Editor’s note: Chase Ultimate Rewards will pause Emirates point transfers from May 29 through June 30 (tentatively).
Planning a trip to Italy doesn’t have to just be a bucket list dream. In fact, you could be sipping wine and eating gelato with your family or two of your closest friends sooner than you think.
In the world of points and miles, travel rewards cards can help you cut the (very expensive) flight and hotel costs. And if you know how to maximize your points with a really great redemption, booking an international trip, such as an Italian vacay, doesn’t have to be an unattainable getaway.
With just one card in your back pocket, you could book three, yes, three, round-trip flights to Italy. Keep reading to find out how the limited-time Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) welcome bonus will have you saying “ciao” in no time.
Book flights to Italy using Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Step 1
For a limited time, the Sapphire Preferred Card is offering its highest-ever welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
If you hold the Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal; 3 points per dollar spent on dining, online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services; 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Therefore, if you hit the minimum spending requirement ($5,000 on purchases within the first three months) and don’t earn additional points through spending in bonus categories, you’ll earn at least 5,000 Chase points. If you combine your 5,000 Chase points and the limited-time welcome offer, you’ll have 105,000 Ultimate Rewards points within the first three months as a Chase cardholder.
So, now that you’ve earned your Chase points, here’s how to redeem your rewards for flights to Italy.
Chase has 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, which can help you maximize your points. Instead of booking through the travel portal, which will yield you a fixed value of 1.25 cents per point, you can transfer your Chase points to an airline or hotel loyalty program. TPG values Chase points at 2.05 cents per point, per our April 2025 valuations, so you should aim to get close to or above that value.
One notable airline partner of Chase is Emirates Skywards. Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Skywards at a 1:1 ratio; therefore, for every 1,000 Chase points you transfer, you’ll receive 1,000 Skywards miles.
Emirates operates a nonstop fifth-freedom flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). You can fly one-way in economy from New York to Milan for only 17,500 miles plus $54 in taxes and fees. Note that when flying from MXP to JFK, you’ll incur about $94 in taxes and fees.
EMIRATES
Therefore, for a round-trip economy flight, you’ll pay just 35,000 Skywards miles plus about $148 in taxes and fees. That is an amazing deal, as most airline loyalty programs charge significantly higher award redemption rates — or at the very least, higher cash surcharges.
With 105,000 Chase points, you can book three Emirates round-trip economy flights from JFK to MXP.
However, before you transfer all of your hard-earned reward points, you must make sure there is award availability. Since transfers are irreversible, it’s best to look on Emirates’ website and find award flights. Additionally, make sure you input the number of award seats you are hoping to book. For example, if you are booking three round-trip flights, search for three award seats.
According to our tests, Chase transfers to Emirates Skywards are instantaneous; however, transfers may be slower, especially if this is your first transfer or if you recently joined the airline loyalty program.
What if I don’t live near JFK airport?
Well, I’m glad you asked. Even if you don’t live near JFK, you can still take this Emirates flight. At TPG, we love using positioning flights to book even better award seats.
For example, as someone who currently resides in South Florida, I would either pay cash or redeem points or miles to book a flight from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to JFK. So, even if I use cash and have to pay between $100 and $300 for a round-trip flight from MCO to JFK, that still would be more cost-effective than paying thousands of dollars for a round-trip flight to Italy from my home airport.
However, there are always caveats to these small travel tips and tricks, so be sure to check out our guide to positioning flights for things to keep in mind when you book.
Milan’s Piazza del Duomo in the morning. FRANCESCO VANINETTI PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Bottom line
Utilizing Chase points can help you (and several family members) fly round-trip to Italy with just one card’s welcome bonus. By reducing (and practically eliminating) the cost of these transatlantic flights, you only have to account for your hotel stay and spending money.
Plus, if you only book one round-trip flight (for yourself), you could cut the cost of your hotel stays by transferring your Chase points to the reward program’s three hotel partners: Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and my personal favorite, World of Hyatt.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Adding an authorized user to your credit card account can be a great way to meet spending requirements, accrue more points and even help a beginner build their credit history. That said, there are also risks associated with adding an authorized credit card user.
It’s important to choose someone who is responsible and able to repay their debts, even if they’re not legally obligated to do so. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, so here is everything you need to know about authorized credit card users.
What is an authorized user?
