Category: Credit

Taiwan-Based STARLUX Airlines Launches Transpacific Flight to Los Angeles

STARLUX Airlines, a Taiwan-based luxury carrier, today announced the launch of its inaugural Taipei-Los Angeles transpacific flight debuting on April 26. Initially starting with five weekly flights, the service is expected to ramp to daily in June. STARLUX also announced the establishment of its first US office based in Los Angeles and its new designation as the “Official International Airline Partner of the LA Clippers” as part of a multi-year partnership with the NBA team.

The airline operates the TPE-LAX route with its new-generation Airbus A350 configured in a premium four-class layout, with four seats in First, 26 in Business, 36 in Premium Economy, and 240 in Economy. Travelers in First and Business will have a cozy private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation.

The extra-legroom Premium Economy section features a 40-inch Recaro seat with a leg rest and footrest bar. Economy Class seats are also built for utmost comfort, equipped with leather headrest and wide seat pitch. In addition, the A350 offers nose-to-tail seatback entertainment featuring 4K personal large screens.

The new flights will provide exquisite dining including Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for all-class passengers to enjoy an at-home experience in the air. STARLUX will be offering First and Business guests a selection of the best top chef’s creations and local Taiwanese delicacies. Premium and Economy passengers can also enjoy top-notch delicacies and on flights departing from Taipei to Los Angeles, the popular STARLUX signature yakiniku donburi is served onboard. And to bring greater individuality to their air travel experience, all passengers can pre-order meals online.

Airline ticket reservations for departures from April 26, 2023, onward can now be booked through travel agents and on www.starlux-airlines.com. Flights will depart Los Angeles for Taipei on Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday at 00:50 hours. Flights will depart Taipei for Los Angeles on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday at 23:40 hours. Round-trip fares start at just under $1,000.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited Review

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a simple product for small-business owners who value Ultimate Rewards points. There is no annual fee and you earn 1.5% cashback on all purchases. So you don’t have to worry about shuffling cards to maximize rewards. And best of all, there is currently  a very generous sign-up bonus that is worth more than $1,000 when you use the cash back in the form of Ultimate Rewards.

Check out the pros and cons of the Ink Business Cash® credit card and the full review below. If you plan to apply, you should do so soon, as these offer will probably end later this month.

Pros	Cons
✅ Best ever bonus of $900 which can also be used as 90,000 Ultimate Rewards.	❌ No bonus categories.
✅ 0% intro APR for 12 months.	❌ Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
✅ No annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Chase Ink Business Unlimited is currently offering its best ever offer of $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases in the first three months after account opening. New cardholders also enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, after that variable APR applies. Learn how to apply.

Update: Offer Ends March 21st, 2023 at 9am EST. Referrals will probably last longer, as usual.

What makes this bonus even better is the fast than you can use this cash-back as Ultimate Rewards points if you have a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. Some popular options are Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred. That makes the bonus much more valuable since you can transfer points to travel partners. 1 cent transfers to 1 Ultimate Rewards point.

Earning Rewards

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card earns 1.5% cash back on all your purchases with no annual limits. While it is a business credit card, it will also earn rewards on non-business purchases.

Depending on your valuation of Ultimate Rewards, this card can be superior to 2% cashback cards. While it is a great rate for everyday purchases, you can still do better on select categories. If you find yourself purchasing office supplies for example, you should check out the Ink Business Cash Card.

Using Rewards

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is advertised as a cash-back card. You can redeem the cash-back for gift cards, travel or just cash in the form of statement credit or deposit into an eligible U.S. checking or savings account. You also have other options such as Amazon Shop with Points, but that’s normally not a good redemption value outside of the frequent promotions.

If you want to maximize the value of the rewards, then your best bet is to pair it with a Ultimate Rewards earning card such as Chase Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred. You can then convert the cash-back rewards on your Ink Business Unlimited Card to Chase Ultimate Rewards points. To do this, the two cards must be in the same name, or a member of your household.

Having these rewards in the form of Ultimate Rewards points, means that you can now redeem in the Chase Travel portal (1.5 cents per point with Sapphire Reserve; or 1.25cpp with Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred). Or even better, you can transfer to hotel and airline partners. This is why Ultimate Rewards are one other most valuable currencies in the credit card world. Here are all the eligible partners and the transfer ratios:

Partner	Ratio
Aer Lingus	1:1
Air Canada Aeroplan	1:1
British Airways Executive Club	1:1
Emirates	1:1
Flying Blue (Air France / KLM)	1:1
JetBlue	1:1
Iberia Plus	1:1
IHG Rewards Club	1:1
Marriott Bonvoy	1:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	1:1
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards	1:1
United Airlines MileagePlus	1:1
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	1:1
World of Hyatt	1:1

You can easily transfer points online and most transfers are instant. Just keep in mind that once you transfer point to a travel partner, it can not be reversed.

