San Diego's Brand New Terminal One is Finally Here – And It's Spectacular! ✈️

San Diego International Airport just unveiled its gorgeous new Terminal One, and honestly, it couldn't have come soon enough! As someone who's traveled through the old terminal countless times, I'm thrilled to share that this transformation addresses every single frustration I had with the previous space.

Why the Old Terminal One Needed a Major Makeover

Let me be real with you – the old Terminal One was rough. Between the barely-functioning water stations that took forever to fill a bottle, the confusing dual security checkpoints (yes, I once had to exit and re-enter security because I chose the wrong line 🤦‍♀️), and the cramped, low-ceiling gate areas with zero lounge options, it felt more like an endurance test than the start of a vacation.

The limited food choices and overall dated feel made layovers feel longer than they needed to be. But those days are officially behind us!

5 Game-Changing Improvements in the New Terminal One

1. Local Flavors Take Center Stage 🌮

The dining scene has been completely transformed with beloved San Diego favorites like The Taco Stand, Luna Grill, Novacientos Grados by Tony Hawk, and Better Buzz Coffee. 

2. Security Made Simple

Gone are the days of security checkpoint confusion! The new terminal features one streamlined security checkpoint serving all gates. No more guessing games or accidental wrong turns.

3. Lounge Life is Coming Soon ✨

Two lounges are set to open: The Green Room near Gate 114 and The Studio near Gate 122. While they're not yet listed on the Priority Pass app, word is that The Studio will accept Priority Pass membership through American Express, Chase, and Capital One. Keep your eyes peeled for official announcements!

4. Bright, Airy Spaces That Actually Feel Good

The soaring ceilings and abundant natural light create such a welcoming atmosphere. You'll find diverse seating options throughout, with plenty of charging stations. The real showstopper? An outdoor deck complete with fire pits and lounge chairs – perfect for soaking up that famous San Diego sunshine before your flight.

5. Finally, Functional Water Stations! 💧

Remember those painfully slow water fillers that always had lines? The new terminal features multiple efficient water stations with strong flow. The bathrooms deserve a mention too – they're bright, clean, and equipped with individual hand dryers and those fancy makeup mirrors that make everyone look good.

Art That Catches Your Eye

The terminal showcases stunning local artwork, from the eye-catching jellyfish installation outside to the beautiful pieces adorning the interior walls and ceiling. It's clear that thought went into making this space feel uniquely San Diego.

Which Airlines Call Terminal One Home?

Currently, you'll find Southwest, Sun Country, Breeze, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier operating from the new Terminal One. There is plenty of parking nearby for $2.50 per 15 minutes for quick pickup and drop off.  Unfortunately there is no walkway access to Terminal Two, but there is a shuttle. There are also Rental Car Shuttles in front of the terminal. 

San Diego has truly outdone itself with this renovation. The new Terminal One transforms what was once a travel hassle into a genuinely pleasant experience. Whether you're heading out for vacation or returning home, this terminal sets the right tone for your journey.

Have you experienced the new Terminal One yet? I'd love to hear about your first impressions!

Why The New Southwest Business 120,000 Bonus Points Offer Is Amazing

 

Southwest Airlines just dropped a whopper big bonus offer that gets you so close to earning the Southwest Companion pass. It's crazy! 

If you follow my blog, you know that the Southwest Companion Pass is the most valuable travel perk out there. It is a BOGO pass on any Southwest flight for up to two years and you can change your companion up to three times per year. If you  were planning to earn the pass, you may have applied for the Southwest Personal Credit Card 100,000 bonus offer that ended recently. 

And you are now slowly working towards your minimum spend since you have four months to do that instead of the usual three. So you strategically reach the minimum at just the right time to earn the companion pass for nearly two years. 

The Southwest Companion Pass has saved my family thousands of dollars on cross country trips, college trips, family weekends, events and more! Plus Southwest will be starting flights to the Caribbean in 2026! 

And usually the second step in this plan is to apply for a Southwest Business Credit Card to reach the 135,000 points that you need in a single calendar year to earn the pass. 

Whew! It's a lot of strategy and that's why I help people like you keep it all straight and on track. 

With this new offer, if you do it right, you will end up with 235,000 Southwest points plus a BOGO companion pass good through December 2027. Wow! 

