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Webinars and Training, Construction Tracking, MERS Certification, 100% Financing, HELOC Products; Jumbo, DSCR Program News

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Webinars and Training, Construction Tracking, MERS Certification, 100% Financing, HELOC Products; Jumbo, DSCR Program News

By:
Rob Chrisman

2 Hours, 59 Min ago

The United States has about 336 million people. Did you know that 1/3 of them live within a 500-mile radius of Nashville? This is a cool site for anyone putting together a sales presentation for a real estate agent or a borrower. Speaking of geography, Wyoming has 23 counties, not 58 as the Commentary mentioned yesterday, further proof that this is, and always will be, produced by human hands! (Thank you to everyone who corrected me on that.) While we’re on selling, from a sales perspective, some LOs advocate adding value by subtracting complexity for clients. They are asking themselves, “How do I add value? How am I any different?” They are looking at their sales pitch, comparing bringing up pain (minimizing pain through minimizing paperwork) versus bringing up pleasure (“You’ll save time by working with me.”) And most are doing what they say they’re going to do: If you tell a potential client you’re going to call in two days, call in two days. Simple. Now go get ‘em! (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Lenders One, one of the largest mortgage co-ops in the country with a diverse mix of 250+ member companies and providers of an end-to-end solution independent mortgage professionals trust to drive profitability and growth. Listen to an interview with Lenders One’s Justin Demola on the member benefits of joining a national alliance of independent mortgage banks, banks, and credit unions.)

Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services

Ever feel like you can’t keep up with the latest tech trends? Having trouble separating hype from reality? Black Knight’s Dana Federspiel, SVP of servicing technologies and product innovation, knows these struggles and is helping lenders, servicers and mortgage industry professionals navigate the future. Dana is participating in a panel discussion during the USFNdustry Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina on the emerging trends in technology to help make more sound business decisions to support your business. Special focus will be given to artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation and more. Panelists will also evaluate options within the cloud computing universe that are becoming increasingly prevalent and affordable. If you need help cutting through buzz words to identify what really matters so you can remain successful both today and in the future, contact Black Knight.

As lenders adapt to volatile mortgage rates, many are stopping to reconsider their servicing strategy. Do inconsistent mortgage origination volumes have you questioning what makes more sense: retaining servicing or selling servicing released? Seth Sprague, CMB, Richey May’s Director of Mortgage Banking Consulting Services (aka, resident servicing expert), outlines the 13 key trends and strategies in servicing including recommendations on how to make the right decisions for your business. Want more help defining the optimal strategy? You know where to find us.

Thinking about boosting volume with construction loans? Think outsourcing. Homebuilder confidence is slowly improving, with sales of newly built single-family homes rising 4.1 percent in April, according to the NAHB’s latest numbers. If that’s piquing your interest in launching a construction loan program or scaling your existing offerings, CFSI Loan Management can provide the foundation you need to excel. “We’ve seen it time and time again,” says CFSI CEO Brian Mingham. “Outsourcing the trickiest aspects of construction lending, like budgeting, inspections, funding draws and disbursements, can reduce costs and unleash new business opportunities.” Imagine having all the complexities seamlessly handled by a team of seasoned experts, so you close more deals. CFSI has helped hundreds of lenders do exactly that for the past 10 years. To find out how they can help you, contact Brian Mingham (855-344-3052).

We know the current market can be stressful. But fortunately, there’s a bright side: home equity. These products have been around for decades but in recent years have taken a back seat to cash-out refinances. Now this is changing as borrowers with historically low first mortgage rates and generationally high levels of tappable equity rediscover HELOCs and home equity loans. Leverage this historic opportunity with FirstClose Equity, the rapid end-to-end digital technology that processes HELOCs and home equity loans in days instead of weeks. FirstClose Equity is designed to enable lenders to dramatically elevate the experience they deliver to existing or potential customers while providing a streamlined workflow for processors. Learn more.

“Looking for 100 percent financing with competitive pricing? All roads lead to ESSEX CORRESPONDENT and our Down Payment Assistance (DPA) product. Become a fully delegated and underwrite/fund your own 100 percent LTV purchase product. FHA 1st 96.5 percent LTV with two 3.5 percent 2nd mortgage options; 0 percent Forgivable or a 10 year Fully Amortized. No DTI limit, AUS approval required. FICOS as low as 600. One set of guidelines is available in 47 states. No first-time home buyer requirement. No 3rd party underwrite allows you to close as quickly as your team can originate. Email Kim Schenck or contact your Account Executive today and get signed up!”

While the mortgage industry is flooded with rules, there is no rule prohibiting you from celebrating National Donut Day a day earlier! Plus, we Donut want you to miss an opportunity for a free Krispy Cream. Among other things we don’t want you to miss, MERS season is officially here, and early-bird pricing is available now! If your organization had more than 1,000 MINs [on the MERS® System] on March 31st, you must have the annual review completed by an “authorized MERS third-party reviewer. Donut fret, MQMR aced the MERS certification with flying colors! Donut miss this opportunity to save, pricing will increase through the end of the year. Donut wait until the last minute, as your annual audit report may be submitted anytime between now and December 31, 2023. Schedule a call to discuss your MERS Annual Audit requirement and lock-in the sweetest deal of the season!

Sponsored Webinars and Training

Join MCT today, June 1st at 10am PT, for its webinar discussing Strategies to Improve Profitability in the Current Market. In this webinar, MCT’s Phil Rasori and Paul Yarbrough will provide a current market overview and include actionable insights to improve profitability for lenders. Attendees will receive key hedging, trading, best execution, and MSR recommendations, as well as how to leverage technology to improve profitability and efficiency. MCT also recently released a new whitepaper on Mortgage Pipeline Hedging 101. The whitepaper reviews information on moving to mandatory, the strategy of hedging, the benefits of hedging, and how to determine if you are ready. Read the whitepaper to learn how you can use hedging as a tactic to mitigate risk and optimize profitability when selling mortgage loans.

Lenders that support down payment assistance (DPA) are in high demand as a multitude of market conditions put a strain on affordability. To help more lenders win business by supporting consumers with DPA, the Mortgage Bankers Association is hosting the webinar Profit & Succeed with DPA on June 8 at 2 pm EDT. Best practice approaches to DPA lending will be shared by panelists Mark Hasson of Lennar Mortgage, Kate McDougall of Lake Michigan Credit Union and Down Payment Resource’s Veronica Khandelwal and Sean Moss. Registration is FREE for MBA members! Register now to turn up the heat with DPA programs this summer

Investors and Lenders: Jumbo, Non-QM, and DSCR News

Newfi Wholesale’s newly expanded Non-QM product suite offers 90 percent LTV up to $1.5M, loan amounts up to $4M, 2-1 buydowns, DSCR (no minimum ratio) 1-8 units, and alt-doc solutions that make sense for your borrowers. (For more information contact SVP, Non-QM Development & Strategy Dan Bayer or 925-584-0579.)

Effective 5/15/2023, updates to Kind Lending’s Choice Jumbo Program are now live. See UW guide for full program requirements located in Kwikie. Additionally, based on FHFA’s announcement that it would rescind controversial loan-level pricing adjustments (LLPAs) for conventional borrowers with debt-to-income (DTI) levels at or above 40 percent, as of May 14th,

Kind Lending will no longer be charging for a DTI >=40 percent on any FNMA or FHLMC loans. If you have an affected loan that is in process now, Kind Lending will automatically remove this price adjustment and will send out a new lock confirmation.

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is rolling out a suite of six fixed-rate jumbo products. “Brokers now have access to more competitive jumbo pricing, along with transparent investor guidelines and loan qualifications, giving them a leg up on big banks and retail lenders. This will give loan officers the flexibility to tailor a fixed jumbo loan to each borrower’s situation, helping them get into their homes faster, cheaper, and easier.”

As a leader in Non-QM lending, Carrington Correspondent is working hard to deliver top-notch products to trusted partners. Nearly 2 dozen changes took effect on March 23, 2023, which hopefully will have a positive impact on your business and borrowers. Highlights include reduced FICO at which cash-out may be considered for reserves from 700 to 620 for all Non-QM loans. Investor Advantage (DSCR) changes include Resales within 6 months ok, Cash-out FICO requirement down from 640 to 620 and updated “1st-time investor” definition to no investment ownership within 36 months (was 12) – LTV benefit. Prime Advantage (FICO 660+) Now permits primary residences of 3-4 units (was 1-2).

Carrington Prime Advantage for borrowers who just miss qualifying for traditional or jumbo financing. Carrington Flexible Advantage Plus for borrowers who have recently re-established credit scores above 620. Carrington Flexible Advantage for borrowers with recent credit events and FICO down to 550. Carrington Investor Advantage for seasoned property investors with no income documentation.

Did you know there is no State Licensing Required in 20 States & DC? These states consider DSCR loans as commercial loans, so they are generally not subject to licensing requirements.

Carrington Mortgage Services Investor Advantage (DSCR) loan may be the answer for your borrowers.