Other Benefits

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a no-annual-fee card with a simple earning structure and modest perks.

One good thing is that small-business owners can add employee cards at no additional cost. You earn the same rewards through employee cards as you do with the primary card. Plus you can set spending limits and categorize purchases by card.

The Ink Business Cash Card offers purchase protection and extended warranty protection. Purchase protection covers new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft at up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. Extended warranty protection extends the period of a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

You also get auto rental collision damage waiver when you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary when renting for business purposes. It covers up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rentals in the U.S. and abroad. However this card is not ideal for international travel as you will be charged a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited Review: Guru’s Wrap-up

When it comes to no-annual-fee credit cards, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited is a simple option that will reward you for every purchase. The card is especially enticing now thanks to its best ever offer. You can a bonus of $900 which can also be used as 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points. That increases the value substantially, possibly as high as $1,500. It can get even better if you have someone who can refer you.

The welcome offer also gives you 12 months of 0% APR which is a small bonus on its own considering current interest rates.

While the welcome offer makes this card worth applying, the simple rewards structure could make it a keeper long term for your non-bonused spending. 

15Mar2023

Aeroplan gives its members the ability to purchase points on a regular basis. Sometimes, they have a bonus offer when making this purchase. Let’s discuss the offer first and then I will share some of my thoughts on purchasing or gifting.

Promotion highlight

From March 13 to 29, 2023, Aeroplan is running a Buy/Gift points promo, with a choice of bonus or discount offer. The choices work as follows:

• Receive up to 80% bonus when buying or gifting Aeroplan points
• Receive up to 45% off when buying or gifting Aeroplan points

A minimum of 4,000 points must be purchased.

Note for U.S. cardholders: transactions made with U.S. based cards with a U.S. billing address are not subject to sales tax.

Which is worth more (bonus or discount)?

The answer, as usual is, it depends on how much you are buying.

Bonus offer:

• Buy between 4,000 to 29,000 points, receive a 45% bonus, which equals 2.41 cents per point
• Buy between 30,000 to 55,000 points, receive a 65% bonus, which equals 2.12 cents per point
• Buy more than 60,000+ points, receive a 80% bonus, which equals 1.94 cents per point

Discount offer:

• Buy between 4,000 to 29,000 points, receive a 30% discount, which equals 2.45 cents per point
• Buy between 30,000 to 55,000 points, receive a 40% discount, which equals 2.1 cents per point
• Buy more than 60,000+ points, receive a 45% discount, which equals 1.93 cents per point

Note that there is no option to purchase between 55,000 and 60,000 points.

Also note, for this promotion, members can buy or gift up to 500,000 Aeroplan points per transaction. The 1 million points remains as the buy point annual limit and 500,000 points remains the annual limit to gift points.

Thoughts on purchasing

Purchasing points is a great way to boost one’s account for a couple of reasons. There are times when we need to keep on account active, and if there really is absolutely no way to keep an account active, then making a minimal purchase will count as an activity to reset the expiry limit for another 18 months.

Alternatively, purchasing points is useful to top up an account for a specific reward option. There are times when we are just “shy” of a few points, the quickest way to top up an account is to purchase points.

Personally, these are the main two reasons I would purchase points. Otherwise, if a member is purchasing for the sake of it, then best to do the calculations on whether it is worth it.

The formula would be the calculate the cost of the points, and compare it to the actual cost of the cash flight. But one would need a cash flight to compare it with. But with dynamic reward pricing, it would be tougher to make the points purchase worth it nowadays as the margins are much closer.

Thoughts on gifting

The second option is to gift points. How often are we shopping around to find the best gift for a family or friend? Why not make it simple and just buy some points for them? Even better when making the purchase at a discount or with an added bonus. For example, if you were planning to gift them $50 in cash, you can purchase $50 worth of points instead, and then they should be able to extract more than $50 value when redeeming the points for a flight.

New St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya Opens Its Doors

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya. This new oasis captures the undiscovered glamour of the Mayan Riviera. Inspired by the neighboring 620-acre nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sian Ka’an Reserve, the resort breathes life and magic into the Kanai region with its avant-garde architecture, inviting interiors, and bespoke service. 

