my trips delta airlines

Fly Delta 4+

Delta air lines, inc., designed for ipad.

• #7 in Travel
• 4.8 • 6M Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Welcome to Fly Delta, Delta’s award winning iOS app. With our dynamic Today screen which provides quick access to your boarding pass and other important day-of-travel information, Fly Delta makes travel easier than ever before. • Enroll in Delta's SkyMiles® program and earn miles every time you travel • Find, compare and book Domestic and International flights • Book SkyMiles award tickets • Purchase Delta Comfort+™ seats and Trip Extras, including in-flight Wi-Fi, Priority Boarding and more • Reserve Preferred Seats like bulkhead and aisle • Rebook cancelled flights or missed connections • Manage your trips, profile and customize your travel preferences • Check your SkyMiles account balance and current Medallion® status • Check in, view your boarding pass and add it to Apple Wallet • Pay for checked bags and track their location • Check the latest flight status and receive flight and gate change notifications • Save a photo to remember your parking spot • Check your status on the upgrade or standby list • View or change your seat • Locate Delta Sky Club® lounges • View interactive airport maps, public transportation details and weather information • Get detailed info about our fleet and partners • Map flights en route with an interactive flight tracker • “Today” gathers everything you need for your day of travel into one convenient place • “Notifications” ensures you always have the latest flight updates, gate changes and more • View countdown to departure and arrival along with gate and baggage carousel information on Apple Watch The Fly Delta app for iPhone and delta.com are always free to use on Delta’s Wi-Fi-enabled flights. Visit delta.com/app for more information. When downloading the Fly Delta app, you agree that your personal data will be processed in accordance with Delta’s Privacy Policy which can be accessed via the link below or on our website at delta.com.

Version 5.42.1

• Copying your SkyMiles and Confirmation number is easier than ever - just look for the copy icon. • Expanded support for pre-select menus to partner airlines. • Continued enhancements to streamline the check-in process. • Minor enhancements & bug fixes to keep things running smoothly.

Ratings and Reviews

Review of delta app.

My original flight 3/9 was canceled from JAX to RIC via LGA and Delta rescheduled me on another flight via JFK. Then my departure from JAX to JFK was delayed so much so that my arrival into RIC was being further pushed back. I was given the option to change my flight at no cost which I opted to do but I was not able to see what seats were available. I thought at some point I would be given the option to see available seats prior to finalizing the change but that never occurred. After accepting the change I found I didn’t have a seat assignment on the departure and I was assigned a middle seat (which I despise) on the connection. A passenger should be given the option to see what seats are available before making a change. I can assure you had I known prior to accepting the change that I would have to wait to be assigned a seat at the airport and that I would only have a middle seat on the connection I would not have changed from the rescheduled flight. Then to add insult to injury I used points to sit in Delta comfort from JAX to LGA because of the length of the flight. I no longer want to use points on either leg of the flights via ATL and I sincerely hope my points will be deposited back into my account. I had aisle seats (which I prefer) on both my original flights and I’m very disappointed I don’t have them on either flight tomorrow. I apologize for such a lengthy message; I didn’t expect to have to deal with flight changes that would disrupt my trip.

Change of flight times

After several lights changes since the time I originally booked, my international layover went from 1 hour and 45 minutes to only 40 minutes. A 45 minute layover for an international connection is not enough time, especially as I am flying with a family of five, this forced asked to switch flights. In doing so, I lost the upgraded seats I initially used points for. This would not have been a big deal, but it is highly disappointing that delta would not reimburse you for the points lost due to a change on their end. This policy really needs changed. In addition, the four hour plus waiting to talk to a representative force me to try to utilize the chat function. Even though I know I was able to speak to somebody relatively quickly, I made it all the way to having new flights but the person I was talking to left the chat. Waited a while and then the screen turned out causing me to start over. OK I thought, disappointing but just a fluke, but what do you know it happened again. The second time, I am mediately typed “representative“ and then we can immediately going through the process with a third agent. At least this time all the previous chat information was still up for her to review instead of starting back from scratch. The system need some bugs worked out, it’s also very hard to read on an iPhone.

Disappointed!

In fairness, there are many things this app does right - however, the plethora of things that are broken and that have been for years now merits a strongly worded inditement. The app consistently crashes with airport WiFi. Delta blames this on the local airport’s WIfI- but for a Multi-year Diamond Medallion with multiple million miles who sees hundreds of airports each year - it can’t always be the airports wifi - sorry Delta, that Dog don’t hunt! Also, the app crashes consistently (usually while I’m in the TSA line). For me, it crashed 1/2 the time I tried to use it in the last year (I wrote it down each time it crashed). This is unacceptable! You can change the amount of information stored on each device vs what has to be downloaded (and which is the likely cause of these crashes). For example, once my boarding pass has been downloaded - why does it need to be redone loaded every time I log on?? A simple byte of info indicating a change vs no change could flag it and give me the option of downloading an updated boarding pass or not - this would prevent it from crashing at the most in-opportune time (at the TSA line). Yes - I can bypass by taking a screenshot or saving it to my wallet - but most of the time I am running. If I’ve already downloaded my boarding pass - don’t make me log on and connect to get it again! I know you can fix this. Please do!!

App Privacy

The developer, Delta Air Lines, Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Health & Fitness
• Financial Info
• Contact Info
• User Content
• Search History
• Identifiers
• Sensitive Info
• Diagnostics

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Spanish

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

Get all of your passes, tickets, cards, and more in one place.

More by this developer.

Delta Conferences

Events@Delta

You Might Also Like

JetBlue - Book & manage trips

American Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

Alaska Airlines

United Airlines

Frontier Airlines

Check-in Options   

Delta’s check-in options are convenient, easy and hassle-free. Customers have the choice of checking in for a flight from their home, office, mobile device, or at the airport.

