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☆ To Protect Your Miles, Be Careful How You Book
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Elaine Glusac | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Earlier this month, American Airlines announced that beginning May 1, it will require travelers to book directly with the airline, partner airlines or “preferred travel agencies” in order to receive points in its loyalty program. The unprecedented move confused many travelers eager to protect their mileage currency, prompting posts like this one on X: “@AmericanAir your news about earning miles/loyalty points is a bit concerning — we’re loyal to you no matter who we book through!”In an email, a representative of the airline said that the approved list of travel agencies would not be published until April. While there is much to be determined about the new policy, a battle for customers between the airline and third-party ticket sellers, which includes online travel agencies like Orbitz, has emerged. Here’s what travelers should know before booking their next flight.

Persons: we’re Organizations: American Airlines

☆ Expedia is cutting 1,500 jobs as travel demand slows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Expedia, the online travel agency, is eliminating about 1,500 employees as part of an “organizational and technological transformation.”The cuts, which amount to nearly 9% of its 17,100-strong global workforce, come amid slowing travel demand following a post-pandemic boom and a broader shakeup at the company, including a new CEO. Expedia (EXPE) said in a regulatory filing that the cuts will result in an $80 million to $100 million charge to its bottom line because of severance and compensation benefits costs. Over time, Expedia has acquired several online traveling booking platforms including Hotels.com, Vrbo, Orbitz, Hotwire.com and Travelocity. An Expedia spokesperson said that the changes “will result in the elimination of some roles” that “allows the company to invest in core strategic areas for growth.”Expedia had previously announced that CEO Peter Kern was departing his role. Ariane Gorin, who is president of Expedia for Business unit, will take over the position in May when Kern’s contract ends.

Persons: New York CNN — Expedia, “, Expedia, wasn’t, ”, ” Expedia, Peter Kern, Ariane Gorin, Max Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN Locations: New York

☆ American Airlines is suing Skiplagged, accusing the travel site of being a 'classic bait and switch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Taylor Rains | Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

American Airlines filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged.com on Thursday. Both United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have sued Skiplagged.com in the past. American Airlines has had enough of Skiplagged.com. Then, Southwest Airlines filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged in 2021 after it showed the airline's ticket prices. United Airlines and travel booking Orbitz accused Skiplagged of costing them $75,000 in their 2014 lawsuit.

Persons: Skiplagged.com, Orbitz, Aktarer Zaman, Zaman, d3sign, Skiplagged, Dan Gellert, United, Charlotte —, Gellert Organizations: American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Morning, American, His North, Skiplagged, Delta Air Lines Locations: The Texas, Texas, Florida, New York, Charlotte, His, His North Carolina, American, Chicago, New York City, Southwest

☆ A controversial hack to save on plane tickets carries a 'super big risk,' says travel expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Baona | E+ | Getty ImagesThe carrier, American Airlines, reportedly discovered the traveler's intent and canceled their ticket. When booking a flight, travelers agree to airlines' contracts, or conditions of carriage. They may have been able to sell an empty seat to another passenger, or perhaps sell a more expensive nonstop ticket to the skiplagging passenger, for example. Additionally, when travelers deviate from what's expected it messes with airlines' internal planning, flight scheduling and data science, for example, Slotnick said. Thousands of people book Skiplagging or hidden city tickets every day and we generally hear of no issues from any of them," Gellert said.

Persons: Natnan, Skiplagged.com, Baona, Slotnick, David Slotnick, Guy More, Orbitz, They're, Dan Gellert, Skipplagged.com, Gellert Organizations: American Airlines, Skiplagged.com's, Airlines Locations: Gainesville , Florida, New York, Charlotte , North Carolina, Charlotte

☆ Airlines have tried to fight the computer whiz who popularized 'skiplagging' in court. Their lawsuits have been either thrown out or settled.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

United and Southwest Airlines have both previously filed lawsuits against Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman. Airlines like United and Southwest have tried to fight the computer whiz whose website Skiplagged helped popularize the idea. However, the airlines' lawsuits against Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman have been either thrown out or settled. Southwest went after Skiplagged with a lawsuit in 2021In 2021, Southwest Airlines took at turn going after Skiplagged. "Neither Skiplagged nor Kiwi is authorized to display Southwest fares or sell Southwest flights," the airline's lawyers wrote in the suit.