Designed by Mexican architectural firm Edmonds International with interiors by Chapi Chapo Design, the resort features an exceptional circular exterior design inspired by the constellation Pleiades, resulting in unrivaled ocean views from nearly every vantage point. Designed with a minimal construction footprint aimed at protecting the natural reserve, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is suspended above a mangrove forest with the different elements of the hotel connected by elevated walkways. Guests of the resort are immediately transported into the magic of Kanai with a multi-story open air water installation leading into the main lobby. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the mangroves give way to lush gardens and an expansive outdoor lawn with direct access to 2 miles of undisturbed white sand beach.

The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya, which is part of Marriott International, boasts 124 lavishly appointed guestrooms and 19 suites including a 2,300 sq. ft. Presidential Suite, each offering mesmerizing ocean views and a private terrace or plunge pool. The spacious guestrooms feature design elements and rich materials evoking the surrounding elements from the mangrove trees and nearby cenotes to the stars above. Guestrooms feature custom hanging mirrors, bedside tables, ceramic light pendants, and intricate walnut wood-carved headboards. Guests of all room categories will also have access to the St. Regis Signature Butler Service.

Check out more details from the press release below.

Incomparable Culinary Experiences  

The resort invites guests and local luminaries to embark on unique gastronomic journeys with eight incredible culinary venues. The hotel’s signature restaurant TORO by Chef Richard Sandoval is a bar and restaurant with a Latin-inspired menu led by the esteemed chef. Chaya features a menu that uniquely combines local ingredients and regional touches of Riviera Maya with culinary elements rooted in Eastern Mediterranean history. Located along the beautiful beachfront, Riviera seamlessly blends the South of France with the Mayan Riviera. A tea and chocolate salon, The Library is the perfect back drop to experience St. Regis’s signature ritual of afternoon tea and enjoy a tasting of Mexican chocolate. The intimate St. Regis Bar, designed to feature views of the night sky, offers the Kanai Mary, a local take on the brand’s signature Bloody Mary cocktail, which incorporates ingredients from the ancient Maya diet including corn, peppers and cucumber. The space also features an expansive mural inspired by Maya astronomer-priests who looked to the heavens for guidance. Additional dining venues include Jack’s Club, a hidden speakeasy; Pik Nik, a grab-and-go deli, and The Beach Club for light bites while relaxing seaside. Honoring a signature tradition among St. Regis properties around the world, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya will mark the transition from day to night with a celebratory champagne sabering each evening.  

Rejuvenation for the Body and Soul

A private invitation to experience the extraordinary, The St. Regis Spa is an enclave apart with every aspect custom created to captivate and celebrate. The spa features eight treatment suites and a standalone salon. Connecting guests with nature, the space brings the lush outdoors inside with treatments inspired by ancient practices and featuring local ingredients. Signature treatments include the Secret Garden ritual, allowing guests to hand select ingredients from the hotel’s garden to personalize a body scrub and mask, as well as a Celestial Energy treatment that is inspired by Mayan cosmology and uses herbal cleansing, hot stones energized under the moon and stars and aromatherapy based on the phase of the moon. Guests can work out in the exclusive Athletic Club, featuring a range of cardio and strength equipment as well as an outdoor yoga platform. The Beach Club will set a new standard for glamorous seaside lounging while offering access to a selection of water sports, and an incomparable pool and beach experience that includes Adult and Family pools, where vast cabanas offer complete privacy.

Family Traditions and Exquisite Exploration

Whether you are enjoying a day poolside in a Family Cabana at or partaking in sport activities on the beach, there is fun to be had for guests of all ages. Through the brand’s Family Traditions program the property offers the Tortuga Children’s Club, with activities tailored to help younger guests discover the magic of Riviera Maya. Located less than half a mile from an undisturbed coral reef, part of the second largest system in the world, the resort is also an ideal launching pad for underwater exploration.

Sophisticated Celebrations and Bespoke Events

Marking the brand’s legacy as the House of Celebration, The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya features over 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space across six distinguished meeting venues. From the expansive Astor Ballroom to the 7,300 sq. ft. Great Lawn, the resort can accommodate up to 600 guests bringing inimitable grace and style to any event: whether it be an executive meeting or gala celebration.

For more information, please visit www.stregis.com/kanai. 

15Mar2023

We are back again with another month of top credit cards currently offering at least a 10% cash back bonus promotion. There are many other cash back offers out there too, but because the market is very competitive now, so only the 10% and above offer make it to our monthly list.

Keep in mind that we still have the Top Cash Back Credit Cards page for a more complete list of cards.

In terms of this monthly list, we split the cards up into two lists: temporary (limited time) and permanent offers (indefinite, but can end any time without notice).

Temporary 10% and above cash back offers

These are financial institutions that currently offer 10% cash back bonuses with specific end dates. We listed the cards based on the expiry dates of the promotion by putting the most recent one on top.

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