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Update: Tropicana is no longer accepting status matches from those holding Ceasars cards.Shortly before starting my internship at TPG, I came across Peter Rothbart’s post on maximizing the benefits of FoundersCard in Las Vegas. Like Peter, poker plays a large part in my life as I run a poker coaching business and have a strategy podcast and blog. Knowing that I would be returning to World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this coming summer and likely staying at Caesars properties, saving a ton of money on resort fees alone convinced me to apply for the card....

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.“She works hard for the money, so hard for it, honey” so you better treat it right. Everyone’s taped together some ripped dollar bills and hoped that it’d be accepted as legal tender. On Tuesday, “Daily Show” writer Dan Amira took to his Twitter to reveal that the government will reimburse you for those damaged dollars....

In this day and age, having WiFi during hotel stays is essential, whether it be for business, personal use, or simply convenience. This is especially true when traveling abroad and wanting to avoid expensive data roaming charges for your personal devices.Many hotels still charge for WiFi.However, many hotel chains, especially the higher-end ones, still do not offer free WiFi, and in fact, many charge upwards of $20 for you to surf as you would at home!...

Richard Russell’s tragic and bizarre first, and final, flight in a Horizon Air Q400 has left aviation experts wondering. How did he obtain the skills to not only start the 76-seat twin-turboprop, but to get it airborne and fly for over an hour, performing jaw-dropping stunts?Russell was a ground-service employee at SeaTac airport, who had training in the procedures of towing an aircraft. That may have given him a familiarity with the Q400’s flight deck, and because aircraft under tow are required to contact ramp or ground controllers, Russell likely understood basic radio procedures....

TPG Contributor “Vic Vector” is an air traffic controller at a major ATC facility in the United States. In this installment of our “Insider Series,” he discusses emergency situations, how controllers handle them and how aviation safety is a group effort.I recently talked about the potential for computers to replace human air traffic controllers and why that’s simply not plausible given today’s technology. The main reason it remains such a dubious concept is the inability of computers to adapt on the fly to abnormal situations, namely emergencies....

Last week, KLM released a new augmented-reality (AR) feature in its app that allows travelers to measure their carry-on bags ahead of upcoming trips. The AR technology relies on smartphone cameras to virtually compare a traveler’s real-life suitcase against the KLM template.KLM limits travelers to one accessory measuring 15.75" x 11.81" x 5.91" (40 x 30 x 15 cm), as well as one carry-on piece measuring 21.65" x 13.78" x 9....

TPG readers are always on-the-go and from work and networking events to drinks with friends and weekend getaways, there’s always something on our calendars. Given how busy our schedules are, it’s important to have a pair of sunglasses on hand — because let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than being stuck outside on a sunny day without a great pair of shades.Sunski’s Plover sunglasses are polarized and extremely lightweight. The company encourages people to “live life outside” so these are great for adventurous travelers who like to spend a lot of time outdoors....

TPG reader Brendan tweeted me to ask:@thepointsguy– “I’ve already re-qualified for American Executive Platinum for 2015, but still have a few trips this year, should I credit elsewhere?“December is crunch time for those of us who value airline elite status. You’ve got until December 31, 2014 to embark on a flight that will count for 2015 elite status. Unsurprisingly, I’ve been getting a lot of reader questions lately about elite status, and TPG reader Brendan is one of the lucky ones who’s already set with his AAdvantage Executive Platinum status for 2015 (even I’m still hustling to get it)....

Just more than one week after a Southwest Airlines engine exploded, resulting in the death of one passenger, the carrier says that its bookings have decreased.In the company’s first quarter profit report released on Thursday, Southwest said that its Revenue per Available Seat Mile (RASM), a factor in pricing power, is expected to decrease 1%-3% in the second quarter. This, as compared to the second quarter RASM of 2017, which totaled 14....

