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8 Hacks for Scoring a Cheap Business Class Ticket

See recent posts by Alene Laney

Spacious seats, multi-course meals, priority boarding—what’s not to like about business class? The cost. Business class isn’t just double the cost of an economy ticket. It’s often five to eight times the price. You’re going to need some serious hacks to get the cheapest business class seat. 

We’ve got you covered. Take a look at these seriously smart ways of getting the cheapest business class seats available. 

Watch For a Great Deal on Google Flights or Skyscanner

Do your homework and watch prices for flights in business class instead of economy. If you know what a good price is on a business-class seat, you’ll know when a good deal floats your way. The numbers are going to be substantially different than an economy seat price. 

Be Flexible With Your Dates

If you leave your dates blank, you can see what days are cheapest to fly in both Google Flights and Skyscanner. In the example below, you can see how the price varies widely from $1,700 to $3,800 for a business class ticket from Denver to London. 

Related: American Airlines 777 300ER Business Class Review

Buy a Business Class Seat in a Package

You’d be surprised at the savings offered when you bundle a business class seat with a hotel. You can even hack it by only paying for a single night in a hotel. Take a look at these examples. 

You can buy a nonstop flight from Denver to London for $4,732 in business class. 

Or… you could bundle it with the cheapest hotel in London to save you $2,000. This is the exact same nonstop flight in business class.

Get Notifications From a Deal Alert Service for Cheap Cash Fares

One of the easiest ways to score a deal on a business class seat is to have someone else do the work for you. There are a number of services that do this, including:

• Airfare Watchdog
• Scott’s Cheap Flights 
• Dollar Flight Club
• Secret Flying
• The Flight Deal
• Thrifty Traveler
• And so many more

Redeem Points For an Upgraded Seat

Most airlines have a loyalty program where the cost of points for an upgraded ticket may offer a much better value than buying a cash fare on a business seat. 

This takes quite a bit of advance planning and knowledge, so it’s helpful to follow travel groups and websites specializing in credit card rewards. They make it easier than ever to start earning travel rewards and learn where the sweet spots are for redemptions. 

One helpful tool for finding great redemptions on business class is called AwardHacker . AwardHacker allows you to put in your destination and rewards program to see where the best redemption values are. Hint: Sometimes transferring to a partner airline can get you a MUCH better redemption. 

Here’s an example of a great redemption from Salt Lake City to Naples, Italy. 

Being able to transfer Membership Rewards from American Express (The green highlighted MR above) to ANA for a business class seat will help you make it happen.

Quick note: The search results aren’t as robust as they normally are with the reduced routes we’re still seeing from the fallout of COVID-19. 

Related: What Is Travel Hacking—and Should You Be Doing It?

See If Buying Points Makes Sense

Most airlines have a loyalty program where the cost of points for an upgraded ticket may offer a better value than buying a cash fare on a business seat. What’s even more shocking is there are instances where buying points will cost less than the cash price of a business-class seat. 

Let’s say you want to go to Bali. If you’re paying cash for a business seat, you’ll pay somewhere in this neighborhood. 

We chose Cathay Pacific on purpose as they are a transfer partner of Alaska Airlines. The strategy here is to use Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles to book business class seats on Cathay Pacific. You don’t have to have any Alaska Airlines miles—yet. If you do, great. If you don’t, you can buy them and still save a lot of money compared to the cash price. Alaska Airlines is well-known for its great redemption rates on business- and first-class seats, as well as reasonable purchase price for points. 

Here are the redemption rates for Alaska partner Cathay Pacific for a flight from Denver to Bali. For business class, you’ll need 100,000 points to redeem a round trip ticket to Bali. 

To buy these miles from Alaska, here’s what you’ll pay:

Buying miles from Alaska and redeeming for a business class fare to Bali will cost less than $3,000. Compare that to the $6,000 cash fare. That’s half price.

*Quick note: You will need to call reservations to book a Cathay Pacific award with Alaska miles. 

Related: 10 Ways to Get the Best Airplane Seat

Caution: Buying Miles For a Business-Class Seat Doesn’t Always Work

Be very careful using the strategy of buying miles instead of paying a cash fare. It doesn’t work well in many cases. In our previous example of flying from Denver to London, we would need 232,900 points to redeem for the direct United flight.

United sells miles in increments of 1,000 at $35. To cover nearly 233,000 miles, we would need 233 units of 1,000 miles for a total cost of $8,155 (233 x $35).

That’s terrible. This is what most websites talk about when they say it’s a bad idea to buy miles to redeem for travel.

Please, PLEASE don’t do this. It takes some knowledge, as well as trial and error, to find great redemptions in business class. 

Buying With Cash and Upgrading With Points

Many airlines have the option for buying with cash and upgrading with points. You just have to know where to look for this booking option. 

Using United as an example, you’ll want to click on advanced search. Then, you’ll see this screen where you have the option to either book with miles or money. You’ll also click whether you want to upgrade to a premium economy seat or a business-class seat.  

A little further down the page, you’ll also want to make sure to check the upgrade type to MileagePlus Upgrade Awards. 

Pro tip: You may want to find the cheapest day to fly before this step as the software won’t allow you to search for MileagePlus upgrade awards using the calendar feature. 

In this example, United allows us to buy an economy seat for $797. The upgrade cost is 20k miles and $550 each way. That’s $1,100 + $797= $1,897 which is less than the $2,637 in cash you would need to buy the business-class seat outright. 

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How to Hack Your Way Into Business Class Without Top-Tier Loyalty Status

M ost travelers are living in a tough reality: They don’t have top-tier airline loyalty status but long for all the benefits it provides – namely, business class upgrades. For the majority of us, business class is a word associated with privilege, reserved for those wealthy enough to afford it, or with business travelers who spend more time in the air than they do at home. As we hear the announcement boarding business class passengers and watch the lucky few strut onto the plane early, we think, “if only there was a shortcut to paradise.” Well, turns out there is.

But first, let’s start with some popular myths that people believe will get them upgraded but which will actually just get them laughed at behind closed doors by airline personnel.

How NOT to get into business class

There are all kinds of misconceptions swirling around how to snag a business class upgrade, ranging from dressing to the nines and charming a flight attendant to simply walking in like you own the place and requesting one. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as easy (or fun) as all that.

“The biggest misconception is that you can sweet-talk your way into a free upgrade at the gate, especially if it’s a special occasion like a honeymoon,” Nate LaFerle, a travel consultant with top airline status on multiple US airlines, tells Matador Network . “It’s very rare that gate agents have that kind of authority.”

He’s also heard of people simply moving into an empty business class seat mid-flight, as they would in economy, which is also a big no-no.

“There have been so many things posted on social media that are just laughable,” Dave Grossman, CEO and Founder of MilesTalk and Your Best Credit Cards , tells Matador Network . “Things that absolutely will not work include dressing up in your fanciest clothes or telling the gate agent that it’s your birthday or honeymoon (it’s especially funny when honeymooners try this on Hawai’i-bound flights where that is essentially half the plane). My absolute favorite is that if you just call up in advance and ask them to open a seat for you, they magically will just go ahead and do so.”

This woman on TikTok tried a version of that strategy, simply strolling up to the check-in counter and asking for a free upgrade. Needless to say it didn’t work, despite her admirable boldness.

@travellingwithmelanin Ask for a flight upgrade: DAY 9 😬 I need some more rejection ideas for London please! #rejectiontherapy #flight #flightupgrade #businessclass #firstclass #freeflightupgrades #travel #blackgirltravel #blackgirltraveltok #blacktiktok #traveltiktok #traveltok #rejectiontherapychallenge #rejection #fearofrejection #selfdevelopment #london #gatwickairport #fyp #personaldevelopment #exposuretherapy #personaldevelopmentjourney #personalgrowth #blackgirltraveltok ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Staff can’t just give away free upgrades with no reason behind it. “Airlines aim to maximize profits, the majority of which are generated by premium seating,” Robert Antolin, Head of Operations at App in the Air , a frequent flier travel app, tells Matador Network . “Airlines will only give up those seats to select passengers under specific circumstances – usually those who are loyal to the airline.”

There’s all kinds of misinformation out there promising “guaranteed” ways to score an upgrade. Unfortunately, they’re almost always not actually based in reality.

@cheapholidayexpert How to get a FREE flight upgrade – to BUSINESS CLASS ✈️ 👏 It may not be as easy as it was in the past but it’s still possible, as proven by the 50+ responses I got about how to get a flight upgrade for free – no money or points needed! There are even more flight upgrade hacks listed on my website – cheapholidayexpert.com – so go check out you already knew, or that you could try out in the future! 🤞 🗣 Drop your best flight upgrade tips in the comments! ♬ original sound – Cheap Holiday Expert

There’s no such thing as a guarantee in the world of airline upgrades, but you can give yourself better odds – or at least reduce the price a little – by following a few proven strategies.

Getting an upgrade without the status

Scoring an upgrade is mostly about reducing the cost however you can, rather than simply being gifted a business class seat for free. That means timing your ticket purchase, asking for discounted pricing, and knowing how to play within the airlines’ bidding systems.

“Many airlines offer the opportunity to bid on upgrades, and if premium seating remains available close to the flight date, airlines may offer the seats at a discounted rate due to dynamic pricing,” Antolin says.

Grossman echoes this idea. “More than 25 airlines offer a bid-in-advance system for international flights, while others will accept a stated price at the gate,” he tells Matador Network . “For some, you just have to ask. Obviously, some airlines have much stronger business class products than others, and those are going to be more in demand.”

Bidding on seats is like bidding on art at a silent auction. You may score a masterpiece for relatively cheap or you may come up completely empty, but you can’t win if you don’t play.

Also pay attention to “buy-up” options when you make the reservation.

“Most domestic airlines will offer ‘buy-up’ offers within your reservation based on unsold seats,” Grossman says. “So, perhaps that business class seat was $700, and you paid $199 for your economy seat. If the airline doesn’t expect to sell the seats, you may find an offer to upgrade for $200.”

Indeed, airlines want to sell their seats, meaning travelers can benefit from any business class seats still left unsold at the time of boarding. Grossman advises asking for discounted (not free) upgrades at the gate.

“Some airlines will offer upgrades at the gate for unsold business class seats,” he says. “This could be several hundred or over a thousand dollars based on the airline and route but always significantly less than if you purchased the ticket outright.”

Instead of asking for a free upgrade at the gate (per the failed attempt in the above video), ask for upgrade pricing. Worst case scenario: you get a somewhat discounted rate that you politely decline. Best case (yet extremely unlikely) scenario: you strike gold.

“I’ve never seen anybody ask for a free upgrade and get one, but you can ask for upgrade pricing at the gate, particularly for non-US airlines or ultra-low-cost carriers,” LaFerle says. “On several occasions the agent simply handed me a business-class ticket with a smile, but those flights tended to be empty, and this is always going to be the exception, and never the rule.”

If you have a truly flexible schedule, one of the best strategies to secure an upgrade is by volunteering to switch your flight.

“If your plane is overbooked and the airline is asking for volunteers to take a different flight, you can try to negotiate with the gate agent for premium perks,” Antolin recommends.

It might not be the most convenient option, but if the airline really needs people to volunteer, you’re in a great position for bargaining your way into business class.

Some airlines are easier than others

Not all airlines are created equal. Some have much steeper barriers to entry for business class upgrades while others make those upgrades a little more accessible.

“For domestic airlines, you pretty much have to buy it in advance if you don’t have elite status,” Grossman says. “Internationally, there are just so many ways to try and upgrade, but many flights won’t have any empty seats to even bid on.”

Domestic airlines seem to place a particularly high value on status, with upgrades to business class more difficult to come by for economy passengers who aren’t frequent flyers who have reached the upper tiers of airline loyalty.

“Delta is known for having more first-class seats per plane than others, so upgrades are relatively easier if you have high status,” LaFerle says. “Other airlines, like American, don’t sell upgrades during check-in, so even mid-tier status is more likely to result in an upgrade. United is known for both heavily monetizing its first-class seats through paid upgrades at check-in, as well as having a huge number of invitation-only Global Services and business travelers with top-tier 1K status. For this reason, if you don’t have the highest tier of status, you’re almost guaranteed to never see an upgrade.”

Internationally, things are a little different. The strategic use of miles and points can more reliably be used to snag yourself an affordable upgrade, with airlines like British Airways and Emirates putting business class within more tangible reach.

“On British Airways, it’s often possible to buy a Premium Economy seat and use Avios points to upgrade to Business,” Grossman says. “And on Emirates, if you have used miles to book into Business Class and there is a First Class seat (with use of an onboard shower!) available at the check in desk, you can snag it for just 39,000 miles from NY to Dubai. They will even wait while you transfer your credit card points in.”

What about all those unsold business class seats?

We’ve all walked through the plane, after the premium classes have already boarded, and noticed plenty of empty first and business class seats just waiting to be used. Why let them go to waste? Why doesn’t the airline give them away, or at least announce a discounted rate at the gate? According to LaFerle, there are two reasons this happens.

“The most common reason is to preserve the perception of premium value,” he says. “If travelers know seats are likely to be available for bargain prices, they’re less likely to pay for premium seats when they buy tickets. The other can be a surprise for travelers: sometimes it’s a matter of IT. Many large airlines run their operations off large, ancient mainframe systems that simply don’t have the capability to handle the cabin monetization at scale.”

The exclusivity explanation might sound infuriating, but it’s true. After all, if people knew they had a reasonably good shot of simply sliding into a free, unused business class seat, who would actually pay for a ticket? Like it or not, part of the mystique and allure of business class is its exclusivity.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Frequent Flyer Miles and How to Start Travel Hacking Like a Pro

Last Updated: September 20, 2023

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Accommodation and flights are the two most expensive costs of travel. But if you read my post on cheap/free accommodation hacks you can save thousands of dollars. And by using frequent flyer miles strategically and knowing how to travel hack (ie: reading this post!), you can save even more money and even fly for free… in business class.

Maybe you’ve already got a card that earns credit card points, but you are wondering if there’s more you could do to hack your way to free flights.

Managing frequent flyer miles (a.k.a. airline miles) can feel overwhelming and complex; by knowing the basics and with a little help from the right resources, you’ll be a travel hacking ninja in no time.

In this guide, I’m going to help you get started by going over the basics of frequent flyer miles, and then reviewing the tools available to help you level up your game.

This post was originally published in 2018 and has recently been overhauled. 

Table of Contents:

Frequent Flyer Miles for Beginners: An Overview

My (1st) Experience in Business Class Using Frequent Flyer Miles

How to Use Travel Hacking Subscriptions to Fly For Free

Earning frequent flyer miles on hotels, how to use frequent flyer mile tracking sites to stay organized.

The deeper you delve into frequent flyer mile accumulation, management, and redemption strategies, the more confusing it can get. Transferring between accounts, valuating miles, managing multiple programs, and ultimately – strategizing for your next free flight – can be a lot of work.

But once you are familiar with the territory and have systems in place, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

In this chapter, you’ll get an overview of how the whole process works so you can start earning your own miles without getting lost and confused.

Getting Started with Frequent Flyer Miles

Before you start collecting frequent flyer miles randomly through the plethora of programs and offers available, you’ll want to acquaint yourself with the major airline alliances, and which frequent flyer programs will serve your travel goals best.

Setting Travel Goals

Before getting into the nitty gritty of frequent flyer miles, it’s important to decide what your end game is . Having a reason to earn miles and a particular goal in mind is much more effective than randomly collecting miles for the sake of collecting miles.

This goal-oriented approach will help you be more targeted and effective in your accumulation strategies. Which in turn, will help you choose the programs that can work best to make that goal a reality.

I started collecting frequent flyer miles long before I began traveling full-time; my goal was a return ticket from Canada to Hawaii, and my strategy was to passively earn miles for every dollar I spent using a frequent flyer miles credit card featuring a rewards program that had an especially attractive redemption rate for Hawaii in particular. I also maximized earning opportunities by shopping at retailers that awarded points to the same airline program (and I “double-dipped” by charging those expenses to my credit card that also earned me points.) When I eventually reached my goal and flew to Hawaii, it felt so good!

It’s also worth noting that accumulating miles for a rainy day or for the sake of having them is dangerous. Airlines regularly devalue miles or change their redemption systems so that miles aren’t as valuable or as easy to redeem. Miles are there to be used!

Understanding Airline Alliances

The first thing  you need to learn about to conquer frequent flyer miles is airline alliances.

Most major airlines belong to an alliance, which is a group of different airlines that have agreed to allow the accumulation and redemption of each others’ miles.

Basically, you can earn miles with Lufthansa and then redeem them with United Airlines. Or you can earn miles by flying American Airlines, and then use them on a British Airways ticket. Or you can fly with Delta, but earn KLM miles for that Delta flight.

There are three major alliances: Star Alliance , One World , and Sky Team .

Experts usually suggest choosing one airline from each alliance as your focus point for accumulation. That way you won’t be scattering your efforts too much. Plus, if you fly a lot with one airline you increase your chances of reaching an elite status which gets you perks like free upgrades. And remember: you don’t always have to fly with that one airline; you can fly with Airline A and attribute the miles to Airline B within the same alliance. 

Collecting Universal Points

If you don’t have any specific travel goals (and even if you do), it’s beneficial to use a program with “universal” points, that allow you to convert to multiple programs at a 1:1 ratio.

There are a handful of these (examples include Marriott Bonvoy, American Express Rewards, and even Alaska Airlines), and they give you great flexibility to transfer your points across multiple alliances, which we’ll discuss later.

Pretty amazing, right??

Accumulating Frequent Flyer Miles

Accumulation strategies abound, from little social media promotions, to frequent flyer mile credit cards, retail bonus deals, online shopping portals, and of course, flying.

Here are some general ways to earn miles. You can use one of these strategies, or better yet: combine them to get even more miles!

Get a Credit Card (or Two, or Three)

The right credit cards are excellent tools to accumulate miles on everything you buy.

When you sign up for a frequent flyer miles card, choose one that has a great sign-up bonus and a program that focuses on one of your chosen goals.

If you want to take the credit card game to another level, you can utilize an advanced strategy that involves signing up for credit cards solely for the plush sign-up bonuses, canceling them within a year, and then reapplying 6-12 months later so you can get the sign-up bonus again.

Be careful with this strategy, as it can get you into hot water in terms of credit, debt, and your credit score unless you’re disciplined about spending and monitor your credit score and activity carefully. That said, it can also earn you a ton of miles when done successfully.

A note about nationalities: Americans have hands-down the largest selection of air miles credit cards to choose from (later on you’ll read about Travel Freely – which is the best free tool to manage your frequent flyer mile credit card strategies and opportunities) . Next up is Canada, with a decent handful of cards.

Go Shopping (With Your Miles Card)

Of course, I don’t mean go on a crazy shopping spree, but if there’s something you need, make sure you’re earning for it.

This could be anything from a new mattress to the gas in your car. Some frequent flyer mile credit cards award extra points for regular/daily purchases like gas and groceries.  

Pay attention to the earning rates for each miles credit card you have. Some may award double (or 3x or 5x) the miles for groceries, dining, travel, or transportation expenses. For each purchase, I always use the credit card that will earn me the most miles for that transaction .

Online Shopping Portals

If you like online shopping, some programs have online shopping portals, where you can earn extra points if you click through their portal to the site you were planning on buying from anyway.

When you sign up for the airline’s online shopping portal, definitely agree to receive email promotions. I recently earned 6,000 extra Alaska Airlines miles (which I can use for flights on many different airlines) because I got an email notifying me of a special deal at Apple where I’d earn 8 miles for every dollar spent. I needed a new phone anyway, and had simply been awaiting a deal like this. Bingo!

I’m awaiting a similar 10x miles deal with the Aeroplan eStore so I can buy a new computer.

I keep a running list of things I need at certain stores in the online shopping portals, and I always wait for a great bonus deal to make my purchases.

Because I belong to a few frequent flyer mile programs, I like to use Cashback Monitor to see at a glance which airline program will offer me the most miles for my intended purchases.

Keep all this in mind and make sure you get a card that matches your lifestyle so you can get the most points possible.

Sometimes there’s somewhere you have to fly and you just don’t have the miles to do it. In other cases, the cost of the flight is cheap enough that it makes more sense to pay for it with cash and accumulate miles (instead of redeeming them).

In these cases, make sure you go with an airline that helps you earn miles towards your goals and the program you’re most focused on.

Remember: sometimes it’s worth it to pay a little more for the flight/airline in your program and accumulate points (and even elite status) than to get a slightly cheaper flight that doesn’t earn you anything.

You can also look into taking a flight just because a particular route is offering a special mileage deal. These are sometimes called “mileage runs” and are a key part of many travel hacker strategies. To stay abreast advanced accumulation strategies like this, I recommend lurking the extensive forums at FlyerTalk .

Don’t Forget Hotel Points

Did you know that some hotel loyalty points are transferable to airline miles?

Marriott Bonvoy is the darling of the frequent flyer mile world in this regard, offering points on hotel stays, branded credit cards for additional accumulation opportunities, the ability to buy the points you need at a good rate, and a vast array of airline programs you can transfer your points to at a 3:1 ratio (with a bonus for every 60,000 points transferred  – resulting in 25,000 airline miles for 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points ). 

And, let’s not forget that hotel points can also be used for hotel stays, and to open up special hotel-related perks such as free WiFi and upgraded rooms. If you’re going to stay at a hotel when you travel, it pays to choose a brand and remain loyal to it so you can accumulate points and enjoy loyalty perks.

Get a Travel Hacking Membership Subscription

You can try to keep all this in mind while living your day-to-day life, and spend time researching points programs, bonus opportunities, and deals, but I bet you have better things to do. (I know I do).

Thankfully, there are several different travel hacking membership/subscription programs available that you can join. These will regularly let you know of deals and opportunities as they come up, so that you don’t have to go searching for them.

Many of these also teach you about frequent flyer miles in-depth to give you a knowledge base, including advanced strategies.

I’ve reviewed some of these in my time as a traveler , and offer my experiences and opinions in the below section .

Frequent Flyer Mile Management

Because you’ll probably be overseeing points in multiple loyalty programs, and they will have varying rules and limitations among them, managing your frequent flyer miles can be an onerous task.

Although you can use a few different sites to track your miles (covered in a below section ), you’ll also need to manually monitor and track the attribution of miles to your accounts. Why? Because sometimes (more often than you’d like to think), the points don’t end up in your account and you need to follow up.  

It’s a lot of work, but it definitely pays off in the end, especially when you’re enjoying business class for a fraction of the price of economy on the same flight.

In this section, let’s go over some key things to pay attention to as you manage your various sources of points.

Get Organized With a Spreadsheet

The very first thing you’ll want to do to get your miles organized is make a spreadsheet, because once you really get rolling with different strategies, you’ll have more on the go than you can track in your head.

For example, you’ll want to track all the frequent flyer mile accounts and programs you belong to (along with the relevant account info like membership numbers and passwords). Why have so many accounts? While it’s advisable to focus your main accumulation strategies on just a few programs, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t sign up for that Jet Blue account if you’re flying Jet Blue anyway (for example). Even if you have no intention of accumulating big points in that program, sometimes an opportunity will come up for you to transfer the miles to another program, or otherwise make use of the points. So don’t be afraid to sign up for a bunch of miles programs.

You’ll also want to note your accumulation activities (eg: taking a flight, getting a credit card sign-up bonus, or shopping at an online portal featuring a mileage bonus promo), so you can monitor when the related points land in your account. That way you can see at a glance which miles programs you’re waiting for points to land in, and you can follow up if they don’t arrive…..which happens, a lot.

This may already sound like a lot of work, and it can be (especially if you’re doing all the research yourself). But it will be totally worth it if you stay organized, and the humble spreadsheet is a great way to do so.

Rewards Management Sites

These types of sites are handy ways to get an overview of your various programs, even though they can’t fully substitute your overall spreadsheet. They can also help you find deals and transfer miles between programs.

