View from the Wing

BoardingArea is highly rated for delivering insightful tips, advice, and reviews about the topic of travel and travelers’ obsession with frequent flyer miles and points. This up-to-date information is tailored to all levels of travel expertise from a diverse collection of experienced contributors, including travel bloggers, industry insiders and avid adventurers. REQUIRED READING FOR FREQUENT FLYERS.
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View from the Wing
Hyatt Revamping Award Charts—With 78 Price Levels, Free Nights At Top Hotels Get Up To 67% More Expensive
The World of Hyatt program will expand its award charts from three to five price levels per category, creating 78 possible redemption prices across their standard and all-inclusive charts. The most expensive points redemptions can cost up to 67% more points than before. While the lowest tier prices actually...
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Pointalize
Marriott vs. Hilton: Who Wins?
Marriott Bonvoy vs. Hilton Honors in 2026: A definitive comparison of elite status, resort fees, upgrades, and property footprints. Find out which program wins.
a living room with couches and a coffee table
One Mile at a Time
What’s The Best Hotel Loyalty Program For Suite Upgrades?
In the past, Ive written a post comparing the major hotel loyalty programs, sharing what I view as the pros and cons of each. There are various factors to consider, ranging from a hotel groups global footprint, to elite recognition, to the points earning structure.
a person holding a phone and charging a charger
Plane ‘n Simple
TSA Issues Urgent Cybersecurity Warning: Why You Should Never Use Airport USB Charging Ports
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a critical cybersecurity warning that every traveler needs to hear: those convenient USB charging ports scattered throughout airports could be stealing your personal data. In a recent Facebook post, the TSA cautioned travelers about a cybersecurity threat called “juice jacking,” where hackers install malware...
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View from the Wing
Iran Air A319 Destroyed on the Ground at Bushehr — Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport Was Hit Too
An Iran Air Airbus A319 was reportedly destroyed on the ground at Bushehr Airport as strikes hit Iranian aviation infrastructure. Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport was also struck, underscoring that these targets are tied to military activity as well as civilian traffic—while early statements indicate the nearby Bushehr nuclear power plant itself...
You Are Travel
56 Years Ago, This Popular Beach Destination Had A Population of Just 3 People
​tl;dr – This city might be the epitome of a manufactured tourism development. ​You’ve probably rolled out of… The post 56 Years Ago, This Popular Beach Destination Had A Population of Just 3 People appeared first on You Are Travel.
Your Mileage May Vary
A Master Class in Boundaries at 35,000 Feet
A calm, direct response to seat-spreading turned an awkward flight moment into an instant lesson in personal space. Flying economy—or even premium economy—means living within tight physical boundaries. With seats…
Miles To Memories
Citi 5X Targeted Spending Offers: Earn Extra Points Now Through May 31
Citi is sending out another round of targeted spending offers for purchases now through May 31, 2026. Check your accounts! The post Citi 5X Targeted Spending Offers: Earn Extra Points Now Through May 31 appeared first on Miles to Memories.
Frequent Miler
Excellent Capital One Shopping offers: $650/$300 Marriott Homes & Villas, $225/$75 Caesars, & more
Here’s yet another reminder why it’s worth browsing websites with the Capital One Shopping browser extension installed when you’re planning on making a purchase. I’ve gotten several targeted emails in recent days with some superb offers including $300 back on a $650+ Homes & Villas by Marriott booking. The Deal...
One Mile at a Time
Two Plaza Premium Lounges Open At DFW, Including Swanky First Lounge!
Several months ago, we learned how Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is getting a couple of new lounges, contributing to what’s arguably becoming the best terminal in the United States for lounge quality. There’s now an exciting update, as these lounges are expected to open within the coming week.
Miles To Memories
SoFi Checking & Savings $300 Bonus (Plus $415 from Swagbucks)
SoFi is now offering up to 4.00% APY for its SoFi Checking & Savings account, plus you can get a bonus of up to $715 as a new member. The post SoFi Checking & Savings $300 Bonus (Plus $415 from Swagbucks) appeared first on Miles to Memories.
One Mile at a Time
Lufthansa Allegris Business Class Family Seating Policy: Laughably Complicated
Lufthansa is (sadly) notorious for Allegris, the name of its latest generation passenger experience concept. This includes new long haul first class and business class products, with the rollout of the new business class being perhaps the most botched product introduction we’ve ever seen in the airline industry.
Live and Let’s Fly
Review: Park Hyatt Jakarta (Luxury Hotel With Outstanding Value)
I spent two nights at Park Hyatt Jakarta, a lovely and inexpensive luxury hotel in the center of world’s most populous city that offers superb accommodations and amenities at an excellent price point. Park Hyatt Jakarta Review – Luxury Hotel, Great Value My nightly rate was $213, which represented excellent...
