The Sky Lagoon opened in 2021, and that might be part of its appeal. It's not a hidden gem by any means – you'll notice plenty of ads for it the moment you land in Iceland – but it doesn't yet have the same level of notoriety or crowds as the Blue Lagoon. Much like other thermal pools, Sky Lagoon leans into a schtick: the seven-step ritual, a wellness routine you can (and should) partake in, inspired by traditional Icelandic bathing culture. But it works.

I visited both on a recent trip to Iceland and let me tell you: If you can only squeeze one thermal pool into your itinerary, Sky Lagoon should be the one. Here's why.
 

Where is Sky Lagoon?

The Sky Lagoon is located about 15 minutes from the center of Reykjavik and about 45 minutes from Keflavik airport. That makes the Blue Lagoon a more convenient option for a quick visit during a layover, while Sky Lagoon is easy to work into a stay in Reykjavik.

To get to Sky Lagoon, you can take a taxi or rideshare from Reykjavik. If you've rented a car, there's a free parking lot available.

The geothermal spa is located right on the tip of a peninsula. The view of the fjord as you walk in is breathtaking.
 

Sky Lagoon Tickets

It's not a better choice because it's cheaper.

Cost-wise, it's on par with the Blue Lagoon – plus, your ticket doesn't come with a free first drink or mud mask. But the experience more than makes up for it.

Like the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon uses dynamic pricing to account for busy travel times. There are three packages you can choose from, but only two of the three include the seven-step ritual. The general admission ticket starts at $65, but if you want to partake in the seven-step ritual you'll end up paying about $22 more.

Here’s what you get with each ticket:

Pure Lite: The general admission ticket

• Prices start at around $65
• Sky Lagoon admission (and unlimited visits to the cold plunge pool)
• Includes towel

Pure: The slightly upgraded package, includes the seven-step ritual

• Prices start around $87
• Sky Lagoon admission (and unlimited visits to the cold plunge pool)
• One trip through the seven-step ritual
• Includes towel

Sky: The most expensive package

• Prices start around $110
• Sky Lagoon admission
• One trip through the seven-step ritual
• Private changing room
• Includes towel

Thrifty Tip: Prices tend to be cheaper in the first and last few hours of the Sky Lagoon's open hours. If you're looking to save, choose the cheapest time to visit! There isn't a maximum time limit, so picking a morning time can get you more bang for your buck.

While you can purchase tickets at the front desk, you can save 10% by booking ahead online, which is what we did. We booked a 7 p.m. time slot during the peak summer travel season, paying about $99 for the Pure package because it included the seven-step ritual.

It was definitely the priciest thermal pool we visited, but keep in mind that Iceland is a notoriously expensive country.

What to Expect at the Sky Lagoon

After checking in, you're given a wristband that locks and unlocks your locker and acts as a credit card for any food or drinks you purchase during your stay.

The locker rooms were the nicest I encountered at any of the thermal pools I visited during my time in Iceland. They were spacious and upscale, with soft wood and stone accents.
 

You first enter the pool through a cave tunnel, then follow the twists and turns of the high lava rock walls through the pool until you're met with an incredible vista of the ocean and nearby mountains. The pool's infinity edge makes it easy to forget you're just minutes from the center of Iceland's largest city.
 

On one end of the spacious pool, there's a waterfall you can swim under. On the other, there's a cold plunge pool and a building where you'll go through the seven-step ritual, built in the style of an Icelandic turf house. There's a swim-up bar and plenty of underwater benches to relax on throughout.
 

Personally, the cold plunge pool was one of my favorite features of the Sky Lagoon. Leaving the warmth of the thermal pool and submerging yourself in the icy water for a short period of time is supposed to stimulate your immune system and reduce inflammation in addition to giving a natural endorphin rush, according to the Sky Lagoon website. We probably did the cold plunge three or four times during our stay, and it made the warm pool feel even better.

When we arrived, the pool was fairly crowded and there was no shortage of people filming videos or taking photos with their cell phones. Still, there were plenty of quiet alcoves to tuck into if you want a little privacy.
 

We arrived at 7 p.m. and stayed until close, which was great as the pool emptied out towards the end of the night and we had it practically to ourselves. That made the experience even better. Plus, we visited during the midnight sun, when Iceland sees nearly 24 hours of daylight. This was our view at 10:30 p.m.
 

We had spent most of the day driving the Golden Circle, so a few hours at the Sky Lagoon was the perfect way to unwind after a long day in the car.

Sky Lagoon Food & Drinks

The swim-up bar had wine, beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. Guests are limited to three drinks, regardless of how long they spend in the pool.
 

I opted for a glass of sparkling white wine and some of my friends ordered one of the Icelandic beers on tap. Prices were on par with what you'd find at most bars and restaurants in Iceland, ranging from about $12 for beer and wine to $18 for a cocktail.

There are several food options at the Sky Lagoon – the Smakk Bar and the Sky Café, both located outside the pool area. We didn't eat at either, but they offered some traditional Icelandic dishes and treats as well as coffee and drinks.

