Plane ‘n Simple

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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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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Point Me to the Plane
Historical Hotel and Great Location Makes This London Hyatt A Fun Choice!
London hotels come in all shapes and sizes. None are as original and quirky as this one though!
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Point Me to the Plane
My Stay At This Iconic Hyatt Hotel Was Disappointing
Should a disappointing hotel room cloud a hotel stay? In this case not entirely. Yet enough that I rate this hotel much lower than expected.
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...
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Your Mileage May Vary
The Rise, Fall, and Modern Versions of Airline Lifetime Flight Passes
I don’t know about you, but for me, I think the ultimate in travel luxury would be a lifetime pass, or its equivalent, to something. Walt Disney World sold such…
The Bulkhead Seat
2025 Weekly Review: December 13th
Greetings from Tampa! I was in Louisville and Chicago this week on business. This… The post 2025 Weekly Review: December 13th appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
View from the Wing
Passenger Rips The Wheels Off His Carry-On To Beat The Gate Bag Sizer — Then Can’t Get It Back Out
A low-cost carrier passenger got called out at the gate for a carry-on that was just a bit too big, and instead of paying to check it he ripped the wheels off on the spot. The bag technically makes it into the gate sizer — but then he struggles to...
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...
One Mile at a Time
Weekly Review: December 13, 2025
I hope everyone is having a nice weekend so far! I’m off on a quick adventure with my dad, which I’ll be sharing the details of shortly, and I’m looking forward to that (though it’s not quite as exciting of a trip as I had hoped, due to time constraints)....
Points With a Crew
Kickstarter: Arsmel World’s Smallest 100W Travel Adapter (Back By Sunday)
The Arsmel travel adapter comes with 5 USB ports and 2 AC ports, along with a voltage indicator. It's on Kickstarter, but only for a few more ...
Your Mileage May Vary
The Easy Way to Make Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Valuable
Several no-annual-fee Chase cards can be great Ultimate Rewards earners. The problem is that those no-fee UR cards can’t transfer points to airline/hotel partners unless you also have a premium…
Live and Let’s Fly
I Learned Something Profound At Kitschy “Cultural Dinner” In Ethiopia
I went to what I assumed would be a kitschy, tourist-oriented “cultural dinner” in Ethiopia and walked away having learned something genuinely profound about how Ethiopians see themselves and their place in history. The Ethiopian Story Of Queen Sheba I Never Learned Until A “Cultural Dinner” I’ll admit it upfront:...
Frequent Miler
More Easy Rewards: Fee-free Visa Gift Cards at Staples
Update 12/13/25: This Visa gift card deal is meant to be a two week deal, so it’s due to run through Saturday December 20. ~ Staples is again offering fee-free fixed $200 Visa Gift Cards from Sunday, December 7, through December 13 20. The limit is nine per customer per...
The Bulkhead Seat
Hawaiian Airlines Set to Join oneworld® Alliance on April 22nd
Hawaiian Airlines will officially join the oneworld® alliance on April 22, 2026. This marks… The post Hawaiian Airlines Set to Join oneworld® Alliance on April 22nd appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Miles To Memories
Whoopsy – The 2025 Travel Mistakes I’ll Keep Making
I'm living and learning, but I imagine these 2025 travel mistakes are here to stay. Do you slip up the same way I do? The post Whoopsy – The 2025 Travel Mistakes I’ll Keep Making appeared first on Miles to Memories.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Eating in Madrid: Mercado de San Miguel
The seconds were relentlessly ticking away towards lunch time as the sol de Octubre was shining brightly on the growing mass of tourists and natives flowing in and out of this historic building of decorative iron posts guarding a wall of glass. The fragrant greetings of colorful fresh fruits and...
