Getting a first U.S. passport is about to involve a lot less paper.
Beginning next year, Americans will be able to apply for their first passport entirely online, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday, September 29. The State Department is also preparing a redesigned U.S. passport that will begin arriving in 2028.
Both are part of a broader overhaul of the passport process built around the government’s new America.gov website.
First-Time Passport Applications Are Going Online
The biggest change comes first.
Starting next year, first-time applicants will be able to complete the passport application process online through America.gov. That means no printing an application, scheduling an appointment, or visiting an acceptance facility just to submit it.
After signing in through Login.gov, applicants will be able to use information the government already has on file, take a passport photo with a phone or upload one from another device, preview how the photo will look in the finished passport, and pay online.
The new system will also show the status of an application and provide an estimated delivery date.
Online passport service itself isn’t entirely new. Eligible Americans can already renew passports online. What’s changing is the ability to get a first passport without going through the traditional in-person application process.
And the State Department plans to go further. Rubio said the goal is for the “vast majority” of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through America.gov by the end of 2027.
U.S. Passports Are Getting a New Look in 2028
The passport itself is changing, too.
In 2028, the State Department plans to introduce a redesigned U.S. passport built around the American eagle. The familiar blue cover remains, but “United States of America” moves to the top and the Great Seal becomes larger and more prominent.
The changes continue inside. Pages will depict different periods of American history, including Lexington, westward expansion, early aviation, Iwo Jima, and space exploration.
There’s also a considerably less serious detail: flip through the pages quickly and an eagle appears to fly.
Rubio joked that people will soon be sitting in airports repeatedly flipping through their passports.
The packaging is getting an upgrade as well. Instead of arriving in the envelope used today, the redesigned passport will come in new presentation packaging.
The new passport is still a couple of years away. The application overhaul comes sooner, and should remove several of the more cumbersome parts of getting a first passport starting next year.
Hotel promotions aren’t typically reasons on their own to book a trip. But when a stay is already on the calendar, registering for the right one can mean an easy opportunity to earn a few more points.
Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Hilton, and Wyndham all have promotions for stays this fall, ranging from a few thousand bonus points to 4X bonus points.
Marriott Bonvoy: Up to 4,500 Bonus Points Per Stay
Marriott Bonvoy members can earn 1,500 bonus points on each eligible paid stay of at least two nights through November 22.
Stay at a participating resort and Marriott adds another 3,000 points, bringing the total to 4,500 bonus points per stay.
There’s no limit to the number of qualifying stays, but registration is required by November 13. Only eligible paid stays completed after registering qualify, so it’s worth registering before the next Marriott stay rather than waiting until checkout.
IHG One Rewards is offering up to 3X points on stays from October 1 through December 31.
There’s a catch, though: the first qualifying stay doesn’t earn any bonus points.
Starting with the second stay, members earn 2X points when booking through an IHG direct channel. Book through the IHG app, WeChat, or LINE instead and that increases to 3X points.
There’s no cap on the number of bonus points that can be earned.
Registration is required, and stays completed before registering don’t count. That makes this one worth registering for before the first IHG stay of the promotion, even though the extra points don’t start until stay number two.
World of Hyatt is keeping the math relatively simple.
Members can earn 3,000 bonus points for every three eligible nights after registering, up to a maximum of 36,000 bonus points.
Participating Hyatt hotels and resorts count, along with participating Mr & Mrs Smith properties, The Venetian Resort, and Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt.
There’s another useful difference here: points stays do count. An eligible night can be booked with an eligible paid rate or a free night award.
The bonus starts with the first eligible stay after registration.
Hilton’s More Points to Play promotion starts October 15 and runs through December 31.
Registered Hilton Honors members earn 3,000 bonus points per stay at participating luxury, lifestyle, and resort properties. Stays at other Hilton properties earn 1,000 bonus points.
There’s no overall cap on the number of bonus points that can be earned.
This promotion rewards stays rather than nights, which makes shorter stays particularly interesting. Three separate one-night stays at eligible luxury, lifestyle, or resort properties, for example, would earn 9,000 bonus points.
Registration is required before completing a qualifying stay.
Hotel promotions tend to come with plenty of fine print, but there’s an easy way to avoid missing out: register before the next stay. It takes a few seconds and keeps an eligible stay from leaving bonus points behind.
Buying hotel points might sound like an unnecessary extra step. After all, if a room is available, why not just pay for it?