Sky Lagoon Seven-Step Ritual

If you booked the ticket that includes the seven-step ritual, you'll get a second wristband that will get you into the turf house. A staff member will take your wristband before you enter, as you'll only get to go through the ritual once (although all guests are welcome to use the cold plunge pool as many times as they wish).

The seven-step ritual includes:

• Relax in the thermal pool
• Cold plunge
• Sauna
• Cold mist
• Cleansing sea salt scrub
• Steam
• Shower

You can go through the ritual at any time. We spent about an hour in the thermal pool before starting the next step: the cold plunge.
 

The staff doesn't give you many instructions on what to do at each step, but we asked a staff member and they recommended spending at least 30 seconds in the frigid water. In the sauna, a massive floor-to-ceiling window allows you to look out over the fjord as you relax in the heat.

After cooling down with the cold mist, we applied the cleansing sea salt scrub and entered the steam room. The steam is supposed to open your pores and allow the scrub to seep in. You finish the ritual with a quick shower to rinse off the scrub before leaving the turf house and reentering the main pool area.

At times, both the sauna and steam room felt a bit crowded. I don't know whether Sky Lagoon limits how many people can go through the seven-step ritual at a time, but it's worth keeping an eye on how many guests you've seen go inside the turf house and timing your own ritual accordingly.

You can take as long (or as little) time to go through the steps as you would like, but you can't redo any of them. I'd recommend going through slowly to really get the full effect.

Overall, I felt the seven-step ritual was worth it. I returned to the main pool feeling both relaxed and invigorated.

Sky Lagoon vs. Blue Lagoon: Which is Better?

Iceland is known for its hot springs and geothermally-heated pools, none more recognizable than the Blue Lagoon. It's one of the most popular attractions in Iceland, largely due to its proximity to the airport and unique milky blue waters rich in silica, algae, and other minerals.
 

The two have some clear similarities. For starters, neither the Blue Lagoon nor the Sky Lagoon is a natural hot spring: They're both man-made lagoons with geothermally heated water.

The Blue Lagoon is bigger and has far more onsite amenities than the Sky Lagoon, including a hotel, spa packages, and several onsite restaurants. And even a general admission ticket for the Blue Lagoon includes a free first drink of your choice and a complimentary silica mud mask as well as unlimited access to the sauna and steam room.

But the Blue Lagoon has its drawbacks. First and foremost: It's crowded.

When we arrived at 9 p.m. in late June, the parking lot was still completely full and the locker rooms felt a bit chaotic. And while the warm, blue waters of the Blue Lagoon itself are a sight to behold, the atmosphere behind you resembles more of a theme park than a relaxing spa.

Read more: Is the Blue Lagoon in Iceland Worth it?
 

The Sky Lagoon pool, by comparison, is much smaller. Yet it doesn't yet see the same crowds as the Blue Lagoon. The Sky Lagoon is also newer and felt more upscale. And while the seven-step ritual comes with an added cost, it was one of several things at the Sky Lagoon that felt more like an authentic Icelandic experience.

But the Sky Lagoon's best selling point might be the views. The Sky Lagoon is located on a peninsula overlooking the sea, allowing you to take views of the sea as you relax in the warm, thermal waters.

But there's no reason you can't visit both! We spent time at both the Sky Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon, as well as another thermal bath, Geosea, in north Iceland. Each offers a different experience and I found all three to be enjoyable and relaxing – crowds or not.

I'm glad I experienced the Blue Lagoon … but I don't feel a strong need to go back. But if (read as: when) I go back to Iceland, I would definitely pay the Sky Lagoon another visit.

Bottom Line

From the upscale locker rooms to the unique Icelandic design of the pool to the seven-step ritual that was well worth the money, the Sky Lagoon stood out as my favorite of the three thermal pools I visited during my recent trip to Iceland.

If you're spending any time in Reykjavik – or anywhere in Iceland, really – the Sky Lagoon should be on your list.

Why? Because it's prime time to start thinking about – and maybe even book – some trips for next summer.

I know I know: It's hard to think that far ahead. But airlines sell flights at least 11 months in advance, meaning you can book flights right now for next July – and they're adding more flights every single day. You might be able to score a cheap cash fare with some advance planning, but especially if you're hoping to use points and miles to fly to Europe, Asia, or elsewhere next summer, searching for award space right when the schedule opens will give you the best shot.

Here's a closer look at why it's time to start thinking about your travel plans for next summer.

Airfare Savings & Flexibility

Almost every airline sells flights at least 11 months in advance – and some go out as far as a full calendar year. And while there is no best day to book flights, it can pay to book as early as you can … sometimes. 

There's no ironclad rule on how far in advance you should book to get the best deal. We search for cheap flights and deals for our Thrifty Traveler Premium members every single day, and great fares can pop up at almost any time. But here's what we can tell you with absolute certainty:

• You should follow the Flight First Rule: Book your flights before you do any other travel planning to give yourself the flexibility to jump on the cheapest flights.
• The longer you give yourself to find a good deal, the higher your odds are of scoring a cheap flight. That's just logic.
• If your plans are already set in stone, set a Google Flights price alert for your dates and route ASAP to track prices and book when you see a fare you like.