Persons: Aktarer Zaman, Skiplagged, Orbitz, Zaman, United, Kiwi.com Organizations: United, Southwest Airlines, Skiplagged, Morning, Zaman, CNN, Southwest, Atlanta News Locations: Southwest, Chicago , Illinois, New York City, Texas

☆ 'Skiplagging' doesn't always save money — and there could be serious consequences if you're caught, travel expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A travel expert said that "skiplagging" didn't guarantee travelers would save money on flights. The travel hack known as "skiplagging", or "hidden city" ticketing, doesn't guarantee that you'll save money on your airfare, according to a travel expert. But Gilbert Ott, the founder of travel site God Save The Points, warned that skiplagging can save money, but depended on your departure point and final destination, he told Insider. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Lufthansa are among a growing list of carriers taking action to combat the practice. United Airlines and travel site Orbitz also tried to sue Aktarer Zaman, the CEO of travel site Skiplagged, in 2014, accusing him of "unfair competition" and "deceptive behavior."

Persons: Gilbert Ott, Ott, skiplagging, Orbitz, Aktarer Zaman, Zaman Organizations: Google, American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, CNN Locations: Germany, Berlin, Illinois, New York City

☆ How to book a skiplag flight to save money — and why you shouldn't
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Skiplagging" is the practice of booking an airline ticket with the layover city intended as the destination. The strategy involves booking a flight with a layover intended as the destination city and then skipping the second leg. Founded by computer scientist Aktarer Zaman in 2013, the website helps customers find "hidden city" fares based on their preferred airports and destination. This did not bode well with Lufthansa, which identified the itinerary as hidden city ticketing and then requested about $2,400 from the customer as additional payment, according to court documents. American Airlines, for example, added new tools in 2021 to help agents recognize a hidden city ticket.

☆ Flyers are 'skiplagging' to try and save money on flight tickets. Airlines hate it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This means booking a flight with a layover at the intended destination and skipping the second leg. The practice is sometimes cheaper than booking a regular nonstop flight, but airlines hate it. For example, Google Flights said a roundtrip flight from New York to Amsterdam in late June on the Dutch flag carrier KLM cost from $2,850. A price comparison of a flight from New York to Amsterdam and a multi-city trip from New York to London with a layover in Amsterdam. United Airlines and the travel website Orbitz sued Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman in 2014.

☆ The 6 best credit cards for restaurants and dining in May 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

With many options available, we’ve put together a list of the best credit cards for restaurants and dining for May 2023. Let’s look at the dining credit cards we like and why we like them. The best credit cards for dining out in MayThere’s no one card that’s best for every foodie. This is the highest return you’ll receive amongst any other credit card on this list. Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards currently available.

☆ Travel costs fell in April's inflation reading. The dip may be short-lived, experts warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Typical trip costs increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2023, according to the NerdWallet Travel Price Index, which includes prices for flights, hotels, car rentals and dining out. When expressed in dollar terms, travelers would have paid an extra $180 per person for a $2,000 trip, NerdWallet found. "As has been the case ever since the onset of the pandemic, travel prices have been volatile," said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. "I think you're going to enjoy it a little bit more," Griscavage said of off-season travel to popular cities. Use your rewardsMany people built up frequent flier miles during the pandemic by using their credit cards that carry travel rewards benefits, Josephs said.

Some of the very best Citi credit cards earn ThankYou Rewards, including the popular Citi Premier® Card and no-annual-fee options like the Citi® Double Cash Card, Citi Rewards+® Card , and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. If you're thinking of applying for one of the best credit cards like the Citi Premier® Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, or Citi® Double Cash Card, keep reading to learn more about how you can put your Citi credit card rewards to work for you. How to earn Citi ThankYou pointsThe easiest way to rack up Citi ThankYou points is with a Citi credit card, which you can easily apply for online. Show more Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 18.74% - 28.74% Variable Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months Editor's Rating 3.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. There's one non-airline Citi ThankYou transfer partner available to all cardholders — you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to Sears Shop Your Way points at a rate of 1:10.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Rewards Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Rewards Earn 2x Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). *More Rewards: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. The Amex Travel Portal allows you to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more with your Membership Rewards points.

The new 80,000-point bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card will end December 1, 2022, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. You can use your Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit toward expenses like airport parking and online travel agencies. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get airport lounge accessChase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gets them access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The Chase Sapphire Reserve increases the value of your Chase pointsIf you already have other Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, including no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can combine your points into your Chase Sapphire Reserve® account and unlock better redemption options. Chase Sapphire Reserve application restrictionsLike other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is subject to application restrictions, most notably the Chase 5/24 rule.