Sometimes there’s a good reason. Buying the points needed to book a room can cost less than paying the hotel directly.
Marriott Bonvoy sells points throughout the year and periodically runs promotions that lower their cost. There’s little reason to buy just because a sale is happening. But with a Marriott stay already in mind, it takes only a few seconds to see whether buying points could save money.
Current Marriott Buy Points Offer
Marriott is currently offering up to a 55% bonus when buying Bonvoy points, dropping the purchase price to about 0.81 cents each.
Current promotion: 55% bonus
Price per point: 0.81 cents
Offer ends: November 23, 2026
Offer purchase limit: 200,000 points before the bonus
Annual purchase limit: 200,000 points before any bonus
Marriott runs points sales periodically, so there’s rarely a reason to buy solely because a promotion is ending. The history below shows how the current offer compares with previous ones. Click the arrow to see past offers.
First, find how many Marriott points a hotel requires. Then figure out how much it would cost to buy those points under the current promotion and compare that with the cash price for the same stay.
The math is simple:
Points needed × current price per point = cost to buy the points
Say a Marriott hotel costs 50,000 points per night. At roughly 0.81 cents per point, buying 50,000 points would cost about $405.
If the same room costs $550 in cash, buying the points could save about $145. If the room costs $350, paying cash is the easy choice.
That’s really all there is to it.
Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. WINHORSE / ISTOCK
There are a few things that can change the math even more. Marriott Bonvoy members get the lowest-priced night free when redeeming points for five consecutive nights, for example. On a longer stay, that can reduce the number of points needed enough to make buying them more interesting.
It’s also worth comparing the same room and dates. Taxes, resort fees, and other charges can differ depending on how a stay is booked, so the headline room rate doesn’t always tell the whole story.
There’s little reason to stock up on Marriott points without a stay in mind. Marriott runs purchase promotions periodically, and another offer will eventually come along.
Instead, start with the hotel. Check the cash price, check the points price, and calculate what those points would cost to buy.
Sometimes cash wins. Sometimes points do.
And when buying the points is cheaper, it’s a pretty easy way to save money on the exact same room.
Atmos Rewards is on the verge of becoming a lot more customizable.
Starting October 1, members will be able to choose how they earn points and status points on flights, join new groups that unlock benefits based on how they travel, and get several new perks.
And there’s considerably more coming in 2027.
Alaska Air Group announced a broad expansion of Atmos Rewards on Tuesday, September 29, including a new debit card and the ability to transfer points from eligible Bank of America cards. The latter could make Atmos Rewards points considerably easier to earn without flying Alaska or Hawaiian or spending on one of their cobranded credit cards.
There’s a lot changing, and some of it takes effect this week.
Atmos Rewards Members Can Choose How They Earn
Starting October 1, Atmos Rewards members can select one of three ways to earn points and status points on flights: distance traveled, dollars spent, or segments flown.
The choice will apply to flights departing January 1, 2027 or later.
Existing members who don’t make a selection will continue earning based on distance, while new members joining January 1 or later will default to earning based on the price of the ticket. Members can change their selection once per calendar year for future flights.
It’s an unusual amount of control for an airline loyalty program.
Someone taking frequent short flights could choose to earn based on segments, while another member could stick with distance. Higher-spending members have the option of tying earnings to the price of their tickets instead.
And earning is only one part of the customization Alaska is adding.
DAVEALAN / ISTOCK
New Atmos Rewards Communities Come With Different Benefits
Atmos Rewards is expanding its Communities program from two groups to six on October 1.
Club 49 and Huakaʻi by Hawaiian, which are built around Alaska and Hawaii residents respectively, will be joined by Global Locals, Families on the Go, Culinary Journeys, and Active Escapes.
Depending on the group, perks can include free checked bags, flight deals, bonus point challenges, partner offers, discounts on Atmos Rewards Unlocked experiences, bonus status points for international travel, and discounts on points bookings for children.
The last one is particularly interesting for families, while the international status point bonuses give Atmos Rewards another way to reward members differently based on how they actually travel.
Bank of America Points Will Become Transferable to Atmos Rewards
One of the bigger changes isn’t arriving until 2027.
Alaska says customers with eligible Bank of America cards will be able to transfer points directly into Atmos Rewards.
There are still some important blanks. Alaska hasn’t said which Bank of America cards will participate, which rewards will be transferable, or what the transfer ratio will be.
