January Valuations, $30 Uber Credit, Emirates Expansion at LAX & More
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Each Saturday, we round up news stories that you may have missed from the week before, including several that already appeared on The Points Guy, and some more that we haven't covered yet. If you're an avid TPG reader, scroll down for the new stuff. Here's the top miles, points and travel news you may have missed this week:
5 Reasons Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your First Card in 2016
With 2016 finally here, it's time to gear up for another year of earning and burning, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card to get you started. 2x points on travel and dining and a killer sign-up bonus are just two reasons why this should be your first pick for the new year.
What Are Points & Miles Worth? January Monthly Valuations
The latest installment of our valuations series is here. With the new year comes plenty of changes to rewards programs, so stay tuned as airlines, hotels and credit cards begin rolling out their new updates. For this month, we added a program into the mix and put two on notice in anticipation of the upcoming devaluations in 2016.
This Man Has Many More Credit Cards Than You
Think you're dedicated to the credit card game? It's unlikely that you'll beat Walter Cavanagh, also known as "Mr. Plastic Fantastic," and the nearly 1,500 credit cards he keeps in his wallet. In total, Cavanagh has a credit line of $1.7 million but still manages to keep a healthy score, which is so important when applying for new travel rewards credit cards.
16 Exciting Hotels Opening in 2016
New and re-branded hotels tend to be a bit less exciting than new flight routes, but each year there are some great openings worth keeping an eye on. 2016 looks to be a great year for new properties in exciting destinations ranging from New York City to the Maldives, and our list of the 16 best is certainly worth a look.
The Safest Airlines in the World for 2016
In-flight safety seems to have been front and center in 2015 with all of the disasters and tragedies over the past couple of years, making AirlineRatings.com's annual list of the top 20 safest airlines all the more interesting. Spoiler alert: Four US airlines made the cut this year but a foreign carrier ultimately came out out on top.
In Other News…
Uber Offers $30 Off Your First Ride When You Pay With Amex
New Uber users can earn $30 off their first ride with promo code UBERAMEX. The ride-sharing service typically offers a $15 credit for normal referrals — it even has offers for existing users to get a discount — so this is a good chance to stretch your first ride a bit further. To take advantage of the offer, you must pay your fare with an American Express Card, like the Amex Premier Rewards Gold Card, which also earns Uber riders double points.
Emirates Expands A380 Service at LAX
Emirates slowly seems to be taking over the world of travel and connecting some of the farthest corners of the globe through its primary hub in Dubai. This week, the airline announced that it would be adding a second daily flight from Los Angeles (LAX) on its massive A380. The expansion won't officially begin until this summer, but there are still plenty of ways to fly Emirates in the meantime.
Netflix Brings Its Service Global
Netflix announced this week that it would be bringing its service to more than 130 new countries around the world. While this is certainly big news for people living in previously unsupported countries, it's also of interest to travelers around the world. Before the announcement, Americans looking to binge-watch their favorite programs abroad had to use a VPN to connect, so now it'll now be a bit easier to stream. There are still a few notable holdouts (we're looking at you, North Korea), but the coverage is still quite expansive.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAAI9-LmjrF/
United Introduces Complimentary Prosecco in Lounges
Over the past few months, United has been working hard to impress its flyers with the introduction of free drinks for all elites — even for passengers in coach — not to mention the switch to gourmet coffee. The latest news is the introduction of complimentary prosecco for United Club visitors starting in 2016.
Thai Airways Expects to Resume Los Angeles Service in late 2016 or 2017
Thai Airways is allegedly planning a service resumption to Los Angeles this year. In late 2015, the FAA announced that it lowered Thailand's aviation safety rating to denote that the country lacks laws or regulations to comply with international aviation standards. The changes also mean that the airline is banned from opening new routes, so it's unclear how the airline will proceed with US travel going forward.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.