Now if you were not eligible for the Southwest Personal Credit Card 100,000 bonus point offer, don't worry. This new offer includes almost enough points to earn the Southwest Companion pass on its own.

 

Here's the offer:

• $10,000 minimum spend in 3 months 
• 120,000 bonus points 
• Offer ends 10/22/2025
• $299 annual fee

The minimum spend is a bit hefty, but remember to use this card for all of your purchases for the next three months. It is a business credit card, but many businesses qualify, you can read about that here.

Just as an fyi, the Southwest Personal Credit Cards dropped back to their traditional offer of 50,000 bonus points for $1,000 minimum spend. Remember when you fly, you may have access to a better offer. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Why My New Fave Is Riding Amtrak

Recently I hopped on Amtrak from Washington DC to New York and wow, I was impressed. From start to finish, the process was easy, clear and affordable. Plus I could get some work done on the train. 

The Amtrak website is very user friendly and I booked my ticket about a month before my travel date for just $38 one way. Trains ran frequently on that route even though I was traveling on a Thursday. After I purchased online, the system immediately sent me an email with my electronic ticket. In fact, the system followed up with a series of emails asking me if I would like to upgrade my ticket, reminding me that my trip was just a few days away, giving me helpful tips and finally giving me my gate information. So helpful. 

At Union Station which was beautiful by the way and full of shops, restaurants and even a Starbucks, I easily found my gate. There was a staff member directing the crowd to line up. And 15 minutes before departure time, the staff member opened the doors and directed the crowd towards the train. There was another staff member closer to the train directing the crowd to the cars. 

With my coach ticket, I was able to choose any seat in the front cars. I noticed there were some quiet cars, a cafe car and business class cars. Inside the car, the seats were plush, there were electrical outlets in each seat, luggage racks and most importantly, air conditioning. 

The train left on time and arrived three hours later at Penn Station in New York City. Amtrak offers a rewards program and though I probably won't ride enough to rack up many points, it's always a good idea to join and take the rewards. Also  use your Capital One Venture X card to buy your Amtrak ticket and then erase it with points. Yay! 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Not ready to dive into the coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

How You Can Get A $75 Restaurant Credit

 

If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, you just got a bonus $75 restaurant credit from the new booking platform Infatuation. Woohoo! 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of my favorite travel credit cards because Chase Ultimate Reward points are super flexible. They transfer to dozens of airlines and hotels including Hyatt plus you can use them in the Chase Travel Portal. The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and right now is offering a 75,000 bonus point offer for a $5,000 minimum spend. We show our clients how to use those 75,000 CUR points to get a few round trip flights to Europe! 

It's easy to sign up and then link your Sapphire Preferred credit card. 

Then just pick your city and favorite restaurant, book a table and you are good to go. There are only 11 US cities represented on the platform, but if you live near one or are traveling to one in the next month, be sure to use the credit. 

Couple of items in the fine print:

1. You must use the credit by October 16th 2025

2. You must spend a minimum of $150 to get the $75 credit

3. It's a one time credit 

4. Purchase must be made from the identifiable restaurant. Delivery, take out and gift cards may not qualify. 

So for just a $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card packs a lot of benefits. It also comes with a $50 hotel credit, a Dashpass membership and a $10 per month DoorDash credit. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. Not ready to dive into the coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Paypal Returns As The 4th Quarter 5x Bonus

Chase Freedom Q4 Bonus Categories Are Here! 🎉

The Chase Freedom 4th quarter bonus categories just dropped, and we're excited because PayPal is making its return!

Chase offers rotating quarterly bonus categories for both the Freedom and Freedom Flex credit cards. These no-annual-fee gems are perfect wallet staples that really deliver value. The bonus categories make them even more rewarding – we've seen everything from gas stations and EV charging to entertainment venues and pet stores in previous quarters.

Here's what Q4 2025 brings us:

• Chase Travel - This category typically earns 5% cash back, so expect an additional 5x points boost 🛫
• Department Stores - Think Macy's, Nordstrom, Kohl's (but not Target or Walmart)
• Old Navy - Great timing for holiday shopping! 👕
• PayPal - December only, so mark your calendars! 💳

You can earn up to $1,500 cash back across all categories during the quarter, but remember to register for the bonus through your account – it's not automatic.

