Tag: underscored-travel-rewards

After you marry your forever partner, what better way to launch the next chapter of your lives together than with the trip of a lifetime? Whether your dream honeymoon destination is in South Beach or the Southern Hemisphere, spending some time with the love of your life right after exchanging your vows is a great move.

But, we don’t need to tell you that your dream honeymoon can get expensive. And, if you’re planning on splurging — and really, what better time to splurge than for your honeymoon? — the price tag of your trip can easily creep into the thousands of dollars. Between flights, hotels, transport, food and more, honeymoons can be a huge expense. Thankfully, travel rewards can help you to save hundreds — if not thousands — on your honeymoon.

I can speak from experience. My husband and I got married in 2022, and amid all of the wedding planning in the lead-up to our big day, we knew we wanted to go somewhere special for our honeymoon. We settled on Southeast Asia for our splurge, once-in-a-lifetime trip. And rather than pay for our flights, we put our travel rewards to use.

Now that we’ve experienced our honeymoon, we can confirm that our splurge trip was the right move. In fact, our flights were so fantastic that we didn’t even want to get off the planes. Think of a bed in the sky, food you’d be thrilled to eat at a nice restaurant on the ground and terrific service. Here’s how we booked our $18,584 honeymoon flights for less than $175 — and how, with some effort, flexibility and homework, you can do the same.

To start our Southeast Asia adventure, we flew from New York to Singapore. At 9,537 miles and slotted at 18 hours and 50 minutes in flying time, Singapore Airlines’ nonstop flight from New York-Kennedy (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) is currently the longest flight in the world.

Since it was our honeymoon, we decided to splurge on business class — especially considering it’s nearly a 19-hour journey. While we could have elected to fly with a stop in Frankfurt along the way (and potentially even fly in Singapore Suites first class on the A380), we flew nonstop. And, after having experienced delicious food, amazing service and a very comfortable lie-flat bed in the sky, we’re glad we did.

For a one-way business-class seat on this route, Singapore Airlines charges anywhere between $3,600 and nearly $10,000. On the date we were flying, the airline was charging $6,516 per person for a seat in business — that would be $13,032 for both of us. To state the obvious, that’s way out of our budget. Instead, we used travel rewards and paid just $11.20 out of pocket. Yes, you read that right — just over $11 total.

That’s because we elected to redeem Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles for the flight. A one-way trip between New York and Singapore costs just 99,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees in business class, provided you can find Saver award availability. (Singapore Airlines doesn’t offer Singapore Suites on the nonstop flight between New York and Singapore.)

Now, most Americans — including myself — don’t have a stash of Singapore KrisFlyer miles sitting around. But fortunately, the miles are incredibly easy to acquire because the airline partners with all the major US credit card transferable points programs. In other words, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards to Singapore Airlines.

I had a large sum of American Express Membership Rewards points saved up from both my Platinum Card® from American Express and my American Express® Gold Card. By transferring those points, I had more than enough to cover the 198,000 KrisFlyer miles needed for both my husband and me.

Currently, the Amex Platinum — a card we consider one of the best for luxury travel perks — is offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months after opening the account. That welcome bonus offer alone is nearly big enough to get a one-way business-class ticket from New York to Singapore.

Meanwhile, the Amex Gold card is currently offering new card members 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first six months after opening the account. If you’re able to secure the welcome bonus offers from both the Amex Platinum and the Amex Gold, you’ll be within reach of a one-way trip to Singapore in business class for you and your new spouse.

Learn more about The Platinum Card from American Express.
Learn more about the American Express Gold Card.

Keep in mind that points don’t always transfer instantly to Singapore Airlines — it can take up to 48 hours in some cases. So you’ll want to plan ahead if you’re thinking of transferring points into your Singapore account.

How we saved nearly $5,400 flying from Thailand to New York in business class

After spending a couple of weeks in Southeast Asia, it was (unfortunately) time for us to head back to New York. We wrapped up our honeymoon in Thailand, so when booking, we looked at options for traveling from Bangkok (BKK) back to New York (JFK). And, we were able to find another steal of a deal using travel rewards.

Etihad Airways flies this route with a stop in Abu Dhabi (AUH) on the way. The airline charges around $3,000 per person for a one-way business-class seat — in fact, on our travel date, the airline was charging $2,776 per person, which would have come to a total of $5,552 for both of us. Again, this simply would have been out of our budget.

Instead, we were able to find business-class award availability, and because Etihad Airways is partners with Air Canada, we were able to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points to bring this flight down to a fraction of the cost. Specifically, we redeemed 85,000 Aeroplan points per person — 170,000 points in total — and paid about $162 in taxes and fees between the two of us. In other words, we got this $5,552 business-class itinerary for just $162 out of pocket.

Just like Singapore KrisFlyer miles, it’s also incredibly easy to acquire Air Canada Aeroplan miles — even if you never step foot on an Air Canada plane. That’s because the Aeroplan program is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One miles. In other words, you can transfer points from any of those three programs to Aeroplan and redeem for flights with Air Canada — or any of its partners, such as Etihad or dozens of others.

I used a combination of American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to redeem for this 170,000-point flight. You can easily get a chunk of points towards this redemption with the current sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The current bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months is 25,000 points short of enough to redeem for this one-way business-class jaunt from Asia to North America for one person. When you consider, too, that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid investment well beyond its sign-up bonus — we even consider it to be the best travel credit card for beginners — picking up the card in addition to all those bonus points is a no-brainer.

If you pair the 60,000 points earned from the Chase Sapphire Preferred with the 80,000 bonus points earned from the welcome offer on the Amex Platinum and transfer both to Air Canada Aeroplan, you’ll have nearly enough points for the same redemption we made — once you take into consideration the points earned from the minimum spend requirement on each card.

Ultimately, using travel rewards helped my husband and me afford supreme luxury in the sky on our honeymoon — something that would have otherwise been unachievable. By rethinking our credit card strategy and putting the right travel credit cards in our wallets, we were able to afford two magnificent flying experiences for just $173 out of pocket. Instead, we were able to spend our honeymoon budget on terrific hotels and delicious food throughout our two-week trip — what could be better than that?

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Looking for a new travel credit card? Check out CNN Underscored’s list of the best credit cards currently available.

There was once a time when flying business class meant sitting in a recliner-style seat that was ever so slightly more spacious than economy. But ever since British Airways launched the first lie-flat business-class seat in 2000, the gap between business class and first class has continuously shrunk. Now lie-flat business-class seats are not only standard on international flights, but they’ve become common offerings on domestic flights as well.

We’re now entering a new era where airlines are introducing even more first-class perks into their business-class cabins in order to lure frequent travelers. And, better yet for travelers who may otherwise be unable to afford the luxuries of business class, there are ways to fly at the front of the plane for a fraction of the price. Thanks to travel rewards, you can redeem your points and miles for nearly free flights — you’ll just be on the hook for paying the taxes and fees on your ticket.

From fully lie-flat beds to fully enclosed suites, here are eight of the best business-class seats you can book with points and miles.

Since Qatar Airways introduced its famed Qsuite product in 2017, it’s become the gold standard in business-class seating. With the launch of Qsuite, Qatar Airways became the first airline to launch a fully enclosed business-class seat — and it remains one of the best options out there today.

Between the chic color palette and sleek finishes, the Qsuite is stylish yet functional. But what makes it unique is that the seats are incredibly versatile in the way they can be configured. Couples traveling together can choose to have adjoining seats combined into a single suite with a double bed.

Or families can choose the middle section with seats that can swivel into a “pod” for four people to dine together. It’s a feature unique to Qsuite, making it a worthwhile splurge on a long-haul flight, especially if you’re traveling with a group.

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite seat can be found on various routes operated by the airline’s Airbus A350-1000s as well as some of its Airbus A350-900s, Boeing 777-200LRs and Boeing 777-300ERs. Research your route and aircraft to determine if the flight you’re interested in features a Qsuite cabin. Generally speaking, you can find the Qsuite flying on routes from Doha (DOH) to cities like New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX) and more.

How to book Qatar Qsuite with travel rewards

Travelers with frequent flyer rewards to spend will be pleased to know that despite offering arguably the best business-class seat, the Qatar Qsuite is still attainable using travel rewards. Both Qatar Qmiles and partner program American AAdvantage require 70,000 miles, plus taxes and fees one way for a flight to the Middle East. (As of 2022, Qatar has replaced its own Qmiles currency with Avios, which is the loyalty currency used by British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling.)

To search, you’ll want to head to American Airlines’ website and search for award tickets. Find a route and a date with availability that works for you. If you’ve got enough American AAdvantage miles in your account, you’ll be able to book the Qsuite and just have to pay the taxes and fees on the ticket.

You can nearly earn enough miles for a one-way flight from the US to the Middle East just from the sign-up bonus offer from either of the following credit cards:

All information about the AAdvantage Aviator Red card has been collected independently by CNN. The AAdvantage Aviator Red card is not currently available through CNN.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has a relatively new business-class product called “The Room,” which gives Qatar’s Qsuite a run for its money. The Room lives up to its name with spacious, fully enclosed suites. The suites are nearly 3 feet wide and rival even the most aspirational first-class seats on some of the world’s best airlines. Travelers can relax in the privacy of their sanctuary while enjoying world-class cuisine from either a Western or Japanese menu.

The cabin of the aircraft is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, and seats alternate throughout the cabin between forward- and rear-facing. If you’re traveling with a companion, you’ll want one of the two middle seats where you can share a space, whereas if you’re traveling alone, you’ll want one of the seats flush against the window so you have more privacy.

ANA’s The Room is available on some of the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft. Flights between Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and London (LHR), Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and Chicago (ORD) and Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and New York (JFK), among others, tend to operate with The Room.

How to book ANA’s The Room with travel rewards

You can book ANA’s The Room for as few as 75,000 miles, plus taxes and fees round trip for a low-season award from the US to Tokyo directly through ANA’s Mileage Club program. High-season awards increase to as much as 88,000 miles, plus taxes and fees round trip. Especially at the lower end of the spectrum, this is a fantastic deal for a round-trip award ticket, considering programs like United MileagePlus charge at least 70,000 miles, plus taxes and fees one way for a business-class ticket to Japan.

Perhaps the best news of all is that it’s incredibly easy to get miles in your ANA Mileage Club account. That’s because ANA is a 1-to-1 transfer partner of the Amex Membership Rewards program. In other words, you can transfer your Amex points right to ANA for this sweet redemption.

Better yet, it’s easy to rack up American Express Membership Rewards points from welcome bonus offers that come with the issuer’s credit cards. Consider any of the following American Express credit cards:

Japan Airlines’ Sky Suite has been around for years — it even won an award as the best business-class seat in 2013 — but it continues to get high marks for comfort. That’s because the lie-flat seat offers Airweave mattresses and pillows for passengers to sleep in comfort while they’re cruising through the skies.

Privacy is a key feature of the JAL Sky Suite, as it offers a motorized partition to close off access to your neighbors. With a 1-2-1 cabin configuration, every seat has direct aisle access, offering privacy and ease of mobility throughout the cabin.

The JAL Sky Suite is available on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. You can find the product on routes between the US and Tokyo from cities like Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW) and more.

How to book JAL’s Sky Suite with travel rewards

A Japan Airlines Sky Suite business-class award between the US and Japan starts at 50,000 miles, plus taxes and fees each way. This rate can increase substantially if you’re booking a PLUS award, which means you’ll be asked to pay more for a ticket that would otherwise be unavailable for redeeming miles.

You can also book Sky Suite using miles in partner airline programs. For example, American Airlines’ AAdvantage program and Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan program are both partners with JAL, and awards with both to Asia start at just 60,000 miles, plus taxes and fees each way. Alaska even allows a free stopover on one-way awards, enabling you to make Tokyo your stopover and then continue to a second destination in Asia.

You can cover a one-way flight with the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card, which currently offers 50,000 bonus miles plus a companion fare after you spend $2,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. Alternatively, you can pick up two AAdvantage credit cards to cover a round-trip flight at the 50,000-mile each-way mark. Consider one of the following:

All information about the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN. The Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card is not currently available through CNN.

Foodies, take note: One of the most notable features of flying Turkish Airlines business class is access to a “flying chef.” Not only does Turkish Airlines have some of the best catering in the air, but on flights of eight hours or longer, the airline also staffs the flight with a chef who prepares meals onboard.

And not only does Turkish Airlines offer some of the best catering you’ll find at 35,000 feet, but its business-class seat on the Boeing 787 aircraft is also renowned for its luxurious comfort. The cabin offers 30 seats, which are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, meaning each passenger has direct access to the aisle. Passengers also have a good amount of privacy along with modern amenities like in-seat power outlets, a lie-flat seat and a large entertainment screen.

If you fly Turkish Airlines business class from Istanbul, you’ll also have the privilege of visiting its lounge at Istanbul Airport. Considered one of the better airport lounges in the world, it offers expansive meal options, a golf simulator, a tea garden, a massive kids play area and much more.

