Green Horizons Traveler

Southwest Premier Credit Card review: Reasonable value for a midlevel card

July 29, 2025 The Points Guy Articles No comments

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle of the pack for personal credit cards from Southwest Airlines. While mid-tier airline credit cards generally don't have many premium perks, the Southwest Premier's lack of foreign transaction fees and 6,000 anniversary bonus points should help offset its $149 annual fee. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier 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.

Savvy TPG readers know we generally don't recommend building your points and miles strategy around a single cobranded airline credit card. That's because these tend to offer fewer perks and less flexibility than comparably priced transferable points and miles cards.

When it comes to the Southwest Rapid Rewards card portfolio, you'll generally find better earning rates and more flexible redemption options with cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), for example, allows you to transfer Chase points to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 rate.

That said, Southwest credit cards are very popular among Southwest fans. The carrier just unveiled that all five cards, including the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card, have been refreshed. This refresh of the Southwest Premier card adds many benefits that enhance the day-of-travel experience and changes up bonus category earnings. Unfortunately, that comes at an over 50% annual fee increase to $149.

Note that Southwest is in the middle of sweeping changes, including its boarding process, bag fees and seat selection process.

With a recommended credit score of 670 or higher, the Premier is the mid-tier version of the three personal Southwest cards. It offers a good balance of perks and an annual fee that could make it worthy of a spot in your card collection.

Here's everything you need to know about the Southwest Premier card to help you decide whether it should be in your wallet.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card pros and cons

Pros	Cons
<ul> <li>Bonus anniversary points</li> <li>Travel and purchase protections</li> <li>Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year (ends Dec. 31)</li> </ul>	<ul> <li>High annual fee</li> <li>Spending cap on select categories</li> <li>No gas category, unlike other Southwest consumer cards</li> </ul>

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card welcome offer

New Southwest Premier cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first five months of account opening.

According to TPG's July 2025 valuations, the 100,000 points included in this welcome offer are worth $1,400. This is the highest points welcome offer we've seen on this card without a Companion Pass.

If you don't care about Southwest's Companion Pass, then now is a fantastic time to apply.

Remember that you can't earn a welcome bonus on the Southwest Premier if you currently have a personal Southwest card or have earned a welcome bonus on a personal Southwest card in the past 24 months.

Also, Southwest's cobranded cards are subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. If you've opened five or more new accounts over the past 24 months (across all issuers, not just Chase), your application will likely be denied.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card benefits

While we typically don't expect an airline credit card with a $149 annual fee to come loaded with premium perks, the Southwest Premier card has several benefits, including many important day-of-travel benefits. It's important to note that current cardholders will receive all existing benefits until Dec. 31 and have access to the new benefits immediately.

You'll receive 6,000 bonus points on each account anniversary, which are worth $84 according to TPG's July 2025 valuations. That covers more than half of this card's annual fee.

Three people sitting on a plane — SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Day of travel benefits include:

Two EarlyBird Check-Ins, which can cost up to $99 each, per year (for flights operating in 2025; ends Dec. 31)
Free first checked bag for cardholders and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation
Group 5 priority boarding for cardholders and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation (if you have A-list status, you will be able to board with an earlier group)
Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure for you and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation
A 25% discount on inflight purchases

Cardholders can also earn Southwest A-List elite status more quickly. You'll earn 1,500 bonus tier qualifying points for every $5,000 you spend in a calendar year, with no cap. Additionally, cardholders also receive a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year.

Plus, you'll receive one promotional 15% flight discount code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares) and won't be charged foreign transaction fees.

Earning points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Most airline credit cards award bonus points or miles for purchases directly with the carrier, and that's certainly true here: You'll earn:

3 points per dollar spent with Southwest (4.2% return based on TPG's July 2025 valuations)
2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride-hailing services (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
2 points per dollar spent on internet, cable and phone services and with select streaming providers (2.8% return; ends Dec. 31)
2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year (2.8% return)
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases (1.4% return)

It's important to note that current cardholders will receive the new earning rates immediately.

Woman paying for coffee — GAHSOON/GETTY IMAGES

Many of the double-point bonus categories will be removed at the end of the year. It's nice that the grocery store and restaurant bonus category has been added, but it seems quite limited with the low spending cap. If you need to earn Southwest points, this card offers decent earning rates, but you can certainly do better on everyday spending with other cards.

It's also worth noting that this is the only consumer Southwest card without a bonus category for gas. Since Chase lacks a wide portfolio of cards that earn bonus points on gas, this is an unfortunate aspect of the Southwest Premier.

Redeeming points on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

When it's time to use your rewards, one of the best things about redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points is the simplicity of the process.

Whether you select the cheapest Basic fare or the most expensive Business Select option, the cost of your award ticket is tied to the cash price of the flight. This means you don't have to worry about getting the highest possible cent-per-point redemption value.