But the concept itself is notable.
Bank of America already issues the Atmos Rewards credit cards. Allowing points from other eligible cards to transfer into Atmos Rewards would create another path into the program without requiring spending directly on an Atmos Rewards card.
And Bank of America won’t necessarily be alone. Alaska says Atmos Rewards eventually plans to add points transfers from other select financial institutions around the world.
An Atmos Rewards Debit Card Is Coming, Too
Atmos Rewards is also moving beyond credit cards.
A new Atmos Rewards debit card is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with preregistration open now. The card will earn Atmos Rewards points and status points on purchases, but Alaska is also teasing something less typical for a debit card: the ability to earn rewards on savings.
Other announced benefits include an annual flight discount, discounts on flights and onboard purchases, free points sharing, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to use points toward certain account fees.
MAK STUDIO / ISTOCK
There aren’t many specifics yet about how earning on purchases or savings will work, or the value of the annual flight discount.
There is, however, an incentive to register early. Atmos Rewards members who join the early access list by October 31 will receive a code for 20% off an eligible Alaska flight for travel from January 6 through March 10, 2027. Registration doesn’t open an account or guarantee eligibility for the debit card.
The card will be issued by Cross River Bank and managed by Alviere rather than Bank of America, which issues the Atmos Rewards credit cards.
There’s another card update coming sooner. Alaska plans to refresh its Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card later this year with lounge passes, free same-day confirmed flight changes, and 10X points on eligible purchases through Atmos Rewards for Business.
More details are expected later this fall.
More Benefits Are Coming for Platinum and Titanium Members
Higher-tier Atmos Rewards members are getting another change beginning November 2.
Platinum and Titanium members will be able to bring eligible children and one companion into Premium Class at no additional charge when space is available.
Alaska has also introduced a dedicated Titanium check-in facility in Seattle and is offering Titanium members global upgrades into Alaska’s premium cabins.
There’s a lot happening to Atmos Rewards at once, but the common thread is choice. Members can choose how they earn, join communities based on how they travel, and soon have more ways to earn or move points into the program.
The Bank of America piece could be particularly important once Alaska fills in the missing details. For now, though, the first round of changes starts October 1.
Alaska Airlines has spent the last couple of years building a much bigger airline. Now it’s starting to show what it wants that airline to become in the years ahead.
On Tuesday, September 29, Alaska Air Group announced new premium cabins for both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, a new premium economy product, and multiple major lounge projects. The changes will start arriving over the next couple of years as Alaska expands farther into Europe and Asia.
There’s a lot here. But some of the more interesting changes isn’t happening on a long-haul Dreamliner.
Alaska Is Putting Lie-Flat Seats on Some 737s
Alaska’s new top-end product will be called Aurora Suites, and it’ll eventually appear on both the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners and at least 25 new Boeing 737-10s.
The 787-9 will have 34 Aurora Suites with lie-flat beds, privacy doors, direct aisle access, 19-inch 4K screens, and upgraded dining. The updated aircraft will be about 46% premium seating, up from 38% today.
ALASKA AIRLINES
The 737-10 is where things get more interesting.
At least 25 will be configured with 12 lie-flat Aurora Suites. Alaska says they’ll be used on select transcontinental flights beginning in 2028, bringing lie-flat seats to the airline’s narrowbody fleet for the first time.
ALASKA AIRLINES
These won’t exactly blend into the rest of Alaska’s 737 fleet. They’ll wear the same northern lights-inspired Aurora livery as the 787s and add another 12 Premium Reserve seats behind the suites.
Premium Reserve is Alaska’s new premium economy cabin, sitting above the extra-legroom economy seats it currently sells as Premium Class. Seats will have 38 inches of pitch, more recline, leg and calf rests, 16-inch 4K screens, and upgraded dining.
There will be 35 Premium Reserve seats on Alaska’s 787s, 28 on Hawaiian’s A330s, and 12 on the specially configured 737-10s. The seats go on sale next summer before entering service in 2028.
ALASKA AIRLINES
The Aurora experience won’t start at the airplane, either. Suite passengers will get dedicated check-in and concierge service in Seattle, access to a separate Aurora Lounge, and upgraded onboard dining. Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi will also be available to Atmos Rewards members.
Put it all together and Alaska is creating a pretty unusual 737, with lie-flat suites and premium economy ahead of its existing Premium Class and Main Cabin.