Don't have a Freedom Flex yet? You can snag one with a sweet $200 bonus after spending $500. This free card is seriously worth keeping around – it earns 3x points on dining and drugstores, 5x on Chase Travel Portal purchases, and 1x on everything else.

Pro tip: Earn points on this card, then transfer them to your Sapphire Preferred or Reserve for maximum flexibility and value! ✨

Ready to register for Q4 bonuses or apply for the card? Your wallet will thank you!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Avios Just Got WAY More Flexible

Avios Just Got WAY More Flexible (And I'm Here for It!) ✈️

Hey travel friends! You know I'm obsessed with flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One miles, but there's another loyalty program that's quietly becoming a powerhouse player. Let me introduce you to the Avios ecosystem - it's about to become your new best friend! 🌟

Meet the Avios Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Avios points work across multiple airlines, giving you tons of booking options:

• British Airways 🇬🇧
• Iberia 🇪🇸
• Qatar Airways 🇶🇦
• Finnair 🇫🇮
• Aer Lingus 🇮🇪
• Vueling ✈️
• Loganair 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Transfer Partners Galore! 💳

Here's where it gets exciting - Avios partners with practically everyone:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Capital One miles
• Bilt Points
• Wells Fargo Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• American Express Membership Rewards

This means you can funnel points from multiple credit card programs into one super flexible currency!

Sweet Spot Alert! 🍯

Want to cross the Atlantic without breaking the bank? Iberia flights to Spain start at just 16,000 Avios + $50 in taxes for economy class. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus makes hopping over to Ireland surprisingly affordable. These are the kind of deals that make my travel-planning heart sing! 💚

Game-Changer: New Transfer Tool 🔄

Here's the really exciting news - Avios just launched a tool that lets you move points between different airline programs within their family. Found an amazing Iberia deal but your points are sitting in British Airways? No problem! Transfer them over in minutes.

Sometimes Iberia has the sweet spot, other times British Airways comes through with the perfect routing. Now you can chase the best deals across the entire network without being locked into one program.

How to Set It Up 🛠️

Getting started is straightforward:

1. Log into your Avios account 
2. Link your accounts with the other Avios airlines
3. Double-check that all your accounts have identical name and contact info (this is crucial!)
4. Set everything up BEFORE you need it - trust me on this one

Pro tip: There's no minimum transfer amount, and you can move points back and forth as many times as you want. The flexibility is incredible! 🙌

Why This Matters for Your Family 👪

For families like ours, having multiple options means better chances of finding award space for everyone. Instead of being stuck with one airline's availability, you can check across the entire Avios network and transfer points to wherever the best deals are hiding.

This kind of flexibility is exactly what we need to keep family travel affordable and accessible. The more options we have, the better our chances of scoring those sweet award flights that make international family trips possible! 🌍

Ready to dive into the Avios ecosystem? Start by linking those accounts and watch your booking options multiply!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

My FREE Gift To You: 1,000 Airline Miles

My Go-To Strategy for Affordable European Adventures ✈️

When it comes to crossing the Atlantic without breaking the bank, I keep coming back to Flying Blue, the loyalty program that powers both Air France and KLM. Here's why this program has become my secret weapon for European travel.

The Sweet Spot for Award Flights

Flying Blue offers some genuinely solid redemption rates:

• Economy seats: 25,000 points one way (or just 18,750 during their regular promotions)
• Business class with lie-flat seats: 50,000 points each way 🛏️

What really sets them apart? Both airlines include free stopovers in their hub cities (Paris for Air France, Amsterdam for KLM). This means you can essentially visit two destinations for the price of one award ticket.

A Recent Win That Made My Day

Earlier this year, I snagged a flight from Athens to Los Angeles for only 20,000 points plus $50 in taxes. The cherry on top? When I missed my connection in Paris due to delays, Air France stepped up big time – covering my hotel, meals, and even sending me an $800 compensation check. Sometimes travel hiccups work out better than expected! 🎉

Easy Ways to Earn Flying Blue Miles

The beauty of Flying Blue lies in its flexibility. You can transfer points from all the major credit card programs:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Capital One Miles
• Bilt Rewards
• American Express Membership Rewards

The New Player Worth Watching

Here's where things get interesting – Rove Miles just entered the scene as a shopping portal meets flexible points program. They've partnered with over 12,000 online merchants, letting you earn miles on everyday purchases that you can then transfer to Flying Blue and other airlines.

