Smoke and mirrors: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card rebranded

My wife and I have four young children who have traveled with us all over the country.

Before I joined TPG in early 2022, my knowledge of credit cards and the world of points and miles was limited, to say the least. Authorized users ... what are those? Free night awards? Don't know. Chase's 5/24 rule — never heard of it.

Over the last few years, the federal government has shown an increasing interest in credit cards and points and miles. Much of this originated with the proposed Credit Card Competition Act, but it has since expanded to major airlines and the loyalty programs they offer. Incidentally, the two original cosponsors of the CCCA were the first to call for an investigation into these frequent flyer programs — a call that ultimately led to the announcement of a formal probe by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If you're familiar with TPG's valuations, you'll notice transferable rewards currencies such as American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points consistently rank as some of the most valuable rewards.

This week, Alaska Airlines announced sweeping changes to its Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program. The overhaul will make it easier for customers to earn elite status and loyalty perks in 2025. Plus, the carrier revealed that customers should soon be able to book international itineraries aboard multiple Alaska partners through its website.

“As far back as I can remember, I knew I was different,” says Alexander Smalls. Growing up in a Gullah Geechee household in Spartanburg, North Carolina, the chef says he recognized the implication of those differences—in appearance, history, and cuisine. “I discovered early that my friends did not eat any of the foods that I ate. My foods were more akin to West Africa, you know, and very much pronounced in that way,” he says. It wan't until he moved to New York as an adult, that he assimilated the value of that diasporic connective tissue. “Food was a big part of cultural expression and identity of the African diaspora,” he says.

When we arrived in Bali, we had nine suitcases, one child getting over a cold, the other not sleeping through the night, and the hopes that a few months away might help us figure out our next steps. At least that was the plan.

“In Corpus Christi, it’s the beaches, then everything else,” my shuttle driver Angela shouted over the roar of the highway as we hurriedly made our way downtown. That might be the truest statement I’ve heard in some time. McGee, Whitecap, North Beach, Mustang Island State Park, Padre Island — Corpus Christi’s beache scene is iconic.

Victory Cruise Lines will launch a new “LakeLorian” program in 2025 in partnership with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. 

The traditional territories in Alberta are home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who have called these territories home for time immemorial. We respectfully acknowledge the diverse histories, cultures, and territories of Treaty 6, 7, 8, 4, and 10, as well as the homelands of the Métis, the 8 Métis Settlements, the 6 Métis Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card offers simplified rewards where you'll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee. The card — and cash back — can become quite lucrative for anyone with a significant banking or investing relationship with Bank of America. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

I've been to over 80 countries, so people always ask me for firsthand vacation advice.