Hawaiian’s A330s Are Getting Rebuilt Too
Hawaiian isn’t getting the same cabin with a different logo.
Its fleet of 24 Airbus A330s will receive completely new interiors beginning in 2028, including 22 new Leihōkū Suites. They’ll have lie-flat seats with privacy doors and direct aisle access, along with 19-inch 4K screens, hotel-quality bedding, and upgraded dining.
ALASKA AIRLINES
Another 28 seats will be Premium Reserve.
Altogether, about 40% of the A330 will be premium seating, up from 30% today. The rest of the airplane is getting attention too, with new interiors throughout and upgraded entertainment with 4K screens and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Leihōkū experience will also include dedicated check-in and concierge service in Honolulu and Seattle.
Keeping Aurora and Leihōkū separate is also intentional. Alaska and Hawaiian are increasingly becoming one airline behind the scenes, but the company is still trying to preserve what makes the two brands distinct.
That extends to the food. Seattle chef Renee Erickson will develop menus for Alaska’s European flights, including London, Rome, Athens, and Paris, while James Beard Award-winning chef Brady Ishiwata Williams will handle routes to Asia. Hawaiian will continue building its menus around local chefs and ingredients.
Seattle Is Getting a 41,000-Square-Foot Lounge Complex
The premium push starts well before boarding.
Alaska plans to open a nearly 41,000-square-foot lounge complex in Seattle’s expanded C Concourse in late 2027. The airline says it’ll be Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s largest lounge and one of the largest in the country.
ALASKA AIRLINES
It’s actually two connected lounges.
A 500-seat Alaska Lounge will occupy the main level and follow Alaska’s existing access policies. A separate 200-seat Aurora Lounge will be reserved for Aurora Suites passengers traveling on intercontinental flights.
The complex will have an outdoor patio with a fireplace, private work pods, three bars, a pizza oven, and what Alaska calls a coffee lab.
The Aurora side goes further with private showers, wellness spaces, made-to-order food, à la carte dining, and tableside service.
Hawaiian is getting a substantial lounge of its own. A nearly 13,000-square-foot, 200-seat lounge is scheduled to open in Honolulu in early 2028. Alaska also plans a new 14,000-square-foot lounge in San Diego that year.
ALASKA AIRLINES
All of this starts to make more sense alongside where Alaska wants to fly.
The company currently serves seven intercontinental destinations and plans to reach at least 15 by 2030. Long-haul flying is expected to grow from about 8% of capacity today to roughly 15% by then.
Premium is becoming a bigger part of the business, too. Alaska expects premium revenue to grow from 35% to more than 40% of total revenue by 2030.
Time is fleeting to transfer Chase points to World of Hyatt at 1:1 with some Ultimate Rewards cards.
Starting October 1, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred will transfer points to Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio. For every 1,000 Chase points transferred, that means 750 Hyatt points instead of 1,000.
Some Sapphire Preferred cardholders are already living with the new ratio. Anyone who opened the card on or after June 15 got the 4:3 ratio from the start.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business, meanwhile, are keeping 1:1 transfers.
That’s a pretty meaningful divide for people who regularly use Chase points to book Hyatt hotels.
A Hyatt stay costing 20,000 points currently takes 20,000 Chase points with a 1:1 transfer. At 4:3, it takes 27,000 Chase points, since Chase processes transfers in 1,000-point increments.
Three nights at that price goes from 60,000 Chase points to 80,000.
What to Do Before October 1
If there’s a Hyatt stay somewhere in the plans, now is a good time to price it out.
That doesn’t have to mean booking a hotel today. Check trips already planned for next year, weekends under consideration, or anywhere Hyatt was already a possibility.
If a hotel is available with points and the trip is likely to happen, waiting until after October 1 to transfer could mean spending considerably more Chase points for exactly the same stay.
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That doesn’t mean emptying an Ultimate Rewards account into Hyatt. Transfers are final, and keeping points with Chase leaves more options if plans change.
There is another way to keep the 1:1 ratio.
Chase is effectively making it a perk of its more expensive Sapphire Reserve cards. Someone who uses Hyatt regularly now has another reason to compare the Sapphire Preferred with the Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Business Preferred with the Sapphire Reserve for Business.
That’s a bigger decision than what to do before October 1. For now, if a Hyatt stay is somewhere on the horizon, it’s worth seeing what it costs before the transfer rate changes.