Southwest takeoff from Cancun — KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

If you have Rapid Rewards points, you can also redeem them for gift cards or merchandise. Still, the best value comes from using your points for Southwest flights — including options to Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Emily Thompson, a newsletter and partnerships editor at TPG, loves using Southwest points, as the airline offers great deals and runs frequent award sales on transcontinental flights from smaller airports like Pensacola International Airport (PNS) in Florida to Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon.

Southwest also regularly offers flash sales that you can take advantage of to get a great deal when booking with points. Additionally, Southwest's policy of no change or cancellation fees means you can save money on your award ticket if the price drops. This flexibility ensures you can get the cheapest redemption.

Which cards compete with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card?

The Southwest Premier card has two obvious competitors: Chase's other Southwest credit cards. However, it's worth considering a general travel credit card with a similar annual fee to see whether that option is better for your wallet.

If you want a Southwest card with more perks: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) has a higher $229 annual fee but offers an annual Southwest travel credit (through Dec. 31), a larger anniversary bonus and unlimited upgrades to extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure. To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Priority card.
If you want a Southwest card with a lower annual fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) has a lower $99 annual fee and a smaller anniversary bonus. You'll still receive those two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year (ends Dec. 31). To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
If you want transferable points to use with Southwest and other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to Southwest — as well as 10 other airlines — to make flight redemptions. You'll get valuable travel protections and an annual hotel credit, all for a slightly lower annual fee. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

For more options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards.

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card worth it?

The anniversary bonus points help offset some of the Southwest Premier card's $149 annual fee. You'll more than recoup the annual fee if you value its other perks, like EarlyBird Check-Ins (ends Dec. 31), free checked bags, seat selection and inflight discounts. Still, most Southwest loyalists will get more value from the Southwest Priority card instead, as it offers more benefits.

Bottom line

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card can be a good option for semifrequent Southwest flyers. If you fly with Southwest occasionally, this card's price point and perks could make it a good fit for your wallet without the higher price tag on other travel credit cards.

However, most Southwest fans will likely prefer the benefits of the higher-tier Southwest Priority card instead.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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The best ways to travel to Italy with points and miles

July 29, 2025 The Points Guy Articles No comments

Between pasta, pizza, wine, beaches, designer stores and some of the world's fastest supercars, Italy is the perfect place for both a relaxing getaway and a jam-packed adventure, no matter your interests.

You can visit the historical sights in Rome, the canals in Venice and the famous art museums in Florence. And if high fashion is your thing, you can't miss Milan's high-end shopping.

All three of the U.S. legacy carriers fly to Italy, and there is even a cool fifth-freedom route to make your trip a little more exciting. Some U.S. airlines have also started flying to smaller Italian cities. For example, United Airlines flies to Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO) and Delta Air Lines flies to Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport (CTA) in Catania.

Today, we'll look at the best ways to travel to and stay in Italy using your points and miles.

Booking American Airlines flights to Italy

American Airlines serves Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), Silvio Berlusconi Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Naples International Airport (NAP) and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) from various U.S. hub airports. Italy is one of American's largest markets in Europe, with the airline serving the following routes (note some may be seasonal):

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

American Airlines' business-class product isn't the most luxurious way to fly from the U.S. to Italy, but you'll enjoy predictable service and lie-flat seats. You have a handful of options for booking these flights with miles, including with American's own AAdvantage loyalty program.

The program uses dynamic pricing to price its flights, meaning that the price changes day-to-day depending on when you book, where you fly and other factors. While this means it may require a ton of miles to book American flights to Italy on some days, you can get a reasonable deal on off-peak dates.

For example, on a random date next February, you can book a one-way, business-class flight from PHL to FCO for 65,000 American miles. Meanwhile, economy costs 19,000 miles and premium economy costs 39,000 miles on this date. You'll pay just $5.60 in taxes and fees on flights from the U.S. to Italy.

Philadelphia to Rome American Award Ticket — AMERICAN AIRLINES

Unfortunately, earning American miles isn't easy. You can earn them when you fly with American or its partner airlines, use its cobranded credit cards and leverage other partnerships.

If saver award space is available, you can also book with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This Oneworld loyalty program uses a distance-based award chart, so shorter flights cost fewer points. The Philadelphia-to-Rome flight mentioned previously cost 27,500, 35,000 and 55,000 miles for economy, premium economy and business class, respectively. There's an additional $19 in taxes and fees.

Philadelphia to Rome Alaska Award Ticket — ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines miles can also be tough to earn. Like AAdvantage, you can earn them by flying with Alaska and its partners, using its cobranded credit cards or spending with other partners. However, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to Alaska at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Booking with Qantas Frequent Flyer is a reasonable deal if you want to redeem transferable points. Like Alaska Mileage Plan, the price will vary based on how long your desired route is. Using Philadelphia to Rome as an example, you can expect to spend 25,200, 51,300 or 68,400 miles for economy, premium economy and business class, respectively. There's an additional $239 in taxes and fees.