Their airline partners include Flying Blue, Finnair, Aeromexico, and Turkish Airlines, giving you plenty of redemption options.

Limited-Time Opportunity 🎯

I've got something special for you – 1,000 free Rove miles just for signing up (no purchase required). The signup process takes under a minute, and you can transfer those miles to Flying Blue if that's your preference once you have earned 2,000 Rove miles.

Important: This offer expires September 17th, so don't let it slip by if you're interested in building your points balance.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. Not ready to dive into the coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities.  

Why You Might Want To Try Staying At The Generator Hostel

Recently I stayed at The Generator Hostel in Miami Beach just to see what the fuss is about. I loved it! 

Affordable, stylist and with the tagline "for the young at heart", you gotta love it. 

Currently, there are 12 locations in Europe: Copenhagen, Paris, Vienna, Dublin and more. These funky hostels are known for their lively atmosphere and are often sold out. 

The first US based Generator opened in 2018 and offers an affordable accommodations in the otherwise expensive Miami Beach. There are 5 Generators in the US. For August, the chain is offering buy 3 nights, get a 4th FREE and 10% off if you buy directly from their website. Remember if you use your Capital One Venture or Venture X to make this purchase, you can "erase" it with points.  Right now, you can get 75,000 points with a $4,000 minimum spend on the Capital One Venture X credit card. 

The Miami location is right across the street from the beach/boardwalk and down the street from Starbucks and a grocery store with a hot food counter. 

The restaurant inside the Generator hotel features modern Mexican cuisine, the corn appetizer is delicious. The fish tacos were also a delicious choice. 

The rooms are small but the view was fire of the Atlantic ocean

The room was lacking in desk space which for remote workers would be a necessity, but the property did offer FREE high speed Wifi. Plus a work space downstairs, but again no desks. 

The pool area also had lots of low seating, but very few desk type spaces. The one space with tables and chairs that could be used as work space was a designated smoking area.

The Generator offers a deal with the AC Marriott two blocks away for parking at $35 per 24 hours with in/out privileges however it is cash only. 

The rooms included a funky modern refrigerator, but no coffee maker, microwave or hot water kettle. There was a hot water dispenser in the lobby. Beach umbrellas, chairs and luggage lockers were offered at the front desk. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

 Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

The Best Way To Visit Iguazu Falls, Brazil

It's one of the wonders of the world, the beautiful Iguazu Falls! The falls are located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. And the country of Paraguay is just up the road. 

Iguazu Falls is actually made up of more than 250 small falls. And because of that fact presents completely differently than the other great falls in the world, Victoria Falls in Zambia and Niagara Falls in New York. The falls are also home to many animals and plants that make this one of the most diverse eco systems in the world. Both sides are National Parks and UNESCO declared the falls a World Heritage Site in 1984. Most than one million people visit the falls each year.  

This should definitely be on your bucket list! So what's the best way to visit the falls? 

• Where to fly? You will most likely fly into Foz Do Iguazu, Brazil (Airport code IGU) or Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. (Airport code IGR). Both cities are about a two hour flight from either Rio or Buenos Aires. Whichever side is easier for you to arrive, you must see the falls from both sides and crossing the border is easy. 

• Where to stay at the falls? There are many hotel options on both sides of the falls. There is only one hotel inside the park on the Brazilian side and its quite costly. But you can choose to stay in a hotel walking distance from the entrance like the Sanma Hotel. It cost just $125 per night and included breakfast. It featured a nice pool and was located right next door to the Bird Park. It is about 25 minutes out of town so something to keep in mind for dinner. The hotel offers a dinner buffet for $20 per person and a snack bar which has $6 burgers and french fries. The hotel offers helicopter rides, hot air balloon rides and a spa. You can use Capital One points to "erase" any hotel or book through the Capital One Travel Portal. 
• 
  

