Spending the day at SeaWorld can mean costly food and beverage expenses, especially for a big family. To ease this burden for guests, the Orlando and San Diego SeaWorld all-day dining upgrade is available.
What is Orlando and San Diego SeaWorld all-day dining?
SeaWorld’s all-day dining is an upgrade you can purchase separately from park admission. It lets you eat your way through the park as soon as you enter until closing.
Once you arrive or purchase an all-day dining pass, an attendant will put a scannable wristband on you. This wristband is your key to redeeming your meals at participating restaurants and cafes scattered throughout the park.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Each wristband-wearing guest can redeem one “meal” every 90 minutes. SeaWorld keeps a time log of when your wristband was last scanned to track eligibility for your next meal redemption.
An adult meal includes one entree platter, one side or dessert, and one soft beverage or iced tea. Children with an all-day dining wristband can redeem a kids meal every 90 minutes.
What is the all-day dining cost at SeaWorld?
The online price for the SeaWorld all-day dining deal is $49.99 per adult (ages 10 and older) and $24.99 per child (ages 3-9). The cost is the same whether you’re visiting the Orlando or San Diego location. Additionally, some SeaWorld annual pass holders receive a discount on the all-day dining upgrade.
The dining upgrade can be purchased online ahead of your visit or inside the park.
🤓Nerdy Tip
The in-park price might be higher than the online price.
Eligible restaurants
As of this writing, you can use your all-day dining wristband at the following locations:
SeaWorld, San Diego
Explorer’s Cafe.
Calypso Bay Smokehouse.
Hibisco Modern Mexican.
Manta Pizza.
The Chicken Snack Shack.
Shipwreck Reef Cafe.
SeaWorld, Orlando
Voyager’s Smokehouse.
Expedition Cafe.
Captain Pete’s Island Hot Dogs.
Seafire Grill.
Lakeside Grill.
Altitude Burger.
Panini Shore Cafe.
Waterway Grill.
Restaurants and cafes included in this dining upgrade change without notice.
Pros and cons: SeaWorld all-day dining upgrade
Consider these pros and cons to decide whether the SeaWorld dining pass is worth it for you.
Easily pays for itself. If you plan on visiting the park for a full day and expect to dine at least a couple of times, you’ll likely save money on food and beverages.
Can try different cuisines. The all-day dining plan is valid at a variety of restaurants and cafes, all of which offer something that appeals to all taste buds. Whether you’re craving barbecue, burgers or hot dogs, you can get them for one flat price.
It’s convenient. There’s no need to fumble with your wallet or your phone for tap-to-pay at the registers. Just scan your all-day dining wristband.
Long checkout lines. There’s a specific checkout line to redeem all-day dining meals at participating restaurants and cafes. Sometimes lines can be long, which can be frustrating if you’re also juggling kids, are waiting under the hot sun or are just plain hangry.
Restricted beverages. It’s not surprising that alcohol isn’t included as a beverage option for the all-day dining plan. However, it also doesn’t include bottled water, which can be limiting for those who don’t drink soda or other sugary beverages.
Sharing meals isn’t allowed. SeaWorld’s all-day dining policy prohibits guests from sharing meals with other guests ages 3 and up.
Doesn’t include special dining experiences. All-day dining is only available at select restaurants. It’s not valid at experiences like Dine with Orcas and Breakfast with Orcas.
Is all-day dining at SeaWorld worth it?
Figuring out whether SeaWorld’s all-day dining is worth it depends on your dining preferences. However, in terms of cost, you can quickly recoup what you paid for all-day dining.
For example, let’s say you dine at Calypso Bay Smokehouse, which is an all-day dining restaurant. An adult tri-tip entree with mac and cheese costs about $20.99, without a beverage.
That’s already nearly half the cost of SeaWorld all-day dining. If you plan on eating a full meal at the park at least two times, you’ll likely make back the cost you spent on this upgrade. Plus, you’ll have the option to redeem more meals or beverages throughout the day, if you’re feeling peckish or parched.
Ultimately, consider how much the individuals in your party are realistically going to eat during your visit. If your child, for example, is a low-volume eater who typically doesn’t finish their entire meal in one sitting, purchasing all-day dining for them might not make sense.
Frequently asked questions
What does all-day dining mean at SeaWorld?
SeaWorld’s all-day dining upgrade lets guests redeem a meal every 90 minutes for one flat rate at select park restaurants and cafes. For adults, each time you redeem a meal, it includes one entree platter, one side or dessert, and one regular sized nonalcoholic beverage.
Can you share food with all-day dining at SeaWorld?
No. It’s against the park’s policy to share SeaWorld all-day dining meals. The exception is if you’re sharing with a child age 2 or younger.
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An estimated 330,000 people will be headed to Las Vegas for the upcoming Super Bowl, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Whether you are one of those football fans or you’re a traveler planning to live it up on the Strip sometime this year, there’s plenty to do in Sin City on a budget.
One affordable option is to head outdoors. Valley of Fire and Lake Mead are popular nearby parks, but there’s even more just beyond the neon lights of Las Vegas.
1. Hike to Petroglyphs in Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
Not far south of the Las Vegas Strip is a quiet, 48,438-acre protected area of desert called Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, which is perfect for hiking and mountain biking.
The most popular attraction is Petroglyph Canyon Trail. On this 4.1-mile lollipop-loop trail, there are over 1,700 individual petroglyphs on the rocks along the route that date back as far as the Archaic era.
While much of the trail is flat, there’s little to no shade and a few areas where climbing over dried-up waterfalls is required. Prefer to wander? There are plenty of wilderness areas within the park where you can hike off-trail, too.
Mountain biking trails also abound. Entrance to the park is free, and even on weekends, you’re likely to have much of the trail to yourself if you arrive before 9 a.m.
2. Ski at Lee Canyon
Did you know you can ski near Las Vegas in the winter? Lee Canyon is the only ski resort in all of southern Nevada, and it’s easily accessible from the city — just an hour driving from Las Vegas.
The resort isn’t huge — there are 195 acres of terrain and 27 trails accessed via three chairlifts, including a skills park — but the mountain is popular with both locals and visitors. And while at many resorts skiing can be prohibitively expensive, lift tickets at Lee Canyon can be as little as $19 on weekdays and often include a $10 credit for food and drinks. Kids 12 and younger ski free, too. If you didn’t bring your own skis or snowboard on the airplane or in the car, gear is available to rent.
If you’re more interested in warm-weather activities, there’s also a mountain bike park on the property that’s open in the summer.
