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☆ Hong Kong Covid: Airlines race to add flights to the city, reviving hopes for its recovery as an aviation hub
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —International airlines are scrambling to add more flights to Hong Kong as the city ends two and a half years of quarantine measures, leading to a surge in demand for travel. “As Hong Kong’s home airline, we are fully committed to rebuilding the connectivity of the Hong Kong aviation hub,” it said in a statement. This will absolutely increase the demand for travel to and from Hong Kong,” Christoph Meyer, Lufthansa’s general manager of sales for Hong Kong, Macao and South China, said in a statement. International Air Transport Association Director General Willie Walsh said last week that China’s zero-Covid policy had “devastated” Hong Kong. Friday’s news puts Hong Kong back on “the right track,” said Dr. Kam Hung Ng, assistant professor of aviation engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

☆ Airlines add flights to Hong Kong but the aviation hub won't be back to normal anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong (CNN Business) International airlines are scrambling to add more flights to Hong Kong as the city ends two and a half years of quarantine measures , leading to a surge in demand for travel. This will absolutely increase the demand for travel to and from Hong Kong," Christoph Meyer, Lufthansa's general manager of sales for Hong Kong, Macao and South China, said in a statement. International Air Transport Association Director General Willie Walsh said last week that China's zero-Covid policy had "devastated" Hong Kong. Friday's news puts Hong Kong back on "the right track," said Dr. Kam Hung Ng, assistant professor of aviation engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He told CNN Business that Hong Kong still had advantages that could allow its aviation industry to recover to pre-pandemic levels, "or even more."

☆ These are the 20 best airlines in the world, according to one survey of travelers: See the full list
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Qatar also won titles for having the world's best business class, the best business class seat, and the best business class lounge dining, according to the Skytrax survey. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines earned two titles, including the best low-cost airline in both North America and the US. Here's a closer look at the world's Top 20 best carriers for 2022, according to Skytrax's survey of travelers. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImageTurkish Airlines is based in Istanbul and flies routes throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Qatar AirwaysDoha-based Qatar Airways is the world's best airline, according to survey data collected by Skytrax.

☆ Hong Kong will scrap COVID hotel quarantine from Sept. 26
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Travellers queue up for shuttle bus to quarantine hotels at the Hong Kong International Airport, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Hong Kong, China, August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong will scrap its controversial COVID-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals from Sept. 26, more than 2.5 years after it was first implemented, in a long-awaited move for many residents and businesses in the financial hub. The former British colony is a global outlier outside mainland China in imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals, in line with the country's "dynamic zero" COVID strategy. Both events have been widely seen as a bid to show that Hong Kong can resume business as usual. Hong Kong has reported more than 1.7 million COVID infections and 9,934 deaths since the pandemic began.

☆ Cathay Pacific to increase flight frequencies after Hong Kong eases quarantine restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA Cathay Pacific aircraft takes off at the airport, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong, China, March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293.HK) on Friday said it plans to add more than 200 pairs of passenger flights in October to both regional and long-haul destinations. The announcement came after Hong Kong government said to scrap its controversial COVID-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals from Sept. 26. "While we will continue to add back more flights as quickly as is feasible, it will take time to rebuild our capacity gradually," Cathay said in a statement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Twinnie Siu and Meg Shen; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hong Kong plans changes to Covid quarantine policy; leader says city wants orderly reopening
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A flight attendant for Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. Hong Kong leader John Lee said on Tuesday the government aims to make an announcement soon on its controversial Covid-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals, as it wants to keep the city connected with the rest of the world and allow an "orderly opening up." Hong Kong leader John Lee said on Tuesday the government aims to make an announcement soon on its controversial Covid-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals, as it wants to keep the city connected with the rest of the world and allow an "orderly opening up." Lee said he was conscious Hong Kong needed to retain its competitiveness, adding that authorities were keen to bring back events and activities to the city. Taking its cues from China which is pursuing a zero-Covid policy, Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world to still require travelers from abroad to quarantine upon arrival although the length of quarantine has eased over time.

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.

☆ You can transfer Citi ThankYou points to 14 airline and 2 hotel partners, and the best programs can save you thousands of miles on flights to destinations like Hawaii
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Dan Miller | Jasmin Baron | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +30 min

Citi® Double Cash Card — This card recently changed from earning cash back to earning Citi ThankYou points directly. Otherwise, with the Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, and Citi® Double Cash Card, the ratio is 5:4 (1,000 Citi ThankYou points = 800 Wyndham points). Citi ThankYou points retail transfer partnersIn addition to airline and hotel transfer partners, Citi ThankYou has one retail transfer partner. How to transfer Citi ThankYou pointsTransferring your Citi ThankYou points is a fairly straightforward process. Citi transfer partners frequently asked questions (FAQ)Is American Airlines a Citi transfer partner?

