Category: Lifestyle

The Points Guy 

Summer travel is kicking off in full force, and that can mean only one thing (aside from school ending, barbecues and packed flights to Europe): It’s time to name TPG’s Best Airline for 2024.

This year’s rankings come as summer travel is expected to reach its highest level since 2019, if not its highest level ever.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans will be looking for airline tickets while considering details like price, service, reliability and, yes, frequent flyer points and miles.

Each traveler has their own set of preferences, but we still receive one type of question above nearly all others: Is any one airline in the U.S. the best? Does any one carrier succeed at all the things travelers really care about?

Every year, we compile thousands of objective data points to determine which of the 10 biggest U.S. airlines strikes the best balance of reliability, cost, experience and value. Our goal is to use a fair and unbiased approach to see how the airlines stack up for the average consumer.

This year’s analysis is complete, and we’re here with the results. Read on to see where your airline landed in this year’s ratings

Best US airlines of 2024

1. Delta Air Lines
2. Alaska Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Southwest Airlines
6. JetBlue
7. Hawaiian Airlines
8. Allegiant Air
9. Spirit Airlines
10. Frontier Airlines

Keep reading for our full analysis and methodology — and to see what helped Delta top our rankings for the sixth year in a row.

Overall rankings and key takeaways

Here’s a quick breakdown of the overall scores this year, including the highest- and lowest-performing categories for each airline. We’ll include last year’s rank for each airline (in parentheses).

Rank and airline (2022 rank)
Total score (out of 100)*
Top-performing areas
Lowest-performing areas

1. Delta (1)
65.74
Timeliness, involuntary bumps
Affordability

2. Alaska (3)
64.38
Timeliness, cancellations, lounges, family travel, customer satisfaction
Baggage, wheelchairs/scooters

3. United (2)
60.90
Frequent flyer program, route network, involuntary bumps
Cancellations, affordability

4. American (4)
60.84
Route network, award availability
Baggage, affordability

5. Southwest (5)
58.54
Bag/change fees
Lounges

6. JetBlue (7)
49.38
Cabin features
Timeliness, cancellations

7. Hawaiian (6)
48.91
Involuntary bumps
Route network

8. Allegiant (9)
43.36
Involuntary bumps, wheelchairs/scooters
Timeliness, cabin features, family travel

9. Spirit (8)
34.55
Affordability
Wheelchairs/scooters, family travel, route network

10. Frontier (10)
22.35
Affordability
Timeliness, cancellations, involuntary bumps, customer satisfaction, bag/change fees

* All data was based on the 12-month period from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023, aside from customer satisfaction. Due to a reporting delay as the U.S. Department of Transportation changes its methodology for tracking complaints, this information is only available for the five-month period between Jan. 1 and May 31, 2023.

Key takeaways from this year’s analysis include:

Delta wins for the sixth year in a row. Once again, the Atlanta-based carrier took home the top ranking. Interestingly, Delta was the top-performing airline in only one single category: timeliness. (It also tied with Allegiant for the top-performing airline in the involuntary bumps category.) However, Delta’s consistent performance across all categories — aside from affordability — made it the top pick overall.
There were no big surprises compared to last year. Alaska and United swapped positions, as did JetBlue and Hawaiian, and Allegiant and Spirit. However, no airlines jumped or fell multiple spots, meaning there were no big gains or losses compared to last year. Overall, 2023 was a year of relative stability and continued recovery from the last of the post-coronavirus-lockdown hiccups.
Some airlines performed better than in 2022, while others fell. Several airlines fell a point or two (or more) compared to last year: Delta (-0.57), United (-1.57), Hawaiian (-5.80), Spirit (-4.44) and Frontier (-5.39). The carriers with improved overall scores are Alaska (+3.84), American (+1.01), Southwest (+2.25), JetBlue (+1.70) and Allegiant (+6.32). Still, none of the changes were big enough to swing an airline more than one spot in the rankings.
Consumer complaint data doesn’t tell the whole story. The U.S. Department of Transportation typically reports data covering a variety of metrics on a three-month delay. However, the agency delayed reporting of customer complaints in the middle of the year because the volume of complaints has increased compared to pre-pandemic times. As such, the agency wants to rework how it processes that information. Data were only available through May 2023, so the customer satisfaction score does not reflect passengers’ experiences during the latter part of the year, including the busy summer and holiday travel seasons.

So, just how did these airlines fall where they did in the rankings? Read on for a closer look at each category we used to build these rankings, along with the weight we assigned to each. The full methodology is provided at the end of the report.

Best US airlines for reliability

AARONP/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

A lot goes into the overall air travel experience, from the moment you start searching for flights until you pick up your luggage from baggage claim and head out the airport door. But at the end of the day, an airline has one main job: to get you where you pay to go roughly on the schedule it promised.

