Departure Digest

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Flying business class for the first time? Before you head to the airport, check your baggage allowance and whether your ticket gets you into a lounge. Once you're onboard, there are a few things worth knowing, too. That pre-departure glass of champagne isn't a given, and the rules around the call button can depend on which airline you're flying. If you're offered pajamas, go ahead and change. Just leave your bare feet out of the lavatory.

On the hotel side, Marriott Bonvoy is testing a new upgrade list in its app, giving some members a look at their spot in line and how many upgraded rooms might be available. It’s only at a small number of hotels for now, but Marriott says it’ll expand to more than 250 hotels in the U.S. and Canada by November. We like the transparency, but the app won’t tell you what room you’re actually in line for.

Plus, Margaritaville at Sea is selling an all-you-can-cruise pass for two adults starting at around $2,500, good for unlimited sailings through Dec. 31, 2027. It could be a great deal if you plan to cruise often, but there are some restrictions, and taxes, fees, and gratuities still apply.

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:21 How to Fly Business Class for the First Time

2:03 Marriott's Airline-Style Upgrade List

3:14 Margaritaville at Sea's Unlimited Cruise Pass

4:44 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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Flights from New York to Madrid for $300 round trip, with a checked bag included? Deals like this have become rare, but Thrifty Traveler Premium's cash and points alerts can help you find them. Premium costs about $130 a year, and one or two good deals could cover it if you're flexible about where you go.

Meanwhile, Amex dropped big news for its Centurion Lounge network. Newark's lounge opening has been pushed to 2027, but the delay comes with an upgrade. It'll now be more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest Centurion Lounge yet, complete with a gelato terrace that might even make flying out of Newark worth it. London Heathrow is also getting a second location, and Houston's lounge is nearly tripling in size. Before any of that opens, though, Philadelphia's lounge closes this week for renovations and isn't expected to reopen until the end of 2027.

Even more surprising, Southwest could be eyeing Dreamliners, wide-body jets built for long-haul routes. It'd be another big shift for an airline that only recently added assigned seats and stopped letting bags fly free. We'll believe a Southwest flight to Rome when we're boarding it. And if you'd rather spend New Year's Eve in flip-flops than snow boots, Andrea Bocelli and Ludacris are both headlining in the Bahamas.

👉 Get $20 off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium with code DEPARTUREDIGEST: https://thriftytraveler.com/a/departuredigest

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 A $300 Round Trip to Madrid

0:51 How Thrifty Traveler Premium Works

2:14 Amex's Biggest Centurion Lounge Expansion

3:16 Southwest Eyes Long-Haul Routes

4:00 New Year's Eve in the Bahamas

4:33 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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Caviar, champagne, a Caesar salad prepared at your seat, and an $800 Dopp kit all come standard on Blade's semi-private jets to Florida this winter. The service, called BLADEone and run with Aero, starts flying between Westchester and Miami or Palm Beach in November, with only 16 seats and dining from Major Food Group, the team behind Carbone and Sadelle's. The catch is a fare of close to $3,000 each way.

We've flown Blade's Miami shuttle before, and it's as nice as it sounds. But JSX flies the same Westchester-to-South Florida route out of private terminals, with fares that can come in under $1,000, and you can earn United MileagePlus miles or JSX credit along the way. BLADEone is clearly nicer. We're just not sure it's three times nicer.

Heading to wine country instead? Delta will check a case of wine for free on flights from five Northern California airports, following similar programs from Alaska and Southwest. And Southwest's Enter Airplane Mode campaign is handing out Rapid Rewards points for your unread notifications and a quick burnout quiz, while supplies last.

Get $100 off your first JSX flight: https://go.departuredigest.com/jsx

Airplane Mode by Southwest: https://airplanemode.southwest.com/

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:19 BLADEone's Semi-Private Flights to Florida

3:07 Delta's Free Wine Case Perk

4:22 Southwest's Airplane Mode Points

4:56 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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If you're still paying for in-flight Wi-Fi, there's a decent chance you don't have to. JetBlue offers it free to everyone. Delta, Southwest, and American offer it to loyalty members, and United and Alaska do on Starlink-equipped planes. Your frequent flyer number is the new Wi-Fi password, so set up the account and add it to your reservation before you're trying to log in on your flight.

Free Wi-Fi is quickly becoming standard, so airlines are competing on speed. United is installing Starlink and isn't being subtle about it, courting Delta and American elites with a special status match. If you keep ending up on United anyway, it's a pretty easy trial run.

The connectivity conversation doesn't stop when you land. If you're heading abroad, a VPN can help with streaming and hotel Wi-Fi. And if logging into seven different apps on a hotel TV sounds annoying, we share why you might want to pack a Roku on your next trip.

Explore our VPN guide: https://www.departuredigest.com/p/vpn-for-travel

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:15 In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Having a Moment

2:37 Using a VPN Abroad

3:59 Bring Your Roku on Your Next Trip

4:51 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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You can find the perfect award seat, have the points ready, and still run into a problem because your loyalty account is too new. Some airline programs make new members wait before they can book awards, which is why it’s worth opening the loyalty accounts your credit card points transfer to before you actually need them.

American Airlines is also making seat selection easier. A new app feature can automatically move solo travelers into a window or aisle seat when one opens up in the same cabin, at no extra charge. It could save you from constantly checking the seat map yourself.

Plus, Atmos Rewards now lets members choose whether to earn based on distance, money spent, or flight segments on flights departing next year. Think of it as picking the earning method that makes the most sense for how you fly.

