Business-class seats for this incredibly popular route typically cost at least $2,500, so this is a fairly significant savings. Keep in mind this applies to travel between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW). A Saturday night stay is required to get the discounted price.

Gary Leff at View From the Wing was the first to spot this deal.

Deal basics

Airline: JetBlue.

How to book: Visit JetBlue’s website and book directly through the airline. Be sure to enter your TrueBlue rewards program number.

Travel dates: The sale price is for travel between January and March 31, 2024. This means outbound travel must begin by March 31.

Book by: Dec. 20.

We found this price available in all three months that the sale applies to. Here’s one example from JFK to LGW in late January for just $1,835. Keep in mind this is for JetBlue’s Mint business-class product, which features lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, large TV screens and, of course, food.

We found the most availability for the sale price in February, including this one.

Here’s one example in mid-March.

To give you an idea of how much you’re saving with this deal, here’s what some other round-trip business-class seats cost on other airlines during the same travel window.

Related: What it’s like to fly JetBlue’s Mint Studio from London Gatwick Airport

Maximize your purchase

When you book this deal or make any travel purchase, be sure to use a credit card that earns 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 American Express Travel
• 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)
• Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on airfare
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: 3 points per dollar spent on travel

Bottom line

If you can afford a travel upgrade to business class, this is a good time to splurge. JetBlue’s deal is a major discount between two of the most popular travel destinations.

Kimpton wasn’t the same since IHG took over, cynics would jeer. The late Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson even admitted partnering with nightlife and hotel legend Ian Schrager on Edition Hotels partially because “If we opened exactly the same box without Ian … Would we have gotten the same reception from the market? I think the answer is no.”

It’s because of this that I always viewed IHG’s takeover of Six Senses and Regent with a bit of skepticism. IHG needed the ultraluxury additions to its brand lineup, but would this boost to IHG mean a weakening in luxury status for the two takeover targets?

After visiting three Regent properties over the last month, it certainly seems to be a new day for luxury and lifestyle over at IHG — one that indicates the hotel giant is more than capable of running ultraluxury brands. That poses a major threat to IHG competitors like Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton and Hyatt.

“Luxury and lifestyle brands are a strategic focus for us,” said Tom Rowntree, IHG’s vice president of global luxury and lifestyle brands, at the Regent Hong Kong last month. “Part of that is important from a loyalty perspective. We have a customer base seeking that. We have our loyalty members wanting us to have these aspirational brands within our offering.”

“What I’m really excited about is, up until about 2015, InterContinental was our only luxury brand,” he said. “What we have done is we built out a portfolio of five very distinct brands.”

Kimpton, the Vignette Collection, Six Senses and Regent have all been added since then.

What’s in store for Regent under IHG’s influence

The last two years delivered the first batch of Regent hotels where IHG was essentially involved from the start of development: Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Regent Hong Kong and Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, in southern France. An additional hotel, Regent Santa Monica Beach in Southern California, is slated to open next year.

Jane Mackie — senior vice president of luxury, lifestyle and premium brands at IHG — told TPG at the International Luxury Travel Market conference in Cannes earlier this month that the vibe of a Regent hotel is meant to be 50% serenity, 40% unexpected harmony and 10% decadence.

“The decadence can be played up however a hotel wants,” Mackie said while giving property-specific experiential offerings as an example. “We don’t apologize for decadence. It’s giving the hotels permission to amp that up.”

The hotels follow brand standards and mantras like “personal haven,” meant to provide spacious rooms that are supposed to be retreats you actually want to hang out in all day instead of just a place to sleep and shower. Guest rooms in Hong Kong and Cannes showcase incredible waterfront views with daybeds in front of the windows.

In Phu Quoc, most villas and suites feature private pools while all come with ample living and entertaining space. Regent Phu Quoc also got particularly high marks for its highly attentive staff, delicious food offerings at restaurants like Oku, a Japanese-French omakase venue, and Rice Market, home to a palatial buffet featuring everything from dumplings and banh mi to fresh-squeezed juices and pastries.

While Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai outside Hoi An is a TPG staff favorite, it’s easy to see the Regent Phu Quoc quickly attaining a similar lofty perch — especially as Phu Quoc’s airport gets more service beyond discount air carriers.

Regent’s “With Compliments” brand standard provides extras like complimentary snacks and drinks from the hotel minibar. IHG also rolled out experiential offerings like “Taste Studio” that are meant to attract a following from travelers who book a stay around a specific event.

During my stay at Regent Phu Quoc, this was displayed in the form of an art-inspired dinner with video projections across the table (adding an immersive layer to courses of lobster and marbled steak) and a musical performance by the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

“The way that we built the brand is so that it flexes and comes alive in its own unique way,” Rowntree said.

Why other brands should be worried

It wasn’t too long ago when IHG wasn’t seen in the same luxury and lifestyle category as its competitors like Marriott or Hyatt. The company reportedly lost out on an attempt to acquire Starwood before Marriott swooped in at the end of 2015.

But today, it seems like IHG has an enviable position. Its rapid ascent in the ultraluxury and lifestyle space includes the launch of new brands like the Vignette Collection and the addition of brands with smaller footprints like Regent that don’t have as much product inconsistency as, say, St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton, where our readers and reporters have found amazing hotels but also ones that that need a little refresh and renovation.

“If you want to be perceived as the best, you can’t have a lot, and you have to really hold them to the highest standards,” Mackie said of IHG’s outlook on ultraluxury.

IHG isn’t immune from brand inconsistency problems, either. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts similarly has its mix of shining stars and properties in need of a little TLC. The company acknowledged this earlier this year by announcing a brand revamp for InterContinental.

But even that can be seen as a sign that IHG is taking its luxury push seriously.

As a six-time winner of “Most Improved Player” trophies over the span of my childhood Little League career, I know that label can be seen as an insult.

But in the case of IHG and its luxury division, it’s a worthy distinction anyone should be happy to receive. The initial batch of IHG-influenced Regent Hotels & Resorts proves just that.

Related reading:

• The award travelers guide to IHG Rewards
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
• Current offers on IHG One Rewards credit cards
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

We always hope your travel will be trouble-free, especially at Christmas and New Year’s. However, there are several strikes and other disruptions to look out for across Europe in the coming weeks.

If you plan to travel during these dates and need advice, read our guide to insurance policies and strike coverage. Additionally, find out what you may be entitled to in terms of compensation if your flight is delayed or otherwise affected.

Here are European strikes to be aware of.

Related: The best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance — and what it actually covers

Public transport strike in Northern Ireland

When: Dec. 22

Public transportation workers across Northern Ireland will strike Dec. 22 in protest over a proposed pay freeze. The walkouts will affect both buses and trains throughout Northern Ireland. The strikes are a continuation of two earlier strikes this month, which took place Dec. 15 and 16.