You’ll find the Turkish 787 on several routes between the US and Istanbul (IST), including Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW) and Washington, D.C. (IAD), among others.

How to book Turkish Airlines business class with travel rewards

While it may seem strange, one of the cheapest ways to book a Turkish Airlines business-class award is via the ANA Mileage Club, as they’re both members of the Star Alliance. A round-trip award flight between the US and Europe will set you back just 88,000 miles when booked via ANA Mileage Club.

As mentioned above, ANA miles are relatively easy to come by, thanks to the fact that ANA is a 1-to-1 transfer partner of the Amex Membership Rewards program. The welcome bonus offers from the following credit cards offer enough points for a round-trip transatlantic flight in Turkish business class:

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles program requires just 45,000 miles, plus taxes and fees each way for a business-class ticket from the US to Turkey. Miles&Smiles is a 1-to-1 transfer partner of the Citi ThankYou program, meaning the ThankYou points earned from Citi cards can transfer to Turkish to get you a nearly free flight. With the Citi Premier® Card, you can earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. That’s not quite enough for a round-trip ticket to Turkey, but it is enough to cover a one-way ticket.

Singapore Airlines is the world’s most awarded airline and offers some of the best business-class seats in the air. Onboard Singapore’s A380, you’ll find a podlike business-class product with hand-stitched leather seats.

If you’re traveling with a companion, you can turn any two middle seats into a double bed. Meanwhile, if you’re traveling solo, you’ll get a great amount of privacy, thanks to the sculpted wings around the top of the seat.

Until May 2023, Singapore Airlines is flying this double-decker A380 to New York (JFK). The plane flies nonstop from NYC to Frankfurt (FRA) before continuing on to Singapore (SIN), its final destination. New York is your only option for finding this A380 business-class seat from the US, but you can also find it on several routes from Singapore (SIN) to Asian cities such as Shanghai (PVG) and Beijing (PEK), among others.

How to book Singapore Airlines business class with travel rewards

Singapore Airlines awards are some of the most accessible for travelers looking to redeem rewards, and that’s because the Singapore KrisFlyer program is a transfer partner of all of the major transferable currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

One of the best ways to experience Singapore Airlines’ A380 business class is from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). This route operates a terrific value at just 72,000 miles, plus taxes and fees each way if you can find availability directly through Singapore Airlines.

As mentioned, Singapore KrisFlyer miles are easy to earn, thanks to Singapore KrisFlyer’s 1-to-1 transfer partnership. You can transfer points earned from the following cards — along with others — right to Singapore.

American’s Flagship First and Business offer an elevated flying experience. In fact, the Flagship business product provides more privacy than the first-class cabin on the same Boeing 777-300ER aircraft — in fact, many flyers agree that business class on that aircraft is better than first class. Business-class passengers can enjoy a lie-flat seat with a Casper sleep set and a three-course meal.

Flagship business-class travelers also get access to American’s famed Flagship Lounges, which offer premium amenities like shower suites, chef-curated meals and expansive wine and cocktail menus.

American Airlines Flagship business class is available on various domestic routes, including Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) on the A321T, though those seats are configured differently than the internationally equipped aircraft. Internationally, you can try this fantastic product on routes to Europe (New York to London), South America (Miami to Buenos Aires) and Asia (Los Angeles to Hong Kong), for example.

How to book American Flagship business with travel rewards

Domestically, you can fly Flagship business class for just 25,000 AAdvantage miles each way. You can earn enough miles for a round-trip ticket — for example, between New York and Los Angeles — after just one welcome bonus. The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card currently offers 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.

If you’re looking for more time in the air, you can book a one-way award ticket in Flagship business class for just 57,500 miles each way, plus taxes and fees from the US to Europe and parts of South America. With the welcome bonus from two AAdvantage credit cards, you’ll have nearly enough to cover a round-trip itinerary.

For a few years, JetBlue Mint has arguably been the best domestic business-class seat on the market, yet the airline outdid itself with the introduction of its new JetBlue Mint Studio on its newer, longer-range aircraft. There are just two Mint Studio seats on the longer-range A321LRs, and they feature stylish lie-flat seats in the first row, while the other seats in the cabin are called Mint Suites.

The Mint Studio is currently available on both domestic and international routes, including Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK), and New York (JFK) to London (LHR).

The spacious seat converts into the largest bed on a US airline and comes with Tuft & Needle bedding, plenty of storage, wireless charging and more.

How to book JetBlue Mint Studio with travel rewards

JetBlue TrueBlue points can be redeemed in line with the price of a cash ticket. If you’re redeeming TrueBlue points toward a Mint seat, they’re worth about 1.01 cents each, so a $2,505 flight would cost 247,500 TrueBlue points, plus taxes and fees.

JetBlue has two credit cards you can earn these points with: The JetBlue Card and the JetBlue Plus Card. The JetBlue Plus Card offers a welcome bonus of 40,000 TrueBlue points after spending $1,000 and paying the annual fee within the first 90 days.

While the JetBlue Plus offers a solid bonus, it won’t be enough to get you into the Mint Studio cabin. That’s where transferable rewards come in. You can transfer points from the Citi ThankYou and Chase Ultimate Rewards programs, both at a 1-to-1 ratio. Several credit cards affiliated with these programs offer higher welcome bonuses than the JetBlue Plus card. For example, consider any of the following:

All information about the JetBlue Card and the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by CNN. The etBlue Card and the JetBlue Plus Card are not currently available through CNN.

There was a time when fully lie-flat business class seats were revolutionary. Delta turned that notion on its head in 2016 with the announcement of Delta One suites, offering fully enclosed “suites” with direct aisle access. Until that point, fully enclosed suites were featured only in the world’s best first-class cabins, making Delta One an anomaly. (Qatar Airways later beat Delta to become the first to implement and offer the first fully enclosed business-class suite by the way of its Qsuite product.)

Today, Delta is one of only a handful of airlines offering seats with doors that close and provide the utmost privacy. If you want to give the Delta One suite a spin, it’s available on the airline’s Airbus A350-900 and Airbus A330-900neo fleet of aircraft.

How to book Delta One suite with travel rewards

If you want to book a Delta One suite with travel rewards, the logical first choice is to use Delta SkyMiles. However, Delta uses dynamic award pricing, meaning the exact miles required for a Delta One suite depends on demand. Delta charges pretty astronomical rates for premium cabin awards regardless of how tickets are priced.

A better option is to use Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club, which requires fewer than 100,000 Virgin Points round trip, plus taxes and fees for a Delta One business-class award between the US and UK. Since Virgin Atlantic partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou points and Capital One miles, earning enough miles is fairly easy.

The following cards offer enough points via the welcome bonus offers to help you cover one round-trip Delta One award ticket to Europe when booking via Virgin Atlantic:

Ultimately, if you’re looking to fly business class, travel rewards are your best option for affording a seat for a fraction of the price. While there are some other great business-class seats out there — British Airways Club Suite, Etihad Studio, United Polaris and others — these are some of our favorites. Many of these business-class products cost thousands of dollars to fly, but by using your rewards points and miles, you can fly at the front of the plane almost for free.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards currently available.

If you’re a JetBlue fan — especially one trying to chase elite status — now is the time to celebrate. On Wednesday, Dec. 7, JetBlue announced a major overhaul to its TrueBlue loyalty program. And the main takeaway for frequent flyers is that it will soon be easier to earn elite status. With newly introduced “Tiles” and four levels of elite status, you will soon be able to earn status based on combining your spend directly with JetBlue along with credit card spending with JetBlue. Additionally, JetBlue is introducing a menu of perks for all loyalists as well as new benefits at the higher status levels, including upgrades to its business-class cabin, Mint.

Unlike most loyalty program changes, this is very much a positive revamp for many flyers. However, these new status levels and perks will not take place until spring 2023, so you have some time to understand the changes.

While JetBlue is changing the levels of elite status and how you earn it, there are no changes coming to the earning and redeeming side of things. The JetBlue TrueBlue program will still offer a simple structure where all reservations booked on points are fully refundable, there are no blackout dates, points never expire and you can pool points with other friends and family members. Additionally, you can always use your points as long as there’s a seat available, and the number of points required to book a seat is loosely tied to the fare price.

Let’s first take a look at the new Mosaic elite structure coming in spring 2023.

Starting in spring 2023, JetBlue will offer a four-tier elite status structure: Mosaic 1, Mosaic 2, Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4. Status is based on the number of Tiles earned throughout the calendar year. All members will earn one Tile for every $100 spent on qualifying JetBlue purchases, including paid JetBlue flights (even if operated by American Airlines), JetBlue Vacations packages and Paisly reservations.

Additionally, if you have a JetBlue-branded credit card, you’ll earn one Tile for every $1,000 in qualifying spend. And unlike the previous TrueBlue program, Tiles earned from JetBlue flights and credit card spend are clumped together, giving you an easier pathway to earning status.

Now that you have a basic understanding on how you can earn status, here are the four different status levels:

Mosaic 1: 50 Tiles earned

Mosaic 2: 100 Tiles earned

Mosaic 3: 150 Tiles earned

Mosaic 4: 250 Tiles earned

Ultimately, the new Mosaic 1 status tier is very similar to the current Mosaic status (although without the Even More Space seat option at booking). Earning this status currently requires $15,000 in spend on JetBlue flights or $50,000 on a premium JetBlue-branded credit card. When the new program is introduced in 2023, you’ll only need to spend $5,000 on JetBlue flights or the same $50,000 on the JetBlue credit card — or a combination of the two. However, in 2023, you won’t have the option to earn status based on segments flown plus JetBlue spend.

On top of earning the above Mosaic benefits once you reach each status level, JetBlue will give you the option to pick one additional benefit each time you hit a new Mosaic level. From the “Mosaic Perks You Pick” menu, you’ll be able to select one of the following benefits every time you move between status levels:

JetBlue is awarding all TrueBlue members — not just Mosaic members — with select benefits. With the introduction of “Perks You Pick,” members will be able to pick a perk after earning 10, 20, 30 and 40 Tiles. Each perk can only be selected once per calendar year. Once you earn 50 Tiles, which earns you Mosaic status, you’ll then receive the last perk not yet selected. The perks list includes:

Since the new JetBlue TrueBlue program won’t launch until spring 2023 — with an exact date still to be announced — you may be wondering how JetBlue and credit card spend between now and then will be impacted. While you’ll still earn Mosaic-qualifying points and segments between now and then, once the new program is adopted, the point and segment count will be retired. However, in the background, JetBlue will be tracking your spend from the beginning of 2023 and will convert that spend into equivalent Tiles.

Once the program launches in the spring, you’ll receive the Mosaic status based on your equivalent spend status in 2022 or 2023 — whichever is higher. Spend in 2023 will be based on Tiles, so combined spend. However, spend in 2022 is based on Mosaic qualifying points or segments or credit card spend. Additionally, only 2022 qualifications will count if you have Mosaic status as of Jan. 1, 2023. Once your status is calculated, you’ll then immediately receive all the perks associated with the Mosaic level earned and you’ll also be able to select your “Mosaic Perks You Pick.”

Additionally, when the new program is adopted, if you are eligible for any “Perks You Pick” based on your 2023 spend, you’ll be able to make your choice at that point.

With the JetBlue and American Airlines partnership, all JetBlue Mosaic members will receive special perks when booking an American Airlines-operated flight through JetBlue directly.

These perks include priority check-in, expedited security lanes, group four priority boarding, priority bag delivery, up to two free checked bags and more.

If you’re looking to grow your JetBlue TrueBlue points balance, earning points is incredibly easy. As with most airline programs, you’ll not only earn points by flying with JetBlue, but also by taking part in partner activities, such as shopping online and dining out.

But before you begin, you’ll need to enroll in the JetBlue TrueBlue program. There’s no cost to be a member and enrollment takes just a moment.

There are a few different ways to earn JetBlue points while flying, but the main way is to earn points on a paid fare. You’ll earn points based on four components: the ticket price, the fare class, how you book your flight and your elite status.

Before jumping into how many points you’ll earn, note that JetBlue offers five different fare classes: Blue Basic, Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra and Mint. While Mint fares will book you into Jetblue’s premium-cabin seat, all of the other fares are traditional economy-class seats. However, they all offer their own perks, such as included luggage, waived change fees and advance seat selection.

Blue Basic fares will earn you one point per dollar spent, while all other fares booked will earn you three points per dollar spent. Then, as long as you book your flight directly with JetBlue, your points will be doubled. So a Blue Basic fare will earn two points per dollar spent when booking direct, while all other fares will earn six points per dollar spent.

Those with Mosaic elite status will also earn an additional three points per dollar spent, regardless of fare class.

If you put it all together, this means you can earn anywhere between one point per dollar spent all the way up to nine points per dollar spent.

For example, if you’re a regular member booking a Blue Basic fare that costs $60 pre-tax (since you don’t earn points on government taxes and fees), you’ll earn 120 JetBlue TrueBlue points. However, if that same flight costs $100 pre-tax for the Blue fare, you’ll earn 600 points — assuming you’re booking directly with JetBlue.