I go more in depth on Mile Tracking Sites in the below section .

Beware of Losing Point Valuation With Transfers

While sites like Points.com make it easy to transfer miles between accounts, beware; the transfer ratios are rarely equitable and you could lose too much value per mile for the transfer to be worthwhile.

Keep an Eye on Expiration Dates

You also want to watch for expiration dates. Some programs will kill your miles if you leave your account alone for too long. It’s easy to top these up with a simple $1 purchase online to earn miles on that program.

Other programs will impose a 90-day limit for depositing your miles to your account (after which you can’t request missing miles). And it’s easy to forget about in the meantime. If you monitor the miles due to you ( hooray for the spreadsheet! ), mistakes (which happen) can be easily fixed with a phone call.

Track Your Strategies

I’ve already mentioned this a few times, but it bears repeating. It’s vital to double check that the miles you’re owed are actually deposited into your account.

To ensure that the correct amount of miles are attributed, you may need to contact the rewards program. You can often do it painlessly online, and if you need to call in, they’re usually pretty nice.

Mistakes happen. ( Like, a lot; for me, about 30-40% of the time I have to chase down miles not attributed properly to my account ). Don’t assume that all transactions will process correctly. Keep an eye on them and be ready to reinforce your rights.  

Frequent Flyer Mile Redemption

Now it’s time to reap the hard work of accumulation and management. Frequent flyer mile redemption, however, isn’t exactly a walk in the park either. Let’s go over some basics to keep in mind.

What to Look For When Booking with Miles

I’ve been playing the travel miles game for quite a few years now, and I’m still occasionally astounded at what some of my travel hacking colleagues are able to do with their miles. Booking with miles is where the most finesse is involved.

You’ll have to find the airline/alliance that offers the best deal/routing for your trip , then book with the frequent flyer mile program you’ve been accumulating with.

This isn’t quite as easy as it sounds, especially if you’re accumulating miles with multiple airlines in the same alliance. For example, you may get better value using your American Airlines points on flights with British Airways than you would using British Airways points on the same flight.  

Getting available seats is the next trick , since flights offer limited rewards seats. You’ll have the best luck by booking early – consider different routes if there’s nothing available.

Although you can do a certain amount of research and booking online, don’t be afraid to call customer service ; sometimes the agents can search itineraries and routes you hadn’t considered – as happened to me recently when I flew on points in business class from Melbourne to New York through Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific; which isn’t a route that comes up when you search online.

Being flexible with both your dates and your itinerary will help you get the best rewards ticket available.

And remember – “free” flights aren’t actually free. When you book a rewards ticket, you’re still on the hook for airport taxes and airline fees – which can be hefty. Some airlines/airport fees and taxes are notoriously bad; you can lower your costs by looking at alternate airlines/routes/airports. For example, in Canada the most popular frequent flyer mile program is Aeroplan (which governs Air Canada flights). But when flying internationally, you can save many hundreds of dollars on taxes and fees by redeeming your Aeroplan points for just about any other airline than Air Canada.

Remember Hotels (again)

While you may think you should only use miles for flights, sometimes using them for accommodation can be lucrative.

It depends on where you’re going and the underlying cost of accommodation; have a look at the cash price to stay in that hotel vs. the miles required so you can calculate the cost-per-mile to stay there.

Paying With Miles + Cash

Sometimes, you found the perfect flight, but you don’t have enough miles to cover the whole cost. Some airlines (and hotels for that matter) will let you pay partly with miles and partly with cash.

Just keep an eye on the valuation per mile; in my experience miles + cash deals aren’t the best value. Sometimes it might be better to pay all cash and earn more miles instead.

Buying Miles

An alternate strategy is to buy the remaining miles you need to pay for the whole transaction with miles.

This is usually a better deal than miles + cash, especially if there is a mileage discount promotion, which many big frequent flyer mile programs feature regularly.

Business Class vs. Economy / Long-Haul vs. Domestic: Valuating Miles

Evaluating your cost-per-mile is imperative when researching how to best use your miles. Generally speaking, flying in business class will get you better valuation per mile.

When I tried this for the first time, I was hooked (I’ll tell you about my experience with business class in the next section).

The same valuation hack is true of long-haul vs. domestic flights. If you’re flying halfway around the world, you’ll get better bang for your miles than if you are only flying across the country – in which case it’s often better to pay for the flight with cash and accumulate more miles.

There various are formulas for calculating your value per mile on redemptions (the formula differs depending on the redemption at hand), and the value can range from less than a cent to over 10 cents per mile. As a very broad average estimate, you want to get at least 1.2 cents per mile.

Don’t get Sidetracked

Some rewards programs let you use your points for things other than travel, like goods, services, and gift cards.

Honestly? Save the miles for your trip.

The value per mile on these side deals is usually terrible, and you usually end up paying more for the goods than if you’d paid cash.

Back to top^

My (1st) Experience in Business Class Using Miles

As a full-time traveler, I take a lot of flights. And since my travels are financially sustainable between my writing income and creative attempts at accommodation , I won’t pay the big bucks to fly business class.

In this section, I walk you through my first real attempt at advanced travel hacking (back in 2009), from earning the points to redeeming them, and the business class experience I got as a result. ( Spoiler alert: it rocked. )

Earning the Miles

Thanks to one of my travel hacking subscriptions (read on for more info on the best programs currently available), I got wind of a US Airways promotion that promised big bonus miles, but also required a big spend of about $1,200. While most of the stuff I bought was useful, the premise of this promotion was that the value of the miles received alone could justify the expenditure.

As this was my first miles “sting”, I was nervous that US Airways wouldn’t credit the miles, or that I’d somehow screw up the purchases without recourse, or that the airline would devalue the miles.

But none of that happened!

A pretty sum of 150,000 miles posted themselves neatly to my account three months later, US Airways didn’t devalue the miles, and I could use them for any Star Alliance airline flight.

Redeeming the Miles

One of the top tips on redeeming miles is that long-haul business class flights offer the most bang for your miles.

So when it came to plan out the next year of travel , my frequent flyer miles came in handy. My $1,200 purchase resulted in two long-haul business class flights (from New Zealand to Europe and back), as well as one return economy flight between New Zealand and Australia.

I had to pay booking fees and taxes on both sets of tickets, which amounted to a total of $300, increasing my total out-of-pocket expenditure to $1,500.

To have purchased the same four flights at full price would have cost over $5,800.

I’d say that was worth it.

The actual experience of 45 hours of business class definitely proved me right.

Let’s go through it:

Business Class Before Boarding

The business class experience starts long before you get on the plane.

From surpassing the long check-in lineups with special business class ticket counters, to circumventing passport control and security lineups with dedicated lanes, to special airport lounges with free WiFi, all you can eat and drink, and sometimes showers and nap rooms, I was in airport bliss long before I set foot on the first of three flights.

The Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland was lovely, and set the stage beautifully for my business class travels. Although my flights were booked with Thai Airways (another Star Alliance carrier), I had use of the Air NZ lounge since there wasn’t a Thai Airways lounge in Auckland.

Leg One: New Zealand to Bangkok in Thai Airways Business Class

My flight to Bangkok was on a 777, and the business class seats (and service) was about as luxurious as I had hoped. The massive pod-like seats reclined to an almost flat position, which made sleep quite easy. (Note: I’ve since traveled in business class with lie-flat seats, which are my preference when available).

Entertainment on demand was delivered through the large screens in front of each seat, and there was never any worry about the seat in front reclining into my lap, since the seat backs were fixed; instead each entire chair slid forward to recline.

The meals were spectacular. A menu revealed one 5-course meal and one 3-course meal, served on linen “tablecloths” with real cutlery and silver service. And of course, all the alcohol I could drink (which wasn’t very much as I’m not a big drinker). The service was attentive and the attendants were spectacularly dressed in customary Thai silk garb.

Business Class Layover in the Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge

I had a long and awkwardly timed layover in Bangkok, so I decided to stay in the airport. Good thing the Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge was open! I spent a delightful six hours there, surfing WiFi, enjoying free Thai cuisine and beverages, and even receiving a complimentary Thai massage at the adjoining spa.

Leg Two: Bangkok to Frankfurt with Thai Airways

My second flight (also almost 12 hours) was on a 747, and for the first time, I got to see what happens on the second floor of a 747!

I was slightly disappointed to discover there was no dance party, spa, or swimming pool, but equally pleased to find a relatively intimate collection of business class seats.

Again the service was wonderful, the seats reclined, the entertainment selection was great, and the multi-course meals made me thankful for the long walks I took in the airport and enroute to the gate.

Business Class Shower in the Lufthansa Lounge

By the time I landed in Frankfurt, I had been flying (or laying over) for almost 40 hours.

Although I caught some sleep on each flight, I was starting to feel some deep fatigue, and the increase in temperature and daylight (not to mention the time changes) was disorienting.

I hurried to the Lufthansa Lounge, hoping to enjoy some of the relaxing space and quiet solitude I had found in my previous two lounge experiences.

Unfortunately though, this lounge was packed to the hilt, and (gasp) didn’t even offer free WiFi.

I did, however, manage to sweet talk the shower attendant into squeezing me in front of the queue for a quick shower before my next flight, which made a world of difference.

Lesson Learned: Not all airline lounges are the same. Some are much nicer than others! Download an app like Lounge Buddy to learn about each lounge. (See also: Best Travel Apps )

Leg Three: Frankfurt to Madrid in Lufthansa Business Class

I had been looking forward to experiencing Lufthansa’s business class services, but was mildly disappointed, compared to my experience on Thai Airways.

Thankfully I had some prior notice that business class short-haul flights aren’t often worth the accompanying price tag, so I was even more thankful I hadn’t actually paid the accompanying price.

So although the service was lovely (attentive in an almost over-compensating manner), the food appeared to be the same as that served to other passengers (except with real cutlery), the seats weren’t any roomier (except the middle seat in every row of three was free), and the offer of free alcohol was lost on my tired body.

This was when I learned that domestic business class flights are almost never worth paying for with points , unless it’s a really low miles requirement compared to the cash price .

What I Learned

After experiencing long-haul business class travel, I now do everything I can to avoid flying in economy (long-haul).

I learned that using miles to fly long-haul in business class is the best value – not only on a value-per-mile basis, but also in the value of arriving refreshed, well-rested, and well-fed. It truly transforms the experience of flying.

I also learned that if you’re flying in economy, it’s often worth it to buy a pass to the business class lounge, especially during a long layover . For about the same cost as a crappy meal at an airport restaurant, you can spend hours at a lounge that not only offers free food, but also comfortable seating, WiFi, and a variety of perks from showers and nap rooms to free spa services.  

In order to really become a travel hacker and strategically earn and redeem miles, you’ll need to take advantage of the various special deals that hit the market – like the US Airways promotion I described in the previous chapter.

The trouble is, most of us don’t have time to scour the internet looking for the best miles deals out there.

So what do we do?

Join a travel hacking membership.

As I mentioned in the overview section, these are services that alert you to the best deals available to earn points and miles or redeem them in spectacular ways. Many also include educational elements that teach you advanced strategies and techniques to really level up your travel hacking.

In this section, I review four of these subscriptions that I have personally test-driven ( disclosure: I received free subscriptions for review purposes ), and I give you my honest opinions.

In some cases below I have used affiliate links which earn me a commission if you purchase. It doesn’t affect your cost to purchase, and it helps me keep The Professional Hobo going. Thank you in advance for your support!

Review of Travel Freely – Best Way to Earn Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

I’ve used and test-driven a lot of frequent flyer mile mastery programs and travel hacking schools (I’ve only chosen the best of them for this article). And while I haven’t personally been able to use Travel Freely , I really, sorely, completely, and almost desperately, wish I could. It’s that good…. and it’s free .

The reason I can’t use Travel Freely is because I’m not a U.S. resident, and thus not eligible to apply for U.S. credit cards. It’s no secret that Americans have the best opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles, especially when it comes to credit card strategies. Travel Freely is the perfect tool to learn what you need to know and maximize your opportunities.

Travel points and miles are convoluted at the best of times. So it stands to reason that you might get a bit of FOMO when you read about other people flying for free in business class while you’re stuck paying retail prices for cattle class.

Or you might think you know what you need to know, but you’re leaving money – or rather, points – on the table.

In both cases, Travel Freely can help. In fact, Travel Freely will get you $2,000+ in free travel every year. (And it’s free).

When it comes to earning frequent flyer miles, the way to do it if you’re really serious about flying for free (especially in business class) is with credit card sign up bonuses. But where to begin?

• Which credit cards are best to apply for?
• How many credit cards is too many?
• What happens to my credit score?
• What do I have to do to earn the sign-up bonus?
• How long do I need to hold the card?
• When do I cancel?
• And if I want to reapply, how long do I have to wait to re-qualify for the sign-up bonus?

SO many questions. Travel Freely has answers.

What is Travel Freely?

Travel Freely is a web app and mobile app (both work seamlessly together) with three components:

Beginner Quick Start – This program takes you from having no travel miles experience to being able to monitor and understand your credit score, organize rewards programs, and use best practices when applying for credit cards.

CardGenie Recommendations – This is where you’ll receive personalized recommendations for the best credit cards to apply for to earn the best bonuses for you given your profile and unique situation. If you’re worried about this advice being biased, don’t. While the folks at Travel Freely may earn a commission on some credit card applications, they’ll recommend the best card for you regardless of whether they earn a commission from it.

Dashboard and Auto-Pilot Key Milestones – Travel Freely makes credit card management a no-brainer by showing you everything in your dashboard and sending you email notifications with the following alerts:

• When you’re approaching a bonus deadline, so you can satisfy the spending requirement to earn the bonus points
• When a credit card is coming up for renewal, so you can budget for the next annual fee or cancel the card before it comes due
• When it’s time to apply for a new card that will help you meet your travel goals

Here’s what Travel Freely can do for you

• Help you develop a system to go from being a total beginner to travel hacking genius
• If you’re already a casual rewards user, it will help you level up
• Put your travel hacking game on “auto-pilot” to minimize the amount of time you spend accumulating/managing your travel points

Maintaining Your Privacy

My first concern when browsing through the program was privacy. I don’t want just anybody to have access to my credit card information!

Rest assured, Travel Freely doesn’t ask for, use, or retain any personal information. There’s no connection to your bank, credit card numbers, or financial particulars.

In order to create your profile, you only need to enter in the type of credit card you have and the date you signed up (so they can remind you of the annual renewal). That’s all.

What blew my mind about Travel Freely is that this is not a tease for some elevated premium program. It’s free, no strings attached.

They earn a commission if you apply for a credit card through their platform (though they’re quick to say that if there’s a better credit card for you that doesn’t earn them a commission, they’ll take the hit and recommend the the optimal card for you). You can also hire them as a personal consultant if you want some extra help.

But the platform itself is totally free, and doesn’t even have any ads.

Sign up for Travel Freely here .

Review of Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ – Best Fare Alert Service for Cash Deals

Here’s the thing about frequent flyer miles. Sometimes, you don’t have enough to get where you want to go.

Or sometimes, you have the miles but the airline doesn’t have award seat availability.

And sometimes, a deal comes around that is so good, it actually makes more sense to pay in cash than use miles.

In all cases, Dollar Flight Club has you covered.

Dollar Flight Club is a fare alert service that notifies users of flight sales and mistake fares and helps people save up to 90% off the normal cost of a flight. As such it’s far from the only of its kind, with a handful of other competitors that offer similar services. What differentiates Dollar Flight Club from the rest however, is its Premium Plus+ tier that additionally features business class flight deals that get you up to 60% off business class and first class flights.

How Dollar Flight Club Works

Simply enter your email address and/or download the mobile app. Select your departure airport/region and membership level, and sit back to await your customized flight deals.

There are three levels of membership:

Free – The price is right, but you can’t select your departure airport (you’re limited to your departure region), and you receive about 25% of all the flight deals. You’ll also contend with ads, and there are no app alerts (only email alerts).

Premium – For $69/year, you can select up to five preferred departure airports, and you’ll receive all available notifications for each. You can also get mobile app alerts, the program is ad-free, and there are a few exclusive partner perks.

Premium Plus+ – For $99/year, you’ll get everything offered in the Premium membership plus business class and first class deal alerts. The number of alerts vary based on the airport, but using New York City as an example, you’ll get approximately 4-7 premium deal alerts per week. You’ll also get an exclusive discount on the Mobile Passport Plus app, which makes clearing customs on entry to the United States a breeze.

I’ve used the free and premium versions of Dollar Flight Club on and off over the years, and the deals that come through are pretty great.

The deals don’t often last (usually it’s 24-48 hours), so it’s important to be flexible and spontaneous enough to jump on the deals as they come.

Also, digital nomads need not apply, since most of the flight deals are return flights, and while you can change your preferred departure airport according to your location at the moment, it’s a bit tedious.

For long-haul flights, I do my very best to ensure they’re in business class, but it doesn’t always work with miles. I like the idea of the Dollar Flight Club premium plus alerts that could help me fly in business class for a fraction of the cost.

But let’s get it right; even 60% off a business class flight is more expensive than flying in economy. That said, $1,100 for business class flights to/from Italy sounds pretty delightful, especially if business class involves a newer plane with a lie-flat bed (since a proper rest on the plane can make or break the first few days of your vacation).

To find out what kind of plane you’d be on, you can cross-check the flights with Seat Guru to ensure the plane is worth the expense.

Click here to sign up with Dollar Flight Club.

First Class Flyer

First Class Flyer is a monthly newsletter (with regular e-mail updates) specifically geared towards deals and strategies that enable subscribers to find the best deals on first class (and business class) airline tickets .

In their words, First Class Flyer is aimed at two kinds of people:

• Those who take a big trip once a year and want to do it in Business or First Class.
• Those who fly Business and First Class already, but want to do it for a lot less money, and a lot less time.

Fare Alert Emails

These regular email updates summarize the latest deals revealed in the member-only online First Class Flyer Newsroom, detailing regular updates about reward seat availabilities and special fares that might be of interest.

It’s all very timely information, and (similar to the beefy monthly newsletters), it’s full of opportunities for committed first class flyers.

Monthly Newsletters

The monthly newsletters are jam-packed with sophisticated strategies, tips, and up-to-date airline info to help land you in the lap of airline luxury.

For example, in one issue alone, there was an article which dissected various ways to fly from New York City to London (as always, with an aim to be in first class).  The same issue also explored strategies for transferring frequent flyer miles, upgrading tickets, and ticket timing.

I learned about concepts like “Super Currency”, which are rewards programs that allow conversion of their points to multiple airline programs.  Other tips include which frequent flyer programs/alliances are best to use for which types of flights.

With airlines often changing their mileage valuations, opportunities can arise; for example playing award chart discrepancies to your favour by capitalizing on the difference between programs that value trips by flight distance versus zones.

Just recently, thanks to First Class Flyer, I learned about (and capitalized on) an opportunity to transfer American Express Rewards points to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio plus a 30% bonus, and then to use those British Airways miles to book a flight (for two people) on American Airlines. I’d never have known about this roundabout/creative way to book flights, which ended up in my getting $1,500 in flights for an effective price of just over $100. 

While in the above case the outline on First Class Flyer was all about doing the transaction in business class (which is admittedly an even better deal for the miles), I was able to apply the same strategy to economy and still get a screaming deal. So despite the name of the program, the information can be applied on a wider scale. 

Although there’s a goodly amount of attention paid to frequent flyer mile strategies, First Class Flyer is not exclusively a frequent flyer mile publication; it lives up to its name by focusing on any and all strategies that get you your own little piece of airline heaven.

I find the newsletters a bit overwhelming ; I often end up making it about half-way through, after which I realize I’m only absent-mindedly scrolling through a lot of useful tips and tricks, unable to absorb the (sometimes complicated) schemes.

So if you’re committed to the idea, it’s best to digest these newsletters (especially in the beginning) slowly and in bite-sized pieces.

First Class Ain’t Cheap

Budget travelers will waiver between moments of travel-hacking inspiration, and moments of frustration at reading how a certain first class flight is “only” $4,000 with the latest deal.  Yes, the original ticket price might be $11,000, but both numbers are well out of most budget travelers’ repertoires.

However, as I said (and did) earlier, you can apply some of the strategies to economy flights too. And lately, First Class Flyer has been providing some pretty slick reviews of and deals for Premium Economy flights. 

And First Class Flyer has been around for over 20 years, and has garnered international recognition for being a reputable resource, so it certainly has an attentive audience.

Are you on a mission to accumulate frequent flyer miles, and don’t want to get distracted by hotel rewards programs? Well then, you’ve Rocketmiles . It gives you an opportunity to earn thousands of airline frequent flyer miles with a variety of airlines for every hotel stay.

How It Works

First and foremost, Rocketmiles is a hotel booking site.  The difference is, you will earn a minimum of 500 airline miles per night – up to 10,000 per night! – of your stay. 

It can help you earn miles for a huge variety of frequent flyer mile programs, so you’re sure to find one that you’re targeting for accumulation.

Miles are attributed to your frequent flyer mile account after you check out, within two to six weeks.

Although some hotels will allow you to exercise your hotel reward program elite status for perks during your stay, generally speaking you can’t earn hotel miles in addition to the Rocketmiles deal.

As I mentioned in the overview section, it’s important to stay organized as you become a frequent flyer miles ninja.

What with all the different airline programs, hotel programs, miles credit cards, and others that you’ll be signing up for and earning points towards, you’ll need to know how many points are where, which programs they are transferable to, and more.

Enter frequent flyer mile tracking sites.

While not a complete solution (you should still keep a simple trusty spreadsheet), these will make certain aspects of staying organized much much easier.

Award Wallet

I’ve not used Award Wallet myself, but I have colleagues who love it. They feature a massive selection of mileage programs including air, hotel, car rental, credit cards, etc.  

You can see all your balances at a glance, get notifications when balances change (which is handy when you’re waiting for the miles to post from your last flight or mileage shopping promotion), and you’ll get notice if points are due to expire.

Regardless of which program you choose, I believe it’s good to manage your miles with one of these services, for a bird’s eye view of what you have, since frequent flyer mile accumulation usually means membership to numerous programs. All are free to sign up. 

So there you have it! Everything you need to get started travel hacking with frequent flyer miles.

Now I’d love to hear from you: What’s your favourite miles hacking strategy? Is there something about frequent flyer miles you’d like to learn more about?

Let me know in the comments below!

Hungry for some more air miles related musings?

How I Gave U.S. Airways $1,700 for Nothing – Not Even Flights – While this is largely a rant about a failed attempt to book a mileage reward to Australia, I also learned a lot and thus I provide a series of “Rules” and guidance for booking rewards tickets (ideally with more success than I).

How to Get 50% off Airfare With Travel Mystery Shopping – Learn how to get discounted/free flights, bus rides, train journeys, and more. 

13 thoughts on “A Beginner’s Guide to Frequent Flyer Miles and How to Start Travel Hacking Like a Pro”

Amazing how much money you can make / points you earn, for miles Nora, grocery shopping with the right card. We almost paid for tickets from JFK to BKK a while back based on points alone. Excellent tips here.

Thanks, Ryan! Indeed, once you nab your first miles ticket, it’s a bit addictive. Did you fly in business class?

Sounds great. Got any info on sites that are relevant for australians?

Hi Michael, Unfortunately I’m not up on the best sites or strategies for Aussies. Unfortunately you don’t have nearly as many options as Americans, and to a lesser degree, Canadians. (But of course I’m sure you know that already – ha). I do know that Chris Guillebeau’s Travel Hacking Cartel and related sites do have a worldwide bent to them; perhaps you can check there?

Gday nora. Thanks for the reply. I will check there. Happy travels. Rgds mike

I just found your blog after having my first San Pedro ceremony to look for more insight about the topic. I liked the style of your writing and of course the content so I countinued reading some of your articles. But with this one I am very confused. I have to say I did not read it completely so I am not 100% sure if you mentioned anything about the impact of flying for our environment. I am reading this article after the one about your zero waste experiences so I know that you are aware of how humankind is treating our planet. And flying is one of the single worst thing to do while travelling. Yet you are giving advice how to fly even more and cheaper. Are you aware?

