For a limited time, you can save $70 on future Southwest Airlines flights.

Costco is currently offering extra savings on an already great deal for Southwest Airlines. Costco members can save an additional $20 on top of the $50.01 in savings they already receive when purchasing a $500 Southwest gift card through Costco for $429.99.

This sale is only good until Dec. 2 (while supplies last).

Deal basics

Airline: Southwest Airlines
How to book: Purchase the e-gift card through Costco
How to redeem: Redeem online, at a ticket counter or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA
Travel dates: N/A
Book by: While supplies last through Dec. 2

Costco users can purchase a $500 Southwest Airlines e-gift card for $429.99, resulting in $70.01 in savings. You can use gift cards to book Southwest travel online, in person or by phone. The gift cards do not expire, but they are restricted to five per membership in one transaction. Also, they are not refundable.

Maximize your purchase

If you buy a gift card, consider using the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for 2% cash back on wholesale club spending (on up to $2,500 spent on combined purchases every quarter, then 1%). Or use the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (see rates and fees) for 2% cash back on purchases from Costco and Costco.com.

Bottom line

You can purchase $500 Southwest gift cards for $429.99 while supplies last. This is an opportunity to save $70.01 on Southwest flights — and potentially earn bonus points by using the right credit card.

Act fast, as these prices are only good until Dec. 2. Quantities are limited.

Related reading:

• Costco Anywhere Visa Card review: A great option for Costco lovers
• I flew to Atlanta for the day to earn a 2-month Southwest Companion Pass — here’s why (and how it went)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards: Complete guide to earning, redeeming and maximizing points

Since Flying Club partners with major credit card rewards programs, points and miles enthusiasts can snag a great deal. For example, you can find one-way business-class lie-flat seats from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) for just 29,000 points.

Despite the program’s recent switch to dynamic pricing for flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, Virgin points currently stand out for offering incredible value with many uses. Keep reading to find out more about Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, including how to earn, redeem and maximize your reward points.

Related: How I booked lie-flat business-class seats to London for just 21,000 points

How to earn Virgin Flying Club points

There are several ways to earn Virgin Flying Club points directly.

Fly with Virgin Atlantic

You can earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points by simply flying with the carrier. The number of points you earn is based on the flight distance, booking class and whether you hold Flying Club elite status. To easily calculate how many points you will earn on your flight, you can use the airline’s earning calculator.

Since Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, you can also earn Virgin points when flying with one of the carrier’s partners, including Delta, Air France-KLM and more. To find out the number of points you can earn on partner airlines, be sure to navigate to Virgin’s partner page and click on the airline you are flying. You will earn redeemable award points based on your cabin, booking class and distance flown.

Earn Virgin points through credit card rewards

If you are looking to easily stock up on Virgin points, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard® is offering the following welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card in your first 90 days. Plus, cardholders can earn additional points with the following earning rates:

• 3 points per $1 with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages
• 2 points per $1 on dining, groceries, electric vehicle charging and select streaming services
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

The information for the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

However, if opening a new credit card is not appealing or if you’re not a frequent Virgin Atlantic flyer, Flying Club partners with every major credit card rewards program. Therefore, it’s easy to boost your Virgin points balance if you have a rewards credit card that earns points within the following programs:

• American Express Membership Rewards (1:1)
• Bilt Rewards (1:1)
• Capital One (1:1)
• Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
• Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1)
• Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 with a 5,000-point bonus for transferring 60,000 points)
• Wells Fargo Rewards (1:1)

Note that Capital One miles transfer to Virgin Red, not directly to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. However, you can easily use your Virgin Red account points with Flying Club.

Since Flying Club partners with every major transferable credit card rewards currency, there are often transfer bonuses, which means you can redeem your points for less.

Many of these programs offer cards that feature terrific welcome bonuses. Here’s just a sample of the travel rewards credit cards that earn these transferable points that can be converted to Virgin points:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Purchase Virgin points

Virgin Atlantic allows you to purchase up to 100,000 Virgin points per calendar year at a rate of 2.5 cents in intervals of 1,000 points each, plus a transaction fee of $22, regardless of the number of points purchased.

TPG values Virgin points at 1.4 cents per point, per our November 2024 valuations; therefore, since the cost of purchasing points is much higher, it’s not a good deal to purchase points at full price. However, Virgin sometimes runs bonus promotions when purchasing points. For example, in March, the carrier offered up to 70% bonus points, plus increased caps on annual purchase limits. This can bring the price down to a more reasonable cost and may be worth it to top off your account or to book an award flight.

Virgin Atlantic Points Booster

If you’ve flown a Virgin Atlantic-operated flight — whether you paid cash or points for it — you can use Flying Club’s Points Booster to score extra points for cheap. You can usually pay 0.01 British pounds (or $0.013) per point for the bonus points.

You can even use the Points Booster for flights you have already taken up to six months back.

Other Virgin Atlantic earning partners

There are several partners through which you can earn Virgin points by shopping or traveling:

• Hotels: You can earn Virgin points booking stays with Virgin Hotels, Marriott Bonvoy, Best Western, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards and World of Hyatt
• Car rental partners: Virgin Atlantic partners with Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, National and Sixt
• Virgin Trains Ticketing: Earn points for train trips across Great Britain
• Heathrow Rewards: You can earn points for shopping or parking at London’s Heathrow Airport and transfer them to Flying Club
• Rocketmiles and Kaligo: You can earn between 500 and 10,000 Virgin points per night for booking hotels through the accommodation platforms Rocketmiles and Kaligo
• Shops Away: Earn Virgin points when you choose to shop at over 1,000 retailers through Virgin Atlantic’s shopping portal

There are also ways to earn Virgin points through airport lounge purchases, completing online surveys and airport parking.

Related: The beginners guide to airline shopping portals

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club elite status

Virgin Flying Club offers three elite status tiers: Red, Silver and Gold. When you fly with Virgin or its partners, you earn Tier Points, and the higher the status you have with the airline, the more perks you’ll receive.

You’ll receive the following benefits at each elite status tier:

Red (new member)

• Board first in economy
• Free standard seat selection in Economy Light and Classic (7 days before departure with Virgin Atlantic Holidays)
• Free seat selection in Economy Delight (7 days before departure with Virgin Atlantic Holidays)
• Dedicated Flying Club phone line
• Discounted access and earn points at No1 Lounges

Silver (400 Tier Points required)

You’ll receive the same benefits as Red tier members, as well as the following benefits:

• Premium check-in
• Priority boarding
• 30% more bonus points on flights
• One additional checked bag
• Tier renewal bonus
• Gift companion and upgrade vouchers to friends and family
• Member benefits with Virgin Hotels
• Household account for up to nine people
• Status extension for maternity, paternity and/or adoption

Gold (1,000 Tier Points required)

You’ll receive the same benefits as Silver tier members, as well as the following:

• 60% more Virgin points on flights
• Guaranteed Upper Class seat
• Free standard seat selection in Economy Light and Classic (anytime for you and your party)
• Free seat selection in Economy Delight (anytime for you and your party)
• Preferred seat selection before your flight in Premium (member only)
• Upper Class check-in (no matter what cabin you fly in)
• Lounge access for you plus one guest (when flying in any cabin class)
• Access to London Heathrow Revivals Lounge
• 2,000 bonus points on your birthday
• Earn a Flying Club reward voucher when you renew your Gold status
• Gift Flying Club reward vouchers to family and friends
• Gift Silver status to a friend
• Guaranteed economy seat on any flight
• Receive two reward vouchers when you reach 2,000 Tier Points in your membership year

How to redeem Virgin Flying Club points

In October, Flying Club drastically changed its loyalty program and moved to dynamic pricing. Now, every seat on a Virgin Atlantic-operated flight is available to book with Virgin points. Like with cash fares, seats booked with Virgin points are priced according to demand. However, the number of Virgin points required to book an award seat is not linked to the cash prices, which has resulted in some excellent and some awful redemption rates.

When searching for award redemptions, look for Saver seats marked with a red tag. These award seats are now the cheapest options, though they will not be offered on every flight.

You can use Virgin’s handy Reward Seat Checker to find the lowest-priced seats.

If you’re lucky enough to snag this redemption, you’ll be booking the lowest award rate for business-class flights to Europe compared to other major airline loyalty programs.

Unfortunately, the downside of dynamic pricing is that the points required can be astronomical if you want to travel on peak dates like school holidays and during the summer months, with some routes requiring 150,000 points for a single flight in economy or 350,000 points in business class.

At these rates, check the price of cash fares, as you may find a better deal than redeeming your Virgin or credit card reward points.

A major downside when booking with Virgin is the carrier-imposed surcharges that will be tacked on to your ticket. However, during the loyalty program’s overhaul, these fees were significantly reduced, so now they are more reasonable. Additionally, when departing the United Kingdom, the U.K. APD Tax must also be paid, which can add hundreds of dollars to your redemption in premium classes.

Related: Flexibility is key: Why I (mostly) like the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club changes

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club airline partners

Aside from Saver fares, which are strictly limited in capacity and may not be available on peak travel dates, the real magic of using Virgin points lies in partner award redemptions. Since the carrier joined the SkyTeam alliance, you can redeem Virgin points on all SkyTeam airlines.

