests that if you’re spending your time looking at yesterday’s detailed metrics, you’re doing the wrong thing, as you should be focused on the horizon, and what’s coming that no one else sees yet.

I think Kirby’s schedule is especially noteworthy in the context of his travel schedule and family life. Kirby flies an average of 2.5 times per week. He also lives in Dallas (he works remotely from there for much of the time), but his office is in Chicago. He also has seven children, and several of them are still very young.

If you have the time, I’d highly recommend watching the entire interview below. While 95% of the conversation is about things Kirby has revealed in the past, this still does a great job of consolidating everything into one conversation.

Kirby can be a tough guy to make sense of

I’ve long commended Kirby for the great job he has done running United, as there’s no denying the airline has undergone an incredible transformation. I think Kirby has become a really good big picture guy, and he is laser focused on moving United in the right direction.

The thing is, as of late my feelings on Kirby have shifted a bit. I still think he’s doing a great job, I just can’t actually make sense of him as a person, or where his head is at. Like, he’ll say that the ball is in JetBlue’s court when it comes to a merger, and then he’ll scoff at someone suggesting that a merger is a possibility, saying United has no interest.

I think the thing that has most confused me as of late is Kirby’s bizarre narrative about creating a mega airline that all Americans are proud of, suggesting that’s good for consumers. I just find that to be such an indefensible claim, yet Kirby keeps repeating it (admittedly I don’t think media generally ask him the right follow-up questions, like how prices would be kept in check, and what impact this would have on airfare).

But I think understanding Kirby’s daily schedule also makes it easier to understand how he comes up with these concepts. He obviously spends a ton of mental energy thinking outside of the box, and he seems to sort of do that in isolation. So I can understand that leading to someone thinking they have the next greatest idea that no one else has thought of, when in reality, there’s a reason others haven’t thought about it. 😉

I’m not sure if he just doesn’t have people in his circle he bounces ideas off of, but I imagine there’s a reason that no one else has publicly parroted Kirby’s consolidation narrative. And when you spend hours per day reading science fiction novels, I can understand how one would start to believe that a mega-merger is good for consumers.

Bottom line

United CEO Scott Kirby claims he has one of the most unusual schedules of any executive. He gets 8.5 hours of sleep per night, wakes up at 5:30AM without an alarm, spends hours per day reading, takes naps every day, and spends at most four hours per day in meetings. He explains that his job isn’t to work hard, but to think hard.

Ultimately Kirby has a lot to show for his “routine,” so it’s not like we can judge the approach he takes. I do appreciate him giving us an inside look into his life, though I’d be fascinated to know how his commute and large family factor into his schedule.

What do you make of Kirby’s schedule, plus the overall interview?

Emirates will finally fly between Dubai and Berlin

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a state visit to Germany, where he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. With this, the UAE pledged to invest €40 billion in Germany, to strengthen ties between the two countries.

There was also an aviation angle to this — as part of this investment, it was announced that airlines from the UAE would be allowed to serve a fifth German city.

You see, air service between Germany and the UAE is restricted based on a bilateral agreement, and up until now, airlines from the UAE have only been allowed to serve four German airports. The UAE has of course wanted to expand this agreement, while Germany hasn’t been willing to do so, at least up until now.

For a long time, Emirates has opted to fly to Dusseldorf (DUS), Frankfurt (FRA), Hamburg (HAM), and Munich (MUC). However, going back to at least 2004, Emirates has been wanting to add flights to Berlin (BER) as well. For a long time, Lufthansa has successfully lobbied for this service to be blocked, but that’s no longer the case.

While it wasn’t explicitly stated in the agreement, the idea is that an airline from the UAE can launch service to a fifth city in Germany as long as current air service to other airports doesn’t expand, and as long as the airline doesn’t plan to launch fifth freedom service from there.

It’s pretty clear what route that is referring to, with Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner already welcoming Emirates to Berlin. While not necessarily the highest yielding, Berlin is by far Germany’s largest city, so this will be fantastic for competition.

The inconsistency in bilateral agreements for Germany has made little sense. For example, Qatar Airways has been allowed to serve five German cities (it already flies to Berlin), while Emirates has been able to serve four German cities. How exactly do you justify that, from a competitive standpoint?

Lufthansa slams German government for allowing this

Lufthansa has of course for a long time been lobbying to prevent Gulf carriers from expanding in Germany, with the usual, predictable arguments (“they’re stealing our jobs!”). For years, Lufthansa’s campaigning has largely centered specifically around Emirates being able to expand to Berlin.

The irony is that Lufthansa doesn’t actually treat Berlin as an important market — instead, it just treats Germany’s largest city as a feeder airport for its two main hubs, though Lufthansa Group does offer Dubai service via its Eurowings low cost carrier subsidiary.

In response to this news, a Lufthansa Group spokesperson released the following statement:

“The expansion of traffic rights agreed today in favor of the United Arab Emirates shifts added value and jobs to the Gulf and further exacerbates the distortion of competition. The already strained situation on domestic routes connecting metropolitan areas to domestic hubs will be further exacerbated by this policy. This federal government is scoring too many own goals.”

Funny enough, I think Lufthansa’s defense here is exactly why Emirates should be granted this permission. Lufthansa’s argument is that domestic feeder flights are at risk because Emirates is expanding to Berlin. It essentially boils down to “how will we be able to fill our domestic feeder flights and get people to overpay for double connections, when Emirates offers a better product, price, and more direct routing?”

Germans absolutely love the sun, and in winter like to travel to places like Bali (DPS), Phuket (HKT), etc. Lufthansa wants to sell those passengers a double connection with high fares, while the Gulf carriers can get people there in one stop.

I’d consider this to be a big win for consumers, as Lufthansa wants to have its cake and eat it too — it wants to control Berlin without actually investing in the market.

Bottom line

Emirates has finally gained the rights to fly to Berlin, something it has wanted to do for over 20 years. However, the bilateral agreement between the two countries capped air service at four destinations. Thanks to expanded cooperation between the two countries, airlines from the UAE will now be allowed to serve five destinations in Germany.

While exact details about Emirates’ new Berlin service remain to be seen, this is some much needed competition for Germany’s largest city.

What do you make of Emirates finally getting permission to fly to Berlin?

Along those lines, the airline will soon start taking delivery of Airbus A330-900neos. Ahead of that, the company has unveiled the new business class product it will introduce on these planes, which strikes me as being the world’s most basic flat bed business class (thanks to S_LEE for flagging this).

Trinity Airways introduces Optimares SoFab business class seats

Trinity Airways will soon take delivery of its first of five Airbus A330-900neos, which the airline will use for its expansion. The airline plans to equip these planes in a two-cabin layout, with a total of 336 seats. This includes 12 business class seats and 324 economy seats.

What’s fascinating is the business class product the airline opted for. Trinity Airways is the launch customer for the Optimares SoFab seat, which is quite something. The good news is that the seat is fully flat. The bad news is that the seat doesn’t actually have any recline, and Trinity Airways also isn’t installing any seat back entertainment.

Below you can see a video about the seating concept (this is promoting the seat as such, while Trinity Airways obviously customized it with its finishes, etc.).

I would imagine that this is a very efficient seat for the airline, in terms of the cost of the seat as such, its weight, and its ongoing maintenance costs. By eliminating all the electrical systems in the seat, it reduces the weight, and also makes maintenance much easier.

For context, Trinity Airways’ wide body fleet otherwise consists of some Airbus A330-300s with angled flat seats in business class, along with some ex-Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs with reverse herringbone seats in business class (these are simply inherited interiors, like what you’ll find on Turkmenistan Airlines).

This is somewhere between Finnair and ZIPAIR

This new cabin feels like a hybrid between the premium products of Finnair and ZIPAIR, in terms of having something comparable to the seat on Finnair, and the entertainment situation on ZIPAIR.

Finnair has the Collins Aerospace AirLounge seat, which is also a non-reclining flat bed. As much as that concept might sound unpleasant, I actually think it’s pretty innovative and don’t mind it, assuming the bedding is decent enough (so that you can position yourself correctly and get support for situations where you don’t want to sleep).

Up until now, I’ve argued that ZIPAIR has the world’s most basic flat bed business class. I mean, I guess technically it’s not even business class, as the airline just markets it as “Full Flat.” However, the idea is that the airline has reverse herringbone seats produced by JAMCO, with no seat back entertainment.

To be clear, while I’m labeling Trinity Airways’ new cabins as the most basic flat bed business class out there, that’s not to say it’s the worst. At least the seats all offer direct aisle access, so I’d take this over most products that don’t offer that. Or at least that’s what I think — I can’t say so definitively, since I haven’t actually flown this product yet.

Bottom line

T’way Air is now Trinity Airways, and coinciding with that, the airline has unveiled its new business class for the Airbus A330-900neo fleet. The airline will offer a unique product, as it’ll be the launch customer for the Optimares SoFab seat. This is a fully flat seat that doesn’t recline, and Trinity Airways also elected not to offer seat back entertainment.

I must say, I’m mighty curious to try this seat, so once the airline takes delivery of the plane, I’ll be planning a Trinity Airways trip!

What do you make of Trinity Airways’ new business class?

TSA considers easing liquids ban for PreCheck members

The TSA is reportedly considering allowing PreCheck members to bring water bottles (but not other liquids) through security checkpoints at select airports, with a policy change possibly being implemented within months, according to senior administration officials.

The expectation is that the change would initially be rolled out at airports equipped with newer CT screening technology, with automated detection capabilities that can distinguish water from other liquids, and identify potential threats. This technology is not available at all airports, even for PreCheck lanes. So the idea is that no manual inspection would be required for those bringing bottled water through checkpoints.

However, as of now the TSA isn’t considering lifting liquids restrictions on a more widespread basis, so the “3-1-1” rule would otherwise remain in place. With this, each passenger can take up to one quart-size bag of these items, with no liquids being in containers of more than 3.4 ounces (or 100 milliliters).

Security checkpoint liquids restrictions have been in place since 2006, and while they were initially described as temporary, they’re still in place 20 years later.

This seems like a sensible step in the right direction

Obviously many people have been rooting for liquids restrictions at TSA checkpoints to end, so this would be a small first step to easing those rules.

In 2024, the TSA indicated that it had no plans to lift liquids restrictions on a widespread basis until around 2040. That timeline was intended to coincide with the anticipated full rollout of next generation screening technology.

However, in 2025, (now former) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem changed rules so that shoes no longer have to be removed at security. She also indicated that she was exploring cutting liquids restrictions ASAP. As she explained in an interview, “the day I walked in the door, I started questioning everything TSA does,” adding that “I will tell you, I mean, the liquids I am questioning.” She stated that “maybe the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be,” and that they’re “looking at it.”

So while it doesn’t sound like a full elimination of liquids restrictions is in the works, this would at least be something. However, I imagine there would be some confusion regarding policies differing between airports.

If the TSA were to gradually eliminate liquids restrictions at checkpoints with newer screening technology, it would match the approach we’ve seen in the European Union, where liquids rules have gradually been lifted based on the screening technology at a particular checkpoint.

Bottom line

The TSA is reportedly seriously considering allowing those with PreCheck to bring bottled water through security, but only at checkpoints with the latest screening technology. There are no guarantees this policy change will be implemented, but it’s the closest we’ve seen to an easing of the 20-year liquids ban that has been in place.

While we’ve seen liquids restrictions eased in Europe, the official narrative in the US was that current restrictions would remain in place here until 2040. So at least bottled water for select passengers at select airports is something…

What do you make of bottled water possibly being allowed for TSA PreCheck members?

As usual, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is doing a stellar job with its investigation, including how it’s communicating. Yesterday I covered what we learned from the last 30 seconds of the flight data recorder. The NTSB has now released some details from what was heard during the final minutes on the cockpit voice recorder, and it points to an absolutely infuriating level of crew resource management (CRM).

The Amazon Air 767 cockpit voice recorder is a disaster

While a direct transcript hasn’t been released, the NTSB has shared what was observed during the final six (or so) minutes of the cockpit voice recorder of the Amazon Air Boeing 767, before it stopped recording. Below are the observations, and then we’ll talk more about it.

Since the pilots are being referred to as “a pilot” and “other pilot,” let’s just clarify that it was the 55-year-old ex-Army Black Hawk captain who was flying the plane, while the 37-year-old Colombian born first officer was the one working the radios.

We know this because all of the racists who immediately started yelling “DEI” from the rooftops before any details were made available drew conclusions based on the pilot communicating having an accent. What they conveniently ignored is that the pilot communicating is specifically the pilot not flying.

Two things stand out about the cockpit voice recorder details. First of all, 1min42sec before the end of the recording (and 1min11sec before touchdown), there’s this:

​A pilot called for flaps t​o be set to 20 degrees, and the other pilot cautioned they were too fast. The other pilot made additional comments regarding the aircraft’s excessive speed throughout the remainder of the recording. There was not a consistent verbal response to the comments about speed.

So the first officer warned the captain that they were going too fast, and continued to make comments about that all the way until the accident, but he didn’t receive consistent acknowledgment of that? Wow…

Second of all, 39sec before the end of the recording (and 8sec before touchdown), there was a “too low terrain” warning. As pointed out by the brilliant Steve Giordano, at that point the flaps hadn’t yet reached 30 degrees. They were literally still configuring the aircraft while it was over the runway, flying excessively fast.

The lack of airmanship shown here is beyond awful

Remember how we saw that landing video of the Boeing 767 shortly after the accident? Many of us wondered what on earth was going on in the cockpit. Now we know — the pilots also had no clue what was going on.

This is just insanity. You had an extremely inexperienced captain on the aircraft (he had been on the Boeing 767 for three months) ignoring every possible warning, and squandering every possible chance to go around. And this also obviously points out the horrible training and safety standards that 21 Air must have, if pilots call out things, only to basically be ignored.

Now, the first officer doesn’t get a pass either. He repeatedly mentioned the excessive speed on the final approach, and alarm bells must’ve been going off in his head. Why did he not call a go around?! Did he just not feel comfortable speaking up to the captain, did he trust the captain had things under control (even though he clearly didn’t), or what? Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehearsal” certainly comes to mind.

Unfortunately I think this part of the first officer’s LinkedIn profile doesn’t exactly ring true: “known for being dependable, adaptable, and detail-oriented, I thrive in dynamic environments where professionalism, communication, and sound decision-making are essential.” If he had put that sound decision making to work in this case and called a go around earlier, five people would still be alive.

Bottom line

Within days of the deadly Amazon Air Boeing 767 accident in Miami, we have a pretty clear picture of what happened, and there’s simply no denying that pilot error was at least a major factor in this, if not the only factor.

During the final seconds of the flight, the first officer repeatedly warned of excessive speed, and didn’t receive full responses from the captain. They even got a terrain warning seconds before landing, and were still configuring the flaps over the runway. There’s zero reason that a go around shouldn’t have been called much earlier than it was.

This is all absolutely horrifying, and I imagine that 21 Air’s pilot training program will be under quite some scrutiny in the coming days and weeks. I guess this is the issue with us wanting our cheap Amazon packages, and flying going out to the lowest bidder.

What do you make of these Amazon Air cockpit voice recorder details?

Denver warns public of bizarre United 9/11 flyover plans

JonNYC flags how United plans to have a 9/11 commemoration in Denver, in the form of a Boeing 777 flying low over the city, being escorted by fighter jets. The display is scheduled for 9:03AM, coinciding exactly with the time at which terrorists flew United flight UA175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Denver’s Office of Emergency Management was reportedly notified of the United flyover last week, and has been warning emergency dispatchers and first responders. This is so that the public doesn’t panic about this display, so that 911 and 311 lines aren’t overwhelmed with calls from citizens concerned about a hijacked plane.

A Colorado Air National Guard spokesperson has said that the military jet approval is still being “reviewed at the state level.” Meanwhile a United spokesperson has said that similar flyovers aren’t planned in other cities, but clarified that this was planned at the request of United leadership in Denver, where the airline has a hub and training center.

9NEWS asked a United spokesperson if they had considered the public’s reaction to seeing a passenger plane escorted by fighter jets on 9/11, to which they responded that the flyover is part of a private remembrance ceremony for United employees, and that it’s not open to the public — “we are doing this for United employees and personnel.”

The spokesperson declined to answer questions about how close the flyover would come to high rise buildings in downtown, noting that the path could change due to “weather or lots of things.”

The press release from the airline explains that the United Boeing 777 will be “followed by four F-16s in formation from the 120th Fighter Squadron.” The plan is for the 777 to take off from Denver Airport at 8:15AM, along with the fighter jets, and then fly over United’s flight training center, roughly 13 miles away, at 9:03AM. All planes are supposed to land within 75 minutes, by 9:30AM.

Who approved this plan, or am I the only one who is confused?

Guys, I realize we all grieve and process things differently, but are there a lot of people out there who truly don’t find this to be insanely tone deaf? Like, what am I missing here?

I’d like to think I usually see things from both sides (to a fault), but commemorating hijackings by flying a plane low over the ground while being escorted by fighter jets seems… not good? I would type other words to describe this, but I try to keep this site G-rated.

In the future are we going to commemorate the anniversary of the Amazon Air crash here in Miami by flying a Boeing 767 low over some cars? I’m not at all trying to be humorous about the terrible tragedy we just had, but this strikes me as being equally absurd, which is why I think it’s a point that’s important to make.

Then when asked if the airline had thought of the public’s reaction, United’s response is basically along the lines of “well we’re not doing it for the public, we’re doing it for us.” Really, that’s the excuse?

It just seems like commemorating one of the darkest days in America by doing something reminiscent of what happened on that day isn’t a great idea. Was this planned by an intern who wasn’t around to witness 9/11? Or what AI tool did United use to plan this event without human oversight? I think if you’re organizing something that requires the city to warn people not to call 911, maybe you should think twice about it?

For what it’s worth, I just asked a friend who is a captain at United about this, and his response was short — “WTF.”

Bottom line

While it’s good to commemorate the tragedy of September 11, 2001, United Airlines is going about it in a very strange way. The airline plans to fly a Boeing 777 low over the ground, while being escorted by fighter jets. I just can’t make sense of this, and it strikes me as being insanely tone deaf.

The city is having to warn citizens not to call 911 or 311 if they see this display. And when the airline was asked if they were worried about the impact this has on others, they said the display isn’t for others, but is for United employees.

I simply have no words here…

What do you make of United’s 9/11 commemoration plans?

President Trump’s flight from Joint Base Andrews on his new Qatari-gifted Air Force One was delayed because the emergency slide deployed. The thing is, Trump insists it wasn’t a mistake, but that they were just “checking” it.

Trump’s flight from Joint Base Andrews delayed over emergency slide

A little after 2PM today (Wednesday, September 9, 2026), Trump was supposed to fly out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on the “new” Boeing 747-8 Air Force One that was gifted by Qatar. However, things didn’t go so smoothly, as he sat in Marine One for around 20 minutes upon arrival, before proceeding onto the tarmac, and eventually boarding the plane.

It wasn’t initially clear what was going on, but then the issue was hard to ignore, as one of the forward right emergency slides on the Boeing 747-8 had deployed (I can’t tell if it’s from the lower deck or upper deck). Now, one would assume that this was a mistake, and that someone just forgot to disarm the exit.

However, when asked about it by media, Trump brushed it off, and suggested it was routine. As he approached media, he said “they’re checking the slide over here, and I think it’s going to take 15 minutes.”

He was then asked by a reporter if there was a security concern with the plane, to which he responded “no, they were checking before, and they just wanted to make sure, so they’ve, I guess they already put it up, they just wanted to make sure everything works perfectly.”

This slide deployment had to be a mistake, right?

There are absolutely situations where aircraft emergency slides are inspected, to make sure they work. It’s part of a heavy maintenance program, for one. However, one would certainly assume this work isn’t performed right as the president arrives to take a flight, right?

Is there any explanation I’m not thinking of here, other than that someone just forgot to disarm the door? Is there any situation where they just casually deploy an emergency slide minutes before departure, to “check” it

Speaking of which, does anyone know why that door of the Boeing 747-8 would even be opened? Is that used for catering or other provisions? Presumably in this case it wasn’t to sneak Trump on in a catering truck. 😉

But here’s the other question I’m curious about. Can slides really properly be restored to their initial position within 15 minutes, or did they somehow just get it back in there, and essentially “defer” this for the future, because they figured it wasn’t needed?

I know we have some tech ops folks who read OMAAT, so if anyone has any insights, I’d be fascinated to know. For the record, this isn’t intended to be political — I’ve frequently covered slide deployments on commercial planes, so it’s sort of noteworthy to see that this could also happen on Air Force One.

I just wish that Trump wouldn’t outright lie and make stuff up, rather than just being honest. What’s the shame in saying “yeah, a mistake was made, but it doesn’t pose any safety issues, so hopefully it’s fixed soon” (assuming my understanding is correct).

Bottom line

Air Force One had a delayed departure out of Joint Base Andrews today, as one of the Boeing 747-8’s emergency slides deployed just minutes before departure. Trump insists they were just “checking” the slide, but that’s not typically how that goes, unless I’m missing something.

What do you make of this Air Force One slide deployment?

New Iberia Emerald Lounge Sorolla Madrid basics

Up until now, Iberia has had two primary lounges at its Madrid hub, broken up by Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Iberia’s lounge portfolio is solid, and both lounges are quite good in their respective sets, with many particularly liking the non-Schengen lounge.

These are both standard oneworld lounges in terms of access requirements, and are open to all oneworld business class passengers, as well as oneworld Sapphire members and above.

That brings us to the exciting update — as of Thursday, September 10, 2026, the new Iberia Emerald Lounge Sorolla is having its grand opening. The lounge has had a soft opening in recent weeks, whereby select travelers have been invited to use it, but it’s finally opening on a widespread basis.

The lounge is exclusively for oneworld Emerald members, which is the highest tier in the alliance. The lounge is located in the Schengen area, next to the existing Dali Lounge, so it’s intended primarily for regional flights, for passengers with flights from the Terminal 4 boarding areas H, J, K, and M. It’s open daily from 5:30AM until 11PM.

Below are a couple of videos about the lounge. I must say, it looks gorgeous. The lounge has proper cocktails prepared by bartenders, barista coffee, a menu off of which you can order food (in addition to a buffet), and even private rest areas. The lounge has the capacity to handle 128 guests, and covers 800 square meters (8,600 square feet).

This is a nice passenger experience investment

The general concept of oneworld Emerald lounge access is that these elite members get access to first class-style lounges.

The catch is that some oneworld first class lounges, like the British Airways Concorde Room and Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge, exclude oneworld Emerald members. In those cases there are typically alternative lounges available, but they’re not the same quality.

What I find especially nice is when oneworld airlines without first class lounges put in the effort to open a dedicated facility for oneworld Emerald members. The Finnair Platinum Wing Helsinki is probably the best example of this, as it’s a truly lovely and very high quality lounge that I always enjoy visiting.

So it’s great to see Iberia now joining that “club,” and offering a premium lounge that doesn’t even reflect a class of service being offered.

I’d say the one quirk here is that this is for Schengen passengers, and not non-Schengen passengers. You’d think that if you were to just introduce one premium lounge, it would be for long haul travelers, where competition is generally fiercest. Then again, airlines open new facilities based on where they can find available real estate, so I suspect that’s the explanation here.

Bottom line

Iberia is formally opening its newest lounge at Madrid Airport, intended exclusively for oneworld Emerald members. The new Iberia Emerald Lounge Sorolla is located next to the existing Iberia Dali Lounge, and features a very nice design, plus a menu you can order off of, a bar with proper cocktails and barista coffee, bedrooms for sleeping, and more.

I’ve already booked a trip to pass through Madrid in early October, so I can’t wait to check this out!

What do you make of Iberia’s new lounge in Madrid?

Details of the new Delta & Hyatt collaboration

In the coming months, Delta and Hyatt will be launching a new loyalty program collaboration, though as of now, details are fairly limited. As it’s described, this partnership comes with a “shared ambition to create additional value, recognition and engagement opportunities across more of the travel journey.”

At launch, elite members of both loyalty programs will earn simultaneously with the new “Dual Earn” benefit. This means:

• Delta Medallion members will earn miles for spending on qualifying Hyatt stays, in addition to earning certain other World of Hyatt benefits
• World of Hyatt elites will earn points on qualifying fare classes on qualifying Delta flights, in addition to earning certain other SkyMiles benefits

Beyond these initial benefits, members can look forward to additional ways to earn and engage, “including opportunities for exclusive access to personalized moments and once-in-a-lifetime experiences available only to Members of both programs.”

Here’s how Delta CEO Ed Bastian describes this:

“At Delta, premium has never been about just a seat – it’s a standard of care that shows up throughout the journey. Flying Delta creates experiences and opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. Hyatt shares that same premium approach to everything from travel and dining to entertainment and accommodations, and it’s what makes them such a natural fit.” 

“Delta’s relationship with Hyatt is being built with a different level of ambition – and it deepens over time. For Delta, it’s also a meaningful step toward the broader vision of making SkyMiles the most loved loyalty ecosystem in travel — not just for flying, but for the entire journey.” 

Meanwhile here’s how Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian describes this:

“Exceptional travel extends far beyond a hotel stay – it’s about creating memorable experiences throughout the full travel journey. That’s what makes our alliance with Delta so exciting. We share a vision for delivering thoughtful, premium experiences that put our members first and create even more value wherever their travels take them. By bringing together two brands with a shared commitment to care and exceptional hospitality, we’re making it easier for our members to enjoy a more connected and rewarding experience, from takeoff to check out.” 

Premium, premium, premium!!!

My take on the new Delta & Hyatt partnership

Basically, Hyatt has dumped American in favor of Delta. Admittedly the partnership between American and Hyatt had already been scaled back over time. The two programs used to offer a dual accrual opportunity as well, but that was eventually cut.

After all, companies only want to offer perks like that if they’re driving incremental business, and I imagine at some point it’s hard to justify that expense, when you feel like there’s not much upside left:

• Those AAdvantage loyalists who were interested in switching to Hyatt already did so (and vice versa)
• Those AAdvantage loyalists who had no interest in switching to Hyatt still weren’t going to do so (and vice versa)

It sounds like the Delta and Hyatt partnership will start out in a similar way to how the American one did. It also sounds like we’ll see more direct perks between the two programs. In other words, maybe World of Hyatt elite members will get some direct benefits when flying with Delta, and vice versa, rather than just the occasional status fast track.

I do have to say, as much as I’m a World of Hyatt loyalist, the program has certainly become less differentiated over time. While Delta can argue all it wants how premium it is, SkyMiles simply isn’t as good of a loyalty program as AAdvantage. So perhaps this swap reflects the direction Hyatt is trying to head on loyalty… I dunno.

Anyway, I’m curious to learn more. Presumably this will actually formally launch either very late this year or early next year, when the relationship between American and Hyatt formally comes to an end.

Bottom line

Delta and Hyatt are launching an exclusive new partnership, which explains why American and Hyatt just cut ties. The partnership is expected to go live in the coming months, and is anticipated to include dual points accrual opportunities, so that World of Hyatt elites can earn bonus points when flying with Delta, and Delta elites can earn bonus miles when staying at Hyatts.

The two brands are also offering a more integrated experience that will grow over time, though details of that remain to be seen.

What do you make of this new Delta and Hyatt partnership, and American being dumped?

New Avianca business class seats coming in 2027

Avianca currently has a fleet of 16 Boeing 787s, which make up the carrier’s long haul fleet. I’ve reviewed Avianca’s 787 business class, and it’s totally okay, but also uninspiring. That’s expected to change.

Starting in 2027, the airline will introduce a new business class hard product across its Dreamliner fleet. The airline will continue to have reverse herringbone seats, but they’ll be suites with doors, and will be significantly upgraded all-around.

As you’d expect, the seats have much nicer design, and more modern tech, ranging from charging options, to 19″ 4K entertainment screens, to bluetooth audio.

While it hasn’t been officially confirmed, it looks to me like this new seat is the Collins Aerospace Elements product, which I rank as being among the best business class seats in the world.

Starlux Airlines was the launch customer for this product on its A350s, though you’ll also find these seats on Etihad’s newest 787-9s, Royal Jordanian’s 787-9s, and Cathay Pacific’s 777-300ER Aria Suite product is even based on this concept. Again, I could be wrong, but that’s what the product looks like to me.

Avianca upgrading business class service & amenities

It’s not just the hard product that’s getting an overhaul, but Avianca also plans to improve its business class soft product.

We’re talking about everything from a revamped dining experience, to new amenity kits, to the introduction of pajamas, to Meridian noise-cancelling headphones.

The airline is also training flight attendants in a program specifically for business class hospitality and etiquette, in order to improve service. Avianca is also in the process of installing Wi-Fi throughout its Dreamliner fleet.

I’m always delighted when an airline has a glow-up, so I’m impressed by what Avianca is going for here. When I last flew Avianca’s 787 business class, I was disappointed because I felt like such little effort was put into the little touches that make an experience great. It just felt like one of those situations where if a little more thought went into everything, it would make a material difference in terms of customer perception.

I think what particularly disappointed me is that Avianca had already been marketing how “INSIGNIA” was its greatly upgraded business class soft product, but there just wasn’t much substance to it. Every change that Avianca is making here reflects what I felt were shortcomings with the experience, so I can’t wait to fly Avianca again when this product is in service. Avianca is run by a very smart team, so I’m rooting for them…

Bottom line

Avianca has big plans for its long haul business class. Starting in 2027, the airline plans to introduce business class suites on its 787s, with an upgraded reverse herringbone product. Expect better tech, 19″ 4K monitors, bluetooth audio, and more.

On top of that, Avianca is upgrading its business class soft product, with new dining and amenity kits, plus the introduction of pajamas. These are all positive changes, so I look forward to learning more as the launch approaches.

What do you make of Avianca’s business class plans?

EgyptAir plans Cairo to Singapore to Sydney route

While exact details remain to be seen, EgyptAir has formally announced plans to launch flights to Sydney as of early 2027, service that’s intended to support tourism, business, and trade between Egypt and Australia.

The Star Alliance airline will fly from Cairo (CAI) to Sydney (SYD) via Singapore (SIN), so it’ll be a “direct” flight, but not a nonstop flight. It’s not yet clear if the airline will have fifth freedom rights to transport passengers exclusively between Singapore and Sydney — I’d assume so, but who knows.

The direct air distance between Cairo and Sydney is 8,950 miles, while the route through Singapore covers 9,044 miles, so it doesn’t add much distance. The airline intends to use one of its new Airbus A350-900s for the route.

The airline emphasizes how this is an important step to growing EgyptAir’s international network, and also to strengthening ties between Egypt, Singapore, and Australia. The airline also emphasizes the easy onward connections across Egypt, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

There’s not much direct demand here, but I get the logic

On the surface, it’s highly questionable to launch a 9,000-mile flight in a market where there’s rather limited demand. This isn’t like Australia to the UK, where the demand is absolutely massive.

Looking at data about travel demand between Australia and Egypt, we’re talking about roughly 3,000 Egyptians entering Australia annually, and around 27,000 Australians entering Egypt annually. And keep in mind that’s across cities, so it covers all of Australia and all of Egypt.

Around 30,000 people — or around 82 people per day — really isn’t enough demand to launch a route like this, at least on the surface. For that matter, carriers like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, etc., already offer one-stop service between Sydney and Cairo, just as EgyptAir is launching.

But EgyptAir does have something that doesn’t make this service as stupid as it might sound on the surface. That’s the carrier’s attractive cost structure. The airline tends to undercut competitors on price, so my guess is that the airline is just trying to dip into a bunch of “buckets” here:

• This allows EgyptAir to launch flights to both Singapore and Sydney in one swoop
• Presumably EgyptAir will also be able to transport passengers between Singapore and Sydney
• Coming from Australia, Cairo is actually a geographically advantageous connecting point for going to Europe, so the airline could try to tap into Australia and Singapore to Europe demand

Look, we have to be honest with ourselves. While Cairo Airport is of course a gorgeous, world class, five-star facility that one has to see to truly appreciate, the play here is simple — EgyptAir is just going after price sensitive customers, and will try to capture all the potential passenger flows of people looking to save a few bucks. Fair enough…

Bottom line

EgyptAir intends to launch flights between Cairo and Sydney via Singapore as of early 2027. This will be EgyptAir’s furthest destination, and first regularly scheduled flight to the South Pacific.

Demand between Cairo and Sydney isn’t actually particularly high, but the play here is to partly fill planes with people going to and from Singapore, and then to offer connectivity beyond Cairo, including to Europe. So expect EgyptAir to undercut competitors on price, because it’s the only way this service will work.

What do you make of EgyptAir’s Sydney plans?

American AAdvantage & World of Hyatt cut ties

American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt will be ending their partnership in the coming months. As it’s described, this came after “careful consideration,” and it was “mutually decided.”

For the remainder of each program’s current year, American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt members will see no interruption in earning or selecting and redeeming their eligible benefits:

• American AAdvantage members who have linked their accounts by November 15, 2026, can continue to earn World of Hyatt awards with the Loyalty Point Rewards program through February 28, 2027
• World of Hyatt members who have linked their accounts by November 15, 2026, can continue to earn AAdvantage awards with the Milestone Rewards program through December 31, 2026

It’s worth emphasizing that while the “enhanced” partnership is ending, the basic partnership that the two brands have will continue. With this, AAdvantage members can continue to earn 500 AAdvantage miles per eligible Hyatt stay, in lieu of earning World of Hyatt points (which I wouldn’t consider to be worthwhile).

What are the practical implications of this change?

Back when American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt first launched their partnership, there was significant upside for travelers. That’s because American AAdvantage members could earn one mile per dollar spent with Hyatt, while World of Hyatt members could earn one point per dollar spent with American, above and beyond the “native” earning opportunities.

The two companies greatly scaled back their partnership as of early 2025, whereby there was no more automatic reciprocal points earning. Instead, the primary published perk has been the ability to use the Loyalty Point Rewards and Milestone Rewards programs to redeem for awards with the other program. However, that was never really a particularly efficient redemption option, as I see it, given the opportunity cost.

In recent times, the biggest value with this partnership has been the reciprocal status challenge opportunities we’ve seen on an annual basis. This was never a published thing, but these offers did seem to be offered every year, so it was a great way to get a status fast track with the other program. It’s a shame we’ll no longer see those.

I am curious what’s driving this change, especially with World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan recently launching a partnership. Did American just insist on some sort of exclusivity? Or is World of Hyatt launching a new partnership with Delta SkyMiles, or something? I imagine it wouldn’t be United MileagePlus, given its close partnership with Marriott Bonvoy.

Bottom line

American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt will end their “enhanced” partnership as of the end of the current program year. Truth be told, there hasn’t been much value to this partnership since early 2025, when reciprocal points earning opportunities ended.

The primary published perk since then has been the ability to (mostly inefficiently) redeem Loyalty Point Rewards and Milestone Rewards perks for the other program. The other perk has been an unofficial annual status challenge, so I’d consider that to be the biggest loss here.

What do you make of American and Hyatt cutting ties?

Man scams Finnair for $20K+ in merchandise across 17 flights

This incident initially dates back to 2017, but is now getting attention, as the person involved is finally being punished. So let’s start at the beginning.

While Finnair has since discontinued inflight duty free sales, back in the day the airline had a robust duty free program, whereby you could make purchases onboard, and even pre-order some items to be delivered on the aircraft, and purchased there.

What many people don’t realize is that on flights without inflight connectivity, payment is taken by credit card onboard, but the purchase is only “processed” once on the ground, when there’s a signal. Admittedly most people don’t intentionally engage in fraud, but this does create an opportunity, which this traveler exploited.

This man took at least 17 Finnair flights over a relatively short period of time, and collectively purchased around €18,000 ($20,000+) worth of duty free items. For example, he repeatedly used Finnair’s pre-order duty free service to have certain merchandise specifically brought onto his flights.

In particular, he ordered fairly expensive Suunto watches, each costing hundreds of dollars. On one flight alone, he purchased four Suunto watches, plus fragrances and sweets, totaling more than €2,100. Across flights, he purchased at least 49 watches, along with all kinds of other products.

The thing is, he made all of these purchases with cards that didn’t actually have sufficient funds to pay for the amount due, and he also used fake contact details and names for some of the pre-orders. So when Finnair went to actually process credit cards for the purchases, they declined.

Investigators also found that he had then been selling much of that merchandise online. This scheme only came to light when a Finnair flight attendant saw these watches being sold online at a huge discount. The flight attendant asked the man about this, and he claimed that the watches were customer returns received by Finnair, and that he was selling them through a company that had acquired them from Finnair. The flight attendant found that to be suspicious, and reported it.

The court case involving this ended up dragging on for years, especially since it required coordination between Estonian and Finnish authorities. It only finally concluded in recent weeks, with the Helsinki Court of Appeals imposing a 4.5-month suspended prison sentence, plus more than €21,000 in fines.

During questioning, here’s what the man reportedly claimed to police:

Police: “You have ordered products for flights for a total of 11,096.68 euros. These products were paid for with insufficient credit cards. What is your comment?”

Suspect: “I thought I had money. After the purchase, I asked if everything was okay and they said it was. I received a receipt for the payment and a purchase confirmation.”

Policeman: “So is it possible that you didn’t have any money?”

Suspect: “I already answered that I thought I had money. If I could pay with a card, then I have money.”

The man had explained that he had been working in Australia, where he had received a salary, but he wasn’t able to check the status of his account because he was having problems with his bank card.

Obviously this Finnair scam wasn’t going to end well

I know on the surface it’s shocking how inflight duty free sales aren’t actually processed until the plane is on the ground, for situations where there’s no inflight connectivity. Then again, how else is it supposed to work? This is of course less of an issue than in the past, between planes getting Wi-Fi, and airlines increasingly eliminating duty free.

Now, the thing I find interesting here is that it took Finnair so long to catch on, and it seems that the airline only really took action based on a flight attendant’s observation about these watches being sold online at a big discount.

You would think that repeated purchases of the same products without sufficient funds would be enough to trigger some sort of an investigation. And even if this guy had used fake names or cards for the purchases, it shouldn’t be too hard to link together the common passenger who was on all flights where this happened.

Or was duty free fraud so widespread and common that this was just an endless list that the airline couldn’t keep track of?

Bottom line

A man has finally been punished over a duty free scam he was involved in starting in 2017. He had figured out a vulnerability in Finnair’s duty free system, whereby credit cards weren’t actually processed until the plane was on the ground. So he would pre-order a bunch of items, make inflight purchases, and then once on the ground, the purchases would decline.

He ended up buying over $20K worth of stuff, including 49 watches, among many other items. He only got caught when a Finnair flight attendant saw these watches for sale online, and found the explanation suspicious, about how these were watches that had been returned by customers to Finnair.

What do you make of this Finnair duty free scam?

Little about this accident makes sense, because it just seems so avoidable. While it will take some time for an investigation to be fully performed, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has just released some more details about what happened, and it’s beyond puzzling.

Boeing 767 slowed, then sped up, then slowed down

NTSB investigators managed to recover the flight data recorder for the Boeing 767 involved in the accident, and have already analyzed some of that data. They’ve just released the details of the final 30 seconds of the flight data recorder. Here’s the timeline, with times being the amount of time until the end of the recording of the flight data recorder:

• -0:30: the nose gear and right main landing gear touched down at a ground speed of 158 knots
• -0:23: the brakes were applied, and the plane was at a speed of 146 knots
• -0:19: the left main landing gear touched down, and the plane was at a speed of 134 knots
• -0:15: the brakes were released and the plane was at a speed of 120 knots, and the throttles “increased to values consistent with go around thrust”
• -0:11: the throttles were reduced to idle, the brakes were reapplied, and the plane was at a speed of 117 knots
• -0:07: the plane had a lateral, longitudinal, and vertical acceleration change, and was at 96 knots
• -0:00: the plane had a final ground speed of 65 knots

Can we just give the NTSB credit for their consistently exceptional work? We’ve now learned more in 72 hours about this accident than we’ve learned in around 15 months about the crash of Air India flight AI171.

What was going on with the Amazon Air Boeing 767 pilots?

Within hours of the accident, we saw a clear video of the plane’s final approach and landing, and obviously it looked a bit off — the plane was coming in fast, it only touched down way down the runway, and its left main gear initially stayed in the air.

Of course it’s easy to retroactively say “well that should’ve been a go around,” especially when we know what the outcome was. Accidents often happen due to a combination of factors, so one wonders if there was something wrong with the aircraft. But the pilots hadn’t declared any sort of emergency, so it’s hard to look at that and come up with any reasonable scenario where a go around wasn’t the answer.

This latest data very much supports that theory. It’s understandable that the reverse thrusters weren’t deployed before the left main gear touched down. But what’s really most concerning here is that 15 seconds after initially making contact with the runway, the brakes were released, and throttles were increased to values consistent with go-around thrust, only for the throttles to be reduced again four seconds later.

The mind can’t even begin to comprehend this. Unless there was some glitch that triggered an increase in thrust, it sure sounds like the pilots couldn’t decide whether to land or go around. Honestly, if they had just committed to either option, it probably wouldn’t have had fatal consequences. But when you’re touching down way late, you really don’t have the luxury of taking forever to make a decision.

If this was really a case of the pilots not being able to decide, that points to terrible crew resource management (CRM). 21 Air doesn’t exactly have a great reputation when it comes to its safety culture, so maybe that’s not all that surprising. It also has to be pointed out that a thunderstorm was rolling in, so one wonders if get-there-itis was a factor.

So, who were the pilots? There wasn’t a whole lot of Boeing 767 experience between them. The 55-year-old captain was a former Army Black Hawk pilot, he worked at regional airline SkyWest for around a year, and then he worked as a Boeing 737 captain at Kalitta Charters for around seven years. He only got his Boeing 767 type rating in June 2026, and this accident happened within three months.

The first officer was a 37-year-old with rather little experience. He was a flight instructor until 2023, then he spent three months as a first officer at regional airline SkyWest (one wonders if he even made it through training, since that’s not a lot of time?), then he worked as an MD-83 first officer at World Atlantic Airlines for around a year (the carrier largely performs deportation flights, etc.), and then he started at 21 Air in early 2025.