Philadelphia to Rome Qantas Award Ticket — QANTAS

You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points to Qantas Frequent Flyer, all at a 1:1 transfer ratio. You can also earn points by crediting Qantas and partner flights to the loyalty program.

Booking Delta Air Lines flights to Italy

View of a Delta plane from Seattle's Delta One Lounge — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Delta Air Lines has an extensive route network to Italy, including seasonal routes to smaller Italian cities. Here's a look at all the routes that Delta currently operates, but note that some may only operate seasonally.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

The Delta One business cabin is often seen as one of the better products among U.S. airlines, with recently refreshed cabins on select planes. Regardless of the Delta plane you fly from the U.S. to Italy, you can expect good service, a lie-flat seat and access to the Delta One lounge if flying from an eligible airport.

Delta SkyMiles prices all of its awards dynamically, and tickets in Delta One are often very expensive. For example, this flight from JFK to FCO costs as few as 29,000 SkyMiles in economy but as many as 255,000 in Delta One. However, these prices drop by 15% if you have an eligible Delta cobranded American Express card, thanks to the TakeOff 15 benefit. Taxes and fees are just $6.

Delta Award Ticket From JFK to FCO — DELTA AIR LINES

Earn Delta SkyMiles by using Delta's suite of cobranded American Express credit cards or by flying with Delta and its partners. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

You may be able to find a better deal if you book with Air France-KLM Flying Blue. This program also uses dynamic pricing for award tickets, but prices tend to be more reasonable than those of Delta SkyMiles. Finding Delta One space through Flying Blue is almost impossible, but you can often book Main Cabin economy tickets for under 30,000 points one-way, plus $33 in taxes and fees.

Flying Blue Award Ticket from Boston to Rome — AIR FRANCE

Earning Flying Blue miles is remarkably easy. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Booking Emirates flights to Italy

Emirates A380 first class — BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

Emirates offers a fifth-freedom flight from JFK to MXP aboard its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. This is the most luxurious way to fly to Milan in first or business class, thanks to Emirates' top-notch onboard service and over-the-top amenities in first class. Think an in-seat minibar and even an onboard shower in first class.

Emirates Skywards recently restricted first-class award tickets to those with Emirates elite status. However, those without status can still book economy, premium economy and business-class award tickets — albeit at relatively high prices. You'll pay 17,500 miles and $49.50 for an economy ticket and 87,000 and $101.50 for a one-way business-class ticket from the U.S. to Italy.

Emirates Award Flight From New York to Milan — EMIRATES

You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou points to Emirates Skywards. However, most transferable point programs will soon devalue their transfer rates to Emirates Skywards, so watch out.

Further, Qantas and Emirates have a nonalliance partnership that offers decent rates on Emirates flights. The biggest advantage of booking Emirates flights through Qantas, however, is that the program doesn't restrict first-class award bookings to elite members. You'll pay 25,200, 75,000, or 107,700 miles for a one-way ticket on this route in economy, business class and first class, respectively. Taxes and fees range between $50 and $250 each way.

Emirates First Award Ticket On Qantas' Website — QANTAS

As mentioned earlier, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points to Qantas Frequent Flyer. These transfers all process at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Booking ITA flights to Italy

ITA is Italy's flag carrier. It was recently acquired by Lufthansa Group and left SkyTeam, with plans to join Star Alliance soon. However, the airline has maintained partnerships with several loyalty programs that offer reasonable redemption rates.

ITA Airways offers flights from Rome to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The airline also operates long-haul flights to Canada and various cities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

Now for the bad news: Finding ITA business-class award space is nearly impossible right now. After checking Seats.aero, we found no business-class seats available from the U.S. to Europe (or vice versa) through the end of the booking calendar. Thankfully, economy award space is plentiful.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is generally your best bet for booking ITA Airways flights with transferable points. You'll pay 25,500 miles for an economy flight from the East Coast to Italy and 37,000 miles for a flight from the West Coast to Italy, plus under $100 in taxes and fees.

Virgin Atlantic Award Flight from DC to Rome — VIRGIN ATLANTIC

You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.

Further, Air France-KLM Flying Blue maintains a partnership with ITA Airways, but you'll pay more for flights. ITA Airways economy flights from the U.S. to Italy start at 31,500 miles one-way. Further, you'll pay over $200 in taxes and fees. Flying Blue has the same transfer partners as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Flying Blue Award Flight from DC to Rome — AIR FRANCE

Booking United Airlines flights to Italy

United Polaris seats — ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

United Airlines also operates an extensive route network from the U.S. to Italy, including seasonal routes to some smaller Italian cities. Here's a look at all of the Chicago-based airline's routes to Italy, but note that some may not operate year-round.

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Dulles International Airport (IAD)

United's long-haul fleet is outfitted with the carrier's Polaris business-class seats, which offer lie-flat beds and direct aisle access on most planes. You'll also find upgraded dining and Saks Fifth Avenue-branded bedding, which we've found to be super comfortable.