There's no guarantee you'll find the best deal by booking a June flight today versus waiting a few months. But it never hurts to start monitoring flight prices now.

And even if flight prices decrease after you book, you don't have to kick yourself. Most U.S. airlines no longer charge fees to change your flight – so long as you booked at least a main cabin economy fare. That means with Delta, for example, you can rebook your flight after a price drop and get a Delta eCredit for the difference.

Look at how our editor Kyle got $38 back on his Delta fare when the price went down on his flight to Dallas.

But fair warning: Don't book basic economy fares if you're planning this far out. There's too much uncertainty, and you can't change or cancel these fares without a sizable fee – and some airlines don't allow it, period.

Finally, although it's a small perk, it's definitely something to be among the first to make your seat selections. Being one of the first fares booked on the plane allows you a clear map to choose from when making your seat choice. Want an aisle or window seat? Need to be closer to the front? Want a shot at the exit row? Traveling with family members, kids, or friends? Book early.

So long as you're booking Main Cabin fares, booking (or at least searching) 11 months out is always a good strategy.

Our Best Summer 2024 Flight Deals So Far

Here are some example fares of cheap flights we've already found for summer 2024!

Just last week, we sent this flight deal to our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers highlighting an unadvertised sale on fares to Vancouver!

I was really excited by this deal, and not just because Vancouver is one of my favorite cities on Earth. The best part about this flight deal was that it included late summer 2023 availability, fall colors availability, peak ski season availability, and June 2024 dates, too!

Just when you need to escape the desert sun the most, you can jump on a nonstop WestJet flight from Las Vegas (LAS) to Vancouver (YVR) and get your summer started right.

A little closer to home, you can take advantage of low fares on domestic flights too.

This flight deal to New York City featured some amazingly cheap fares for late this summer, but also some wide, wide (and I mean wide) open availability for next June, too. Look at these example fares from Orlando to New York City. You can pretty much pick whatever hour of the day you want to fly and whatever seat on the plane you'd like with this availability.

And remember, if that price drops even further, you can cancel and rebook at the lower fare for free and Delta will give you a voucher for the difference.

It's not just economy flights – you can find some lie-flat seats for a bargain, too! Like these low business class fares we found to London (LHR) from Boston (BOS) recently.

We loved this deal for its Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's availability, but the most underrated part might be the June 2024 dates sneaking onto the calendar. Nonstop flights to London in peak summer shouldn't be this cheap!

Get flight deals like this one in your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium!

Better Premium Cabin Award Space

Speaking of business class, when it comes to using your points and miles to book flights, looking nearly a year out can be crucial.

Award space is fickle, especially if you're looking to fly lie-flat in business or first class. There aren't that many of those seats on every flight, so securing a lie-flat ride across the Atlantic can be tough. Airlines constantly re-evaluate when to release more seats bookable with miles as planes fill up or seats stay empty. But there are two clear sweet spots:

• If you're a serious procrastinator, many airlines tend to release award seats within the last two to four weeks before departure
• But many airlines also release a handful of award tickets on every flight right when the calendar opens, 11-plus months out.

Read more about the best ways to book business class!

See where I'm going with this? If you're aiming to fly somewhere next summer, I would have my finger on the trigger, ready to book as soon as those dates are open.

These seats tend to go quickly – especially if you're booking a partner airline award using another program's miles (like flying Delta One Suites using Virgin Atlantic points, for example) because even fewer seats are made available. Booking way out gives you the first kick at the can.

Our Best Business Class Award Deals for Summer 2024 So Far

Here are a few examples of award availability we sent in the last few weeks to our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers.

While not every June date is available from every one of these British Airways gateway cities, your absolute best bet at booking one of these swanky seats is to start on your summer 2024 trip right now!

The seat you want is most likely to be available many, many months ahead of time if you're planning to book with points and miles.

Lodging is Wide-Open, Too

When you're booking almost a year out, that incredible treehouse-style Airbnb, swanky hotel suite, or glamping tent you've been eyeing are all still available.

Like the business or first class airplane seat you wanted first dibs on, the same goes for hotel and lodging availability. If you book far in advance, you're more likely to get your first pick.

This is especially useful for Airbnbs. A year (or more!) out, the map of Airbnbs in almost every city is going to be full of options, including the best ones. Plus, many Airbnb hosts offer early bird discounts to try and get their homes locked in way ahead of time – and more and more offer generous Airbnb cancellation policies that allow you to lock something in now and cancel free later on if plans change. It helps you book a cheaper rate and gives them a little cost certainty.

Take, for example, Airbnb's new “OMG!” category of homes. These strange mega mansions, treehouses, train cars, boats, underground bunkers, and…well…oddities, are some of the most sought-after destinations on Airbnb. But my search for June 2024 showed hundreds and hundreds of options across the world.