Because of that, operational reliability is the largest single category in our rankings, weighted at 30% of our total analysis. We use five factors under the umbrella of reliability:

Timeliness: How frequently a flight on the airline was delayed
Cancellations: How frequently a flight on the airline was canceled
Bumps/involuntary denied boardings: How frequently an airline bumped a traveler against their will on an oversold flight
Baggage: How frequently an airline mishandled a piece of checked luggage
Wheelchairs/scooters: How frequently an airline mishandled a mobility device

The results here produced a winner that may come as a surprise to some: Allegiant. It scored the highest across the category’s five metrics. The full reliability rankings are as follows:

1. Allegiant
2. Delta
3. Alaska
4. Southwest
5. Hawaiian
6. United
7. American
8. JetBlue
9. Spirit
10. Frontier

The ultra-low-cost carriers — Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier — may have a generally poor reputation for reliability, along with onboard experience. However, Allegiant offers a reason to reconsider that notion after its cumulative 2023 score for reliability was the best in the industry. While Allegiant’s on-time performance was weak (ranking seventh out of 10 on our timeliness scale), it scored at the top of the other four categories under the overall reliability umbrella.

Of the 10 airlines we tracked, Allegiant had the lowest rate of flight cancellations; it cut just 782 of its 115,539 flights in 2023 (or 0.68% of its operations). Alaska wasn’t far behind, canceling 2,849 out of its 385,945 flights (or 0.74% of its scheduled flights). At the other end of the spectrum, Frontier canceled 3,774 of its 177,542 scheduled flights (or 2.13% of its operations).

Allegiant also snagged the top score for the number of passengers it bumped involuntarily — zero. It tied with Delta.

Conversely, Frontier was far and away the worst performer, denying boarding at a whopping rate of 35.06 per 100,000 passengers, a total of 10,123 out of 28,872,300 travelers. For context, the next-worst performer was American, with 5.57 involuntary denied boardings per 100,000 passengers.

Allegiant is clearly doing something right in its baggage-handling operation as well. You won’t find free checked bags here — and if you book the base fare class, you’ll be charged for a carry-on, too. However, Allegiant led the other rankings by having the fewest lost or damaged bags at a rate of just 1.89 per 1,000 checked bags. American was the worst performer here, with 7.61 mishandled bags per 1,000.

Allegiant’s strong performance carried over to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, too. The Las Vegas-based carrier mishandled checked wheelchairs at a rate of 0.37 per 100; Spirit brought up the rear with a rate of 5.35 wheelchairs mishandled out of every 100 wheelchairs checked by passengers.

Best US airlines for the travel experience

ALASKA AIRLINES

Reliability is important, but the onboard experience is the first thing that many people think of when it comes to the “best airline.” For many, onboard snacks, meals or entertainment can make or break a journey.

Travel experience is important to us at TPG, too, so we weighted it as 25% of our overall score, just behind reliability. The travel experience score looks at four factors:

Cabin features: What you’ll experience on board, including Wi-Fi, seat pitch/width and inflight entertainment
Lounges: How widespread (and numerous) an airline’s lounges are and how affordable they are to access
Family: How well an airline caters to families traveling with children
Customer satisfaction: The rate at which passengers complain to the DOT about the carrier

Alaska took the top prize overall, with the full category rankings coming in as follows:

1. Alaska
2. Delta
3. American
4. United
5. JetBlue
6. Hawaiian
7. Southwest
8. Spirit
9. Allegiant
10. Frontier

Breaking them down by subcategory, JetBlue was the top airline for cabin features — just like it was last year and the year before. The New York-based carrier’s strong performance here is boosted since it provides free Wi-Fi across its entire fleet; it also offers seatback entertainment screens and the largest average economy seat size among all U.S. airlines.

Alaska, meanwhile, scored best for its domestic lounges — something crucial for many frequent flyers. Although the airline only has nine lounges of its own, its Alaska Lounge+ members can access dozens more across the U.S., including more than 40 American Airlines Admirals Clubs, several United Club locations and a few third-party lounges.

Alaska also ranked first for customer satisfaction, with the caveat we mentioned before: Customer complaint data was only available for the first five months of last year. The airline snagged the top spot for its family travel experience as well; that’s based on a variety of factors, such as early boarding, bag fees, onboard snacks and inflight entertainment.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the ultra-low-cost airlines finished last for overall experience. They were dragged down by seating configurations with limited legroom, extra fees — which also dent these carriers’ family experience scores — and the lack of lounges.

Best US airlines for cost and reach

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Of course, before you can even think about reliability or the travel experience, you need to see which airlines actually go where you’re trying to go — and how much a ticket on those carriers will set you back.