Show more Regular APR 16.24% - 26.24% Variable Intro APR 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months Editor's Rating 5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 5 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. However, in most cases, you can only earn a bonus on a Citi ThankYou card if you haven't opened a Citi ThankYou card and received a welcome bonus, or closed another Citi ThankYou card, in the past 24 months. Citi ThankYou cards also include the Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi Prestige® Card (not available to new applicants), and Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card (not available to new applicants). The Citi Premier® Card and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card cover a lot of bonus categories, and all your other spending can go on the Citi® Double Cash Card. Read more: Citi Double Cash Card reviewWhy earn Citi ThankYou points?

British Airways is onboard with Bilt Rewards as its 10th airline transfer partner. Now there's another reason to consider joining Bilt Rewards and opening the Bilt Mastercard® — it's just added British Airways Executive Club as its 10th airline transfer partner. The addition of these partners makes Bilt Rewards points even more flexible if you want to use them for travel. With the addition of British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia, Bilt Rewards now has 14 airline and hotel partners:Why transfer Bilt Rewards points to Avios? You'll typically get the most from Bilt points by transferring them to airline and hotel partners for award travel — in fact, that's why Insider values Bilt points as worth 1.65 cents each, on average.

☆ The 10 longest routes in the world flown by airlines, ranked by distance
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-20 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Singapore Airlines currently holds the title for operating the world's two longest flights at over 9,500 miles each. From San Francisco to SingaporeUnited Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Markus Mainka/ShutterstockAirline: Philippine AirlinesAircraft: Airbus A350-900Distance: 8,507 milesOutbound Scheduled Flight Time: 16 hours and 15 minutesReturn Scheduled Flight Time: 16 hours and 55 minutes6. Qantas AirwaysAirline: QantasAircraft: Boeing 787-9Distance: 8,576 milesOutbound Scheduled Flight Time: 15 hours and 20 minutesReturn Scheduled Flight Time: 16 hours and 45 minutes5. Toshi K/ShutterstockAirline: QantasAircraft: Boeing 787-9Distance: 9,009 milesOutbound Scheduled Flight Time: 17 hours and 15 minutesReturn Scheduled Flight Time: 16 hours and 45 minutes2.

What are credit card and bank rewards points worth? One great feature of the program is that all points are equal, so any account that earns Membership Rewards points has access to transfer partners. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you'll earn 25% to 75% more points, depending on how much you have on deposit, but your rewards points are still worth 1 cent apiece. However, those miles expire after 36 months regardless of your account activity, so only transfer miles when you have immediate plans to redeem them. Non-elite members may transfer points to other members with the same address, provided both parties have been members for at least one year.

The Citi Premier® Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are popular mid-tier travel credit cards that offer flexible rewards and generous earning opportunities. Compare the Citi Premier and Capital One Venture Citi Premier® CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Here's how the Citi Premier® stacks up against the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to help you make the choice. Their spending requirements are identical, but the Citi Premier® offers more points than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. But plenty of folks would prefer the flat 2x rewards from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Compare Citi Double Cash and Wells Fargo Active Cash Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardCiti® Double Cash Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $0 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Apply now On Citi's websiteThe Citi® Double Cash Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card are two of the top cash-back credit cards on the market today. Here's how the Citi® Double Cash Card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card compare to help decide which cash-back card is best for you. Winner: Active Cash® CardRedeeming rewardsIf you're looking for flexibility in redeeming rewards, either the Active Cash® Card or the Citi® Double Cash Card are decent options. Winner: Citi® Double Cash CardBenefits and featuresCiti Double CashThe Citi® Double Cash Card only has a few perks, the most notable being Citi Entertainment, which allows cardholders to purchase presale tickets and exclusive experiences to concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, and more.

The Citi Premier® Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are both mid-tier credit cards that offer generous rewards, impressive (and overlapping) transfer partners, and travel perks. Here's a look at how the Citi Premier® and Chase Sapphire Preferred stack up against each other. Compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Premier Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardCiti Premier® Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Winner: TieShopping and travel benefitsAs mid-tier cards, the Citi Premier® and Chase Sapphire Preferred offer standard benefits like no foreign transaction fees. Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers free DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2024, and a $10 monthly Gopuff credit through December 31, 2023.

The Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is worth considering if you fly Alaska or collect the airline's miles, and it's currently offering a record-high bonus. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card the best card for you? How to earn miles from the Alaska Airlines Business cardWith the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card, you'll earn 3 Alaska miles per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. If you're not quite in that range, there are plenty of great travel rewards credit cards that you may be eligible for with good credit score, including the personal Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card (you can read our review of the Alaska Airlines credit card for more information). If you're a small-business owner and fly Alaska Airlines frequently, the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is worth it.

You can earn Marriott points from paid stays, co-branded credit cards, or flexible points transfers. How to earn Marriott pointsEarn points from Marriott Bonvoy hotel staysThere are plenty of different ways to earn Marriott points, but let's start with the most simple one: earning points on hotel stays. Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.

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.