Learn about all of Delta’s check-in options

Learn about available check-in options for  Aeromexico

Learn about available check-in options for  Air France/KLM

Learn about available check-in options for  Korean Air

Learn about available check-in options for LATAM

Learn about available check-in options for  Virgin Atlantic

• About this Site
• Website Feedback

CONTACT US PHONE NUMBERS

Need help now, calling from the united states, puerto rico, the u.s. virgin islands, guam or canada:.

delta.com & Mobile Support 1-888-750-3284 Domestic Reservation Sales 1-800-221-1212 International Reservation Sales 1-800-241-4141                                                                                                                                             Delta Vacations Packages 1-800-800-1504 SkyMiles Representatives 1-800-323-2323 Disability Assistance 1-404-209-3434 For customers with hearing or speech disabilities: Dial 711                                                                                                   Customer Care For comments or complaints regarding past travel experience: 1-800-455-2720 WORLDWIDE PHONE NUMBERS Reservation Sales Find the best phone number from your location by contacting  Reservation Sales Customer Care Find the best phone number from your location by contacting  Customer Care

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

The Delta Seat Selection Guide

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

How Delta seat selection works

Delta seat selection fee, ticket types and seat selection rules, delta air lines seats for elite members, delta plane seating chart, how to pick seats on delta, final thoughts on selecting a seat on delta air lines.

Booking a Delta Air Lines flight and wondering about Delta’s seat selection? It’s no wonder — with differing benefits for elite members and strict restrictions on basic economy tickets, figuring out how and when to choose your Delta seat can quickly become overwhelming.

Here's a look at Delta seat assignments, how Delta Air Lines’ seating system works and the costs of choosing a seat.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards

Delta operates a variety of cabin classes on its aircraft, including economy, Premium Select, first class and Delta One seats.

Like most airlines, Delta will allow you to select your seat when booking, though the cost to do so and any upcharges will vary depending on the flight you’re taking. Those flying with families and wondering “does Delta seat families together?” are in luck. Delta does its best to seat families together, even after check-in.

» Learn more: Delta vs. United, which is best for you?

According to an analysis of airline fees by NerdWallet, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines charge the least for seat selection, while budget airlines Frontier and Spirit charge the most.

Delta sits in the middle, charging an average of $15-plus for each flight that you'd like to select a seat for. The cost will vary depending on the type of ticket you book with the airline — which we'll discuss next.

» Learn more: How to navigate costly airline seat selection fees

How much is seat selection on Delta Air Lines? That will depend on the ticket type you’re purchasing, be it basic economy, main cabin, Premium Select (premium economy), first class or Delta One.

Basic economy

Basic economy tickets have the most restrictions of any Delta ticket, and this extends to seat selection. Those who book basic economy tickets won't be able to select seats; instead, a seat will be randomly assigned to each passenger after check-in. This includes families and groups who are traveling together — expect to be split up when booking a basic economy ticket.

If you reserve a basic economy ticket, it’s possible to purchase a specific seat starting seven days before departure. Pricing for this varies by trip and is priced by segment.

Main cabin seating, also known as regular economy, includes complimentary seat selection. As a main cabin customer, you also have the option to purchase an upgrade to preferred or Delta Comfort Plus seats while remaining an economy class passenger.

You can also book upgraded economy tickets with additional seat selection perks:

Main Cabin Preferred: Main Cabin Preferred seats are functionally the same as regular main cabin seats. The difference lies in the seat location; Main Cabin Preferred seats are typically window and aisle seats nearer to the front of the plane, plus exit rows. These are the least expensive upgrades from standard economy seating.

Comfort Plus: When available, a Delta Comfort Plus ticket can be purchased directly while booking and the price will include seat selection. The cost to upgrade is higher than for a preferred seat in main cabin. Comfort Plus features more legroom than main cabin and offers passengers dedicated overhead bins. In addition, Comfort Plus guests will receive complimentary beer and wine on all domestic and short-haul international flights.

Main cabin passengers can also choose to upgrade to a Comfort Plus seat either before or after purchasing their ticket.

Premium Select

Premium Select is Delta’s version of premium economy, with larger seats and better recline, two free checked bags, earlier boarding and premium extras. Those who book Premium Select can choose any seat within the cabin for no additional fee.

Delta One and first class

Both first class and Delta One ticket holders can choose any seat within their cabin for free. These spacious seats come with two free checked bags, premium snacks and meals, priority boarding, and a dedicated flight attendant.

GET MORE MILES, MORE BENEFITS WITH A DELTA CARD

Regardless of where you sit once you're on the plane, a Delta-branded credit card can make your trip go a little smoother. Most include free checked bags and priority boarding, and some really stack up the perks. Among options:

on American Express' website

$0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.

• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• First checked bag free.

• Priority boarding.

• Companion certificate (main cabin).

• Airport lounge access.

• Companion certificate ((first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).

• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page .

Those who have joined the Delta SkyMiles program and earned Medallion elite status will receive seating benefits on their flights.

Main Cabin Preferred

When booking main cabin tickets, all four tiers of elite status members can select main cabin preferred seats for no additional charge.

» Learn more: The NerdWallet guide to earning Delta SkyMiles

Comfort Plus

Platinum and Diamond level elite members (the two highest tiers) can choose Comfort Plus seats shortly after ticketing for free. Mid-tier Gold members, meanwhile, will be able to select these seats starting 72 hours prior to departure, and low-level Silver members can pick from available Comfort Plus seats starting 24 hours before departure.

Delta elite members will also receive upgrades on select first class and Delta One flights depending on their elite status.

You can find Delta Air Lines seating without needing to book a flight. To do so, you’ll want to first search for your preferred route on Delta’s website. On the search results page, you’ll find a variety of flights from which to choose.

Each flight presents a seat map, which you can preview by selecting "Seats."

Once you’ve picked "Seats," you’ll be taken to a new page that shows a live preview of your aircraft’s seats.

You’ll also be able to view the seat map during the booking process. Once you’ve selected your flight, you’ll be taken to another page prompting you to pick a seat.

How do I choose my seat on Delta?

During booking

The process for reserving a Delta seat is fairly simple. As we mentioned above, you’ll be able to pick seats when booking your flights on the website; Delta will automatically prompt you to do so before checkout.

You may not be able to select seats on codeshare flights, which are operated by Delta’s partners . In this case, you’ll want to go directly to the other airlines’ webpage to manage your seat selection.

After booking

If you need to choose or alter your seat after you’ve booked your flight, go to "My Trips" on the Delta homepage.

If you’re logged in already, you’ll be able to view all the trips you have booked with Delta. You’ll find seat selection options by going down to the "Passenger Information" section.