An authorized user is a person who has been added to a primary credit card holder’s account. Authorized users receive cards with their names on them, linked to the primary cardholder’s account. They can use those cards to make purchases just like they would with their own cards.
Pros of adding authorized users
Adding authorized credit card users can be beneficial to both the primary cardholder and the authorized user for a few reasons. An authorized user can help meet spending requirements on the primary cardholder’s account and establish a credit history early on.
Perhaps the best reason to add an authorized user is so you can take advantage of various card benefits offered to them.
PEOPLEIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Credit card issuers and credit card products have various costs and extended benefits given to an authorized credit card user.
For example, you can add up to three authorized users for $175 on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees). This card grants each of them (plus two guests or immediate family members) access to Admirals Club lounges when flying American Airlines or its partners. However, Admirals Club access for authorized users is more limited compared to the membership that the primary cardholder receives.
Additionally, if you have authorized users on your Chase account, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the authorized user’s loyalty program accounts. For example, this is great if you have a stash of Ultimate Rewards points you want to transfer to a family member’s United MileagePlus account.
United Airlines charges a fee to transfer miles between MileagePlus accounts. By transferring Ultimate Rewards points directly to an authorized user’s United MileagePlus account, you can avoid that fee.
PHOTOATTRACTIVE/GETTY IMAGES
While Chase allows household members to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to each other, in order to transfer Ultimate Rewards points directly to another loyalty account, the other account must be held by an authorized user on your Chase credit card.
Some credit cards offer incentives for adding authorized users to your account. For example, some American Express cards offer bonus Membership Rewards points for adding an authorized user.
Cons of adding authorized users
The downside of adding authorized credit card users is that it may become more difficult to track spending when two people are using the same card.
Also, the primary cardholder is responsible for all charges to the account. So, if your authorized user goes on a spending spree and refuses to cover the charges, you’ll be on the hook for their purchases.
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
Making someone an authorized user carries risk. Only add an authorized user you completely trust, and be sure to communicate ahead of time about your expectations for repayment.
What’s the minimum age for an authorized user?
Barring issuer-specific age restrictions, anyone can be an authorized user. American Express requires authorized users to be at least 13 years old and have no defaulted accounts with the bank. Discover imposes a minimum age of 15, while U.S. Bank requires authorized users to be at least 13 years old.
Removing an authorized credit card user is as simple as calling the issuer. Some banks, including Citi, even let you do it online. Once the user has been removed from the account, which typically takes minutes, their credit card becomes inactive.
KOSAMTU/GETTY IMAGES
However, it may take several weeks for the card to no longer be listed as an active account on your authorized user’s credit report.
How do authorized users affect a credit score?
Adding an authorized credit card user will not affect your credit score unless the additional card racks up a large amount of spending and increases your credit utilization ratio.
Meanwhile, authorized users can see a positive credit impact by having access to an additional credit line and lowering their own credit utilization ratios. For those building a credit history, being an authorized user can be a huge boost.
PIXDELUXE/GETTY IMAGES
TPG credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed was added as an authorized user to his father’s credit card in high school. When it came time to apply for his own card, he had an established credit history and a higher credit score thanks to his years of being an authorized user.
It takes responsible people on both sides to mitigate the possible cons of adding an authorized user.
Should you open a joint account or add an authorized user?
The difference between a joint account and an authorized credit card user is liability. Joint account holders share liability for charges, while authorized users do not.
Primary cardholders can also limit the amount of credit an authorized user can use. Joint account holders can access the full credit line together.
LORDHENRIVOTON/GETTY IMAGES
There isn’t much of an upside to joint accounts other than lessening the burden of liability on the primary cardholder. Ideally, you shouldn’t add anyone to your credit card (as an authorized user or joint account holder) unless you trust them to use it responsibly.
Bottom line
Adding an authorized credit card user can be useful to both the main cardholder and the person being added as a user. However, it’s important to be aware of the risks, as the last thing you want to do is sour a relationship because of one person’s financial irresponsibility.
Only add an authorized user you trust to be responsible with your credit limit and who will pay their portion of the credit card balance on time.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
There are many ways to redeem points for hotel stays, and I usually choose to redeem them for good-value properties that I can book for relatively few points. Occasionally, though, I splurge on stays at spectacular properties that I couldn’t — or, at least, wouldn’t — have booked without points.
