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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express, Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American ExpressIf you’re a tennis fan, we’ve got a really exciting prize for this week’s Thursday Giveaway. I talked to the good folks over at American Express, and they (and their partners at Starwood) have given me two tickets to a US Open match to give away to one lucky winner this week....

As you might have seen in the news, this week a three-year-old boy was kicked off of a Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Miami. The family’s ultimate destination was the Virgin Islands for a family getaway. They never made it. Obviously I wasn’t on this flight, so everything I know is from various news articles, but my understanding is that the mom, grandmother, and a one-year-old child were seated in first class and the dad and three-year-old were seated in economy....

My trip this past weekend was my first time in Kauai, and I have to say that after just four days, I fell in love with this gorgeous island. That’s mostly thanks to the great suggestions I got from TPG readers about what to see, do and eat while I was there. Here are a few of the highlights from my trip, and thanks again to all of you who shared your tips with me!...

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced on Monday that it’s going to loosen restrictions on its “one route, one airline” policy for Chinese airlines.The policy, which was introduced in 2009, restricts competition between Chinese carriers on long-haul international routes. Effectively, the rule exists to limit competition between state-owned carriers in that only one can operate on a designated long-haul international route. For example, the only Chinese airline permitted to operate between Shanghai (PVG) and Los Angeles (LAX) is China Eastern....

A Norwegian Cruise Line employee was rescued Sunday after falling overboard and spending 22 hours in open water off the coast of Cuba.The 33-year-old unidentified male employee was rescued by a ship with another cruise line, the Carnival Glory, at about 2:15pm on Sunday, Carnival said. One of Carnival’s crew members happened to spot the man in the water and the ship turned around for him, lowering a lifeboat to bring him on board....

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.So I’ve been pretty remiss with posting car rental deals (as a loyal reader recently pointed out), so here goes. Get 1,000 AA miles with 1-2 day Avis Rentals. 3,000 AA miles for 3+ day rentals of any car type....

One telltale sign that summer’s in full swing is when music festival season kicks off. Get ready to follow your favorite acts from stages in Somerset, England, to Manchester, Tennessee, whether that means you’re camping out at farms in the middle of nowhere or dancing the night away on the beach. To get you in full festival mode, we’ve narrowed down the seemingly endless list of events happening around the globe, highlighting six of the ones you won’t want to miss this year....

Romantic gestures can sweep you off your feet. Unfortunately this one swept a Swiss woman off her flight – and probably cost her a few points and miles, too.A Swiss man of Thai descent bought airline tickets for himself and his female travel companion from Zurich (ZRH) to Japan (FUK) via Helsinki (HEL). Trying to be affectionate, the man included a romantic message on his companion’s reservation. In between her first and last name, he added the Thai word “duang” – the equivalent to “sweetheart” in English – The Local reports....

Amex’s Link Like Love Facebook app is offering new rebates at various merchants including Costco, Henri Bendel, the Container Store and California Pizza Kitchen.When you go to the app Facebook page and sync your Amex card, it automatically scours your Facebook “likes” and puts together a customized package of rebates. So before you start, like the pages of Costco or the other merchants.If the offer you’re looking for doesn’t appear, you can click on the “Load More Offers”....

Today, I want to share a story from TPG reader Richard, who didn’t get the refund he expected upon canceling a hotel reservation. Here’s what he had to say:On a recent trip to Great Britain and Ireland, my wife and I either lost or had stolen our bag containing our new passports, along with a number of other valuable items (like our camera and brand new iPads). We made the necessary police report and went through the hassle of getting new passports, and in the meantime had to change our travel plans....

Yesterday I wrote about some cheap flights to Honolulu on Delta and United from several cities including Newark, Denver, Houston and Phoenix pricing out as low as $422. While some of these departure cities are no longer available, there are still some available so if you were considering heading to Hawaii book sooner than later.With all great deals, it’s best to book as soon as possible since you never know when the deal might end and it looks like airfares have risen from several of those cities, but there are still some low fares to be had from a few places including Phoenix and San Diego that I found below....

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has issued a travel alert to Chinese citizens detailing the dangers of summer travel in the US, warning that “Law and order are not well-enforced in America.“The notice, issued on June 28, states that “gunfights, stabbings, and muggings are common” in the US. It also advises Chinese tourists to “be very vigilant about the people around you, and avoid walking out alone at night.“Additionally, the Chinese Embassy said that Chinese travelers in the US should be aware that medical and healthcare costs are “expensive,” and told them to be prepared for natural disasters that might hit the US during the summer months....

Check out the week in travel contests and sweepstakes for your chance to win a trip to Bali or Bhutan, five days in Paris, a weekend getaway to Rio, the opportunity to snowboard with Travis Rice in Wyoming or a luxury vacation in St. Croix.Win a trip to Bhutan or BaliWin Trips to Bhutan or Bali From Uma by Como ResortsComo Hotels and Resorts are sponsoring a photo contest to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Bhutan and Bali properties....

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.As Hurricane Florence approaches Bermuda, cruise lines are beginning to divert vacationers away from the popular tourist destination in the Caribbean.Norwegian, Carnival, Oceania and Royal Caribbean cruise lines all changed ships’ itineraries. The Category 3 hurricane had recorded maximum winds of 115 mph and is predicted to bring 15-foot swells and up to 20 inches of rain to some parts of the island, CNN reports....

Update 7/13/2017 1:30pm: An Emirates spokesperson responded to the incident, saying:“Emirates strives to consistently deliver the highest quality products and customer service. What the video depicts is not in line with our service standards. We are investigating the matter.“Emirates is known as one of premier carriers of the world. From its first-class product to business class, the experience with the Dubai-based carrier is one of the best you’ll find in the sky....

Qatar Airways has one of the youngest fleets in service today, and its business-class cabins are consistently ranked among the best in the world — even before its much-anticipated business-class QSuites go into service on new 777-300ER orders.The TPG team has had great experiences flying Qatar Airways’ business class. You might note that we have reviewed the A350 not once, but twice — and the same goes for the 787.I was curious about how consistent the business-class experience aboard Qatar really is....

FoundersCard comes with some incredible benefits, including several that are specific to Las Vegas. With the card, you’ll get perks like complimentary elite status, waived resort fees, priority lines, lounge access and more. One of the most valuable benefits you can get from the card is complimentary Diamond status with Total Rewards (the loyalty program of Caesars Entertainment), which will get you things like access to Diamond Lounges, waived resort fees and an annual $100 meal credit in addition to many other benefits....

Multiple TPG readers have asked:“How do I get in touch with the Points Guy to ask questions about miles and points, and how do I follow the site via e-mail or a feed?“I have been asked countless times by readers how to follow the site via e-mail or a feed, or how to contact me with questions. While I would love to be able to talk with each and every one of you, with over half a million readers coming to the site every month and hundreds of questions coming in each day, unfortunately I can’t answer every single question....

A couple of days ago I wrote about the 35% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to the British Airways Avios program. This bonus is automatic (no registration needed) and runs through June 7th. In that post I discussed some potential uses for those points that don’t involve flying on British Airways. One of the best uses is on American Airlines flights within the US and other nearby North American destinations....

If pop/R&B singer Charlie Puth only had more time, he’d be burning some serious points and miles. However, Puth, 24, constantly has to combine work and travel. Here, the talented musician, who possesses perfect pitch, reveals what gear he must have before departing for a trip, what he once learned during an ill-fated vacation in St. Thomas and where not to place him during a flight.What’s the best trip you’ve ever taken?...