Iberia ground service staff strikes in Spain

When: Dec. 29-Jan. 1 and Jan. 4-7

Disrupting the travels of those looking to spend the festive season in Spain, Iberia ground service staff members will go on strike during the holiday period from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 and then again Jan. 4 to 7.

The strikes will affect all Spanish airports where Iberia operates, including Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), Seville Airport (SVQ) and Valencia Airport (VLC). They could also affect other flight carriers operating within the IAG group, including British Airways, Aer Lingus and Vueling.

Security staff strikes in Alicante, Spain

When: Dec. 19 and 22-31; Jan. 1-14

Security staff members employed by Ilunion Seguridad will carry out “partial stoppages” in work from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m. on each listed day over disputes involving pay and work conditions.

Potential train strikes in Germany

When: From Jan. 7

Members of the German Train Drivers’ Union had planned to strike during the Christmas period over a dispute with train operator Deutsche Bahn over pay.

Strikes during the Christmas period appear to have been averted, but it’s not all good news. The union has instead voted unanimously to strike across an indefinite period until it achieves successful negotiations with Deutsche Bahn. While firm dates of the next strikes are yet to be announced, they are expected to begin after Jan. 7 in the new year.

Related: You are entitled to a refund for your canceled flight — even if the airline says you aren’t

Bottom line

One thing worth remembering about strikes is that nothing is certain, and it’s always possible that unions and employers will reach a deal.

However, the current economic crisis is making things difficult for everyone. Workers are struggling through the deepening cost-of-living crisis, and travel companies are desperate to appease shareholders during the coronavirus pandemic. The pressures on both sides of the fence seem unlikely to evaporate anytime soon.

The chances of more strikes are high across the travel sector. Keep an eye on these dates and plan accordingly.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or an expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

“This card has an annual fee of nearly $700” tends to cause many people to drop their jaws. The general reaction — from most people — is that there’s simply no way paying the annual fee is worth it.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), yet the card claims to offer more than double that in annual credits and perks. Does that mean you should add the Amex Business Platinum Card to your wallet? It depends.

Here’s a look at what you get from the Amex Business Platinum Card each year so you can decide whether or not this credit card — and its hefty annual fee — is a good fit for you.

Related: Full review of the American Express Business Platinum Card

Welcome Bonus

New applicants can earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. According to TPG’s latest valuations, American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece, making this bonus worth $2,400.

Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

Lounge access

Those who hold the Amex Business Platinum (as well as The Platinum Card® from American Express) have access to a wide range of lounges. They include:

• American Express Centurion lounges
• Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying on a same-day Delta flight)
• Priority Pass Select lounges (but not Priority Pass restaurants)
• Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner
• Airspace lounges
• Plaza Premium lounges
• Lufthansa lounges (varying access depending on what airline and cabin you’re flying)
• Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges

You can consult the Global Lounge Collection website’s search function to find lounges accessible on your next trip.

Related: Guide to lounge access with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum

When visiting these lounges, you can enjoy benefits like complimentary snacks, food, drinks (sometimes including free alcohol) and free Wi-Fi. Certain lounges will have better benefits, such as full meals, showers, children’s play areas and more.

Hotel elite status

Cardmembers can register for automatic elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. This benefit provides Gold status in both programs.

TPG values Hilton Gold status at over $1,220 per year. This status tier provides benefits like bonus points on paid stays, complimentary bottled water, a fifth night free on award stays, room upgrades (though not to suites) and free continental breakfast or food and beverage credits. You should also receive a welcome gift at check-in, typically a snack or bonus points.

TPG values Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status at $805 per year. This tier provides benefits like late checkout, room upgrades (though not to suites), bonus points on paid stays, enhanced internet and a welcome gift of bonus points at check-in.

Car rental elite status

Cardmembers can enroll for complimentary elite status with Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle and National Emerald Club Executive. Enrollment in advance is required for these benefits.

Rental car elite status provides benefits like car upgrades, a free second driver and my favorite benefit: skipping the line and going straight to your car at the start of your rental. One of the best benefits of car rental elite status in any program is the ability to status match with other rental car programs, helping you gain status in numerous programs simultaneously.

Related: Here’s everything you need to know about rental car elite status

Pay with Points rebate

When paying with points for a flight through Amex Travel, Business Platinum cardmembers can get 35% of their points back. This applies to two types of bookings: flights in any cabin with your preselected preferred airline or flights with any airline if the reservation is for business class or first class.

Cardmembers can enjoy up to one million points refunded through this benefit every year. Achieving this maximum rebate would require spending 2,857,143 points within a calendar year using the Pay with Points feature to book qualifying flights.

Related: Why I love the Amex Business Platinum’s Pay With Points perk

Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection

Amex Business Platinum and Amex Platinum cardmembers can book stays with Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection (THC).

FHR stays include benefits like daily breakfast for two, late checkout, complimentary Wi-Fi and room upgrades (if available at check-in). Each stay will also include a unique property amenity worth $100, typically coming in the form of dining credits or spa credits. THC stays include room upgrades (if available at check-in) and a $100 property credit (with bookings of two consecutive nights or more) to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities.

Related: A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers: Amex, Chase and Capital One 

Bonus points for airfare and hotels

Business Platinum cardmembers can earn 5 points per dollar on airfare and prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. While you won’t earn bonus points on flights booked directly with airlines or directly with hotels, the ability to earn a 10% return on flights and hotels (according to TPG’s latest valuations) without any limits on spending or earnings per year is definitely worth your attention.

This 5-points-per-dollar earning rate includes bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, as well.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement

Cardmembers can receive statement credits to reimburse their application fees for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85). This benefit is available every four years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.

Related: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is better?

These programs allow approved travelers to move through airport security checkpoints faster, using PreCheck lanes at designated airports. Global Entry users have an additional benefit, being able to use designated lanes when entering the U.S. to move through passport control faster.

Annual Clear Plus membership rebate

Clear is not a government security program but also helps approved users speed through security checkpoints at airports and select stadiums using biometrics. Business Platinum cardmembers can receive reimbursement in statement credits of up to $189 per year for Clear Plus membership fees. No advance enrollment is required for this benefit; pay with your Business Platinum card to automatically receive a statement credit (subject to auto-renewal).

Related: 7 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear

Up to $200 in annual airline credits

Traveling can sometimes come with costly fees that show up in the form of paying for checked bags or upgrading to a better seat on your flight.

Business Platinum cardmembers can choose one of the following airlines as their preferred airline: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines. Choosing a preferred airline in advance is required before using this benefit, which can cover change and cancellation fees, seat selection fees, upgrade fees, checked bag fees and more.

