The Points Guy (TPG) - Latest News and Information
The ongoing federal shutdown has frozen funding for the Department of Homeland Security, leaving TSA screeners without pay and triggering a surge in employee call‑outs. As absenteeism climbs above 10% at many locations, airports such as Atlanta, JFK, Houston Hobby, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh are experiencing unusually long security lines, and some, like Philadelphia, have shut down entire checkpoints. Real‑time wait‑time data from the MyTSA app has become unreliable, forcing travelers to rely on airport websites or third‑party trackers. The situation could worsen, potentially forcing smaller airports to suspend operations if staffing shortages persist.
Chase’s Sapphire Preferred card now offers a 75,000‑point welcome bonus worth roughly $1,538 after $5,000 spend in the first three months. The bonus eligibility was updated in January, allowing cardholders to earn one bonus per Sapphire product even if they...
Blacklane announced a partnership with Clear to deliver a "home‑to‑gate" experience, combining its global chauffeur service with Clear's concierge security lane. Unveiled at SXSW on March 18, the joint offering will launch in April for select Blacklane guests and Clear+...
The Aven Rewards Visa is a no‑annual‑fee cash‑back card that delivers 3% back on all purchases up to $10,000 of annual spend, then a flat 2% thereafter. Rewards are redeemable as statement credits or through Aven’s travel portal, but the...
Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World is rolling out a "Conrad Complete" add‑on from May 26 through Sept. 8, priced at $150 per guest per night with a two‑guest minimum. The package bundles valet parking, Club 66 lounge access with breakfast and cocktail...
Airport security wait times surged during the fourth week of the partial DHS shutdown, with Houston Hobby Airport experiencing average lines of nearly three hours. Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong airports reported hour‑long backups, while George Bush Intercontinental...
IHG has opened its first Hotel Indigo in the Turks and Caicos Islands, branding the new property as Hotel Indigo Turks & Caicos Grace Bay. The boutique hotel sits steps from the world‑renowned Grace Bay Beach and features 56 rooms...
The Points Guy released a comprehensive guide that maps credit‑card points and miles to their airline and hotel transfer partners, detailing transfer ratios and current valuations. It highlights the top flexible‑points cards from issuers such as American Express, Chase, Capital...
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, airspace across the Middle East was shut down, prompting widespread commercial flight cancellations. Major hubs—including Dubai International, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International, and Doha’s Hamad International—suspended operations until further notice. Gulf carriers and global...
WestJet will discontinue 16 U.S. routes, cutting about 13 % of its transborder seat capacity for 2026. The airline cites a sustained decline in leisure travel demand, with Canadian departures to the United States down 12.5 % year‑over‑year in 2025. Political friction,...
American Express announced that its Resy reservation platform will merge with Tock this summer, integrating more than 25,000 restaurants, wineries and hospitality venues into the Resy network. The combined offering adds over 1,200 wineries and high‑end dining experiences such as...
The MGM Rewards Iconic World Elite Mastercard offers a fast‑track to higher MGM Rewards tier status, featuring a limited‑time welcome bonus of 40,000 points and 15,000 Tier Credits for $5,000 spend. Cardholders earn 6 points and Tier Credits per dollar...
American Airlines displays two balances—award miles and Loyalty Points—on its member portal. Award miles are the redeemable currency for flights, upgrades and seats, and they never expire for active accounts. Loyalty Points, however, are the metric used to qualify for...
American Airlines announced that, starting February 18, the fee for a second checked bag will rise to $50 when paid at the airport, up $5 from the previous $45 charge. Passengers who prepay the second bag online will continue to...