We try to see which airlines have the right mix here with our cost and reach category; it looks at the prices you can expect to pay for airfare and common add-on fees. Our formula is also meant to evaluate how widespread each airline’s domestic route network is. This category is weighted at 20% of the total score and includes these three factors:

Route network: How many domestic airports an airline serves
Affordability: How far (in distance) you can fly for the money you’re paying, based on financial data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Ancillary fees: How much a typical passenger pays in bag and change/cancellation fees

The cost and reach category is where things can get interesting. The ultra-low-cost airlines are clearly the most affordable, but they also have high ancillary fees — and many of them. Plus, they tend to have smaller route networks than the legacy carriers.

Who strikes the balance best? Here are our results:

1. Southwest
2. United
3. American
4. Delta
5. Alaska
6. Allegiant
7. Spirit
8. Hawaiian
9. JetBlue
10. Frontier

It’s not surprising that Southwest is the overall winner here. Southwest serves about half as many domestic cities as the three biggest legacy airlines — American, Delta and United — but it nevertheless has a sizable route map. This is especially true when compared to other low-cost airlines like Spirit and Frontier, as well as East Coast-oriented JetBlue and West Coast-focused Alaska.

But where Southwest has a clear advantage is fees. Southwest doesn’t charge change or cancellation fees. Even though the other big airlines have drastically cut those fees from their pre-pandemic prices, the airlines still charged more on average for “extra” costs than Southwest did in 2023.

Southwest also famously allows two free checked bags per passenger. Passengers checking more than two bags have to pay extra, so Southwest did earn some revenue from baggage fees in 2023. However, that total was a fraction of what the other airlines collected.

In 2023, Southwest earned an average of just 43 cents in fees per passenger carried. That’s significantly less than what American, Delta and United earned for bag fees; the carriers received $6 to $9 in fees per passenger last year. Southwest held up even better compared to the ultra-low-cost airlines that make up for lower ticket prices by tacking on add-on fees. Spirit and Allegiant made an average of just under $27 in fees per passenger, while Frontier brought in a whopping $40 for every passenger it flew.

Of course, if you can travel light and avoid the fees, those budget airlines are far and away the most affordable. Frontier took in $118 in fare revenue for every domestic 1,000 miles flown per passenger, while Spirit fell just behind at $118.13. Allegiant was a distant third at $159.38.

Unsurprisingly, the legacy airlines were the most expensive. Delta landed at the bottom of our affordability rankings, with an average of $302.50 in fare revenue per 1,000 passenger miles flown. American was next at $279.03. United was the most affordable of the “Big Three” carriers at $261.76. Southwest, which is somewhere between a legacy airline and a low-cost carrier, came in at $191.74.

Best US airlines for loyalty

UNITED AIRLINES

The final category for our rankings is loyalty — a key topic for TPG staff members and readers alike. We weighted this at 25% and included two specific factors:

Frequent flyer program: How rewarding an airline’s loyalty program is based on TPG’s valuations, elite status, cobranded credit cards, partner airlines and expiration policies
Award availability: How easy and valuable it is to redeem your rewards across popular travel times

Like last year, United came out on top. Here are the full results:

1. United
2. American
3. Alaska
4. Delta
5. JetBlue
6. Southwest
7. Hawaiian
8. Spirit
9. Frontier
10. Allegiant

The competition at the top was close, but United won out with the best rating for rewarding frequent flyers. The carrier has the greatest number of redemption and earning partners and offers four consumer credit cards. American was close behind, followed by Alaska.

Delta, which was last year’s runner-up, fell to fourth place. This is partly due to charging high mileage prices for award flights and recently making changes to its elite status program that have been viewed negatively by many of the company’s frequent flyers.

The low-cost carriers generally fell short in this area; they were hindered by their relatively few partners, limited or fixed value for miles, poor award availability and/or expiration policies for miles.

Methodology

THE POINTS GUY

TPG’s Best Airline rankings are based on scores from four broad sections, each of which consists of multiple criteria. All data points for the 2024 report were based on flights operated during the 12-month period that ran from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023.

A full breakdown of the methodology and the data used for each is as follows:

Reliability (30%)

Timeliness (using data on delayed flights from the DOT)
Cancellations (using data on canceled flights from the DOT)
Involuntary bumps (using data on involuntary denied boardings from the DOT)
Baggage (using data on mishandled baggage from the DOT)
Wheelchairs/scooters (using data on mishandled baggage from the DOT)

Experience (25%)

Cabin features (using data from SeatGuru and inflight amenity offerings from each carrier’s website)
Lounges (using data on the number of lounges, the number of cities and the price of membership for each applicable lounge network)
Family travel (using a 0-to-5 score based on boarding, perks and food/entertainment available on board)
Customer satisfaction (using data on customer complaints from the DOT)

Cost and reach (20%)

Route network (using the monthly average of domestic cities served by each airline from the DOT)
Affordability (using financial data from the BTS)
Bag/change fees (using financial data from the BTS)

Loyalty (25%)

Frequent flyer program (using data from our monthly valuations, elite status reports and each carrier’s website)
Award availability (using real-time award inventory for popular domestic routes across three distinct time periods)

For all criteria, the raw scores from the data were converted into scaled scores from zero to 10. In most cases, a score of zero was assigned to the lowest-performing carrier, and where possible, a score of 10 was assigned to a “perfect” airline. For example, Allegiant and Delta both scored a 10 on involuntary bumps since they had zero (or effectively zero) last year.