Related: How to use the Amex Platinum $200 airline fee credit

Annual spending credits

Business Platinum cardmembers can take advantage of lots of credits: up to $150 per year with Adobe, up to $120 per year on cellphone plans, up to $360 per year with Indeed and up to $400 per year with Dell.

The Adobe credits apply to prepaid business plans for Creative Cloud for teams or Acrobat Pro DC with e-sign for teams. The wireless services benefit is available as up to $10 per month in statement credits for wireless phone service plans paid for with your Business Platinum card. You can receive up to $90 of statement credits per quarter with Indeed. The Dell benefit provides up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually.

Enrollment is required in advance for some of these benefits. Maximizing these benefits provides $1,030 in statement credits each year.

Related: 9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card

Other cardmember perks

Cardmembers can take advantage of several other benefits.

The first is that the Amex Business Platinum has no preset spending limit. Whereas traditional credit cards come with a predetermined limit of how much you can spend on your card, cards like the Business Platinum and Platinum Card from Amex don’t have these preset limits. Instead, how much you can spend on the card changes; your payment history, banking relationship, creditworthiness and other factors determine this. This can be a great feature for businesses that spend a lot on their cards and can then pay it off quickly.

Speaking of paying bills quickly, the Business Platinum card is designed for cardmembers to pay the entire bill in full each month. If you aren’t able to pay the full amount, you may be able to carry a balance on some purchases by enrolling in the Pay Over Time feature. Not all purchases will be eligible for Pay Over Time, and not paying your entire balance in full each month will likely result in paying interest. You also may be able to earn bonus points through offers to enroll in Pay Over Time — and you can earn those bonus points for enrolling even if you never carry a balance.

Paying your monthly cellphone bill with your Business Platinum card will also provide cellphone protection to cover your phone against loss or damage. There is a maximum of $800 liability per claim, and each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. There’s also a limit of two claims per eligible account in a 12-month period.

Covered phones are restricted to cellphone lines listed on a mobile phone plan paid with the eligible card during the most recent billing period.* Combining this benefit with the monthly wireless credits covered above is a great way to invoke insurance benefits plus a discount on your monthly cellphone bill.

* Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Related: Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards

Another benefit available to cardmembers is preferred access, which can mean tickets to exclusive events, going to the front of the line for ticket sales on other events and even getting access to hard-to-find dining reservations with Resy.

When making purchases, cardmembers will earn American Express Membership Rewards points, which TPG values at 2 cents per point. Cardmembers will earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel.

Additionally, cardmembers earn 1.5 points per dollar on purchases of $5,000 or more or purchases in the following categories within the U.S.: construction material and hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers and shipping providers. Earning 1.5 points per dollar is limited to $2 million of purchases, then 1 point per dollar. All other purchases also earn 1 point per dollar.

Bottom line

There are numerous benefits included with the Amex Business Platinum card. Some are annual credits and others offer statement credits monthly or quarterly. Other benefits don’t have a tangible price tag, and how you value those benefits will vary from one person to another.

Suppose you can use benefits like lounge access, statement credits and other travel perks. In that case, you’ll easily be able to offset or overcome the Business Platinum card’s annual fee each year — making it “worth it” in your situation. However, for those who struggle to use the card’s credits or have many of its benefits through other credits in their wallets, it may be difficult to justify paying the $695 annual fee.

Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, please click here.

And as a bonus, to really kick off the new year, IHG One Rewards members living in the United States who register for this promotion will automatically be enrolled in an additional promotion offer. Members will receive an additional 2,000 bonus points after staying at two or more IHG brands throughout the month of January.

You must register for this promotion before checking out from your first stay; here’s what you need to know.

Related: The 19 best IHG hotels in the world

IHG One Rewards January 2024 promotion details

This IHG One Rewards promotion is relatively straightforward: All registered members will earn double bonus points for stays between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31. If you register for the promotion and reside in the U.S., you will automatically be registered for the “2K Brand Offer.” For this promotion, members will earn an additional 2,000 bonus points when completing stays at two or more IHG brands within the promotional period. The additional 2,000 bonus points will only be awarded one time.

Once you register, you’ll get a confirmation email titled “You are now registered for 2X points on every stay.”

Remember, members must register for this promotion before completing their stay; you can currently preregister for the IHG promotion, which we recommend doing so you don’t forget. The terms and conditions for this promotion define an eligible stay as “one (1) night stay at a participating hotel booked under a Qualifying Rate, with total spend exceeding US $30 (or local currency equivalent) for each night.”

If you book your stay using reward nights, points and cash or through a third-party booking agency such as Booking.com or Expedia.com, these will not qualify under the promotion’s guidelines.

In addition to IHG’s 2024 promotion, the hotel’s current deal is still active.

IHG One Rewards December 2023 promotion details

Members can earn 2,000 points for every two nights of eligible paid stays completed between Oct. 12 and Dec. 31. Plus, IHG is automatically enrolling members who register and have an eligible IHG credit card in an extra promotional offer for an additional 2,000 bonus points for every two nights.

The nights do not have to be part of the same stay to count. Preregistration for this promotion opened Sept. 27, so you may have already registered. But you must register for this promotion before checking out from your first eligible stay; here’s the link to register.

Plus, cardholders of select IHG credit cards — including the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, IHG One  Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Select credit card — will be automatically enrolled in an extra promotion to earn an additional 2,000 bonus points for every two eligible nights stayed.

You’ll get an email titled “Surprise: You’ll be earning even more on stays” after you enroll in the promotion if you are eligible for the additional bonus points.

However, if you redeem IHG points, use an IHG anniversary night or book a points-and-cash stay, you won’t benefit from this promotion. And if you book more than one room on the same night, you’ll only receive bonus points for one room.

Related: How much value does IHG One Rewards status provide when you book directly?

Bottom line

IHG’s newest promotion allows you to earn a good amount of bonus points in 2024; however, the promotional period is only for the month of January, which is definitely limiting for those who don’t have flexible travel schedules. But if you can stay at an IHG hotel, combining this promotion with bonuses from elite status and an IHG credit card is a great way to earn IHG points on paid stays. IHG members earn 10 base points per dollar spent at most IHG brands, and IHG elite members get bonus points based on their status tier.

I recommend registering now, even if you don’t have any upcoming IHG stays planned.

AAdvantage members have until the end of February to earn enough Loyalty Points for their desired American Airlines elite status. So, discussing last-minute strategies to secure your desired AAdvantage elite status might seem a bit premature.

But it’s never too early for AAdvantage elite status planning. If you haven’t done so already, log into your AAdvantage account and check how many Loyalty Points you have. Then, consider how many Loyalty Points you need for your desired elite status tier and estimate how many you expect to earn by the end of February.

