travel
Planning your next vacation? Before you budget, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars with Smart Travel. NerdWallet’s trusted travel experts, Sally French and Meghan Coyle, are here to help your travel dollars work even harder. But the travel Nerds don’t just make recommendations; they break down the latest travel details, exploring the pros and cons of specific strategies, practical tools, and tactics. Dive deep with the experts as they lay out all the options so you can finally plan that dream vacation. So put your seat in its full upright position, buckle up, and let’s help that travel budget take you places you’ve only dreamed about. Join hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle, two of NerdWallet’s expert travel Nerds, as they lay out tips, tools, and strategies for your next travel getaway, including: Travel budgeting: What’s the best way to budget for a vacation? How can you save money planning travel? The Nerds compare the best travel budgeting tools. Travel Strategie
United Airlines overhauled its loyalty program in 2026, introducing a rule where its credit cardholders earn double the miles when flying compared to non-cardholders. Megan Coyle and Sally French noted that cardholders earn six miles per dollar on base fares, whereas non-cardholders with no elite status earn three miles per dollar.
Southwest Airlines eliminated its famous open seating style in favor of assigned seats and got rid of free checked bags. Sally French and Megan Coyle explained that travelers looking for early seat selection or wanting to emulate old benefits will now need to hold a Southwest credit card.
Wyndham has launched Homes and Havens, a collection of approximately 800 professionally managed homes primarily in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. Sally French discussed that members can earn five Wyndham rewards points per dollar on cash payments, with award nights priced similarly to the Vacasa model starting at 15,000 points per bedroom per night.
Annual attendance reports for 2025 showed that Walt Disney World's attendance dipped about 0.2% compared to 2024, while Universal Studios Hollywood saw an 8% drop. Sally French noted that the drop at Universal was likely due to the novelty of Super Nintendo World wearing off after opening in 2024.
According to flight alert service Going, domestic airfares for Thanksgiving are predicted to rise 15% compared to last year, while Christmas airfares are projected to increase by 16%.
American Express has renamed its up to $600 annual hotel credit to a lodging credit, expanding it to include prepaid Airbnb Luxe stays of two nights or more, though fine hotels and resorts will also require a two-night minimum starting in 2027.
Airbnb announced new rules stipulating that hosts will no longer require guests to complete significant checkout chores such as taking out the trash or stripping beds, though some hosts may raise cleaning fees.
Bilt is removing its flexible Bilt Cash mode from its rewards program starting on each cardholder's account anniversary, moving all users to a standard 1.25x points rate on rent or mortgage payments unless grandfathered.
Citi is raising the annual fee on the AAdvantage Platinum Select card from $99 to $150 starting January 24, 2027, while introducing new spending categories and credits including a Walmart Plus membership.
JetBlue announced that Mosaic elite status members will receive space-available upgrades to Blue First, the airline's new domestic first class product.
Sally French and Megan Coyle report that Southwest Airlines has overhauled its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, renaming elite status tiers to Silver, Gold, and Platinum, and raising the requirements for the coveted Companion Pass starting January 1, 2027.
Megan Coyle and Sally French discuss how earning the Southwest Companion Pass will become harder in 2027, requiring 140,000 tier qualifying points tied to platinum status rather than companion pass qualifying points, while credit card welcome offers and multipliers will no longer count toward it.
Sally French and Megan Coyle announce that Southwest Airlines will open its first airport lounges, called Southwest Icon lounges, beginning in late 2027 in cities including Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville.
Megan Coyle reports that starting January 1, 2027, United Airlines is eliminating premier qualifying flights (PQFs) and basing elite status entirely on premier qualifying points (PQPs), while raising the requirement for Premier 1K status to 32,000 PQPs.
Megan Coyle shares details on Delta Air Lines' makeover of its Delta One business class product, which features updated dining options like Wagyu beef burgers and John and Vinny's meatballs, alongside new Delta One suites rolling out in 2027.
Megan Coyle announces a new promotion allowing World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan members to earn dual points on eligible Hyatt stays through February 14, 2027, and participate in a 90-day status challenge.
Megan Coyle highlights that loyalty program Rove has added JetBlue as a one-to-one point transfer partner, accompanied by a 20% transfer bonus running through November 14th.
Alaska Airlines' loyalty program, Atmost Rewards, will introduce a new system on October 1st allowing members to choose how they earn points and status. Starting January 1, 2027, members can select to earn points based on distance flown, price paid, or segments flown, with the option to switch their preference once per calendar year. Additionally, eligible Bank of America cardholders will be able to transfer points to Atmost Rewards starting in 2027.
Alaska Airlines is set to significantly upgrade its onboard experience, with new "Life Flat" International Business Class seats being introduced on all 787 Dreamliners and select 737 aircraft operating transcontinental routes. The airline is also launching a new premium economy class called "Premium Reserve" for the first time.