Of course you simply don’t allow my comment to be on your homepage. Just ask yourself if you are really doing the right thing here. Did you learn anything from your shamanic experiences? How can you still harm nature in this unnecessary way of flying so much and taking up more space in the airplane even?

Hi Christian,

I am glad you had an impactful san pedro ceremony, and that you are connected to the environment and our impact on it.

I am also saddened by your impatient tone, resulting attack on my shamanic experiences, and assumption that I wouldn’t publish your comment because I didn’t do so immediately. I have been off the grid (I thought that even bloggers were allowed to take a break from the internet once in a while – perhaps I was mistaken).

To address your original comment, you are right – flying is bad for the environment, and I originally wrote this post many years ago. Over time, I have become more and more concerned about my personal impact on the environment, and I have reduced my flights. That would not have been reflected in this article. Also, throughout my full-time travel career, I have practiced the art of very slow travel, often staying in a region for months if not years, so as to reduce the number of times I fly. But when I DO fly, I like to do so frugally, and using frequent flyer miles helps me to do that.

I think the choice is individual for everybody. How they fly, and how often they fly, is up to them. I am providing information, and I don’t believe in grandstanding or preaching to convince the world to do or not do something. My website is first and foremost a travel website.

Thanks for your input. And please also be aware, that this website is not publicly legislated space. If I feel unnecessarily harassed, I am well within my right to delete or not publish a comment. But I also believe in having an open forum if it is constructive. As long as we keep it constructive, I’m happy to publish a discussion, even if it is one where there is a difference of opinions.

For a listing of all U.S. opportunities to earn miles and hotel points, please take a look at my website, FreeFrequentFlyerMiles.com. I have been running it since before the word blog existed. It is my retirement project. I do it because I believe that travel is the key to intercultural understanding and, eventually, world peace.

Do not forget to keep in mind the “close-in booking fee” the major airlines have imposed. If you book a flight on points on United or American (and maybe the others) there is a $75 fee for booking less than 21 days in advance. The last one I did on United was 14 days out. I pleaded to the CSR (honestly) that I had thought the close-in fee applied to 14 days in advance and I got it waived. YMMV.

Hi Gary, I didn’t know a “close-in” booking fee existed. I’ve never been charged such a fee, and I’m sure I’ve booked awards flights within 21 days of flying. Perhaps I got lucky with airlines that don’t charge this fee. It’s a ridiculous charge! I’m glad you got it waived.

Thanks for the info! I’m a newbie to all the collector points and this was so helpful 🙂

Thanks Sarah! Happy frequent flyer mile adventures.

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7 business class travel tips and tricks from one first-timer to another

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I am an expert economy-class flyer.

I've got TSA PreCheck and Global Entry . When necessary, I can unpack and re-pack quart-size toiletry bags, shoes and laptop computers at a security checkpoint in seconds … even with a toddler in tow. I can get my carry-on bag into the overhead bins in a second flat, and I find my preferred inflight entertainment on my United app within moments of fastening my seatbelt.

Put me in business class, though, and apparently I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

In fact, I hadn't flown business class in over 10 years — until a few weeks ago. When I learned I'd be flying between Washington, D.C. and London, England in business class on not one, but two different airlines, I was over the moon. "More legroom!" I thought. "Lie-flat seats!"

I thought I had everything covered — until I talked to my TPG colleagues, Zach Griff and Nicky Kelvin, about my planned flights in United Polaris and Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class .

They opened my eyes to the world of perks and amenities available to me as a business-class flyer these days — few of which I'd even had an inkling of, and even fewer of which the airlines had bothered to alert me to in my reservation.

Had I not talked to my coworkers, I probably would have missed out on key components of the business-class experience. Even so, I felt lost, shy and sometimes confused when flying up front.

If you're soon to embark on your first international business-class trip in a while, here are seven travel tips and tricks you should know to make the most of your experience, all of which were new to me on my recent transatlantic journey.

Pick your seats wisely — because they're not all the same

"All the business-class seats are aisle seats," I thought to myself when looking at the seat maps for both my flights, "so they should all be great."

Not exactly.

As I learned, the configuration of business-class seats can vary widely ( even on the same airline and on the same plane type). Not only were my United Polaris and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats completely different from one another, but when looking at my various flight options on both carriers, I also found that different aircraft types had different kinds of seats on board. Plus, depending on the row, you could find slightly different seats even on the same flight.

To optimize your flying experience, you need to read up on which seats your specific flight will offer and find the best one for your preferences.

For example, the Boeing 767 I was on offered United's most up-to-date Polaris seats: individual pods with lie-flat seats next to small tabletops and a storage locker. On reading Zach's United Polaris guide , I learned that the window seats were best for solo travelers while the middle row had pairs of seats better suited to couples or friends.

Even among the window seats, the odd-numbered rows offer more privacy, with the seats closer to the actual window and the wide tabletop by the aisle, while the even numbered rows have the seats angled toward the aisle with the tabletop and locker by the window.

I had been assigned an even row seat, but I changed to an odd row based on that advice since I wanted the most privacy possible. (I admit that I took some pleasure in changing my seat assignment like I was a pro.)

Related: Top 5 business-class cabins in the sky today

On my Virgin Atlantic flight back, my seat looked fine and I lucked out. As I boarded the plane, I realized the Boeing 787-9 had the airline's older "herringbone" style of diagonal seats with their backs to the windows and angled toward the aisle. I had happily landed in what I would dub the "introvert section" along the port side of the aircraft, where the seats faced the backs of the middle row. However, the middle and starboard rows of seats faced each other, so those passengers ended up looking right at the person across from them. I suppose if you're there to make friends, you could choose these "extrovert seats."

Look for the dedicated airport check-in

Even before I got to the planes, though, I made some rookie mistakes.

When I arrived at Dulles International Airport (IAD), I saw signs for Economy and Premier Access check-in, but not Polaris. I asked an attendant in the Premier Access line where I should go but they simply had me check in there. It turns out that the official Polaris check-in was around the back at another set of counters — not that there were any signs pointing in that direction.

At Heathrow Airport (LHR), I knew that Virgin Upper Class had its own check-in hall in Terminal 3 … because my colleague, Nicky, told me. Since it's only accessible by car, and I was being shuttled to the airport by bus, I couldn't take advantage of that perk. However, there were no signs showing me where to check in for Upper Class in the normal departure hall, either. I had to waylay a staffer to find out that I should use the Delta premium check-in line.

The kind gate agent did direct me to the elevator that would whisk me to a private Upper Class security line. But when I got to the second floor, there were no signs pointing the way. I just assumed the security line I saw was the right one — but I was so flustered that I forgot to empty my water bottle and had to chug 16 ounces on the spot. Guess my mistake meant I was properly hydrated for my flight.

Moral of the story: Look at an airport map or otherwise determine where the VIPs get to check in so you can head confidently to the correct line and not have to own up to an airport representative that you have no clue where you're going. Agents at these dedicated counters are also usually better informed on which lounges you might have access to before your flight and how you can get to them through expedited security lines.

Arrive in time to enjoy access to fancy lounges with free food and drinks (and don't forget to tip!)

What secret do globe-trotting businessfolk keep from us economy-class peons? They get free access to swanky VIP lounges while we stand in long lines for expensive concessions or join the masses in the boarding areas.

Not once did any official United communication alert me to the existence of the Polaris Lounge at Dulles . Not when I got my confirmation number via email. Not when I checked in online. Nor when I showed up at the airport. So thanks again, Zach, for not only pointing me toward the exclusive hangout but recommending I get there early to enjoy its many amenities.

At least when I checked in for my Virgin Atlantic flight, the agent not only told me about the airline's famed Clubhouse , but also gave me directions to it.

These lounges are tricked out, so plan to arrive early to enjoy all the amenities. Both had enormous bars with plenty of complimentary drinks and all kinds of seating areas — some for comfy lounging and others geared for working, with loads of electrical and USB outlets.

The Polaris Lounge at Dulles had a separate, waiter-serviced restaurant where I assembled a delicious dinner by trying all the small plates: autumn squash soup, arugula and fennel salad, a quinoa samosa cake and a cheese plate (that really should have been on the dessert menu). I could have indulged in a glass of wine, but I was still nursing my strong cocktail from the lounge's bar. For dessert, I had a warm chocolate chip cookie that came out so piping hot that ice cream bubbled when it came into contact with the mini cast iron skillet the cookie was served in.

The Virgin Upper Class lounge had an online food ordering system where I could select the breakfast items I wanted and magically the staff knew where to deliver the food. Again, I admit to over-ordering, choosing the fruit salad and a full vegetarian English breakfast with fried eggs, baked beans and a vegan sausage. I probably should have ordered a mimosa to be fancy, but I stuck with tea.

The Upper Class lounge also has Peloton bikes and a pool table. Pre-pandemic, it offered massages and hair cuts in the dedicated salon and spa areas. You can even do some alfresco plane-spotting from an elevated outdoor garden. It's all included in the experience. Do your homework ahead of your flight to determine which lounge you can access and what fun awaits you — then get to the airport with enough time to enjoy it.

The only thing I wasn't sure about was whether I was supposed to tip all the lovely people bringing me free food and drink. I canvassed my coworkers on return who recommend tipping a dollar or two for drinks and $5-$10 for a full dinner in the U.S., but said to skip the tip in Europe or Asia, where there's less of a tipping culture.

Sorry, lovely lounge staff, for stiffing you. I won't make that mistake the next time around.

Related: The 7 do's and don'ts in an airport lounge

Swallow your pride and ask for a seat tour

Business-class seats are works of engineering genius. The best seats smoothly convert into beds, the tray tables and storage nooks are hidden ergonomically throughout your little pod area, and outlets and reading lights pop up in all the right places.

Repeat after me: You are not an idiot if you can't figure out how to work everything immediately upon taking your seat (though I certainly felt like one as I fiddled with the various seat and entertainment controls).

On my United flight, I was too shy to ask, but managed to work out how to get the seat into lie-flat mode myself. On Virgin, the flight attendants were friendlier, so I started with, "Can you show me how to work this seat?" The kind gent in charge of my section gave me the full tour. I swear to you, I would never have found the tray table or the USB outlet without his help.

Even should your jaded flight attendant cast a scornful glance your way, don't let their attitude stand in the way of you getting maximum enjoyment out of your business-class flight. By asking for a quick tour of the seat, you can also figure out if everything is working properly, such as the seat controls or power outlets, and do something about it before takeoff if they're not.

Don't order a special meal or feel a need to pack snacks

I don't trust that airlines will provide a standard meal that will accommodate my dietary restrictions, so I often order a special meal. Unless you absolutely need one, though, I would say don't bother when you're flying business class, especially if you can check the menu ahead of time.

Both United's and Virgin's business-class menus included a fish and vegetarian option, and the kosher meal I ordered for my United dinner was so sad that I asked the attendant to bring me the regular breakfast. That meant I got to choose which of the three breakfast options I wanted. I was in the mood for something light so I ordered the continental breakfast with a fruit salad, yogurt and a croissant, with orange juice and tea.

If it's your first Virgin Atlantic flight, you might want to revel in the lovely presentation, real cutlery and the cutest little airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers, fittingly named Orville and Wilbur after the Wright brothers. (I really really wanted to take them as souvenirs, but I restrained myself.) That said, items do sometimes run out, so if you have your heart set on a particular dish, ask the flight attendant showing you to your seat to set one aside for you if possible.

I'm also told that if you want to rock a shorter long-haul flight like a pro, including those from the East Coast to London, you might want to consider eating dinner in the lounge then trying to go straight to sleep once the plane takes off. Up to you.

On day flights, you also won't go hungry outside of meal times. On Virgin Atlantic, flight attendants came through the cabin several times with snacks and even had a basket set up in the Upper Class bar (Yes, there's a bar on the airplane! How did I not know that?) for passengers to grab and go whenever they wanted. Plus, anytime after the main meal service you could order additional food items like cream tea or a salad.

Ask for all the amenities

I'm the type of person who doesn't want to make a fuss, but I'm told you really need to ask for all the available amenities when flying business class these days.

You want pajamas for your overnight flight? Ask. Want a cocktail instead of wine? Ask. Want to skip dinner and have your bed made up right away? Just ring the call button and ask your attendant. Though some of these things may be offered proactively, sometimes they are not, and you wouldn't want to miss out.

Sometimes you can access an arrivals lounge when you land in your final destination. Many are still closed due to the pandemic, but if you'd like to use one, just ask. I asked on my United flight, but Heathrow's are not yet open.

Typically, business-class seats come with an amenity kit, which is a little zippered makeup bag with socks, an eye mask, toothbrush and toothpaste, hand and face lotion and earplugs. These weren't at our seats when we boarded the Virgin Atlantic flight, and the woman next to me was sad because she wanted to brush her teeth.

"Just ask," I told her, since I was now an expert business-class flyer with one flight under my belt. The flight attendant gushed his apologies for not having them out and set about giving everyone a kit.

Just enjoy the legroom

At the end of the day, the best part of the business-class experience for me was, in fact, the extra legroom.

Perhaps I'm a woman of simple pleasures. Perhaps I'm a hardy traveler who can deal with queues, crowds and mediocre meals. Perhaps it's just that I'm six feet tall and there is usually no comfortable place for me to cram my long limbs on a long-haul flight.

Despite the nice meals and the free drinks, my favorite aspect of this trip was that I could put my feet up and stretch my legs while I worked, watched movies and ate on board the plane. That — not the beverages or the fancy lounges — is why I'm trying to earn miles and elite status so I can have easier access to business class in the future.

At the end of the day, airplane food is fine but not necessarily blow-your-mind amazing. It can still be hard to sleep on a noisy, turbulent flight, even when lying flat. If you miss the lounge and never get that free cocktail, your business-class trip will be fine.

All that's true because at the end of the day, you will still have way more personal space than in coach. And that, in my mind, is all you need to have the best flight ever.

Protect Your Trip »

7 secret tricks to scoring a cheap business-class seat.

Experts share top hacks for vaulting into a better seat without paying a high price.

(Getty Images) |

Land a coveted business-class seat with these clever tricks.

Pick times when business-class travel is less common.

(iStockPhoto) |

Skip popular business routes.

Take advantage of last-minute paid upgrades.

Say yes to getting "bumped."

Stay loyal and seek status.

Stick with the right airlines – and affiliated credit cards.

Bid for your seat.

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

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Positioning Flights Are The Underrated First & Business Class Hack Saving Australians Thousands

Flying to and from Australia is expensive, but this little-known travel hack could save you some serious money.

Image: DMARGE/Arabian Business

Flying long haul to and from Australia is expensive, especially in premium cabins on the best airlines . But… if you’re prepared to fly to a neighbouring country to pick up a long-haul business class flight , you can save serious money.

‘Positioning’ into another airport to pick up a cheaper flight is a tried and true tactic of many hard-core travellers that works for business class and other cabins alike. However, there is a trade-off here: this tactic involves another airport transit and the shorter positioning flight is often in economy class or with a low-cost airline.

On the upside, you can save big bucks, and the longer flight(s) are in premium cabins with all the associated bells and whistles… here’s how it works and the airlines to keep an eye on next time you’re making travel plans.

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Several Southeast Asian cities are known for offering good value business class airfares into Europe . Let’s say you want to fly to Oslo for a few weeks at the end of May, flying out of Sydney on the last weekend of the month and returning three weeks later.

Our friends at Qantas will do you a business class return on Emirates for around AUD11,500, while Qatar Airways is around AUD9,500. However, if you can get yourself to and from Manila, Emirates will sell you the return Manila–Oslo flights in business for just under AUD3,700.

Philippine Airlines, Qantas, and Cebu Pacific all fly the Sydney–Manila city pair. At time of writing, Qantas will get you up and back for just over AUD1,000 in economy (point redemptions start at 25,200 points each way), while Cebu Pacific will do a Sydney–Manila return for around AUD600. Granted, this adds a layer of complexity and time to a trip, but we are talking about savings of up to AUD6,000 here , which pays for quite a bit of fun in Oslo.

Another good Southeast Asian city to position out of is Jakarta . Qantas and Garuda Indonesia fly there from both Sydney and Melbourne . Let’s say you want to fly from Melbourne to Europe, also on the last weekend in May, heading home three weekends later: The excellent Turkish Airlines offers one-stop (via Istanbul) business class flights to key European airports from around AUD3,500 return.

There are some one-stop return business fares between Melbourne and Europe starting at around AUD6,500, but these are on tier-two airlines such as China Eastern , Air India , and Sri Lankan Airlines. The top tier carriers start at around the AUD8,500 mark for return business class flights, depending on what European city you’re flying into.

Again, you’ve got to get between Australia and Jakarta, which you can do for around AUD1,000 (in economy) on either Qantas or Garuda. You can also redeem points for those flights. But we are talking about a 50% saving.

There are no hard and fast rules here: airfares change, so what’s available this week may no longer be on sale next week. But typically, premium cabin airfares out of cities like Jakarta, Denpasar, Manila, and Bangkok are substantially less than you would pay to fly from an Australian airport.

Distance is a factor. An aircraft covers fewer kilometres between Denpasar and Paris than Brisbane and Paris… but the fare difference is rarely proportional to the distance difference. The main reason is the nature of the market. These Southeast Asian cities are big markets but they’re not affluent markets; the airlines have to pitch their fares to what the market will pay.

Usually, Singapore isn’t included in the positioning mix because Singapore is a cashed-up city and a key airline hub. Plenty of people will pay big bucks to fly in and out. But, again, there are no hard and fast rules because you can find some surprisingly good-value fares out of Singapore.

You can often pick up Cathay Pacific return premium economy fares between Singapore and North America from around AUD2,000. The smaller Gulf carriers such as SAUDIA and Gulf Air also offer some very good premium cabin fares out of the Lion City.

Google Flights is a terrific resource and a good place to start investigating positioning flights. You can also talk to a real-life travel agent; they may be old school, but the good ones are worth their weight in gold. However, it’s worth noting the potential pitfalls with positioning flights…

If you’re travelling from City A to City B on one ticket and then travelling from City B to City C on another ticket, be aware that the second airline is not obliged to come to your rescue if you miss your flight because of delays with the first flight.

The simple solution is to allow ample transfer time. However, an overnight hotel stay imposes a time and financial cost. Still, if you save thousands of dollars on the airfare, the few hundred spent on an overnight stay in an airport hotel is chump change.

Positioning flights aren’t for everyone, but if you’re prepared to put in the legwork, they can open up premium cabin experiences at big discounts and vastly improve your overall travel experience.

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TRAVEL HACK: 5 Ways to fly Business Class for the price of Economy (A Travel Pros’ SECRETS)

• Posted on June 12, 2019
• 4 minute read
• by TheYoungTravelier

Lets start off with this – these are real tips I have never read anywhere else.

After traveling to hundreds of cities over (almost) every continent i’ve realized that there are just some flights that are WAY too long for economy, or even premium economy.  Combine that with the fact that people are getting stuffed into smaller spaces (stand up seats!) and Business class starts looking less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

Over the past 20 years i’ve amassed a lot of miles in the air, and to cut straight to the point – i’ve listed my tried and trued methods of getting to lay out flat and get some good shuteye while you’re flying the *cramped skies, WITHOUT paying the premium $$ that Business class will often cost you.

• The Reverse Route: I’m going to start with the best one first.  This is damn near UNKNOWN, but it ONLY works for those who are traveling to or from the US, and if you plan ahead.  If you buy a ticket that ORIGINATES in another country and then returns back to that country (outside of the US), you can find Business class fares that are more than half off than those that originate from within the US.  Your next question is probably, well.. how do I get there in the first place?  If you plan this correctly and get a one way outbound, you can always move your “return” flight (the one leaving the US) to a later point in time.  The beauty of Business class is that you can cancel or move your return flight without penalty the majority of the time.
• The Arbitrage Route: This is very similar to the previous one, but may not offer as much savings, but many times if you find an alternative departing or returning city you may find cheaper prices.  This is often due to geo-economic conditions.  For example, if you need to fly to Paris from Los Angeles, you might want to also check how much it costs to start in Denver, or San Francisco, or even New York, and then get a separate shorter fare that is cheaper to get to that “starting” destination.  And look at the bright side of it – you get to experience a new city at the same time (and rack up some frequent flier miles).  Use this tool to check multiple departure cities –  https://matrix.itasoftware.com/
• The Last Minute: If you purchase a ticket in economy or premium economy, when you get to the check-in desk your best bet is to ask the ticket agent how much it costs to upgrade.  Most airlines would rather make some money than upgrade their frequent flyers or leave seats unsold.  While some of you may know about this method, what you probably don’t know is that the ticket agents are allowed to BARGAIN.  Yup, whatever price they start with, go ahead and cut that in half… Who knew that flying Business on an Airline wasn’t that far off from buying spices at the bazaar?
• The Guaranteed “Cheap” Fares: There’s a few airlines that tend to carry the cheapest Business class tickets.  Yes, they may not offer 12 course meals ala Singapore Airlines, or service equivalent to a Four Seasons hotel, but hey.. if you’re like me you probably just want lots of free alcohol, decent food, and a lay flat seat.  For Europe, I highly recommend Norwegian Airlines and their Business class product.  Book ahead and you’ll find prices to be inline with economy on legacy airlines like Delta.  Russia’s Aeroflot is also a great Business class product at an affordable price, along with LOT airlines.  Not flying to Poland or Russia?  These airlines will only require you do a quick layover in their respective countries.  Or fly one of these “budget” Business class fares to a larger hub city and take the shorter portion of the route using another airline – remember, everything in Europe is pretty close anyway. If you’re flying to Asia, try out China Eastern, China Southern, Air China, or Xiamen Airlines. They’re government sponsored airlines so they’re able to compete at cheaper prices for Business class while offering new planes and quite a bit of luxury for the price (and don’t worry, they’re ranked as some of the safest airlines in the world).
• Find an Insider: Contrary to belief, the cheapest fares are NOT on the internet.  As a matter of fact, travel agents STILL have the best rates, and know how to game the system with their connections.  To do this, figure out where you want to go to, and find an “ethnic” local travel agent that has access to aggregated fares.  This is where they agree to purchase a number of tickets from an airline and as a result have a reduced rate.  Yea, this is one of those things where the Internet did NOT win it all.
• The Fifth Freedom Route:  This one is listed elsewhere, but since you’re reading I thought i’d mention it here.  Airlines are allowed to fly routes outside of their home country if the plane previously was flying a route within their country.  So in many cases you’ll find Business class fares for the price of economy on these routes.  For example – Emirates Airlines flies a route from Sri Lanka’s main airport to the Maldives, and an economy fare on the widebody Business class can cost as little as $200 each way!  To score these, just remember to look for Business class even when you think it’s impossible to get one without selling a kidney!

Let me know in the comments what you all think, and if you have some other tips that I haven’t mentioned.  Happy traveling and enjoy those lay flat seats and free champagne!

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TIPS, TRICKS, AND 'INSIDER INSIGHTS'... You'll find all this and MUCH more in my blog...

57 Travel Hacks (Your Survival Guide) Aidan 20 Comments

Whether you travel regularly for business or infrequently with family, ride at the front of the plane or the back, there are things you can do to make your life easier and more enjoyable during your trip.

This blog post is my answer to enjoyable travel.

It’s based on having clocked up over 500,000 miles in the air, having spent more time than I’d like in shitty airports, a small fortune on flights, and having traveled at both ends of the plane.

You’ll find a random selection of hacks and tips to help you get the best out of your travels. Including how to:

• Buy business class tickets at rock bottom prices
• Save 10% on ALL hotel reservations
• Slash your travel insurance bill by 1,000% or more
• Virtually eliminate jet-lag
• Sky-rocket in-flight productivity
• And comfortably get from A to B without stress and headaches

So dive into my Business Travel Survival List, and leave a comment to let me know what I’ve missed out.