3. Hike and bike in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
For free outdoor fun in the mountains near Lee Canyon, head to Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, which is located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
In the summer, you can escape the heat via hiking, backpacking and mountain biking in the sprawling outdoor playground that’s populated with peaks and pine forests. In the winter, there’s sledding in addition to hiking (though you might want to bring microspikes to safely navigate icy trails), snowshoeing and even fat tire biking.
For maps and hike recommendations, head to the visitor gateway. If you want to spend a few days in the mountains, you can book a campsite or a stay at the retreat on Charleston Peak, which is just up the road from the visitor center.
4. Take a scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Fans of geology, hiking or landscape photography will love Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, located just 17 miles from the Vegas Strip. The park offers many adventure opportunities, including mountain biking, road cycling around the park and rock climbing, but because it is so close to the city, the park is often busy. About 4 million people visit every year, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
From the beginning of October through the end of May between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., you’ll need a reservation to drive the 13-mile scenic loop or hike many of the popular park trails along the way. The timed entry reservation costs $2 on top of the $20 entry fee, which is waived if you have a national parks pass or if you visit on a fee-free day.
5. Explore historic tunnels near Lake Mead
Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam are popular attractions near Las Vegas, but one alternative to get a taste of the history of both is the historic Railroad Tunnel Trail in Boulder City, just southeast of Vegas. You can walk or bike along the easy, level gravel path that offers views of Lake Mead below.
You’ll also pass through tunnels about 25 feet wide and 30 feet high that were built for a railroad to transport building materials for the construction of Hoover Dam.
When you’re done, grab a meal in the small but lively Boulder City. If the goal was to get outside and out of the city of Las Vegas, consider it a touchdown after this hike.
How to maximize your rewards
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The Hong Kong and Boston Chase Sapphire lounge locations were the first to open, and a third spot is entering the scene: As of January 2024, the Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has opened its doors.
Here is what you can expect when you visit this two-level Chase lounge at New York-LGA.
Getting to the Sapphire Lounge LaGuardia
To get to the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Terminal B, pass through security and turn right. Go past the colorful falling water fountain. At the end of the concourse, you’ll find the entrance to the Sapphire Lounge, next to the Centurion Lounge entrance.
Take the elevator down to the ground floor to enter the lounge.
Hours of operation
The Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia is open from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. The private Reserve Suites are open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Layout
The Sapphire Lounge by The Club at LaGuardia beats out many of its competitors on square footage alone. At 21,850 square feet, this massive Sapphire Lounge can fit a maximum of 269 people. The Centurion Lounge next door comes in at less than half the size by square footage.
There are two levels. The lower level has seating areas, play areas (not just for kids), relaxation rooms and the main dining area and bar.
Ascend the set of stairs located to one side of the center bar and you’ll find yourself in what Chase staffers called “The Perch.” This mezzanine area features more seating and tables, a refreshment station and access to the Reserve Suites: three reservation-only rooms available to groups who want more privacy than the lounge affords.
Design
The theme of trees and greenery runs throughout, with several large “tree trunks” breaking up space on both the first and second levels. The pervasive woodgrain, mid-century furniture and colorful, abstract art on the tambour panel walls gives the feeling of walking into a particularly chic rainforest. There’s even a canopy of plants lining the railings of the upper-level mezzanine.
The womb chairs and light, oak-colored wood are in line with current design trends. Yet, the lounge has an air of timelessness that feels sophisticated but fun — falling somewhere between the retrofuturism of the TWA Hotel at JFK and the intentional whimsy of a hip coworking space. Elevated furnishings can be found in the by-reservation private suites, but more on that later.
The lounge doesn’t have a lot of windows because of its location within the airport. However, even without natural light, there’s not a spot in the lounge that feels underlit. The sconces and variety of other lighting fixtures are a delightful detail.
Throughout the lounge, you’ll find touches of New York City, whether it’s a book of Bill Cunningham photos on the shelf or a series of photos featuring matchbooks from iconic New York restaurants like The Bitter End.
Seating areas on the lower level
The first floor of the lounge features plenty of space for work, relaxation, dining and even a little play. Cushy couches and chairs are scattered throughout.
A backlit, water vapor fireplace provides ambience in a more work-oriented section of the lower level where guests will also find two-person booths and a private phone room.
No need to worry about keeping your devices charged — there are outlets galore embedded in furniture, walls, tables and the floor.
Photo booth and arcade
On top of the areas for working or relaxing, there are a few rooms dedicated entirely to play. One is a photo booth that guests can use to snap photos with their traveling companions. Photos can’t be printed, but guests can have a digital copy sent to their email.
The photo booth doubles as an entrance to what Chase staff referred to as “the speakeasy” — a hidden arcade room featuring a pinball machine, tabletop shuffleboard and a jukebox. While there’s no drink service in the speakeasy, staffers indicated that there might be someday.
Children’s playroom
Families can use an enclosed playroom on the lower level without having to worry about disrupting other lounge guests.
Nursing room
A nursing room featuring a sink and changing table is available for use by families in addition to a dedicated changing room for those with babies.
The Reserve Suites
The Reserve Suites are three rooms that can be booked within the lounge that offer groups a private seating and entertainment area, access to fully-stocked showers and an upgraded menu. The privacy comes at a premium though.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can reserve one of the two six-person suites and one four-person suite. The six-person suites feature a movable wall between and can be booked together for use by up to 12 people.
Suites are available in three-hour slots. Each of the six-person suites costs $3,000 to reserve (or $6,000 to combine the two suites) and the four-person suite is $2,200 for a reservation slot. You must book suites through the Chase mobile app at least 72 hours in advance.
So what does roughly $1,000 per hour get you?
In addition to private showers stocked with bathrobes and high-end toiletries from Oribe and Augustinus Bader, guests get access to a personal lounge staffer and a private menu from the New York restaurant Jeffrey’s Grocery.
Menu highlights include a hefty lobster roll and the Plateau le LaGuardia, a two-tiered tower featuring king crab legs, shrimp cocktail and a variety of tinned seafood. The suite-exclusive wine list is curated by New York City wine bar Parcelle and each of the suites includes caviar service in its price.
In the sitting area of each suite, there’s a beautifully incorporated TV on the wall that comes with a PlayStation 5 for guests. The TV can be turned off, leaving the design element of a stark, glossy black circle on the wall rather than a blank TV — a subtle touch that’s in line with the elevated feel of these private suites.
