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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.Now is a pretty sweet time to have a Mastercard.Following the recent roll-out of “tap-and-go” contactless subway turnstiles in New York City, Mastercard is introducing Fareback Fridays — a program that will refund passengers for their trips every Friday in June and July if they use their contactless Mastercard method of payment at the subway turnstiles....

Still feeling FOMO from missing our last reader event in Seattle? Can’t make it to Chicago? Well, fear not. Because on Tuesday, August 20, we’re inviting you to come chat, wine and dine with us at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta!We at TPG make it a priority to engage with our readers. Whether we’re discussing points & miles strategy with you on Instagram, sharing stories from the road in our TPG Lounge Facebook group, or even just replying to your questions in the comments section of our articles — our relationship with you inspires us to keep on producing what our readers want....

[tpg_rating tpg-rating-score=“79” ground-experience=“4” cabin-seat=“21” amens-ife=“13” food-bev=“22” service=“19” pros=“Brand-new plane, food that was better than expected and plentiful IFE options.” cons=“Lengthy check-in process.” /]As The Points Guy himself likes to say, Christmas Day is the best day to travel: cheaper tickets, shorter lines, fewer crowds. With this conventional wisdom in mind, I booked a trip to Israel, departing on Christmas Day – just another day for a Jewish gal like me. Turns out, though, a lot of other folks had the same idea, so my dream of a stress-free airport experience were quickly dashed....

Norwegian Air Shuttle’s Dreamliners are continuing to be a nightmare for the low-cost airline. Norwegian operates an all-Dreamliner fleet for its long-haul flights, and that fleet has been plagued with groundings for more than a year. This is either part of a planned upgrade or due to Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues, depending on what source you believe.Either way, since March 2018, Norwegian has relied on wet-leasing aircraft to operate long-haul flights....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.When I think of Vienna, I think of luxury, history, sophistication, culture, flair and, of course, the Christmas markets. After a recent winter stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna, I’m confident that those same terms can be used to describe the hotel itself. The Park Hyatt is in the heart of Vienna on the historic Am Hof Square and has managed to combine history with modern conveniences in a seamless but luxurious way....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Earning points via the traditional method (actually staying in hotels) is just one way to work toward your next free night. Fortunately, hotels make it relatively easy to accrue rewards without traveling, whether through top credit card offers or by utilizing shopping portals and dining reward programs. You can also purchase points directly from the hotel.This week, Club Carlson launched a compelling new buy points promotion....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.We tend to get excited whenever an airline announces a record-breaking flight. But when the former champion makes a much-anticipated return? That’s cause for celebration, and a race to book seats on the inaugural flight. That’s exactly what’ll happen on October 11, when Singapore Airlines re-launches SQ22 from Singapore (SIN) to Newark (EWR) — clocking in at nearly 19 hours from gate to gate....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.TPG reader Gregory asks a simple but very interesting question when it comes to getting the most value out of your hotel stays:“What is better/more valuable: to get 10% off virtually every booking at hotels.com (aka “free 11th night”) or collect points through hotel chain loyalty programs?“What Gregory’s question really boils down to is what kind of value you’re looking to draw from your hotel bookings....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Backpackers aim to make the experience of flying tolerable rather than going for luxury, but that doesn’t mean we are opposed to traveling in style — as long as it doesn’t cost us extra money or points. VIP Lounges and even lie-flat seats are possible. Here are some tips for flying like a high roller without busting your bank account, part of our newly launched The Points & Miles Backpacker series....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.A great burger isn’t hard to find, especially in the United States. But a completely customized burger served at a private table inside the kitchen of a luxury hotel? That kind of exclusive experience is a little tougher to add to an itinerary.Fortunately, travelers heading to Colorado can find this secret burger spot hidden inside the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.TPG Twitter follower Antwoinne is turning 30 and wants to go to Paris:"@thepointsguy do you have any thoughts on best mileage usage to get to Paris on award travel early December? Last minute 30th birthday trip!“Without knowing exactly where Antwoinne is flying from and what class of service he’s interested in, I do have a few different options and suggestions for him....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here: Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MastercardTPG reader Matt emailed me for help making sense of his frequent flyer account:“In 2015, I earned over 27,000 Elite Qualifying Miles on American Airlines, but I don’t understand what that means in terms of redeeming for flights. What’s the difference between award miles and EQMs?“Loyalty programs use a lot of special lingo that takes some getting used to, especially if you’re new to award travel....

I get excited about all things aviation, like many TPG staffers and readers. So when I recently had the chance to fly a new airline for me — Denver Air Connection — from Denver (DEN) to Telluride (TEX), you can imagine how excited I was. Even more exciting is that the airline operates a fleet of Fairchild - Dornier 328JETs, a plane I’d never been on before.While I’ve already detailed my experience with Denver Air Connection and the impressive snack basket, the best part was flying the 328JET....

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.Consider yourself a daredevil? Well, it turns out, you don’t have to be King Kong (or Tom Cruise) to hang off the side of a famously tall historical landmark.Until June 11 — The Effiel Tower has installed a zip line on its second level that’s launching lucky tourists and thrill-seekers 2,626 feet across the Champ de Mars....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Rome, the Eternal City, is one of the most fashionable and historic places in the world. It attracts visitors from all over the globe and has some of the most notable attractions — like the Vatican and the Colosseum — plus outstanding food. The city also has numerous Airbnbs, varying in price and style. Below are some of the best for travelers looking to check the City of Seven Hills off their bucket list....

Here’s a recap of the top points and miles news from this week:Get 100,000 bonus miles for flights between the US and Asia on American Airlines.Reminder: AAdvange Members Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles For Asia Flights: American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles for taking a maximum of four eligible roundtrip flights on any of AA’s new non-stop routes between the US and Asia. Register prior to travel using promotion code ASIA2, purchase a qualifying First class, Business class or select Economy class fare ticket, and complete travel by December 6, 2014....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Today, TPG Senior Points & Miles Correspondent Jason Steele answers 8 questions about travel rewards credit cards that seem to always be on the minds of TPG readers (and in the TPG email inbox).Those of us who have been playing the points and miles game for a while tend to take travel rewards cards for granted. It’s easy to forget that when you’re just getting into award travel, you haven’t learned all the tricks of the trade....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.You don’t need to travel much or charge significant amounts to your credit cards to earn award flights; as TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Nick Ewen explains, there are several products that offer enough miles or points for a free flight just for meeting the bonus spending requirement.In this hobby, we constantly pursue freebies. Whether it’s first-class award tickets on world-renowned international carriers or luxurious hotel rooms for which we’d never pay cash, it’s always a rush when you can use your hard-earned points and miles for at least part of your trip....

Travel can have much more significance than just seeing new places. Last weekend, the TPG team and some special guests used travel for something much greater than simply seeing a new place — to bring good to Puerto Rico, an island devastated by Hurricane Maria. This trip had far greater meaning most trips that we’ve been on previously.We teamed with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (@seepuertorico) for a weekend filled with giving back, helping out and learning that the island is still there for tourists....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.As Hurricane Lane continues on its path toward Hawaii, the Category 3 storm has already pummeled the Big Island with more than 31 inches of rain. With things expected to get worse across the state, airlines are taking measures to cap fares, waive fees and change flight schedules.As of 12:00am Friday, the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture implemented new, temporary travel restrictions for all animals traveling to Hawaii — including service and emotional support animals....