View from the Wing
Hilary Swank Apologizes After Going Off On Make-A-Wish Family At LAX Over A Photo They Took [Roundup]
News and notes from around the interweb: Hilary Swank freaks out on family at LAX doing Make-a-Wish trip, because she thought they were tasking her picture and maybe they were? My daughter had her first Etihad First Apartment trips at age 4. It had to wait until then because they’d...
ATX Jetsetter
My Favorite Travel Tools
Check out some of my favorite travel tools that support my travel addiction and help me keep everything organized on the road. The post My Favorite Travel Tools appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
ATX Jetsetter
Hawaiian Airlines is Joining the OneWorld Alliance on April 22, 2026
Hawaiian Airlines will officially become a full member of the OneWorld alliance on April 22, 2026. The post Hawaiian Airlines is Joining the OneWorld Alliance on April 22, 2026 appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
Your Mileage May Vary
Here’s What The TSA Actually Sees When They Scan Your ID
As the TSA adds more and more Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units to the country’s airports, it means fewer and fewer people have to show their boarding passes to TSA…
View from the Wing
How I Justify Paying $2,680 A Year In Premium Card Fees — And Why I Keep Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve, Venture X And Citi Strata Elite
Four premium cards, all with $600+ annual fees, might sound crazy — but they more than pay for themselves. Between stacked credits, lounge access, and reward strategies, here’s exactly how I turn those fees into profit every year. Continue reading How I Justify Paying $2,680 A Year In Premium Card Fees...
PointsMath
Promotion Weekly December 2025 Second Edition
Here are the ongoing points and travel promotions for this week. Previous Edition: Promotion Weekly December 2025 First Edition This weekly edition is divided into two sections: Airline promotions and Hotel promotions. Use the links below to jump to what matters to you. Airline Promotions Here are the currently available...
Live and Let’s Fly
Uber Drivers Are Starting Trips Without Passengers And Charging Them. Here’s How To Stop It
A reader shared a frustrating and expensive experience at Chicago O’Hare that highlights what may be the latest Uber scam, and why one simple setting can save you a lot of money and aggravation. The Latest Uber Scam And How A PIN Can Stop It The incident happened during a...
Pointalize
Amex vs. Chase: Which Ecosystem is Better?
Amex vs. Chase in 2025: We compare the ecosystems on transfer partners, earning rates, and approval rules (5/24 vs. Family Language). Find out which wins.
Frequent Miler
Greg’s Guest Appearance on Revolutionizing your Journey: Travel with Miles & Points: How Greg the Frequent Miler Rewrote the Playbook on Points, Miles, & Travel Strategy
On December 10th, Greg appeared on Revolutionizing your Journey: Travel with Miles & Points to discuss the background of Frequent Miler. You can catch the whole episode here, or read a quick summary of the discussion below. (03:19) – Greg’s beginnings: A spontaneous trip to Australia sparked his lifelong love...
Points With a Crew
New Merchant Added To Chase Freedom Q4 5% Bonuses! (Last Day to Activate)
Finally, it's time to activate your Chase Freedom Q4 2025 Bonus categories, and there are some good ones. You must activate before earning 5% cash back and ...
Point Me to the Plane
How Travel Boosts Your Brain
If you're not aware of HOW travel and brain health go together like peanut butter and jelly, then read on!
Your Mileage May Vary
Dear Whoever Is Doing This At Hotels, STOP IT!
I’m never shocked when I hear about people doing stupid things. I mean, I live in Florida. People doing stupid things happen pretty much daily down here. There are some…
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!
A cartoon illustration depicts a busy airport scene. Several people are shown walking hurriedly, carrying briefcases and wearing business attire. One man in the center is holding a ticket or document in his hand. In the background, there is a sign that reads "AIRLINES," and the area is crowded with other travelers. The overall atmosphere is bustling and chaotic.
BoardingArea
Frequent Flyer Funnies: The Ultimate Reward – Home Sweet Home?
Explore the irony of frequent flying with this week's #FrequentFlyerFunnies! Join the laughter and dialogue on travel rewards' paradoxes.