The prices are lower and the dates of availability are wide open. You can have almost any day (or days) you want!

A More Relaxed Planning Process

The logistical reasons to book your 2024 summer travel are obvious. You're getting first shot at the best flight deals, the best award space, and the best hotel availability, too.

Once you've booked your summer 2024 flights, your travel dates are locked in. And that makes the rest of the travel planning process that much easier.

You can be the first one to go to your boss or coworkers to request time off. And just like that, your vacation is on the calendar in the peak summer months before anyone else's. And now you have 10 more months to plan the rest of your trip. No more hurried planning, getting stuck with crappy accommodations, or picking through the scraps of tours, Airbnb Experiences, or sought-after dinner reservations.

Take your time and plan the trip you want, not the trip you end up with when you have to rush.

Keys to Booking Long-Range Trips

If you've read everything here and are itching to start booking your summer 2024 travel … well, just be careful. I have a few tips as you get going.

Book Flexibly

Three words: Main. Cabin. Fares.

The days of free changes on every single flight you can buy are long gone, and summer is a long time away. But major U.S. airlines (and many big international carriers) are still offering free changes so long as you book at least a main cabin ticket – not basic economy.

That's important for a few reasons. One, the airline might change your flight – in fact, it's reasonable to assume that the airline will change your flight at least a little bit. Buying a flexible fare is key to making sure you can adjust if an airline schedule change throws your travel out of whack.

And need I remind you … life happens! What if you land that dream job and have to move? You're not going to want that flight from your old hub. You can change your main cabin fare to your new departure city and the trip endures!

You have to protect yourself when you travel, whether that's tomorrow or in June 2024.

Book Your Flight First

I said it before and I'll say it again: Book your flights first.

This is so, so important. It could save you thousands on your next trip.

Don't book your hotel and then plan flights around it. The same goes for tours, experiences, dinner reservations, or other on-the-ground activities. The flights getting you to and from your destination should be the priority. If saving on flights is paramount – and it is – everything comes after that.

Track Your Flights for Changes

Once your flight is booked, you should go set up Google Flights price alerts on the fare you booked … immediately.

Why? If the cost of your changeable flight goes down and you get a Google Flights price alert about it in your email, you can re-book it and save some cash! In some cases, like with Delta. It won't put cash back in your pocket, but you can get the difference as a voucher or credit to use toward your next trip.

If the fare goes up, you'll at least get to laugh at what the other suckers on your plane will be paying for the same flight you booked at its cheapest months ago.

Bottom Line

This summer is coming to a close, but summer 2024 flights are coming onto the calendar.

From flexible pricing to maximum award space to lodging availability and more, there are tons of reasons you should be eyeing your 2024 summer trip even before summer 2023 comes to an end.

It's hard to think that far ahead, I know. But that's exactly why you'll get the best value and the peace of mind knowing your summer trip is ready to go!

The latest federal inflation report released Thursday shows that average airfare fell another 8% from June into July 2023, the fourth consecutive month with a substantial drop. Better yet, average flight prices were down nearly 19% compared to a year ago – dipping below pre-pandemic levels.

The trend is undeniable: After spiking last summer amid record inflation nationwide, airfare has been steadily dropping in 2023. But it's no surprise to us. Our team searches all day, every day for the cheapest domestic and international flights to send to our Thrifty Traveler Premium. We've been seeing these patterns (and amazingly cheap flight deals) that back up these big-picture inflation numbers
 

Keep in mind: Airfare is not a monolith. Just because flight prices dropped 8% last month doesn't mean all flights are 8% cheaper. There are tens of millions of individual fares out there. Some go up, some go down … and some go way, way down.

As the calendars turned from spring to summer, we repeatedly saw airlines slash prices on many routes for travel in the next few months, giving rise to the return of cheap, last-minute airfare deals. The sharp decrease is leaving the door open for travelers waiting for a late summer trip as well as those who already booked their summer getaways to rebook at the lower fare and save.

That's especially true domestically, where we've even seen the return of sub-$100 flights. That was unthinkable last summer when domestic flight prices were regularly in the $400s and $500s roundtrip. But lately, we've seen jaw-dropping, $96 fares to destinations like New Orleans (MSY), Asheville (AVL), Myrtle Beach (MYR), and several more fantastic cities for a trip late this summer or into the fall.
 

Why are domestic flight prices dropping? For starters, they're coming down from last year's historic high prices. But as travelers nationwide are flocking abroad for the first summer of restriction-free international travel in years, it has forced airlines to slash prices domestically in order to fill empty seats.

Several airlines have admitted they might have misjudged domestic travel demand this year, expecting a repeat of last year. Flight pricing is all about supply and demand: When the supply is higher than the demand, fares fall.

“We believed this summer we would see some of the extra COVID pent-up demand play out for those customers who were limited in being able to fly last year because fares were higher and capacity was more limited,” JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty told investors last week. “Obviously, that hasn't played out quite as we expected.”

“The fares this summer have come in lower than I think everyone in the industry had expected,” JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes added.

