 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY 01/23/2019 BONVOY BOUNDLESS The Marriott merger is finally about to hit your wallet. The hotel giant created quite a buzz renaming its loyalty program Bonvoy — now it's time for your credit cards to get a facelift. There's now no turning back from our Bonvoy adventure — let's all shed one final tear for our beloved SPG. Here's what's happening now to the Starwood, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton credit cards:
Also today, we've learned that this is your very last chance to get the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express and the business version of Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card — both will close to new applicants next month. -Zach Honig, Editor-at-Large Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
 Well, one's going to be called the "Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant"... say that five times fast. And the new cards look completely different, too. From new branding to big bonuses, there's an awful lot to unpack.
 In this latest bout of déjà vu, another major airport was forced to halt air traffic due to nearby "drone activity" — Newark Liberty (EWR), in this case, just outside NYC. Following a 36-hour shutdown in London the other week, it's further proof of just how vulnerable our airports really are.
 Frequent flyers know that walking up to the airport ticket counter usually won't net you the best deal — Spirit flights are a notable exception to that rule. Richard Kerr put it to the test in Orlando, and while the result is a classic example of "your mileage may vary," in some cases the savings can be worth your time.
 Many of us will never forget that gigantic 100,000-point bonus Chase offered back in 2016, or a massive 150k haul for Amex's premium charge card. While those big bounties have since come and gone, there are still some especially lucrative offers on the table — including one that's just about to end.
 While many flyers would argue that Turkish Airlines already offers one of the best premium products in the biz, the carrier's current seats are hardly cutting-edge — especially on the 777-300ER, where unlucky business-class passengers could even get stuck in the middle. Thankfully, a big upgrade is on the way, even though it's only expected on some of Turkish's long-haul planes. LOUNGE ACCESS Frequent travelers discover countless "hacks" during their adventures on the road. Today, TPG Lounge member Ann S. shares an especially practical tip for frequent flyers: "I always have a few quart and gallon-size Ziploc bags. I use a gallon-size one for all of my items in the seat-back pocket to keep it accessible, together and gum-free. While traveling, they hold wet items or can be used like compression bags." Have your own tips to share? Sound off in the TPG Lounge. NEWS YOU CAN USE • Flying Solo: Best Single-Parent Vacations to Take With the Kids • Video: Drunk and Violent Passenger Causes Scoot Flight to Divert to Sydney • Act Quick: BA Offering 100 Seats for $128 One-Way From London to Rio and Pittsburgh • How Free Shipping Cost Me 30,000 Miles — Reader Mistake Story • 17 Things You Can Do While Stuck in Airport Security During the Government Shutdown • Why Traveling Helps You Face Your Fears • Best Credit Cards to Use On Ski Trips • Niagara Falls Is Partially Frozen, Fully Mesmerizing in Cold Weather Snap • Use Mobile Apps to Beat Flying Blue Restrictions on Award Searches • Top Travel Cribs for Globe-Trotting Tots       You are receiving this email because you opted in at thepointsguy.com. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities The Points Guy © All rights reserved 2019 |