Redemptions on SkyTeam airlines are distance-based — excluding flights operated by Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines— and you will need the following Virgin points each way per person (note that some airlines do not offer premium economy):

As for Air France-KLM and Delta-operated flights, be sure to check out Virgin’s website to view the award charts for these carriers.

You’ll notice that partner redemption charts do not include first-class fares. This means you can’t redeem your Virgin points for SkyTeam airlines that offer first class, including Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Saudia Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

Air France also offers first class but restricts redemptions to elite members of its own Flying Blue program.

In addition to the 16 SkyTeam airlines you can redeem your Virgin points with, you can also book award flights with the following airlines using Virgin points:

• Air New Zealand (Star Alliance)
• All Nippon Airways (Star Alliance)
• El Al 
• Hawaiian Airlines
• LATAM Airlines
• Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)
• South African Airways (Star Alliance)
• Virgin Australia

You can also earn Virgin points — but not redeem them — with partner IndiGo.

Each non-SkyTeam partner has a different award chart. Some are distance-based and others are zone-based, so each airline can have different terms and conditions.

The following partners can be booked on the Virgin website:

• Air France
• Delta
• El Al
• ITA Airways
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• LATAM
• Saudia
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

You must call Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500 to book award tickets for carriers that do not appear online.

However, you can still search for availability on other websites. For example, the United Airlines website is excellent for finding available seats on Star Alliance carriers. Once you find what you want, note the travel dates and flight numbers. Then, call Virgin Atlantic and feed that information to the customer service representative.

Related: How to book Delta award flights with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points

Best ways to redeem Virgin points for maximum value

With so many different airline partners, here are some of our favorite ways to redeem your Virgin points.

Saver fares on Virgin Atlantic

On dates with low demand, such as transatlantic flights on certain days over the northern winter period, the new Saver fare flights will now start from as low as 6,000 Virgin points in economy from JFK to Heathrow, 10,500 Virgin points in premium economy and just 29,000 Virgin points in business class.

Carrier-imposed surcharges for Saver fares have also been reduced, starting from just $45 in economy, $78 in Premium and $227 in Upper Class on a flight from New York to London. Minor additional government taxes and airport fees are also payable, which differ from route to route. Remember that the taxes for flights departing London will be more expensive than those to London because of the U.K. APD Tax.

These are the lowest redemption rates to fly to London compared to any major airline loyalty program.

All Nippon Airways

Virgin Atlantic’s incredible redemption rates for ANA-operated flights should always be considered if you want to get between the U.S. and Japan. This route is one of the best award travel sweet spots, though availability can be tough to find.

Take a look at Virgin Atlantic’s award chart for ANA flights. These prices are for one-way travel, so you must double the price for a round-trip redemption.

Related: Feels like first class: Flying ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo

If you were to book a round-trip, first-class seat to Japan from the West Coast in one of ANA’s fancy suite seats, you’d spend just 145,000 points for a seat costing $20,000 or more. Business class is also an excellent deal at just 105,000 points.

It’s also worth noting that round-trip award flights are incredibly cheap for infants under 2 years old who don’t need a seat of their own:

• Economy seats cost 2,000 points
• Business-class seats cost 10,000 points
• First-class seats cost 14,000 points

Air France-KLM

Virgin Atlantic has several award charts for both KLM and Air France. It divides the world into 10 zones and calculates your award price based on your origin and destination zones. Here are some notable price highlights from the U.S. on off-peak dates:

• One-way economy flight to Europe from the West Coast for 15,000 points
• One-way economy flight to the Middle East from the East Coast for 25,000 points
• One-way business-class flight to Europe from the East Coast for 48,500 points
• One-way business-class flight from the East Coast to North Africa for 66,500 points

You’ll often incur fuel surcharges for your flights, but they’re often not as high as for Virgin Atlantic awards. In our experience, surcharges are under $300 for a one-way business-class ticket from the U.S. to Europe, making Air France-KLM a cheaper option for business-class European redemptions.

Bottom line

Virgin Atlantic is intricate — some of its luster has disappeared after devaluations and diminishing availability from its partners. While the new dynamic pricing model favors those who are flexible and can travel during off-peak periods, those wanting to travel over major holidays and peak summer months may likely now need to look to other programs for decent award redemptions.

However, the program is still highly valuable for international travel, particularly for flying ANA, Air France or KLM in premium cabins when availability allows. Additionally, because the program has so many transfer partners, its points are easy to earn. Therefore, this loyalty program should not be overlooked.

I had the opportunity to check it out on a few recent stops at SFO, and it gives the flagship Alaska Lounge in Seattle’s North Satellite a run for its money.

Related: The best credit cards for airline lounge access

Alaska Lounge location at SFO

The Alaska Lounge opened in June at SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1. It’s across from Gate B6 and not far from the brand-new The Club at SFO lounge, which I reviewed last month.

The new American Airlines Admirals Club is about a 10-minute walk down the terminal.

The Alaska Lounge’s design is sleek and modern. Once you enter the sliding glass doors, you’ll find a large lobby area with a bank of elevators that will take you upstairs to the actual lounge.

When you step off the elevators, friendly employees at a check-in desk will greet you. I had great interactions on both my visits. One agent even offered to take the names of my guests to let them in automatically when they arrived later. This way, I didn’t have to wait around and could just start enjoying the lounge.

I visited once in October and once in November. There were no lines to get in, and the lounge was nearly empty. The lounge is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Alaska Lounge SFO entry requirements

Entry requirements for this new Alaska Lounge are a little more restrictive than in years past when they regularly allowed entry to Priority Pass cardholders. That may help explain why it’s not too crowded.

Those with an Alaska Lounge or an Alaska Lounge+ membership can get in for free. (An Alaska+ membership also offers access to a network of partner lounges, including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs, Qantas Club locations and some United Clubs.)

Those with an American Airlines Admirals Club membership can also use Alaska Lounges when flying a same-day American- or Alaska-operated flight. That includes holders of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees). Note you’ll need to show the physical card in some instances.

Related: Complete guide to Alaska Lounge access

Single-entry lounge passes will also be available for sale for $60 per person, but only as space is available. Given how few people I saw on my visits to the lounge, I bet that passes will be available for sale fairly often. To purchase a pass, you’ll need to be flying on either Alaska, a Oneworld airline or one of Alaska’s other global partners like Icelandair or Starlux.

Finally, you can also use the lounge if you are a first-class passenger with paid or award tickets on flights of 2,000 miles or more.

There are a few additional ways to enter this lounge. See Alaska Airlines’ list of lounge policies and rules for more information.

Related: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card review

Alaska Lounge SFO amenities

One of the highlights is a giant wraparound bar where bartenders make cocktails like Alaska’s famous bloody mary and also serve West Coast wines and beers. Among the top-shelf options are Jim Beam, Crown Royal and Maker’s Mark whiskeys and Aviation and Bombay Sapphire gins.

The new lounge comes in at a whopping 11,000 square feet and has 55% more seating than the old lounge in Terminal 2.

You won’t find showers here, but there are large, clean restrooms with Salt & Stone products from La Bottega.

There are plenty of seating and lounging areas, including four-top tables, individual desklike setups and comfy high-back chairs with views of the tarmac.

There are also high-back sofa chairs and some private booths for sound-resistant work areas.

My favorite seating area was a long row of lounger-style chairs where you could catch views of the airport … or a few ZZZs.

There was no fireplace feature like you’ll see at some other Alaska Lounges, but there were a few communal couches that looked cozy.

The lounge is also fully wheelchair accessible.

I really enjoyed the wide variety of seating and working areas.

Alaska Lounge SFO dining

The Alaska Lounge at SFO has a rotating menu of snacks and small bites. Fresh fruit and oatmeal were available along with other breakfast items. Deli meats and cheeses were also available. During one of my visits, there was also vegetable fried rice.

Of course, there’s also the famous Alaska Lounge feature: a pancake machine by Popcake. It’s a fully automatic pancake machine that has now become standard at Alaska Lounges. Yum.

As has also become standard at Alaska Lounges, there was a barista station where you could order espresso or grab a pastry to enjoy in the lounge.

There was also a beverage station offering two high-end Eversys coffee machines, a Coca-Cola soda machine, teas and a few other treats. This lounge serves coffee and espresso from San Francisco-based Ritual Coffee Roasters. The company is independent and woman-owned, and it’s a nice touch in a San Francisco lounge.

I loved the self-serve candy station, which featured Ghirardelli chocolates, Alaska Air-colored jelly beans, M&M’s and fortune cookies made by the Oakland Fortune Factory.

Another particularly endearing nod to San Francisco was the giant sculptural mural on the wall of the main dining area.

I really loved all the tributes to the Bay Area spread throughout the lounge, from the art to the food and beverage selections.

Bottom line

SFO has really stepped up its game in the lounge space. Three lounges in the new T1 alone make lounge-hopping a fun activity if you have the access and the time before a flight.

While I loved the new Priority Pass lounge, The Club, it can be crowded. That hasn’t been a problem so far at the new Alaska Lounge (nor has it at the nearby Admirals Club, for that matter).

I definitely recommend checking it out next time you are passing through SFO.