In addition to changes in its loyalty program, Alaska Airlines is planning to launch a new Atmost Rewards debit card in early 2027, which will offer rewards and status points. The airline also has a refreshed Atmost business card expected to be released later this year.
Bilt Rewards has announced a new transfer partner that is neither an airline nor a hotel, indicating a diversification of redemption options for Bilt members. This move could offer more flexibility for those looking to utilize their Bilt points.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is set to double its annual hotel credit for stays booked through the Chase Edit collection, increasing from $500 to $1,000. Additionally, a new cap on points earned from social media and search engine advertising will be implemented starting November 15th, limiting bonus points to the first $1 million in ad spend per anniversary year.
The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex card has been updated to remove foreign transaction fees, making it a more viable travel card. Cardholders will also benefit from the ability to preview rotating quarterly categories a quarter in advance, aiding in spending planning.
Citi's Thank You program has added Japan Airlines (JL) as a new transfer partner, offering a 1:1 transfer ratio for cards with annual fees and a 1:0.7 ratio for no-annual-fee cards. To celebrate, Citi is offering a 3% transfer bonus on eligible transfers through October 24th.
American Express has opened its first Centurion Lounge in continental Europe, located in Amsterdam. This new lounge is accessible only to passengers flying out of the Schengen area, meaning those on flights departing the broader European travel zone.
Las Vegas is currently offering a major sale on hotels and entertainment, running through Saturday, September 26th. This sale aims to combat the perception of the city being expensive, featuring significant discounts and incentives like food and beverage credits.
Despite the addition of Japan Airlines (JL) as a transfer partner by several credit card rewards programs, booking premium class redemptions with JL miles is becoming increasingly difficult due to limited availability. This follows a trend of increased transfers to Japan Airlines starting around 2025.
Professional powerlifter and gym owner Tiffany Long, who pays $534 in annual fees for her credit cards, is seeking to optimize her portfolio. She currently holds cards like the City))` Strada, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and Costco card, but struggles with knowing which card to use for different expenses, which include gym equipment, food, and travel for competitions.
The Chase Air Canada Credit Card has been refreshed with a new name and updated features. A key change is the elimination of the spending requirement for Aeroplan 25K status, making it automatically available to cardholders each year. However, the annual fee has increased from $95 to $195.
A new benefit of the refreshed Chase Air Canada Card is a 15% discount on eligible Air Canada flight redemptions when using points or miles. This is similar to benefits offered by Delta and United Airlines. The discount's value increases with higher point redemption costs.
Cardholders of the updated Chase Air Canada Card can receive up to $100 in statement credits annually for Air Canada flights. This credit is provided in two $50 increments, encouraging cardholders to fly Air Canada at least twice a year.
The ease of obtaining Aeroplan 25K status with the new Chase Air Canada card leads to a question about the value of elite status if everyone has it. The speaker pondered if this widespread access to status might make upgrades and other benefits less special or harder to attain.
American Express has launched limited-time welcome offers on Delta SkyMiles credit cards, available through November 4th. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card includes flight certificates in its welcome offer for the first time, alongside bonus miles, for a $650 annual fee.
American Express is offering new welcome bonuses on its Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, including up to 90,000 bonus miles and a $300 statement credit after spending $4,000 in the first six months. This card has a $350 annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card features a welcome offer of 80,000 bonus miles and a $200 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first six months. This card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 annually.
Delta SkyMiles credit card holders can receive a 15% discount when booking award flights using SkyMiles. This discount is only available to cardholders, making it a significant benefit for those who frequently book Delta flights with miles.
United Airlines has announced its largest international expansion ever for 2027, introducing new flights to several European cities including Sardinia (Olbia Airport), Catania, Ibiza, Valencia, Marseille, and the Azores. These routes will utilize the new Airbus A321 XLR aircraft.
The new Airbus A321 XLR aircraft being used for United's international expansion features a significant number of premium seats. The aircraft includes 20 new United Polaris suites with privacy doors and 12 additional premium class seats, designed for passenger comfort on longer routes.
JetBlue has opened its new 'Blue Houses' lounge, featuring amenities inspired by Boston, including a work area modeled after the Boston Public Library and a replica of the Green Monster scoreboard. Access is granted to Mosaic 4 elite status members, JetBlue cardholders, or those flying Mint business class.
Google has launched new travel features in its AI-powered search mode, including flight price tracking and hotel booking. Notably, users can now find the prices of certain flights and hotel stays in points and miles, alongside cash prices.
Google's new AI travel search feature currently supports award travel information for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and stays at Choice Hotels, Hilton, and Wyndham. Google plans to add more partners, including Delta, United, Marriott, and Hyatt, in the coming weeks.