If you’re going to fall short of your goal, here are some strategies you can use to qualify or requalify for AAdvantage status. Remember, many ways to earn Loyalty Points don’t involve travel.

AAdvantage elite status overview

In 2022, American Airlines began using Loyalty Points as its metric for earning elite status. You earn Loyalty Points when you earn base American Airlines miles. However, many bonus American Airlines miles won’t get you Loyalty Points. So, consider whether you’re earning base or bonus miles on your flights, credit card spending and other partner activities.

You need to earn the following amounts of Loyalty Points during the 12 months between the start of March and the end of February to qualify for AAdvantage elite status:

• Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
• Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
• Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points

If you earn enough Loyalty Points for your desired elite status within these 12 months, you’ll keep your status through the end of the following March. So, if you earn your desired status by the end of February 2024, you’ll keep your status through March 31, 2025.

You can also earn Loyalty Point Rewards when you reach certain Loyalty Point thresholds. So, even if you’ve earned enough Loyalty Points for your desired status, it’s worth checking what Loyalty Points Rewards might be within reach if you earn more Loyalty Points before the end of February.

Related: How American Airlines could enhance Loyalty Points

Strategies for earning Loyalty Points

Unlike many other U.S.-based programs, the current AAdvantage elite qualification period doesn’t end Dec. 31. Instead, you have until the end of February to earn Loyalty Points for the current qualification period.

In most cases, Loyalty Points will be posted to your account based on the activity date of the flight or transaction. American Airlines recently changed how AAdvantage credit card spending posts; now you’ll earn Loyalty Points based on the purchase date, not the date your credit card statement closes.

AAdvantage credit card spending

You can earn Loyalty Points by spending on American Airlines credit cards. However, you’ll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent regardless of bonus categories (except for the no-annual-fee AAdvantage® Aviator® Mastercard®, which earns 0.5 Loyalty Points per dollar on purchases). Credit card welcome offers and spending bonuses earn bonus miles that aren’t eligible for Loyalty Points.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator 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.

You could qualify for American Airlines status based on credit card spending alone. For example, putting $40,000 of purchases on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) during your qualification year would get you enough Loyalty Points for AAdvantage Gold status.

In addition, the AAdvantage Executive Card implemented changes earlier this year, allowing you to enjoy two tiers of Loyalty Point bonuses. If you reach 50,000 Loyalty Points during a qualification year (earned in any way), you’ll automatically receive 10,000 more Loyalty Points. And if you reach 90,000, you’ll receive another 10,000.

Also, if you have the AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite Mastercard®, you can earn up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points each qualification period through purchases on your card. You’ll get 5,000 additional Loyalty Points after $20,000 in net purchases within a status qualification period, another 5,000 additional Loyalty Points after a total of $40,000 in net purchases and another 5,000 additional Loyalty Points after a total of $50,000 or more in net purchases.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver 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.

Loyalty Points you earn from spending on an AAdvantage credit card now post based on the purchase date. So, spending on your AAdvantage credit cards through Feb. 29, 2024, will count toward the current qualification year.

Related: Which credit card should you use for American Airlines flights?

Click through the AAdvantage shopping portal

The AAdvantage shopping portal is one of the easiest ways to earn Loyalty Points. Whether you’re hundreds or thousands of Loyalty Points shy of your desired AAdvantage elite status, making one or more purchases after clicking through this online shopping portal could help you earn the Loyalty Points you need.

Add your preferred merchants as favorites in your shopping portal profile. After you do so, you’ll get an email when these merchants offer higher-than-usual earning rates.

Use SimplyMiles

Another easy way to earn Loyalty Points if you have a Mastercard is to utilize SimplyMiles offers. These offers let shoppers with a Mastercard earn American miles and Loyalty Points when shopping with select merchants for which they’ve enrolled in an offer.

To get started, enroll in SimplyMiles, link your Mastercard cards to your SimplyMiles account and enroll in SimplyMiles offers you think you might use. Then, when you make an eligible purchase with an enrolled card at a participating merchant, you’ll earn Loyalty Points.

Book and stay at a hotel

You can also pick up some extra Loyalty Points on hotel stays. There are several ways to earn Loyalty Points from hotel stays, including:

• AAdvantage Hotels and Rocketmiles: Earn Loyalty Points for stays booked through these sites
• Credit Hyatt stays to AAdvantage: Earn 500 Loyalty Points per stay
• Credit Marriott or IHG stays to AAdvantage: Earn 1 or 2 Loyalty Points per dollar of qualifying spending (earning rates vary by brand)
• Link your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts: American elite members earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on eligible Hyatt stays and experiences

While you’ll likely get elite nights and benefits when you book through the final three methods, you’re unlikely to get them when booking through AAdvantage Hotels or Rocketmiles.

Related: Don’t book hotel stays direct if you want to earn maximum American Loyalty Points

Credit your rental car to AAdvantage

Especially if you don’t get much value from car rental loyalty programs, you may want to earn Loyalty Points when renting cars.

You can book through Avis and use the American Airlines Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number K817127 or through Budget and use the American Airlines Budget Customer Direct (BCD) number U072437 to earn 2 to 5 base miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent when you rent and provide your AAdvantage number. Your earning rate will vary based on your American Airlines elite status level.

Related: Earn American Loyalty Points when you stay at hotels and rent cars

Dine with AAdvantage Dining

You can also earn Loyalty Points through the American Airlines AAdvantage Dining program. To do so, enroll in the AAdvantage dining rewards program, add your favorite dining rewards cards to your AAdvantage dining program account and then use an enrolled card to pay at participating restaurants, bars or clubs.

Depending on your status with the AAdvantage Dining program — different from your AAdvantage status — you’ll earn between 1 and 5 Loyalty Points per dollar spent. The restaurant should register your transaction within five days of your purchase, and then you should see the miles and Loyalty Points in your AAdvantage account one to two weeks later.

Status challenge

In October 2022, American unveiled a new Instant Status Pass challenge. After logging into your AAdvantage account, you can check your online wallet or call the customer service center (800-433-7300) to ask whether you have a personalized Instant Status Pass challenge.

You may be charged a fee for your Instant Status Pass challenge. Once you register for the challenge, you’ll enjoy the perks of the status tier you signed up for, and your four-month challenge period will begin.

The Instant Status Pass challenge is complicated and still requires you to earn a significant amount of Loyalty Points during your four-month challenge period if you want to keep the status for which you are challenging. Check out our full story on American’s Instant Status Pass elite challenge for more details.

Related: Our complete guide to airline status matches and challenges

Go on a mileage run

Finally, you might consider booking a mileage run to earn Loyalty Points.