It doesn’t have massage chairs, nap rooms or showers, but then again, most Alaska Lounges don’t. The San Francisco Alaska Lounge is my new favorite.

Related reading:

• Best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about TAP Air Portugal’s Miles&Go program and whether it should become a new loyalty program option in your points and miles tool kit.

An overview of the TAP Miles&Go program

TAP Miles&Go is the loyalty program of TAP Air Portugal, based at Portugal’s Lisbon Airport (LIS), with a secondary hub at Porto Airport (OPO). The airline uses an all-Airbus fleet to transport passengers to more than 80 destinations across Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

The airline is a member of Star Alliance, so you can earn and redeem TAP Miles&Go miles on the following airlines:

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• All Nippon Airways
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca
• Brussels Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• Egyptair
• Ethiopian Airlines
• EVA Airways
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Swiss
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines

The program also partners with the following nonalliance airlines:

• Azores Airlines
• Azul Brazilian Airlines
• Emirates
• Gol Airlines

Note that there may be restrictions regarding the flights you can earn or redeem miles with within these partnerships. Review the airline’s partner page on the Miles&Go website before you plan your travels so you know what to expect.

Related: The 13 best hotels in Lisbon

TAP Miles&Go elite status tiers

All members joining the program start as base-level Miles&Go members. The program then offers three elite status levels: Silver, Gold and Navigator.

Miles&Go Silver

Silver status is achieved by earning 30,000 status miles or taking 25 flights on TAP annually. Retaining the status requires 20,000 status miles or 15 flights annually. Silver status benefits include:

• 25% bonus miles on TAP flights
• Last-minute upgrades
• Guaranteed economy seat availability until 72 hours before departure when flying Plus in R, D, B and Y classes
• Dedicated phone number
• Priority standby at the airport
• Fast-track security
• Premium boarding
• Priority baggage handling
• Four Star Alliance lounge passes for Europe and North Africa TAP-operated flights; unlimited lounge access on TAP-operated intercontinental flights

Miles&Go Gold

Gold status is achieved by earning 70,000 status miles or taking 50 flights on TAP annually. Retaining the status requires 50,000 status miles or 40 flights annually. Benefits include everything for Silver status, plus:

• Star Alliance Gold status
• 50% bonus miles on TAP flights
• Up to 40% discount on companion ticket redemption
• Gift Gold status to a friend or family member
• Guaranteed Executive (business-class) seat availability until 72 hours before departure and economy seat availability until 24 hours before departure when flying Plus in R, D, B and Y classes
• One additional checked bag
• Lounge access, plus one guest when flying TAP or Star Alliance airlines
• Access to the Premium Customer Center
• Fee-free award redemptions
• Miles do not expire

Miles&Go Navigator

To achieve top-tier Navigator status, you must earn 125,000 status miles or take 70 flights on TAP annually. To retain the status, you must earn 100,000 status miles or take 70 flights annually.

The perks include everything listed above, plus:

• Free seat assignment for up to four travel companions on the same booking
• TAP Premium Lounge access for one guest, even if they are not flying with the cardholder
• Up to 10% of your status miles will be transferred to the following year’s status requirements (when you earn over 100,000 status miles in a year)
• Up to five free sports equipment checked bags
• Free unlimited Wi-Fi on Airbus A330-900 and A321-LR aircraft
• Two free business-class upgrades
• A “differentiated experience” lounge within a lounge at the TAP Premium Lounge Tejo in Lisbon

How to qualify for Miles&Go elite status

You can qualify for Miles&Go elite status by earning status miles each time you fly on TAP and flights that are part of the Star Alliance, which are separate from redeemable miles (sometimes called bonus miles in the program) and only count toward your elite status in the program. You can alternatively earn status by taking a certain number of flights on only TAP Air Portugal each year.

Unfortunately, crediting flights on the nonalliance airline partners (Azul, Emirates, Gol and Azores Airlines) will only earn redeemable miles and will not earn status miles.

You cannot earn status just through credit card spending. You must fly with TAP and/or Star Alliance partner airlines. However, you can earn 1 status mile for every 5 miles you accumulate in eligible purchases (up to 10,000 status miles per annual qualification period) if you hold the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Credit Card. The card also comes with elitelike perks, such as premium boarding, two passes per year to the TAP Premium Lounge in Lisbon and two complimentary checked bags per year.

TAP Air Portugal also offers a unique paid membership option, separate from the elite status tiers above, called “Club TAP.” If you want to enjoy bonus miles and some status benefits without having to fly enough to earn them the traditional way, you can pay for one of five membership options, starting at $122 per year for Club Basic and up to $1,299 per year for Club Platinum+. If you have a Platinum or Platinum+ membership, you will automatically enjoy complimentary Silver status.

The program also occasionally offers status matches to elite members of select airline loyalty programs.

The information for the TAP Miles&Go Amex has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Complete guide to airline status matches and challenges

Earning redeemable miles with TAP Miles&Go

You can earn redeemable Miles&Go miles by flying TAP Air Portugal. The amount of miles you earn depends on the ticket type purchased:

• TAP Discount (all flights): 20%
• TAP Basic (intercontinental flights): 50%
• TAP Classic (Europe and North Africa): 70%
• TAP Classic (intercontinental flights): 100%
• TAP Plus (Europe and North Africa): 100%
• TAP Plus (intercontinental flights): 150%
• TAP Executive (all flights): 150%
• TAP Top Executive (all flights): 200%

You can also earn redeemable miles by taking flights with any of TAP Air Portugal’s airline partners (Star Alliance and nonalliance partners). Each partner has a different earning rate, so check the program’s website to ensure you know how much you will earn before crediting your next flight.

The easiest way to earn lots of bonus miles in the Miles&Go program is with the right credit card. Currently, the TAP Miles&Go American Express Credit Card is offering 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first 90 days. The program is also a transfer partner of Capital One miles and Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 rate, as well as Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 rate, with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred.

Here are some of our favorite cards with welcome offers that you can transfer to Miles&Go:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Aside from airline partners and holding a rewards credit card, you can also earn Miles&Go miles through program partners, including:

• Hotels (Accor, IHG, Marriott, Melia and more)
• Select restaurants in Portugal
• Rental cars (Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and CarTrawler)
• Select fashion boutiques in Portugal
• Royal Caribbean cruises

You can also purchase miles from the program; however, it will cost you approximately 3.7 cents per mile, which is not a great deal.

TAP Air Portugal charges 70 euros (about $75) per 2,000 bonus miles, which is the minimum purchase amount.

Related: Best frequent flyer programs for US travelers

Redeeming miles with Miles&Go

TAP Air Portugal is a Star Alliance member, meaning you can use your Miles&Go miles for flights on the Portuguese flag carrier or any of its alliance partner airlines. Therefore, you can redeem your miles for flights on airlines such as United Airlines, Lufthansa and ANA.

Miles&Go uses two standard zone-based award charts: one for flights directly with TAP Air Portugal and another for partner award flights. Here is the chart for flights operated by TAP.

Though, in theory, these are fixed-priced award charts, in reality, flights operated by TAP Air Portugal display variable award pricing, so rates fluctuate.

For example, a round-trip business-class redemption costs 245,000 Miles&Go miles, plus 85.56 euros (about $92) in taxes and fees.

With cash rates for the same flights retailing for just under $3,000 round-trip, you’ll obtain a value of approximately 1.28 cents per mile redeemed. This is an OK, though not outstanding, way to redeem points and miles, especially when transferred from a credit card program like Capital One or Bilt.

Partner redemptions can be a fair use of Miles&Go miles; however, you should be aware of a couple of things before redeeming your miles with partners.

The first is that most redemption rates lag behind some other Star Alliance programs for many awards, making it uncompetitive as the first place to look for partner awards. The second is that TAP Air Portugal tacks on fuel surcharges for redemptions on several partner airlines.

Fortunately, other airline mileage programs are better alternatives for booking a Star Alliance award.

Here is TAP’s published award chart for Star Alliance carriers originating from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (one-way in business class).

There are no real slam-dunk sweet spots, though flying from the West Coast to Europe for 100,000 miles each way on Lufthansa, United and Swiss is a decent deal.

It is a similar story in terms of no outstanding redemption options in economy. Redeeming 30,000 miles for a flight to Hawaii from the East Coast is an acceptable amount, though be aware that Finnair Plus charges just 11,000 Avios for the same route.

An interesting way to redeem Miles&Go miles is the unique option to convert them to status miles at a 2:1 rate. However, you can only convert a maximum of 20,000 bonus miles to earn 10,000 elite status miles each annual accrual period. Therefore, you could only redeem enough bonus miles to secure Silver status in a year.

Additionally, if you are close to earning status through flying and are short a few thousand status miles to reach the next status tier, this could be an excellent way to lock in elite status at little cost.

You could also donate your Miles&Go miles to charity partners like Assistencia Medica Internacional, Helpo and Associacao Terra dos Sonhos.

Bottom line

The TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go program is more relevant to U.S. travelers now that it is a transfer partner of Capital One miles, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

TAP Air Portugal is a Star Alliance member, so the miles earned (or transferred into) the program can be redeemed for award flights on both TAP and Star Alliance partners.