One of the few windows in the lounge is in the four-person suite, providing a near-panoramic view of The Perch and lower level of the lounge; though, there’s a curtain for privacy should you prefer it.
Meditation pods and treatment rooms
If you want to luxuriate a little but don’t want to shell out for the suites with their private showers, stop by the wellness area and treat yourself to some spa time.
The ordeal of engaging with commercial air travel can be more than a little de-centering. If you feel like you need some time to refocus and quiet your mind, the lounge offers two meditation pods, which can be booked in 30-minute slots via the Chase app or the QR codes found throughout the lounge. Meditation pod reservations are complimentary.
You can also book a free spa treatment, such as jade rolls and oxygen blasts, on-site on a first-come-first-served basis. The private treatment rooms are staffed by estheticians and feature products from New York facial bar Face Haus.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Each spa guest can also snag a free travel kit of skincare products from Face Haus.
Bathrooms
There are several bathroom stalls in the men’s room and women’s room on the first floor and an all-gender restroom on the mezzanine.
Food
Cold plates and made-to-order meals
At the back of the lounge’s lower level is the main dining area. The kitchen serves breakfast (4:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) and all-day fare (11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) with menus featuring more typical lounge options alongside special, made-to-order dishes from Joseph Leonard, a West Village bistro.
During breakfast and regular service, cold and hot plates are available at the buffet counter. For breakfast, guests can expect the usual fare like pastries, fruit, yogurt, eggs, pancakes and French toast. Made-to-order options — including omelets, egg and cheese baos, and vegan spinach bowls — can be ordered by scanning the QR codes found at every table.
All-day food choices include Korean fried chicken bites, pumpkin muhammara, grilled cheese and made-to-order dishes like burgers or seared salmon over braised leeks. The latter items punched a fair bit above the lounge food weight class, retaining the restaurant quality you’d expect from a curated menu.
A selection of sweets is also available at the buffet, including lemon squares, chocolate chip cookies and mini chocolate bites.
The bar
Situated amid the dining space and seating areas is a circular bar, beautifully appointed with white stone countertops, mauve barstools and brass accents. Chase teamed up with New York mixologists Apotheke for locally-inspired cocktails.
The cocktail menu includes drinks exclusive to the LaGuardia lounge, like The Blackburn’s Sour — a berry-forward rum drink named for one of the first passengers to disembark at LaGuardia when it opened in 1939 — and a signature cocktail that you’ll find at all Sapphire Lounge locations, fittingly and simply called Sapphire.
Other standouts include the Red Eye, an interesting take on the all-too-familar espresso martini that takes things in a more refreshing direction with the addition of black cherry.
A wine list curated by Parcelle, spirits and a selection of beers on tap round out the bar’s menu, with soft drinks, juices and coffee also available.
Refreshment stations
The lounge features three refreshment stations, two on the first level and one on the second. Each refreshment station includes a mini fridge of canned beverages as well as drip coffee, tea, a digital espresso machine, nonalcoholic drinks on tap and assorted fruits and biscotti.
In keeping with the locally-sourced beverages, coffee is supplied by Greenwhich Village roaster Joe Coffee and teas are from SoHo-based tea blenders Harney & Sons.
How to get into the Chase Sapphire Lounge LGA
Access to the Sapphire Lounge by the Club at LaGuardia is pretty simple: you need to carry a qualifying Chase card or have a Priority Pass membership. Some credit cards include a Priority Pass membership as a benefit.
Chase cards that get you lounge access include:
Chase Sapphire Reserve® and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardholders each get two free guests, per visit. Additional guests come at a fee of $27 each. Ritz-Carlton cardholders get unlimited guests.
Priority Pass cards that get you access to the Chase LaGuardia lounge include:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Annual fee
Priority Pass benefits
Full Priority Pass Select membership. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
Full Priority Pass Select membership. Includes two guests per visit. No restaurants.
Full Priority Pass Select membership. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
10 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per year. Enrollment required. Existing cardholders who enrolled in Priority Pass on or before Jan. 31, 2023 will no longer have a membership as of Feb. 1, 2024. Cardholders who enroll between Feb. 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, 2024, will continue to have membership through Oct. 31, 2024. Terms apply.
Eight free Priority Pass lounge visits per year.
Learn more
(Top photo by Steve Miller)
The information related to the J.P. Morgan Reserve and The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
How to maximize your rewards
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When you rent a car during your travels, you usually aren’t thinking about what happens if you crash your car. that is, until the agent at the rental car desk paints that worst-case scenario during their collision damage waiver pitch.
Should you pay extra to cover your car in the case of an accident? Not if you hold the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
If you are involved in a fender bender, you can rely on your credit card coverage to pay for damage to your rental car without making a claim against your personal auto insurance.
Although it’s a great idea to use your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to book your rental cars, the auto rental collision damage waiver benefit on the card doesn’t cover everything or every trip.
Here’s what you need to know about what the policy covers and how to file a claim.
How the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card rental car insurance works
Every credit card car rental insurance requires you to use the card for your rental transaction and decline the car rental company’s collision damage waiver option. The car rental coverage provided by the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is no different.
If you want your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card car rental insurance to cover your rental car, here’s what you must do:
You must use your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to reserve and pay for your entire rental car transaction.
You must decline the car rental company’s collision damage waiver provisions.
Simply being a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card member isn’t enough — you must use the card to cover your rental transaction and decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental counter.
Be aware that some rates include collision damage waiver insurance. If you book using one of these rates, you won’t be covered by the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card car rental insurance on that rental.
What is covered?
The most important thing to understand about Capital One’s car rental insurance is what it covers. It covers only the following types of losses:
Damage to a rental car caused by a collision.
Loss of a rental car due to theft.
While your card’s insurance coverage will reimburse you for damage to your rental car, an accident can also cause damage to another driver’s vehicle or result in bodily injury.
If you injure someone (including yourself) in an accident or if you damage someone else’s vehicle, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card car rental insurance won’t cover these losses. Here are some items that are not covered by Capital One’s rental car insurance.
Personal liability.
Loss or theft of personal belongings.
Bodily injuries of any kind to anyone.
Damage to anything other than the rental vehicle.
Wear and tear or mechanical breakdowns.
Most likely, you’ll want travel insurance or personal auto insurance to shield yourself from liability, in case you are involved in an accident that damages someone else’s car or causes an injury.
Finally, Capital One car rental insurance covers rental periods of only 15 or fewer consecutive days within your country of residence. Rentals outside your country of residence are covered up to 31 consecutive days.