I’ve stayed at many wonderful hotels and resorts on points, but some properties and stays are next-level and truly special. In this article, I’ve mostly included hotels and resorts that have decent award availability and offer good points value on redemptions. However, I’ve also included several that have limited award availability but are too special to leave off this list.
Here’s a look at some of the most amazing luxury hotels you can book with points, including many I (or in some cases, my TPG colleagues) have been lucky enough to visit or hope to visit soon.
Cost in points: From 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You go to Alila Ventana Big Sur to get away and relax. This rustic forest resort near Monterey, California, has 54 rooms and suites. Each resort booking includes all meals and select activities like yoga, morning meditation and daily hikes.
Alila Ventana Big Sur is a resort where your World of Hyatt points can provide significant value. “Ventana Big Sur is the perfect escape from the real world — all without driving too far. The suites are gorgeous, the food is great, the property is pristine and the amenities are top-notch,” TPG’s Zach Griff wrote in his 2021 review of Alila Ventana Big Sur.
However, standard room award availability is relatively rare at Alila Ventana Big Sur. When updating this story in April 2025, the first dates I could find were in January 2026 — and you’ll only find standard room awards when you search for a stay of at least two nights. If you find standard room award availability, it’s usually at the peak rate of 45,000 points per night. So, be prepared to have flexible dates when booking, and consider using a tool like Awayz to find standard room award availability.
The resort is adult-oriented and only offers double occupancy accommodation. Note, too, that the glamping side of Alila Ventana Big Sur is different from the resort and doesn’t have access to resort amenities unless you purchase a pool pass at $250 per adult.
Cost in points: From 140,000 Hilton Honors points per night
WALDORF ASTORIA LOS CABOS PEDREGAL/BLAKE MARVIN/FACEBOOK
I’ll admit, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal was where I planned to use the Hilton free night certificates my husband and I accrued during the coronavirus pandemic if Hilton didn’t extend them before we could venture farther abroad. But hearing that it’s one of TPG director Carly Helfand‘s favorite points properties is making me reconsider a visit.
“I just adore the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Every room has a private balcony plunge pool, and every day at happy hour, they deliver Coronas and guacamole to your room. The food and drinks are very good quality, and they also have a swim-up bar and a hot tub (IMO, every Mexico hotel needs both),” Carly said.
It is compelling that every room has a private plunge pool and ocean views, including the room type you can book with points as a standard room award. The hotel also offers some excellent dining options, including one that TPG’s Eric Rosen frequents anytime he’s in Los Cabos (as he revealed in his Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal review).
Standard room award availability is plentiful during some seasons and extremely sparse during others. So, if you want to get good value when redeeming Hilton points or free night certificates for your stay, you must be flexible with when you visit Los Cabos.
Cost in points: From 150,000 Hilton Honors points per night
SMALL LUXURY HOTELS
Calala Island — a private island resort off the coast of Nicaragua with just five villas and a max of 10 guests on any given night — is by far the most aspirational, truly special stay I’ve experienced.
Most guests relaxed around the pool during the day and then met at the bar after sunset for predinner drinks, and then after dinner, many people returned to the bar to chat and get to know each other. Where else does that happen nightly at a luxury resort?
Calala Island’s all-inclusive nature meant we didn’t have to worry about additional expenses during our stay while we were eating, drinking and partaking in activities. However, this remote resort vibe isn’t for everyone. If you don’t like bugs, need air conditioning, don’t like sand, can’t handle a prop plane or will be miserable on an adventurous boat journey, Calala Island likely isn’t for you. Otherwise, I recommend saving up your Hilton points for a stay at Calala Island if you enjoy rustic beach luxury and getting to know other guests.
Calala Island is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World program and is one of the SLH properties you can book with Hilton points. Availability is usually limited, and the property has a three-night minimum. However, I found multiple dates during which I could book a five-night stay at standard room award rates. I highly recommend redeeming points for a five-night stay in a standard room, as then you can get your fifth night free if you have Hilton elite status.
Cost in cash: From $772 per night for single occupancy (from $1,274 per night for double occupancy)
Cost in points: From 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night for single occupancy (from 57,500 points per night for double occupancy)
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Miraval is Hyatt’s most luxurious wellness-focused brand, with full-scale resorts and spas in Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts (and another set to open in Saudi Arabia in fall 2025). All meals, snacks, coffee, smoothies and nonalcoholic beverages are included in stays, as are some scheduled wellness activities and a shared shuttle service from a nearby airport — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in the case of Miraval Austin.