Flight Selection & Bookings

1. kayak.com.

Use Kayak.com to find all the different combinations of flights that get you to and from your destination. Kayak lets you filter based on a range of factors, such as Price, Trip Duration, Layover Time, Business Class or Economy, Loyalty program and much more.

2. Book Direct

Where possible, and especially on long haul flights, book direct . Flights with connections or layovers are normally cheaper (and there are more options), but even the fastest connection is still going to add a few hours to your trip in most cases.

It’s not just the extra time that’s annoying, but depending on where the connection is, you might need to get your luggage again, pass through security again, and find your way to the boarding gate again. This is the case traveling internationally and having an internal connection.

For example, if I fly from Buenos Aires to Las Vegas, there is no direct flight, so I’ll always have a connection somewhere, usually in LA, Miami, Houston or Dallas. At the port of arrival I’ll need to get my suitcases, re-check my suitcases, pass through security and then finally get back to the gate and board again.

Sometimes connections are unavoidable, but whenever you can get a direct flight, if you can afford to take it, TAKE IT.

3. Always Fly At Night

If you’re flying long haul, fly at night.

This is normally how long haul fights are scheduled anyway, but there are often also day options. By flying at night you can sleep on the plane (which makes the journey seem shorter), get more day-hours on the ground at your destination, and save on a nights accommodation at your destination as well.

4. Use Loyalty Programs & Claim Your Air-miles

One World, Star Alliance and Sky Team are the three main frequent flyer loyalty programs, almost all carriers are part of one of these. Then individual airlines also run their own programs as well, so you can accumulate points for both by regularly flying with the same airline (or airlines from the same group).

By accumulating air-miles (also called Airpoints), you’ll be given a special status with your loyalty program (Gold Member, Silver Member, Bronze Member, etc) which will give you some interesting benefits such as:

• Cabin upgrades
• Access to VIP lounges at airports
• Free flights
• Free accommodation (at partnering hotels)
• Extra baggage
• Priority boarding
• Priority check-in
• Priority phone support
• Priority baggage claim (your suitcase will come out first)
• And a range of other benefits

Always make sure your loyalty program number is shown on your boarding pass, and that they’re added to your membership post-flight. Keep your boarding pass until you can see that your points have been added just in case something goes wrong and they’re not added (this has happened to me on a few occasions).

Last year I used my accumulated points for a free trip for my whole family to Mexico.

SIDE NOTE: I just used airpoints to book a long-haul international flight for my entire family. Cost to me? ZERO .

5. SeatGuru.com

I often use Seat Guru to make sure I’ve choose a good seat, and indeed a good aircraft to travel on. Different aircraft have different seat configurations, and some seats are better than others.

Do you want to be in a row of 2 seats, 3 seats, or 5? Close to the toilet or further away? In an emergency exit row (more leg room) or somewhere else?

Seat Guru shows aircraft maps with seating arrangements. Frequent travelers and Seat Guru experts share information on the pros and cons of each seat, and you can use this to choose a better seat (and aircraft) when booking.

6. Business Class

Cost permitting, travel in Business class. Any time I travel alone (without my 6 month old and my 2 year old) I travel in Business class.

Here’s why I choose Business class:

1. It means I can actually get a good sleep during my flight.

I arrive at my destination feeling refreshed and can hit the ground running. When traveling for work, this is really important. Imagine, if I only sleep 1-2 hours on a long haul flight from Buenos Aires to London (13 hour flight), I’ll be exhausted for my first day, and lose a huge amount of productivity. Conversely, if I sleep 6-7 hours on the flight, I arrive in good shape, ready to go.

Time is money for me , so I need to be careful with how I use it (I don’t want to be slumping around exhausted on day of arrival).

2. I can get work done during the flight.

Working on my laptop in an economy-sized seat is virtually impossible, but it’s easy for me to work in a Business class seat. How much is 5 hours of work worth to you? To me that alone is worth the price of the upgrade.

3. Better food and service.

These aren’t as important to me as the first two things above, but everything adds up. Priority service and better food options are a perk of traveling in Business class.

4. Mindset.

For me personally, traveling in Business class is a reminder that I am a successful person who travels in business class. This might sound vain, but it’s about training your mind to think in terms of abundance, not scarcity. Sure, I can save $2,000 by choosing to travel in economy, but assuming I can actually afford to travel in business, then taking the Business option is means I’m BEING the person I want to be, not falling into the frugal trap. More on this in my ‘ Recipe for Riches ‘ blog post.

Any one of reasons 1, 2, and 4 are enough for me to justify traveling in Business class, and #3 is a ‘nice to have’ benefit. By traveling in Business you also normally double or triple your reward miles (point #4), so that’s another little benefit.

One last thing to mention about this point, what helped me a lot when choosing to travel in Business class was simply adding it into my business budget . Once it’s in the budget, it’s accounted for, and you can stop stressing about the price tag.

7. Use ‘BCC’ To Buy Discount Business Class Seats

Click the button below to get the top 4 tips report and access to this tip!

8. Use Hotels.com To Book Accommodation

By using Hotels.com , you can save 10% on the cost of your accommodation.

It’s not that you’ll instantly save the 10%, but rather that after accumulating 10 nights of accommodation, Hotels.com give you one night free of charge (at the value of the average cost of your first 10 nights). This works out as a 10% cost saving.

Hotels.com also helps you find good deals and see customer reviews, so using it is a no-brainer in my opinion.

9. Airbnb.com

If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment, or a house, or perhaps just get a room in shared accommodation, then Airbnb.com is a great option. I normally use Airbnb when traveling with my family, as it means we can get a bigger more comfortable place.

10. Ask For An Early Check-In And Late Check-Out

If you need an early check-in or late check-out, ask for it when you make your booking, and you’ll get it about half the time at no extra cost. If you book over the phone, the odds of having it added on as a free bonus increase even more (versus asking via email).

And if you’re not given this for free, consider paying extra for it.

When I arrive at my destination, the last thing I want to do is need to kill time for hours before getting access to my room. I want to get to my room, safely store my luggage, have a shower and freshen up. If possible, I always try to get an early check-in or late check-out.

11. Check Weather At Destination

Quite simply, know what waits you upon arrival, and pack accordingly.

12. Notify Your Bank

I’ve lost track of the number of times one of my credit cards will stop working while I’m at my destination. This happens when the bank suspends your credit card due to fraud concerns ( “why is Aidan using his credit card in Mexico?” ).

If you never use your card in London, and all of a sudden there are a bunch of purchases, then it means you’re in London using the card, or someone else has your card and is using it. Some banks default to the defensive strategy and suspend the card.

You can avoid this headache by telling your bank that you’ll be traveling prior to leaving.

 13. Get Some Local Cash

Although not as important these days, I always try to travel with some local currency so that I have something when I hit the ground. I find it useful for things like tipping and it’s a good plan B in case there are no ATM’s near where you’re staying or if you need to buy something where credit cards can’t be used.

14. Pre-Plan Travel To/From Airport At Destination

Chances are you know the best ways to get to the airport in the town where you live, but what about at your destination?

Jumping in a taxi is NOT always the best or fastest option.

On my trip to London last month, I made a rookie mistake and failed to pre-plan my travel from the airport to my hotel. I was tired, and I took the “easy option” by jumping in a cab. I thought I’d avoid rush hour traffic, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The trip from Heathrow to my hotel took 2 hours, and cost double what I would have paid if I’d taken the express train (which arrives in 30 minutes!). I should have known better, I’ve travelled to London a dozen times and this was the first time it ever occurred to me to take a taxi in to my hotel. #BrainExplosion

Don’t fall into the same trap.

Do a Google search prior to leaving, and find out the best way for you to get to your hotel. Worst case scenario, Uber is always a cheaper option than a taxi (normally about half the price in fact).

15. Travel Paperless, Download Flight Details To Your Phone

There’s no need to print out your boarding passes or itinerary these days. I normally just download it all to the Books app on my phone.

Make sure you also download (or save somewhere) the details of where you need to get to once you land (hotel address), and the best way to get there.

16. Save $1,000’s On Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can get very expensive. Click the button below to access tip #16, which is part of my ‘Top 4 Travel Hacks’ guide (which you can download):

17. Pre-Charge Electronic Devices

Give your gadgets a charge prior to your flight. If you have delays anywhere along your flight, then hopefully you’ll have enough juice to stay connected and/or entertained.

Side Note: I don’t fly with a power-bank (travel power pack). I’ve just never needed one, and with all the other gizmos I take with me, this is something I’ve avoided adding. More on the gizmos I do take with me shortly.

18. Exercise On Day Of Travel

This is an easy way to improve your sleep during the flight. Burn off excess energy by getting a workout in on the day you travel.

Side Note: I sometimes also avoid coffee, coke, or any other stimulant on the day I travel. It seems to help me get a better sleep. The caveat to this is when I WANT to stay away to work during a flight.

19. Set Up Your ‘Out of Office’ Email Reply

Depending on why you’re traveling, you may want to set up an ‘out of office’ automated email reply.

Even if you can check emails during your trip, setting one of these up takes the pressure off, and will throttle the number of emails you get (because people who regularly email you will normally stop after getting the first auto-reply).

All email providers offer this. Here’s the message I use:

20. Pre-Plan Meetings, Dinners and Appointments

This is especially important when traveling for work. Normally my business trips are jam-packed with face-to-face meetings, and plenty of dining.

By booking these in advance, or at least knowing when you need to meet with whom, you can optimize your time on the ground.

21. Use The Airport Lounges

If you’re flying Business class or have been using a loyalty program (tip #4), then chances are you have access to a VIP lounge.

I normally use these prior to flying as they’re quieter, and have food and drinks available free of charge, and faster and more reliable internet.

Side Note: First Class lounges are even kitted out with showers, which may seem weird at first (I thought I’d NEVER use them), but having used them on several occasions during long connections, I’m now a believer!

22. Eat Before Flying

One of the reasons people struggle to sleep during a flight is because they’ve just eaten, and often in an uncomfortable and weird sitting position.

If I have a night flight, I like to eat dinner prior to boarding, and then when I’m on the plane I can either work, sleep or simply enjoy the in-flight entertainment, but I try to avoid eating too much.

During Your Flight

23. Stay Hydrated

Flying at 30,000 feet in an air-conditioned and pressurized cabin takes a toll on your body. One easy hack to get around this is to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated doesn’t solve everything, but does take care of a good number of the stresses you’ll be exposed to.

My simple hack here is to drink a minimum of 100mL of water for every hour you fly. So on a 10 hour flight, you need to drink 1L of water.

If you drink alcohol during your flight, then add the same volume of water as alcohol on top of the 100mL/hour trick.

For example, if your flight is 10 hours, and you have three glasses of wine, then at a minimum you should drink 1L of water (for the 10 hours) PLUS three glasses of water to compensate for the wine.

Try it out… see how it makes you feel 🙂

24. Sleeping Pills

I don’t take pills that knock me out… but if I’m too alert or just really want to ensure I get some good sleep time, then I use CVS Sleep-Aid:

I’ve found that for me, taking this really has no side effects… I don’t feel drowsy when I wake up, and it’s not going to knock me out, it just means that I quickly go back to sleep if someone bumps into me or my seat, or if there is a lot of turbulence.

25. In-Flight Wi-Fi

More and more long-haul flights offer Wi-Fi these days, and it’s getting more and more reliable as well.

If you want to work during your flight, then investing $15 to use Wi-Fi is just a no-brainer. On a recent flight I was able to knock out three hours of email replies during my flight… was that worth $15? Yes. I would have paid a lot more in fact!

If in-flight Wi-Fi is important to you, check whether or not your flight has it when booking your tickets.

26. Inflatable Pillow

Hopefully you’re traveling Business class and won’t need this, but if you are in economy, invest in a $10 inflatable pillow, it might help sleep better.

Carry On Luggage

27. Suitcase versus Backpack

The great debate: is it better to travel with a 4-wheel roller suitcase or a backpack?

Here’s my take on the pros and cons of each:

4-Wheel Roller Suitcase

Firstly, if you’re going to use a suitcase, the 4-wheel rollers are FAR better than the 2-wheel options. Suitcases are better than backpacks when you need more packing space (they have more capacity) and don’t want to carry anything.

If I travel with a backpack, I make sure it’s ‘travel optimized’, meaning it has special compartments for laptops, cables, and so forth.

Backpacks trump suitcases in terms of ease-of-access during security scanning (you can whip out your laptop in a couple of seconds), they can go at your feet during the flight for easy access, and are sometimes handy to have at the destination.

For me personally, if I don’t need the capacity of a suitcase, I go with the backpack option.

In either case though, I always take a small backpack in addition to the big one (or the suitcase) which I refer to as my ‘Day Pack’. This is what I keep handy during flight, and use when I’m out and about at my destination.

The ‘Day Pack’ (during flight, my ‘Flight Pack’)

As mentioned above, the ‘Day Pack’ is something I use in-flight so that I’ve got easy access to everything I need (without needing to get my backpack or suitcase down), and is also handy once you’re at your destination.

Here’s a list of what my Day Pack has during flights…

Just in case the in-flight food is terrible, or in case I’m hungry, I always have a couple of protein bars I can chow down on in my Day Pack.

I often use my iPhone to listen to music during the flight, so it needs to be included in my Day Pack.

30. Spotify

Not a physical item, but rather something I have added to my phone with pre-downloaded playlists for in-flight music entertainment.

31. Noise Cancelling Headphones

These are a must have. The constant engine hum or crying babies will drive you insane otherwise. I use Bose QuietComfort 35, and they’re great. They’re wireless, which is ESSENTIAL, as it means you’ve got one less cable to worry about.

Side Note: Having travelled with babies myself many times, I always feel for the parents who battle through long flights with babies in tow. As a parent, sometimes there’s nothing you can do to console a crying baby mid-flight (especially when they’re in pain or uncomfortable).

32. Apple Airpods

I love these things. I mainly use them while I’m walking through airports or in transit to and from airports. They take up zero space, and a full charge gives you plenty of juice for hours.

33. Multi-Plug Adaptor

When traveling in business you can plug your gadgets in, but sometimes you may need an adaptor, depending on what airline you’re using. Having a multi-adaptor handy is also useful when passing through airport lounges.

I take my MacBook Pro with me when I travel. I’m use to it, I can easily work from it, and it’s not too big… it JUST fits in my Day Pack.

Side Note: Some of my friends prefer to travel even lighter, and take the likes of the 12″ or 13″ MacBooks. I don’t have a second laptop, but if I did I think it’s be useful when flying!

35. Ear Plugs

If you’re traveling in Business, you’ll get some of these given to you. If you’re in economy, buy some before you leave (they’ll cost less than $1). I don’t actually use these, I prefer over-air noise cancelling headphones, but I know plenty of people who prefer inner-air noise cancelling.

36. iPad Pro (or other tablet)

This is a big part of my in-flight entertainment plan. I use my iPad to watch movies that I’ve previously downloaded (so I don’t need to rely on the in-flight screen or movie options). I also use my tablet for reading using the Kindle app.

37. Netflix

Just like Spotify, you can add Netflix to your tablet (or phone) as an app, and download movies or TV shows prior to flying. It removes the chance of ending up on a long flight without entertainment.

38. A Good Book

From time to time I travel with a physical book, but normally I prefer an eBook on Kindle (saves space and weight, and can be read in the dark).

39. Glasses and Sunglasses

I always take these in my carry-on, as I’d hate to be without them at my destination if there was an issue with my checked baggage.

40. Toothbrush / Toothpaste

I like to brush my teeth after main meals on flights, it freshens me up, and is a good excuse to stretch my legs.

As a precautionary measure, I always carry a little pouch with an assortment of medications in my Day Pack (flight pack). This includes ibuprofen, paracetamol, sore throat lozenges, and other everyday meds.

From time to time these com in handy, and I have no idea why this is, but the airlines do not tend to carry these kind of household medications.

Luggage & Packing

Let’s start with the actual suitcase.

 42. Large 4-Wheel Roller Suitcase

I recommend a large 4-wheel roller suitcase. The brand doesn’t really matter, but you need something robust, with zips that won’t burst open. I’ve used Samsonite for the past decade and have never had an issue.

Side-Note: If you’re doing adventure tourism, you may want to use a hiking backpack instead of a suitcase. I convinced my wife that backpacking for 6 weeks in South-East Asia would be an awesome way to spend out honeymoon (it was!), and we each travelled with a big hiking pack. These are NOT good for living out of (a suitcase is so much more convenient), but they are great for people who are on the move, and need to walk with their gear from place to place.

43. Suitcase Inside a Suitcase

If you plan on going on a spending spree or buying anything sizeable at your destination, then taking a suitcase inside your main suitcase is a good option. It means you can travel to your destination with one piece of luggage, and return with two.

44. Packing Cells

A friend of mine told me about these a few years ago, and I’ve used them ever since. They help in a couple of ways, firstly by dividing different things into different little cells which makes it easier to find things at the destination (all socks in one cell, t-shirts in another, etc), and it also helps optimize bag space. These are a regular feature for me on every trip.

45. Roll Up Your Clothes

I don’t do this with every item of clothing, but the roll-up trick can be useful for some types of clothes. I normally use the roll up trick for jackets and jeans which won’t end up full of creases.

46. Travel Friendly Toiletry Bag (Dopp Kit)

I have a friend who travels with his toiletries in a zip-lock bag, but I like the benefit of having different compartments and a way to keep all my items organized. You can find hundreds of good options on Amazon. My preference (and this comes down to taste really) is to go with a hanging toiletry bag or a regular ‘dopp kit’ style design.

47. Approved Bag Locks

I lock my suitcases with approved locks. This is probably mainly paranoia, but I know that if someone wants to get into my bag, they’ll have to do it by opening the lock… it won’t be easy for anyone unauthorized baddie to do that.

As I’ll discuss later, these locks come in handy at the destination as well.

At Your Destination

The final set of tips I have are related to the destination.

48. Open Table App (or similar)

This is handy for booking dinner reservations without needing to call anyone. A couple of clicks on your smartphone, and you can have a table reserved (you can also see reviews from other customers).

49. The Las Vegas Room Upgrade Trick

An oldie but a goodie. When you check in to a Las Vegas hotel, slip the receptionist a tip IN ADVANCE for her help, and at the time of giving them a tip, as if they’ve got any upgrades available.

I’ve used this on several occasions, they biggest win for me came when I was staying in Las Vegas (in The Vdara) for 3 weeks. I gave the receptionist a $100 tip and they upgraded my regular room, to an enormous corner suite on the 52 nd floor. They ALSO gave me vouchers for the lobby deli, and upgraded me to their premium wifi… so I actually SAVED money, as I would have been using that deli and upgrading to the Wi-Fi anyway.

50. City Mapper App

City Mapper is a free app that shows you the best ways to get from A to B once you’re at your destination. It analyzes different means of transport and traffic, and shows you how long each option will take. Here’s an example screenshot:

As you can see, it shows me how to navigate through a subway system and where I’d need to walk.

It’s simple, and works offline (as long as you’ve done the search while connected to wifi). This doesn’t work in every city, but most major cities are now included.

51. Local Sim Card

Depending on your Roaming plan, you might not need this. Given that I travel to the USA regularly, I have a USA Sim Card which I slot into my phone before I land. It means I have data the moment I land, and the ability to use the likes of Uber, make calls, and just be connected in general (and since I use a local Sim Card while in the USA, it’s dirt cheap).

52. VPN (Virtual Private Network)

I use a VPA to ensure I don’t get locked out of different accounts. For example, if I try to login to PayPal while outside of Argentina, there’s a good chance it’ll lock me out. Facebook is now doing something similar (at least for me), where it requires multi-factor login steps if I’m logging in from outside of Argentina. A VPN can side-step these issues.

Side-Note: Using my VPN also means I can watch my regular Netflix shows if they are not shown in the countries I’m visiting.

53. Yelp & Trip Advisor

I use Yelp to find places to eat and Trip Advisor to find things to do. Both give reviews from other traveler, so I can normally avoid bad experiences.

54. Lock Down Valuables At Hotel

I always make use of the hotel in-room safe for my passport and other valuables. If I have my room cleaned, I normally also throw a travel padlock on my bag.

This might sound like an extreme measure, but I’ve heard horror stories of things going missing from friends who travel a lot… better to be safe than sorry!

55. Get Out And About The Day You Arrive

This is especially important when changing time zones. Getting out and about, and especially getting sunlight, is the fastest way to reset your body clock and eliminate jet lag and tiredness.

56. Get Some Exercise The Day You Arrive

In addition to the tip above, getting a workout in will further speed up getting over jet-lag (or even eliminate it altogether).

It’s easy to get stressed out when traveling, try to relax and go with the flow. There are plenty of things you can control, but even more things that are beyond your control. I always remind myself that it’s a privilege to be able to travel, and to enjoy myself as much as I can regardless of whether everything unfolds according to plan or not. 

There you have it, my 57 travel hacks!

Don’t forget to download the free report which shares my TOP 4 tips, you can get that by clicking the button below:

What have I missed?

What do you swear by when traveling?

I’d love to know, and as always I’d love to read any comments or thoughts you may have, so comment below 🙂

To safe and enjoyable travel!

Aidan Booth

Like what you’ve read?

If so, then click the “GET STARTED” button below. I’ll send you my SEVEN Passive Income Blueprints' and more great content (100% FREE, no strings attached).

20 Comments so far:

Ohhhh, I’ve just realized I’ve been missing out on so much! Great post, thanks

Hehe, glad you like them!

Very interesting, I’ll be coming back to this before I next travel. Love the cheap business class tickets tip, will try that out.

Me too… this now serves as my personal checklist 🙂

I can attest to Kayak and SeatGuru, I travel a lot for work and always use those when booking!

YES! Steve Clayton put me on to these a few years ago, they really are great tools!

There are two types of travelers. The ones that pack light and the ones that wished they did. 🙂

I try to be the first type… but sometimes stray into the second group! 🙂

For kayak if you do a lot of travel, you can setup a rule in your email app to automatically forward emails with your itineraries to Kayak. This way all your trip details will be in the Kayak app for easy reference

I love that, I had no idea about this feature!

Hello Aidan, thanks for your post. One hint from me: Scan your passport, drivers licence, credit cards and other documents and upload everything into the cloud. If you lose one of these documents during your journey, you can download a copy of it. This might help you, to solve your problem with the auhorities.

Great tip, thanks Angelo!

I always assumed you’re a millionaire? A frugal millionaire?

Great tips though. A lot of them goes on MY travel checklist now, thanks.

Ha! I don’t think I’m frugal at all.. but if I can get the same seat on a flight for $1000 less than recommended retail, and it takes no extra effort on my part, I’ll take it!

Hi Aidan: Apologies for detracting you from the topic of travelling. By the way, I am your newest disciple, having been attracted by your parallel profits program that I saw some time ago. I checked up with the support staff and they stated that the program is closed for now. Do you have any advice for me as to when I could get more information or when I could join the same? Truly, VG Sridharan

Hi VG, we are indeed closed I’m afraid! The best think you can do is get on the email list (you can sign up on this page), we’ll notify you when any new courses are released.

Hi Aidan, some solid hacks. I will travelling through Eastern Europe in September 2019, and these hacks will come in handy. Thanks Ross Tor’Bey

I’m sure you’ll come up with some more of your own, and I’d love to hear about them. Safe travels!

What VPN do you use? How do you make sure it works globally?

ExpressVPN 🙂

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Travel hacking 101: A beginner’s guide to travel hacking like a pro

When I started travel hacking 11 years ago, it was an obscure “hobby” that few had heard about and most dismissed as a scam . Nowadays, seemingly everyone is doing it to some degree. Whether getting in on the latest credit card promotion or snagging a first-class seat for the price of coach, travel hacking has become more popular than ever.