Notable exclusions
Certain vehicles
Capital One car rental insurance is meant to cover rentals of non-luxury passenger vehicles. The policy will pay only for the actual cash value of cars with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of up to $75,000 when new, so extremely expensive luxury cars won’t be covered.
If you’re renting a Toyota Corolla, you’re going to be covered. If you want to drive an Aston Martin, you’ll need to find other insurance. Here are some of the types of automobiles that are excluded:
Expensive automobiles with an MSRP of over $75,000 when new.
Antique vehicles that are over 20 years old or have not been manufactured for 10 years.
Vans, other than those designed for small-group transportation and seat up to nine people.
Trucks and vehicles with an open cargo bed.
Two-wheeled vehicles like mopeds, motorcycles and motorbikes.
Limousines.
Recreational vehicles.
Certain destinations
Most car rental insurance policies provided by credit cards exclude certain countries from coverage. Your
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card car rental insurance does not cover rentals in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Who is covered?
Capital One provides rental car damage and theft coverage only to you, the person whose name is embossed on your eligibleCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. You must reserve, pick up and pay for the rental car and be listed as the primary driver.
Additional drivers on the rental car are covered by your Capital One car rental insurance, but you (the cardholder) must be the primary renter of the car.
How to file a claim
If you have an accident or your rental car is stolen, you will need to call the car rental benefit administrator to report the incident as soon as possible, regardless of your liability.
Within the U.S., call 800-825-4062. If you’re traveling outside the U.S., you can make a collect call to 804-965-8071. You can also initiate your claim online at https://www.eclaimsline.com/.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Be sure to submit your claim form within 90 days of the date of theft or damage or your claim may be denied. Submit the claim form even if you don’t yet have access to all other requested information.
To prepare to submit your claim, you’ll want to collect documentation that will be needed to process your claim. Here’s what you should collect and be prepared to submit to the benefit administrator.
The accident report form provided by the rental company.
A copy of the front and back of the initial and final rental agreements.
A copy of repair estimates and an itemized repair bill.
At least two photographs of the vehicle.
A police report, if one can be obtained.
A copy of any demand letter you receive from the car rental agency.
You’ll also need to fill out a claim form and submit the above documentation, plus a copy of your credit card billing statement including the rental charge. The benefit administrator may also request additional documentation to validate your claim.
Your claim will usually be processed within 15 days after the benefit administrator has received all requested documentation.
Capital One Venture X rental car insurance recapped
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers car rental insurance that covers damage to or theft of your rental vehicle when you decline the car rental company’s collision damage waiver insurance and charge the entire rental transaction to your credit card.
The coverage does not include liability coverage of any kind or cover trips longer than 15 days in your country of residence or 31 days abroad. Be sure to check your card’s Guide to Benefits for coverage details.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
Vacations to popular destinations can sometimes feel like you’ve been sucked into a tourist trap rather than immersed in a new culture.
Given that, you might seek a vacation spot that has a track record of tourist appeal, but remains off the mainstream’s radar — for now.
American Express Travel’s 2024 Trending Destinations list offers a lineup of 10 destinations that fit that bill. Using global AmEx Card Member bookings through the American Express Travel portal, the report highlighted locations with major increases in bookings from 2019 to 2023.
Here are 10 places from the report that are on the rise, in alphabetical order:
1. Adelaide Hills, Australia
While Australia is usually best known for its beaches, crocodiles and the Outback, don’t overlook its vibrant wine country. Adelaide Hills, a region in South Australia, is all about rolling vineyards, charming villages and world-class wineries.
Adelaide Hills is already booming, marking a record $272 million in visitor spending for its fiscal year ending in June 2023, according to the region’s tourism bureau. That’s more than 1.3 million day trips made, and 737,000 nights spent by tourists.
2. Bodrum, Turkey
To get the energy of Santorini without the crowds, consider Bodrum, Turkey. Tour the Bodrum Castle for a taste of history, swim in Bodrum’s pristine waters or go diving among the beautiful coral reefs.
3. Cervo, Italy
Cervo offers what you might expect from an Italian vacation, including boutiques from Italian fashion designers and Michelin-star meals. But it also offers a lovely mix of luxury and laid-back charm — all without the high tourism numbers of other Mediterranean regions like the Amalfi Coast.
4. Niseko, Japan
Travel to Japan as a whole is rising in popularity. The country is the fastest-growing travel destination globally among Generation Z and millennials, according to AmEx Travel, witnessing a 1,300% increase in travel bookings from 2019 to 2023.
But where in Japan should you go? Nestled on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, the resort area of Niseko is especially delightful in winter, particularly for skiers and snowboarders. But it’s not just about action — there’s room for relaxation, too.
Stay warm by soaking in Niseko’s onsen hot springs or sample ramen from one of the many cozy noodle shops.
5. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, stands out for its cobblestone streets adorned with candy-colored houses and its ornate church in the town square. While there, don’t miss sipping on a Mezcal cocktail.
According to AmEx Travel, from 2019 to 2023 the city has seen a 57% increase in bookings among Generation X and baby boomer travelers — and a 400% increase in bookings among Gen Zers and millennials.
6. Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Santa Fe is the only U.S. destination on the list, and it’s certainly one worth visiting. Largely known for its art scene, it’s also excellent for dining and outdoor activity.
Lately, big things are happening that could make Santa Fe more appealing than ever. For example, construction is set to begin on the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum downtown this year, with a plan to reopen in 2026. For modern art, there’s Meow Wolf, which has 70 rooms of immersive art from local and community artists.
7. The Seychelles
The Maldives tend to get all the love among travelers seeking crystal clear waters and sandy beaches. But there’s a similar archipelago in the Indian Ocean that you shouldn’t overlook. Many well-traveled folk actually consider the Seychelles to be the better of the two, citing reasons like more outdoor activities and secluded beaches.
It’s also generally cheaper. At the time of writing, average hotel room rates in the Maldives span about $800 to $1,300 a night depending on the season and day of the week, according to travel fare aggregator Momondo. Average nightly rates in Seychelles range from $600 to $1,100.
8. St. Kitts and Nevis
If you’re visiting the Caribbean in 2024, consider Saint Kitts and Nevis. On the two islands (which are considered one country), you’ll find lush rainforests, soft sand and turquoise waters. Activities include exploring the island’s colonial past at Brimstone Hill Fortress, (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or wandering the colorful streets of its capital, Basseterre.
You might also bathe in the hot springs or climb Mount Liamuiga, the island’s highest peak.