However, when there was no clear way to determine perfection, the highest-performing airline received a 10.

By using scaled scores (rather than a simple ranking system), we essentially “graded” each airline relative to the others. The score for each airline on each individual element was thus a numerical reflection of how much better said airline did compared to the lowest-scoring carrier.

For instance, Alaska had the fewest number of DOT complaints in the first five months of the year, with Delta not far behind (2.94 per 100,000 passengers versus 3.70).

We normalized these numbers by comparing them to the lowest-performing airline (Frontier, with 38.76 per 100,000 passengers) and the highest possible score (0 per 100,000 passengers). The resulting scaled score conversion gave Alaska a “grade” of 9.24 out of 10 and Delta an 8.09 out of 10.

Then, each individual score was weighted using the above percentages to arrive at the final, cumulative score included in the table.

Final thoughts

A lot goes into choosing a flight and an airline for your next trip. Price matters, but so do reliability, rewards you can earn and the actual passenger experience on the flight. Of course, no one airline will meet the needs of every passenger, so each of those considerations has a different level of importance for each individual traveler.

However, our report uses objective data and a fair weighting that we think best sums up a fair, broad picture for a wide range of travelers.

For the sixth year in a row, Delta has earned the title of TPG’s Best Airline for 2024.

Delta’s reign shows that sometimes, it pays not to be the best at every single thing. Instead, it’s important to focus on performing well across every area and standing out by offering a consistent and reliable product across the board.

Delta alienated some of its frequent flyers with the changes it made to its rewards program, and its fares are the highest in the U.S. by our measure. However, its reliability, performance, features and overall experience work together to keep it at the top of the pack.

Read More 

Carscoops 

If you’ve been in the market for a used vehicle, you’ve undoubtedly noticed prices are significantly higher than in the past. However, there’s been some relief as prices have been trending downward since the tail end of the pandemic.

That continues as the Manheim (wholesale) Used Vehicle Value Index fell 0.6% in May and is down 12.1% from a year ago, on a mix, mileage, and seasonally adjusted basis. While the Memorial Day holiday likely had an impact, Cox Automotive noted “depreciation trends are currently tracking higher than long-term averages for the year.”

More: Used Car Inventory Piles Up Despite 6% Price Drop From Last Year

It’s important to note here that there are two key prices for any used car: retail and wholesale. The retail price, typically the higher one, is what you’d pay buying a car from a dealership. The wholesale price, on the other hand, is the lower one and essentially represents a car’s trade-in value to a dealer.

On a year-over-year seasonally adjusted basis, the biggest losers were compact cars which were down 17.4%. They were closely followed by mid-size cars (16.3%) and crossovers / SUVs (16%). On the flip side, the models that held their value the best were pickups and luxury vehicles.

EV values took a beating as they were down 16%. That compares to an 11.6% drop for vehicles powered by other means.

Cox estimates that retail used-vehicle sales climbed 6% compared to last month and 12% compared to a year ago. The company also said the “average retail listing price for a used vehicle was unchanged over the last four weeks.”

In a statement, Cox Automotive’s Senior Director of Economic and Industry Insights, Jeremy Robb, said “While declines in used-vehicle values overall were a bit muted in the first half of May, they picked up in the latter half of the month. It’s seasonally normal to get some weakening in the market over the Memorial Day weekend; but this month, we experienced a little more softening in the final week.”

Read More 

Carscoops 

While classic Nissan Skyline GT-Rs remain a rather rare sight in the U.S., they are far more commonplace in Australia. In fact, the country has a huge GT-R scene thanks to the variety of Skylines Nissan sold in the country new and the ease of importing ones straight from Japan.

In late May, the Sydney Dragway hosted the annual GT-R Festival and some of the country’s finest Nissans came out in force. Extensively modified GT-Rs are common across Australia, but some of the event’s headliners were so powerful and quick they may make you reconsider just what the Godzilla is capable of.

Read: The Fast & Furious Nissan R34 GT-R Driven By Paul Walker Sells For Record $1.4M

Without a doubt the craziest GT-R from the event was an R34 GT-R known as ‘RHM.’ The car has been built by B2R Motorsport in Sydney and for the past couple of years, has been re-writing the record books for GT-Rs with manual transmissions. While it originally left the factory with a 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder, it now rocks a much larger 3.4-liter stroked motor, which has been fully built and is complemented by a massive turbocharger.

