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☆ Bilt Rewards members can earn up to 8x points (effectively up to 13.2% back) at restaurants with the new Bilt Dining program
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Credit Cards Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Bilt Dining is the new fastest way to earn Bilt Rewards points. Even transferable points currencies are breaking into the dining scene (programs like Capital One Dining and Chase Dining are relatively new), but no flexible rewards dining program is as easy to use as the latest creation by Bilt Rewards: Bilt Dining. Here's a quick look at what you can expect from Bilt Dining — and why it's a no-brainer for Bilt Rewards members, even if they don't have the Bilt Mastercard®. Apply nowBilt Mastercard® 4 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4 out of 5 Stars $0 Annual Fee Intro offer N/A Rewards Earn 3X point on dining. Unfortunately, Bilt Dining is exempt from this — but you'll still earn double points on dining (6 points per dollar) when swiping your Bilt Mastercard®.

The new Choice Privileges cards from Wells Fargo could be worth a spot in your wallet if you stay at Choice Hotels frequently. Wells Fargo has actually launched two new Choice credit cards: the $0-annual-fee Choice Privileges® Mastercard®, and the more premium Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® with an annual fee of $95 (waived the first year). But if you don't stay with Choice Hotels often or put a high value on Choice points, you'll probably want to give these cards a skip. New Choice credit cards from Wells FargoBoth the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® are offering elevated welcome bonuses for a limited time. Choice Privileges, the loyalty program of Choice Hotels, includes nearly 7,500 properties worldwide, so it's pretty easy to find the chain's hotels wherever you go.

☆ Opinion: Top secrets come spilling out
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Writing for CNN Opinion, Rep. Justin Pearson noted, “This should be a chastening moment for revanchist forces in Tennessee’s legislature and across the country. Over the long haul, the undemocratic machinations employed to oust us from office are destined to fail. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously said that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice. “As a Jewish historian,” Perry wrote, “I worry about the tension between preserving the memory of past hardships while not locking our entire history into a tale of oppression.

☆ Why the surge in summer travel airfare, hotel prices is not likely to slow down
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Travel is showing no signs of cooling off this summer, as both demand and prices are expected to stay high. "There's still a lot of pent of demand going back to the pandemic," Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel said on "Squawk on the Street" last week. He also pointed to the TSA checkpoint travel numbers, which are now within a few percentage points compared to the number of travelers seen in 2019. That demand has kept prices high, Fogel said, noting recent trips he's taken. "[Consumers] have gone three years without having the experiences they want, including last summer," Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian said on "Squawk Box" earlier this week.

☆ Opinion: A pleasant flight in South Africa vs. air travel horrors in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Jill Filipovic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —This past weekend, I had one of the most unusual experiences of my life: a day of air travel that was easy, sensible, efficient — dare I say pleasant. But last Saturday, it was — which highlighted just how unpleasant and undignified air travel often is, particularly within the United States. So, let’s say your flight is still scheduled and you’ve paid extra money to travel with a bag. But air travel was bad well before the pandemic. But every once in a while, like this past weekend as I settled into my oversized South African Airways seat without having broken a sweat, I’ll see a little glimmer of what air travel could be.

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card is still available as an upgrade from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card . You can find Priority Pass lounges and restaurants by searching for your airport on the Priority Pass website or through the Priority Pass app. Priority Pass LoungesTypically, airport lounges in the Priority Pass network are off-limits to the general public unless you have access through a membership, airline ticket, elite status, or via a paid day pass. Priority Pass Restaurants, Cafés, Spas, and MoreIn addition to airport lounges, the Priority Pass network includes restaurants and cafés at airports like Houston (IAH) and San Francisco (SFO). Credit Cards With Priority Pass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is Priority Pass membership automatic when you open an eligible credit card?

How to earn American Airlines milesThere are myriad means of earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®While not as lucrative as some of the other available American Airlines credit cards, at least the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't charge an annual fee. Earn miles flying American Airlines and boost your earning with elite statusAside from using co-branded credit cards, one of the best ways to earn American Airlines miles is to actually fly the airline and its partners. Earn miles flying American Airlines' partnersYou can also earn American Airlines miles on over a dozen airline partners. The best ways to redeem American Airlines milesAs with earning American Airlines miles, there are plenty of ways to use AAdvantage miles when the time comes.

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If you have one of the Chase IHG Rewards credit cards, you'll earn an extra 10 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or 5 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Other ways to redeem IHG pointsOpt for airline miles instead of IHG Rewards pointsIf you'd rather receive airline miles for your stays instead of IHG Rewards points, that's an option, though redemption rates vary by airline. Transfer IHG points to a friendThere's also an option to transfer IHG points to a friend or family member at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points, or buying them through IHG's website. Some of these redemptions are as low as 100 IHG points, so if you haven't had any activity in your account recently, this is a good way to keep your IHG points from expiring. Use IHG points to attend special eventsThrough IHG Auctions, you can redeem IHG points for concerts, sports, special events, or other experiences.

