Stephen's Latest Posts

Emirates’ global network is the largest in the Middle East with a hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The first Emirates flight took to the sky in October 1985 with only 2 aircraft in its operations. Now, Emirates operates the…

As many of us know already, it’s hard work to acquire the hundreds of thousands of points and miles required to plan a first class vacation. And many of these vacations involve flying to the countries that constitute the North…

The Wing, Business Class Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is 1 of 4 lounges my fiancée and I visited while flying on Cathay Pacific First Class. Each lounge has its own distinct characteristics, which is a welcome breath…

Premium credit cards are what American Express does best. Originally a mail business in the mid-nineteenth century, American Express has since evolved into one of the powerhouse brands for credit card rewards. Whether it’s due to its rewards program, American…

The Wing, First Class Lounge is perhaps the more famous of the 2 first class lounges operated by Cathay Pacific at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). While there are similarities between The Wing, First Class Lounge and The Pier, First…

Perhaps the most famous Cathay Pacific lounge in the world, The Pier First, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is renowned for its amenities, food, and classic minimalist luxury vibes. There are countless bells and whistles to look forward to,…

The Pier, Business Class Lounge is 1 of 5 lounges operated by Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). The Pier, Business made headlines for offering a relaxation and meditation room featuring yoga instructional videos and quiet spaces for…

There’s a great deal of variance within loyalty programs across the board. From specific accrual policies to award redemption prices to even points sharing policies, there is one thing that is absolutely certain: loyalty programs are impossible to keep track…

If you travel frequently, you’ve probably experienced a trip delay. Your plane will inevitably be stranded on the tarmac, the crew will be late, or the last flight of the evening is canceled due to weather. Regardless of why your…

The world of points travel is complex, and the importance of having a sound technical foundation for booking first class flights cannot be understated. That’s why it can take years and years to get up to speed on credit card…

Aeromexico has an award program that flies under the radar a majority of the time. This airline, which is the flag carrier of Mexico, has some interesting niche redemptions that we outlined in our best ways to redeem Aeromexico Rewards…

The world of aviation is complex, chock full of information stored within airport kiosks. This is especially true within what’s known as the revenue management department. Simply put, this department is in charge of analyzing data and implementing practices that…

EVA Air, a Taiwanese airline headquartered in Taipei, is a subsidiary wholly owned by Evergreen Group, whose shipping containers you might have seen from time to time. This 5-star rated Skytrax airline is known for offering one of the best…

Expensive Champagne, fresh caviar, friendly service… you’re going to want it all when you and your loved one fly first class! Some of the things you can expect from a top-notch first class airline are comfortable double beds, suite doors…

Aeromexico is the flag carrier of Mexico. Based in Mexico City, it operates a variety of flights to 5 continents and is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta Air Lines. Though Aeromexico doesn’t receive a lot of…

Most people who travel in premium cabins tend to be traveling with a companion — often a significant other. This is especially true when heading to leisure destinations such as French Polynesia, the Maldives, or Thailand. Furthermore, the trends of…

Choice Hotels is a hotel brand that operates nearly 7,500 properties across nearly 50 countries and territories worldwide. It’s not as popular or prominent as Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, or Wyndham, but it’s still a worthwhile chain to get to know,…

Here at Upgraded Points, there’s a ton of emphasis on transferable rewards, also known as flexible rewards points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards. While these are incredibly useful for making those international first and business class trips possible,…

In the world of points travel, people often get fixated on traveling for free. While this is definitely something to strive for, it is not recommended to use your points if the redemption is impractical or is a poor return…

Airline: Vietnam Airlines (VN) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flight #: VN 415 Route: Seoul-Incheon (ICN) > Hanoi (HAN) Date: April 21, 2019 Duration: 4 hr 25 min Cabin & Layout: Vietnam Airlines reverse herringbone business class, 28-seat capacity across 7 rows, 1-2-1…

Airline: Cathay Pacific (CX) Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER Flight #: CX 872 Route: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Date: April 23, 2019 Duration: 12 hours and 15 minutes Cabin and Layout: Cathay Pacific first class, 6-seat capacity…