Latest news with #ThePointsGuy
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I'm a frequent flyer - here's how you can REALLY bag a flight upgrade
It's the one thing most flight passengers want but can't have - the chance to turn left on a plane and make their trip at 38,000ft a whole lot more comfortable. With business and first class tickets often priced at thousands above the cost of a seat at the back of the plane, they remain accessible only to the wealthy, or business travellers whose companies will foot the bill. However, several flight experts have shared their wisdom on tips and tricks to get a spot at the front of the plane without coughing up the full price. Speaking to The Independent, Gilbert Ott, founder of travel site said that buying a ticket in premium economy, often just a few hundred pounds more than an economy seat, can often secure you a place at the front of the queue for upgrades. Ott told the publication that the smallest cabin on the plane often gets the most oversold: 'They love to oversell this cabin with upgrades, effectively selling a seat on the plane twice to someone. 'And since it's such a small cabin, here you're most likely to receive a complimentary bump to business or first class.' And if you're travelling with a more budget operator, such as easyJet or Ryanair? Another expert, Zach Griff, senior reporter at travel brand The Points Guy, says a last-minute check-in is often the key to a better seat. He explained that often the most expensive seats on low-cost airlines are still sold right until the last moment - and when it's time to fly, you might bag an eleventh hour move to a more comfortable, better appointed seat. The travel sage said: 'If they end up going unsold, it's possible they might assign them to the last people checking in.' Earlier this year, Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away UK, shared how to 'position yourself as a prime candidate' for the cabin crew to move you up to business – or even first class – absolutely free of charge. The first tip from Dawn is simply just to ask. She told the Express: 'When you check in, smile warmly and simply ask, 'Are there any upgrade opportunities available today?' 'This phrasing is important - it's polite, direct, and shows you understand upgrades aren't guaranteed.' But the timing of this question is also just as important, says Dawn. She explains: 'Check in early, when more premium seats are likely available, but not during peak busy periods when staff are rushed. And always ask discreetly - never demand an upgrade in front of other passengers.' Even your clothes could also make all the difference, so Dawn recommends choosing your airport outfit very wisely – and making a bit of an effort with your appearance. She says: 'Smart-casual clothing sends a signal that you'll 'fit in' with the premium cabin environment. 'Think neat jeans or trousers, a collared shirt or nice top, and clean, decent shoes.' Telling the staff you're celebrating something like a honeymoon or big birthday could also lead to cabin crew giving you special treatment. Dawn adds: 'I've seen couples get upgraded because they mentioned their anniversary. One pair even received complimentary champagne in business class.' Dawn also recommends being flexible with your travel plans and keeping an eye out for oversold flights - often during school holidays or weekends – as 'these flights offer better upgrade opportunities'. But there are some big, 'simple mistakes' Dawn says many people make that 'instantly ruin their chances of an upgrade'. She says: 'Asking loudly in front of other passengers, arriving at the gate just before boarding, or being rude to staff are all guaranteed ways to stay in economy. 'Remember that upgrades are at the discretion of airline staff – they're more likely to reward polite, appreciative customers who've shown loyalty to their airline. 'Even if you're nervous or excited, stay calm and friendly. 'A little genuine courtesy goes a long way when upgrade decisions are being made.'
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Club JSX: Why Can't Offering A Great Airline Experience Be Enough?