☆ The Amex Centurion 'black' card has a $5,000 annual fee and a long list of luxury perks, but you can get many of the same benefits with the Amex Platinum
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Anna Baluch | Angela Fung | Sarah Silbert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

It makes premium credit cards like the Platinum Card ($695 annual fee) and the Amex Business Platinum Card ($695) look downright affordable. Benefits of the Amex Centurion black cardThe Amex Centurion card isn't just a status symbol; it has some great perks, including some unique benefits like complimentary Delta elite status that you won't find on other cards. The Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card offer status with Hilton and Marriott**, but not with IHG and Relais & Châteaux. Unsurprisingly, there's no comparable benefit on the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card cards**. Once again, the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card also offer concierge services.

Citi issues several credit cards for American Airlines, including the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Review: Is It the Best Airline Credit Card for You? How to earn miles with the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select cardThe Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a good choice for American Airlines purchases, as well as other everyday spending in popular categories. What credit score do you need for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card? Methodology: How we reviewed the Citi AAdvantage Platinum SelectInsider's experts compared the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to other American Airlines and competitor airline credit cards.

Your credit score is only one of several factors that determine whether your credit card application will be approved. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the best credit card for excellent credit? Can I qualify for a credit card without excellent credit? Compare the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardChase Sapphire Preferred® CardBank of America® Premium Rewards® credit cardDiscover it® Miles Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

The Best 2% Cash Back Credit Cards of April 2023In terms of versatility, cash back is the most flexible credit card reward. View Full Details $0 Annual Fee Apply now On Wells Fargo's websiteWells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Best all-around 2% cash rewards credit card Details Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Best All-around 2% Cash Rewards Credit CardThe Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has no annual fee and earns a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases. Wells Fargo Active Cash card reviewBest 2% Cash Back Card for Balance TransfersLong considered the best cash back credit card, the Citi® Double Cash Card still holds its own despite new offerings from other issuers. How to Choose a 2% Cash Back Credit Card2% cash back credit cards offer some of the simplest credit card rewards around, and they're great for people who don't want to deal with bonus categories, transferring points, or shuffling several cards to get the best return on spending.

American Express issues several co-branded Delta credit cards, including the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Unlike the Delta Gold Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can help you earn Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward Delta elite status through its Status Boost benefit. Another benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is the ability to access Delta Sky Clubs when you're flying Delta, at a discounted rate of $50 per visit. Delta Gold Business Card vs Delta Platinum Business CardThere are also business versions of these two cards:Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membershipDelta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membershipThe Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offer very similar overall benefits to the personal versions. If you're a casual Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is likely going to be a better fit for you.

Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Other United℠ Explorer Card benefits include two single-visit passes to the United Club lounge per anniversary year, 25% back on United inflight purchases, and priority boarding. When looking for the card that best fits you, consider whether you'd prefer to earn on restaurant and US supermarket purchases (Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card), or dining and hotel bookings (United℠ Explorer Card). Here's our Platinum Delta Amex card review for all the details, and a comparison of the Delta Gold vs Delta Platinum cards to help you decide.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Chase is offering big elevated bonus offers on the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card, but they're only available until the end of the day on April 5, 2023. You can redeem IHG points at brands like Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Hotel Indigo, and Kimpton. Insider's Featured Credit Cards for Travel Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. You'll typically get the best return by using IHG points for stays at over 6,000 hotels across 18 brands worldwide.

Getty ImagesSix Delta credit cards are running elevated welcome bonuses through March 29, so it's your last chance to apply. Delta Amex credit card increased offersAmex Delta credit cards give you the ability to use Delta miles in a way that non-cardholders can't. However, Insider estimates that Delta miles are worth 1.1 cents each, on average, when booking award flights. And if you know the best ways to use Delta miles, you can get significantly more value. That's double the miles of the previous card bonus, which was 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after meeting minimum spending requirements.

☆ US lawmakers make new push to bar convicted violent passengers from flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday will make a new push for legislation to bar passengers fined or convicted of serious physical violence from commercial flights after a series of recent high-profile incidents. Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union opposed creating a no-fly list for unruly passengers, saying the U.S. government "has a terrible record of treating people fairly with regard to the existing no-fly list and other watch lists that are aimed at alleged terrorists." Despite the end of the airplane mask mandate in April 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigated 831 unruly passenger incidents in 2022, up from 146 in 2019, but down from 1,099 in 2021, the lawmakers noted. The FAA received 2,456 unruly passenger reports in 2022 and proposed $8.4 million in fines, down from 5,981 reports in 2021, which included 4,290 mask-related incidents. In February 2022, Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) CEO Ed Bastian urged the U.S. government to place passengers convicted of on-board disruptions on a national no-fly list that would bar them from future travel on any commercial airline.

