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Where should you go on your next pleasure trip? An online biometric travel test, the first of its kind, may have an answer.Seeker, which launched on Monday, July 2, is a product of AccorHotels’ loyalty program, Le Club AccorHotels. And it promises to help you find the perfect destination for your unique travel preferences.Last month, I was invited to try out a more elaborate variant of the test — a three-dimensional installation in a Jersey City warehouse across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan....

During my few days in Tokyo earlier this year, I stayed at the beautiful Park Hyatt Tokyo and did my best to not let the 14 hour time difference and jet-lag overpower me. I think I did pretty good at pushing through and making the most of my limited time there, but there is no doubt I was a little bit like a fish out of water. This was my first trip to Japan, and I really had very little clue as to what I was doing....

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.United is a member of the Star Alliance, which, among other benefits, enables the carrier to sell flights operated by a slew of member airlines. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes to ensure that customers have a seamless experience when traveling on a multi-carrier itinerary, which is especially common on international trips — if you’re flying United from Newark (EWR) and connecting in Frankfurt (FRA), for example, chances are you’ll be traveling on Lufthansa to your final destination in Europe....

United Airlines is switching its order for the Airbus A350-1000 to the smaller A350-900, a move that had been in the air for some time after chief financial officer Andrew Levy said last year the airline wanted smaller jets for its long-haul fleet.The A350-900 typically seats 300, while the A350-1000 in United’s Polaris / premium economy / economy configuration would have featured most likely between 330 and 350 seats. Fewer seats and lower fuel consumption compared to its bigger sibling might mean more profit for United on the same routes....

On April 23, 2018, United took delivery of its first 737 MAX 9. In addition to improved fuel efficiency, Boeing’s latest narrow-body plane offers the manufacturer’s latest Sky Interior cabin, with LED lighting and reduced engine noise.United’s variant also sports speedy ViaSat Ka-band Wi-Fi, but substitutes streaming content for seat-back entertainment, which means passengers will be responsible for keeping themselves entertained.There are a few other small quirks to note, and as with every plane and aircraft cabin, some seats offer a better in-flight experience than others....

Right now when you join a social media marketing platform called Bckstgr.com, you can earn up to 1,000 free United miles. Initially, I thought the site looked a little bit sketchy and I was hesitant to enter my United login information, it is legitimate and I’ve received my 1,000 United miles, so I feel comfortable passing this one along.When you sign up for BCKSTGR, you link your various accounts – Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc....

The coastal village of Landévennec in Finistère, in Brittany, France’s most northwestern region, has a new ban: Stay away from the frisky dolphin.A sexually aroused dolphin on a Brittany beach has become increasingly aggressive toward swimmers during his mating season, and the local mayor issued a swimming ban on Aug. 20. Swimmers will be fined 39 euros, or roughly $45, if they swim closer than 131 feet to the dolphin.The dolphin, nicknamed Zafar, has been rubbing against people and boats, and the BBC reported that the ban followed after the 10-foot bottlenose dolphin tossed a female bather into the air with his nose....

On Wednesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its biennial report to Congress covering the credit card market, and its findings show that the market is on the up-and-up. In addition to the total number of credit card accounts increasing, so has the total credit available to cardholders and the average amount of debt over the past two years.The CFPB report states that the credit card market has grown in size, as well as in its number of participants, offerings and features of its products....

When travel guru Rick Steves speaks, people in the industry listen. And these days, Steves is pondering the ethics of Airbnb. While he appreciates the “cultural intimacy” Airbnb offers, he’s concerned the company may be having a devastating “impact on the fabric of communities.“It’s certainly a provocative statement, especially coming from the man who put many small European towns on the map for hordes of US-based tourists. However, Steves is echoing what many municipalities in Europe are already grappling with: Home sharing is disrupting the balance between tourism and residential life....

Aviation officials in China have revoked the licenses of the pilots of an Air China 737 that had an emergency mid-flight due to the cockpit crew’s e-cigarette smoke.The 737 made a rapid emergency descent, which caused a depressurization in the cabin and made the overhead oxygen masks fall, after one of the pilots accidentally turned off the aircraft air conditioner systems in an effort to contain the smoke from his e-cigarette....

Three major US airlines are offering bonus points or miles on purchases made through their shopping portals for a limited time only. In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day — and, in the case of United, NCAA March Madness — Alaska, American and United are all offering bonus miles for purchases made through their shopping portals.Check each of the promotions below to find out the bonus earning possibilities:Alaska Mileage Plan ShoppingWith Alaska’s St....

The US will get another nonstop link to Africa this year when Kenya Airways launches its first-ever nonstop flight to the Americas. The national airline of Kenya has been in financial trouble for years, but on Wednesday it said it plans a bold move: a nonstop flight between Nairobi (NBO) and New York JFK, beginning later this year.Kenyan media is reporting that the flight will launch in October, operated by one of the carrier’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, with no date set for the inaugural flight....

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.Just a friendly reminder that today is the last day for 50% off British Airways awards. I outlined the deal in this post, but feel free to ask any last minute questions.

The hotel mergers and acquisitions scene seems to be ever active! This morning, the UK-based The Sunday Times reported that Chinese insurance conglomerate Anbang Insurance Group is planning a £7 billion bid (US$9.2 billion) for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).Recognize the name Anbang? Back in October 2014, the insurance group made news by purchasing NYC’s famous Waldorf Astoria for $1.95 billion. Early this year, Anbang not only bought Strategic Hotels & Resorts for $6....

TPG contributor Mark travels the Middle East and India for his work and has the inside scoop on the frequent flyer programs for several airlines based in that part of the world. Whether you decide to join one of these programs or not, it’s an interesting look at how frequent flyer mile programs vary by region. Here he explains the basics of Etihad’s Guest Programme.Airlines based in the Middle East are consistently ranked as some of the best in the world thanks to some of the youngest aircraft fleets in the sky, the newest onboard products, and mileage programs designed with the contemporary traveler in mind....

Fitting everything you need for an extended trip into a carry-on sized pack is a skill that took me a long time to perfect. “Be prepared” and “just in case” were phrases I told myself that led to overpacking, baggage fees, time wasted at baggage claim and lost-luggage annoyances. I’ll share the key tips I’ve acquired during my downsizing journey as an experienced traveler with just a backpack, so you really can live for weeks or months out of a carry-on....

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.A spat between the US and the United Arab Emirates over air subsidies that has lasted years might finally be coming to a close, several sources tell the Associated Press.The dispute started when major US airlines accused Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dubai-based Etihad Airways of obscuring billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies they’ve received from their governments....

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.This Thursday I’ll be heading to Park City, Utah to experience the Sundance Film Festival for my third year in a row. I’m excited to announce that TPG will have a bigger presence at the festival this year, and will even host an exclusive happy hour on Saturday, January 23....

The airport amenity people value most isn’t fancy restaurants or uber-exclusive lounges. It’s fast, free Wi-Fi. After all, cellular service in airports doesn’t have the best rep. However, you might want to think twice before connecting to the Wi-Fi the next time you’re in an airport.According to a recent study by Coronet, a cybersecurity company, these public networks are often unencrypted, insecure or improperly configured. As a result, it becomes much easier for hackers to access devices connected to the networks and potentially steal personal data....

Virgin America is currently holding a Facebook promotion to win a four-night stay at a Waldorf Astoria hotel or resort of your choice plus a flight for you and one other passenger for a long weekend anywhere Virgin flies. But more interestingly, when you like Virgin on the offer page, you’ll get a promo code for 20% off a Virgin America flight.To get the 20% discount code, you must enter the Waldorf Astoria contest by October 26, 2012, and you can only enter once per email address....