In addition to earning points with your JetBlue flights, you can also earn with JetBlue Vacations and Paisly by JetBlue, allowing you to earn JetBlue points on vacation packages, hotels, car rentals and even activities while traveling.

And lastly, you can earn extra points by reserving an Even More Space seat on your flight or taking your pet with you on a JetBlue flight. Even More Space seats — which give you 7 inches of extra legroom, early boarding and access to a fast lane at the security checkpoint — will give you an extra 200 JetBlue TrueBlue points. And, if you’re paying the extra fee to bring a pet on board with you, that’ll earn an extra 300 JetBlue TrueBlue points.

Earn JetBlue TrueBlue points with a co-branded credit card

One of the easiest ways to earn JetBlue TrueBlue points is by opening — and using — a JetBlue co-branded credit card. There are three cards that allow you to earn points through a welcome bonus offer and your everyday spend: the JetBlue Card, JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card.

The JetBlue Card is JetBlue’s no-annual-fee card that’ll earn you three points per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, two points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores and one point on all other purchases. New card members will also earn 10,000 points after spending $1,000 on the card within the first 90 days. The main benefit of this card is that there are no foreign transaction fees, which isn’t always the case with cards that don’t carry an annual fee.

The JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card both extend many more benefits, but both also come with a $99 annual fee. With both of these cards, you’ll earn six points per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, two points at restaurants and then one point on all other purchases. With the JetBlue Plus Card, you’ll also earn two points per dollar at restaurants, while with the Business Card, you’ll earn two points per dollar at office supply stores. You’ll also receive 5,000 points on your account anniversary, which is worth about $65, according to frequent flyer website The Points Guy’s valuations of TrueBlue points at 1.3 cents each.

Both the JetBlue Plus Card and Business Card extend complimentary first checked bags for the primary card member and up to three companions on the same reservation. You’ll also receive a $100 statement credit when you make a purchase of $100 or more through JetBlue Vacations, a 10% rebate on all points redeemed, no foreign transaction fees and 50% in-flight savings on eligible food and drink purchases. Those with the Business Card will also receive Group A boarding on JetBlue operated flights. And through Spring 2023, before the new Mosaic elite status programs take place, if you spend $50,000 on either of the cards in a given calendar year, you can automatically earn Mosaic status without stepping foot on a plane.

In spring 2023, JetBlue will also introduce Points Payback where cardmembers can redeem their points to pay themselves back from purchases of $25 or more, up to $1,000 per year.

All information about the JetBlue Card, JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card has been collected independently by CNN. The JetBlue Card, JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card are not currently available through CNN.

JetBlue partners with many airlines — both domestic and international — which means you can credit your flights with those partners to JetBlue instead of earning points in the airline’s own loyalty program. Although you can only redeem your JetBlue points with Hawaiian Airlines (and, coming soon, American Airlines), you can earn TrueBlue points with the following airlines: American Airlines, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, JetSuites X, Qatar Airways, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.

The amount of points you’ll earn with each partner depends on the cabin fare and booking class with the respective airline. Each partner credits points slightly differently, but you can check to see the number of JetBlue points you’ll earn with a partner reservation here.

Additionally, select car rentals and hotel stays will also earn you JetBlue points. For example, when renting an Avis or Budget rental car at a participating location, you can earn 100 TrueBlue points (200 points for Mosaic members). Meanwhile, stays at IHG properties will earn you up to two points per dollar spent (stays at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas earn a flat 500 TrueBlue points per stay).

Earn JetBlue TrueBlue points by shopping and dining out

If you aren’t flying JetBlue often, there are still many options to grow a healthy TrueBlue account balance.

JetBlue offers a shopping portal and dining program, which allow you to earn points with your everyday spending. With the shopping portal, you’re able to earn points for both online and in-store purchases (as long as you link your credit card) at participating merchants. And for those who love to shop at Amazon, you can earn JetBlue points when physically flying on a JetBlue plane and connecting to the free Fly-Fi in-flight Wi-Fi network. You’ll earn three points per dollar spent on Amazon while in flight, so if you make a $50 purchase at Amazon, this could result in an extra 150 JetBlue TrueBlue points.

With the airline’s dining program, you’ll earn one point per dollar spent at a participating restaurant, but you’ll need to link your debit or credit card to JetBlue’s dining program in advance.

JetBlue has a semi-fixed redemption program where the number of points required to redeem for a free flight is directly tied to the price of the ticket. This makes redeeming your points extremely simple and straightforward and allows you to redeem points for any flight without having to worry about blackout dates or capacity controls. In short, as long as a seat is available to pay with cash, you can always use your points — they’re typically worth around 1.3 cents apiece.

To see the number of points required when searching for a flight, you can easily toggle between “TrueBlue points” or “Dollars” under the Payment Options section.

When using points, all three fare options are fully refundable, which means if you need to cancel for any reason before the flight departs, your points will be deposited right back into your account without any fee. However, the taxes and fees paid will go into your JetBlue Travel Bank and will expire a year from when they are deposited. Even though the credits aren’t transferable to another person’s JetBlue TrueBlue account, they can be used to book a ticket in any passenger’s name.

The main difference between a Blue and Blue Extra fare is that a Blue Extra fare allows you to switch your flight the same day for no fee and extends early boarding benefits. Both fare classes charge baggage fees, unless you have Mosaic status or an eligible JetBlue credit card.

JetBlue also offers points pooling where you can pool your points with up to seven friends and family members. This allows you to combine your points to redeem for free flights easier and faster. This is great for families as they can track their overall account balance easier and can redeem for a flight on a single reservation. However, you are required to contribute 100% of your points earned, so you’ll only want to pool your points with friends and family members that you trust.

If you’re low on points, fortunately, JetBlue offers a Cash + Points option where you can essentially “buy” the remaining points required to redeem for your free flight. There is no fixed value at the rate you are purchasing the points, but ultimately, the more points you apply to cover the cost of the ticket, the more expensive the remaining points cost to purchase.

For example, a round-trip itinerary costs 320,000 points, but there are only 280,661 points in your account. JetBlue will allow you to use the full amount of points, but you are paying close to 2 cents a point for the amount remaining — as you’re being charged $761.52 for 39,339 points. This is a premium cost per point and only worth it if you are shy just a few points.

As of time of publication, you can only redeem JetBlue points on Hawaiian Airlines. However, with American Airlines and JetBlue’s partnership, you’ll soon be able to use your TrueBlue points on American Airlines as well.

For Hawaiian Airlines flights, there’s a region-based award chart for redeeming your TrueBlue points. For example, a one-way flight from the West Coast to Hawaii in economy will cost 22,000 JetBlue points, while a one-way flight from the East Coast will cost 30,000 points. This can actually be a great redemption opportunity, depending on flight costs and availability.

To redeem your JetBlue TrueBlue points on a Hawaiian Airlines flight, you’ll have to call JetBlue directly, as this can’t be done online.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards currently available.

CNN Underscored reviews financial products such as credit cards and bank accounts based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through the LendingTree affiliate network if you apply and are approved for a card, but our reporting is always independent and objective. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Winter is here, and for many families, that means it’s time to break out the ski and snowboard gear and start thinking about a trip to the slopes. But it’s no hidden secret that ski vacations can be costly. Fortunately, there’s one way to truly keep the cost down: by using your travel rewards to cover the cost of your hotel

Plenty of chain hotels offer properties in the middle of ski towns, so there’s often no shortage of lodging opportunities. And even though many of these properties charge exorbitant rates during the winter vacation ski season, you’ll find that using your points can be a great deal.

Before you go ahead and book your next ski vacation, take a look to see if any travel rewards hotels are located in your desired destination. We’ve taken a look at the most popular Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors properties where you can use your points to save big when hitting the slopes.

Of the three major hotel chains in the US, Marriott has the largest number of properties catered toward ski vacations. So, if you want to have access to as many mountain properties as possible, accruing Marriott Bonvoy points is the way to go. The chain has a slew of properties in Colorado, but you’ll find that you can also redeem your points in Utah, California, Canada, Switzerland and beyond.

With Marriott Bonvoy’s dynamic pricing model, you’ll find that the number of points required for a free night is loosely tied to the cash rate. This also means that if you’re able to vacation during the shoulder season — before Christmas and at the end of March — you’ll often find that far fewer points are required for a free night.

Before diving into the ways to spend your points, you have to earn them first. One of the easiest and fastest ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is to sign up for one of the chain’s Marriott-branded credit cards. Marriott credit cards offer a wide range of benefits, and with many, you can easily offset the annual fee. With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can earn 150,000 Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 within the first three months after account opening, which can score you a few free nights on your next ski vacation.

Aside from earning points with one of the Marriott credit cards, Marriott Bonvoy is also a transfer partner of both Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards programs. Points transfer at a one-to-one rate from both Chase and Amex to Marriott, allowing you to top off an award if you are a few points shy.

With the Marriott Bonvoy program, you’ll also receive your fifth night free on award stays. This means for every five nights you stay at the same property, the lowest-cost night during your stay will be free.

If you’re aiming for luxury with an elegant yet modern feel, you can’t go wrong with The St. Regis Aspen Resort for your ski vacation. With custom furniture designed by Ralph Lauren and marble bathrooms in the hotel’s rooms, you’ll never have to leave. But, you’ll want to leave to check out all there is to see nearby. The property is centrally located and just a short walk from ski lifts as well as many stores and restaurants. After a long day of skiing, you can soak in the outdoor pool and hot tub. The hotel also features two on-site restaurants and a bar. And when you’re ready to hang up your skis for the day, enjoy a visit to the spa or steam room.

Points required: From 90,000 to 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

Located right in the middle of all the fun in Aspen, this relatively new property is just a short walk to the slopes. With a more lively vibe than The St. Regis just down the street, you’ll have access to a rooftop pool, hot tub, fire pit and bar. Some of the room layouts at the W Aspen are slightly more funky than what you might be used to, offering rooms with a queen-over-queen bunk bed or even two queen beds in a head-to-toe arrangement.

Points required: From 79,000 to 103,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

Previously known as The Westin Snowmass Resort, the Viewline Resort Snowmass is a true ski-in/ski-out property. Just strap on your skis or snowboard and you can be on the slopes in no time. And if you’re new to skiing, the gondola right outside of the hotel will take you to the base of the mountain where you can meet your ski school group. Although the hotel is approximately 20 minutes away from Aspen, newbies will prefer the more beginner and intermediate terrain of Snowmass. The resort might not be as fancy as some other hotels in the vicinity, but it still offers a heated pool, hot tub and fitness center.

Points required: From 49,000 to 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

After a $40 million renovation and a name change, this upscale resort is an ideal destination for your next ski vacation. Although The Hythe Vail is not a true ski-in/ski-out property, the hotel is just a quick walk to nearby lifts, restaurants, shops and an outdoor ice skating rink. And after a long day of skiing, families will love the hot chocolate bar and complimentary s’mores.

When using points, you have the option of a king bed or two double beds. To book yourself into a room with two queen beds — an admittedly more comfortable sleeping situation — you’ll have to pay an upgrade fee or redeem additional points. Alternatively, larger suites are also available for an additional fee.

Points required: From 79,000 to 106,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

This massive resort is at the base of the Bachelor Gulch side of the mountain giving you a relaxing ski-in/ski-out experience. By staying at The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, you’ll also be perfectly situated near the new McCoy Park terrain, which offers 17 trails for beginner and intermediate skiers.

While the location of the property gives you a quieter vacation experience, you are slightly removed from the conveniences of ski school and Beaver Creek Village. At the property, you’ll have access to an onsite restaurant, bar and lounge, an outdoor heated pool, fitness center and ski valet.

Points required: From 84,000 to 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

With ski school located right outside the front door, a stay at the Beaver Creek Lodge is the perfect destination for families. This ski-in/ski-out property is located right in Beaver Creek Village, where you’re just a stone’s throw away from many shops, restaurants and an outdoor ice skating rink. At the end of the day, you can relax at the hotel’s fire pit or take a swim in the outdoor heated pool.

Best of all, all rooms are suites. This means that when using points, you’ll be able to score a larger hotel room outfitted with a fireplace and kitchenette. Or if you’re traveling with a large family, you can book a two-bedroom family suite — though be prepared to spend additional points.

Points required: From 73,000 to 106,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

If you’re looking for a skier’s paradise, look no further than The St. Regis Deer Valley. This slopeside property is right off one of the trails at Deer Valley and about a 10-minute shuttle drive to the base of the mountain.

With a ski valet, rental shop, 14,000 square-foot spa, a multi-level pool complex and two hot tubs, there are endless opportunities to be pampered. The hotel is also less than 10 minutes away from downtown Park City, offering a plethora of shops and restaurants.

Points required: From 82,000 to 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

In true Ritz-Carlton fashion, this luxury hotel has everything you could dream of for a ski vacation. With contemporary mountain decor, floor-to-ceiling windows and gas fireplaces, you’ll get a true mountain feel. Located at Northstar California, just strap on your skies and you’ll be on the mountain in seconds. Or, take the free scenic Gondola and experience Northstar’s Village in just 10 minutes. Here, you’ll have access to many restaurants, shops, a movie theater and an ice skating rink.

