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  • Where Everyone Wanted to Go This Summer, According to PointsYeah Search Data

    Where Everyone Wanted to Go This Summer, According to PointsYeah Search Data

    If you want to know where people traveled this summer, those numbers aren’t particularly hard to find.

    Airlines know how many passengers they carried. Hotels know how many rooms they filled. Tourism boards spend plenty of time counting visitors.

    All of those numbers tell us where people went. Award searches tell us something different. They show where people were thinking about going next.

    PointsYeah analyzed millions of award searches made between June 1 and August 15, 2026, to see which routes travelers searched most often. Not every search turns into a trip, of course. But in the aggregate, they offer a fascinating snapshot of what travelers had on their minds this summer.

    And one part of the world appeared far more often than anywhere else.

    Where Travelers Were Searching This Summer

    Here are the 20 routes that appeared most often in award searches made through PointsYeah this summer.

    RankingRoute
    1Los Angeles (LAX) → Tokyo (TYO)
    2New York City (NYC) → Tel Aviv (TLV)
    3San Francisco (SFO) → Tokyo (TYO)
    4New York City (NYC) → Tokyo (TYO)
    5Seattle (SEA) → Tokyo (TYO)
    6San Francisco (SFO) → Taipei (TPE)
    7Los Angeles (LAX) → Taipei (TPE)
    8Chicago (ORD) → Tokyo (TYO)
    9London (LON) → New York City (NYC)
    10Seoul (ICN) → Los Angeles (LAX)
    11Athens (ATH) → New York City (NYC)
    12Hong Kong (HKG) → San Francisco (SFO)
    13Hong Kong (HKG) → Los Angeles (LAX)
    14Seattle (SEA) → Taipei (TPE)
    15New York City (NYC) → Taipei (TPE)
    16Seoul (ICN) → San Francisco (SFO)
    17Seoul (ICN) → Seattle (SEA)
    18Hong Kong (HKG) → New York City (NYC)
    19Delhi (DEL) → San Francisco (SFO)
    20Paris (CDG) → Los Angeles (LAX)

    It doesn’t take much studying to spot the pattern.

    Tokyo Is Extremely Popular

    Tokyo appears five times in the top 20, more than any other destination.

    The searches came from across the U.S.: Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York City (NYC), Seattle (SEA), and Chicago (ORD).

    Different starting points, same destination.

    Japan’s popularity isn’t exactly a new phenomenon. International visitors have returned in enormous numbers in recent years. For Americans, increased airline capacity across the Pacific has also made the country easier to reach from more cities.

    Then there are the reasons that don’t fit neatly into an airline schedule. The favorable exchange rate. The food. The rail network. The mix of enormous cities, smaller towns, culture, and nature that makes it relatively easy to build several very different trips around one country.

    For some, Japan has also become less of a once-in-a-lifetime destination and more of a place worth returning to.

    And the search patterns suggest plenty are still trying to get there.

    Crowds pass below colorful signs in Akihabara. The well known electronics district specializes in the sales of video games, anime, manga, and computer goods.
    SEANPAVONEPHOTO / ISTOCK

    Japan Was Only Part of the Story

    Fourteen of the 20 most-searched routes connected North America with destinations in Asia.

    Taipei appears four times. Seoul and Hong Kong each appear three times. Delhi makes the list as well. Just beyond the top 20 were searches involving Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and other destinations throughout the region.

    That’s a much bigger story than Japan alone.

    There isn’t one clear-cut type of trip tying those places together, either. Some are enormous business and aviation hubs. Some draw travelers for food and history. Others have become popular jumping-off points for exploring elsewhere in the region.

    What they have in common is that travelers were repeatedly looking across the Pacific.

    Modern office buildings in Taipei, Taiwan at dusk.
    SEANPAVONEPHOTO / ISTOCK

    Europe Was Surprisingly Quiet

    The absence that stands out most is Europe.

    Summer is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for transatlantic travel, yet only three European cities pop up among the top 20 routes: London, Athens, and Paris.

    That doesn’t mean travelers weren’t interested in Europe. This isn’t a measure of total visitors, tickets sold, or even completed award bookings. It’s a ranking of searches made through PointsYeah.

    But still, the contrast is pretty remarkable. While Asian destinations occupy most of the table, much of Europe is nowhere to be found.

