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How would you like a steak dinner that makes New York’s Peter Luger Steak House seem like an overpriced deli? Or maybe you’d like to see a wildlife migration so incredible that Jane Goodall has flown in to see it more than a dozen times? You’ll find that steak dinner at Cattlemen’s in Oklahoma City, and you can see the annual migration of a half-million sandhill cranes in Nebraska.I’ve been to all 50 states, and I can honestly say that my favorite experiences have been in places like these — destinations that too many people write off as “flyover country....

The continuing issues with Air Canada and Aeroplan bookings after Air Canada’s backend system update have meant that customers trying to book award tickets, make seat changes or otherwise alter their reservations are still having trouble.One TPG reader reports that they purchased a ticket weeks prior via United’s website and are due to travel on Dec. 30. Despite weeks of attempts, the ability to purchase seat reservations on Air Canada’s website has not panned out....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.This week, the Department of Transportation released baggage fee revenue for Q3 2015. For the first quarter ever, baggage fees collected by US-based airlines topped $1 billion. The ~$1,018,892,000 in baggage fees collected during the quarter is more than a $59 million (6%) increase from the previous high-water mark set in the third quarter of 2014.Baggage fees by airline for 2015 Q1-Q3....

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) recently opened the airport’s first sensory room, a space designed for travelers with autism, sensory disorders and anxiety disorders. The inclusive space was launched as a partnership between the airport and Kulture City, a national non-profit organization based in Birmingham. The sensory room is now open and is available to any passenger who may need to use the space.The rope is cut to open the BHM Airport Sensory Room (Image courtesy of BHM Airport)The sensory room was designed and developed between the local branch of the Birmingham-based non-profit and the airport to showcase Birmingham as an inclusive city that can accommodate the needs of all travelers....

Gatwick vegans beware: British Transport Police (BTP) and the Home Office have made one of their largest busts yet, a huge effort to seize and identify unlabeled powder later tested to be — you guessed it — vegan cake ingredients.As a vehement steak lover, I owe the BTP a debt of gratitude for seizing the substance. All jokes aside, however, this comes as the latest in a trend of airport security officers searching food/food substances (especially in your carry-on bags) to ensure your snacks are just that — snacks....

A British couple intending to take a vacation in Ibiza, Spain realized that they had been scammed out of thousands of dollars when they arrived at their supposed Airbnb’s address to find that it did not exist.Ian and Denise Feltham had reserved a “VIP penthouse” in the Spanish holiday destination that promised features like a Turkish bath and a private elevator – and paid almost $12,000 for it.According to Fox News, the couple claimed that the listing they reserved had multiple positive reviews on Airbnb’s site, and that communication – at least in the beginning – was normal....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend that you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency, such as Orbitz, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking. Remember: Fares may disappear quickly, so book right away and take advantage of Orbitz’s courtesy cancellation if you’re unable to travel....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Want to see the latest flight deals as soon as they’re published? Follow The Points Guy on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to text message alerts from our deals feed, @tpg_alerts.Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency, such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking....

Airlines around the world launch and announce dozens of new flight routes and service changes every month. Today, we’ll share just a few of the latest flights that will take to the skies this month or in the near future. Keep in mind that exact flight details (like schedules and aircraft, among other things) may change.NEW ROUTES LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2018Singapore Airlines Launches New Longest Flight in the World Between Newark and Singapore (launched October 11)Would you want to fly that long from Newark to Singapore?...

Looking to book a summer vacation rental? If so, you may be able to pick up some Choice points along with your rental through Choice’s latest promotion. During this promotion, you can get 25,000 Choice points — which TPG’s latest valuation values at $150 — when you book a vacation rental reservation of three nights or more. You need to book by May 31, use the promo code SPRING25K and stay by Aug....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.TSA screeners have found many oddities and weapons in passengers’ luggage, but federal authorities were met with an explosive surprise at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Wednesday.Or, perhaps a surprise that used to be explosive. An inert (and for some reason, golden) grenade was detected by airport security in the checked bag of a Phoenix-bound man....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.A Southwest plane was swept by a hazmat team at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) Monday night after an unknown substance was discovered in the aircraft lavatory. The substance ended up being innocuous paper fibers from a tissue box....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.TO THE POINT: The St. Regis Princeville is a beautiful property on Kauai’s scenic northern shore, perfect for a relaxing vacation. The pros: great location overlooking Hanalei Bay, attentive staff, beautiful grounds. The cons: expensive redemption and cash rates, a long drive from the airport, feels somewhat outdated.The St. Regis Princeville is not only one of the nicest points properties in Kauai — it’s also arguably the most luxurious hotel on the island....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Today I want to share a story from TPG reader Mark, who booked a last-minute flight with miles he earned from an Alaska Airlines promotion. Here’s what he had to say:I wanted to thank you for helping me months before I knew I would ever need it! Last year, you posted an article about how Alaska was offering 10,000 miles essentially for free....

The Musée du Louvre is one of the biggest art museums in the world. With more than 35,000 pieces on display each day (which represents just over 10% of the entire collection), the Louvre is massive. And you’re not the only who wants to see all the famous — and not so famous — works of art the museum holds. The museum welcomes more than 10.2 million visitors per year — that’s almost five times the population of Paris....

Update: This offer is no longer available.Looking to boost your wallet’s cachet? There’s a card for that. And if you can’t qualify for the Centurion Card (or just can’t stomach the sky-high fees), that top-tier Amex product’s more mainstream counterpart, The Platinum Card® from American Express, is a worthy runner-up.For some, the card’s familiar platinum color is part of the appeal, but for a limited time, Amex is offering a special yellow version, too, apparently “designed” by Pharrell Williams....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.British Airways is a frustrating airline for mileage collectors. The Avios mileage currency can be great to utilize for partner flights, but the cost-prohibitive carrier surcharges on the airline’s own flights usually makes booking awards on BA a terrible value.But where the airline can come through for those of us looking for a deal is by providing solid discounts on revenue flights....

Marriott’s recent massive data breach is part of a larger series of cyberattacks committed by Chinese government hackers, officials briefed on the investigation say.The Marriott hack, in which the personal information of 500 million guests of the hotel’s Starwood chain was stolen over the course of four years, is part of a widespread effort of hackers experts believe are working on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security, which is the nation’s spy agency....

As the rampant violence in Mexico rages on, locals and tourists alike seem to be getting desensitized to some of the grisly scenes playing out across the nation.At least, that seems to be the case in one recent double homicide near a beach in Acapulco. On Thursday, two men were murdered in the tourist hotspot of Acapulco’s Caletilla Beach. The men were reportedly chased by a car into a crowd of tourists and gunned down, causing some initial panic on the beach, according to news....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Popular amongst service members and veterans from all branches, Navy Federal Credit Union has announced a limited-time summer bonus on the Navy Federal Go Rewards credit cards, available in both Visa Signature and MasterCard flavors. Let’s take a look at the cards’ features and decide if the product is something you should consider adding to your rewards portfolio over the next few months....