Obviously there just wasn’t a lot of 767 experience, and you’d hope for a better pairing. I think what’s going on here is that Amazon gave 21 Air a big contract in recent years, which greatly expanded the carrier’s 767 flying. So the airline has had to greatly increase its pilot base over the past couple of years. It’s not exactly the best paying or most reputable carrier, so it sounds like experience was lacking.

For the record, due to the number of racists who came out and suggested the pilot on the radios having an accent might explain the crash, keep in mind that the pilot communicating isn’t the pilot flying. So it was the 55-year-old former Army Black Hawk pilot at the controls.

Bottom line

We’re already learning more details about the fatal crash in Miami, involving an Amazon Air Boeing 767. According to the NTSB, 15 seconds after initially making contact with the ground, the plane’s brakes were released and the throttles were increased, only for that to be reversed seconds later.

What’s wild here is that this almost certainly wouldn’t have been fatal if the pilots had just committed to either landing or going around. But waffling like this is a problem. The captain at the controls of this flight was a former Army Black Hawk pilot, though he had only been certified on the Boeing 767 within the past few months.

What do you make of these accident details?

Air traffic control failure brings UK aviation to a standstill

Today, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, NATS, the company providing air traffic control and airspace management services in the United Kingdom, suffered a “technical issue.” This caused widespread chaos for the country’s aviation system, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed.

The technical issue started around 1PM BST, and lasted for nearly four hours. It’s not entirely clear what happened, other than that there was a software bug and technical glitch that basically caused the system to be unusable.

As you’d expect, the implications here are absolutely massive. It’s not like after four hours things go back to normal — no flights could take off, many flights had to divert, and planes and crews were just completely out of place. This is one of the largest widespread air traffic control outages we’ve seen in a long time.

Just to put things into perspective, according to FlightAware data, here’s how things currently stand for today for four of London’s airports:

• London Heathrow Airport (LHR) had 225 flights (32%) canceled and 180 flights (26%) delayed
• London Gatwick Airport (LGW) had 121 flights (29%) canceled and 82 flights (20%) delayed
• London Stansted Airport (STN) had 54 flights (17%) canceled and 83 flights (27%) delayed
• London Luton Airport (LTN) had 52 flights (25%) canceled and 35 flights (17%) delayed

So everything went smoothly in the morning, and then operations suddenly fell off a cliff.

Planes were stranded on Heathrow taxiways for hours

Here’s what I perhaps find the wildest about this terrible operational day for airlines in the UK. Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport, and it’s typically close to capacity, so there’s not much extra space. Accommodating arriving planes requires planes to depart as planned.

Unfortunately things got really bad at Heathrow, as many planes still landed after the failure started, while all gates were occupied. Some flights (yes, with passengers onboard!) ended up spending five or more hours on the taxiway, without access to a gate.

For example, British Airways flight BA272 from San Diego (SAN) landed at 2:07PM, and got a gate at 7:42PM, 5hr35min later. YIKES.

British Airways flight BA122 from Doha (DOH) landed at 2:19PM, and got a gate at 7:48PM, 5hr29min later. Bleh.

British Airways flight BA242 from Mexico City (MEX) landed at 2:46PM, and got a gate at 7:49PM, 5hr3min later. Ouch.

And those are just a few examples, as there are many more! I get that the logistics here are complicated, but you’d expect airports to do better, by bringing out air stairs, and sending people in buses to the terminal. But I also get that at some point the airport taxiways turn into an impossible jigsaw puzzle.

I can’t even imagine how unpleasant this was for all people onboard, including the passengers and crew.

Bottom line

It was a very messy day for aviation in the UK, as the country’s air traffic control system had a glitch that basically shut down the skies for around four hours. Even when the issues were resolved, it’s not as easy as just resuming operations as normal, since you have planes and crews completely out of place. Hundreds of flights ended up being canceled or delayed, and British Airways just shut down its entire short haul operation for the rest of the day.

I think the most shocking aspect of this is what happened at Heathrow, where planes ended up being stuck on taxiways for hours on end. Several planes had to wait over five hours for a gate, with nowhere to go. That has to be close to being some sort of a record.

Was anyone caught up in this UK ATC meltdown?

New Gateside by TSA PreCheck program launches

Gateside by TSA PreCheck is a new program that gives members access to the terminal beyond airport security, even when they’re not flying. This benefit is exclusive to those with TSA PreCheck, and only works at participating airports.

The idea is that this is a program that makes it easier to get to the gate for welcomes and send-offs, meet friends during a layover, or enjoy dining and shopping (you know, for those situations where you crave an awful $16 slice of pizza).

Here are the basics of how Gateside by TSA PreCheck works:

• You must apply to use the program (at no cost), at least one day before your visit, and no more than three days in advance
• The program is open to those with TSA PreCheck, so you must provide your Known Traveler Number (KTN) when you apply; children can be brought as well without PreCheck, but they still have to be registered at the same time you apply
• Once issued, passes are valid for one calendar day, and can even be used for multiple entries
• When you go through security, you just need to show a TSA officer an ID, and you may need to show your portal dashboard on your mobile device, displaying your approved Gateside pass status (screenshots and printouts won’t be accepted)
• Unlike other types of gate passes issued at airports or by airlines, those using the Gateside by TSA PreCheck program can use the TSA PreCheck lanes at airports

This Gateside by TSA PreCheck program is currently available at the following 13 airports, with more expected to be added in the future:

• Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona 
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas 
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan 
• Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana 
• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Nevada 
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California 
• Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Arkansas
• Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma
• Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
• San Diego International Airport (SAN) in California 
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah

This is a niche concept, but a nice initiative

In 2017, we saw the TSA launch a pilot program that allows people to clear security at select airports even when not flying. This was an initiative that launched at Pittsburgh Airport (PIT), and it ultimately rolled out at a very limited number of airports.

This new program is great because the process is a bit more centralized, and travelers are allowed to use TSA PreCheck lanes. Admittedly this also means that you need TSA PreCheck to actually use the program, so that excludes a lot of people.

I consider the uses of this to be pretty niche. I can’t imagine many people want to shop or dine at US airports — I mean, we don’t exactly have any Singapore Changi-type airports in our country. But for those situations where you want to meet someone, this could be useful, and is worth being aware of.

One other unique miles & points angle to this is that you could use this program to access Delta One Lounges or United Polaris Lounges after arrival on an international flight. These lounges are typically accessible upon arrival as well, but only if you can get airside again, and when arriving internationally, you typically have to clear security. So this could be a way to do that.

Bottom line

We’ve just seen the launch of the Gateside by TSA PreCheck program, whereby those with TSA PreCheck can clear security at select airports even when not flying. This is only available at select airports, though the expectation is that the number of eligible airports will increase over time.

While we’ve seen individual airports let non-travelers clear security in the past, this is unique, as it allows travelers to use PreCheck lanes.

What do you make of the Gateside by TSA PreCheck concept?

Basics of the Star Alliance Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport

A Star Alliance Lounge is expected to open in Terminal 1 of Seoul Incheon Airport, by taking over the existing Asiana Airlines Business Lounge West. The expectation is that the lounge will open in the second half of December 2026.

What’s going on here is that Korean Air has acquired Asiana Airlines, and as of December 17, 2026, Asiana will formally cease to exist as a brand, and at that point, the airline will also leave the Star Alliance. The airlines have already co-located at Incheon Terminal 2, so operationally, that will be an easy transition.

Historically, Star Alliance carriers have primarily used Asiana for their contract lounges at the airport, despite the airline no longer flying out of Terminal 1. Still, the airline has continued to operate the lounges, but that will finally be changing.

The Star Alliance Lounge will serve passengers traveling with 14 Star Alliance member airlines serving Incheon Airport, connecting them to 29 destinations worldwide. The lounge will follow standard Star Alliance lounge access rules, so it’ll be open to Star Alliance Gold members, as well as all Star Alliance first and business class passengers.

This will be the seventh Star Alliance Lounge location worldwide, joining Amsterdam (AMS), Buenos Aires (EZE), Guangzhou (CAN), Los Angeles (LAX), Paris (CDG), and Rio de Janeiro (GIG).

This is a logical solution, but don’t expect too much

Up until now, we didn’t have much of a sense of what the future Star Alliance lounge situation at Incheon would be. I figured a former Asiana Lounge would be vacated, and that it would be taken over by the alliance or an alliance carrier, so this makes perfect sense.

The one thing I’d mention is that it sounds like this lounge will immediately be transitioning from Asiana to Star Alliance, with no sort of a closure. That’s of course good in terms of being able to continuously serve customers. However, this also sounds like it’ll just be a hand-me-down lounge, so don’t expect much in the way of design or great features.

Admittedly it’s not like Star Alliance even has much of a lounge design concept in general, so I guess that’s not too off brand. I am curious if the lounge eventually undergoes a refresh, or what the long term plan is. In general, I’ve always found Asiana’s lounge network to be rather underwhelming.

For what it’s worth, this lounge has belonged to Priority Pass for quite some time, so only time will tell whether or not that partnership continues. Currently only one Star Alliance Lounge location participates in Priority Pass, so I’d lean toward “no,” but who knows.

Bottom line

The Star Alliance intends to open a lounge at Seoul Incheon Airport Terminal 1 in late 2026, essentially just taking over the space of the former Asiana Business Lounge West. With Asiana fully leaving the Star Alliance and the brand ceasing to exist, it’s logical that the airline will finally vacate the lounge in its former terminal.

So it’s good that there will continue to be a Star Alliance option, but this won’t be some existing, purpose built facility.

What do you make of plans for the Star Alliance Lounge Incheon?

Is Marriott launching a premium business credit card?

Doctor Of Credit flags how on August 28, 2026, a trademark application was filed for the term “Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Business.” Unsurprisingly, this is intended for something involving a credit card:

Based on Marriott International, Inc., the MARRIOTT BONVOY BRILLIANT BUSINESS trademark will be used in the following business: Issuance of credit cards; Processing of credit card payments; Credit card authorization services; Credit card transaction processing services.

The Bonvoy Brilliant Card is currently the most premium co-branded Marriott card in the United States. It wouldn’t at all be surprising to see a business card with a similar value proposition.

Marriott has in the past sent out surveys regarding a premium business credit card, though that doesn’t necessarily mean anything will come of that. In this case, clearly something appears to be in the works, though.

I do think the big mystery here is what kind of a timeline we’re looking at. The trademark application was filed within the past couple of weeks, and I would think there’s usually a pretty big gap between when a trademark application is filed, and when a product is actually supposed to launch.

At least that has historically been the case. Then again, since this is just adding a card to an existing product line, I suppose it might be a bit more straightforward than other product launches.

What I’d expect from a Bonvoy Brilliant Business Card

It’s pretty common to see both a business and personal version of a premium card, and they’re often quite similar. Maybe some bonus categories are tailored to the product type, and maybe some credits differ a little bit (to reflect consumer spending vs. business spending), but the general idea is typically the same.

If a card were to launch — this is an “if,” and I have no inside information here — my guess is that we’d see a similar value proposition. Most importantly, I suspect the card would offer Bonvoy Platinum status as well, and an annual free night award that’s worth quite a bit (the personal version has one worth 85,000 points).

The personal version of this card also offers 25 elite nights toward status annually, while most other Marriott cards offer only 15 elite nights toward status. Under current rules, you can earn elite nights from one personal card and one business card.

One interesting angle here is that if the business card were to also offer 25 elite nights toward status, and if you had both the personal version of the card, you’d start every year with 50 elite nights, and that would automatically unlock Bonvoy Choice Benefits.

I think the other likely scenario is that we see a refresh of the personal version of the card (in other words, a higher fee, and probably some more chunked out statement credits), and see a business card launch at the same time.

Anyway, enough speculation. Time will tell, and for now we’ll just mark this as “developing.”

Bottom line

Marriott has just filed a trademark application for “Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Business,” for a credit card product. This matches the name of Marriott’s most premium personal card, so that suggests we could see a similar business card launched. The timeline for this remains a mystery, but something is clearly in the works (again, I have no inside info here, other than trying to make sense of the above application).

What do you make of the prospect of a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Business?

Trump: “BUY AMERICAN. FLY ON AMERICAN AIRLINERS.”

Trump has taken to social media, to post the following:

NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren’t good enough! Over 50% of their revenue comes from the United States — They live off American Buyers, American Companies, American Airports, and American Service — All while Canada blocks our GREAT American Banks, and Companies, throughout the U.S.A. They even blocked Gulfstream Aerospace from doing business in Canada — Completely unjust and unfair! That Era is OVER! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a “piggybank.” BUY AMERICAN. FLY ON AMERICAN AIRLINERS. ENJOY AMERICAN LIQUOR AND BEVERAGES. SAIL ON LAKE AMERICA. AMERICA FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

What is Trump even trying to suggest here?

So if this is to be believed, there’s “no more selling Bombardier in the United States.” Trump claims it’s because “their products aren’t good enough,” but obviously this is more of a trade war thing, because he says the company needs to stop treating the United States like a piggybank.

I think the most interesting thing is the line about “BUY AMERICAN. FLY ON AMERICAN AIRLINERS.” Bombardier’s current jet program consists of private jets and not commercial jets (though Bombardier CRJ-200s, 700s, 900s, and 1000s, are still in service, but no longer produced). So I guess he’s using “AIRLINERS” to refer to private jets as well?

If this is really all about “flying” American and buying products from the United States, then shouldn’t other foreign produced aircraft also be banned, like the Airbus planes manufactured abroad?

Trump’s trade war with Canada of course isn’t anything new. Even this specific grievance with Bombardier isn’t new. In early 2026, Trump claimed that he had decertified all planes produced in Canada. This was in particular targeted at Bombardier, related to a disagreement over Canada’s certification of Gulfstream jets produced in the United States.

As you’d expect, nothing really came of that. I suspect this will be similar…

Bottom line

Trump claims that there’s “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES.” It’s not clear if he’s suggesting that’s an actual policy he’s implementing (it’s what he’s inferring, at a minimum), or what. He claims Americans are being screwed by Canada, the United States is 50% of the customer base for the planes (yeah, we do have a lot of billionaires), and that Americans should fly American “AIRLINERS” (aka private jets).

What do you make of Trump’s Bombardier sale ban, or whatever you call this?

La Compagnie will connect Newark & Düsseldorf

All-business-class airline La Compagnie plans to launch up to 5x weekly nonstop flights between Newark (EWR) and Dusseldorf (DUS) as of the spring of 2027. Specifically, the service will operate as of April 21, 2027, with the following schedule:

B0401 Newark to Düsseldorf departing 9:00PM arriving 10:20AM (+1 day)
B0400 Düsseldorf to Newark departing 12:00PM arriving 2:45PM

The 3,762-mile flight is blocked at 7hr20min eastbound and 8hr45min westbound, and will be operated by the carrier’s newly delivered Airbus A321LR (more on that in a bit). This will be La Compagnie’s fourth destination out of Newark, complementing year-round service to Paris (ORY) and Milan (MXP), as well as seasonal service to Nice (NCE).

Flights for this route are already on sale. Currently, I see fares starting at around $4,000 round-trip, but I imagine we’ll see more attractive pricing over time.

This is a fascinating new route, as this will be Dusseldorf’s only transatlantic link. For those not familiar, Düsseldorf isn’t a huge city, but it is one of the wealthier cities in Germany, and it’s not too far from Frankfurt.

It doesn’t currently have any transatlantic flights to the United States, though until 2015, Lufthansa did fly from Dusseldorf to both Chicago (ORD) and Newark (EWR). Good times, because award availability in first class on those routes was incredible! For recently, Delta did fly to Dusseldorf out of Atlanta (ATL), but that route was ultimately terminated as well.

Here’s how La Compagnie describes the logic for launching this service:

The new service responds to clear demand in North Rhine-Westphalia, a globally connected economic region with deep and longstanding ties to the U.S. Düsseldorf is one of the world’s leading trade show destinations and a hub for international companies across fashion, telecommunications, life sciences, professional services and advanced manufacturing. More than 24,000 international companies are based in the state, including approximately 1,700 U.S. companies. The United States is also North Rhine-Westphalia’s most important non-European export market, underscoring the value of direct service to New York.

As the largest airport in Germany’s most populous federal state, Düsseldorf Airport combines a strong local market with accessibility, efficiency and a premium airport environment. For leisure travelers, Düsseldorf offers art, architecture, shopping and gastronomy, while also serving as a convenient gateway to the Rhineland’s historic towns, vineyards, castles and renowned river-cruise itineraries along the Rhine. The airport’s proximity to the Netherlands and Belgium also makes the route an attractive option for travelers from neighboring regions.

La Compagnie is growing its Airbus A321neo fleet

In an era where airlines either seem to find incredible success or go out of business, La Compagnie has been one of the more steady boutique carriers, in terms of staying in business without huge growth.

The airline launched operations in 2014, and it initially flew Boeing 757-200s. In 2019, the airline retired those, and picked up two Airbus A321neos, which have operated the carrier’s network ever since. To be clear, those are just “standard” A321neos, and not A321LRs or A321XLRs.

However, they still have the range to fly across the Atlantic thanks to La Compagnie’s all-business class layout, which limits the plane’s weight, and in turn, increases range.

In the near future, La Compagnie will be growing, though. The airline has two more planes on order — an Airbus A321LR, expected to be delivered in 2027, and an Airbus A321XLR, expected to be delivered in 2028. It’s interesting how the airline will have three different variants among its four planes.

Currently, La Compagnie’s business class consists of Collins Aerospace Diamond seats in a 2-2 configuration. This is ultimately a compact business-class product, though it’s good for couples. I think La Compagnie’s value proposition has never been to offer the world’s best business class. Instead, it’s to offer a good value experience, along with the benefits of an all-business-class flight, which makes for a more relaxing experience.

I’ve been curious if the airline would introduce a new business class on its upcoming planes, and we now have an answer… sort of?

La Compagnie’s A321neos have a total of 76 business class seats, spread across 19 rows (there’s no row 13).

The seat map for La Compagnie’s upcoming Airbus A321LR shows a total of 68 business class seats, spread across 17 rows (again, there’s no row 13).

So basically, they’ve eliminated one row in front of the exit row and one behind it, while maintaining a 2-2 layout. Do they simply have the same product but with more pitch, did they introduce crew rest facilities, or what exactly is going on here? The airline hasn’t otherwise announced anything on this front, so I’m curious what the deal is.

I commend La Compagnie’s expansion creativity

Historically, the all-business-class model really hasn’t worked out that well, when you look at the number of airlines that have tried this concept but have failed. La Compagnie is one of the few successes (or at least one of the few that has stayed in business for so long — we don’t actually have a sense of the company’s financials).

Typically, the premium long-haul business case is to simply enter a really crowded market, with the idea being “if we can only get X% of the premium market, we’ll be rolling in dough.” The issue is that they typically fail to consider just how hard it is to poach business when you’re at a disadvantage on frequencies, corporate contracts, loyalty programs, name recognition, etc.

Up until now, La Compagnie has actually been competing in pretty crowded markets, at least broadly (if you consider co-terminal airports to be the same markets). Milan, Nice, and Paris are all very well served across the Atlantic.

So Düsseldorf is the first market where La Compagnie has no competition. That’s great for consumers, and it’s a commendable endeavor. Will there be enough demand for this service, though? Yes, Dusseldorf is a premium market, but on a year-round basis, will it really be possible to fill these planes with decent yields? Is the goal exclusively to serve Dusseldorf, or to possibly poach some Frankfurt traffic as well, thanks to attractive pricing?

I certainly wish the airline the best here, and I’m a huge fan of this. However, I imagine this will also be rather challenging. I’m curious what kind of incentives the airport and region are offering to the airline, as that has to be a factor here.

Bottom line

La Compagnie has announced its fourth destination out of Newark, as the airline will fly to Düsseldorf, Germany. The flights will launch in April 2027, and will operate up to 5x weekly, using the carrier’s new Airbus A321LR. The seat map suggests that the plane will have 68 seats, so that’s eight fewer seats than on the carrier’s existing A321neos.

It’s really cool to see La Compagnie innovate with service like this, given that Düsseldorf doesn’t currently have any transatlantic flights. It’s also quite a contrast to the carrier’s strategy otherwise, which consists of replicating service offered by other airlines.

What do you make of La Compagnie launching all-business-class flights to Düsseldorf?

Boeing 767 has accident landing in Miami, shuts down airport

This accident happened this afternoon (Sunday, September 6, 2026), at Miami Airport. It involves a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 with the registration code N1997A. It was operated by 21 Air, a cargo airline that contracts out to Amazon Air (often referred to as Prime Air), which is Amazon’s air cargo operation.

Shortly before 2PM local time, flight 2I7598 was on approach to Miami after completing a routine roughly two hour flight from San Juan (SJU), and it was coming in to land on runway 30. This runway is quite long, at 9,360 feet (around 2,850 meters).

However, the plane didn’t come to a stop in time, so it overran the runway. We’re not just talking by a little bit, but instead, by around 2,000 feet, meaning it didn’t stop in the overrun area. It continued and crossed a street, and it came to a stop in a parking lot (not that there’s anything funny about this, but the parking lot happened to be right by an Amazon fulfillment center).

The plane caught on fire, with the right wing in particular suffering major damage, and basically not being recognizable anymore.

Authorities have now confirmed that there have been at least five fatalities, with more people being seriously injured. It’s not clear if the fatalities were all people on the ground, or if it involved any of the crew. It appears that the plane struck at least one vehicle (and possibly more) on the street, and that there were some fatalities there.My thoughts are with all of the people involved and their families. What a horrible tragedy.

The airport shut down following this accident, with dozens of flights diverting to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and West Palm Beach (DJT). However, the airport reopened several hours later, in the evening.

What caused the Boeing 767 accident at Miami Airport?

Miami is my home airport, and Miami is also a city where the airport is pretty close to the city, and there are lots of high rises. So many in Miami could see the smoke and “scene” from their homes.

Obviously it’s too early to tell what caused this accident. A runway that’s nearly 10,000 feet long is plenty big for a Boeing 767 to land, even with less than ideal conditions, so what could’ve contributed to this?

At the time of the accident, there were somewhat gusty winds (at an angle that made for a crosswind for runway 30), thunderstorms, and some rain. So in terms of the gusts, it’s understandable that the pilots may have approached a bit faster than usual, and the precipitation made for a wet runway, which also isn’t ideal in terms of braking.

We’ve now also seen a video of the landing, and it sure explains a lot. According to Flightradar24 data, at the intersection of runway 27 and runway 30 (right near the typical landing point), the plane was at a speed of 177 knots. Just for context, the plane’s landing speed is only around 140 knots.

But the bigger issue is that the plane touched down really late, and then barely slowed down. Looking at Flightradar24 data, it seems that the plane was at a speed of around 110 knots when it went off the end of the runway, which is insanely fast.

In the video, you can see the plane landed really far down the runway, and it looked like the nose wheel made contact with the runway before the left main gear did, and as a result, the reverse thrusters didn’t deploy. Admittedly hindsight is 20/20, but I have no clue what the pilots were thinking here, and why they didn’t perform a go around.

Bottom line

A 21 Air Boeing 767 operating on behalf of Amazon Air had an accident while landing in Miami this afternoon. The plane overran the runway, and not just by a little. We’re talking around 2,000 feet, as the plane went through the airport perimeter fence, crossed a road, and ended up in a parking lot, at which point the plane burst into flames.

There are at least five fatalities as a result of this accident, which is incredibly tragic, and I’m keeping them in my thoughts. The airport was closed for hours following the incident. As of now, there are a lot more questions than answers, including how this happened, given that the plane exited the runway at a speed of around 110 knots.

What do you make of this Amazon Air Boeing 767 accident?

There are two SWISS First Lounges in Zurich. In the previous installment, I reviewed the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A, which is the Schengen lounge, and then in this installment, I’ll review the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E, which is the non-Schengen lounge

This lounge is exceptional, among my favorite first class lounges in the world. There’s so much to love about this lounge. The three most impressive things are the restaurant quality dining, the outdoor terrace with plane views, and the amazing private bedrooms. But even beyond that, the lounge has great decor, lots of natural light, and is such a nice place to pass some time.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich location

When it comes to getting to the SWISS First Lounge Terminal E, there are two ways to get there. If you’re originating in Zurich, the best way is to go to the dedicated first class security checkpoint, enter the SWISS First Lounge Terminal A, and then take the limousine service to Terminal E, as you’ll be escorted straight to the lounge, with a passport control stop along the way.

Meanwhile if you’re coming from within Terminal E, the lounge is located near gate E27, so try to find that. There you’ll see both a staircase and elevators that can take you up a level to the lounge.

In the interest of being thorough, let me clarify that this is both beyond security and passport control, though if you’re arriving from the United States, you don’t need to clear security. If you’re traveling within the Schengen zone, it’s easier to use the SWISS First Lounge Terminal A, which doesn’t require going through passport control.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich hours

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E is currently open daily from 6AM until 10:30PM, covering virtually all departures from the airport.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich entry requirements

Who gets access to the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E?

• Passengers traveling in SWISS first class same day can access the lounge whether arriving or departing; you can even use this as an arrivals lounge, without an onward boarding pass (assuming you can get through security, which is dependent on where your flight arrives from)
• Passengers traveling in Lufthansa first class same day can access the lounge, but not purely as an arrivals lounge, so there needs to still be a connecting segment
• Lufthansa HON Circle members get access to the lounge whenever flying a Lufthansa Group flight same day; there’s no need to be in first class, and there are no route restrictions

In each case, travelers are allowed to bring two adults guests and/or children under the age of 18, and all guests must be traveling on the same flight.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich seating & layout

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E is roughly 750 square meters (~8,100 square feet), with seating for 80 guests. The first thing to appreciate about this lounge is that it has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, with most of the lounge having apron views.

As you enter the lounge, you’ll first be greeted by the wine humidor (which reportedly has over 1,000 bottles of wine from around the world), plus a welcome table with champagne and some candy and other snacks.

If you look straight ahead, you’ll then see the center part of the lounge, which is the bar area. The dining area is to the left, while the lounging area is to the right.

The wraparound bar is the centerpiece of the lounge, and has roughly a dozen high-top seats, should you want to plop down there for a drink.

Then to the right of the bar you’ll find the area intended primarily for lounging. This is broken up into about half a dozen semi-private living room areas, separated by vertical wooden partitions.

These areas have sofas, chairs, and in some cases TVs.

Deep into this area you’ll find a conference room of sorts, containing a table with 10 seats. Under normal circumstances, anyone can just sit there and use this as a workstation, though I believe this can also be reserved for a meeting.

Then to the left of the entrance you’ll see the dining area, which is in two separate spaces. One side contains four booths, each of which could seat at least four people comfortably.

The other side is the main dining room, which has nine tables, each seating two people (though they can be pushed together for larger parties). This is a beautiful space, especially with each table having a tablecloth and a little decorative plant.

Then there’s one of my favorite parts of the lounge, which is the terrace, spanning the length of the lounge. This is only open weather permitting, and it was open during most of my visit. The terrace has plenty of seating, and on nice days they really try to make it something special, and they’ll have some kind of food or drink activation out there, like serving ice cream, cooking something, etc.

There are a few other minor things to mention. Just inside the entrance to the lounge and to the right you’ll find a machine that lets you generate a Wi-Fi code using your boarding pass. This is the same system used in all SWISS lounges at the airport. It would be much nicer if you could just connect with one click, but I guess this is the system because the lounges uses the airport Wi-Fi system.

Also in this area you’ll find a selection of newspapers and magazines.

Lastly, the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E doesn’t have a smoking lounge. However, the Terminal A location does, so if you’re a smoker, you might like that lounge more.

In terms of lounge crowding, you can expect that the lounge will generally be busy until shortly before 12PM, as that’s when most of the transatlantic flights depart by. By around 1PM, the lounge was completely empty, without a single other guest. Then the lounge gets a bit busier again in the evenings prior to overnight flights, though not as busy as during the daytime rush.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich food & drinks

Aside from the few snacks near the entrance, the SWISS First Lounge Zurich has an entirely a la carte food and drink service. If you sit in the main lounge area, there are servers roaming to offer you drinks. Upon arrival, I had a cappuccino and some water.

When it comes to proper dining, you can find the SWISS First Lounge breakfast menu below.

You can find the SWISS First Lounge lunch and dinner menu below.

You can find the SWISS First Lounge drink list below.

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich offers an exceptional dining experience. Look, lots of first class lounges offer a la carte dining, though they’re not all created equal. The SWISS First Lounge is in the top tier of lounges when it comes to dining, along with the Air France La Premiere First Lounge.

I decided to have a three course lunch, starting with beef carpaccio with cheese, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and olive paste.

I then had the salmon with fava beans, romesco sauce, and alpine herbs

Lastly, I had the ovomaltine mousse signature dessert.

This time around I skipped the cheese fondue, but I do think it’s worth emphasizing how this is on offer, and is absolutely delicious.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich bathrooms & showers

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich’s bathrooms and showers are located on the opposite side of reception of the rest of the lounge.

The men’s room has quite some nice apron views, which is rare. The bathroom has two sinks, two urinals, and three stalls, and is cleaned constantly, as you’d expect.

In addition to the bathrooms, the lounge has two shower suites.

The shower suites are well appointed, and each has a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower. One thing that stood out to me was that the shower suite had very good airflow, which is all too often not the case.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich bedrooms

Last but most definitely not least, the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E has two private bedrooms, available on a first come, first served basis. I’d argue that these are the best bedrooms that you’ll find in any airport lounge.

The bedrooms are super nice — each room has an absurdly comfortable Hästens beds, a TV, a chair, and views of the apron.

The bedroom also has a private bathroom. I was assigned the accessible bedroom, so the bathroom setup was perhaps a bit less glam than in the other bedroom, but still had a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower.

Bottom line

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E is one of my favorite lounges in the world. The lounge has phenomenal dining, panoramic views, an outdoor terrace, and the best airport bedrooms. If you have the chance to visit this lounge, I can’t recommend it enough.

Admittedly scoring a ticket that will actually get you into this lounge isn’t so easy, given that both SWISS and Lufthansa first class awards aren’t available with partner frequent flyer program miles nowadays.

What’s your take on SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E?

There are two SWISS First Lounges in Zurich. In this installment, I’ll review the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A, which is the Schengen lounge, and then in the next installment, I’ll review the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E, which is the non-Schengen lounge

Admittedly the Terminal E lounge is the “flagship” SWISS First Lounge, and is pretty special. That being said, the Terminal A lounge is still excellent. It’s a gorgeous lounge with an identical food and drink selection to the other lounge, and it has pretty decor, friendly service, and some unique amenities you won’t find in the other lounge (like proper workstations and a smoking room).

SWISS First Lounge Zurich location & limousine service

The ease of accessing the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A depends on where you’re coming from. If you’re coming from within Terminal A, it’s not very easy to find, as the signage is limited, and I suspect that’s by design. Follow the signage in the direction of SWISS Lounges A, which is on the upper level of the terminal (that’s level three, one level above the SWISS Alpine Lounge, for example).

On this level you’ll see the entrance to the SWISS Business Lounge and SWISS Senator Lounge.

When you’re facing this, keep walking to the right a short distance, and then you’ll see a door for the SWISS First Lounge. This is quite easy to miss.

Note that if you’re originating in Zurich, the first class check-in area offers a dedicated security checkpoint that leads into this lounge. The SWISS First Lounge also offers a limousine service, which is worth discussing, as that leaves from the upper level of the lounge.

Who gets driven via limousine? It depends whether you have a Schengen or non-Schengen flight:

• On departure, you will get the limousine service either if you just need to get to Terminal E (where most non-Schengen flights depart from), as there’s a shuttle service every 10 minutes, where a representative will escort you all the way to the other lounge
• On departure, you’ll also get limousine service if you’re on a flight that departs from a remote stand, even if it’s a Schengen flight
• If you’re arriving on a non-Schengen flight and are connecting to a Schengen flight or ending your travels in Zurich, you’ll be picked up at your plane and dropped off here

For example, I took the limousine from the Terminal A to Terminal E SWISS First Lounge. Note that while the lounge doesn’t have a dedicated passport control check, there is a separate passport control counter they escort you to before getting in the car, which seems to be shared with the airport’s VIP service.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich hours

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A is currently open daily from 5:30AM until 10PM, covering virtually all departures from the airport.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich entry requirements

Who gets access to the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A?

• Passengers traveling in SWISS first class same day can access the lounge whether arriving or departing; you can even use this as an arrivals lounge, without an onward boarding pass (assuming you can get through security, which is dependent on where your flight arrives from)
• Passengers traveling in Lufthansa first class same day can access the lounge, but not purely as an arrivals lounge, so there needs to still be a connecting segment
• Miles & More HON Circle members get access to the lounge whenever flying a Lufthansa Group flight same day; there’s no need to be in first class, and there are no route restrictions

In each case, travelers are allowed to bring two adults guests and/or children under the age of 18, and all guests must be traveling on the same flight.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich seating & layout

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A is roughly 650 square meters (~7,000 square feet), with seating for 80 guests. As a point of comparison, the Terminal E lounge is 750 square meters, with the same capacity, so the lounges are roughly comparable in size.

The centerpiece of this lounge is a sort of V-shaped bar (it then curves further), where all the drinks in the lounge are served from, and which can seat up to 14 people (seven on each side).

The dining area is surrounding the bar. One side has six tables, while the other side of the bar has two tables. Since each table seats two people, this brings the dining area capacity to 16 guests at a time. As you can see, this is quite an elegant dining setup, and it feels like a restaurant quality experience.

Then off to the side of the lounge, you’ll find the area intended primarily for lounging around. This space consists of a variety of black leather chairs and couches, which have a bit of privacy thanks to the wooden panels separating them.

The very end of the lounge has some larger couches, ideal if you’re traveling with a larger group.

On the opposite side of the lounge from the above space is an area with four workstations.

While these workstations lack natural light, they’re very practical and private, as they have glass shields that can be closed, making it easy to make private phone calls, etc.

Lastly, near the entrance you’ll find an area with some magazines and newspapers.

This is a beautiful lounge that feels quite exclusive and intimate, and I found that it didn’t get too crowded. This has quite a few similarities to the SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal E. The main differences up until this point are that this lounge doesn’t have the same views and natural light as the other lounge, though on the plus side, it does have workstations, which you won’t find in the other lounge.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich relaxation area

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A has a relaxation area, located right next to the workstations.

This essentially consists of one dark room that has two daybeds where you can relax.

If you’re just looking for some peace and quiet for a moment, this will do the trick. However, it’s a far cry from the private bedrooms you’ll find in the SWISS First Lounge Terminal E, so if you want serious sleep, be sure to head over there.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich smoking room & conference room

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A is primarily on one level, with a few exceptions, as there’s a small staircase and elevator leading up a level.

One of the amenities here is a smoking lounge, which is quite civilized. Note that the other SWISS First Lounge doesn’t have a smoking area, so smokers may prefer this lounge. It features several leather chairs, and has a small outdoor area where you can stand. It’s not the nicest airport lounge smoking space that you’ll find in the world, but it’s better than what you’ll find in public areas of the airport.

The lounge offers cigars, which I believe are available for purchase.

There’s also some liquor on display here, which you can help yourself to. However, the lounge staff are also happy to bring you another drink up here.

Immediately next to the smoking room you’ll find a conference room, with a table that can accommodate up to eight people.

Also on this level is the door leading to the limousine service, which I talked about above.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich food & drinks

SWISS First Lounges have spectacular catering, and that’s true in both the Terminal A and Terminal E locations, which are nearly identical in that regard.

As far as the concept goes, servers roam the lounge and will offer you drinks anywhere. Then it’s generally recommended that you eat in the dining area, where the food is primarily a la carte, though there’s also a small buffet.

Near the entrance, this lounge has a table with all kinds of sweet and savory snacks, ranging from chocolates to nuts.

The lounge also has a small refrigerated display, where you can help yourself to whatever you’d like. One display has drinks, including water, soda, juice, beer, smoothies, and more.

The other display has snacks, ranging from muesli, to finger sandwiches, to pastries, to other small appetizers.

When I first arrived in the lounge, I ordered an americano and some still water.

Later on, I sat down in the dining area for a little breakfast (then I had lunch in the next lounge, which I’ll be reviewing, and the menu was identical). You can find the SWISS First Lounge breakfast menu below.

You can find the SWISS First Lounge lunch and dinner menu below.

You can find the SWISS First Lounge drink list below.

As mentioned above, I just had breakfast in this lounge, and I opted for the homemade granola with fresh berries and honey, and the avocado sourdough toast with a poached egg. It was nothing too exciting, but breakfast rarely is. However, my lunch (in the next lounge) was phenomenal.

SWISS First Lounge Zurich bathrooms & showers

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A bathrooms are located in the very back left corner of the lounge.

The men’s room has three sinks, two stalls, and four urinals, and was spotlessly clean, with toiletries from Soeder.

The lounge also has four shower suites.

Each shower suite has a sink, a toilet, and a walk-in shower, with exceptional ventilation. Even after taking a hot shower, the room didn’t feel hot at all, which was awesome.

Bottom line

The SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A is an excellent facility, especially for a Schengen lounge. While the airline is primarily known for its non-Schengen lounge in Terminal E, this lounge has many of the same features.

This lounge has among the best dining you’ll find in any lounge, attentive service, areas for relaxing, workstations, and a smoking area. There are pros and cons to each of the two lounges for first class passengers at the airport, though I think this lounge offers the full experience, minus the bedrooms and terrace. What a lovely lounge!

What’s your take on SWISS First Lounge Zurich Terminal A?

For a newly launched airline, I thought Riyadh Air offered a really solid experience, much better than its “age” suggests. The carrier’s cabins are absolutely breathtaking, and the food and amenities were very high quality. The crew was also friendly and well intentioned, though service was too slow for a flight of this hour — I trust that with time, crews will gain more experience, and improve there. Lastly, the one disappointment I had with the flight was that the Wi-Fi simply didn’t function, and I feel like the communication around that could’ve been better.

All things considered, I had an excellent flight, this is one of the most well executed airline startups we’ve ever seen, and it’s going to be fascinating to see this carrier grow over the coming years.

How I booked my Riyadh Air business class ticket

As of now, there’s no way to redeem points for travel on Riyadh Air. While the airline has its Sfeer frequent flyer program, and also eventually plans to have loyalty collaborations with carriers like Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, points redemptions aren’t live yet.

So when I set out to fly Riyadh Air, I tried to find the cheapest business class flight to Europe that I could. That’s how I landed on a flight between Riyadh and Madrid. Specifically, I booked the following flight for $1,602:

7/31 RX531 Riyadh to Madrid departing 2:00AM arriving 7:55AM

I credited the flight to Riyadh Air’s own Sfeer program, since partner points earning isn’t yet live. The only other thing I should mention is that I reserved a regular business class seat, since I just booked a standard business class fare.

During the booking process, I had the option of assigning a front row “business class plus” seat (which Riyadh Air markets as “Business Elite”) at a cost of 2,500 SAR (~663 USD). That struck me as being rather steep for a short redeye, so I didn’t buy up.

Riyadh Air business class lounge & boarding

In a previous installment, I reviewed the Riyadh Air Hafawa Lounge, which is the carrier’s flagship lounge at its hub airport. It’s a phenomenal facility, among the best business class lounges in the world.

My flight was departing from gate 205 at Riyadh’s Terminal 2, just a short walk from the lounge.

Boarding was scheduled for 1AM, a full hour before departure, though in reality, boarding started at 1:15AM, with business class passengers being invited to board first.

Boy was I excited to get onboard that beautiful Dreamliner!

Riyadh Air 787 business class cabin & seats

I boarded the Riyadh Air Dreamliner through the second set of doors, where I was greeted by the friendly crew, and directed left into the business class cabin. Before making the turn, I took a quick look in the other direction, and saw the gorgeous premium economy cabin — damn, this is one sleek plane!

Riyadh Air’s 787 business class cabin takes up the entire space between the first and second set of doors. It consists of 28 seats, spread across seven rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration. Before even talking about the details of the hard product, I just have to acknowledge how insanely stunning the finishes are.

Riyadh Air has the prettiest Dreamliner cabins I’ve ever seen, with the most high-end finishes. Design wise, Riyadh Air knocked it out of the park.

Riyadh Air’s 787 business class product is based on the Safran Unity platform, which I rank as being among the best business class seats in the world, and certainly among the best staggered configurations.

Japan Airlines was the launch customer for this seating type, with the carrier’s Airbus A350-1000s being equipped with these seats. However, not all seats between airlines are created equal — Japan Airlines’ version of the seat is pitched at 51″, while Riyadh Air’s is pitched at 45″, so expect the former to feel much more spacious than the latter.

To cover the very basic stats beyond the 45″ seat pitch, Riyadh Air’s 787 business class seats are 22.5″ wide, convert into 78″ flat beds, have 52″ privacy doors, and feature 22″ 4K OLED monitors.

Anyway, let’s start with the front row Business Elite product, which comes at an extra cost. The idea is that these seats take advantage of the extra space at the bulkhead, so they’re a lot more spacious.

If you’re traveling with someone, you may prefer the pair of center seats, which have a partition that can be raised or lowered.

Meanwhile solo travelers will prefer the window seats. However, it is worth pointing out that the Business Elite window seats are closer to the aisle rather than closer to the windows, which isn’t ideal (since usually in this configuration I like to be as close to the windows as possible).

Now let’s take a look at the rest of the cabin. The center seats are staggered, and the seats in even numbered rows are further from one another, so these would be my least preferred seats in the cabin. That’s because they neither have the benefit of allowing you to sit close to a companion, nor do they have the benefit of being by a window.

People traveling in pairs who actually want to sit next to one another will want to select the center seats in odd numbered rows, as these are “honeymoon” seats, so you can enjoy the flight together. But worry not, if you’re traveling alone, there’s still a partition that can be raised for privacy.