However, unless you either don’t need many Loyalty Points or don’t mind paying a lot, you’ll likely want to focus on inexpensive premium cabin fares on American Airlines’ partners — excluding British Airways and Iberia, which now credit based on the ticket price — for trips that cover a lot of distance.

In particular, you’ll likely find AAdvantage’s partner-earning charts for Finnair, Cathay Pacific and Qantas appealing since flights in most premium economy fare classes earn at least 100% of the flight distance in base miles.

Related: Earn American AAdvantage status and Loyalty Points quickly with Oneworld partner flights

Bottom line

As the end of February nears, it’s a good idea to check in on your AAdvantage elite status plans. Figure out where you stand now and calculate the Loyalty Points you’ll likely earn through the end of the qualification period based on your planned travel and other activities that can earn Loyalty Points.

Spending more on a mileage run or other activities may let you snag your desired AAdvantage status by the end of February. However, it’s best not to wait until the last minute since your activity might not post as you expect (or as quickly as you expect).

For years, the unquestionable leaders of the premium card market were The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

That all changed when Capital One shook up the industry with its debut of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card in late 2021 — undercutting both of its rivals by offering competitive perks at a lower $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Perhaps you’re one of the many Sapphire Reserve cardmembers who has considered switching to the Venture X. Or maybe you’re on the hunt for your first premium travel rewards card.

Today, we’ll break down the card benefits and drawbacks below to help you decide whether the Capital One Venture X or the Chase Sapphire Reserve is better for you.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g., at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve welcome offer

The Venture X offers a lucrative welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards points slightly higher than Capital One miles due to its superior transfer partners — we estimate that Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents apiece. In comparison, Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents apiece.

According to these valuations, the Capital One Venture X‘s welcome bonus of 75,000 miles is worth about $1,388, while the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus of 60,000 points is worth $1,230.

Winner: Capital One Venture X. The higher-valued welcome bonus gives this card an edge.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire reserve benefits

Let’s talk about what makes these cards truly premium.

For starters, there’s a $300 annual credit on both cards. However, the Venture X’s credit is less flexible since you’ll have to book all travel on the Capital One travel portal in order to receive reimbursement. Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve will automatically reimburse for any purchases under the “travel” umbrella up to the $300 limit — and they don’t have to be booked directly with Chase. I have had tolls, parking meters, and subways in other countries reimbursed as part of Chase’s $300 travel credit.

Both cards offer Priority Pass membership for the cardholder and up to two guests. However, the Sapphire’s access includes Priority Pass restaurants and spas, whereas you’re limited to just lounges with the Venture X.

Both issuers are also getting into the lounge game themselves. Capital One Lounges are currently open at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Denver International Airport (DEN). The Venture X includes access for the primary cardholder as well as a number of authorized users.

Chase also has its own growing network of airport lounges, with locations currently open in Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), as well as a terrace in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

Both cards also come with ancillary benefits that won’t necessarily move the needle for prospective applicants. Still, these perks are all worth taking advantage of if you decide to apply for either card. For the Sapphire Reserve, these include a complimentary 2-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (activate by Dec 31, 2024) and one year of complimentary Instacart+ (through Dec. 31, 2024) with a statement credit of up to $15 each month through July 2024.

With the Venture X, you’ll get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year of card membership renewal.

Additionally, both cards are Visa Infinite cards and provide high-level travel and purchase protections.

Winner: Tie. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $300 travel credit is much more flexible and offers two domestic Chase lounges, the Capital One Venture X comes with 10,000 bonus anniversary miles and access to three Capital One lounges within the U.S.

Earning rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire reserve

The Venture X offers 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals and five miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals and five points per dollar on flights booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

According to our valuations, the Venture X offers an 18.5% return on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s portal, whereas the Sapphire Reserve offers a return of around 20% on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase’s portal.

While the Venture X offers simplicity, with 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases, the Sapphire Reserve offers higher returns by offering 3 points per dollar on all other travel (booked outside of Ultimate Rewards) and dining purchases.

Frequent travelers will likely earn more with the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus categories than they will with the Venture X’s flat-rate earning structure.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. It offers bonus categories beyond travel portal bookings.

Redeeming rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

The most valuable redemption option with the Venture X and Sapphire Reserve is to transfer points to travel partners, but that’s not the only way to use your rewards on either card.

Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards can both be used for flat-rate redemptions on each respective issuer’s travel portal.

With the Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 50% more toward any travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal, making your points worth 1.5 cents apiece. While this isn’t as rewarding as transferring your points to Chase’s transfer partners, this redemption option is useful if you have trouble finding award space.

Meanwhile, the Venture X offers fixed-rate travel redemptions at just 1 cent per mile — and while this can be applied to any travel purchase you charge to the card, it’s still notably lower.

Both the Venture X and Sapphire Reserve also offer less lucrative redemption options, such as gift cards and cash back.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. The fixed-value redemption option is 50% more lucrative.

Transferring rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Transferring rewards to airline partners is the best way to maximize those hard-earned points and miles. Both airlines offer an impressive list of transfer partners that make redeeming rewards a no-brainer. With the Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points at a simple 1:1 ratio. On the other hand, the Capital One miles program has partners that transfer at a 1:1 ratio for the most part, but there are a few exceptions that transfer at a less favorable ratio.

Chase offers 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, which include Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and United MileagePlus, to name a few. Meanwhile, Capital One has 15-plus transfer partners, and some notable names include Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Avianca LifeMiles, and Etihad Guest.

As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I have consistently transferred my points to transfer partners to redeem them for maximum value. I recently transferred points to Aeroplan to book a business-class flight for 70,000 miles on Lufthansa to fly home from Munich to Los Angeles.

Winner: Tie. Despite Capital One having more transfer partners, not all transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio.

Should I get the Capital One Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve?

If you value broader earning potential and a flexible travel credit, the Sapphire Reserve is a good choice. On the other hand, if you prefer paying a lower annual fee, and live in one of the cities whose airport has a Capital One Lounge, the Venture X (see rates and fees) is perfect.

It’s one of the most frustrating parts of travel. You book your flight, pack your bags and get ready for your trip. Then, right before you’re set to fly, your flight is delayed — or worse, canceled.

You’re stuck trying to salvage plans and figure out the best way to proceed, possibly missing airline connections, special plans, hotel reservations and more.

It feels like someone should pay you for all of this extra work and grief, right?

Ideally, the time-equals-money philosophy would be put into action in the case of delays. As with many things related to air travel rules, it’s never quite as straightforward as we think it should be.

Here’s what you need to know about qualifying for and receiving flight delay compensation.

What is flight delay compensation?