9. Udaipur, India
With its majestic palaces reflected in shimmering Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India, is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the East.” The city has bazaars selling handcrafted textiles, jewelry and other wares. For a little exercise, climb to Mehrangarh Fort, which was built on sandstone hills 400 feet above Jodhpur.
10. Zermatt, Switzerland
With chalets, car-free streets and views of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is your quintessential Swiss village. It’s best known for its skiing, which you can do year-round. In fact, some national ski teams train here in the summer.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
Chubb is a property and casualty insurance company that operates in 54 countries and territories. Its executive offices are in France, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Besides property and casualty insurance, the company also offers personal coverage and supplemental health insurance, life insurance and travel insurance. Chubb travel insurance is underwritten by ACE Property and Casualty Insurance Co.
What does Chubb travel insurance cover?
Depending on what type of coverage you’re looking for, Chubb offers several different travel insurance options. It offers annual policies as well as single-trip plans for trips to domestic and international destinations.
Coverage ranges across:
Chubb travel insurance plans
Three single-trip travel insurance plan options are available: Travel Basics Plus, Travel Essentials Plus and Travel Choice Plus.
These are comprehensive travel insurance plans that include medical coverage as well as trip protections, such as trip delay, baggage delay and baggage loss.
Here’s how coverage varies across the plans.
Travel Basics Plus
Travel Essentials Plus
Travel Choice Plus
Trip cancellation
100% of the trip cost (with a $100,000 limit).
100% of the trip cost (with a $100,000 limit).
100% of the trip cost (with a $100,000 limit).
Trip interruption
100% of the trip cost (with a $100,000 limit).
150% of the trip cost (with a $150,000 limit).
150% of the trip cost (with a $150,000 limit).
Trip interruption – return air only
Trip delay
$100 per day, with a $500 maximum.
$150 per day, with a $750 maximum.
$200 per day, with a $1,000 maximum.
Missed connection
Baggage delay
Baggage loss
$750 (with a $50 deductible).
Emergency medical
$15,000 (with a $50 deductible).
Emergency evacuation and repatriation
$1 million.
Accidental death and dismemberment
Preexisting medical conditions waiver
Must be purchased within 21 days after your initial trip payment.
Must be purchased within 21 days after your initial trip payment.
Must be purchased within 21 days after your initial trip payment.
All three plans offer an optional car rental collision coverage add-on that covers up to $35,000 (with a $250 deductible). This add-on includes damage caused by collision, vandalism or weather and does not include theft.
Chubb single-trip plan cost
Below is how much a 35-year-old traveler from Utah would pay for travel insurance for a 10-day trip to Argentina valued at $2,500.
The least expensive of the options, the Travel Basics Plus plan will set you back $124.62. The Travel Essentials Plus policy comes in at $150.73 and provides more coverage. The most expensive plan, Travel Choice Plus, costs $215.13 and includes the most coverage with higher limits.
All plans include a $7 policy fee.
Chubb multi-trip/annual travel insurance
Chubb also offers multi-trip or annual travel insurance plans to those who take multiple trips per year. Three policies are available: Travel Basics 365, Travel Essentials 365 and Travel Choice 365.
Below are the coverage limits for annual travel insurance plans offered by Chubb.
Travel Basics 365
Travel Essentials 365
Travel Choice 365
Trip cancellation
Trip interruption
Trip delay
$150 per day, with a $750 maximum (kicks in after five hours).
$150 per day, with a $1,000 maximum (kicks in after five hours).
$150 per day, with a $1,500 maximum (kicks in after five hours).
Missed connection
$500 (kicks in after three hours).
$1,000 (kicks in after three hours).
Baggage delay
$150 per day, with a $300 maximum (kicks in after 12 hours).
$250 per day, with a $500 maximum (kicks in after 12 hours).
$250 per day, with a $1,000 maximum (kicks in after 12 hours).
Baggage loss
Emergency medical
Emergency evacuation and repatriation
$1 million.
Accidental death and dismemberment
Car rental collision damage waiver
$35,000 (with a $250 deductible).
$35,000 (with a $250 deductible).
Security evacuation
Chubb annual plan cost
Below is how much a 35-year-old traveler from Utah would pay for an annual travel insurance policy from Chubb.
The most affordable option of the three, the Travel Basics 365 plan, will set you back $141. The Travel Essentials 365 policy will set you back $233, and the Travel Choice 365 policy costs $449.
Which Chubb travel insurance plan is for me?
If you’re seeking coverage for one trip: Look into the single-trip travel insurance plans, such as Travel Basics Plus, Travel Essentials Plus and Travel Choice Plus.
If you’re traveling extensively: For travelers who take multiple trips per year or who are constantly on the road, an annual plan, such as Travel Basics 365, Travel Essentials 365 and Travel Choice 365, will provide a more economical solution.
If you hold a travel rewards credit card: Take a look at your card’s benefits guide and determine what kind of trip protections, if any, are offered by your credit card. Pick a travel insurance plan with perks that don’t overlap with what is already covered.
How to get a quote from Chubb
To get a quote from Chubb for an individual or family travel policy, start on it’s website. Decide whether you need a single-trip plan or an annual plan, and click on “Get a quote.”
Select between a domestic or an international policy and confirm that you’re a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old by checking the respective box. Enter your travel destination, state of residence, travel dates, the initial trip deposit date and the number of travelers.
Then provide a couple of more details, such as the primary traveler’s age and the cost of the trip.
The quotes for each plan will be displayed on the next page.
For an annual policy, select your state of residence from the dropdown menu, pick a coverage start date, enter the traveler’s age and click “Get quote.”
What isn’t covered by Chubb travel insurance?
Like most insurance providers, Chubb publishes a list of exclusions to its coverage. Below are some of the situations not covered by Chubb travel insurance:
Intentional self-inflicted injuries or suicide.
Normal pregnancy or elective abortion.
Participation in professional athletic events.
Mountaineering.
War, acts of war or participating in a civil disorder, riot or resurrection.
Operating or learning to operate an aircraft.
Being under the influence of drugs or narcotics.
Traveling for the purpose of securing medical treatment.
Traveling against a physician’s recommendation.
Is Chubb travel insurance worth it?
If you look online, Chubb travel insurance reviews are mixed, but they also include car, home and business insurance, not the company’s travel insurance branch specifically.
In any case, before you purchase a plan, we recommend not only comparing prices but also reading policy terms to make sure you understand what’s covered so your claim will be accepted should you need to file one.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
The desire to get a good deal unites practically all travelers. Whether you’re looking for a cheap getaway or a luxury vacation, no one wants to spend more than necessary. When it comes to booking flights, travelers may naturally head to an airline’s website. However, that’s not always the best site to book flights.
