Credit Card travel tips

Portugal has long been a popular spot for tourists, but that demand has reached new heights. In fact, the first half of 2023 saw record foreign visitors to the country. So, it should come as no surprise that its national carrier — TAP Air Portugal — has increased its presence within the U.S. in recent years.

Whether you are headed to Universal Orlando Resort in Central Florida or Universal Studios Hollywood in Southern California, a few things are certain: One, you will be transported to exciting lands based on some of your favorite movies, TV shows and video games. Two, you will create lifelong memories. Three, the costs for theme park tickets, a hotel stay, restaurants and souvenirs are going to add up quickly.

I never planned to be loyal to one airline. But I found myself on United Airlines flights more often than not when flying long-haul routes, first from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and then after a cross-country move in 2016 from Dulles International Airport (IAD). So, I decided to go all-in and get an airline-affiliated credit card, namely the United℠ Explorer Card.

Deciding whether to cancel a credit card isn't a quick and easy decision — or at least it shouldn't be. It's best to weigh several factors to ensure that closing your account doesn't have unintended consequences.

It's no secret that stepping into the world of credit card points and miles can be intimidating. Intricate rewards structures, hefty annual fees and unattainable sign-up bonuses are hard enough for the pros to grasp. But for a beginner like myself, it can feel impossible.

If you ask TPG staffers for a credit card recommendation, there's a good chance we'll recommend a card that has an annual fee. Most of our favorite cards come with many benefits that provide value well beyond their annual fee costs, so we consider them well worth paying.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

In efforts to restrict overcrowding in Delta Sky Club airport lounges, Delta Air Lines has just announced some major changes that will be rolled out over the next few years.

Editor's note: This story is continually updated with new information.

Booking.com hasn’t announced a deal to launch a co-branded credit card in the U.S., but a LinkedIn post Tuesday by a relatively new employee and a job opening for “manager, co-branded credit card growth & strategy,” provided grist for speculation.

Editor'' note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Delta Air Lines and American Express have just launched new welcome bonuses on their range of cobranded credit cards.

The day has finally arrived.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Monday, May 1. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Five travel tech startups raised $63.2 million this week.

Turkey’s banking watchdog has stopped allowing credit card payments by instalment for foreign travel, such as flights, travel agency fees and accommodation, in a step seen dealing a blow to foreign travel operators.

Marriott International has entered into a partnership with HDFC Bank in India to introduce the country’s inaugural co-branded hotel credit card.

Passengers are losing their patience with American Airlines, complaining that flight attendants are hard selling the carrier's credit cards on planes. 

Air Canada's Aeroplan® Credit Card from Chase is one of our favorite cobranded airline credit cards, offering award flexibility and valuable airline benefits. With its strong earning rate and incentives to spend on the card beyond earning the sign-up bonus, the Aeroplan credit card is worth considering for many points and miles enthusiasts — even those who may never visit Canada.

I started my credit card journey as a new teacher on a shoestring budget. I'll never forget the relief I felt when I realized I could redeem my first American Express Membership Rewards bonus for gift cards to buy a professional wardrobe. I didn't care or have the mental energy to learn that this wasn't technically the most valuable use of those points — I was just happy I could stop stressing about that expense.

Shannon Acton and her family were looking forward to spending a week aboard Disney Cruise Line's Disney Fantasy last fall. Sadly, those plans ended abruptly when her father-in-law died suddenly just days before the trip.