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Ever-ready to stick a thumb in the eye of other airlines, Spirit’s latest promotion turns mainstream loyalty marketing on its head. Instead of awarding more miles for higher-priced tickets—as has become the norm, with the proliferation of spend-based schemes—Spirit is offering a mileage bonus that increases as the airfare decreases. “The less you spend, the more miles you will get.”

InterContinental Hotel Group’s next points promotion, dubbed Accelerate, begins next month.

Everyone knows the Golden Rule of air travel: Always arrive at least an hour or two before your flight. But what if I told you there’s a way to cut that time down to just 15 minutes and never break a sweat? No security lines, no hidden fees, no penalties for missing your flights. It sounds like some sort of airline-food induced fever dream, but this is the reality of flying in a private jet.

On February 28, 2017, at the stroke of midnight, Hyatt’s current loyalty program, Gold Passport, will be terminated. That’s right: terminated. As in, the end. Kaput.

The Department of Transportation today announced its nominees to operate nonstop flights to Havana, Cuba. In all, eight airlines were approved for service to Havana from 10 U.S. airports, as follows:

For the twelfth consecutive year, JetBlue tops the list of best airlines in North America. It ranks first among low-cost carriers in J.D. Power’s annual ranking of North American airline satisfaction. Alaska Airlines is ranked highest among traditional airlines for the ninth straight year. Southwest, which is grouped in the low-cost category, had the second-highest score overall.

Segmented pricing and extra-cost amenity bundles are all the current rage among airline marketers. To compete with the likes of Spirit and Frontier, the full-service carriers are expanding their pricing schemes to include their own bare fares—super-low fares for no-frills transportation. And for those willing to pay extra to upgrade their coach-class trips, there are amenity packages such as United’s Premier Access, which give travelers priority check in and boarding, and expedited security clearing, and the carrier’s Travel Options packages, which add extra perks to Economy Plus seating.

Enter the Visit St. Pete Clearwater “Get Amped Getaway” sweepstakes by September 8, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a five-day trip for four people to St. Pete, Florida, including four nights at the Loews Don CeSar Resort, a $250 resort credit, first-class air, $500 gift card, and private car hire.

Another day, another survey designed to put the airlines in rank order, from best to worst. And another win for Virgin America, which will soon be merged into Alaska Airlines.

While it’s unlikely to ever become a standard hotel feature, flexible check-in and check-out is an obvious traveler-pleaser. Really, who wants to be locked into the hotels’ arbitrary definition of when a hotel stay can begin and end?

Looking to avoid the holiday crowds? Then plan on staying close to home this Independence Day weekend, because record numbers of Americans will be clogging the nation’s highways and airport security checkpoints.

American has announced that it will bring back a much-loved tradition from a bygone era of flying: plastic airline kids’ wings. The airline stopped handing these out sometime in the chaotic early 2000s, but ended the decade-plus absence last week.

The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard is the high-end credit card linked to American’s AAdvantage program. High end as in a $450 annual fee.

Dream tips like sailing around the Greek Islands or along the Amalfi Coast are only for the rich and famous, right? Not anymore.

How satisfied are travelers with the airlines?

Millennials are changing the travel industry. The frugal and tech-savvy generation that so many people bemoan has prompted big hotel companies to launch affordable, hostel-like lodgings and install voice-activated assistance in rooms. It’s backed a booming peer-to-peer industry. It’s demanded that low-cost accommodations and budget airlines no longer be a seedy alternative.

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

In the weeks-long bidding war for Starwood, Anbang’s latest offer was demonstrably superior to Marriott’s, at least in the short term. And it appeared that Marriott was standing pat, hoping that Starwood shareholders would buy the argument that a Marriott-Starwood tie-up could deliver better returns over the long term.

If you live within driving distance of Boston Logan’s airport, you may be in luck the next time you search for a cheap flight out of town. A ton of new airlines and routes have landed here lately, meaning flyers will have more choices, more fare wars, and more direct flights.

The recent headline-grabbing virus made travelers stop in their tracks, prompting many to cancel their trips to the tropics. While the Zika virus is mainly a concern for expectant mothers, it should be a reminder to all travelers that soon after booking that international itinerary they make a very important call: the travel clinic.

Minneapolis is well known for its art, culture, and history, along with many recreational activities. But be aware of the following warnings and dangers before visiting. [viator_tour destination=”22206″] Avoid Areas Covered