That dynamic has been playing out for months, and every airline is feeling it. The result is wave after wave of cheap domestic flights this summer, fall, and even into 2024.
 

But the trend extends beyond U.S. borders. It also holds true for some amazing Canadian destinations like Calgary (YYC) and nearby Banff National Park for $300 or less – flights that once cost $800 or more last year. Fares like this one to Montreal (YUL) from all the way down in Florida were unthinkable last year.
 

The same holds true south of the border down in Mexico and the Caribbean. Much like the states and Canada, several airline executives said flyers aren't flocking to destinations like Cancún (CUN) as much as they did a year ago. The result? Nonstop flights to the beach this fall for nearly half the normal price.
 

Flights to South America have undoubtedly been helping drive average flight prices down, too. While four-digit airfare to places like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile was getting to be too familiar over the last year, that's changed in a big way.
 

This flight deal to Santiago (SCL) features fares under $700 from dozens and dozens of North American airports on one-stop routes to the Patagonia gateway. You couldn't find a fare like this in 2022, that's for sure.

Bottom Line

We've said it before and we'll say it again (and again and again): Cheap flights haven't gone anywhere. They're getting easier to find.

After watching prices seemingly skyrocket last year, things are clearly moving in the right direction. While an 8% drop in average flight prices last month is impressive on its own, it's just the latest consecutive decrease, bringing flight prices down by nearly 19% compared to a year ago.

And there's a serious upshot for any traveler looking for bargains behind those numbers: Cheap fares within the U.S., to Canada, Mexico, and beyond.

These private spaces have a reputation as being only for first-class flyers or frequent travelers with top airline status. But that's wrong. While there are many ways to get airport lounge access, the easiest way boils down to what's in your wallet: Many top travel credit cards can get you into lounges.

These top-tier credit cards aren't free, of course. But along with other travel perks, getting into airport lounges – allowing you to skip the overpriced airport restaurants and bars – can easily outweigh the yearly cost of those cards. It's why we urge many travelers to do the math before ruling out credit cards with annual fees.

While some-top tier airline credit cards can get you into their own lounges, three other options stand out as the best credit cards for airport lounge access – both domestically and around the world. What are they?

Here are the best credit cards for lounge access in 2023.
 

The Best Credit Cards for Lounge Access in 2023

The Platinum Card® from American Express

When it comes to getting into airport lounges, one card stands far above the rest.

*amex platinum* is without question the top dog of premium travel cards offering complimentary airport lounge access. No card will get you into more airport lounges than the Amex Platinum Card, period.

Just for holding this card, you get access to a long list of lounges. Hold tight – like I said, it's a long list.

American Express Centurion Lounges

American Express’s signature collection of airport lounges scattered across the U.S. (and increasingly abroad) put most other lounges to shame. With more than a dozen locations around the U.S. and abroad, these lounges have set the bar high. Each and every Centurion Lounge offers food curated by local celebrity chefs; free beer, high-end wine, and cocktails; and even spa services in some locations. There’s comfortable seating, power outlets, quiet spaces to work, and more.

Read more: Master Guide to Amex Centurion Lounges: Locations, Access & More
 

Amex Centurion lounges can only be accessed by cardholders with either *amex platinum* or *biz platinum* – though *delta reserve card* cardholders can get in if they're flying Delta that day.

After paying the annual fee of $695 for the Platinum Card (see rates & fees) or $695 on the Business Platinum Card (see rates & fees), you can use your card to get into these lounges free. But you can no longer bring guests in free: As of Feb. 1, 2023, guests cost $50 apiece (or $30 for minors) unless you charged a whopping $75,000 to your Platinum Card in the last year. Guests two years and younger are complimentary.

There are currently Centurion lounges in Seattle (SEA), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), San Francisco (SFO), Las Vegas (LAS), Houston (IAH), Miami (MIA), Philadelphia (PHL), New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), New York City (JFK), Hong Kong (HKG), Denver (DEN), Phoenix (PHX), Charlotte (CLT), Los Angeles (LAX), and London-Heathrow (LHR). New locations are underway in Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA) and Atlanta (ATL).

If you frequently travel through any airport with a Centurion Lounge, the Platinum Card can be a slam dunk for that reason alone. Make sure to check out our YouTube video review of the Centurion Lounge in Denver (DEN).
 

Priority Pass Select Airport Lounge Access

The Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express also offer Priority Pass Select membership, a network of more than 1,200 lounges across the globe.

You'll find these lounges at many airports across the U.S. and abroad. Most are part of independent lounge operators that partner with Priority Pass for airport lounge access, though you will find some airline-operated lounges, too.
 

Just for holding the Platinum Card, you will get a complimentary Priority Pass membership which also allows you to bring in up to two guests with you on each visit.

Just what you’ll get in each lounge can vary widely in terms of size, food, beverages, and amenities. Some Priority Pass lounges are outstanding, while many are fairly simple. Still, even the worst Priority Pass lounge is generally better than sitting at the gate before your flight.