The new 80,000-point bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is worth at least $1,200 in travel. You can use your Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit toward expenses like airport parking and online travel agencies. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get airport lounge accessChase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gets them access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The Chase Sapphire Reserve increases the value of your Chase pointsIf you already have other Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, including no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can combine your points into your Chase Sapphire Reserve® account and unlock better redemption options. Chase Sapphire Reserve application restrictionsLike other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is subject to application restrictions, most notably the Chase 5/24 rule.

Citi issues multiple credit cards that earn ThankYou Rewards, including the popular Citi Premier® Card and no-annual-fee options like the Citi Rewards+® Card and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. If you're thinking of applying for a credit card like the Citi Premier® Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, or Citi Rewards+® Card, keep reading to learn more about how you can put your Citi credit card rewards to work for you. How to earn Citi ThankYou pointsThe easiest way to rack up Citi ThankYou points is with a Citi credit card, which you can easily apply for online. Citi ThankYou Rewards points are worth, on average, 1.6 cents per point based on Insider's points and miles valuations — but how you redeem your points will change the exact value of points. There's one non-airline Citi ThankYou transfer partner available to all cardholders — you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to Sears Shop Your Way points at a rate of 1:10.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). *More Rewards: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. The Amex Travel Portal allows you to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more with your Membership Rewards points. Other ways to use American Express pointsThere are a few other, little-known options for redeeming your American Express rewards, including:

☆ Expedia Poaches CFO From Home-Retailer Williams-Sonoma
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Expedia Group Inc. hired a new finance chief, a move that comes as the online travel company works to build out its direct-to-consumer offering. He also plans to stay on as chair of the supervisory board of directors of Trivago N.V. , which is majority-owned by Expedia Group, the company said. Photo: Expedia Group Inc.Ms. Whalen most recently served as CFO at San Francisco-based home-products retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc., a role she has held since 2012. Also on Wednesday, Williams-Sonoma named Jeff Howie, the company’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer, as Ms. Whalen’s successor. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CFO Journal The Morning Ledger provides daily news and insights on corporate finance from the CFO Journal team.

But if you're just looking to earn rewards on your spending, the Sapphire Preferred is likely a better bet. While we've compared the beefier Chase Sapphire Reserve to the Platinum Card before, let's switch gears to take a look at the more accessible Sapphire Preferred in the context of the ultra-premium Amex Platinum. Compare the Sapphire Preferred and Platinum Card Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardThe Platinum Card® from American Express Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The Platinum Card offers a much longer list of benefits and perks than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Here's what to know if you're trying to decide between the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. When you redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Travel portal, they're worth 1.5 cents apiece — so 80,000 Chase points are worth $1,200 in travel. Transfer partnersThe Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® earn flexible rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel partners in their respective programs. Anniversary bonusesThe Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with a 10,000-mile bonus each year on your account anniversary. Annual feesBecause they're both premium cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card charge high annual fees — but with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, it's easier to get a concrete value that can offset all of the annual fee and then some.

☆ Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex review
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-17 | by ( Darren Murph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card also earns 3 miles for every dollar you spend on eligible Delta purchases — these miles are Delta SkyMiles, deposited directly to your Delta frequent flyer account. Advantages of the Delta Reserve credit cardUse the Delta Reserve credit card to gain entry to the Amex Centurion Lounge at LAX. Disadvantages of the Delta Reserve cardThe Delta Reserve card has great perks, but its earning rates aren't as competitive. KEY DETAILS Citi Double Cash Card Delta Reserve Card Card type Mastercard American Express Sign-up bonus None. So if you’re looking to increase your stash of Delta SkyMiles and MQMs, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve could be a card to consider.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® earn bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards® points in a bunch of great categories for everyday spending. These categories include 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on select streaming services and grocery delivery services with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and 10x points on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Here's a look at the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus categories and what purchases will (and won't) trigger bonus points. Compare Chase Sapphire Cards Chase Sapphire Reserve®Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. When you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve® for prepaid Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards, you'll earn 10 points per dollar.

☆ The best first travel credit card: Chase Sapphire Preferred
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-20 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a terrific sign-up bonusThe Sapphire Preferred offers a large sign-up bonus that you can use for business class travel. The Sapphire Preferred earns bonus points on travel and diningThe Sapphire Preferred earns bonus points on all travel purchases, including public transportation. The Chase Sapphire Preferred’s travel protections have you coveredIf your flight is delayed or cancelled, the Chase Sapphire Preferred will help cover any unanticipated expenses. And while many travel credit cards offer auto rental damage coverage nowadays, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the few travel credit cards that offer primary car rental coverage. Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred really the best first travel credit card?

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