Champions Funding recently announced an expanded business loan product to increase your offerings to real estate investors. Champs Accelerator Expanded (DSCR < .75) / No Ratio, part of its robust suite of DSCR loan options to fit your borrowers’ needs. Champs accepts transferred appraisals on DSCR and can get your loans closed quickly.

Looking for more options for your borrowers? American Heritage Lending offers CondoTels & Non-Warrantable Condos programs.

Angel Oak Mortgage Solution’s Investor Cash Flow mortgage (DSCR Loan) program now allows you to offer your clients financing for condotels. In addition to this new program enhancement, Angel Oak has implemented rate reductions across all loan programs. If you haven’t ran a loan scenario recently, today is the day to Get Started!

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions shared great news regarding lending services, now offering its DSCR loans to non-permanent residents. Angel Oak believes in the importance of helping everyone achieve their dreams of homeownership, regardless of residency status. If you have clients who are non-permanent residents seeking financing options, Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions would be honored to assist.

Capital Markets

What will we talk about without the periodic debt ceiling negotiations to consume the press? There’s always the Fed. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book for May described overall economic activity as little changed in April and early May with four Districts reporting small increases and two reporting slight-to-moderate declines. Consumer expenditures remained resilient while manufacturing activity was flat or up in most Districts. Residential real estate activity improved, and employment increased in most Districts, while prices rose at a slowing pace.

For LOs watching prequals stack up on desks across the country, we had a second consecutive bond price rally (rates down) yesterday due to both a sense that the House of Representatives would pass the debt limit bill and dovish Fed speak. Expectations for a June rate hike flipped from over 70 percent to below 30 percent after Fed Governor Jefferson said that a potential decision to hold the fed funds rate range steady at the June meeting should not be viewed as a signal that the hiking cycle is over. Philadelphia Fed President Harker said that he supports holding steady in June, but also acknowledged that more tightening could be done at subsequent meetings.

Today’s economic calendar includes a series of labor market indicators ahead of tomorrow’s payrolls report. First up were job cuts from Challenger, Gray & Christmas for May: U.S.-based employers announced 80,089 cuts in May, a 20 percent increase from the 66,995 cuts announced one month prior, 287 percent higher than the 20,712 cuts announced in the same month in 2022. Next was ADP employment for May (278k, a huge jump). Weekly jobless claims were 232k with the back month revised higher, while Q1 productivity and unit labor costs were -2.1 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively. Later today brings S&P Global manufacturing PMI and ISM manufacturing PMI for May, April construction spending, Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Markets Survey, and remarks from Philadelphia Fed President Harker. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices roughly unchanged from Wednesday’s close, the 10-year yielding 3.62 after closing yesterday at 3.64 percent, and the 2-year stubbornly high at 4.40 after the spate of jobs news.

Employment

“Button Finance, an industry-leading Home Equity mortgage lender, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Marketing Specialist to build out our correspondent lending program. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in creating innovative marketing strategies and a deep understanding of the mortgage industry. You’ll lead campaigns, drive customer acquisition, and enhance our brand visibility. Join a growing company that is constantly delivering top-quality customer service with HELOCs/HELOANs closing in under 12 days and 24-hour review times. Strong skills in digital marketing, data analysis, and exceptional communication are required. Join our team and contribute to shaping the future of mortgage lending. Please send resumes to Rose King.”

Hey, did you hear that Planet is acquiring right-sized, financially solid distributed retail companies to expand its geographic footprint? This month’s acquisition of Platinum Home Mortgage Corporation brought 20+ branches and 100+ Professionals to Planet. After three decades together, Platinum’s producers were confident in their choice to join Planet because of its financial stability, competitive pricing, and strong leadership. Planet has solidified its position as a leading mortgage industry player by gaining the #9 spot on Inside Mortgage Finance’s overall lender leaderboard and the #4 spot among government loan producers. With the additional volume from Platinum’s power players, Planet expects to continue gaining market share (especially for government, where it’s at 5.2 percent now). To find out how you can profit from working with people who think bigger, work smarter, and perform better, contact Planet’s VP, Talent Acquisition Peter Briggs (435-709-6278).

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Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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Warehouse, Appraisal, Non-QM, RON Products; Reverse Mortgages: Catch the Wave; Mortgage Apps Continue Decline

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Warehouse, Appraisal, Non-QM, RON Products; Reverse Mortgages: Catch the Wave; Mortgage Apps Continue Decline

By:
Rob Chrisman

3 Hours, 24 Min ago

A biologist, a chemist, and a statistician are out hunting. The biologist shoots at a deer and misses five feet to the left. The chemist takes a shot and misses five feet to the right. The statistician yells, “We got ’em!” Are you selling your house? Me neither. Few people are: there are only about 564,000 active listings. That’s about 11,000 per state. In California, where there are 58 counties, that is an average of less than 200 per county. In Wyoming, the least populated state, there are 58 counties so that’s 190 listings per county. Of course, averages don’t apply like that, but it is important to keep things in perspective, and the overarching issue is a continued lack of supply and a strong demand impacting prices, affordability, and sales numbers. Can lighthouses help? Since 2000 about 150 lighthouses have been transferred to new owners, about 80 given away at no cost to agencies, nonprofits or educational organizations willing to maintain them, and about 70 auctioned off for a total $10 million so far. This year, six lighthouses are up for offer. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Lenders One, one of the largest mortgage co-ops in the country with a diverse mix of 250+ member companies and providers of an end-to-end solution independent mortgage professionals trust to drive profitability and growth. Listen to an interview with Verisk’s Kingsley Greenland on climate risk, stress testing, catastrophe modeling, and macroeconomic policy.)

Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services

“Have you found yourself digging through loan files to find price concession records while an auditor awaits? Have you ever wondered if your margin is better or worse than your peers? Have you been looking for a way to track how competitive your pricing is, in real time? Optimal Blue, a division of Black Knight, offers data and analytics tools that provide this actionable business intelligence, and more! Our granular rate lock data provides key insights into your business, as well as benchmarking against 42% of all rate lock activity. Reach out to Optimal Blue now to learn how our data and analytics platform can help you develop smarter, more profitable pricing strategies!”

Beer – it’s not just for drinking anymore. In fact, beer is just one of many everyday items with multiple uses that would surprise you. Want another? Remote online notarization (RON) isn’t just for originations anymore. Recently, servicers have discovered the benefits of using RON for loan modifications, partial claims and even assumptions. On average, servicers reduced the average cycle time from 21 days down to 7 days. While we all know that time is money, the reduction in cycle time and carry costs resulted in a savings of about $500 per loan. In today’s environment where we all need to find savings to help improve our margins this is an easy way to get there. Email Suzanne Singer or stop by NotaryCam’s booth 22 at NS3 in St. Louis next week to learn more about the many uses of RON.

“No one does Non-QM like Newfi Wholesale! Our newly expanded Non-QM product suite offers 90% LTV up to $1.5M, loan amounts up to $4M, 2-1 buydowns, DSCR (no minimum ratio) 1-8 units, and alt-doc solutions that make sense for your borrowers. Most of all, we have a passion to close deals and about 1/3 of all of our funded Non-QM deals have common-sense exceptions! In the words of one of the brokers who work with us: “Looking for an amazing Non-QM lender? Newfi is your go-to lender.” We offer industry-leading Non-QM pricing, technology, and product innovation. For more information contact SVP, Non-QM Development & Strategy Dan Bayer or 925-584-0579.”

Tired of slow, low-quality appraisals? Try The Appraisal Marketplace. The Marketplace allows you to fulfill appraisal orders directly from your LOS, without relying on an AMC or managing a panel. Even better, by leveraging real-time appraiser performance data, its “Uber-style” algorithm matches every order with the appraiser that’s truly right for the job. This gives you the fastest turn times, lowest revision rates & lowest fee escalation rates in the industry. Seriously. Learn more.

“CWDL is committed to empowering our clients and friends with mortgage industry-specific education and insights, even when it’s outside of our core focus on audit, accounting, and tax. So, when our clients mentioned they’d like to better understand the perspectives of warehouse bankers and how they evaluate lenders, we organized a panel of industry veterans to share their insights. Join us for our webinar on June 15 to “Meet the Warehouse Bankers,” as we discuss such topics as when and how to best communicate with your warehouse partners; how warehouse banks evaluate counterparty risk in their clients; what lenders should consider or plan for regarding M&A, a winddown or facility consolidation; and much more. This webinar is free and open to all lenders who are looking for more insight into their warehouse relationships. To register, contact Kasey English.”

Agencies, Investors, Lenders, and Reverse Mortgage Biz

The last time I saw a stat, 10,000 people a day were turning 62. And a lot of them have equity in their houses. The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association points out that, “Homeowners 62 and older saw their housing wealth grow by 1.95 percent or $226 billion in the third quarter to a record $11.81 trillion from Q2 2022, according to the latest quarterly release of the NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index… The increase in older homeowners’ wealth was mainly driven by an estimated 1.95 percent or $268 billion increase in home values, offset by a 1.93 percent or $42 billion increase in senior-held mortgage debt.” So, if you’re looking for a growth business…

Need a Pre-Qual? Plaza’s Reverse Mortgage staff will run a complete analysis of your submitted information and send the findings back to you via e-mail, typically within a few hours. The analysis details available funds, interest rates, fees, and other loan information.