At a minimum, you can get some free water, drinks, and light snacks. Generally speaking, Priority Pass lounges abroad are much nicer than what you’ll find within the U.S. Enrollment is required.

One thing to note: Priority Pass Memberships obtained from an American Express credit card no longer offer access to Priority Pass restaurants. This benefit was nixed back in 2019.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Priority Pass Lounges
 

Delta Sky Clubs

If you often fly Delta, the *amex platinum* might just be the best card for you. That's right, not a Delta credit card.

Just for holding the card, you get complimentary access to any Delta Sky Club so long as you are flying Delta that. You will not, however, be able to bring guests in for free – you can pay for up to two guests for $50 each. And Delta has imposed a handful of additional restrictions in the last year that could make it more difficult to get in.

Consider this: An individual Delta Sky Club membership costs at least $695 a year … and you need Delta Medallion Status in order to buy it. Meanwhile, you can get the same Sky Club access in addition to all the other Amex Platinum benefits for that same fee.

With over 200 locations & partner lounges worldwide, you don’t have to try terribly hard to find one if you are flying with the airline. Check out our full reviews of the Delta Sky Club lounges in Atlanta (ATL), Washington D.C. – Reagan (DCA), Phoenix (PHX), Seattle (SEA), Austin (AUS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), San Francisco (SFO), and the incredible new Los Angeles (LAX) Sky Club to see what's in store.

Read more: How to Access the Delta Sky Club in 2023 and Beyond
 

Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium, Airspace Lounges & More

In addition to the top-notch lounges above, the Amex Global Lounge Collection will get you into a handful of other smaller lounge networks.

The Escape Lounge – Centurion Studio Partner lounges network is solid – in fact, it's a great alternative to the Delta Sky Club at our home airport, the Escape Lounge MSP at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP). Like Priority Pass and the Centurion Lounges, you will be able to bring in up to two guests with you on each visit free of charge.

There are also domestic lounges at Oakland (OAK), two lounges in Phoenix (PHX), Reno-Tahoe (RNO), Sacramento (SMF), Cincinnati (CVG), Columbus (CMH), and others, as well as a few lounges in the U.K. in Manchester (MAN) and London Stansted (STN). See the full list of Escape Lounge locations in the U.S. here.

Read more: Escape Lounge – Centurion Studio Partner Minneapolis (MSP) Review
 

Plaza Premium Lounges are some of the best that you'll find in Europe and Asia – and two U.S. locations and counting at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Orlando (MCO). They even have an incredible Plaza Premium First Lounge at Hong Kong (HKG), a step above even the normal Plaza Premium lounges with made-to-order food which requires a small surcharge to get in.
 

Finally, you can also get into Airspace Lounges – actually, make that Airspace Lounge, as there's only one. The sole remaining Airspace Lounge is in San Diego (SAN). While simple, it's quite nice.

Full Benefits of the Platinum Card® from American Express

While *amex platinum* has an annual fee of $695, you could make up for that with its bonus points, money-saving credits, and travel benefits.

• Welcome offer bonus: bonus_miles_full But check to see if you can get 150,000 points via the CardMatch tool!
• 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent directly with airlines or at amextravel.com on up to $500,000 spent in this category each calendar year
• Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
• Up to a $189 annual CLEAR® Plus credit
• Up to $200 Annual Airline Credit
• Up to a $200 Annual Hotel Credit for Fine Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Collection Bookings (minimum two-night stay for Hotel Collection bookings)
• Up to a $300 Equinox Gym Credit
• Up to a $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases at Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, and The New York Times.
• Up to $200 in Annual Uber Cash: Up to $15 each month (and up to $35 in December)
• Up to $100 each year to be used at Saks Fifth Avenue (enrollment required).
• Hilton & Marriott Gold Elite Status (enrollment required).
• Annual Fee: $695 (see rates & fees)

Learn more about *amex platinum*.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The *venture x* is the new kid on the block.

Capital One made a huge splash by launching its first-ever premium travel credit card in November 2021. It's easily the most exciting new credit card to hit the market in years – if ever – and part of that comes down to its ability to get you into the brand-new Capital One Lounges.

After years of planning and months of building, Capital One finally has its own branded airport lounge back in 2021. There’s just one so far – an incredible new space in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), but the second and third locations are opening in Denver (DEN) and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) sometime yet this year. The company also plans to open dedicated dining spaces for cardholders called Capital One Landings in Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA) and New York City-LaGuardia (LGA).

Read more: Get 75K MIles, Lounge Access & More with the Capital One Venture X Card
 

Capital One Lounges

The first (and, to date, only) Capital One Lounge location in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) is an incredible space. In fact, it might just be one of the best lounges you'll find in the U.S.

In our opinion, these are going to be the first real competitor to the American Express Centurion Lounges. And the brand new *venture x* will get you and two guests into the Capital One lounge for free.

Incredibly, Capital One also does not charge for Venture X authorized users. You can add up to four authorized users to your account at no additional cost. Best of all? Those authorized users will get their own lounge access with the ability to bring up to two complimentary guests as well.