American Airlines is changing its upgrade policy starting August 25th. Elite status members will no longer be upgraded to business class on transcontinental and Hawaii routes, but will instead receive upgrades to premium economy. This change aims to encourage passengers to book premium economy directly.
American Express has expanded its Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection by adding over 350 new hotels. This expansion coincides with the 35th anniversary of the FHR program. The new properties include locations in Japan and Argentina.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card now offers an elevated welcome bonus of 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and a $250 statement credit after spending $6,000 in the first six months. The card has a $600 annual fee, but provides benefits like Platinum Elite status, a free night award up to 85,000 points, and various statement credits.
A listener shared a strategy for maximizing Amex Platinum card's hotel credits by booking stays that straddle calendar year-end. This allows cardholders to potentially use two $300 credits for a single stay, effectively covering a vacation.
Starting August 15, 2026, Chase Sapphire lounges will no longer be accessible through Priority Pass or LoungeKey memberships. This change affects the network's nine locations, meaning only eligible Chase cardholders will have access. Chase is implementing this to combat overcrowding.
The annual fee for the American Airlines Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will increase from $595 to $695 for new cardholders starting August 23, 2026. Additionally, Admirals Club membership prices are rising significantly, from $850 to $1,400.
American Express card members can now transfer Membership Rewards points to The Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club program at a 4:1 ratio. This offers a way to access luxury, independent hotels, with points valued at approximately 8 cents each.
Citi is expanding its curated dining series, 'The Curated Table,' for Citi Strata Elite card members. New events include a fashion show by Christian Siriano, a dinner tied to the F1 race in Austin, and a McLaren driver appearance, with tickets starting at $100.
A listener inquired if points earned through the Delta Platinum Amex card count towards status. The answer provided is no; status points can only be earned through flying or spending on an Amex card.
When considering booking flights for a spouse, using the primary cardholder's card (e.g., United Club card with a $695 annual fee) may offer a better earning potential for miles compared to a zero-annual-fee card. United's recent overhaul means basic economy fares earn no miles unless the traveler has elite status or a co-branded card.
The speaker advises against booking flights through Capital One Travel if possible, due to potential complications with airlines for rebooking or cancellations. The only exception is if there's a specific benefit, like the $300 annual travel statement credit on the Capital One Venture X card.
Wyndham Rewards points expire four years after they are posted. If a user is not satisfied with the Wyndham program or its properties, it's advisable to transfer these points to an airline partner to avoid losing their value, especially if a free night at a Wyndham property costs only 7,500 points.
When transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Southwest points are generally valued around 1.3 cents per point, making them a good option for flights. Hyatt is also mentioned as a good redemption option, especially for hotel stays.
To upgrade Delta flights to Comfort Plus using miles, go to Delta.com, book your flight, and select the upgrade option. The cost in miles varies, and it's recommended to use Nerd Wallet's calculator to determine if it's a good deal.
Delta Air Lines has followed United's lead by introducing "slimmed-down" versions of its business and first-class fares, dubbed 'basic' fares. These fares come with restrictions such as fees for changes or cancellations, potential exclusion from lounges, and fewer checked bags, leading to criticism from travel experts.
Chase has significantly updated its Sapphire Reserve "exclusive tables" collection on OpenTable, adding over 90 new restaurants. This expansion aims to help card members better utilize their $300 annual dining credit and exclusive reservation access.
The new Holland America Line ship, the Statendam, is slated to offer year-round European cruises, including Mediterranean and Baltic Sea itineraries, as well as Christmas market tours. This new strategy means the ship will remain in Europe from 2026 to 2028.
One of the podcast hosts recounted a difficult road trip experience driving an electric vehicle (EV) to Pullman, Washington. The lack of Tesla Superchargers in the area and higher speeds impacting battery consumption led to a prolonged charging time, prompting a decision to rent a non-EV for future trips to the region.
A podcast host shared a positive experience on Royal Caribbean's new megaship, 'The Legend of the Seas,' challenging their previous skepticism about cruises. The ship is part of the Icon class lineup and offers numerous included activities like water slides and shows, making it a compelling option for travelers.
American Airlines is introducing a new lounge concept called 'Provisions by Admiral's Club' at JFK Terminal 8. This grab-and-go lounge will feature a dedicated barista bar for made-to-order coffee drinks and a self-serve station for bottled beverages. The concept, tested in Charlotte, aims to offer a quicker lounge experience for travelers.
A travel host shared a 'hot take' that cruises are an affordable way to travel, even with the luxury experiences offered. She highlighted that the base price often includes food and accommodation, making week-long vacations comparable to other travel methods. The cost for a seven-night European sailing starts around $1,400-$1,800 per person.