At its core, flight delay compensation repays you for lost time. Ideally, it holds airlines responsible for getting you to your destination within a set time frame. If they can’t meet the minimum requirements for carriage, they would provide compensation, or financial repayment, for your time.

In Europe, one standard law provides for this type of financial restitution for delays and canceled flights, and it’s very transparent and easy to understand. In the U.S., individual airlines set thresholds that are much less clear.

Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed – here’s what you should do next

Flight delay compensation for international flights

Within the European Union, there are existing regulations that provide monetary relief to passengers for flights affected by delays and or cancellations, thanks to a 2005 regulation known as EU261.

If you are delayed three or more hours, you are entitled to compensation (see the chart below) unless the delay was caused by “extraordinary circumstances.” These circumstances include weather, political strife, air traffic control decisions that are out of the airline’s control and security risks.

Things like mechanical and technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances. However, airline strikes, for example, may be considered an extraordinary circumstance.

As a result, airlines have shelled out hundreds of millions of euros to passengers inconvenienced by delayed flights.

Since its inception, Europe has broadened this rule to apply to domestic connecting flights originating in the EU. This means flights within the EU, flights departing from the EU to the U.S. (and other countries) and even the connecting flights you book within the U.S. are eligible for compensation.

Depending on how long you’re delayed, there are clear reimbursements you are entitled to receive:

Note that any compensation may be reduced by half if you accept a reroute from the airline to your final destination.

Related: TPG’s guide to understanding EU261 flight compensation

Flight delay compensation for domestic flights

Unlike the European Union, the U.S. does not have one central tenet that directs how airlines should compensate passengers in the case of a delay.

“There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers,” is the official word from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

However, the DOT is making strides toward creating more transparency in the industry regarding this issue. As part of this, it’s sought to hold airlines accountable for compensating passengers.

Travelers are already entitled to refunds for flights canceled by the airline and flights that are significantly delayed or changed after booking.

Until relatively recently, however, the DOT didn’t define what constitutes a “significant” delay or change, leaving it to airlines to voluntarily self-regulate. In some cases, this resulted in airlines having extensive rolling delays of a flight rather than canceling it.

Now, the DOT has defined language and timing so that a “significant delay” would be defined as one that affects the departure or arrival time of a domestic flight by three hours or more (or by at least six hours for an international flight).

A “significant change” would include one that changes the departure or arrival airport or adds more connections to an itinerary than what was originally booked.

Interestingly, it would also include changes to the aircraft type “if it causes a significant downgrade in the air travel experience or amenities available onboard the flight.”

Last year, the department unveiled its airline customer service dashboard — a tool that shows how the top 10 largest U.S. carriers will accommodate passengers in the event of a delay or cancellation that is within the airline’s control.

For example, all 10 airlines will provide meal vouchers when a cancellation results in a wait of three hours or more for a new flight. All but Frontier Airlines will also provide complimentary hotel accommodations for passengers affected by an overnight cancellation. However, none of the 10, according to the DOT website, will provide cash compensation if a cancellation results in a passenger waiting for three hours or more from the scheduled departure time.

Note that the dashboard only provides information about amenities airlines provide when the delay is within their control. Many delays, however, are outside of the airline’s control — for example, weather or air traffic control issues. Airlines generally provide little to nothing if a flight is delayed or canceled for those issues.

The DOT hopes the dashboard will become a resource for consumers to consider when they choose an airline.

Related: All the airlines’ flight delay and compensation policies from DOT’s customer service dashboard

What happens when I miss a connecting flight due to a delay?

Unfortunately, in the U.S., there is no overall policy governing delays. If you miss your connecting flight, contact your airline immediately either in person at the help desk, on the phone (usually a quicker option) or through the app. Or, if you have lounge access, head there first to talk to an agent, usually without a line.

The airline should work with you to place you on the next available flight. This may include putting you on another carrier. If you need to stay overnight, ask the airline for hotel and food vouchers.

After you return home, contact the airline about delay compensation.

Many travel credit cards include trip delay, interruption and cancellation benefits that protect you when flights go wrong. When you know that your flight will be affected, contact the issuer of the card that you purchased the ticket with to determine your options (see below).

Related: Missed your flight? Here’s what to do

What credit cards offer flight delay compensation?

Trip delay reimbursement is a benefit that will compensate you for expenses that aren’t reimbursed by your transportation carrier. Cards reference “common carriers” for this coverage, which typically means forms of public transportation with published schedules on which you bought tickets — think air trips, not road trips, for this category.

While airlines may provide hotel rooms and food vouchers for overnight delays that are under their control, such as maintenance issues, they typically won’t provide support for things like weather delays. Moreover, what an airline provides may not cover all of your expenses. This is where trip delay reimbursement can help you.

Here are some cards that are among the best for trip delay reimbursement. It’s important to note that the specific terms can vary from card to card (or issuer to issuer).

Also worth noting is that depending on the card, you must have a delay of six or 12 hours to qualify, which we note: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (six hours); Chase Sapphire Reserve (six hours) and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (12 hours or overnight); The Platinum Card® from American Express* (six hours); Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card* (six hours); Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card® * (six hours);  Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card (12 hours or overnight); World of Hyatt Credit Card (12 hours or overnight); United Club Infinite Card and United Explorer Card (12 hours or overnight).

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Related: Flight delayed? Remember these 4 things if you want trip delay reimbursement from your credit card

How to apply for flight delay compensation

Don’t delay in requesting your compensation. In the EU, individual countries set deadlines, and they can vary wildly. The deadline to file a claim is not based on your citizenship, where you live or your destination but instead the location of the headquarters of the airline you flew.

You can generally find instructions on how to submit a claim on a carrier’s website. However, if you have trouble finding that information, you can also print and complete the Air Passenger Rights EU Complaint form and submit it to the airline directly.

In the U.S., it’s also best to ask for compensation soon after your disrupted flight. Domestic carriers are not obligated by law to offer financial compensation for delays. However, many do have policies — which you can find on the DOT dashboard — that provide some financial restitution for long delays.

Be sure to keep a copy of your flight information, including your ticket number, for the compensation request.

Bottom line

Although there is no consistent policy across the board for delay compensation, there are a number of ways you may be able to get financial compensation if your flight is significantly delayed.

In Europe, for delays of more than three hours, you may be eligible for compensation under EU261. In the U.S., check the DOT’s dashboard to see if your carrier will compensate you for your delay.

If you can’t get financial compensation that way, check with your credit card issuer to see if it provides trip delay reimbursement.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The 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
• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

You may hope to earn status for the first time this year or chase a higher status tier. If you’re in that boat, you might be planning to get there through organic travel or are even considering a last-minute mattress run.

It’s often much easier to qualify for elite status with hotels than with airlines because award stays at major chains count towards hotel elite status.

