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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.With the launch of basic economy fares from all three legacy carriers in the US, Spirit Airlines says it’s starting to feel the pinch of increased competition in the low-cost segment. The comments about the growth of basic economy fares came during the carrier’s quarterly financial reports call....

The last thing you want to worry about at the airport is that you’ve somehow forgotten to get a visa for your trip. Fortunately, US-issued travel docs rank near the top of a list of most powerful passports, offering holders visa-free access to 174 countries. There are a few notable exceptions, such as Brazil (although this will be waived in Brazil leading up to the 2016 Summer Olympics) and China (which allows a visa waiver for up to six days of transit)....

Marlon Brando said, “Privacy is not something that I’m merely entitled to, it’s an absolute prerequisite.” Edoardo Flores must’ve taken Brando’s words to heart — the retired UN worker has amassed a collection of more than 15,000 Do Not Disturb signs from more than 200 countries and territories around the world.As a UN worker, Flores frequently traveled and his collection began accidentally, he says. It started after a business trip to Pakistan in 1995 when he took home a ‘DND’ sign that caught his eye....

With this bag, there’s almost no need for the x-ray scan at the airport’s security checkpoint.Luggage company Rimowa has collaborated with Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear and CEO of Off-White, to create a completely transparent roll-aboard suitcase.https://www.instagram.com/p/BjsE2aGn5wH/?hl=en&taken-by=rimowaThe suitcase won’t be cheap, considering the respected quality of Rimowa’s other luggage in combination with the name and style of Off-White, so TPG dug into the pros and cons of purchasing the luggage yourself once it hits the market on June 25....

With the accelerating recent erosion of elite benefits - including Delta’s limiting same-day confirmed flight changes for Medallion members, United aggressively selling upgrades instead of conferring them upon elites, and the end of American AAdvantage Gold members being able to select Main Cabin Extra seating for free coming on Monday (they’ll still be able to purchase it at a 50% discount or for free within 24 hours of departure) - it’s more clear than ever that airline elite status just isn’t what it used to be....

Earlier this week, US Airways announced their 100% Share Miles bonus. Now through October 15, 2013, you’re able to share miles, and the person receiving them, will receive a 100% bonus.This week’s Thursday Giveaway is inspired by the Share Miles promotion.If you were to purchase miles, they normally cost 3.5 cents each plus a 7.5% tax, and sharing miles costs 1 cent each plus a $30 processing fee and 7.5% tax....

“The wait for Maurizio Cattelan’s “America” is approximately one hour from this point” is what the sign next to me read as I stood in line waiting to see a public bathroom. About 20% of the line stood ahead of me, with the other 80% behind me. Yes that’s right, hundreds of people queued up this morning, waiting for what seemed like hours to catch a glimpse — and maybe a use — of a public toilet....

Ahhh, the South Pacific. A beautiful part of the planet that’s home to tropical islands, gorgeous beaches and some of the most luxurious overwater bungalows in the world. It holds a well-deserved spot on many a travel bucket list, whether you’re planning the honeymoon of your dreams, or an AvGeek hoping to take the legendary United Island Hopper for a spin.And while this part of the world is sometimes considered to be too far away from the US or too pricey to visit properly, the good news is there are people out there who have made the journey affordably thanks to points and miles....

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.Although drones can be fun devices — especially for filmmakers and techies — they can pose a threat to aircraft. Yesterday, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced that it was deploying a team to investigate a recent incident between a Porter Airlines aircraft and a possible drone in which two crew members were injured....

Uber and PayPal announced on Thursday the two companies will be collaborating to roll out an option for Uber customers to pay with their rides with their Venmo balance in “coming weeks.“When the feature goes live, “Pay with Venmo” will pop up as a payment option within the ride-sharing app’s menu.Uber said that more than 6 million people mentioned the ride-sharing company in Venmo transactions in 2017, presumably splitting rides with friends....

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.You made it through airport security in record time, got a seat upgrade and managed to actually find some empty space in the overhead bin directly above your seat. You’ve determined that this might be the greatest flight experience of your life… and then it happens: Just as the flight attendant concludes his safety demonstration, you hear a passenger launch into a sneezing fit....