    Then there’s the route sitting at No. 2.

    New York City (NYC) to Tel Aviv (TLV) ranks behind only Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo, placing it ahead of every other route involving Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong, or Europe.

    It’s the most notable outlier in the top 20.

    Searches Capture the Trip Before the Trip

    Award searches aren’t bookings.

    Someone can search Tokyo today, Paris tomorrow, and Bangkok the day after that. The award seats they find might disappear. Their dates might change. They may decide the trip is too expensive or get cold feet and go somewhere else.

    But that uncertainty is also what makes the data interesting.

    Passenger statistics capture travelers after they’ve made their decisions. Search data catches them earlier, while they’re still considering all the possibilities.

    For this stretch of summer, those possibilities skewed heavily toward Asia. Eventually, that’ll change.

    Holiday travel will replace summer vacations. Ski destinations will start appearing more frequently. Before long, travelers will be searching for spring break and summer 2027. And we’ll soon get another look at where everyone wants to go next.

    ANA Aircraft taxiing on the runway of Haneda International Airport with Fuji Mountain Background, Tokyo
    DOCTOREGG / ISTOCK

    Where to Next?

    If there’s one practical takeaway from the rankings, it’s that plenty of other travelers may be looking for the same trip you are.

    Award availability can change quickly, particularly around busy travel periods. Searching earlier gives you more time to compare dates, airports, and programs before committing to a trip.

    And if a destination on this list has you thinking about somewhere new, that’s probably reason enough to take a look.

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  • Frontier Makes Top-Tier Elite Status Easier as It Raises the Bar for Most Others

    Frontier Makes Top-Tier Elite Status Easier as It Raises the Bar for Most Others

    Frontier Airlines is adding more benefits for its elite members next year. And some of them sound a lot more like what you’d expect from a full-service airline.

    Beginning in 2027, every level of Frontier Miles elite status will come with a chance at a complimentary upgrade to UpFront Plus or the airline’s forthcoming First Class seats. That includes Silver, Frontier’s entry-level elite tier.

    Frontier is also reshuffling how members qualify for status. Diamond is getting 25% easier to earn, while the requirements for Silver and Gold are going up.

    The changes come as Frontier continues to stretch beyond its ultra-low-cost roots. First Class, upgrades, a more comprehensive loyalty program, and Starlink Wi-Fi are all things that would have sounded almost unthinkable just a few years ago for an airline known for selling fares for less than $20.

    First Class Upgrades Are Coming to Every Elite Tier

    Frontier plans to introduce First Class later this year. It’s in the process of installing two-by-two seating at the front of its aircraft.

    Starting in 2027, every Frontier Miles elite tier will have a chance to upgrade into First Class or UpFront Plus (a handful of rows where the middle seat is kept empty). The benefit will be available to elite members who purchase an Economy or Premium bundle.

    How early that chance comes depends on status. Silver members become eligible for upgrades four hours before departure, followed by Gold at eight hours, Platinum at 18 hours, and Diamond at 24 hours.

    There are other improvements coming for elites, too. Platinum members will receive a free checked bag for everyone on their reservation. Diamond members will get two.

    Frontier is also introducing Milestone Rewards in 2027, although it hasn’t revealed what those rewards will include yet.

    Denver, Colorado, USA - 5 June 2025: Airbus A320 (registration N384FR) operated by Frontier Airlines taxiing to the terminal after landing at Denver
    CERI BREEZE / ISTOCK

    Frontier Is Reshuffling How You Earn Elite Status

    Frontier isn’t making every level of status easier to earn.

    Starting September 1, the requirement for Diamond will drop from 100,000 Elite Status Points to 75,000. Anyone who reaches 75,000 points in 2026 will earn Diamond status for 2027.

    But starting January 1, the requirement for Silver will increase from 10,000 to 15,000 points, while Gold will move from 20,000 to 25,000. Platinum will stay at 50,000 points.

    Frontier is also adjusting how members earn miles and Elite Status Points on tickets purchased beginning September 1. Travelers buying Economy, Premium, or Business bundles will earn at higher rates, and Frontier cardmembers can earn even more.

    The end result is a loyalty program that’s raising the bar at the bottom while making its top status easier to reach and more rewarding to hold.

