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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.I always check membershiprewards.com on the first of the month for new transfer bonuses. This one caught my eye, because its asbolutely ridiculous. Air Tran is running a “special” discount of a whopping 5 points per credit. Per their advertising the normal 1,125 transfer ratio is now 1,120:This basically amounts to a less than ....

In the 1960s, Japan produced a small turboprop called the NAMC YS-11, but fewer than 200 were built, and the country hasn’t manufactured an airliner since then. Until now.This week, at the Paris Air Show, Mitsubishi showed off its MRJ90 regional jet, which the company recently began testing in Washington State.Star Alliance member ANA is the launch customer, but the plane isn’t expected to begin carrying passengers until the mid-2020s — so if flying a Japanese-made regional jet is on your radar, you’re going to have to wait....

JetBlue recently announced a summer sale, only unlike other straight-up sales where you get a discount on the tickets you buy, this one gives you discounts on future travel on the airline.Here are the conditions:Register by June 22, 2012Travel June 25 – August 22, 2012 (if roundtrip, both departing and return flights must take place during the promo period)Promo code to be emailed on or around August 30Discount must be redeemed by September 20, 2012 for travel between September 4 and November 15, 2012 - and if you book an itinerary before September 20 but then change it, even if you’re still flying within the applicable travel window, you still forfeit your coupon codeSavings based on per person price of booking (see chart below)Only spending on JetBlue fares - so no taxes, fees, award tickets, partner flights, baggage fees, etc....

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.Hey TPG readers, we have a special announcement for you! The Points Guy is heading to London next week and you could join him for a specially curated dinner on Monday, June 11, to talk about TPG’s potential expansion in the United Kingdom....

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.Celebrities … they’re just like you and me. Except they’re not. It’s not news when we fly commercially, but when Madonna steps on a plane and she’s surrounded by strangers instead of her entourage, people talk and gossip-tainment blogs light up....

On Monday, an unidentified woman traveling through Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was caught carrying two suspected hand grenades. Both turned out to be bottle openers.Despite suspicions about the woman’s curious choice of bottle openers, she was ultimately allowed to board her flight. Her luggage, however, was delayed by security and didn’t reach the aircraft on time, the Associated Press reported.According to the AP, the hollow hand grenade replicas even come with explicit warnings for travelers, as they can be easily confused for the real thing when passing through X-ray machines....

TO THE POINT: The JR Tokyo Wide Pass makes exploring the city and its surrounding areas fun, easy and affordable. The pros: you can travel as much as you want within a certain range over the course of a three-day period. The cons: only one line (The Narita Express) had Wi-Fi and you’re not always guaranteed a seat unless you reserve ahead of time.Fellow TPG contributor Katie Genter and I recently spent a few days in Tokyo, planning to spend New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the city but branch out and explore the surrounding area for the rest of our trip....

Saudi-owned TV news network Al Arabiya just broadcast a simulation showing what would happen, according to the network, if a Qatar Airways jet flew into Saudi Arabian airspace. The graphic animation shows a civilian jet being shot down by a missile. In an age when passenger aircraft have been turned into weapons — and when they have indeed been shot down by missiles, as happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014 — that is, to say the least, unsettling....

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’ve never stayed at an Element, but I’ve been impressed with the Alofts (W-lites) that I’ve stayed in. I doubt I’ll have three stays by the end of September, but thought I’d pass along the promotion for all of the road warriors....

Today’s merger news likely brought joy for Marriott Rewards members and — possibly — a bit of heartache for members of the (arguably more rewarding) Starwood Preferred Guest program. Realizing that SPG members might have some concerns about the now-approved merger, Starwood sent this note to its top customers:Nearly five months ago we shared the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts is joining with Marriott International to create the world’s biggest and best hotel company — with 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries....

A year ago today, United Airlines made headlines for all the wrong reasons: Due to a last-minute overbooking, the airline had to bump four passengers on Flight 3411 between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Louisville, KY (SDF). Dr. David Dao refused to give up his seat, and the rest was unfortunate viral history: Airport security forcibly removed Dr. Dao, leaving the 69-year-old pulmonologist with a broken nose, two missing front teeth and a concussion after his head struck an armrest in the fracas....

Justices on the Supreme Court heard arguments on President Donald Trump’s travel ban for the first time on Wednesday, as the nation’s highest court decides whether to uphold the third version of the controversial executive order on immigration.The court’s conservative-leaning justices, who outnumber their liberal counterparts on the nine-member bench, seemed to illustrate that they were against repealing the travel ban.Conservative Justice Samuel Alito said the text of Trump’s policy “does not look at all like a Muslim ban....

A woman was booted from an Air Canada flight after the crew wrongly accused her of having a contagious disease Sunday night.Jeanne Lehman was flying from Halifax (YHZ) to Toronto (YYZ) on Sunday night when she told a flight attendant that she’d like to be seated by a window due to her embarrassment of the rash that had recently developed on her face.Lehman went to an emergency room a few days before the flight and was told by a doctor she had shingles, a non-transmittable disease....

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’ve ever wondered what it feels like to gaze into the steely blue eyes of a White Walker, you may have a chance to find out. Winter may have already arrived in many parts of the world, but for Game of Thrones fans, it’s still coming — though not fast enough....

This week TPG reader Ron asks about Spirit Airlines:“I have read nothing but negative reviews about Spirit, but I notice that they are offering a Mastercard with 15,000 bonus points after first spend and 1st year fee waived. All transactions on card are 2X. Their 9$ club is not included with the card and is an additional $50+.I went onto their site and saw that off-peak, staying in your zone which is about 1,300 miles will cost 5,000 points for a round trip....

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.New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) isn’t known for its gleaming terminals nor for ease of traveling. In fact, it’s known for the exact opposite. In an effort to turn around its image, LaGuardia’s undergoing a $4 billion makeover....

In just days the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul will roll out the red carpet to welcome fans to the 52nd annual Super Bowl. Thousands of visitors will flock to the downtown Minneapolis area for the biggest night in football. With no hotel rooms currently available in Minneapolis or Saint Paul, Airbnb hosts are preparing for over 125,000 visitors. However, if you’re among those football fans whose beloved team didn’t make it to the big game, you may be looking for something more to do....

It’s that time of year where we trade in thoughts of endless summer for ghosts and ghouls and all things spooky. From California to Virginia, the US is home to more than its fair share of haunted establishments, ready and willing to welcome those brave enough to enter. If you’re looking for a good fright this Halloween, head to one of these spots known for the spirits that linger around (and in) their walls....

French riot police pepper-sprayed Air France staff on Wednesday as the workers’ one-day strike over pay escalated at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport.According to the Associated Press, the clash occurred when the airline’s demonstrating staff, who were in front of Air France’s headquarters, attempted to storm past police and into the airport’s main terminals. About 50 protestors made it into the terminal to march and sound off horns.Air France estimates that nearly one-third of its staff is striking....

Is bigger better? That’s what Airbus is trying to figure out. The aircraft manufacturer just released a new development study, timed to coincide with the start of the Paris Air Show, which describes the specifications and features for a new A380plus aircraft model.The key features of the proposed A380plus include adding up to 80 additional seats to the already existing 497 seats in the average A380 cabin layout. The study does not propose changing the actual size of the airframe; the increase in seating would be accomplished via interior design changes, which Airbus refers to as “cabin enablers....