With ample amenities at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, you’ll be able to experience everything from a relaxing spa and fitness class to fire pits and heated pools.

Points required: From 84,000 to 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

Located in the heart of Mont Tremblant village and just a short walk from the slopes, you’ll find the Le Westin Tremblant. With many restaurants, shops and activities just a short distance away, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips. The heated outdoor saltwater pool area is in its own private oasis, offering the perfect après ski experience.

Points required: From 52,000 to 74,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

W Verbier — Verbier, Switzerland

Across the pond in the Swiss Alps, you’ll find the W Verbier — a ski-in/ski-out property in the Les 4 Vallées ski area. At 5,220 meters in elevation, you’ll have access to about 250 miles of ski terrain. And with plush blankets and a fireplace in every hotel room, you’ll be able to stay nice and cozy, despite the cold weather outside. The hotel features five on-site restaurants and bars, two heated pools (indoor and outdoor) and a luxurious spa with nine treatment rooms.

Points required: From 82,000 to 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during winter.

Hyatt has a good number of hotels for those eager to hit the slopes using their points — especially if you’re looking for something aside from the typical West Coast mountains. With a strong loyalty program in World of Hyatt, you’ll actually find yourself redeeming fewer points than the likes of Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

World of Hyatt offers a three-tier award chart: off-peak, standard and peak. While you’ll probably find most of the ski season to be at the standard or peak level, the number of points required has a set price. This means that even during the most expensive dates of the season, as long as a standard guest room is available, the number of points required will be fixed. And, when redeeming your Hyatt points, you will not be charged resort fees.

Earning World of Hyatt points is incredibly easy. For starters, there are two Hyatt-branded credit cards: the World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. With the sign-up bonus on the World of Hyatt Card, you can earn up to 60,000 points — you’ll get 30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months plus up to 30,000 additional points by earning double points per dollar spent in the first six months from account opening. Additionally, this credit card comes with a free night certificate to be used at a Category 1-4 property every year on your card member anniversary.

If you have a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, those points transfer to World of Hyatt at a one-to-one ratio.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa — Beaver Creek, Colorado

If you have kids in ski school, you can’t beat the location of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa. At the bottom of the slopes and a short walk away from Beaver Creek Village, you’ll never have to get in a car at this ski-in/ski-out resort. Right outside of the hotel, you’ll find a spacious outdoor fire pit, perfect for s’more making or taking in the scenery. You’ll also have access to a heated outdoor pool and five hot tubs — with views of the mountain, of course.

And since you’re just a short stroll away from the village, you can easily explore many restaurants, bars, shops and an outdoor ice skating rink.

Points required: A Category 7 property, requiring 25,000 to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Grand Hyatt Vail — Vail, Colorado

With its own chair lift right outside the front door, getting on the slopes is easier than ever at the Grand Hyatt Vail. After a long day of skiing, you can relax in the outdoor heated infinity pool and two hot tubs. With the resort shuttle, you can easily get around the area, including easy access to Vail Village and the nearby Vail Square Ice Rink.

The hotel also features many onsite activities, such as Topgolf, axe throwing and a s’mores roast. And with many other non-skiing winter activities nearby, there’s plenty to keep you busy during your next ski trip.

Points required: A Category 6 property, requiring 21,000 to 29,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Although not as lavish as some of the other properties mentioned on this list, the Hyatt Place Keystone offers one of the best values when using points. One of the best parts of this resort is that Keystone offers free skiing for kids 12 and under with a two-night stay. This is an unbelievable value and can truly make an incredibly expensive ski vacation that much more affordable.

Keystone also offers night skiing over the weekends and holidays. And like most other Hyatt Place properties, your entire family can enjoy a complimentary breakfast every morning. The property is a shuttle bus away from the mountain, although you could also walk one-third-mile journey.

Points required: A Category 4 property, requiring 12,000 to 18,000 World of Hyatt points per night; or use a Category 1-4 free night certificate earned from the World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Using your hard-earned hotel points for some East Coast skiing can be challenging, as there aren’t as many properties. The Lodge at Spruce Peak is the only hotel option at the base of Mount Mansfield. Located right in Spruce Peak Village, you have easy access to restaurants, shops, an ice skating rink and an indoor rock climbing facility. The resort also features a heated outdoor pool and multiple hot tubs.

And if you score an upgrade, you’ll be incredibly impressed with the hotel’s one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. One thing to know, however, is that when booking a stay at this property, a three- or four-night minimum is often required during peak ski season.

Points required: A Category 7 property, requiring 25,000 to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Located at the base of Palisades Tahoe, this 405-guest-room property has everything you’re looking for in a ski vacation. Although the Resort at Squaw Creek is a few miles from the village, the property offers many dining options, a ski valet, spa, multiple heated outdoor swimming pools and even a 90-foot water slide.

But best of all, even during peak ski season, some nights fall under the “off-peak” category within the World of Hyatt award chart. This will allow you to save your points or potentially extend your ski vacation even longer. And if you’re lucky enough to be upgraded during your stay, many rooms offer a kitchenette or a full kitchen.

Points required: A Category 6 property, requiring From 21,000 to 29,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Although Hilton doesn’t offer as many ski-catered properties as Marriott and Hyatt, there are still some great options when using your Hilton Honors points for your next mountain vacation.

Similar to Marriott, you’ll receive your fifth night free when redeeming points, but with one caveat: you must have Hilton Honors Silver, Gold or Diamond elite status. Fortunately, all four Hilton Honors-branded credit cards offer some form of elite status automatically as a benefit. Even the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card comes with automatic Silver elite status, enabling you to easily score a free night on a five-night stay (see rates and fees).

Hilton also got rid of its award chart a few years ago, which means that the number of points required is somewhat tied to the cash price. However, when using points for a free night stay, all resort fees are waived. This is a great incentive to use your Hilton points, especially at a resort property.

Similar to many other chain loyalty programs, credit card bonus offers are one of the easiest ways to earn a bulk of points at once. Right now, the Hilton Amex offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 Hilton points, which you’ll earn after spending $1,000 in the first three months. Alternatively, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has a limited-time offer through Dec. 21, 2022, where you’ll earn 130,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months, plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $10,000 in the first six months.

The Hilton Amex comes with automatic Silver elite status, while the Business Hilton Amex comes with automatic Gold elite status, one of the best mid-tier hotel status levels. With Gold elite status, you’ll receive complimentary breakfast, space-available upgrades and late checkout at participating Hilton properties.

You can also transfer points at a one-to-two ratio from American Express Membership Rewards. This means that if you have the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can transfer your Amex points to your Hilton Honors account to help you book a great ski vacation.

The Waldorf Astoria Park City is one of the most luxurious ski resorts you’ll find — one where you can easily sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate or roast s’mores after a day of skiing. Guest rooms range from studios to a four-bedroom suite, with all rooms featuring a gas fireplace.

The hotel offers an outdoor heated pool with an extremely large hot tub. There’s also a shuttle that will take you downtown or to Park City Mountain or Deer Valley. And for those renting a car, valet parking is included in the resort fee — which is waived when using Hilton Honors points.

One thing to keep in mind is while the property is considered ski-in/ski-out, you still need to walk across a parking lot and take the gondola to the base of the mountain. From there, you’ll have access to the Canyons side of the mountain with opportunities to make your way over to Park City.

Points required: From 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night during winter.

Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa — Whistler, British Columbia

Another incredible option for those looking to ski in Canada is the Hilton Whistler. Located right in the center of Whistler Village, you’re less than a five-minute walk to either the Whistler Mountain or Blackcomb Mountain gondola, giving you access to more than 8,000 acres of terrain.

This full-service ski resort also offers an outdoor heated pool as well as indoor and outdoor whirlpools. And while the village offers plenty of restaurant options, if you prefer to not leave the hotel, there’s a restaurant and bar onsite

Points required: From 62,000 to 80,000 Hilton Honor points per night during winter.

Check out CNN Underscored’s guide to the best credit cards currently available.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they’re subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

CNN Underscored reviews financial products such as credit cards and bank accounts based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through the LendingTree affiliate network if you apply and are approved for a card, but our reporting is always independent and objective. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Delta is tightening who is allowed into its Sky Club network of airport lounges next year. As a result of overcrowding, some of the airline’s most frequent flyers are seeing their access stripped away in 2023. But, there are ways to bypass the new access rules to ensure you can always get into a Delta Sky Club ahead of your next flight — and the most reliable way comes in the form of holding the right travel credit card.

Ultimately, the changes in access came down to Delta’s goal of improving the experience for its most loyal travelers, according to Delta SVP of customer engagement and loyalty and CEO of Delta Vacations Dwight James.

“We wanted to continue to look at ways to elevate the experience for our customers,” James told CNN Underscored. “The experience that a lot of our premium customers have grown to expect is not necessarily as consistent in some cases because of overcrowding.”

Most notable of the access changes, as of Feb. 2, 2023, Sky Club members traveling on a basic economy ticket will no longer be permitted to enter the lounge, provided they don’t have access through an eligible American Express Card. Additionally, as of that date, Delta Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members flying internationally in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ will no longer get access to Sky Clubs — they must be flying internationally in Premium Select or Delta One. Finally, Delta is restricting Sky Club membership to its Medallion members, increasing the price to purchase a membership outright and increasing the number of Choice Benefits its most loyal Diamond Medallion members will have to pay in order to get a membership.

That all said, the access policy is not changing for flyers who enter Sky Clubs with an eligible American Express card — proving these cards even more valuable if you want to ensure you have lounge access. In other words, if you have access via The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you can still access Sky Clubs even if you’re traveling on a basic economy ticket or flying internationally in Main Cabin after Feb. 2, 2023.

So, while access policies will be changing for Sky Miles Medallion members who purchase or get access outright, American Express card holders will not see much of a difference in 2023. However, entry cost for those with the Delta Platinum Amex Card and for guest access will be increasing across all entry methods from $39 per person to $50 per person next year.

James told CNN Underscored that the goal with these access policy changes is to elevate the experience of joint Delta and American Express customers.

To better help passengers predict how crowded a Sky Club is, Delta is unveiling a real-time occupancy tracker within its Fly Delta app. Starting in December, Sky Clubs in Atlanta (ATL) and Detroit (DTW) will display their occupancy within the app with levels ranging from “not busy” to “extremely busy.” This technology will roll out to all Sky Clubs in 2023.

Additionally, Delta will keep its priority lanes in service for Diamond Medallions, Delta 360 members and Delta One customers. At times of high capacity, these passengers can access Sky Clubs via dedicated lanes.

Airport lounges are nothing new — they’re one of the best places to enjoy a light bite to eat, a drink and some space to relax before your flight. In fact, Delta Air Lines has a network of more than 50 lounges across the country — and now a lounge in Tokyo. While they vary in size, quality and what you can expect when you’re inside, the airline’s newest lounges are often great spots to relax before your flight.

Before diving into all the Delta Sky Clubs that are available around the country, you’ll want to first ensure that you can get in. Thankfully, there are several ways to ensure you have Delta Sky Club access, ranging from purchasing a membership to obtaining elite status, holding a Delta credit card and more. Unfortunately, Delta Sky Club day passes are no longer available, though there are plenty of other ways to get in.

Eligible passengers can only enter Sky Clubs within three hours of their scheduled departure time. Connecting passengers can continue to access Sky Clubs at any time prior to departure, and arriving passengers — with or without a connecting flight — can also continue to use Sky Clubs.

The airline also plans to open its first two Delta One Clubs at New York–Kennedy (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) in 2023 and 2024, respectively. At JFK, the Delta One Club will be located in Terminal 4 near Concourse B and measure approximately 36,000 square feet. Meanwhile, at LAX, the Delta One Club will be connected to the newly opened Sky Club and will measure approximately 10,000 square feet. Access will be restricted to passengers flying in Delta One.

Here’s how you can currently access Delta Sky Clubs.

Delta has its own portfolio of credit cards, and a pair of them grant access to Sky Clubs. If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you can access Delta Sky Clubs if you’re traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight within three hours of scheduled departure or on arrival. And if you’re a Delta Reserve card holder who’s not traveling on a Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight that day but instead traveling with a Delta partner, you can still access a Sky Club for $39 per person. You can bring up to two guests with you for $39 each. As of Feb. 2, 2023, the cost for both is increasing to $50 per person.

Alternatively, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card also offers Sky Club access for $39 per person, per visit if you’re traveling on a same-day Delta or partner airline flight, and you can bring up to two guests with you for $39 each up to three hours before scheduled departure or on arrival. As of Feb. 2, 2023, the cost of each visit or guest is also increasing to $50. Unfortunately, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card holders no longer have access to Sky Clubs.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a credit card that isn’t Delta-branded, you have two options: The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. With either card, you can access Delta Sky Clubs so long as you’re traveling on a same-day ticket on a Delta-operated flight. You must present your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum and same-day boarding pass to get into the club within three hours of scheduled departure or on arrival. You can bring two guests with you for an additional fee. The Platinum Card is one of our favorite travel credit cards because of the lounge access it grants, including Sky Clubs when you’re flying with Delta — and this isn’t changing in 2023.