    That’s an interesting direction for an airline built around low fares and charging separately for much of everything else. The irony is that the more you spend with Frontier, the fewer of those extras you’ll have to pay for.

  • New Delta Amex Offers Include 200,000 Miles and Two Round-Trip Flight Certificates

    New Delta Amex Offers Include 200,000 Miles and Two Round-Trip Flight Certificates

    Delta flyers have a new opportunity to pick up a substantial number of SkyMiles.

    American Express rolled out elevated welcome offers across its lineup of Delta credit cards, with the largest offering up to 200,000 bonus SkyMiles.

    That’s enough to get our attention. But the amount of miles isn’t the only thing worth considering.

    Each card comes with a different annual fee, spending requirement, and set of Delta benefits, so it helps to start with what you actually want from the card and where those miles could take you.

    Elevated Delta Amex Welcome Offers Are Available

    There are elevated offers across both the personal and business Delta card lineups. Click “Learn More” on any card below to see the full offer and application details.

    Delta Personal Credit Cards

    Delta offers three personal cards with elevated welcome offers, ranging from the Gold to the more premium Platinum and Reserve cards.

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    Delta Business Credit Cards

    Business owners have three options as well, with elevated offers available on the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Business cards.

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    {{ credit-card-widget uri=”deltabizplat” }}

    {{ credit-card-widget uri=”deltabizgold” }}

    Think About Where the Miles Could Take You

    A big welcome offer is only useful if the miles help you take a trip you actually want to take.

    Delta doesn’t publish an award chart (a reference showing how many miles an award should cost). Instead, award prices can vary considerably depending on the route and date.

    Before applying for a card primarily for the welcome offer, it’s worth seeing what Delta is charging for trips you’re interested in taking.

    You can search Delta SkyMiles award availability directly through PointsYeah, along with other supported airline programs. That gives you a better idea of what the miles could get you before deciding how useful a particular welcome offer would be.

    {{ search-widget mode=”flight” }}

    And if you end up with one of these Delta cards, there’s another benefit when it’s time to use those miles.

    A perk called “TakeOff 15” gives eligible cardholders at least 15% off the mileage price of eligible Delta-operated award flights. There’s no limit to how many times you can use the benefit, and the discount appears when you’re logged into the SkyMiles account associated with an eligible card.

    The elevated welcome offers won’t be around forever. But whether one is right for you ultimately depends on where those miles can take you.

  • Save 15% on Delta Award Flights With TakeOff 15

    Save 15% on Delta Award Flights With TakeOff 15

    If you have an eligible Delta credit card, there’s a good chance your next Delta award flight will cost fewer miles than the advertised price.

    That’s thanks to TakeOff 15.

    This is a benefit that gives eligible Delta American Express cardholders 15% off award flights operated by Delta. The discount is automatic, there’s nothing to activate, and there’s no limit to how many times you can use it.

    It’s a surprisingly useful benefit that takes no extra effort to use.

    How Delta TakeOff 15 Works

    TakeOff 15 is available to primary cardholders of the personal and business versions of the Delta Gold, Platinum, and Reserve American Express cards.

    To use the benefit, log into the SkyMiles account associated with your eligible card and search for an award flight on Delta.com or the Fly Delta app. The discount should automatically appear on eligible flights.

    Screenshot of Delta discounted award pricing for cardmembers.
    DELTA.COM

    Put differently, if an award normally costs 15,100 SkyMiles, a 15% discount brings it down to 12,800 miles, since Delta likes to round down. On a 412,300-mile award (pricey), you’d save more than 60,000 miles.

    That’s pretty wild.

    The discount only applies to the mileage portion of the ticket, so you’ll still pay the normal taxes and fees.

    More on This: Current Delta Amex Credit Card Offers

    See What TakeOff 15 Could Save You

    Since Delta’s award prices can vary considerably from one flight to another, so can the number of miles you’ll save.

    You can search live Delta SkyMiles award availability through PointsYeah to see what Delta is charging for a trip you’re considering — and PointsYeah shows Delta cardmember pricing, too.

    Screenshot showing PointsYeah results with Delta cardmember pricing.
    POINTSYEAH

    There’s no guarantee that a discounted Delta award will be the best option for every trip. But if Delta has the flight you want and you’re planning to use SkyMiles, TakeOff 15 means you can keep 15% of those miles for another trip.

