Credit Scores, Compensation, Lounges & Everything Else

If you've got a question that isn't covered in the other FAQ pages, like receiving airline compensation after a bad flight, our favorite tools for searching award flights, understanding Global Entry, improving your credit score or pursuing points retroactively, we should have an answer for you here.

Start Using Points

• The Beginner's Guide to Points & Miles
• The Savvy Traveler's Points & Miles Glossary
• 10 Commandments for Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• 10 Most Valuable Transfer Partners for Flights and Hotels
• Finding Flight Deals From a Specific Airport

How to Fly Business Class on Points

Want to use your points to fly business class? Save thousands of dollars by following these tips:

• Using Points to Fly to Asia in Business Class
• How to Fly to Europe in Business Class

Want to know how to get upgrades and elite status? See: Elite Status and Upgrades for Airlines & Hotels

Searching Award Availability

See some of the best ways to look for and find award availability:

• Boost Your Award-Booking and Upgrade Success With ExpertFlyer
• Our Favorite Award Availability Tools

Learn how to find award availability for specific airlines:

• Searching Oneworld Availability
• Searching SkyTeam Availability
• Searching Star Alliance Availability

Airline Compensation & Fees

Have a bad flight experience, and looking for a refund? These should help:

• Receiving Compensation for Bad Flights
• Getting Reimbursed for an Equipment Change

Looking to avoid change and/or cancellation fees? Here's how we'd do it:

• How to Avoid Airline Change and Cancellation Fees
• What Does Airline Trip Protection Really Do?

Were your bags delayed, mishandled or lost? We've got you covered:

• What to Do If an Airline Loses Your Bag
• Which Credit Cards Cover Baggage Delays?

See all things Travel Insurance

• Travel Insurance Hub Page

Receiving Points Retroactively

Fly somewhere but forgot to log into your account beforehand? Get points after your flight:

• How to Get Retroactive Points

Or did you create frequent flyer account after your flight?

• Request Mileage for Past Flights

Claim your missing miles (for AA only):

• Claim Missing American Airlines Miles

Improving Your Credit Score

Want new credit cards but stuck with a bad credit score?

• 5 Things to Do to Improve Your Credit Score
• All Things Credit Repair

Taxes

Interested in using points to pay your taxes? See this post before you do:

• Paying Taxes with a Credit Card

Lounges

Want to know about lounges, how to get in, and the best ones to go to?

See: all things Lounges & Club Lounges

• Get Lounge Access with These 7 Cards
• Top 11 Airport Lounges in the US and How to Get in

Priority Pass Lounges

• 9 Best Priority Pass Lounges in the US
• 10 Best Priority Pass Lounges Around the World

Airport Security & Immigration

Interested in expediting airport security, customs and/or immigration? These programs are meant to do just that.

CLEAR Expedited Security

Considering CLEAR? Want to learn about it? See: all tings CLEAR Expedited Security

• CLEAR Expedited Security Program — Is it Worthwhile?
• Free CLEAR Expedited Security for Delta Diamond Members

Global Entry

One of the biggest programs, available to U.S. citizens and foreigners alike. See: all things Global Entry

• 5 Key Things About Global Entry

Mobile Passport

A favorite of some TPG team members, are you considering Mobile Passport?

• Should I Use Global Entry or Mobile Passport App?
• Why Mobile Passport Can Be an Even Better Option Than Global Entry

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Active Military

Currently serving in the military and looking for a new credit card, or just hoping to strategize your points game?

• Credit Card Benefits and Strategies for Active Duty Military

Big Purchases

About to buy a home, a car, some jewelry or any other expensive item? Looking for the best cards to do it?

• 6 Things to Consider Before Making a Large Purchase
• Earning Tons of Extra Miles on a Large Purchase
• Paying Rent and Mortgages With a Credit Card

Car Rentals and Coverage

Looking to rent a car with points?

• Which Points Should I Redeem to Book a Rental Car?

Want to know which cards have rental car insurance?

• Credit Cards That Offer Primary Car Rental Coverage

Currency & Exchange Rates

Looking for tips on exchange rates and changing currency while traveling?

• Avoiding ATM Withdrawal Fees When Traveling Abroad
• Can You Save Money Purchasing Airline Tickets in Foreign Currency?
• Credit Card Payment Networks with the Best Exchange Rates
• Where to Exchange Currency for an International Trip

Expats

Helpful information about credit cards, points & miles for Americans living abroad

• The Best Credit Cards and Award Programs for Expats

Travel Scams (how to recognize & avoid them)

Unfortunately, tourists are always targets of quick, petty scams for cash. Know to recognize them before you fall into a trap.

• Common Travel Scams and How to Avoid Them

Using Credit Card Portals

Looking to book a flight or hotel stay through a portal, but not sure what it entails?

• Do I Get Airline Miles & Elite Benefits With Portal Bookings?
• Should I Use a Card Travel Portal or Hotels.com to Book a Room?

Shopping Portals

Looking for another way to earn points & miles when shopping online?

• Online Shopping Portals

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our guides or travel resources page. Still nothing? Shoot us an email and we’ll do our best to get back to you: info@thepointsguy.com. If you'd like to see something added to this FAQ, send us a Facebook message with what you think we're missing. If your request is popular with other readers we'll add it!