However, if you risk falling a night short in earning status in 2023, do hotel stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 count toward earning status this year or next? TPG reader Hailey asks:

After accounting for all my work travel I’m going to be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay over New Year’s Eve, would that count towards 2023 (when I check in) or 2024 (when I check out)?

Earning elite credits on New Year’s Eve stays

The short answer is that the four major hotel chains, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG, all credit stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 to the previous year.

That means if Hailey books a one-night stay over New Year’s, it will push her over the threshold to earn Marriott Platinum elite status for 2024.

Things start to get a little more confusing if Hailey were to book a longer stay, for example, checking in Dec. 31 and checking out Jan. 3. Representatives from the three major hotel chains have shared with us that the official policy is that the nights would split — so the night of Dec. 31 would count toward Hailey’s 2023 qualification year.

The subsequent nights in January would count toward her 2024 qualification year.

A Hyatt agent we spoke to said that the default setting is for all nights to post to 2023, but if you call in, they have a process to adjust it manually.

Meanwhile, a Marriott agent explained that the nights would automatically split.

How to earn elite hotel status with a credit card

With the right credit card, you won’t need to worry about squeezing in an elite night on New Year’s Eve to earn elite status in your favorite hotel loyalty program.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides Platinum Elite status for all cardmembers. Alternatively, if you have both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you’ll get 30 elite night credits just for holding these cards, more than half of the elite nights needed for Bonvoy Platinum status.

If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you’ll automatically get five tier-qualifying nights yearly. You’ll also earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your World of Hyatt Credit Card. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card provides five tier-qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent on the card each calendar year.

If you prefer Hilton Honors, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers Diamond status if you have the card open.

The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Finally, IHG Platinum Elite status is offered as a cardholder perk of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

If you hold the United Club Infinite Card, you can also register for complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status.

Bottom line

It’s risky to leave requalifying for status until the very last day possible, especially given how big of a gap there is in benefits between Marriott Gold and Marriott Platinum status.

That being said, Hailey will be able to earn her last elite qualifying night on Dec. 31, even if her stay stretches into January of the following year.

If you plan on using New Year’s travel to qualify for hotel elite status, keep an eye on your account for the first week of January to ensure your stay credits the way you expect it to.

Last year, an average of more than one in five flights were delayed, and about 2% to 3% were canceled. While that means most flights went out on time, millions and millions of travelers still found themselves unable to fly when they hoped.

Another busy travel season is upon us. When flight delays and cancellations happen, there may not be a ton of additional seats available to simply hop on the next flight in some situations.

Here are tips on how to decrease your chances of getting stuck and increase your chances of arriving at your destination as quickly as possible, even if you get the unwelcome news that you are facing a flight delay — or worse.

How to find out if your flight might be delayed

In the current era of full flights and easily available information, don’t wait for the airline to tell you there is a problem.

You can keep an eye on general flight trends across the country on FlightAware, which gives you a good overview of how a day in the sky looks.

This page focuses on delays. Manually check the status of your flight on your airline’s website in the 24 hours leading up to travel. Also, check where the plane is coming from, if possible.

Also, opt in to receive flight notifications with your airline and download the carrier’s app on your phone. Here are details on that process with American Airlines and United Airlines. You’ll likely have more up-to-date flight departure information from your airline’s mobile app than what’s reflected on the airport departure and arrival boards.

You can also get flight status updates sent directly from FlightAware.

When to arrive at the airport if your flight is delayed

This can be a tricky one. If your flight is still listed as “on time” when you check the app, leave for the airport according to the original schedule.

Even if your flight shows as delayed in the app, it can be subject to change. It’s best to be at the airport ready to go at the originally scheduled time in most cases. We’ve certainly heard stories where the flight is suddenly ready to go sooner than expected, leaving some passengers behind. Sometimes, you’ll receive confirmation well in advance that the flight will be significantly delayed. However, it’s safer to be at the airport, just in case.

Bad weather will sometimes cause a temporary ground stop at the airport. As soon as the weather improves and the stop lifts, airlines will try to get their flights off the ground ASAP.

Related: 3 things to do if your flight is delayed

Know your rights

In recent years, the U.S. Department of Transportation has stepped up to require airlines to clearly disclose what they will do for passengers in certain situations, such as long delays and cancellations on the DOT dashboard. The catch is that this applies to “controllable” delays and cancellations — things that are within the airline’s control. This excludes the weather.

When looking at the dashboard, you’ll quickly see that some airlines promise to do more than others regarding overnight hotel stays, ground transportation, credit vouchers and rebooking on partners.

Give that list a look not only when deciding which airline to book with but also in the event of a long controllable delay or cancellation. This way, you’ll know what the airline has promised to do in those situations. You can file a complaint with the DOT if the airline doesn’t hold up its end of the bargain.

Related: Southwest required to provide travel vouchers in the event of long delays or cancellations 

What to do if there is bad weather

Monitor weather patterns a few days before your flight to see if any major systems are anticipated. It’s vital to check the forecast on the night before and the day of travel to see how any issues could affect your departure and arrival airports.

Again, be sure to opt in to receive updates on your flight’s status. If you know bad weather is coming later in the day, ask for an earlier flight if you can. Alternatively, leaving the night before is also a good idea.

More and more airlines are allowing travelers to change plans with no fare difference before severe weather problems, like impending blizzards, ice storms or even heavy thunderstorms. Some will even proactively change your flight for you.

If you know bad weather is on the horizon, either go to your airline’s website and look for an advisory notice or call the airline to talk about options. If an airline gets ahead of weather issues, you may be able to reschedule your flight by a few days in either direction with no fees. Additionally, you can try asking for a nonstop flight if the weather is putting your connecting flight in jeopardy.

However, if the airline hasn’t issued its own advisory, you could have to pay out of pocket for any fare differences if you really need to get where you are going.

Related: How the weather affects your flight — the atmosphere and winds

What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

If a flight delay happens and you want an alternative to waiting it out, check the airline’s app or in-airport kiosk for rebooking options.

You don’t have to stand in line to talk to a real person in many cases, as you can self-service the rebooking with most major airlines. In fact, it may be faster to do it online or at a kiosk in the airport — and speed matters. You may be able to rebook at a new flight time or even to a new “nearby” origin or destination city.

There are times when automated rebooking systems are not your best option, though. Sometimes, the only automated option is for a red-eye flight or a future flight heading to your destination more than two days later. That’s especially true with flights as full as they are right now.

If you can’t find what you need online, find an airline employee who can work the ticketing desk. Look at their uniforms and name tags to ensure you get a ticket agent and not a baggage handler or similarly outsourced contractor.