  • American’s A321XLR Is Starting to Reshape Its Europe Map

    American’s A321XLR Is Starting to Reshape Its Europe Map

    American Airlines is adding seven international routes in 2027, and its Airbus A321XLR will be flying several of them.

    Four of the routes announced Thursday will use the long-range narrowbody. That includes brand-new service to Vienna and Porto, along with new flights from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam and Nice.

    The A321XLR has been flying for American for less than a year, starting with transcontinental flights before heading across the Atlantic to Edinburgh. Those early routes offered a small preview of what American had planned for the jet.

    But its 2027 schedule is giving us a much better idea of what’s ahead.

    American’s New International Routes for 2027

    American’s expansion includes three destinations joining or returning to its network, plus several new routes to cities it already serves from other gateways.

    Some were announced earlier this year, while others are new as of Thursday.

    RouteStartsAircraft
    Chicago (ORD) → Tokyo Narita (NRT)March 19Boeing 787-9
    New York (JFK) → Amsterdam (AMS)March 28Airbus A321XLR
    Philadelphia (PHL) → Porto (OPO)March 28Airbus A321XLR
    New York (JFK) → Nice (NCE)May 6Airbus A321XLR
    Philadelphia (PHL) → Vienna (VIE)May 6Airbus A321XLR
    Charlotte (CLT) → Barcelona (BCN)May 27Boeing 777-200ER
    Philadelphia (PHL) → Reykjavik (KEF)May 27Airbus A321neo

    Vienna and Porto will be entirely new destinations for American. Reykjavik returns to the airline’s network for the first time since 2019.

    Elsewhere, American is bringing back Charlotte to Barcelona and adding new service from New York to Amsterdam and Nice. The Chicago to Tokyo Narita route was previously announced in July but is still included in American’s seven-route expansion for 2027.

    There are a few other schedule changes coming next year. American will add a fourth daily flight between New York and London Heathrow (LHR), while seasonal Charlotte to Paris (CDG) and Miami to Milan (MXP) service will extend into early January 2028.

    Tickets for the new routes go on sale Monday, August 31.

    More on This: How to Search for Award Flights with PointsYeah

    American Is Finding More Work for the A321XLR

    Four of the seven routes will be flown by an aircraft that carries just 155 passengers.

    That’s considerably fewer seats than you’ll find on the Boeing 787s and 777s that do much of American’s long-haul flying. But the A321XLR can still cross the Atlantic. It’s outfitted with 20 Flagship Suite business class seats, 12 Premium Economy seats, and 123 seats in economy.

    For American, that means having a smaller aircraft it can send on long international routes without giving up business class or Premium Economy.

    American Airlines A321XLR business class.
    TYLER GLATT / POINTS INSIDER

    The 2027 schedule shows how American can put that flexibility to work. The XLR can open new destinations like Vienna and Porto or add another U.S. gateway to cities already on the map, as American is doing with Amsterdam and Nice.

    There are plenty more XLRs coming, too. American has dozens still on order. That could mean more niche European routes or flights to new destinations in South America.

    For passengers, there is one very big tradeoff. More long-haul XLR routes also mean more opportunities to spend a transatlantic flight on a single-aisle aircraft.

    Whether that matters probably depends on where you’re sitting.

  • SWISS Is Opening Bigger Zurich Lounges in 2027

    SWISS Is Opening Bigger Zurich Lounges in 2027

    SWISS has been spending heavily on the passenger experience, and some of that investment is now coming to its home airport.

    The airline announced plans to open new Business and Senator Lounges at Zurich Airport (ZRH) in the first quarter of 2027. Combined, the new lounges will span around 28,000 square feet (2,600 square meters), giving SWISS a lounge footprint that’s about 20% larger than the three lounges it currently operates in Dock A.

    SWISS said last year that it invests around CHF 1 billion annually in improving the travel experience. So far, that investment has been most visible in the air. Last year, the airline debuted its new SWISS Senses cabins on the Airbus A350. And more recently, it kicked off a lengthy retrofit process to bring the new onboard product to its Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s as well.

    But while that’s happening, SWISS is continuing to focus on the ground in Zurich.