Plaza Home Mortgage posted Video Marketing to Seniors. And brokers can use Plaza’s Reverse Calculator to run scenarios and you’ll quickly and easily see how much borrowers could receive, no personal information required.

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation has had a reverse division for many years and has seen continued growth.

CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced that it is expanding its reverse mortgage division by making additional investments, resulting in what it calls “enhancements.” “Borrowers heading into retirement are seeking solutions that will benefit their future. CCM’s newly established Reverse One Team offers a specialized network of advisors and tools for loan officers to become certified specialists in originating reverse mortgage loans.”

Reverse training and certification programs among “forward” lenders are increasing. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. and Guaranteed Rate, for example, offer pathways within their organizations for forward professionals to become certified in reverse mortgages. Broker shops including C2 Financial also maintain a reverse training and certification program.

PHH Mortgage delivers for the entire mortgage lifecycle: non-delegated, best efforts, mandatory, bulk MSR, and reverse.

While bringing more forward specialists up-to-speed with reverse origination practices can certainly help to expand an LOs or lender’s business, it is well known that anyone interested in the business must be aware of some of the specific differences inherent in originating the product when compared with more traditional, forward mortgage options. And a solid month, volume-wise, might only be one or two loans.

Anyone interested should check out Reverse Mortgage Daily, and think about the use of video in their marketing and consulting with client’s families. “Homeowners aged 55 and over increasingly embrace online video as one of their preferred ways to research and discover information…68% of Baby Boomers use YouTube to watch videos. Half of them watch videos more than once per week, and they’re watching news, educational content, and DIY tutorials.”

Capital Markets: Housing Prices Ramping Up

The bad news is that mortgage applications continue to falter. The good news is that we finally had a little rally yesterday as bond markets responded to weekend news that President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. Rates had risen of late as fears of a U.S. default gained momentum. A default would force the Treasury Department to pay higher interest on its bonds to convince investors to stick around, with mortgage rates and other borrowing costs tending to follow Treasury rates.

In Federal Reserve news, New York Fed President Williams discussed inflation, the labor market, and the importance of price stability yesterday by saying, “Inflation remains too high, and high inflation is hardest on those who can least afford to pay higher prices for food, shelter, and transportation.” He explained that the U.S. is seeing signs of a gradual cooling in the labor market, along with a rebound in labor force participation. Still, unemployment nationally remains historically low, at 3.4 percent.

The first trading day of a shortened week was headlined by house price indexes. The FHFA Housing Price Index was up 0.6 percent in March after increasing a revised 0.7 percent in February. The index was up 4.3 percent year-over-year, with prices in many western states starting to decline for the first time in over ten years. The fastest growing states were South Carolina, North Carolina, Maine, Vermont, and Arkansas. The declining states included Utah, Nevada, California, Washington, and D.C. Separately, the Case-Shiller home price index rose 0.7 percent in March, suggesting that the decline in home prices that began in June 2022 may have come to an end. The S&P Case-Shiller 20-city Home Price Index was down 1.1 percent in March with big declines out West, and the Southeast remaining the country’s strongest region.

Today’s calendar kicked off with the usual mortgage applications from the MBA for the week ending May 26. Mortgage applications decreased 3.7 percent from one week earlier, with activity expected to decline again following last week’s increase in yields amid increasing odds of a 25 basis points hike at the June FOMC meeting. During the reporting period, 30-year mortgage rates hit new highs for the year and their highest since last November.

Later this morning brings Chicago PMI for May, Job openings from JOLTS for April, and Dallas Fed Texas services for May. Four Fed speakers are scheduled: Boston President Collins, Governor Bowman, Governor Jefferson, and Philadelphia President Harker. The latest Beige Book will be released in the afternoon ahead of the June 13/14 FOMC meeting. The rest of the week will be dominated by the jobs report on Friday, the last jobs report before the mid-June FOMC meeting. Fed funds futures currently see a 60 percent chance for another 25-basis point hike. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices better by .125-.250 and the 10-year yielding 3.65 after closing yesterday at 3.70 percent; 4.40 percent on the 2-year.

Employment and Transitions

“Are you an account executive looking to change it up!? Why not Kind Lending!? At Kind, our family of diverse and talented Kind Ambassadors are the driving force behind our new approach to the mortgage experience. We are focused on serving the broker community and their borrowers by providing an array of products, top-notch service by experienced and friendly professionals and superior resources to support their business model. Founded by Glenn Stearns in 2020, Kind Lending is one of the fastest growing mortgage lenders in the country, building partnerships with our customers, who ultimately become family and our reason why. At the heart of it all, our people believe kindness matters and a client’s positive experience is everything. Come grow with us! Contact Delfino Aguilar, SVP TPO Production (619.726.0377).”

Earlier this month Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) announced the winners of its Home Possible RISE Awards®. The annual program, RISE (Recognizing Individuals for Sustained Excellence), salutes Freddie Mac’s top clients across multiple categories for excellence with the Home Possible® mortgage, Freddie Mac’s affordable lending solution for very low- to low-income homebuyers. Hallmark Home Mortgage earned the Home Possible RISE Award for Greatest Volume. “I’m thrilled and honored that Hallmark Home Mortgage has been recognized with the Freddie Mac Home Possible Rise Award for the Greatest Volume in the Corporate Segment. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we are incredibly proud of this achievement,” noted Deborah Sturges, CEO & Founder Hallmark Home Mortgage.

Evergreen Home Loans™ adds to its awards line up. This year, the company placed on the Puget Sound Business Journal Corporate Philanthropy List for the third year in a row. It honors the region’s corporate philanthropists and companies who have made significant contributions to the community through philanthropic work. “We are committed to making a meaningful impact in our local communities,” said Don Burton, Founder and CEO of Evergreen Home Loans. “And we are humbled by the recognition for this award.” As loan officers, you already positively impact lives and communities… Continue to do so with a company that helps associates give back, provides paid hours for volunteer work, celebrates individual growth, and truly lives its unique and award-winning culture. Visit the Evergreen careers page to explore current opportunities.

Are you a loan officer or mortgage banker frustrated with the constraints of retail lending? Tired of competing against lower rates, fees and closing costs? Then now’s the time to take control of your pipeline and career by making the switch to wholesale lending as an independent mortgage broker. Whether you’re looking to open your own brokerage or join a team as a loan officer, you can get up and running without missing a beat with support from the team at BeAMortgageBroker.com. You have nothing to lose and only clients, greater flexibility and compensation to gain.

loanDepot, Inc. has promoted Alec Hanson to serve as its chief marketing officer (CMO). Hanson will “lead a consolidated marketing team, overseeing the development of brand, digital marketing, and organic and digital lead generation campaigns that drive awareness and revenue growth while differentiating loanDepot’s marketing engine as a competitive advantage for loan originators. Hanson will also be responsible for the company’s originator-led field-level marketing capabilities.”

 Download our mobile app to get alerts for Rob Chrisman’s Commentary.

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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One important distinction between advanced award travelers and those newer to the world of points and miles is how each group searches for award space.

Those with experience earning and burning points and miles will carefully study various partner award charts, looking at where to transfer their flexible points and what sweet spots they can utilize. Meanwhile, beginners may log into their United MileagePlus or American Airlines AAdvantage account, search for the destination they want to visit and book the first award they see regardless of price or convenience.

While anyone can accrue a good amount of points by earning welcome bonuses on top travel credit cards, this difference in redemption strategies is huge. Using the right partner program to book your award could save you as much as 50%, depending on the carrier and route.

With major programs switching to dynamic pricing and 500,000 miles for one-way business-class flights to Europe becoming increasingly common, it’s more important than ever to know the best ways to maximize your points and miles.

Today, we’ll look at some of the best value sweet spot award redemptions. While this list is not exhaustive, if you plan to travel to one of these destinations and have points at your disposal, these are surefire ways to get an excellent redemption value every time. If you’re new to the world of points and miles and any of these destinations interest you, you can use this as a road map to instant success.

ANA premium cabins to Japan with Virgin Atlantic points

Virgin Atlantic’s partner award chart for ANA is one of the best sweet spots out there. While availability can be hard to come by, and the first-class rates recently increased, this remains an incredible use of Virgin points.

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

The sweet spot

For this sweet spot, it’s important to know that the prices differ if you’re flying from the West Coast versus the central and eastern U.S. You can also book one-way flights for half the round-trip prices noted below.

VIRGIN FLYING CLUB

ANA’s new business class is called “The Room,” and its new first class is referred to as “The Suite.” Both are excellent products that we are big fans of here at TPG — and flying in either means you can visit the always-popular Japan.