» Learn more: 6 ways to save on Delta flights

Delta has a variety of ticketing options available for every type of passenger. This includes the highly restrictive basic economy class ticket as well as main cabin tickets for those who prefer certainty with their seats.

Upgrading to Main Cabin Preferred and Comfort Plus seats offers better benefits for those in economy. Loyal members of Delta’s SkyMiles program can also expect to receive complimentary access to these seats and upgrades to higher classes depending on their level of status.

Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

More From Forbes

Get 500 bonus delta miles on your next coffee run.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Delta Air Lines flyers have an excellent reason to visit Starbucks this week. Registered users can get 500 bonus Delta miles after visiting Starbucks three times this week. Here is how to easily earn these extra miles for future travel.

NEW YORK - AUGUST 5: Beverage cups featuring the logo of Starbucks Coffee are seen in the new ... [+] flagship store on 42nd Street August 5, 2003 in New York City. The Seattle-based coffee company has emerged as the largest food chain in the Manhattan borough of New York with 150 outlets. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

500 Bonus SkyMiles With Qualifying Starbucks Purchases

To earn the 500 bonus miles, visit a participating Starbucks and make three qualifying purchases of $2 or more (excluding taxes and gratuities) between March 25, 2024, and March 31, 2024. However, this offer is only open to Starbucks Rewards members who have already linked their Delta SkyMiles account (you can link accounts by visiting DeltaStarbucks.com). Users with linked accounts may receive an email with the promotion or a notification in the Starbucks app.

Qualifying purchases can include not just food and beverages but also merchandise. However, alcoholic beverages are not eligible. Starbucks gift cards and eGifts are also not eligible. However, you can make purchases using your preloaded Starbucks card or a registered payment method.

Once you’ve completed the purchases, miles will be in your SkyMiles account within 10 business days. Unfortunately, the miles don’t count towards Medallion Status or Million Miler Status.

Also, earning double stars when traveling on a Delta flight will not apply.

Netflix Is In A Bind With 3 Body Problem Season 2

Google suddenly reveals surprise android update that beats iphone, ukraine has developed 15 kinds of long range strike drone and has sortied them against russia s oil industry, using delta miles.

Where can you go with Delta SkyMiles? Redeeming your miles for travel is easy. You can book award travel to over 1,000 destinations around the world. You can also pay with Cash + Miles, giving you more options if you want to use your miles sooner rather than later. Additionally, Delta has numerous travel partners, including:

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• China Eastern
• China Airlines
• China Southern
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hawaiian Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Mandarin Airlines
• Middle East Airlines
• Saudia Airlines
• Shanghai Airlines
• Tarom Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Xiamen Airlines

Miles can also be used on Delta Vacations and Delta Stays.

Related Articles:

• American Airlines To Offer Nonstop Flights From JFK To Tokyo
• Southwest Airlines Has Sale Fares Under $30
• Boeing Safety Bulletin Among Latest Corrective Actions For In-Flight Incidents
• Alaska Airlines Is The Newest Bilt Transfer Partner
• Delta Announces Second Flight To View Eclipse In Path Of Totality
• United Airlines To Resume Flights To Tel Aviv

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

The Best Flights to View the 2024 Solar Eclipse From the Sky

By Rachel Chang

April 8 is shaping up to be a busy day for US airlines, as travelers chase the total solar eclipse sweeping across the nation from Texas to Maine —a rare event that won’t be visible from the contiguous US again until 2044.

While many eclipse-chasers are booking up hotels and Airbnbs located along the path of totality , some travelers are taking to the skies in order to get as close to the celestial event as humanly possible.

Ideally, these eclipse flights will allow for prime viewing of the moon passing in front of the sun, since the atmosphere tends to be clearer above the clouds. But with the eclipse only lasting between one to four minutes , there are "many challenges with trying to time being on a commercial airplane during an eclipse flight,” airline industry analyst Mike Arnot tells Condé Nast Traveler .

For one, it can be difficult to know which side of the plane will have the best view of the eclipse, which depends on the plane's exact flight path. And of course, there's always the risk that weather could cause route changes or delays. In fact, there's been so much hype around the eclipse that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has even issued a domestic notice in recent days warning of “possible impacts to air traffic and airports along the eclipse path” from April 7 to 10. Aircraft should be ready for potential holdings and rerouting, as well as delays due to higher traffic volumes, the FAA says, noting that airports in the greater Boston , Chicago , Cleveland, Fort Worth , Indianapolis , Kansas City , and Memphis areas are the most likely to see flight disruptions.

These potential obstacles haven't stopped airlines from touting their eclipse flights, though. Below, we've rounded up the best ways to view the eclipse from the sky, including special flights specifically scheduled to chase the eclipse, as well as regularly scheduled flights that will likely overlap with the path of totality.

Several airlines have announced special flight routes that will trace the eclipse's path of totality.

Delta Air Lines

The Atlanta-based carrier has scheduled two special flights specifically to chase the eclipse path. First flight 1218, which will depart at 12:15 p.m. from Austin and land in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. on an Airbus A220-300, sold out within 24 hours, so Delta added flight 1010 from Dallas Fort Worth, which will leave at 12:30 p.m. also landing in Detroit at the same time aboard a bigger Airbus A321neo.

Delta also says that five of its regularly scheduled flights will also have “prime eclipse-viewing opportunity,” citing flight 5699 from Detroit to New York’s Westchester at 2:59 p.m local time on a ERJ-175, flight 924 from Los Angeles to Dallas Fort Worth at 8:40 a.m. on an A320, flight 2869 from Los Angeles to San Antonio at 9 a.m. on an A319, flight 1001 from Salt Lake City to San Antonio at 10:08 a.m. on an A220-300, and flight 1683 from Salt Lake City to Austin at 9:55 a.m on an A320.

United Airlines

United Airlines has 11 flights scheduled within the pathway—and on select flights, passengers will receive complimentary eclipse glasses. Six of those flights will depart from Chicago O’Hare: flight 5693 to Little Rock at 12:45 p.m., flight 490 to Houston at 12:47 p.m., flight 455 to Dallas at 12:49 p.m., flight 247 to Toronto at 1:00 p.m., flight 2440 to New York’s LaGuardia at 1:00 p.m., and flight 2187 to Washington Dulles at 1:20 p.m.