United MileagePlus uses dynamic pricing for award flights, with one-way economy awards usually starting at 20,500 miles, premium economy at 50,000 miles and business class at 80,000 miles. United adds minimal taxes and fees, with flights departing the U.S. adding just $5.60. Those with select United cobranded credit cards or United Premier elite status may get a mileage discount, too.

United Award Flight From Newark to Rome — UNITED AIRLINES

You can transfer Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 transfer ratio. You can also earn with United's extensive collection of cobranded credit cards or by flying with United and its partners.

Another good option for booking United flights to Italy is Air Canada Aeroplan. This program now has dynamic pricing for United award tickets, but you'll generally pay 40,000 points for an economy ticket or 80,000 points for a business-class ticket, plus $60 to $100 in taxes and fees.

Air Canada Award Flight From Newark to Rome — AIR CANADA

The upside to booking with Air Canada Aeroplan is how easy it is to earn Aeroplan points. American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Air Canada also has a U.S. cobranded credit card that you can use to earn Aeroplan points.

The best points hotels in Italy

Best WalRome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel — ROME CAVALIERI, A WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL/FACEBOOK

Italy is full of great points hotels from all major loyalty programs, especially in major cities like Rome, Venice and Milan. Here's a look at some of our favorites alongside their award pricing:

The Tribune Hotel, Rome: Between 17,000 and 23,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Park Hyatt Milan: Between 35,000 and 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Hilton Milan: From 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri: From 85,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice: From 62,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
The St. Regis Venice: From 103,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
AC Hotel Milano: From 23,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Credit cards to bring to Italy

Italy uses the euro, so it's essential to bring a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees when you spend abroad. This will save you money and let you earn points toward your next trip.

Here are some cards to consider:

Bottom line

Italy is a top destination for American travelers — and it's easy to see why. From fantastic food and wine to art and cultural experiences, there's something for everyone. Plus, there are so many flights between the U.S. and Italy on various airlines.

Booking your next trip to Italy with points and miles can save you thousands of dollars on airfare and hotels, especially when booking business-class seats and high-end hotels. Bookmark this guide and refer to it the next time your travel plans call for a trip to Italy.

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Delta Air Lines sale offering SkyMiles members triple miles on car rentals, hotel stays and more

July 29, 2025 The Points Guy Articles No comments

Delta Air Lines is celebrating its 100th anniversary by offering Delta SkyMiles members the chance to stack bonus miles and score some savings on airfare and vacation packages from now through fall.

The "Beyond the Summer" promotion spans nearly every travel category. We've sorted through it to give you the highlights and the best deals.

Delta Beyond the Summer sale landing page. — Delta "Beyond the Summer" sale landing page. DELTA AIR LINES

Triple Delta SkyMiles on Delta Stays

Delta Stays landing page. DELTA AIR LINES

All hotel stays booked through the Delta Stays program are eligible for 3 miles per dollar spent right now.

Participating properties will also have an extra 15% discount applied. Typically, SkyMiles users earn 2 miles per dollar spent on the base rates of these car rentals and hotel bookings. You'll see the additional miles show up when you select the type of room you want.

For example, a search for a one-night stay in Los Angeles has an offer for 9% off one hotel and 15% off another. If I booked the Hyatt Place, I'd pay just $167 and earn 431 Delta SkyMiles.

Delta Stays search results for Los Angeles. DELTA AIR LINES

To take advantage of the increased miles offer, you have to book by Aug. 20, and the rental and/or hotel stay must be completed by Nov. 30.

Triple Delta SkyMiles on Delta Cars

Sixt deal through Delta travel portal with 3X offer. DELTA — Sixt deal through Delta travel portal with 3 miles per dollar offer. DELTA AIR LINES

SkyMiles members can earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Sixt car rentals booked through the Delta Cars platform.

Sixt is a new partner for Delta. The company offers a fleet of car rentals at more than 2,000 locations in 100 countries, including more than 50 U.S. airports, giving you lots of options to earn miles on that ambitious road trip you've been wanting to go on.

Discounts on Delta Vacations and Delta Cruises

Beach near the Sheraton in Kauai, Hawaii. — Beach near the Sheraton on Kauai in Hawaii. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

There's also a deal for Delta Vacations. Through Aug. 1, you can book a vacation package using the promo code "SMSUMMER25" and save as much as $300.

Spend $1,999 to $3,999: Enjoy a $75 discount.
Spend $4,000 to $6,999: Enjoy a $125 discount.
Spend $7,000 to $9,999: Enjoy a $200 discount.
Spend at least $10,000: Enjoy a $300 discount.

You'll need to stay by the end of the year to get the discount.

As part of the "Beyond the Summer" deal, for the first time, SkyMiles members can now earn Medallion Qualification Dollars by booking Delta Cruises.