American, Delta, and United are all adding new transatlantic flights next year. A look at the schedules and current pricing turned up three worth knowing about this week, including a trip to Portugal from just 21,000 miles.
But Philadelphia doesn’t have to be the starting point to get that price.
POINTSYEAH
On March 29, for example, American is selling an itinerary from Boston (BOS) to Porto for 21,000 AAdvantage miles plus $5.60 in economy. The trip connects in Philadelphia before continuing on American’s new nonstop to Portugal.
Change the date to April 4, and the same 21,000-mile price is available out of Los Angeles (LAX).
It’s already bookable with MileagePlus miles, too.
POINTSYEAH
On April 28, the nonstop costs 40,000 United miles plus $5.60 in economy. Eligible United cardholders can book the same flight for 36,000 miles plus $5.60.
Luxembourg probably isn’t the first airport that comes to mind for a trip to Europe. But its location is part of the appeal. The country borders France, Germany, and Belgium, putting the new nonstop within easy reach of several places that might otherwise require a connection anyway.
On July 20, Main Basic starts at 35,000 SkyMiles plus $6 one way. Eligible Delta cardholders get a 15% discount through TakeOff 15, dropping the price to 29,700 miles plus $6.
There is a tradeoff for taking the cheaper option.
Main Basic charges a fee to cancel or change the ticket, doesn’t include advance seat selection, and charges for the first checked bag. Main Classic on the same flight costs 45,800 miles, or 38,900 miles with the cardholder discount, and offers more flexibility, advance seat selection, and a free checked bag.
That’s a difference of 9,200 miles for cardholders. On a trip being booked nearly 10 months ahead, paying more miles for the extra flexibility could make sense.
Search for Your Own Trip
These prices are snapshots of a moment in time and can move up or down. Changing the dates, departure airport, or cabin can also produce very different results.
That’s particularly useful with new routes. United’s Luxembourg flight starts in Newark, while American’s new Porto nonstop starts in Philadelphia. But as the Boston and Los Angeles examples show, itineraries don’t necessarily start there.
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Search these routes on other dates, try another departure airport, or see what else is available for a trip to Europe.
Delta is adding three new routes to Europe in 2027, with new nonstop flights to Athens, Venice, and Paris.
The airline announced Thursday, September 25, that it will begin flying from Detroit (DTW) to Athens (ATH) and Boston (BOS) to Venice (VCE) next summer. Those flights will join a previously announced route from Austin (AUS) to Paris (CDG), which begins in March.
Delta is also stretching several seasonal Europe routes farther into the spring and fall, giving some destinations a longer window than the usual summer schedule.
Delta Adds New Flights to Athens, Venice, and Paris
Delta will begin flying from Detroit to Athens three times weekly on June 8, 2027. Flights will operate through October 28 aboard an Airbus A330-200.
It will be the first nonstop flight between Detroit and Athens, making Detroit Delta’s fourth U.S. gateway to the Greek capital.
Boston gets a new route of its own beginning May 7. Delta will fly four times weekly to Venice through October 29 using an Airbus A330-300.
That gives Boston another nonstop option to Italy, where Delta has been steadily adding service over the past few years. The airline will also increase its Boston-Milan route to daily service in 2027.
Farther south, Delta will begin daily flights between Austin and Paris on March 27, 2027, giving Austin its first nonstop connection to the French capital. The route will use an Airbus A330-900neo.
All three routes will offer Delta One business class and Delta Premium Select premium economy in addition to economy.
The additions are part of a broader period of international growth for Delta. The airline is also preparing to launch its first flights to Riyadh (RUH) on October 23, 2026, adding Saudi Arabia to its route map.
Delta Is Lengthening the Europe Season
The new routes aren’t the only change coming to Delta’s Europe schedule.
Several seasonal flights will start earlier in 2027, while others will stick around longer.
Flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit to Rome will begin in early March, for example, while Seattle-Rome will start in April. Delta is also bringing back several routes earlier in the year, including New York-JFK to Catania, Porto, Prague, and Copenhagen.
Boston and Seattle flights to Barcelona and Atlanta-Edinburgh will return earlier as well.
Some routes are also getting more service. Detroit-Rome and New York-Copenhagen will operate daily when they return, while Cincinnati-Paris will continue three times weekly from January through March.
That makes Delta’s transatlantic network a little less dependent on the traditional summer rush.