    New SWISS Lounges Are Coming to Dock B

    The new Business and Senator Lounges will take shape in Dock B, where they’ll occupy separate floors of a building on the southern side of the dock.

    There’s a reason they’re moving. Zurich Airport is preparing to replace Dock A, and the new building at Dock B will temporarily house some of the infrastructure displaced during construction.

    The five-story modular building will initially include lounges and bus gates, along with some Airside Centre logistics. Construction began in May 2025, and the opening is expected in early 2027.

    Rendering of the new SWISS Business Lounge at ZRH Dock B.
    RENDERING OF THE NEW SWISS BUSINESS LOUNGE AT ZURICH AIRPORT / SWISS

    Inside, both lounges will feature more seating and dedicated areas for working and relaxing. Across the two spaces, SWISS plans to offer around 20 fully soundproofed workstations.

    Rendering of the new SWISS Business Lounge at ZRH Dock B.
    RENDERING OF THE NEW SWISS BUSINESS LOUNGE AT ZURICH AIRPORT / SWISS

    Large windows should bring plenty of natural light into both lounges.

    The Senator Lounge will get a few extras of its own. A bar along the windows will offer a 180-degree view of Runway 34, the apron, and the Alps. SWISS also plans to add a wine humidor and a dedicated maturation room for selected cheeses and cured meats.

    It doesn’t get much more Swiss than that.

    The Existing Dock A Lounges Will Close

    Once the new spaces open in the first quarter of 2027, the current Business and Senator Lounges will close, along with the SWISS Alpine Lounge.

    The Alpine Lounge offers a more casual take on the SWISS lounge experience, with chalet-inspired design and an open kitchen.

    But the concept isn’t disappearing entirely.

    SWISS confirmed to Points Insider that while the Alpine Lounge won’t continue as a standalone lounge, selected elements will carry over to the new lounges. The airline says the Alpine Lounge will also serve as inspiration for the new spaces.

    The First and HON Circle Lounge will stick around a little longer. SWISS plans to keep it open in Dock A until 2028, when it will also move to Dock B. The airline hasn’t shared details about what that lounge will look like.

    Meanwhile, Zurich Airport expects construction on the new Dock A to begin in 2027. It will be built just north of the existing dock, allowing the current facility to remain open until the new one is ready.

    For passengers, the end result is what matters most. Starting next year, there will be more room to work, eat, or watch airplanes before a SWISS or partner flight from Zurich.

    And apparently, somewhere for the cheese to mature, too.

  • Current Buy Points and Miles Offers: JetBlue, American, Hilton, Marriott & More

    Current Buy Points and Miles Offers: JetBlue, American, Hilton, Marriott & More

    Airlines and hotels regularly sell points and miles with bonuses or discounts. And some promotions can bring the cost down significantly.

    Sometimes, buying points or miles for the trip you want to take can even cost less than paying the going cash price.

    Whether you’re topping off an account for an award you’ve already found, planning ahead for a trip, or simply waiting for a better offer, it helps to know what’s available now and how it compares with what we’ve seen before.

    PointsYeah automatically tracks current offers for buying airline miles and hotel points below, along with each program’s recent promotion history.

    Current Buy Points and Miles Offers

    Here are the current promotions for buying airline miles and hotel points. The tables below automatically update as new offers begin and existing ones expire.

    Note that some promotions are targeted, so you may see a different bonus or discount after logging into your loyalty account. Always confirm the offer and final purchase price before buying.

    Active airline buy miles offers

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    Active hotel buy points offers

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    Before You Buy Points or Miles

    There’s more to a good buy points or miles promotion than the headline bonus or discount.

    Each loyalty program sets its own price, so a 100% bonus from one program isn’t necessarily a better deal than a 50% bonus from another. The final purchase price matters more, and the historical tables below can help you see whether the current offer is especially good or something that comes around regularly.

    It also helps to know how you plan to use the points or miles before buying them. If you’re a few thousand miles short of an award, buying the difference can be an easy way to get what you need. In other cases, buying enough points for an entire flight or hotel stay can cost less than paying cash.

    If you’re buying airline miles for a particular trip, search for the award first. Availability can change quickly, and you don’t want to buy miles only to discover that the flight you wanted is no longer bookable.

    PointsYeah searches live award availability across dozens of rewards programs, so you can see what’s available before making a purchase.

