There was a time when you could actually count on airplane Wi-Fi to work — at least well enough to get some work done.
Yet, as free Wi-Fi has rolled out more widely across the industry, the quality has sunk. We took a look into what’s going on.
Today we’re talking about:
🛜 The unfortunate free Wi-Fi tradeoff
💰 The most valuable opportunity in business cards right now
🤓 Your smart travel briefing
NEWS & NOTES
Checking in: Your smart travel briefing
There’s been a lot of big news in the travel and loyalty worlds since we were last in your inbox. Let’s catch you up on some of the big stories we’ve been covering.
If you have Delta SkyMiles to burn, this is your moment. You can cross the pond in maximum luxury and comfort thanks to a rare abundance of Delta One award deals throughout Europe this summer.
“Basic” fares have officially spread to the high-end seats. Here’s how you can save a few bucks by incurring a lot of restrictions.
If a perfect trip to Paris is on your bucket list, here’s how our top travel expert would do it on points.
SMART TRAVEL
Free airline Wi-Fi is having a moment ... and some growing pains
Remember when getting free Wi-Fi on a flight felt like a luxury?
Now it’s becoming the norm — but that popularity is creating a new problem. More passengers are streaming, scrolling and working from 35,000 feet than ever before, and some airlines’ networks are struggling to keep up.
The biggest culprit behind the problem lately is one provider you’ve probably never heard of, whose satellites power Wi-Fi for airlines like American, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest.
One underperforming satellite has left the company short on bandwidth just as demand has skyrocketed. The good news? A new satellite launched this spring should bring a major capacity boost by the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, some long-haul flights are dealing with a different headache: aging onboard Wi-Fi systems that have become increasingly unreliable. That’s one reason airlines are racing to upgrade to newer technology, including Starlink.
Until then, free Wi-Fi is still a great perk — just don’t count on it being fast every time. Check out our full article on all of this.
BUSINESS CARDS
Big opportunity: 100K points + no annual fee
Just a friendly reminder: The elevated 100,000-point offers on two no-annual-fee Chase business cards are still available.
With the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can earn $1,000 cash back (or 100,000 points) after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is offering the same opportunity: earn $1,000 cash back (or 100,000 points) after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.
Why is this such a big opportunity?
Whether you’re running a growing company or earning income from a side hustle, these offers may be within reach. Sole proprietors can often apply using their Social Security number, while larger businesses can use an employer identification number (EIN). That’s actually how many business owners end up with multiple of these cards.
Summer travel has been brutal this year with record-breaking heat and crowds. Here's how to stay sane on the road this summer, with tips from TPG's staff.
There are many different ways to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Here are 19 of the best ways to redeem 100,000 Chase points for flights and hotels.
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Photo Credit: SIMON MARCUS TAPLIN/GETTY IMAGES, AMERICAN AIRLINES, BEST WESTERN