Read More: How to Get Airport Lounge Access for the Whole Family with 1 Credit Card
 

The Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) lounge itself clocks in around 10,000 square feet, but it feels much bigger than that. There’s an open and airy design, with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the tarmac below. Everything feels bright, fresh, and new. Once you enter the lounge, there’s plenty of seating, with armchairs, cafe-style tables, and long sofas.

Whether you’re at the bar, at a high-top table, or lounging somewhere else, there are power outlets and USB ports seemingly everywhere.
 

Capital One put a big emphasis on offering excellent food and drinks in this lounge. That holds up for every visitor. And once you’re in the door, it’s all free.
 

Read our full review of the Capital One Lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)

Priority Pass Lounges

Just like the Platinum Card from American Express, the Capital One Venture X will also get you a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that will get you complimentary access to over 1,200 airport lounges across the world. Even your authorized users will get their own Priority Pass membership.

But the Priority Pass membership you'll get with the Venture X is a bit stronger than what you'll get with the Platinum Card and the Sapphire Reserve. That's because you be allowed to bring an unlimited number of guests with you on each visit – assuming there is space available in the lounge.

It's not all good news. Much like the Platinum Card from American Express, you will not have access to the growing list of Priority Pass-affiliated airport restaurants. Capital One recently removed this benefit.
 

Plaza Premium Lounges

In June 2022, Capital One also added access to Plaza Premium Lounges, opening the doors to dozens more lounges abroad and at home. The Plaza Premium name also includes Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges in four U.S. airports like New York City (JFK) and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD); several lounges at the Cancún (CUN) airport; and Avianca lounges throughout Colombia.

Here’s the full list of Plaza Premium lounges.

Full Benefits of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
• $300 Annual Travel Credit: Each year, cardholders will get up to a $300 travel credit to use through the Capital One Travel booking portal.
• Capital One Lounge & Priority Pass Select Lounge Access: Cardmembers will also be able to bring guests with them at no additional cost on each visit.
• Up to a $100 Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Membership in either program is good for five years.
• 10,000 Mile Anniversary Bonus: Every year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles after paying your card’s annual fee. These miles are worth a minimum of $100 towards travel.
• Earn 2x Miles on every purchase & More: Cardholders will earn 2x miles on every dollar spent. Cardholders will also earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One travel portal and 5x miles on flights booked via the portal.
• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle Status
• $395 Annual Fee: Add up to four authorized users at no additional cost

Learn more about the *venture x*.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase rolled out the *chase sapphire reserve* at the end of 2016 and it was an immediate hit. Among many other premium benefits, the card offers access to the Chase Sapphire Lounges, and Priority Pass lounge access – making it one of the best options for airport lounge access.

Priority Pass Lounges

We've already gone through the ins and outs of Priority Pass airport lounge access, so we won't repeat ourselves here.

Unlike Priority Pass memberships issued from both Amex and Capital One, however, you can eat for free at a growing list of Priority Pass-affiliated airport restaurants at no cost. You'll get a credit of $28 for yourself or around $56 if you are dining with a guest. Just a couple of uses of this benefit each year can take a huge chunk out of the credit card's $550 annual fee.

Read more: A Full Review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit Card.
 

On top of the free airport lounge access, the card earns 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points for all travel expenses. It comes with a $300 annual travel credit, a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and many other premium benefits.

Chase Sapphire Lounges

Chase has followed in the footsteps of both American Express and Capital One to launch their own Sapphire branded airport lounges. To date, the bank has only two lounges open: The new space in Boston (BOS) and an international outpost in Hong Kong (HKG).

Chase Sapphire Lounge locations are also planned in the following following airports:

• Dallas (DFW) in Terminal D by gage 35
• Las Vegas (LAS) in the C Concourse
• New York LaGuardia (LGA) in Terminal B
• Philadelphia (PHL) in Terminal D/E connector
• Phoenix (PHX) in Terminal 4
• San Diego (SAN) in Terminal 2
• Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) in Concourse A

Sapphire Reserve cardholders get unlimited complimentary access to the Sapphire Lounges. They can also bring up to two guests with them on each visit free of charge. Authorized users on the Reserve (which cost an extra $75 a year per card) should also get their own access and guests, too.

One small hitch: It's not the Reserve that gets you in but the Priority Pass membership you get from your Reserve card that gets you access. Just be sure to activate that account and you should be set.

Full Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full
• Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal.
• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel & dining worldwide after using the full $300 travel credit
• 10x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent at Lyft through March of 2025
• Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
• $300 annual travel credit
• Annual Fee: $550

Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*

Which Card is the Best Credit Card for Lounge Access?

There are other cards out there that will get you into airport lounges. But these three are clearly the best of the bunch in terms of the benefits – particularly lounge access.

Some top-tier airline co-branded credit cards will get you into their own lounges. But then you're tied to that one airline, often paying the same or a similar hefty annual fee as one of these cards that will open far more lounge doors.

But which one should you choose: The Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card? The answer will be different for everybody. All three cards earn you ultra-valuable flexible points currencies: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Venture Miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. Travelers should weigh these cards based on a number of factors, including location, airline status, future travel plans, and more.