Whether it’s taking advantage of credit card perks, earning bonus miles or saving money, the best flight booking site can vary depending on your situation and willingness to get creative. Let’s take a look at six of the best sites to book flights and when each is the best option.
The best flight booking sites
1. Google Flights
For ease, speed and features, Google Flights is arguably the best website for flight searches. Search results appear almost instantly. Filters let you narrow down to nonstop options, select a subset of airlines, limit by price or factor in the price of a bag. Similarly, you can use Google Flights filters to avoid certain airlines, multi-stop itineraries, long layovers, early flights or pretty much whatever you might want to avoid.
You can easily check flexible dates, and if you’re flexible on where you go you can use the Explore map to see prices for a variety of destinations for certain dates, a certain month or anytime in the next six months.
Google Flights partners with hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to pull current flight prices. That way you don’t have to search each of these sites to be able to see the options. Once you select your preferred trip, Google Flights links you to the top booking options for actually booking your flight — including the airline itself and the best OTA booking options.
The downsides of Google Flights are few. One is the lack of Southwest flight prices. Although Southwest flight schedules will show in flight search results, Southwest flight prices aren’t available. That’s because Southwest chooses to publish flight prices only on its website.
Another downside is that Google Flights doesn’t always show the cheapest prices — particularly for international flights. That means it’s worth double-checking prices on another site before booking through Google Flights.
2. Kayak
Like Google Flights, Kayak searches hundreds of other websites and flight booking platforms to find the best deal. Kayak generally doesn’t let you book flights directly. However, one benefit of Kayak is the streamlined process. Rather than having to click through several pages to confirm your selection, clicking “view deal” on the results page can take you right to the cheapest booking option.
Also, some travelers may find Kayak’s flexible date search a bit easier to work with as you can see results from several days in the search results — eliminating the need to check each day’s results separately.
But perhaps the most important reason to use Kayak instead of Google Flights is that it can catch better deals. For example, we found a $550 round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Barcelona using Google Flights. Kayak found a way to lower that price to just $472 round-trip — at least once you scroll past an advertisement.
Note that Kayak manages other flight search sites — including Momondo and Cheapflights — so the results may be very similar between these sister sites.
3. Expedia
So far, we’ve focused on ease in flight searching, and that’s going to be enough for many travelers. However, now let’s add in some additional elements to consider when choosing the best flight booking site: earning rewards and saving by booking packages. Expedia excels at both of these.
Through the new One Key rewards program, travelers can earn 0.2% in OneKeyCash from flight bookings made through Expedia. That’s not much, but it can stack on top of the awards you earn from the airline and those that you earn on your credit card purchase.
Even better, you’ll earn credits toward One Key elite status by booking your flight through Expedia. As you climb up the tiers, you’ll unlock up to 20% savings on hotels, get hotel upgrades, priority support and even price drop protection.
Plus, Expedia boasts that travelers can “save up to 30%” when bundling a hotel with a flight booking — although actual discounts are likely to vary.
4. Capital One Travel
For many Capital One cardholders, Capital One Travel might just be the best flight booking site. Part of this is to take advantage of cardholder benefits. For example, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders earn 5x Capital One miles when booking flights through the Capital One Travel portal. Plus, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders get up to $300 off travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal each cardholder year.
Also, Capital One Travel can help you truly get the best price for your flight. Capital One partnered with travel data company Hopper to show suggestions about when it’s the best time to book.
Capital One backs up these recommendations with money. If you book a flight through Capital One Travel when Hopper recommends doing so, you’ll get up to a $50 credit toward future travel if the price drops within the next 10 days.
5. Kiwi
Would you be willing to book a trip as two separate tickets in order to save money? That’s the idea behind Kiwi. Instead of simply searching flights from your home airport to your destination, Kiwi checks all potential options to get between A and B. That could mean taking a bus or train from your home city to another to catch a flight to your destination. Or, Kiwi might pair a low-cost domestic flight with a cheap international flight from another city to lower your total cost.
For example, when we priced out a round-trip flight from Phoenix to Tokyo, the cheapest option when booked as one ticket cost $1,353 round-trip — and that’s with an overnight stay in Vancouver.
Pricing out the same itinerary and dates through Kiwi drops the price to just $789 round-trip. The secret? Booking this as two round-trip flights: One from Phoenix to Los Angeles on Frontier and a separate round-trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo on Zipair.
Keep in mind that there are risks with booking separate tickets to get where you want to go. If a delay or cancellation causes you to miss your connection, the second airline/bus/train company isn’t obligated to honor your ticket and rebook you on the next option. So make sure to factor in all of the risks of booking travel like this.
6. BookWithMatrix
ITA Matrix is a very powerful and ultra-customizable search platform for finding exactly the flight itinerary you want — whether that’s booking a longer layover, avoiding certain aircraft types or booking nerdy trips such as the Alaska Milk Run.
The catch: Travelers can’t actually book flights through ITA Matrix. And, unlike Google Flights, ITA Matrix doesn’t even link to the best flight booking site for that itinerary. Instead, travelers are left to attempt to re-create the same itinerary through another flight booking website — which can be hard in the case of certain complex itineraries.
Enter BookWithMatrix. Travelers can copy-paste their perfect itinerary from ITA Matrix into BookWithMatrix to get bookable links through the airline or select OTAs.
Alternatively, travelers have the option to install the PowerTools extension in Google Chrome. This extension adds booking links right on the ITA Matrix itinerary page, avoiding the need to browse to another page.
Final thoughts on the best flight booking site
There’s not a one-size-fits-all best website for booking flights. Instead, the best flight booking site for you is going to depend on how simple you want the process to be, whether you’re willing to get creative with your booking, and even which credit cards you have.
For most travelers, the simplicity of Google Flights is going to make it the best one-stop shop for searching and booking flights. However, it’s worth considering other options if you’re flying internationally, want to book a flight-and-hotel package or have a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, is growing almost as fast as the city itself. And as the closest airport to major events like South by Southwest, Austin City Limits music festival and more, the compact airport sees its fair share of traffic.
And while many visitors who pass through spend their time at the airport’s local restaurants or shops, Austin airport lounges also offer a place to kick back and unwind before your flight.
Let’s take a look at the airport’s four lounges, how to access them and what each has to offer travelers.