The car pumps out more than 1,800 hp at the wheels, a figure beyond that of even a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport with its 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16. During the GT-R Festival, the owner of the RHM ran down the quarter-mile in 7.93 seconds, setting a new world record for an R34 GT-R with a manual ‘box. To put that into perspective, the flagship Chiron needs 9.4 seconds to cover the same distance.

The video shows not only the RHM GT-R, but also several other GT-Rs that participated in the event. R32 and R34 generation models are particularly popular Down Under and were out in force, pushing Nissan’s famed RB engine to new levels and showing that even though a car may be 20 years old, it can be tuned and modified to keep up with even the most ballistic multi-million dollar hypercars.

Read More 

Carscoops 

Rich people don’t need to worry about depreciation the same way us regular folk do, but they might be worried about the shame of being seen in outdated cars, so Rolls Royce’s strategy of making only minimal changes at facelift time is sure to keep existing owners happy.

In the last couple of years the Phantom and, more recently, the Cullinan SUV, have received mid-life makeovers that are so discrete the updates can be hard to spot. And it looks like smaller Ghost sedan will be following suit later this year.

Related: Miami Beach PD Faces Blowback After Flaunting Roll-Royce Ghost Cop Car

We last spotted the revised Ghost undergoing winter tests in a snowy Sweden, but these latest images taken in bright springtime weather give us a clearer look at the tweaked exterior design. And the fact that the bikini disguise is only covering the nose tells us not to expect anything new from the profile view or at the rear, except a redesigned taillight graphic.

But the front LED lights are definitely slimmer, and though it’s hard to be certain, it looks like they might be less rectangular than the current lamps. Maybe it’s just the camo doing it’s job and playing tricks on our eyes, but the lights themselves appear more eye-shaped, with a narrower section near the grille that will help create more visual differentiation between the Ghost and Rolls’ other models.

The lower bumper is also new, its horizontal slats emphasizing the car’s width, and the ADAS sensor at the center, below the license plate, has been reshaped, and presumably brings with it more sophisticated driver assistance features.

SH Proshots

Unlike the last prototype we spied, this one’s Spirit of Ecstasy was hidden below the hood line, but with that iconic grille and the RR badge clearly displayed at the top of it, there’s no mistaking this Ghost for another brand’s car. The Cullinan recently received an illuminated grille for the first time, but the Ghost already offers that option.

One thing about the current Ghost that should be staying put is its 6.75-liter V12. The twin-turbo motor makes 563 hp (570 PS) in standard tune and 592 hp (600 PS) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque in Black Badge guise, and since those outputs exactly match those of the facelifted Cullinan, we’re not expecting the Ghost to gain any additional horses when it arrives, probably later this year.

Images SH Proshots

Read More 

The Points Guy 

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

American Airlines is one of the largest and most popular airlines in the world. However, when you go to book an award ticket on AA, don’t automatically assume your AAdvantage account will be the best loyalty program to use. Did you know that you can book American Airlines flights on partner carriers? And that it may cost you fewer miles?

Since British Airways is a fellow Oneworld alliance member, members of the British Airways Executive Club can redeem Avios, BA’s loyalty currency, on partner airlines; this includes American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Since you can transfer most credit card points to British Airways, it is worth considering which program you should book with.

Here are some scenarios where it can make sense to book an American Airlines award flight with British Airways Avios rather than American’s own AAdvantage miles.

Related: British Airways Executive Club: Guide to Avios, elite status and transfer partners

Short-haul flights in peak periods

BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

AAdvantage still operates using an award chart. However, in 2023, it shifted its charts to reflect more of a dynamic pricing model with flights on AA  “starting from” 7,500 miles within the U.S. and Canada. However, American will sometimes have award flights priced lower than the award chart.

Meanwhile, Avios redemptions for domestic AA flights start from 8,250 Avios points, each way in economy as follows:

Zone 1 (up to 650 miles): 8,250 Avios
Zone 2 (651-1,151 miles): 11,000 Avios
Zone 3 (1,152-2,000 miles): 14,500 Avios
Zone 4 (2,001-3,000 miles): 16,000 Avios

On off-peak dates, like midweek in winter, you can often find flights through AAdvantage for as low as 7,500 (or sometimes lower). This is a better option than the 8,250 Avios BA would charge.

AA.COM

However, if you want a flight at a specific time or need to fly to a specific airport, using Avios is a cheaper option once the AA prices start to rise dynamically.

For example, flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) to New York area airports in September start from a reasonable 8,500 AAdvantage miles.

AA.COM

However, if you want to take the first flight of the day and fly into LaGuardia Airport (LGA), AA prices this flight at 12,000 miles.

