#airline-loyalty-programs

#airline-loyalty-programs

Alaska Airlines has introduced its first-ever international business class, featuring lie-flat suites and gourmet meals developed by award-winning Seattle chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, aimed at enhancing the travel experience on long-haul flights.

AwardWallet has long been the leading tool for tracking rewards programs. In most cases, setting up accounts to track is pretty straightforward.

One of the biggest mistakes passengers make is arriving at the bag drop or ticket counter with luggage that exceeds the airline limit, resulting in a mad dash to repack and shift items between bags.

Wizz Air has reopened sales for its WIZZ Multipass offer, which enables customers to secure a fixed monthly flight price regardless of seasonality or last-minute demand. The subscription is available for all international routes to and from the UK, and is on sale now.

Used strategically, though, points and miles can unlock far more than a free domestic flight, from business-class seats on long-haul routes to the ability to book expensive trips without paying cash. To make sense of it all, we spoke with travel experts and points pros about how airline miles actually work today-and how to use them wisely. Ahead, you'll find guidance on earning miles more efficiently, building a credit card strategy that fits the way you spend, avoiding common mistakes, and redeeming points in ways that truly pay off.

The highest marks for an airline go to Aeromexico for the second straight year. Of its 188,859 flights, 90.02% arrived on time, with 99.74% of their flights completed. Saudia, SAS, Azul and Qatar Airways rounded out the top five, followed by Iberia, LATAM, Avianca, Turkish Airlines and Delta. It's worth noting here that, of the airlines in the top 10, Delta had the most flights by a significant margin - over 1.8 million - of which 80.9% arrived on time.

On-time performance used to be something airlines discussed quietly - in boardrooms, with investors, or behind the scenes with select partners. Now, it's becoming a consumer-facing badge of honor.

Can you earn credit card rewards on train travel? It's easy to earn credit card rewards on train travel, even if you don't have an Amtrak-branded credit card. Nearly all rewards credit cards offer at least 1 point or mile per dollar spent on train tickets, and many credit cards offer boosted rewards rates for travel purchases like airlines, cruises and trains.

Basic economy fares typically mean no seat selection, last boarding, and limited-or no-checked baggage. The appeal, however, is clear. "Basic economy is a good option for frugal travelers who don't mind forgoing comfort to save on travel costs," Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, told Travel + Leisure. He noted that these tickets can cost 20 to 30 percent less than standard economy, making them financially tempting for travelers focused on price above all else.

AT&T announced last week that it has partnered with the airline to provide free high-speed Wi-Fi on more than 2 million American Airlines flights a year. All you need to do to access it is log in to the in-flight portal with your AAdvantage number and password and select "Free Wi-Fi." If you're not a member, you can sign up for free. The rollout will start this month, AT&T explained, and continue in phases.

Airline miles and points can feel unnecessarily difficult to navigate, and I say that as a seasoned traveler with airline status - one who's spent more time than I'd like to admit squinting at award charts and fine print. I'm constantly inundated with social media posts from people claiming they've booked flights to Europe for something like 3,000 miles, while I'm left wondering what algorithm they've managed to crack that I haven't.

Rushing to get on board with your carry-on may seem like a good idea (there's only so much overhead bin space, after all), but attempting to take shortcuts during the boarding process can actually delay your travels even more. "We understand that boarding can make people anxious, but I promise: If you have a seat assignment, you will get on the plane,"