When it comes to the seats at the windows, seats in odd numbered rows are closer to the aisle, while seats in even numbered rows are closer to the windows.

The seats closer to the aisle are good, but not my favorite.

Meanwhile my preferred seats are those that are closest to the windows, and that’s because they offer the best views outside, and it’s also easiest to get cozy when you’re reclined, since you’re not right next to the privacy door.

I assigned myself seat 6K, the window seat on the right side in the second to last row of the cabin.

When it comes to seat features, there’s a tray to the side of the seat, as well as an enclosed storage area, all of which is very nice-looking.

The storage space is a pretty good size, and underneath it you’ll find the AC power outlet, two USB-C outlets, a USB-A outlet, as well as the jack for headphones. There’s no wireless charging, but I don’t find that to be much of a loss anyway.

There’s a small panel next to the seat with pre-set options, allowing you to recline your seat, bring it upright, etc.

With this seat, the tray table is stored underneath the entertainment monitor, so it can be extended at an angle, and then flipped 90 degrees.

The privacy door at this seat is easy to use. It’s locked for takeoff and landing, but during the flight it can manually be slid either forward or backward.

The footwell in this configuration is a good size, and I’ll talk a little more about that when I cover the turndown service and bed.

There’s one more unique feature of this product, which is that these seats have integrated headrest speakers, so that you can watch entertainment without using headphones, by having the audio play in your headrest. This is of course an innovative concept, and it’s something you’ll also find on Japan Airlines’ A350s.

The entertainment system lets you select your mood lighting at the seat, which is also a cute touch. The aircraft tech really is great.

Now to end on a negative note, Riyadh Air doesn’t have individual air nozzles on its 787s. Riyadh Air, what were you thinking?! You’re a brand new airline, and you didn’t install individual air nozzles? That’s a big advantage for Saudia, which does have air nozzles on its Dreamliners. It’s just so bizarre to me, because presumably it’s not like Riyadh Air is hard up for cash…

Anyway, all-in-all, Riyadh Air’s 787 business class hard product gets very high marks. I think this might just be my favorite 787 business class hard product out there. It’s definitely the prettiest.

Riyadh Air 787 business class entertainment & Wi-Fi

Riyadh Air’s 787 business class has 22″ 4K OLED monitors, with a selection of audio and video on demand. There’s also bluetooth audio, so you can pair your own headphones to the system.

The system had movies, TV shows, live TV, music, and games. The selection was good, with a good variety of movies and TV shows, though I do hope that over time the live TV selection is expanded to include more than one option.

There was also a map feature, which was highly customizable and responsive… great tech!

Perhaps the cutest thing of all, though, was how there was even a map feature specifically for kids. LOVE!

Now, when it comes to inflight connectivity, Riyadh Air has Viasat Wi-Fi, and it’s supposed to be free for all passengers who are part of the Sfeer frequent flyer program (which is free to sign up for).

Unfortunately Wi-Fi just didn’t seem to work at all on this flight. There was no announcement, or anything, but after takeoff I checked with the crew, and they were surprised to hear it wasn’t working, and promised to check. I didn’t hear anything back for a while, so I followed up again, and they said they let the pilots know, and they were resetting the system.

I then checked again later on, and was told that sometimes there’s just not connectivity in certain areas. I have a bit of experience with flying, so of course I know that connectivity is never consistent, and sometimes it drops. However, it 100% didn’t work during this flight.

While the crew was friendly, I do think they could’ve handled this better, both in terms of proactively communicating the issue, and following up with me, rather than me asking repeatedly, and ultimately getting a bit of a non-answer. Compare that to my outbound on Saudia, where the cabin manager personally apologized to each business class passenger for the lack of Wi-Fi.

Riyadh Air business class amenities

Riyadh Air sure knows how to shower you with amenities and gifts upon boarding. Waiting at each seat was a very nice amenity kit, which had a dental kit (with Marvis toothpaste!), socks, eyeshades, earplugs, and some products from Saudi lifestyle brand Kayanee.

There was also bedding, including a stylish pillow placed on the seat, plus a pouch with a proper duvet and pillow, both of which were lovely.

High quality headphones were also available at the seat, though with bluetooth audio plus the headrest speakers, perhaps this isn’t as important as on some other airlines.

The menu was at the seat upon boarding as well.

Shortly after settling in, the crew passed through the cabin with pajamas (or loungewear, technically) and slippers, and those were also in partnership with Kayanee. They were both great and high quality.

Later on in the boarding process, the crew passed through the cabin with pre-departure drinks, with the choice of a lavender mint mocktail, orange juice, or water, along with a warm towel. What pretty presentation!

At the end of the boarding process, I was offered some coffee and a date.

All-in-all, talk about a great collection of amenities, and a nice pre-departure service!

Riyadh Air 787 departure from Riyadh

Throughout the boarding process, I absolutely loved listening to the boarding music, which uses Riyadh Air’s brand sonic. I appreciate the attention to detail the airline had with this from launch.

I have to be honest, I was expecting this flight to basically be empty, given that Riyadh Air had only put tickets on sale weeks earlier. However, to my surprise, every single seat in business class was taken, and the loads in economy weren’t bad either (while premium economy seemed to be mostly empty). That’s impressive… or maybe there were just a lot of PIF employees as well? I’m not sure…

Anyway, by 1:45AM boarding wrapped up, at which point the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of six hours, and our cruising altitude of 40,000 feet. Impressively, he made the announcement in both English and Spanish.

At 2AM the main cabin door closed, and then at 2:05AM we began our pushback, which is also when the safety video was screened.

At 2:15AM we started our taxi, and we just had a quick taxi out to runway 33R, where we were airborne by 2:25AM. We had a smooth climb out, and the seatbelt sign was turned off within five minutes of takeoff.

Riyadh Air business class menu & snack service

Riyadh Air has a dine on demand menu in business class, and on this flight there’s a full breakfast menu plus an anytime menu. The crew had taken meal orders on the ground. One thing that surprised me is that the flight attendant suggested that most people have breakfast after takeoff and then the anytime menu before landing, which struck me as rather odd.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with recommending that or saying that’s what most people do, it just surprised me. At Emirates, you always have the light bites menu after takeoff on these flights, and then breakfast before landing, because that just seems logical.

The flight attendant also explained that the pre-landing service would take place 2.5 hours before landing, which is less than ideal on a flight of this length (on other Gulf carriers they can typically do the service under two hours before landing, and sometimes even closer to arrival than that.

Anyway, you can find the full Riyadh Air menu and drink list below (as you can see, Riyadh Air is “dry,” so doesn’t serve alcohol).

Anyway, my tablecloth was brought out around 30 minutes after takeoff, and then I was served what I had ordered 45 minutes after takeoff. I’m not meaning to nitpick here, but just be constructive, since this is an airline startup. If it’s going to take a while to deliver things, it would be nice if they brought out a drink with something like nuts first, and then brought out the food.

I decided to order the beef pastrami panini, and it was very good. The bread tasted fresh, and the contents were great too. Then to drink I had one of the signature mocktails, the “Saudi Cocktail,” which was sparkling apple juice with mint… served in a wine glass, even!

I also decided to have the dessert trio, featuring a chocolate cake, berry tartlet, and layered honey cake. It tasted as good as it looked, and I accompanied that with a chamomile tea.

Riyadh Air 787 business class lavatories

Riyadh Air has two business class lavatories on the Dreamliner, both of which are right in front of the cabin, with one on each side. The lavatories are huge by Dreamliner standards, and very nicely appointed, with a diffuser and special toiletries. Very well done, Riyadh Air!

Here’s one thing I noticed, which I couldn’t make sense of. It didn’t seem like there was any indicator at the front cabin bulkhead about whether lavatories were occupied or not. I’ve never seen an airline not have that, so I’m curious if I was just missing something, or what?

Riyadh Air 787 business class bed

After the snack service, the crew offered to prepare my bed, which consisted of a nice turndown service. Riyadh Air has very thick mattress pads in business class, among the most substantial I’ve seen, so that was great.

When it comes to cute little service touches, the crew also gave me a little pulse point oil, intended for pre-sleep relaxation.

I found the bed to be really comfortable, with excellent bedding, and a sufficiently large footwell. I will say that the seat felt tighter than the Japan Airlines A350 Safran Unity seat, but that’s to be expected, given the reduced pitch that this seat has.

I fell asleep with around 4hr30min remaining, as we were leaving Saudi Arabian airspace and approaching Egyptian airspace.

I was then woken up around two hours later, with around 2.5 hours remaining to Madrid, as we were approaching Italy.

That’s also the point at which the crew turned on the mood lighting, in anticipation of the next service.

Riyadh Air business class meal

Within minutes of waking up, the crew brought me a warm towel.

Around 15 minutes later, my table was set for breakfast… I was excited to see what the full Riyadh Air meal presentation was like, even if it was “only” breakfast (typically the least exciting airplane meal of the day).

The table setting was beautiful, with a bread basket, a nice butter and jam presentation, etc. The meal began with an amuse bouche, which in this case had mascarpone and orange. To drink, I had a date and banana smoothie.

For the first course, I selected the breakfast cold assortment, with za’atar labneh, marinated halloumi cheese, and shanklish. It was delicious, and nicely presented.

Then for the main course I had the scrambled egg shakshuka, topped with dukkah marinated feta, and garnished with coriander, fried onions and pomegranate seeds, and served with warm pita. This was really great, among the best egg dishes I’ve had on an airplane in a long time.

At the conclusion of the meal I ordered a cappuccino, which was served on a tray with some cookies. It was very good.

Riyadh Air business class crew & service

I was of course excited to see what service would be like on Riyadh Air. A few observations…

First of all, Riyadh Air has done an amazing job with hiring, probably in no small part thanks to how the airline has positioned itself as “cool,” like with the uniforms it has (referred to by CEO Tony Douglas not as “uniforms,” but as “fashions,” hah).

I find it interesting that many Riyadh Air flight attendants are from other Gulf carriers, ranging from Emirates, to Etihad, to Qatar Airways, and more. It’s rare that a Saudi carrier can poach people from those airlines, so that’s quite a testament to the perception people have of the airline. Beyond that, there were a variety of crew from other airlines. The crew on this flight was international, as you’d expect, with the flight attendants serving me being from the Czech Republic and Portugal.

All-in-all, I thought service on Riyadh Air was good, with the obvious caveat being that the airline only recently started flying, so I imagine there’s still a bit of an experience learning curve. All the crew members were extremely professional, enthusiastic, and obviously proud of working the airline. They all also tried really hard, and for the most part, provided very good service.

As I hinted at above, the one area for improvement is service speed. Especially on short overnight flights like this, speed matters. I thought the initial snack service was a little slow, but what I really found to be an issue is that the pre-landing meal had to be served 2.5 hours before landing.

As a point of comparison, I’ve found Emirates typically serves the pre-landing meal 1.5 hours before landing, without issue. On a short overnight flight like this, that makes a big difference. Admittedly some people just want to go straight to sleep on these short flights, but those who choose to indulge shouldn’t have to completely compromise on sleep.

I can’t figure out if this is Riyadh Air’s long term service plan, or if the service is only happening so early because the airline recognizes crews are still getting used to things. I’m sure with experience that will improve, but I felt a little like I would’ve gotten an extra hour of sleep on another airline.

Riyadh Air 787 arrival in Madrid

At around 6:30AM Madrid time, the captain was on the PA to announce that we’d be landing in around 45-50 minutes, and would soon start our descent. We ended up starting our descent around 6:50AM, and shortly thereafter, the crew prepared the cabin for arrival.

As we descended, we were treated to a beautiful sunrise… looking out an airplane window never gets old!

We approached the airport from the north, and ended up touching down at 7:25AM on runway 18L. We then started what ended up being a really long taxi. While the captain never made an announcement about it, I suspect our gate was occupied, so we were sent on a “tour” of the airport, if you will.

We ended up pulling into our gate at Terminal 1 at 7:50AM, still five minutes ahead of schedule.

On the way out, I managed to snap a picture of the Riyadh Air Dreamliner in daylight — what a stunner, and to think, this is the less pretty of the two liveries the airline has!

I quickly cleared passport control, and then took a flight to Zurich (ZRH) via Lisbon (LIS), in order to catch my SWISS A350 first class flight to Boston (BOS), which is where I’ll be picking up in the next installment

Bottom line

It’s great to finally see Riyadh Air taking to the skies, and the carrier’s 787 business class didn’t disappoint. The airline has gorgeous interiors, I’d say the nicest Dreamliner business class interiors that I’ve ever seen. The soft product is also great, ranging from the food, to the amenities.

As you’d expect for any airline startup, there were some quirks, though. The promised high speed Viasat Wi-Fi simply didn’t work. The service was also too drawn out for such an overnight flight, so they have to tighten up the service a bit. I imagine that with time, both of those issues will be resolved.

I think the one other thing that really surprised me about this trip is that Saudia’s business class is also excellent, and I imagine the airline is very much upping its game because of the competition from Riyadh Air. Obviously the cabins aren’t as pretty (yet — though Saudia has a new product coming as well), but premium cabin travel in Saudi Arabia sure has come a long way.

The last thing I’d mention is that obviously Riyadh Air is a dry airline. That’s not a big deal, given the laws of Saudi Arabia. However, for the purposes of attracting connecting traffic to the rest of the region, including Delta passengers, that’s something that some passengers won’t love. I mean, have you seen how those Delta elites out of Atlanta down Woodford? 😉

What’s your take on Riyadh Air’s 787 business class?

While Marriott Bonvoy has quite a portfolio of credit cards thanks to agreements with American Express and Chase, there’s not much competition in the business card space, which is why this is a card that’s a pretty obvious choice. So this is my Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex review — long story short, if you’re going for Bonvoy elite status, this is definitely a card you’re going to want to have.

Link: Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Marriott Business Card welcome offer & fee basics

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is Marriott’s business credit card. To start, let’s cover the welcome offer, annual fee, eligibility rules, and more.

Limited time welcome offer of 100,000 points + free night award

For applications through November 4, 2026, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card has a limited time welcome offer where you can earn 100,000 Bonvoy bonus points plus a free night award after spending $8,000 within the first six months. The free night award has a redemption value of up to 50,000 points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, and resort fees and terms apply.

While I wouldn’t quite value a free night award at its comparable points value (since it offers less flexibility), this is still a much better offer than usual. Personally I value Bonvoy points at ~0.7 cents each, so to me, the value of the bonus is up to $1,050.

There are lots of good uses of Bonvoy points, and be sure to maximize your points by taking advantage of the fifth night free benefit, whereby you can stay for five nights while only paying the points required for four nights. You can also convert Bonvoy points into airline miles at a 3:1 ratio with a variety of programs, and there’s typically a 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 points transferred. In some cases that could be a good opportunity.

$125 annual fee & $0 authorized user fee

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex has a $125 annual fee (Rates & Fees). You can add additional card members at no additional cost. That’s a reasonable annual fee, much lower than the fees you’ll find on many cards nowadays.

Marriott Bonvoy credit card eligibility rules

Given how many American Express and Chase Marriott cards there are, there are some pretty complicated restrictions regarding eligibility for this card.

First of all, the welcome offer isn’t available to those who have had this card or had the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express.

On top of that, the welcome offer is not available to applicants who:

• have or have had the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days
• have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days
• received a new card member bonus offer in the last 24 months on the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase

For those with excellent credit, I find Amex business cards to be incredibly easy to be approved for. Anecdotally most people I’ve heard from have reported instant approvals on this card, so it really shouldn’t be very tough to be approved for, even if you haven’t gotten many business cards in the past. Just make sure you know that:

• You can be approved for at most two Amex cards in 90 days
• You can have at most five American Express credit cards at any point (this doesn’t include cards without a preset spending limit)

See this post for all major credit card application restrictions to be aware of.

Marriott Business Amex 5/24 implications

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is issued by American Express. One thing worth mentioning is that if you’re deliberate about your credit card strategy and are trying to stay under Chase’s 5/24 limit, this is an excellent card to pick up.

That’s because applying for Amex business cards doesn’t count as a further product toward the 5/24 limit, so applying for this card shouldn’t materially impact your ability to get approved for Chase cards in the future. That’s one huge advantage to applying for Amex business cards before other products.

Marriott Business Card points earning structure

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card has some bonus categories that could prove useful for your business spending, though overall, this isn’t a credit card that I’d recommend using for most of your business purchases. There are much more generous business cards out there in terms of the points offered. Let’s talk about how the bonus categories on the card work.

6x Bonvoy points at Marriott hotels

The Marriott Business Card offers 6x Bonvoy points for spending at Marriott hotels globally. For many businesses, this will be a worthwhile bonus.

Since I value Bonvoy points at ~0.7 cents each, that’s the equivalent of a ~4.2% return on hotel spending. However, for my hotel spending, I prefer to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (learn more), which offers 4x Ultimate Rewards points.

Keep in mind that these points earning rates are separate from the rewards you earn on Marriott stays regardless of the credit card you’re using. On top of that, Bonvoy members typically earn 5-10x Bonvoy points per eligible dollar spent at hotels, and then there are also elite points bonuses of 10-75%.

For example, as a top-tier elite member paying with a co-branded credit card, you could be earning a total of up to 23.5x Bonvoy points per dollar spent at Marriott properties.

4x Bonvoy points in select categories

The Marriott Business Card has some bonus categories that offer 4x Bonvoy points, including for purchases with:

• Restaurants worldwide
• U.S. gas stations
• Wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
• U.S. purchases for shipping

Based on my valuation of ~0.7 cents per point, that’s a ~2.8% return on spending, which is pretty good but not amazing when you consider some other cards out there. There are other particularly good cards for restaurant and gas station spending.

2x Bonvoy points on other purchases

The Marriott Business Card offers 2x Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases. I don’t consider 2x points per dollar spent to be especially compelling since I value that at a return of ~1.4%, and there are better cards for everyday spending.

No foreign transaction fees

The Bonvoy Business Card has no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees), so it could be a good option for spending abroad, and in foreign currencies.

Annual free night award with $60K in spending

As I’ll cover below, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card offers an annual free night award on your account anniversary, just for being a cardmember. However, as a further incentive for actually spending on the card, you get a second free night award worth up to 35,000 points if you spend at least $60,000 per calendar year on the card.

I’ll talk more about the general value of Marriott free night awards below. While this is a nice incentive if you’d spend that much anyway, odds are that it won’t be worth it for most people.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Card benefits & perks

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card offers a variety of perks that could more than offset the annual fee. It could be worth picking up the card primarily for the perks, without spending all that much money on it. Let’s look at some of the benefits the card offers.

Annual free night award worth up to 35K points

The real perk that makes the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card worthwhile on an ongoing basis is that you get a free night award every year on your account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property costing up to 35,000 points.

It’s also possible to top off these awards with up to 25,000 points to stay at a more expensive property, which gives this perk even more flexibility.

These free night certificates are an exceptional deal, and one of the main reasons I think this card is worth having. Marriott is the world’s largest hotel chain, so regardless of your preferred hotel program, just about everyone may find themselves in a situation where this could come in handy. I consistently redeem this certificate at hotels costing $250+ per night, more than double the card’s annual fee.

Complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card offers complimentary Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. This offers some useful perks, like 25% bonus points, 2PM late check-out (subject to availability), enhanced Wi-Fi, a room upgrade subject to availability (to non-suites), etc.

15 elite nights toward Bonvoy status

Another great status perk for having the Marriott Business Amex is that you get 15 elite nights toward status annually just for having the card. Note that several co-branded Marriott credit cards offer this, and you can only receive the benefit once on a personal card and once on a business card.

In other words, if you have three personal Marriott cards, you wouldn’t get 45 elite nights, but if you have one personal and one business, you can earn 30-40 nights!

This makes it more attainable to earn Platinum Elite status long term, where status gets valuable, as you start receiving complimentary breakfast and potentially valuable room upgrades.

Platinum Elite status requires 50 nights, so if you have this card, you’d only need to earn an additional 35 elite nights, and if you also had a personal card, you’d only need to earn an additional 10-20 elite nights, depending on which card you got.

This is a reason you want to get this card — if you don’t have the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, then you won’t be able to earn 30-40 elite nights toward status annually just from credit cards. For what it’s worth, the elite nights earned through the card also count toward lifetime elite status.

7% Marriott room rate discount

I wouldn’t get too excited about this benefit, but the Marriott Business Amex offers a 7% Marriott room rate discount. Simply log into your Marriott Bonvoy account as the primary cardmember, and you should see the “Amex Biz Card Member Rate” listed.

Why do I say you shouldn’t get that excited? Because this will generally be 7% off the standard flexible rate, and not off the lowest rate you’d otherwise have access to. You’ll likely often find cheaper AAA rates, advance purchase rates, etc. So this is something to be aware of, but not something I’d necessarily expect to use regularly.

Is the Marriott Business Card worth it?

Many great small business credit cards exist, so is the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card right for your business? First, let me say that I wouldn’t be using this as a primary business credit card for spending. That’s because the card doesn’t have an industry leading rewards structure for business spending.

That being said, I think the card is worth applying for, given the bonus currently available. On top of that, I think it’s a card worth having for the perks. More specifically, I value the annual free night award significantly more than the card’s annual fee, so that alone is enough reason to get the card, in my opinion.

Let me cover a couple of other aspects of this card — how does this compare to Marriott’s personal cards, and what other business cards should you be considering?

How do other Marriott Bonvoy Amex cards compare?

Marriott Bonvoy has three credit cards issued by American Express, in addition to the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. The other two cards are personal, so how do they compare?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (learn more) is the most premium card in the portfolio. It has a $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and offers a variety of valuable perks, including:

• Bonvoy Platinum Elite status for as long as you’re a cardmember
• 25 elite nights toward Elite status annually
• An anniversary free night award valid at a property costing up to 85,000 points, with no spending requirement
• A $300 annual dining credit
• A Priority Pass™ membership (Enrollment required)

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (learn more) is the less premium personal card. It has a $250 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and has the following benefits:

• Bonvoy Gold Elite status for as long as you’re a cardmember
• 15 elite nights toward Elite status annually
• An anniversary free night award valid at a property costing up to 50,000 points, if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year
• A great return on Marriott spending, as you earn 6x points per dollar spent, plus 1,000 bonus points per Marriott stay

Personally I consider the Bonvoy Brilliant Card to be more lucrative than the Bonvoy Bevy Card. If you ask me, the ideal strategy is to pick up the Bonvoy Brilliant Card and Bonvoy Business Card, as the two cards are excellent complements.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex FAQs

Bottom line

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is a strong contender for a business card to hold onto long term. The 15 elite nights toward status (which can be stacked with a similar offer on a personal card), as well as an annual free night award, are a great value proposition. Add in a solid bonus, and there’s a lot of merit to applying for this card.

If you want to learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, follow this link.

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).

As a reminder, Riyadh Air is one of the most well funded airline startups we’ve ever seen, and the airline opened its “flagship” lounge coinciding with it launching operations. I don’t remember the last time we’ve seen an airline open up a lounge like this at the start of operations.

The Riyadh Air Lounge is absolutely phenomenal, and I rank it as being among the best in the world. The lounge has gorgeous design, a calming vibe, very friendly service, great food (including a la carte dining), and impressive amenities. What an absolute treat it is to be able to visit this lounge!

Riyadh Air Lounge location

The Riyadh Air Lounge is located between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Riyadh Air check-in is in Terminal 2, so after clearing immigration and then security, just proceed through the duty free “maze,” and at the end, turn right.

When you turn right, you’ll see signage toward Terminal 2, so move in that direction.

However, don’t go far, because you’ll immediately see the entrance to the Riyadh Air Lounge on the right. The lounge has quite the striking and sleek exterior.

There are agents on the lower level who scan you in, and then you can proceed up the escalator to get to the lounge, as it’s one level above the terminal.

Let me just mention that this lounge serves all Riyadh Air departures, except domestic flights. That’s because those flights leave from a different area, given the need to separate domestic and international departures.

Riyadh Air Lounge hours & crowding

Riyadh Air is very quickly building up its route network, so I imagine the lounge will be open 24/7 soon enough, if it isn’t already. Officially, the lounge opens three hours prior to any departure, but with the speed at which the network is growing, that will soon mean that the lounge will simply never close.

One other thing I should mention is that the lounge was nearly completely empty during my visit. I was the only guest for a good 30 minutes, while later on there were at most a few dozen other guests. Obviously that lack of crowding is a real advantage as of now.

However, with the pace at which Riyadh Air is taking delivery of new planes, that will be changing. For the foreseeable future, I can’t imagine this lounge will have crowding issues, though down the road I’m sure it’ll get busy over peak periods.

Riyadh Air Lounge entry requirements

As of now, access to the Riyadh Air Lounge is available to those with international business class tickets on the airline. Now, there are potentially a few more ways to access the lounge, I imagine:

• Riyadh Air also sells lounge access, and you can add that to your booking; however, it’s not clear how much that costs, since you need to log into your non-business class reservation to access those details
• Riyadh Air is still developing its Sfeer frequent flyer program, but presumably there will be some elite tiers that offer lounge access
• Delta will soon start flying to Riyadh (RUH), and the airline is pursuing a close partnership with Riyadh Air, so I wouldn’t be surprised if premium Delta passengers can use this lounge

Riyadh Air Lounge layout & seating

The Riyadh Air Lounge covers 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet), and it has the capacity for 370 guests. Rather than being one large, open space, the lounge is comprised of a sequence of interconnected rooms, each intended to support different moods, and offer a tailored experience.

I really love this concept. I know some people might think the lounge design looks a bit disjointed as a result, but I think it really works, because each individual space is cohesive. The lounge’s design is described as being inspired by the Saudi desert landscape, with a palette of limestone, oak, and textured plaster.

As you take the escalator up to the lounge, you’ll find yourself in the central area of the lounge, which connects all the zones, with clear signage. This is also where a staff member offers guests an Arabic coffee and date. What a lovely welcome, and what stunning design!

As you enter the lounge and turn right, you’ll first find yourself in an area that’s primarily intended for lounging around.

I immediately couldn’t help but feel like the lounge felt more like a really nice hotel lobby, rather than an airport lounge (and that’s a good thing). I thought this was every bit as elegant as Cathay Pacific’s lounge design, but of course with a completely different concept. There were clusters of seats, as well as seats along the walls and windows.

As you then go deeper into the lounge, you’ll find a bar with high-top seating, serving barista coffee. This area also has more seating with tables, so it’s more practical if you want to work on a laptop, or something.

That then leads into the main a la carte dining area, where there’s a restaurant style dining experience offered. The tables can each accommodate two to four people, and it’s a lovely setup.

The lounge then has an additional coffee bar area, with more barista coffee available, along with quite a bit of seating.

There’s then a buffet area, and I’ll cover that in more detail below.

On the other side of the buffet is more cafe-style seating. So while the above dining area is intended for a la carte dining, the below area is for those who just want to grab a quick bite at the buffet.

That then flows into another room, which has more seating that’s quite similar to the first zone I covered above.

Off that area is a terrace of sorts, overlooking the terminal, which has plenty of additional seating. This is probably the least interesting part of the lounge, and I didn’t actually see anyone ever use this.

That then brings us to the last major areas of the lounge, which are probably the most visually stimulating. There’s a bar area in the back of the lounge, which is just absurdly cool. The only thing missing is alcohol. 😉

When it comes to additional amenities, the lounge has a play room for kids, an appreciated feature whether you’re a parent or not. 😉 It was a decent play area, though nothing particularly remarkable.

The lounge then has an area with a few massage chairs. These were awesome — we’re talking about those chairs that wrap you like a boa constrictor.

The lounge also has three quiet rooms, available on a first come, first served basis. These are fully private, and while they don’t have beds, they do have very well padded couches that you could easily get a nice nap on.

Just a few more things to note about the lounge:

• I very much appreciated the number of charging ports everywhere, including USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets
• Wi-Fi in the lounge was legitimately fast; Saudi Arabia is such a digitally connected country, yet all too often, the airports have excruciatingly slow Wi-Fi, so that was appreciated
• The vibe in the lounge was just so great, in terms of the lighting, and even soothing background music, as if you were in a spa; it was clear that a lot of thought was put into the little details of the experience
• The lounge doesn’t have much in terms of natural light (there are some windows, but they don’t look at anything), and don’t expect views from the lounge; then again, given that Riyadh Air’s largest bank of flights is in the middle of the night, that’s not a huge deal

Riyadh Air Lounge food & drinks

The Riyadh Air Lounge has an incredibly strong food & beverage game, with the obvious caveat being that there’s no alcohol (in line with Saudi Arabia’s laws).

When it comes to dining, there are two main options. The quicker and more casual option is the extensive buffet, which is high quality. The buffet consisted of a variety of individually plated cold dishes, plus hot dishes you could help yourself to as well.

Cold options included dips, salads, cheese and cold cuts, a variety of desserts, and a selection of bread.

Then hot options included spinach and cheese ravioli, lamb kofta, seabass sayadiya, stir fried beef with sesame, butter chicken, steamed vegetables, truffle mashed potatoes, and basmati rice.

Next up, there was the restaurant area with a la carte dining, and you can find the menu below. Given how many of Riyadh Air’s flights depart in the middle of the night, the idea is that many passengers elect to eat in the lounge, and then sleep once onboard.

I had a three course meal here, starting with the Arabic mezze, continuing with the prawn machbous, and finishing with the banoffee tart and an americano. The food and service were excellent, so I have nothing but high praise for the experience.

There is one ridiculous quirk to the experience, which is that the cutlery is plastic (though it’s at least a pretty sturdy plastic). As it was explained to me, this is due to airport regulations, and they’re working on trying to change this. What a ridiculous rule, given that they provide proper cutlery on planes, but they won’t do so at airports? C’mon!

Next, the lounge has the bar area, serving a variety of mocktails, which are pretty creative. You can find the Riyadh Air mocktail selection below.

I decided to order the signature Lavender Haze, a blend of lavender, butterfly, and sugar cane syrup, with iced water and a squeeze of lime. It was pretty, and tasty!

As mentioned above, the lounge then has a couple of barista coffee stations, and there’s also a small dessert buffet with some local sweet treats.

Later during my stay, I had an iced latte and a few treats.

The lounge then has a couple of self-serve coffee stations, but there’s really no reason to use these, given that barista coffee is available, and staff also wander the lounge.

Lastly, there’s a fridge by the buffet with canned and bottled soda, non-alcoholic beer, water, etc.

Riyadh Air Lounge bathrooms & showers

The Riyadh Air Lounge has luxurious bathrooms and shower suites, located right by the entrance, and that’s also where you’ll find the prayer rooms.

The men’s room had eight sinks, six toilets, and five urinals. How pretty is this space? There was a full time attendant, and there were even cloth towels, always in a perfect towel “triangle.”

The lounge also has six shower suites, each of which has a walk-in shower, plus a toilet and sink. I took a shower here, and found the water pressure and temperature control to be good. Products were from Elemis.

Riyadh Air Lounge service

The staff in the Riyadh Air Lounge were lovely. The lounge was extremely well staffed, and all of the employees seemed really proud of the lounge, the airline, etc. Service was also attentive, with staff constantly roaming to see if they could offer guests drinks, anything to eat, etc.

Admittedly as Riyadh Air’s network continues to be built up, I imagine the staff to guest ratio won’t be quite as good. However, for now, the lounge has a level of service that’s more attentive than I’ve experienced in any other business class lounge.

Bottom line

The Riyadh Air Hafawa Lounge at Riyadh Airport is simply stellar. I don’t think we’ve ever seen such an impressive lounge from an airline startup, and I rank this as being among the best in the world.

The lounge has gorgeous design, a la carte dining, barista coffee and inventive mocktails, along with useful amenities, including quiet rooms, massage chairs, and more. Riyadh Air really knocked it out of the park, and after the ground experience, I sure was excited to board my Riyadh Air 787 business class flight!

What’s your take on the Riyadh Air Hafawa Lounge?

If you ask me, it’s one of the best value premium airline credit cards out there. While products like the American Express Platinum Card® (learn more) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more) might typically be the first that come to mind when people consider premium cards, this one could make a lot more sense if you’re a frequent American flyer.

In this post, I’d like to take an in-depth look at the card, with my Citi AAdvantage Executive Card review. I think this is especially important in light of the card’s recent refresh, where we saw the annual fee increase, but also saw new perks added.

Link: Learn more about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card bonus, fee, rewards

American Airlines has co-branded cards issued by both Citi, and the most premium card in the portfolio is the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card. This card offers the strongest lounge access perk of any airline credit card.

Let’s look at all major aspects of this card, including the welcome bonus, return on spending, benefits, and more.

Limited time welcome bonus of 125,000 AAdvantage miles

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has a huge limited time welcome bonus of 125,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $15,000 within the first five months.

Personally, I value American AAdvantage miles at ~1.5 cents each, so to me, those miles are worth about $1,875. That’s an excellent bonus, especially for a card that also offers a lot of value in the long run. There are so many great uses of AAdvantage miles, including for travel on partner airlines.

For what it’s worth, I value Delta SkyMiles at 1.1 cents each, and United MileagePlus miles at 1.3 cents each, so these are the most valuable miles among the “big three” carriers, based on my math.

Note that the bonus miles aren’t available to those who have received a new cardmember bonus for this card in the past 48 months (however, you are eligible if you’ve had a different American Airlines credit card, including if you’ve received a bonus on a different product).

Then there are the typical rules for Citi credit card applications, including that you can apply for at most one card with Citi every eight days, and at most two cards every 65 days.

Annual fee & authorized user fee

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has a $695 annual fee. There’s also a lot of value to adding authorized users (as I’ll discuss below). You can expect to pay a total of $175 for up to three authorized users (so potentially under $60 each), and then each authorized user after that costs $175.

Keep in mind that if you’re a Citigold customer, you can receive a $145 annual rebate on your annual fee, which is a nice perk.

Rewards structure & earning Loyalty Points

When it comes to spending money on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, here’s the rewards structure:

• Earn 12x AAdvantage miles on eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars, and eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels
• Earn 4x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases; furthermore, after spending $150,000 on the card in a calendar year, cardmembers can earn a total of 5x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the calendar year
• Earn 1x AAdvantage miles on all other purchases

In terms of the reward for spending, there are potentially better cards for purchasing airline tickets, and also better cards for everyday spending. However, keep in mind that the most compelling reason to spend money on the card is in order to earn elite status with American Airlines. American Airlines uses its Loyalty Points system for status qualification, and credit card spending can help you earn status.

American’s elite requirements are currently as follows, and you earn one Loyalty Point for every dollar spent on an American Airlines credit card:

• AAdvantage Gold status requires 40,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Platinum status requires 75,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro status requires 125,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum status requires 200,000 Loyalty Points

Spending on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card could earn you elite status, which I know will interest many. That’s the primary reason you’ll want to consider this card for spending.

I do want to specifically point out one thing that throws people off — you earn one Loyalty Point per dollar spent on the card, unrelated to how many miles you earn for spending. In other words, if you’re making an American Airlines purchase, you’d earn 4x AAdvantage redeemable miles, but only 1x Loyalty Points on the purchase as such.

Earn up to 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points

In addition to earning one Loyalty Point for every dollar spent on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, you can also earn up to 40,000 Loyalty Points every year just for being a cardmember:

• Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points when you earn 50,000 Loyalty Points with AAdvantage in a status qualification year
• Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points when you earn 90,000 Loyalty Points with AAdvantage in a status qualification year
• Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points when you earn 165,000 Loyalty Points with AAdvantage in a status qualification year
• Earn 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points when you earn 240,000 Loyalty Points with AAdvantage in a status qualification year

In other words, if you have this card, you’d only otherwise need to earn 170,000 Loyalty Points for Executive Platinum status, since this card would get you a boost of 30,000 Loyalty Points at that level. Either way, this Loyalty Points boost would be quite the advantage in terms of qualifying for Loyalty Point Rewards, and even upgrade priority.

The AAdvantage elite qualifying year goes from the beginning of March until the end of February of the following year. You don’t need to have the card at the beginning of the year to take advantage of this, so even if you open the card during the membership year, you could still earn 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points for that year.

No foreign transaction fees

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has no foreign transaction fees, so this can be a good option for purchases abroad.

Valuable travel & rental car protection for purchases

While you’ll want to consult the full cardmember agreement and guide to benefits, the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers useful travel protection, including trip cancellation coverage, trip interruption coverage, trip delay protection, lost baggage protection, rental car coverage, and more.

So this is a good card to potentially use for travel purchases, since you have to put them on your card to take advantage of those benefits.

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card lounge benefit

One of the main reasons you may want to get the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is because of the lounge access perks that the card offers. Having this card is the best way to access Admirals Clubs. Let’s discuss how that works.

Receive an Admirals Club membership

The primary cardmember on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card receives a full Admirals Club membership, including guesting privileges. That in and of itself is a reason this card makes sense.

Ordinarily, if you were to buy a comparable Admirals Club membership with guesting privileges, you’d pay a minimum of $1,200 per year.

By getting an Admirals Club membership with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, you’re saving $505-705 right off the bat.

Note that while you can redeem miles for an Admirals Club membership, it’s a terrible value, as you’re getting only a cent per mile.

What you get with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is a full Admirals Club membership, so you don’t even have to bring your credit card, as your membership will be linked to your AAdvantage number:

• You can access Admirals Clubs worldwide when flying American Airlines or a oneworld partner airline
• You’re allowed to bring immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or up to two guests
• Admirals Club members also receive access to Alaska Lounges, as well as access to dozens of other partner lounges, including lounges of Japan Airlines and Qantas (you can find the full lounge directory here); note that while you don’t need the physical card to access Admirals Clubs as the primary cardmember, you do need it to access partner lounges

Admirals Club members don’t get access to Flagship Lounges, as that access is determined based on the ticket you purchased rather than any membership.

How soon is your Admirals Club membership activated?

Many people may be considering applying for the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card shortly before taking an American Airlines trip. How soon after being approved for the card does your Admirals Club membership kick in?

Since the primary cardmember gets a full Admirals Club membership, it’s linked to their AAdvantage account. Many may be surprised to learn that this membership could very well kick in before you even receive your credit card in the mail, and you don’t even need your card to enter a lounge.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to tell if your Admirals Club membership has been activated. To figure it out, pretend that you’re signing up for an Admirals Club membership. Go to this page, enter your AAdvantage number, last name, and password.

If your account has already been updated to reflect the Admirals Club membership, you’ll see that the next page shows “1-Year Citi AADV Exec CC Membership.”

If it hasn’t been updated, you’ll see that it gives you the option of choosing what kind of membership you want to purchase.

Note that this only works for the primary cardmember. Since the authorized users don’t get a full Admirals Club membership, they wouldn’t show up as being eligible online. Authorized users need to present the physical Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, since there’s no membership linked to their AAdvantage account.

Add authorized users for Admirals Club access

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card also offers Admirals Club access for authorized users. As I explained above, you can add up to three authorized users for a total of $175, which potentially comes out to under $60 per authorized user. I’d say that’s a real sweet spot, since securing lounge access for friends and family for under $60 each is an amazing value.

Note that authorized users receive Admirals Club access and not a membership, so there are the restrictions:

• They’ll need to present their authorized user card to access the lounge, since they don’t have a membership tied to their AAdvantage number
• They need to be flying American Airlines or a oneworld partner airline the same day to access lounges
• They can bring immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or up to two guests
• They can’t access partner lounges, including Alaska Lounges

For the purposes of accessing Admirals Clubs this is more or less the same as an outright membership.

How to add authorized users to the card

Adding authorized users to the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is super easy, and can be done directly on Citi’s website. Follow this link to access the part of the Citi website where you add authorized users, and then log into your account.

On the next page, you’ll be able to manage authorized users, including adding and removing them.

You’ll just need their name to add them, and you have the choice of whether or not you want to give them permission to access your online account.

Make sure you trust all your authorized users, since any charges they incur will be your responsibility.

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card benefits & perks

The primary reason to get the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is because of the great welcome bonus, ability to earn status with spending, ability to receive 40,000 Loyalty Points annually just for being a cardmember, and Admirals Club benefit.

However, the card offers some other perks that could add a lot of value for card members. These perks range from priority check-in, to early boarding, to inflight or Admirals Club credits, to savings with American Airlines Vacations, Lyft, Avis, Budget, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck, to elite status with Avis and Omni.

Below is what you need to know about all the other perks of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.

First checked bag free

Those with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card receive a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries not just for themselves, but also for up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation. There’s no need to actually pay for the ticket with your Citi AAdvantage Executive Card — you just have to make sure it’s linked to your AAdvantage account (this benefit applies for the primary cardmember only).

American ordinarily charges $45-50 for the first checked bag, so that’s a $90-100 value per person roundtrip (and if you had eight companions all checking a bag, that would be a value of $810-900).

One thing that sometimes throws off cardmembers is that this benefit doesn’t work for international flights, and it doesn’t work for a second bag, if your fare includes one bag. So just understand this is exclusively a first checked bag benefit on domestic flights.

Priority check-in, priority screening, early boarding

For being the primary cardmember on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card you receive several valuable airport benefits, including priority check-in, priority airport screening, and early boarding. These are all features that can save you time and money.

There’s no need to show your card, as these perks should automatically be reflected with your ticket when you have your credit card linked to your AAdvantage account (which is automatic when you’re the primary cardmember).

Up to $500 back with American Airlines Vacations

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers up to $500 in statement credits per calendar year toward American Airlines Vacations purchases. American Airlines Vacations is the carrier’s vacation package portal. This credit is semi-annual, meaning you can take advantage of a $250 credit every six months (once in January through June, and once in July through December).

This applies for a booking of two or more travel components, like a flight, car reservation, or hotel booking. Many people find American Airlines Vacations to be a great deal, and a good way to earn bonus Loyalty Points.

Up to $180 in Lyft credits annually

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers up to $180 in Lyft credits every year. This comes in the form of a $15 Lyft credit each month after taking three eligible rides. Admittedly this requires quite a bit of effort to use, so not everyone will get value from that.