The other five leave from Houston , with flight 1438 heading to San José del Cabo at 11:55 a.m., flight 6128 to Columbus at 12 noon, flight 6109 to Detroit at 12:05 p.m.; flight 1318 to Cincinnati at 12:23 p.m., and flight 1687 to Indianapolis at 12:25 p.m.

While the New York City-based air company warns that the many factors from weather to air traffic control guidance “may route flights traveling along that corridor out of the eclipse [zone],” the carrier has identified seven flights currently scheduled to travel within the totality path.

Two flights depart from Austin : flight 694 to New York City’s JFK airport departing at 10:37 a.m. and flight 1138 heading to Boston leaving at 11:44 p.m. Boston also has a pair of departures, flight 1565 to San Antonio at 12:05 p.m. and flight 215 to Dallas Fort Worth leaving at 2:53 p.m. Also on the list: flight 1881 from JFK to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental at 1:45 p.m., flight 1826 from San Antonio to JFK at 1:01 p.m., and Houston to Boston, leaving at 1:45 p.m.

Southwest Airlines

Over at Southwest , the network's schedule planners have been busy studying projections of the shadows of the eclipse (the umbra and penumbra), to figure out the flights that will have “the greatest likelihood of offering customers on onboard the best view,” a spokesperson tells Traveler .

The top three are flight 1252 from Dallas’ Love Field to Pittsburgh at 12:45 p.m., flight 1721 leaving Austin for Indianapolis at 12:50 p.m., and flight 1910, departing St. Louis for Houston’s Hobby at 1:20 p.m.

Additionally, the airline says five Southwest flights “may also cross the path of totality during their scheduled operating time.” Those include flight 955 from  Dallas’ Love Field for Chicago’s Midway at 12:50 p.m., flight 506 departing Milwaukee for Dallas’ Love Field at 1:05 p.m., flight 1734 from Houston’s Hobby for Indianapolis at 1:35 p.m., flight 1682 from Chicago’s Midway for Austin at 1:30 p.m., and flight 3108 taking off from Nashville Dallas’ Love Field at 1:40 p.m.

Alaska Airlines

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines says that two of its flights from San Diego are the best for the April 8 eclipse viewing: flight 390 to Boston departing at 8:10 a.m. and flight 322 to Washington Dulles, leaving at 8:05 a.m.

Sarah James

Jessica Puckett

Kimberly Wilson

Rachel Chang

“As long as skies are clear, our guests will have some of the best seats to the solar eclipse on April 8 while 30,000 feet in the air,” Alaska's vice president of revenue management and network planning Kirsten Amrine said in a statement shared with Traveler .

Semi-private carrier JSX will be hosting a special two-hour flight through the totality path led by former NASA astronaut and current JSX pilot Bill Gregory, who has logged 400 hours in space. “With Dallas taking claim as the biggest city in the path of totality, we are thrilled to make this ultra premium and rare viewing opportunity a reality via JSX,” CEO Alex Wilcox said in a statement.

The two-hour flight 4824 will fly round trip from the airline’s private hangar at Dallas’ Love Field starting at 1 p.m. local time. Every passenger will have a window seat, and will also receive eclipse viewing glasses and themed cocktails.

Chartered flights

With so many factors at play for commercial flights, aviation analyst Arnot says that the best bet for those who live within the eclipse path is to charter a Cessna 172 with a pilot. Most flight schools offer “discovery flights"—short private trips with a certified pilot instructor—that you could potentially time with the April 8 eclipse.

That said, smaller planes typically fly below the weather, scrapping the advantage of getting above poor conditions. But even if there is cloud cover, the control of a chartered fight might still provide the most bespoke experience, according to Arnot.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

'Guaranteed to see the eclipse': A plane might be the best place to see the phenomenon

Travelers flying on April 8 may have a chance to see the total solar eclipse from the sky.

Delta Air Lines is running two special flights to chase the path of totality, but many carriers, including Southwest and United, are advertising the regularly scheduled itineraries they have with the best chance of seeing the daytime darkness.

According to Stephen Lawrence, a professor of physics and astronomy at Hofstra University, seeing the eclipse from a plane comes with some extra benefits but also a few challenges.

Much of the path of totality in the U.S. has a 60%-80% chance of cloud cover on the ground, with Texas being the most likely location for clear skies. On a plane, Lawrence said, “You can generally fly high enough to be above the clouds, so you’re guaranteed to see the eclipse.”

But, he warned, just being on the plane isn’t always enough.

“You have to be on the correct side of the plane,” Lawrence said. “People on the right side of the plane, the south-facing side of the plane, will be able to see it,” but those on the north side won’t.

Watch from there parks: You can see the total solar eclipse from national parks, but their skies offer much more

If you’re flying in an easterly direction, you’ll want to be on the right-hand side when facing forward or the left-hand side if your flight path is heading westerly.

Lawrence said eastbound flights have an added bonus for eclipse viewing, too.

“You’re slowing the shadow down by half. Instead of a 4 ½-minute eclipse, you might get a six-minute region of totality,” he said, explaining that because planes cruise at around 500 mph and the shadow of the eclipse moves at about 1,000 mph, chasing it across the sky means you can see it for longer than you’d be able to as a stationary observer on the ground.

He added the higher vantage point from a flight means travelers will have a better view of the shadow approaching than those on the ground.

Whether you’re watching from the ground or the sky, Lawrence said it’s important to take appropriate precautions.

“The most important thing, of course, is eye safety. It is safe to look at the eclipse with the naked eye but only during the few minutes of totality,” he said.

Which airlines are advertising eclipse flights?

Delta has scheduled two special flights to see the path of the eclipse and added that some of its regular itineraries also have a high likelihood of crossing the shadow. United Airlines and Southwest Airlines also said they have flights that will likely encounter the path of totality.

Here’s what’s on offer:

◾ From Detroit (DTW) to Westchester, New York (HPN), departing at 2:59 p.m. EDT.

◾ From Los Angeles (LAX) to Dallas (DFW), departing at 8:40 a.m. PDT.

◾ From Los Angeles (LAX) to San Antonio (SAT), departing at 9:00 a.m. PDT.