It’s the easiest way to save on travel and improve your experience. Utilizing travel hacking methods, you can fast-track your way to top-tier elite status and earn frequent flyer miles without ever stepping on a plane.

There is endless information about maximizing every dollar (and mile) spent. But if you’re new to this “game” and just want a simple explanation of how it works, you’ve come to the right place.

Here is everything you need to know about getting started with travel hacking.

What is travel hacking?

Travel hacking involves earning frequent flyer miles or points through non-traditional methods and redeeming them for nearly-free travel.

The most common travel hacks include leveraging credit card welcome bonuses for premium cabin flights and taking advantage of sweet spots and generous routing rules to get the best deal on award flights.

How much are points and miles worth?

Points are worth 1-2 cents each, depending on the loyalty program and how you use them. You’ll generally get the highest value by redeeming points for premium cabin flights and luxury hotel stays. Some programs impose a fixed value on points, depending on the fare cost. For example, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth 1.3 cents towards Wanna Get Away fares.

The same goes for transferrable rewards. Most of them are worth at least one cent each towards direct travel bookings. For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards® are worth 1.25 cents each towards direct travel bookings for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card  cardholders and 1.5 cents for those with a Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

The difference between points, miles, and rewards

Points, miles, and rewards are different types of loyalty currencies. There are exceptions, but airlines usually issue miles, while points come from hotel loyalty programs or bank rewards.

A good travel hacking strategy involves having a mix of all three currencies.

Transferable rewards

Thanks to their flexibility, transferable bank rewards are the gold standard of loyalty currency. You can transfer them to airline miles or hotel points, usually at a 1:1 ratio or better.

Examples of transferrable rewards include Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Venture Rewards miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and Citi ThankYou® points.

Airline miles

You might be wondering if it’s worth earning airline miles when you can just transfer your bank rewards points instead.

Well, you should earn airline miles from a co-branded airline credit card for several reasons. For starters, you can supplement welcome bonuses from airline cards with a bonus from a transferrable rewards card to reach your travel goals faster.

In addition, some airlines incentivize you to earn miles (through a co-branded credit card or otherwise). For example, American Airlines counts all co-branded credit card spending towards elite status. Meanwhile, Southwest Rapid Rewards issues the Companion Pass after you earn 125,000 points in a calendar year (which increases to 135,000 next year). Earning airline miles can pay off.

Hotel points

Hotel points can go a long way in reducing out-of-pocket travel expenses. You can earn hotel points from co-branded hotel credit cards, by shopping online, and even by participating in surveys. Hotel credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses, with perks like elite status and annual free nights.

Examples of hotel points you should consider earning include World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards.

How to start travel hacking

Travel hacking is fun and rewarding but can also be a lot of work. There is a wealth of information about ways to earn and burn points for maximum value. But if you’re just learning and want to know the basics, here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started.

Step 1: Set a goal

Before you embark on your travel hacking journey, you’ll want to set a goal. Are you hoping to redeem miles for international travel ? Or perhaps you’re saving up for a family trip to Disneyland. Regardless of your goals, it’s important to identify them early on to determine which credit cards and loyalty programs will help you get there.

Step 2: Choose your rewards program(s)

Once you’ve determined your travel goals, it’s time to pick your loyalty programs. Start with your home airport; if you live in an airline hub city, that airline can be a good starting point. There’s no sense in earning Southwest points if you live in Alaska. You might be better off with the Alaska Mileage Plan program since the airline serves the region and offers domestic and international partners. You’ll have more opportunities to redeem miles, and if you fly the airline often enough, you’ll even earn elite status.

When choosing a loyalty program, keep partner airlines in mind. For example, if you’re saving up for a Hawaiian vacation and want to fly United, you should consider collecting Turkish Miles&Smiles instead. Turkish Airlines is a Star Alliance member, like United, and offers domestic United flights for just 15,000 miles round-trip in economy. Exploring partner programs can help you save on award travel, stretching your miles further.

Choosing a hotel loyalty program might be easier. Think about which hotels you like when traveling and which elite benefits you care about. Most hotel loyalty programs let you earn top-tier status from credit cards alone, so think about which programs offer the best perks and properties in the destinations you like to travel to.

Here’s a look at every major hotel program’s global footprint to help you choose:

• Marriott Bonvoy: Over 8,000 properties in 139 countries
• Hilton Honors: Over 7,000 hotels in 122 countries
• Choice Privileges: Over 7,000 hotels in 40 countries
• IHG One Rewards: Over 6,000 properties worldwide
• Radisson Rewards: Over 1,700 hotels worldwide
• World of Hyatt: Over 1,150 hotels in 70 countries

While it’s good to identify at least one airline and hotel program, you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. Try to collect at least one transferable rewards currency, so you’re not limited to only a few programs.

Transferrable rewards can also protect you against program devaluations — if one airline or hotel increases its redemption requirements, you can transfer your points to another.

Here are some of the most popular transferrable rewards programs:

• American Express Membership Rewards®
• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One Miles
• Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Citi ThankYou® Rewards

Step 3: Choose a credit card

Once you’ve identified the loyalty program you want to earn points with (and incorporated at least one transferrable currency), it’s time to find a credit card.

When choosing a credit card, you should consider the following features:

Welcome bonus

A high welcome bonus will help you achieve your travel goals much faster. Some credit card bonuses are high enough to cover a round-trip international business class ticket. You’ll incur a 2-5 point credit score hit from every inquiry, so make it count. You should aim for a welcome bonus of at least 50,000 points, and plenty of cards meet that criteria.

Credit card application rules

Remember that some banks have strict application rules when applying for credit cards. For example, American Express limits welcome bonuses to one per lifetime. Meanwhile, Chase’s infamous 5/24 rule prevents you from being approved for a new card if you’ve had five or more in the last 24 months.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with these rules before applying for a card to avoid unnecessary rejection.

Travel perks

Many travel rewards cards come with valuable perks like elite status, airport lounge access, airline fee credits, and annual free nights. Think about which of these perks you’re likely to maximize every year. Doing so can help you choose the best credit card and figure out if the card is worth renewing every year.

Annual fees

Travel hacking can get expensive if you’re not careful about annual fees. Rewards credit card annual fees range from $89-$695. It’s easy to get tempted by a high welcome bonus, but annual fees can dent your travel budget if you’re not careful.

Before settling on a credit card, explore the lower or no-annual-fee version to see if it’s a better fit.

For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may seem appealing with its welcome bonus, but you’ll pay a lower annual fee with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card .

Step 4: Other ways to earn points

Credit card welcome bonuses are the fastest way to earn points, but they’re not the only way. You can earn points from shopping portals, dining rewards programs, completing surveys, and more.

Shopping portals:

• American AAdvantage eShopping
• Alaska Mileage Plan Shopping
• Delta SkyMiles Shopping
• Free Spirit Online Mall
• Hilton Honors Shopping Mall
• JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping
• United MileagePlus Shopping

Dining rewards programs:

• American AAdvantage Dining
• Alaska Mileage Plan Dining
• Delta SkyMiles Dining
• Free Spirit Dining
• Hilton Honors Dining
• IHG Rewards Club Dining
• JetBlue TrueBlue Dining
• Marriott Eat Around Town
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining
• United MileagePlus Dining

Airline companion passes

Airline companion passes are one of the best travel hacking tools to stretch your points further. Some passes are issued annually as a credit card benefit, while others have to be earned. In most cases, you can save 50% or more on airfare with a companion pass.

Here’s a look at companion passes you should consider adding to your travel hacking arsenal:

Alaska Airlines Famous Companion Fare

The Alaska Airlines Famous Companion Fare is a great travel hacking tool for west coast flyers. The pass is issued as part of the welcome bonus on the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card and reissued annually. Considering the Alaska card has a reasonable annual fee, this is a terrific benefit.

Simply book a companion on the same flight and pay just $99 (plus taxes and fees).

American AAdvantage

You can get an American Airlines Companion Certificate from one of four co-branded credit cards. The spending requirement ranges from $20,000 to $30,000 per year. Once you’ve secured the certificate, you can use it to cover a companion’s airfare for just $99 plus taxes and fees.

• Barclays Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard: Spend $20,000 in a year
• AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard: Spend $20,000 in a year
• AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard: Spend $30,000 in a year
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Spend $30,000 in a year

The American Airlines Companion Certificate is only valid on round-trip economy class tickets within the contiguous U.S. For Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Island residents, the pass is good for round-trip flights originating in those destinations.

British Airways Travel Together Ticket

The British Airways Travel Together Ticket is issued to British Airways Visa Signature® cardholders who spend $30,000 in a calendar year . This perk can take the sting out of high fuel surcharges imposed on British Airways award tickets transiting through London.

The Travel Together Ticket is valid in all cabins, including first class and international fares .

Delta Companion Passes

Delta has two companion passes: one is valid on economy class tickets only, while the one issued through the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card can be applied to first-class travel. You’ll pay just $80 for your companion’s ticket, which is a bargain — especially when using it for first-class flights.

Note that the Delta companion tickets are not valid on award flights or basic economy tickets.

Here’s a list of cards you can earn the companion pass with:

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Iberia airfare discount

Iberia offers a $1,000 airfare discount on two tickets booked on the same flight. You can earn it by spending $30,000 on the Iberia Visa Signature® Card per calendar year. It’s valid in all cabins, providing ultimate flexibility.

Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most popular travel hacking tools out there. You can get one after completing 100 segments or earning 125,000 Southwest points in a calendar year, though the requirement is increased to 135,000 points in 2023. However, points earned from the Southwest credit card welcome bonuses count towards the pass.

It only takes one business or one personal card welcome bonus to earn the Southwest Companion Pass:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card : Earn 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 within the first three months of account opening
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening

Redeeming points

You’ve accrued thousands of points and are ready to start booking your dream vacation. Now what? Redeeming points isn’t exactly easy, and that’s by design. Loyalty programs count on members not doing their due diligence to get as much out of their points and miles as possible.

While booking the first award that pops up in the search result is easy, that’s not the best way to stretch your points. Here are a few concepts you should familiarize yourself with to get the most out of your points:

Stopovers and open jaws

While a simple round-trip flight is great, you can stretch your points further by incorporating stopovers and open jaws into your flights.

A stopover is when you visit an additional destination on your way to your final destination or home. Several airline loyalty programs allow you to add a free stopover to award flights:

• Alaska Mileage Plan (free stopover on one-way awards)
• ANA Mileage Club ( one free stopover and one open-jaw on round-trip awards)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles ( up to four destinations per itinerary)
• Emirates Skywards (one free stopover per round-trip)
• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank ( three stopovers or two stopovers and one open-jaw )
• Singapore Krisflyer ( one stopover and one open-jaw per roundtrip flight )
• United MileagePlus (one free stopover within the same region per round-trip flight)

Open jaws are another great way to add a destination to your itinerary. An open jaw is when you return from a different destination than you flew into.

One example of an open-jaw ticket is if you fly from New York to London and then return home from Paris. Many people book this route with Avios because British Airways imposes hefty fuel surcharges on flights departing from London. Savvy travelers will take a train to Paris and fly back from Charles de Gaulle to save money.

But booking an open-jaw doesn’t have to be about saving money. It’s a great way to see multiple destinations on the same trip, especially in Europe, where connecting flights are relatively cheap. Here’s a list of loyalty programs that allow open jaws on round-trip award tickets:

Fourth and fifth night free

Some hotel programs offer free nights when you redeem points for consecutive nights at one property. These deals can help you save as much as 25% on an award stay. The most generous is IHG One, which offers a fourth night free to IHG Rewards Traveler, IHG Rewards Premier, and IHG Rewards Premier Business card members. Meanwhile, Marriott members and Hilton elites get the fifth night free on award stays.

These discounted award rates can help you save thousands of points and book extra free nights at no cost. Factor this into your award-booking strategy, and you’ll stretch your points further.

Take advantage of sweet spots

Sweet spots are awards that are significantly discounted compared to other loyalty programs. Both hotels and airlines have sweet spot awards that can help up your travel hacking game.

For example, Turkish Airlines offers round-trip economy class tickets between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii for just 15,000 miles. That’s what some loyalty programs charge for a one-way ticket, making this an excellent sweet spot award.

Travel hacking is all about finding ways to stretch your points further. You can do this with tactics like searching for generous credit card welcome bonuses, booking flights with stopovers and open jaws, taking advantage of hotel programs that offer free nights, and looking for airline sweet spots.

With a little bit of effort, you can travel hack your way to (nearly) free travel.

Happy travels!

About the author

Ariana Arghandewal

Ariana is a travel reward expert and founder of her own award-winning blog., PointChaser. She has worked as an editor and covered all things points, miles, and credit cards for over a decade across a number of personal finance sites.

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How to Travel Hack: Travel Hacking 101

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read  full disclosure  for more information.

You might have heard of people “hacking” their way to free business-class flights or swanky hotel stays—and you might have thought it sounded too good to be true. But travel hacking is a legitimate (and fun) hobby that can save you serious money on everything from luxurious beach getaways to backcountry road trips. 

Travel hacking can seem daunting at first, but the good news is you can make it as simple or complex as you want. In this guide to travel hacking for beginners, we’ll cover the basics of how to travel hack your way to free trips.

Table of Contents

The Basics of Travel Hacking

There are two basic tenets to becoming a travel hacker. No matter how detailed you want to go, whether you just want to give it a whirl or you’re hoping to become a Jedi Grandmaster Yoda-level hacker, it all boils down to this:

• Earning the most points and miles possible, and
• Finding creative ways to redeem your points and miles to get the most value out of them.

FREE TRAVEL QUIZ

Step 1: Earning Points and Miles

The best place to get started travel hacking is learning how to maximize the points you earn. The faster you rack up points, the sooner you’ll have enough for your dream vacation. Here are some of the simplest ways to accrue points as you learn how to travel hack.

The obvious way to earn points and miles is by traveling. Airlines, hotels, and rental car companies all have membership programs to encourage you to stay loyal to them, so every time you fly or spend the night, you get points.

This doesn’t mean you need to go signing up for a hundred accounts as soon as you start travel hacking. But every time you fly a new airline or stay in a new hotel chain, be sure to join their program so you can score those points. This is an important lesson for travel hacking beginners: Never leave points on the table!

Feeling overwhelmed already? I was too, even when I used to only fly one airline—because I could never remember my login info. Once I started travel hacking and got a few frequent flyer numbers, I made a spreadsheet to keep track of my login info. It’s made the whole process so much easier.

Airlines and hotels often run promotions, like “Book a flight in the next two months and get 5,000 bonus points” or “Stay two nights and earn double points.” These can be very useful to travel hackers. 

You usually have to register for promotions, which just means clicking a button. It’s helpful to log in to your loyalty accounts every couple of months to register for any promotions that have popped up, in case you end up booking something in the near future.

Last February I booked seven nights at a Hyatt in Maui using points. It totally slipped my mind that I had already registered for their 2022 New Year promotion. After my trip, I was surprised to find 2,022 bonus points for every two nights deposited in my account, which amounted to over 6,000 free points—for a stay that didn’t cost me a penny.

Dining Portals

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be on the road (or in an airport) every weekend to score serious points and miles. That’s because there are lots of ways to earn points other than traveling. For instance, many major airlines and hotel chains have dining “portals,” where you can earn extra miles or points when you eat out. 

Not all restaurants are on the portal, but for the ones that are, you can usually earn a few points per dollar. All you have to do is make an account for free and add your credit card information to link your card. Then when you visit one of the restaurants on the list, be sure to pay with your linked card to earn points.

Keep in mind these points are separate from any travel points your credit card earns (we’ll get to those in a minute).

The best part of dining portals is their promotions. Most will have one when you first sign up—for instance, when you join Southwest’s Rapid Rewards dining program, you’ll get 500 bonus miles the first time you dine as long as it’s in the first 30 days. Besides earning some extra points, it’s a fun way to discover new restaurants in your area.

Shopping Portals

Most airlines also have online shopping portals, which work a little differently. Once you’ve set up your account with your frequent flyer number, you click through the portal’s link to the online store you want. Then when you make a purchase, you earn extra points.

The number of points per dollar varies depending on the retailer and the day. For instance, right now on United’s MileagePlus shopping portal, you can earn 1 mile per dollar at Groupon and 5 miles per dollar at Sephora. Petsmart usually earns .5 miles per dollar, but they recently had a special where it increased to 10. I was almost out of dog food anyway, so you can bet I stocked up.

Travel Credit Cards

I saved the best—and trickiest—for last. If you live in the US, credit cards are the biggest avenue to earning points when you become a travel hacker. 

But in order for them to be worthwhile, you have to use them wisely. This means following the two cardinal rules of travel cards:

• Thou shalt not carry a balance on thy credit cards. 
• Thou shalt not spend more than thy normally would just to earn points.

If you have or expect to have credit card debt, this particular travel hacking method isn’t for you (yet). This is because travel credit cards have sky-high interest rates, so whatever points you earn will be offset by the interest you end up paying. 

If you’re comfortable with using credit cards responsibly and paying your balance in full every month, you’re ready to learn how to travel hack with credit cards—so read on.

Choosing the Right Card

The good news is, there are so many travel cards out there nowadays, there’s bound to be at least one that’s a great fit for you. The bad news is, the options can be overwhelming at first. 

For travel hacking beginners, I always recommend starting with a long-term strategy in mind. Find a card that’s a good fit for your lifestyle (more on that in a minute), and that you’ll want to keep in your wallet for years to come. 

Advanced travel hackers are constantly adding new cards, and sometimes canceling old ones, and they might have as many as 30 cards at any given time. I’m not there yet—I have a grand total of five cards, and I started out with just one. 

Choose one or two cards that make sense for you in the long run. Look at cards’ benefits, which include:

• Bonus points on certain categories of purchases, such as groceries, dining, or drugstores.
• Free travel. For example, the Southwest Priority card provides $75 in statement credits on Southwest purchases per year, while the World of Hyatt card provides one free night at a Hyatt hotel per year.
• Travel perks. Many cards offer perks that make travel more comfortable, like elite status at a hotel chain or access to airport lounges. 
• Other perks. These are as varied as the credit cards that offer them, ranging from Peloton membership to statement credits on groceries. If you use them, these perks can save you some serious cash.

Don’t forget to look at cards’ annual fees, too. Many people shy away from cards with fees, but trust me: they can be worth it. Just be sure to weigh the fee against the perks and points to make sure it’s worth it for you.

When people ask me what the best travel card is, I say it depends. It’s all about finding the right fit for you when you start travel hacking. If you’re loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain, you should look into their cobranded credit card options. If not, there are plenty of great all-purpose cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One VentureOne.

My favorite resource for anyone who wants to learn how to travel hack is The Points Guy . They have a ton of information, including detailed reviews of pretty much every travel card on the market.

Scoring the Signup Bonus

Once you have an idea of the right card for you, the first thing to consider is its signup bonus. To try to win your business, credit card companies offer lucrative signup bonuses of tens of thousands of points. When redeemed for travel, these bonuses alone can be worth thousands of dollars.

But you have to make sure you can earn the signup bonus, which usually requires a certain amount of spending in a certain amount of time, such as $4,000 in the first three months. This might seem like a lot, but it’s attainable for most people with some planning.

Going back to the second cardinal rule, don’t buy something you don’t want just to get the signup bonus. However, if there’s a big purchase you’ve been considering, it’s a good idea to time your new credit card to coincide with it. I’ve timed past credit cards with booking big trips, buying new furniture, and even getting LASIK in order to put these high-dollar purchases toward the signup bonus. 

If you aren’t redecorating your home or getting eye surgery anytime soon, the holidays are a good time for many people to get a new card. Wait until you’ve got that card in hand before buying gifts for your whole family. 

If that’s still not enough to reach your signup bonus, there are more creative ways to “inflate” your spending. Ask family members if you can buy their new furniture/Xbox/plane tickets and have them pay you back. When you go out with friends, pay the tab with your new card and have everyone Venmo you.

Which Card to Use?

When you become a travel hacker, you learn the importance of staying organized. It’s essential to keep track of your credit card perks and points, especially once you have two or three cards in your wallet.

I have a spreadsheet summarizing each card’s point structure, so I know which card to use for which purchases. For instance:

• I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred at restaurants and to book flights and hotels, because it earns 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 on travel.
• I use my Chase Freedom Flex at drugstores, which earn 3 points per dollar.
• I use my Southwest Priority card on Southwest purchases, which earn 3 miles per dollar, and on cable and internet bills, which earn 2 per dollar.
• I use my World of Hyatt card for Hyatt purchases, which earn 4 Hyatt points per dollar, and for gym memberships, which earn 2 per dollar.
• For everything else I use my Capital One Venture One, which earns a flat rate of 1.25 points on all purchases.

The goal is to get as many points as possible on stuff you’d be buying anyway. Of course, you want to make sure the points are points you can actually use. For example, If you always stay in AirBnBs when you travel, it makes no sense to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on a cobranded Marriott card. 

If this sounds too complicated, I get it. I was overwhelmed at first, but after a while it started to make sense—and it started to be fun . You might hear some travel hackers referring to “the points and miles game,” because that’s what it feels like. It should be fun, so go as in-depth (or not) as you want.

Now that you know how to accrue points, the next step in learning how to travel hack is making the most out of them when you redeem them. We’ll cover this in the next blog post. Until then, happy earning!

Step 2: Redeeming Points and Miles

If the first step of learning how to travel hack is earning as many points and miles as possible, the second is redeeming them. There are as many ways to redeem points as there are to earn them, so we’ll start with the heavy hitters to kick off your travel hacking journey.

Credit Card Portals

Most travel card companies nowadays have their own travel “portal,” a website where you can book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more—and a place where you can spend the points you’ve earned on your card. 

Sometimes you can book travel on these portals and pay directly with your points; other times you’ll pay cash and then get reimbursed as a statement credit. Either way, it comes out to free travel!

Usually the rate is one point to one cent. So for instance, a $500 flight would cost 50,000 points, giving you a value of 1 cent per point. Sometimes it’s a little higher—like on the Chase portal, where you can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a value of 1.25 cents per point, lowering the cost of your $500 flight to 40,000 points.

This is the easiest way to redeem your miles, but not the most valuable. Since the second step to becoming a travel hacker is getting the most value from your points, you want to aim for more than 1 cent per point. 

The Points Guy regularly updates their points and miles valuations , which you can use as benchmarks for your redemptions. For instance, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are currently valued at 2 cents per point. So most travel hackers would consider a “good” redemption one where you get at least 2 cents each out of your points.

However, as with credit cards, it all depends on what works for you. If you just want the simplest way to spend your points, there’s no shame in using the portal—and you’re still getting free travel that you otherwise would have to pay for. 

But if you’d like to go a little deeper into how to travel hack, here are some other ways to get even more value from your points.

Travel Partners

Generally the best, or most lucrative, way to spend your points is by transferring them to travel partners. This can send the value of your points skyrocketing—but it can also get complicated pretty fast. Let’s walk through the basics.

Credit card companies like Chase, Capital One, Amex, and Citi all have a roster of travel partners, including airlines, hotel chains, and sometimes rental car companies. This list varies from company to company, and new partners are added fairly often. You can transfer your credit card points to your membership account on one of these transfer partners. 

For example, since United is a transfer partner of Chase, you can go into the Chase website, type in your United frequent flyer number, and tell Chase to deposit some of your points into your United account. (Typically you must deposit them in increments of 1,000.) 

Then when you go into your United account, you’ll suddenly have miles—even if you’ve never flown United in your life. You can then use these points to pay for award flights on United.

Returning to our earlier example, the $500 flight we looked up on the Chase portal might only cost 20,000 United miles when booked through the United website. This comes out to an excellent value of 2.5 cents per point.

Transfer partners are a great way to use your points, but there are some things to consider. First of all, you’ll need to set up a loyalty account with the airline or hotel you want. You often need to do this just to search for award flight/night availability, so it’s helpful to set up those accounts early. 

