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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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Your Eligible Visa Card Comes With Free International Data (Here’s How to Claim It)
You might already have free international data on your eligible Visa card. Most travelers never claim it, until they see how much they’re missing.
BoardingArea
There’s a $19.99 Way to Stay Connected on Your Cruise
What happens when your ship leaves port and your signal disappears? This $19.99 cruise eSIM solves it, before you notice.
BoardingArea
Get Up to 7 Days of Free Unlimited Data in the World’s Most Iconic Destinations
You could already have free unlimited data in the UK, France, Thailand, UAE, the United States, and North America (for the 2026 World Cup).
a building with a door and a glass entrance
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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Points Miles and Bling
Earn Up to 70,000 Points with WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
RBC’s highest-ever offers continue with the WestJet cards, as the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ improves its sign-up bonus to…
Your Mileage May Vary
Boston’s New Offsite TSA Program Is Two Weeks Old. Here’s How It’s Going So Far.
Two weeks ago, Boston became the first airport in the United States to let some travelers clear TSA security before they even arrived at the airport. The pilot program, which…
Miles To Memories
Transfer American Express Membership Rewards to LifeMiles with 15% Bonus
If you transfer American Express Membership Rewards® points to LifeMiles between June 15 to July 15, 2026, you will get 15% bonus miles.
Points Miles and Bling
Another All Time High: Up to 28,000 bonus on RBC Ion+ Visa
RBC continues to dominate the headlines this summer with new, highest-ever bonuses on the RBC Ion Visa and RBC Ion+…
Frequent Miler
Book Conrad Maldives seaplane roundtrip for only 150K Hilton points
If you’re planning a trip to the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, here’s a way that you could save a substantial amount of money on your stay. Hilton Experiences is once again selling round trip seaplane transfers for 150,000 Hilton Honors points. The Deal Redeem 150,000 Hilton Honors points for an...
Travel Codex
Cincinnati Grows International Flights to London and Paris
Expanded London and Paris service gives CVG more nonstop access to Europe and signals renewed international flight demand in Cincinnati.
Economy Class & Beyond
Unifiying data across the cabin – Lookng at Safran’s Poleen Cabin Management System
Cabins can produce a lot of information – especially those parts that have wear and tear (such as galley items and seats). And sometimes, those things are trying to tell an airline something. Safran Cabin has announced a pilot project to monitor cabin equipment and analyse data using networked sensors. The Cabin...
The Bulkhead Seat
Porter Airlines Launches Service From Montreal Metropolitan Airport to 11 Canadian Cities
Porter Airlines has officially launched operations from Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU). The new terminal…
Miles To Memories
Summer of DashPass Kicks Off with 50% Off at Lowe’s and BOGO Deals
For one day only, you can get $50 off your $100+ Lowe’s order exclusively for DashPass members. This offer is valid on Wednesday, June 17.
Traveling For Miles
Marriott launches Ask Bonvoy, an AI-powered search tool
Marriott has today announced the launch of "Ask Bonvoy", a conversational AI search tool that allows Marriott Bonvoy members to search for hotels using plain-English questions rather than the traditional filters and dropdown menus that hotel booking sites have relied on for as long as I can remember.
Frequent Miler
(Walmart & Atlantis added) Capital One Shopping adds Apple gift card redemptions (and Princess Cruises, Best Western, and more)
Update 6/16/26: Capital One Shopping has added even more gift card redemption options, but deleted a few others. Perhaps the most welcome one for many people will be the return of Walmart as an option, although not everyone is seeing that. You can also redeem your shopping portal rewards for...
Points With a Crew
Kickstarter: Solvest Cooling Vest (Back By Wednesday)
The Solvest Cooling Vest is designed for outdoors in the summer, and can get to 9 degrees Fahrenheit instantly. It's on Kickstarter, but only for a few more ...
Live and Let’s Fly
American Airlines Will Make Passengers Sit Upright Earlier Before Landing, Making Redeyes Even Worse
American Airlines is preparing cabins for landing earlier, a move meant to protect flight attendants from turbulence injuries during descent. I understand the safety concern, but I still think this is an overreaction that materially worsens the passenger experience, especially on redeye flights. However, there’s a compromise that I hope...
Points Miles and Bling
Flying Porter’s Inaugural Flight from Montreal MET Airport (YHU)
There are inaugural flights, and then there are inaugural flights. At 6 a.m. on a Monday morning, I found myself…
Your Mileage May Vary
Flying Southwest’s Independence One: A Special Plane At A Very Different Time For Southwest
Most Southwest flights are pretty ordinary. This one wasn’t. That wasn’t because of where we were going, or because Southwest suddenly started offering lie-flat seats and champagne. It was because…
Miles To Memories
Chase Guts Their Most Popular Cards, Amex Terms Change To Monitor, Half Off ChatGPT & More
Plus, do you need a Sapphire Reserve now, has Hyatt lost "it", profitable Lowe's Chase Offer is back, how to find cheaper awards & more.
View from the Wing
Marriott Owners Rebel Over Bonvoy Free Nights, And Guests May Pay With Higher Award Prices
More than 50 Marriott hotel owners, representing 1,000 hotels, say Bonvoy award nights do not reimburse them enough, even as Marriott’s credit card and loyalty revenue grows. If owners win more money for free-night stays, Bonvoy members may ultimately pay through higher award prices and weaker point value.
Frequent Miler
Delta Cars & Stays promos: Earn 5X miles, earn 1X MQDs, & get 15% off bookings with SkyMiles
Delta Cars & Stays is having quite the push at the moment with trying to get people to book hotel stays and/or car rentals through them. There are multiple different offers that can earn you 5X bonus SkyMiles, 1X Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), or save you 15% when redeeming SkyMiles...
The Bulkhead Seat
JetBlue Revamps Mint® Dining With New York Restaurant Partners
JetBlue is upgrading its Mint® Business Class dining experience through a new partnership with…
The Bulkhead Seat
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Announce Premium Summer Beverage Lineup
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are refreshing their onboard beverage offerings this summer with…
Miles To Memories
(Now Live) Target Circle Deal Days: $100 Circle Card Bonus and More
Apply for a Target Circle Card between June 14-26 and, if approved, receive $100 in Target Circle Rewards. You also get 15% off your first purchase as a new Target Circle member.
Traveling For Miles
We still don’t know when key Atmos Rewards changes will go live
Alaska Airlines rebranded its Mileage Plan program as Atmos Rewards back in August 2025, unifying it with Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles into a single program. Some of the changes that came with that rebrand are already live while others are still waiting to be rolled out and as we approach the middle...
One Mile at a Time
Our Wild Austrian Flight To Skiathos: A Fall, Two Go Arounds, And A Diversion
In a previous installment, I wrote about our really bad luck flying from Miami (MIA) to Skiathos (JSI). The previous installment was about our first flight, which was delayed, then canceled, and then had a baggage situation. Oh well.
Frequent Miler
Capital One Shopping/Offers: Earn 6%/9X on Apple purchases (albeit with many exclusions)
Apple is the boosted retailer today on the Capital One Shopping and Capital One Offers shopping portals. I’m seeing rates of 6% and 9X respectively, but there might be even better targeted offers out there. The Deal Earn 6% cashback through Capital One Shopping or 9X miles through Capital One...
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...
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...
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!