The Bulkhead Seat
Promo: Spirit Airlines Launches 10% Off Flights to Indianapolis for 2026 Final Four
College basketball fans heading to the 2026 Men’s NCAA Final Four can now take… The post Promo: Spirit Airlines Launches 10% Off Flights to Indianapolis for 2026 Final Four appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Frequent Miler
Ask Us Anything Live: Wednesday, March 4 at 9pm ET
Every month, the Frequent Miler team takes your questions live on YouTube. View on YouTube here We normally hold Ask Us Anything at 9pm on the first Wednesday of the month. That means that our next Ask Us Anything session will therefore be live at 9pm Eastern Time on Wednesday,...
One Mile at a Time
Is InterContinental Ambassador Status Worth It? Cost & Perks Explained…
While IHG One Rewards is the loyalty program for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), theres separately the InterContinental Ambassador program. This can cause some confusion, since often people dont really get the distinction between IHG One Rewards and InterContinental Ambassador. In this post, Id like to take a closer look at...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
IHG One Rewards: 15% discount on rewards nights at new & renovated hotels (Mar 3 Bonus Offer Highlight)
Today's bonus offer highlight is this month's update to the 15% discount on reward nights at new and renovated IHG Hotels around the world. Check out all of the new bonuses added today: The post IHG One Rewards: 15% discount on rewards nights at new & renovated hotels (Mar 3 Bonus...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why I Almost Booked My First LifeMiles Award — And Why I Walked Away
While planning part of our upcoming trip through Europe, I needed to book a short flight on Austrian Airlines. Since Austrian is part of the Star Alliance network, that meant…
Miles To Memories
Citi Splurge Credit Issues, Up To 20% Off Gas + Dining & This Tiny Country’s Capital Is Europe’s Most Beautiful
In our Around the Web series we take a look at interesting articles that cover miles, points, travel and personal finance. The post Citi Splurge Credit Issues, Up To 20% Off Gas + Dining & This Tiny Country’s Capital Is Europe’s Most Beautiful appeared first on Miles to Memories.
View from the Wing
Broken Seats, Broken Armrests And Out Of Order Tray Tables — American Airlines Calls It ‘Product Delivered’
American Airlines sells a “premium” experience and even tells coach passengers their ticket is “more than just a seat,” but customers keep documenting the opposite: broken armrests, headrests that fall off, and first class tray tables marked “out of order.” When they complain, the response is remarkably consistent—no compensation, no...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Receive a 50% bonus when you buy Miles & More miles via their Bundle&Go packages
Miles & More is once again offering a excellent bonus for buying miles with their packaged Bundle&Go offers. You can earn a 50% bonus on all packages purchased by March 31. These Bundle&Go packages are their innovative way at selling miles to members without directly selling miles on their own....
Frequent Miler
Wyndham cardholder promo: Earn 3k bonus points when paying 3 different bills 3 consecutive months
Barclays is once again targeting Wyndham cardholders (and possibly cardholders of other cobranded cards) with an offer that’s awarding 3,000 bonus points when paying three different bills for three consecutive months. The Deal Make three bill payments per month to the following service providers for three consecutive months on a...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
American AAdvantage: Earn up to 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points when flying with AA until April 30
American Airlines has launched a new systemwide flight bonus that awards up to 1,000 bonus Loyalty Points per flight taken with the airline up to a maximum of 5,000 bonus points. Members who register for the offer will earn 500 point for any flight and 1,000 points for flights to...
Miles To Memories
Earn $500 Bonus With New Capital One Business Checking Account
There is a new Capital One business checking bonus that can net you $500 in quick cash. The requirements are pretty easy to fulfill. The post Earn $500 Bonus With New Capital One Business Checking Account appeared first on Miles to Memories.
Points Miles and Bling
The Only Place You Should Send RBC Avion Points is American AAdvantage
In this article, I make the case that the best place to transfer your RBC Avion points is American Airlines… The post The Only Place You Should Send RBC Avion Points is American AAdvantage appeared first on Points Miles and Bling.
Frequent Miler
There’s a new Amazon Amex Offer, but you should avoid it
Amazon Amex Offers are usually an easy win if you ever buy anything from there as they either provide a discount when spending a certain amount or offer a decent number of bonus points on your purchase. Well, there’s a brand new Amazon Amex Offer that’s the exception to the...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
British Airways Lays On First Rescue Flight From the Middle East in a First Come, First Served Scramble To Get Seats
British Airways passengers who are currently stranded in the Middle East after airspace across the region was suddenly shuttered on Saturday are now in a desperate scramble to secure seats on the first rescue flight that the airline is laying on back to London. On Tuesday afternoon, the airline confirmed...
