Hey Reader,Well, it finally happenedāSouthwest just announced itās cutting the two free checked bags policy that made it a fan favorite. So what now? Are we all doomed to pay $35 per bag forever? Not quite. I put together a guide on how to still fly with free checked bags, even if youāre not loyal to any one airline. From credit cards that reimburse fees to airline-specific perks, this article has everything you need to keep your luggage (and your budget) under control. Maybe in an effort to...
10 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hey Reader, Exploring castles built in the 11th century. Stay tuned for a guide! I'm interrupting my vacation in Spain (life is rough, I know), because my favorite beginner travel card has a new offer worth $1,500+. If you've been a member of the Inside the Upgrade family for a while, you know I rarely promote specific cards, so you can trust this is a good deal. I personally already have this card so I'm bummed I don't qualify, but I hope some of you are able to take advantage of it! Learn...
6 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hey Reader, Yesterday, I flew to L.A. and was reminded why I love lounge access so, so much. After braving the long lines to self-tag my checked bag (I'm traveling for 3 months, so I just couldn't didn't want to make a carry-on work), I made it into the Amex Centurion lounge. The Centurion lounges are a thing of beauty (if you can get in). In addition to delicious food, a full bar, and beautiful furniture, each one has a special "member service". At JFK, it's an Equinox Body Lab mini...
8 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Hey Reader, I hope wherever you are is approximately 10 degrees cooler than the heat we're having in New York š„µ Summer is in full swing, and from Prime Day to new, highest-ever welcome bonuses (worth at least $1,500), there are some great deals that can help facilitate your upcoming travel plans. Whether you're lounging by the pool, planning a weekend getaway, or dreaming about your next big trip, I hope you have some exciting travel on the horizon. Personally, Iām gearing up for some amazing...
9 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hey Reader, My delicious meal on Air France last year If you've been thinking about eating bread and cheese while watching the fittest humans on the planet compete, I'm with you. The Paris Olympics are coming up and I can't think of a better reason to jet off to France (except maybe that that's always a good idea?). You can fly round trip in business class for <$600 thanks to points and I've got an article breaking down exactly how you can book it, with a step-by-step written tutorial and a...
10 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey Reader, Living my best life on my Air France flight to Paris last year There's a fantastic deal on business-class flights (my favorite kind of deal š) I had to share with the Inside the Upgrade community: Air France is offering wide-open availability on business-class flights to major cities across Europe for just 50,000 points. These flights typically cost ~$5,000+ and Air France is one of my favorite business class airlines to fly thanks to its lie-flat seats, delicious meals, and...
11 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey Reader, In case you missed it, both Amex and the "Blue Bank" (a common bank I'm not allowed to name in email, but ask if you don't know what it is!) are offering 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic. I'm here to walk you through 3 ways to maximize this transfer bonus for business-class flights to London and Germany (including in the ultra-exclusive Delta One first class). Before we dive in, I'm considering creating a course called "Upgrade University" focused on luxury travel tips just...
11 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Hey Reader, As the May flowers start to bloom, it's the perfect time to think about where you might want to head this fall. There's a 30% transfer bonus from both Amex and the Blue Bank to Virgin, meaning you can easily book business-class flights to Europe for a discount. Stay tuned for my next email (coming Saturday!), where I'll walk through 3 ways to maximize this transfer bonus. Transfer bonuses are my bread and butter strategy for booking business class on repeat, so I love to see...
11 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Hey Reader, There's a new, elevated 75,000 point bonus offer on the best beginner card out there to help you earn points for luxury travel. I can't mention it by name in email, but click the link to check it out š„ø If you've been Inside the Upgrade for a while, you know that I almost never send emails encouraging a specific points card. But this is the #1 card everyone starts with when they want to luxury travel with points, so the fact that they increased the welcome bonus is a big deal. Most...
11 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
