Welcome to the Inside the Upgrade newsletter, where I share specific strategies for booking luxury flights and hotels for a discount, exclusive newsletter travel tips I wish I knew sooner, and the latest destination guides so you can make the most of every trip. I keep my email cadence light, I only ever send content I would personally want to receive ✈️🥂 Hey Reader, I'm trying something new today to help people find business-class flights! I've been having some fun using AI to build travel...
11 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader,If you've been looking at the news at all, you know that TSA wait times are insane right now and are probably about to get worse. My mom is coming to visit me this week, and I didn't want her to have to deal with airport hell, so I built a TSA wait time tracker! You can check it out below, and if enough people like it I'll make a prettier app! But I figured I'd just get it out there for people to use, so I hope it's helpful for you! 👉TSA Wait Time Live Tracker It looks like this!...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader,If you've been a member of the Inside the Upgrade community for a while now, you know that I never email two days in a row. I value your time so I only reach out when there's a deal I would personally want to know about. To that end, Booking.com is offering a 40% off deal for Black Friday until December 3rd, good for any stay through 2026 🎉 I took a peek in Paris 🇫🇷 and Mexico City 🇲🇽 and was seeing thousands of dollars off hotels that I would stay in (literally, discounted from...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Bonjour Reader! I'm wrapping up an amazing month in Paris visiting family where I did everything from take a cooking class to navigate strikes that might possibly cancel my departing flight (I guess I have to live here now?). I've put the fun stuff together in a guide to the 50+ best things to do in Paris, I hope it helps your next trip! 🇫🇷 I highly recommend a trip to Paris ASAP. I flew my boyfriend and myself here in business class thanks to points from my favorite card family that has an...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, I get a lot of questions this time of year about paying taxes with a credit card. Can you do it? Does it actually earn good points? Is the fee worth it? Here’s the deal: yes, you can pay your taxes with a credit card. And yes, there’s a fee. But in the right scenario, it can absolutely be worth it—especially if you’re working toward a big welcome bonus or using a card that earns valuable points. Like, roundtrip-to-Europe-in-business-class level points. 👉 In fact, this is one of...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader,Well, it finally happened—Southwest just announced it’s 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 you’re 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...
about 1 year ago • 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...
over 1 year ago • 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...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, I hope wherever you are is approximately 10 degrees cooler than the heat we're having in New York 🥵 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, I’m gearing up for some amazing...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