One Mile at a Time
Seats.aero: How This Fun, Geeky, Useful, Award Search Tool Works
Every so often, I think it makes sense to talk a bit about the tools and services that I most use for managing, earning, and redeeming points. While I often mention these websites and services in passing, I think theres also merit to writing dedicated posts about them sometimes.
This is a black and white cartoon depicting a crowded airplane aisle with several passengers vying for an upgrade. One person says, "I've flown 500,000 miles this year!" Another responds, "Well, I'm a million miler!" A third person counters, "Oh yeah? Well I know Randy Petersen!" The caption reads, "The competition for upgrades intensifies!" The cartoon humorously illustrates the lengths people go to for airline upgrades.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Art of the Upgrade
Explore the hilarious world of airline upgrades and dive into the comedic chaos of mileage bragging and insider connections as travelers humorously vie for better seats. Discover the quirky dynamics of upgrade competition and share your own stories of success and amusing defeats. Join us for laughs and insights into...
A cartoon depicts a scene at an airport gate labeled "Gate 6A." A sign above reads "Travel Quiz." Several people are interacting with a machine that resembles a polygraph, operated by a person behind a counter. The machine is connected to a man with a Hawaiian shirt. Below, text humorously describes the machine's functions: A) Records your heartbeat while waiting for upgrade clearance. B) Records your voice volume when your program changes its rules again. C) Records your blood pressure when you're denied a free award seat. D) All of the above. A caption at the bottom reads: "The TSA and Secret Service use magnetometers, but have you ever seen a mileometer being used? Now you can say you have."
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Mileometer Mystery
Welcome back to another edition of #FrequentFlyerFunnies, where we uncover the humor in the highs and lows of air travel! This week, we’re exploring the whimsical world of imaginary gadgets with the “Mileometer”—a device that captures the emotional saga of every frequent traveler. Buckle up for some laughs! What the...
A black and white cartoon depicts a person with glasses looking through a microscope at a document titled "Frequent Flyer Program Rules." The person is exclaiming "AH-HA!" in a speech bubble. Below the image, there is a caption that reads, "who ever thought it was a good idea to try and hide the fine print from frequent flyers?"
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Microscope Method for Fine Print
Discover the hilarious frustrations of frequent flyer programs in this week's Frequent Flyer Funnies! Our comic hero dives deep into the microscopic fine print to uncover hidden rules and elusive details. Laugh along as we poke fun at the absurdity of needing a microscope navigate airline loyalty terms. Share your...
Points With a Crew
What Should You Tell The Hotel Front Desk If Your Stay Was Awful?
We've all been there - a subpar hotel stay and now you're checking out. What do you tell the front desk? Do you let them know why your stay was ...
A colorful cartoon image shows a large computer screen with the text "YOU'VE WON 25,000 MILES!" and "LOVE, KELLOGG'S." Below the text is a button labeled "SEND" with an arrow pointing up. An animated character wearing a hat labeled "CRACKLE" is reaching towards the screen, while another character wearing a hat labeled "SNAP" is standing nearby. The background includes various office supplies and equipment.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: When Elves Go Bad
Join us for a laugh in this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies as we explore a hilarious marketing mishap involving Kellogg's and mischievous elves!
A black and white cartoon depicts a news reporter standing in front of an airport runway with airplanes in the background. The reporter is holding a microphone and a piece of paper, speaking into the camera. A speech bubble next to the reporter reads, "Times are really tough for the airlines; that's why they have to cut frequent flyer benefits." The title at the top of the cartoon says, "Those Frequent Flyer Miles... The Way It Is!"
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Way It Is vs. The Way It Ought to Be
Laugh along with this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies as we explore the hilarious irony/paradox of frequent flyer benefits during tough times.
The image is a cartoon illustration depicting four people in a snowy, icy environment. Three of them are sitting on the ground, bundled up in winter clothing. One person is pouring a drink from a thermos, another is holding a cup, and the third is sitting with their hands in their lap. The fourth person is lying on the ground, appearing to have slipped or fallen. In the background, there are two penguins standing on the ice.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Chilly Reality of Off-Peak Award Travel
Enjoy the hilarious irony of off-peak travel in this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies with a family’s frigid beach vacation!
A comic depicting a frequent flyer undergoing a vision test with two charts. The first chart, read by an optimistic airline customer, shows 'MORE UPGRADES, BETTER AWARD AVAILABILITY, FEWER FEES.' The second chart, read by a skeptical frequent flyer, shows 'EVERYTHING IS FINE, ALL IS WELL.' The caption at the bottom humorously redefines the term 'BI-FOCAL.'
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Bi-Focal Loyalty Vision Test
This week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies humorously explores the contrast between airline promises and frequent flyer reality. Join us for a laugh with the bi-focal loyalty vision test!