Daniel Ross
Senior Content Contributor
692 Published Articles , 1 Edited Article
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Daniel’s passion of aviation first took root when he was a little boy and would go with his father and brother to the airport to “watch the planes.” A few years later, at the age of 13, he boarded an aircraft on his own for the first time to visit his aunt in Barcelona, and from that moment on, his love of flying was fused with a passion for travel.
His love of languages prompted him to pursue a degree at the University of Manchester in French and Portuguese. He lived in France and Brazil throughout his undergraduate studies to become fluent in those languages. When he’s not writing or flying you’ll usually find him brushing up on Greek and Japanese – his 7th and 8th languages.
His first job after college was as a travel consultant at Flight Centre followed by a stint as a business development manager for the same company. Daniel wasn’t satisfied just selling trips. At age 26, he took his love of flying to the next level by getting a Master of Science in Air Transport Management from the University of Loughborough.
He has written for various sites since graduating in 2018, including Insider, Simple Flying, and The Points Guy, and has covered everything from route launches and inaugural flights to aircraft deliveries and the hottest fare deals.
You can follow his adventures on Instagram.
There’s no denying it — it’s neither quick nor easy to get to Australia from the East Coast of the United States. So, when we spotted these premium economy fares offered by one of the world’s most highly-rated airlines, we…
Amex Offers is a fantastic credit card perk, especially when it means saving money or earning bonus points on flights. This particular Amex Offer allows eligible cardholders to get 20,000 bonus points when spending $1,000 or more on flights with…
How does $300 off your next trip across the Atlantic sound? Thanks to Amex’s latest Virgin Atlantic Amex Offer, you’ll get exactly that when spending $2,000 or more on Virgin Atlantic flights to the U.K. and beyond. Let’s take a…
American Express just added a generous new Amex Offer for select Marriott hotels. If maximized, this targeted offer could represent 40% off your stay. Let’s take a look at the details. Spend $350 at Marriott, Get $140 Back Now through…
In February, Hilton Hotels announced a partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) as part of a new strategy to give guests access to hundreds of new independent boutique-style hotels. In the months that ensued, Hilton steadily expanded…
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge made contingency plans to cease all flights for 72 hours if the airline couldn’t reach a new agreement over pilots’ salaries. In the worst-case scenario, the dispute could’ve forced the airline to cease all…
Chase’s latest promotion means you can earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points when converting your Ultimate Rewards points to the hotel’s loyalty program. Until November 15, 2024, you can get a 50% bonus when you transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to…
A new premium lounge is in the works for Miami International Airport (MIA), set to open in 2025. We first learned about this British Airways lounge in 2023, but the news went silent between now and then. Luckily, there are…
Virgin Atlantic has released images of a sleek new Clubhouse lounge that will open its doors at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) next year. “We’re thrilled to bring our award-winning Clubhouse to the vibrant entertainment capital [of] Los Angeles, where…
The U.K. government is clamping down on its borders. By April 2, 2025, almost all international visitors, including those just transiting through the U.K., will have to be pre-approved for travel. According to the U.K. Government’s website, the move is…
Paying for Wi-Fi when flying Cathay Pacific has now become a thing of the past for those flying in the front of the plane. The national carrier of Hong Kong has extended free Wi-Fi privileges to business class passengers and…
Riyadh Air, the Saudi Arabian carrier that has yet to make its inaugural flight, is forming partnerships with airlines around the world. U.K.-based Virgin Atlantic is the latest airline to sign a deal with start-up Riyadh Air with a view…
Norse Atlantic Airways is offering cheap (even cheaper than usual!) fares to Europe, starting at $135. Eligible travel dates run from October 1, 2024, to June 15, 2025. These prices include economy bookings, and deals include both the East Coast…
Travelers can now book Qantas’ new route between Honolulu (HNL) and Melbourne (MEL), which is scheduled to take flight for the first time in May 2025. “We are thrilled to continue to enhance our network in America with the launch…
Virgin Atlantic is adding routes to the Middle East and Africa, diversifying its North America-focussed route network. New daily routes to Accra, Ghana (ACC) and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (RUH) will start in 2025. The announcement comes not long after the…