    {{ search-widget mode=”flight-hotel” }}

    Keep in mind that points and miles purchases are generally nonrefundable. Programs may also limit how many points or miles you can purchase, so check the terms of the specific offer before buying.

    More on This: When Does It Make Sense to Buy Points and Miles?

    Historical Buy Points and Miles Offers

    A promotion can sound impressive without being particularly unusual. Looking at previous offers gives you a better idea of how today’s bonus or discount stacks up.

    Open the dropdown for any airline or hotel program below to see its recent buy points or miles offer history.

    Previous airline buy miles offers

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    Previous hotel buy points offers

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    Continue Reading

  • When Does It Make Sense to Buy Points and Miles?

    When Does It Make Sense to Buy Points and Miles?

    Every so often, airlines and hotels put their points and miles on sale.

    If you’ve ever come across one of those promotions, you may have wondered why anyone would spend money buying points instead of simply paying for the trip.

    The answer depends on what you’re trying to book.

    Most of the time, buying points isn’t necessary. But every now and then, purchasing points or miles can lower the cost of your trip or unlock a flight or hotel that would otherwise cost much more.

    Here’s when buying points and miles can make sense, and when it’s probably better to keep your wallet in your pocket.

    How Buying Points and Miles Works

    Most airline and hotel loyalty programs let members purchase points or miles directly through their websites, though the transaction is often processed by a third party such as Points.com.

    Instead of earning points by flying, staying at a hotel, or spending on a travel credit card, you’re just buying the points or miles you need.

    Sometimes you’ll pay the standard price. Other times, loyalty programs run limited-time promotions that offer bonus points or discounts, making those purchases much more attractive.

    Buying points doesn’t automatically save you money, though. Whether it’s a good deal depends entirely on how you plan to use them.

    That’s why the first question shouldn’t be, “Are points on sale?”

    It should be, “What am I trying to book?”

    Young woman passenger waiting for flight at airport lounge.She is using digital tablet to surf internet and make a online check in
    MSTUDIOIMAGES / ISTOCK

    Search First. Buy Second.

    Before purchasing points, make sure the flight or hotel you want is available.

    Award availability can change quickly, and buying points before confirming you can use them could leave you with a balance you weren’t planning to keep.

    A better approach looks like this:

    • Find the flight or hotel you want.
    • Compare the cash price with the points price.
    • Calculate what it would cost to buy any points you’re missing.
    • If buying points costs less than paying cash, it may be worth it.

    In other words, buy points for a trip you’re ready to book, not simply because they’re on sale.

    PointsYeah makes this process easier by showing live award availability across supported airline and hotel loyalty programs, allowing you to compare your options before deciding whether buying points is worth it.

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    More on This: How to Search for Award Flights with PointsYeah

    When Buying Points Can Make Sense

    Buying points isn’t something you’ll do for every trip, but there are a few situations where it can be worth considering.

    You’ve already found the award you want

    This is one of the best reasons to buy points.

    Imagine a hotel stay costs $400 if you pay cash.

    The same stay is available for 15,000 points, and buying those points during a promotion costs $300.

    In that case, purchasing the points saves you money while booking the same stay.

    How cool is that?

    You’re only a few points short

    Sometimes you’re on the cusp of a redemption.

    If you already have most of the points needed for a flight or hotel stay, buying the remaining amount can be less expensive than paying cash for the entire reservation.

    There’s a promotion worth taking advantage of

    Airline and hotel loyalty programs regularly offer bonus points or discounts when purchasing points.

    A promotion by itself isn’t a reason to buy points, but it can improve the math if you’ve already found the redemption you want.

    When You Probably Shouldn’t Buy Points

    Buying points isn’t always a good deal. In fact, there are plenty of situations where paying cash or using another redemption option is the better choice.

    You may want to skip buying points if:

    • You don’t have a specific trip in mind.
    • You haven’t confirmed award availability.
    • You’re buying simply because there’s a sale.
    • The cash price is already competitive.
    • You’d need to buy far more points than you actually plan to use.

    If you’re not ready to book, it’s usually better to keep your money in your pocket. Once you’ve found the trip you’re ready to book, you can compare the cost of buying points with your other booking options and decide which makes the most sense.