While you can expect OK value when redeeming Miles&Go miles for flights operated by TAP, unfortunately, the redemption rates on partner airlines are not great. As such, you should consider other Star Alliance programs, such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, which consistently offers better partner redemption rates.

Black Friday is now galloping toward us at an incredible speed with plenty of early deals already flying in.

While the official Black Friday sales don’t kick off until Nov. 29, we’ve rounded up the best airfare deals so far so you don’t miss a bargain. In case you don’t see what you want right away, here’s advice on finding the best deals.

If you’re looking for more travel deals, check out our roundup of the best early Black Friday hotel deals currently available.

Best travel deals from airlines

Air Canada

Air Canada is currently running a bunch of early points-earning deals exclusive to Aeroplan members:

• 25 bonus points on premium rides with Uber, 50 bonus points on your next Uber Eats meal delivery, 250 points on your first grocery delivery with Uber Eats between now and Dec. 1
• Increased earnings via eStore, earn up to 10 points per $1 between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2
• 50% more points (up to 40,000 points) earned via eStore for Aeroplan credit card holders between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2
• 40 bonus points when you make 4 eligible transactions with your linked Starbucks Rewards account between now and Nov. 27
• 80% bonus when buying Aeroplan points between now and Dec. 11

Additionally, Aeroplan memebers can also take advantage of these redemption offers:

• Redeem and save up to 15,000 points on select gift cards via the eStore between now and Nov. 29
• Redeem and save up to 30% in points on all electronic merchandise purchased via the eStore between now and Nov. 29
• Save up to 50,000 points on hotels booked through Aeroplan’s hotel booking platform
• Save up to 20,000 points on car rentals through Aeroplan
• Redeem and save up to 50% points on gas through your linked Journie Rewards account

Shop: [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=”20420170647″]

Air New Zealand

Air Zealand’s Black Friday deals will be announced on Dec. 2.

American Airlines

American Airlines’ full range of Black Friday deals is yet to go live, but it’s currently offering a range of round-trip domestic fares for less than $200. Expect more soon.

Shop: [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=“20420170833”]

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has not yet revealed its Black Friday sales, but watch this space for updates soon.

Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines has not yet launched its Black Friday sales, but we’ll share more once we know. Last year they offered discounts of around $50 on airfares, which we’d expect them to at least equal for 2024.

British Airways

British Airways Black Friday sale has not yet been announced, but if you’re keen to get a head start, bookmark this page and keep checking back as Nov. 29 approaches.

Breeze Airways

Set to go live Nov. 29, Breeze will be offering $29 fares across 112 different routes, including the following popular services:

• Charleston, South Carolina, to New Haven, Connecticut; Cincinnati; and West Palm Beach, Florida
• Fort Myers, Florida, to Manchester, New Hampshire; Louisville; and Wilmington, North Carolina
• Hartford to Daytona Beach, Florida; New Bern, North Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia
• New Orleans to Fort Myers, Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida
• Norfolk, Virginia, to New Haven, Jacksonville and Providence
• Orlando to New Windsor, New York; Evansville, Indiana; and Plattsburgh, New York
• Providence to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Jacksonville; and Savannah
• Provo, Utah, to Dallas, Phoenix and San Francisco
• Tampa to Bangor, Maine; Burlington, Vermont; and Myrtle Beach

The $29 fares will be on sale from Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 for travel from Dec. 4, 2024, through May 13, 2025. Blackout dates are between Dec. 20 and Jan. 5, Feb. 14 to Feb. 25, and March 3 to April 20. 

Shop: [circuit type=hyperlink circuit_id=“20420170894”]

Cathay Pacific 

From Nov. 22 to 30, new Cathay Pacific members will be able to get $75 off per ticket, on top of any additional Black Friday offers, for travel into 2025. 

New members will have until Nov. 30 to sign up. The deal will be available for all U.S. and Canadian flights in premium economy and economy cabins to and from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and the highly anticipated launch of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in April 2025. 

Blackout dates will apply from Hong Kong to U.S. destinations between Jan. 1 and Jan. 10, 2025, and Aug. 1 to Sept. 25, 2025.

Condor 

Condor is offering $20 off flights until Nov. 25 in what the airline has dubbed Striped Week.

Shop: Condor Striped Week

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has already released its early Black Friday deals with some great enhanced earning offers for SkyMiles members.

SkyMiles members can boost their miles earnings by earning bonus miles on Delta gift card purchases of $400 or more.

The earnings are as follows:

• 3 miles per $1 for SkyMiles members without status
• 4 miles per $1 for Silver and Gold SkyMiles members
• 5 miles per $1 for Platinum and Diamond SkyMiles members

This bonus has no cap on the amount of gift cards you can purchase.

Additionally, you can earn four miles per $1 spent on car rentals, hotels and vacation homes booked via Delta Cars and Delta Stays for trips between now and Feb. 28, 2025.

Finally Delta Vacations is offering an additional 10% more value for your miles when you book one of their packages.

EasyJet

EasyJet has yet to announce its Black Friday sales, but we’ll update you once they do.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines recently ran a huge flight giveaway ahead of Thanksgiving, but it’s likely it’ll also run an extended sale closer to Black Friday. We’ll keep you updated when we know more.

Hawaiian Airlines

We expect Hawaiin Airlines to release more exclusive deals closer to Black Friday, but in the meantime, travelers can take advantage of the following offer:

• Earn 5 times bonus miles on qualified vacation packages when you bundle together flights, hotel or car rental between now and Dec. 4. Plus, save 20% or more on hotel stays.

They’re also currently offering great deals on one-way flights from various U.S. airports to Hawaii, starting at $111 for Main Cabin Basic fares.

Shop: Hawaiian Airlines Cyber Monday sale

JetBlue

We’re still waiting for JetBlue to reveal its Black Friday deals, but we’ll keep you updated.

Play Airlines

Play is due to announce its Black Friday sales Nov. 27. We’ll update you once the deals are live.

Spirit 

Spirit offers a slew of deals for Black Friday this year with plenty of opportunities to save on points purchases, flights, hotel and experience bookings for loyalty members and when booking through Spirit Vacations.

From now until Dec. 3, you can save 40% when you buy Free Spirit points from this link. Free Spirit Points can be redeemed on flights with Spirit. 

Additionally, new sign-ups to Saver$ Club will also earn 1,000 Free Spirit points. Saver$ Club provides its members exclusive access to the lowest fares, discounted prices on bags and seats, and other options such as Shortcut Security. There are also special deals only available to Saver$ Club members. 

 The airline is also offering a range of deals with Spirit Vacations, including:

• 25% off Caesars Properties in Reno and Lake Tahoe between now and Nov. 28
• Up to 40% off flight and stay bundles for stays at Fontainebleau Las Vegas between now and Dec. 3
• 10% off all MGM Las Vegas property stays and 15% off Luxor and Excalibur through Dec. 10
• Up to 35% off Rosen Inn between now and Dec. 3

Shop: Spirit Airlines Vacations Black Friday sale

TAP Air Portugal

TAP is offering some great deals on round-trip fares to Europe from various U.S. airports, starting at $359 in economy. Business-class fares to Portugal start at $2,199. The sale is live through Dec. 4 for travel from Jan. 14 to May 15, 2025. 

Economy flights on sale include:

From New York City:

• $379 round-trip to Madrid, Barcelona and Dublin
• $399 round-trip to Paris
• Less than $500 round-trip to Copenhagen; Stockholm; Oslo; Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada and Terceira, Portugal; London; Rome; Milan; and Seville, Spain

From Boston:

• $359 round-trip to Madrid and Barcelona
• $379 round-trip to Dublin
• Less than $500 round-trip to Ponta Delgada, Terceira, Lisbon, Porto and Faro

From Miami:

• $359 round-trip to Madrid and Barcelona
• Less than $500 round-trip to Paris; Milan; Seville; Copenhagen; Stockholm; Oslo; Warsaw, Poland; Lisbon; Porto; and Faro

From Chicago:

• $379 round-trip to Madrid, Barcelona and Dublin
• $389 round-trip to Paris, Copenhagen and Stockholm
• Less than $500 round-trip to Milan, Rome, Lisbon, Porto and Faro 

From Washington, D.C.:

• $379 round-trip to Madrid
• $389 round-trip to Copenhagen
• Less than $500 round-trip to Milan, Lisbon, Porto and Faro

From San Francisco:

• $399 round-trip to Madrid and Barcelona
• $429 round-trip to Milan
• Less than $550 round-trip to Seville, Dublin, Lisbon, Porto and Faro

Shop: TAP Air Portugal Black Friday sale 

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic has not yet announced its Black Friday sales for 2024, but we expect them to go live on this page. Check back close to Nov. 29.

Bonus deal: Priority Pass

While not technically a flight deal, if you’re booking travel you may wish to also take advantage of lounge access.

For Black Friday, you can save 30% on Priority Pass’ Standard Membership, paying $69 instead of $99. Or, you can save 25% on a Standard Plus Membership, paying $245 instead of $329. 