An overview of Austin airport lounges
While there are a number of airlines that fly in and out of Austin, only three have lounges: United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. There’s also a Chase lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve®cardholders.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Besides the Chase lounge, there aren’t any other options that are accessible via non airline-specific membership, such as Priority Pass, or for Capital One or American Express cardholders.
These lounges are located in the main terminal, the Barbara Jordan Terminal, so no matter what gate you’re flying out of, any lounge is only a short walk away. There are no lounges in the airport’s smaller South Terminal, which is a few minutes’ drive down the road.
To enter the airline lounges, you typically need at least one of the following:
A first or business class ticket with American, Delta or United.
A lounge membership with American, Delta or United.
Elite status with one of the above airlines or their airline alliance.
A purchased day pass (if the lounge offers them).
It’s also important to note that all Austin airport lounges will ask to see a same-day departing boarding pass to enter. Save for one exception —travelers flying American or a Oneworld Alliance airline with a first or business class ticket — these lounges are only accessible on your way out of town, not upon arrival.
Delta Sky Club
On the mezzanine level near gate 4.
Open from 4:15 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Passengers can access the lounge any time within three hours before their scheduled flight.
Entry requirements:
Hold a Delta One or SkyTeam Premium flight boarding pass.
Hold an Executive or Individual Delta Sky Club membership, which is available to Medallion members.
Hold a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, which offers free access to the lounge.
Hold the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Cardor Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, which offers cardholders the option to purchase access for $50 per person.
Terms apply.
Lounge amenities: Inside the lounge located above the gates, there’s a full-service bar, comfortable seating, tables for dining or working, Wi-Fi and a covered outdoor deck. There’s coffee, tea, complimentary and premium alcoholic beverages and a hot food buffet.
United Club
On the mezzanine level, across from gate 22.
Open 4:30 a.m. – 7:15 p.m. daily.
Entry requirements: .
Hold a boarding pass for:
A premium cabin on an international itinerary.
First class with a Star Alliance member airline.
Hold United Club membership.
Have purchased a one-day pass.
Hold the United Clubâ„ Infinite Card, which includes United Club membership.
United Clubâ„ Infinite Card
NerdWallet Rating
Intro offer
90,000
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Miles
Lounge amenities: The Austin airport United Club offers a full-service bar, light snacks and complementary Wi-Fi, plus lounge chairs, high-top tables and space to get a bit of work done.
American Airlines Admirals Club
Across from gate 22.
Open Sunday to Friday 4:15 a.m. – 9:15 p.m and Saturday 4:15 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Entry requirements:
Hold a first or business class ticket on a departing or arriving flight operated by American or a Oneworld Alliance airline.
Hold an Admirals Club membership.
Hold a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.
Have purchased a one-day pass (provided there’s space in the lounge that day).
Lounge amenities: Inside this airport lounge in Austin, you’ll find complimentary food and drinks, including coffee and tea, a full-service bar, Wi-Fi and space to work.
Chase Sapphire Terrace
On the mezzanine level by gate 1.
Open daily from 10 a.m.– 8 p.m. Passengers can access the lounge anytime within three hours before their scheduled flight.
Entry requirements:
Hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card or a J.P. Morgan Reserve credit card. You may also bring in two guests.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
NerdWallet Rating
Intro offer
60,000
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Points
Lounge amenities: There’s indoor and outdoor seating on the terrace of this Austin airport lounge, plus grab-and-go food, local beverages, games like shuffleboard and cornhole and comfortable seating in a modern and sunny space.
Austin airport lounges recapped
While there are a handful of lounges at the Austin airport, don’t expect the variety and multiple locations you might see at larger hubs like New York-John F. Kennedy.
The four lounges are all located within the main terminal, so it’s easy to locate a place to kick back, relax, grab a bite and maybe get some work done before your flight.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
If you fly enough, experiencing a flight delay is practically inevitable. Between weather issues, maintenance delays and air traffic control staffing issues, all airlines are bound to face delays.
Alaska Airlines has recently been the best U.S. airline at minimizing delays, reporting the highest rate of on-time flights through June 2023. Still, nearly one in five Alaska flights have pushed back departure times for one reason or another.
In these situations, what kind of flight delay compensation are passengers entitled to? Here’s a recap of Alaska’s compensation policies for you.
6 things to know about Alaska flight delay compensation
1. You’re more likely to get flight delay compensation on Alaska than any other U.S. airline
At least on paper, Alaska treats its delayed passengers relatively well. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Alaska Airlines commits to providing compensation for the most aspects of a controllable flight delay: seven out of eight factors. The next-best airline is JetBlue Airways with six of the eight commitments. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines tie for third place with five of the eight commitments.
2. Alaska Airlines doesn’t guarantee cash compensation for delays
The only of the eight factors that Alaska does not commit to provide is the one travelers would probably like to see most: Cash compensation for delays more than three hours past the scheduled departure time.
Unfortunately, no additional cash compensation is required by Alaska policies or current DOT regulations (though they are required in Europe). At best, you may be able to get a full refund of the price that you paid for your flight — as long as your delay is eligible. And unfortunately, Alaska doesn’t define how long of a flight delay is required to get a refund.
3. Alaska Airlines offers bonus miles or a discount code for lengthy delays
Although it doesn’t offer cash compensation for delays, Alaska Airlines offers two compensation options in the case of flight delays over three hours — with the exact compensation depending on the length of the delay:
A discount code of at least $50 for future travel.
Discount codes are valid for one year from the date of issuance toward a future Alaska flight. Alaska miles don’t expire, although your account may be deactivated for lack of activity.
🤓Nerdy Tip
NerdWallet values Alaska miles at 1.4 cents per mile. Unless you don’t have any plans to take an Alaska flight in the next year, we recommend opting for a $50 voucher instead of 2,000 miles. At NerdWallet valuations, 2,000 miles are only worth $28.
It’s worth noting that Alaska Airlines is the only U.S. airline that commits to providing frequent flyer miles in case of a delay. JetBlue is the only other U.S. airline that offers a travel voucher for delays of three hours or more. Other U.S. airlines may provide bonus miles or a voucher to certain travelers after certain delays, but it isn’t part of their stated policy.
4. Claim a free meal or overnight accommodation on certain delays
In addition to providing miles or a travel voucher, Alaska Airlines also pledges to provide food and lodging during a delay of three or more hours. First, passengers waiting out the delay at the airport will get a “reasonable meal” — although that’s not further defined.