All three open Miraval resorts are well-loved by travelers. I stayed for an amazing four nights at Miraval Austin in 2024 and can personally recommend it (see my Miraval Austin review for all the details). How much you’ll get out of a stay — or a day visit — is up to you and how much you lean into the experience and its opportunities. But especially if you’re looking to improve your fitness routine, diet or digital mindfulness, a stay at Miraval Austin could be a very memorable and positive experience.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Miraval stays don’t come cheap, though. Although there’s a special higher-than-usual World of Hyatt award chart for Miraval resorts, redeeming Hyatt points still provides good value on most dates. If you earn one or more Miraval extra night awards through Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program, you can use each award for an extra night (even when redeeming Hyatt points for your stay).
Cost in points: From 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night
ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
Ever since the Park Hyatt Kyoto opened in 2019, it has been one of the most favored Park Hyatt properties among travelers. When asked to nominate a property for this article, TPG’s Summer Hull told me, “Park Hyatt Kyoto was otherworldly. Like it felt … magical … different … gorgeous… refined. It was exceptional and the type of points redemption that reminds you why it is (more than) worth it.”
TPG’s Andrea Rotondo loved the property, too. “I honestly felt a bit misty as we made our way through Park Hyatt Kyoto’s lobby to check out. Our stay at this luxury hotel ranks as one of our top travel experiences,” she said in her 2024Park Hyatt Kyoto review.Andrea especially appreciated the impeccable service, beautiful suites and spectacular on-site teppanyaki restaurant.
As a Hyatt Category 8 hotel, standard room award nights cost 35,000 points on off-peak nights, 40,000 points on standard nights and 45,000 points on peak nights. But standard room award availability can be difficult to find. As such, I recommend remaining flexible with your travel dates and using a tool to set award availability alerts if you have your heart set on a stay at the Park Hyatt Kyoto.
Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Cost in cash: From $2,972 per night during ski season (from $471 per night during other seasons)
Cost in points: From 144,000 Marriott points per night during ski season (from 88,000 points per night during other seasons)
Skiing in Niseko, Japan. SERGIO AMITI/GETTY IMAGES
TPG engineering manager Zoe Jablow redeemed Marriott points for a five-night stay at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, this February. I’ve driven by this property many times on my own Niseko ski trips, so I know how enviable its location is for skiing. And as Zoe wrote to me, “Niseko is a skier’s dream. Like it never stops snowing there.”
Zoe said: “This hotel was worth the points redemption, in my opinion. Every detail in the room was well thought out, including the free minibar! The views of Mount Yotei couldn’t be beat and the ski lockers/ski-in ski-out location was everything we could have ever wanted. The crowds of the ski mountain melted away the second you stepped inside this hotel with only 50 rooms. To the tune of I never saw another person in the onsen even during peak season!”
Skiing toward another points option, the Hilton Niseko Village, at the same ski resort as the Ritz-Carlton Reserve. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
I was initially surprised when Zoe said she redeemed points for a five-night stay at Higashiyama Niseko Village during ski season, as I assumed award availability would be minimal. But there’s plenty of availability for next winter if you’re willing to redeem 576,000 Marriott points for a five-night stay. I recommend staying at least five nights if you redeem Marriott points due to the program’s stay for five, pay for four perk.
Finally, two tips if you plan to visit Niseko in winter: Consider booking a limousine bus from the airport to your hotel and back (so you can avoid driving in the ice and snow), and remember that you can use your Ikon Pass at Niseko United (which includes Niseko Village, the resort where the Ritz-Carlton Reserve is located).
Cost in points: From 112,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY
If you have a lot of Marriott Bonvoy points and want a spectacular stay in the Maldives, then The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is an excellent option.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is just a 45-minute speedboat ride away from Velana International Airport (MLE), where most international flights arrive in the Maldives. However, the mandatory speedboat will cost you an additional $1,018 per person round-trip, regardless of whether you book a paid or award stay.
The standard point redemption gets you a one-bedroom ocean pool villa with an ocean view, though you can redeem more points or pay a cash upgrade fee at booking to secure a different villa type.