Shop: Priority Pass

Related reading:

• The best credit card welcome offers
• 7 things to understand about credit before applying for a new card
• How to apply for a credit card
• What is APR on a credit card?
• How to check your credit score for free

Online shopping portals offer an easy way to earn bonus points or miles on purchases you’re already making. Some even provide discounts in the form of cash back. For instance, Rakuten is currently offering a one-time $40 bonus for new members who join with a referral link (and make qualifying purchases), as well as the person who referred them. Plus, many shopping portals offer lucrative holiday bonuses.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the top online shopping portals and how you can maximize your rewards when shopping.

Related: How to earn points, miles and cash-back rewards on pet expenses

Basics of online shopping portals

Let’s start with a quick overview of what these portals do. At the most basic level, shopping portals allow you to earn bonus points, miles or cash back at hundreds of online retailers.

All you need to do is log in to your online shopping portal of choice. Then click the store where you want to shop, and you will be redirected to the store’s website and can shop as normal.

You’re still purchasing the same items directly from the merchant, but because you started at the shopping portal, you’ll earn bonus points or miles. However, this generally only applies to the subtotal of your purchase (excluding taxes and shipping fees).

In addition, you’ll still earn points or miles on the rewards credit card you use, making this an easy way to double dip.

Related: The best travel rewards credit cards

Here’s an example: Let’s say you plan on buying Grandma a gift from Macy’s.

That item costs $100 if you purchase it directly from macys.com, plus $20 in taxes and shipping. Since you want to maximize your purchase, you plan to use your Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) to take advantage of the 2% cash back it offers on purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill).

However, you notice that Rakuten is offering an additional 2% back at Macy’s. You begin there and click through to macys.com to complete the purchase.

Thus, you’ll earn the following:

• $120 x 2% cash back on the Citi Double Cash = $2.40
• $100 x 2% cash back through the portal = $2

If you had shopped directly on macys.com, you would’ve missed out on the extra $2 you got through Rakuten. You’ve earned additional rewards — and you’re still getting the same item for the same price. Plus, with Rakuten, you can opt to earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. Therefore, from this purchase, you could earn 200 Amex points, which TPG values at $4 per our November 2024 valuations.

How is this possible?

You might wonder how these portals can do this. After all, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But there’s no catch here. In exchange for directing you to a specified merchant, the portal will take a cut of any purchase you make from the retailer. It’s a win-win-win situation for all involved: The merchant gets more business, the portal generates more revenue and you earn extra rewards.

You may think that an extra few dollars or points here and there won’t make much of a difference. However, if you consistently utilize shopping portals, you can easily rack up a significant amount of points, miles or cash back in a year. The beauty of this process is that you’re earning additional rewards for things you would’ve bought anyway — an especially savvy move to address some of the cost increases we’ve been seeing.

Types of online shopping portals

Now that you know how they work, let’s take a look at the major types of shopping portals out there. You can generally group them into three categories:

• Airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Credit cards
• Cash back

Let’s dive into each one to get a sense of the possibilities.

Airline and hotel loyalty programs

Almost every major airline has an online shopping portal (as do select hotel programs), and they work similarly. While the exact login process may vary slightly, each one will award bonus points or miles based on your purchases across hundreds of retailers. Here’s a handy list of links for the most popular airlines:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping
• American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping
• British Airways Executive Club eStore
• Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Shopping
• JetBlue Airways TrueBlue Shopping
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping
• United Airlines MileagePlus Shopping

In addition to the standard earning rates these sites offer, many frequently run promotions as an added incentive. These typically cover transactions across all participating merchants over a set period, and you can usually earn different bonuses depending on how much you spend in total. For example, bonuses often launch around the winter holidays or back-to-school time. Be sure to bookmark our permanent page to keep up with these offers.

Finally, some portals will allow you to link your credit card and earn additional points and miles for in-store shopping — like this set of retailers through United’s site.

Related: The beginners guide to airline shopping portals

Credit cards

Some card issuers offer their own online shopping portals where you can stack your credit card earnings. They are:

• Capital One Shopping (only cash back, not bonus miles)
• Barclays RewardsBoost
• Shop Through Chase
• Citi Shop

To utilize most of these portals, you must have an active credit card account that earns rewards in the bank’s program. The exception is Capital One Shopping, which is free and available to everyone.

In 2024, Citi entered the credit card issuers’ shopping portal space. Launched as a web browser extension, Citi Shop automatically scans for coupons and other offers at over 5,000 online merchants. These offers include coupons and statement credits. You’re only able to use the shopping portal if you have an eligible U.S. Citi card. Users can find a list of participating cards when they go to enroll in the Citi Shop program, and you can download the Citi Shop extension in your browser’s app store.

If you have a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, keep in mind that Chase allows 1:1 transfers to more than a dozen travel partners. You could effectively earn World of Hyatt points, United miles or British Airways Avios, for example, by logging in to your Chase account and launching Shop Through Chase.

Although American Express doesn’t have its own shopping portal, there is a way to earn bonus Amex points when shopping online (more on that in a bit).

Cash back

The final category of online shopping portals consists of those offering extra cash back on your purchases. This is a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to bother with keeping track of airline miles or credit card points. In some instances, you can even earn bonuses for booking hotel reservations through these sites.

That being said, going for cash back also adds complexity, as there are over a dozen competing sites out there. Some of our favorites are:

• Mr. Rebates
• Extrabux
• TopCashback

Most rates tend to fall in the 1% to 5% range, though you may find limited-time specials at select merchants.

Hybrid option

One of the best sites — and the one that TPG staffers use most frequently — is Rakuten. This portal started in the realm of cash-back earnings, but in 2019, it added the option to earn American Express Membership Rewards points. You can earn Amex points at a ratio of $0.01 to 1 Membership Rewards point, so a merchant offering 1% cash back would instead provide 1 point per dollar spent.

Based on TPG’s November 2024 valuations, which peg Amex points at 2 cents apiece, opting for points over cash back effectively doubles your return with Rakuten. Since the site works with over 3,500 stores, it’s among the most expansive online shopping portals. It has a browser extension that will notify you when a merchant offers a bonus, and it also has in-store offers.

Related: Supercharge your Rakuten earnings with Amex points

How do I find the best offer?

As you can see, this is a dizzying array of options — and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there’s a fast, easy way to sort through them for your next online shopping spree.

Let’s say you’re ready to make a purchase at a specific retailer, but you don’t know which shopping portal to use. You have accounts with virtually every program discussed above, but does that mean you need to manually load each portal to see what bonus you’d earn?

Thanks to the magic of shopping portal aggregators like Cashback Monitor, you don’t. If you’ve never used it, you should bookmark it for future reference.

In essence, a shopping portal aggregator allows you to pull up a specific retailer and see the earning rate you’d get across all applicable shopping portals. This allows you to quickly compare earning rates and determine which portal offers the best return for your chosen merchant.

If you sign in with your social media or Google account, which is free, you can access advanced features like choosing your favorite portals and setting a value for each loyalty currency. The default on the site is 1 cent per point or mile, but if you add the numbers from TPG’s most recent valuations (for example), the site will automatically update the return you’d get on your purchases — as you see in the above screenshot.

Additionally, instead of trying to remember each different shopping portal, you can simply add a browser extension to Google Chrome. While you’re shopping, this browser extension will inform you of deals and discounts and sometimes offer coupons at checkout.

Related: Why transferable points are worth more than other rewards

Important tips and reminders

Accessing online shopping portals is relatively straightforward, but there are a few essential things to keep in mind:

• You must click through the link on the portal’s site and then purchase from the page that pops up. Don’t navigate away and return later; you may miss out on rewards.
• You must ensure you have cookies enabled in your browser for the retailer’s site. This allows the portal to “track” your purchases and award bonuses accordingly.
• Only use promotions or promo codes found on the portal; if you use others, the purchase may become ineligible for bonus points or miles.
• Read the restrictions for each merchant. Many won’t count gift cards as eligible bonus purchases; others exclude specific products. Earning rates at a particular merchant may vary by category — for instance, appliance purchases at Home Depot may earn only 0.5 points per dollar, while home decor and kitchenware may earn 2 points per dollar.
• Use a credit card with the best earning rate on your purchase. Most of these merchants don’t fall into the traditional bonus categories, so you’ll probably want to stick with a good card for everyday purchases.

That said, you should be able to stack most Amex Offers, Chase Offers, Citi Merchant Offers and bonuses from American’s SimplyMiles site with rewards through online shopping portals. The vast majority of these offers are based solely on the total amount of your purchase and don’t require any coupon code, so it shouldn’t create any issues.

Aside from the rewards, shopping portals are an excellent way to keep loyalty accounts active since spending even a single dollar through a shopping portal can be enough to keep your points and miles from expiring. That can be a lifesaver if you haven’t banked travel to your account in a while and don’t have a viable option to transfer points from elsewhere.

Related: Your guide to airline and hotel dining rewards programs

Bottom line

Online shopping portals are a fantastic way to earn bonus points, miles or cash back for online purchases at various merchants. Even if you’re only earning an extra mile or two for every dollar you spend, these earnings can quickly add up and go a long way toward redemptions like first-class flights and luxury hotel rooms, or even spending money for your next trip.