You’re allowed an open-jaw routing as long as you stay within the same region of the U.S. (West or Central/East). This means you can mix and match airports wherever you find award space.

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For example, flying from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and then returning from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) would be a valid itinerary, costing only 95,000 points in business or 170,000 points in first class.

Availability can be scarce — you will have the best luck booking 12 months in advance (as soon as the seats are loaded) or last minute (less than 14 days before departure when unsold seats are often loaded for awards). Your best bet for finding availability is to search for it using the United MileagePlus website and call Virgin’s Flying Club to book.

Related: Feels like first class: Flying ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo

Earning Virgin Atlantic miles

Virgin Atlantic miles are among the easiest to earn. You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Flying Club. Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses from Amex or Citi that could drop your costs even further.

Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value

Iberia business class to Spain with Avios

Iberia Avios can unlock one of the cheapest ways to fly to Europe in business class.

CHRISTIAN KRAMER/THE POINTS GUY

The sweet spot

The key to this sweet spot is to fly a nonstop, Iberia-operated flight of 3,001 to 4,000 miles on off-peak dates (check Iberia’s peak and off-peak calendar). This is because Iberia uses a distance-based award chart for its flights.

IBERIA.COM

Iberia operates several transatlantic flights that fall into the 3,001- to 4,000-mile distance band. As such, you can book Iberia flights between the following city pairs for just 34,000 Avios, plus modest taxes and fees:

  • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD).
  • BOS to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
  • JFK to MAD.
  • JFK to BCN.
  • IAD to MAD.

While flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to MAD are slightly outside this range, they also price at 34,000 Avios one-way in business class.

Earning Avios

There are three primary ways for U.S.-based travelers to earn Iberia Avios:

Related: 4 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Iberia and British Airways

Qatar Airways Qsuite business class to the Middle East or Africa with AAdvantage miles

Qatar Airways has won numerous awards for its innovative Qsuite business-class product, regarded as one of the world’s best business-class experiences.

KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

The sweet spot

If you don’t live near a Qatar Airways gateway, you may be able to find an itinerary that allows you to connect domestically in the U.S. for the same cost.

You can search for award availability online, even if you don’t have the necessary miles. Just note that award space may be difficult to come by, so check back regularly if you can’t find flights on your desired route.

Earning AAdvantage miles

There are a few American Airlines cobranded cards you can use to quickly accrue AAdvantage miles.

The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 3:1 transfer ratio. Additionally, if you pay your rent with Bilt Rewards or spend on the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), you can transfer your points 1:1 to AAdvantage. Points transfer from Bilt to AAdvantage instantly.

Related: Best uses of American Airlines miles

Cathay Pacific business class to Asia or Africa with Alaska miles

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan used to be one of our favorite airline programs, as the program once offered some incredible award flight sweet spots. Sadly, Alaska has removed many of its award deals, but Cathay Pacific is one of the remaining Mileage Plan sweet spots that you should book before it disappears.

CATHAY PACIFIC

The sweet spot

Flying with Cathay Pacific from the West Coast to its Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) hub will cost 30,000 miles each way in economy. If you can find available seats in premium cabins (which is difficult), you’ll pay 50,000 miles per person in business class and 70,000 miles per person in first class.

You can also continue on to several points in Asia, such as various destinations in India and Dubai International Airport (DXB), paying just 50,000 miles per person for a one-way flight in economy. Expect to pay 62,500 miles for a one-way business-class ticket and 70,000 miles for a first-class ticket.

Unfortunately, Cathay Pacific’s premium cabin seats are extremely tough to find. If you find availability, we recommend booking immediately. If you need to cancel your ticket later, Alaska will redeposit the miles and refund the taxes and fees without penalty.

Earning Alaska miles

Alaska miles aren’t the easiest to earn, as they are not linked to any major transferable program. Thankfully, Alaska’s broad list of airline partners means you can earn when flying with many different airlines.

Alaska Airlines also has two cobranded credit cards with Bank of America.

  • Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card: Get a $100 statement credit, 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
  • Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card: Get 50,000 bonus miles, a $100 statement credit and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?

Short-haul flights on British Airways with Avios

With dynamic pricing in some programs showing up to 100,000 miles for a single flight in economy, British Airways is a good alternative. The Executive Club program offers low prices on short flights.

The sweet spot

British Airways only charges 4,750 Avios each way for off-peak flights it operates from London to destinations up to 600 miles away. This includes destinations in Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Italy. Taxes will set you back just $31 (this can vary depending on current exchange rates), though you also have the option to reduce this to $1 by redeeming 9,250 Avios.

BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM

Award flights include full-size cabin baggage and checked baggage.

Earning British Airways Avios

The easiest way to earn a meaningful number of Avios for everyday spending is by applying for the British Airways Visa Signature Card. You’ll earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.5 cents each, making the full bonus worth $1,125.

The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per dollar spent.

British Airways is also a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.

Points transfer from Capital One, Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

Related: 5 reasons why you should care about British Airways Avios

Air France-KLM Flying Blue promo awards

From paid ticket sales to redemption promotions, there are endless opportunities to book travel at a discount. However, few sales are as reliable as the Promo Rewards we see each month from Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

With Flying Blue adopting dynamic pricing with highly variable rates in all classes, this monthly offer is an excellent way to save on award travel.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The sweet spot

These monthly Promo Rewards regularly appear on the Flying Blue website and offer discounts on flights to and from select cities or region pairs. All discounts are only bookable through the end of the month, and there’s a set travel window.

Each month, the destinations, discounts and classes change, so keep an eye out for what is currently available. In the past, we have seen deals like:

  • 39,000 miles in business class from Miami International Airport (MIA) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), flying KLM.
  • 22,500 miles in premium economy class from IAD to Munich Airport (MUC), flying Air France.
  • 11,250 miles in economy from ORD to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), flying Air France.

Earning Flying Blue miles

Boosting your Flying Blue balance is easy since the program partners with all major transferable points currencies.

You can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.

Based on our tests, Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Citi transfers should post almost instantly. However, that wasn’t the case with our test transfer from Marriott, which took three days to arrive in our Flying Blue account.

Related: Is KLM premium economy worth it on the 787 Dreamliner?

Domestic United flights with Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles

United’s dynamic pricing means you won’t find a set price for flights booked via the MileagePlus program. However, when there is saver-level inventory (the X fare class for economy or the I fare class for business), Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles becomes one of the best options available.

DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY

The sweet spot

For any domestic flight in the U.S., including to or from Hawaii, Turkish requires just 7,500 miles each way in economy. If you’re lucky enough to find domestic first class, those award tickets only cost 12,500 miles each way.

For example, we found a round-trip ticket in economy from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hawaii’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) that only requires 15,000 Turkish miles plus $11.20 in taxes and fees.

TURKISHAIRLINES.COM

This exact same flight would be 25,800 United miles.

The key to this sweet spot is finding saver-level inventory. You can search for these fares on United.com, though note that award tickets in any fare class other than X for economy and I for business class are not bookable through partner programs.

Earning Turkish miles

Miles&Smiles partners with a trio of programs: Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Bilt Rewards. You can transfer rewards from any of these programs at a 1:1 ratio, and our tests indicate that transfers should process instantly.

Related: The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards

Bottom line

When it comes to making award reservations, you need certain stars to align. A little bit of flexibility is required to make the process run smoothly, and that might mean changing the dates of your trip a bit or opting for a destination with more plentiful award space. If these three things fall into place, you’ll have a solid award flight.

However, there’s a fourth element to the equation: value. If you can score one of the above sweet spots, you’re essentially guaranteed to get incredible value from your redemption.

Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh and Ethan Steinberg.

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.

See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Barndominiums have certainly come a long way since their introduction to the residential real estate market.

Today, these mostly rural residences that offer a combination shop and living quarters under one roof have gained in popularity, not only for their open floor plans, but also for their enormous spaces.

Often located on large parcels of land, the barn houses don’t have to be bland. In fact, we found five on the market that have raised the bar for both country style and ultraluxe add-ons.

Offering lots of space and less maintenance than a traditional home, the barndominium is now one of the hottest home styles on the market. Once considered an affordable alternative to conventional construction, many are now outfitted with luxury amenities.

From a resort-style home on 110 acres in Texas to a Colorado beauty with mountain views and a private airstrip, here are five luxurious barndominiums on the market that completely redefine the idea of country living.

Price: $659,900
Magnificent in Mississippi: This recently transformed home sits on just under 16 acres.

The four-bedroom barndominium was completed in December 2022. It boasts a great room with a gas fireplace, custom built-in shelves, wide-plank floors, and window walls to let the natural light soak in.

The stylish eat-in kitchen offers a huge island with seating, a walk-in pantry, and a gas cooktop. The primary suite on the main level features a soaking tub and shower. Three more bedrooms can be found upstairs, and there’s a covered patio out back.

The enormous workshop area can also accommodate two cars.

Sumrall, MS

(Realtor.com)

———

Price: $2,500,000
Extra-large living: This barndominium is proof that everything is bigger in Texas!