Up to $120 back with Avis & Budget annually

Just for having the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, you can receive up to $120 back on eligible Avis or Budget rentals every calendar year. Just charge an eligible pre-paid rental to your card each year, and you’ll receive a statement credit up to the $120 limit. This can be used toward a single rental or multiple rentals. If you rent with Avis and Budget with any frequency, this could be worth face value.

Up to $100 back on inflight or Admirals Club purchases

Just for having the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, you can receive up to $100 in statement credits every calendar year toward spending onboard American flights, or in Admirals Clubs. So you can use this credit to purchase everything from premium drinks or snacks on flights, to premium alcoholic drinks in Admirals Clubs.

Just charge the eligible purchase to your card, and you’ll be reimbursed automatically, with no registration required.

Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every four years, which is worth up to $120. Simply charge the purchase to your card and it will automatically be reimbursed. You don’t have to be the one signing up — you can always pay for a friend or family member who is signing up instead.

Personally, I always recommend applying for Global Entry, because Global Entry automatically comes with TSA PreCheck, while the inverse isn’t true.

Omni Hotels Champion status & free night award

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card now offers some perks with Omni Hotels & Resorts. For those not familiar, Omni operates around 50 properties in the United States and Canada, so there’s value in getting extra perks at these hotels. Specifically:

• Those with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card now receive Omni Hotels & Resorts Champion status, which is the program’s second highest elite tier, offering benefits like early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades subject to availability
• The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers an Omni free night reward once per calendar year after completing a qualifying stay of two or more consecutive nights booked directly through Omni Hotels & Resorts

If you stay at Omni properties with any frequencies, this is quite a nice value-add, if you ask me.

Avis President’s Club elite status

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers complimentary Avis President’s Club status, with enrollment available through August 31, 2028.

Avis President’s Club status offers a variety of perks, including car upgrades, expedited service, complimentary additional drivers, and more. If you rent from Avis, you should definitely be able to get some value from this.

World Legend Mastercard perks

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is a World Legend Mastercard, meaning that it comes with quite a few benefits you may not be familiar with. In addition to the concierge service, there are also savings and other perks with a variety of businesses, ranging from DoorDash to HelloFresh.

Is the American Executive Card worth it?

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is a lucrative card that I personally have and also recommend, but only if you’re a frequent flyer with American. If you fly American with any frequency then an Admirals Club membership is valuable, and this is the best way to get an Admirals Club membership. There can even be value in adding up to three authorized users, which will cost a total of $175, as they’d get Admirals Club access as well.

In addition to lounge access, the card offers up to 40,000 Loyalty Points per year (even without spending money on the card), which can make a big difference for anyone chasing status with American. Furthermore, the card potentially offers hundreds of dollars in credits per year, which can help offset the annual fee. Not everyone will get full value out of that, but there are definitely ways to earn some savings there.

How does the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card compare?

While the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is American’s most premium credit card, it’s also worth being aware of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (learn more), which has a $350 annual fee. There are lots of reasons to consider that card, including an excellent welcome bonus. Among other things:

• The card offers four Admirals Club passes per year, so while it’s not a full Admirals Club membership, that could prove worthwhile for the occasional American flyer
• The card offers a $100 annual inflight credit, which can be used for the purchase of food and drinks, among other things; if you often fly in economy, that could come in handy
• The card offers a $100 annual Splurge Credit, which can be used with select partners, including AAdvantage Hotels
• The card offers a $99 annual companion certificate, valid for travel in economy, which could save you hundreds of dollars
• The card offers up to 15,000 annual bonus Loyalty Points, in the form of the Flight Streak bonus; you can earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every four eligible American flights taken, up to three times

I think there’s potentially merit to having both cards, especially if you value earning the Loyalty Points bonuses. Otherwise I’d say the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card is easier to justify if you’re an occasional American flyer, while I think the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is easier to justify if you value an Admirals Club membership.

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card FAQs

Bottom line

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card isn’t for everyone. If you’re not a frequent flyer on American then you shouldn’t consider this card. However, if you are a frequent flyer on American then this card is totally for you.

While Admirals Clubs aren’t anything to get too excited about, there’s still huge value in the complimentary snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi and quiet places to sit, and access to an agent in the event your flight has irregular operations.

Even beyond the Admirals Club membership, the card offers other useful perks, like the ability to earn Loyalty Points, priority services with American, and the ability to receive credits with American Airlines Vacations, Avis, Budget, Lyft, and more.

I’ve had the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card for years, and love it. If you don’t yet have the card, this is the ideal time to apply, given the offer that’s available.

If you want to learn more about the Citi Executive AAdvantage Card or want to apply, follow this link.

Diriyah is a huge new historical cultural development on the outskirts of Riyadh, and Bab Samhan is the first hotel to open there. On the plus side, the property has a great sense of place, cool design, very friendly staff, and good amenities. The only catch is that Diriyah is still very much a construction zone, so I’m sure this place will be even more compelling in the future.

Booking Bab Samhan Diriyah

I paid cash for my stay at Bab Samhan Diriyah, and booked an entry level for around $300 for my one-night stay. For what it’s worth, I booked through the Marriott STARS program, which offers extra perks, including a $100 property credit, complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade, etc. Admittedly those perks partly overlap with my Bonvoy Ambassador status, though the $100 credit on a one night stay sure was nice!

As a point of comparison, if I had redeemed Bonvoy points for my stay, the cost would’ve been 44,000 points. At my valuation of 0.7 cents per point, paying cash was definitely the better value, especially factoring in the $100 credit I was receiving.

Bab Samhan Diriyah location

Diriyah is essentially a suburb of Riyadh, so you can practically stay here even if your intent is to visit the city. However, Diriyah is also a destination in and of itself… well, or it’s eventually supposed to be.

I’m not really qualified to give a history lesson on Saudi Arabia, but the idea is that Diriyah is the birthplace of what would eventually become Saudi Arabia — it was founded back in 1446 along the valley of Wadi Hanifah, and in 1727 it served as the capital of the First Saudi State.

More recently, Diriyah is the focus of a massive cultural redevelopment project. There are literally dozens of hotels currently being constructed here, ranging from a Ritz-Carlton to a Four Seasons, and Bab Samhan was the first one to open. While Saudi Arabia has scaled back some of its ambitions, I believe this project is still fully moving forward, since it’s not quite as outlandish as some of the other concepts.

While this is still a work in progress, that’s not to say that there isn’t anything going on here. The area already has Bujairi Terrace, essentially an outdoor shopping and dining destination, and there are also some museums, art spaces, etc.

As you’d expect for a cultural development, there’s a big emphasis placed on design, and Bab Samhan is no exception. You get a sense of that before even stepping inside the hotel.

As mentioned above, you can totally stay here if your intent is to visit Riyadh, as you’re just 10-20 minutes by car from many parts of town, and around 30-40 minutes by car from Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH).

For those curious about the hotel’s name, “Bab Samhan” translates to “gate of Samhan,” with Samhan being the historic neighborhood of Diriyah.

Bab Samhan Diriyah lobby & check-in

I had heard great things about service at Bab Samhan, and that was confirmed the second I arrived at the hotel. I was welcomed by the friendly bellmen and escorted to the front desk. One of the unique things about Saudi Arabia (compared to other countries in the region) is that Saudis actually make up a good portion of the workforce. So the front office staff were Saudis, and were super hospitable.

In particular, there was a friendly Saudi guy who had lived in Pittsburgh for a while, who told me all about the hotel, explained many of the design features, and even escorted me to my room. The reception area is beautiful, with incredible attention to detail with the finishes.

Prior to being escorted to my room, I was offered a date and cup of coffee.

I was also informed that I had been upgraded to a one bedroom suite (the base level suite) on account of my Bonvoy Ambassador status and Marriott STARS booking. I had tried to use a Bonvoy Nightly Upgrade Award for a premium suite, but that was rejected.

Bab Samhan Diriyah guest room

At Bab Samhan, all of the rooms can be accessed via the external paths around the property, as it’s quite spread out. The grounds are beautiful, and nicely maintained… I’ll let the pictures speak mostly for themselves.

I was assigned room 7009, just a short walk from reception.

While this room is marketed as a one bedroom suite, I’d say it’s more of a junior suite, in terms of there not actually being separation between the living area and bedroom area. As I entered the room, I first went down a few steps of stairs, and that brought me into the living area.

As you can see, an incredible amount of effort was put into making the rooms feel authentic to the area, and giving them a good sense of place. Admittedly that also makes for some quirky design elements, like the pillars in the middle of the room. The living area had a couch along one wall, and then a dining table of sorts with two chairs along another wall.

There was an incredibly generous welcome amenity waiting on the table, with endless sweets. As you can see, they figured out “who I am” (not that I am anyone, but you know what I mean), so good on them for Googling their guests, I guess.

That being said, most of the reviews I’ve seen online from Ambassador members show very generous welcome amenities, so I think this may have just been a bit more personalized, but otherwise I think I got the standard treatment (it’s not like they gave me an amazing upgrade, or anything).

There was also a chair with a desk in the far corner of the room, plus a chair with a side table closer to the bed.

The minibar was by the desk, and had a Nespresso coffee machine and kettle, along with some drinks and snacks for purchase.

The bed was then in the very back corner of the room, and the king size bed was very comfortable. As you can see, there was little art on the bed that read “Welcome Mr. Lucky.” Lol, cute.

The bathroom was off the living area, and had a sink, a toilet, and a walk-in shower.

I didn’t love the shower — it had good water pressure, but the temperature seemed to fluctuate quite a bit, and I’m also not a fan of these showers with half shields, in terms of keeping all the water in the shower.

Toiletries were from BYREDO.

In terms of views, there was a window near the bedroom, and it just looked at nearby desert landscape, which I found to be calming, though not particularly inspiring.

Wi-Fi in the room was fast and free, and turndown service was even offered. All-in-all, I thought the room was great, and I loved the effort put into design. Here’s the thing I will say, though, which I sort of struggle with. While I love the “authentic” design, it’s also not actually terribly cozy. Like, it’s all a little cave-like, given the lack of natural light and finishes, so it’s a tradeoff between authenticity and what we otherwise look for in modern times.

Still, I really appreciate what this hotel is going for, so I’m a fan.

Bab Samhan Diriyah spa, pool, & gym

The Bab Samhan wellness complex is where you’ll find most of the property’s amenities, including the spa, pool, and gym. The spa and pool area are open daily from 6AM until 10PM, and the hours are the same for the gym, though they will unlock it for you early, if you ask.

The Nafel Al Wadi Spa has five treatment rooms and offers a variety of services — you can find the full menu here. I didn’t get any spa services, but the pricing was on the steep side, given that this isn’t some $1,000+ per night hotel in the South of France. For example, a 60-minute massage cost over $200.

Anyway, all spa facilities are open to guests with or without a treatment, and I found the setup to be really nice. The hotel doesn’t have an outdoor pool, but there is an indoor pool, which even has some “seating” in the pool itself, as well as things like water jets. I do wish they had an outdoor pool, because I imagine this could get a little tricky if you had kids in the pool along with spa guests.

There’s also plenty of seating around the pool, along with a sauna, steam room, etc.

The gym is also located within the spa complex, and it’s on the compact side, especially for a newly built property where you’d think that space wouldn’t come at a particular premium. It had all the basics, though, so it’s not like it was bad.

Bab Samhan Diriyah restaurants & lounge

Bab Samhan Diriyah has three food & beverage outlets:

• Samhan Lounge is the all-day lobby bar serving refreshments and light snacks
• Medheef Restaurant is the all-day dining restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Taleed by Michael Mina is the fine dining restaurant open for dinner

Let’s take a look at each of these venues, starting with Samhan Lounge. This is located in the lobby, and is open daily from 8AM until 11PM (and until 12AM on weekends). It’s a beautiful space.

I was rather exhausted during my stay and tried to avoid napping during the day, so I came here in the afternoon for a cappuccino, which was barista made, and delicious.

Next up, Medheef Restaurant is the primary dining outlet at the hotel, and it’s located right across from the lobby. It serves breakfast from 7AM until 10AM, lunch from 12:30PM until 4PM, and dinner from 5:30PM until 8PM.

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and while I’m sure it’s lovely to sit outdoors in winter, I think sitting indoors is the right move in summer. 😉

This restaurant is where I had breakfast, which was included on account of my Marriott STARS booking, but can also be selected as the Bonvoy elite welcome amenity. The breakfast consisted of a combination of an extensive buffet, plus an a la carte selection that could be used to complement it.

The buffet included cereal, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, yogurt and muesli, veggies and dips, pastries, and several hot dishes.

Then you can find the Bab Samhan breakfast menu below.

I decided to order the spiced hummus and egg sourdough, which was great.

The coffee was also very good — I enjoyed my cappuccino.

Since I had a property credit on account of my Marriott STARS booking, I decided to also have dinner here, and I invited a local friend to join me. You can find the dinner menu below.

We were offered some delicious bread upon sitting down.

To start, we ordered the hummus and the za’atar and cheese flatbread.

For mains, I had the salmon with mufalak rice, salted lemon, and fennel, while my friend had the mixed grill.

The food was delicious, and we enjoyed the meal.

While I didn’t have the chance to eat there, I also had a look at Taleed by Michael Mina, the more premium of the two restaurants, open from 6:30PM until 11:30PM.

Bab Samhan Diriyah service

Across the board, I found the staff at Bab Samhan Diriyah to be friendly and hospitable. Admittedly the hotel was running really low occupancy, so it always felt like staff way outnumbered guests, and therefore you’d expect good service.

I also have to mention that just about every staff member addressed me by name, so that was a nice personal touch. I’m not sure if that’s because of my blog, my Bonvoy Ambassador status, or what, but it matches reports on FlyerTalk from other Ambassador members.

Bottom line

I had an excellent stay at Bab Samhan Diriyah, as this definitely isn’t your typical cookie cutter Marriott property. This is the first hotel in Diriyah’s new cultural development, and I had a lovely stay. The hotel has a great sense of place, friendly service, good food, and nice amenities. Given Diriyah’s proximity to Riyadh, this can also be a good option if visiting the city.

The main thing to be aware of is that Diriyah is still a construction zone at the moment, so it’s not ideal in that sense. Furthermore, while I love the authentic design, it’s not necessarily the most comfortable, and also offers limited natural light. That’s a totally fair tradeoff, though.

All-in-all, I’d highly recommend this property, and I’m happy I chose it.

What do you make of Marriott’s Bab Samhan Diriyah?

For a 75-minute flight departing at 1AM, this was simply top notch, with a full, delicious meal, friendly service, and even a flat bed… not that there was time to enjoy that! Saudia really has elevated itself, and I think the short haul soft product might even exceed what you’ll find on Gulf carrier rivals.

How I booked my Saudia business class ticket

I redeemed Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for my Saudia business class itinerary. Specifically, I booked the following for 85,000 Flying Blue miles plus $301 in taxes & fees:

7/28 SV214 Amsterdam to Jeddah departing 3:55PM arriving 10:45PM
7/29 SV1056 Jeddah to Riyadh departing 1:00AM arriving 2:45AM

In the previous installment, I reviewed my Saudia 787 business class flight from Amsterdam to Jeddah, so this review is of the second sector of that ticket.

Saudia business class lounge & boarding

I had a transit of just under two hours in Jeddah (after factoring in the flight arrival delay). My arrivals experience was super smooth — I cleared passport control, and then had to go through security, prior to entering the domestic terminal.

I have to generally acknowledge that I’ve found Saudis to be incredibly warm and hospitable. For example, the immigration officer said “I see you have already been to Saudi Arabia before, welcome back!” Honestly, that’s a warmer greeting than I’ve ever received from immigration in Qatar, the UAE, etc.

Once in the domestic portion of Terminal 1, I headed to the Saudia Lounge, which is located one level down from the concourse, near gate A5.

I didn’t have time to do a full review, since I was just there for a matter of minutes, but I’ll share some quick thoughts. For a domestic lounge, this was excellent — it wasn’t crowded, there was plenty of seating, the staff were friendly, and there were a lot of food and drinks to choose from.

I briefly sat down in the area with the coffee and sweets.

The super nice guy working that area didn’t seem to have a whole lot going on, so he proceeded to prepare me a massive plate of sweets. YOWZERS. Everything was of course delicious, but I feel like I put on a few pounds during my 48 hours in Saudi Arabia, based on the extent to which everyone pushes sweets on you.

My flight was departing from gate A8, a short walk from the lounge. Boarding was scheduled for 12:15AM, 45 minutes before departure.

I thought it was cool how the gate had two areas, with one on each side of the gate seating — the left side was where premium cabin boarding took place, and the right side was where standard boarding took place. Boarding started exactly on schedule, and I was the first person to board.

Saudia A330 business class cabin & seats

Saudia has a fleet of over 30 Airbus A330s, and there are two different business class hard products. They’re used pretty interchangeably, so be prepared for either. Both configurations are in a 2-2-2 layout, so you can tell which product you’ll get based on the number of seats.

Originally, my flight was scheduled to be on the A330 with 36 business class seats (so six rows of seats), and these are just recliners, similar to this version of Turkish Airlines’ A330 business class. However, a few days before departure, my flight was swapped to the A330 with 30 business class seats (so five rows of seats), and these are flat beds, so it’s a better product.

For what it’s worth, around 40% of A330s have the 36-seat cabin, and around 60% of A330s have the 30-seat cabin. Anyway, the better version of Saudia’s A330 business class has Collins Aerospace Diamond seats, which are fully flat beds, but a rather space efficient configuration. This wouldn’t be terribly competitive on a real long haul flight, but Saudia primarily uses this plane for regional and medium haul flights.

There’s not really a single best strategy for picking a seat here. If you want to look out the window, you’ll of course want to select one of the window seats, but you also don’t get direct aisle access then.

Meanwhile the pairs of seats in the center have the upside of both featuring direct aisle access, so there’s no one to step over (and no one to step over you). I ended up selecting seat 5D, the center left seat in the last row of business class. That ended up being a good choice, as the sole empty seat in business class was next to me (there’s an advantage to sitting in the back of the cabin!).

When it comes to seat features, the tray table pops out from the center armrest, so don’t expect you’ll easily be able to get out of your seat when it’s extended.

On the center armrest you’ll find USB-A charging, the headphone jacks, and the entertainment controller.

Then the AC power outlet, plus an additional USB-A outlet, are located underneath the center console.

These Collins Aerospace Diamond seats really lack any sort of storage. There is a literature pocket toward the back of the seat, and in theory you can place a few things there, but it’s not exactly a convenient location, and things can also easily fall from there.

The seat back entertainment screens are 16″, and are fixed in place, immediately above the footwells.

Speaking of the footwells, they’re definitely on the tight side, not that I was looking to get any real rest on this flight.

Lastly, Saudia’s A330s have individual air nozzles in the overhead console. Admittedly on the A330, the center console is pretty high up, so you’ll have to stand up to open or close the vents.

Obviously this isn’t a terribly competitive long haul hard product, though for the missions this plane flies, I’d say it’s very competitive. Perhaps the biggest issue is how Saudia swaps its A330s, so you could end up on an A330 with either recliner seats or flat beds.

Saudia A330 business class entertainment & Wi-Fi

Saudia’s A330 business class has seat back audio and video on demand, with the carrier’s signature SaudiaBEYOND system. The system didn’t seem to be quite as modern as on the 787, but there was still a good selection of movies, TV shows, music, games, and more.

Saudia’s A330s also have Wi-Fi, courtesy of OnAir. Of course some Wi-Fi is better than none, but the pricing here was possibly the worst I’ve ever seen on any airline:

• The airline offers a free messaging plan, but that gets you a total of 5MB of data… that’ll last you all of a minute
• The only plan for data beyond that was for a 200 MB package at the cost of $50, which is just absurd and laughable
• In theory some premium passengers are also entitled to free Wi-Fi, but that wasn’t offered on this domestic flight

Wi-Fi on a 75-minute 1AM flight is hardly important to me, so that didn’t bother me. But still, the pricing is so absurd that I think it just leaves a bad taste in the mouth of passengers, especially given how glacially slow OnAir’s connectivity is. Like, at that point just don’t offer it.

Saudia business class amenities

Waiting at my Saudia business class seat upon boarding were a pair of noise canceling headphones, the same I had on my previous flight.

Pillows and blankets were also available on demand, and were colorful and cozy.

The crew was incredible, as on the previous flight. As soon as I settled in, they familiarized me with my seat, as if this was a long haul flight. They also offered me a pre-departure drink of choice, along with a hot or cold towel. I ordered the signature date and banana smoothie and a cold towel, and that was offered with some warm mixed nuts in a ramekin. What lovely service!

A few minutes later, I was presented with the menu for the flight.

Then just before the door closed, the crew passed through the cabin with Arabic coffee and dates.

Saudia A330 departure from Jeddah

The boarding process was pretty efficient, and mostly wrapped up by 12:40AM. However, we had to then wait for another 15 minutes or so, as a traveler on a stretcher was loaded onto the plane, and that was quite a process. At 12:55AM, the main cabin door closed, still ahead of schedule.

At 1AM we began our pushback. We had an insanely short taxi, thanks to the proximity of Terminal 1 to runway 34R — within a minute of the engines starting, we were barreling down the runway by 1:05AM, with the safety video still playing. Hah.

After takeoff we immediately made a turn to the east, and then the seatbelt sign was turned off around 10 minutes after takeoff.

Saudia business class meal service

Despite this being a short flight in the middle of the night, there was still a full meal service. You can find the Saudia business class menu and drink list below.

The crew hustled on this short sector, and unsurprisingly, it took a little while until they got to my seat, given the nearly full cabin and short flight time. While Gulf carriers tend to have great food, this was honestly the best meal I ever recall having on a short flight within the region.

There were three different main course options, and I chose the Saudi option, with the main course being a sea bass sayadiah, with crispy onions and toasted pine nuts. That was accompanied by a feta salad, a mezze duo, a bread selection, and a dessert consisting of black forest gateau. This was perhaps the most flavorful fish dish I’ve ever been served on a plane.

To drink, I simply had some water, since I felt like I had to restrain myself when it comes to sugary drinks.

At the conclusion of the meal I was asked if I wanted any coffee or tea. I opted for tea, which was served with some chocolates.

Saudia A330 business class lavatories

One quirk with Saudia’s A330s is that there appears to be just one lavatory for business class, at the very front of the cabin, right by the flight deck. It was a pretty standard lavatory, and was clean, but there was nothing special about it.

Now, there are four lavatories immediately behind business class, but they seem to be intended for economy. After all, the only other economy lavatories are in the very back of the plane, and there are only two of them there. With 300 economy seats, this is definitely more of a “high density” configuration.

Saudia business class service

Much like on the last flight, the crew on this sector was stellar. They were hospitable, efficient, poised, and had great attention to detail. The ladies working business class came from Morocco, Tunisia, and the Philippines, and they were all really great.

Even though this was a short haul flight where they were in a bit of a rush, they took their time with each passenger, and really treated the service flow as if it was a long haul flight. I’m so amazed by the service transformation at Saudia!

Saudia A330 arrival in Riyadh

Just 40 minutes after takeoff we began our descent toward Riyadh, from our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. About five minutes later, the seatbelt sign was turned on.

Our descent was smooth, and we touched down in Riyadh at 2:20AM, on runway 33L. From there we had a 10-minute taxi to our arrival gate (which covered a long distance, but we taxied fast), where we pulled at in 2:30AM.

Bottom line

Saudia has improved massively, and I had excellent back-to-back flights. My short, middle of the night Saudia business class flight had flat beds, a really friendly crew, and excellent food. I’m not kidding when I say this is the best meal I’ve ever had on a flight of this length.

My only real negative feedback on the flight is the Wi-Fi pricing, which borders on offensive, especially given the quality of the service. It’s not that I needed Wi-Fi on this flight, but don’t even bother if that’s how much you’re going to charge.

Huge kudos to Saudia on its transformation, and I’d gladly fly the airline again, including when connecting to elsewhere.

What’s your take on Saudia’s A330 business class?

Prior to this flight, it had been years since I flew Saudia business class, though past flights definitely left a lot to be desired. I had heard that Saudia has been improving in recent years, but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this good… it felt like flying a completely different airline!

This is truly a world class soft product, with the obvious caveat being that the airline is “dry” (doesn’t serve alcohol). Before anyone yells at me, let me emphasize that I try to judge airlines objectively, so this isn’t at all a political statement about Saudi Arabia, but instead, just a reflection of my flight experience.

How I booked my Saudia business class ticket

I redeemed Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for my Saudia business class itinerary. Specifically, I booked the following for 85,000 Flying Blue miles plus $301 in taxes & fees:

7/28 SV214 Amsterdam to Jeddah departing 3:55PM arriving 10:45PM
7/29 SV1056 Jeddah to Riyadh departing 1:00AM arriving 2:45AM

Let me emphasize that this isn’t actually a particularly good redemption value, though I did earn those Flying Blue miles with a 25% transfer bonus. So why didn’t I book through Delta SkyMiles or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which are also in SkyTeam, and (in theory) have lower redemption rates? Well, for whatever reason, they didn’t see award availability on the Jeddah to Riyadh connecting flight, while Flying Blue did. So that made the math work in Flying Blue’s favor.

For what it’s worth, I booked my ticket around two weeks before departure.

Saudia business class lounge & boarding

I had booked a separate economy ticket on KLM from Dubrovnik (DBV) to Amsterdam the morning of my Saudia flight. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to check-in online (I believe it’s because they need to verify visas for Saudi Arabia), which was sort of annoying.

So I headed to the check-in desk around three hours before departure, as it opened. Check-in was chaotic, unfortunately — not due to any fault of the staff, but it just seemed like a lot of passengers struggled with queuing, and several people in front of me seemed to have issues with their tickets, were trying to argue for an upgrade, etc.

I then spent some time in the KLM Crown Lounge, which I reviewed some time back, so I won’t be reviewing it again this time around. It’s a solid lounge, and a nice place to kill some time. My flight was departing from gate F4, just a short walk from the lounge.

Boarding was scheduled for 3:10PM, 45 minutes before the anticipated 3:55PM departure. I headed to the gate quite a bit early, and saw the Saudia Dreamliner parked there, in the old livery.

The inbound flight arrived on schedule, so I’m not sure what happened, but boarding was delayed substantially. The crew only boarded at 3:20PM, and then the actual boarding process started at 3:40PM. They first boarded those needing extra time, which seemed to be about half the plane, though after that boarding did get underway.

Saudia 787 business class cabin & seats

I boarded through the second set of doors, where I was greeted by an exceptionally friendly flight attendant, and pointed left. I was on the most stretched version of the Dreamliner, the Boeing 787-10, which has quite a bit of space between the first and second set of doors.

Rather than dedicating that entire space to business class (as most airlines do), Saudia only has 24 business class seats (in six rows), and then has an economy section immediately behind that, with 36 seats (in four rows).

Saudia’s 787 business class consists of Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats, which are your typical, off the shelf reverse herringbone seats. This is a solid hard product — it’s not cutting edge nowadays, but I also can’t imagine anyone would complain about these seats. Saudia is expected to introduce a new business class product soon, so I’m curious what the airline comes up with.

If you’re traveling with someone, you may prefer to select one of the pairs of seats in the center. This is better than being seated separately, though it’s still a little tricky to easily communicate in reverse herringbone seats, given the separation and angle.

Meanwhile most passengers will prefer selecting one of the window seats, so they have both aisle access and a view out the window.

I assigned myself seat 6A, the window seat in the last row on the left side.

When it comes to seat features, there’s a console to the side of the seat, with an entertainment controller, headphone jack, and AC and USB-A charging ports. There’s also a literature pocket there.

Part of the counter to the side of the seat can be raised to expose an enclosed storage compartment, which is large enough to store things like headphones, a passport, phone, etc.

The tray table folds out from underneath the entertainment system, and it can easily be slid forward and backward, so that you can even get up while it’s extended.

Underneath the tray table is the footwell, which becomes part of the bed when reclined. The footwell here is a decent size, though also not huge.

On the aisle side, there’s also an armrest that can be raised or lowered, and that can also be opened, as it’s an enclosed storage area.

The last thing worth mentioning is that Saudia has individual air nozzles on its Dreamliners — yay, Saudia, because that’s way too rare on non-US carriers!

All-in-all, I’d say this is a well-rounded hard product. It’s not about to win any awards, but it does the trick, especially for a fairly short daytime flight like this.

Saudia 787 business class entertainment & Wi-Fi

Saudia’s 787 business class has 17″ seat back entertainment monitors, which is where you’ll find all the audio and video on demand. Saudia’s entertainment system is called SaudiaBEYOND, and I found the selection to be extensive, including a large number of movies, TV shows, games, music, etc. As you’d expect, there weren’t many graphic or controversial options in the system.

There was also of course the map feature, which I kept an eye on for much of the flight.

Here’s the bad news, though — the 787 I was flying on wasn’t equipped with Wi-Fi. Saudia is in the process of installing high speed Wi-Fi on its Dreamliners. The airline is partnering with Neo Space Group (NSG) on its NSG Skywaves service, but this particular plane didn’t have it installed. So that was a bummer, but within a matter of months, this service should be installed, as I understand it.

I was really impressed by how cabin manager Wael came around to each business class passenger to personally apologize for the lack of Wi-Fi, and explain that the airline is in the process of installing this service across the fleet (in addition to making an announcement for the entire plane).

Saudia business class amenities

The amenities in Saudia business class were incredible, especially when you consider that this was a daytime flight that wasn’t even long.

For one, there were both a pillow and blanket waiting at my seat, which had a cool design, and were also comfortable. The pillow was substantial, while the blanket was cozy.

There were also a pair of noise canceling headphones waiting at my seat, which were pretty good quality, and I liked the design.

Moments after settling in, the lovely flight attendant taking care of me, Cherine, came by to introduce herself, and to familiarize me with the seat. She also offered me a pre-departure drink of choice, plus my choice of a hot or cold towel. I opted for a lemon and mint juice, plus a cold towel… I love the towel presentation, how nice!

I was then presented with the menu for the flight, with Cherine explaining that Saudia has a full dine on demand concept, so I could order what I wanted, when I wanted.

Moments later, Cherine came by to offer me an amenity kit, which contained a dental kit, earplugs, socks, eyeshades, and a variety of toiletries from ELIE SAAB.

I was also presented with pajamas, which were in a bag with the carrier’s new branding, along with a pair of slippers. The pajamas were among the most comfortable pajamas I’ve been offered on any airline as of late, as I found them to be super soft and not scratchy.

Lastly, before departure, chef Ihsan came around with Arabic coffee and dates. The crew insisted I have three, since as he explained, having an odd number of dates (traditionally three) is a custom of Saudi hospitality and generosity.

What an impressive selection of amenities, especially for a flight of this length!

Saudia 787 departure from Amsterdam

Boarding took quite some time, as the flight was full, including every business class seat being taken. During this time I enjoyed listening to the boarding music, which I rank as being among the best of any airline.

Finally at 4:15PM, 20 minutes after our scheduled departure time, the main cabin door closed. We then began our pushback at 4:25PM, and a moment later, the safety video was screened.

Our taxi out to runway 18L was short, and by 4:35PM we were cleared for takeoff.

The seatbelt sign was turned off just five minutes after takeoff.

Saudia business class meal service

As mentioned above, Saudia offers dine on demand in business class, so I could dine at any point during the flight. My goal was to get a bit of a nap in on this flight (since I’d have a connecting flight in the middle of the night), so I decided to have lunch right away, sleep for a bit, and then have a snack before landing.

You can find the Saudia business class menu and drink list below.

Not only did the menu look great, but the entire service was exceptional. At Cherine’s recommendation, I had the “BelliNo” to drink, from “The Sparkling Collection” (it’s basically a non-alcoholic bellini). I appreciate how Saudia is at least innovative with its drink selection given that it’s dry, as there are also plenty of dry airlines (like EgyptAir) that just don’t try with their drink selection, and use it is as an opportunity to cut costs.

The drink was served with some warm mixed nuts, in a ramekin.

The service was nicely paced, and around 45 minutes after takeoff, a tablecloth was brought out, and then the first course was delivered. Of the three starter options, I chose the smoked salmon with red chicory leaves and saffron potatoes.

I thought this was spectacular, in terms of both taste and presentation. I’m not sure if the picture really does it justice, but the plating was truly restaurant quality. You also have to appreciate the warm and fresh-tasting bread, the high quality butter, and the olive oil and Tabasco. Continuing on the theme of exploring their non-alcoholic drink selection, I had the “Jukes 1 The Sparkling White” to drink with the meal.

My dish was cleared shortly after I finished, and then a few minutes later, my main course, plus a fresh set of cutlery, were brought out. For the main course, I went for the Saudi option, which was the chicken mandi, with roasted chicken, caramelized onion, raisins, and red dakous sauce. This dish was brilliant, and very flavorful. You probably can’t tell, but there was a ton of chicken under the rice.

Once that was cleared, I was offered dessert, and chose the sticky toffee date pudding, which was also very good, and beautifully presented. I had a cup of tea to accompany it.

At the conclusion of the meal I was offered a cold towel, plus a couple of chocolates on a plate.

The food quality, presentation, and service, were all absolutely stellar, and I can’t say enough good things about the experience, and how pleasantly surprised I was.

Saudia 787 business class lavatories

After the meal, I decided to check out the lavatories. Saudia’s Boeing 787-10 business class has two lavatories — one at the very front of the cabin by the flight deck, and one at the front right of the cabin, in front of the first row of seats. The lavatories were pretty standard for a Dreamliner, and had a few extra amenities.

One thing I’d note is that the crew refreshed the lavatories multiple times during the flight, down to putting the toilet paper into perfect triangles.

Saudia 787 business class bed

Once back at my seat, I decided it was time to get some rest, so I reclined my seat and put out my bedding. I found the bed to be comfortable, and the individual air nozzles helped with regulating airflow, and to avoid the feeling of being warm.

I fell asleep with just over 3hr30min remaining to Jeddah, as we were near southern Italy…

I had asked to be woken up a little before landing to have enough time to have a coffee and snack, and sure enough, Cherine woke me up with around an hour remaining, as we were over the Red Sea, meaning I got in a nice nap of a little over two hours.

Saudia business class snack

At Cherine’s recommendation, I had ordered a cheese and fruit plate, plus a cappuccino, as my pre-landing snack. While I was anything but hungry at this point, I figured I had to order something, for review purposes, of course. 😉 I thought this was all beautifully presented, and it also tasted great.

Saudia business class service

What impressed me most about my Saudia business class experience was the service, both in absolute and relative terms. Saudia’s flight attendants are primarily a mix of foreign women and local men. Going back a decade, I found service to be quite a joke — the foreign women were typically very professional, but the local men would just sit around in premium seats and be served by the other flight attendants, even ahead of passengers.

Heck, I remember that one time I flew Saudia first class, and they accused me of “stealing” the cabin manager’s seat, by sitting in my assigned seat (since apparently that was the cabin manager’s preferred seat).

This flight was simply a night-and-day difference, and had some of the best service I’ve ever had on any airline in business class. Wael was the cabin manager, and he was charming, engaging, and hands-on. He greeted each passenger upon boarding, was involved in the service, thanked each passenger at the end of the flight for flying with Saudia, etc. What an incredible ambassador for the airline.

Cherine was the flight attendant primarily taking care of me, and she was half Lebanese and half Egyptian. She could not have been lovelier or more professional. Not only was she kind, but she had impeccable attention to detail. For example, when I went to the lavatory, I even returned to find my blanket folded. Simply stellar service.

The inflight chef, Ihsan, was also fantastic. He did a great job with plating dishes, and also checked on each passenger to get feedback.

Service was really what most impressed me about the flight, and what most differentiated it from my past Saudia experiences. What a commendable transformation Saudia has had on that front.

Saudia 787 arrival in Jeddah

All too soon, my Saudia business class flight was already coming to an end. At 10:25PM local time, we began our descent from 33,000 feet, at which point the seatbelt sign was turned on. We had a pretty direct approach, except for the fact that we were approaching from the north and also had to land into the north, so that required flying past the airport and then turning around.

We ended up touching down at 10:55PM on runway 34R. From there we had a 10 minute taxi to our arrival gate, where we pulled in at 11:05PM, 20 minutes behind schedule.

At that point I bid farewell to the lovely crew, cleared immigration, headed over to the domestic departures area, and took my Saudia A330 business class flight to Riyadh.

Bottom line

Saudia’s 787 business class is perhaps the business class experience that has most exceeded my expectations so far this year. It had been years since I flew the airline, and back in the day, the experience left a lot to be desired. I had heard that Saudia has improved, but I wasn’t expecting to see such a change.

Saudia’s business class hard product is competitive, but nothing too exciting. What most delighted me was the level of service, as the crew working my flight was stellar. Thank you to Wael, Cherine, and Ihsan for their warm hospitality. I thought the food, non-alcoholic drinks, and amenities, were also great.

As I wrapped up this flight, I couldn’t help but be reminded that the real reason for my detour to Saudi Arabia was to fly Riyadh Air on the return. Little did I know that Saudia was an airline worth seeking out as well.

What’s your take on Saudia’s 787 business class?

The 55-key property has been around for decades, and is typically regarded as the best hotel in Dubrovnik, a city that otherwise doesn’t have many great options (especially ones affiliated with major hotel groups). Villa Dubrovnik is independent, but it is part of Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), so there is a points angle here (which I’ll talk more about in the “booking” section).

While Villa Dubrovnik is pricey, it’s a gorgeous property, with amazing views, nice facilities, excellent dining, and very friendly staff. It even recently underwent a full renovation, so is better than ever. If you can swing it, I think this is absolutely the place to stay in the city. There were a couple of quirks that I’ll get into in the “service” section, but nothing that would impact my recommendation to stay here.

Booking Villa Dubrovnik

Villa Dubrovnik is open seasonally, typically from late March until early November. Dubrovnik can be lovely in winter as well, but as you’d expect, tourism demand is heavily concentrated on the summer months, and given the rates being charged at Villa Dubrovnik, I imagine demand in winter would be very low.

Rates typically range from around €600 per night to over €1,200 per night, depending on exactly when you’re staying. The nightly rate for our stay was around €1,000. Ford booked our stay through Virtuoso, which offers extra perks, including a room upgrade subject to availability, a complimentary three course lunch for two people, and more (ordinarily breakfast would be a perk as well, but it’s available with all rates at the property).

I think it’s worth pointing out the points angle here, as both Amex Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou let you transfer points to LHW Leaders Club at a 4:1 ratio. Leaders Club points are typically worth around eight cents each, meaning that each point can potentially get you around two cents toward the cost of a stay. For many people, that could prove to be a lucrative option.

Villa Dubrovnik location

What’s so cool about Villa Dubrovnik is that you sort of feel like you’re in a serene and secluded area, while actually being within walking distance of all the action.

Villa Dubrovnik is set on a cliff in the Sveti Jakov residential area, yet it’s only around a 15-20 minute walk to the heart of the historic city center. If you’d prefer not to walk, the hotel also has an hourly shuttle service to town in the afternoons and evenings, which runs from 3PM until 11PM.

The hotel has a rather dramatic yet unassuming exterior. As you pull up to the hotel, you’ll only see an elevator, which might confuse you at first, and make you wonder where the hotel is.

But when you look down, you’ll see the property and sea below, as it really is built right into a cliff. This makes for some incredible views.

After taking the elevator down, you’ll find a nice garden and seating area, and that then leads to the lobby.

Villa Dubrovnik lobby & check-in

Villa Dubrovnik has an intimate lobby, with some breathtaking views of the sea. The front desk staff were super friendly and welcoming, and very thorough in explaining the property’s features to us.

As you’d expect, just about everyone checking in on our day seemed to be getting off the Four Seasons Yachts ship, while half of the guests on property were going to board the Four Seasons Yachts ship that day, so our room wasn’t ready for an early check-in, and there also weren’t any upgrades available. Still, our room was ready by check-in time, so that’s fair enough, and in line with expectations.

To give a sense of the property’s overall layout, the hotel covers levels one through five, and reception is located on level four, so that’s where you arrive. The hotel’s rooftop bar (Galanto Bar) is located on level five, the fitness and spa area are located on level three, the restaurant and bar are located on level one, and then guest rooms are located on levels one through four.

Villa Dubrovnik guest room

Villa Dubrovnik has four categories of rooms and five categories of suites, and we were staying in an entry level superior sea view room. It’s really nice how all rooms here have a sea view, since at so many hotels that’s something you have to pay a big premium for.

We were assigned room 304, located on the third floor. All floors are connected by an elevator or a couple of staircases, so there are options for moving around.

Superior sea view rooms here are marketed as being 35 square meters (377 square feet), so they’re a decent size, though nothing huge. The room featured an entryway with closet space to the right, the bathroom to the left, and the rest of the room straight ahead.

I really liked the room’s design, between the exposed stone and the pops of color. The room had a very comfortable king size bed, as well as a couch and a desk with a chair along one of the walls. Then there was an additional chair and a coffee table in the opposite corner of the room. For an accommodation of this size, I appreciated just how much furniture there was, as so many rooms barely give you anywhere to sit.

The minibar setup was near the entrance, and included Nespresso coffee, a kettle, and a variety of drinks and snacks for purchase.

There was also a nice little welcome amenity consisting of an Orancello liqueur, crafted specifically for the hotel.

The bathroom was also impressive for a standard room, with double sinks, a soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and a toilet in a separate room.

The room’s terrace was lovely as well, and had a couple of chairs and a table, plus gorgeous views of the Adriatic Sea.

One other thing I should mention is that tech in the room was really great, I guess thanks to the hotel undergoing a renovation that wrapped up in 2025. For example, there were even conveniently located USB-C outlets by the bed, which is far too rare. I also liked how there were exterior shutters, so it was easy to make the room really dark.

Villa Dubrovnik spa & pool

Villa Dubrovnik has an extensive wellness area and spa, which starts on level three, and goes all the way down to level one. While we didn’t get any spa treatments during our brief stay, there are five treatment rooms, and you can find the treatment menu here.

The wellness area has the property’s only pool, which is indoors, and is 18 meters (57 feet) long. There’s also a hot tub next to it.