You could book the same Zone 2 flight through British Airways for 11,000 Avios (plus the same taxes and fees AAdvantage charges), saving you 1,000 miles.

BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM

If you are looking to book this same flight in first class, you will pay more than 83,000 miles. If you book this same flight on British Airways using Avios, you’d pay just 20,500 Avios.

Related: A review of American Airlines in first class on the Airbus A321neo from Philadelphia to San Francisco

Nonstop economy flights to Hawaii

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Another sweet spot in the Avios versus American Airlines battle is nonstop flights between the West Coast and Hawaii on either American- or Alaska-operated flights. Booking one-way, nonstop award flights less than 3,000 miles long through British Airways will cost just 16,000 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes and fees each way.

American Airlines offers flights between the U.S. and Hawaii starting at 20,000 miles each way, so you can save at least 4,000 miles by booking through BA’s Executive Club rather than AA’s AAdvantage program.

Note that these prices apply to flights on both American and Alaska Airlines, so in either case, you’re likely better off redeeming Avios for awards to Hawaii from multiple West Coast gateways. Remember, too, that the Avios pricing only applies to nonstop flights; if you start adding connections, you’ll want to compare prices in each program before deciding which offers the best value.

Related: The best time to visit Hawaii for good weather, smaller crowds, deals and more

Nonstop flights to South America

LUCIANO LEJTMAN/GETTY IMAGES

Like domestic flights, you can find some sweet spots with shorter international flights using Avios rather than AAdvantage miles.

Looking at routes like:

MIA to Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport  (BAQ) in Barranquilla, Colombia
MIA to Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) in Cartagena, Colombia

They are just less than 1,150 miles long and cost 11,000 Avios in economy class.

BRITISHAIRWAYS.COM

These flights start at 12,000 miles each way when booked with AAdvantage miles; booking with Avios instead saves only 1,000 miles. However, with American’s dynamic pricing, on the sample date of Dec. 4 above, the same flights are priced at 20,500 (plus the same fees and taxes) — almost twice the number of points.

AA.COM

Nonstop flights to Japan in economy

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

When booking with AAdvantage miles, flights from the West Coast to Japan in economy cost 35,000 miles each way.

However, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) requires just 25,750 Avios that would otherwise cost 35,000 AA miles.

You can also book Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and HND for 31,000 Avios instead of 35,000 AA miles.

Unfortunately, the business and first-class awards aren’t cheaper with Avios than AAdvantage miles.

How to earn Avios

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

The easiest way to earn a meaningful number of Avios for everyday spending is by applying for the British Airways Visa Signature® Card.

This card is currently offering new applicants 85,000 Avios after they spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account.

The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per $1 spent.

British Airways is also a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.

The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:

American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you’re targeted for a 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Bottom line

Avios are valuable because they are easy to earn and redeem. The surcharges on British Airways-operated flights can be high. However, the sensible award chart means, unlike on other programs that price flights dynamically, you’ll rarely see a six-figure price for a single premium cabin flight on BA.

Therefore, booking American Airlines flights through British Airways can sometimes be a much more lucrative redemption option. So, it’s always best to double-check both programs before purchasing your award ticket.

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Carscoops 

With 671 hp and a hybridized 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 is a speed demon capable of ripping your face off. However, some would argue it lacks the same desirability as its predecessors, particularly the W204-generation car in Black Series guise.

At the time of the C 63 AMG Black Series’ launch more than a decade ago, it was unlike any of its rivals and brought with it simply extraordinary levels of performance, combined with dramatic looks. Fast forward to 2024 and we think it still looks just as good as it did when it was new. One example is currently up for auction through Bring a Trailer.

Read: By Going Back To V8s, AMG Admits There’s More To A Sporty Car’s Appeal Than Speed

This C 63 AMG Black Series is a 2012 model and one of approximately 100 built for the North American market. It has a clean Carfax report, a clean Montana title, and service records and is one of the finest examples of the greatest of all C-Class models.

Adorning the exterior of the car is a nice finish of Designo Magno Alanite Grey, which makes this C 63 Black one of just four in North America painted like it. It includes blacked-out badges and the entire body has been covered in a paint protection film. It sits on the original 19-inch forged wheel which are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

The seller has fitted the car with an Alcantara and carbon fiber steering wheel from a new AMG model. Few other modifications have been made, although it does now rock a Frequency Intelligent (Fi) catless exhaust system to allow the 510 hp (517 PS) 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 to scream. This engine is coupled to a seven-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission driving the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential.

If you’re interested in picking up the keys to this C 63 AMG Black Series, head on over to Bring a Trailer where it is up for auction. The car has been driven just 11,000 miles (~17,000 km) and, at the time of writing, the highest bid stood at $85,500.