That's notable, given that the airline's changes to its loyalty program have made earning Medallion status much more difficult. If you book a cruise between now and Aug. 22, you will earn 1 MQD per $5 spent on cruises, excluding taxes and fees. That's a nice way to accrue miles toward Medallion status while cruising the open seas.

Triple Delta SkyMiles on gift cards

Right now, you can earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta gift cards when you spend $300 or more on said gift cards through Aug. 1. You can buy them in any amount, provided the final total is at least $300.

Bonus SkyMiles on shopping

Delta SkyMiles Shopping landing page. DELTA AIR LINES

There are tiered miles bonuses available for using the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal. Through Aug. 11, the more you spend, the more bonus miles you can earn:

Spend $100 to $399: Earn 300 bonus miles.
Spend $400 to $799: Earn 1,200 bonus miles.
Spend at least $800: Earn 2,000 bonus miles.

Bottom line

Delta plane — CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

While these deals aren't the most compelling we've seen, if you were already planning to travel in the second half of 2025, it makes sense to take a closer look. I myself took advantage of the Delta Stays bonus to get some extra SkyMiles for an overnight stay in Seattle this month.

I'll also use that stay to take advantage of the up to $200 back for Delta Stays as a statement credit just for using my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

We'll always take bonus miles ... no matter how paltry.

Related reading:

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The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship

July 28, 2025 The Points Guy Articles No comments

Fast-growing Viking has one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries of any cruise line.

Not only does the California-based company offer ocean cruises in almost every corner of the world, it also offers river cruises on many of the world's major rivers. That's notably different from most cruise lines; typically, cruise lines operate either ocean or river cruises, but not both.

Viking has a particularly large footprint when it comes to European river itineraries, with a wide range of sailings on nearly every European river of note, from the Danube and Rhine in Central Europe to the Douro in Portugal.

The company also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and it recently began river trips along the Mississippi as well.

As of the summer of 2025, there were 82 river ships in Viking's fleet — an astounding number. None of its main competitors among river lines catering to North Americans — which include Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and AmaWaterways — have anywhere near that number of vessels.

Among ocean cruise destinations, Viking has a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which it considers its home turf. (The company was founded by a Norwegian family.) But you'll find Viking's 12 traditional ocean ships everywhere from North America to Asia and Australia. In 2022, the line also began cruising to Antarctica with its first expedition ship — a type of vessel built specifically for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Viking now has two such vessels.

Among the line's voyages, there's everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages. Overwhelmed with choices? Here are the five best Viking cruise destinations where the line can truly offer you a memorable vacation.

Scandinavia and Northern Europe

Bergen, Norway. RYHOR BRUYEU/GETTY IMAGES

Some of Viking's most interesting itineraries are around Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, with many beginning or ending in Norway — the homeland of the company's founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen.

As Hagen once told me, Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea are what the company considers "Viking country" — a region where it wants to dominate.

During summer in particular, Viking devotes an unusually large number of its ships to itineraries around Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea and other Northern European destinations such as Iceland. Many notably use the relatively small but famously scenic Norwegian city of Bergen, Norway (population 286,000) as a gateway, something no other line does. That allows for unusual variations on the typical Baltic Sea or Norwegian fjords cruise.

The line's most popular route in the region, "Viking Homelands," is a two-week-long, one-way trip between Bergen and Stockholm that combines several days of exploring the fjord region of Norway's west coast with more typical Baltic cruise destinations such as Copenhagen and Tallinn, Estonia.

Note that, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, these itineraries also included a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia — long the marquee attraction of a cruise in the Baltic region. But like other cruise brands, Viking stopped all of its calls in Russia after the war began, and it's unlikely St. Petersburg will return to the itinerary until the conflict is resolved.

Viking also offers a 14-night itinerary that includes several stops in the northernmost part of the country above the Arctic Circle. Dubbed "Into the Midnight Sun," the one-way route between Bergen and London is unique because it combines calls in far-north Honningsvag and Tromso, Norway, with visits to Scotland's remote Shetland and Orkney archipelagoes. Though part of the United Kingdom, these island chains have longstanding ties to Norwegian and Viking history.

Itineraries that take you from Bergen to Iceland or even as far away as France, Portugal and Spain are also available.

Viking's Scandinavia and Northern Europe trips range widely in length from just seven nights to a whopping 28 nights.

Among the longest sailings Viking offers that include calls in Northern Europe are one-way, 28-night voyages between Bergen and New York City. The trips include stops in Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

In Northern Europe, Viking ships mostly sail out of Bergen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen, London and Reykjavik.

The Mediterranean

Viking has grown into a major player in Mediterranean sailings, with more than 30 distinct itineraries that include stops in the region.

The trips include voyages focused specifically on either the Western or Eastern Mediterranean, as well as a few that include stops across both areas.

Typical of the latter is the line's 14-night "Mediterranean Antiquities" routing, a one-way trip between Athens, Greece, and Barcelona with stops in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Monaco, France and Spain.