The spa also has a relaxation area, a sauna, and a steam room, which can be used by guests, even when not getting a treatment.

There’s also an outdoor deck, right next to the indoor pool, which is a popular place to lounge around.

Villa Dubrovnik seaside “beach”

Villa Dubrovnik doesn’t have a “real” beach, given that it’s built into a cliff. That being said, the property does have a seaside platform (I guess it’s called a “lido,” or something?), where guests can lounge around during the day, and enter the sea.

At least during our stay, the water here was really rough, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend swimming here. However, it’s a lovely area to lounge around.

Villa Dubrovnik gym

Villa Dubrovnik has a 24/7 gym within the wellness area, which is modern but nothing memorable. The cardio equipment is solid, and there’s also a dedicated area for yoga and stretching, though my main complaint is that the free weights were all quite light.

This is minor in the scheme of things, but endlessly confusing to me. It’s so common to see hotels only have rather light free weights, when you’d think a good set of free weights is one of the cheaper and more useful things you could put in a hotel gym, no? Is it just me?

Villa Dubrovnik restaurant & bar

Villa Dubrovnik has three food & beverage outlets:

• Restaurant Pjerin is the all-day dining restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Libero Bar is the casual all-day lounge and bar, serving drinks, snacks, and light meals
• Galanto Bar is the rooftop bar open in the evenings, serving cocktails and light bites

Let me start by saying that across the board, I found the quality of the food and drinks to be very good. I also thought pricing was rather high, given that we’re talking about Dubrovnik (admittedly the hotel is expensive, but often food & beverage prices don’t “track” in the same way when you’re outside of London, Paris, the South of France, etc.).

Anyway, both Restaurant Pjerin and Libero Bar are located on level one, and are next to one another. Libero Bar is open from 7AM until 11PM, so you can grab a coffee, cocktail, or whatever else here, as there’s both indoor and outdoor seating.

We stopped here in the evening for an excellent glass of Croatian wine, which was served with a generous helping of snacks.

Then there’s Restaurant Pjerin, serving breakfast from 7AM until 11AM, lunch from 1PM until 4PM, and dinner from 6:30PM until 11:30PM. The restaurant has an indoor seating area, but as you’d expect, outdoor seating was definitely more popular, given the beautiful summer weather.

The idea is that breakfast and dinner are served in the area shown above, while there’s a terrace one “tier” down, which is where lunch is served, weather permitting. No matter where you sit, the views and vibes are great.

Breakfast at Villa Dubrovnik consists of an unlimited a la carte concept, so there’s no buffet, but instead, you can order as much as you’d like from a menu. You can find the menu below.

To drink, I had an excellent iced coffee.

Then we split a few different dishes, including the berry & granola crunch, avocado toast with smoked salmon, traditional Istrian frittata, and french toast. All were really great.

On account of booking through Virtuoso, we also received a complimentary three course lunch once during our stay, and it even included non-alcoholic drinks. Given that the Virtuoso amenity is typically worth $100, this was significantly more valuable than that, compared to the standard menu prices.

You can find the menu below, and the idea is that you can select from any of the three course sets (though you can’t mix and match). I chose the “garden” menu, while Ford had the “land” menu.

My starter consisted of burrata & citrus, while Ford’s consisted of a traditional Croatian platter.

For mains, mine consisted of homemade cheese ravioli, while Ford’s was grilled marinated chicken.

Lastly, for dessert, mine was the selection of homemade ice cream, while Ford’s was the dark chocolate & olive.

In the evenings, Restaurant Pjerin turns into more of a fine dining affair, and you can find the menu here. There’s a five course tasting menu for €175, or you can go a la carte, but you need to order two courses for €95, or three courses for €135. The food quality was also very good, and you can find some of the dishes below, including the prawns, beef tartare, wagyu striploin fillet, and sea bass.

Lastly, Galanto Bar is located on the fifth floor, and is the rooftop bar open nightly from 7PM until 12AM, weather permitting. We didn’t have the chance to have a drink here, but talk about a lovely setting!

Villa Dubrovnik service

The staff at Villa Dubrovnik were genuinely super kind and hospitable, from the front office staff, to the restaurant servers, and more. They were all professional, so I give them high marks.

There was one quirk to the service, which isn’t a big deal in the scheme of things, but which I think is worth bringing up. I tend to think that if you’re charging the highest rates in a city and are trying to offer a true luxury experience, flexibility for meeting guest needs should be part of that.

I loved the restaurant setup at the hotel in general, but found them to be oddly inflexible when it comes to eating what you’d like, where you’d like. I of course understand that some hotel restaurants are run independently, operate from separate kitchens, etc.

That’s not the case here, though, since both the main restaurant and lounge are in the same area, they use the same kitchen, etc. With that in mind, they just weren’t very flexible.

For example, on the second day we were having lunch (again) at the standard lunch spot, given what a pretty setting it is. Ford wanted to order off the standard menu, while I really just wanted something basic from the bar menu (they have burgers, club sandwiches, etc.). I asked if I could order one of those dishes there, while Ford would order from the main menu. They said it wasn’t possible, even though there’s no actual good justification for that.

Similarly, when we had dinner at the main restaurant, they have both the standard menu, and then they also have the bar menu. They’re fine with you ordering off the bar menu, but only if everyone at the table orders off the bar menu.

We had traveled with a group on Four Seasons Yachts, and they also stayed at the hotel, so we had dinner together. I totally get if anyone in our group were doing a five course tasting menu (where that’s totally different), but we just each wanted to order two courses, with some coming from the restaurant menu, and some coming from the bar menu. Again, I’d get if the restaurant were super crowded or they were short staffed, but the restaurant was quite empty, and they didn’t seem to have any sort of a staffing shortage.

They initially insisted it simply wasn’t possible. Someone in our group had more liquid courage than I did, and kindly asked them to ask the manager to make an exception. They then did, but said in advance that they weren’t sure they could coordinate things correctly. Go figure they did coordinate it correctly, and everything was great.

Anyway, this was just a small point of friction in an otherwise frictionless stay. A true luxury hotel is supposed to feel like a home, and that’s supposed to include making reasonable accommodations. We weren’t at a hotel with a Nobu and Carbone, where we’re asking to eat one cuisine in another restaurant, when they’re run fully independently. But when everything comes from the same kitchen, is run by the same hotel, has the same servers, and things aren’t super busy, I would’ve appreciated a little more flexibility.

Bottom line

Villa Dubrovnik is an excellent luxury hotel in Croatia. I love how this property is close to all the action, while also feeling removed and private, with incredible sea views from all over the place, including all rooms. Villa Dubrovnik has modern and stylish rooms, nice facilities, excellent dining, and friendly staff. Admittedly it’s not cheap, but if you can swing it, I’d highly recommend this hotel.

What’s your take on Villa Dubrovnik?

Link: Learn about the best credit cards for Alaska Atmos Rewards

Atmos Rewards Summit Card limited time welcome bonus

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card is currently offering a limited time welcome bonus that consists of 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award. To qualify, you need to spend $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Personally, I value Atmos Rewards points at 1.5 cents each. I’d consider this offer to be worth 105,000 points, so to me that’s a staggering value of $1,575. I should mention that while this is a limited time welcome offer that will soon be pulled, the best-ever offer that we’ve seen on this card has been for 100,000 points, plus the Global Companion Award. However, it’s anyone’s guess if/when that returns.

Even if you’re not convinced on the long term value proposition of the card, I absolutely think it’s worth giving a try, given all the uses of Atmos Rewards points.

Atmos Rewards Summit Card eligibility requirements

If you’re interested in applying for the Atmos Rewards Summit Card, the good news is that the application restrictions are pretty limited. Specifically, you are eligible for this card if you have any of the other Atmos Rewards cards, whether personal or business.

Personally, I find Bank of America to be one of the most straightforward and easier card issuers to get approvals from, though that’s anecdotal, and I’ve had good luck with these cards.

Read my guide to getting approved for Atmos Rewards cards.

Why the Atmos Rewards Summit Card is worth it

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card has a $395 annual fee, though it has to be one of the most interesting and rewarding airline credit cards we’ve ever seen. As I see it, here are the main reasons to consider getting this card, beyond the welcome bonus:

• A lucrative rewards structure, including 3x points on all foreign purchases, plus 3x points on dining
• The fastest pathway to Atmos Rewards elite status — receive an anniversary boost of 10,000 status points, plus earn one status point for every $2 spent
• The ability to earn Global Companion Awards — an anniversary 25,000-point Global Companion Award just for having the card, plus a 100,000-point Global Companion Award for spending $60,000 on the card per anniversary year
• Up to eight Alaska Lounge passes and up to eight Alaska inflight Wi-Fi passes per year, in the form of two of each pass per quarter
• A first checked bag free and 20% savings on inflight purchases on Alaska & Hawaiian flights
• Preferred boarding on Alaska flights
• Waived fees, including waived $20 partner award booking fees, and waived same day change fees on Alaska flights
• Upgrade priority on Alaska & Hawaiian flights, so that comes in handy for anyone with elite status
• The ability to share points with up to 10 other members at no cost (and vice versa)
• Primary rental car coverage, plus valuable travel protection for delayed flights, lost bags, and more

Read a detailed review of the Atmos Rewards Summit Card.

Atmos Rewards Summit Card eligibility rules FAQs

Bottom line

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card currently has a limited time welcome offer that can earn you 80,000 Atmos Rewards bonus points, and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award. However, this offer is expected to end soon, so if this does interest you, I’d recommend applying. It’s possible we’ll see a bonus of up to 100,000 Atmos Rewards points again at some point in the future, though it’s anyone’s guess when.

This card is worth getting for the offer alone, given the huge value for travel on partner airlines, even if it’s “just” for domestic flights on American. But I think the card also offers good long term value, from the annual Global Companion Award, to all the other perks. For that matter, there’s an argument to be made for spending on the card to earn oneworld status.

This is a card that I and everyone else in my family have, so I would seriously recommend considering it, if you haven’t applied already.

Anyone plan to pick up the Atmos Rewards Summit Card with this great offer?

The exact end date for this offer has now been revealed — the 100K bonus is expected to be pulled at 9AM EDT on Thursday, September 17, 2026, so this is the last chance to apply. I’d like to recap the details of the offer, for anyone who is eligible but who hasn’t yet applied.

Link: Learn more about the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card with 100K bonus points

What is the current Chase Ink Cash Card welcome bonus?

The Chase Ink Cash Card currently has a highest-ever publicly available welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first four months, and this is the last chance to apply. You’ll see that the bonus is marketed as offering cash back, rather than points, so it’s described as a $1,000 bonus. Indeed, you could redeem the rewards as cash back.

However, if you have the card in conjunction with a card earning Ultimate Rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more) or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more), then rewards can be transferred to Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners. Since I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, that increases the value of the points by 70% right there, as far as I’m concerned.

I consider the 100,000 points to be worth $1,700. That’s an incredible bonus, especially for a no annual fee card. For what it’s worth, the previous offer was for 75,000 bonus points, and otherwise we saw limited time welcome offers as high as 90,000 points. A bonus this big on a card with no annual fee is something that’s really rare.

Who is eligible for the Chase Ink Cash Card bonus?

When it comes to getting approved for the Chase Ink Cash Card and earning the welcome bonus, what rules should you be aware of? Well, there are the card specific policies, and then also the more generic Chase policies. When you pull up the application, you’ll see the following terms:

The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you have ever had this card or any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee. We may also consider factors pertinent to your business in determining your bonus eligibility.

As you can see, officially the welcome bonus isn’t available to you if you’ve had this exact card, or another Chase business card without an annual fee, including the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (learn more). So there is an element of cards being mutually exclusive.

However, the key here is that you “may” not be eligible, and not that you absolutely won’t be eligible. I don’t love that level of vagueness, though the good news is that if you apply for the card and aren’t eligible for the bonus, you should receive a pop-up message informing you of this, before there’s a hard pull. So that at least means the downside of applying is limited.

The good news is that eligibility for the bonus is completely unrelated to whether you have a Chase business card with an annual fee, like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (learn more) or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more).

It’s fine to apply for Chase business cards as a sole proprietorship, corporation, etc. If you apply as a sole proprietorship, you can just enter your Social Security Number in the section where you’d otherwise put your EIN.

Beyond that, there are some general Chase rules to be aware of:

• This card may be subjected to Chase’s 5/24 rule, which is to say that you may not be approved if you’ve opened five or more new card accounts in the past 24 months (this excludes many business cards); however, there are increasingly data points that this rule is no longer consistently enforced
• It’s generally considered a best practice to not apply for more than one Chase business credit card every 30 days, so I’d recommend observing that limit when applying

Why the Chase Ink Cash Card is worth it

The Chase Ink Cash Card has no annual fee, and there are several reasons to consider picking it up. The way I view it, there are a few points that are most important.

For one, the card has a phenomenal rewards structure, which can earn you lots of points:

• Earn 5x points on the first $25,000 of combined purchases per account anniversary year at office supply stores, and on internet, cable, and phone services
• Earn 2x points on the first $25,000 of combined purchases per account anniversary year at restaurants and gas stations

Furthermore, the card offers primary rental car coverage, which can come in handy if you rent cars with any frequency, and is incredibly rare for a no annual fee card. Also, since the card has no annual fee, there’s really no opportunity cost to holding onto it, and it allows you to create a great portfolio of cards to maximize rewards.

Read my review of the Chase Ink Cash Card.

Chase Ink Cash Card welcome bonus FAQs

Bottom line

The Chase Ink Cash Card is one of the most lucrative no annual fee cards out there. The card has a highest-ever welcome bonus of 100K points upon completing minimum spending. This is the last chance to take advantage of this offer, as this will be pulled at 9AM on September 17, 2026, so I’d recommend applying soon if you’re interested.

Not only does the card have an unbelievably good bonus, but it offers rewards that can make it worth holding onto, like 5x points in select categories, plus rental car coverage.

Do you have the Chase Ink Cash Card, and if so, what has your experience been?

The exact end date for this offer has now been revealed — the 100K bonus is expected to be pulled at 9AM EDT on Thursday, September 17, 2026, so this is the last chance to apply. I’d like to recap the details of the offer, for anyone who is eligible but who hasn’t yet applied.

Link: Learn more about the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card with 100K bonus points

What is the current Chase Ink Unlimited Card welcome bonus?

The Chase Ink Unlimited Card is offering a highest-ever welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first four months, and this is the last chance to apply. You’ll see that the bonus is marketed as offering cash back, rather than points, so it’s described as a $1,000 bonus. Indeed, you could redeem the rewards as cash back.

However, if you have the card in conjunction with a card earning Ultimate Rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (learn more) or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more), then rewards can be transferred to Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners. Since I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, that increases the value of the points by 70% right there, as far as I’m concerned.

I consider the 100,000 points to be worth $1,700. That’s a phenomenal bonus, especially for a no annual fee card. For what it’s worth, the previous offer was for 75,000 bonus points, and otherwise we saw limited time welcome offers as high as 90,000 points. But a six-figure welcome offer on a no annual fee card is incredible, at least for a points currency that’s this valuable.

Who is eligible for the Chase Ink Unlimited Card bonus?

When it comes to getting approved for the Chase Ink Unlimited Card and earning the welcome bonus, what rules should you be aware of? Well, there are the card specific policies, and then also the more generic Chase policies. When you pull up the application, you’ll see the following terms:

The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you have ever had this card or any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee. We may also consider factors pertinent to your business in determining your bonus eligibility.

As you can see, officially the welcome bonus isn’t available to you if you’ve had this exact card, or another Chase business card without an annual fee, including the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (learn more). So there is an element of cards being mutually exclusive.

However, the key here is that you “may” not be eligible, and not that you absolutely won’t be eligible. I don’t love that level of vagueness, though the good news is that if you apply for the card and aren’t eligible for the bonus, you should receive a pop-up message informing you of this, before there’s a hard pull. So that at least means the downside of applying is limited.

The good news is that eligibility for the bonus is completely unrelated to whether you have a Chase business card with an annual fee, like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (learn more) or Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (learn more).

It’s fine to apply for Chase business cards as a sole proprietorship, corporation, etc. If you apply as a sole proprietorship, you can just enter your Social Security Number in the section where you’d otherwise put your EIN.

Beyond that, there are some general Chase rules to be aware of:

• This card may be subjected to Chase’s 5/24 rule, which is to say that you may not be approved if you’ve opened five or more new card accounts in the past 24 months (this excludes many business cards); however, there are increasingly data points that this rule is no longer consistently enforced
• It’s generally considered a best practice to not apply for more than one Chase business credit card every 30 days, so I’d recommend observing that limit when applying

Why the Chase Ink Unlimited Card is worth it

The Chase Ink Unlimited Card has no annual fee, and there are several reasons to consider picking it up. The way I view it, there are a few points that are most important.

For one, the card has a solid rewards structure, as it offers a minimum of 1.5x points on all spending, making it one of the best Chase cards for everyday spending. Furthermore, the card offers primary rental car coverage, which can come in handy if you rent cars with any frequency, and is incredibly rare for a no annual fee card.

Also, since the card has no annual fee, there’s really no opportunity cost to holding onto it, and it allows you to create a great portfolio of cards to maximize rewards.

Read my review of the Chase Ink Unlimited Card.

Chase Ink Unlimited Card welcome bonus FAQs

Bottom line

The Chase Ink Unlimited Card is one of the most lucrative no annual fee cards out there, and it’s currently offering a highest-ever welcome bonus of 100,000 points upon completing minimum spending. This is the last chance to apply under this offer, as this will be pulled at 9AM on September 17, 2026, so I’d recommend applying soon if you’re interested.

Not only does the card have a great bonus that’s too good to turn down, but it offers rewards that can make it worth holding onto, like 1.5x points on everyday spending, plus rental car coverage. If you’re eligible for this card, I think there’s a lot of merit to picking it up. Taking advantage of this bonus is a no-brainer, if eligible.

Do you have the Chase Ink Unlimited Card, and if so, what has your experience been?

Not only are these great welcome offers, but these cards offer valuable benefits for those who stay at Hiltons with any frequency, so if you travel often, it’s worth having (at least) one of these cards in your wallet. Seriously, though, these offers are phenomenal, and in particular, I love the free night awards, given that they can even be redeemed at top Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotels, or even Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) properties.

Link: Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton Amex Card limited time welcome offer details

For applications through January 13, 2027, Hilton Honors’ co-branded credit cards are offering limited time welcome offers, which are among the best that we’ve ever seen on these cards. In addition to offering bonus points (I value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents each, for what it’s worth), three of the cards also include a free night award as part of the welcome offer (and the fourth card offers a free night award as an annual benefit, including the first year).

These are standard Hilton Honors free night awards, which can be redeemed at a vast majority of Hilton Honors properties around the world for a standard room, and they’re valid for 12 months from when they’re issued. I’d consider this to be the single most valuable hotel credit card free night award out there, given that it can be redeemed at a property costing up to 250,000 points per night.

Let’s go over the details of the cards, from least premium to most premium. First, below is a quick chart comparing the Hilton Honors Amex welcome offers (let me emphasize that the welcome offer value doesn’t factor in the free night awards, which arguably make up a majority of the value with these offers).

Hilton Honors Amex Card: 70,000 points + free night award

The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night award after spending $2,000 within the first six months.

Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Amex Card features the following perks in the long run:

• 7x points for eligible spending at Hilton hotels
• Hilton Honors™ Silver status for as long as you have the card
• Hilton Honors™ Gold status when you make $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year

Read a full review of the Hilton Honors Amex Card.

Hilton Honors Surpass Card: 130,000 points + free night award

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card has a $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night award after spending $3,000 within the first six months.

Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Surpass Card features the following ongoing benefits:

• 12x points for eligible spending at Hilton hotels
• Hilton Honors™ Gold status for as long as you have the card
• Hilton Honors™ Diamond status when you make $40,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year
• Up to $200 in Hilton credits per year — get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio
• A Hilton free night reward when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
• National Emerald Club Executive status (Enrollment required)

Read a full review of the Hilton Honors Surpass Card.

Hilton Honors Business Card: 150,000 points + free night award

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has a $195 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night award after spending $8,000 within the first six months.

Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Business Card features the following perks in the long run:

• 12x points for spending on eligible Hilton purchases
• 5x points on other purchases made on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year (3x points thereafter)
• Hilton Honors™ Gold status for as long as you have the card
• Hilton Honors™ Diamond status when you make $40,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year
• Get up to $240 back each year on eligible purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio, with up to $60 in statement credits per quarter

Read a full review of the Hilton Honors Business Card.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card: 200,000 points

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a $550 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 200,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months.

While not explicitly being marketed as part of the welcome offer, keep in mind the card always offers a free night award on an annual basis, including the year in which you open the card. So for all practical purposes, think of the welcome offer as being 200,000 points plus a free night award.

Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Aspire Card features the following ongoing benefits:

• 14x points for spending at Hilton hotels
• Hilton Honors™ Diamond status for as long as you have the card
• Up to $400 in Hilton resort credits annually — get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton resorts
• Up to a $200 flight credit annually — up to a $50 statement credit for flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel once per quarter
• Up to a $219 CLEAR+ credit annually — enroll in CLEAR+ and charge it to your card, and you’ll be reimbursed up to $219 per year
• A Hilton free night reward every year, a second one when you spend $30,000 on the card in a year, and a third one if you spend $60,000 on the card in a year (the annual free night reward is even awarded in the year in which you open the card)
• National Emerald Club Executive status (Enrollment required)

Read a full review of the Hilton Aspire Card.

Are you eligible for Hilton Honors Amex cards?

Anecdotally Hilton Honors Amex cards are pretty easy to be approved for:

• Each of these cards is considered a separate product, so you’re eligible for the welcome offer on each card, within the typical “once in a lifetime” rule
• The standard American Express card application rules apply, including that you’re generally limited to having five Amex credit cards at a given point (this doesn’t include charge cards and hybrid cards)
• For those with excellent credit, I find Amex credit cards to be among the easiest to be approved for
• If you are worried about Chase’s 5/24 rule, applying for the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card won’t count as a further card toward that limit

Which Hilton Honors Amex offer is best?

If you’re trying to decide which of these offers makes the most sense, here are a few considerations:

• If you’ve already had a Hilton Honors Amex card, pick up a card that you haven’t had before, so you’re eligible for the welcome offer
• If you’re looking for a personal card, you really can’t go wrong with the Hilton Honors American Express Card or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card; I’d say the latter is worth the annual fee, given the better bonus and incremental perks
• Personally I think the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is worth the fee, especially if you stay at Hilton resorts at least once every six months
• If you’re looking for a business card, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is your best bet, and fortunately, it’s a great card with a solid bonus

Hilton Amex Card welcome offer FAQs

Bottom line

For applications through January 13, 2027, Hilton Honors’ co-branded credit cards are offering limited time welcome offers. Three of the four cards are offering points plus a free night award, while the most premium card is offering a best-ever offer in terms of the number of points you can earn.

If you’re looking for a no annual fee card, then the Hilton Honors American Express Card is for you. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a card with stronger perks and an even better bonus, I recommend the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is also a good option for small businesses.

Do you plan on picking up a Hilton Honors Amex with these bonuses?

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Hilton Honors American Express Card (Rates & Fees), The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees).

Aeroplan is one of my all-around favorite frequent flyer programs, thanks to the huge variety of airline partners, the ability to have stopovers on one-way awards for 5,000 points, and the generally great online booking experience.

Promotion on purchased Air Canada Aeroplan points

Between September 11 and September 25, 2026, the Air Canada Aeroplan program is offering a promotion on purchased points. Different members may be eligible for different offers, so you’ll want to log into your account to see what you’re eligible for. However, it appears that the standard version of the offer is for up to a 100% bonus, structured as follows:

• Buy 5,000-25,000 points, receive a 50% bonus
• Buy 30,000-70,000 points, receive a 75% bonus
• Buy 80,000+ points, receive a 100% bonus

How much does it cost to buy Aeroplan points?

Ordinarily, Air Canada Aeroplan charges $0.0375 CAD (~0.027 USD) per point. Any purchases made with US credit cards and US billing addresses aren’t subject to sales tax either. If you purchased 500,000 Aeroplan points with a 100% bonus, you’d receive a total of 1,000,000 Aeroplan points at a cost of $18,750 CAD (~$13,524 USD), which is a rate of 1.35 cents (USD) per Aeroplan point.

How many Aeroplan points can you purchase?

While you can purchase up to one million Aeroplan points per account per calendar year, there’s ordinarily a per-transaction limit of 250,000 points pre-bonus. However, during this promotion that has been doubled, to 500,000 points.

Which credit card should you buy Aeroplan points with?

Air Canada Aeroplan points purchases are processed by points.com, meaning they don’t count as an airfare purchase for the purposes of credit card spending. Therefore I’d recommend using a card on which you’re trying to reach a minimum spending requirement, or otherwise, a credit card that maximizes your return on everyday spending.

Since the purchase of Aeroplan points is billed in CAD, there is one other great option. The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® Credit Card (learn more) offers 3x points on foreign purchases, so that’s a fantastic card for this kind of purchase. Beyond that, the best options would be cards that offer 2x transferable points, while having no foreign transaction fees.

Is buying Air Canada Aeroplan points worth it?

Aeroplan is one of my favorite frequent flyer programs out there. To cover a few of the basics:

• Award pricing is a combination of zone and distance-based
• There are no fuel surcharges for any award redemptions
• You can have a stopover on a one-way award for an additional 5,000 points
• Aeroplan has more airline partners than any other program out there, including partnering with many non-Star Alliance airlines

There are lots of phenomenal uses of Aeroplan points, and this is a program that I redeem through regularly. Just keep in mind that Aeroplan now has dynamic award pricing on select partners, including Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, and United, among others.

On what airlines can you redeem Aeroplan points?

One of my favorite things about Air Canada Aeroplan is that the program has more airline partners than any other frequent flyer program, and you can redeem points on over 45 airlines. In addition to Air Canada belonging to the Star Alliance, Aeroplan also partners with airlines that include Etihad, Azul, Air Serbia, Virgin Australia, Air Dolomiti, Eurowings, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Air Mauritius, and Emirates.

Always look up award availability before buying points, to get a sense of what you can expect.

Are there fuel surcharges on Aeroplan awards?

Many consumers are frustrated by the practice of airlines adding carrier imposed surcharges to award tickets. In the case of Aeroplan, there are no fuel surcharges on award tickets, meaning you shouldn’t expect to pay big fees when redeeming points.

How much are Aeroplan points worth?

Everyone will value points currencies differently, but personally, I value Aeroplan points at ~1.5 cents each. However, I tend to value points pretty conservatively, and there are many ways to get way more value from Aeroplan points than that.

Do Aeroplan points expire?

Air Canada Aeroplan points only expire after 18 months of inactivity. However, any account activity that leads to earning or redeeming points (including buying them) would reset the expiration.

What other ways can you earn Aeroplan points?

While buying Aeroplan points could represent a great deal, keep in mind that there are lots of other ways to earn Aeroplan points. Most significantly, Aeroplan is transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Ultimate Rewards, making the currency pretty easy to acquire.

On top of that, in the United States there’s the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card (learn more), which is pretty lucrative.

Bottom line

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is offering a bonus on purchased points. While people may be targeted for different offers, it appears the standard offer is for up to a 100% bonus, which kicks in as long as you purchase at least 80,000 points in one transaction. This is an opportunity to buy points for 1.35 cents (in USD) each.

This could represent a good deal, and there are plenty of situations under which the math will work out for this promotion. Still, in general I’d only recommend buying points with a short term use in mind, as there’s always risk to holding onto points for longer periods of time.

Do you plan on buying Aeroplan points with this promotion?

Link: Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

What is the current Marriott Bonvoy Business Card welcome offer?

For applications through November 4, 2026, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is offering a limited time two part welcome offer where you can earn both bonus points and a free night award.

Specifically, after spending $8,000 within the first six months you can earn 100,000 Bonvoy bonus points plus a free night award worth up to 50,000 points (resort fees and terms apply). As you can tell, this offer is worth a maximum of up to 150,000 points.

For what it’s worth, I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so I’d value the entire welcome offer at up to $1,050, which is significantly better than the standard offer.

What are the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card eligibility rules?

If you’re applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex, the general Amex application restrictions apply. For example, you’re typically limited to having a total of five Amex credit cards (not including hybrid cards), regardless of whether they’re personal or business, and there’s also the “once in a lifetime” rule.

The good news is that I find Amex business cards to anecdotally be pretty easy to get approved for. Another awesome thing is that if you’re concerned about Chase’s 5/24 limit, applying for an Amex business card won’t count toward that limit.

Beyond that, since both American Express and Chase issue cards for Marriott, there are some pretty complicated restrictions regarding eligibility for this card, so see this post for more details. The good news is that Amex typically has an application pop-up in the event that you apply and aren’t eligible for the welcome offer, so you’ll know before there’s a hard pull to your credit.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card worth it?

Not only does the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex have a generous welcome offer, but this is a card that’s worth keeping in the long run. It’s a card I’ve had for years, and plan to continue to hold onto. The card has a $125 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for that you receive two key perks:

• 15 elite nights toward Marriott Bonvoy status annually, making it much easier to earn Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status or above; if you want to earn as many elite nights as possible from credit cards, you need to have the business version of the card
• An anniversary free night award every year, valid at a property costing up to 35,000 points per night; you can even top this off with up to 25,000 additional points, to redeem at a more expensive property

To me that more than justifies the annual fee, and that doesn’t even factor in some of the other perks, like complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status.

Read a full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Card welcome offer FAQs

Bottom line

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is Marriott’s primary business card. For applications through November 4, 2026, the card has a great limited time welcome offer, and on top of that, this is a card that’s potentially worth keeping, thanks to the 15 elite nights toward status annually, the annual free night reward, and more. This is a card that I’ve had for years, so if you’re interested in picking it up, now would be the time to do so.

Do you plan on picking up the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex with 100,000 bonus points plus a free night award?

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees).

While I’ll cover the details of this promotion, let me state that I wouldn’t typically recommend taking advantage of this, unless you have a specific use in mind for your miles. MileagePlus miles are useful for redemptions on United, particularly for long haul Polaris business class seats. Otherwise you’ll typically get better value with programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca Lifemiles, etc., and they often sell points at a lower cost as well.

Promotion on purchased United MileagePlus miles

Between September 8 and September 30, 2026, United MileagePlus is offering a sale on purchased miles. Different members may be eligible for different offers — some members may be targeted for bonus offers, while other members may be targeted for discount offers. You’ll want to log into your account and see what you’re eligible for.

The best offer seems to be for a 100% bonus or 50% discount on purchased miles. However, some people are also being targeted for smaller bonuses or discounts, in some cases as low as an 80% bonus or 40% discount. Others are being offered something in between those amounts. In order to unlock the best price, you need to purchase at least 20,000 miles in one transaction, pre-bonus.

How much does it cost to purchase United MileagePlus miles?

United MileagePlus ordinarily charges 3.5 cents per purchased mile, plus a 7.5% federal excise tax. That’s before any discounts or bonuses. Since you can purchase a maximum of 50,000 miles, you’d pay the following amounts, depending on the percent discount you’re eligible for:

• With a 40% discount or 80% bonus, you’d pay $1,128.75, which comes out to 2.26 cents per mile
• With a 45% discount or 90% bonus, you’d pay $1,034.69, which comes out to 2.07 cents per mile
• With a 50% discount or 100% bonus, you’d pay $940.63, which comes out to 1.88 cents per mile

How many United MileagePlus miles can you purchase?

United MileagePlus limits members to purchasing 200,000 MileagePlus miles per account per calendar year. However, more specifically, the program now limits members to purchasing up to 50,000 MileagePlus miles per any rolling 90-day period.

Note that these limits apply after factoring in any bonuses, so even when United offers a bonus on purchased miles, you can still only purchase a maximum of 50,000 miles over the course of 90 days, or 200,000 miles per calendar year.

If you do buy United miles, it can take up to 48 hours for them to post to your account.

Which credit card should you buy United MileagePlus miles with?

United MileagePlus mileage purchases are processed by points.com, meaning they don’t count as an airfare purchase for the purposes of credit card spending.

Therefore I’d recommend using a card on which you’re trying to reach a minimum spending requirement, or otherwise, a credit card that maximizes your return on everyday spending.

Best cards for non-bonused spending:

• Citi Double Cash® Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Citi Double Cash® Card

Learn More Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase, earn 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
• $0

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Learn More

• Earn 3% Cash Back on Dining
• Earn 3% Cash Back at Drugstores
• Earn 1.5% Cash Back On All Other Purchases
• $0

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Learn More Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• 2x points on purchases up to $50k then 1x
• Access to Amex Offers
• No annual fee

Is buying United MileagePlus miles worth it?

When it comes to redeeming United MileagePlus miles, I tend to think there’s one best use, and that’s for travel in United Polaris business class. Nowadays United limits a vast majority of long haul business class award space to members of the MileagePlus program, and in particular, to those with a co-branded credit card or elite status.

So while United Polaris business class might not be the most exciting product on earth, there’s no denying that the airline has a huge global network, and it’s often just practical to fly with the airline.

Beyond that, I don’t generally consider the MileagePlus partner award redemption rates to be that compelling. I think there are other Star Alliance programs with better redemption rates and/or program policies, including Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca Lifemiles. Both programs often sell miles at a lower cost, and Air Canada Aeroplan also has a lucrative stopover policy.

On what airlines can you redeem United MileagePlus miles?

United Airlines belongs to the Star Alliance, so you can redeem MileagePlus miles on all Star Alliance airlines.

On top of that, you can redeem miles on some of United’s other partner airlines, including Aer Lingus, Azul, Discover Airlines, and more.

How much are United MileagePlus miles worth?

Everyone will value mileage currencies differently, but personally I value United MileagePlus miles at ~1.3 cents each. I tend to value points pretty conservatively, and there are many ways to get more value from MileagePlus miles than that.

Do United MileagePlus miles expire?

United MileagePlus miles don’t expire. There’s no activity required to keep your account mileage balance alive, but rather you can keep your miles no matter what.

What other ways can you earn United MileagePlus miles?

If you’re looking to earn United miles, MileagePlus is a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, so you can convert Ultimate Rewards points into United miles at a 1:1 ratio.

See this post for the best credit cards for earning United miles.

Bottom line

United MileagePlus is offering a promotion on purchased miles, and different members may be targeted for different offers. In this case, it appears that the best offer is for up to a 50% discount or 100% bonus, which is an opportunity to buy miles for 1.88 cents each. However, not everyone is targeted for such an offer, so some people are only eligible for a smaller discount or bonus.

This could be a chance to acquire MileagePlus miles at a reasonable cost. However, I’d only buy miles with a specific and immediate redemption in mind.

Do you plan on buying United miles with this offer?

While not quite in line with the best offers we’ve seen from the program, it’s still competitive. However, I’d only make a purchase with a specific use in mind, since Wyndham Rewards points have become less valuable over time.

Link: Buy Wyndham Rewards points with a bonus

Promotion on purchased Wyndham Rewards points

Between September 9 and October 21, 2026, Wyndham Rewards is offering a bonus on purchased points. The best offer appears to be for up to a 90% bonus, though other members are eligible for a bonus of up to 70% or 80%.

In all cases, the highest bonus offer should kick in as long as you purchase at least 16,000 points in one transaction. If you purchase points, they’ll post to your account within 72 hours.

How much does it cost to buy Wyndham points?

Ordinarily you can buy Wyndham Rewards points for 1.3 cents each, before any discounts or bonuses. If you maxed out the promotion and were eligible for a 90% bonus, you could purchase 190,000 points (including 90,000 bonus points) for $1,300, which is a rate of 0.68 cents per point. Meanwhile with an 80% bonus, you’d get a rate of 0.72 cents per point, while with a 70% bonus, you’d get a rate of 0.76 cents per point.

The program has massively upped the bonuses on purchased points as time has gone on. That being said, that has largely been because points just aren’t as valuable as they used to be.

How many Wyndham points can you buy?

Wyndham Rewards ordinarily lets members purchase up to 100,000 points per account per calendar year, before any bonuses.

Which credit card should you buy Wyndham points with?

Wyndham Rewards points purchases are processed by points.com, meaning they don’t count as a hotel purchase for the purposes of credit card spending.

I’d recommend using a card with which you’re trying to reach a minimum spending requirement, or a credit card that maximizes your return on everyday spending. When in doubt, review which credit cards are best for buying points and miles.

Best cards for non-bonused spending:

• Citi Double Cash® Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Citi Double Cash® Card

Learn More Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase, earn 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
• $0

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Learn More

• Earn 3% Cash Back on Dining
• Earn 3% Cash Back at Drugstores
• Earn 1.5% Cash Back On All Other Purchases
• $0

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Learn More Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• 2x points on purchases up to $50k then 1x
• Access to Amex Offers
• No annual fee

Is buying Wyndham Rewards points worth it?

Generally speaking, I only recommend buying points when you have a specific, short-term use in mind. In the case of Wyndham Rewards points:

• I could see value in topping off a Wyndham Rewards account for the purposes of a redemption, given the low minimum number of points you can purchase to unlock the discount
• While Wyndham Rewards doesn’t have that many aspirational properties, the program does have a fixed price award chart, and there could be value in redeeming points at destinations over peak travel dates (for example, if there’s a major football game in town)

How many points do you need for a Wyndham redemption?

Wyndham Rewards will be updating its award chart as of September 15, 2026, moving from a three tier system to a four tier system. Prior to this change, the program has the following three tiers:

• About a third of properties cost 7,500 points per night
• A majority of properties cost 15,000 points per night
• A few hundred hotels cost 30,000 points per night

After the change, the program has the following four tiers:

• The first tier of properties costs 5,000 points per night
• The second tier of properties costs 15,000 points per night
• The third tier of properties costs 30,000 points per night
• The fourth tier of properties costs 45,000 points per night

As you can tell, the award chart updates represent a major devaluation for those who are redeeming at the top properties, while some of the lower end properties will be more affordable than before.

While I wouldn’t say there’s widespread appeal to buying Wyndham Rewards points for these kinds of redemptions, there are some situations where the numbers will work out. Perhaps the best value would come in situations where you just need to buy a few thousand points to have enough for an award stay.

What brands belong to Wyndham Rewards?

Wyndham Rewards has more than 9,000 hotels across 20 brands in 80+ countries. Some of the most popular Wyndham Rewards brands include Registry Collection, Wyndham Grand, Dolce, Wyndham, La Quinta, Wingate, Wyndham Garden, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, and Travelodge.

How much are Wyndham Rewards points worth?

Everyone will value points differently, but personally I value Wyndham Rewards points at ~0.7 cents each. Admittedly that’s a very conservative valuation, and there should be opportunities to get way more value than that.

Do Wyndham Rewards points expire?

Wyndham Rewards has one of the most complicated points expiration policies of any hotel loyalty program:

• Points expire if you have no account activity for 18 months; eligible activity would be any points earning or redemption transaction
• Regardless of activity, points expire four years after they’re earned

Bottom line

Wyndham Rewards is offering up to a 90% bonus on purchased points, which is an opportunity to buy points for as little as 0.68 cents each. While I most definitely wouldn’t speculatively buy Wyndham Rewards points at this cost, there are some situations where the math works out, so everyone should crunch the numbers for themselves.

To those who are Wyndham Rewards fans, are there any properties you can get outsized value at with this promotion?

Marriott Bonvoy offering 1,500-4,500 bonus points per stay

With Marriott Bonvoy’s new global promotion, members can earn 1,500 bonus points per stay of two or more nights, plus an additional 3,000 bonus points if that stay is at a resort (for a total of 4,500 bonus points).

Registration is required for this promotion, and as you’d expect, there are some terms to be aware of:

• The promotion is valid for stays between September 22 and November 22, 2026, regardless of when they’re booked
• Registration is required prior to your first eligible stay, and registration closes on November 13, 2026; if you’re having issues with the registration link, log into your Marriott Bonvoy account and go to the “promotions” tab
• Only stays paid with cash qualify toward this promotion, so award stays (including Cash + Points stays) don’t qualify
• The bonus points will typically post within 10 days of completion of an eligible stay
• You must select Bonvoy points as your points earning preference (rather than airline miles)
• You can only earn this bonus for one room booked per stay (so if you book multiple rooms, you wouldn’t earn this multiple times)

Let me emphasize that this isn’t a targeted promotion. All too often people do have issues registering for Marriott Bonvoy promotions, but that’s due to glitches. So if you’re having issues, try a different browser, use the app instead of the website, etc.

How valuable is this Marriott Bonvoy promotion?

The math on this promotion is easy. I value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, and you earn 1,500 bonus points on paid hotel stays of at least two nights, and 4,500 bonus points on paid resort stays of at least two nights. Based on my valuation, that’s like a return of $10.50 and $33, respectively.

When you consider that stays need to be paid in cash and need to be at least two nights, it’s hard to get very excited about that.

I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have a hard time imagining that offers like this drive much incremental business. For that matter, the promotion period is quite short, and covers just two months.

Normal Bonvoy points earning rates for hotel stays

Not factoring in this promotion, Marriott Bonvoy members ordinarily earn:

• 10x Bonvoy points per dollar spent at most brands
• 5x Bonvoy points per dollar spent at select limited service brands

Then there are elite bonuses:

• Bonvoy Silver Elite members earn 10% bonus points
• Bonvoy Gold Elite members earn 25% bonus points
• Bonvoy Platinum Elite members earn 50% bonus points
• Bonvoy Titanium Elite & Ambassador Elite members earn 75% bonus points

The above doesn’t include the points you can earn for credit card spending at hotels:

• You can earn up to 6x Bonvoy points per dollar spent on most co-branded Marriott cards, including the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (learn more) and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (learn more)
• Otherwise, you can earn up to 3x transferable points on hotel spending (with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Citi ThankYou)

As an Ambassador member with a co-branded credit card, I ordinarily earn 23.5x Bonvoy points per dollar spent at full service brands. At a valuation of 0.7 cents per point, that’s like a ~16% return on hotel spending.