Frankly, I doubt I’ll ever be willing to redeem the amount of Marriott points required to stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. However, especially considering paid rates, you’re getting a steal on most dates — particularly if you redeem points for at least five nights of your stay and benefit from Marriott’s stay for five, pay for four benefit.
Cost in points: From 160,000 IHG One Rewards points per night
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
I loved my stay at this Maldives resort, and even years later, it has remained one of my favorite stays.
Six Senses Laamu is a rustic yet luxurious resort focused on environmental sustainability. It employs a team of marine biologists, offers amazing on-site snorkeling opportunities, includes memorable experiential activities, has a cool kids club and features multilevel overwater villas as its base room type.
The 65-minute seaplane transfer between Velana International Airport and the resort will cost $1,199 round-trip, regardless of whether you book with points or cash.
However, you may get better value on the transfer and your stay if you book a paid rate (which will earn IHG points if you book directly with IHG) instead of redeeming points. Redeeming IHG One Rewards points for a stay at Six Senses Laamu usually won’t make sense if you can book a half-board rate that includes discounted room rates and transfer fees. Six Senses Laamu periodically offers these discounts, so check paid rates before you redeem points.
Cost in points: From 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
When it comes to resorts in the Maldives that participate in major hotel loyalty programs, the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is one of the best deals you can find. Last year, I stayed at this resort and loved snorkeling the massive house reef and partaking in the daily Hyatt Globalist happy hour.
The Park Hyatt is home to more than 50 beach and overwater villas. A 360-degree reef surrounds the private island resort, so you can enjoy excellent snorkeling from overwater villas, the beach and the two jetties. Amenities at the resort include four dining venues, a poolside bar, multiple pools, a fitness center, a spa and an on-site dive center.
Thanks to World of Hyatt’s generous award chart, this Category 7 property costs only 25,000 to 35,000 points per night, depending on the dates. When you redeem Hyatt points, you’ll book into a beach villa. But the resort usually offers paid upgrade options — including for overwater villas — ahead of your stay.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Whether you book with points or cash, you must pay $610 per adult for mandatory round-trip transfers between Velana International Airport (MLE) and the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. These transfers include a Maldivian Airlines flight to a domestic airport near the resort and then a short speedboat ride to the resort.
Cost in points: From 22,000 World of Hyatt points per night
MR AND MRS SMITH/HYATT
Just as you can book some SLH properties with Hilton points, you can book select Mr & Mrs Smith properties with Hyatt points. These two partnerships unlock some epic properties for points travelers, including the 60-key Arctic Treehouse Hotel.
TPG’s Lyndsey Matthews told me she’s “been stalking points availability for the Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Finnish Lapland for a trip I’m taking with my friends this September. Its Arctic Glasshouse cabin fits up to six people, has a wood fire stove, private sauna and massive picture windows to see the northern lights.” Best of all, she said it’s available on her desired dates using Hyatt points.
Hyatt uses dynamic award pricing for Mr & Mrs Smith properties instead of its typical award chart. So, Lyndsey’s points price might change before she books (and rates could be much higher during peak season). But the dynamic award prices do unlock the ability for her to book one of the property’s six Arctic Glasshouse rooms using points.
If you want to book a trip to Finnish Lapland on points, it doesn’t get much more aspirational than the Arctic Treehouse Hotel. But be sure to calculate your redemption rate before you redeem Hyatt points to determine whether booking with points or cash is better. And keep in mind that the Hyatt and Mr & Mrs Smith partnership doesn’t offer many of the standard World of Hyatt elite benefits, such as complimentary breakfast for Hyatt Globalist members.
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Cost in cash: From $1,246 per night
Cost in points: From 98,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
MARRIOTT AL MAHA/MARRIOTT
I debated whether Marriott’s Al Maha resort near Dubai was worth splurging on. After visiting in the summer of 2022, I’m happy my husband and I decided to try out this aspirational, essentially all-inclusive resort in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Our two-night stay was certainly memorable, from the meals on our villa’s patio and hours spent in our private pool overlooking the desert to the included activities.
The resort has 42 private villas with swimming pools, and guests redeeming points for their stays can enjoy three meals and two activities per day. Activities include archery, desert nature walks, wildlife drives, falconry demonstrations and camel trekking. I learned a lot during our desert nature walk and enjoyed the sights during our wildlife drive.
