It’s hard to believe we’re nearly to the midway point in August — and in the final stretch of what’s been another record-setting summer for travel.
Even as the year’s busiest travel season winds down, though, there’s a lot of reason to be excited about what’s ahead — and to start considering how you’d like to redeem your next bundle of points and miles.
To that end, we have to talk about Hawaii. One of the state’s best hotels is now part of Marriott Bonvoy — and can be booked with points. We’re seeing redemptions as low as 84,000 Bonvoy points at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu. Be sure to consult TPG’s Awards vs. Cash Calculator to make sure dynamic pricing doesn’t get the best of your points — but note that certain Chase cardholders are seeing some hefty transfer bonuses to Marriott right now.
Meanwhile, another hotel loyalty program that’s a favorite among many TPG staffers is seeing huge growth and new ways to earn and use points — including at Arizona’s first Grand Hyatt, debuting this fall. Hyatt also reported big gains in its loyalty program. The company has been helped by the recent addition of the upscale Mr & Mrs Smith portfolio — which you can now book by transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points to World of Hyatt.
At airports, travelers from several states can now avoid pulling out their wallet, ID and boarding pass at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. Apple’s digital ID is now TSA-approved for residents of Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Arizona and Maryland — and more states may soon be on the way.
Could a new premium product be coming to JetBlue? Executives recently teased a big announcement. They didn’t give hints, but some think a domestic first-class-style cabin could be on the horizon.
Other U.S. airlines continue to make big changes, too. Southwest Airlines flights now show up in Kayak (along with Google Flights), which is a big change for the airline and makes it easier to compare prices when booking a trip.
Here are some other stories that caught our eye last week:
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