◾ From Salt Lake City (SLC) to San Antonio (SAT), departing at 10:08 a.m. MDT.

◾ From Salt Lake City (SLC) to Austin (AUS), departing at 9:55 a.m. MDT.

◾ Flight 1252: departing Dallas (Love Field) at 12:45 p.m. CDT for Pittsburgh

◾ Flight 1721: departing Austin at 12:50 p.m. CDT for Indianapolis

◾ Flight 1910: departing St. Louis at 1:20 p.m. CDT for Houston (Hobby)

◾ Flight 5693 departs Chicago for Little Rock at 12:45 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 490 departs Chicago for Houston at 12:47 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 455 departs Chicago for Dallas at 12:49 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 247 departs Chicago for Toronto at 1 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 2440 departs Chicago for New York at 1 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 2187 departs Chicago for Washington, D.C., at 1:20 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 1438 departs Houston for San Jose del Cabo at 11:55 a.m. CDT

◾ Flight 6128 departs Houston for Columbus at noon CDT

◾ Flight 6109 departs Houston for Detroit at 12:05 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 1318 departs Houston for Cincinnati at 12:23 p.m. CDT

◾ Flight 1687 departs Houston for Indianapolis at 12:25 p.m. CDT

But it’s not just airlines with flights through the path of totality that are seeing eclipse-related travel demand pick up. Alaska Airlines is seeing extra demand for flights to Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Cleveland – destinations that should have good opportunities for eclipse viewing on the ground. An Alaska spokesperson told USA TODAY the airline previously added an extra flight to Mazatlán, Mexico, which is expected to have the longest duration totality during this eclipse. According to the spokesperson, there’s especially high demand for tickets to Mazatlán too.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

The Last Flight out of Moscow

Sep 15 2015.

When Delta ended its direct route to JFK, it represented the end of an era for longtime Russia expats like Resa Alboher

Earlier this year, Delta Airlines announced that it would be discontinuing its direct flight to Moscow from JFK this September through to at least the end of the year. I had taken that famed flight back and forth so often that Delta had become another home to me. First in the old business class configuration where my husband John and I most often sat in our favorite seats—row 5, seats A and B—and then when all the frequent flier miles ran out, in any exit row seats we could muster. The last direct Delta flight I took out of Russia in the spring of 2014 was on a ticket purchased at the very last minute in panicked response to an emergency.

At that time, John was in the U.S. after having been laid off from a position he had held for ten years. I was still in Moscow, pretty broke and teaching American writing at the Humanities University, when I found out that John was being rushed to the hospital in New York City. You should come here right away, my nephew texted to my Russian cell phone.

A friend in New York bought me a $600 ticket on Delta. I chose an emergency row seat with a lot of legroom. A Russian dude—beefy, attractive, with light blue eyes—was next to me in the window seat. Across the aisle was a kindly babushka who rarely flew and was afraid of flying.  Ya baius’,  she said to me—I’m scared—and reached across the aisle so I could hold her hand during takeoff.

At Sheremetyevo and at most airports in Russia, there are kiosks where you can buy Russian Orthodox icons. For a long time I would carry an icon or two whenever I traveled anywhere. Russia can make you superstitious. After two decades of living there, I cannot kiss or shake hands across a threshold or forget to look in the mirror before I go out, and it is physically impossible for me to go on a trip without sitting for a moment with my suitcase before I leave. In fact, it is only by living in Russia that I finally understood the poignancy of the scene at the end of Chekhov’s  The Cherry Orchard  when Lubov Andreyevna and her family leave their ancestral house for the last time. They sit for a moment with their suitcases, then linger, knowing they will never return. That is my fear about leaving Russia. Or leaving anywhere. Armed with icons, I am still afraid.

This last Delta flight had something of the epic to it. As the flight progressed, I was worried about John in the hospital. I paced out of anxiety and had an argument with him in my head.  You are always stubborn and wait till you are near death to see a doctor,  I said to John. I had been up all night on the phone with relatives and ambulance drivers, arguing with the real John who didn’t want to go to the hospital. I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was walk up and down the aisles having my imaginary argument with John until the plane landed. But in the section right before Business Elite a guy with a shaved head and what looked liked prison tattoos blocked my way. He wore military fatigues and was harassing a woman who was pointedly ignoring him as he said to me:

Where are you going? Where is there to go? Don’t go up there. Don’t you see that curtain? That is where the bluebloods sit. All the rich oligarchs and Jews. Don’t oligarchs have their own planes?  Good point,  he said,  but I don’t even want to talk with you. You are an American. Good you are going home. I want all the foreigners to go home.  Then why are  you  leaving the Rodina?  He was surprised.  How is it you know the concept of Rodina?  He paused, standing unsteadily on his feet.  The Motherland. Nothing in your English invokes this Russian word. You are a young country, a bunch of babies, what the hell do you know from Rodina? I lived in the Rodina over twenty years. Twenty years—twenty years are you telling me? How is that possible, your Russian totally blows. How is it you aren’t ashamed of yourself?  Actually I am,  I said.  I want to speak better Russian.  Well, we are speaking it now, and while your Russian sucks, I do sort of understand what you are saying, even though you have the accent of a Jew.

I met a man in the early 1990s who had been tortured by Russian speech therapists when he was a boy to roll his r’s so he didn’t sound like a Jew. He told us the story one night at a Russian banya party while we ate iced watermelon and drank horseradish vodka.  Oh it was awful,  he said.  The teacher stuffed pencils in my mouth. Now say reka. Ryba. Roman. But I could hardly say anything at all with all those pencils in my mouth.  He remembered spitting and nearly choking on pencils. He remembered the taste of lead.

The Russian nationalist continued speaking. You are a short woman. I am not attracted to you at all. You are my age, and might be even older. What are you, 48, 49? Something like that. I only like younger women and don’t like wrinkles and well, in this light, I can see you are starting to get some. I am not available anyway. Oh good. I don’t want to offend you. You don’t?  You know though, you  look  like a Jew . That’s OK, I  am  a Jew. You are a  Jew? He paused, then with a flourish said,  I am an anti-Semite. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Anti-Semite.  There was an uncomfortable silence, then something in his face softened as if he had made a decision. I like you,  he said. How could you? I am a Jew.  He laughed. Flying over Iceland, the Jew and the anti-Semite were on their way from the old world to the new.