I felt a two-night stay was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the resort. But, thanks to Marriott’s “stay for five, pay for four” perk on award stays, you could pay zero points for a night if you redeem Marriott points for at least five nights. However, considering the resort’s remote location, five nights would be a long time to spend unless you’re hoping to unwind.
Cost in points: From 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Summer Hull loved staying at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui in 2019, saying it was her best Hilton points redemption to date and a stay she’d never forget. TPG’s Cameron Sperance stayed more recently and also gave it good marks in his Conrad Bora Bora Nui review.
You’ll have access to four different beaches at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui. You can also borrow complimentary snorkeling equipment, kayaks and paddleboards to see marine life around the resort. Daily activities — including demonstrations on how to open a coconut and play the ukulele — await.
Standard award nights cost 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Standard award night availability can be sparse to nonexistent during some seasons. But it’s possible to find five or more consecutive standard award nights during other seasons. This is great news since Hilton elite members get every fifth night free (up to four free nights per stay) when redeeming points for a stay of five or more nights in a standard room.
However, unless you have more points than you’ll ever be able to redeem, you’ll likely want to avoid the outrageous Hilton premium award night pricing.
This is far from a comprehensive list of luxury hotels you can book with points, and you’d likely include different hotels on your list. For instance, while many travelers would include the Park Hyatt Sydney on their list, I personally think the best hotels are remote and separated from urban life. It’s all about your travel style.
Many travelers would include the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi on their list, and it was a great resort for my husband and me to redeem our Hilton free night certificates last year. However, I couldn’t justify including more than three Maldives resorts in this article. Even if your idea of an amazing hotel differs from mine, I hope this list helps you dream about how you want to spend your hard-earned points.
The Real ID deadline is less than a week away, and some folks with upcoming trips are hitting the panic button.
“I am extremely concerned there will be long lines and a lot of confusion,” Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told TPG.
There are some work-arounds, though, if you don’t yet have a Real ID. Here’s how you can still fly even if you aren’t Real ID-compliant.
What is Real ID?
Real ID homepage. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Real ID is a new government-approved identity document, with new security standards for driver’s licenses and state identification cards. It officially goes into effect May 7.
Travelers’ identification cards will have to meet new, beefed-up standards in order to be used for federal purposes, including passing through airport security checkpoints.
There have been long lines at DMV offices across the country as the deadline approaches, and people struggle to find last-minute appointments.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, “81 percent of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide present an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID.” That means there are still a lot of folks who still don’t have compliant IDs, which could bring long lines at security screenings come next week.
But the good news is that there will still be wiggle room for ID verification until full enforcement takes effect in 2027.
Will there be long security lines as REAl ID gets enforced?
Long lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
The big question right now: How long will the lines be as the Real ID requirement gets rolled out on May 7 and in the days afterward?
Harteveldt said to expect confusion and potential chaos, even if you have a Real ID. “TSA estimates nearly one in five passengers currently does not have a compliant form of identification,” he said. “This will inevitably cause delays as TSA takes the necessary steps to vet the passenger.”
Harteveldt told me that passengers should allow plenty of extra time to clear airport security starting May 7, even if they have TSA PreCheck or Clear.
I suspect the TSA will still allow passengers without a Real ID to pass through security, but they will all need additional screenings. That will slow everything down.
“If you have any flexibility and don’t have to travel during the first few days after REAL ID becomes mandatory, don’t,” Harteveldt said.
If I have a passport, do I still need a REAL ID to go through security?
Three passports. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
If you have a valid passport for international travel, that should be all you need to go through security.
Bring your passport or passport card if you have one
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
As referenced above, if you have a passport, you can travel through security without a problem. That’s true of a passport card, too.
You can order a passport card when you get or renew a standard passport. They can be a great alternative if you are worried about carrying your passport around. The passport card costs an additional $30, but you can use it as a Real ID alternative. You can also use it to cross land and sea borders at select countries like Canada, Mexico and Bermuda.
Note that if you travel by air, you’ll still need a passport for any international travel.
“The last minute rush to obtain a Real ID … is leading to long delays at the DMV and causing unnecessary stress amongst travelers,” David Alwadish, founder and CEO of ItsEasy.com passport and visa services, told TPG. “A U.S. passport card is a convenient, secure and affordable alternative. For me, getting a passport card at the same time as getting the passport book was a $30 no-brainer.”