Now is a great time to start if you haven’t already utilized these portals. We generally recommend Rakuten as one of the best options thanks to the flexibility of Amex points and the sheer number of merchants on the site, but explore all of the above options to determine which would work best for you.

We found a number of round-trip fares under $400 to great destinations including Barcelona, Copenhagen, Madrid, Dublin and Paris. The travel window for this sale is January through May of next year. Keep in mind that the discounted fares are not available from April 7-22. 

The fares in this sale all include layovers. You also get a free carry-on bag (up to 22 pounds) and a personal item. Checked luggage will cost you around $91 each way.

Related: A review of the Danish landmark hotel Villa Copenhagen

Deal basics

Airline: TAP Air Portugal

Routes: From Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to various cities across Europe

How to book: Directly with the airline

Travel dates: From Jan. 14-April 6, 2025, and April 23-May 15, 2025

Book by: As soon as possible

Restrictions: Check specific destinations for travel restrictions

Sample flights

Destinations in this sale include:

• Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
• Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
• Dublin Airport (DUB)
• Lisbon Airport (LIS)
• Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
• Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
• Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)
• Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)

Tip: The home page for TAP’s sale lists the discounted fares by destination city, so you can get a head start on booking travel there.

You can fly from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to MAD in late March for $359 round-trip. This includes a layover in Lisbon. Even better, if you’re part of the airline’s TAP Miles&Go rewards program, you can use miles to save even more on the sale fares. This itinerary below is $359, but it can be booked for just $335 round-trip using 200 miles plus cash.

You can fly from Miami International Airport (MIA) to BCN in the spring for the same $359 fare. Again, 200 miles will save you an additional $24 off the ticket price.

Most of the sub-$400 fares are for flights to Spain, but we found itineraries from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to ORY for $360 round-trip, including the Miles&Go promo discount.

If you live in Northern California, you can jet from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to MXP in March for just $429 round-trip.

According to Google Flights data, that’s a significant markdown from what that itinerary typically costs.

We also found good discounts on flights from Chicago to Rome. In late February, you can fly from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to FCO for $404 round-trip.

Related: A review of Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria hotel: Resort life in the Eternal City

Maximize your purchase

When you book this deal or any flights, always be sure to use a credit card that gets you bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2 points per dollar spent on travel
• American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 3 points per dollar spent on travel

Bottom line

TAP has especially good availability for travel in the spring, especially to Spain. Dig around and see which itinerary works best for your schedule. The sale ends Dec. 4, but the lowest fares will most likely be gone well before then. Don’t wait too long before you book your flight.

Related reading:

• Here are the best current credit card welcome offers
• 7 things to understand about credit before applying for a new card
• How to apply for a credit card
• What is APR on a credit card?
• How to check your credit score for free

From frequent travelers to fashionistas, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to carry-on luggage.

If you fly so often that you are on a first-name basis with your local airport’s Transportation Security Administration agents, you need a carry-on suitcase that is durable enough to withstand repeated use.

Your carry-on bag should be as stylish as you are, so you’ll want an eye-catching option that expresses your unique personality. But if you are backpacking through Europe or headed for the great outdoors, you’ll need a carry-on bag that’s both rugged and comfortable.

Related: Carry-on luggage showdown: Away vs. Roam

Regardless of how often or where you travel, we’ve rounded up the best of the best to help you find the carry-on bag that fits your travel style.

Best elevated basic: July Carry On Essential

Size: 21.5 inches by 15 inches by 8.5 inches

Price: $275

Buy now: July.com

Before bringing its product to market, July pored over thousands of customer reviews of other luggage brands to determine what it could do to out-design the competition. The result is a carry-on suitcase that is crush-proof, scratch-proof and sophisticated.

Related: These are the checked bags carried by TPG’s staff

The no-nonsense July Carry On Essential has only the essentials: a sleek shell with a TSA lock, an interior compression system and a hidden laundry bag. July sells bags that are made to last, and it stands by that promise with a lifetime warranty and a 100-day return policy.

For an additional $40, you can order an upgraded version that includes metal bumpers and a portable power bank.

Best personal item: Delsey Brochant 3.0 Underseater

Size: 15.25 inches by 8.75 inches by 14.75 inches

Price: $118.99 (regularly $169.99)

Buy now: Delsey.com

As much as we wish they didn’t, some airlines do charge for carry-on baggage. Even those that charge let you bring a personal item for free, though. This personal bag also comes in handy if you find yourself in a situation where your carry-on suitcase isn’t quite big enough to hold everything.

A personal item needs to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you, and the Delsey Brochant 3.0 Underseater does just that.

Despite its small size, this bag still has several smart features, like silent rolling wheels, a TSA-compatible lock, interior and exterior organization, and a trolley sleeve.

Best for kids: State Logan Carry-On Suitcase

Size: 18.7 inches by 13.4 inches by 9.45 inches

Price: $220

Buy now: Statebags.com

Most kids reach an age where they want to pack and carry their own suitcases. Unfortunately, a lot of luggage geared toward kids looks better than it performs. That’s where State bags stand out from the rest.

State bags are durable, functional and come in fun prints that kids (and most adults) will love. This bag has interior organization (including a zipper pocket to keep dirty clothes separate), an exterior pocket and a side strap that can hold a water bottle, jacket or stuffed animal. It’s also easy to maneuver with smooth-rolling, 360-degree wheels.

State offers accessories like lunch boxes, toiletry kits, duffel bags and backpacks in the same eye-catching prints as its luggage pieces for kids who love to coordinate.

Best large carry-on: Away The Bigger Carry-On

Size: 22.7 inches by 15.4 inches by 9.6 inches

Price: $221 (regularly $295)

Buy now: Awaytravel.com

This larger version of the original Away Carry-On isn’t just bigger — it’s better. The Bigger Carry-On is large enough to hold four to seven days’ worth of clothing.

It’s also made with a durable polycarbonate shell and has a slew of functional features like 360-degree spinning wheels, a TSA lock, an interior compression system and a waterproof laundry bag. For easy portable charging, you can pay an additional $20 to add a USB charger to your bag.

Related: Carry-on luggage showdown: Away vs. Rimowa

Just as important, The Bigger Carry-On from Away comes in a range of colors, including limited-edition hues released throughout the year.

Whether you’re looking for a suitcase in your favorite color or you just want something that stands out in a sea of black luggage, you are sure to find what you’re looking for.

Add more personalization with monograms and luggage tags in an array of colors and styles.

Best for color coordinating: Beis The Carry-On Roller

Size: 22.8 inches by 15.7 inches by 9.8 inches

Price: $238

Buy now: Beistravel.com

Beis bags are made to look just as good on their hundredth trip as they did on their first. They also help you glide through the airport with ease and navigate even the bumpiest cobblestone streets.

The Carry-On Roller from Beis comes in more than a dozen colors that coordinate with other Beis products, so you can mix and match or go for the monochromatic look.

Related: 5 best backpacks for every travel style

Beis’ The Carry-On Roller also has just the right amount of bells and whistles, with smooth-rolling 360-degree wheels, a cushioned trolley handle for comfort, a TSA lock, interior compression and a built-in weight indicator.

Also, because it’s almost guaranteed you’ll come home with more than you left with, this Beis bag expands with the simple pull of a zipper.

Best for subways and city life: Aer Carry-On

Size: 22.7 inches by 15 inches by 9 inches

Price: $319

Buy now: Aersf.com

When I polled my TPG coworkers on their favorite carry-on bags, I was shocked to learn that I had never heard of a carry-on bag with brakes on the wheels. TPG senior editor Lyndsey Matthews opened my eyes to the Aer Carry-On.

The San Francisco-based company is known for its durable travel backpacks, but it launched its first wheeled carry-on in 2024. “The Aer Carry-On has similarly durable details like puncture-resistant YKK zippers and CORDURA ripstop liners,” Lyndsey said. “Plus, its ultrasmooth Hinomoto wheels come with a brake system, so you don’t have to worry about your luggage rolling away on a subway platform or into a busy street.”

Lyndsey also loves that the Aer Carry-On comes in “a rainbow of colors.” (Go for the Safety Orange if you want to stand out in a crowd … and on the baggage carousel.)

Best unbreakable shell: Monos Carry-On

Size: 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches

Price: $240 (regular price $255)

Buy now: Monos.com

With its sleek, rounded design and vegan leather accents, it may be hard to believe the Monos Carry-On is unbreakable and water-resistant. In fact, it performs as well as it looks in every aspect, from the telescopic handle with four adjustable height settings to the antimicrobial interior fabric.

Other standout features include a TSA-approved lock, a built-in compression system, a laundry bag, two shoe bags and a vegan leather luggage tag. Get it in standard colors like black, white and gray or have a little fun with pink, forest green, sky blue or one of Monos’ limited-edition prints.

Best luxury luggage: Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On

Size: 21.7 inches by 15.8 inches by 9.1 inches

Price: $1,430

Buy now: Rimowa.com

If you want a bag that can stand up to hundreds of thousands of miles of travel by air, by land and by sea, the Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On is the gold standard … and not just because it comes in metallic shades of gold, silver and black.

In addition to durability, the Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On has TSA locks, a unique multiwheel system and adjustable interior dividers.