Check out this week’s travel contests and sweepstakes to try your hand at winning a trendy trip to New York or Paris, your very own country inn in Maine, a vacation in New Orleans, an opportunity to volunteer in South America or two plane tickets to Capetown, South Africa.Win a Trip To New York or Paris From Tablet HotelsYou could win a trip to either New York or Paris.The New York grand prize includes:A five-night stay at the Gansevoort Hotel Meatpacking in New York, NY in a deluxe king roomA $250 gift card to Del Posto restaurant from Tasting TableA $250 gift card to Gato restaurant from Tasting TableThe hotel stay is valid for two guests from April 1, 2015 - April 1, 2016 and subject to blackout dates and availability....

Iceland-based WOW Air stands out among other low-cost carriers for offering some of the cheapest transatlantic fares around. The airline began service from Boston (BOS) and Baltimore (BWI) to Reykjavik (KEF) in 2015, offering one-way fares starting at $99. Starting in November 2016, East Coasters will be able to reach Iceland and other destinations in Europe from an additional airport: Newark (EWR). That’s great news, made even better by the fact that one-way tickets to Reykjavik will go for $99 and up....

So, Kim Kardashian, think you have a lock on Instagram fame? Well, no lady was ever as Instagrammable — or had more generous curves — than La Serenissima, “the most serene republic” there ever was: Venice. This crossroads of east and west at the northern fringe of the Mediterranean has always had the unique power to cast spells, and rightly remains among the most popular tourist spots in Italy. With 118 islands linked by more than 400 bridges — and graceful gondolas still plying all those sinuous, palazzo-lined canals — there’s seriously enough beautiful stuff here to break the internet in any season....

Etihad has one of the most over-the-top first-class products in the industry. It one-upped its Middle Eastern counterparts Emirates and Qatar with the new Residence and Apartment on the Airbus A380. TPG reviewed Etihad’s inaugural flight on The Residence from New York-JFK last year and loved his experience, despite its hefty price tag. While the ultra-exclusive Residence product is only available to book with (millions of) Etihad Guest miles, The Apartment product is available for award booking with Etihad’s partners, including American Airlines....

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.To be honest, I’ve somewhat lost interest in the 30 Deals in 30 Days promotion that American Airlines is running to celebrate the 30th birthday of their frequent flyer program, AAdvantage. The deals have been quite ordinary, but I’ll recap a couple that might be of interest:1) 3,000 miles and free shipping if you buy 6 bottles of $7 wine....

Bloomberg recently reported that American Airlines would accept delivery of new Boeing 737 domestic aircraft without in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens on the back of every seat. Nowadays, some of America’s biggest carriers, including Southwest and United, are streaming movies and TV shows as part of their in-flight internet options — on passengers’ devices. Although this may go against conventional wisdom for those who came of age when in-flight entertainment was a vital part of the flying experience, the IFE screens we’ve come to expect overhead or on every seat back are disappearing....

Yesterday, American Airlines unveiled its new Flagship First Dining — inside the just renamed and recently renovated Flagship Lounge. But, there’s another Flagship-branded service that changed this week: Flagship First Check-In.And there’s good news for American Airlines top-tier elites: Executive Platinum members (and one guest) can now use the Flagship First Check-In on qualifying international routes.Let’s take this opportunity to dive into the Flagship First Check-In access policy to see who qualifies and on which routes....

This past weekend, I decided to take a last-minute trip to San Francisco with a few friends. We had a great time eating at some of the city’s great restaurants (The Cavalier, Flour + Water and Zuni Cafe) and went up to Santa Rosa for a wine-tasting day trip to Inman Family Vineyards, which was more than worth the car ride.The door to my Astor Suite.This year I’m continuing to focus on retaining 75-night SPG Platinum, so my hotel focus was narrowed down from the start....

Traveling during the holidays is stressful. Getting from point A to point B can seem nearly impossible with large crowds, traffic jams and everything else in between. But Google Maps figured out a way to make your commute easier this Thanksgiving.With a little digging (and measuring traffic conditions from 2016), Google Maps put together the best times to hit the road this holiday season, mapping out the perfect plan for your Thanksgiving road trip....