✈ Top Stories of the Week, Hotel Stays With No Taxes or Fees & More News From TPG ✈ - The Points Guy

THE POINTS GUY

August 25, 2024

Top stories of the week

by Katie Genter, Lead writer

Hello from the Maldives! I arrived yesterday after spending a week in Istanbul. Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world due to its lively culture, delicious food and friendly street cats.

Last week, I wrote about how the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card currently has its best-ever welcome offer of 120,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. What’s even bigger news is that we now know this offer is ending Sept. 5, so you have less than two weeks left to apply if you want this highly valuable 120,000-point bonus!

We also learned the Department of Justice will not try to block the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger. The Department of Transportation still needs to review and approve the $1.8 billion deal, but here’s what we know (and would like to know) about the future of these airlines’ loyalty programs.

We also saw some movement in the hotel loyalty program landscape last week, as Marriott rolled out a new partnership with vacation rental platform Sonder and Hyatt announced plans to acquire Standard International. Both developments will let travelers earn and redeem points in new ways.

Here’s a look at some other top stories you might have missed last week:

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Today’s top stories

Quick Points: World of Hyatt members don’t pay hotel taxes or fees on award stays

One of the reasons we love World of Hyatt is you won't pay fees or taxes on award stays.

3 types of credit cards every 40-year-old should have

Discover the types of credit cards that 40-year-olds should have in their wallets and how you could benefit from each of them.

How can I give my friend a free Priority Pass membership?

You might want to know how to gift Priority Pass access to a friend, but not be on the hook for any visit fees or guest charges.

Disney perks and Marriott Bonvoy points: My stay at the Walt Disney World Swan

The Walt Disney World Swan resort offers perks that fans of Disney and Marriott will find valuable.

You’re about to get more options for summer cruises to the Caribbean

Princess Cruises is increasing its summer presence in all regions of the Caribbean.

The latest

1.	What is a Disney cruise Pirate Night? All you need to know to enjoy swashbuckling at sea

2.	28 Choice Privileges properties you can stay at for fewer points through Nov. 30

3.	Cape Liberty cruise port: A guide to cruising from New Jersey

4.	Check your email: Delta is reissuing companion certificates to some passengers affected by IT meltdown

5.	Best airline credit cards for families

6.	Delta’s chief operating officer will leave the airline

7.	The TSA is expecting its busiest Labor Day travel period on record. Here’s how to prepare

8.	Tampa cruise port guide: Sail away from Port Tampa Bay

9.	Fly to London, Madrid, Rome and other European cities on airlines like Delta and AA from $446 round-trip

10.	11 strategies to find cheap airfare

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