More focused Mediterranean itineraries include the line's nine-night "Empires of the Mediterranean" voyages between Venice, Italy, and Athens, which mostly concentrate on stops along the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.

In the Mediterranean, the line's main hubs are Barcelona, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice, Piraeus (the port for Athens) and Istanbul.

Europe riverways

Viking is, quite simply, the giant of river cruising in Europe — at least, among lines that cater to English speakers. As of the summer of 2025, the company operated more than 70 river ships on a broad swath of the continent's rivers — far more than any other river line catering to North Americans.

In all, the line accounts for about half of all river cruises taken by North Americans in the region. The next biggest player in Europe river cruises for North Americans, AmaWaterways, is less than half the size.

Among the rivers in Europe where Viking has a major presence are the Rhine, Main and Danube in Central Europe; the Seine, Rhone, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde in France; the Douro in Portugal; and the Moselle and Elbe in Germany. Until Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Viking also offered cruises on the Dnieper River in Ukraine.

On nearly all the rivers, the line offers multiple itineraries with lengths ranging from seven nights to as many as 22 nights.

Among 10 different itineraries on the Rhine alone, offerings range from a seven-night "Rhine Getaway" from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, to a 22-night "European Sojourn" from Amsterdam to Bucharest, Romania. The latter adds travel on the Main and Danube rivers to days on the Rhine.

The Nile

Viking Osiris — GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY

Viking offers some of the most intimate and elegant cruises on the Nile, with seven vessels on the river as of this summer and five more scheduled to debut over the next two years.

With the exception of two older vessels (Viking Ra and MS Antares), all these Viking ships on the Nile are part of a new and particularly stylish series that just began debuting in 2022.

All seven of Viking's Nile ships operate the same seven-night Nile cruise itinerary that Viking pairs with a four-night stay at a hotel in Cairo (three nights before the cruise and one night after) to create an 11-night "Pharaohs and Pyramids" tour of Egypt.

The cruise portion of the tour includes visits to the historic temples of Luxor, Karnak, Esna, Dendera and Abu Simbel, as well as a visit to the iconic Valley of the Kings. The stay in Cairo brings a visit to the pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and other sites.

The five vessels in the new series of Viking ships that began debuting in 2022 offer a clean-lined, Scandinavian-influenced design that mimics the look of Viking's Europe-based vessels.

Notably, the ships feature an entire deck of sprawling suites that rival anything else found on the Nile for luxury and comfort. Each of these suites comes with two full-size rooms — a large living room with a residential feel and an adjacent bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Each suite also has an outdoor balcony with seating for two — something you don't always see on Nile ships.

Antarctica

Viking is a relative newcomer to cruises to Antarctica, but the destination is a big growth area for the line. Viking recently added two new 378-passenger expedition cruise vessels specifically built to travel to the White Continent.

Dubbed Viking Octantis, the first of these vessels began sailings to Antarctica in 2022. The second ship in the series, Viking Polaris, debuted soon thereafter. Together, the two ships have made waves in the market for Antarctica cruises, in part because they have several new and unusual features.

Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to two of each ship's exploratory vessels while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for an expedition ship, it's something that significantly improves the experience for passengers heading out on Antarctica exploration.

In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balconylike feel.

Viking offers several Antarctic itineraries, with the typical trip starting with a night at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before a flight to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board one of the two expedition ships for an 11-night cruise to Antarctica and back. A longer version of the trip features 13 nights on board one of the ships and extra days in Antarctica.

Viking also offers Antarctica sailings that combine a visit to the White Continent with stops in the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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How Chase Pay Over Time is helping me pay off a large purchase interest-free

July 28, 2025 The Points Guy Articles No comments

When I decided to buy a couch, I knew I'd need to pay the cost off over time. After all, furniture is a big-ticket item.

The easiest and (to me) most obvious answer was a 0% APR card. Most 0% APR cards let you pay off a charge over 12 to 18 months, but some cards have an introductory 0% APR period that lasts for as long as 21 months. This would give me more than enough time to pay off my couch without feeling financial strain.

Unfortunately, my plans for a 0% APR card ended in a rejection.

Since issuers often frown on applying for another card right after getting rejected, I didn't want to apply for a different card right away. Insert Chase Pay Over Time.

Here's why I plan on checking Pay Over Time for all of my future large purchases — and why you should, too.

What is Chase Pay Over Time?

Some issuers offer cardholders special payment plans for large purchases. These plans may have a special annual percentage rate (APR) or a monthly fee in exchange for no interest. The latter is how Chase Pay Over Time works.

When you make a purchase of $100 or more, you may see the option to put the charge on a Pay Over Time plan.

Chase will give you a few different options to choose from, allowing you some flexibility in how large your monthly payments will be and how long you have to pay off the entire charge.

Chase often charges a monthly fee, but you won't pay any interest as long as you pay the charge off by the end of your plan.

However, as I found in my recent experience, sometimes you'll get lucky and receive an offer for a no-fee plan.