Also, keep in mind that once you transfer credit card points to travel partners, you can’t transfer them back. Only transfer them once you know that partner has the flights/nights you want, and make your award booking immediately after transferring the points—because the price could change at any time.

I used this technique for my first big hack, when I was still a beginner to travel hacking. I had just gotten my Chase Sapphire Preferred card and earned a whopping 100,000 points for the signup bonus, plus a few thousand more from the first few months of spending. I found a Hyatt hotel in Maui that cost only 15,000 points per night when booked using Hyatt points. I had just enough Chase points to cover seven nights. 

I had never stayed at a Hyatt in my life. But I made a loyalty account, transferred 105,000 Chase points to Hyatt, and a few minutes later had booked a week in Maui entirely free of charge. To book this hotel in cash would have cost over $300 per night, plus taxes and fees (which Hyatt doesn’t charge on award stays). I ended up paying exactly zero and getting a value of 2.2 cents per point—not bad!

Free Travel or Better Travel?

If you ask the experts how to travel hack, the answers will be mixed because there are a couple of different approaches. One is to get as much free stuff as possible so you can stretch your dollars over more trips. 

Another is to use points and miles to elevate your travel experience. This means relaxing in airport lounges, getting more comfortable airplane seats, or enjoying the perks of elite status at hotels for much less than these things would normally cost.

When I was first learning how to travel hack, I was in the first camp. But I’ve recently started to understand why so many travel hackers are prioritizing travel luxury over savings when harnessing their points and miles.

On a recent trip to Paris, I wanted to pay for my and my partner’s flights with points. I had a stockpile of Capital One miles, and Air France is one of their travel partners. I found economy seats for around 60,000 Air France miles round-trip, for flights that normally would have cost upwards of $1200. This came out to a value of around 2 cents per point, compared to the valuation of 1.85 cents for Capital One miles.

With free plane tickets in hand, we’d cut the cost of our Paris trip down by over half. But when we checked in for our flight the night before, we started exploring seat upgrade options. We thought we might spend an extra $50 per person to get a little extra legroom. Then we saw that we could upgrade to business class—including lie-flat seats—for $400 per person. We’d never flown business class, and a business-class flight to Paris would normally cost over $3000, so we decided to splurge and try it. 

After sleeping through the overnight flight in the comfort of my own personal pod, complete with three-course meal and hot towels, I was hooked. Now I’m planning to learn how to travel hack not just for free trips, but to make my travel experiences more memorable.

Final Thoughts: How to Travel Hack

If you want to become a travel hacker, you can choose whatever style works for you. When you start travel hacking, think about your travel and financial goals and how you can use points and miles to achieve them. There’s no right or wrong. 

But I think I’ll add a third cardinal rule to my list: Travel hacking should be fun. Think of it as a game. You’re not competing with anyone else, just solving points and miles puzzles to go on whatever trip you want. 

Don’t stress about learning all the ins and outs of how to travel hack just yet. Start with a couple of small steps, and go from there. Explore some travel hacking blogs and sign up for their newsletters (I read the Points Guy’s religiously). Learn at your own pace, and soon you’ll be hacking your way to your dream vacation.

Want to keep reading? Check out these posts next:

• 12 Delicious Food Tours in Munich to Book
• 13 Mouth-Watering San Francisco Food Tours
• 11 Tasty Food Tours in Chicago, Illinois

Rachel Craft started traveling after being cooped up for a year during the pandemic, and now she’s hooked. She loves hiking, biking, snorkeling, and discovering vegan eats in the places she visits. When she’s not busy exploring, she writes fantasy and sci-fi stories for children and teens. You can learn more about her writing at www.racheldelaneycraft.com.

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8 Hacks How to Get Cheap Business Class Tickets

Flying Business Class travel has always been much more exciting than the economy. Business Class flights offer passengers many more conveniences and opportunities , so you have a pleasant and much more comfortable flight. 

Especially when it comes to long international flights that are over 6 hours, it is worth considering the option of traveling in business class.

As we know, however, business class tickets are much more expensive than economic ones. It often proves to be an obstacle for us to reap the benefits that this class provides us, especially when it comes to traveling with family and children.

Of course, there is no denying that more spacious seats, food, priority boarding, and many other amenities are why many passengers choose the business class. But as we have already shared, there is only one obstacle to the dream trip – the cost of business class tickets. 

But don’t worry. In this article, we will share some exciting hacks on how to find cheaper business class flights. Take a look and try them, and we’ll be happy to know that they did an excellent job for you. 

Watch For a Great Deal on Google Flights or Skyscanner

If you do not have to travel often, you certainly do not have the experience to look for cheap tickets, whether economy or business class. We recommend that you start tracking tickets on Google Flights or Skyscanner that help you find international flights. 

You don’t even know how reasonable prices can come out and how much it will cost to buy a business class ticket than economy class ticket. In addition, we recommend that you start earlier. Research well and follow regularly to find the excellent ticket price.

Be Flexible With Your Dates

If you are looking for airline tickets for specific days , the chances of finding business class tickets at good prices are extremely low. Leave the fields blank, do not fill in any dates, and see what offers you will get. 

Usually, airline ticket prices are incredibly high on public holidays and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays . And let’s not forget that as the desired date of travel approaches, the prices for flight tickets are getting higher. And the price difference can be either minimal or start at $1,000.

Buy a Business Class Seat in a Package

Did you know that you can bundle a business class seat with a hotel? Thus, the price of airline tickets in business class is much cheaper. If you are hearing for the first time, this is a great idea for finding cheaper business class tickets. 

Also, another hack is that if you don’t like the hotel, you can only pay for one night and take your cheap ticket.

Get Notifications From a Deal Alert Service for Cheap Cash Fare

Another great idea is to use the professional services of a company that will do it for you. 

The advantages of this are that it will be much easier for you, especially if you are looking for business class tickets for the first time , you rarely have to travel by plane, or you are not so familiar with the opportunities offered by different major airlines. 

And, believe us, you can find great deals on business class tickets , as long as you know how to search.

Image source: unsplash.com

Redeem Points For an Upgraded Seat

Many airlines have loyalty programs that aim to offer passengers the opportunity to take advantage of reasonable business class travel offers. For example, cashing out points can give you a much better price for an upgraded ticket than buying it in cash.

And, of course, this requires planning and a little more knowledge to know how to do it. It is advisable to follow tour groups and various websites where you can get a lot of helpful information about different ways to get a much cheaper business class ticket. 

See If Buying Points Makes Sense

As we shared, many airlines offer loyalty programs that aim to provide you with cheaper tickets. For example, you can buy points for an upgraded business class ticket, thus paying much less than purchasing the same ticket in cash. 

That is a perfect opportunity, as you can take advantage of the benefits that business class offers, but at much more affordable prices. 

Lesser-Known Airlines

Choosing the right airline is the key to finding cheap business class flights. In this regard, larger and well-known airlines, known for their Business and First Class, usually offer much higher ticket prices. And not each of them has the option to upgrade their business class tickets, making it impossible to find cheaper tickets.

On the other hand, however, newer airlines are just entering the market. They will undoubtedly be willing to work harder to impress passengers and make them choose them. 

In this regard, they can offer you much cheaper business and First Class tickets, saving hundreds of dollars per ticket. At the same time, they will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible during your flight, providing you with the perfect service. 

That is why do not neglect the opportunity to choose a newer and not so famous one . It has been proven that they try much harder than the bigger airlines because they are still building a name.

Buying With Cash and Upgrading With Points

Did you know that most airlines offer the option to buy flight tickets with cash and upgrade points? Yes, it is quite possible, but you need to know where and how to look for this option. 

In most cases, when you choose from different options for finding a ticket , it also has an advanced search. That is where you will have the opportunity to upgrade to business class.

But since each airline has its own specific ticket reservation processes, it won’t be easy to describe each of them in this article. To do this, you will need to search for more information on the airline’s website or contact a travel advisor to assist you. 

One thing is for sure, buying award-winning business class tickets is one of the best ways to find cheap tickets. 

Considering these few easy steps, we are sure that you will find the perfect flight for you and your family. The conveniences and benefits that business class offers are many, so it is worth spending more time to find cheaper tickets for business class.

Economy class offers tickets at much more affordable prices . Still, if you compare what it offers you and the benefits you can take advantage of in business class, you will find that the cost of airline tickets for economy class is not worth it. 

And if you are still not sure that you will be able to find cheap tickets, you can always turn to travel advisors who will help you find the perfect flight for you.

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My first experience flying business class

By: Author Monica

Categories Review

I’ll admit it; when I flew business class with bmi I was like an excitable school girl. I felt like I should have been doing my best to remain cool, calm and composed and blend in with the sleek and stylish travellers that surrounded me but I was far too excited for that kind of sophistication.

Yes, I was the person taking photos in the platinum lounge and scoffing my face with tasty treats like like I hadn’t been fed all week. I was the one who ‘ooo’d’ and ‘arrr’d’ on the massage chairs as I watched the planes take off and I was that person who got drunk on champagne at 10am.

I generally don’t mind flying and find that the excitement of going somewhere new outweighs the squished in conditions, long queues and the boredom of a flight. But travelling business class elevated it from bearable to downright bloody amazing.

Being able to stretch out and sit comfortably, eat some delicious food and take the time to relax and unwind before and after a holiday is simply the best.  You arrive feeling refreshed rather than harassed and, as a blogger, I had plenty of space to catch up on some much needed work.

The flight to Moscow

We whizzed through the check-in desk at Heathrow in a matter of minutes and made our way through the crowds towards the diamond lounge where we were greeted with broad smiles, fresh coffee and the kind of tranquillity I didn’t know was possible in an airport.

After settling into a plush sofa overlooking the runway we tucked into a breakfast feast of mini bacon baps, warm pastries and fresh fruit before sitting back to watch the planes take off and imagine the exotic destinations people were travelling to.

I was almost disappointed to leave the lounge and board the plane but I soon forgot my disappointment when I was stretched out with a glass of champagne, a fleecy blanket and some of the friendliest cabin crew I’ve ever come across.

The on-board chef welcomed us onto the flight, recommending the Merlot and taking our order for the three course meal. I opted for a muesli compote followed by a warm salmon and potato hash and finished up with a banoffee pie. On the return journey I indulged in smoked beef, fillet steak and a selection of individual cheesecakes.

The 4 hour flight to Moscow literally flew by and, fuelled by champagne and our inflight feast, we were more than ready to tackle the sights and sounds of Moscow.

This flight was courtesy of bmi (thanks guys) but I now have a little problem…I never, ever, want to fly cattle class again!

It doesn’t matter where you’re sat on the plane when you have views like this!

Has anyone else ever been treated to a little luxury on their travels and not wanted to go back to the budget option?

Luxury in the sky: Flying Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic | The Travel Hack

Friday 15th of November 2013

[…] Class with Virgin Atlantic is the best way you can possibly travel. I’ve only ever flown business class before so this was something else. The only problem I have now is how I’m going to go back to […]

Monday 15th of April 2013

Oh you are so right, it sucks going back to economy after flying business...but the pain is worth it ;)

Saturday 9th of March 2013

Have been upgraded after re-book due to snowstorm. Have paid for 1st class twice from SFO to San Juan, PR. Worth every penny. My husband is 6'3" and a fairly large man. The space is ideal and the food and drink refreshing. I, too, say, "Let's keep flying!"

TheTravelHack

Sunday 10th of March 2013

Lucky you! I can't imagine how tough it must be to fly long haul if you're tall. I'm only 5'4 and I find it a squish so it must be well worth the upgrade!

Saturday 29th of September 2012

Oh my goodness, I totally agree that it is near-impossible to go back to economy after flying business. I got upgraded once on a flight from the Maldives to Sri Lanka. Maldives was just my transit airport and I'd already been flying for around 10 hours to get there. Still, the 30 minutes of flying business class - with Emirates, no less - was totally amazing! After that I adopted a sort of sanguine approach to flying where I would ask literally EVERYONE who worked at the airport if there was a possible upgrade to be had. It never happened again though :(

Jeff @ GoTravelzing

Tuesday 17th of July 2012

I agree with the people that said it is hard to fly coach once you have experienced first or business. I have flown to Europe a couple of times in First/Business and it was definitely worth it, even on US Air. I used mileage to buy the tickets.

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Business class hack: Traveler shares clever upgrade tip for as low as $17

We have all heard of ‘secrets’ to getting a flight upgrade. From dressing well, to arriving early or late, to asking nicely, these tips may help but are not really guaranteed to give you a seat in business or first class.

An Australian traveler recently revealed a travel hack that was able to get her a business class upgrade for only AU25 ($17).

Steph Georgiou, a Gold Coast-based psychologist, took to social media to share her experience of being able to get a business class upgrade on a Rex Airlines flight from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Coolangatta Airport (OOL) in the Gold Coast for only AU25 ($17).

@stephsjournal I did it again! How to get business class for $25 #businessclass #travelhack #cheapflights #flybusinessclass #traveltips @Steph G ♬ original sound – Steph G

Georgiou took advantage of the airline’s bidding system, where booked passengers on a flight are invited to place a bid to get an upgrade. 

Georgiou said that the secret was to bid at the very last minute, when she was already at the airline check-in desk.

For her flight segment of MEL to OOL, the lowest possible bid was AU25 ($17), and Georgiou was able to win the bid. She also shared on the video that there were other empty seats in the cabin so it meant that business class was not full on that flight, which is why the airline accepted the lowest possible bid.

Georgiou uploaded a more recent video where she claims she used the same hack to get a business class upgrade on an international flight, this time with Virgin Australia to Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

@stephsjournal Lets experience virgin business class! #businessclass #travelhack #cheapflights #flybusinessclass #traveltips @Steph G ♬ original sound – Steph G

For this segment, Georgiou said that she made the bid a couple of days before her flight for AU420 ($276).

Once again, Georgiou highlighted that bidding at the last minute is the key to this upgrade hack.

Several other airlines such as Etihad, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, and All Nippon Airways invite booked passengers to bid on an upgrade.

Passengers receive an email from the airline days prior to departure. The airline normally sets a minimum amount for bidding, and will advise you whether your bid has been accepted or if you have been outbid as close as hours prior to departure.

Upgrades are only available per sector (not an entire return trip), and are dependent on seat availability.

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Airfare hacks: How to book business class for less and scoop up super deals during pandemic

SINGAPORE - I just placed a $12,000 wager against the Covid-19 virus.

Yes, the pandemic is far from over. But I refuse to imagine that the world's borders will remain tightly closed for another 12 months, with leisure travel non-existent.

The vaccine is around the corner while travel bubbles will continue to brew. The Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble was postponed two days ago, but it is not fully deflated yet.

Meanwhile, airfares are available at bargain prices, paired with favourable booking terms and conditions.

So, I took the plunge and bought four air tickets for travel for next year.

Here is why I have figured that the odds are in my favour.

Lowest fares in half a decade

Internet searches conducted earlier this month show airfares for early next year going at bargain prices, compared with the pre- pandemic days last year. (The global travel industry started to falter from mid-January this year. In this light, January 2019 is a better benchmark for price comparisons).

Global travel search engine Skyscanner's data, at the point of writing, showed savings of up to 51 per cent on some routes for airfares for January and February next year, compared with the same period last year and in 2018.

"Three persons can fly for the cost of two persons now," says Mr S.H. Lim, a ticketing agent with a leading outbound operator with 20 years' experience.

Long-haul fares, in particular to Europe, plunged between 15 per cent and 25 per cent. Regional mid-haul flights to Japan and South Korea are good deals too.

Business class cabins have become more affordable. For example, Turkish Airlines offers business class from Singapore to London - transit via Istanbul - for only $2,595 (see table on Cheaper Flights From Singapore). Pre- pandemic, this price hardly got people beyond Asia in business class.

National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) offers round-trip business class flights to Tokyo for $3,000 - a sharp contrast to the $5,500 I usually forked out on that popular sector.

• Fly business class for big savings.

• Check updates on the airline's financial status. Avoid airlines under financial restructuring or in dire cash-flow situations.

• Competing carriers, with a transit into their hubs, price their tickets at almost half of SIA's direct flights. But be mindful that the arrival destination's border entry rules may be different for transit flights.

Get a free sector and even pay less

My default carrier is SIA, given its loyalty programme and because my home base is Singapore.

For years, my favourite travel hack was to snag a free tag-on flight.

Now, coupled with low fares, this trick has morphed into: fly further yet pay less.

A return SIA business class ticket for early February next year from Singapore to Tokyo costs $2,938 (see table on Fly Further And Pay Less). But if I bookend the front and back of this itinerary with an extra Asean destination such as Bangkok, the fare drops to $2,173.

This savings of $765 can buy a five-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Bangkok, lots of happy hours at my favourite Thai massage haven and servings of Michelin-starred Jay Fai's crab omelette.

Over the past five years, I have used this Bangkok-Singapore-Japan hack half a dozen times and cannot recall such low business fares.

Another tag-on: Add a Ho Chi Minh City sector to Singapore and onwards to Paris on SIA and there is an eye-popping fare savings of $1,479 on business class and $88 on economy fares, compared with an itinerary that originates from Singapore.

Depending on fares and routes, the savings can run into thousands of dollars for families or big groups.

These Asean destinations are a short hop away, serviced by frequent inexpensive flights.

For those with spare time or have a flexible schedule, this is a free tag-on holiday. Stopovers in Singapore are also permitted, subject to fare rules.

No, neither the airfare wizards of SIA nor its algorithms got their permutations wrong.

Being the foreign carrier in those destinations, SIA needs to compete with the national carrier there. Conversely, SIA commands a premium for flights originating from its home base of Singapore.

• Select tag-on flight sectors from countries with good schedules.

• Different "start and end" cities are permitted. For example, I can commence my SIA itinerary from Bangkok to Europe (via Singapore) and end my return journey in Phuket, so long as it involves the SIA group for the same country.

• Open jaw sectors are permitted, provided the sector is from the same zone. For example, the SIA flight may commence from Kuala Lumpur (via Singapore) to Paris - but the return route is from Munich instead. Such itineraries provide variety and avoid back-tracking.

Flexibility is key, but know the rules

"Nobody will buy a ticket today if there is no flexibility," says Mr Wong S.H., a travel industry veteran with 40 years' experience. The icing is the slew of unprecedented flexible ticketing terms.

To entice travellers to buy tickets before Dec 31 this year, airlines dangle free changes on dates, re-routing, refunds and travel credits for future travel.

Each carrier has its set of terms and conditions.

Most airlines group their fares into three categories, starting with the lowest, most restrictive fare - in both economy and business classes - being non-refundable. The other two higher-fare genres allow refunds for a fee.

Regardless of fare types, all tickets are valid for a year.

Among the most generous is Qatar Airways, which offers ticket validity for two years; unlimited changes until Dec 31 next year; exchange for travel voucher with bonus; full refund for flight cancellations by the airline; and swopping the ticket for air miles.

I bought the lowest-tier non- refundable SIA business class ticket to Japan for travel next February.

For me, Japan is a yearly foodie pilgrimage and I am betting against the possibility the country will be shuttered for another year. If things are still sketchy come February, I can always push back the travel dates.

• Check the fine print.

• Buy non-refundable tickets to your favourite destinations or a must-do trip. But fret not as non-refundable tickets allow a rebooking for a new itinerary or date, subject to fare differences and fees.

• For trips that are less certain, opt for refundable tickets. These cost a few hundred dollars more, with refund administrative fees, but you get the cash back immediately. I would opt for refundable tickets if they are high-value fares.

Frequent changes are costly: request an open-dated ticket

For tickets bought before Dec 31 this year, SIA offers a single complimentary rebooking for travel next year. Fees for subsequent rebookings will cost between $25 and $340, depending on fare type and cabin class.

However, competitors - such as Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines - offer unlimited changes until end-December next year.

Given the stiff competition, industry observers say SIA is likely to offer some match-up in the future.

When contacted, SIA cited "commercial sensitivity" and declined to provide more details on its future plans.

• Frequent changes can be costly. My ticket is based on my most likely travel date to minimise the chance of an aborted trip. If the original departure date is called off and there is uncertainty ahead, I will request to amend the ticket to an open date. This is free.

• When my travel dates are firm, I will lock in the new dates and have a ticket reissued. This qualifies for the one-time complimentary change, subject to any fare difference.

Extending the use of your ticket beyond a year

Though tickets are valid for a year, there is a trick to extend its monetary lifespan.

Before the one-year expiry, a ticket may be reissued with a new itinerary or different fare type. The reissued ticket receives a new lifespan of 12 months. You can reissue again and again, but there are rebooking fees each time.

However, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong does not foresee international travel returning to normal next year.

"Maybe in two years' time, it would be possible to extend in a bigger way," he said at a virtual event associated with the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) grouping last Thursday.

Still, my ticket punt lies in my faith that leisure travel will return.

Fares will skyrocket whenever a travel restriction eases or as travel confidence picks up.

The recent slew of positive vaccine news is like a shot in the arm for me - I ended up buying tickets to the United States and Europe for summer/autumn next year, in addition to my original plan for a Japan trip.

I am sure SIA will appreciate my ticket purchases more than a dining ticket in its parked aircraft.

• Pre-pandemic, John Tan, a former journalist, had averaged some 70 flights a year over the past decade. His most expensive ticket was a round-the-world Star Alliance business class fare, which cost more than $16,000. But his most memorable was a no-frills $18 Ryanair flight from Bucharest to Rome.

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This Is The Cheapest Day of the Week To Fly Business Class

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Whether you’re flying for work or leisure, it’s always nice to score a good deal on airfare. This is especially true when you’re flying business class which, according to The Points Guy , can cost twice as much as premium economy — if not more.

But how exactly can you save money while still enjoying the perks of flying business class? Unless you’re on a strict schedule, one option is to fly on days that, historically, cost less than others.

While your mileage may vary, these are the best and worst days to fly business class if you’re trying to keep costs reasonable — and how to get even better deals .

Midweek Is Usually the Cheapest

If your schedule allows, you’re likely to save the most money on airfare by flying during the middle of the week. This is especially the case when flying internationally.

“In my personal experience, I’ve noticed that mid-week business class fares tend to be lower, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” said Stephanie Rytting, a travel expert, renowned travel author and the founder of France Adventurer .

Thursdays could also be cheaper since fewer people are traveling that day and airlines sometimes have lower prices to encourage more customers to buy airfare.

Saturdays Could Be Even Cheaper for Domestic Flights

If you’re flying domestically, you could find the lowest business class prices on Saturdays.

“Midweek seems to be the sweet spot, though there is one potential hidden gem — Saturdays on domestic routes within North America,” said Andy Medearis, a travel expert and founder of Deals Points . “Now, you’d think Saturday would be a weekend premium, but based on my analysis, it often slots in just behind Tuesday to Thursday in terms of average price. The airlines seem to have a separate categorization for ‘not quite weekend’ travel. Worth keeping in mind!”

Avoid Mondays and Fridays

Certain days of the week tend to be cheaper than others to fly, but the opposite also holds true. In particular, avoid flying business class at the start and end of the work week.

“I’ve noticed that Fridays are usually the most expensive days for business class,” said Rytting. “As the week ends, there is more competition for seats from people who want to start their weekends early or go on short trips. Because of this higher demand, airlines can raise prices every Friday.”

According to Rytting, airfare is often 10% to 20% higher on Fridays than it is for the same trip during the middle of the week. The price shift could be even higher than that, however.

“We all know the standard advice is to avoid Mondays and Fridays like the plague, as that’s when business travel peaks and airlines gouge prices accordingly,” said Medearis. “But it’s even worse than most folks realize — I’ve tracked over a dozen routes for months at a time and consistently found prices 30% or more higher at the start and end of the standard work week. Yikes!”

Sundays Also Tend To Be Expensive

If you’re flying back home on a Sunday, prepare to spend more on airfare. That’s because many other people have the same idea and are traveling on that day, too.