A “radio problem” caused panic at New York Kennedy (JFK) airport Tuesday night. A JetBlue flight departing New York City for Los Angeles (LAX) lost contact with air traffic control and the miscommunication led to the aircraft being stormed by a SWAT team.JFK professional aircraft spotter Shaq noticed something was amiss a little after 8:00pm on Tuesday night, pinging JetBlue on Twitter about the flight.But the flight wouldn’t depart anytime soon....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.When you think about luxury flying experiences, there’s a good chance Emirates first class comes to mind. As a first-class passenger on one of its Airbus A380s, you’ll get to enjoy the famous in-flight bar and shower. And if you find yourself on one of the new Boeing 777s between Dubai (DXB) and Brussels (BRU) or Geneva (GVA), you’ll get to experience the newest first-class cabin with completely private suites....

There’s a new restaurant in Cleveland that used to be a US Air Force tanker aircraft during the Cold War. Cleveland’s International Exposition I-X Center is converting a Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter into a 50-seat restaurant.The I-X Center, a former factory, acquired the plane last June after it spent many decades stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, the enormous desert facility where the Air Force keeps its discarded planes. The desert climate prevents corrosion, and in some cases planes fly again after storage at a so-called “aircraft boneyard....

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.No, it’s not your imagination: hotel thermostats have gone rogue. If you’ve ever taken a look at your hotel thermostat to see a cool 70 degrees yet your room feels far more like a sauna, you’re familiar with the plight of many travelers fighting their thermostats for the perfect temperature....

On Wednesday, two different shark attacks occurred just 15 minutes and four miles apart on the beaches of Fire Island. One victim was a 13-year-old boy and the other was a 12-year-old girl. Both are expected to fully recover, but now an investigation has been opened on the occurrences.The 13-year-old was boogie-boarding off of Atlantique beach when the shark bit him, while the girl was standing in the waters of Sailor’s Haven beach....

It’s been a doggone crappy week for some United passengers — especially three of man’s best friends. One destined for Kansas is now stuck in Japan, one on its way to Tokyo is with strangers in Kansas City and a third, a beloved French bulldog named Papacito… well, he’s dead.The airline is clearly at fault when it comes to all three. So, naturally, United had to act — and given the firestorm that followed 2017’s infamous “passenger-experience” debacle — it had to act quickly....

A bitter spat between US airlines and United Arab Emirates-based carriers over aviation subsidies has finally come to a close — for now.Officials from both countries privately signed a deal Friday that experts with inside knowledge of the agreement say was carefully worded so both countries could walk away feeling victorious.US airlines have accused carriers from the UAE — namely Abu Dhabi-based Etihad and Dubai-based Emirates — of receiving secret financial subsidies from their government that put them at an unfair competitive advantage....

For today’s #WineWednesday, TPG Contributor Casey Hatfield-Chiotti takes us down to Baja California’s little-known Valle de Guadalupe to explore Mexico’s burgeoning wine scene.The Valle de Guadalupe may be one of the most under the radar wine regions in the world.Valle de Guadalupe in Baja may be one of the most under-the-radar wine regions in the world. Just an hour and a half south of San Diego, the fertile valley is Mexico’s premier wine country....

Much like Starwood’s recent move to adjust their award categories, Marriott is doing the same - but Marriott is generally increasing the points needed for awards, whereas Starwood brought more properties down. These changes take effect on March 8, so if you see a property you plan to use points for this year, I’d recommend making the booking now at the lower rate as long as the cancellation policy works for you....

A new study released by Upgraded Points highlights the fastest growing and declining airports in the US.Upgraded Points (UP) analyzed a decade’s worth of data complied by the Federal Aviation Administration that looked into passenger enplanement between 2007 and 2017. UP only considered airports that attracted more than three million passengers in 2007.There’s no denying everyone has an airport they prefer more than others and some they’d rather avoid at all costs, but whether your favorite is on the list of the fastest growing airports depends on the number of revenue passengers boarding planes each year....

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.New York City is home to some of the world’s most famous museums. Now, it’s added one of the most delicious to its cultural roster, with the opening of Choco-Story New York: The Chocolate Museum and Experience with Jacques Torres....