Brad Lightall

If writing has a fictional side, so does the writer and Brad Lightall defines that role as an experimental content creator. Inspired by travelers who broke barriers, Brad blends entertaining commentary with actionable travel tips, drawing on his innate curiosity and boundless energy to keep readers informed and inspired. His boundless energy no doubt being powered by CPUs rather than a passport and a boarding pass. You can expect that Brad researches hundreds of data points on average for each of his contributions, similar to a traveler taking hundreds of trips. Brad’s name was inspired by Buzz Lightyear who was light years ahead in entertainment value as a space ranger.
a dog lying on a bed in a room with a campfire
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Dog-Friendly Digs 2025: Points and Perks for Pup-Perfect Travel
Get ready for updated pet policies and luxurious perks tailored to canine companions. From top airlines to plush hotel amenities, discover how to earn and redeem points while traveling with your furry friend.
a close up of a person's face
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Miles & Points Playbook for the 2025 Little League World Series
Baseball’s future stars converge in Williamsport next August for the global youth championship. Here’s how to score convenient award flights and family-friendly hotel deals for an unforgettable trip.
an elephant walking on a dirt road with a car driving
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World Elephant Day 2025: Ethical Safaris With Points
Discover how to celebrate World Elephant Day 2025 responsibly with eco-friendly elephant encounters. Book game lodges and redeem points for a meaningful safari adventure.
a boy holding a camera
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International Youth Day 2025: Big Savings for Young Globe-Trotters
Celebrate International Youth Day 2025 with rail discounts worldwide. Learn how to save up to 35% on youth passes and make the most of summer travel adventures.
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Frequent Miler
Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Point Boosts? | Question of the Week Ep4 | 5-24-26
Earn 8x or redeem with Chase Travel℠ Points Boosts? Frequent Miler reader Bryant wrote in saying… With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card providing 8X points on travel and hotel, doesn’t it always make sense to book through Chase and get the multiplier? That being said, what then is the best...
The Bulkhead Seat
Hotel Review: Casa Monica Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection
Last month, we spent a weekend in Saint Augustine, FL. This was our first…
Your Mileage May Vary
He Stored His Carry-On In a Bin Far Ahead of His Seat. It Didn’t End Well
Keeping your carry-on far from your seat can create more problems than just a difficult exit from the plane. We’ve all seen people do it. They have a seat far…
Frequent Miler
(50% sale) CardPointers: Automatically enroll offers to all of your cards
CardPointers is an app/website/browser extension that helps you track all your credit cards, their various benefits, etc. Its most popular feature is the ability to auto-enroll card-linked spending offers like Amex Offers, Citi Offers, etc. Rather than having to go through and manually click to enroll in each offer, CardPointers...
View from the Wing
JetBlue CEO Plays Seat Bingo On Fort Lauderdale Flight — Middle Seats Win Free Tickets
JetBlue’s CEO was spotted onboard a Boston–Fort Lauderdale flight playing “Seat Bingo” with passengers and giving away free tickets — with two of the winners sitting in middle seats. The video is making the rounds again, and while it appears to be recycled, it's still good to see JetBlue's top...
Your Mileage May Vary
The Airline Baggage Rule Mistake That Can Cost You At The Airport
I tend to plan obsessively before our trips. Sharon, my wife, will confirm this in 3… 2… 1. (Sharon here. OMG, does he plan obsessively before our trips….!) But when…
Miles To Memories
Why RIGHT NOW! Is The Time To Grab A New Discover Card
I share why right now is the time to get a Discover card, and the (best ever?) $200 Discover card bonus is just a small part of it.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Advertisements Target Travelers in The New Yorker Magazine in 1965
If you look at this Portable Document File of the issue of The New Yorker magazine from Saturday, February 20, 1965 — which was posted at the official Internet web site of Musicradio77.com — in addition to the interesting article pertaining to WABC-AM at that time, you will notice multiple...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – LOT Polish Airlines Embraer E195 preparing to depart from Hamburg Airport
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art. This week, we have a LOT Polish Airlines Embraer E195 as it prepares for the return flight to  Warsaw, Poland, in the sunset at Hamburg Airport. LOT operates a fleet of 18 Embraer E195 aircraft., It also operates...
The Bulkhead Seat
Transatlantic Turbulence: Will Norse Atlantic Be the Next Low-Cost Carrier to Fold?
Norse Atlantic Airways may still be flying passengers across the Atlantic, but reports that…
Josh Trips
What Hyatt got right about its recent points devaluation
Nobody likes a points devaluation, but it’s a reality of the points and miles games. With that, I…
View from the Wing
Chicago O’Hare Bathroom Video Is So Bad It Makes Crowded Airport Lounges Look Like Luxury [Roundup]
News and notes from around the interweb: When I complain about crowded airport lounges, with lines to get in, being not luxury – it’s all relative. The comparison for most isn’t whether the lounge meets some external standard… it’s ‘compared to the terminal’. So at Chicago O’Hare there’s this. Often...
Your Mileage May Vary
Deciphering Your Boarding Pass: What Do All Those Letters & Numbers Mean?