John and I moved to Russia over two decades ago. He had studied Soviet Foreign Policy when there was still a Soviet Union. A few months after our first trip together to Moscow in the summer of 1990, the old empire began to collapse. John felt he couldn’t sit idly by in the U.S., watching the news on CNN. He wanted to be there in the midst of change.

While Moscow was the center of unfolding events in Russia, the first city we lived in was St Petersburg. Even with the post-Perestroika economy imploding, shops empty and people’s pensions wiped away, there was still a fervor in the St Petersburg arts and culture scene—an excitement I had never witnessed before and will probably never get to see again. Piter seemed central enough to me.

IN RUSSIAN SLANG IT TRANSLATES TO SOMETHING LIKE DORMITORY SHITHOLE

We were broke and living in the faculty side of a dormitory, called an  obshaga in Russian slang, which translates to something like “dormitory shithole.” Our  obshaga  rooms were nicer than the rooms the students got, but you had to tape up the windows from early autumn to the hesitant summer which began a month later than Moscow’s summer (we were so close to the Arctic Circle) to keep out the icy wind blowing in from the Gulf of Finland.

At some point, not the single year as planned, but maybe six limping years later, John got completely fed up. We were doing our laundry in the bathtub and the water was a perennial rusty brown. We had no kitchen and even with the taped up windows the cold wind cut through in a constant slow whistling howl. As I hung the laundry all over the room, John was cutting carrots on top of the Belarusian mini fridge that kept icing over no matter how many times we tried to defrost it. That’s it, he said, I’m outta here.

We returned to New York, but not long afterwards John was offered a position in Moscow. He came to Moscow first to find us an apartment, and I followed several months later. I remember that flight to Moscow as one of the most comfortable I had ever taken—I stretched out and slept across the Atlantic. John’s new job paid for business class tickets and sometimes we could upgrade to first. So for a while we flew British Airways in splendor back and forth. I drank smoothies and watched British comedies. In first class, they would give us pajamas and our choice of DVDs. I felt someone had made a big mistake letting us fly in such grandeur.

The other day I asked John, When did it shift? When did we start flying Delta? At that time in the mid nineties, Delta was the only U.S. carrier that offered nonstop service to Moscow. He thought for a moment: 1998. The financial crash. When the Gekko markets fell. You know, when everybody blamed George Soros. And when expats left in droves?

I remember the bank runs. I watched them from our windows that looked over the Garden Ring Road across to a bank on the other side, the desperate crowds outside the building trying to withdraw their funds. I thought of my parent’s childhood memories about living through the Great Depression. I was witnessing something like that as we continued living a normal life in Moscow.

We had the fortune of being able to escape and return more or less as we pleased. We ate ice cream sundaes on Delta Business Elite, watched movies and after a few runs across the planet and back found that we had our favorite and habitual row—row 5 seats A and B. As the plane took off, I would say Buddhist sutras quietly to myself and hold John’s hand. I love you, I’d say as the plane ascended. If the plane were to crash, I wanted him to know this. Everything’s OK, he’d say, but a few minutes into the flight when we had reached cruising altitude, almost like clockwork he’d turn to me and say, I’m bored. Shouldn’t they be bringing drinks and warmed mixed nuts by now?

Not all our comings and goings from Russia were in such luxury or with such ease. When John and I departed the first time, after traveling with a student group in the summer of 1990, we left by train from the Finland Station, where Lenin arrived to start the revolution. I was having trouble carrying my suitcases through the crowded streets and something in me gave way. I threw down the bags and wept. Something about the weight of our possessions made me snap. It was like I felt the burden of all those before us who had to leave Russia and could bring only a few suitcases with them.

Maybe my grandfather felt that way when he left. I never met him since he died before I was born, so I can only imagine what he went through when he travelled by ship from Odessa (in his time part of Russia) to Ellis Island. My mother felt like she belonged in Russia on her one trip to St Petersburg in the mid 1990s. I feel closer to my father here, she said with a kind of longing. Her side of the family wasn’t as happy I was living in Russia, always reminding me of the pogroms and anti-Semitic persecution that forced my grandfather to flee.

In my mind, I felt that my living in Russia could be a sort of reconciliation with the horrific bigotry my ancestors once faced. The simple fact of my residence in Moscow would be an act of forgiveness, wiping the slate clean. Whenever the plane began its descent into Moscow, I always felt like I was returning to holy ground.

I would argue with a friend about the soulfulness of Russia. That is such a myth, she once told me, the myth of the  rodina , of the Russian soul. I would insist that Russia is mythic, that there is something to the Russian soul. My friend would sigh and shake her head. You are deluding yourself, she said. Lately I have started to wonder what it would be like to put down roots. I thought I was putting down roots in Russia, but I was always a foreigner there. At times a welcome one, but a foreigner all the same.

Flying on Delta, I once had a memorable and heart-stopping arrival. We were about to land at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport one January morning. I felt the wave of relief I usually feel especially in winter when I see the frozen Moscow River below and the city as a kind of snowy topographical map, its white geometrical shapes forming a Malevich-esque painting.

As the falling snow pelted the windows, the plane suddenly heaved up in a dramatic rush. We all fell backwards and heard carry-on bags crashing from the overhead compartments and a huge bang when a service cart fell out of its storage area and went flying down the aisle. People around us screamed. I don’t remember if I screamed too, but I remember clutching John’s hand. And then we were horizontal again, back up in the clouds. The pilot made an announcement. Sorry about that, folks. We were almost there, but there was an unscheduled plane on the runway. Our pilot had avoided a collision. I saw passengers crossing themselves as his announcement was translated into Russian.

Now on my last direct Delta flight back to JFK, the Russian nationalist and I both looked out the window over the head of the woman who he had been harassing. The sun was creating a blinding glare and I thought: We are doing a form of time travel, flying backward in time from the Moscow late afternoon, toward what was morning now in New York City. The woman was pretending to sleep. And everyone else in this forward cabin, this cabin behind where the bluebloods ate their ice cream sundaes and reclined on their flatbed seats, was looking pointedly away from us. The nationalist was drunk. He wasn’t the first nationalist or anti-Semite I had met in my life. But he was the one blocking me from pacing back and forth.