Why I chose Pay Over Time

As I mentioned earlier, I needed a couch for my apartment. Anyone who's furnished a home knows that furniture is expensive, so it's a good idea to try to find a way to pay those charges off over time.

I originally tried to apply for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card (see rates and fees). Wells Fargo rejected me for having too many new accounts in the past 24 months, echoing the frustrations that points and miles enthusiasts often encounter with Chase and their 5/24 rule.

Woman checking out at a store. — SHUTTERSTOCK/TD BANK

I was counting on this card for my new couch, since the Wells Fargo Reflect offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfer (then a variable APR of 17.24%, 23.74% or 28.99%). While I don't expect it to take me that long to pay off my couch, having the safety net is always nice in case extra unexpected expenses come up.

I thought I'd have to postpone my couch purchase, but then I remembered Pay Over Time. I hadn't used it before, so I wasn't certain if I could get a no-fee plan like some Reddit users said they'd received. But I was willing to take the risk.

Worst case scenario, I'd have to pay a little extra in fees, but I'd have a piece of furniture I needed.

My experience with Pay Over Time

I have four cards from Chase that are eligible for Pay Over Time:

Chase Freedom Flex® (currently closed to online applicants)
Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees)

The information for the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

I chose my United Explorer since it's the Chase card I use the least right now. It's easier for me to get a quick glimpse of what I have left to pay if my couch is one of the only (or the only) charges on my statement.

man using smart phone doing online shopping through credit card on sunny day — WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES

I could've used my Freedom Unlimited for 1.5% cash back on my purchase, but I don't have a high credit limit on that card. Putting my purchase on my Freedom Unlimited would've held over 30% of my credit line hostage while I worked to pay it off. I use that card for a lot of purchases, so that was a no-go.

Most of Chase's cards offer Pay Over Time, so you don't have to open one of these cards to take advantage of this benefit.

Once the charge went through, I selected Pay Over Time to see my options. Moment of truth: Would I luck out with a no-fee plan?

Fortunately, that's exactly what I got. I had a few options for how long I wanted my Pay Over Time plan to be. I chose the 18-month plan; like I said earlier, I like longer plans because they give me greater peace of mind.

An active Chase Pay Over Time plan. — CHASE

Even if additional expenses come up, I know I can make the minimum payment each month. And if they don't, I can pay off my couch sooner than 18 months.

Chase Pay Over Time vs. Paying in Full

Chase Pay Over Time is a great tool for purchases you need, but can't afford to pay for all at once. I aim to follow TPG's golden rule of only charging what I can afford to pay, but every now and again, times like this come up where that isn't possible.

couple holding credit card — JLCO-JULIA AMARAL/GETTY IMAGES

But what about if you know for certain you can pay off a large purchase in one go? Is Pay Over Time still worth considering?

I believe it is. If you're offered a plan with no fee, it might be worth parking the money you have on hand in a high-yield savings account. Then, you can either pay off the monthly charge with other income or pay it off slowly from the money you've stashed away.

Regardless of which strategy you choose, once your savings have generated some interest, you can always opt to pay your plan off early, penalty-free.

Bottom line

I'm very grateful that I was able to secure a no-fee Pay Over Time plan.

It allowed me to get my couch despite not being approved for a 0% introductory APR card. I plan on checking it more regularly going forward, especially for any emergency expenses that arise.

Given that you aren't guaranteed to get a no-fee Pay Over Time plan, I still recommend trying to open a 0% introductory APR card first for any expenses that you don't have the ability to cover entirely.

But if you get rejected or aren't in a position to open a new card, this is a great alternative.

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TPG exclusive: Travel hacks from Google Flights, and an update on basic economy fares

July 28, 2025 The Points Guy Articles No comments

Google Flights is one of our favorite tools at TPG, but Google Travel goes well beyond cheaper flights — and it's constantly evolving, as I found out in a recent conversation with James Byers, group product manager for travel at Google.

We both agreed that Google Flights Explore is one of the best-kept secrets of Google Flights to help you hack cheap trips.

But while our talk focused on Google Travel's best travel tips, we also did some myth-busting and discussed what's next for Google Flights.

Google also gave us an update on the ability to screen out basic economy fares in searches at Google Flights. Some folks currently have that power, but it's just a test for now — most users will still see basic economy fares in Google Flights searches for the time being. But stay tuned: Google promises that if and when it's rolled out on a wider scale, TPG will know first.

Read on for Google's top tips, what's ahead and our conversation around basic economy — and check out the video below for the full interview.

Google Flights Explore and other key tools

Google Flights Explore showing map of Europe with cheap destinations from New York. — GOOGLE FLIGHTS EXPLORE

Byers and I share a favorite tool — Google Flights Explore. "You can search without a destination in Google Flights and see a whole range of possibilities on a map and then continue on to filter them," said Byers. "[You can] look at trip length and budget and kind of find that trip you might not have expected, and, in fact, the majority of our users are destination flexible."