Plus, travelers needing to wait out an overnight delay will receive complimentary hotel accommodations, as long as they are at an airport more than 100 miles from their home. Alaska Airlines agrees to cover both the hotel and round-trip ground transportation to and from the hotel.
5. Only certain Alaska flight delays are eligible for compensation
There’s a big asterisk to all that we’ve covered so far: Alaska Airlines only compensates travelers, provides meals and covers overnight accommodation for eligible delays. Alaska Airlines won’t provide any compensation or amenities if your delay is due to:
Air traffic control.
Weather situations.
Passenger’s illness.
Other extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control that occur at cities within your intended flight routing.
In these cases, you’ll need to rely on trip delay insurance — if you have it — to cover your meal and lodging costs. For example, if you booked your flight with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and your flight is delayed more than six hours or overnight, you’ll get up to $500 per passenger in reimbursements for expenses like meals and lodging.
6. Know all of your options during a flight delay
Even if you aren’t due Alaska flight delay compensation, you should know you have options during a delay. If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, gate agents will likely want to rebook you on a later Alaska Airlines flight. However, the airline’s stated policy is to rebook you on partner airlines at no additional cost when there’s a significant delay.
Check your options using a flight search tool like Google Flights. Note that Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance along with American Airlines, so American will be a top option. In addition, the airline has struck partnerships with other carriers on which it may rebook you. Alaska flyers have reported being rebooked on American, Delta and United in the case of past delays — although these partnerships can change at any time.
Alaska flight delay compensation recapped
Alaska Airlines offers more to passengers than other U.S. airlines when it comes to delay compensation. In addition to standard provisions — such as meals and overnight lodging — the airline also offers bonus miles or a travel voucher when eligible delays stretch beyond three hours. Plus, Alaska also partners with several competitor airlines to help get travelers where they need to go.
However, all of these types of compensation require that you’re on an eligible delay. If your flight is delayed or canceled due to weather, air traffic control or another element deemed outside of the airline’s control, you’ll need to rely on travel insurance or credit card travel protections to cover these expenses.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
2023 was a turbulent year for airline elite status. A few major airlines announced significant loyalty program changes — many of which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. In most cases, it’s made a more challenging path with higher spending requirements to earn airline elite status.
Some of the most notable and drastic shifts happened to the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles loyalty program. In September, the airline announced it would award Medallion elite status solely based on spending and limit Delta Sky Club access for many customers starting in 2024. The updates were so drastic that Delta walked back some of its most controversial changes, including reducing the spending requirement to earn status.
Other airlines have made minor loyalty program modifications:
Frontier Airlines overhauled its loyalty program to align status earning with dollar spending rather than based on physical miles flown. This kicked in with the new year.
Southwest Airlines made it easier to earn elite status in 2024 by reducing the number of flights needed to earn status.
As of March 2024, Alaska Airlines will simplify partner redemptions based on distance and cabin. According to Alaska Airlines, more than 60% of partner nonstop routes will start at a lower price point (but that implies others will become more expensive).
American Airlines made some changes in 2024, including adding new earning and redemption opportunities. It’ll also soon offer one-day lounge passes for sale.
Which airline program provides the most value?
NerdWallet’s analysis focuses on elite status perks that offer concrete value, such as bonus rewards, seat upgrades and free checked bags. We compared these values against the spending needed to earn each status level. That indicates which elite programs truly offer excellent value per dollar spent.
To generate a single number to compare loyalty programs, we calculate an “effective rewards rate,” which accounts for the value of the benefits you receive relative to the amount you already spent with the airline.
There’s variation across airline loyalty programs, but the average return across all programs is 6.28% in value per dollar spent, meaning you’d get an average of a little over $6 per $100 spent.
Alaska’s rewards program stands out at the top end with its 9.7% rate — the equivalent of earning nearly $10 in value for every $100 spent. Hawaiian Airlines, which in December announced plans to merge with Alaska, isn’t far behind with an 8.89% earning rate.
Frontier and Spirit Airlines trail far behind with paltry 3.92% and 3.45% rewards rates, respectively.
Understand what status is worth
Some programs slap labels like “Gold” and “Platinum” on benefits that hardly sparkle, so be skeptical of chasing titles that sound fancy but ultimately offer mediocre benefits.
A-List Preferred is the highest level of status with Southwest, but its value is low, with no option for premium class seats or airport lounges. You’d have to spend an estimated $14,400 to earn A-List Preferred (though you could get it for less if you fly a lot of low-cost flight segments), yet NerdWallet values its benefits at less than $1,400. Don’t try too hard to chase Southwest status.
Meanwhile, the top tiers at Alaska, Hawaiian, United Airlines and American Airlines mean something. With Alaska MVP Gold 100K, you’ll receive nearly $9,000 in value with the first-class upgrades, free checked bags and lounge passes. Earning it requires an estimated $12,000 in Alaska spending, translating to a roughly 73% rewards rate.
Earning United Premier 1K status is neither cheap nor easy, as you’ll have to spend an estimated $30,000 with United for the honor. But NerdWallet values the benefits (which include instant premium cabin upgrades and priority check-in) at nearly $19,000, offering a 64% return.
Look for promotions
You can sometimes find limited-time promotions with easier routes to earning elite status. For example, United MileagePlus is currently running a Premier Status Match Challenge through the end of 2024.
Leverage airline credit cards
If you’re chasing elite status for benefits like free checked bags, Wi-Fi or early boarding, many airline credit cards offer those perks without awarding you elite status.
How to approach airline elite status in 2024
As more airlines tie elite status to spending, it can feel like the value of your loyalty has taken a nosedive, especially if you previously earned status through low-cost flights. On the other hand, some high rollers are rejoicing. After all, a higher threshold to earn status only makes it more valuable for folks who have it through reduced competition for seat upgrades or fewer people overcrowding airport lounges.
However, having elite status is only part of the reason to pick which airline to fly. Sometimes elite status can be more limiting than freeing, as you might be more inclined to fly at an inconvenient time or book a more expensive flight just to flex your benefits.
By leveraging credit card bonuses, seeking targeted promotions and being open-minded to the best flight rather than one operated by the brand you have status with, you can maximize the value of your travel.
Not to mention, airfares have dropped over the past year despite inflation affecting most other sectors. Some experts expect airfares to continue dropping. According to American Express Global Business Travel’s 2024 Air Monitor report, economy class flights from North America to Europe are expected to drop by 3.5% versus their 2023 prices, while those to Asia are expected to drop by 7.5%.
For price-conscious consumers, that might be a better trade anyway.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for: