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Southwest is reportedly one step closer to launching its long-awaited Hawaii service. According to an internal memo dated Dec. 21, 2018, and obtained by the Chicago Business Journal, the airline has received approval for one of its required authorizations.Southwest’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven said in the memo: “I am proud to report that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notified Southwest earlier today that the Extended Operations (ETOPS) procedures and manuals we submitted for review have been approved....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.TPG reader Jim wrote in with a short but important question about canceling rewards cards and what it means for your credit:“I just wanted your opinion on whether it is better to keep credit cards open once you have redeemed the rewards, or is it better to cancel them once you feel you won’t use them again?“There are a few things I always take into account (so to speak) when considering canceling a credit card....

Each Saturday, we round up the top miles, points and travel news that you might have missed on TPG this week. Here’s what you need to know:Here’s how Amex is getting more businesses to accept your credit cardsPhoto by Popartic/Getty ImagesAmex is offering significant financial incentives for some merchants.Fly BLADE from Miami airports directly to Miami BeachPhoto by Pola Damonte/Getty ImagesIf you’re over Miami’s insane traffic, now you can literally fly over it all — if you’re willing to shell out the cash....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.For this week’s Thursday Giveaway, we’re going to do things a little bit differently: TPG himself will be choosing the winner of a $500 Delta gift card through Snapchat!To enter the giveaway, follow TPG’s Snapchat account and send him fun snaps from your own travel adventures with @thepointsguy somewhere in the picture — the more creative, the better....

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.Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.In the past few months, Uber has continued extending its reach by adding new cities to its network, offering yacht rides to customers in Miami during Art Basel, boat service to customers in Istanbul and lowering the cost for users to travel from Newark International Airport (EWR) to surrounding locales, including Midtown Manhattan and Jersey City, by up to 50%....

[tpg_rating ticket-class=“business” tpg-rating-score=“69” ground-experience=“14” cabin-seat=“19” amens-ife=“9” food-bev=“16” service=“11” pros=“The quiet, modern A350 is a huge improvement over the previous aircraft serving this route; very good price in miles” cons=“No Wi-Fi, subpar JFK lounge, business class still without aisle access for all seats, many issues with the soft product” /]South African Airways just made a big improvement on its flagship route, the only nonstop service between New York and Johannesburg, by introducing the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 with a new business class....

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Airport Architecture (@airportarchitecture) on Apr 11, 2019 at 6:49am PDT View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram A post shared by Airport Architecture (@airportarchitecture) on Apr 11, 2019 at 6:49am PDT

Eurail, the European travel pass company, will take you to two new countries in 2020 – Estonia and Latvia. Eurail travelers can now visit a total of 33 countries, including all three of the Baltic countries — Lithuania is the third — via trains and ferries.In another upgrade for the new year, Eurail Pass travelers can now use both of the Thello train routes between Italy and France. Thello reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance....

The Italian island of Capri is famous for its dazzling blue grotto, designer boutiques and celebrity visitors, but — as is the case with Venice, the Cinque Terre and other famous travel destinations — its popularity is leading to problems with overtourism. According to The New York Times, 2.3 million tourists visit Capri annually and the island (home to just 15,000 residents) is struggling to manage all the trash they leave behind....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Here’s a look at the coolest new hotels opening around the world this month, including two major Hyatt releases and a pair of New York City newcomers.1. Grand Hyatt Baha MarLocation: Nassau, BahamasNumber of Rooms: 1,800Three Interesting Facts: 1. Yep, you read that right: 1,800 rooms. Of the three properties setting up shop at the beleaguered Baha Mar development, the Grand Hyatt is the largest....

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.Someone better call up Augustus Gloop. In what looks like a scene out of “Willy Wonka” gone wrong, 25 firefighters were called in to clean up a massive chocolate spill in the town of Westoennen, Germany.At around 8pm Monday, liquid chocolate began to pour out of the DreiMeister chocolate factory in the Werl suburb....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – View the current offers here.Despite several changes over the last year, Amtrak’s Guest Rewards program offers some great value. Now that Bank of America is offering a co-branded Amtrak credit card, you may be wondering whether it’s a good option for you. To help you decide, TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Nick Ewen takes a look at this product’s top perks....

Air France and KLM are considering adding service to one of partner Delta Air Lines growing number of focus cities in the U.S., as the carriers eye further growth across the North Atlantic.Atlanta-based Delta considers Austin (AUS), Cincinnati (CVG), Nashville (BNA), Raleigh/Durham (RDU), and San Jose (SJC) in California focus cities that complement its network of hubs. While the level of Delta operations varies across the five airports, each has a strong local economic environment that the airline sees as an opportunity for further investment....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.In all of its domestic routes by the end of September. In addition, it’s added basic economy on some international routes to Canada. Now, it’s expanding internationally even further — this time, to the south.An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed that the carrier will offer basic economy on the following Caribbean routes, effective immediately:Philadelphia (PHL) — Punta Cana (PUJ)Philadelphia (PHL) — St Maarten (SXM)Philadelphia (PHL) — Bermuda (BDA)Philadelphia (PHL) — Montego Bay (MBJ)Philadelphia (PHL) — Nassau (NAS)Philadelphia (PHL) — Aruba (AUA)In addition to the six new routes to the Caribbean from PHL, American is also launching basic economy on a few routes to Mexico....

Although it was one of the first airlines to introduce a true premium economy product, British Airways’ “World Traveller Plus” premium economy hasn’t aged well. Indeed, in my review of the product in 2018 on three different aircraft types, I dubbed the experience a “trifecta of mediocrity.“Now it looks like British Airways wants to change that. This week, it announced new improvements to its premium economy soft product to help it compete once again, and the first of these changes are being introduced in just a couple of weeks....

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.Cathay Pacific is finally seeing an increase in profit after two years of financial loss.The Hong Kong-based carrier said Wednesday that a preliminary review of the unaudited consolidated management accounts show profits for 2018 to be 2.3 billion HKD ($293 million USD)— a major increase compared to last year’s report....

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 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. However, if you’re using The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll need to book directly with the airline or through the Amex Travel portal to get 5x MR points....

What was supposed to be a simple transcontinental flight turned into more than 24 hours of hellish travel for Alaska Airlines passengers, including a diversion, backtracking and an overnight in an airport.Alaska flight 1367 was scheduled to departed from Boston-Logan (BOS) for Los Angeles International (LAX) on Saturday at 6pm. However the aircraft sat on the tarmac for nearly two hours until it took off with an “uncomfortably hot cabin,” reports the Seattle Times....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.We’ve long since believed that Taiwan-based EVA Air is the most overlooked transpacific business option, with outstanding service and solid reverse herringbone business-class seats on its 777s. Based on a new sizzle reel showcasing its upcoming Dreamliner business-class cabin, it’s apt to become a wee bit less overlooked.EVA Air has teamed up with the remarkable BMW Designworks to craft one of the slickest, modernized forward cabins we’ve seen in some while....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.A new year means new opportunities to maximize your credit card spending and the points and miles it offers. Today, TPG Special Contributor Eric Rosen shares his list of the New Year’s resolutions you should make to maximize your travel rewards credit cards in 2015.When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, most people vow to eat healthier, get more sleep, and make strides professionally....