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Travel smarter, fly for less.
Points strategies, fare-deal breakdowns, and the stories behind the sweet spots — written by the team that watches award space all day. Updated every week.
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Travel Tips
Delta Medallion Status Match 2026: Is it still possible, and which programs work
Delta SkyMiles ended its formal Status Match program years ago. But informal status challenges and Choice Benefits-based competitive moves still happen. Here is the 2026 picture.
Pointify Research Team6 min read
Travel Tips
Marriott Suite Night Awards 2026: How to use the most-misunderstood elite benefit
Suite Night Awards (SNAs) are Marriott's most-discussed but least-used elite benefit. Titanium and above earn 5/year that confirm 5 days before check-in. Here is how to actually use them.
Pointify Research Team6 min read
Travel Tips
Budget Airline vs Points Flight 2026: When to take the $99 Spirit fare and skip the points
Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant frequently undercut points-flight cash equivalents. A $99 Spirit fare beats spending 25,000 miles for a 0.4¢/point redemption. Here is the 2026 framework.
Pointify Research Team6 min read
Travel Tips
Mobile Passport Control vs Global Entry 2026: Which app/program saves more time?
Mobile Passport Control is free and works at 30+ US airports. Global Entry costs $120 every 5 years and includes TSA PreCheck. Both speed up customs. Which is better for the typical traveler?
Pointify Research Team6 min read
Travel Tips
Anniversary Trip on Points 2026: How to plan a $15,000 celebration trip with one card
Anniversary trips are special — and expensive. A 5-night trip to Bora Bora or Maldives runs $10,000-$20,000 cash. With a single sign-up bonus + existing points stack, the same trip is achievable for under $1,500 in cash co-pays.
Pointify Research Team7 min read
Travel Tips
Lap Infant Fees on International Flights 2026: When the 10% rule actually applies
Most international airlines charge 10% of an adult fare for a lap infant under 2. But each airline interprets this differently — and some charge fixed amounts, taxes-only, or even full child fares. Here is the 2026 picture.
Pointify Research Team6 min read
Travel Tips
Airline Seat Selection Fees 2026: When to pay vs hold an elite status card
Most airlines charge $20-$50 per seat per flight for advance seat selection. Some elite status tiers and credit cards eliminate this. Here is the 2026 picture across major US carriers.
Pointify Research Team5 min read
Travel Tips
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Status Match 2026: How to get MVP Gold for free
Alaska Mileage Plan still runs an active status match program in 2026. Submit competing-airline status (Delta Diamond, AA Platinum Pro, United Premier 1K) and get matched MVP Gold for 90 days.
Pointify Research Team5 min read
Destinations
Porto vs Lisbon for the Same Award: Which Portuguese gateway costs less?
Both LIS and OPO are Star Alliance gateways via TAP Air Portugal. But the cash fares often differ by $100-$300 each way, and the Lisbon-Porto train is 3 hours. Which gateway saves more in 2026?
Pointify Research Team5 min read
Credit Cards
Amex Business Platinum 2026: $895 fee, $400+ in business credits, and the 35% pay-with-points bonus
Amex Business Platinum mirrors the personal card on travel benefits but adds business-specific perks: 1.5x earn on $5,000+ purchases, 35% rebate when paying with points for flights, and broader business credits.
Pointify Research Team7 min read
Credit Cards
Chase Ink Business Preferred vs Cash vs Unlimited 2026: Which Ink card to anchor on
Chase Ink Business Preferred ($95) earns 3x on broad business categories. Ink Business Cash ($0) earns 5x on $25k of office supplies + telecom. Ink Business Unlimited ($0) earns 1.5x flat. Here is when each makes sense.
Pointify Research Team7 min read
Credit Cards
Credit Card Trip Insurance 2026: Which cards actually cover your $5,000 trip
Many travelers assume their premium credit card covers trip cancellation and delays. The reality: coverage varies dramatically. Here is the 2026 picture across Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Citi cards.
Pointify Research Team7 min read
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