Using Google Flights Explore is not complicated. Once you try it, you'll be as addicted as we are. "Explore really scratches that itch when users are trying to figure out where to go next," Byers added.

Date grid at Google Flights. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Byers calls out a few other Google Flights tools as "classics for power users." But he said many people still don't use the date grid and price graph features within Google Flights.

"So when you're looking for when to fly and you want to see what leaving a day earlier or a day later might do for you, the date grid is a great option to kind of visualize what those small changes might make," said Byers. By the same measure, he continued, "The price graph lets you look across a whole range of dates for a same duration trip, and see how prices fluctuate over time."

Price graph at Google Flights. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Google Flights takes those search options further into geographic flexibility as well, allowing users to search multiple origins and destinations at once. Byers highlighted this tool as another hidden gem to expand users' possibilities.

To explain, he laid out how strategically spreading out your airports could help you plan your next Italian adventure, for example. Say you're on the East Coast, and "could drive to Philadelphia or drive to New York," suggested Byers. Similarly, you're not terribly tied to where in Italy you want to go — Rome or Milan, for example, could do equally nicely. "You could put in both [New York and Philadelphia], and then choose Milan and Rome as your destination[s], and see all the combinations filtered by best [to] see what might work for you."

With a bit of flexibility, these filters can really help you save big bucks on a dream vacation.

Multiple origin airports selected in Google Flights. GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Byers also pointed to a major Google investment in notifications, including price alerts that monitor changes in pricing over time.

"Knowing ... when the right time is to book, setting a notification and letting us ... tell you as prices change lets you hone in with confidence on that great-price ticket," said Byers. "And I'm sure you know, as many Points Guy readers know, that feeling of booking a really well-priced flight ... it's a great feeling."

Full conversation with Google's James Byers

Basic economy filter coming to Google Flights?

Recently, some Google Flights users have reported that they have the ability to filter out basic economy fares. I asked if that was something Google was ready to roll out on a wider scale.

"Well, it's something we've been experimenting with for a while," said Byers. "We think there's a real continued need to invest in the fundamentals of finding flights. You'll see that with features potentially like basic economy in the future, and best versus cheapest, [which] we launched recently."

Sadly, he said Google wasn't ready to make an announcement now — but Byers said TPG readers would hear first.

Myth-busting with Google

We've all heard our fair share of flight-booking myths and legends, but most of them are just not true. One particularly common one is that if you wait for a certain time of day, on a certain day of the week, you can score a better deal.

According to Byers, Google finds there's just not really much truth to this one.

"Our data shows that not really, there is a little tiny bit of an advantage," he allowed. "It's about 1.3% cheaper over time to book on a Tuesday versus Sunday, which is the most expensive day. But you know it's a very, very small effect; 1.3% is probably not gonna swing it for a lot of consumers."

Instead, he said, "We think it's much more important to watch seasonal trends and to book ... the right number of days in advance for your domestic or international trip, and kind of follow the guidance we give about the booking window."

At TPG, our advice has consistently been to book domestic flights one to three months ahead of time, and to book international travel three to five months in advance. Byers concurs: "There's some market to market specifics where there's a little bit of a later or earlier advice that we give. But, generally speaking, that's consistent with what we see."

"We know there's a lot of strong feelings about that magical day," he adds, "but it's not a huge difference."

What about the myth that clearing the cookies off your browser will score you a better deal? The idea is that since your browser sees what market you're currently shopping in, retailers will change the price to what they think they can get out of you.

"For Google Flights," Byers says, "it's false. We show the same price across all of our users within a particular country."

"Sometimes airlines do have country-based or point of sale-based pricing," he adds, "but within a country the price isn't changing by Google's influence. ... We're always showing the same prices [across markets] — they're just changing really, really often."

Bottom line

Byers and I also discussed some trends for the rest of 2025 and 2026. Byers said he's seen a big surge of interest in solo travel. He and I also agreed that artificial intelligence is certainly coming for our travel bookings — but that for now, consumers still love to hunt for bargains on their own.

"Users really love finding deals," said Byers. He also pointed out that there's been a big uptick in interest in travel hacks recently — something we love to cover at TPG.

Finally, he and I agreed that for the best deals, flexibility is key. In fact, it's one of my big trends I'm watching ahead of 2026. Flexibility is the solution to finding cheaper prices; it's also the key to using your points and miles the most strategically and lucratively.

Our discussion touched on many other major topics, so be sure to check out the interview in full.

Related reading:

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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card overview

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

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Scandinavia and Northern Europe

The Mediterranean

Europe riverways

The Nile

Antarctica

What is Chase Pay Over Time?

Why I chose Pay Over Time

My experience with Pay Over Time

Chase Pay Over Time vs. Paying in Full

Bottom line

Google Flights Explore and other key tools

Basic economy filter coming to Google Flights?

Myth-busting with Google

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