What other forms of ID are acceptable for airport security?
Sean Cudahy’s Global Entry card. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
As mentioned, you can use a U.S. passport or passport card; however, there is a wide range of acceptable alternatives beyond those. Some other options include:
HSPD-12 personal identity verification card (federal employees and contractors)
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employment authorization card (I-766)
U.S. merchant mariner credential
What if I have Clear?
Clear checkpoint at Oakland International Airport (OAK). CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
If you have a membership in the expedited security program Clear Plus, you can now upload your passport to use the Clear lanes, even after the Real ID deadline goes into effect.
This could offer an alternative in case the regular TSA lines or the expedited PreCheck lanes are backed up.
Clear uses member data, including fingerprint and iris scans, to automate most users’ identity verification for TSA screenings.
“Clear’s feature to upload your passport to the app gives travelers an easy way to get Real ID ready,” Clear told TPG.
You can use the Clear mobile app to scan and upload your passport data from home. In the app, use your phone to upload a photo of your passport and scan the chip inside the passport to verify. The whole process takes just a few minutes.
What will happen after May 7 if you try to fly without Real ID?
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
From what we understand, you will still be able to travel on May 7 even if you don’t have a Real ID-compliant document. You will likely be subject to additional screening, though, and you may be questioned at length about your identity.
I strongly encourage those who are traveling without a Real ID-compliant document to bring additional identity documents to potentially help prove their identity. Such documents include:
Bank statements
Non-compliant identification documents like driver’s license or state ID
Birth certificate
Social security card
Utility statements
Other bills that include your home address
Note that even with this additional proof, you can technically be denied boarding at TSA checkpoints if you don’t have a Real ID — so come as prepared as possible and have a backup plan “just in case.”
How can i tell if i’m real id-compliant?
You may already be compliant. You can tell if your driver’s license or ID is Real ID-compliant by looking for the star in the upper right or left corner, as shown in the image below.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
If you don’t see a star on your ID or it says something like “Not for federal identification” or “Not for federal purposes” in fine print, then it is not Real ID-approved.
You can use this tool to figure out if you are compliant. It will ask you a series of questions to determine if it’s fine to travel with your ID. Remember that a U.S. passport qualifies as a Real ID in all cases.
After years of delay, the Real ID requirements will go into effect on May 7. There are many alternate ways to get through security, but you should bring as many documents and proof of identity as possible.
You should also be prepared for long lines and delays, even if you have a Real ID-approved document; there could be long lines due to those who don’t. Build in extra time and try to be patient with workers at TSA who are likely to be overwhelmed as the new ID requirements go into effect.
If you’re not getting enough value from a credit card to offset its annual fee, you can downgrade it to a different product with a lower or no annual fee. You could also cancel the credit card, but that can have unintended consequences, like a drop in your credit score. More often than not, you’ll be better off requesting a downgrade as a product change rather than canceling a card outright.
Though every card issuer handles product changes in its own way, in this guide, we’ll examine how to downgrade a Chase credit card.
Should I downgrade my credit card?
Downgrading your card allows you to maintain your credit line and your average age of credit so it doesn’t have the same negative effect on your credit score as canceling a card might. Plus, it’s better to have a good track record of maintaining accounts rather than opening and closing many accounts.
Downgrading a card may also allow you to earn a welcome bonus that you would otherwise be denied. Chase is not as strict as some other issuers, but it does impose restrictions on earning welcome bonuses.
You generally won’t be able to earn an introductory bonus on a Chase card if you currently hold that card in your wallet or if you earned a welcome bonus on that exact card in the last 48 months.
DRAZEN_/GETTY IMAGES
However, let’s say you currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and have waited 48 months from when you earned the welcome bonus. If you now want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) for its welcome bonus — a whopping 100,000 points after spending $5,000 within the first three months from account opening — you must first downgrade the Sapphire Reserve.
That’s because you’re only allowed one Sapphire-branded card at a time. The personal Southwest credit cards have a similar family restriction.
Another major restriction on Chase cards is the issuer’s 5/24 rule. In order to be approved for a Chase card, you cannot have opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the last 24 months. If you are not allowed to apply for another card, you could request a product change to a different card if its benefits are more appealing to you.