So, do you think I am attractive?  You’re OK,  I said, and he said  you’re OK too . And then he moved in closer, I could feel his hot breath as he whispered: Can you believe it, this young girl Masha—she was all of 18—we sat on a bench in Sokolniki Park and kissed half the night. Do you know what an 18-year-old kisses like? Then we walked all over the city and at dawn went along the river toward the Kremlin—have you seen our Kremlin? Come on, that’s ridiculous how can you ask that?  He apologized and seemed even more unsteady on his feet.

You could hear the bells of the Spassky Tower. We looked at our Kremlin, and I almost missed this flight.  Can you imagine, 18… I am a Nationalist. We were at the Kremlin. I saw the Kremlin this morning. And kissed a girl of 18. I am proud to be Russian.

The plane went through a bit of turbulence. There was an announcement in English then in Russian for us to take our seats. The Nationalist took my arm, maybe to steady himself.

I don’t need to take my seat,  he said,  a little turbulence doesn’t scare me at all. But are you scared,  he asked. I was scared of so many things.  You know,  he said,  actually, it is good talking with you. I will find you again. I’ll come visit you later in the flight. I know where you are sitting. I know your row. You have a lot of room around you. How did you get that seat?

I held on to the backs of seats to steady myself through the turbulence as I walked back to my exit row and felt a deep exhaustion. The beefy dude was resting his head on a pillow against the windowsill. You could see pure sky and clouds. Were we still somewhere over Iceland? In 2005, soon after my father died, I saw the wonder of the northern lights over Iceland and John and I watched the dazzling green flashes igniting the dark as the rest of the plane slept all around us in their flatbed seats. I wept then for my father, but now I worried for John. The plane was flying into more daylight, and when I got to NYC it would be more daylight still, and I would sit in a hospital as I had sat in so many these past few years.

What was I doing with my life? I had been in the Rodina twenty years and still could hardly speak passable Russian—the Nationalist was right. I was a foreigner. Always would be one. I thought about other foreigners and their miserable fates. Rastrelli came to mind; his architecture gave Petersburg its character, yet he died penniless and forgotten. I thought of how in the novel  Honey for the Bears  a British antiques dealer is done in by Russia. Has Russia done me in? I wondered. I will never quite belong in Russia, but it is difficult to live anywhere else.

The other day, I felt a wave of relief going to a Russian store in the United States. They had Chudo Yagoda juice and cranberry  mors . They had Russian chocolates— Mishka—my favorite kind. But these are meager symbols to carry such a heavy sense of belonging. When the Nationalist came to my seat to find me, I pretended I didn’t see him. He lingered for a moment and then walked on by.

I plan to go back to Russia. I keep telling myself there is a lot left unfinished. Lectures I am supposed to give, museums I still need to visit, didn’t I want to see the Marina Tsvetaeva house, and in twenty years in Russia I have yet to visit Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy’s country estate. John and I spent twenty years talking about going there. I’ll only agree to see Yasnaya Polyana if I can see it with him.

With the ruble unstable, and sanctions and tensions over Ukraine, the flights on Delta lately have had too many empty seats—a logical reason for their cancellation—but I hope that Delta revises this decision. There is only one Delta flight:  The  Delta Flight as expats call it. And on that flight, those few hours in the air were a kind of freedom, a relief from the confusions of a life abroad. On the Delta flight I was more at home than in either country the plane would take me.

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

“Every fucking thing”: A Moscow chef eats Andalucia

Featured city guides.

What are points and miles worth? TPG’s March 2024 monthly valuations

Editor's Note

One of the questions people often ask us is, "How much is a point or mile worth?" The true answer varies from point to point and person to person. It also depends on your travel goals and how well you can maximize a particular loyalty currency. Still, some rewards credit cards are worth more than others, and our goal is to give you a sense of how they stack up.

Historically, TPG has valued points and miles based on a combination of the price at which we would purchase the miles, award costs in the program (factoring in availability and fees) and our expertise in the inner workings of the programs. However, we now use extensive data for the top six U.S. airline loyalty programs to better estimate the value you should aim to get from your rewards. Read our explainer post on our data-driven valuations for a full methodology breakdown.

This month, our model showed a bit of variation with these numbers — though it wasn't significant compared to previous data runs.

Note: These valuations are not provided by card issuers.

What are credit card points and miles worth?

What are airline points and miles worth.

*Calculated using TPG's data-backed valuations methodology launched in September 2023.

What are hotel points worth?

Points and miles news.

With global hotel loyalty programs boasting dozens of brands each, does a single hotel brand retain your loyalty? Maybe not, but Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy are banking on new additions driving new business and loyalty.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World — a collection of boutique hotels offering bespoke luxury experiences worldwide — announced a plan to part ways with Hyatt and instead join Hilton Honors .

SLH properties have been an excellent way to redeem Hyatt points , particularly if you tire of forgettable, cookie-cutter corporate hotel rooms. Some of my most memorable hotel stays have been at SLH properties, namely Crossbasket Castle in Scotland and On The Rocks on the dreamy Greek island of Santorini.

Hyatt's loss is undoubtedly Hilton's gain. Travelers are the biggest losers here, as while World of Hyatt award charts have kept award rates in check, rates will likely increase significantly once SLH joins Hilton Honors — a program where award rates over 100,000 points per night are not unusual.

May 15 is when Hyatt's SLH partnership officially ends , so book your nights as soon as possible if you have your eye on one of the many boutique SLH properties worldwide.

MGM Resorts departed World of Hyatt in 2023 and is now part of the Marriott Bonvoy program. And we have been pleasantly surprised at how reasonable MGM pricing is with Marriott points. You can book high-end Las Vegas properties like the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and Aria from as little as 20,000 Bonvoy points per night, plus those dreaded resort fees. Meanwhile, stays at more economical properties like Luxor and Excalibur start at just 5,000 Bonvoy points per night (plus resort fees).

It can be hard to keep up with hotel brands coming and going. While Hyatt has seemingly lost two key strengths, it has quietly amassed 10 all-inclusive brands with hundreds of properties, especially in the Caribbean and Europe.