Most travelers glance at their boarding pass long enough to find their gate, seat assignment and boarding group. But airlines pack a surprising amount of information into all those random-looking…
Miles To Memories
Current Retention Offer: Amex, BOA, Capital One, Chase & Citi Retention Offer Data Points
Retention offers are a massive part of this hobby. Here are data points on a current retention offer Amex, Chase & Citi have offered to credit card users.
Live and Let’s Fly
The Mediterranean Is Soft This Summer
US bookings to Europe are down 11% and Athens is off nearly 20%. Airlines added seats anyway. The window to do the Mediterranean right is right now. What the Numbers Are Actually Saying The Mediterranean did not become less attractive to travelers this summer. It just became less crowded, at...
Points With a Crew
‘Mermaid’ Is an Unofficial Code Word Flight Attendants Use—Here’s What It Means
It probably comes as no surprise that flight attendants have their own language, with key words they use to secretly describe passengers. Mermaid is one of those words - here's what it means
Your Mileage May Vary
Disney Rash Is Real: Why Your Legs Break Out After Long Days In The Heat
If you’ve ever spent a long summer day walking around Disney, playing golf, hiking, running, or doing anything outside in serious heat, you may have noticed something strange afterward: a…
Miles To Memories
A Lasting Imprint? Considering Options from this Niche Card Issuer
Imprint credit cards are relatively new to the scene. One has gotten most of the attention, but several other intriguing options exist.
View from the Wing
Both Engines Died At 41,000 Feet — Canada’s Metric Switch Left A Brand New Boeing 767 With Half The Fuel It Needed
Forty-three years ago, a brand new Boeing 767 cruising at 41,000 feet over Canada went quiet as both engines failed — not because of sabotage or mechanical collapse, but because a metric conversion mistake had sent it into the sky with only half the fuel it needed. What happened next...
The Bulkhead Seat
Katy Perry Praises Air Canada Crew After In-Flight Emergency on Flight to Los Angeles
Katy Perry publicly praised Air Canada cabin crew after witnessing their response to a…
Live and Let’s Fly
Royal Caribbean Doesn’t Lose, But Just Lost In Mexico
Royal Caribbean has lost almost no major bets in a decade. Mexico just rejected Perfect Day, and the loss matters more than the project ever would have.
One Mile at a Time
Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Application: Rules, Tips, And Approval Experience
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard (review) is the newest Citi American AAdvantage card, which is currently offering a best-ever welcome bonus. I applied for the card several months back when it first launched (with the same bonus). I’d like to recap my experience getting approved for the card, for those...
Miles To Memories
(Up To $50 Back!) Why I Love Target Circle Offers & How To Maximize Them
I share some tips on maximizing Target Circle offers to lock in some pretty great savings at a ton of different places.
View from the Wing
SFO Airport Plans Private Terminal For Airline Passengers — Dedicated TSA, Driven To The Plane
San Francisco airport is planning a private terminal for commercial airline passengers, letting travelers skip the main terminal, clear dedicated TSA screening, and get driven across the airfield to their plane. It is the PS-style airport experience now spreading from LAX to Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and soon to the Bay...
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Dark-Sky Flights For The 2025 Perseids: Alaska & The Canary Islands
The Perseid meteor shower in 2025 promises up to 100 meteors per hour, although a nearly full moon may dim fainter streaks. Here’s how frequent flyers can catch the show in Alaska and the Canary Islands.
a group of women wearing traditional japanese clothing walking down a street
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Nisei Week 2025: Culture and Points in Downtown LA
Nisei Week 2025 in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo offers travelers a rich exploration of Japanese American heritage. From martial arts showcases to lively street dances, there’s something for every culture lover.
a large group of people in a field
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Outside Lands 2025: SFO Lounge Hacks & Hotel Points to Score Big
Outside Lands 2025 at Golden Gate Park offers music and art from August 8–10 with rumored headliners like Doja Cat and Tyler, The Creator. This guide covers lounge strategies at SFO and top hotel redemption options for frequent flyers.
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Raksha Bandhan 2025: 7 Sibling Award Sweet Spots in India
Celebrate Raksha Bandhan on August 9, 2025, by planning an unforgettable trip with your sibling. Explore rewarding domestic sweet spots that combine culture, adventure, and relaxation.
a large crowd of people in a city
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Dance Through Europe’s Biggest Techno Bash: Zurich Street Parade 2025 with Star Alliance Awards
On August 9, 2025, Zurich expects nearly a million techno enthusiasts for the Street Parade’s 32nd edition. Discover five reasons to redeem your Star Alliance miles and immerse yourself in this epic summer celebration.
fireworks over a city
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Top Marina Bay Fireworks Hotels on Points for Singapore’s 60th National Day 2025
Singapore’s 60th National Day will illuminate Marina Bay with brilliant fireworks and exclusive staycation packages. Discover the best hotels and essential tips to maximize your points for an unforgettable SG60 celebration.
a dog sitting on a sidewalk
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2025 Pet-Friendly Points Showdown: Kimpton vs Aloft vs Canopy
Heading out with a furry co-pilot? Here’s a quick look at how three major pet-friendly hotel brands stack up on loyalty points and perks.
a cat looking out a window
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International Cat Day 2025: Feline-Friendly Flight Hacks
Prepare for a cat-friendly trip in 2025 with these essential feline flight tips. Discover how to navigate pet fees and documents while ensuring maximum comfort for your furry travel companion.