Reading Time: 6 minAs we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, I've got a fresh batch of standout travel deals, including a new American Express transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic, a business class discount between the U.S. and Europe, and early Black Friday markdowns on several popular travel gadgets.
There’s also a limited-time chance to earn extra United miles with CLEAR+, and a discount here at Points Path that’s about to end before the holiday. So let's take a closer look at all the travel and points updates worth knowing about this week.
If you missed the recent 40% transfer bonus from Chase to Virgin Atlantic, you're in luck. There's a chance to get a second bite at the apple.
This week, American Express rolled out its own 40% transfer bonus when you convert Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic points. Even better, you've got plenty of time to take advantage of this offer, as it doesn't expire until December 31st.
Virgin Atlantic points are valuable on select routes to and from Europe when pricing lines up in your favor, though cash surcharges can be substantial. But I find I can often get great value for Virgin points by using them for domestic Delta flights, since the two airlines are partners.
Remember that both Points Path Pro and Founders Club members get live Virgin Atlantic pricing right in Points Path, including partner availability. You'll also see results from 13 other airline programs when you have our Pro subscription, including Air France/KLM, Avianca, Air Canada, Qantas, and more.
The Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus from Chase is also still alive through December 5th, though that one has already dropped to 30%. So if you’re thinking of topping up your Virgin balance, you've currently got two solid options.
In case you missed it...
Hilton’s status changes — easier qualification and a new elite tierSingapore Airlines' monthly Spontaneous Escapes promotion has returned, and November's specials include a huge discount on the airline's fifth-freedom route between Frankfurt and New York, though unfortunately only in one direction.
Now through November 30th, business class seats are available for just 62,300 Singapore miles on this flight when traveling between December 1st and December 31st. That's 30% off the usual cost. But the special is only available when departing Europe — you won't get the discount if you originate in New York.
You might wonder what's the point of this deal if you can only get it by starting in Europe? Well, when booking with frequent flyer miles, the best way to get a great redemption is to piece the trip together by finding award space in one direction at a time. That way you can utilize different types of points, different transfer partners, and even different airlines to get the best deals.
So if you find a discounted flight from Frankfurt to New York with this offer that fits into your travel plans, you can then look for a flight to Europe using a different set of partners. For instance, you might be able to utilize the Amex/Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus above to get yourself to Europe in style.
Don't have any Singapore miles? You can transfer points to Singapore from multiple programs, including American Express, Chase, Citi, and Capital One. Just remember that these Singapore promotional awards are non-refundable and can’t be changed, so only book one if you're certain you can use it.
Black Friday is now just around the corner, and Amazon has already started dropping prices, especially on some of the most popular Apple travel gadgets.
If you’ve been eyeing a travel tech upgrade, there are a handful of standout deals worth a closer look right now, including big discounts on tablets, headphones, laptops, and trackers. Here are some of the highlights we've already found at Amazon — many at the lowest prices we've ever seen:
Points Path Senior Deals Editor Jennifer Yellin has also found a dozen other early Black Friday travel deals, and we'll be keeping tabs on the best deals all week long. So be sure to check back regularly and keep an eye on your inbox as new offers roll in.
Most folks are happy earning points and miles on everything they buy with their credit card. But did you know there's a way to "double dip" and earn extra points for free? People know Bilt for its credit card that earns points on rent with no transaction fees. But you don't need a Bilt card to join the Bilt Neighborhood Benefits program. In fact, not only is it free to join, but you can stack the points you earn from it with the rewards from your existing credit card, and take home twice as much!
Learn how to double your rewards for free!If you’ve been thinking about signing up for a paid CLEAR membership, this is the week to do it, because a limited-time mileage bonus is about to end.
CLEAR+, which is a program that provides expedited entry at TSA checkpoints, is currently offering 5,000 United MileagePlus miles to new members. This deal is open only to first-time CLEAR+ members, and you must use the promotional link to sign up. You'll also need to make sure your United number is attached to your CLEAR account so the bonus miles post correctly.
This deal gets even better if you hold a credit card that already reimburses CLEAR+, like the Amex Platinum, Amex Green, or Hilton Aspire. In that case, the statement credit can cover your enrollment and the 5,000 United miles become essentially free.
While CLEAR+ has had its share of issues in recent years with too many people in the program to provide truly expedited service, I've found it can be useful at the right moment when the regular or TSA PreCheck line is exceedingly long. Just remember that this offer expires on November 28th, so if CLEAR+ has been on your to-do list, now’s the moment to take advantage.
Last week we celebrated passing 100,000 Points Path users with a free one-week trial of our Price Alerts for everyone. That offer is now over, but it's not too late to take advantage of another Points Path discount that's coming to an end this week.
Now through Tuesday, November 25th, I'm offering $5 off our annual Points Path Alerts plan for new subscribers, dropping the price to just $29.99 for the first year.
With our Alerts plan, you can track up to 10 one-way flights at a time in Points Path just by clicking the “i” icon below the points price, and choosing “Track price” in the pop-up. You can even track flights that aren't yet bookable with points.
Once you've started tracking a flight, we’ll check the points price of that flight multiple times a day. If it goes up or down, you’ll get an email so you can decide whether to book, wait, or pivot to another option. You can also check the price history of tracked flights and manage them on your Price Alerts dashboard.
For those who set up flights to track during our free trial last week, rest assured that we'll keep checking those flights for you and sending alerts until you delete the flight from your dashboard or it departs. But if you want to track more flights or change the ones you have, make sure to grab this discount before it's gone.
Keep all of your cables organized in one compact space with the FYY Travel Cable Organizer Pouch. It's a large organizer that comes in a variety of colors, and it's made from waterproof and shockproof material. It's also a helpful addition for the travel neat freak.
Get it at Amazon!That wraps up this week’s updates, but before you hit the road for Thanksgiving, don't miss this recent tip about a business class sweet spot that's hiding in plain sight. Have a great holiday! ✈️