Related: Over 400,000 miles and counting: Review of the Rimowa carry-on bag

The Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On has a much steeper price tag that others on this list, but it could potentially be a decade (or more) before you need a new one. Rimowa backs up the longevity of its iconic aluminum suitcases with a lifetime guarantee.

Best bang for your buck: Calpak Evry Carry-On Luggage

Size: 21 inches by 13 inches by 9 inches

Price: $126.75 (regularly $195)

Buy now: Calpaktravel.com

Calpak’s Evry hard-sided carry-on bag comes in a variety of sophisticated shades, ensuring you look great when rolling it through the airport toward your next adventure.

Related: I fly almost 100,000 miles per year and don’t travel without these packing cubes from Calpak

TPG managing editor Madison Blancaflor often turns to her trusty Calpak Evry when she travels, even choosing it over more expensive options.

“It’s a good, basic carry-on that works well and fits a lot. Plus, it still has a lot of the goodies like a TSA-compliant lock, expandable zipper, internal organization and a multiheight handle,” Madison said. “And compared to the price tags on some of the other fan favorites, it’s a much more budget-friendly pick for those of us who just can’t justify shelling out nearly $300 for a carry-on.”

Madison recommends picking up this bag as part of the Evry Starter Bundle. Along with the carry-on, you’ll get a checked-bag-size suitcase, a packing cube set and a luggage tag.

Best budget basic: Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner

Size: 21.7 inches by 14.8 inches by 10 inches

Price: $62.99 (regularly $69.99)

Buy now: Amazon.com

The 21-inch Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner has a budget-friendly price tag but doesn’t sacrifice style or function. This hard-sided carry-on has an extra-thick textured finish designed to keep scuffs and scratches at bay. It also comes in various colors that coordinate with other pieces in the collection.

Related: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card review

The double spinner wheels ensure a smooth ride, and the expandable zipper can net you up to 25% more space — perfect for those times when you just can’t quite fit everything unless you sit on your suitcase to force it closed.

Best carry-on backpack: Baboon to the Moon Small Go-Bag

Size: 10.5 inches by 20.5 inches by 12.5 inches

Price: $199

Buy now: Baboontothemoon.com

While 360-spinner wheels come in handy at the airport, sometimes you just need a bag that you can throw on your back and go. That’s why TPG associate photo editor Emilia Wronski has her eyes on the Go-Bag from Baboon to the Moon. “I am a big fan of bags I can throw onto my back versus needing to be able to wheel one around,” she said.

Related: 5 best backpacks for every travel style

The small version is the perfect size for a carry-on; it holds three to five days’ worth of clothing and fits in the overhead bin. The bag has an easy-to-clean, weatherproof exterior as well as lockable zippers and several organizational elements, such as a passport pocket and several interior pockets.

Bottom line

No matter where you’re headed or how you plan to get there, you need a carry-on bag that can smoothly navigate the terrain (even if that terrain is the airport’s moving walkway) and hold everything you need for your adventures.

Every bag on this list looks good and performs well enough that you’ll likely find one that deserves a spot in your closet.

Related reading

• The best credit cards for online shopping
• Quick Points: Use a shopping portal aggregator to maximize online purchases
• Your guide to maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases
• Here’s what to pack in a carry-on bag every time you travel

Los Angeles has a dizzying array of accommodation options, from budget motels to ultraluxury hotels. The sprawling metropolis of more than 500 square miles can be overwhelming for a first-time visitor like myself to select the perfect location, noting the beachfront neighborhoods can easily be an hour’s drive from downtown, thanks to LA’s notoriously bad traffic.

As a World of Hyatt loyalist, keen to earn another Brand Explorer Award, I narrowed my search to lesser-known Hyatt properties close to the city’s top tourist attractions and settled on the Dream brand, smack bang in the middle of Hollywood.

Despite colleagues living in the city expressing concerns that, while central, the property wasn’t in the most desirable location due to safety concerns at night, I wanted to see if a Hyatt group property could deliver a solid guest experience in the city’s heart.

Here’s what it’s like staying at Dream Hollywood, a World of Hyatt property.

Related: The 27 best hotels in Los Angeles for your next visit

What is Dream Hollywood?

Opened in 2017, Dream Hollywood offers 178 guest rooms and suites at the corner of Selma Avenue and N. Cahuenga Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills. The brand is known for its upscale amenities and a focus on nightlife with in-house cocktail bars and rooftop lounges.

The Los Angeles location is one of just six Dream properties worldwide, with two in New York and one each in Nashville, Miami Beach and Doha. Future locations are planned in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and more.

Related: What it’s like staying at Dream Nashville, Music City’s downtown lifestyle hotel

Part of World of Hyatt’s “Boundless Collection,” the Dream brand is not to be confused with the Dreams brand, an all-inclusive World of Hyatt brand with numerous properties across Mexico, the Caribbean and southern Europe.

How much Dream Hollywood hotel costs and how to book it

Dream Hollywood offers King Bed Bronze base rooms starting from $248 per night on the cheapest dates and up to $516 per night on the most in-demand dates, though most dates across the year have rates less than $400 per night.

I booked a King Bed with Balcony Bronze for $274 per night for a midweek October stay.

Suites start at $516 per night for a 430-square-foot King Suite Platinum, a relatively good value for a pricey city like Los Angeles. Note these rates include a pesky $42 per night mandatory “destination fee,” which includes minimal benefits like two bottled waters, Champagne on check-in, electric charging stations, premium Wi-Fi and fitness and pool deck access.

As a Category 6 property, you can book this hotel from 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night on an off-peak date up to 29,000 points per night on a peak date. Remember that World of Hyatt redemptions are not charged a destination fee.

When booking Dream Hollywood, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays and one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

Guest of Honor benefits

A TPG colleague with top-tier Globalist status kindly gifted me a Guest of Honor award, which allowed me to apply Globalist benefits to one upcoming Hyatt stay. Using this at a premium property for a longer stay is advantageous to maximize the benefits.

While receiving the award was simple (I needed to provide my colleague with my World of Hyatt number, and I soon received an email stating the award was in my account ready to use), applying it to an existing booking wasn’t. I had to call Hyatt to have them manually add the Guest of Honor award to the booking, which was time-consuming, though I understand if you are making a new booking and have this award in your account, you can choose to add it online during the booking process.

Fortunately, the process was smoother at the property, and the benefits were tangible. The friendly check-in agent advised me he could see the Guest of Honor award on my booking and would waive the destination fee, a Globalist benefit on cash stays. He also advised me breakfast would be complimentary on the rooftop and to mention to the restaurant staff that I had a Globalist benefit to use. He also proactively offered me a 2 p.m. checkout on my final day, which was valuable before an evening flight home.

I didn’t automatically receive a room upgrade at check-in. When I asked if there were better rooms still for sale that night, I was told there was only one single room available at this nearly 200-room hotel, so I didn’t push my luck, given that there may have been legitimate Globalist members arriving to upgrade instead.

In hindsight, I should have saved the Guest of Honor award for a stay where plenty of superior rooms and suites were available to upgrade to. However, the free breakfast and waived destination fee saved me $100 per night and made me “Dream” about my path to earning Globalist status.

Rooms at Dream Hollywood

I received the same King Bronze Balcony room I had booked, a compact but well-appointed and light-filled 300-square-foot space on the third floor.

Having recently toured the spectacular new Park Hyatt London and being surprised to see hardwood floors in the bedrooms at such a premium property, I much preferred the soft carpet underneath the queen-size bed at Dream Hollywood.

A proper desk and leather-padded chair provided a useful, comfortable space to work underneath the huge flat-screen television.

Knowing I had to fly back to my home in dreary, gray London immediately after this stay, I appreciated how much natural light this room was bathed in.

Whether guests were looking to get into the spirit before hitting the town or continuing the festivities after nearby venues closed, the in-room minibar reflected the property’s party vibe. Half-size bottles of Patron tequila, Hennessy cognac and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne were all available for an extra charge. However, the basic amenity of a coffee machine was nowhere to be seen.

The balcony, with its cafe-style wooden table and chairs, was a great place to soak up the SoCal sunshine; however, the lower-floor level I was on didn’t provide much of a view beyond neighboring rooftops.

The bathroom also enjoyed plenty of natural light thanks to the full-length window on one shower wall. However, with the curtain on the outside, two guests sharing a room may not be comfortable with how easily someone could peek into the bathroom from the bedroom.

The spacious walk-in shower featured sparkly silver tiles for a touch of Hollywood glamor and the Karl Lagerfeld toiletries also added some luxury.

What I ate at Dream Hollywood

I was surprised that a property of this size offered only two dining venues. One of them was the upmarket TAO Asian Bistro next door, whose menu was beyond my budget.

That left the rooftop Highlight Room Grill, a small but pleasant outdoor space with views of the Hollywood sign on a clear day.

Breakfast is served daily in this space, and the omelet with your choice of three fillings ($24) paired with a well-crafted espresso-style coffee ($5) proved a healthy way to start the day.

My second breakfast of a ham, cheese and egg muffin with breakfast potatoes ($18) didn’t scream premium, being more fancy McDonald’s than Michelin-starred.