“Everyone wants to travel on their days off work, so demand skyrockets while availability plummets,” said Lucia Polla, a travel expert and the founder of Viva La Vita . “Fridays and Sundays, in particular, tend to have outrageous business-class prices. I once saw a Sunday flight that was nearly double the Tuesday fare for the same route!”

Ways To Save Money on Business Class Flights

Even if you’re flying on a day that’s usually more expensive, you could still save money and get a good flight. Here are some pro strategies.

• Use rewards programs. Many airlines have rewards programs that let you earn miles whenever you fly. If you’re a frequent flyer, take advantage of these programs to get cheaper or even free flights. “I’ve scored countless premium cabin upgrades and deep discounts by cashing in points at the right time,” said Polla. “Sign up, pick one airline and rack up those miles!”
• Be flexible and keep an eye on travel patterns. “You can find good times to book cheap business class by keeping an eye on normal travel patterns and times when demand drops,” said Rytting. “Making small changes to your schedule can often save you a lot of money while still meeting your work needs and giving you more freedom on the road.”
• Book early. Buying your plane tickets early — even months ahead of time — could help you score the lowest prices.
• Fly through a regional airport. “Most of the time, more people go through bigger commercial airports with more airlines and connections,” said Rytting. “But smaller regional airports that aren’t too far away can also have good flight and fare options because they serve the local area.”
• Set up price tracking. “The single best strategy I’ve developed is to set up automated price tracking on Google Flights for a wide range of travel periods when you have flexibility — say an entire month rather than just a week,” said Medearis. “Then, try to pounce within 24 hours if the rare lightning deal comes through — I’ve seen business fares 60% below usual price that way.”
• Fly during the shoulder season. “Aim for shoulder seasons when fewer leisure travelers are competing for seats,” said Polla. “Some of my best business-class deals have been snagged simply by dodging the peak crowds around major holidays.”

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Business Class Seats - Worth It?

U sing credit card points and miles has opened my world to lie-flat business-class seats. Before I started this hobby, I had only flown in business class once. On impulse, I upgraded to business for about $800 to snag a same-day ticket when I was flying home from London. It was AMAZING! Obviously, you will use more miles/points to fly business class than in economy class or economy plus. So, my question is—are business class seats worth it?

When traveling solo or with my husband, it is totally worth it – especially for international travel. There is nothing like arriving freshly rested and ready to start your trip immediately because you slept well. International travel is long and hard on this old grandma’s body. Business class makes all the difference.

If your goal is to travel with your family, then you probably won’t be looking at a lot of business-class seats for a while. Traveling in economy class will let your miles/points go further. However, you have to try a business class at some point. I warn you, it will be hard to go back!

Because I do a lot of International travel, I like to save points for that. If I used 30,000 miles for a domestic round-trip ticket, I might save $500. However, using an average of 75,000 miles for a one-way business class ticket might save $3,000-$8,000. I tend to use a credit card that earns me a lot of points (like the AMEX Platinum ) to pay for that domestic flight.

Here are some of the reasons I save my miles for business class tickets:

In business class, you can have some amazing food. I have had some amazing cuisine on many flights and a few so-so meals. I remember the first time Alex flew with me on a business class on Turkish Airlines to Greece. She was amazed at every turn. We had an excellent meal, complete with little tea lights. We had appetizers, salad, and then the main course, all on nice china and served by a man in a chef’s hat.  For dessert, they brought out a little trolley with many sweet choices. It was heavenly!

If you drink, you will get champagne or wine throughout your trip. I don’t drink, but enjoy my cranberry-sprite spritzer every time! I have heard that those who drink alcohol are pretty impressed with the choices in business class! Business class is certainly worth it for the meals and beverages served.

Room to Spread Out

There is nothing like having extra space for yourself. On many flights, you can pick a seat by the window that doesn’t have anyone near you. Even if there is a seat next to you, there is usually a partition you can pull up for sleep or privacy. I love the feeling of more space I get in business class.

A Good Night’s Sleep

Before using credit card points and miles, I often scrunched in a seat, trying desperately to sleep. I travel to London to visit family often and dealt with debilitating jet lag on many first days there. For anyone who has traveled internationally, this can ruin a trip. Now, I can get 6-8 hours of sleep and arrive in London or elsewhere rested and ready to hit the ground running. I love that on many flights, the attendant will make up my bed for me, and I can doze off after a movie and a good meal. I actually try and find longer flights so I can sleep more. A few airlines (EVA, for example, when I went to Thailand) give out pajamas. 

Using a Business Class Airport Lounge

As you all know, I love a good airport lounge. My many credit cards let me use one almost every time I travel. The business class airport lounges take things to another level. One of my favorite airport lounges is the United Polaris Lounge . They are absolutely gorgeous! I can order off a menu in a sit-down restaurant and get an amazing meal, rest in a reclining lounger in a darkened cubicle, and take a shower in a beautiful bathroom.

I could have had a spa treatment when I used the Thai Airways business class lounge. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time but that is another great perk in some of the first or business-class lounges. Their decor and food are a notch up!

An Opportunity to Show Your Spouse Why You Use Credit Card Points

My husband doesn’t like to travel as much as I do. That works to my advantage because I can use his and my points/miles and travel in business class more often. The first time he traveled with me in business class was to Dubai . We flew to LAX first and went to the Emirates Lounge.

There, we had a delicious meal that included perfect beef filets. When we boarded our flight, my husband was so impressed with our seats, the meal on board, the bar in the back that served good snacks, and the great night’s sleep we had during a 19-hour flight that would have been horrible in economy class. After that he was 100% on board with traveling more in business class!

First Class

Obviously, I find it valuable to use my miles/points on business class seats. What about first-class seats? Honestly, I have used them for domestic first-class seats that are over 4 hours but often just save my points for business class. Having a domestic first-class/business seat isn’t that great because they are usually not lie-flat seats. Economy Plus works fine for me.

My first trip in international first class was on Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to NYC when I found an unbelievable mistake fare. I was one of only 6 people in first class, and it was amazing. Seats were a little bigger, with total attention from the flight attendant and caviar as an appetizer. Since then, I have traveled in Singapore Suites, Emirates First Class, and Etihad Apartments , thanks to credit card points and miles!

Bottom Line

One of the reasons I use points/miles is the opportunity to book business class seats (and first class) and only pay taxes and fees. For under $100 a ticket (usually), I can get on a plane, enjoy a great meal, watch a movie or two, and settle down for a good night’s sleep. Traveling on a long flight and arriving rested is the ultimate luxury. Even if you want your points to last longer, you owe it to yourself to book a seat in business class sometime in your points and miles journey!

Man shares travel hack that made his business class flight 'cheaper than economy'

All it took was a simple tweak to his browser..

"Sometimes it pays to learn a language!"

It feels safe to assume that if money were no object, people would always choose to travel business class over economy. After all, who doesn’t want a fast check-in, fancy food and drink choices and more of that sweet, spacious legroom?

However, at anywhere between four to ten times the price of a regular economy ticket , this style of traveling remains a fantasy for many who simply can’t afford it.

Luckily, thanks to one man’s clever travel hack , that fantasy might be more achievable than we realize.

Stewart had booked his flight on LATAM , Latin America’s largest airline company. According to The Mirror , he heard that LATAM’s website sometimes showed different ticket prices depending on which language the browser was set to.

While booking his flight from Santiago to Easter Island, Stewart decided to experiment and switched his computer’s VPN or "virtual private network" to make it seem like he was located in Chile, along with changing the browser's language.

"I cleared all cookies from my browser, and used private browser mode so there was no way the website would determine I was outside the country," Stewart told 9News, according to The Mirror.

Using Google translate to navigate the site, Stewart was easily able to book. And it actually turned out “cheaper than economy.”

See on Instagram

Is the trick foolproof? No. But with such a dramatic price difference, it might be worth trying out.

That goes for traveling too. Airline tickets might be bonkers, but the need to travel still exists. Perhaps even more so post-pandemic. The good news is that with a little bit of work, you can discover incredible deals to make the trip more feasible—things like finding the optimal times to book, checking sites multiple times a day, and learning how to optimize credit card points, to name a few. Sure, it doesn’t guarantee a hoity-toity business class seat, but it does make adventure that much more attainable.

Excuse me while I change my browser settings to French. Allons y!

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They watched their wedding cake crash to the ground. The groom's reaction was perfection.

Oh, she married a good one..

Imagine watching your four-tier wedding cake hitting the ground before you even get a bite.

It's quite common for people to fantasize about their wedding day —the ceremony, the bridal party, the dress, the cake—and some people spend months or even years meticulously planning every detail. People even spend thousands of dollars hiring wedding planners to make sure that the big day stays fully organized and all the moving parts come together without a hitch.

But no matter how well you plan, sometimes things that simply can't be predicted happen. And how you and your beloved handle the hitches and glitches on your wedding day can say a lot.

Especially when that hitch or glitch is something major…like watching the beautiful, four-tier wedding cake—the one you spent time choosing and lots of money creating to share with your wedding guests—come crashing to the ground right in front of you.

That's what happened to one couple who eagerly watched as the caterers who were carrying their wedding cake tripped on their way into the room, sending their cake to an untimely demise in spectacular fashion.

The video, shared by @the.sarik on Instagram, is only about 10 seconds long, but it tells a whole beautiful love story in the reactions of both the groom and the bride.

First of all, hope those waiters are OK. But secondly, staying calm and making the most of a bad situation is a huge character plus, and this groom clearly has those qualities in spades. You can see in the bride's face that she knows it, too.

"Her eyes show that she knows she got the right guy," wrote one commenter.

"The way he just called her to eat is just phenomenal," shared another.

"'Cake is still cake.' Yelling at those waiters won't solve anything, but it can ruin their whole lives," wrote another. "They know their mistake, and they can be corrected privately. May the reaction of this man be an inspiration to us all, to care for the feelings of other people more than material things."

"Of all the things that could ruin a wedding day, I'm glad the husband knew this didn't have to be one of them," shared another.

When unpredictable things do happen, it's largely the reaction of the people involved that determines whether they become tragic tales or entertaining stories. If what we saw in the video is any indicator, this couple will be telling their grandkids someday about how the guys carrying their wedding cake tripped and ruined it, and how Grandpa's response won Grandma's heart all over again.

This article originally appeared on 7.27.23

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This woman’s viral Twitter thread about men NOT assaulting her is a must read

We need to hear more stories like this..

Maura Quint shares about men responding appropriately.

For anyone who thinks stories of sexual harassment and assault are complicated, writer Maura Quint has a story for you. Actually, she has quite a few.

Quint posted a thread on her Twitter account that quickly went viral in which she talked about a number of real-life encounters with men that started out sexual, involved her expressing disinterest, and the men responding appropriately.

It wasn't an unrealistic hero's tale of men handing over the keys to their autonomy. Rather, Quint's incredible thread made it clear that the only variable in cases of assault vs. non-assault are when a man doesn't respect the autonomy of the woman he's propositioning.

Her thread opens up in an all-too-familiar tone, where we're led to believe it will go to an incredibly dark place:

via @behindyourback / Twitter

Instead, Quint says her indifference to his proposition was met in kind with a guy just acting in a basic, non-rapey way:

Should be expected.

She goes on to offer several other examples of being in sexual or potentially sexual situations with men who also managed to not sexually assault her:

Annoyed but with character.

Meeting the right instead of wrong person.

And here's the real kicker, Quint says she has been assaulted. To her, the difference isn't hard to pinpoint:

Difference being whether they were okay with assault.

Her thread has been re-tweeted nearly 50,000 times and "liked" more than 100,000 times. Other women and some men jumped in with their own tales of drinking, partying and still, somehow, managing to not assault or even harass the women they encountered.

She married him.

Men avoid abusers too.

Kind and human.

It's a stark contrast to the half-baked defenses of Brett Kavanaugh and other men like him. There are incredibly rare exceptions where a man is accused of assault or harassment and he is entirely free of guilt. But for women, or anyone for that matter, who has survived sexual assault or experienced sexual harassment, there is no "gray area."

There's being OK with assault and then there's everything else. Whether or not we're consciously aware of this, we've all chosen a side. But if you're on the wrong side, it doesn't have to be that way forever.

This article originally appeared on 10.02.18

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Scientists tested 3 popular bottled water brands for nanoplastics using new tech, and yikes

The results were alarming—an average of 240,000 nanoplastics per 1 liter bottle—but what does it mean for our health.

Columbia University researchers tested bottled water for nanoplastics and found hundreds of thousands of them.

Evian, Fiji, Voss, SmartWater, Aquafina, Dasani—it's impressive how many brands we have for something humans have been consuming for millennia. Despite years of studies showing that bottled water is no safer to drink than tap water , Americans are more consuming more bottled water than ever , to the tune of billions of dollars in bottled water sales.

People cite convenience and taste in addition to perceived safety for reasons they prefer bottle to tap , but the fear factor surrounding tap water is still a driving force. It doesn't help when emergencies like floods cause tap water contamination or when investigations reveal issues with lead pipes in some communities, but municipal water supplies are tested regularly, and in the vast majority of the U.S., you can safely grab a glass of water from a tap .

And now, a new study on nanoplastics found in three popular bottled water brands is throwing more data into the bottled vs. tap water choice.

Researchers from Columbia University used a new laser-guided technology to detect nanoplastics that had previously evaded detection due to their miniscule size. The new technology can detect, count and analyze and chemical structure of nanoparticles, and they found seven different major types of plastic: polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate.

In contrast to a 2018 study that found around 300 plastic particles in an average liter of bottled water, the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in January of 2024 found 240,000 nanoplastic particles per liter bottle on average between the three brands studied. (The name of the brands were not indicated in the study.)

As opposed to microplastics, nanoplastics are too small to be seen by microscope. Their size is exactly why experts are concerned about them, as they are small enough to invade human cells and potentially disrupt cellular processes.

Columbia researchers found that bottled water contains hundreds of thousands of previously uncounted plastic particles\u2014particles small enough to pass into the bloodstream and travel directly into our organs.\nhttps://t.co/NoC70dLakV — (@)

“Micro and nanoplastics have been found in the human placenta at this point. They’ve been found in human lung tissues. They’ve been found in human feces; they’ve been found in human blood,” study coauthor Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University’s Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy told CNN Health ,

We know that nanoplastics are making their way into our bodies. We just don't have enough research yet on what that means for our health, and we still have more questions than answers. How many nanoplastics does it take to do damage and/or cause disease? What kinds of damage or disease might they cause? Is whatever effect they might have cumulative? We simply don't have answers to these questions yet.

That's not to say there's no cause for concern. We do know that certain levels of microplastic exposure have been shown to adversely affect the viability of cells. Nanoplastics are even smaller—does that mean they are more likely to cause cellular damage? Science is still working that out.

According to Dr. Sara Benedé of the Spanish National Research Council’s Institute of Food Science Research, it's not just the plastics themselves that might cause damage, but what they may bring along with them. “[Microparticles and nanoparticles] have the ability to bind all kinds of compounds when they come into contact with fluids, thus acting as carriers of all kinds of substances including environmental pollutants, toxins, antibiotics, or microorganisms,” Dr. Benedé told Medical News Today.

Where is this plastic in water coming from? This study focused on bottled water, which is almost always packaged in plastic. The filters used to filter the water before bottling are also frequently made from plastic.

Is it possible that some of these nanoplastics were already present in the water from their original sources? Again, research is always evolving on this front, but microplastics have been detected in lakes, streams and other freshwater sources , so it's not a big stretch to imagine that nanoplastics may be making their way into freshwater ecosystems as well. However, microplastics are found at much higher levels in bottled water than tap water, so it's also not a stretch to assume that most of the nanoplastics are likely coming from the bottling process and packaging rather than from freshwater sources.

The reality is, though, we simply don't know yet.

“Based on other studies we expected most of the microplastics in bottled water would come from leakage of the plastic bottle itself, which is typically made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic,” lead author Naixin Qian, a doctoral student in chemistry at Columbia University, told CNN Health . “However, we found there’s actually many diverse types of plastics in a bottle of water, and that different plastic types have different size distributions. The PET particles were larger, while others were down to 200 nanometers, which is much, much smaller.”

We need to drink water, and we need to drink safe water. At this point, we have plenty of environmental reasons for avoiding bottled water unless absolutely necessary and opting for tap water instead. Even if there's still more research to be done, the presence of hundreds of thousands of nanoplastics in bottled water might just be another reason to make the switch.

This article originally appeared on 2.2.24

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One man turned nursing home design on its head when he created this stunning facility

"what if we design an environment that looks like outside" he said. "what if i can have a sunrise and sunset inside the building, 92-year-old norma had a strange and heartbreaking routine..

Every night around 5:30 p.m., she stood up and told the staff at her Ohio nursing home that she needed to leave. When they asked why, she said she needed to go home to take care of her mother. Her mom, of course, had long since passed away.

Behavior like Norma's is quite common for older folks suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Walter, another man in the same assisted living facility, demanded breakfast from the staff every night around 7:30.

Jean Makesh, CEO of Lantern assisted living facilities, says he meets folks with stories like these every day. It's their stories that inspired him to make some changes at Lantern.

"I thought I knew a lot about elderly care. The more and more time I was spending with my clients, that's when I realized, 'Oh my god, I have no clue.'"

Confusion is common in Alzheimer's patients, but Makesh knew there had to be some way to minimize these conflicts.

A big believer in the idea that our environment has an enormous effect on us, he started thinking big — and way outside the box.

"What if we design an environment that looks like outside?" he said. "What if I can have a sunrise and sunset inside the building? What if I'm able to have the moon and stars come out? What if I build a unit that takes residents back to the '30s and '40s?"

And that was just the beginning. He also researched sound therapy. And aromatherapy. And carpet that looked like grass. No idea was off-limits.

What he came up with was a truly unique memory-care facility. And after testing the concept in Lantern's Madison, Ohio, facility, Makesh is opening two new locations this year.

Instead of rooms or units, each resident gets a "home" on a quiet little indoor street reminiscent of the neighborhoods many of them grew up in.

All photos courtesy of Lantern

Instead of a boring panel ceiling, residents look up and see a digital sky, which grows dimmer late in the day to help keep their biological clocks in tune.

Throughout the day, nature sounds and fresh aromas like peppermint or citrus are piped in..

Some studies have shown that this kind of aromatherapy may indeed have some merits for improving cognitive functioning in Alzheimer's patients.

There's even a little "main street" where residents can gather.

For Makesh, this isn't just about making patients comfortable, though. He wants to change how we think about the endgame of severe dementia.

The insides of the rooms aren't too shabby, either.

Makesh said one of the frustrating shortcomings of most nursing facilities is that they create conflicts with unnatural environments and schedules, and they try to solve them by throwing antipsychotic and anti-anxiety medications at patients. In other words, when someone has severe dementia, we often give up on them. From there, they stop getting the engagement their brain needs to thrive.

Of course, we're a long way from a cure for Alzheimer's.

But Makesh's project shows that when we think strategically about altering the environment and focus on helping people relearn essential self-care and hygiene skills, the near-impossible becomes possible.

"In five years, we're going to [be able to] rehabilitate our clients where they can live independently in our environment," he said. "In 10 years, we're going to be able to send them back home."

He knows it's a lofty goal. And whether he'll meet it remains to be seen. But in the meantime, he's proud to own one of the few places that offers something pretty rare in cases of severe dementia: hope.

This article originally appeared on 09.08.16

6 songs that seem romantic but aren't, and one that seems like it isn't but is

Love songs are where we get our passion, our soul — and most of our worst ideas..

The Beach Boys (1965)

Throughout human history, oceans have been crossed, mountains have been scaled, and great families have blossomed — all because of a few simple chords and a melody that inflamed a heart and propelled it on a noble, romantic mission.

On the other hand, that time you told that girl you just started seeing that you would " catch a grenade " for her? You did that because of a love song . And it wasn't exactly a coincidence that she suddenly decided to "lose your number" and move back to Milwaukee to "figure some stuff out."

Photo by Achim Voss/Flickr .

That time you held that boom box over your head outside your ex's house? You did that because of a love song. And 50 hours of community service later, you're still not back together.

Love songs are great. They make our hearts beat faster. They inspire us to take risks and put our feelings on the line. And they give us terrible, terrible ideas about how actual, real-life human relationships should work.

They're amazing. So amazing. And also terrible.

Here are six love songs that sound romantic but aren't, and one song that doesn't sound romantic but totally is:

1. " God Only Knows ," by The Beach Boys

You can keep your "Surfin' Safaris," your "I Get Arounds," and your "Help me Rhondas."

When it comes to The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows" is where it's at. A lush garden of soft horns and breezy melody. A tie-dye swirl of sound. A landscape of haunted innocence with some of the most heartrending lyrics ever committed to the back of a surfboard.

Youth! Youth! Youth! Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

Here's why it sounds romantic:

I may not always love you

But long as there are stars above you

You never need to doubt it

I'll make you so sure about it

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you're traipsing through a meadow in a sundress with your beloved and not playing "God Only Knows" on your iPod, you should really stop and start over.

If you're lazily bumping a beach ball over a volleyball net and "God Only Knows" isn't playing somewhere in the back of your mind, you need to rethink the choices that got you to this point.

If you're a video editor compiling footage of grainy hippies frolicking in the mud and you're not underscoring it with the opening chords of "God Only Knows," you are doing it wrong.

It's a song that just feels like love. Pure love. Young love. Love with a chill, kelp-y vibe.

What could be wrong with that?

Here's why it's actually really, really unromantic:

There's nothing wrong with loving someone. Sending them flowers. Leaving over-the-top notes in their P.O. boxes. Stroking their hair as they fall asleep while you whisper the complete works of Nicholas Sparks into their ear.

But there is such a thing as loving someone a skosh too much.

If you should ever leave me

Though life would still go on believe me

The world could show nothing to me

So what good would living do me?

Look, I get it. Breakups suck. There's no getting around that. But good God .

There's a huge difference between saying: "Hey babe, you are my first and foremost everything and I'll be bummed if you go." And saying: "Welp, you accepted that job in Seattle, so I'm just gonna chug a bunch of nightshade and call it a life."

But that's pretty much the gist here. Which makes this line...

...horror-movie creepy. Because the answer, apparently, is: "I'd be a corpse !"

That's not love. That's codependency (to put it mildly). Oh, and hey! Threatening to kill yourself if your partner leaves isn't loving. It's a form of emotional abuse .

Investing all your happiness and sense of self-worth in any relationship — one that, by definition, might one day end — is putting a lot of eggs in one basket. Sure, God may only know what you'd be without her, but God probably also hopes you have, I don't know, some hobbies. Take a yoga class. Google some woodworking videos. Try kite surfing.One person cannot be anyone's be-all and end-all. It's too stressful. And it prevents you from doing you, which is a thing that's gotta be done before you can do anything else.

No wonder she took that job in Seattle.

2. " Treasure ," by Bruno Mars

Sure, it's a blatant rip off of every Michael Jackson song you've ever heard. But, we don't have Michael Jackson anymore, and as tribute acts go, you could do a lot worse than Bruno Mars.

Photo by Brothers Le/Flick

Here's why the song sounds romantic:

Treasure, that is what you are

Honey, you're my golden star

You know you can make my wish come true

If you let me treasure you

Pass those lyrics to anyone on a used napkin at an eighth-grade make-out party and you'll likely get an instant toll pass on the highway to tongue-town (ew).

Pass them to your spouse and, chances are, date night is going to culminate in 47 minutes of chaste-yet-passionate frenching.

Pass them to a cop who pulls you over for running a stop sign, and they will think you're weird — but probably still make out with you.

In fact, Bruno Mars basically has a lifetime pass to make out with America because of this song.

And I'm OK with that.

But, here's why "Treasure" isn't as romantic as it seems:

Everything about "Treasure" is retro. Everything .

Including its attitudes about gender.

