Nick's Latest Posts

In this day and age, online security is of the utmost importance, especially in companies like airlines that store massive amounts of personal data, not to mention are responsible for the safe transportation of millions of people on a daily…

EL AL, Israel’s flag carrier, is expanding in South Florida. Back in 2017, the airline began nonstop flights between its base in Tel Aviv (TLV) and Miami (MIA). Evidently, the route has been successful for the airline, as it’s boosting…

Cathay Pacific, the flag carrier of Hong Kong, has been ever-so-slowly resuming normal operations over the last several months. But as China has dropped many pandemic-related travel restrictions — including those making it difficult to travel between its so-called Special…

I embarked on a 2-week trip to Uruguay and Argentina in early December 2022. I visited Punta del Este, a famous seaside resort town in Uruguay; Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital; Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital; and, finally, Mendoza, the city…

In October 2022, Upgraded Points hosted a reader meetup in none other than fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. I was thrilled at the opportunity to meet some of the amazing UP community and also to meet some of my coworkers who…

Update: The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. Move over, Black Friday. It’s officially Cyber Monday and the deals keep coming. Spirit Airlines has joined the fray with a promotion of its own: members of the…

Spanish flag carrier Iberia has announced that it will move terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Come December 1, 2022, Iberia will move to its new home at JFK’s Terminal 8, alongside fellow Oneworld…

Update: The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. Greek carrier Aegean Airlines is getting in on the Black Friday fun with a sale that’s offering discounts of up to 70% off flights from mid-January through October…

If you have a pet, traveling isn’t always seamless. First of all, you have to decide whether you’re going to take your pet on the trip at all. If you decide to take your furry friend with you, then you…

After the conclusion of an Upgraded Points-related work trip to Miami, I decided to extend my trip to meet up with a couple of friends who were traveling down to South Florida for the Labor Day holiday weekend. After a…

Last year, The Platinum Card^® from American Express underwent significant changes, gaining several new perks and benefits along with an increase in its annual fee. Now, the issuer has made further tweaks to 2 popular benefits on the card that should…

Marriott International announced at a hospitality conference in Morocco this week that it has plans to open more than 30 new properties across the African continent by the end of 2024. “Marriott International’s expansion plans reinforce its commitment to Africa…

Marriott International has inked a deal to bring a St. Regis resort to the increasingly popular Costa Mujeres, near Cancún, Mexico. “We are thrilled to expand St. Regis’ footprint in Mexico and look forward to bringing the brand’s celebrated rituals…

Just in time for the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Hilton has announced the opening of the brand-new Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha in the Qatari capital. Speaking about the opening, General Manager Chris Franzen said the “Waldorf Astoria Lusail,…

Update: The offers mentioned below have expired and are no longer available. There’s a new welcome offer available for the popular Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express. While you may have to put a little more thought into earning the…

When I was presented with the opportunity to take an Upgraded Points-related work trip to Miami in late August, I didn’t hesitate to agree. Even though there was a lot of work to be done, who doesn’t love a weekend…

Update: The Audi on Demand program ended on September 30, 2024. Several years ago, a car rental service named Silvercar burst onto the rental car scene by offering a fleet composed exclusively of Audi luxury vehicles. Fans raved about the…

Late last month, Capital One cardholders noticed that they could not transfer their Capital One miles to any travel partners. Finally, as of today, October 7, 2022, the ability to transfer to Capital One transfer partners has been restored. Here’s…

Here’s a bit of good news for anyone who holds the Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^® — you’ll now get 2 free checked bags on certain Hawaiian Airlines flights.  This is an exciting development for cardholders, as checked bag fees…

BWH Hotel Group, better known as Best Western, is expanding its global footprint. The chain announced this week that it had added new hotels in all of its market segments, stretching from budget to luxury, across Asia, Europe, and North…

Marriott International announced this week that it intends to bring an EDITION hotel to Lake Como in northern Italy. “We are excited to work with Bain Capital Credit and Omnam Group to introduce the EDITION Hotels brand to one of Italy’s most…