• How to visit the Brazilian side of the falls? No need to buy tickets prior to arriving at the falls. There are kiosks at the entrance gate and plenty of staff to direct you to the kiosk and then to the line for the bus. There is also a snack bar available if you want to grab an inexpensive snack. Entry tickets cost approximately $18 pp. The bus ride takes approximately 20 minutes and I recommend you get off the bus at the pink hotel. It's the second to last stop. Take the platform heading down the hill on your right and you get an incredible view of the falls. Keep going and the platform will take you along the river and all the way down to the platforms in the water and a viewing station next to the falls. No worries, there is an elevator you can ride to come back up or you can continue walking to the last bus stop to catch the ride back to the entrance. There is no need to hire a guide for this park. At a leisurely pace, you will probably spend 3 hours here.

• How to visit the Argentinian side of the falls? This park is much larger so you will probably need more time here. If you are staying on the Brazilian side, you will also need to include about 45 minutes to cross the border. Bring your passport! If you are staying on the Argentinian side of the falls, you will also need a visa to visit the Brazilian side of the falls. A visa costs $80 and is good for 10 years. You can buy it online here. The website is a bit glitchy so you may have to try several times. If you are coming from Brazil, you may want to hire a guide for the day, the going rate is approximately $150 for the guide. Entry tickets and the boat ride are additional. If you break down the cost though, you will need to get to the border, cross the border, and then get to the park. Plus once you are inside the park, it's nice to have someone guide you to the best viewing spots. Entry tickets cost approximately $38 pp and the boat under the falls costs approximately $63 pp. You can buy both of them online prior to your visit. I do recommend doing the boat ride into the falls. The boat gets so close to the falls that you get soaking wet, but it's an amazing view watching the water fall towards you and feeling the power. The boat staff gives each person a dry bag  for their shoes and personal items and I recommend bringing a rain poncho, towel, change of clothes and waterproof phone holder. 

Other highlights in the area include kayaking on the Parana River with Aguaray Eco Esportes, the Bird Park and a shopping trip in Paraguay. I recommend spending three days in the area so you don't feel rushed. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. Not ready to dive into the coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Southwest Promotional Companion Pass Is Back! 3 Days Only!

 

With all the changes happening at Southwest, it was nice to see this offer pop up this morning! Whether you are working on the real Southwest companion pass or not, this promotional pass could help bridge the gap in early 2026 while you wait for your real pass to kick in OR how about a winter getaway?

The Southwest Companion Pass gets you BOGO flights for you and one companion as many times as you want where ever Southwest flies. Costa Rica, perhaps? Belize, perhaps? 

This promotional pass will be valid Jan 6, 2026-March 6, 2026. 

All you have to do is book one round trip or two one way flights by Thursday August 28th and travel by Nov. 15th. Basic tickets do NOT count. 

You must register here first! 

A few years back, I flew to Phoenix and had lunch with a friend. Round trip flight cost less than $100 and then I used the promotional pass for a few trips to New York. Worth it! 

Now Southwest is also offering a bonus offer of 100,000 points right now, with this offer , you can earn the companion pass for almost two years because Chase is giving you five months to reach the minimum spend instead of the usual three. But you have to time it right! You have to earn the bonus in January 2026. It's not easy, but we have a strategy. 

I have done this multiple times and helped dozens of people do it, if this interests you. You need to act fast. Book a consult with me now. Before you apply, you have to do one very important step and with this bonus offer ending on Sept. 17th, we don't have much time. 

So let's talk now! 

Alaska Airlines Brand New Loyalty Rewards Program

Big news today! Alaska Airlines is launching its new loyalty rewards program rebranded as Atmos Rewards. 

Here's what we know so far and an amazing 100,000 bonus point offer:

• Current Alaska loyalty members will keep their current loyalty account number. Hawaiian Air members who linked to their account to an Alaska loyalty account will keep their current number.  
• Atmos rewards are now points instead of miles 
• Ability to use Atmos rewards to book flights on 30 different airline partners including American, Iberia, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Finnair. 
• Ability to transfer Atmos rewards to 5 hotel brands including Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, Wyndham Rewards, I Prefer Hotel Rewards and Shangri La Circle. 
• Three ways to earn points, you pick which one you prefer: distance, revenue or segment (you can change your preference once per year)

In honor of the new loyalty rewards program, Alaska also announced three new credit card bonus offers. All three cards are co branded with Bank of America. 