Things start to go south right from the very beginning:

Give me your, give me your, give me your attention, baby

I gotta tell you a little something about yourself

Ah yes. Nothing screams "respect" quite like a man lecturing a strange woman on the street about something she "doesn't know about herself."

What could it be? Could it be that her jokes are funny? Could it be that she's got something in her teeth? Could it be that her nonfiction book about early modern German history is extremely detailed and informative?

"Thanks for teaching me all about Martin Luther's bible!"

Photo by Torsten Schleese/Wikimedia Commons .

Spoiler Alert: It's none of those.

You're wonderful, flawless, ooh, you're a sexy lady

But you walk around here like you wanna be someone else

Oh. It's that she's sexy. Cool, bro. Very original.

Word of advice? Regardless of how she's walking, the lady knows she's sexy. Even if she doesn't, it really doesn't affect her day-to-day so much that you, a complete stranger, need to shout it at her (even over a funky disco snare).

So what if she does want to be someone else? I'd love to be someone else! I think being Ryan Gosling would be quite nice. A good way to spend a three-day weekend.

And then later, of course, the narrator can't help himself:

Pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl, you should be smiling

A girl like you should never look so blue.

He respects her so much, he's actually straight-up telling her to smile ! Much like Mars' character "Uptown Funk ," who appears to get off on angrily exhorting girls to "hit [their] hallelujah." Which, you know, I guess everybody's got a thing.

Yes, in the world of "Treasure," a healthy relationship is an unending stream of a man complimenting a strange woman and said woman being so totally flattered that she immediately dispenses "the sex."

He then proceeds to talk to his potential lover like the world's creepiest pirate:

You are my treasure, you are my treasure

You are my treasure, yeah, you, you, you, you are

By this point, in his mind, she's a literal thing. An object. Which is fitting.

I suppose it could be worse, though. At least she's not just any thing.That's ... something, right?

3. " Don't Think Twice, It's All Right ," by Bob Dylan

For as long as humans have been dating each other, humans have been breaking up with each other. And "Don't Think Twice" is a portrait of a relationship going down in flames. Glorious, poetic, acoustic flames.

commons.wikimedia.org

Well, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe

Even you don't know by now

And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe

It'll never do somehow

When your rooster crows at the break of dawn

Look out your window, and I'll be gone

You're the reason I'm a-traveling on

But don't think twice, it's all right.

Boom. Strummed on out of that friends-with-benefits situation like whoa .

"Don't Think Twice" is a raw song. An honest song. A powerful song. It's the song your older sister played on continuous loop for six months after her boyfriend left for college. The song that convinced your Aunt Roslyn to leave her bank-teller job, load her four Australian shepherds into the van, and open a wind chime store in Mendocino. The song your friend's cool dad always wants to play when he invited your high school band over to his apartment to jam.

Sure, it's about the end of a relationship, but it sounds romantic. And at the end of the day, shouldn't that be enough?

Here's why it's actually sooooo messed up:

Relationships end. For a lot of reasons. And while there is no right way to call it quits with someone, when the dust settles, both parties can certainly benefit from a difficult, honest discussion about what went wrong.

In "Don't Think Twice," that discussion basically boils down to: "It's your fault."

Let's review the reasons the dude in "Don't Think Twice" is splitting with his lady friend:

I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul

Ugh, women, right? You're all like, "Babe, I just have so much unspecified love to give," and she's like, "Take out the trash!" And you're like, "But baaaaaaabe, shouldn't my heart be enough?" And she's like, "No, seriously. I already did the laundry, cleaned the whole house, fed the dog, did the dishes, and made both of our lunches for the week. All I need you to do is take out the trash." And you're like, "You're bumming me out. I'm gonna go play guitar." And then she gets all mad! What did you do? Why is she trying to change you ? UGH!

You could have done better, but I don't mind

Yes. You do mind! You mind! You wrote a song about it, you passive-aggressive prick.

You just kinda wasted my precious time

Ah yes. Your time is so precious! Think about all the hours you wasted plumbing the ocean-deep, ecstatic mysteries of human partnership when you could have been futzing around with that home-brew kit.

Photo by Bill Bradford/Flickr .

The minute you start breaking it down, the message of "Don't Think Twice" suddenly starts to seem a lot less romantic. Like your sister's ex-boyfriend, who worked at the Bass Pro Shop in town for a while and now might be in jail. Like your aunt's wind chime store, which would have closed forever ago had she not received that inheritance from her mom in the '80s. Like your friend's cool dad, who wasn't exactly, technically , paying child support.

Oh yeah, and the song's narrator also point-blank refers woman he's leaving as:

A child, I'm told

That's right. In addition to being a run-of-the-mill passive-aggressive jerk — turns out, he's also possibly a pedophile.

Even if we are to accept that this is a metaphor and she's not actually a child — which there's no indication it is, but OK, Bob Dylan — the fact that Commitmentphobe Gunderson here would willingly choose an immature partner reflects way more poorly on him than it does on her.

Breaking up with anyone in such a cruel, dismissive way is a recipe for sticking them with years of therapy bills.

Which, I suppose, may be the point.

4. " Leaving on a Jet Plane ," by John Denver

Who has two thumbs and wrote a bittersweet folk song about hurtling through the stratosphere in a giant aluminum tube at 600 miles per hour?

John Denver

Photo by Hughes Television Network/Wikimedia Commons .

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a lovely song. And impressive in its loveliness because jet planes were still kind of new at the time it was written.

'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane

To a modern ear, this would be sort of like singing, "I'm a scoooting away on my hoverboooooard," but in a way that's somehow still folksy and heartbreaking and singable by 9-year-olds at summer camp. Not easy to do!

Oh babe, I hate to go

You see — he hates to go! He just hates it! We know this, because he tells us he hates it. And why would he hate to go if he didn't love his partner just that much ?

Photo by Altair78/Wikimedia Commons .

Why indeed?

Here's why it's actually not that romantic at all:

All the plaintive guitar, loping bass line, and twangy, melancholy warbling in the world can only distract so much from the fact that the song's main character is well, kind of a jerkweed.

And in reality — surprise surprise! — it doesn't actually seem like he hates being away all that much:

There's so many times I've let you down

So many times I've played around

I tell you now, they don't mean a thing

"Babe, I promise! All the movies I watched alone while you were home nursing the quadruplets. All the times I drained our life savings on Zoo Zillionaire . All the random sex I had with other women. Totally meaningless. Certainly fun to do! Really fun. Like, I had a fantastic time. But rest assured — completely empty, in an ontological sense."

Yes, when you break it down, "Leaving on a Jet Plane," is less of a passionate tribute to love overcoming distance and more the deluded ramblings of a guy who needs to convince himself he's "good" despite all evidence to the contrary.

And for all he claims to be broken up about having to part from his one and only, the dude seems pretty excited about the flight. Oh, you're leaving on a jet plane , are you? Are you Zone 1? Gonna humblebrag on Twitter about the "terrible" Cibo express salad you were forced to choke down as you sat waiting to embark on your fun, mysterious adventure?

Photo by Gesalbte/Wikimedia Commons

He continues:

Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you

Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you

Ah cool. He'll think about her while strumming and making "my love is delicate as the morning dew" eyes at a waif-y grad student in the front row. That pretty much makes up for it all.

Then he demands:

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

After all the betrayal and heartbreak, after basically revealing himself to be a grade-A sleaze who can't be trusted, he still has the gall to tell her to wait ? To wait for him?

And here's the kicker:

When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring

Ah yes. He'll put a ring on it. Finally.

Unlike all the previous trips, where he's cheated a billion times, drained the family bank account, and just been a general screwup and disappointment.

But yeah. This time he says he'll bring back a wedding ring.

I hope she joins a polyamorous octad and never looks back.

5. " When a Man Loves a Woman ," Percy Sledge

When you look up "soul" in the dictionary, the book plays you a recording of this song.

Percy Sledge

Photo by Gene Pugh/Flickr .

Specifically, it plays you the very first line.

Here's why it sound very romantic:

When a man loves a woman

Sure, you can write the lyrics down, but it doesn't even come close to capturing the heartache. The yearning. The delicious, delicious pain-belting:

WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN

Closer ... but still no.

WHEN A MAAAAAAAN. LOVES A WOOOMAN!

Yes! Sing it, Percy Sledge!

It's an elemental lyric.

It's a heart-shattering lyric.

It's a lyric that demands you put your back into it.

It's perfection.

As long as you don't keep listening.

Here's why the song is actually pretty horrifying:

From the opening lines of "When a Man Loves a Woman," we know that, at least on occasion, a man loves a woman.

Which raises the question: What happens when said man loves said woman?

He'd give up all his comforts

And sleep out in the rain

If she said that's the way

It ought to be.

Whoa! OK. No. Back up. A man, no matter how devoted, no matter how selfless, no matter how in love, needs shelter. Otherwise, a man will die of exposure and hypothermia.

Turn his back on his best friend if he put her down.

No! Jeez. No. A man can't put up with that kind of isolating behavior. A man needs friends! Once a man's whole support system erodes out from under him, a man will be bitter, ungrounded, and alone. And a man's mental health will deteriorate.

I gave you everything I have

Tryin' to hold on to your heartless love

Baby, please don't treat me bad.

This is not what happens "when a man loves a woman." It's what happens when a man loves a controlling, manipulative woman. An abusive woman. A woman who, in truth, only loves a woman. Herself.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

And that's not healthy.

Run, Percy Sledge, run! We're here for you.

(Side note: Lest it go unsaid, there is way more than one way for a man to love a woman. Maybe they spend every waking moment cuddling and bopping each other on the nose. Maybe they sleep in separate bedrooms. Maybe they dress up in large, plush cat costumes and refer to each other Mr. and Mrs. Kittyhawk. And when a man loves a man, I imagine it feels much the same. Or when a woman loves a woman. Or when a gender nonconforming person loves a gender nonconforming person.)

Regardless of the depth of commitment, living situation, or combination of genders or sexual orientations, there's no one-size-fits-all love solution. Every relationship is a unique snowflake. Variety is the spice of life. Necessity is the mother of invention. There's more than one way to skin a cat. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. It doesn't matter if it's the right metaphor, as long as it's a metaphor.

Point being: Generalize at your peril, Sledge. And please, seek help! You can do this! And if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, please give these people a call .

Photo by Rosmarie Voegtli/Flickr .

6. " All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You ," Heart

Honestly, Heart could sing a list of the most popular AllRecipes ("Jaaaamie's Cranberry Spinach Saaaaalad/World's Best Lasaaaaagna/Sour Creeeeeam Cutouts") and it would make me want to bawl my eyes out in the arms of a tall, dark stranger at the end of a pier.

This song is perfect. You should always be listening to it. If you're not listening to it now, smack yourself in the face and Google it. It's just that important.

I am singing the phone book. You are weeping like a tiny baby. Photo by FatCat125/Wikimedia Commons .

Nancy and Ann Wilson playing at a charity concert

FatCat125/Wikimedia Commons

So much passion. So much pain. So much hair.

Over pounding drums and a soaring melody, Heart sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson deliver a primal tribute to the one true romantic fantasy shared by every living being on Earth: picking up an unnervingly attractive man for one night of mind-blowing sex and then releasing him back into the wild to bone — but never quite as compellingly ever again.

It was a rainy night when he came into sight

Standing by the road, no umbrella, no coat

So I pulled up alongside and I offered him a ride

He accepted with a smile so we drove for a while

I don't have to go on because you know what happens next, and it's awesome.

Now, here's why this song is not romantic at all:

The relationship in "All I Wanna Do" seems too good to be true. And it is. Because it's not an equally loving ,or even equally lusty, pairing at all.

It's a...

Well. You know what it is:

For a while, things are humming along just fine, like any wholesome, illicit, anonymous affair should:

I didn't ask him his name, this lonely boy in the rain

Fate, tell me it's right, is this love at first sight?

Sure, many of us might hesitate to pick up a strange leather-jacket-clad man standing on the side of the road for a no-strings-attached screw, but our narrator just has a feeling about this guy, and sometimes, you gotta go with your gut.

I can respect that.

We made magic that night

He did everything right

Great! Seems like it was a good decision. Bonking the hitchhiker is payin' off big time.

But then, without warning, the song starts to sound less like an all-time great romance and more like a story men's rights activists tell each other as they vape around a campfire:

I told him "I am the flower, you are the seed

We walked in the garden, we planted a tree

Don't try to find me, please don't you dare

Just live in my memory, you'll always be there"

I'm not a poet. Symbolic language often eludes me. But unless "flower," "seed," "garden," and "tree," suddenly mean wildly different things in the context of human reproduction than they have since sex was first invented in the early-1970s, we're talking about a surprise, non-mutually-consensual pregnancy!

HELLO! Photo by Avsar Aras/Wikimedia Commons

Of course, metaphors are opaque, interpretations vary, etc., etc., etc. You might be tempted to think, "Maybe Heart meant something else by that."

To that I say, no, they definitely meant it:

Then it happened one day

We came round the same way

You can imagine his surprise

When he saw his own eyes

There are two possibilities here.

One: The narrator of the song is recently-deceased Jerry Orbach from this creepy New York City subway ad from nine years ago:

Photo by eyedonation.org

Or two: She totally conned a dude into whipping up a baby on the sly.

I said, "Please, please understand

Ah, sure. Yeah. No worries.

I'm in love with another man

Cool, so this all makes sense and is in no way the nightmarish scheme of a deranged sociopath who has now wrecked not one but two lives.

And what he couldn't give me, oh, no

Was the one little thing that you can"

A HUMAN LIFE! A REAL SENTIENT HUMAN LIFE THAT IS NOT INCIDENTAL TO ALL OF THIS!

The best you can say about that is that it's not technically illegal, and that leather-jacket man probably should have been responsible for his own birth control. Or, at the very least, asked more questions .

But ... it's not cute. It's not romantic (even the Wilson sisters themselves agree ).

And at the end of the day, the shadiest character in this song is somehow not the rain-soaked hitchhiker wandering to nowhere in the night.

Which... is saying something.

But there is a love song that is truly, madly, deeply perfect. An unassailable track in a sea of problematic faves.

A song that does everything right.

A song that paints a portrait of a healthy partnership built to last.

A song that can double as a manual for the ideal human romantic relationship.

And that song is...

" Candy Shop ," by 50 Cent, featuring Olivia

Here's why you might be — OK, almost definitely are — skeptical:

As catchy as "Candy Shop" is, as fun it is to dance to, and as cathartic as it can be to scream in the middle of a crowded fraternity house at 2 a.m., there's no getting around the fact that the song begins like this:

I'll take you to the candy shop

I'll let you lick the lollipop

I'll post that again, in case you missed some of the nuance:

Way to take one for the team, narrator of "Candy Shop"!

At first glance, "Candy Shop" is nobody's idea of a classic love song.

The lyrics are ... unusually forward. The beat is kinda basic. The hook is like the music they play when Abu Nazir sidles scarily by in "Homeland."

It doesn't get played much anymore. When it does resurface, it feels ... kinda dated. Like watching that DVD of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" on your new Xbox 360.

It's not a song you'd put on a mixtape for your crush. It's not a song you'd play for your spouse when the kids are at home with the babysitter and you've got nine hours to tear up the Piscataway Hampton Inn. It's certainly not a song you'd include on the video photo montage you made for your grandparents' silver anniversary.

It's just not.

But it should be.

So here it is. Here's why "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent, featuring Olivia, is actually the perfect relationship song:

The bass drum hits. The MIDI violins whine. The singer starts filling out his fellatio permission slip. It's only been 20 seconds, and you're already getting ready to hang it up with "Candy Shop."

But then ... over the square thrum and the mewling strings, a miracle occurs — in the form of a female voice joining the track, cutting through the din like a clarion call.

I'll take you to the candy shop (yeah)

Boy, one taste of what I got (uh-huh)

I'll have you spendin' all you got (come on)

Keep going 'til you hit the spot, whoa

It's mutual! It's mutual ! They're performing oral sex on each other !

Ring the bells! Bang the drums! Release the doves!

Photo by liz west/Flickr

Go, cunnilingus doves, go!

50 Cent himself may not be the world's greatest partner — for example, according to one of his exes, he's done some pretty unforgivable things .

But the narrator of "Candy Shop"? He gets it:

You could have it your way, how do you want it?

Rather than simply imposing his desires on the person he's with — a la the dude in "God Only Knows ("I'm going to invest my entire sense of self-worth in you!") or the street heckler in "Treasure" ("I'm going to treat you like a chest full of gold doubloons!") or the sociopath in "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You," ("I'm going to trick you into knocking me up!") — the "Candy Shop" guy actually asks his partner what she wants .

Which, in the world of popular music, is good for about 50,000 trillion points.

And where are they going to do it? The hotel? Back of the rental? The beach? The park?

It's whatever you're into

'Cause consent is sexy!

I ain't finished teaching you 'bout how sprung I got ya

The narrator of "Candy Shop" is certainly ... assertive about his desires.

But here's the key thing : the lady on the receiving end of those desires? She's clearly into it. And we know this because she says so.

The lines of consent in "Candy Shop" are bright red, highlighted, and soldered into the weirdly sticky club floor.

Grim23/Wikimedia Commons

Meanwhile, Robin Thicke is outside trying to convince the bouncer that his uncle is a lawyer.

Girl wh at we do ...

And where we do ...

The things we do ...

Are just between me and you

No matter how nasty they freak, it will be intimate. It will be private. There will be no revenge porn (the epilogue to " Blurred Lines ," to wit, would definitely be a protracted, emotionally devastating lawsuit).

If you be a nympho, I'll be a nympho

Sexual compatibility is key to the survival of any relationship, whether years, weeks, or (very possibly in the case of "Candy Shop") minutes long.

She may have a high sex drive, but dude is graciously offering to accommodate her. What a gentleman! These crazy kids just might go the distance after all.

And at the end of the day, what is a relationship but two nymphos, sharing health insurance?

Thanks, Obamacare! Photo by Wonderlane/Flickr

It's like it's a race who could get undressed quicker

Again, everybody is having a great time. And, critically, an equally great time.

I touch the right spot at the right time

Of course, it wouldn't be a pop/hip-hop hit without a spot of random braggadocio, but if we're to take him at his word, "Candy Shop" guy is at least as good at "doing everything right" as the anonymous hitchhiker from "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You" — except without all the creepy surprise baby nonsense.

The "Candy Shop" guy is a keeper. Because he's not a hero or a stranger in the night or a funky, shimmering love god. He's a good partner .

"Candy Shop" is raunchy. It's dirty. It's not your grandmother's love song.

But when you strip away the swagger, the back beat, and the weird strings from "Best of Public Domain Middle Eastern Music 1993," by the end of the song, both people are satisfied. And at the end of the day, isn't that what a healthy relationship is all about?

So seductive.

This article originally appeared on 12.21.22

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American Airlines Reveals New Details on Suite Seats — Including a New ‘Preferred’ Front-row Seat

It's perks on perks on perks with this seat.

Courtesy of American Airlines

American Airlines is about to make business class even more comfortable with the introduction of a "preferred" front-row suite.

The new Flagship Suite Preferred seat will be available in the first row of the aircraft and will offer more space, several storage areas, and exclusive amenities, American Airlines shared with Travel + Leisure . The seat will be available on the airline's new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and on retrofitted 777-300 aircraft.

"We thoughtfully curate each element of the onboard experience so every customer can look forward to the time they spend in flight," Kim Cisek, American's vice president of customer Experience, said in a statement shared with T+L. "Part of the magic of travel is connecting our customers to the people and experiences that matter most to them. We're taking that concept to the skies by introducing a new, dynamic onboard program that's inspired by feedback from our customers and team members."

The "preferred" suite will feature a Nest Bedding mattress pad, a throw blanket, a memory foam lumbar pillow, and Nest Bedding pajamas to promote restful sleep at 30,000 feet. The suite will also come with an exclusive amenity kit complete with skincare products from Thirteen Lune by Joanna Vargas and Relevant (and more skincare products than other business-class kits).

The new seat setup is similar to JetBlue's front-row Mint Studio seats , which are larger versions of its Mint Suite business class seats.

Beyond this upgraded seat experience, American revealed new details about its Flagship Suite, which the airline first announced in 2022 . The lie-flat seats, which will be rolled out on its Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300, and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, will feature wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity, multiple storage areas, direct-aisle access, and privacy doors.

American is also upgrading its premium economy seats with perks like wireless charging and privacy headrest wings. Main cabin travelers will also have access to Bluetooth connectivity and both AC and USB-A/USB-C charging ports.

In addition to the new seat features, American is also introducing a dual-sided pillow in first and business class, featuring a cool side and a traditional fabric side.

The cabin refresh comes months after the airline revamped its loyalty program , introducing "members-only" benefits for AAdvantage frequent fliers . These benefits include free same-day standby for earlier domestic flights, free 24-hour ticket holds, and the ability to purchase one-day Admirals Club and Flagship First lounge passes. AAdvantage members who book through the airline can also cancel basic economy tickets for a fee.

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Breaking news, airlines predict record summer travel — with surging demand for first-class seats.

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Multiple airlines are reportedly anticipating carrying a record number of travelers this summer, including an increased demand in first class tickets.

United Airlines said Wednesday after reporting that it suffered $200 million in losses in the first quarter that it’s expecting a turnaround this summer.

“As an airline and as an industry,” United expects to “set another record for passenger numbers come June, July and August — the peak travel months for the season — the carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella told investors.

To achieve this, more than 273 million Americans would have to take vacations this year, according to Investopedia , citing data from Transportation Security Administration checkpoints between May 31, 2023, and Sept. 17, 2023.

The record-setting figure for 2023 means that nearly one-third, or 32.8% of all US households passed through TSA checkpoints last year in what was dubbed a “revenge” travel season.

In another positive sign for the future of travel, customers appear willing to pay up for first class and other cabins above standard coach, executives said, according to CNBC .

Nocella said on the earnings call Wednesday that as a result, United is mulling further segmentation at the front of its planes, as it did when it implemented “preferred seating” options and perks for its MileagePlus members.

“You have many teams of people working on how to further innovate and provide more and more choice and to monetize that choice on our behalf, obviously, in the future,” Nocella said.

Alaska Airlines is similarly predicting a strong peak this summer — despite recent setbacks stemming from its infamous mid-air door blowout at 16,000 feet in January, CNBC earlier reported.

The Seattle-based carrier has prepped for the coming months by expanding its capacity roughly 3.5% over the past 12 months — which positioned it to forecast second-quarter and full-year earnings well ahead of estimates on Thursday.

Though Alaska Airlines reported earlier this month that it lost “approximately $160 million” in its first quarter in pretax profit in the wake of the fuselage blowout, Boeing — which built the 737 MAX 9 that malfunctioned on that fateful Flight 1282 from Portland, Ore. — repaid the sum.

Boeing said that it would give Alaska Airlines the $160 million it lost as part of an “initial payment” for “financial damages” resulting from the near-disastrous flight on Jan. 5 that ultimately led to a three-week grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX 9 planes.

United also blamed that nearly month-long period on its own $200 million losses in the latest quarter, though Boeing hasn’t said that it would repay the Chicago-based airline — which was forced to cancel hundreds of flights and pause pilot hiring.

As Boeing faces a May 28 deadline from the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a comprehensive plan to address quality-control issues, the government agency is also probing United after several incidents this year, including a tire that fell from one of its older Boeing 777s , CNBC reported.

However, the setbacks didn’t seem to sway COO Nocella’s belief that it’s going to be a busy summer for United.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian also said on his company’s earnings call last week, “Demand continues to be strong, and we see a record spring and summer travel season with our 11 highest sales days in our history all occurring this calendar year,” CNBC earlier reported.

Delta’s second-quarter forecasts also outpaced Wall Street estimates.

And in another display of travelers’ willingness to splash out on travel perks, Delta revealed plans to debut “premium” airport lounges back in February , touting that the high-end spaces will feature full-service brasseries, markets and dedicated wellness areas.

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are both set to report their latest earnings results on April 25.

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