If the U.S. call center has a long hold time (which happens during widespread issues), you can try dialing an international number for faster service. You might also find success reaching out to an airline on X (formerly known as Twitter), via chat/text or other social media channels when customer service lines are busy.

For example, when the first leg of an American Airlines flight from New York City to Arkansas just before Christmas was delayed, TPG editor Madison Blancaflor missed her connection.

She reached out to American Airlines on Twitter to help ensure she was rebooked on the earliest possible flight. She still had to endure a long layover in Charlotte, but it was better (and less stressful) than rushing to the customer service desk to try and rebook upon arrival in Charlotte.

If there are no reasonable booking options left with your carrier, ask if there are options on another airline. If the delay is weather-related, and you are on a basic economy ticket or are flying on a low-cost carrier, there might not be other airline options at your fingertips. Still, it’s worth asking and — if possible — presenting available options you have researched yourself.

Related: Top tips to get through to airline customer service faster

Retreat to a lounge

If you have airline club access at a United Club, Delta Sky Club or similar, you can head there for help from experienced agents with potentially shorter lines. Use it as a spot to gather your thoughts, charge your phone and make level-headed decisions. The agents there might be able to help you change or track your flight.

In third-party lounges, such as an American Express Centurion Lounge, you won’t be able to get that type of airline-specific assistance, but you’re probably in a better spot to wait out the storm than in a crowded terminal.

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Rebook your flight

Sometimes, if you really need to get home, you may need to do the work and layout for the expenditure for a new flight yourself.

During a delay while traveling from Orlando to Houston, my original carrier couldn’t get me home for more than 24 hours after my initial flight was canceled. So, I found a nonstop Southwest Airlines flight with one last seat available for $463.

Even though rebooking yourself will not typically be covered by any insurance or carrier, I went for the Southwest option. I got my original United ticket refunded, which at least offset some of the pain of a new ticket. In my case, it was worth controlling my own destiny and not being stuck.

Your credit card’s built-in trip delay or trip cancellation coverage can help with many unexpected expenses in the face of delays and cancellations, but a brand-new flight home isn’t likely to be one of them. Still, in some cases, it may be the only way home for a while, so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons.

Related: When to buy travel insurance vs. when to rely on credit card protections

Check airport hotels

While thinking through what to do in case of a flight delay or cancellation, consider your options at airport hotels, which can fill up if there are major delays and cancellations. Sometimes, it is best to pull the plug on getting home that day, get some good rest and try again in the morning.

Airport hotels are generally pretty affordable on points, although cash rates can skyrocket when demand surges. Accommodations are typically covered by trip delay protection, offered by cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express.*

* Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Show up early for standby flights

If you know in advance that your flight is canceled or delayed, heading to the airport early could score you a same-day standby flight that gets you to your destination early.

For example, a TPG staffer was able to use this strategy to avoid getting stuck overnight when a hiccup with his flight from Austin to New York City would have caused him to miss a connection in Dallas. Since he had A-List status with Southwest, he showed up at the airport a bit earlier and did a free same-day standby onto an earlier flight that connected to a different city. His A-List status bumped him to the top of the standby list and onto the flight.

Getting on the standby list isn’t foolproof, especially if the earlier flight is almost full. This is a case where having elite status can help since you’ll have priority over non-elite travelers. Additionally, some airlines charge a fee for non-elite travelers to get on the standby list for an earlier flight.

Related: Best credit cards for airline elite status

How to get a refund or flight compensation

If you decide not to fly your originally scheduled flight in light of major delays and cancellations, get your money or points back. Do not settle for an airline voucher that may be hard to use and eventually expire.

You may have a cancel-and-refund option available to you online or in the airline’s app. If not, you can ask an airline employee for assistance in person or over the phone. Just be sure to cancel your original flight before its eventual departure so you can get the money or miles (hopefully) returned.

Know your rights and take stock of your credit card protections. You’ll have to read some fine print, but you may be entitled to accommodations, credits or expense reimbursement by the airline or from your credit card (usually depending on the length of your delay and the reason for delay or cancellation).

Many travel credit cards offer trip delay insurance that can save you money when you’re stuck somewhere. While it won’t help you avoid cancellations or delays, it could help you cover expenses while you wait for your flight.

Related: You are entitled to a refund for your canceled flight — even if the airline says you aren’t

Cards that provide travel protection

There are many rewards credit cards that help confer valuable travel protections when you do have a delayed or canceled flight (if you used them to book your flight). Below are just a few examples of cards that provide some built-in coverage:

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Provides a $300 annual travel credit, up to $20,000 in trip cancellation coverage, up to $75,000 in car rental coverage, trip delay benefits of up to $500 per person that kick in starting at a six-hour delay and more.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, emergency assistance services and more.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: In addition to the extensive lounge benefits and up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, the Platinum card also provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance for up to $20,000 of a covered trip and incident.*

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. 

Make a decision

Last but not least, we don’t recommend being too indecisive in the face of delays and cancellations. If you are indecisive, expect your options to dwindle. Once you finally arrive at a decision to wait it out or try and switch flights, you will be at the mercy of whatever options the airline has left … which may not be great.

As you wait, flight options are likely to disappear as hundreds (or thousands) of other passengers beat you to rebooking. Weigh your realistic options and make a quick decision if you want to keep some control of your schedule.

If you’re OK getting stuck somewhere for a bit or taking a creative route home, waiting for the airline to direct you is a feasible option. Just don’t stress about your decision once you make it.

Your credit card’s built-in travel protections may cover unexpected expenses not covered by the airline (such as a hotel for an overnight weather delay, though not a new flight) if you get stuck during your journey.

In my Orlando example, my original flight was stuck in Denver with a five-hour weather delay, so the odds of that flight getting me where I needed to be that day didn’t seem great. When I didn’t clear standby on the other United flight to Houston from Orlando that night, I made a decision and stuck with it.

I left the terminal and headed to my new Southwest flight in another terminal (Clear and PreCheck helped with that quick transition). Yes, that choice cost me a new flight home; however, I had to make that call right then to avoid rolling the dice on my United flight.

I wasn’t in a gambling mood when it came to getting home, and I understood the out-of-pocket implications.

Bottom line

Most of the time, your flight will get you where you need to be close to when you want to be there. Still, flight delays and cancellations happen.

If your flight is delayed by an hour or two, there’s not usually much to do other than be patient. However, when facing a long delay or cancellation, it’s good to have a plan to reduce the odds of getting stuck.

Given the common theme of full passenger loads on flights these days, acting quickly, researching options and making a speedy decision will put you ahead of the pack.

Related: Best credit cards that offer trip delay reimbursement

Related reading:

• Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here’s what to do next
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• Here’s how to get through airport security faster