Photo Credits: Bring a Trailer

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The Points Guy 

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the busy summer travel season — and it was one for the record books. May 24, the Friday before the long holiday weekend, was the busiest ever for the Transportation Security Administration, with the agency screening 2.9 million people. In fact, five of the 10 busiest days on record happened this month alone. According to the TSA, the agency screened nearly 8% more people over this year’s holiday weekend versus 2023.

If Memorial Day weekend is any indication, it’s going to be a record-breaking summer for both domestic and international travel. That’s because the usually busy travel season will also include travel-worthy events like the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Record-breaking summer travel expected

U.S. airlines predict 271 million will travel between June 1 and Aug. 31. That would easily surpass last summer’s record of 255 million, according to Airlines for America. U.S. airlines plan to operate over 26,000 flights daily this summer, an increase of nearly 1,400 flights per day from the previous year (or 5.6% over last summer).

Summer 2024 forecast. AIRLINES FOR AMERICA

Airlines have added flights to accommodate the rush of demand.

“U.S. airlines are excited to fly a record number of travelers this summer,” Rebecca Spicer, A4A’s senior vice president of communications, said in a press release. “Our carriers have adjusted their schedules to adapt to current realities of our National Airspace System (NAS), helping to alleviate some of those pressure points and making for a smooth summer travel season.”

Indeed, U.S. airlines performed remarkably well over the long Memorial Day weekend despite a series of thunderstorms that slammed parts of the country. Airlines appear to be recovering more quickly without the cataclysmic failures in the system we saw coming out of the worst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, it’s better to be prepared for anything. Here are a few of my top tips to help you stay sane this summer.

Reserve parking

As travel demand has increased, so, too, has the need for airport parking. We are increasingly seeing “sold out” signs at airport parking lots.

To ensure you aren’t stuck searching for a spot that may or may not exist, lock in that reservation now. Most airport parking lots offer prepaid or reserved parking, making it easy to book in advance. You may even find the rates are cheaper when you book ahead of time.

Related: Don’t forget to do this before heading to the airport this summer

Allow extra time

Fountain at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

It’s going to be busy at the airport this summer, and you should plan accordingly. While we aren’t seeing the staffing shortages of a few years ago, there are only so many baggage handlers, ticket counter employees and security screeners.

My mantra for this summer (and the one many of my TPG colleagues share) is that you’re “better safe than sorry.” That is why we suggest getting to the airport two hours early for domestic flights and three hours in advance for international flights. You just never know these days.

Modern airports have so many conveniences and attractions that it’s not the worst thing to have a little extra time at the lounge or even to do some shopping.

Get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or clear — or a combination of all 3

The TSA line at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

At TPG, we always recommend using any security shortcuts, including enrolling in a Trusted Traveler Program like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

With these programs, the government essentially prescreens you for security, thus saving you a bit of time during your travels. You’ll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news, though, is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees.

Related: 7 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear

TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry, you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.

We recommend getting Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck. Global Entry requires an interview with U.S. Customs and Border Protection ahead of time, but once you’re approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.

We also like Clear, another security program that allows you to bypass long security lines.

A Clear membership combined with TSA PreCheck will enable you to go to even shorter lines at some airports with designated Clear/TSA PreCheck lines. Clear isn’t always faster, but it will still generally lead to shorter lines.

Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both

Be smart when you are booking

Orlando International Airport (MCO). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

There is still a shortage of air traffic controllers, and things can and do still go wrong. Travelers these days have to be their own best advocates.

Book better

Think through each booking you make. Try to find a nonstop flight instead of a flight with multiple connections to reduce the risk of missing a flight or being delayed. This will also lessen the chance of having your luggage lost or misplaced.

We also recommend you take one of the first flights of the day, as early flights are less likely to face weather disruptions like afternoon thunderstorms, meaning they’re most likely to depart on time.

Related: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next

Knowledge is power

Make sure you are tracking your flight and the weather.

Download your airline’s mobile app to keep track of potential flight delays in real time. Airline apps are a secret weapon in case things go wrong. Not only will you know when boarding starts, but you’ll also learn of any delays first. Some airlines even allow you to rebook yourself in the app (or buy yourself an upgrade).

If your flight is canceled, you’ll want to beat everyone else on your flight who is also looking to get rebooked.

We recommend heading to the main customer service desk (or the one at a lounge, if you have access). You could also get on the phone with the airline or contact the carrier via social media if there’s a delay. Sometimes, an airline’s social media representative will help you faster than a phone or in-person agent. You have to use every tool at your disposal when things go wrong.

Many airlines also now have live chat capabilities to help navigate delays and cancellations.

I always have an alternate plan (or two) in the back of my mind in case a flight gets canceled or delayed. I also look to see what other airlines are flying the route I’m taking in case something goes awry. This way, I’ll know what to ask for if I need to be rebooked.