TAP Air Portugal, Portugal’s flag carrier, is offering round-trip economy fares from across the U.S. to Barcelona (BCN) and Madrid (MAD) starting at just $365! TAP also offers a great stopover deal, meaning you can tag on some extra days in…
United Airlines is once again flying between Los Angeles (LAX) and Shanghai, China (PVG). For the first time since before the pandemic, on August 29 the Chicago-based carrier restarted its nonstop service from the West Coast to the Chinese business…
Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. Flying low-cost has never been more tempting, thanks to these crazy cheap nonstop fares to London with Norse. The Scandinavian low-cost carrier is offering round-trip flights from New York’s…
With the summer 2024 travel season edging to a close, Air Canada already has its eyes set on new routes for summer 2025. The Canadian flag carrier is planning to launch 2 new European routes from its base at Montréal…
We’ll never say no to a bonus points promotion, and Marriott Bonvoy’s latest gives members the chance to earn up to 6,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for each 2-night stay completed. Registration is now open for the Earn 2 Ways…
Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. When it comes to crossing the Atlantic, you’ll be hard-pressed to find cheaper fares than with PLAY Airlines — the Icelandic ultra-low-cost carrier. This time we’ve found nonstop round-trip…
Former Content Contributor
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.
Content Contributor
Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.
Former Content Contributor
Brandon was born and raised in California and really didn’t travel much growing up, even outside of his own state. While attending college, he was constantly looking to find the cheapest fares to any destination abroad, and quickly learned about the motto- “Chase the fare, not the destination”. Luckily, his first international flight was to Costa Rica (under $300 roundtrip) where that “Pura Vida” lifestyle (and Imperials) hit him hard, and he knew he had to see more.
Former Content Contributor
Brian’s first ever airplane ride was in a private turbo-prop jet. He was merely an intern boy trying to make a good impression, but it turns out the plane made an impression on him.
Former Content Contributor
Caroline Lupini always enjoyed traveling, but it became her goal to do as much as possible after a 3-week trip around Europe in 2011. In March 2014, Caroline left her job and embarked on nearly full-time travels.
Former Content Contributor
Charlie is a Senior First Officer and has been an airline pilot for nearly 15 years. He currently flies long-haul on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after 10 years buzzing around Europe on the A320. He got into travel and aviation from an early age, fortunate enough to be taken on some great family holidays.
Content Contributor
Realizing that it wasn’t all first class flights and 5-star hotels, Dan started the Points With a Crew blog in 2014, with the aim of helping families (especially large families) to use miles, points and credit card rewards to take that trip that they might have thought they couldn’t afford. He has spent over 10 years covering developments in the travel rewards credit card space. His expertise extends to all things personal finance, including student loans, budgeting and real estate, and his work has been featured in sites all over the Internet, including NerdWallet, Forbes, Business Insider, Rocket Mortgage, CreditCards.com, Bankrate, Turbotax, Credit Karma and Intuit Mint.
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in New York, David still remembers his first flight when he was only four years old: a U.S. Airways trip from New York-La Guardia to Palm Beach, Florida. He formed his love of travel around that and other family vacations, including to England at age eight and Namibia when he was 13. During college, a four-country trip around Europe with a friend cemented his passion for seeing the world.
Content Contributor
An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.
Former Content Contributor
Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.
Former Content Contributor
Currently based in New York, Lindsey spent her childhood in Connecticut dreaming of far-off places. Her first flight was to Disney World at age 11. Her second flight was for a high school field trip to Italy, though travel as a career didn’t stick until she studied abroad in London during college and discovered the true power of her passport. Since then, she’s worked as a travel editor at Jetsetter and Travel + Leisure, where she reported on everything from African safaris to hot hotel openings to, yes, Disney World.
Former Content Contributor
Lukas escaped his hometown south of Sydney and moved to the big smoke immediately after high-school, but the bright lights of the city weren’t enough, and he soon set his sights on more exotic international destinations and has been in love with travel ever since.
