Departures
Latest guides and news on airline miles, status and award travel
Southwest Rapid Rewards 2027 changes: new tiers, harder Companion Pass
A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and the Companion Pass becomes a Platinum perk. Here's who wins, who loses and what to do before December 31, 2026.
October 23, 20263 min read
Find your section
- ANewsProgram changes, award sales and devaluations, explained fast
- BAirline ProgramsGuides to every major frequent flyer program
- CEarn MilesWays to earn miles beyond flying
- DRedeem MilesBook better awards and get more from every mile
- EElite StatusEarn it, match it, keep it
- FAlliancesStar Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam and beyond
- GBeginner GuidesNew to miles? Start here
- ToolsCheck if an award is worth your miles
Airline Programs
Guides to every major frequent flyer program
American Airlines AAdvantage guide: earning, awards and status
How AAdvantage works in 2026, from Loyalty Points and the partner award chart to basic economy's zero-earning rule.
October 23, 20266 min read
Delta SkyMiles guide: how earning, awards and Medallion work
Delta has no award chart and miles never expire. Here's how to earn, redeem and qualify for Medallion status in 2026.
October 23, 20265 min read
United MileagePlus guide: earning, awards and Premier status
United's 2026 earning changes, dynamic award pricing, Star Alliance partners and the PQP-only status rules coming January 1, 2027.
October 23, 20265 min read
Earn Miles
Ways to earn miles beyond flying
Airline shopping portals: how to earn more miles shopping online
Start at your airline's shopping portal instead of the store's website and you earn miles on purchases you were making anyway. Here's how portals work, why miles go missing and how to get more of them.
October 23, 20266 min read
Airline dining programs: how to earn miles when you eat out
Register a payment method with an airline dining program and you earn up to 5 miles per dollar at participating restaurants, automatically. Here's how the tiers, bonuses and one-program rule work.
October 23, 20266 min read
How to earn airline miles from hotels, car rentals and partners
Hotel stays, car rentals, rides and even coffee can earn airline miles. Here's how each partner route works, where you give up hotel points, and when converting hotel points to miles makes sense.
October 23, 20266 min read
Redeem Miles
Book better awards and get more from every mile
How to find award seat availability: search, timing and alerts
Award seats are out there, but rarely on the first search. Here is how to search the right programs, use flexible dates, set alerts and time your search to release dates.
October 23, 20266 min read
Stopovers on award tickets: which programs allow them and how to book
A stopover can add a second destination to an award trip for few or no extra miles. Here is which major programs still allow them, how to book one and when it is worth it.
October 23, 20266 min read
Award charts vs. dynamic pricing: how airlines price award seats
Some programs publish fixed award prices. Others let the price float with demand. Knowing which is which changes how you search, and when you book.
October 23, 20262 min read
Elite Status
Earn it, match it, keep it
How airline elite status works at American, Delta and United
Loyalty Points, MQDs and PQPs explained, with current thresholds for every tier at the three biggest US airlines and what changes in 2027.
October 23, 20265 min read
Airline status matches and challenges: how to request one
How status matches and status challenges work at Delta, United and American, what each one asks of you, and the checks to make before you apply.
October 23, 20265 min read
Is airline elite status worth it? A practical framework
A five-step way to decide whether chasing elite status makes sense for how you actually fly, which perks you'd use and where you travel.
October 23, 20265 min read
Alliances
Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam and beyond
Star Alliance guide: members, Gold vs Silver and award booking
Star Alliance has 26 member airlines, with ITA Airways in and Asiana leaving in December 2026. Here's what Gold and Silver get you and which programs US travelers should use to book awards.
October 23, 20267 min read
Airline alliances explained: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam
Three global alliances let you earn and spend miles across dozens of airlines. Here's how they work, and why they matter even if you only fly one carrier.
October 23, 20262 min read
oneworld alliance guide: members, status tiers and award booking
oneworld has 15 member airlines, with Philippine Airlines set to become the 16th. Here's what Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby get you, and the best programs for booking oneworld awards.
October 23, 20266 min read
Beginner Guides
New to miles? Start here
How airline miles work: a beginner's guide
Miles are a currency each airline controls. Here's how you earn them, what they're worth, and how to spend them without wasting a single one.
October 23, 20262 min read
How to choose your first frequent flyer program
Start with the airline at your home airport, then check its alliance, how its miles expire and where its partners fly. A simple decision table makes the call.
October 23, 20267 min read
Award travel glossary: 34 terms explained in plain English
From saver awards and open jaws to carrier-imposed surcharges and status matches, here's what the award-travel jargon actually means.
October 23, 20267 min read
Is this award worth your miles?
Put in the cash fare, the miles price and the award fees. You'll see the cents per mile you're getting and the most miles the trip is worth at your target value.
How the math worksYou're getting
1.80¢ a mile
Strong redemption
Well above your target. Book it if the dates work.
At your target, this trip is worth up to 41,538 miles.