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Over the weekend, American Airlines made an adjustment to how it classifies its domestic first class. Starting January 11, the front seats on flights within the US are still going to be called “first class,” but AA will now classify them using business-class fare codes (J, D, I and R) instead of first-class fare codes (F, A and P).So what, right? Now that AAdvantage members earn miles based on the price of the ticket (and elite status) and there’s no elite-qualifying mileage (EQM) benefit between business and first, this adjustment would seem to just be an irrelevant change....

Social media promotions have been more and more prevalent this year and I think this trend will only continue in the future as companies find new ways to engage their customers. I’ve seen so many recently that I’ve actually created a new category, “Social Media,” so I can tag and identify these unique and timely offers and my subsequent posts.TPG readers based in the UK may want to take advantage of this bmi promotion, where they are giving away 100 tickets via social media....

Less than two years ago, if someone had asked me what The Wave was, I would have mentally gone through my personal wave-o-pedia and answered something like this.The Wave is the ballpark phenomenon of spectators rising to their feet and throwing up their arms in an orderly and progressive flow…the unique 90 degree hand movement made by parade participants.the curl on Superman’s forehead.the enthusiastic, but sad, gesture Nixon made just before leaving on Marine 1 for the last time....

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 year will be the last that travelers can take flight on a Boeing 747 with an American carrier, since Delta and United will be retiring all of theirs by December of 2017. The iconic jumbo jet, which made its first flight back in 1969, is one of the world’s most recognizable aircraft because of the distinct ‘hump’ at the front of the plane....

Whether you first leave your baby for an overnight trip away when they are five weeks old, five months old, or five years old, it is probably going to be a little tough. Even if you are beyond ready for a little kid-free time, or even just time with your other kids, it is still an unquestionably huge transition for you and them. I’m about to go through this transition for the first time with my second daughter, and while I have been through this once before with my first daughter, I’ll withhold giving too much “first time away” advice before we both survive this big milestone....

Saint Martin is in disarray after being devastated by Hurricane Irma, and French and Dutch soldiers are maintaining whatever order is left, while locals and tourists are evacuated by the military. On the French side of the island, soldiers even opened fire to stop looters last week, as the island reeled in the immediate aftermath of the storm.French newspaper Le Monde quoted an officer commanding a detachment sent to hold the tiny airport of L’Espérance as saying that his troops had to “fire a few shots the night between Thursday and Friday....

I posted about it in my Black Friday roundup, but I thought it was worth mentioning on its own since it’s ongoing: the Holiday Inn Resort brand has launched the “Winter Break, Free Night to Take” offer from now through February 28, 2013, where U.S. residents who book a two-night consecutive stay at any Holiday Inn Resort location in the U.S., Caribbean or Mexico will receive a free night to use on a future stay....

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.In a shocking decision by Saudi Arabia, the country has granted one Israel-bound flight the approval to use Saudi airspace. Air India is set to launch a nonstop route between Delhi (DEL) and Tel Aviv (TLV) in March, and Saudi has granted the airline permission to use its airspace for the operations....

If given the choice between flying with a newborn and, well, pretty much anything else, I’d probably go with “anything else.” Don’t get me wrong; I love my kids. But I think few would jump at the chance to bring what is effectively a tiny — yet adorable! — tornado siren into a confined space with a bunch of total strangers. Even so, sometimes it’s unavoidable.Traveling with an infant during the first few months of life is both easier and harder than flying with older kids or even toddlers....

Beginning April 2, 2018, US passport fees will go up by $10, for people applying in person, as opposed to by mail.“Passport execution” refers to any passport application where you meet a government official in person to have your documents reviewed and your identity verified. This includes the USPS passport acceptance agents down at your neighborhood post office.Execution fees go toward the costs incurred for the government to offer the service in-person, which is why passport renewals by mail will not see a fee increase....

A man from Syria has been stranded inside Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in Malaysia for more than a month, and he still has nowhere to go. He cannot leave the airport or go to a different country due to travel restrictions place on Syrian citizens.The man, Hassan al-Kontar, left Syria for a job in the United Arab Emirates in 2006. He lost his UAE work permit in 2016 and was deported....

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.Air New Zealand is offering a 72-hour fare sale of $200 off round-trip travel between the US and New Zealand, Australia, London, and the Cook Islands. If you book by 11:59 pm PT on Thursday, April 2, you can save by using promo code 75TH200....

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: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – The Platinum Card from American ExpressTwo quick things to add to my recent post on Priority Pass Select as an additional benefit for American Express Platinum cardholders:1) Additional Platinum cardholders are indeed eligible for Priority Pass Select, but you can’t do it online - you have to call and manually register them....

Country singer Gretchen Wilson was arrested Tuesday night at Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) for belligerent behavior toward fellow passengers and flight crew on board a plane from Washington, DC (DCA).Country singer Gretchen Wilson was arrested by Connecticut State Police Tuesday night for belligerent behavior onboard a flight. Photo by Connecticut State Police via AP.Fellow passengers said that the initial cause of Wilson’s unruly behavior stemmed from a dispute with another passenger over the plane’s lone bathroom....

Shopping portals are one of the best ways to earn points and miles with your favorite airline — without even having to step on a plane. Just by making a purchase online with select retailers through a portal, you can earn valuable points and miles, which can then be used toward your next redemption. Now, with holiday shopping season upon us, shopping portals are more valuable than ever — especially with holiday promotions and elevated offers....

FoundersCard is the membership-based card that offers some incredible — and lucrative — benefits. From complimentary status to exclusive status challenges, perks and discounts, there’s plenty of value to be had just by being a member. Now, FoundersCard is improving two of its benefits with Marriott (and SPG) and Virgin America (and Alaska).While FoundersCard has offered a status challenge with Marriott in the past, it’s now granting you status for a longer period if your challenge is successful....

While I am always happy to share my own traveling stories with my family, there are tons of other great traveling families out there with kids of different ages, different numbers of kids, and who have had different experiences than me. As part of my “Little C’s Traveling Friends” series, I am sharing different families’ stories so we can all learn from their experiences. If you would like to be a part of this series just shoot us an email at info@thepointsguy....

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.I love Japan — it’s really one of my favorite destinations to travel to in the world. If you’ve been following along on the latest episodes of TPGtv, you’ve seen as I’ve explored all that Tokyo and Osaka have 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.The Ibiza International Airport (IBZ) was apparently in vile condition after the cleaning staff went on strike beginning May 17. A local publication reported that the Spanish airport failed to pay its cleaning staff for three months leading to the decision to strike for three months or until fully compensated....

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.Need a ride to your Emmys viewing party? Or, perhaps, are you just trying to get from point A to point B this Monday? Well, you’re in luck. In a partnership with Ketel One Vodka, Lyft is offering 10,000 customers $5 off their ride fare to celebrate the 70th Emmys....