If you don’t have a credit card that grants access to Sky Clubs, you can instead opt for a Delta Sky Club membership. However, note that in order to access lounges with a membership, you still need to have a same-day Delta or Delta partner boarding pass and you can only access within three hours of scheduled departure or on arrival. Additionally, as of Jan. 1, 2023, only Delta Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members can purchase a membership.

You can access Delta Sky Clubs with the following memberships, which are increasing in price as follows effective Jan. 1, 2023:

As of Feb. 2, 2023, all Sky Club members flying on basic economy tickets will not be permitted to enter unless they have entry access via an American Express card.

As of Feb. 2, 2023, this policy is changing. Currently, if you hold Diamond, Platinum or Gold Medallion status — or the equivalent with a SkyTeam partner — and you have a same-day international flight in any cabin, you can access Delta Sky Clubs.

However, as of Feb. 2, 2023, Delta Medallion members flying internationally in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ will no longer receive Sky Club access, provided you don’t have another entry method, such as a Sky Club membership or through an eligible American Express card. As of that time, Medallion members must be flying internationally in Premium Select or Delta One.

If you’re a Delta Diamond, Platinum or Gold Medallion member and you’re traveling in any cabin on a SkyTeam international flight, you can access a Delta Sky Club with up to one guest at your departure airport (but not your arrival airport unless you’re connecting to a qualifying SkyTeam flight). This is also the same policy if you have the equivalent of SkyTeam Elite Plus status with a Delta partner airline.

Finally, Diamond Medallion members can select an individual Sky Club membership for free through their Choice Benefits, which will give you access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on any Delta flight. For those who qualify for Diamond status in the 2024 Medallion year and beyond, an Executive Membership will cost three Choice Benefit selections. Effective Feb. 1, 2023 for the 2024 Medallion year, Individual Membership and credit card guest pass access will no longer be a Choice Benefit. For all levels of elite status, members can only access Sky Clubs within three hours of scheduled departure or on arrival.

As of Feb. 2, 2023, all Sky Club members flying on basic economy tickets will not be permitted to enter unless they have entry access via an American Express card.

If you’re flying in a premium cabin, you’ll sometimes be able to access Delta Sky Clubs, but many people believe any first- or business-class ticket comes with lounge access, which is unfortunately not the case.

If you’re traveling domestically or internationally in Delta One, which is a specific type of business class, you’ll be able to access the Sky Club. Also, if you’re traveling on a flight with a Delta partner, you can access Sky Clubs if you’re traveling internationally on a first- or business-class ticket on a SkyTeam-operated flight. You’ll only be able to access within three hours of scheduled departure or on arrival.

But if you’re simply flying domestic on a regular Delta business or first-class ticket, you won’t be able to get into a Delta Sky Club unless you have access through one of the other methods mentioned above.

When the new Delta One Clubs open in 2023 and beyond, Delta One passengers will be able to access those premium-branded lounges. We expect to learn more details at a later date.

Delta operates more than 50 Sky Club lounges across the United States. If you have access to one of the Sky Clubs, you’ll be able to take advantage of their complimentary food and drink, along with a spot away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal.

On Nov. 30, Delta announced that it will open its first-ever Sky Club location at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in February 2023.

Here’s a look at your Sky Club options by airport.

Where to find it: South Terminal, mezzanine level between Concourse B and Concourse C.

This is a pop-up, temporary Sky Club location. However, while it’s around, you can take advantage of amenities such as food and drink, power outlets and a comfortable place to sit away from the terminal.

Where to find it: Inside security, upper level near Gate A19.

This lounge is located on the upper level of Concourse A, next to the P.F. Chang’s. Inside, you can expect to find the standard Sky Club amenities like power outlets, a bar and food options. Reviewers have stated that the lounge can get overcrowded, but it’s better than the other Concourse A Sky Club.

Where to find it: Concourse A, near Gate A17.

This is the second Sky Club in Atlanta’s Concourse A. Here, you can expect a large space with amenities like food and drink, Wi-Fi and power outlets. Some reviewers have noted that the lounge can get overcrowded, but it’s got a good layout that can feel spacious when there aren’t too many other travelers in the lounge.

Where to find it: Concourse B, near Gate B18.

This is Delta’s flagship Sky Club in its home airport of Atlanta. At 25,000 square feet in size, you can expect modern furnishings, locally inspired food selections, a gallery highlighting Atlanta artists and more. Plus, the lounge has a wine wall curated by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson to sip alongside amazing views onto the tarmac.

Where to find it: Concourse C, near Gate C37.

Like other Sky Clubs in Atlanta, you can expect the standard offering of food and drink at this Concourse C Sky Club. Several reviewers on LoungeBuddy have written that the lounge can get overcrowded and the food can feel picked over. Also, some of the furnishings in this lounge aren’t as new as other Sky Clubs.

Where to find it: Concourse D, near Gate D12.

The Sky Club near Gate D12 is one of two Sky Clubs in Concourse D. However, some reviewers have stated that this lounge is small with minimal amenities. This lounge is also closed on Saturdays.

Where to find it: Concourse D, near Gate D27.

The other Concourse D Sky Club option is on the small side, but reviewers say that it tends to feel more secluded than the other lounges. It’s got the standard Sky Club offerings — food, drinks, power outlets and Wi-Fi — with a range of seating options.

Where to find it: Concourse E, across from Gate E15.

This is the only Sky Club lounge in Concourse E, so it can get crowded. However, it’s a large space with the standard Sky Club amenities plus access to a shower before your next flight.

Where to find it: Concourse F, mezzanine level.

Atlanta’s Concourse F sees many international flights and it has one Sky Club for travelers. This lounge is known for being a comfortable place to relax, featuring two levels and an outside patio — perfect for when the weather is pleasant. In addition, you can expect all of the standard Sky Club amenities in an updated and comfortable space with plenty of seating options.

Where to find it: Concourse T, near Gate T6.

This lounge in Concourse T features a relatively small space to relax in with a range of seating options. While not the largest or flashiest Sky Club in Atlanta, it’s a good option with all of the standard Sky Club amenities for a quick stop before your flight.

Where to find it: Near Gate 4.

Delta opened its first Sky Club in Austin in 2020. It features 9,000 square feet of space, including a covered Sky Deck — an outdoor patio that can be enjoyed year-round. You’ll be able to taste local, seasonal drinks and snacks, as well as see artwork from artists with connections to Texas.

Main Terminal

Where to find it: Main Terminal, near Gate A7.

This Main Terminal Sky Club is the smaller of the two at Boston (BOS), but it’s a bit more updated than its Satellite Terminal counterpart, featuring amenities like showers. You’ll find a range of hot and cold foods as well as a full bar and a range of seating options spread around the space.

Where to find it: Satellite Terminal, near Gate A18 by the Starbucks.

This is the larger of the two Sky Clubs at Boston (BOS), but it’s slightly more outdated and doesn’t feature showers. Some reviewers have said that the space could use more power outlets.

Where to find it: Terminal 5, Concourse M, between M14 and M11.

Delta’s newest Sky Club opened in November 2022. A 22,000-square-foot space in Terminal 5, the new lounge can seat up to 400 passengers and features a spacious layout with modern finishes.

Where to find it: Near Gate B14.

Reviewers rave about how large this Sky Club is with a range of seating options. Because of its size, the lounge doesn’t get overcrowded very often. You can expect all of the standard Sky Club amenities like a selection of hot and cold food and a full bar.

Where to find it: Terminal E, between gates E10 and E11.

Dallas-Fort Worth is the home of Delta competitor American Airlines, so there’s only one Sky Club. It has a full-service bar as well as ample seating options with a conference room.

Where to find it: Concourse A center core, fourth floor.

This Sky Club boasts just over 4,500 square feet of space. While it’s on the smaller side, it’s got seating options spread across the lounge. The one major pain point of the lounge is that its bathroom is located outside the lounge space.

Where to find it: Concourse A, across from Gate A18.

While this isn’t the most updated lounge in Concourse A, review site Live and Let’s Fly reports that this lounge is on the quieter side with a good number of food options.

Where to find it: Concourse A, across from Gate A38.

This is the largest Sky Club at Detroit, with plenty of seating options. There are showers to use in the lounge, as well as the typical Sky Club offerings like hot and cold food and a full bar.

Where to find it: Concourse A, across from Gate A43.

This is the newest Sky Club at Detroit, having opened in December 2021. Inside, you can expect to find a relatively small space at just 4,600 square feet — especially compared to other Sky Clubs at DTW. But because it’s so new, you’ll find updated furnishings and decor, though the lounge can get crowded quickly.

Where to find it: Concourse A, across from Gate A68.

This lounge is on the dated and small side — the most so of the three Sky Clubs in Concourse A. It has food options, but no full bar. Instead, you’ll find a self-service bar and a relatively limited selection of seating.

Where to find it: Concourse C, near the entrance to Concourse C.

This lounge has good views of the tarmac in a large space with a variety of seating, but some travelers have said that the lounge can feel crowded at times. You can expect the standard Sky Club offerings, such as food and drinks, but no showers.

Where to find it: Main atrium, between gates D2 and D3.

Delta opened its new Fort Lauderdale Sky Club location in June 2021. It features 8,000 square feet of space with floor-to-ceiling windows, complete with runway views. Plus, there’s regional artwork throughout the lounge with a rotating selection of food and beverage options.

Where to find it: Main concourse, across from Gate F1.

This Sky Club in Honolulu is far from Delta’s newest and best. In fact, one traveler called this space “old and tired.” You can expect to find somewhat limited seating and a light snack selection inside.

Where to find it: Concourse A, immediately after security and before Starbucks.

This lounge opened in 2010 and boasts 4,800 square feet of space. The Sky Club can get quite crowded, and there isn’t much natural light. But it’s got the standard Sky Club amenities.

Where to find it: Concourse A, right after Chili’s and the Day Spa.

One of the older and more outdated Sky Clubs in Delta’s network, this lounge offers several seating options. Don’t expect a massive selection of food and drink. Instead, light snacks and a self-serve bar are on offer.

Where to find it: Terminal 2, upstairs by Gate 23A.

For years, this lounge has been the Sky Club mainstay at LAX. However, with the introduction of the new Sky Club in between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, this lounge takes a backseat. While you’ll have all the standard amenities of a standard Sky Club, it’s lacking in just about every regard when compared to its successor, just a short five-minute walk away.

Connector between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3

Where to find it: In the Delta connector between Terminals 2 and 3, just past the security checkpoint.

As the newest — and largest — Sky Club in the network, this lounge has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Between more than 30,000 square feet to spread out, eight showers, two buffet areas, a Sky Deck and more, there’s plenty to look forward to at this lounge before a flight. For more details, check out our full review of the Delta Sky Club at LAX.

Where to find it: In the B/C Connector, adjacent to the B security checkpoint.

Don’t expect to find luxury at Delta’s Memphis Sky Club. Instead, this lounge has pretty bare-bones amenities like a self-serve bar and snack area. A lack of natural light leaves this lounge feeling on the dark side.

Where to find it: South Terminal, in the H and J connector, left of H concourse security.

Delta’s got one Sky Club in Miami. While it’s on the smaller side and subject to overcrowding, it’s got a fresh, bright and modern feel to the decor inside. There are hot and cold food options for travelers as well as a full bar.

Where to find it: Concourse D, across from Great American Bagel & Bakery.

The Sky Club in Milwaukee isn’t one of the largest in the network, however, reviewers say that it’s not often subject to overcrowding. Plus, it’s got a rotating selection of local hot and cold food options and a range of seating.

Where to find it: Concourse C, next to Gate C12.

Compared to some other Sky Clubs in the network, this lounge is on the more dated side. It still has all the amenities you would expect in a Sky Club — think food options, drink options, comfortable seats and plenty of power outlets — but lacks some of the more modern design touches you might find in other lounges.

Where to find it: Concourse F/G, at the beginning of Concourse F.

Like its counterpart in Concourse C, this Sky Club has all of the amenities you’ll need but isn’t necessarily as flashy as some of the more updated lounges in the network. Fear not, though — you’ll get the standard Sky Club food offering and plenty of power outlets spread across the lounge.

Where to find it: Adjacent to Gate B3.

Nashville’s Sky Club is on the small side with relatively limited seating options, but reviewers say it gets a good amount of natural light. There are a range of food selections as well as a bar. This lounge is undergoing an expansion, expected to open in summer 2022.

Where to find it: Concourse C, near Gate 1.

Delta opened its New Orleans Sky Club in late 2019 with design touches inspired by the culture of New Orleans. With regionally inspired cuisine, a full-service bar and a range of seating options available, reviewers say the lounge feels spacious.

Where to find it: Terminal 2, mezzanine level.

This Sky Club location is the smaller — and more modest — of the two lounges on offer at New York’s Kennedy Airport. Inside, you can expect to find the basic Sky Club offerings without the pizzazz offered in the Terminal 4 location.

Where to find it: Terminal 4, Concourse B, near Gate 31.

Terminal 4 is home to Delta’s flagship Sky Club at New York’s Kennedy Airport. It’s a far walk from the security checkpoint (be sure to reserve about 10 minutes to reach its doors), but it’s got plenty of seating, terrific views, its own outdoor Sky Deck terrace and showers. Plus, travelers can take advantage of a full-service bar and hot and cold food options.

Where to find it: The new Terminal C, just after the security checkpoint on the left.

This brand-new Delta Sky Club is eventually expected to be the largest in the network, but even now, it’s a huge space with high ceilings, tons of light and multiple rooms with a plethora of seating options. The bar and buffet areas are also impressive, with plenty of space to serve passengers departing (and arriving) from Delta’s 32 gates at LaGuardia. For more details on this new lounge, check out our full review of the Delta Sky Club at LaGuardia.

Where to find it: Concourse level, before Gate 81.

While LaGuardia’s old Terminal D is closing as of June 4, this existing Sky Club will remain open throughout the summer, serving as a satellite lounge of sorts. In contrast to the huge new main Sky Club, this is a relatively average-sized space with some standard hot and cold food options, a full-service bar and a small range of seating options.

Where to find it: Terminal B, Satellite B1 after security checkpoint, near gates 40 to 47.

There are plenty of seating options at the Newark Sky Club, including a dedicated dining space, individual cubbies and more. There are both hot and cold food options as well as a full bar and a plethora of charging outlets.

Orlando (MCO)

Where to find it: Airside 4, center atrium, near Gate 71.

This lounge at Orlando doesn’t feel like a typical Sky Club. Rather, its decor feels like something you might find outside the airport rather than at a Delta lounge. While it’s on the smaller side, there’s a lot of seating available. You’ll also find a full bar and food options.

Where to find it: Near Terminal D/E connector.

Reviewers say that this Sky Club location is on the extremely small and bare-bones side of things. There’s little natural light, which makes the space feel dark. Expect to find cold food options and a self-serve bar.

Where to find it: Terminal 3, near Gate F8.

The Phoenix Sky Club opened in 2019 and features 7,500 square feet of space with a design inspired by the Southwest desert landscape. Inside, you’ll find modern decor with fresh, locally inspired food offerings and a full-service bar.

Portland (PDX)

Where to find it: Concourse D, between Gate D5 and D7.

The Portland Sky Club features all of the standard offerings without much of the flash that the newer, updated Sky Clubs feature. You’ll find a selection of warm and cold snacks, as well as a self-serve bar area with wine and beer on offer.

Where to find it: Terminal 2, second level, across from Gate C3.

Delta updated the Raleigh-Durham Sky Club in 2016. The space now accommodates up to 140 travelers across its 5,600 square feet of space. Inside, you’ll find the standard Sky Club decor with a range of seating options and food offerings, including a full bar.

Where to find it: Concourse A, level 2, east of the new airport plaza.

The Salt Lake City Sky Club is one of the newest in the network, having opened in September 2020. Spanning more than 28,000 square feet, there’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the food and drink options that are available, as well as showers. Other highlights include a 360-degree fireplace and a covered Sky Deck overlooking the Wasatch Range mountains.

Where to find it: Mezzanine level, across security checkpoint, above Sunset Cove.

While small in size, the San Diego lounge offers an updated take on Sky Club decor. It’s got a modern feel with polished amenities — especially in the dining area. However, there isn’t a terrific range of seating options, plus it’s small and can get overcrowded quickly.

Where to find it: Terminal 1, near gate C3.

This Sky Club in San Francisco is one of the better lounges in the network. That’s because it’s a massive space, offering plenty of natural light and top-notch design choices. You’ll be able to take advantage of hot and cold meal choices, as well as showers on the premises.

Where to find it: Concourse A, near Gate 1.

The Seattle Sky Club is largely considered to be one of the best in Delta’s Sky Club network. That’s largely because of its sheer size — it spans two levels and rarely gets crowded. There are plenty of food and drink options to choose from as well as showers and a full bar. It’s a great space to spread out before your flight.

Where to find it: Concourse E, near Gate 68.

The Tampa Sky Club features a slightly updated decor with both hot and cold food options. It’s on the smaller side, with some reviewers noting that there’s sometimes a seating shortage. Its biggest feature, however, is its outdoor patio, which is perfect for catching some Florida sun before jumping on your flight.

Where to find it: International Terminal, Fifth Floor

As the only Sky Club outside of the US, the Tokyo Haneda location features more than 9,000 square feet of space. It’s got a full-service noodle bar and decor that reflects the Japanese culture.

Where to find it: Concourse B, above Gate 15.

According to Thrifty Traveler, the DCA Sky Club is on the quiet side, which could make for the perfect relaxing pit stop before your flight. There’s plenty of natural light and a variety of seating options. Expect the standard Sky Club food options as well as a full bar.

Where to find it: Concourse C, opposite Gate 4.

One reviewer called this Sky Club “much smaller than most,” but the service makes up for the lack of space. You can find a variety of seating options as well as a self-serve buffet with hot and cold food options — with a view.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards currently available.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they’re subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

American Airlines is bringing new life to its Admirals Club network of airport lounges. Worn down, tired and crowded spaces are getting a much-needed facelift — and American Airlines travelers have plenty of reason to be excited.

The airline unveiled on Thursday its first refreshed Admirals Club lounge location at Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). CNN Underscored got a preview of the lounge before it starts to welcome passengers through its doors in the next few weeks, and we were seriously impressed.

Gone are the bright colors, bold patterns and harsh lighting of Admirals Clubs of yore. In their place are soft, warm and cozy tones and designs — something that DMAC Architecture Interiors, the firm responsible for the refresh, intended to get across.

The new refreshed DCA Admirals Club lounge is located in Terminal 2 in the E Concourse, second level — above Capitol File News. Spanning 14,500 square feet, the new space is the largest Admirals Club at DCA with the ability to accommodate up to 236 passengers at any given time.

From the entryway, passengers can see the start of a cozier, homier experience, taking inspiration from the local surroundings. In this case, the stone entryway at DCA was designed with some of the Washington monuments and museums in mind. The front desk, meanwhile, is built with locally-sourced American walnut wood.

Dwayne MacEwen, principal and creative director of DMAC, told CNN Underscored that these local influences are something that will continue in other refreshed Admirals Clubs to come. Elsewhere around the DCA Admirals Club, you’ll find infinity landscapes of cherry blossoms, fragments from historic American speeches and more. This local flavor was largely missing from previous Admirals Clubs — instead, many clubs were cookie cutters of one another.

For VIP loungegoers, DMAC and American Airlines modeled a special part of the lounge after the Library of Congress. Federal representatives who frequent the lounge will be able to access the VIP room, which features a conference table, TV and comfortable seating.

The Club elected to keep its nearly uninterrupted views of downtown Washington, DC as a highlight of the lounge. From the cozy chairs in a corner of the lounge, you can see the Capitol building and Washington Monument in the distance.

The lounge utilizes an open concept, separated by sections best suited for quick visits, other areas for those who want to spend more time dining and spots for passengers who just want to relax. The “Dining Pavilion” is highlighted by a stunning bar, complete with plush bar stools, aesthetic light fixtures and TV screens. During the early mornings when alcohol isn’t as popular, staff can retract a set of screens to temporarily block out the liquor bottles behind the bar.

Directly next to the bar is an open-concept food area where passengers can serve themselves light bites. The Admirals Club network has long been known to trail behind its competitors — Delta Sky Clubs and United Clubs — with regard to light refreshments. Typically on offer in Admirals Clubs, you’ll find cubes of cheese, crudités, crackers and occasionally avocado toast, among some other relatively underwhelming selections. At this time, the airline isn’t introducing new food options.

For passengers who want to spend their time in the dining area, they won’t be disappointed with the seating options. There are a number of dining tables, as well as smaller booth-like options at the rear of the lounge.

MacEwen told CNN Underscored that the lounge has small hidden nods to aviation and travel spread around it. For example, there are split-level columns throughout the lounge to showcase the horizon break that pilots see, and the corners of the bar were made to emulate the round curvature of a jet engine. The booth seats at the rear of the lounge were designed to resemble the iconic Louis Vuitton trunk cases.

The real highlight of the lounge comes in what the airline is calling the “Lounge Pavilion.” Surrounded by wood slats, this central gathering space is designed to feel like you’re in a protected sanctuary, with a fireplace being the most eye-grabbing feature — a fantastic and warm design concept. During the colder months the fireplace area, which again offers partial views of central DC, will be a great spot for passengers to relax before their flight.

Ultimately, with the design concept, MacEwen and DMAC’s vision was to bring the outside, inside. With design touches such as cherry blossom trees and wood elements that feature on the walls, ceilings and in bathrooms, the final product doesn’t feel at all like a standard Admirals Club. If it weren’t for the subtle branding around the lounge, it could, in fact, feel like you’re in a high-end lounge space outside of an airport.

The new design was made with longevity in mind. According to MacEwen, the seat fabrics and hard surfaces were chosen because of their ability to take thousands of passengers coming through the lounge every year. Some of the seating at the bar can take up to 125,000 sits before showing wear, MacEwen said. Other smart design elements, such as rumble strips close to corners, will help to let passengers know their baggage is close to the wall to avoid any inadvertent bumps or scratches.

Ultimately, American’s freshly redesigned Admirals Club at DCA is something the airline can be proud of. And thankfully, it’s not the only lounge in the network that will have this cozy feel. The airline has unveiled plans to refresh its lounges across the network — the next three to be unveiled in the new style are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Denver International Airport (DEN) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). There’s no timeline on the final completion of the lounge project, but the airline is planning to keep each Admirals Club consistent with the design elements seen in the new lounge at DCA.

Airport lounges are a terrific way to kick back and relax before your flight. And, if you fly with American Airlines or its partner airlines, you may have access to the airline’s network of more than 50 lounges around the world.

But before diving into our list of all of the Admirals Clubs in the network, you’re going to want to learn how to get access to the lounges. Thankfully, there are a number of ways flyers can gain access to Admirals Clubs — from holding select credit cards to having American Airlines AAdvantage elite status and more. Here are the best ways to access Admirals Clubs.

In case you’re unfamiliar, American Airlines has its own portfolio of credit cards. And, by being a card holder of select American-branded cards, you can gain access to Admirals Clubs. Specifically, if you have the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, you’ll get an Admirals Club membership. With the membership that comes with the card, you’ll be able to get into any of the domestic or international lounges (as well as some select partner lounges) if you have a boarding pass for same-day travel on American or its partner airlines (including Oneworld airlines and most JetBlue flights).

If you, as the primary card holder, are traveling on a same-day American or partner flight, you can also bring up to two guests into the lounge with you. And not only does the primary card holder of the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite get an Admirals Club membership, but so do your authorized users. In fact, you can add up to 10 authorized users on your account — yes, that’s 10 — and each of them will get an Admirals Club membership.

Currently, the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite card comes with a sign-up bonus of 80,000 AAdvantage miles when you spend $5,500 in the first three months after opening the account. While there’s a $450 annual fee that comes with the card, when you consider that an Admirals Club membership costs more than that, the card could easily pay for itself if you travel frequently enough.

As mentioned, the easiest way to get an Admirals Club membership is by holding onto the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite card. However, you can also buy your own Admirals Club membership. The rate you have to pay for membership depends on your level of elite status with American Airlines.

In addition to paying cash for a membership, you can also redeem your AAdvantage miles — though you won’t be getting the best value for your miles. Here’s how the membership cost breaks down for individuals:

Those redemptions are only worth 1 cent per mile, so you’re likely to do better by paying cash for the lounge membership and redeeming your miles for flights instead. Either way, you can buy a membership directly with American online, by calling 800-237-7971 or in any Admirals Club location.

If you hold AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro or Platinum elite status, you can access Admirals Clubs free of charge when traveling on select international routes. Qualifying international flights include those between the US and Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, New Zealand or South America. You must be traveling on a flight marketed and operated by American, a Oneworld airline (regardless of cabin) or marketed by JetBlue and operated by American.

If you’re accessing a lounge using your status on an international flight, you can bring one guest with you, who must also be traveling on an American or Oneworld flight.

If you’re flying in first or business class on select international, transcontinental or other domestic flights marketed and operated by American, its Oneworld airline partners or marketed by JetBlue and operated by American, you’ll get complimentary Admirals Club access.

Eligible international flights include those between the US and Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, New Zealand and South America. Eligible transcontinental flights include those with seats ticketed as Flagship between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), JFK and San Francisco (SFO), JFK and Orange County (SNA), LAX and Miami (MIA) and LAX and Boston (BOS). Finally, other qualifying domestic flights include those with seats ticketed as Flagship between Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) and Honolulu (HNL), DFW and Kona (KOA), DFW and Maui (OGG), Chicago (ORD) and HNL and Charlotte (CLT) and HNL.