    Young couple arriving on hotel room with wheeled luggage
    FG TRADE LATIN / ISTOCK

    Check Current Promotions

    Airline and hotel loyalty programs regularly offer bonus points or discounts when you buy points. Purchasing during one of these promotions will usually get you a better rate than buying at the standard price.

    Once you’ve decided buying points makes sense for your trip, the next question is whether there’s a promotion available.

    Our Current Promotions to Buy Airline Miles and Hotel Points guide tracks the latest bonus offers and discounts from major airline and hotel loyalty programs.

    This makes it easy to see whether you can stretch your money a little further before you buy.

    Continue Reading

  • United Keeps Finding New Places for You to Go With Your Miles

    United Keeps Finding New Places for You to Go With Your Miles

    United miles just got a little more useful.

    The airline announced a flurry of new international routes Tuesday, including flights to 10 cities it doesn’t currently serve.

    With each passing day, there are fewer and fewer cities on the world map where you won’t see a United tail. And eight of these new destinations won’t have nonstop service from the U.S. on another U.S. airline.

    That means new ways to get to places like Okinawa, Toulouse, Luxembourg, Ibiza, and Ljubljana without connecting overseas. And if you happen to have United MileagePlus miles, it means more places to put them to work.

    If those miles are burning a hole in your pocket, there’s no need to wait until next year to start looking. Tickets for all 13 new routes are already on sale.

    United’s 13 New International Routes

    United’s latest expansion stretches from Japan to the Mediterranean, with most of the new service beginning in spring 2027.

    RouteStartsAircraft
    San Francisco (SFO) → Okinawa (OKA)March 27Boeing 777-200ER
    Los Angeles (LAX) → Osaka (KIX)March 27TBD
    Newark (EWR) → Luxembourg (LUX)April 2Airbus A321XLR
    Washington Dulles (IAD) → Toulouse (TLS)April 26Airbus A321XLR
    Newark (EWR) → Ljubljana (LJU)May 12Boeing 767-400ER
    Newark (EWR) → Olbia (OLB)May 27Boeing 767-300ER
    Denver (DEN) → Paris (CDG)May 27TBD
    Newark (EWR) → Catania (CTA)May 28Boeing 767-300ER
    Washington Dulles (IAD) → Milan (MXP)May 28TBD
    Newark (EWR) → Ibiza (IBZ)May 31Airbus A321XLR
    Newark (EWR) → Valencia (VLC)June 2Airbus A321XLR
    Newark (EWR) → Marseille (MRS)June 4Airbus A321XLR
    Newark (EWR) → Terceira (TER)June 9Boeing 737 MAX 8

    Five of the new routes will be flown by United’s brand-new Airbus A321XLR, which kicks off international service later this year. Its extended range gives United another way to serve international routes that may not have enough demand to justify a larger aircraft.

    That helps explain some of the more unusual additions to the map. Toulouse and Luxembourg aren’t exactly the first cities that come to mind when a U.S. airline announces another round of flights to Europe.

    But that’s part of the appeal of this particular jet.

    More Places to Use United Miles

    It’s too easy to think about airline miles in terms of price. How many miles does an award cost? Did the price go up? Can you find something cheaper?

    Where those miles can take you matters just as much. If not more.

    United says it has added nearly 60 international destinations since 2017, giving MileagePlus members an increasingly long list of places to use their miles. These latest additions include several destinations that would otherwise require another flight, train ride, or connection after crossing the Atlantic.

    Want to go to Ibiza? United will soon take you there nonstop from Newark. The same goes for Ljubljana, Toulouse, Terceira, and Valencia.

    None of that guarantees a cheap award ticket. But every new route creates another opportunity to use your miles for the trip you actually want to take.

    United A321neo close up.
    TYLER GLATT / POINTS INSIDER

    United Cardholders Have an Advantage

    There’s another wrinkle worth knowing before you start searching.

    United doesn’t show every MileagePlus member the same award pricing.

    Eligible United credit card holders can receive savings of 10% or more on eligible United-operated award flights. Those with both an eligible card and Premier status can save 15% or more.

    That benefit is less obvious than a free checked bag or lounge access, but potentially a lot more valuable when you’re ready to use your miles.

    And it’s something PointsYeah can account for.