ATMOS REWARDS™ ASCENT VISA SIGNATURE® CARD

• $95 annual fee
• $4,000 minimum spend in 120 days 
• 80,000 bonus offer
• Use points only to book on Alaska and Hawaiian Air
• $99 companion certificate good on Alaska and Hawaiian air
• free checked bag

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card

• $395 Annual Fee
• $6,000 Minimum Spend in 90 days
• 100,000 Point Bonus Offer 
• 25,000 Point Companion Certificate
• Ability to use points to book on any partner airline 
• Global Companion certificate 
• 8 Alaska Air Lounge Passes 
• Free checked bag
• Free onboard WIFI
• $120 Global Entry credit 

Atmos Rewards Visa Business 

• $70 Annual Fee
• $5,000 minimum spend in 90 days 
• 80,000 Point Bonus Offer 
• $99 companion certificate good on Alaska and Hawaiian Air if you spend $6,000 on the card during the year
• Free checked bag

My recommendation with these offers is to apply for the Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card because the points can be used on any partner airline which makes the points almost transferable. 

Plus you get the Global Companion Certificate. Alaska Airlines points are usually very valuable and easy to use. Since the program is distance based, you can get some good deals. 

It's exciting to see how this program develops and grows. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Not ready to dive into the coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Lounge Full? Visit Multiple Airport Lounges During Your Layover

Lounge capacity issues are real and incredibly frustrating! But here's something you might not know: you can visit multiple lounges on the same day, or even enjoy one while you're on the waitlist for another. Several credit cards offer free membership in the Priority Pass Lounge network which offers entry for you and up to two guests into more than 1,700 lounges around the world. 

Recently, I had a three-hour layover at JFK in New York. I wanted to check out the Chase Sapphire lounge, but the line stretched on forever. I decided to add my name to the waitlist anyway. The agent estimated a 20-40 minute wait, which operates through text notifications—and you only have 10 minutes to reach the lounge once they text you. While some lounges let you join waitlists through the Priority Pass app, this particular Sapphire Lounge requires in-person sign-up.

Lounge Full? Visit Multiple Airport Lounges During Your Layover

Ten minutes isn't nearly enough time to switch terminals, but it's plenty of time to visit another lounge within the same terminal. Terminal 4 offers several Priority Pass network options:

• Air India Lounge
• Virgin Atlantic
• Hello Sky
• Chase Sapphire - restricted hours for non Chase Sapphire card members

I headed downstairs to the Hello Sky pop-up lounge. No line whatsoever—I checked in quickly and walked right in. The space is compact but not overcrowded, and I immediately found a comfortable couch with a nearby charging station. An attendant approached within moments and offered me a glass of wine. What a welcome!

The food and drink selection pleasantly surprised me, featuring both hot and cold options plus an impressive variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. A large monitor, computer, and printer were available for business needs. The only downside to this pop-up lounge? No restroom facilities inside.

Lounge Full? Visit Multiple Airport Lounges During Your Layover

After 40 minutes of relaxation, my phone buzzed with the text I'd been waiting for—time to head to the Chase Sapphire Lounge. I gathered my belongings and headed upstairs, passing a Capital One Lounge along the way.

The Chase Sapphire Lounge was busy but manageable when I arrived. An attendant immediately seated me at a spot with charging capabilities. The amenities included hot and cold food buffets, an extensive drink selection, and an espresso machine. There's also a full-service bar with a QR code menu featuring items like hamburgers, grilled cheese, and french fries.

The takeaway? You have numerous options available, so explore them all and don't hesitate to visit multiple lounges during a single layover!

How to Get Access

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card: This remains the best way to access the Priority Pass lounge network. The current offer includes 100,000 points for meeting a $5,000 minimum spend requirement. While the $795 annual fee might seem steep, the credits and benefits provide excellent value. We hear this offer is ending soon! 

Capital One Venture X Credit Card: This alternative offers access as well, currently providing 75,000 points for a $4,000 minimum spend. The $395 annual fee comes with fewer benefits compared to the exceptional Chase Sapphire Reserve offer.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. Not ready to dive into th coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities.