July 1, 2024 | View Online
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There’s a lot of travel advice out there, but if I’m going to take it from anyone, it’s going to be our Smart Points expert Steven. The other day he was asked if he’s part of the “million miler” crowd—which refers to someone who has flown a million miles with a particular airline—and his response was epic.
“I swear allegiance to no man.”
See, Steven doesn’t really pay for flights, so he can’t accumulate that many miles on just one airline. And no, he’s not getting them paid for by someone. All he has to do is use his credit card points wisely to fly for next to nothing—and you can, too! Step one: Find the right travel credit card. Step two: Learn how to use those points like a pro.Â
In today’s edition:Â
Priority Pass adds 10 Escape Lounges
Amtrak's new Points & Cash option
Time is running out on this banger of a welcome bonus
Good point,Â
Alexa
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| AIRPORTS
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Priority Pass Members Now Have Access to 10 More US Lounges
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Priority Pass members can now enjoy access to 10 additional Escape Lounges across the United States. Some of the standouts among the expansion include lounges at Bradley International (BDL), Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP), Oakland (OAK), and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Terminal 3. Here’s a full list of the new locations.
🌟 Elevated experience
Escape Lounges offer a high-end experience with comfortable seating, complimentary food, and beverages. These lounges, while smaller than typical airport lounges, provide a cozy and premium environment.Â
🛂 Access guidelines
Priority Pass members can access these lounges with a confirmed airline ticket and stay for up to three hours. Children under two enter free but must be accompanied by an adult. Note that guest access is limited and incurs a fee of $35 per person, unlike American Express cardholders who can bring two guests for free.
💳 Complimentary access
Many premium travel credit cards offer Priority Pass memberships as a complimentary benefit. These cards allow cardholders to access over 1,300 lounges worldwide, including the newly added Escape Lounges in the US.Â
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| 50%+ OFF ROSETTA STONE
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Ignite Your Love for Languages With Rosetta Stone’s Fourth of July Sale
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Enjoy the fireworks from your backyard today—and around the world tomorrow! Now through July 7, get over 50% off Unlimited Languages with Rosetta Stone.Â
From pronunciation feedback, to real-world scenarios, and live coaching from native speakers, Rosetta Stone has empowered schools, businesses, government organizations, travelers, and millions of individual learners to not only speak fluently and confidently, but also read, write, and think in new languages for over 25 years.
Ready for your summer of adventure? Kickstart your language learning journey today and get a 50%+ off a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone here. Sale ends July 7.Â
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| TRAIN TRAVEL
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Amtrak Introduces Flexible Points & Cash Booking
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Amtrak is now offering travelers the flexibility to pay for tickets using a combination of points and cash. This new option aims to make train travel more accessible and affordable, enhancing the Amtrak Guest Rewards program.
🎟️ How to use Points & Cash
Booking with Points & Cash is simple. Travelers should log into their Amtrak Guest Rewards account and apply the "use points" filter when selecting their journey. On the payment screen, they will be presented with up to four different combinations of points and cash, enabling them to pick the best fit for their needs. This method offers greater flexibility compared to the prior requirement of paying entirely with either points or cash, streamlining the booking process.
💰 Is it worth it?
The Points & Cash option offers increased flexibility, but its value can fluctuate. For example, a ticket priced at $75 might also be available for 3,500 points, giving each point a value of around 2.1 cents. Conversely, if you choose to pay with a combination of 2,500 points and $50 in cash, the value drops to approximately 1.4 cents per point. Due to these variations, travelers should carefully evaluate their options to ensure they are maximizing the value of their points.
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| MONEY MOVES
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The Credit Card Worth up to $910 in Flights Without an Annual Fee
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Six Delta credit cards received a major overhaul on February 1, 2024. You’ll find improved welcome bonuses, new statement credits, and (unfortunately) increased annual fees. There’s only one option that allows you to reap the value of the positive changes without the negative ones. That’s because in the first year of card membership, this card has a $0 introductory annual fee.
The card currently offers a massive welcome bonus—worth up to $910 in airfare. That will take you just about anywhere you want to go, whether on flights operated by Delta itself or with its 20-plus partners, such as Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and Garuda Indonesia.Â
A few ways to use your new big-mile bounty
🏝 Book three roundtrip flights from Denver to The Bahamas ($790+in value).Â
🗽 Book two roundtrip flights from Los Angeles to New York ($800+ in value).
🇫🇷 Book a roundtrip flight from New York to Paris ($740+ in value).
Click here to score this bonus before time’s up.
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| THE ESSENTIALS
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Summer is sizzling, and so are the sales. From Fourth of July deals to companies quick to keep up with the upcoming Prime Days extravaganza, you can find steep discounts on a ton of goodies. Here’s a little glimpse:Â
👙 LSpace is comin’ in hot with up to 40 percent off markdowns. You have now until midnight PST on July 4 to shop this treasure trove of summer goodies perfect for your summer Euro trip.Â
🔥 In celebration of summer, Solo Stove is offering over $100 off select fire pits and a FREE popcorn maker with every fire pit! You have until June 30 to score the discount.Â
🧘‍ Splits59 is in the midst of its summer sale, offering up to 70 percent off its best-selling products. Stock up on a cozy-cute plane outfit, adventure gear, and more.Â
🍱 Ready to eat your way around the globe? Try the World’s 4th of July 20 percent off promo is live. Now through July 8, customers can score the discount on all standard or gift orders on a decadent snack and food journey around the world! Use code: HAPPY4TH.
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING
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*This link is sponsored.Â
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