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TPG reader Josh tweeted me to ask:@thepointsguy– “I just got 100k Amex Platinum sign-up bonus points. What’s your favorite way to use Amex points?“Josh was lucky enough to be targeted for the 100,000 point sign-up bonus offer for the Amex Platinum card, which is an amazing promotion. I typically like to use my Membership Rewards points for airline transfers. American Express is adding a lot of new partners, like AirBnb, Uber, and even McDonald’s, but I get the most value by transferring to partners like British Airways, which is probably my number one choice....

A wildfire that ignited in California on Friday is raging into Yosemite National Park during peak tourist season, officials said on Monday.The deadly fire has burned 14 square miles of forest along the western edge of the park so far and has shut down a major access road into Yosemite. Park officials tweeted that Highway 140 was closed down, causing wait times to pile up on other entrance roads into the nature reserve....

Until last Friday, I had never flown British Airways’ Club World business class. That may come as a bit of a surprise, given that I’ve reviewed many other premium products operating between the US and Europe. But especially after cutbacks announced in 2016, paired with the UK’s Air Passenger Duty and obnoxiously high fuel surcharges that come along with award tickets, I just wasn’t all that interested in trying BA.That said, one BA flight was on my radar — BA1, the daily service from London’s City Airport (LCY) to New York-JFK....

Mention Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, and you’ll typically hear about two things: the nearby Great Ocean Road and how it’s home to great cafés. But while the coastal road trip along the cliffs to the 12 Apostles is a must-do and the café scene is an experience in itself, there’s still so much more hiding behind and beneath its lovely laneways. Here are 10 tips and tricks for making the most of a stay in Melbourne, starting with one of the most crucial: where to properly get your caffeine fix....

Emirates is now one of the world’s largest international airlines, covering more than 153 destinations across six continents. With nearly 52 million passengers flying the airline last year alone — and many of them with stops in Dubai International Airport (DXB) — it’s no surprise that missed connections and delays cause quite a lot of unexpected, long layovers in the city.My friends and I encountered this first-hand on a recent trip from Nice, France, to Melbourne, Australia....

In September, then-Category 4 Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico with 155-mph winds in what was the worst storm to hit the island in 85 years. In the month following the storm, tourism — along with the island’s entire power grid — was wiped out, and floods transformed San Juan’s streets into rivers.An influx of relief efforts from volunteer pilots and celebrity chefs like José Andrés have helped revive the island as it struggles to get above water....

Vent session, anyone? In the second installment of our series, “Airlines Behaving Badly,” we take a look back the worst of airline conduct this week — and it hasn’t been pretty.Let’s get into it:Middle East Airlines Deplanes 150 Passengers for PresidentWe begin this week with a strange one. How often are 150 people kicked off a passenger plane because the president has a meeting? Well, three days ago at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), Lebanese President Michel Aoun had to get to New York for the United Nations General Assembly — which was bad news for everyone on Middle East Airlines Flight 308....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Back in April, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker warned passengers that its airfares might rise in response to the heightened price of oil. We have yet to see prices change significantly, but on Monday, Parker made similar comments about more expensive plane tickets across the industry as oil prices continue to hover around $70 a barrel....

Update: The situation has been resolved and American flights are now bookable on Orbitz again.In a bold move and with legal rulings in their favor, American Airlines has pulled all of its flights from Orbitz.com.From aa.com"Q: Why aren’t American’s fares available on Orbitz?A: We were unable to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with Orbitz. As a result, Orbitz is no longer authorized to display our schedules or sell tickets for travel on American Airlines or American Eagle....

Activism is everywhere today — from political marches to viral hashtags — and it’s only beginning to gain speed. Enter the soon-to-open Eaton Hotel, a Washington D.C. property inspired by social change.According to Fast Company, the 209-room hotel ($250-$300 per night) is backed Great Eagle Holdings Ltd, parent company of Langham Hospitality Group (owner of Langham Hotels).Renderings by GachotThe Washington D.C. location, one of four Eatons on deck (the others are slated for Hong Kong, Seattle, and San Francisco), is due to open in April....