Flyers traveling on qualifying international first-class tickets are permitted one guest who must also be traveling on a departing or arriving Oneworld flight. All other qualifying customers are not permitted any guests.

American still allows flyers to purchase day passes to enter its Admirals Clubs. Day passes are available at select locations and cost $59 or 5,900 AAdvantage miles. If you elect to purchase a day pass, up to three children younger than 18 can enter with you. Additionally, you must be traveling on a same-day flight that is marketed or operated by American, any Oneworld airline or most JetBlue flights.

If you’re US military personnel traveling in uniform on a same-day flight operated by American, you can access Admirals Clubs for free. All domestic and international Admirals Clubs are included except the Airspace Lounge in San Diego (SAN) and the JAL Sakura Lounge in Honolulu (HNL). You must present your military ID and same-day boarding pass with American, and your immediate family or up to two guests can enter with you.

Now that you know how to get into an Admirals Club, it’s equally as important to know where the clubs are located. Most major airports around the country have an Admirals Club location — especially those in American Airlines hub cities. Here are the 32 airports around the world where you can find an Admirals Club.

Where to find it: Past security on the left, across from Gate T11.

At the Atlanta Admirals Club, you can expect the standard lounge offering. There’s a full-service bar, complimentary food and drinks and Wi-Fi, but conference rooms are not available. Don’t expect the flashiest designs at this location.

Where to find it: Inside security, across from Gate 22.

There’s one Admirals Club at Austin (AUS), and you can expect the standard offering you’ll find at other lounges in the network. However, the airline is planning to open a brand-new 15,000-square-foot Admirals Club in the airport in the next couple of years, featuring the new design seen at DCA.

Where to find it: Terminal B, upper level past security by Gate B4.

The Boston Admirals Club is known as one of the newer and better lounges in the network. Not only does it have all of the basic Admirals Club amenities such as a bar and complimentary food and beverage options, but it also has shower facilities and a dedicated room for children. Additionally, there’s one conference room that can seat up to 10 people.

Where to find it: Terminal B across from Gate 9 on the upper level.

As one of the few international Admirals Club in the network, the Buenos Aires location features the familiar feel of what you can expect from a club in the US. There’s the standard offering in addition to shower facilities, which are a nice perk ahead of a long-haul flight.

Where to find it: Through security, between Gates 3 and 5.

The Concourse B Admirals Club is the smaller of the two AA lounges in Charlotte. Inside, you can expect to find the usual Admirals Club offerings, such as a full-service bar and basic food and beverages for a refreshing snack ahead of your flight.

Where to find it: Intersection of Concourse C and D, after security.

This lounge recently reopened to travelers after it was shut for more than six months for repairs. While the airline didn’t completely overhaul the lounge, it did make some minor adjustments. The Concourse C lounge is the biggest in the airport.

Where to find it: After security, across from Gate G8.

One of the smaller Admirals Club lounges at O’Hare. You’ll get the standard fare — refreshments and a light bite — but don’t expect added amenities like shower facilities or conference rooms.

Where to find it: After security, in the crosswalk between Gates H6 and K6.

This Admirals Club, located between Concourses H and K, is the largest of the airline’s three Admirals Clubs at O’Hare. Not only are there shower facilities and a kids room, but there are also two conference rooms — each of which can fit up to eight people.

Where to find it: After security, before Gate L1.

The other of the smaller Admirals Clubs at O’Hare. Here, you can expect the standard lounge fare, including snacks and a bar.

Where to find it: After security, across from Gate A24.

This Admirals Club has plenty of space to spread out before your flight, and it was renovated before the Covid-19 pandemic. While you can expect the usual Admirals Club lounge offerings, the real highlight here is a fitness center — and yes, there are shower facilities for after your workout.

Where to find it: After security, between Gates B3 and B4.

This is one of the older clubs at DFW. There are three conference rooms as well as the typical light refreshments.

Where to find it: After security, between Gates C19 and C20.

This lounge is big, so there should be room to spread out. However, it’s on the dated side, so don’t expect the more modern finishes and amenities you’ll find in some of the newer lounges. However, there are four conference rooms and a dedicated kids room.

Where to find it: After security, near gate D24.

This space is more updated than some of the others in the airport, and it’s on the larger side. It’s located opposite the Capital One Lounge. Inside, you can expect standard Admirals Club offerings with plenty of seating options.

Where to find it: DFW E Satellite Terminal, mezzanine level.

This Admirals Club is the newest of the network at American’s home airport, DFW. While it’s new, it’s one of the smaller ones you’ll find at DFW. That being said, it serves fewer passengers, as it’s located in the satellite terminal.

Where to find it: North end of the A gates bridge from Jeppesen Terminal.

While this isn’t the oldest lounge in the Admirals Club network, there’s not much that’s new and revolutionary about it. But, you will get the standard Admirals Club experience: a full-service bar, complimentary food and drinks and Wi-Fi.

Where to find it: Third level of Terminal 2 above The Local @HNL restaurant.

This lounge is also called the Sakura Lounge and also serves Japan Airlines, which is a partner of American. Reviewers say that the lounge is updated and offers a decent amount of seating.

Where to find it: After security, near Gates A25 and A26.

The Houston Admirals Club is on the smaller side, so overcrowding can be an issue. That said, there’s lots of natural light and all of the standard amenities you would expect in an Admirals Club lounge.

Where to find it: Departure level, beyond passport control in lounge area H.

The Admirals Club at London Heathrow is one of a handful of international lounges in the network. It has all the standard Admirals Club offerings in addition to shower facilities. Some reviewers say that you might be better off going to other Oneworld lounges in the terminal if you have access.

Where to find it: Concourse level across from Gate 40.

This is a huge lounge — and you’ll find plenty of seating spread around the space and natural light for viewing planes from your seat. As far as food goes, expect the same complimentary offerings, though the paid items are said to be tasty.

Where to find it: Near Duty Free.

This lounge also has plenty of seating for travelers, though it fits more of the classic Admirals Club design than the Terminal 4 lounge. Inside, expect all the standard amenities like Wi-Fi, a full-service bar and complimentary snacks.

Where to find it: Across from Gates 52D and 52E in the Regional Terminal.

By far the smallest and least attractive of the Admirals Club lounge options at LAX, the Regional Terminal isn’t meant for long stays. But, it’s a solid option for a quick stop and light bite.

Where to find it: International Departures area, second floor above Gate 19.

For those who believe that any lounge is better than no lounge at all, the Mexico City Admirals Club offers a very basic experience. The lounge is on the smaller side and doesn’t have any additional perks, but there are the standard amenities like a bar and complimentary food options.

Where to find it: After security, across from Gate D30.

This is the larger of the two Admirals Clubs at Miami. The lounge is large, light and airy with nice finishes throughout and plenty of seating options. Additionally, there are shower facilities on-site as well as a conference room.

Where to find it: After security, on the third floor above Gate D15.

While this lounge has some of the same amenities as the D-30 Admirals Club, it’s on the smaller side. Otherwise, expect the standard Admirals Club offering of light bites and a full-service bar.

Where to find it: After security on Concourse C, Mezzaine level, across from Gate C 10.

This is a pretty standard Admirals Club location — don’t expect the flashiest furnishings, but you’ll get the usual experience that come with the Admirals Club name.

Where to find it: On the mezzanine level after Concourse B security checkpoint.

In this lounge, you’ll find a kids room as well as a conference room that can seat up to 22 people. Other than that, expect the standard Admirals Club offerings with Wi-Fi, drinks and snacks.

Where to find it: Third floor after security checkpoint across from Gate 42.

Located in the C Concourse, this Admirals Club also features a kids room, though there is no conference room available.

Where to find it: Concourse A, near Gates 30 and 31.

This is one of the newer and more modern Admirals Clubs in the network. As such, you should expect updated amenities and seating areas, as well as a lighter and more aesthetically pleasing lounge. The lounge offers more than 22,000 square feet of space, offering travelers plenty of room to spread out.

Where to find it: Terminal A, after security, toward Gates 30 through 39.

This is a standard Admirals Club lounge, though some travelers have noted that it’s starting to show its age — especially the seating. If you can find a place to sit, expect all the usual amenities you’ll find at others Admirals Club locations. American plans to refresh the Newark lounge with the new, flashy DCA design in the near future.

Where to find it: Mezzanine level, after security, adjacent to Gate 8.

This is far from the largest Admirals Club in the network — and that’s generally OK, as it’s one of the smaller airports. However, don’t expect to find much seating or space to stretch out ahead of your flight. Even though it’s tighter on space, you’ll still find all the typical lounge amenities.

Orlando (MCO)

Where to find it: Near Gate 55.

This lounge spans the course of two levels. While there are seating options available on both levels, the bar is located downstairs. It’s modern and fresh, though it’s not the newest of the Admirals Clubs in the network.

Where to find it: Connector building between 2A and 2C.

This lounge is a solid space to spend some time before your flight. Not only are there plenty of seating options and the standard food and beverage offerings, but there are also shower facilities.

Where to find it: In A East terminal, between Gates A4 and A6A.

This lounge is temporarily closed. We will update this guide when it’s reopened. There was a second Admirals Club in Terminal A (West terminal, mezzanine level between Gates A15 and A16), which has been temporarily closed to prepare for a new Flagship Lounge.

Where to find it: On the third floor between Terminals B and C.

While this isn’t the most modern lounge in the Admirals Club network, it is large. You’ll find plenty of seating as well as a standard food and beverage offering.

Where to find it: On level 2 above the food court.

Located in the smaller terminal, this Admirals Club is on the smaller side. As such, don’t expect to find much space to spread out, but you’ll have access to all of the other amenities that come with Admirals Club access.

Where to find it: Above gates A7-A9.

This lounge got a refresh a couple of years ago, so while it’s not the newest and freshest Admirals Club in the network, it’s a nice spot for resting before your flight.

Where to find it: Between Gates A19-A21.

Don’t expect to find much space to spread out here — it’s the smaller of the two Admirals Clubs in the A Concourse. While it’s small, there are still light refreshments and a full bar on offer.

Where to find it: Above Gates B5 and B7.

The B Concourse is a medium-sized lounge with plenty of seating on offer. Additionally, you’ll find the standard Wi-Fi, refreshment and full bar offerings that are typical among the rest of the network.

Where to find it: Main lobby past security, mezzanine level.

While it’s not the biggest lounge in the network, it has all the amenities you would need for a quick stop ahead of your flight. Reviewers love the natural light and variety of seating on offer.

Where to find it: After security, across from Gates C1 and C3.

There’s one conference room in this lounge, which can seat up to eight people. Around the rest of the lounge, expect a smaller space, which some reviewers say can get crowded at peak travel times.

Where to find it: South Pier (third floor), follow signs to the VIP lounges.

As one of two Admirals Club lounges in Brazil, this space offers travelers a TV room, shower facilities and a children’s room for relaxing ahead of your flight. The lounge offers plenty of seating and lots of natural light.

Where to find it: After security, Terminal 1, near Gate B13.

Spanning more than 11,000 square feet, this lounge first opened to passengers in 2020. It’s open and airy featuring amenities such as shower facilities and a kids room.

Where to find it: Terminal 3, mezzanine level (third floor) above the Duty Free shopping area.

As the second Admirals Club lounge in Brazil, this location is medium-sized, offering more than 9,000 square feet of space. With plenty of seating options, showers, a kids room and more, this is a great spot to relax ahead of your flight.

Where to find it: Beyond the security checkpoint, to your left at the entrance of Concourse C.

This space features all the Admirals Club amenities such as a food station and full-service bar in a space that offers a variety of seating. While it’s not one of the biggest spaces in the network, reviewers don’t tend to complain about the lounge getting overcrowded.

Where to find it: Airside F, adjacent to Gate 85.

This lounge is on the smaller side, and some reviewers have complained about overcrowding and a lack of seating options. The food and beverage choices are similar to other locations in the Admirals Club network.

Where to find it: Terminal 3 Transfer Level near the Duty Free.

Reviewers like this lounge’s cleanliness and overall feel. There are plenty of seating options both in the dining area and in the relaxation areas of the lounge. Plus, the lounge is located after the US Preclearance immigration checkpoint, meaning you can spend more time in the lounge before heading to your gate.

Where to find it: Mezzanine level, near Gate C24.

One of the smaller, older Admirals Clubs at DCA. Expect the standard, older Admirals Club finishes and offerings.

Where to find it: Mezzanine level, near Gate D36.

The other of the classic Admirals Club lounges at DCA. This location is on the smaller side and features a darker, more standard Admirals Club take on the lounge experience.

Where to find it: At the start of Concourse E, above Capitol File News.

This is the newest and best lounge in the Admirals Club network. It features more than 14,000 square feet of cozy space that truly feels like you’re stepping into a high-end home rather than an airport lounge.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards currently available.