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:20 Why Your Account Age Matters

1:52 American’s Automatic Seat Swaps

2:59 Atmos Rewards Lets You Pick How You Earn

4:31 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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Alaska Airlines is getting serious about premium travel. Starting in 2028, it’s bringing lie-flat Aurora suites to its Boeing 787s and select cross-country flights on its new 737-10 MAXs. It’s also adding Premium Reserve, a new premium economy cabin with more space, deeper recline, and upgraded food and amenities. For an airline once known for quirky carpeted bulkheads, that’s quite the 180.

Then we’re asking a very important question: Is glamping actually worth it? Hotel programs like World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy are getting in on it, but some glamping stays can cost around $300 a night. Nature and beautiful views sound great, but at that price, the tent has some explaining to do. Same goes for farm stays. The countryside sounds lovely, but a vacation doesn’t need to involve milking a cow.

We’ll also look at how using hotel points can change the math on glamping, including stays with Under Canvas and AutoCamp. And if sleeping outdoors still isn’t for you, places like Soho Farmhouse and Miraval offer the hiking and nature, with a proper hotel room waiting at the end of the day.

Register for World of Hyatt’s Under Canvas promo: https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/offers/under-canvas-points-back.html

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:16 Alaska’s Premium Makeover

2:22 Is Glamping Worth It?

3:17 Using Points for Glamping

4:10 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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———

A popular premium travel card you probably have in your wallet is getting a major DoorDash upgrade as of Oct. 1, with up to $35 a month in credits. The new $15 credit works on any qualifying DoorDash order, while two $10 credits still cover non-restaurant purchases like groceries and drugstore runs (pro tip: this includes many bodegas in NYC).

Speaking of premium travel card benefits, did you know Priority Pass isn’t just about airport lounges? Depending on your membership, you may have access to airport spas, private rooms to rest between flights, or even video game lounges.

Meanwhile, Bilt Rent Day is bringing transfer bonuses to Amtrak and Hilton, with up to 100% more Amtrak points and up to 200% more Hilton points, depending on your Bilt status. We also cover targeted Amex Offers that could help you save on JetBlue and Frontier flights.

👉 Explore our go-to cards for ordering takeout: https://go.departuredigest.com/takeout

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 A Bigger DoorDash Credit

1:30 Bilt Rent Day Transfer Bonuses

2:17 Priority Pass Beyond the Lounge

3:16 JetBlue and Frontier Amex Offers

4:05 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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———

A late checked bag could earn you some extra miles. Delta, Alaska, and Hawaiian all offer 2,500 miles or points when your bag misses their 20-minute baggage guarantee. We explain how each one works, how quickly you need to file, and what to know before you leave the airport. If your bag is late on both legs of a round trip, you could walk away with 5,000 miles, which could be enough for a short domestic award flight.

Also, did you know AARP isn’t just for retirees? Anyone 18 or older can join for $15, and members can get up to 35% off Avis and Budget car rentals, plus discounts on hotels, Zipcar, and more.

And just in time for National Coffee Day, Delta is offering Starbucks gift cards when you buy Delta gift cards. We cover how the promotion works, how much you’d have to spend to get the full $100 in Starbucks cards, and whether it’s worth it.

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:17 How to Get Free Miles When Your Bag Is Late

1:59 Why You Might Want an AARP Membership

3:03 Delta’s Starbucks Gift Card Promotion

4:21 Free Dunkin’ Coffee

4:33 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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———

Some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality are betting big on cruising. Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman have brought their brands to the water, with smaller yachts designed to feel more like boutique hotels at sea. Think spacious suites with private terraces, posh beach clubs and, in Aman’s case, even two helipads.

And it’s not just the ultra-luxury yacht lines shaking things up. Virgin Voyages skips the traditional buffet, with dining that feels more like choosing a restaurant than filling a tray. It also includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and specialty restaurants for all guests. If you’ve never thought of yourself as a cruise person, maybe it’s time to reconsider.

And if you’re a train person, Bilt just added Amtrak as a transfer partner at a 2:1 ratio, so 2,000 Bilt points gets you 1,000 Amtrak points. Amtrak awards start at 400 points, but the number of points you’ll need varies based on the cash price of the trip rather than a traditional award chart.

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:22 Bilt Adds Amtrak as a Transfer Partner

1:10 Luxury Hotel Brands Are Betting on Cruising

4:11 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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———

You can stretch your hotel points further than you might think. Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors can both give you a free fifth night when you book five consecutive nights with points. The one caveat is that Hilton requires elite status to unlock the perk, but that’s pretty easy to get. IHG takes a slightly different approach, giving eligible cardholders a free fourth night.

If you’re under 25, there’s another easy way to save. Rental car companies often charge young-driver fees, but AAA members ages 20 to 24 can have that fee waived on qualifying Hertz rentals. We’ll explain how to get the benefit and a couple of other ways to save on your next rental.

And to round things out, a popular cash-back card just got some useful new travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, elevated value on select hotel bookings and a limited-time welcome offer.

Learn more about our favorite cash-back cards: https://go.departuredigest.com/cashback

Timeline

0:00 Start Here

0:19 Free Fifth Hotel Nights With Points

1:56 How to Avoid Young-Driver Rental Fees

3:41 A Popular Cash-Back Card Gets Travel Benefits

4:10 Sign-Off

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Advertiser Disclosure: Departure Digest may receive compensation through our partnership with advertisers when you click on links to offers on this page. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply. The information is valid at the time of posting.

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