To keep up with other points and miles news, bookmark and periodically reference our posts on points and miles travel deals , promotions on buying points and miles and transfer bonus offers .

Related: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values

Travel credit card offers

Beyond those developments, there is no shortage of cards offering great welcome bonuses . Here are a few of our favorites this month.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Per our valuations, that's worth $1,230 when you leverage transfer partners or $750 if you redeem through the Chase travel portal at 1.25 cents per point.

The card comes with a $95 annual fee, along with various travel protections and additional perks — like a $50 annual hotel credit for reservations made through the Chase travel portal and a 10% anniversary points bonus based on your previous year's spending.

Of course, you may want to spring for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® instead. While the card has a hefty $550 annual fee, it includes perks like Priority Pass lounge access , an annual $300 travel credit and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit , among other benefits. Plus, you'll earn 3 points per dollar on travel and dining expenses, so you can quickly rack up rewards for your next big trip.

For more details, check out our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review .

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

On the higher end of the spectrum is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , one of the market's most exciting travel credit cards, thanks to great earning rates and included perks.

The card currently offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — worth $1,388 according to our valuations, thanks to Capital One's excellent airline and hotel transfer partners .

Check out our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review for more details.

Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The standard Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card currently offers the same welcome bonus as the Venture X. You can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Like the Venture X, the Venture card earns at least 2 miles per dollar on everything you purchase.

Check out our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review for more details.

Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

With the current welcome offer on The Platinum Card from American Express , you'll earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership — though you may be targeted for a higher offer through the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time).

Of course, the card is jam-packed with benefits like airport lounge access and hotel elite status . The card has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ). Enrollment is required for select benefits.

For more details, check out our Amex Platinum review .

Official application link: The Platinum Card from American Express

American Express® Gold Card

One of the most popular cards with TPG staffers, the American Express Gold Card offers 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership. This welcome offer is worth $1,200 based on our valuations — but be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you're targeted for an even higher offer (offer subject to change at any time).

The Amex Gold Card is great for many everyday purchases. You'll earn 4 points per dollar on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants. The card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees ).

For more details, check out our Amex Gold review .

Official application link: American Express Gold Card

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership. Per our valuations, this welcome offer is worth at least $2,400, but you can get even more value when redeeming for high-end airfare.

You'll find many lesser-known Amex Business Platinum perks that are similar to (but slightly different from) the personal version. Check out our comparison of the Amex Platinum and the Business Platinum to see which card fits your wallet better.

For more details, check out our Amex Business Platinum review .

Official application link: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Capital One Venture X Business

The Capital One Venture X Business card launched in September 2023. The card currently offers a welcome bonus of 150,000 miles after you spend $30,000 in the first three months from account opening. While that's a large spending requirement, those rewards can go a long way toward your next trip.

The Venture X Business features perks that are nearly identical to those on the personal version of the card — including a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel , extensive airport lounge access and 10,000 bonus miles each year after your cardholder anniversary.

For more details, check out our Capital One Venture X Business review .

Official application link: Capital One Venture X Business

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card offers a generous welcome bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months after card opening, worth over $2,000 by our current valuation. This could be a great option for business owners looking to benefit from a six-figure welcome bonus who might not reach the higher spending requirements of the Capital One Venture X Business welcome offer .

This card also offers triple points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each year on travel; shipping; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines.

For more details, check out our Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review .

Official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Airline credit cards

Delta and Amex announced changes to the Delta Amex cards in February. But, alongside this announcement, we also got new Delta credit card welcome offers :

*Bonus value is based on TPG valuations and is not provided or reviewed by the issuer.

Check out our list of the best travel credit cards for other options that could fit your wallet.

Related: How to choose the best credit card for you

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Business Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Business Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Business Card, click here .

Major Airlines Are Raising Baggage Fees — 5 Tricks To Avoid Paying Them

A merican Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Delta all recently raised their fees for checked baggage, as  GOBankingRates previously reported . But you don’t have to pay baggage fees if you learn how to pack smart and book your trip smarter.

Discover More: Why Are Flights So Expensive Right Now? 7 Factors Impacting Prices

Check Out: 5 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

The Reddit forum r/Frugal offers tons of tips on how to save money on travel. Frugal traveler r5d400 noted that packing light is a learned skill that has saved them tons of money.

“I see so many people paying for airline bags when it’s a super short trip, or having to pay to do their laundry on location for a < 1 week trip,” they wrote. “I do all my trips, including 2 week trips, with a single backpack. This includes trip[s] to snowy places which require heavier clothing. The jacket doesn’t need to go in the backpack, just carry it on your hand… [roughly] 100 bucks of airline luggage saved!”

Buy What You Need When You Arrive

You can slim down your carry-on bag or lighten your checked luggage load by purchasing trial sizes of personal items like toothpaste and deodorant when you reach your destination. Also, take advantage of the hotel’s shampoo, conditioner, and soaps. If you can streamline your beauty routine when you travel, you will have less to pack.

Join the Frequent Flyer Club

Joining a frequent flyer club has many benefits, including waived baggage fees. You may not even have to accrue enough miles to reach a higher tier to enjoy this benefit. For instance, Delta offers waived baggage fees to SkyMiles Medallion members beginning at the first (Silver) level.

Use the Right Credit Card

Several top-tier travel credit cards or cards affiliated with certain airlines will waive checked bag fees when you book your flight with that card. For instance, the American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator card issued by Barclay’s Bank lets you check one bag free for yourself and four companions traveling with you. You also enjoy preferred boarding for you and four companions, plus 25% off in-flight purchases.

Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit for any travel-related purchases, which you can apply to checked bag fees on any airline.

Know the Rules for Your Airline

You have to know the rules for baggage fees before you can find ways to avoid them. Check the airlines’ website to find the most up-to-date information and policies, including sizes, weights, and how many bags you can check or carry on.

More From GOBankingRates

• The Single Best Thing To Buy at Aldi in March 2024
• 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle
• This is One of the Best Ways to Boost Your Retirement Savings in 2024
• 6 Things You Should Never Do With Your Tax Refund (Do This Instead)

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Major Airlines Are Raising Baggage Fees — 5 Tricks To Avoid Paying Them