I also tried out the room service menu, which could be easily ordered by phone in the room. My order was delivered in a paper bag with a receipt stapled to it, which felt a little low-rent and made me wonder why I didn’t just order through an external food delivery service with a much wider range of cuisines instead.

The taste of my crispy chicken sandwich ($28) was there, and the food had been very recently cooked before being whizzed down to my room, but the shiny plastic cutlery and sauces in tubs made it one of the more underwhelming room service meals I’ve had.

Dinner at Highlight Grill back on the rooftop was a more sophisticated affair. It started with tuna poke wonton tacos with spicy mayo ($19) and a Peaches and Spice cocktail ($23), a punchy mix of Avion Silver tequila, mezcal, Cointreau, peach, club soda and habanero.

My entree of grilled branzino with panzanella salad and tomato vinaigrette ($34) was one of the best fish dishes I’ve eaten recently. It was perfectly grilled while being moist, fresh and flavorful, and I would return to Highlight Grill for this dish alone.

Amenities and things to do

• The rooftop pool is a casual, relaxed and social space to work on your tan; though on weekends, you’ll need to be up early to secure a sun bed.
• Open 24/7, the hotel’s gym is well-equipped to stay in shape during your stay.
• The rooftop also has a cocktail club named The Lounge at Highlight Room that is only open Friday and Saturday nights for a few hours at a time, with table bookings required.
• Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame is an easy five-minute walk from the hotel. However, the stars stretch for 15 blocks, so finding your favorite celeb might take some time.
• Valet parking is available directly in front of the hotel for $60 per night.

Insider tips for staying at Dream Hollywood hotel

• The property seems popular with party-ready weekenders, so expect chaos and noise if checking in on a Thursday or Friday afternoon, with guests balancing cases of booze on their luggage.
• Request a high floor (five or above) if you’re hoping to enjoy a view from your room, and remember some rooms face the famous Hollywood sign.
• A terrific, quiet and peaceful coworking space is available near the fitness center, which is ideal if you want a break from working in your room.
• The area surrounding the hotel felt safe and quiet in the evenings, with plenty of security and valet parking staff outside the hotel.

Accessibility

Dream Hollywood has wide, flat paths from the entry through reception to the elevators. Guest floor hallways are similarly accessible.

Though the rooftop pool has steps down to the Highlight Grill restaurant, a thoughtful ramp assists guests with mobility issues.

The hotel also offers several tiers of mobility-accessible guest rooms and suites with roll-in showers.

Bottom line

Dream Hollywood is a smart choice for a first-time visitor to Los Angeles ready to let their hair down. While the Dream brand is a little forgettable and lacks identity within a global hotel group, it gets most of the basics right.

The rooms are comfortable, well-equipped and reasonably affordable in a pricey city like Los Angeles. The lack of dining options is slightly puzzling, with a wide divide between the fine-dining TAO restaurant and the Highlight Grill rooftop, which offers basic fare for breakfast and room service while becoming more elevated for the evening meal service.

Families and solo business travelers are unlikely to appreciate weekend guests downing welcome drinks at the front desk while carting in as much alcohol as they can carry, though if that’s your vibe, this is a decent accommodation option in Hollywood.

Related reading:

• Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

Citi Strata Premier Card overview

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is an under-the-radar gem with a phenomenal range of bonus categories. While the card isn’t as strong on the redemption side as similar offerings from Chase or Amex, the ability to earn 3 points per dollar on eligible travel and dining purchases for just $95 a year is still a pretty great deal. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐`

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is one of the best earners on a wide variety of everyday spending. It accrues 3 points per dollar with airlines, hotels, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, restaurants and supermarkets — an excellent slate of bonus categories for a card with a $95 annual fee.

Also, the points you earn with the Citi Strata Premier are among the most versatile rewards currencies and are worth 1.8 cents each, according to TPG’s November 2024 valuations. Citi has improved the ThankYou Rewards program substantially over the years to compete with American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The card underwent a minor refresh back in May, introducing a new name, EV charging bonus category and travel protections; the annual fee has stayed the same.

The recommended credit score for the Citi Strata Premier card is 670 or above.

If you’re there and are considering applying, here’s what else you should know about this card — and why you might want to apply now.

Related: The best Citi credit cards

Citi Strata Premier pros and cons

Citi Strata Premier welcome offer

The Citi Strata Premier is offering 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

According to TPG’s November 2024 valuations of ThankYou points at 1.8 cents apiece, this bonus is worth $1,350.

In the past, the card has offered welcome bonuses of up to 80,000 points for new cardholders (no longer available). Still, the standard offer is 60,000, so now may be a good time to pick it up.

The welcome bonus is not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Premier account in the past 48 months.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Citi Strata Premier benefits

Much of Citi Strata Premier’s value proposition comes from its ability to earn bonus points in many categories without charging a hefty annual fee. As such, you shouldn’t expect an overwhelming number of perks.

However, there are several benefits of this card that can help you recoup your annual fee:

• $100 annual hotel credit: You’ll enjoy a $100 credit once per calendar year for single-stay hotel bookings of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) made through the Citi travel portal.
• World Elite Mastercard benefits: As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Strata Premier confers several travel-related perks that consumers might not know about. These include a $5 monthly Lyft credit after taking three rides in a calendar month and access to the Mastercard luxury hotels and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. Through the World Elite Mastercard program, you’ll also enjoy perks like cellphone protection and Global Emergency Services.
• Citi Entertainment: This program gives cardholders special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events — from concerts and sporting events to unique dining experiences and movie screenings — before the general public can buy them.
• No foreign transaction fees: Like any good travel card, the Citi Strata Premier allows you to travel freely without incurring a fee on international spending.

Citi Strata Premier card also helps you travel with ease of mind, providing the following travel protections:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Trip delay
• Lost or damaged luggage
• Car rental coverage

I always make sure to utilize the $100 annual hotel credit as it’s a sure way to offset the annual fee. However, apart from this, there aren’t many other benefits to take advantage of for substantial savings.

Related: Is the Citi Premier worth the annual fee?

Earning points on the Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier’s earning structure is where the card shines.

The card offers 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal.

Cardholders also earn 3 points per dollar on purchases in the following categories, with no caps or annual limits:

• Air travel
• Hotels
• Gas stations
• EV charging stations
• Supermarkets
• Restaurants (including takeout)

The card earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

These earning rates are among the most impressive of any travel rewards card, especially considering the Citi Strata Premier’s affordable annual fee. This is my go-to card for gas purchases as it earns an unlimited 3 points per dollar, which lessens the sting of my high gas prices in California.

I also often use this card to earn bonus points at supermarkets because, unlike the American Express® Gold Card, there is no spending cap on this category.

Related: The best credit cards with annual fees under $100

Redeeming points on the Citi Strata Premier

Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed for statement credits, cash rewards or third-party gift cards. Additionally, they can be transferred to any of Citi’s 21 transfer partners.

You can redeem your ThankYou Points for travel directly through the Citi portal at a rate of 1 cent each, but that’s well below TPG’s November 2024 valuation of ThankYou points at 1.8 cents each. To get a higher value, you’ll want to take advantage of the option to transfer your points to Citi’s extensive list of transfer partners.

Related: The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou points

Transferring points on the Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier is also a top choice for travelers, thanks to its participation in the ThankYou Rewards program, which currently has 15 airline transfer partners, five hotel partners and one shopping partner.

While you’ll notice that many of the frequent flyer programs are those of international airlines, you can still book high-value (and easily redeemable) awards through them.

For instance, you can leverage Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for decent business-class award availability on those airlines and their SkyTeam partners. You can also access some phenomenal deals on Star Alliance awards using Avianca LifeMiles and snag Oneworld tickets through Qatar Privilege Club.

I find great value in several transfer partners, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which offers business-class flights at 50,000 miles and the ability to add a stopover for free for as short as 24 hours to as long as one year.

Another transfer partner I have utilized is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, as it’s a sure way to book premium cabins on Singapore Airlines.

Related: The best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points

Which cards compete with the Citi Strata Premier?

As an affordable travel rewards card, the Citi Strata Premier has a few direct competitors that might be a better fit for you:

• If you prefer Chase cards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card competes directly with the Citi Strata Premier with an annual fee of $95. While Chase’s transfer partners — including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt — might be more beneficial for many travelers, there are also some overlaps like Singapore KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want a flat earnings rate: Try the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It also charges a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), but this card earns a flat 2 miles per dollar on most purchases instead of offering bonus categories. For more information, read our full review of the Venture Rewards card.
• If you want added perks: If you dine out frequently, you might prefer the American Express® Gold Card, as it has a higher earning rate of 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 per dollar) and at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). It also comes with valuable credits that help offset most of the higher $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). Enrollment is required for select benefits. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.

For additional options, check out our full list of the top travel rewards cards.

Bottom line

Despite a bevy of competitors, the Citi Strata Premier’s long list of bonus categories and solid sign-up bonus make it one of the most lucrative points-earning cards in its price range. The wide range of ThankYou Rewards transfer partners makes this card compelling, especially for travelers who desire the flexibility to redeem points with various loyalty programs. It’s worth a look if you’re partial to Citi or looking for a versatile travel rewards card to add to your wallet.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier with a 75,000-point bonus

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.