Illustration by Gene KimAs weed becomes legal in more states, how and if travelers can bring their stash on board remains up in the air. Traveling between states where marijuana is legal in both the origin and destination may sound straight-forward, but with overlapping jurisdictions and hard-to-enforce guidelines, it gets complicated. Under federal law, the possession and sale of marijuana is illegal. Despite President Joe Biden's recent pardons for anyone convicted of a federal crime for simple possession and his directive to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance. And even though airports are locally owned and operated, air travel still falls under federal law.

You can travel much farther with less effort by focusing on travel rewards instead of cash back. It's possible to turn cash back into travel rewards by holding the right travel credit cards. Read Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards. If you desire to travel, you'll want to focus your energy on travel rewards instead of cash back. Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.

☆ The best credit card for each type of purchase
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Since every credit card earns a different amount of points on your common category purchases, the bonus points earned might persuade you to get one credit card over another. Fortunately, there’s a credit card out there for every type of purchase. Let’s check out some of the best credit card to use for all of your spend categories. Best credit cards for each category purchase in 2023While the cards listed here are some of our favorites for their respective categories, they might not be the best for your needs. American Express Gold Card: Best for restaurantsThe Amex Gold card earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants in the U.S. and abroad.

☆ The Best Gas Card for Heavy Travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

While the card does come with a $95 annual fee after the first year, for the frequent traveler who also spends a lot on gas, no gas card is more rewarding. That is why Buy Side from WSJ named it our Best Gas Card for Frequent Travelers. Consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, the Buy Side’s Pick for Best Cash Back Credit Card. Our Gas Credit Card Credit Card MethodologyTo review Best Gas Credit Cards, Buy Side from WSJ looked for cards that offered 3% or greater rewards on gas purchases. Finally, cards that carried an annual fee needed to give cardmembers enough additional rewards to offset the annual fee and be more rewarding than our picks with no annual fee.

Capital One Spark Cash Select Review: Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select the Best Credit Card for You? For nearly every purchase you make on the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit, you'll earn 1.5% cash back. Capital One Spark Cash Select RewardsSpark Cash Select welcome bonusThe card currently offers a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. What's the difference between Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit and Spark Cash Select for Good Credit? Methodology: How we reviewed the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent CreditInsider's credit card team compared the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit to other small business cards issued by Capital One and other banks.

Having multiple credit cards and playing the rewards game can save you hundreds of dollars each year — if you're smart about how you use the cards. "The one big downfall of credit cards is the high interest rates," he added. "But if you're paying in full and avoiding those, then yeah, credit cards are great." Chasing rewards can land you some substantial sign-up bonuses like the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card's 75,000 miles or Chase Ink Business Unlimited's $900 cash back. But getting the most out of your credit cards depends on your spending habits — and finding the perks that would save you the most money.

☆ Southwest Performance Business credit card review
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Digging into the Southwest Performance Business credit cardYou can use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card to enhance your business travel experience. Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesThe Southwest Performance Business Credit Card is the most expensive card out of the five Southwest credit cards currently available, but it also provides the most benefits. Advantages of the Southwest Performance Business credit cardFrequent Southwest flyers will enjoy elite-like benefits with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance business card. Disadvantages of the Southwest Performance Business credit cardUnfortunately, you won’t get a great return on your everyday purchases with the Southwest Performance Business. Stacking up the Southwest Performance Business credit card to our benchmark cardCNN Underscored has chosen the Citi Double Cash® Card as our current “benchmark” credit card.

The Best 2% Cash Back Credit Cards of March 2023In terms of versatility, cash back is the most flexible credit card reward. The Best 2% Cash Back Credit CardsBest all-around 2% cash rewards credit card Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card 4.3 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.3 out of 5 Stars Intro offer $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Best All-around 2% Cash Rewards Credit CardThe Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has no annual fee and earns a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases. Wells Fargo Active Cash card reviewBest 2% Cash Back Card for Balance TransfersLong considered the best cash back credit card, the Citi® Double Cash Card still holds its own despite new offerings from other issuers. How to Choose a 2% Cash Back Credit Card2% cash back credit cards offer some of the simplest credit card rewards around, and they're great for people who don't want to deal with bonus categories, transferring points, or shuffling several cards to get the best return on spending.

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