If you frequently — or even occasionally — fly with Delta Air Lines, you’ll want to know about the airline’s SkyMiles loyalty program. While it’s had its ups and downs in the travel rewards space, there are still some great rewards travelers can take advantage of. And, thanks to a large portfolio of Delta-branded credit cards, there are plenty of ways to earn miles to redeem for free travel.

Plus, you can also transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Delta, solidifying Delta SkyMiles as some of the easiest airline miles to earn without having to fly. And when it comes to elite status, Delta takes care of its most loyal flyers — what it calls Medallion members — with an extended list of travel perks and benefits.

If you’re looking to earn some SkyMiles for future travels or just want to know more about the program, here is everything you need to know about earning and redeeming SkyMiles and the varying levels of elite status.

Before diving into all the ways you can earn and redeem Delta SkyMiles, it’s important to understand what they’re worth. Delta uses a dynamic pricing model for awards, which makes assigning a value difficult. However, frequent flyer website The Points Guy values Delta SkyMiles at 1.41 cents apiece.

The real value depends on how you redeem your SkyMiles. When demand is high, both paid and award rates often increase substantially, and you may not get the most value from your SkyMiles in these scenarios. On the other hand, Delta often runs award sales on its SkyMiles Deals page. While these sales occasionally coincide with low-season travel, you can still get a great deal with your SkyMiles.

There are lots of ways to earn Delta SkyMiles. The most obvious way is to fly with Delta or its partner airlines and credit the flights to your account. However, you can also rack up miles from Delta-branded credit cards, by shopping online, by dining out and via various other travel partnerships.

As expected, the easiest way to earn Delta SkyMiles is when flying with Delta or its partner airlines. With each Delta or partner flight you take, input your SkyMiles number and you’ll earn miles in return for your business at varying rates.

Delta Medallion elite members earn more SkyMiles per dollar spent on flights than general members. Here’s a full breakdown of how many SkyMiles you’ll earn per dollar spent, based on your elite status level when flying with Delta:

In addition, Delta has more than 20 airline partners with which you can earn — and redeem — SkyMiles. You’ll earn at varying rates for the different partners, but if you’re looking for a full list of the partner airlines, you can visit Delta’s dedicated page.

You certainly shouldn’t go out of your way to fly Delta if it will cost you more than competitors if you don’t have elite status with Delta. However, if you find that Delta has the best fares, make sure you add your SkyMiles number to your reservation in order to earn those miles.

Delta credit cards offer the fastest way to accrue a large number of SkyMiles. Delta offers more credit cards than any other US airline, so there is bound to be one that fits your needs. Whether you’re looking for a business card or one with no annual fee, there are many options to choose from. Delta cards typically offer generous welcome bonus offers, and with the right card, you can even spend your way to elite status.

Here’s a look at all the current Delta SkyMiles personal credit cards and their current welcome bonus offers.

Keep in mind, too, that many of these cards carry an annual fee:

Delta also has a number of credit cards that are targeted toward small-business owners.

Similar to the personal cards, a number of these small-business credit cards also come with annual fees to keep in mind:

In addition to its large portfolio of Delta-branded credit cards, you can also earn SkyMiles through a transfer partnership with American Express Membership Rewards. This option is ideal for those who aren’t frequent Delta flyers and don’t want to be tied down to solely SkyMiles. The Membership Rewards program has 19 other airline and hotel partners, giving you the flexibility to use your points how it best fits your needs.

Even if you are a loyal Delta flyer with tons of SkyMiles in your account, Membership Rewards can come in handy if you need to top off your balance. Membership Rewards transfer instantly to Delta at a 1-to-1 ratio, which is very convenient if you need miles quickly to secure a last-minute award redemption.

Marriott Bonvoy is another source from which you can transfer to Delta SkyMiles. At 3-to-1, the transfer ratio isn’t as favorable as from Membership Rewards. However, you get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. This option makes sense if you have no other way of securing Delta SkyMiles quickly and don’t anticipate an immediate need for Marriott points.

Earn Delta SkyMiles on other travel

The next time you’re ready to book a vacation package, you might want to consider Delta Vacations. Not only will you earn thousands of redeemable SkyMiles, but you’ll also earn Medallion Qualifying Miles towards Delta elite status on the flight portion of your booking.

The number of redeemable miles earned depends on the total package price. You can earn up to 5,000 bonus miles per person on each Delta Vacation package at the following rates:

Whether you’re renting a car or hitching a ride through Lyft, Delta’s ground transportation partnerships allow you to earn bonus miles. Delta partners with every major rental car company, allowing you to earn 500 bonus miles or more per booking with the likes of Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, Enterprise and National.

With some rental car companies experiencing shortages, Turo is a solid alternative that won’t leave you stranded. Dubbed the “Airbnb of car rentals,” Turo provides a broader selection of vehicles, plus the ability to earn 500 bonus SkyMiles per rental. As an added incentive, Turo offers 2,000 bonus miles after you complete your first trip.

If driving isn’t your cup of tea, you can always opt for a Lyft and earn 1 mile per dollar spent on rides in the US. Be sure to link your Delta and Lyft accounts ahead of time to earn miles on your next trip.

After a nearly two-year hiatus, cruising is starting to pick up again and cruise lines are offering incredible incentives to attract travelers. Offers include discounts on staterooms, upgrades, onboard credits, prepaid gratuities and more. You can combine these deals with up to 30,000 bonus miles by booking your cruise through SkyMiles Cruises — and you’ll get at least 1,500 miles on every booking.

You’ll want to compare prices against other sites to make sure you’re getting the best deal. The last thing you want is to pay more for your cruise in order to earn bonus miles.

With more than 7 million homes worldwide, Airbnb is a popular alternative to hotels. Families, groups and solo travelers alike have found value in booking stays through Airbnb. Thanks to a partnership with Delta, you can earn 1 mile per dollar spent on qualifying Airbnb bookings worldwide.

All you have to do is visit the dedicated site, enter your SkyMiles number and book your stay. You’ll automatically earn bonus miles on your bookings (excluding taxes and fees).

If you live in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you could earn 2 miles per dollar on your energy bills. EnergyPlus is upping the ante with 5,000 bonus miles after two months of service.

If you can choose between energy providers, it might be worthwhile to go with one that offers SkyMiles on your bill. It’s also important to compare rates and ensure you’re not paying more just to earn miles.

Delta’s partnership with Instacart lets you earn up to 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar spent, depending on your membership type. Members are also eligible for a free Instacart Express membership trial ranging from three to 12 months.

Instacart Express costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year, which is an excellent offer for SkyMiles members. It’s especially beneficial if you use Instacart occasionally but not enough to justify paying for an Express membership outright. Express gets you $0 delivery fees on orders over $35 and a 5% credit on eligible pickup orders.

In-person concerts are back and chances are your favorite artist is lining up a long overdue tour. Through Delta’s partnership with Ticketmaster, you can earn 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible event tickets in the US and Canada.

To earn bonus miles on your ticket purchases, link your accounts at the dedicated page. Pay for your tickets as usual and you’ll earn those bonus miles. Use your Delta credit card to generate extra earnings.

Earn Delta SkyMiles via SkyMiles Shopping

The Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal is an excellent way to earn bonus miles on your online purchases. You’ll earn at least 1 mile per dollar spent at thousands of popular retailers like Gap, Macy’s, Sephora and more. All you have to do to earn bonus miles is sign up for SkyMiles Shopping and click on the portal’s link whenever you’re ready to shop online to earn bonus miles.

Delta’s SkyMiles Dining program is similar to the shopping portal and an equally easy way to earn bonus miles. Join the free program and register one or more credit cards with the service. Then, when you dine at a qualifying restaurant, you’ll earn 0.5 to 1 SkyMile per dollar spent. This is a low-effort way to earn miles whenever you eat out.

Delta is currently offering a new member bonus of 3,000 miles for signing up. You’ll earn 1,000 bonus miles by spending $30 or more at any participating restaurant — Medallion members earn an additional 500 bonus miles too. Clearly, signing up for SkyMiles Dining can pay off nicely.

The best way to redeem Delta SkyMiles is for flights, but Delta offers plenty of other options. If redeeming miles saves you money, by all means, use them. That said, here’s a look at what you can expect when redeeming Delta SkyMiles for different values.

Delta doesn’t publish an award chart, but instead, it uses dynamic pricing to determine how much an award will cost. That can work out favorably when demand is low and paid fares are cheap. However, when demand is high, so is the number of miles required.

You’ll generally get good value for your miles on short-haul domestic flights. A great place to look for deals is on the SkyMiles Deals page. Enter your home airport and you’ll see discounted airfare to various destinations around the US.

You’ll often find airfare starting at around 10,000 SkyMiles each way, plus taxes and fees. However, I’ve booked flights between the Bay Area and Chicago for as few as 8,500 miles each way, plus taxes and fees. That being said, here are a few examples of award redemption rates you can expect from Delta, noting that they can vary quite a bit:

Cash + Miles awards can be a great way to save on airfare when you don’t have enough miles for an award ticket. Usually, a Cash + Miles award requires half the miles of a regular award, plus a cash co-pay. Sometimes this works out favorably, while at other times you’ll pay more cash.

For example, a one-way Main Cabin ticket between Seattle (SEA) and Los Angeles (LAX) costs $134 in September.

That same ticket prices out at 7,000 miles and $6 in taxes, getting you 1.8 cents per point in value — more than what Delta SkyMiles are typically worth.

Meanwhile, a Cash + Miles award costs 2,000 miles and $96. Essentially, you’re redeeming 2,000 SkyMiles to save $38, which gets you a value of 1.9 cents per point — a better deal.

While you are getting good value for your points, you have a $96 cash co-pay. That may not be appealing if you’re looking to minimize your out-of-pocket cost. But if you’re trying to stretch your SkyMiles further, Cash + Miles can be a great way to redeem miles.

Ultimately, if you’re considering a Cash + Miles redemption, it’s best to consider all your options and do the calculations to determine your best choice.

Delta allows SkyMiles members to redeem their miles for other parts of the travel journey besides flights. For example, you can redeem your SkyMiles for premium beverages in the airline’s network of Sky Club airport lounges. The number of SkyMiles required depends on the type of beverage you’re looking to purchase.

Additionally, Delta recently added the ability for members to redeem their SkyMiles for checked bags. Instead of paying cash for your checked bag fees, you can instead redeem your miles. For your first checked bag, you can expect the standard charge to be $30 or $3,000 SkyMiles. You can also use your SkyMiles to cover fees such as those for selecting preferred seats, ticket change fees, same-day confirmed fees and external ticket charges, though some of these fees are waived for Medallion members.

You can redeem SkyMiles for Delta gift cards starting at 5,600 miles for a $50 gift card. At 0.9 cents per mile, that’s not a great use of SkyMiles. In fact, it’s about half the value you’ll get when redeeming SkyMiles for a Cash + Miles award.

Redeem Delta SkyMiles on merchandise

The Delta SkyMiles Marketplace lets members redeem miles for merchandise: furniture, kitchen appliances, sporting goods, electronics and more. The marketplace even has Apple products for which you can redeem miles, though the redemption rate isn’t great.

An iPhone 13 Pro costs $999 or you can redeem 435,564 SkyMiles, which will give you less than 0.2 cents per mile in value. That’s a terrible use of SkyMiles and one we don’t recommend if you can help it. However, if you’re looking to save cash, it could be a viable option.

Redeeming miles for magazines is a slightly better use of miles. A 10-issue subscription to Martha Stewart Living costs 100 SkyMiles and $2. The same subscription retails for around $10, getting you about one cent per mile in value. Not the best redemption rate, but not awful either, considering it only costs 100 miles.

Delta has four elite status tiers, and you can achieve Delta elite status by flying or through credit cards.

Earning Delta SkyMiles Medallion status involves several different metrics. You can achieve status by completing a certain number of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Alternately, you can swap out the MQM requirements by completing a certain number of Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs).

MQMs are earned based on fare class and distance flown, while MQSs refer to the number of segments on an itinerary. Lastly, MQDs are calculated based on the cost of airfare. You can get the MQD requirement waived with a Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card.

Silver, Gold and Platinum Medallion members can get the MQD requirement waived by completing $25,000 worth of spending on an eligible Delta card. Meanwhile, the waiver for Diamond status requires a whopping $250,000 worth of credit card spending.

Delta recently increased how many MQDs you’ll need to earn for its highest levels of elite status, and it also allows members to earn MQMs on award travel. Here’s how many MQMs, MQMs and MQDs you need for each level of Delta Medallion status:

Once you’ve reached Delta Medallion status, you have many incredible benefits to look forward to. Between bonus miles, upgrades and discounted travel, Delta elites are some of the best treated in the airline space. Here’s an overview of Delta’s elite status benefits.

Delta has built a lucrative program by the way of SkyMiles. The miles are easy to earn through a large portfolio of Delta-branded credit cards, and there are plenty of ways to use them. And, if you fly with Delta enough, the Medallion elite status levels offer plenty of benefits to make flying even more comfortable.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards of 2022.

Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Blue card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Gold card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Platinum card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Reserve card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Gold Business card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Business card.
Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Business card.