Sitting on 110 acres, the six-bedroom home boasts three entrances from the road, two full kitchens, and an outdoor oasis. With two separate entry doors, the residence could be used as two separate domiciles that connect through a hallway.

On one side, there’s a primary bedroom, living room, and kitchen with a butler’s pantry. The other side has a chef’s kitchen that opens to the pool area, a living room, two dining areas, and four bedrooms upstairs.

The separate, 2,400-square-foot shop has a full bathroom and can fit an RV.

The property includes an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, a pool and spa, and a fire pit.

Poolville, TX

———

Price: $779,900
Modern in Michigan: This expansive, five-bedroom home gives new meaning to open-concept living.

The 4,271 square feet of space boasts 18-foot-high ceilings, exposed beams, and a large loft. Sliding barn doors, oversized windows, and sliding glass doors can be found throughout the bright and airy space.

The two-story great room features a loft area and a wall of windows overlooking the backyard. The upscale kitchen boasts a walk-in pantry and two enormous islands, including one with a prep sink.

The primary suite is on the first floor and has a walk-in shower with dual rain showerheads and a soaking tub. A floating staircase from the living room leads to four more bedrooms. There’s an oversized garage and a separate shop area with a bathroom.

Built in 2021, this barndominium sits on a 21-acre wooded lot.

Burt, MI

(Realtor.com)

———

Price: $1,499,999
Take off in Colorado: This 7-acre property offers the opportunity to live, work, and fly.

The 6,744-square-foot barndominium comes with a private airstrip. The open floor plan features a spacious living room with a high ceiling and a gas fireplace. The bright kitchen is equipped with stainless-steel appliances, quartz countertops, and a large island with seating. The dining area is surrounded by windows overlooking the covered patio with a fire pit. There’s also a separate office area, and the recreation room has a wet bar and pool table.

The workshop includes a bathroom, infrared-ceiling heat, and five garage doors. The listing notes that its construction allows for a future conversion to an airplane hangar.

Montrose, CO

(Realtor.com)

———

Price: $1,500,000
Sweet country home: This 3,757-square-foot open floor plan features custom cabinets, copper sinks, and wood beams.

The enormous living area has a cathedral ceiling and abundant windows. The modern kitchen boasts four ovens, a granite-top island with a breakfast bar, and a farmhouse sink. The walk-in pantry has space for an additional fridge or freezer.

The primary bedroom has sliding barn doors with direct access to a covered patio. The en suite bathroom has a soaking tub and gas fireplace.

The oversized shop area comes with two overhead doors, plus an outdoor covered area. The price was recently reduced by $150,000.

The 19-acre picturesque property has a creek running through it and includes storage sheds and a fenced area for animals.

Nevada, TX

(Realtor.com)

Source: realtor.com

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What is the best Alaska cruise for couples? If I could only do one Alaska voyage with my spouse, I know which one I would pick: A seven-night sailing out of Juneau on one of UnCruise Adventures’ small ships.

I love the adventure focus of these tiny, no-frills ships, which hold fewer than 100 people and focus on getting travelers into remote parts of Southeast Alaska for hiking, kayaking, whale watching and other outdoorsy pursuits.

That said, an Alaska cruise with UnCruise (so named because its cruises are designed to not be like a typical cruise) isn’t for everyone.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

If your idea of the perfect couples cruise to Alaska is being pampered at every turn (and you’re not worried about your budget), you might want to sign up instead for a sailing with an ultra-luxury line such as Silversea Cruises, Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

If you’re looking for an Alaska cruise for couples that won’t break the bank, I’d probably steer you to one of the Holland America ships sailing north to Alaska out of Seattle.

In short, there’s no one answer to the question of what’s the best Alaska cruise for couples. Many cruise ships and itineraries could fit the bill, depending on your vacation preferences.

Here we list our top picks for the best Alaska cruises for couples.

An off-the-beaten-path Alaska adventure with UnCruise

UnCruise Adventures operates active trips in Alaska on small vessels, such as Wilderness Adventurer. UNCRUISE ADVENTURES

You’ve probably never heard of UnCruise Adventures. It’s such a tiny brand that all the customers who sail the line in a year probably wouldn’t fill a single giant Royal Caribbean ship. But if you’re a couple looking to get off the beaten path in Alaska for adventure, it’s the ship-based travel company you want to get to know.

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Specializing in Alaska trips, UnCruise operates a fleet of super-tiny vessels — the biggest carries just 86 people — that are so small they can go to remote, outdoorsy parts of Southeast Alaska that no big ship could visit. We’re talking tiny bays surrounded by miles of forests where you’ll be the only ones around. Or a tiny native settlement that is home to just hundreds of people.

The main focus of UnCruise sailings in Alaska is the Great Outdoors. The company is known for trips into wilderness areas of Southeast Alaska, where passengers can enjoy hiking, kayaking and wildlife-watching. You’ll go days without seeing anyone else but the handful of people on your vessel.

On an UnCruise Adventures trip, the vessel serves as a floating adventure platform that can get you into the most remote areas in a small-group setting. The vessels carry skiffs for exploring and landings, kayaks, paddleboards and other adventure toys.

Related: The 18 best small cruise vessels sailing the world

Just don’t expect anything too fancy. UnCruise vessels are comfortable but no-frills. Many were built decades ago when cruise vessels were more spartan. On most of the vessels, you’ll find a single casual dining area, a lounge that doubles as a bar and basic cabins. That’s it. What you’re paying for is where the ship can get you and the adventure of it all.

By their very nature, these are trips that mostly cater to couples. In fact, because of the adventure focus of the daily activities, the line restricts children on board to those at least 8 years old. The small vessels also do not have any family-focused attractions on board like you’d find on bigger cruise ships.

Note that UnCruise Adventures’ nine small vessels break down roughly into two categories. Ships with Wilderness in their names are more no-frills and described as expedition vessels; those with Safari in their names are higher-end and touted as boutique yachts. My favorites are the Wilderness vessels, which are less pricey, on average. But to each his own.

A luxury Alaska trip with Silversea Cruises

An artist’s rendering of Silver Nova, which will sail to Alaska in 2024. SILVERSEA CRUISES

Couples who want the ultimate in pampering when exploring The Last Frontier — and for whom money is no object — might want to look at an Alaska cruise on one of several ultra-luxury ships that sail regularly to Alaska. They cater mostly to older couples and solo travelers and draw relatively few families, though you do sometimes find some children on board.

Silversea Cruises is the leader in this market, with two ships sailing to Alaska in any given year. For the 2023 season, the line is sending one of its newer ships, the 596-passenger Silver Muse and the older, 382-passenger Silver Whisper to Alaska. But in 2024, it’ll swap in its newest, snazziest vessel, the 728-passenger Silver Nova, for Silver Whisper. That’ll give it the most modern fleet of luxury ships in the state.

Other ultra-luxury lines that operate in Alaska are Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Scenic Luxury Cruises, each of which sends one vessel to the state for all or at least part of the summer season.

Related: The 8 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

What all three of the Silversea ships that will sail in Alaska over the next two years have in common is that they offer large, elegant and supremely comfortable suites (and every cabin is a suite on these ships); pampering service (that fancy suite comes with its very own butler); and gourmet cuisine of the sort you find at the finer restaurants in big cities.

Among the standout dining options on board is the modern French eatery La Dame, which offers a Michelin star-style evening that showcases ingredients like France’s sublime Limousin beef, presented with a flourish. The Atlantide restaurant offers such delicacies as caviar and lobster presented beautifully and at no extra cost.

Or if you want to have caviar in bed, your butler will only be too happy to arrange it — and will deliver it with white gloves and in full tuxedo tails.

In short, think of these ships as floating Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton hotels. They offer those sorts of lodging experiences with the pricing to match.

A low-cost sailing from Seattle with Holland America

Holland America’s 2,104-passenger Eurodam sails to Alaska. HOLLAND AMERICA

Looking for the best cruises to Alaska for couples on a budget? My picks are the seven-night sailings to the state that Holland America offers out of Seattle.

Often, the lowest starting prices for any cruise to Alaska are these sailings, both on an absolute and per-day basis.

For the 2023 season, for instance, many Holland America sailings to Alaska from Seattle are available for under $750 per person for seven nights, as of this guide’s posting. I even found some as low as $429 per person for a weeklong cruise.

That’s even lower than the typical starting prices for Alaska voyages offered by Carnival Cruise Line, which is the low-cost leader for sailings out of most U.S. ports. When I was pricing voyages for this story, I found few Carnival sailings available for under $750 per person, with most Carnival sailings starting around $800 per person or more for seven nights.

Related: The ultimate Alaska cruise guide

With a history in Alaska that goes back more than 70 years, Holland America is one of the longtime leaders in cruises to the state (along with its sister brand, Princess Cruises), and its target market is couples (skewing to the older side, with lots of retirees) rather than families.

