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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The Bulkhead Seat
Hyatt Debuts Unscripted Brand Globally With Wink Hotels Addition in Vietnam
Hyatt has significantly expanded its footprint in Vietnam with the addition of six Wink… The post Hyatt Debuts Unscripted Brand Globally With Wink Hotels Addition in Vietnam appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Travel With Grant
By the Numbers: How Much I Earned from Bank Account Bonuses in 2025
Discover how I earned $3,475 from bank account bonuses in 2025, along with $2,304 in interest. Learn about the nine accounts I opened, the strategies I used, and how you can potentially maximize your own earnings. The post By the Numbers: How Much I Earned from Bank Account Bonuses in 2025...
Your Mileage May Vary
Week One: $550 Back From AMEX Platinum Credits (And Why I Did It Early)
Every January, I tell myself I’m going to be “better” about using my AMEX Platinum credits. And every December, I’m still somehow surprised by how fast the year disappears. So…
Frequent Miler
Earn 500 Hyatt bonus points per night at select properties
Hyatt offers an extra 500 bonus points per night at select new hotels around the world. They update this list periodically with new properties and the latest batch is now available when booking stays for the next few months. It’s always great to earn some extra points, but this one...
Frequent Miler
Chase Q1 cobranded business card spending offers with direct registration links
For the last few years, Chase has targeted cobranded cardholders with offers to earn 5%, 5x, or 7x (depending on the card) in a range of categories. Those offers were always on personal cobranded cards, with spending offers on business cobranded cards being few and far between. It’s therefore a...
View from the Wing
63 Ole Miss Fans Risked Missing the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix—American Switched Gates and Saved the Connection
Sixty-three Ole Miss fans were on the same tight connection through DFW, with a delay threatening to strand them short of the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix. Instead of holding the flight, American simply moved gates—turning what would have been a terminal sprint into a short walk, and the Phoenix flight...
One Mile at a Time
Wait, This Marriott Hotel Bed Is Real, Not Photoshop?!
Okay, this might just be one of Marriott’s coolest and most memorable hotel rooms anywhere (perhaps along with the Boeing 737 cockpit suite in Amsterdam, the Goodnight Moon suite in Boston, etc.)…
Points With a Crew
No, Sorry – You Can’t Get A “Free Priority Pass Membership”
Despite what certain other blog authors might say, you can't have a "free" Priority Pass membership. Maybe travel isn't "free" but this isn't even close
Points With a Crew
The Top 5 Things People Steal From Hotels (TVs? Mattresses?)
Okay - I have to know. Who is it that is stealing TV sets, mattresses and even a grand piano out of hotels? Is it you?
Your Mileage May Vary
How to Get Through TSA Faster — And the One Direction Most People Get Wrong
Depending on the airport, time of day, time of year, and, of course, whether or not you have TSA PreCheck, your visit to the TSA security checkpoint can be as…
From The Tray Table
Official: Alaska Airlines drops “Proudly All Boeing” slogan as fleet evolves
Alaska Airlines may share Seattle roots with Boeing, but it no longer flies an exclusively Boeing fleet. For… The post Official: Alaska Airlines drops “Proudly All Boeing” slogan as fleet evolves appeared first on From the Tray Table.
Frequent Miler
(Targeted) United cardholder offers awarding bonus miles on spend
Some United cardholders are being targeted with promotions awarding bonus miles when hitting spending thresholds. The Deal Earn bonus miles when hitting spending thresholds on targeted United credit cards. Direct link to registration. Key Terms Register your United MileagePlus Card for the Year of Yes promotion by March 15, 2026....
From The Tray Table
First pictures: Alaska Airlines’ striking new Boeing 787 livery
This may just be one of the prettiest aircraft paint jobs I’ve ever seen. On Wednesday, Alaska Airlines… The post First pictures: Alaska Airlines’ striking new Boeing 787 livery appeared first on From the Tray Table.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Georgia Now Requires Insurance To Enter the Country
All visitors who enter the country of Georgia are required to provide proof of valid health and accident insurance coverage effective as of Thursday, January 1, 2026. The coverage amount must be no less than ₾30,000.00 and cover the full period of stay in Georgia.  The policy may be issued...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Earn up to 10,000 bonus Avios and save up to 20% on Qatar Airways flights out of the U.S. & Canada
Qatar Airways has launched a big sale and bonus offer for flights out of the U.S. and Canada that provides up to 20% off flights and up to 10,000 bonus Avios. The discount offer is good for travel until October 31 and the bonus Avios is good for travel until...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Earn up to 10,000 bonus Avios and save up to 20% on Qatar Airways flights out of the U.S. & Canada
Qatar Airways has launched a big sale and bonus offer for flights out of the U.S. and Canada that provides up to 20% off flights and up to 10,000 bonus Avios. The discount offer is good for travel until October 31 and the bonus Avios is good for travel until...
View from the Wing
71% Of United Flight Attendants Rejected a Deal—Now They’re Demanding Immediate Pay Increases Anyway
United flight attendants voted down a union-endorsed contract by 71% after five years without a raise—and now the union is demanding pay increases immediately, before a new deal is negotiated. United is pushing back, arguing that any added pay or “quality of life” improvements have to come as part of...
Your Mileage May Vary
Major Airport Lounge Access Changes Coming in Early 2026
Over the past few years, airport lounge access provided by having a travel credit card has undergone constant changes, making access more restrictive. While lounges are expanding — with new…
Miles To Memories
Leaked! Check Out Possible Details of New Bilt Credit Cards
The leaked details include three sets of cards with different names and slightly different setups for earning and benefits. The post Leaked! Check Out Possible Details of New Bilt Credit Cards appeared first on Miles to Memories.
One Mile at a Time
American Airlines’ Culture Problem: From Awful To Amazing In 20 Minutes
American Airlines is trying to become more premium in order to improve its financial performance. I appreciate all the changes the airline is making, but as I see it, the carrier has one biggest problem — the massive inconsistency when it comes to service from frontline employees.
Frequent Miler
Save 15% on IHG award stays at new hotels
For the last few years, IHG has been offering a 15% discount on award stays at new properties, with different hotels being discounted one, two, and three months ahead of time. The list of eligible hotels gets updated each month with new properties for three months ahead of time, so...
You Are Travel
Bahn Mi for Everyone – Hyatt’s New ‘Unscripted’ Brand Adds Six Properties from Vietnamese Wink Hotels
​tl;dr – Hyatt starts the year off with a bang, more than doubling its Vietnamese footprint. Last year,… The post Bahn Mi for Everyone – Hyatt’s New ‘Unscripted’ Brand Adds Six Properties from Vietnamese Wink Hotels appeared first on You Are Travel.
Live and Let’s Fly
10 Business Class Products I Hope To Fly In 2026
It worked so well in 2025 that I’m embracing my status as “free agent” this year, which will make it easier than ever to review new products, but also make the effective use of miles and points all the more important. Here are 10 business class products I hope to...
Live and Let’s Fly
10 Business Class Products I Hope To Fly In 2026
It worked so well in 2025 that I’m embracing my status as “free agent” this year, which will make it easier than ever to review new products, but also make the effective use of miles and points all the more important. Here are 10 business class products I hope to...
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.