Citi; InsiderThe highest welcome bonus offer on the Citi Premier® Card has returned for a limited time. But now Citi's brought back the record-high welcome offer we last saw early this year on the Citi Premier® Card. Insider's valuations peg Citi ThankYou points as worth, on average, 1.6 cents apiece, so this bonus is potentially worth $960 in travel. When it's time to use your Citi ThankYou points, you've got a wide range of options. And if you really want to get serious about boosting your Citi ThankYou Rewards balance, consider opening the Citi Trifecta — the Citi Premier® Card, Citi® Double Cash Card, and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card — to earn at least 2x points on every purchase.

☆ Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card review: Earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points on your everyday spending without an annual fee
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-09 | by ( Holly Johnson | Jasmin Baron | Freelance Writer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

Earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles with no annual fee Check mark icon A check mark. Along with earning Loyalty Points from flying and partner spending, you can earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on co-branded American Airlines cards, including the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard. Cardholders earn:2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases (including AA.com, American Airlines reservations, American Airlines Admirals Club, American Airlines Vacations, and American Airlines airport and city ticket counters)2 miles per dollar at grocery stores (supermarkets, freezer/meat locker provisioners, dairy product stores, miscellaneous food /convenience stores, markets, specialty vendors, and bakeries)1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchasesHow to use American Airlines milesThe good news about American Airlines miles is that, for the most part, they're easy to use. The discount is valid on American Airlines flights, plus American Airlines-marketed flights on Envoy Air, Republic Airways, SkyWest Airlines, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, and Piedmont Airlines. Earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles with no annual fee Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card review: Earn 50,000 American Airlines miles and get perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding for a moderate annual fee
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-25 | by ( Jasmin Baron | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Citi and American Airlines offer a number of co-branded credit cards, including the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Read more: Guide to the best American Airlines credit cardsYou'll also earn American Airlines miles for your everyday spending, including 2x miles on American Airlines purchases and at restaurants and gas stations, and 1x miles everywhere else. Cardholders earn:2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases (including AA.com, American Airlines reservations, American Airlines Admirals Club, American Airlines Vacations, and American Airlines airport and city ticket counters)2 miles per dollar at eligible restaurants (including cafes, bars, lounges, and fast-food restaurants) and gas stations1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchasesHow to use American Airlines milesAmerican Airlines is one of the few US airlines to still publish a region-based award chart. The discount is valid on American Airlines flights, plus American Airlines-marketed flights on Envoy Air, Republic Airways, SkyWest Airlines, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, and Piedmont Airlines. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card worth it?

☆ CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard review: Earn 65,000 American Airlines miles and get benefits like a free first checked bag and preferred boarding
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-12 | by ( Jasmin Baron | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +32 min

First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries to reduce travel costs and boost your bottom line. The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® currently offers 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. Cardholders earn 2x miles on American Airlines purchases, eligible purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations. Read more: Guide to the best small-business credit cardsHow to use American Airlines milesUnlike most US carriers, American Airlines still publishes a region-based award chart. First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries to reduce travel costs and boost your bottom line.

With the launch of the new Chase Aeroplan credit card, there are now more ways than ever to earn Air Canada Aeroplan points. How to earn Aeroplan pointsUnder the new scheme, Aeroplan members can earn points (not miles) in a number of ways. Earn Aeroplan points with credit cards and points transfersThe new Aeroplan® Credit Card is the only US credit card that earns Aeroplan points directly. So if you transferred 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, you'd end up with 20,000 Aeroplan points, plus a 5,000-point bonus for a total of 25,000 Aeroplan points. As far as we know, it will look like this:Basic fares: Earn 2x points per (Canadian) dollarStandard fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarFlex/Comfort fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarLatitude fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarPremium economy fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarBusiness fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarEssentially, everything but basic economy fares will earn 3x per dollar.

☆ Capital One miles just became even more valuable with improved transfer ratios
▼ + stars: | 2021-10-07 | by ( Julian Kheel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Over the last several years, Capital One has committed significant resources toward making its credit card miles competitive with other heavyweights in the industry. Starting Oct. 7, all but two of Capital One’s airline and hotel partners will transfer at a 1-to-1 ratio. British Airways is one of six airline loyalty programs that will now transfer from Capital One at a 1-to-1 ratio. By moving the bulk of its partners to a 1-to-1 transfer ratio, Capital One miles are now comparable to Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards, both of which transfer to most of their partners at a 1-to-1 ratio. If you don’t have a Capital One credit card, the Capital One Venture currently comes with a sign-up bonus that can put a chunk of miles in your pocket fairly quickly.

Previously, some partners had a transfer ratio of 2 Capital One miles to 1 or 1.5 airline miles. Now almost all partners offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, which can get you more value from your miles. Starting today, almost every Capital One airline and hotel partner will offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, with the exception of Accor and Eva Air. Previously, some of the best transfer partners, including British Airways, Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines, had a transfer ratio of 2 Capital One miles to 1 or 1.5 airline miles. Capital One miles transfer ratio improvementCapital One currently partners with 17 airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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