I also like using FlightRadar24 to track my flights, plus an app called Flighty. The latter helps me keep an eye on my flights and will often let me know before anyone else (even the airline) if there is a problem with my flight.

Flighty notifications. FLIGHTY

You can also use Google to track your flight. Simply put in the airline and flight number to see your flight status.

Know your rights

There’s good news regarding passenger rights. The Biden administration is taking a tougher stance when it comes to holding airlines accountable and aiding consumers.

New Department of Transportation rules are more passenger-friendly, requiring airlines to promptly refund passengers if they cancel their flights (or make a significant adjustment to the schedule).

You are entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment within a week if you paid by credit card and within three weeks if you used another payment method. This applies to flights delayed by three or more hours if flying within the U.S. and by at least six hours if flying internationally. Keep in mind, though, that airlines are only required to refund passengers who don’t use their tickets.

If you find yourself dealing with a delay or cancellation, remember to save all the receipts for the expenses you incur. You’ll want excellent documentation in the case of meltdowns like the one Southwest Airlines passengers experienced during the 2022 winter holidays.

Related reading:

Best travel credit cards
Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
10 ways to get through airport security faster

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Well+Good 

Want to give your bedroom a complete overhaul in mere moments? Swap your duvet cover. After all, that fluffy duvet insert certainly needs to be placed inside *something* before you sink into bed each night! And now that warm summer temps are upon us, it’s the perfect time to look for one that will refresh your bedscape while keeping you from overheating throughout the night—the best linen duvet covers will do just that.

First things first: Why should you use a duvet cover, anyway? It actually comes down to two very simple factors: ease of washing and versatility. “Using a duvet cover allows you to easily remove and wash, without having to wash an entire comforter,” says interior designer Tina Rich of Tina Rich Design. “It also allows you some flexibility in terms of color and design. You can have a couple different colors or patterns that you swap out for a new look.”

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the 10 best linen duvet covers to give your bedding an instant update—so you can drift off to dreamland in style, of course.

The best linen duvet covers, at a glance:

Best overall: Baloo, Stonewashed Linen Duvet Cover, from $239
Best budget: Bedsure, Linen Duvet Cover, from $60
Best color selection: Linoto, Duvet Cover, from $295
Best splurge: Boll & Branch, Linen Duvet Set, from $409
Best with buttons: Parachute, Linen Duvet Cover, from $290
Best stonewashed: Sijo, LuxeWeave Linen Duvet Cover, from $245
Best with zippers: Cozy Earth, Linen Bamboo Duvet Cover, from $319
Best hemp: Buffy, Linen Duvet Cover, from $239
Best organic: Coyuchi, Organic Relaxed Linen Duvet Cover, from $498
Best set with shams: Quince, European Linen Embroidered Edge Duvet Cover Set, from $150

What is the purpose of using a duvet cover?

As we mentioned, duvet covers give your bedroom a totally new vibe in an instant. Plus, they’re way easier to clean than trying to shove a whole comforter into your washing machine. “They’re more sanitary, and the insert never touches your skin,” says Elizabeth Kane Gill, the president of Elizabeth Gill Interiors. She also notes how much easier it is to fully customize your bedroom with everything from thread colors and patterns to monograms.

How do you get a duvet insert into a duvet cover, anyway?

Let’s face it—trying to wrangle that duvet insert or comforter into a duvet cover is just not fun. But there are ways to make the process go a little more smoothly! Here are a few helpful tips from Gill:

Step 1: Take your hand and find the inside of one corner (the side opposite closure).
Step 2: Match one corner of the duvet to the inside and pinch the corner with both the insert and the duvet cover.
Step 3: Repeat on the other corner.
Step 4: Once you’ve pinched both corners with the insert and duvet cover, “simply shake, shake, shake, until the duvet cover is completely over the other half of the insert,” Gill says.
Step 5: Use the closures to attach the duvet insert to the duvet cover.

There’s also the burrito method, where you literally roll up your duvet insert inside your duvet cover like a burrito—but, truth be told, no matter how many how-to videos I watch, I still don’t understand how it works.

Shop the best linen duvet covers

FAQs

Which duvet closures work the best?

The options are fairly endless! You can choose a duvet cover with zippers, ties, or buttons. “Button closures are most common and reliable,” advises Rich. “If you lose a button, you can always replace it relatively easily.”

Gill agrees that buttons are the easiest, although she cautions they may not be the best for kids. “For little ones or teens, zippers are the way to go,” she says.

How often should you switch out a duvet cover?

The short answer is, probably more often than you think. Because you’re coming into constant contact with it throughout the night, it’s important to keep it clean for sanitary reasons. Additionally, though, you can switch them out just because you want a different look in your bedroom! “I recommend switching out or washing your duvet cover once a week just to keep it fresh,” Rich says. “ I love doing this on a Friday so I have a fresh bed for the weekend.”

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