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Former Content Contributor
Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.
Former Finance Contributor
While writing about finance and insurance isn’t something that keeps most people awake at night, it is what Susan Wright has focused on for more than 25 years. As a financial copywriter, Susan has an eye for money-related details such as credit and savings, and she loves to pass along helpful information to consumers. Susan holds 11 financial industry designations (including CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, ADPA, CITRMS, CIPA) as well as several licenses.
Travel & Finance Content Contributor
After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.
Compliance Associate
From credit cards to high-yield savings accounts, debt management and avoidance, CDs, and insurance, Kathryn has or does edit it all, and more. Just don’t expect her to always be at home while working. All she needs is four things — her computer, phone, passport, and wallet — and she can get her work done from anywhere. She does pack clothes, of course, but they’re easily replaceable if anything goes amiss (and she has baggage insurance with two of her credit cards).
Former Senior Content Contributor
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
Senior Content Contributor
Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria M. Walker” newsletter.
Senior Finance Contributor
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Former Content Contributor
Cherag was born in a family associated with aviation and was hooked on to planes since the age of 3, the time he undertook his first flight on an Airbus A310 from Mumbai to Dubai.
Former Content Contributor
Senitra Horbrook is a frequent solo traveler who began using points and miles in 2012. Formerly credit cards editor at The Points Guy, Senitra has also contributed to Forbes Advisor, AwardWallet, Insider, among others.
Former Content Contributor
Julian Kheel first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. With over 15 years of professional experience studying travel loyalty programs, Julian has served as CNN’s Senior Editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the Editorial Director of The Points Guy, and has worked as a consultant for the Big 3 U.S. airlines.
Former Content Contributor
Greg got bitten by the travel bug at a young age while traveling with his Dad on business trips to Asia. He took over the family business in 2012 and uses it to maximize his loyalty points earning. His obsession with earning and burning loyalty rewards points allows him to travel over 100 days every year.
Content Contributor
Brett is a personal finance and travel junkie. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, he’s had over 100 credit cards and earned millions of credit card rewards. He learned the tricks of the trade from his mom, and has taken many steps forward. He wasn’t exposed to much travel as a kid, but now has a goal of reaching 100 countries in his life. In 2019, he sold all of his possessions to become a digital nomad, and he says it was one of the best decisions he ever made. He plans to do it again at some point in his life.
Senior Content Contributor
Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and more, and loves to muse about points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.
Senior Content Contributor and News Editor
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.
Senior Content Contributor
Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.
Social Media & Brand Manager
Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.
Senior Content Contributor
James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.
Editor-in-Chief
With years of experience in corporate marketing and with a nonprofit, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and reviewing thousands of UP articles in the process.
Content Contributor
Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.
Senior Content Contributor
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to leverage the perks of each.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.
Director of Operations & Compliance
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s compliance operation.
Senior Features Editor
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.
Senior Content Contributor
Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.
Editor & Content Contributor
Chris is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on timely travel trends, points and miles, hot new hotels, and all things that go (he’s a proud aviation geek and transit nerd). Formerly full-time at The Points Guy, his work can now be found at AFAR, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, and Lonely Planet, among others
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been featured in various prestigious publications, such as USA Today, CNN Underscored, Forbes and The Points Guy. Juan is the visionary behind JetBetter, a premier award booking concierge service.
News Managing Editor
Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.
Editor & Content Contributor
Alberto joined UP in 2024 after serving as the international editor in chief of Forbes Advisor. His passion for points and miles began when he moved to the U.S. from Italy in 2000, leading him to become the first managing editor of The Points Guy in 2017. He previously worked at Vice News, Bloomberg, and CNN.
Originally from Milan, Alberto has lived in Rome and Atlanta and now resides in Brooklyn, New York. He speaks Italian, French, and Spanish, has traveled to every continent except Antarctica, and enjoys skiing, mountaineering, and flying—often with his wife, Regan, and always in a window seat.
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