Bottom line

Marriott Bonvoy has just launched its latest global promotion, so make sure you register. With this, members can earn 1,500 bonus points per stay of two or more nights, plus an additional 3,000 bonus points if that stay is at a resort, for a maximum of 4,500 bonus points per stay.

This offer is better than nothing, but it’s also really hard to get excited here, because we’re looking at a return of $10.50 per hotel stay or $33 per resort stay, and that assumes you’re staying two or more nights on a cash booking.

What do you make of Marriott Bonvoy’s new global promotion?

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about this deal, and talk about under what circumstances it makes sense to buy Choice Privileges points. I generally recommend buying points only if you have a short term use in mind, and are sure the math checks out.

Promotion on purchased Choice Privileges points

Between September 7 and October 22, 2026, Choice Privileges is offering a sale on purchased points. The accounts I manage show a discount of up to 40%, which kicks in as long as you purchase at least 14,000 points in one transaction.

Different accounts may very well show different offers, so you’ll want to log into your Choice Privileges account to see what you’re eligible for.

How much does it cost to buy Choice Privileges points?

Choice Privileges’ pricing when buying points isn’t linear, and you get a lower cost the more points you purchase, not even factoring in any promotional bonuses or discounts. Before factoring in any bonuses or discounts, the cost to purchase points ranges from 1.28 cents per point (if buying just 1,000 points) to 1.03 cents per point (if buying 180,000 points).

If you maxed out this promotion, you could purchase a total of 180,000 points for $1,112.40, which is a rate of 0.62 cents per Choice Privileges point.

When Choice offers a promotion on purchased points, it’s typically either a 25-30% discount or a 30-50% bonus. So this 40% discount is very good, though just not quite as good as the recent 45% discount that we saw. Admittedly the value of Choice Privileges points has also gone down a bit over time, so it’s not all good news.

How many Choice Privileges points can you buy?

Choice Privileges lets you purchase up to 180,000 points per account per calendar year, not factoring in any bonus points.

Which credit card should you buy Choice Privileges points with?

Choice Privileges points purchases are processed by points.com, meaning they don’t generally count as a hotel purchase for the purposes of credit card spending. There is one exception — if you use a co-branded Choice Privileges credit card, then these purchases are rewarded in the same way as hotel spending.

Otherwise, I’d recommend using a card with which you’re trying to reach a minimum spending requirement, or a credit card that maximizes your return on everyday spending. When in doubt, review which credit cards are best for buying points and miles.

Best cards for non-bonused spending:

• Citi Double Cash® Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Citi Double Cash® Card

Learn More Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase, earn 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
• $0

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Learn More

• Earn 3% Cash Back on Dining
• Earn 3% Cash Back at Drugstores
• Earn 1.5% Cash Back On All Other Purchases
• $0

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Learn More Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• 2x points on purchases up to $50k then 1x
• Access to Amex Offers
• No annual fee

Is buying Choice Privileges points worth it?

While it doesn’t get much attention in the miles & points world, Choice is a huge hotel group, with over 7,000 properties in 40 countries, representing roughly 570,000 hotel rooms. Choice hotel brands include (among others) Ascend, Cambria, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, Rodeway Inn, and more.

The catch is that Choice doesn’t have that many aspirational properties. In general there’s the most value outright purchasing points if you have a premium redemption in mind, given that this is the best way to get outsized value compared to the cost of a stay if paying cash.

Choice Privileges doesn’t have a formal award chart, but award pricing usually ranges from 6,000 to 45,000 points per night. In Asia-Pacific, some properties cost up to 75,000 points per night.

There are definitely some properties where you’ll get outsized value acquiring Choice Privileges points at a discount. For example, Choice has an impressive footprint in Northern Europe, where hotels can otherwise be expensive when paying cash, especially in summer.

Tip: Redeem points at Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Here’s a fun redemption option with Choice Privileges points. While Choice doesn’t manage these properties, Choice Privileges has a partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which is a group of over 500 luxury independent properties around the globe.

You can redeem Choice Privileges points for stays here, and the hotels cost anywhere from 25,000 to 118,000 points per night. You can find participating hotels and award costs here, and nowadays you can even book these awards online. There are some participating hotels where you can get significant value redeeming this way, though the recent devaluation sure doesn’t help.

Does Choice Privileges have blackout dates?

Choice Privileges doesn’t have blackout dates, and points can be redeemed for stays up to 50 weeks in advance, as long as a standard room is available.

Do Choice Privileges points expire?

Choice Privileges points don’t expire as long as you have at least some account activity once every 18 months. Virtually any activity that involves earning or redeeming points would be considered qualifying for these purposes.

How much are Choice Privileges points worth?

Everyone will value points differently, but personally I value Choice Privileges points at ~0.6 cents each. That’s a conservative valuation, though if you’re strategic you should be able to get lots more value out of your points than that.

How else can you earn Choice Privileges points?

Two transferable points currencies have Choice Privileges as a partner:

• Amex Membership Rewards points can be converted into Choice Privileges points at a 1:1 ratio
• Capital One miles can be converted into Choice Privileges points at a 1:1 ratio
• Citi ThankYou points can be converted into Choice Privileges points at a 1:1.5 ratio
• Wells Fargo points can be converted into Choice Privileges points at a 1:2 ratio

Bottom line

Choice Privileges is selling points with up to a 40% discount, which is an opportunity to buy points for as little as 0.62 cents each. While I wouldn’t recommend speculatively picking up Choice Privileges points at that cost, with a specific and short term use in mind, there could be value with this offer.

Does anyone plan on buying Choice Privileges points?

Why? Generally you can redeposit the miles for an airline award ticket for a very small fee, or with many programs, for free. Even when revenue tickets have flexibility, typically that comes in the form of a credit you can use toward a future ticket, normally with an expiration date. However, that’s not as consistently the case as a few years ago, as airlines increasingly align award and revenue fare classes.

Comparing airline award ticket change & redeposit rules

How do airline award ticket change & redeposit rules compare between airlines? Let’s compare the policies of some major frequent flyer programs. Below I’ll provide a consolidated list, and then we’ll discuss the policies in more detail below, since in some cases there’s some nuance and/or exceptions.

Here are the policies of some popular programs (costs are all per person, and in some situations there are exceptions, which is why I break it down in more detail in separate sections below):

• Air Canada Aeroplan charges up to 100 CAD for changes, and up to 150 CAD for cancellations
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue charges €70 for changes, and €70 for cancellations
• Alaska Atmos Rewards charges nothing for changes, and nothing for cancellations
• All Nippon Airways Mileage Club charges nothing for changes, and 3,000 miles for cancellations
• American AAdvantage charges nothing for changes, and nothing for cancellations
• Avianca Lifemiles charges $150 for changes, and $50-200 for cancellations
• British Airways Club charges $55 for changes, and $55 for cancellations
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles charges $50 for changes, and $120 for cancellations
• Delta SkyMiles charges nothing for changes, and nothing for cancellations
• Emirates Skywards charges $25 for changes, and $75 for cancellations
• Etihad Guest charges up to 400 AED for changes, and up to 75% of miles for cancellations
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands charges $50 for changes, and $0 for cancellations
• Finnair Plus charges €50 for changes, and €50 for cancellations
• Iberia Club charges €25 for changes, and €25 for cancellations
• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank doesn’t allow changes, and charges 3,100 JPY for cancellations
• JetBlue TrueBlue charges nothing for changes, and nothing for cancellations
• Qantas Frequent Flyer charges 5,000 points for changes, and 6,000 points for cancellations
• Qatar Privilege Club charges $25-100 for changes, and $25-100 for cancellations
• Singapore KrisFlyer charges $0-50 for changes, and $50-75 for cancellations
• Southwest Rapid Rewards charges nothing for changes, and nothing for cancellations
• Turkish Miles&Smiles charges $70 for changes, and $70 for cancellations
• United MileagePlus charges nothing for changes, and nothing for cancellations
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club charges $100 for changes, and $100 for cancellations

A few important things to note:

• You should be concerned with the policy of the program that you are booking your ticket with, rather than the airline you’re actually flying with (in situations where you book a partner award)
• A change fee refers to situations where you’re trying to change the date or time of your flight, while a redeposit refers to a situation where you’re trying to just have the miles put back in your account after canceling a ticket
• I won’t be covering all frequent flyer programs (after all, there are hundreds), but rather, will focus on programs that are either really popular due to redemption options, and/or programs partnering with major transferable points currencies
• For awards to & from the United States, you can generally expect that you can cancel them for free within 24 hours of booking, which provides flexibility for changes you need to make shortly after booking
• In some cases, higher tier elite members receive waived fees on awards, so you’ll want to consult the member benefits terms to see if that applies in your situation

With that out of the way, let’s look at the policies of each program in more detail. I’ll also list the deadlines by which you need to cancel or change an award ticket.

Air Canada Aeroplan

While Air Canada Aeroplan is one of my favorite frequent flyer programs, it doesn’t have a particularly generous or simple policy when it comes to ticket changes and redeposits. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect that a ticket change on a standard award will cost you 100 CAD, while a ticket redeposit on a standard award will cost you 150 CAD.

Fees are potentially lower if you’re booking a higher priced award, and you can also expect to pay more to refund a ticket through the call center (though there’s no reason to do that, since you can easily redeposit awards on aircanada.com). Also note that fees are per direction of travel, so you’ll pay even more if you’re traveling roundtrip on one itinerary.

For Aeroplan, you must change or cancel your award ticket at least two hours before departure, or the ticket will be forfeited. Aeroplan Super Elite members don’t pay change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France-KLM Flying Blue has access to a lot more Air France and KLM award space than other programs, so it’s quite valuable. With the recent program changes, awards on Air France and KLM metal now come with three fare types — Light, Standard, and Flex, and this impacts flexibility:

• Light fares can’t be changed or cancelled, unless you’re a Flying Blue Platinum member or above
• Standard fares can be changed or cancelled for a fee of €70
• Flex fares can be changed or cancelled at no cost

For all other award types, including travel on partner airlines, the program charges €70 to either change or redeposit an award ticket, so the cost is the same regardless of what you need to do with your award ticket.

For Flying Blue, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the check-in deadline for your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited. Flying Blue Platinum members don’t pay change or cancellation fees on all types of award tickets.

Alaska Atmos Rewards

Alaska Atmos Rewards doesn’t have change or redeposit fees on award tickets, making it a solid program for locking in an award, especially given all the great uses of Atmos Rewards points. The only thing to note is that Atmos Rewards charges a $20 partner award booking fee per direction of travel, and that’s non-refundable if you cancel (though if you have the right credit card, you can get that fee waived).

For Atmos Rewards, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club has some great Star Alliance redemption values, though the program can be pretty complicated. ANA allows free changes to the date and time of award ticket flights, but those changes must be made at least 96 hours before departure.

As far as redepositing award tickets goes, Mileage Club charges miles rather than money for that. Specifically, you can expect to pay 3,000 miles per ticket. You’ll then have your award taxes and fees refunded as well.

For Mileage Club, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited. Mileage Club Diamond members don’t pay change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

American AAdvantage

American AAdvantage doesn’t have change or redeposit fees on award tickets. So this is a great program for locking in speculative awards, especially given all the great partner awards that can be booked with AAdvantage miles.

For AAdvantage, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Avianca Lifemiles

Avianca Lifemiles is a popular program for Star Alliance first & business class awards. Making a change to a Lifemiles award ticket will cost you $150, regardless of what the change is. Redepositing your ticket, meanwhile, will cost you $50-200. You can expect to pay around $50 for a short haul economy award ticket, while you can expect to pay $200 for a long haul first or business class ticket.

For Lifemiles, you can change or cancel your award ticket either 24 or more hours prior to departure, or 24 or more hours after scheduled departure, so that’s quite flexible. For whatever reason, you just can’t change or cancel your ticket in the 24 hours before or after scheduled departure.

Note that you can have change and cancellation fees waived if you register for the program’s subscription service, which comes with a monthly fee.

British Airways Club

British Airways Club offers lots of great partner award redemption options. You can expect that making a change to an award ticket or redepositing the Avios for an award ticket will cost you $55 if done online, with an extra $25 fee for doing so via the call center.

Note that the fee varies based on where in the world you are. For example, at the moment you can expect to pay €42.50 in the European Union, or £35 in the United Kingdom.

There is one interesting quirk to canceling Avios awards, which is that you don’t have to necessarily pay the full cancellation fee to redeposit an award ticket booked with Avios. You either have to forfeit the taxes & fees or pay the fee to get your Avios refunded.

In other words, if you booked an award within the United States on American, you’d generally only pay $5.60 in taxes & fees. So rather than paying $55, you could just forfeit $5.60, and get your Avios back.

With the program, you must change or cancel your award ticket at least 24 hours before departure, or the ticket will be forfeited. British Airways Club Gold members don’t pay change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

While Cathay Pacific Asia Miles isn’t my favorite program on earth, it does offer decent redemption rates on Cathay Pacific, and often has access to extra award space. Asia Miles charges $50 or 7,500 Asia Miles for a flight changes, and charges $120 or 17,000 Asia Miles for a flight cancellation. Paying cash is definitely the better deal than redeeming miles, in my opinion.

For Asia Miles, you can actually cancel or change your ticket after scheduled departure, as long as it’s within the ticket validity period. So that’s very nice flexibility to have.

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles isn’t the most exciting points currency, but at least it doesn’t have change or redeposit fees on SkyMiles reservations when originating in North America.

The only exception is when booking “basic” tickets with SkyMiles, as those don’t offer the same flexibility. Instead, you’ll pay a redeposit fee of 9,900 SkyMiles for domestic and short haul international flights, and 19,900 SkyMiles for long haul flights. Furthermore, unfortunately select tickets originating outside of North America are still subjected to a $150 per person change or redeposit fee, though that’s not consistently enforced.

For SkyMiles, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards is the best program for booking Emirates first class awards, assuming you have elite status. The carrier’s fee structure can be a bit complicated for awards, depending on the type of award you booked. Skywards charges up to $25 to change the date of an award flight, though there’s no cost to change Flex Plus awards. Meanwhile Skywards charges up to $75 to redeposit an award, though there’s no cost to redeposit Flex Plus awards.

For Skywards, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Etihad Guest

Etihad Guest has the world’s most punitive award change and cancellation policies. You can’t cancel awards within 24 hours of departure, and further out than that, the cost varies based on how far out you’re canceling. This policy is actually super complicated to understand.

When it comes to cancelling or changing Etihad Guest award tickets, you’ll be charged either a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the fare paid, factoring in how far in advance you cancel:

• Within 72 hours of departure, no award tickets can be changed or cancelled, which is massively punitive; some programs don’t allow changes within 24 hours, but 72 hours is quite a long window
• More than 72 hours before departure, Value awards in economy and business class can’t be cancelled at any cost, but can be changed for a fee of 600 AED
• More than 72 hours before departure, Comfort awards in all classes of service can be cancelled for a fee of 25% of the miles redeemed, or can be changed for a fee of 200 AED
• More than 72 hours before departure, Deluxe awards in all classes of service can be cancelled or changed for free

The moral of the story should be to just avoid the Etihad Guest program unless there’s a huge advantage to booking through it, given how complex and potentially punitive the policies are.

EVA Air Infinity MileageLands

Infinity MileageLands is a useful program because it has more access to EVA Air business class award space than other programs. Infinity MileageLands charges $50 to change or cancel an award ticket. The exception is that you can cancel an award online for no fee. But this has to be done online, and it only applies to redepositing an award, and not to making a change.

For Infinity MileageLands, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Finnair Plus

Finnair Plus offers decent redemption rates on Finnair, and is also part of the overall Avios ecosystem. You can expect that making a change to an award ticket or redepositing the Avios for an award ticket will cost you €50.

For Finnair Plus, you must change or cancel your award ticket at least 24 hours before departure, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Iberia Club

Iberia Club has some great sweet spot redemptions for travel on Iberia. The program charges €25 to change or cancel an award for travel on Iberia. However, note that you have to do so at least 24 hours before departure, or else you’ll forfeit your ticket.

Furthermore, oddly partner award tickets can’t be changed or cancelled, so I’d highly recommend not making such bookings through Iberia Club. Instead, transfer your rewards to another “flavor” of Avios, where you can get more flexible terms, not to mention better value.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank charges a fee of 3,100 JPY (~$20) to redeposit an award reservation, whether it’s for travel on Japan Airlines or a partner carrier. It’s not possible to change awards, so you’d just need to redeposit and book again.

For Mileage Bank, you must change or cancel your award ticket at least three hours prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue TrueBlue doesn’t have change or redeposit fees on TrueBlue reservations. However, the taxes & fees won’t be refunded to your original form of payment, but rather, will be added to your JetBlue Travel Bank, and can be used toward a future flight. The only JetBlue awards that aren’t refundable are Blue Basic tickets with TrueBlue points, which are subjected to a $100-200 redeposit fee in the event you need to cancel.

For TrueBlue, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer charges for award changes and redeposits with points. Changing your Qantas Frequent Flyer award ticket will cost you 5,000 points per passenger, while redepositing your Qantas Frequent Flyer award ticket will cost you 6,000 points per passenger.

For Frequent Flyer, you must change or cancel your award ticket at least 24 hours before departure, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Qatar Privilege Club

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has solid redemption rates for travel on Qatar Airways, and also has attractive partner award pricing.

The program charges $25 for changes or cancellations made more than 24 hours before departure, and $100 for changes or cancellations made between three and 24 hours of departure.

Privilege Club doesn’t allow changes or cancellations within three hours of departure, so you’ll forfeit all your Avios, and will just get back any taxes and government fees that you paid.

Singapore KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is the best program for booking premium cabin Singapore Airlines awards. The program’s fees differ depending on whether you’re booking a Saver or Advantage award (with the former being the lowest priced award):

• Changing a Saver award ticket costs $25-50, changing an Advantage award ticket costs $0-25
• Redepositing a Saver award ticket costs $75, redepositing an Advantage award ticket costs $50

For KrisFlyer, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to scheduled departure time, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards doesn’t have any change or redeposit fees on award tickets. This was the first major program to have such a policy, and the airline continues to take a very customer-friendly approach with this.

For Rapid Rewards, you must change or cancel your award ticket at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Turkish Miles&Smiles

Turkish Miles&Smiles has some valuable sweet spot redemptions, including both for travel on Turkish Airlines, and for travel on partner airlines. The program charges $70 to either change or redeposit an award ticket, so the cost is the same regardless of what you need to do with your award ticket.

For Miles&Smiles, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to scheduled departure time, or the ticket will be forfeited.

United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus doesn’t have any change or redeposit fees on award tickets. So this is a great program for locking in speculative Star Alliance awards.

For MileagePlus, you must change or cancel your award ticket prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight, or the ticket will be forfeited.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has the following charges for award changes and redeposits:

• Changing an award costs £70 in the UK, or $100 in the United States (or an equivalent amount in another currency)
• Redepositing an award costs £70 in the UK, or $100 in the United States (or an equivalent amount in another currency)

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club requires you to cancel award tickets at least 24 hours before departure, or else you forfeit your points. Flying Club Gold members don’t pay change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

Much like with British Airways Club, there is one additional quirk, which is that you don’t have to necessarily pay the full cancellation fee to redeposit an award ticket booked with points. You either have to forfeit the taxes & fees or pay the fee to get your points refunded.

Bottom line

Airline award tickets can not only unlock amazing first & business class seats for huge discounts, but also offer significant advantages when it comes to changing or canceling tickets. Nowadays many frequent flyer programs don’t even have change or redeposit fees for awards, which is awesome.

I tend to think that these policies are worth keeping in mind when planning travel, especially if it’s speculative in nature. Based on my own redemption patterns, I’m particularly happy about the policies of Alaska Atmos Rewards and American AAdvantage.

If OMAAT readers have any award ticket change or redeposit experiences to share, please do so in the comments section!

In this post, I’d like to take a look at American’s meal pre-order program works. This is something I take advantage of almost every time I’m on an eligible flight. In separate posts, I’ll cover how to pre-order meals with Delta Air Lines and how to pre-order meals with United Airlines.

Reserve your meal before you fly American Airlines

There aren’t many areas where American surpasses Delta and United when it comes to tech, but meal pre-ordering is an area where the airline leads the way. American has been offering the option to pre-select your main course on many first and business class flights for over a decade, well ahead of its peers. So, how exactly does this work?

For which American flights can you pre-select your meal?

American allows first and business class passengers to pre-select their meal. This is available for all first and business class flights where a meal is served. This applies on American Airlines flights, but doesn’t work on codeshare flights on other airlines. It also doesn’t work on flights where just refreshments are served.

When can you pre-select your American meal?

You can pre-select your American meal between 20 hours and 30 days prior to departure of a particular flight segment. So be sure that you make your selection before that 20-hour mark, since that’s the point at which the pre-order system closes.

How do you pre-select your American meal?

Pre-selecting your American meal is easy, and can be done through aa.com or the American Airlines mobile app.

If you’re going to do so through the website, just go to aa.com and visit the booking management function, to find your eligible itinerary. You can do this either by entering your six digit record locator, or by logging into your AAdvantage account.

Once you’re on an itinerary management page, scroll down to the bottom, under the heading that says “Passengers.” There you’ll see the passengers listed, and you’ll see a section that says “Inflight food.” Click the little pen next to that, and you’ll be presented with the available options.

If you’re using the American Airlines app, the process is largely similar. Just log into your AAdvantage account, go to the “Trips” section, and once you’re on your itinerary management page, scroll down to the “Reserve food” section.

Once there, you’ll be able to select your meal of choice.

What are the American pre-select meal options?

Are American’s meal pre-select options simply what you’d otherwise be offered onboard, or do you get access to more options? It depends on the flight. The pre-select option will always give you access to the options that would otherwise be available onboard.

However, in most cases you also get access to additional options (sometimes up to three). For example, there’s often some sort of a greens and grains bowl, as well as some sort of fruit and cheese plate, which might not be available onboard.

Another nice thing is that the meal pre-order page actually explains the details of each dish. When you’re onboard, a flight attendant might only describe a dish as “lasagna,” or something, while you can get a better sense of what’s being served online.

How does this compare to ordering an American special meal?

Separate from American’s option to pre-select your meal, the airline also has special meals for passengers with dietary restrictions. This can be reserved through the same method as above. Go to the “Inflight food” section, and then click on “Show more,” and you’ll see all the special meal options.

Special meals are available to all passengers on long haul international flights. It’s also available for first and business class passengers on select domestic flights. I haven’t fully figured out the pattern as to which flights have special meals, because sometimes you’ll find it available on a two hour flight in one market, but not on a flight of a similar length in another market.

If you select a special meal, that will encompass the entire meal, including any appetizers, desserts, etc. While the primary intention is that this is for those with special dietary needs, I do sometimes order special meals just to mix things up from American’s otherwise boring choices. In particular, I’ve had pretty good experiences with Asian vegetarian and Kosher options.

Why I always pre-select my meal with American Airlines

Unlike some foreign airlines, American generally loads exactly as many meals in premium cabins as there are passengers (especially in domestic first class). If you don’t select your meal in advance, expect that you’ll get what’s left over, and not your first choice.

That’s because a significant number of people pre-order meals, and unless you’re the first to be asked for your meal preference, they may have already run out of your choice by the time they get to you.

American’s catering is nothing to get excited about (to put it politely), but there are definitely some options that are better than others (or at least less bad).

American Airlines meal pre-order FAQs

Bottom line

If you’re flying American Airlines in first class or business class, you can pre-select your meal between 20 hours and 30 days of departure. While American otherwise isn’t great with tech, it’s awesome for how long American has offered this feature.

It’s something I’d highly recommend taking advantage of, since you’re otherwise not very likely to get your first choice onboard. For that matter, it even gives you access to options that may not be available onboard.

If you’re an American flyer, do you always select your meal in advance?

In this post, I’d like to talk about how the Atmos Rewards Summit Card offers the ability to earn Global Companion Awards, both just for having the card, and for spending. These certificates can offer incredible value for award redemptions on Alaska, Hawaiian, and partner airlines, so let’s talk about them in a bit more detail, including about my firsthand experience with redeeming one of these.

There are lots of reasons to get the Summit Card, from a huge welcome bonus, to the great perks and rewards for spending on an ongoing basis. It’s a card I’ve applied for and have in my wallet, as I find it to be truly innovative and rewarding.

Link: Learn more about the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® Credit Card

How to earn Atmos Rewards Global Companion Awards

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card gives cardmembers the opportunity to earn up to two Global Companion Awards per year:

• The card offers a 25,000-point Global Companion Award as part of the welcome offer, and as an annual bonus on the cardmember anniversary every year
• The card offers a 100,000-point Global Companion Award when you spend $60,000 on the card in an anniversary year (so that’s 12-month periods from when you opened your account, different than a calendar year)

Let me emphasize that you can earn both of these Global Companion Awards, so it’s not that you can only receive one or the other. So, when should cardmembers expect for these Global Companion Awards to post? Per the terms:

• The 25,000-point Global Companion Award will post within two billing cycles of qualifying for the welcome bonus on the card, and within two billing cycles of the account anniversary
• The 100,000-point Global Companion Award will post within two billing cycles of completing the $60,000 spending requirement in an anniversary year

Based on my experience, the first Global Companion Award posts at the same time as the bonus points you earn with the welcome offer, so the sooner you complete the minimum spending requirement, the faster you get the certificate.

In subsequent years, the Global Companion Award seems to also post shortly after the eligible statement closing date. For example, I just had my first cardmember anniversary and spent $60,000 on the card, and both of my Global Companion Awards posted shortly after the statement closing date.

Once issued, Global Companion Awards are valid for 12 months. The good news is that it’s fine if you travel after that 12 months, as you just need to ticket by then. You can always cancel a ticket booked with a Global Companion Award and then rebook with it, as long as the certificate is still valid. However, if you end up canceling your ticket after the expiration, you’d forfeit the certificate. I should also emphasize that there need to be two award seats at the same rate to use this award, so you can’t use this award if there’s only one seat available.

How to redeem Atmos Rewards Global Companion Awards

How can you redeem the Global Companion Awards earned with the Atmos Rewards Summit Card? They’re super flexible.

In order to use Global Companion Awards, you need to find award availability for two passengers. This can be for travel on Alaska, Hawaiian, or any of the Atmos Rewards global airline partners (ranging from Condor to Qatar Airways). Tickets must be booked on alaskaair.com, with both passengers being booked at the same time. You also need to apply the Global Companion Award at the time of booking, so you can’t add it to a booking retroactively.

The cardmember doesn’t need to be one of the travelers, as the Global Companion Award can be redeemed for others. Both passengers are still on the hook for taxes and fees, which have to be paid with the Atmos Rewards Summit Card (which also means that the $20 per person partner award booking fee will be waived).

The idea is that the 25,000-point Global Companion Award will take 25,000 points off the cost of a companion’s award, while the 100,000-point Global Companion Award will take 100,000 points off the cost of a companion’s award. Note that the two certificates can’t be combined and used toward a single booking, so if you earned both, you couldn’t get 125,000 points off a single booking.

You can top off these certificates with more points if you’d like, and they’re valid for one-way or roundtrip travel. Just as an example, if you had a 25,000 point Global Companion Award:

• You could book a ticket that costs 20,000 points per person; you’d pay the 20,000 points for the first passenger, and then the certificate would totally cover the second passenger (though there would be no residual value)
• You could book a ticket that costs 50,000 points per person; you’d pay the 50,000 points for the first passenger, and then you’d have to pay an extra 25,000 points for the second passenger, to cover the overage

Step-by-step guide to Global Companion Award redemption

While I’ve just received two fresh pairs of Global Companion Awards, let me share my booking experience redeeming my first 25,000-point Global Companion Award that I earned with the Atmos Rewards Summit Card.

First I went to the “Discount / companion code” section of my Atmos Rewards account, which will bring you to the “Wallet” section.

There I found the code for the “Global Companion Awards Ticket 25K.” You can either copy and paste the code, or you can click “Use to book,” and that will then take you to Alaska’s booking homepage.

On the booking homepage, you’ll see that the code is automatically copied into the “Discount code” box, so you can enter your origin, destination, date of travel, and number of travelers.

For example, I constantly redeem Atmos Rewards points for travel on American, so I used mine for a first class ticket on American from Miami (MIA) to Salt Lake City (SLC), which costs 25,000 points per person in first class. As you can see, the search result showed that the companion would cost zero points.

The next page confirmed that, with a total cost of 25,000 points, plus the taxes and fees for both passengers.

Then when you get to the final booking page, you’ll see a note that the ticket has to be purchased with your Atmos Rewards Summit Card. That’s something you want to do anyway, since it means it’ll waive the $20 per person partner award booking fee. So while the initial page showed a cost of $26 per person (well, $25.60, really), that price was then lowered to $5.60, thanks to the $20 per person in waived fees.

And that’s it — the process was that straightforward! Keep in mind that the Atmos Rewards program awards status points for award flights, and both passengers would be eligible to earn status points for those flights, as the companion is treated the same as any other award passenger.

For what it’s worth, the process of redeeming the Atmos Rewards Global Companion Award worth 100,000 points is largely the same. For example, take a roundtrip business class ticket on American between New York (JFK) and Madrid (MAD), which costs 110,000 points. When I use the Global Companion Award cost, I see the price listed as 110,000 points for the first passenger, and 10,000 points for the second passenger.

My take on the value of Atmos Rewards Global Companion Awards

The Global Companion Awards make up a major part of the value proposition of the Atmos Rewards Summit Card. How would I go about actually valuing these certificates, though?

For what it’s worth, I value Atmos Rewards points at 1.5 cents each. So I’d consider 25,000 Atmos Rewards points to be worth up to $375, and I’d consider 100,000 Atmos Rewards points to be worth up to $1,500. However, I’d apply some discount to the value of these awards, given that they offer less flexibility than outright having points.

With that in mind, let me share how I go about thinking of the value of the Atmos Rewards Global Companion. I should mention that I redeem a good number of Atmos Rewards points (formerly Alaska Mileage Plan miles). They’re super handy for redemptions on a variety of airlines, and particularly, for short haul travel on American, which is especially valuable to me.

You should consider your own circumstances when deciding how much you value them. For example, if you almost always travel alone, then a companion certificate will likely be worth a lot less to you. With that in mind, let’s talk about the two types of Global Companion Awards separately, because there are different questions cardmembers should be asking themselves.

Does the 25K certificate justify the annual fee?

You get the 25,000-point Global Companion Award annually just for having the card. Personally, I consider that to be worth pretty close to the “retail” value, since I travel on an Alaska award with a companion at least once per year, while spending 25,000+ points per passenger.

If you ask me, that more or less makes this a breakeven card for me, as I value that certificate very close to the card’s $395 annual fee, if not more. Between this and the waived partner award booking fees that come with the card, I’m way ahead, just by being a cardmember. That says nothing of the other perks, which are numerous, including things like free points sharing.

Of course points give you more flexibility than an award, but I feel confident enough in my ability to use that award efficiently to say it’s basically worth face value (as I’ve proven with how I’ve used this certificate the first year). Everyone will be in a different situation, and that’s just how it is for me, as someone who redeems a good number of points.

Does the 100K certificate justify $60,000 spending?

The much more interesting question surrounds whether it’s worth spending $60,000 per cardmember year in order to earn the 100,000-point Global Companion Award. This assumes you have that much spending to throw at a card, which won’t be the case for many people (but there’s not much to analyze if you can’t spend that much).

I think the major consideration with putting a big amount of spending on the card is that you’re not just earning a Global Companion Award, but you’re also earning some other valuable rewards:

• You earn one status point for every $2 spent on the card, so if you’re trying to earn elite status, that will help you greatly
• The card has some amazing bonus categories, including offering 3x points on foreign purchases, as well as on dining, and on Alaska and Hawaiian flight purchases; the card also has strong purchase protection, including for rental cars and travel coverage

Obviously the math will work out very differently here if you earn the 100,000-point Global Companion Award by spending $60,000 in a category that earns 1x points, vs. spending it in a category that earns 3x points. For $60,000 of spending:

• If you were just earning 1x points, you’d earn 60,000 redeemable points, 30,000 status points, and the 100,000-point Global Companion Award
• If you were just earning 3x points, you’d earn 180,000 redeemable points, 30,000 status points, and the 100,000-point Global Companion Award

The funny thing is, I’d argue that even on the low end, that’s a good return on non-bonused spending. But on the high end, I’d argue that’s basically an unbeatable return on spending.

Now, how much would I value the 100,000-point Global Companion Award? I’d probably be conservative, and value it at around half of face value. Why?

• You have a lot less flexibility than just having points, since you need to book within a certain timeframe, and need to book an expensive award to maximize value
• Many people will have to book awards as roundtrips vs. one-ways to maximize value (to get to the 100,000-point requirement), and that limits flexibility
• The Atmos Rewards sweet spots are largely for shorter haul awards, so often you don’t even want to book the most expensive types of awards with Atmos Rewards points

But even if you were to value that certificate at 50,000 points, I think that still contributes very nicely to the value proposition.

I also think what’s so brilliant here is how the way this card is structured really keeps you on the “hamster wheel” — you earn enough points so that you can actually use your Global Companion Awards, and you earn so many status points that you’re really incentivized to fly more on Alaska, Hawaiian, and global airline partners.

Atmos Rewards Global Companion Award FAQs

Bottom line

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card gives cardmembers the ability to earn two Global Companion Awards — you can earn a 25,000-point certificate each cardmember year just for having the card, and a second 100,000-point certificate each cardmember year for spending $60,000 on the card.

Everyone will want to crunch their own numbers regarding the value of this. Based on my own redemption patterns, I think the 25,000-point award is easy enough to use and worth close to the annual fee.

Meanwhile I think the 100,000-point award is awesome, but requires some discount for mental accounting purposes, given the limited uses that allow cardmembers to maximize it. However, when you consider the overall value proposition of spending on the card, there’s a lot to be said for using this card for spending.

What do you make of the Atmos Rewards Summit Card Global Companion Awards?

Every airline has a different approach when it comes to offering lounge access, though Delta is in a whole different league when it comes to discouraging memberships and day passes, and rather focusing on offering lounge access through credit cards. The Atlanta-based airline also has the most restrictive policies in terms of how long before departure you can access lounges.

In this post, I’d like to take a closer look at how Delta lounge access works, particularly for its network of Delta Sky Club® locations. We’ve seen massive changes to these lounges access rules over time, so there’s a lot to understand.

What amenities to Delta Sky Club lounges have?

Delta operates a network of over 50 Sky Clubs around the world. In my opinion, Delta Sky Clubs are superior to American Admirals Clubs and United Clubs, as they generally have much better service, and significantly better complimentary food.

I find that Sky Clubs have actually decent and enjoyable food that’s often better than what you’ll find aboard, and also better than the cubed cheese and veggies you’ll find in many other airport lounges.

Sky Clubs also have complimentary beer, wine, and cocktails, and then they have premium drinks available for purchase. In some cases, premium drinks can even be a good use of Delta SkyMiles. While you’ll find showers in some Delta Sky Clubs, that’s most common in hubs, and is much rarer at the smaller locations.

Historically, Sky Clubs have also had the most consistent crowding issues among airline lounges, even with all the access restrictions that we’ve seen added. There are even priority entry lanes for Sky Clubs, given that there are often lines. However, this situation is starting to get a bit better, especially thanks to the opening of Delta One Lounges.

Where are Delta Sky Club lounges located?

There are currently over 50 Delta Sky Club locations, and you can find them all in the below chart, along with the number of locations at each airport.

Delta Sky Club three hour access rule

Before we talk about the different ways to access Delta Sky Clubs, I want to briefly talk about Delta’s three hour rule for lounge access. Among the “big three” US carriers, Delta is the only one that consistently restricts how long before departure you can visit lounges.

With few exceptions, Delta Sky Clubs can only be accessed within three hours of a flight’s scheduled departure. The exceptions include the following:

• Those with Delta 360 status and those with a Centurion Card can access Sky Clubs more than three hours before departure
• If you have a connecting itinerary, you can access the Sky Club more than three hours before departure if your connection is that long
• Select eligible travelers can use Sky Clubs upon arrival, in which case there’s no limit to how long you can stay

Delta Sky Club basic economy restriction

On top of the three hour rule, Delta has an additional Sky Club access restriction that you won’t find at any airline. Those traveling on a Delta basic economy ticket can’t access the Sky Club, regardless of which entry method they’re using.

The only exception is that those with a Delta Sky Club lifetime membership can access the lounges on a basic economy ticket. So if you value lounge access, this is another incentive not to book a basic economy ticket with the carrier.

How can you access Delta Sky Club lounges?

Among the “big three” US carriers, I’d say Delta gives people the most options for accessing lounges, though the airline also has so many restrictions associated with each type of access. Delta has by far the highest percentage of non-club members using lounges, to the point that the airline even discourages and restricts buying lounge memberships.

Let’s take a look at all of the options for accessing Sky Clubs, ranging from a membership, to having the right credit card, to buying access.

Buy a Delta Sky Club Executive Membership (elite only)

The only way to consistently be able to bring guests into Sky Clubs is to buy an Executive Membership. This is exclusively available to SkyMiles Medallion elite members (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver), and an annual membership costs $1,495 or 149,500 SkyMiles. As I’ll explain below, Diamond Medallion members also have another way that they can get this membership.

With a Delta Sky Club Executive Membership:

• You can bring two guests, or a spouse/domestic partner and children under 21
• You can also bring up to an additional two guests for $50 or 5,000 SkyMiles each per club visit
• You can only use Sky Clubs when traveling on Delta or a partner airline same day
• You can’t use Sky Clubs as a member when traveling in Delta basic economy

Buy a Delta Sky Club Individual Membership (elite only)

While the Executive Membership comes with the most privileges, you can also purchase an Individual Membership annually for $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles. This is exclusively available to SkyMiles Medallion elite members (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver), as non-elite members can’t purchase this membership.

With a Delta Sky Club Individual Membership:

• You can’t bring any guests for free, though you can pay to bring two guests for $50 or 5,000 SkyMiles per person per visit
• You can only use Sky Clubs when traveling on Delta or a partner airline same day
• You can’t use Sky Clubs as a member when traveling in Delta basic economy

Select access as a Delta Diamond Medallion Choice Benefit

Delta Diamond Medallion members can select three Choice Benefits every year. You can redeem all three of your Choice Benefits to select a Sky Club Executive Membership. There’s no longer an option to redeem Choice Benefits for an Individual Membership.

The same access policies apply regarding having to fly with Delta or a partner airline the same day, and not being in basic economy.

Have an Amex Platinum Card

There are several cards that offer Sky Club access when flying with Delta same day. Let’s start with the Amex Platinum cards, which include the following:

• American Express Platinum Card® (learn more)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (learn more)

If you have one of these cards then you can access Sky Clubs either on departure or arrival, as long as you have a same day Delta ticket. You’re allowed to bring in up to two guests or immediate family for a fee of $50 per person.

Note that cardmembers are restricted to receiving 10 Sky Club visits per Medallion year. Each visit is defined as all entries within a 24 hour period, including at different airports. In other words, if you have a connecting itinerary, you can visit multiple Sky Clubs at different airports while using only one visit allotment.

If you make at least $75,000 in eligible purchases on the card per calendar year, you can receive unlimited club access for the remainder of the current Medallion year, plus the following Medallion year.

Have a Delta Reserve Card

In addition to the Amex Platinum Card, the Delta Reserve cards also offer Sky Club access:

• The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (learn more)
• The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card (learn more)

If you have one of these cards then you can access Sky Clubs either on departure or arrival, as long as you have a same day Delta ticket. You’re allowed to bring up to two guests or immediate family for a fee of $50 per person. On top of that, those with one of these cards receive four Sky Club guest passes per year, which they can use to bring guests into the lounge at no additional cost (each is valid for one person for one visit).

Note that cardmembers are restricted to receiving 15 Sky Club visits per Medallion year. Each visit is defined as all entries within a 24 hour period, including at different airports. In other words, if you have a connecting itinerary, you can visit multiple Sky Clubs at different airports while using only one visit allotment.

If you make at least $75,000 in eligible purchases on the card per calendar year, you can receive unlimited club access for the remainder of the current Medallion year, plus the following Medallion year.

Book an eligible Delta One or Delta business class ticket

Delta One is the name of the Delta’s business class experience. If you’re booked on a Delta One ticket then you receive access to Sky Clubs throughout your same day travel journey (both at your long haul gateway and on connecting flights, though you don’t receive lounge access purely on arrival).

This includes domestic flights marketed as Delta One (like New York to Los Angeles), as well as international Delta One flights, including to Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada, and Mexico (travel to the Caribbean, Guam, Palau, and Saipan, is excluded).

Let me emphasize that some of the above markets, like to Canada and Mexico, aren’t marketed as Delta One, but instead, are marketed as business class. Those still offer Sky Club access. However, standard domestic first class tickets won’t get you Sky Club access. Business class passengers can’t bring any guests into the lounges for free.

Note that Delta One tickets also often offer access to Delta One Lounges, which I’ll talk more about in a bit. The only additional restriction worth being aware of is that “basic” Delta One tickets no longer automatically offer Sky Club access for flights as of January 18, 2027. However, if you have another entry method for getting into Sky Clubs, you can use that (unlike on basic economy tickets).

Book an eligible SkyTeam business or first class ticket

Beyond Delta One, you also get access to Sky Clubs if you have a same day international SkyTeam business or first class ticket. The definition of international is the same as for Delta One.

This means if you’re flying Air France from Atlanta to Paris you’d get Sky Club access in Atlanta, if you’re flying Kenya Airways from New York to Nairobi you’d get Sky Club access in New York, etc.

Business class passengers can’t bring any guests into the lounges for free.

Book an eligible LATAM or WestJet business class ticket

LATAM and WestJet business class passengers can access Delta Sky Clubs with a same day international business class ticket, even at connecting airports on an itinerary. No guests are permitted. Both of these airlines are Delta partners, but don’t belong to SkyTeam.