    United Airlines award from EWR to LUX via PointsYeah.
    POINTSYEAH

    When searching live United award availability through PointsYeah, you can view cardholder-exclusive pricing directly in your results. That means you don’t also need to check United’s website to see if your card gets you a better deal.

    More on This: Which Airlines and Hotels Can You Search with PointsYeah?

    See What’s Available

    United’s new routes don’t begin flying until next spring, but they’re already on sale.

    So whether Okinawa caught your attention or Ibiza sounds better, you can use PointsYeah to start looking for award space now, including the cardholder pricing you’re eligible for.

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  • JetBlue BlueHouse Lounges: What to Know Before You Visit

    JetBlue BlueHouse Lounges: What to Know Before You Visit

    JetBlue was a late arrival to the airport lounge scene.

    While other major U.S. airlines spent years building out lounge networks, JetBlue focused primarily on the experience onboard. That changed in December 2025, when the airline opened its first BlueHouse lounge at New York (JFK).

    Boston (BOS) followed in August 2026.

    The network is still small, but BlueHouse gives eligible JetBlue travelers a dedicated place to eat, grab a drink, work, or relax before a flight.

    Here’s where to find JetBlue’s BlueHouse lounges, who can get in, and what to know before visiting.

    JetBlue BlueHouse Boston entrance.
    TYLER GLATT / POINTS INSIDER

    Where Can You Find JetBlue BlueHouse Lounges?

    JetBlue currently operates two BlueHouse lounges, located in its two largest markets.

    AirportLocation
    New York (JFK)Terminal 5 near Gate 526
    Boston (BOS)Terminal C near Gate C23

    A third location could eventually follow.

    JetBlue has publicly said it’s exploring a BlueHouse lounge at Fort Lauderdale (FLL), one of its largest focus cities and an important gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America. For now, though, the airline hasn’t confirmed plans to build one.

    More on This: JetBlue Built Another Lounge. The More Interesting Part Is Why.

    Who Can Access a BlueHouse Lounge?

    BlueHouse isn’t open to every JetBlue traveler.

    Complimentary access is available to:

    • TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members, plus one guest.
    • JetBlue Premier Card cardmembers, plus one guest.
    • Travelers departing on a confirmed Mint or Mint Flex fare.

    Additional guests cost $39 each.

    TYLER GLATT / POINTS INSIDER

    Don’t check any of those boxes? You’re not out of luck.

    There are also several ways to purchase access. Eligible Mosaic members and JetBlue Plus and Business cardholders can purchase one-time passes for $59 or $79, depending on how they qualify.

    Passes are subject to availability and may not be sold when the lounge is busy.

    The most important restriction is that “Base” fares aren’t eligible for BlueHouse access, even if the traveler would otherwise qualify. That includes Main Base, EvenMore Base, and Mint Base fares.

    What Can You Expect Inside a JetBlue Lounge?

    BlueHouse doesn’t reinvent the airport lounge. It just feels more like JetBlue.

    Rather than making both locations identical, JetBlue incorporates local artwork, design, food, and drinks into each lounge.

    New York (JFK) is designed to feel a bit like a stylish New York apartment, with local touches that include coffee from Joe Coffee, cocktails developed with Please Don’t Tell, and beer from The Greats of Craft. Boston (BOS) takes the same hometown approach in a very different direction, with New England-inspired design, George Howell Coffee, and a full-service kitchen serving rotating menus.

    JFK also offers hot food, although its current setup is more grab-and-go until the lounge gets a kitchen of its own.

    Beyond that, the basics are familiar. Expect complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, power outlets, and a mix of spaces for working or relaxing before a flight.

    TYLER GLATT / POINTS INSIDER

    A Few Things to Know Before You Go

    A few rules are worth knowing before heading to BlueHouse:

    • Bring a government-issued photo ID and a same-day boarding pass for an eligible JetBlue-operated flight.
    • Access is generally limited to three hours before departure. Different rules apply when connecting between JetBlue-operated flights.
    • You’ll need access to the terminal where the lounge is located. JetBlue doesn’t issue gate passes solely for visiting BlueHouse.
    • Entry may be limited when a lounge reaches capacity.
    • Amenities vary between locations.

    Because access policies can change, it’s worth confirming the latest rules with JetBlue before a trip if BlueHouse access is important to your plans.