The one big disadvantage of downgrading a card is that you typically won’t get a welcome bonus for the card you’re downgrading to. However, depending on your situation, the pros may outweigh the cons, and there’s nothing stopping you from reapplying for the card you’re giving up and earning another welcome bonus down the line.
Most rewards credit cards are part of card families, and product changes can typically only be done within that family. This means you likely won’t be able to downgrade from a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve to a United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) or other cobranded card, even though they are both Chase-issued credit cards.
Sometimes, you may even be able to request a product change to a card that’s no longer available to new applicants. For instance, Chase still allows cardholders of Marriott-branded personal credit cards to change to the Ritz-Carlton Card even though it was closed to new applicants in 2018.
There are a few more restrictions to be aware of:
You must have had your card for at least 12 months before you can downgrade it
You cannot switch between personal and business cards even if they are within the same family
Finally, opportunities to downgrade are not always consistent, and what’s offered to one person may not be offered to another.
The information for the Ritz-Carlton credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you don’t have another transferable Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you may want to consider transferring your points to a hotel or airline partner before the downgrade. Make sure you transfer your points to a partner you frequently book with since once they’ve been transferred, they’re stuck with whatever partner you chose.
Requesting a card downgrade is fairly straightforward: Call the customer service phone number on the back of your card and speak to a Chase agent. Chase also lets you contact them via a secure message portal on their site, but reports suggest that product-change requests must be made over the phone.
It might make sense to “burn” your points on a hotel stay before downgrading your card. JAVIER RODRIGUEZ/THE POINTS GUY
If you’re lucky, you might even get a pro-rated refund of your annual fee when you downgrade to a card with a lower annual fee (especially if you do so within 30 days of the annual fee posting to your statement).
Since you’re maintaining your existing account — as opposed to opening a new one — Chase will not need to perform a credit check.
When you downgrade your card, you will retain your old product’s account number, balance and due date. You’ll receive a new card with the new product’s name within a few days, but since the card number will be the same, you can continue to use your old card under the terms and benefits of the new one before and even after you’re issued a new card.
Canceling a card isn’t always a good idea because of the hit to your credit score, so downgrading is a great alternative. Like other issuers, Chase typically doesn’t advertise product-change options, so not many cardholders know this technique exists. However, it’s fairly easy to do.
You won’t earn a welcome bonus when you downgrade your card. Conversely, downgrading a card may make you eligible to earn a welcome bonus that you would otherwise be denied. It can be a great way to optimize your wallet and save on annual fees.
There’s a fun new promotion from American Airlines for some members of the AAdvantage program, allowing you to fast-track your way to elite status — or, alternatively, gift elite status. It offers bonus Loyalty Points at certain earning levels that could get you all the way to AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, depending on your points-earning levels.
You’ll receive a bonus 35,000 Loyalty Points when you hit AAdvantage Gold (40,000 Loyalty Points), which can get you to AAdvantage Platinum status.
You’ll get a bonus of 50,000 Loyalty Points when you earn 75,000 Loyalty Points, which is good enough to reach AAdvantage Platinum Pro status.
You’ll earn a bonus of 75,000 Loyalty Points when you earn 125,000 Loyalty Points, which is good enough to reach AAdvantage Executive Platinum.
You can also choose instead to gift AAdvantage Gold, Platinum or Platinum Pro status when you reach those thresholds in that order. That gifted status will be valid through Feb. 28, 2027. There is also anecdotal reporting of an offer to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status when you earn 200,000 Loyalty Points, though no one at TPG has seen that offer.
We reached out to American Airlines for more details and will update the story when we learn more.
Flagship First on American Airlines 777-300. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
This promotion is extremely targeted, so count yourself among the lucky if you have the offer. I couldn’t find anyone at TPG who’d been targeted. I also asked a friend who doesn’t fly American often, and he didn’t have the offer. So, your mileage may vary.
The offer should show up under your account under the “Promotions” tab.
Promotions page on American’s website. AMERICAN AIRLINES
Just click on that tab and scroll down to see if you are targeted.
Promotions page on American’s website. AMERICAN AIRLINES
You’ll need to register for this promotion by May 23, 2025, and it will remain valid for the regular American Airlines status year starting March 1, 2025, and ending Feb. 28, 2026.
It’s a good reminder to keep an eye on that American Airlines promotions page for other great offers.
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