Holland America bases two ships in Seattle for cruises to Alaska: the 2,104-passenger Eurodam and 1,964-passenger Westerdam.

A land-and-sea hybrid trip with Princess Cruises

Majestic Princess in Glacier Bay. PRINCESS CRUISES

If you’re a couple looking to see more of Alaska than its coastal areas, a hybrid trip combining a cruise with a multi-day land tour to inland areas is your best bet. These “cruisetours” are a specialty of Princess Cruises, as well as its sister company Holland America.

Princess has particularly robust offerings when it comes to such trips because it operates five wilderness resorts in Alaska that it incorporates into its itineraries. The resorts are spread across such iconic inland destinations as Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula.

Princess also has its own fleet of buses and rail cars to take you from its ships to its resorts, with all such transportation included in its packages.

The line sells 24 cruisetour itineraries that add three to 10 nights of land touring to a seven-night cruise. The options include Denali National Park-focused “Denali Explorer” routings that include a seven-night cruise; a scenic train ride to Denali National Park; two to four nights at a Princess lodge at Denali National Park; and an additional one or two nights in Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska, or both. These trips range from 10 to 13 nights in total.

In addition, Princess offers longer and more far-ranging “Off the Beaten Path” routings that add nights at the remote Copper River Princess Lodge in eastern Alaska near Wrangell-St. Elias National Park or the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge on the Kenai Peninsula. These trips range from 13 to 15 nights in total.

Even longer “Connoisseur” cruisetours combine stays at up to five Princess lodges in multiple locations around the state and last up to 17 nights.

Related: The coolest things to do on an Alaska cruise

All cruisetours are offered in conjunction with one-way voyages between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Alaska — something that Princess offers in abundance each summer during the short Alaska cruise season.

Many of the ships that sail on such itineraries have permission to visit Glacier Bay National Park, a highlight of any Alaska trip. Princess takes more guests to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line, as 74% of all its itineraries include a visit to the park.

A more in-depth Alaska escape with Viking

Viking Star will sail in Alaska starting in 2025. VIKING

For couples looking for a more in-depth exploration of Alaska’s coastal areas than most lines offer, Viking may be the perfect choice. A relative newcomer to Alaska sailings, the upscale cruise brand operates longer Alaska sailings than is the norm, with every one of its Alaska departures lasting at least 10 nights.

The longer sailings allow for calls in a broader mix of coastal Alaska towns than you’ll find on the seven-night itineraries that are more typical for cruises to Alaska. In addition to stops at classic Southeast Alaska cruise destinations such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Viking’s 10-night Alaska itineraries include a visit to Valdez, Alaska — a less touristy coastal town known for its fishing boat fleet that’s home to fewer than 4,000 people — and a cruise into little-visited Yakutat Bay.

Most Viking sailings to Alaska also begin or end with an overnight call in Anchorage, which is too far north for ships on seven-night Alaska itineraries from Seattle and Vancouver to reach. Passengers can visit attractions in and around the city that they couldn’t see on the sailings offered by almost every other line.

Viking, notably, offers included-in-the-fare tours in every one of these ports, allowing every passenger on board to get a guided experience during stops without paying extra. (Generally, Viking voyages are highly inclusive, keeping with its “no nickel-and-diming” philosophy.)

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise

On board, Viking’s programming revolves heavily around what the line calls “cultural enrichment” — lectures by experts on topics related to the places its ships visit (in this case, Alaska), as well as cultural and culinary offerings that often have a local tie-in.

Indeed, Viking is known for catering specifically to a certain type of thoughtful, inquisitive, generally older traveler who is as interested in learning while on vacation as being pampered. Agewise, its sweet spot is travelers (mostly couples) who range from 55 to 75 years in age. So, if you’re on the younger side, this might not be the perfect couples cruise for you.

What Viking ships don’t offer is a lot of onboard amusements aimed at families and younger travelers. In fact, the line doesn’t even allow children under the age of 18 on its ships. It’s one of the only major cruise brands in the world with such a rule. That makes it by definition a cruise line for couples as well as some solo travelers.

For 2023 and 2024, Viking will base one ship in Alaska during the summer (the 930-passenger Viking Orion), but it’ll expand in 2025 with a second vessel (the 930-passenger Viking Sea). In addition to 10-night sailings to Alaska, the ships occasionally offer longer, 22-night sailings that extend beyond Alaska all the way to Japan.

Bottom line

More than a dozen major cruise lines operate Alaska cruises during the spring, summer and fall, giving couples wanting to explore the state on a cruise a wide range of choices.

What is the best Alaska cruise for couples? There is no one right answer. It’s defined by your personal interests and travel style, with the best Alaska cruise for you and your companion depending on how much adventure you prefer on a vacation, how much luxury you require, your budget and more.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Many airlines, hotels, theme parks and cruise lines pay year-round tribute to those who serve our country with various discounts and benefits. Sometimes these deals are available only to active-duty military personnel, and sometimes the perks extend to U.S. military veterans and their families as well.

Related: The best credit cards for active-duty military members: Get waived annual fees

No matter the form these travel benefits take, they all reflect the gratitude the travel industry feels toward those who have sacrificed so much to protect our country.

Here are the perks that military members can take advantage of on their travels.

Military hotel discounts

GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER/MARRIOTT.COM

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy and its many brands have discounted federal, state and local government rates available to government and military personnel. To access the discounted rates, choose the “Government & Military” option from the “Special Rates” drop-down menu when searching for a stay. You’ll get a list of all the Marriott Bonvoy properties in your chosen city that offer special rates and their eligibility requirements.

Hilton

Federal and U.S. military employees are eligible for military rates and discounts at participating Hilton properties. When searching for rooms online, check the box labeled “Government/Military Rates” to see the applicable rates. Plus, there’s a discount on leisure stays for active and retired military members and their families at participating hotels and resorts (though the rate is not valid for official government or military travel).

Best Western

Best Western properties across the U.S. offer discounted rates for veterans, military members and government personnel.

Plus, Best Western’s Service Rewards Program — the hotel chain’s award program tailored to members of the military and armed forces — unlocks even more member benefits, including an automatic upgrade to Gold status and bonus points on qualified stays.

Hyatt

Veterans, active-duty members and their immediate family members are eligible for a discount of 10%-15% off Hyatt’s standard rate at participating hotels. To get the discount, use the offer code MILVET while booking.

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Wyndham

Participating Wyndham properties offer discounts of up to 15% off their best available rate to active and retired military personnel, veterans and their families. Plus, qualifying military personnel and their spouses get automatic Gold-level status when they enroll in the Wyndham Rewards program and bonus Wyndham Rewards points for qualified stays.

B Hotels & Resorts

To honor military members, B Hotels & Resorts is offering an exclusive “B Saluted” discount of 15% off regular rates and two welcome drinks per stay to military members, veterans and their families. B Hotels & Resorts has locations in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Marathon, Florida.

IHG

The hotel chain behind such brands as InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton and others offers a “Military Leisure Rate” at participating locations across the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America. It applies to active-duty military personnel, veterans, retired military personnel and their families.

Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels — which includes brands such as Comfort, Sleep Inn and Quality Inn — extends a discounted rate for official and leisure travel to active-duty and retired military personnel, their dependents and members of several military associations. Plus, active-duty military members, veterans and military spouses are eligible to join the Choice Privileges rewards program at the Lifetime Gold Elite level and receive a bonus 2,500 Choice Privileges rewards points after your first qualifying stay.

Motel 6

Motel 6, along with its sister extended-stay brand Studio 6, offers active and retired military personnel and their families a discount of 10% off standard rates.

Red Roof

Active-duty military personnel and veterans — in addition to government employees — are eligible for a 10% discount on official travel at any U.S. Red Roof location. The hotel chain also has a 10% discount on leisure travel for all government employees and military members, veterans and retirees.

Military airline benefits

BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES

Southwest Airlines

There are special fares for military and government travelers, but you must call the airline to book them. Additionally, military members traveling on active duty (in or out of uniform) can board between the A and B groups and are exempt from the limit of two pieces of checked baggage.

American Airlines

American Airlines offers government or military fares in some markets, while veterans and their families can access reduced fares by enrolling in the VetRewards program.

Active-duty military personnel are also allowed Group 1 boarding privileges; they can bring up to five free checked bags when traveling on orders and up to three free checked bags for leisure travel (weight restrictions apply).

U.S. military personnel traveling in uniform on a same-day American flight can enter Admirals Club lounges with their immediate family — defined as a spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 — or up to two guests at most Admirals Club locations except for Airspace Lounge at San Diego International Airport (SAN) and JAL Sakura Lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

Delta Air Lines

Active-duty U.S. service members can call Delta Reservations at 800-221-1212 for discounted fares unavailable to the general public. Delta also offers priority boarding and free checked baggage to active-duty military members. How many bags you are allowed is based on the type of travel and fare type, and you must adhere to the specified size and weight restrictions for baggage.