Be a SkyTeam Elite Plus member on an eligible itinerary

SkyTeam Elite Plus status offers Sky Club access, though the policy differs based on which program you earn status through:

• Generally SkyTeam Elite Plus members can access Sky Clubs when traveling internationally the same day on any SkyTeam flight; you can even bring a guest into the lounge with you for free
• There’s one specific carve-out — if you earn SkyTeam Elite Plus status through Delta SkyMiles and are flying Delta, you can only access Sky Clubs when traveling internationally in Premium Select (premium economy) or Delta One (business class), meaning you can’t access Sky Clubs if traveling in Delta Main or Delta Comfort

Lounge access is provided at all connecting and transfer points, though not upon arrival. The only “international” flights that don’t qualify are travel between the United States and the Caribbean.

Be a LATAM or WestJet elite member on an eligible itinerary

LATAM and WestJet elite members also receive access to Delta Sky Clubs, though the terms differ slightly:

• LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black, and Platinum members, receive Sky Club access when flying same day on any international Delta or WestJet flight, and one guest is permitted
• WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold members receive Sky Club access when flying same day on a transborder Delta or WestJet flight, and one guest is permitted

Delta doesn’t sell Sky Club day passes anymore

This is perhaps specifically worth calling out. Aside from the above eligible passengers, Delta no longer sells Sky Club day passes. If you don’t have access through one of the above means, you can’t just buy a day pass to a Sky Club anymore.

Is Delta Sky Club access worth $50?

As you can see above, many options for Sky Club access involve paying $50 for guests. Is it worth paying $50 to be able to access a Sky Club? Since Sky Club access is generally only granted three hours before departure, realistically you’ll have at most two (or so) hours in the lounge.

I’d say if you’re hungry and/or plan on having a couple of drinks, it’s probably worth it, at least compared to alternatives in the terminal. Meanwhile if you just have 30 minutes to relax in the lounge, I’d say it’s not really worthwhile.

In many cases, terminals have gotten better, with more comfortable seating options, power outlets in gate areas, and free Wi-Fi. In these situations, I’m just as happy sitting in the gate area as sitting in a lounge.

I would say that you should view the math a bit differently if you have complimentary access and you have to pay $50 for your companion. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t use a lounge and leave my companion to fend for themselves in the terminal.

So for me the question becomes whether it’s worth paying $25 per person to access the Sky Club, since I view it as a package deal. Of course not everyone will think that way, but for those that do, I think that’s worth keeping in mind.

What about Delta One Lounge access?

In addition to Delta Sky Clubs, there are also now Delta One Lounges, in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Boston (BOS), and Seattle (SEA). These lounges are honestly incredible, and put American Flagship Lounges and United Polaris Lounges to shame.

How do access requirements for Delta One Lounges compare? Delta One Lounge access is available to:

• Same day departing or arriving Delta One ticketed passengers; it doesn’t matter if you paid cash, redeemed miles, or upgraded; the only exception is that “basic” Delta One tickets no longer allow Delta One Lounge access for flights as of January 18, 2027
• Delta 360 members departing or arriving on a same day Delta first class ticket
• Same day departing or connecting passengers on flights operated by select Delta partners in first or business class; this includes passengers on Air France, LATAM, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic

For more details, see my guide to Delta One Lounges.

Bottom line

As you can see, Delta is unconventional when it comes to lounge access. The airline doesn’t sell day passes without having the right credit card, and in many ways, the airline discourages you from getting a membership. Furthermore, Delta places limits on how long before departure you can access lounges, and what kind of tickets qualify for access, even if you have a membership.

Assuming you’re not traveling on an eligible international ticket or a SkyTeam Elite Plus member, the best way to access Sky Clubs is with an Amex Platinum Card or Delta Reserve Card.

Hopefully the above clears up everything you could want to know about Delta Sky Club access. If I missed anything, please let me know.

After all the card has an absolutely huge welcome bonus, and also offers valuable ongoing perks, like an Admirals Club membership, up to 40,000 Loyalty Points annually without spending, and much more.

Link: Learn more about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card 48-month bonus rule

If you want to earn the welcome bonus on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, the single most important thing to be aware of is the 48-month rule on qualifying for the bonus. To quote the terms & conditions:

American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi / AAdvantage Executive account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi / AAdvantage Executive account.

To make that even clearer, this means the bonus on the card isn’t available to those who have received a new cardmember bonus on this exact card in the past 48 months. It’s fine if you’ve received the bonus on another Citi card or AAdvantage product (either personal or business) within the past 48 months, it just can’t be for the same card. Just to be abundantly clear, you’re eligible for the welcome bonus on this card if you’ve been approved for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (learn more).

Let me also emphasize that the 48-month clock starts from when you earn the bonus, and not from when you signed up for the card. So you’d want to look at when the bonus miles posted to figure out when the clock starts. As you can see, the 48-month rule doesn’t take into account when you opened or closed a card account.

Citi otherwise has limited consistent approval rules

Every card issuer has different rules when it comes to what it takes to be approved for a card. If you’re applying for the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, the good news is that Citi doesn’t otherwise have too many consistent rules.

The major restriction is that Citi will approve you for at most one Citi card every eight days, and at most two Citi cards every 65 days. That’s a rolling limit, and shouldn’t be too restrictive, since it’s not like most people apply for that many Citi cards.

How difficult is it to get approved for the card?

There’s not published data as to how difficult it is to get approved for cards with the various issuers, so we can only go off data points. So, how hard is it to get approved for the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card?

Among the major credit card issuers, personally I find Amex cards to be easiest to get approved for, followed by Citi cards, followed by Chase cards. Capital One, meanwhile, can be quirky, and hardest to explain.

Assuming you have decent income and a good credit score, getting approved shouldn’t be that difficult. If you’re going to apply, in general, I’d recommend having a credit score in the “good” to “excellent” range.

Personally, I probably wouldn’t apply if my credit score were under 700, and ideally, I’d hope to have a credit score of 740 or higher. That being said, people with scores lower than that have been approved for the card, and conversely, people with scores higher than that have been rejected. There are lots of factors that go into approval — your income, your credit history, how much credit Citi has already extended you, etc.

Don’t expect that a more premium card with a higher annual fee will necessarily be harder to get approved for, as that’s not consistently the case.

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card approval FAQs

Bottom line

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is American’s most premium card, and it offers a huge welcome offer, plus strong perks, like an Admirals Club membership and more. If you’re eligible for the card, it can absolutely be worth applying. In particular, the first-year value is great, given the bonus.

If you’ve applied for the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, what was your approval experience like?

Understanding United Airlines lounge access can be quite confusing, especially with the distinction between United Clubs and United Polaris Lounges. United operates over 45 United Clubs and six United Polaris Lounges, so that’s quite a large network.

In this post, I’d like to take a comprehensive look at how United Airlines lounge access works. There are a variety of ways to access United Clubs, from buying a membership (either directly or through a credit card), to booking certain types of business class tickets, to having eligible Star Alliance elite status.

What amenities do United Club lounges have?

I’d say United Clubs are about average as far as US airline lounges go. In my opinion they’re on par with American Admirals Clubs (maybe a little better), and not as good as Delta Sky Clubs. Conversely, United Polaris Lounges are very good, and among the best business class lounges offered by any US airline.

At United Clubs you can expect complimentary Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, free drinks and snacks, and some premium drinks available for purchase. As you’d expect, the quality does differ by lounge. Some of the newer hub lounges have things like barista coffee and showers, though that’s not a standard offering.

It’s also worth mentioning that there’s the United Club Fly concept, which is essentially a grab & go lounge alternative, for those with United Club access. For travelers with limited time, this can be a great option for grabbing a drink or snack before boarding a flight. It’s currently only available at two airports, though.

Where are United Club lounges located?

There are currently over 45 United Club locations, and you can find them all in the below chart, along with the number of locations at each airport.

How can you access United Club lounges?

United Clubs are membership lounges, meaning that they’re primarily intended for members. However, there are lots of other ways to access United Clubs, including with eligible tickets, with elite status, through day passes, or in conjunction with the right credit card.

Below are all the best options for United Airlines lounge access.

Buy a United Club membership (with miles or cash)

The most obvious way to access United Clubs is to outright buy an annual membership. This can be done with miles or cash, and the cost varies based on your elite status. Below is the United Club membership cost.

As you can see, there are two membership types:

• A United Club individual membership allows access to United Club locations worldwide, but with no complimentary guesting privileges (though you can pay $59 per guest)
• A United Club all access membership allows access to United Club locations worldwide, plus access to eligible Star Alliance partner lounges; at United Clubs, all access members can bring two adult guests, or one adult and any dependents under 18

With this you’re paying $750 annually (for an individual membership). If you are going to buy a United Club membership, I’d highly recommend paying cash over redeeming miles. As you can see, you’re getting under 0.8 cents of value per MileagePlus mile this way, and that’s just a really bad value, as there are better uses of MileagePlus miles.

Keep in mind, you can only use United Clubs when flying same day on United Airlines or a Star Alliance partner airline. With an individual membership guests are not allowed.

Get the United Club Card

The best United Airlines credit card for lounge access is the United Club℠ Card (learn more), which includes a United Club membership for being a cardmember. This is valid for the primary cardmember, but not for any authorized users.

Regardless of your status, this is a less expensive way to get a United Club membership than paying for a membership outright, given the $695 annual fee.

The catch is that the lounge membership offered by the card is pretty quirky. As a standard, this offers somewhere between an individual membership and an all access membership, in terms of guesting privileges. Those who have an eligible card are able to bring one guest and any children under the age of 18.

If cardmembers want to unlock an all access club membership (which would allow them to bring two guests, and access partner lounges), they can do so in one of two ways:

• By having United MileagePlus Premier Gold status or above
• By spending at least $50,000 on their eligible card in a calendar year

Get the JP Morgan Reserve Card

The JP Morgan Reserve Card is an invitation-only credit card that most of us will never have access to. However, the card does offer a United Club membership, if you are someone lucky enough to get it.

Buy an Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership

Those who have an Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership also get United Club access. However:

• Those with a Maple Leaf Club North America Plus membership only get United Club access in North America
• You need to be flying a Star Alliance airline same day from the airport where you’re trying to access the lounge
• Your guesting privileges are limited; Maple Leaf Club members with a North America Plus membership aren’t allowed any guests, while those with a Maple Leaf Club Worldwide membership are allowed one guest

A North America Plus membership costs 495 CAD (~358 USD) per year, while a Worldwide membership costs 665 CAD (~481 USD) per year. The catch is that these memberships have been suspended for years, so people can’t actually currently buy them.

Buy a United Club pass

You can buy a United Club pass for $59 per person. These passes are valid for one person each, and are only valid for entry to United Clubs in one city, with access allowed up to three hours before a flight’s scheduled departure.

Unlike American Admirals Club day passes, you can’t use these to enter lounges at multiple airports the same day. Children under two may accompany someone accessing a United Club with a pass at no additional cost.

You can buy a United Club pass directly at the lounge, though there may sometimes be capacity controls on these. Alternatively, you can buy a United Club pass through the United app.

Like all other methods of accessing United Clubs nowadays, you also need to be traveling on United or a Star Alliance partner airline the same day.

Get United Club passes with credit cards

Some of United’s credit cards with reasonable annual fees offer United Club passes as a perk. For example, you get two United Club passes annually if you’re the primary cardmember on the following cards:

• United℠ Explorer Card (learn more)
• United℠ Business Card (learn more)

These are valid for 12 months from when they’re issued, and you can either show the passes to an agent through the United app, or you can print them from your MileagePlus account on united.com.

Note that in situations where United Clubs are at capacity, those trying to access lounges with day passes might not be admitted. Much like outright buying United Club passes, these are valid for a single visit to one location, within three hours of a flight’s scheduled departure time.

Book a United Airlines premium domestic flight

A standard domestic first class ticket won’t get you access to United Clubs. However, there are certain domestic tickets that will get you United Club access, and those are flights in markets that are Polaris branded.

Specifically, if you’re traveling business class nonstop on one of the following routes you receive United Club access on arrival and departure (though not beyond that if you’re connecting):

• Between Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO)
• Between Newark (EWR) or Chicago (ORD) and Honolulu (HNL) or Maui (OGG)

You can’t bring any guests with you into the lounge, though. You can access no matter how you ticketed that business class flight, whether you paid cash, redeemed miles, or upgraded.

These are the only types of exclusively domestic tickets that offer United Club access. Other domestic journeys, don’t offer lounge access.

Book a United Polaris or business class ticket

If you are taking a same day United Polaris or United business class flight, you get access to United Clubs throughout your same day journey, on departure, at connecting points, and even on arrival. You can’t bring any guests with you, though.

What’s the difference between Polaris and business class for these purposes? United Polaris is the name of United’s long haul international business class product, and you’ll see the flights marketed as such. Meanwhile international flights where the forward cabin isn’t marketed as Polaris, instead have the forward cabin marketed as business class.

Polaris flights include all international transpacific and transatlantic flights, as well as flights from the United States to the following South American destinations:

• Buenos Aires
• Lima
• Rio de Janeiro
• São Paulo
• Santiago

Meanwhile United business class includes flights to the following destinations, which are also eligible for United Club access:

• Guam
• Canada
• Mexico
• Caribbean
• Central America
• Colombia
• Ecuador

Let me emphasize that while those booking “basic” United Polaris tickets can’t access United Polaris Lounges, they can still access United Clubs, so that’s an important distinction to be aware of.

Book a Star Alliance business or first class ticket

Traveling in business class or first class on a Star Alliance partner airline also potentially offers United Club access, but with more restrictions.

When traveling on a Star Alliance partner airline in business or first class you can access United Clubs, but only on departure at your international gateway.

In other words, if you fly United first class from Houston to Chicago, and then Lufthansa first class from Chicago to Frankfurt, you could only use the United Club in Chicago.

Personally I find the policy to be ridiculous, as Star Alliance is more punitive here than oneworld and SkyTeam. That’s especially true when you consider the joint ventures that United has with other carriers, where they essentially split revenue.

When eligible for access, business class passengers can’t bring any free guests, while first class passengers can bring one guest with them (who must be traveling on the same flight).

Have United MileagePlus elite status

Those who earn Star Alliance Gold status through United MileagePlus (including Premier Gold, Platinum, and 1K members) can access United Clubs during same day international travel.

Access is allowed on departure, during connections, and upon arrival, and these members can bring one guest with them. All international itineraries are eligible for this, including flights to Canada and Mexico.

Have United Global Services status

In addition to the above access perks for United MileagePlus elite members, invitation-only Global Services members can access United Clubs on entirely domestic itineraries. They aren’t allowed any guests when accessing lounges this way, though.

Have Star Alliance Gold status with an airline other than United

If you’re a Star Alliance Gold member who earns status through any program other than United MileagePlus, you can access United Clubs whenever you’re flying Star Alliance same day, even if you’re not traveling internationally.

Eligible Star Alliance Gold members can bring one guest, who must be traveling on the same flight.

Be an active duty military member

Active duty US military personnel with a military ID can use United Clubs when traveling on United within 24 hours, assuming one of the following is true:

• They are dressed in uniform
• They have leave orders
• They have rest and recuperation papers

Eligible military personnel can bring family members with gate passes or traveling on the same flight.

What about United Polaris Lounge access?

In addition to United Clubs, United Airlines also has Polaris Lounges in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington. These are among the best business class lounges run by US airlines, in my opinion, as they have beautiful decor, and offer excellent a la carte dining.

How do access requirements for United Polaris Lounges compare? United Polaris Lounge access is available to:

• Those traveling same day on a United Polaris ticket, either on departure, at a connecting airport, or on arrival, excluding those on “basic” tickets; no guests are allowed
• Those traveling same day on a first class ticket on All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, or SWISS, though only at the international departure gateway airport; one guest is allowed
• Those traveling same day on a business class ticket on Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, and SWISS, though only at the international departure gateway airport; no guests are allowed

Let me emphasize that those on “basic” Polaris tickets, as well as those in long haul first or business class cabins on Star Alliance carriers other than the above can still access United Clubs, but just not United Polaris Lounges.

There’s no way to access Polaris Lounges based on status — not even if you’re a Global Services member. For more details, see my guide to United Polaris Lounges.

Bottom line

As you can see, there are a variety of ways to get United Airlines lounge access, particularly for United Clubs. You can outright buy a membership, you can buy a day pass (which you can also get as a credit card benefit), or there are lots of premium cabin tickets and elite tiers that will get you access to United Clubs.

Hopefully the above clears up everything you could want to know about United Airlines lounge access. If I missed anything, please let me know.

There are lots of reasons to get this card, from a huge welcome bonus, to the great perks and rewards for spending on an ongoing basis. It’s a card I’ve already applied for. In this post, I’d like to talk about how the Atmos Rewards Summit Card offers eight Alaska Lounge passes per year. The details of this perk can cause some confusion, so let me explain how this works.

Link: Learn more about the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® Credit Card

Earn eight Alaska Lounge passes annually with card

Airport lounge access has become a popular credit card perk. The Atmos Rewards Summit Card is Alaska’s most premium co-branded credit card, and it does offer a lounge perk. However, it’s not a full lounge membership, but instead, it’s a set number of lounge passes.

Specifically, the card offers eight Alaska Lounge passes annually. Here are the basic terms to be aware of:

• You receive two Alaska Lounge passes at the beginning of every calendar quarter, and each pass expires at the end of the quarter in which it’s issued
• There’s no registration required, and the passes will automatically be deposited in the account of the primary cardmember
• If you newly open your account, your first passes will credit within 30 days, though typically much faster than that, within days of opening the account
• Passes are each valid for one adult and up to two accompanying children under the age of 21
• Each lounge pass is valid for one individual for single travel day access to Alaska Lounge locations; so that means you can use multiple lounges on a single day of travel
• You must have a boarding pass for a same day flight operated by Alaska, Hawaiian, a oneworld partner airline, or any global partner airline, and that boarding pass must be departing from or arriving at the airport in which the lounge is located
• The benefit only applies at Alaska Lounges, and not at partner lounges, and also not at Hawaiian Lounges (not that Hawaiian currently has a robust lounge network)
• Lounge passes can be used by the cardmember, or can be gifted to friends and family

Do note that just like the Alaska Lounge day passes that the airline sells directly, lounges may at times limit the number of day passes that they’ll accept due to crowding.

Let me also mention that having the Atmos Rewards Summit Card gets you access to the elevated bar program in Alaska Lounges. Just present your card to the bartender, and you and a companion can enjoy access to premium drink selection.

This includes the Summit Sunset cocktail, a Woodford Reserve Bourbon-based cocktail, designed in partnership with professional mixologists. It’s only available to those with the card and their guests, so others accessing the lounge can’t even pay for it.

Where to find the Alaska Lounge passes in your account

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card Alaska Lounge passes are issued electronically. To find them, just log into your Atmos Rewards account, and click on the “Rewards” section.

On that page you’ll see all the rewards that are in your account (including things like the 25K-point and 100K-point Global Companion Awards, the $99 Companion Fare, etc.), and if you scroll down, you should see a section that lists all your active lounge day passes.

If you click the “Use your Lounge day pass” button, you’ll be brought to a page that shows the codes for each of the lounge passes. Each has a unique code that can be used to access an eligible lounge. If you’re gifting these to others, just send them the code, or a screenshot of the code, or whatever.

If you’re the primary cardmember and are accessing a lounge directly, there’s even an easier way. Just present your eligible flight boarding pass with your Atmos Rewards frequent flyer number on the reservation, and say you want to redeem one of your lounge passes. They’ll then be able to admit you that way.

My take on the value of the Alaska Lounge passes

The way I view it, the eight Alaska Lounge passes offered by the Atmos Rewards Summit Card are more an “icing on the cake” perk than a fundamental part of the card’s value proposition. Admittedly there are cards with more robust lounge access perks, but for the most part, they have much higher annual fees. For that matter, most of us miles & points enthusiasts don’t need another Priority Pass membership, so it’s an area where they can save, as I see it.

If you’re a frequent flyer who values Alaska Lounge access, odds are that this perk won’t cut it. For one, there might be merit to getting the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card (learn more) or Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card (learn more), as each of those cards offers a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge+ membership, which is the most comprehensive kind of Alaska Lounge membership you can get.

Alternatively, there’s merit to getting the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (learn more), which is the best card for getting an American Admirals Club membership, and that also gets you Alaska Lounge passes. The card has a $695 annual fee and offers lots of other great perks, so you could still come out ahead by getting that.

But if you’re just the occasional Alaska flyer, or would only benefit from Alaska Lounge access a couple of times per quarter, then this is obviously ideal. For me, I’ll just be giving away these passes, since I otherwise have lounge access by having an Admirals Club membership.

But as I said earlier, I don’t view this as being a core part of the card’s value proposition. I love this card for the anniversary Global Companion Award, waived partner award booking fees, 3x points on international purchases, free points transfers, potential easy pathway to earning Atmos Rewards status, and strong rental car and travel purchase protection.

Atmos Summit Card Alaska Lounge pass FAQs

Bottom line

The Atmos Rewards Summit Card offers quite a few perks, including up to eight Alaska Lounge passes annually. The way this works, you receive two lounge passes each calendar quarter, which expire at the end of the quarter.

Obviously this isn’t comprehensive lounge access if you’re a frequent flyer with the airline, but it does go a long way to helping the occasional Alaska flyer elevate their travels. Worst case scenario, you can gift these passes to others. Also keep in mind that you get access to a special bar program if you have the card.

What has your experience been with the Atmos Rewards Summit Card Alaska Lounge passes?

In this post, I’d like to take a look at how to access Alaska Lounges. While Alaska isn’t one of the “big three” US airlines, it nonetheless has a pretty robust lounge network, and also belongs to the oneworld airline alliance.

There are many ways to access Alaska Lounges, ranging from buying a membership, to booking an eligible first or business class ticket, to having eligible elite status. Alaska is also unique among US airlines when it comes to its lounge access policies, as it’s the only major US airline to allow many domestic paid first class passengers into lounges.

What are Alaska Lounge amenities like?

Among “standard” airline lounges in the United States (in other words, excluding American Flagship Lounges, Delta One Lounges, and United Polaris Lounges), I rank Alaska Lounges as being among the best. Don’t get too excited, as it’s not like you’re going to find a la carte dining, or even shower suites.

However, there are some things Alaska does a great job with on its lounge network. For example, Alaska has barista coffee in all of their lounges, which can be enjoyed either in the lounge or in a to-go cup, so it’s the best coffee you’ll find in any US airline lounge. On top of that, I find Alaska Lounges have a great selection of wine, beer, and cocktails, and they’re consistently regional, which adds a bit of personality to the experience.

Of course Alaska Lounges also have a food selection, though it tends to be more on the basic side, with mostly cold options (though there are also some hot options). I also love the design of Alaska Lounges, at least for those that have been updated in recent times. Lounge staff are also typically super friendly.

Where are Alaska Lounge locations?

While American, Delta, and United, all have dozens of lounges, Alaska Airlines has a comparatively small network of lounges. Alaska Airlines has a total of seven lounges at five airports. There are Alaska Lounges in:

• Anchorage (ANC), Concourse C
• Los Angeles (LAX), Terminal 6
• Portland (PDX), South Hall
• San Francisco (SFO), Terminal 1
• Seattle (SEA), Concourse C, Concourse D, and the North Satellite

Alaska Airlines is continuing to expand its lounge network in a multi-year project, including opening new lounges in Honolulu (HNL) and San Diego (SAN), and more.

As you can see, all of the above airports have a single Alaska Lounge, with the exception of Seattle, which has three Alaska Lounges.

How do you get Alaska Lounge access?

There are so many different ways to access Alaska Lounges, though there’s some fine print associated with some of the lounge entry options. Below I want to look at all the ways you can access Alaska Lounges, from select first or business class tickets, to a membership, to a day pass, to oneworld elite status, to a Priority Pass membership.

Buy a first or business class ticket in select markets

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are the only US airlines to offer many paid domestic first class passengers lounge access, though there are some restrictions. Lounge access is only offered to those on itineraries that have segments of 2,000+ miles (this includes long haul flights, many transcon flights, flights to Hawaii, and some flights to Mexico and Central America).

If you have at least one segment of that length in first class or business class, you’ll get lounge access throughout your same day journey, even at connecting airports. Note that paid first class passengers on other routes can purchase a discounted Alaska Lounge day pass for $35.

Alaska’s complimentary lounge access policy for domestic first class flights applies to passengers who pay with cash or points (in fare classes C, D, E, J, and I), though it excludes passengers who have upgraded (whether the upgrade is with points, purchased, or complimentary based on elite status). Your flight must be operated by Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines, so a codeshare flight on American Airlines wouldn’t qualify.

One other quirk worth being aware of is that residents of Alaska who are part of the carrier’s free Club 49 program get lounge access through this perk regardless of the length of their flight, as long as travel touches the state of Alaska.

When visiting based on your first or business class ticket, you can’t bring any guests with you for free.

Buy an Alaska Lounge membership

Alaska Airlines has two different lounge membership plans, at different price points and with different lounge access inclusions:

• An Alaska Lounge membership gets you access to just Alaska Lounges and The Plumeria Lounge Honolulu, and costs $595
• An Alaska Lounge+ membership gets you access to Alaska Lounges, The Plumeria Lounge Honolulu, American Admirals Clubs (when flying Alaska or American), select Qantas Clubs (when flying Qantas), and select United Clubs (when flying Alaska), and costs $795
• Those with the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card (learn more) or Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card (learn more) can receive a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge+ membership if paying with the card

Regardless of which membership option you choose:

• You can access Alaska Lounges only when traveling on Alaska, Hawaiian, or a partner airline, which could include a oneworld partner or non-oneworld partner
• Alaska Lounge members can bring two guests or immediate family members (partners and children under 21) with them into Alaska Lounges

Buy an Admirals Club membership (with miles or cash)

Alaska and American have a reciprocal lounge access agreement, so alternatively you could purchase an American Airlines Admirals Club membership. This allows you to access Alaska Lounges when flying either Alaska, American, or Hawaiian, same day.

Below is the cash cost to buy an Admirals Club membership.

Then below is the cost to purchase an Admirals Club membership using AAdvantage miles.

With an Admirals Club membership you can bring two guests or immediate family members (partners and children under 21) with you. As you can see, this typically won’t be a very good deal. That’s because the full membership with guesting privileges costs significantly more than an Alaska Lounge membership. Fortunately there’s a more efficient way to get an Admirals Club membership, as I’ll cover below.

Get the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card

This is along similar lines to the above point about getting an Admirals Club membership, but is worth pointing out separately. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (learn more) is the best credit card for getting access to American Admirals Clubs and Alaska Lounges.

The card has a $695 annual fee, and offers an Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember, allowing them to access Alaska Lounges. While authorized users also qualify for lounge access, that’s limited to American Admirals Clubs. Getting this card is a much better deal than outright buying an Admirals Club membership, given that the annual fee is a fraction of the typical membership fee.

Use Atmos Rewards Summit Card lounge passes

The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® Credit Card (learn more) has a $395 annual fee, and is the most premium product in the Atmos Rewards credit card lineup, given the strong perks that it offers.

As one of the card perks, you receive two Alaska Lounge passes quarterly, each of which can be used to access Alaska Lounge locations throughout a travel day, when flying with American, Hawaiian, or any partner airline. Each pass entitles the cardmember and two children up to 21 years old to access lounges.

If you fly with Alaska once in a while, this is a great way to get access to lounges, given the card’s other super strong perks, like the ability to earn Global Companion Awards, 3x points on foreign purchases, free points transfers between accounts, and more.

Buy an Alaska Lounge day pass for $65

You can buy an Alaska Lounge day pass for $65 per person. The passes are only valid for the lounges at which they’re purchased, so you can’t visit multiple lounges the same day with them.

As mentioned above, also note that first class passengers (with cash or points) can buy discounted $35 day passes for any Alaska Lounges.

Select access through Atmos Rewards milestone perks

In addition to outright being able to buy an Alaska Lounge membership or day pass, Atmos Rewards elite members get access to the milestone perks program, and that provides the opportunity to select either an Alaska Lounge membership or day passes for passing certain thresholds:

• When passing 55,000 status points in a year, members can choose one Alaska Lounge day pass as a perk, and when passing 95,000 status points in a year, members can choose two Alaska Lounge day passes as a perk
• When passing 125,000 status points in a year, members can select an Alaska Lounge+ membership as a perk

While this is an option, I should mention that I don’t generally consider this to be the most “efficient” redemption. For example, when looking at the Alaska Lounge+ membership, the opportunity cost is 50,000 Atmos Rewards points, which I consider to be worth $750, based on my valuation of 1.5 cents per point.

So I’d select the points over the lounge membership, especially when having a co-branded credit card would allow you to buy a membership for $695. However, some may prefer selecting a complimentary Alaska Lounge+ membership instead, especially if they have plenty of points and don’t want to shell out the cash.

Have oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status

With Alaska Airlines being in the oneworld alliance, there’s a whole additional way to access Alaska Lounges based on oneworld status:

• Those with oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status in any program other than Alaska Atmos Rewards or American AAdvantage can access Alaska Lounges when flying any oneworld flight the same day, even if it’s domestic
• Those with oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status in the Alaska Atmos Rewards or American AAdvantage program can access Alaska Lounges when flying any oneworld flight the same day that includes travel outside of North America

In other words, a oneworld Emerald member through British Airways Club could access Alaska Lounges when flying exclusively within the United States, while a oneworld Emerald member through Alaska Atmos Rewards couldn’t. Eligible oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can bring one guest into Alaska Lounges.

One quirk worth understanding is that Alaska Lounge access based on oneworld status is typically only granted if you have that eligible frequent flyer number on your reservation. Unlike other oneworld airlines, Alaska doesn’t typically let you give a different frequent flyer number for lounge access than what you otherwise have on your ticket.

Fly oneworld long haul first or business class

It’s not only oneworld elite status that will get you into Alaska Lounges, but also a oneworld long haul first or business class ticket. If you’re traveling same day on a oneworld premium cabin ticket then you can access Alaska Lounges, either at your gateway airport, or at a connecting airport.

In other words, if you’re flying Qatar Airways business class from Seattle to Doha, or British Airways business class from New York to London, you could use Alaska Lounges.

Have (non-oneworld) partner elite status

Select partner elite members can access Alaska Lounges when flying with Alaska or Hawaiian same day. However, this comes with some catches, and is pretty niche outside of oneworld. For example:

• Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Platinum & Gold members can access Alaska Lounges when flying Alaska same day
• Icelandair Saga Club Gold members can access Alaska Lounges when flying Alaska same day

Be an active duty military member

Active duty US military personnel traveling on orders can receive a complimentary Alaska Lounge day pass. You must be able to verify your active status, provide orders, and be ticketed to fly on an Alaska or Hawaiian flight within three hours.

Have a Priority Pass membership and pay a fee (SFO only)

Can you access Alaska Lounges with Priority Pass? Well, the Alaska Lounge San Francisco (SFO) is the only one that has a partnership with Priority Pass nowadays, and there’s a quirk to it. Priority Pass members (whether you pay for a membership outright or have a credit card) can visit the lounge, though have to pay an additional fee of $15 per person.

So that could still absolutely be worth it, but you’re not getting free access with your membership. Note that you can stay for at most four hours under this arrangement.

Bottom line

There are many ways to access Alaska Lounges, ranging from select paid first or business class tickets, to a lounge membership (either with Alaska or American), to buying a day pass at select airports, to having partner airline elite status.

Alaska is unique in offering domestic first class passengers lounge access. On top of that, the airline has among the most reasonable membership costs for lounges, and continues to allow people to access lounges when flying on other airlines.

Hopefully the above clears up everything you could want to know about Alaska Lounge access. If I missed anything, please let me know.

Personally I pay all of my estimated quarterly and annual taxes by credit card, so in this post I’d like to take a closer look at why. Long story short, the credit card rewards that you can generate by using a credit card can more than offset the fee of doing so. Given that several cards earn 2x transferable points per dollar spent, this is often an opportunity to generate transferable points for under one cent each, well below what I value them at.

How much does it cost to pay taxes by credit card?

You can’t pay your federal taxes directly with the IRS by credit card, but rather there are two services that facilitate this. For the record, this is officially approved by the IRS, so this isn’t some shady operation. Here are the two options, along with their fees for credit card payments:

• Pay1040.com, with a 1.75% credit card fee (the fee is 2.89% for Amex personal cards and all business cards)
• ACI Payments, Inc., with a 1.85% credit card fee (the fee is 2.95% for business cards)

While the exact types of cards accepted differ somewhat between the services, all of them accept American Express, Mastercard, and Visa payments.

Also note that the above fees are for paying federal income taxes, whether year-end or quarterly. If you’re paying state or local taxes (including property taxes), there may be opportunities to pay by credit card directly online. However, the fees will differ, and the above services can’t be used for that.

For what it’s worth, there used to be a third processor as well, which was PayUSAtax, but that company is no longer processing tax payments.

What are the logistics of paying taxes by credit card?

Of course everyone is in a different situation when it comes to how much they owe in taxes, and what their credit limits are on cards. Some people with big tax bills might be in a position where what they owe is significantly more than the credit limit on their card. So how does that work?

The IRS officially claims that you’re allowed to make two credit card payments per payment period. However, anecdotally speaking, the limit seems to be two credit card payments per payment processor per tax period. Since there are two services, you can potentially make four payments per payment period by credit card. If you pay quarterly taxes, this means you could potentially make well over a dozen payments per year by credit card.

At least that’s how I (and many others) have been doing it for years without issue. You always provide your social security number when making a payment, and the IRS lets you track payments received based on that. I’ve never had an issue with them not showing up correctly.

There could be a benefit to using a card with no preset spending limit, since these cards will often let you spend more than a traditional card. If your tax bill is more than the credit limit on one card, you can of course split the payment across multiple cards.

For that matter, if you pay long enough before the deadline, you could always max out your credit limit, pay off the balance, and then make another payment with the same card (though just be aware of the risks of credit card cycling).

It could also pay to be strategic about the timing of when your credit card statement closes. If you put a tax payment on a card right at the beginning of your billing cycle, you could easily have a whole month (or even more) to then pay that off, without paying any interest.

If you choose not to pay your taxes by credit card, you can make a direct payment from your bank account, or mail a check or money order, and the IRS won’t charge any extra fees for this. You can also pay by wire, but that often does incur a fee.

When is paying taxes by credit card worth it?

If you’re a savvy credit card user who pays taxes directly to the IRS, then paying your taxes by credit card should be a no-brainer. This is a great opportunity to generate credit card spending at the reasonable cost of just a 1.75% convenience fee.

Before I talk about the exact situations under which this makes sense, let me emphasize a couple of points:

• You shouldn’t pay taxes by credit card if you’re not actually good at maximizing credit card rewards, and if you’re not earning rewards that exceed the cost of the fees; you’ll want at least a calculated return of 2%, and ideally more
• You shouldn’t pay taxes by credit card if you can’t use credit cards responsibly, and are going to end up financing your tax payments using high credit card interest rates

With that in mind, under what circumstances does it make sense to pay your taxes by credit card, while paying a fee of 1.75-1.85%? In no particular order…

Credit cards with a great return on spending

The credit card landscape is incredibly competitive nowadays, and credit card rewards structures have improved considerably. If you’re using one of the best cards for everyday spending, you should easily be able to get value that exceeds the 1.75-1.85% fee.

For example, there are several cards that potentially earn up to 2x transferable points per dollar spent, including the following:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (learn more)
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (learn more)
• Citi Double Cash® Card (learn more)
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (learn more)
• Capital One Venture X Business (learn more)
• Capital One Venture Business (learn more)

I value all these points currencies at 1.7 cents each, meaning that to me that’s the equivalent of a 3.4% return on spending. This is essentially a way to acquire transferable points for under a cent each, which I think most would agree represents a good value. I’d buy transferable points all day long at under one cent each if I could.

Let me also emphasize that above I’m including both personal and business cards that earn 2x transferable points. However, keep in mind that you should typically not use business cards for personal spending. However, I’m trying to be thorough in terms of the return on spending offered by various cards.

As you can see above, you can even come out marginally ahead by using a good cash back card, which earns a 2%+ return on spending. A 2% return on spending probably isn’t worth the hassle factor, but in some cases you can do even better than that.

In the interest of being thorough, let me also mention that while the Bilt Palladium Card (learn more) is incredibly lucrative and my go-to card for everyday spending (as it earns 2x points plus 4% back in the form of Bilt Cash), tax payments are explicitly listed as not being eligible for earning rewards. So don’t use this card for tax payments, and that applies to all three Bilt credit cards, so also the Bilt Blue Card (learn more) and Bilt Obsidian Card (learn more).

Meet credit card minimum spending requirements

There are some amazing credit card welcome bonuses out there, which generally require you to spend a certain amount within a defined period. Sometimes the spending requirements might be more than you’d otherwise ordinarily spend, especially if there’s a huge bonus with a significant spending requirement.

Paying taxes at a reasonable fee of 1.75-1.85% is a great way to generate credit card spending for these purposes.

Credit cards with spending or threshold bonuses

In addition to the cards with a generally lucrative return on everyday spending, there are also cards with specific threshold spending bonuses, which are particularly lucrative.

For example, the World of Hyatt Credit Card (learn more) has a $15,000 annual spending sweet spot, if you ask me. If you put a $15,000 payment on the card for a 1.75% fee (~$263), you’d earn 15,000 World of Hyatt points, a Category 1-4 free night award, and an incremental six World of Hyatt elite nights. That’s a pretty great value.

Similarly, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card (learn more) offers a free night award when you spend at least $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. So not only would you earn 45,000 Hilton Honors points for spending $15,000, but you’d also earn a free night award valid at a property costing up to 250,000 Hilton Honors points. That’s incredible.

Credit cards with airline & hotel elite status opportunities

There are more opportunities than ever before to earn airline and hotel loyalty program elite status through credit card spending.

For example, American AAdvantage status is based on earning Loyalty Points, so you can qualify for elite status through credit card spending. Spending $170,000 on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (learn more) would earn you American’s top tier Executive Platinum status (you need 200,000 Loyalty Points, and the card offers an annual Loyalty Points bonus of up to 40,000 points — spending $165,000 would earn you 30,000 bonus Loyalty Points).

Now, is this worth earning exclusively through credit card spending? No, probably not. But at the margins it can be worth it, and at the rate of 1.75-1.85%, that’s pretty attractive pricing.

Perhaps the even more compelling opportunity involves Alaska Atmos Rewards elite status, given that credit cards can earn status points. In particular, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® Credit Card (learn more) earns one status point for every $2 spent. The thing is, your spending doesn’t just count toward status, but also toward other rewards, like earning Global Companion Awards. I think the math very much checks out here.

To give a hotel example, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (learn more) offers IHG One Rewards Diamond status if you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. If you spent $40,000 on taxes with a 1.75% fee, you’d be paying an extra $700. For that you’d receive the following:

• 120,000 IHG One Rewards points (the card earns 3x points)
• A $100 statement credit and an additional 10,000 points (the card offers this when spending $20,000 per calendar year, plus making one additional purchase)
• IHG One Rewards Diamond status

I’d say that very much has the potential to be worthwhile as well.

Credit cards with low-interest opportunities

In general I advise against financing charges on your credit card, given how high interest rates can be. However, we do sometimes see promotional low or no interest rate opportunities on a credit card. If you’re in a cash crunch and being able to finance these charges for some amount of time would be helpful, this could give you some extra time.

Again, I’d avoid this if at all possible, but I do think it’s worth acknowledging. Just make sure you are able to make the full payment before the higher interest rates kick in, because that could quickly get very expensive.

Paying taxes with credit cards FAQs

Bottom line

I’ve been paying my taxes by credit card for many years, and find it to be an excellent value. Being able to generate credit card spending for a fee of under 2% is a no-brainer, in my opinion. It’s an easy opportunity to reach minimum spending, it’s a great way to acquire transferable points for under one cent each, and it’s also the easiest way to meet spending threshold bonuses or earn elite status.

Personally my default is using a card earning 2x transferable points, though I’ll also often use this opportunity to reach minimum spending requirements on cards.

Do you pay taxes by credit card, and if so, what’s your strategy for deciding which card to use?

American Airlines operates a network of nearly 50 Admirals Clubs globally. There’s often confusion about who gets access to these lounges, given how policies differ around the world. In most places in the world, any business class ticket will get you lounge access, while that’s largely not true in the United States.

In this post, I’d like to take a comprehensive look at how American Airlines lounge access works. There are a variety of ways to access Admirals Clubs, from buying a membership (either directly or through a credit card), to booking certain types of first or business class tickets, to having eligible oneworld elite status.

With the recent Admirals Club access changes we saw, picking up the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (learn more) is by far the best value for getting an Admirals Club membership, as the card’s annual fee is hundreds less than just buying a comparable Admirals Club membership, and the card offers lots of extra perks as well, beyond the huge welcome bonus.

What should you expect from American Airlines Admirals Clubs?

Don’t get too excited when it comes to the quality of American Airlines Admirals Clubs.

For the most part, Admirals Clubs are just lounges that are typically calmer than the terminal, with complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks, and drinks (including house beer, wine, and liquor).

In recent years we have seen some improvements to Admirals Clubs. This includes a more substantial offering of complimentary premium food, grab-and-go snacks, and improved drinks, including sparkling wine, craft beer, and additional spirits. It’s nice to see some improvements, though I’d recommend managing your expectations.

In some cases, Admirals Clubs are significantly calmer than the terminal, while in some cases they’re still quite crowded. Personally I find the Admirals Clubs at my home airport of Miami to usually not be overcrowded, so they’re my lounges of choice here.

Don’t expect these to be among the best lounges in the world, though. For that matter, don’t even expect them to be among the best lounges in the United States. On the plus side, American is working on redesigning its lounges, with refreshed lounges having already opened in Washington (DCA), Denver (DEN), and Newark (EWR). I’m impressed by the new design, and look forward to it being rolled out at more airports.