American Express has spent more than a decade building one of the largest credit card airport lounge networks in the world.
The first Centurion Lounge opened in 2013. Since then, the network has expanded across the United States and into airports from London to Tokyo, with more locations on the way.
Unlike airline lounges, access isn’t tied to flying a particular airline or sitting in a premium cabin. It comes primarily through a handful of premium American Express cards.
Here’s where to find Centurion Lounges, who can get in, and what to know before your visit.
Where Can You Find American Express Centurion Lounges?
American Express operates Centurion Lounges across the United States and at several international airports.
The network is still growing, with additional Centurion Lounges already announced.
Airport
Location
Expected
Newark (EWR)
Terminal A
2026
Boston (BOS)
Terminal C
2029
Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge
American Express is also experimenting with a smaller lounge concept called Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge.
Sidecar is designed for shorter visits, with drinks and light bites rather than the broader dining and amenity experience found at a full Centurion Lounge. Visits are limited to 90 minutes before departure.
The first Sidecar opened at Las Vegas (LAS) in 2025, and another is planned for Charlotte (CLT) in 2027.
Who Can Access a Centurion Lounge?
You can’t purchase a Centurion Lounge membership or simply pay for a day pass.
Instead, complimentary access comes primarily through eligible American Express cards, including:
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business cardmembers (when flying Delta)
Guest access depends on which card you use.
Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card members generally pay $50 per adult guest and $30 for children ages 2 through 17. Cardmembers who make $75,000 or more in eligible purchases during a calendar year can unlock complimentary access for up to two guests at eligible Centurion Lounge locations.
You’ll also need a same-day boarding pass. Access is generally limited to within three hours of your scheduled departure. If you’re connecting, you can enter up to five hours before your next flight.
What Can You Expect Inside a Centurion Lounge?
Centurion Lounges share many of the same basics, but American Express doesn’t make every location identical.
Food, drinks, artwork, and design often incorporate elements of the city or region surrounding the airport. Some locations take that further with amenities you won’t find elsewhere in the network.
At New York (JFK), there’s a speakeasy called 1850. Seattle (SEA) has a full-service coffee bar inspired by the city’s coffee culture. At Tokyo Haneda (HND), chefs prepare nigiri from an open kitchen.
The rest will feel familiar if you’ve spent time in airport lounges. Expect complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, power outlets, and places to work or relax. Depending on the location, you may also find showers, family rooms, outdoor spaces, or other amenities.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
A few rules are worth checking before heading to a Centurion Lounge:
Bring a government-issued photo ID. You may be asked to show it at check-in.
Your boarding pass must be for a same-day departing flight.
Entry is subject to capacity, and popular lounges can have a wait during busy periods.
Amenities vary considerably between locations.
International locations can have different access and guest policies, so check the rules for the specific lounge you’re visiting.
Because lounge access policies can change, confirm the latest rules with American Express before traveling if Centurion Lounge access is important to your plans.
American Airlines and STARLUX have officially launched their codeshare partnership. But for anyone with American miles, the more interesting part is what could come next.
American says the airlines are working toward mileage redemptions and additional benefits. If that happens, STARLUX would become another way to use AAdvantage miles to get to Asia.
That’s already one of the more useful aspects of American’s program. AAdvantage miles can be used on American’s own flights across the Pacific, along with partners including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Malaysia Airlines can help with trips farther into Southeast Asia, while Qantas opens up additional possibilities through Australia.
STARLUX could add another piece to that network, with flights from several U.S. cities to Taipei and connections throughout Asia.
The codeshare is the first step. American is now selling select STARLUX flights from Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA) to Taipei (TPE), with Phoenix (PHX) expected to follow pending approval.
AAdvantage members can earn miles and Loyalty Points when those STARLUX flights are sold under an American flight number.
What isn’t possible yet is booking a STARLUX flight with AAdvantage miles.
American says the airlines will work together on future opportunities including “mileage redemption and additional travel benefits,” but hasn’t said when that will happen, what flights will be available, or how many miles they’ll cost.
STARLUX isn’t the only potential addition, either. Philippine Airlines is preparing to join Oneworld, the airline alliance that includes American, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and several other carriers. Its membership should eventually create another way to use American miles for flights in Asia.
There’s plenty left to learn about both additions. But the direction is pretty interesting. AAdvantage already offers several ways to cross the Pacific using miles, and that list looks likely to get longer.