United Airlines

United offers an additional checked baggage allowance and United Club access to active-duty military members traveling on official orders (immediate family may access the lounge, too). U.S. military veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members and their families are also eligible for a 5% discount on United-operated flights through the Veterans Advantage program.

Alaska Airlines

In some markets, Alaska Airlines offers military fares to active-duty military personnel and their dependents when you call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522 to purchase your tickets. Active-duty U.S. military personnel can board early, check up to five bags for free, receive 15% off inflight food purchases and receive complimentary day passes to visit an Alaska Lounge when traveling in uniform. All other active-duty military personnel can purchase a discounted day pass for $30. Flight discounts are also available through Veterans Advantage.

JetBlue

Active-duty military personnel not traveling on orders get a 5% discount off the base fare by calling 800-JETBLUE. In a separate offer, JetBlue offers a 5% discount to U.S. active-duty military members, retired military members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage. Those who enroll in Veterans Advantage also get two free checked bags for leisure trips and up to five when traveling on duty.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier typically charges for carry-on bags and checked baggage. However, active-duty armed forces, National Guard and Reserve members receive a free carry-on bag, two free checked bags and one free personal item. Note: These baggage waivers apply only to active-duty military personnel. Families or traveling companions are not eligible.

Allegiant Air

U.S. active-duty and reserve military members, military veterans, members of the National Guard and their dependents get up to two pieces of checked baggage for free through the Allegiant Honors program. Also, the airline waives its typical fees for oversized checked baggage, a carry-on bag, getting a boarding pass printed at the airport and seat assignments. Qualifying service members can also board their flights early.

Spirit Airlines

Active-duty U.S. military members can check two bags for free and bring a carry-on item on board their flight for free, in addition to the already free personal item.

Military train travel discounts

Amtrak

Active-duty U.S. military personnel, their spouses and their dependents are eligible for a 10% discount on the lowest available fare in select fare classes. During your ticket search on Fare Finder, select “Military” for each eligible passenger. Amtrak also welcomes uniformed military personnel to the front of the ticket line.

Brightline

Active-duty military members traveling in uniform can ride Brightline for free with a reservation. Visit a guest services counter at any Brightline station to receive the discount. Additionally, active-duty military members not traveling in uniform and veterans can receive a 10% discount on fares. Both discounts are for the Smart fare class and cannot be used for Premium fares.

Military theme park ticket discounts

DAVID ROARK/WALT DISNEY WORLD

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando is currently offering a Military Freedom Pass promotional ticket to all active-duty and retired service members. Ticket prices start at $199.99 for unlimited admission between now and Dec. 24, though blackout dates apply. Each eligible service member can purchase up to six promotional tickets, and they must buy them through a participating authorized military ticket and travel office.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood offers discounted tickets to active-duty and retired military personnel, 100% disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, active Guard and Reserve members, and the spouses and dependents of the people in these categories. Ticket prices vary based on date, and tickets must be purchased at participating military ticket offices.

Walt Disney World

Active and retired U.S. military personnel are eligible for discounted hotel rates and specially priced theme park tickets at Walt Disney World. Blackout dates apply. Hotel stays can be booked by calling 407-939-7830. Tickets must be purchased at a participating U.S. military base ticket office.

Disneyland

Disneyland honors active and retired U.S. military personnel with discounted three- and four-day Park Hopper tickets. The Disney Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket includes access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure each day of your ticket, excluding blackout dates. Pricing starts at $245, and you must purchase tickets at a participating U.S. military base ticket office. Hotel discounts are also available by calling 844-776-0015.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City offers a 30% ticket discount to U.S. active or retired military, veterans and military reservists, along with their spouses and dependent children (ages 4-17) living in their household. In addition to discounted tickets, Silver Dollar City invites all military members and veterans to help raise the American Flag during the park’s daily opening ceremony. Service members are also given a red, white and blue ribbon to wear during their time in the park, allowing employees and guests to thank them for their service.

Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks

Through the Waves of Honor program, all U.S. SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sesame Place parks offer discounted tickets to active-duty military members and veterans.

Dollywood

Dollywood offers discounted tickets stand annual passes to U.S. active or retired military, veterans, military reservists, spouses and dependents. The savings amounts to about 30% off the regular ticket price.

Military cruise benefits

DANNY LEHMAN/NORWEGIAN

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line shows its appreciation for active and retired armed forces members with discounted cruise rates, onboard credits and reduced deposits. Additionally, every Carnival sailing has a Heroes Tribute Lounge and holds a military appreciation gathering for service members and their families.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Military Appreciation Program extends exclusive benefits to military members, veterans and their spouses. Members of the program receive a 10% discount on all cruise fares.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line offers special rates to all military members, active and retired, as well as their spouses. Discounted rates are only available on select sailings, and prices start at $185 per person, based on double occupancy.

Margaritaville at Sea

Margaritaville at Sea honors active and veteran military members with a free two-night cruise through the Heroes Sail Free program. The offer is valid only for ocean-view and interior cabins, and you must be sailing with at least one paying guest in the same cabin. Taxes and fees still apply.

Celebrity Cruises

Active and retired military members can save $25 on inside and ocean-view cabins and $100 on veranda cabins and above on select sailings. This discount applies to the first and second guest in the cabin.

Princess Cruises

Veterans and active, retired and disabled military personnel can receive up to $250 free onboard spending money on select Princess sailings. You can use this onboard credit for specialty dining, onboard boutiques, shore excursions, spa treatments and more.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers military rates to active and retired personnel, veterans and their spouses. The discounted rates also apply to friends and family members staying in the same cabin as the eligible service member. The best way to access the discounted rate is by booking through a travel agent or booking directly with Royal Caribbean over the phone.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers discounted fares to all active and retired U.S. military personnel, plus family members traveling with them. You can receive a discount of 5% on interior and ocean-view cabins, 10% on balcony and suite cabins and a “kids sail free” promotion on select sailings.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways offers active and retired service members a special military discount of $100 off a river cruise when you use the code MIL100 at the time of booking.

Bottom line

A host of benefits await travelers who serve or have served in the U.S. military.

Because these benefits, their requirements and the eligibility of family, spouses and dependents vary, carefully research each military discount offer to avoid any surprises. Many airlines, hotels and other businesses might ask for proof of eligibility, so don’t leave home without the military ID, veteran ID, dependent ID, orders and/or other documentation you’ll need to take advantage of the many travel offers.

Related reading:

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

When flying to Europe, you may be considering flights on Lufthansa or Air France. Both international airlines are well-respected in the industry and offer unique experiences for passengers.

From a complimentary glass of champagne on Air France long-haul flights to Lufthansa’s first-class lounge rubber ducks, each airline offers special amenities. If you see flight options for both airlines, you may be wondering if you should choose Lufthansa versus Air France.

In this article, we’ll compare Lufthansa versus Air France based on:

  • Available destinations.

  • Co-branded credit cards.

  • Loyalty programs.

  • In-flight experience.

We compiled this information to help you decide which one, Lufthansa or Air France, is best for you.

Where they’re based and where they fly

Winner: Air France

When picking an airline, it’s important that it travels to a wide variety of destinations so you can use them over and over again. Flying the same airline repeatedly allows you to earn frequent flyer miles for future flights and credits toward elite status. Air France is the winner with more destinations and flights aboard its own planes.

Lufthansa

The airline offers more than 205 destinations worldwide with 5,200 weekly flights scheduled for summer 2023. Its primary hubs are Frankfurt and Munich, but it flies all over the world with its partners as a founding member of Star Alliance.

Air France

Air France operates 1,500 daily flights to 312 destinations in 116 countries. It is a SkyTeam member, which enables customers to book flights with its partners to fly to destinations worldwide. The airline’s primary hubs are in Paris and Amsterdam.

Travel credit card availability

Winner: Air France

Having an airline’s credit card enables travelers to earn extra miles and receive additional perks when flying on the airline.

When it comes to Air France versus Lufthansa, Air France has the more appealing travel credit card options with higher earning power and better cardholder perks.

Plus, it is a transfer partner of the multiple flexible points programs. This allows you to earn miles multiple ways, even if you don’t have the airline’s co-branded card.

Lufthansa

The Lufthansa Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® earns 2x miles per dollar on Lufthansa purchases and 1x miles on everything else, and cardholders can convert up to 25,000 miles into elite status miles at a 5:1 ratio.

For its $59 annual fee, it also includes two complimentary Lufthansa business class lounge vouchers and a companion ticket each year.

And don’t forget the welcome bonus:

Earn 60,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.

The downside is Lufthansa does not partner with any flexible points programs to convert points into its miles.

Air France

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® cardholders receive 3x miles on Air France purchases and 1.5x miles everywhere else. In exchange for the card’s $89 annual fee, you’ll receive 5,000 miles on your card anniversary as long as you spend at least $50 each year.

It, too, has a welcome bonus:

Get 50,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Plus, you’ll receive 60 XP toward elite status upon approval of your card application. Members can transfer points to Air France KLM Flying Blue from a number of programs, including:

Airline loyalty programs

Winner: Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Travelers earn miles for future flights based on their paid tickets, credit card usage and other activities with partners.