How to access American Airlines Admirals Clubs

American Admirals Clubs are membership lounges, meaning they’re primarily intended for members. However, there are some other ways to access Admirals Clubs as well, depending on your status, the type of ticket you have, what credit card you have, etc. Below are all the options for American Airlines lounge access.

Buy an Admirals Club membership (with miles or cash)

The most obvious way to access Admirals Clubs is to buy an annual membership, which can be done with miles or cash. You can buy either a standard membership (with guesting privileges) or a single membership (valid only for the person with the membership, with no guests allowed). The cost of this varies depending on your elite status with AAdvantage and whether you’re looking for a standard membership or single membership.

Below is the cash cost to buy an Admirals Club membership.

Below is the cost to purchase an Admirals Club membership with miles.

As you can see, this is valuing AAdvantage miles at one cent each, so in general, I wouldn’t recommend redeeming miles this way (I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each). I’d much rather pay cash and use my miles for more worthwhile redemptions.

A couple of things to note for Admirals Club members:

• You can only use Admirals Clubs when flying same day on American Airlines, a oneworld partner airline, or Aer Lingus (though you can also use Admirals Clubs on arrival)
• If you buy a standard membership, you can either bring your immediate family members with you (including spouse, domestic partner, and children under 18), or up to two guests; if you buy a single membership, you can’t bring any guests with you

Note that there’s another way to get an Admirals Club membership. With the American AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards program, members can select perks for passing certain thresholds. When passing 250,000, 400,000, 550,000, or 750,000 Loyalty Points, members can use two of their choices to select an Admirals Club membership. Personally, it’s probably not the perk that I would pick, but it is an option.

I should mention that back in the day American would sell household Admirals Club memberships, but with the recent overhaul of Admirals Club access, these will no longer be sold in the future.

Get the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card (primary or authorized user)

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (learn more) has a $695 annual fee, and offers an Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember. In and of itself, that represents huge cost savings compared to a membership, since the card’s annual fee is a fraction of the full cost of a membership.

Keep in mind that the Admirals Club membership offered with the card is a “real” membership with guesting privileges, so don’t get that confused with the single membership (which doesn’t allow guesting privileges).

But it gets better than that. Authorized users on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card get Admirals Club access as well:

• You can add up to three authorized users to the card for a total of $175, so that’s potentially under $60 per person
• Each authorized user beyond the first three costs $175

Each of those authorized users receives Admirals Club access when flying American or an eligible partner airline the same day for them and two guests or immediate family (they don’t have to be flying with the primary cardmember).

So to look at it differently, for $770 per year you get an Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember, plus Admirals Club access for up to three additional people. If you want Admirals Club access and are eligible for the card, that’s without a doubt the best way to access Admirals Clubs.

Buy an Alaska Lounge membership

One alternative to getting an Admirals Club membership directly is that you could instead buy an Alaska Lounge membership. Alaska Airlines offers two different lounge membership plans:

• An Alaska Lounge membership gets you access to just Alaska Lounges, and costs $595
• An Alaska Lounge+ membership gets you access to Alaska Lounges and American Admirals Clubs, as well as select Qantas Clubs (when flying Qantas) and select United Clubs (when flying Alaska), and costs $795

Note that those with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card (learn more) or Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card (learn more) can receive a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge+ membership if paying with the card.

As you can see, if you’re going to pay cash with the goal of getting an Admirals Club membership (rather than just picking up the right credit card), then getting an Alaska Lounge membership is a much better value than getting an Admirals Club membership.

Buy a Qantas Club membership

Qantas Club members also receive American Admirals Club access when flying American or Qantas the same day, and one guest is allowed when accessing lounges with this method. In general I’m not advocating buying a Qantas Club membership specifically to access Admirals Clubs, but if you happen to be traveling in the United States and are a member, this is a good option for lounge access.

Buy or receive an Admirals Club day pass

American offers Admirals Club 24-hour day passes, and there are several ways you can get these:

• If you have the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (learn more) or Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (learn more), you receive four Admirals Club 24-hour passes per calendar year
• You can outright purchase Admirals Club 24-hour passes for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles; between those options, I’d definitely recommend paying cash rather than redeeming miles
• With the American AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards program, you can select six Admirals Club day passes as your reward for passing either 175,000 or 250,000 Loyalty Points; personally, it’s probably not the perk that I would pick, but it is an option

Admirals Club day passes are valid for 24 hours from your first lounge visit, so if you’re connecting, you can use multiple clubs. If you buy an Admirals Club pass, you can either do so directly in a club, or online. Those purchased online are valid for 12 months from when they’re issued.

Each pass is valid for one adult, though a pass does allow you to bring accompanying children under the age of 18 with you at no extra cost. You also need to be flying American or a partner airline the same day to use a day pass.

Of course there’s value in using the Citi Strata Elite Card or Citi AAdvantage Globe Card passes, but aside from that, I generally wouldn’t recommend buying an Admirals Club pass, unless you have a very long connection (or multiple connections), or you’re traveling with children under 18 (since they can come with you at no extra cost).

Book an eligible business or first class ticket

A standard domestic first class ticket won’t get you access to Admirals Clubs. However, certain types of tickets will. If you are traveling first or business class on an eligible international or premium domestic flight operated by American or a oneworld partner, you do get lounge access. It doesn’t matter if you paid for your ticket with cash or miles, or if you upgraded (only staff travel wouldn’t qualify).

Qualifying international itineraries include flights between the United States and:

• Asia
• Australia
• Canada
• Caribbean (this includes Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, even though they’re part of the US)
• Central America
• Europe
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• South America

There’s just one exception — if you’re an Alaska Airlines first class passenger traveling between the United States and Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico (excluding Mexico City), you wouldn’t get Admirals Club access.

Qualifying domestic itineraries include those between the following city pairs (this even includes if you receive a complimentary elite upgrade to a premium cabin):

• New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO)
• New York (JFK) and Orange County (SNA)
• Boston (BOS) and Los Angeles (LAX) — only when flying on A321T
• Dallas (DFW) and Honolulu (HNL)
• Dallas (DFW) and Kona (KOA)
• Dallas (DFW) and Maui (OGG)
• Chicago (ORD) and Honolulu (HNL)
• Chicago (ORD) and Maui (OGG)
• Phoenix (PHX) and Honolulu (HNL) — only when flying on 777 or 787

Those traveling in business class can’t bring any additional guests, while those traveling in international first class or transcontinental A321T first class can bring one guest (first class is being eliminated between late 2026 and early 2027).

Have Concierge Key status

This is along the lines of the Admirals Club membership above, but American’s invitation only Concierge Key members receive a complimentary Admirals Club membership, so they’d get Admirals Club access under the same conditions as members.

Have American Airlines AAdvantage elite status

American AAdvantage Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum flyers get Admirals Club access when traveling same day on a oneworld flight between the United States and:

• Asia, including the Middle East and India
• Australia
• Canada
• Caribbean
• Central America
• Europe
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• South America

You don’t just get access at the international gateway, but rather at all airports throughout your journey. Eligible AAdvantage elite members can bring one guest with them.

If you’re an Atmos Rewards Titanium, Platinum, or Gold member, you get similar Admirals Club access when traveling same day on an eligible oneworld flight. The only difference is that you don’t get Admirals Club lounge access when traveling between the United States and Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico (excluding Mexico City).

Have oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status with a foreign program

If you’re a oneworld Sapphire or Emerald member who earns status through a program other than American AAdvantage or Alaska Atmos Rewards, you can access Admirals Clubs whenever you’re flying oneworld same day, even if you’re not traveling internationally.

Eligible oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can bring one guest.

Be an active duty military member

Active duty United States military personnel traveling in uniform on a same day American Airlines flight receive complimentary Admirals Club access. You’ll need to present your military ID.

Eligible military personnel can bring two guests or immediate family members, including a spouse and children under 18.

What about American Airlines Flagship Lounge access?

In addition to Admirals Clubs, American Airlines also has Flagship Lounges in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Philadelphia. These are American’s premium international lounges, and they offer a much better selection of food and drinks, as well as other elevated amenities.

These lounges have different entry requirements, so for more details on that, see my guide to American Flagship Lounges.

Bottom line

As you can see, there are a variety of ways to get American Airlines lounge access, in particular for Admirals Clubs.

These American Airlines lounges are primarily membership clubs, and if you are considering a membership, I’d highly recommend getting the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card instead. The card has a $695 annual fee, so that’s significantly less than you’d otherwise pay for a membership, and then you can also get discounted lounge access for authorized users.

If you just fly American once in a while, Admirals Club access could be a contributing factor to picking up the Citi Strata Elite Card or Citi AAdvantage Globe Card, since those each get you four passes per year, which is better than nothing, and fits nicely into the overall value proposition of the cards.

On top of that, select premium cabin passengers and oneworld elite members also receive Admirals Club access.

Hopefully the above clears up everything you could want to know about American Airlines lounge access. If I missed anything, please let me know.

If you don’t yet have the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, in this post I’d like to take a look at why you might want to apply. Below are 11 reasons you should consider picking up this $695 annual fee, in no particular order (and this isn’t even comprehensive, so it just covers what I’d consider the most useful perks to be).

Link: Learn more about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®

Limited time bonus of 125K AAdvantage miles

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is offering a limited time welcome bonus of 125,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases within the first five months. This is a best-ever offer on the card, as we’ve never seen the card have a bonus this big.

I value American AAdvantage miles at ~1.5 cents each, so to me, those miles are worth around $1,875. That’s a great bonus, especially for a card that also offers a lot of value in the long run. There are lots of great uses of American AAdvantage miles.

An American Admirals Club membership

The single biggest perk of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is that the card offers an Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember. This card is arguably the best way to get Admirals Club access, as the card’s annual fee is way less than the Admirals Club membership cost, even if you have elite status.

If you fly American with any frequency, having Admirals Club access is worth it for having somewhere comfortable to sit with complimentary drinks and snacks, and for access to the Admirals Club agents during irregular operations.

Admirals Club access for authorized users

Authorized users on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card can also receive Admirals Club access. You can add up to three authorized users for a total of $175 (so potentially under $60 each), and then you’ll pay $175 for each authorized user beyond that.

The sweet spot is really adding three authorized users, as you’re looking at paying under $60 each for them to get Admirals Club access annually. They can access Admirals Club whenever flying a oneworld airline same day, and can bring two guests or immediate family.

Up to 40K Loyalty Points for being a cardmember

If you’re going for elite status with American AAdvantage, the reason you may want to get the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is because it offers up to 40,000 Loyalty Points per year, without even spending a dime on the card.

The card offers 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points when you earn 50,000, 90,000, 165,000, and 240,000 Loyalty Points, in a status qualification year. It doesn’t matter how those Loyalty Points are earned, so it could be from spending on the card, or from flying.

Note that this also applies retroactively within a membership year. So if you’ve already passed any of those four thresholds in Loyalty Points in a particular year and then apply for the card, you’d still potentially qualify for this offer. This can also be stacked with the up to 15,000 Loyalty Points bonus you’ll find on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (learn more).

The ability to earn Loyalty Points with spending

As is the case with virtually all of American’s co-branded credit cards, the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers one Loyalty Point per dollar spent. Loyalty Points is the system by which you can qualify for elite status nowadays, so spending on the card can help you achieve that.

For example, AAdvantage Executive Platinum status requires 200,000 Loyalty Points per year, so spending $170,000 on this card would earn you that (since you earn 30,000 bonus Loyalty Points). I’m not suggesting you should qualify for status that way, but you could.

4-5x AAdvantage miles on American Airlines spending

If you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer, the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers (by far) the best return of any American Airlines card when it comes to spending on American.

The card offers 4x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. On top of that, if you spend $150,000 on the card in a calendar year, you earn 5x AAdvantage miles on all American Airlines purchases for the rest of the calendar year.

Up to $500 annual credit with American Airlines Vacations

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers up to $500 back per year on eligible American Airlines Vacations purchases. The credit is semi-annual, meaning you get a $250 credit in January through June, and a $250 credit in July through December.

This can be used as long as you’re making a booking that includes two components, be it a flight, hotel, and/or car. Many people like American Airlines Vacations in general, for the ability to earn Loyalty Points, so this only makes it more lucrative to book that way. Admittedly it won’t be for everyone, though.

Up to $120 annual credit with Avis & Budget

To help offset the annual fee, the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers up to $120 back on eligible Avis or Budget rentals every calendar year. All you have to do is charge an eligible prepaid rental to your card, and you’ll receive a statement credit up to the $120 limit. You can use this for one rental or multiple rentals, as long as they’re prepaid.

Up to $100 annual American credit (inflight or lounge)

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card also offers up to $100 back on eligible American Airlines purchases every calendar year. Specifically, this applies to inflight purchases (including for buy on board food and alcoholic drinks) as well as for Admirals Club purchases (including for premium drinks, etc.).

You can use this across as many transactions as you’d like up to the limit, so as long as you fly American frequently, this should be pretty easy to use.

12x AAdvantage miles on AAdvantage Hotels & Cars spending

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers 12x AAdvantage miles on eligible spending with the AAdvantage Hotels booking platform and 12x AAdvantage miles on eligible AAdvantage Cars bookings. I’d argue that AAdvantage Hotels is the most lucrative airline portal for booking hotels.

Not only can you earn a huge number of AAdvantage miles when booking through AAdvantage Hotels or AAdvantage Cars in the first place, but you also earn an extra 12x miles when paying with the card. Given the excellent earnings rates through the portals, this can be really lucrative.

For context, all miles earned directly through AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars are Loyalty Points. Meanwhile, for the credit card spending, only 1x miles would be considered Loyalty Points, while all miles would be redeemable. Admittedly there’s sometimes an opportunity cost to booking through AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars, but I know it’s a feature that many AAdvantage loyalists appreciate, especially if they don’t otherwise care about hotel or rental car loyalty.

Priority services when flying with American

If you’re a less frequent flyer with American Airlines and don’t have elite status, you’ll appreciate the perks offered by the card, which include the following:

• A first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries for the cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation
• Priority airport check-in
• Priority airport security screening
• Preferred boarding

The value of that can add up. However, I do think this card is most valuable for those who have AAdvantage elite status.

Bottom line

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is American’s most premium credit card. While it has a steep annual fee, many American flyers will find it worthwhile. The card offers an Admirals Club membership, the ability to get reasonably priced Admirals Club access for authorized users, up to 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year just for being a cardmember, bonus spending categories, and credits that can help offset the fee.

If you don’t yet have this card, it makes a lot of sense to apply, especially given the current best-ever welcome offer.

What’s your take on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card?

Well, I’ve finally figured out my return, so let me share the details, as I’m looking forward to flying Philippine Airlines! I’ve also decided to briefly check out a few hotels in Japan.

I’m checking out Philippine Airlines’ new business class!

Look, you don’t want to be in my head when it comes to travel planning. It’s a very messed up place to be. After booking an itinerary to Japan in Starlux first class, I needed to figure out how to get home. I tend to be overly ambitious when it comes the routes I plan, which is why I often end up on crazy review trip routings.

For example, initially I thought “hmmm, any way I can get home via the Ivory Coast, so I can also check out Air Cote d’Ivoire first class? And if I’m doing that, can I route via Jakarta as well, so I can finally check out the Park Hyatt Jakarta?” Then I came to my senses, and started back at square one.

Rather than tormenting myself with a drawn out planning process, I’m keeping it really simple — I’ll be returning to North America on a relatively straightforward routing.

Specifically, I’ll fly Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 business class (the one with direct aisle access) from Nagoya (NGO) to Manila (MNL), and then Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 business class from there to Toronto (YYZ).

Philippine Airlines has attractive business class fares, and this one-way ticket costs $1,700. Obviously that’s still quite a bit of money, so what I did is that I booked with Chase points, since I still have access to 1.5-cent redemptions toward airfare, so the ticket costs me 113,953 points, with zero dollars out of pocket. That’s basically on part with many saver level business class redemption rates nowadays.

Initially I was excited to credit this flight to Atmos Rewards, given that Alaska Airlines and Philippine Airlines have a partnership. However, as it turns out, you can only earn Atmos Rewards points on Philippine Airlines if you book through Alaska, and the fare there is way higher. So that’s a bummer, I guess I need to figure out which other program is best for crediting this flight.

The Airbus A350-1000 has Philippine Airlines’ new business class product, so I’m very excited to check that out, especially with the airline soon joining the oneworld alliance. It also appears that I won’t have to change terminals in Manila, so I can avoid the world’s worst inter-terminal transit experience.

If anyone has any thoughts or predictions, I’d certainly love to hear them!

I’m checking out three hotels in Japan as well!

I’m not spending much time in Japan, but I do plan to check out three hotels that have been on my radar for quite some time, for different reasons.

First, I’ll be checking out the BVLGARI Tokyo. The BVLGARI hotel brand is interesting, and I’ve heard the Tokyo location is the best in the system, and I look forward to checking this out, if only briefly. My last three Tokyo reviews have all been of points properties — the Park Hyatt Tokyo, the Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, and the Tokyo EDITION Ginza — so I’m curious how this one compares.

Then I’m heading over to Osaka, where I’ll be checking out two points properties that have been on my list. First, I’m checking out the Waldorf Astoria Osaka, which I’ve heard amazing things about, since the hotel opened in 2025.

Lastly, I’m checking out the Osaka Station Hotel, Marriott Autograph Collection. This is motivated primarily by one thing — the hotel has the “Specialty Salon,” which is essentially a very nice club lounge, reportedly with amazing food & beverage offerings, even caviar?!

What makes this interesting is that the lounge doesn’t follow standard Bonvoy access policies. Instead, you can only access it if you pay for a Specialty Salon room, or if you have Bonvoy Ambassador status. Since I have Ambassador status, I figure it’s time I make the most of it and actually stay here. After all, it’s rare to see hotels differentiate between Bonvoy tiers… some Japanese properties seem to be an exception.

If people have any thoughts on these properties, I’d love to hear them!

Bottom line

I’ve now figured out my entire quick trip to Japan. I’ll be flying Starlux Airlines first class on the way out, so I can check off my second to last first class product. Then for the return, I’ll be flying Philippine Airlines business class, in particular, checking out the carrier’s new Airbus A350-1000.

On top of that, I’ll be checking out three hotels in Japan — the BVLGARI Tokyo, the Waldorf Astoria Osaka, and the Osaka Station Hotel.

Any predictions for these flights or hotel stays?

These last two products are the world’s least reviewed, and I think I’m setting myself up for disappointment here. But hey, that’s also the reason I’m checking these out… someone’s gotta do it, so I’m going to take one for the team!

My Starlux Airlines first class ticket is booked, at last!

Starlux is a very well regarded airline — I’ve flown the carrier in business class on the Airbus A350-900, Airbus A330-900neo, and Airbus A321neo. The airline also has a first class product on its A350s, which is among the world’s most unusual first class products:

• It’s very expensive, and no matter where you originate, there doesn’t really seem to be a way to get a “deal” on a decent fare
• While the soft product looks excellent, the cabin isn’t even fully separated from business class, so it almost seems like a “business class plus” product
• There’s not a single review that I’ve seen of the carrier’s long haul first class product (rather than the cheaper intra-Asia flights), aside from Sam Chui flying the inaugural as a guest of the airline, with the CEO being the captain, so that’s hardly a “real” review

As someone who considers myself to be knowledgeable on the world’s best first class and best business class products, I figured it was my duty to check out this cabin, even if it costs me dearly… after all, I’m sure people will be intrigued by a report, whether it’s a good or bad experience.

Fortunately Starlux recently got into the business of selling miles. Now, on the surface, it’s not at all a good deal — the program charges four cents per mile, and up until now, we haven’t seen any promos. Starlux charges 120,000 miles for a one-way first class award between North America and Asia, so that’s $4,800. Gahhh, that’s a lot of money to spend on a flight, but at the same time, it’s about half of any of the carrier’s long haul first class fares, so it’s at least much better. Furthermore, Starlux is increasing award costs in the coming weeks.

I decided to take one for the team, since I figure I might as well be the first person to review every airline with first class on my own dime. So I purchased the 120,000 miles for $4,800. Let me be very clear — this absolutely stung, and it’s one of the three most expensive airline tickets I’ve ever purchased. But still, I consider it to be a fair investment to reach my “goal.”

On the plus side, first class award availability is excellent, and the miles posted immediately. So I could turn around and book my preferred itinerary from Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) to Tokyo Narita (NRT), which came with $305.20 in taxes & fees.

So in the end, I spent around $5,100 on my ticket — bleh — but at least it’s less than half of the retail cost of the itinerary.

I was intentional with the routing I chose:

• The transpacific flight is on the A350-900, while the short haul flight is on the newly delivered A350-1000, so I get to check out both plane types (the product is identical, but still!)
• By originating in LAX, I get access to PS LAX, which is the exclusive private terminal where you’re driven to the plane, so I can review that as well; that ordinarily costs $1,295 per person, so I at least consider that to help me recoup some of the cost
• During my connection I can check out Starlux’s first class lounge Taipei, which I’ve also never seen an English language review of; if you’re originating or terminating in Taipei you can also use the airport’s Huan Yu VIP Terminal, but that’s not available when connecting

I’m curious to see how this all goes. I’m fascinated by Starlux’s first class meal pre-order program, as it’s pretty robust. For example, below is my Los Angeles to Taipei menu, where you can select two starters and your main course for the main meal, plus your choice for breakfast.

It’s interesting how the caviar service is apparently an “online exclusive.” So if you don’t reserve it in advance, you don’t get caviar?!

Then on the shorter flight from Taipei to Tokyo I could select my main course. That “online exclusive” salt baked truffle wagyu steak looks pretty incredible.

Anyway, I’ll report back on my experience. And for that matter, I still need to figure out what I’m doing with the rest of this trip, as I haven’t yet booked a return.

That leaves good old Air Cote d’Ivoire first class

Once I fly Starlux Airlines first class, there’s only one real first class product left to try, and that’s Air Cote d’Ivoire first class (I’m not flying Air Peace’s imaginary first class, sorry). There’s not a single review out there about this product, and I have really low expectations, but I’m a completionist, and I need to check this out.

I’ve literally flown every other first class product out there, from TAAG Angola Airlines to Kuwait Airways, so I can’t stop now. If you think Starlux first class is a bad deal, Air Cote d’Ivoire is looking even worse. The airline offers first class on its Airbus A330-900neos between Abidjan (ABJ) and Paris (CDG).

The absolute best fare I’ve been able to find with a segment in first class is just over $5,000, and that includes one direction in first class and one direction in economy. Booking just a one-way ticket costs even more.

If anyone finds a better fare than this, please do let me know, because it just kills me to spend this much on what I think will almost certainly be a letdown. But I’ve come too far in my quest to review every first class to give up now, so if need be, maybe I’ll just rip off the band-aid and do it.

Obviously I hate spending this kind of money on these airlines (if it’s not clear yet), and on most other airlines I’ve been able to figure out something creative. But quite bluntly, at this point it’s a reasonable investment in my site to be the only person with this level of experience.

If Air Cote d’Ivoire does end up just being completely unremarkable, I might just have to channel our favorite drama king who loves to call everything a scam. 😉

Bottom line

I’ve finally booked a ticket in Starlux first class, which is the second to last first class product in the world that I haven’t flown. Starlux has long had absurdly high first class fares, though the airline did recently start selling miles. While that’s far from a great value, it does cut the cost of a first class ticket in roughly half, compared to paying cash, so that’s better than nothing.

I’m excited to check this out, and settle if Starlux first class is some uber-competitive product, or if this is a misleading “business class plus” product, and the airline is trying to pull a fast one. That then leaves Air Cote d’Ivoire, which is perhaps the first class product I’m most dreading, in terms of value.

I’m frustrated by how much I’m spending on this, but I’m too close to reviewing every first class product to just give up now, or to just keep these two carriers on the list in perpetuity.

Any predictions or thoughts on how this is going to go? And how should I return from Japan?

This included launching a new daily discussions section, having a new Q&A feature, and rolling out community stories, all with a status and points element to it. Anyway, given that we have a leaderboard and we’re trying to make everything a little more fun, I’d like to recap the results and “winners” for August.

I’ll do this on a monthly basis, and in the future, the plan is for this post to be published within the first couple of days of the following month (sorry for the delay this month).

August’s most-read community story on OMAAT

In August, we introduced a path for readers to submit their own travel stories, and as part of the launch, we offered a $500 gift card to the story that got the most views. Today, we get to announce the winner.

The winner is AVEnthu88, for the story about the crazy Aeroplan redemption that was booked but never flown. It’s a relatable story, as I’ve certainly booked some pretty incredible trips, only to then not actually follow through on taking them.

What’s worth pointing out is how little separated the top four. Khan_Voyage put four Cabo properties head to head, and studentFlyer documented what Malaysia Airlines Enrich status actually gets you across the oneworld network. Meanwhile 1990_ filed a first-hand review of the new Malé Velana Terminal 1 on international arrivals.

Those were four stories with four completely different corners of travel, and the gap between first and fourth was narrow enough that the amount of time the posts were live on the site would likely have reordered them. Thanks and congrats to everyone who submitted stories in August, as I loved reading them.

Why submit a reader story? Aside from engaging with the community in a different way and sharing your point of view, an accepted story is the single biggest points award in the OMAAT rewards program — the first one of the year is worth 2,500 points on its own, enough to reach Gold status outright. If you’ve got a trip report, a status experiment, or a hot take, the submission form is open.

August’s most-loved comment on OMAAT (most “hearts”)

In August, we also introduced new rewards for the registered user who has the most loved comment on the site. The user who gets the most “hearts” on a comment they leave gets a $100 gift card. The winner here was Sean M., who received 17 “hearts” on a comment he left on a post about Air India’s new CEO.

The next three member comments with the most “hearts” all came from the Ryan Walker and Amanvari hotel debacle, with TravelinWilly, BeeDazzle, and Den B, all making contributions that people enjoyed.

Now, here’s the funny quirk. The above comment was from the registered user who received the most “hearts.” However, a non-registered (guest) user actually received 24 “hearts” on a post. That was a post about the changes we made to OMAAT, with guest C-Tripper expressing concern that our new community rewards system would lead to spam. Hah.

Hey, we’re all for letting people express themselves, and I certainly respect that take. But personally I think the past several weeks have actually shown that comments have in general become a bit kinder and more community-like… at least that’s what I’d like to think. C-Tripper, if you had registered for an account, you would’ve been the winner!

August’s hottest take on OMAAT (most “Yowzers!”)

In August, we also introduced a new way to acknowledge someone’s comment. In addition to being able to “heart” comments, you can also “Yowzers!” a comment, which is intended to be a way to express surprise. The user who gets the most “Yowzers!” on a comment they leave gets a $100 gift card.

Ten “Yowzers!” went to Tim Dunn for his breakdown of who’s actually bankrolling Delta’s new Riyadh route, and that was the comment that received the most of those. And yes, fittingly it had the word “premium” in it.

Interestingly, he appears to no longer be commenting on the site in recent weeks, which is totally his prerogative. You can decide whether this new system improves or worsens the dialogue on this site, in terms of the type of behavior it encourages. 😉

Behind him was eight “Yowzers!” on a post about the Ryan Walker and Amanvari saga, where Foboscan had a hot take.

Here’s another fun fact — four of the 10 comments that received the most “Yowzers!” came from readers without accounts. Comments are open to everyone and always will be. But if you’re already the person writing the reply that makes a hundred people hit “Yowzers!” you may as well get credit for it.

Registering takes a minute, it’s free, and from that moment everything you post starts counting toward Gold, Platinum, and Diamond status.

Bottom line

I know a lot changed here at OMAAT in August, so thanks to everyone for their patience and openness, because I realize it was a lot to keep track of. I’d say we’re off to a strong start with the changes, and most importantly, I do get the sense that the general community feel has been kinder and more constructive (and by all means tell me if you think I’m delusional and that’s not the case, though it is feedback I’ve heard echoed by several people).

Anyway, congrats to everyone who got the top spots in August, it was well deserved. We’ll reach out to the winners via the email on their member accounts to explain how to claim their bonuses, so be sure to check your inbox.

And with a certain someone seemingly no longer commenting here, the “Yowzers!” award is definitely in play going forward, if you’d like to be OMAAT’s most prolific or controversial commenter! If you haven’t yet registered for a free OMAAT account, I’d recommend doing so. The more you engage, the more status points you earn, and the fewer ads you see, along with possibly winning other rewards.

I’ve flown on September 11 many times over the years, without thinking twice about it. This year is different, and I intentionally planned my travel to avoid it. I’m by no means suggesting this is rational — quite to the contrary, I recognize it’s irrational — but I can’t help but feel more comfortable skipping US airports on that day this year.

I’m intentionally avoiding flying on September 11 this year

As mentioned above, I’ve flown on September 11 many times in the past, and it’s mostly a day like any other from a travel perspective. I’ve seen some “moments of silence” in the terminal to commemorate the timing of the planes hitting the Twin Towers, and there’s definitely more of a solemn vibe, but that’s about it.

I’m jetting off later this week on a quick review trip, and I was about to ticket my outbound flight for September 11, without thinking much of it. However, something made me feel a bit uneasy about it, for a reason I can’t easily put into words.

I say that as someone who typically puts zero thought into airline safety, and who is willing to fly virtually any airline. I tend to think that even the unsafest airline is safer than the car ride to and from the airport, so I try to be rational in that sense.

I certainly don’t want to put any bad energy out there, and it’s not like I have any inside information (so don’t come knocking on my door, FBI), but let me explain my general thought process. It’s obviously the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a major milestone. On top of that, the United States is more or less at war with Iran.

While we haven’t seen any major attacks involving airplanes in decades, we also know there are quite a few vulnerabilities in the system. I tend to think the lack of attacks comes down to a combination of good high level intelligence, plus a lack of actual intent to plan such an attack. I mean, I don’t think anyone believes that all of our checked bags or carry-ons are being screened with anywhere close to 100% accuracy.

Again, let me be very clear — it’s not that I actually think anything bad will happen, and I certainly hope it doesn’t. It’s just that I’m a little uneasy for some reason, because I figure this is about a “high risk” of a 9/11 anniversary as we’ve seen. The irrational side of my brain looked at a ticket I was about to book, and said “meh, let me just push it back by a day.” Maybe I’m also just becoming a bit more timid, now that I’m a dad of two.

Every traveler should do what gives them peace of mind

Obviously the biggest thing that comes to mind with 9/11 is the immeasurable loss and tragedy that so many families faced. I don’t in any way want to make this about me, because me having a weird feeling flying on a certain day shouldn’t really matter to anyone else.

But I do think this gets at a bigger point. Often people will ask me whether a certain airline or destination are safe. As I see it, there are two aspects to this. First, is the experience objectively safe based on data? Second, does the experience make you feel uneasy for whatever reason, even if you can’t explain it?

When I fly a seemingly “random” airline, some people are concerned that might be unsafe, due to lack of familiarity. That concern is fair, but it’s not something I even think about, because I’d like to think I’m rational about that. At the same time, I think it’s important to emphasize that everyone should travel in a way that makes them comfortable.

If flying a certain airline makes you uncomfortable or scared, then there’s no reason to subject yourself to that. We can all set our own boundaries on things, and I think that’s totally fair.

I can be quirky in this way, I have to admit. As I’ve covered before, a bit over a decade ago I checked into a fairly new hotel in Abu Dhabi, and something about the room just felt off. I just didn’t feel comfortable staying in the room, and I wasn’t sure why.

So I went to the front desk and asked if I could get a different room. It’s kind of hard to make that request without sounding a little nuts, but hey, if you don’t feel comfortable staying somewhere, it’s better to raise a concern early.

Bottom line

September 11, 2026, is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. While I’ve traveled on September 11 many times over the years, for some reason this year is different. It’s the first time I’ve ever given a second thought to seeing September 11 on a flight itinerary, and I decided to just push things back by a day.

I don’t claim it’s rational, but somehow it gives me more comfort. And I say that as someone who has flown millions and millions of miles, and who doesn’t really get spooked in any way by air travel…

Anyone else adjusting travels based on 9/11 this year? Either avoiding it, or maybe intentionally booking it, in hopes of airports being a bit quieter?

I know some people may be deciding which of the two cards makes the most sense, since most people don’t want to have two cards from the same airline with such high annual fees. So, let me share my take on how to go about deciding which of the two cards is a better fit for you.

Link: Learn more about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®

Basics of the Citi AAdvantage Globe & Executive cards

The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card has a $350 annual fee, and there are several reasons to consider picking up the card. In addition to the current welcome bonus of 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months, the card offers:

• A first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, plus preferred boarding, for the primary cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation
• Up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year, thanks to the Flight Streak bonus — earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every four American segments flown, up to three times per elite year
• Four Admirals Club passes per year, each valid for lounge access for a period of up to 24 hours
• A $99 American companion certificate on the account anniversary every year, valid for an economy booking in the lower 48
• Up to $100 back annually on American inflight purchases, so this can be used toward food and drink purchases, as well as inflight Wi-Fi spending
• Up to $100 annually in “Splurge Credits,” which can be used for AAdvantage Hotels bookings, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation; registration is required, and exclusions apply
• Up to $240 back annually on Turo spending, as you can get $30 back per Turo rental, up to eight times per year
• A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for the application fee
• A solid rewards structure, with 6x miles on AAdvantage Hotels bookings, 3x miles on American purchases, 2x miles on restaurants, and 2x miles on select transportation purchases

Read my full review of the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card.

The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has a $695 annual fee, and there are many reasons to consider picking up the card. In addition to the limited time welcome bonus of 125,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after $15,000 within the first five months, the card offers:

• A full Admirals Club membership, plus the ability to add up to three authorized users for a total of $175, and then they receive Admirals Club access on eligible itineraries as well
• A first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation
• Priority check-in, priority security, and early boarding, when flying American Airlines
• Up to 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year, unrelated to spending on the card, as you receive 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points when passing four different Loyalty Points thresholds — 50,000, 90,000, 165,000, and 240,000
• Up to $500 back every calendar year on eligible American Airlines Vacations purchases; this is a semi-annual credit of $250, which applies for a booking of two or more travel components, like a flight, car reservation, or hotel booking
• Up to $180 in Lyft credits every year, in the form of up to a $15 credit each month after making three eligible rides
• Up to $120 back on eligible prepaid Avis or Budget rentals every calendar year, which can even be used toward a single rental
• Up to $100 back every calendar year on eligible inflight and Admirals Club purchases when using the card; so you can use this for everything from buy on board snacks or drinks, to premium drinks in Admirals Club lounges
• Omni Hotels & Resorts Champion status, the program’s second highest tier, offering benefits like early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades subject to availability
• An Omni Free Night Reward once per calendar year after completing a qualifying stay of two or more consecutive nights booked directly through Omni Hotels & Resorts
• Complimentary Avis President’s Club status, with enrollment available through August 31, 2028; this offers car upgrades, expedited service, and complimentary additional drivers
• A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for the application fee
• Travel protection, including for trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay, lost baggage, and worldwide rental cars
• 12x miles on eligible rental cars booked through AAdvantage Cars and eligible hotels booked through AAdvantage Hotels

Read my full review of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.

Which Citi AAdvantage card makes the most sense for you?

If you are interested in the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card and/or Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, what’s the best way to think about which card makes the most sense? Obviously there’s no one size fits all answer, but let me explain how I’d approach this, in general.

First, keep in mind that eligibility for the two cards (including the welcome bonuses) is considered independently. There’s something to be said for applying for both cards at times when they have their best welcome bonuses, and giving them a try. After all, at a minimum, the first year value is massive.

In the long term, I almost view the value propositions of the two cards fully independently. Even though they’re both premium cards, there’s surprisingly little overlap in the benefits.

As I see it, the $695 annual fee Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is worth it primarily if you value one of two benefits (or ideally, both):

• An Admirals Club membership, since this card is basically the lowest fee way to get a full membership, and the icing on the cake is if you value being able to get three more people Admirals Club access for a total of $175 per year
• Up to 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points for passing certain Loyalty Points thresholds, completely independent of how much was spent on the card; so if those bonus Loyalty Points get you value and help you unlock a higher elite tier or reward, there’s a lot of upside there

There are of course other perks, but I’d say they’re more benefits that can help with justifying the annual fee, rather than core perks of the card.

Meanwhile with the $350 annual fee Citi AAdvantage Globe Card, justifying the annual fee very much comes down to making the math work on all the individual perks. If you’re a frequent American flyer, I think one core perk is being able to earn 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points for flying 12 eligible segments per year.

Beyond that, though, the perks like the $99 companion certificate, the $100 in credits toward inflight purchases, the $100 in “Splurge Credits,” etc., all very much help with lowering the annual fee. Whether you come out ahead with those perks depends very much on your spending patterns.

For example, right now I have both of these cards — I’ve had the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card for a long time, while I couldn’t turn down the bonus on the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card, and wanted to give the card a try. I’m definitely not canceling the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, since I value the Admirals Club membership immensely, and I’ve also benefited from the bonus Loyalty Points in the past.

So to me, the question comes down to whether I can justify the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card, and that’s still something I’m waiting to see. I’m pretty close to breakeven on the card for my first year, so I’ll make a final decision when the second annual fee is billed.

But this is also why I think for any American frequent flyer, the decision of which card to hold onto should almost be considered independently. For some people, there could be merit to holding onto both cards, to earn up to 55,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year.

Citi AAdvantage credit card showdown FAQs

Bottom line

The $350 annual fee Citi AAdvantage Globe Card and $695 Citi AAdvantage Executive Card are American’s two most premium co-branded credit cards. Both cards have great welcome bonuses, so are worth applying for, given that they’re not mutually exclusive.

As I see it, the two cards serve very different purposes. If you value an Admirals Club membership because you’re a frequent American flyer, then the Executive Card is without a doubt the way to go. Meanwhile the Globe Card is more about making the math work on all the individual perks, given how many little credits and benefits the card offers.

If you are on the AAdvantage status “hamster wheel,” then there could be merit to keeping both cards long term, in order to earn up to 55,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year, unrelated to spending.

What’s your take on the value of American’s two most premium cards?

A large part of the value from these currencies comes from their flexibility. Rather than being committed to a single rewards program that could devalue without notice, you have the opportunity to transfer your points to many other programs, typically instantly. This is fantastic flexibility that leaves you best positioned for redemptions.

While my general advice is to avoid transferring these points without a specific use in mind, are there situations where a speculative transfer is worth it? I’d like to discuss that in more detail in this post…

Avoid transferring points unless you have a reason to do so

Let me start by saying that in general you shouldn’t move your transferable points currencies to a specific partner until you’re ready to book your ticket. Assuming points transfers are generally instant (and I make an effort to use programs where that’s the case — admittedly there are sometimes glitches), I typically only transfer points minutes before I’m ready to book an award ticket.

Your points lose flexibility the second you move them from a transferable points currency to a specific airline or hotel points currency, since you can’t move them back.

For example, say you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points. While Chase has several great partners, you have so much more flexibility when you have the points with Chase, where you can then transfer them to Air Canada Aeroplan for amazing flight redemptions, or World of Hyatt for amazing hotel redemptions. The second you transfer them to either program, you lose the flexibility of making any other type of redemption.

So I absolutely recommend not moving your transferable points to a partner program until you’re ready to book, with one major exception…

My approach to speculative points transfers

One of the great things about transferable points currencies is that we sometimes see transfer bonuses offered. For partners with “efficient” transfer ratios, these bonuses are most commonly in the range of 15-30%.

Most major transferable points currencies offer a bonus to at least some partners a few times per year, and this could be a great way to maximize points. After all, if you’re going to redeem through a program like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, wouldn’t you rather use fewer transferable points?

So, how should you go about balancing maintaining the flexibility of transferable points currencies while also taking advantage of transfer bonuses without a specific redemption in mind? As someone who both earns and redeems a lot of points, here’s my philosophy:

• There are some programs that I constantly redeem points through, like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Club, Avianca Lifemiles, British Airways Club, etc.; if there’s a transfer bonus and my balance of points with the program is low, I’ll usually take advantage of a speculative bonus, since I’m confident I’d redeem those points in the near future anyway
• I try to consider how often we see transfer bonuses to a particular program as well, and time it accordingly; for example, I expect to see a bonus from a major currency to Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Avianca Lifemiles at least every few months, while transfer bonuses to Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways Club are rarer
• I also try to be strategic about which transferable points currency I transfer points from, based on my anticipated future points needs and redemption plans; each currency has different partner redemption sweet spots, so I try to think through that
• I prefer to make speculative transfers to programs where there are many good uses of points, rather than just one single sweet spot, since that could be devalued before I have the chance to book
• When there’s a transfer bonus that I plan to take advantage of, by default I usually transfer enough points for two premium one-way tickets to where I’d probably consider traveling to

Obviously I don’t have a crystal ball and can’t perfectly predict my future travels, but I find that taking advantage of transferable points currencies has suited me well. As a general rule of thumb:

• I’ll take advantage of an Amex Membership Rewards to Air Canada Aeroplan transfer bonus whenever it’s available, assuming my Aeroplan points balance is low
• I’ll take advantage of a Capital One or Citi ThankYou to Air France-KLM Flying Blue or Avianca Lifemiles transfer bonus whenever it’s available, assuming my Flying Blue or Lifemiles mileage balance is low

Let me also emphasize that I’ve been engaged in the miles & points thing for a very long time, and have a good sense of my travel patterns, historical program devaluations, etc.

If you’re new to miles & points and have just racked up 100K points for the first time with a transferable points currency, absolutely don’t take advantage of a speculative transfer bonus, especially if you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing. You’ll be much better suited by having flexibility than taking advantage of a bonus to a specific program.

Bottom line

Transferable points currencies give you lots of flexibility, which is invaluable when it’s time to book the award you’re looking for. Whenever possible, I’d recommend only transferring points when you’re ready to book. The one exception is when there are transfer bonuses, in which case I think a speculative transfer could make sense.

However, I’d only recommend a speculative transfer if it’s a program you frequently redeem through, and if it’s one where your points balance is low.

What’s your take on speculative points transfers? Do you ever take advantage of them?