Aviation's newest loyalty program is receiving what might be described as a lukewarm response from the various websites that cover the business of rewarding frequent travelers. The Points Guy wrote, 'Club JSX may not offer any standout features that set it apart from the airline loyalty crowd, but it provides a straightforward way for travelers to earn rewards and save money on future flights.' JSX enables flyers to show up 20 minutes prior to departure and bypass large, crowded airport ... More terminals. Doug Gollan One Mile At A Time put it this way: '[T]his isn't exactly the most creative loyalty program out there. You're basically getting a flat 5% back, in the form of future flight credits,' adding, 'There's not all that much to this program, and no elite tiers.' Live And Let's Fly didn't bother to assess the new frequent flyer program. However, it did make the case that the public charter, which operates between private terminals, should have to return its most recent award. The blog wrote, 'World's Best Airlines survey from Travel + Leisure awards JSX best US domestic carrier, but it shouldn't really be eligible.' The writer asks, 'How could a carrier that runs such limited routes possibly beat out carriers that competently fly beyond niche markets and limited frequencies?' He adds, 'The real question is whether a tiny boutique carrier should be considered among the likes of Delta, United, Southwest, and American.' One poster responded by replying, 'Haters gonna hate. It says best, not biggest. They (JSX) win hands down.' Upgraded Points was one of the few loyalty sites that had a more positive view. JSX offers an upgraded inflight experience with roomier seating, free WiFi, drinks and snacks in a ... More single class. Doug Gollan It commented, 'This is excellent news for travelers, as they can now earn rewards on JSX flights, in addition to the points or miles they'll earn for booking flights with a travel rewards credit card,' continuing, 'What makes this program even more interesting is how easy it is to earn rewards from flying, pooling with family and friends, and even when flying on your birthday month. Plus, in a customer-friendly move, JSX says you can combine rewards, vouchers, and travel credits together on a new reservation, and they'll be used in the order of soonest expiration.' While View From The Wing's Gary Leff said he isn't signing up since JSX doesn't currently serve his home airport in Austin, he did at least get to the bottom line from my perspective: 'If they serve the routes you want to fly, there's no question they offer a better experience than competitors.' To be fair, most of the loyalty bloggers did highlight JSX enables flyers to avoid crowded terminals, offers more comfortable seating, free WiFi, checked baggage, and is pet friendly, among other benefits. And for JSX, more than that, it always felt like they were adding extra niceties – free snacks, WiFi – in an industry where announcements for enhancements are a code for taking something away - or an opportunity to charge a bit more. The point analysts lament there are no elite tiers, which would give us additional shiny cards to chase, although many programs no longer reward you with rectangular plastic. They also note that you can't double dip for points with JetBlue and United Airlines, where there was already the ability to earn points when flying JSX. For me, the letdown about Club JSX is that they even started it. Once upon a time, airlines competed with friendly service, fancy meals, and inflight lounges – yes, lounges in economy class on the airplane - instead of bonus points and new tiers of even higher status to chase. With its plan to add ATR turboprops, I am hoping JSX will bring more service to South Florida where I reside. I've only flown JSX twice – once from Miami to Dallas and then Denver to Las Vegas. For me, flying JSX is the reward. Being able to show up around 20 minutes before departure, not having to traverse terminals that require a train to the plane, comfortable seating, and not having to pay for WiFi that doesn't even work well, more than offsets chasing point. As a holder of lifetime status in three airline loyalty programs and one hotel program, I find the programs to be great. Still, they encourage us to tolerate mediocrity at the expense of simply selecting the best products, whether based on schedule, location or, with JSX, its differentiated experience.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Delta Airlines May Adopt AI Fare System: What It Would Mean For Travellers
Delta Airlines may soon become the first carrier to use artificial intelligence (AI) to set ticket prices. It will test the AI-driven pricing system over the next 18-24 months, the airline has said, as per The New York Post. If the AI technology yields positive results, Delta Airlines may implement it permanently, travel site View From The Wing reported. To get things started, the airline plans to use AI to set ticket prices for up to 20 percent of its domestic flights by the end of 2025. Delta Airlines President Glen Hauenstein said that the company was evaluating how ticket prices should be set up to offer more personalised and relevant options to each traveller. He added that the goal was to benefit the customer and offer the right ticket at the right price, as per View From the Wing. He said, "[It's] a full re-engineering of how we price, and how we will be pricing in the future," adding, "[It's to] get inside the mind of our consumer and present them something that is relevant to them, at the right time, at the right price." The airline earlier announced it would experiment with AI to set prices for 1 percent of its tickets based on how much the customer was willing to pay. So instead of offering a fixed price, the AI would suggest a fixed price customised as per each individual based on things like demand, timings and customer behaviour, reported the outlet. Mr Hauenstein told The Street, "What we have today with AI is a super analyst. We have an analyst that's working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and trying to simulate in real time, given the same inputs that an analyst sees today, what should the price points be?" This implies that the pricing of one flight out of every five will be determined by an AI program that calculates the maximum amount that customers are willing to pay for their ticket. "We like what we see. We like it a lot, and we're continuing to roll it out," said Delta. For the seventh consecutive year, Delta Airlines was named the top US airline. It was also recognised as the nation's most reliable airline for on-time flights, according to The Points Guy.
