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SPG points are generally considered the most valuable points out there. I very much agree with that statement, but I think it is important for anyone who is interested to understand exactly why they are that valuable. This is important both because everyone’s travel desires are different so value is relative, and they are only the most valuable if you know how to maximize redemptions to get as much value as possible from them....

Welcome to the second installment of TPG Editor-at-Large Zach Honig’s coverage of the 2017 Star Alliance MegaDo. This year’s event takes AvGeeks from around the world on the adventure of a lifetime, including stops in Vienna, Brussels and Mallorca. Check back for daily reports, and follow along in real time on Instagram and Twitter.Yesterday, I recapped my journey from New York to Vienna, which included a great flight on Alitalia and many hours of “carb-loading” in Rome....

The United States and Russia are very close. No, this isn’t the setup of a political joke — they really are. Less than two and a half miles, in fact, between the US island of Little Diomede and the Russian island of Big Diomede, in the Bering Strait off the western coast of Alaska. At the peak of winter, if the sea ice is thick enough and if you have the right permits, you may even be able to walk between the islands....

Just a quick reminder on this Cyber Monday that there are tons of great points-earning opportunities as you do your holiday shopping.Credit Card ProgramsChase Ultimate Rewards Shopping: 12 points per dollar at Groupon, 10 points per dollar on Apple and Kohl’s purchases.American Express Bonus Points Mall: 6x points on Target and Bloomingdale’s purchases.BestBuy is also offering a $10 gift card for in-store pickup orders of $100 or more placed today.Airline and Hotel ProgramsBelow is a quick rundown of the major mileage shopping portals - feel free to add any other deals I’ve missed in the comments....

In February, TPG and I flew Singapore’s brand-new A380 from Sydney (SYD) to Changi Airport (SIN). Since we were both on the same flight, we took the opportunity to review different cabins — TPG took one for the team and put that fancy new first-class Suite through the ringer, while I drew the (only slightly) shorter straw and landed a seat in business class.We both used the carrier’s Book the Cook pre-order option for our main courses, selecting the Thermidor options available for our respective cabins....

Consumers worried about the safety of their credit reports or credit card information aren’t getting a lot of good news lately. After Equifax announced that it had been hacked and that nearly half of the US’s population credit info and social security numbers may have been at risk of being stolen, Sonic Drive-In is now saying that it may have a serious security breach on its hands.The fast food chain said that its credit card processing company reported “unusual activity” on a large number of cards that had recently been used at Sonic....

United just announced the key changes for their 2012 Mileage Plus program and there’s some good and bad news depending on the type of flyer you are. In general, if you are a 25,000 mile a year flyer who likes the ability to select exit rows and Economy Plus seating, you are going to see less benefits in the new program. Per the website, 25,000 mile a year flyers (newly named Premier Silvers) will only get to select premium seats at check-in....

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.Vayama.com, an online travel agency similar to Expedia and Kayak, is offering $40 off international flights booked. I tested this out for a few upcoming flights I’m looking at and sure enough, $40 was taken off the lowest available price....

Quora.com is a question-and-answer site where content is written and edited by its community of users. Occasionally, we syndicate content from the site if we think it will interest TPG readers. This article originally appeared on Quora.com in response to the question, What are some inexcusable behaviors while flying economy/coach?Seat-Back SlammingPedro Moura Pinheiro:One of the things that really drives me absolutely crazy is when the person in front of me just slams their seat back without even checking behind them....

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 Throwback Thursday, we’re looking back at Miami International Airport (MIA), home to American Airlines, and one of the largest gateways between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Thanks to its proximity to tourist attractions and its strategic location to handle connecting traffic between North America, Latin America and Europe, Miami is America’s second-busiest airport for international passengers....

The “A” in Athens stands for Acropolis — in terms of must-visit sights at least. But it also means amazing, because there is so much more to see. Yes, the “Sacred Rock” is an excellent starting point, with the iconic and indomitable Parthenon perched at the top. But spend some extra time in Athens and you’ll find a city that was made for Instagram. From Other Important Ruins like the Temple of Olympian Zeus to side streets you could mistake for Mykonos, the Greek capital is a multicolor swirl of eminently photogenic surprises....

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.If you are looking to save on a year end American Airlines flight (and correspeonding double EQMs/miles) a 5% coupon code just emerged good now through December 31. There don’t seem to be any blackouts - neither Thanksgiving nor Christmas and the only conditions are that you must book on AA....

Most Americans don’t need much convincing when it comes to visiting the Italian capital, but in case you’re considering a trip and aren’t quite sold yet, there are several reasons to go besides Vatican City and the Colosseum. Rome is so much more than just these famous monuments. Here’s why we love the Eternal City.1. You Can Hang With the Locals in TrastevereThis special neighborhood is the heart of Rome, with small, winding streets lined with ivy-covered apartments and lush restaurant patios making it one of the best spots in in the city to go for a stroll....

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 Fly Jamaica crew member was arrested at JFK airport in New York City after attempting to smuggle nine pounds of cocaine through customs on March 17. Hugh Hall, the Fly Jamaica crew member, was arrested after authorities said he “could not get a leg up” on Customs and Border Protection officers — Hall attempted to smuggle the illicit substance into the US by strapping all nine pounds to his legs....

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.Update: The referral amount is now $1, making this much less lucrative.I’ve seen other bloggers write about tripalertz.com and I never thought much about it. However, after talking to a couple people recently who have scored big with their current referral bonus offer and signing up for the service myself, I’ve come to realize this is a pretty sweet deal....

It has been an extraordinary 2017 hurricane season. With over a month until the season ends, this year has already seen record-breaking storms Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria. Each one dealt a significant blow to United States — residents of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands all experienced catastrophic losses.In addition to the immeasurable loss felt by millions of people affected by this year’s storms, the travel industry was also dealt a blow....

Iberia and British Airways are the main Oneworld transfer partners of the American Express Membership Rewards program. British Airways recently ran a 50% transfer bonus, which provided exceptional value based on the routes you wanted to redeem, since British Airways charges hefty fuel surcharges on their flights to Europe.Iberia also charges big fuel surcharges on some international flights (like British Airways and Qantas), but generally doesn’t for their own or coach flights....

To start off 2018, American Express and Hilton have increased the transfer ratio when converting your Amex Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors points. As TPG reader Nolan B. points out, the transfer ratio from Amex MR points to the Hilton Honors program has been increased to 1:2.Effective immediately, you can transfer Membership Rewards points to the Honors program at a 1:2 ratio. The new transfer ratio is 33% better than its previous rate of 1:1....

Buying American Express gift cards can be a great way to meet the minimum spend requirements for huge credit card sign-up bonuses, as well as to keep earning points beyond sign-up bonuses and even meet calendar year spending threshold bonuses.Amex is waiving gift card purchase fees.Although many gift cards are merchant-specific, American Express gift cards are great because they are accepted everywhere Amex are accepted, so whether you’re buying them for yourself or giving them to others, it’s basically just like buying money....

Check out the week in travel contests and sweepstakes for your chance to win a relaxing weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona, a stay at the Shangri-La of your choice, or even $10,000 in cash towards your next vacation or to visit a WOW destination.Win a trip to Scottsdale, ArizonaWin a Weekend Getaway To Arizona From ForbesWin a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona for two people including:Roundtrip airfare for twoA two night stay at The Canyon Suites at The PhoenicianDaily breakfast for twoRound trip airport transfersThe contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia) who at time of entry are at least 21 years old....