Almost on a daily basis, Kate McWilliams says she gets asked about her age. Passengers and cabin crew alike are surprised to learn that — at just 26 years old — she’s achieved the rank of captain at low-cost carrier easyJet. They have reason to be surprised by her age. After all, she’s one of the world’s youngest commercial airline captains.But, Kate’s no stranger to flying. Inspired by her first airshow at the age of four, she began flying as part of the Royal Air Force’s Air Cadets at the age of 13....

Update 12/10/16: The original post mistakenly stated that you were able to book at British Airways off-peak rates for Aer Lingus flights. While this wasn’t formerly possible, you can now redeem Avios for Aer Lingus flights using the off peak rates.The distance between Boston (BOS) and Dublin (DUB) just grew by a few miles. No, there wasn’t a great earthquake that made the Atlantic wider. With a stroke of a pen, British Airways just stretched the distance between the airports by at least seven miles....

“Reader Questions” are answered twice a week — Mondays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.Flexible bank points such as Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are useful not just for transferring to travel partners, but for buying airfare directly. Except what happens if your airline doesn’t appear on the bank’s travel portal, as TPG reader Katya asked us via email…[pullquote source=“TPG Reader Katya”]Can I buy Norwegian tickets using Citi’s ThankYou points or Chase’s Ultimate Rewards?...

In the aftermath of the financial crisis, Congress passed financial regulations meant to add more oversight into the financial markets to hopefully avoid another crisis. In 2009 they passed the CARD act, which enforced new rules on credit card companies including how often they could change consumer APRs and how much they could charge merchants for debit transactions. As a result, in 2011 most banks stopped issuing mileage earning debit cards because it became too unprofitable to offer rich rewards on the reduced amount they could charge merchants for transactions....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – The Platinum Card from American Express, Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express, Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American ExpressAmerican Express and the US Travel Association (a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting US travel) have partnered to offer discounts and deals with various travel brands and loyalty programs during the next month, including hotel packages, points/miles purchase promos, rental car discounts and more....

It’s not very common to see a Boeing 747-400 operating domestic flights within the US — especially on flights to Seattle. However, on January 1, 2017, Delta is doing just that, with a one-off flight from Minneapolis (MSP), as TPG reader Aris S. shared today.The flight, Delta 2221, will depart MSP at 11:19am and arrive in Seattle at 12:55pm. January 1 is a peak travel day (which may explain the extra capacity), and fares are already quite high — you’ll pay $756 for first class or $534 for economy....

Emirates Airline has buddied up with fellow Dubai-based low-cost carrier FlyDubai with an expansive codeshare agreement, schedule alignment and network optimization. Simply put, the arrangement will allow passengers of both airlines to book seamless travel on the two carriers, giving them dozens more convenient travel options.This is a win for the airlines as well as their passengers — and some think it may be a precursor to a full merger. FlyDubai is government-owned, while Emirates is owned by the Emirates Group....

Who doesn’t love the idea of relaxing in a lazy river and then having almost immediate access to all the activities and attractions of a major downtown? Normally, you can’t have both of those things at the same time. However, this is Texas, and at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston, you can have a rooftop lazy river in the shape of Texas just steps away from some of the best that Houston has to offer!...

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Uber has shared the details of a new pilot program in the greater Boston area, giving customers the ability to purchase an UberPool Pass at a flat rate for trips from July 1 through July 31, 2016. Although UberPool doesn’t give you a private ride, the prices are usually significantly lower than what you’d be charged to have the car to yourself....

Ever had the urge to kill time on a long layover with parachute rides or a dip in a swimming pool with a view of the airport’s runway?Well, with Norway’s plans for Airport City in Oslo (OSL), those features will only scratch the surface on ways you can pass the time while traveling. The only catch is the 43-million-square-foot, sustainable city won’t be completed for another 30 years.But, Oslo Airport City (OAC) seems like it might be worth the three decade wait....