Additionally, they can achieve elite status by hitting certain milestones within the program. Ideally, a loyalty program is simple and straightforward to encourage members to earn and redeem miles on a regular basis.

Lufthansa is in the process of simplifying its loyalty program, and the changes won’t be implemented until January 2024. Air France currently has a better program that rewards travelers for their loyalty and makes it easy to redeem miles.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa is in the process of launching a new loyalty program that was announced in 2019.

The new program is scheduled for release in January 2024 offering a transparent point system and the ability to earn lifetime elite status. Changes are intended to eliminate complicated program components to make it easier for travelers to earn and redeem rewards in the future.

Additionally, members will automatically receive additional benefits as they reach milestones based on their annual flights.

Air France

Flying Blue is the combined loyalty program for Air France and KLM. The loyalty program makes it easy to redeem miles to book award tickets and offers a “miles & cash” option where you can pay up to 25% of your ticket with cash.

Flying Blue also offers monthly promo award flights where you can save up to 50% off award flights. There are four levels of elite status travelers can achieve based on their flights, credit card use and partner activities.

Winner: Air France

Airlines often charge fees when booking a flight with an agent, for checking luggage and other aspects of traveling.

When selecting an airline, you want one that does not charge a lot of extra fees that can increase the cost of your flight. Air France is our choice for fewer fees since it waives fees for telephone booking and online changes or refunds.

Lufthansa

Like many airlines, Lufthansa charges fees for many services when interacting with employees or making changes to flights. In some cases, rebooking or refunds are not allowed on lower-level tickets.

If you need to cancel or change your flight, you may have fees ranging from $250 to $1,000 per passenger plus any difference in fare. On the plus side, all passengers get at least one checked bag for free, even economy class tickets.

Air France

Air France waives many fees for booking, making changes or canceling flights when they’re made online or at airport kiosks. However, fees may apply on the day of departure or over the phone.

Most passengers get at least one checked bag for free. However, economy passengers may be charged on some flights. Travelers can save 20% on excess baggage fees by purchasing allowances online ahead of their flights.

In-flight experience

Winner: Tie

Both airlines offer premier travel experiences on the ground and in the air. Whether you’re flying Economy or upgrading to first class, you can’t go wrong when choosing between Lufthansa versus Air France.

Lufthansa

Economy class passengers receive complimentary meals, drinks and on-board entertainment with seats measuring over 16 inches wide (40 cm).

First class travelers enjoy access to personal assistants, first class lounges and limousine service from the lounge to the plane. Onboard, you’ll dine on culinary delights and fine wines from lie-flat seats that adjust to your comfort level.

The airline is launching an overhaul of its in-flight service known as Lufthansa Allegra. This redesign reimagines the in-flight experience from scratch with maximum privacy in mind.

Air France

Air France offers four levels of seats, ranging from economy to La Premiere First Class. Economy class seats differ slightly based on which region you’re traveling to, but all economy passengers have access to onboard entertainment and Wi-Fi.

In select cities, first class passengers traveling in La Premiere receive complimentary premium driver service to the airport, a private check-in lounge and a chauffeured ride to the aircraft.

Onboard, you’ll enjoy personalized staff service plus culinary meals in your private suite offering hotel-standard comfort.

Is Lufthansa better than Air France?

In the competition of Lufthansa versus Air France, there’s a clear winner: Air France.

While both airlines are part of alliances, Air France flies to more destinations with more daily flights. Each airline has its own credit card, but the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has higher earning power and only Air France partners with other cards for points transfers.

Lufthansa is in the process of streamlining its loyalty program, which illustrates how convoluted its current program is. Both airlines have high-end experiences at the airport and in-flight experiences, but Air France also has lower fees in common situations.

Overall, these two international airlines offer very different pros and cons. Air France is our choice between Lufthansa versus Air France. However, the best one for you depends on where you live, where you want to fly and your travel preferences.

(Top photo courtesy of Air France)

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 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most rewarding of Southwest Airlines’ personal credit cards, offering a $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. With a healthy sign-up bonus and the most benefits of any of the airline’s offerings, this is the card to get if you’re a Southwest loyalist. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Southwest Airlines has a legion of fans — largely due to its flexible change/cancellation policies and offering two free checked bags for all passengers. Unlike other airlines, Southwest doesn’t offer lounges, premium cabins or even seating with extra legroom. But it does offer a full suite of cobranded credit cards to help frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest travel goals.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal credit card in the Southwest lineup. It offers hundreds of dollars in value with Southwest each year, and its current sign-up bonus offers a healthy point bonus.

But are its benefits valuable enough to warrant the $149 annual fee? And is now the right time for you to apply? Let’s find out.

OWEN CL/UNSPLASH

Southwest Priority Card Welcome offer

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents each, meaning 60,000 points are worth $900.

This is the first time Southwest has offered a promo code as part of a sign-up bonus on a credit card. The code will appear directly in your Southwest.com account within eight weeks of meeting the spending requirement. It can be used — only once — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare, and is available for use until October 31, 2024.

Given it is a single-use promo code, it would be best to save this for a more expensive ticket. You’ll get the biggest savings when using the code for round-trip travel and/or during peak travel periods like the summer or the holidays.

Note that the welcome bonus will count toward earning the carrier’s venerated Companion Pass, which typically requires 135,000 points in a calendar year.

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Related: 13 lessons from 13 years’ worth of Southwest Companion Passes

All Southwest cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months (from all banks, not just Chase), you may not be approved. Also, you can’t open a new personal Southwest card if you currently have one open or if you earned a sign-up bonus in the past 24 months on any personal Southwest card.

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

Earning points with the Southwest Priority Card

Here’s what you’ll earn with the Southwest Priority card:

  • 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases.
  • 2 points per dollar spent with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
  • 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare apps.
  • 2 points per dollar on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming.
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

This is a wide variety of bonus categories compared to other airline credit cards, though top travel cards are typically even more lucrative.

Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming points with the Southwest Priority Card

Redeeming points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is very straightforward. Southwest award prices are directly tied to the cash value of the ticket, meaning the number of points you need for a flight will fluctuate, but you’ll rarely encounter times when you can’t use your points. Plus, if your plans change, you can redeposit your award without penalty.

While Southwest’s Rapid Rewards points won’t help you fly in first-class suites, they can provide great value. For instance, you can fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago-Midway (MDW) for just 8,091 points one-way, depending on the time of year. Meanwhile, other airlines often charge 10,000 miles or even more (assuming you can find availability).

SOUTHWEST.COM

If you book during one of Southwest’s flash sales, you could score awards for less than 2,500 points one-way. You can even fly to fun faraway destinations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico with your Southwest points.

Southwest Rapid Rapid Rewards Priority benefits

The Southwest Priority card offers the following benefits:

  • Anniversary bonus: Each year on your card-opening anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, worth about $112, based on TPG’s valuations.
  • Annual Southwest travel credit: During each cardmember year, you’ll receive a $75 travel credit that can be used on most Southwest purchases, including tickets (but excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases), dropping the card’s actual cost to $74.
  • 25% inflight savings: Receive 25% back (as a statement credit) after you use your card to purchase inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies.
  • Tier qualifying points boost: Earn 1,500 TQPs that count toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for each $10,000 you spend in a calendar year.

In addition to the Southwest-specific benefits, the card comes with lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection. The card has no foreign transaction fees, and the annual fee is $149.

Which cards compete with the Southwest Priority Card?

Southwest Airlines currently offers three personal cards — all with the same sign-up bonus. Thus, it can be difficult to choose the right one.

  • If you want Southwest benefits with a more modest fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has the same welcome bonus but extra perks to justify its $99 annual fee. These include 6,000 anniversary bonus points, 2 EarlyBird check-ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases and 1,500 TQPs towards A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card. For more details, read our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
  • If you want a Southwest card with an even lower annual fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has a $69 annual fee and an anniversary bonus of 3,000 points. You’ll also receive 2 EarlyBird check-ins every card anniversary. For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
  • If you want points you can use with Southwest and other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer 1:1 to Southwest — as well as a wide range of airlines — for making flight redemptions. You’ll get numerous travel protections, a $50 annual hotel credit and robust earning categories, and the card has a $95 annual fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

For more options, check out our full list of travel credit cards.

Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier, and Plus Credit Cards

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card worth it?

If you fly Southwest at least a few times each year, you will come out ahead with the Southwest Priority Credit Card. The card’s everyday earning rates aren’t the most lucrative out there, but impressive built-in perks like upgraded boardings, a $75 annual travel credit and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus easily make up for it.

Bottom line

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most rewarding of Southwest Airlines’ personal credit cards, with a solid sign-up bonus and the most benefits of any of the airline’s offerings. If you fly Southwest often, it’s the card for you.

Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Benét J. Wilson, Jennifer Yellin, Joseph Hostetler, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.

Source: thepointsguy.com