James's Latest Posts

Delta’s Platinum Medallion status is the third-highest tier in the SkyMiles Medallion program. Silver is the entry-level, followed by Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Platinum Medallion truly opens up a wealth of benefits to the traveler and significantly increases perks over…

The systemwide upgrade (SWU) is one of the most coveted benefits of the American Airlines AAdvantage program. These valuable tools allow users to upgrade to the next class of service, allowing many people to save hundreds — if not thousands…

Norwegian Air Shuttle is one of the largest low-cost carriers in the world, and is in fact the largest transatlantic carrier from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). To say Norwegian doesn’t have a huge presence, let alone…

Delta’s exclusive Delta 360° program is for frequent flyers who spend the most on Delta Air Lines. This invitation-only tier is above the traditional SkyMiles Medallion ranks and comes with a suite of benefits that enhance the daily travel of…

The American Airlines frequent flyer program AAdvantage has 4 tiers that you can earn — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum — with each tier having more benefits than the preceding one. In this post, you’ll find information on the…

Update: American Airlines previously offered e-500 mile upgrades to elite status passengers at several levels as a mechanism to provide upgrades on flights, both for elite passengers and companions. The e-500 mile upgrade system for elite passengers has been phased…

The American Airlines AAdvantage program is the largest frequent flyer program in the world and has 4 public elite status tiers: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum. The most benefits come with the Executive Platinum level, which is regarded…

If you regularly visit international destinations, you’ve probably seen various options for frequent traveler entry programs. Whatever your needs may be, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have implemented several Trusted Traveler…

Your phone is your map, source of information, and a translator. These modern conveniences have made international travel easier and safer. Whether you’re leaving for a year abroad, going off to become an expat, or are just heading for a…

Situated at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport’s (JFK) Terminal 5, the TWA Hotel is “the” hotel opening of the year — anticipated by much media fanfare, AvGeek wonder, and airline employee nostalgia. The hotel officially opened for business…

When it comes to seating on American Airlines, not all options are alike. For those in the back of the plane (the “Main Cabin”), there are 3 seating options: standard Main Cabin seats, Preferred seats, and Main Cabin Extra. Here’s…

The CLEAR platform powers a unique, secure, and smooth customer experience from airports to major sports venues. In this post, we will look at what CLEAR is, if it makes sense for you, how much it costs, how you can…

In this second post of the 2-part series on the value of Platinum Pro status, we’re going to analyze the value of perks you can use at the airport, fees and waivers, as well as alliance-wide benefits. This will include…

Platinum Pro is the second-highest public tier in the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program. Executive Platinum is higher, and Platinum and Gold are the lower levels. Because there are so many Platinum Pro benefits, we will look at this in…

In our previous coverage of what United elite status is worth, we talked about the benefits of ticketing, fee waivers, and at-the-airport benefits (including those with Star Alliance). For this post, here’s a look at the perks and benefits surrounding…

The United MileagePlus loyalty program has 4 public elite levels and 1 invitation-only level designed for super high-spending customers. Each of these status levels comes with a variety of benefits to help the frequent traveler, though each perk carries a…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has Trusted Traveler programs that can help you move through ports of entry or airport lines more quickly. If you’re a frequent traveler who visits Canada for business or pleasure, there’s a special program…

All over the world, travelers are wowed by the offerings of the Amex Centurion Lounges. Why? They are comfortable, well thought out, and offer great amenities while you relax before your next flight. In this article, here’s all the information…

Platinum status is the second-lowest tier in the American Airlines AAdvantage program and offers complimentary auto-requested upgrades, a 48-hour upgrade window, a 60% elite mileage bonus, complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats, and 2 free checked bags. This status…

Citi ThankYou Points are one of the 5 major transferable points currencies on the market (the others being American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Capital One Miles) … and their value comes from their flexibility. In…

It’s amazing to see what American Express has done with its Centurion Lounges. These well-appointed and comfortable airport lounges started in Las Vegas (LAS) and have since expanded to many other lounges across the U.S. and even abroad in Hong Kong…