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Delta will soon use AI to set its ticket prices — here's what this means for travelers
Let AI do it. People are turning to AI for couples therapy and money hacks to pay down debt — now, airlines are relying on it to set ticket prices. The Atlanta-based airline is one of the first of its kind to publicly announce its use of artificial intelligence. Last fall, Delta said it planned to use AI technology to price 1% of its tickets at whatever a customer was willing to pay. The Atlanta-based airline hopes to utilize AI to do the dirty work of setting ticket prices. Charlie's – Now, reportedly, the airline is hoping to utilize AI to set ticket prices on 20% of its domestic flights by the end of the year, according to The Points Guy. On an earnings call last week, Delta announced that it will test out the tech setting flight prices for approximately 18-24 months to see if it's successful — and if it is, it seems that the airlines will make it a permanent thing, according to View From The Wing. Ultimately, Delta wants this new change to be in the customer's favor. '[It's] a full re-engineering of how we price, and how we will be pricing in the future. [It's to] get inside the mind of our consumer and present them something that is relevant to them, at the right time, at the right price,' Glen Hauenstein, Delta's President, said, according to View From The Wing. The Post reached out to Delta Airlines for a comment. Operating with a customer-first approach is maybe how Delta landed on the list of the best airlines of 2025. Delta's AI ticket pricing will undergo a test period lasting approximately 18-24 months. AFP via Getty Images According to The Points Guy, the airlines not only took the cake for the seventh year in a row — but it was also named the most reliable on-time airline in the U.S. 'What put Delta over the top in 2025 was its strength across all the categories we analyzed, from the consistently strong, on-time airline operation it runs to the experience customers have at the airport and in their seats,' the outlet wrote in their report. Of course, with every good thing comes some bad. Earlier this month, a flap from a Delta Airlines flight on its way to Raleigh-Durham International Airport from Atlanta fell from the sky and landed on a driveway in a North Carolina neighborhood. The flag was 'evidently separated' from the left wing, yet the flight managed to have a safe landing once it reached its destination, according to a spokesperson.
14-07-2025
What to know about secondhand travel booking: Expert tips to get discounts on dream destinations
If your wanderlust has had you wondering how to score travel to a dream destination for less, look no further than secondhand vacations. Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy, told "Good Morning America" that the "fairly new trend" of buying trips from people who have had to cancel their non-refundable stays has cropped up with an increased interest from travelers hoping to save. Websites such as SpareFare, Roomer, Plans Change and Transfer Travel offer discounted accommodations to would-be travelers who can purchase trips from someone that's no longer able to make it. The sites also offer discounts on hotel room rates, flights and packages that are particularly helpful for anyone looking to go overseas. "They're sort of like eBay," Henderson said. "You can go and bid on 'used' vacations -- people who can't take their trips are selling on these marketplaces." While there are variables to the markdowns, savings are still on the horizon with these sites. For example, a luxury cruise from Virgin Voyages -- five-nights for two adults, complete with an extra-large sea terrace -- that was originally listed at $3,192 is now being offered for just $2,600 -- a nearly 20% discount. One recent Roomer offer in the Netherlands had a five-night stay at Urban Residences Rotterdam, originally priced at $753, available for just $50. As with all travel bookings, Henderson suggests reading the fine print carefully when searching for deals on reseller sites and considering airline vacation packages. "One of my favorites is AA Vacations," he said, referring to American Airlines bundle offers. "A lot of times, I'll find deals up to 40% off. You pick the hotel, you pick the flight you want, you pick the dates." While secondhand sites can provide travelers with another tool in the hunt for bargains, Henderson explained that there's a caveat when it comes to ticket changes. "It is really, really, really hard, especially these days, in a post-9/11 world, to change the name on an airline ticket," he reminded. "You would have to find out if the airline will allow you to change the name. A lot of times, there's fees for ticket name changes, and there could even be a ticket repricing."
