Coronavirus cases skyrocket on stranded cruise ships; DOT says airlines cannot deny cash refunds, and more
Katherine Fan is a former senior travel features reporter at The Points Guy who covered everything from personal finance to travel and aviation.
April 04, 2020
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4 min read
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Coronavirus cases skyrocket on board stranded cruise ships
As of Thursday, 189 people from the Holland America Zaandam had exhibited flu-like symptoms. The Zaandam, along with numerous other cruise ships, has been stranded at sea for weeks as multiple ports have refused her entry, citing concerns over the sick passengers on board.
The ship, along with Holland America's Rotterdam, was allowed to dock in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday. Chartered flights will ferry healthy passengers home.
Related: See all of TPG's coronavirus coverage here
Department of Transportation: Airlines cannot refuse cash refunds for canceled flights
There's been a lot of debate on this topic, but the DOT has always been clear: Passengers whose flights are canceled can demand their money back.
Related: Why you should wait until the last minute to ask for a refund
No, Southwest didn't devalue its rewards program overnight
It has to do with the tax waiver that was issued to help bail out struggling airlines.
Chase Sapphire Reserve issues $100 annual credit fee for existing customers
This will help offset that increase in the annual fee this year.
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Related: Here's why I'm keeping my Chase Sapphire Reserve
What happens to credit cards when a cardholder dies?
Credit card debt doesn’t disappear when a cardholder dies, so here are some precautions everyone should take to leave their loved ones in good hands.
Should I downgrade my premium credit cards?
We have your pros-and-cons list.
5 ways coronavirus will change travel
Not all is doom and gloom: As a silver lining, a number of destinations are healing from overtourism.
The easiest 7,500 points I will earn all year
Groceries are the secret weapon. And here's your definitive guide to online grocery services.
Alaska and American Airlines announce full reciprocal mileage earning
Royal Air Maroc also joined the Oneworld family.
Airline change and cancellation policies — a complete list
Here's what you are and aren't entitled to claim.
Featured image by AFP via Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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Apply for Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
at Capital One's secure site
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
| 2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023