If you live in a Delta hub, the Platinum Card could be a no-brainer for Sky Club access before every Delta flight. But travelers based in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) might rather look at the Capital One Venture X Card to access the incredible Capital One Lounge. And travelers who would rather eat a full meal than relax in a lounge would be best served by the Chase Sapphire Reserve – the only card on this list that still receives dining credits at select airport restaurants.

Overall, there's no denying that the American Express Platinum Card is the most powerful among cards with airport lounge access. If that's your primary consideration for one of these top-tier cards, it's the clear winner. But the Capital One Venture X also provides great lounge access at a much cheaper annual fee cost of only $395.

Read more: Premium Travel Card Showdown: Venture X, Amex Platinum, or Sapphire Reserve?

Bottom Line

If you spend a lot of time in airports, one of these three credit cards with airport lounge access will drastically improve your experience.

Whether you value Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Venture Miles, or American Express Membership Rewards (or all three), holding one of these credit cards can help you get the most out of your next trip through the airport.

New card members can currently earn 75,000 Aeroplan points after spending $4,000 within the first year of card membership. After that, you can earn an additional 25,000 points after spending a total of $20,000 in the first 12 months. This is a limited-time offer!

Air Canada is deadset on making its Aeroplan mileage program a go-to for U.S.-based travelers – and if you ask us, they've succeeded. The airline overhauled that program with a lot of upsides in 2020 and became the latest Chase transfer partner in 2021, making it easier to add to your stash of Aeroplan points.

The airline offers an excellent option to add a stopover to any award ticket for just 5,000 additional points while rolling out the ability to book both Singapore Airlines business class and Emirates award flights with Aeroplan points. Not doing it for you? The card's relatively new Pay Yourself Back feature is one of the best benefits available on any card, period.

Earning Aeroplan points is a safe bet, even for flyers who plan to never set foot on an Air Canada jet. Let's walk through everything the Aeroplan credit card offers, and why this limited-time offer should be on your radar. But remember: Credit cards are serious business. You should never apply for a credit card if you're already in debt, and never charge more to a credit card than you can afford to pay off immediately.

Read more on how to maximize Aeroplan points – and why you may want to earn them!
 

Learn more about the *aeroplan credit card*
 

Full Benefits of the Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card

A Big Bonus of up to 100K Points

For a limited time, you'll earn a welcome offer bonus of 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. Plus, you can earn an additional 25,000 points for spending a total of $20,000 in your first 12 months of card membership.

That's up from the standard offer of 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first three months of card membership.

Keep Earning Points with Bonus Categories

The earning potential goes beyond that initial welcome offer bonus. In fact, the bonus earning categories on the Chase Aeroplan card are better than many cards on the market. You'll earn:

• 3x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide
• 3x points per dollar at grocery stores (excluding wholesalers like Costco as well as big-box stores like Target or Walmart)
• 3x points per dollar on all Air Canada purchases
• 1x points per dollar on all other purchases

The 3x return on groceries and restaurants is incredibly compelling if you want to keep piling up Aeroplan points. In fact, that's better than what you'll get on most other airline cards.

Beyond that, there's some incentive to continue swiping your Aeroplan card each month. You'll earn 500 additional bonus points for every $2,000 you spend each calendar month – capped at 1,500 bonus points a month on $6,000 in monthly spending.

$95 Annual Fee

The *aeroplan credit card* from Chase comes with just a $95 annual fee. Just keep in mind that's not waived for the first year.

Free Status, Then Level Up

Just for opening the card, you'll get Air Canada's entry-level 25K status for the year you open it and the entire following year. You can continue re-upping that status by spending $15,000 a year on the card.

On its face, Air Canada 25K Status isn't worth a ton: You get priority check-in and boarding, eUgrades to use on Air Canada flights, free baggage, two annual lounge passes, and a few other perks.

Still, this is a potentially easy path to airline status if flying Air Canada is in your future.
 

But Air Canada makes it even more lucrative for heavy spenders. By spending $50,000 a year on the card, you can level up to the next tier of status. For cardholders who get their status automatically, that would vault you from Air Canada 25K to 35K status. If you're flying Air Canada frequently and already have status, it could push you even higher, like Air Canada 50K status, which unlocks Star Alliance Gold perks like lounge access and a host of other worthwhile benefits.

There are even better benefits to unlock if you can spend a small fortune on your Air Canada card each year, like earning a “Global +1” Pass to get 100% of your points back when booking any and all award tickets for a companion for up to two years… after spending $1 million a year on your card.

Yes, that's not for everyone. I'm certainly not spending $1 million a year on a credit card – or anywhere, for that matter. But Air Canada and Chase have designed this card in a creative way to incentivize cardholders to keep swiping their cards, with rewards that build the more you spend.

Free PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS

There's a growing list of travel credit cards that will cover the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The Aeroplan card will do that too – with a sweetener.

The *aeroplan credit card* $100 credit for trusted traveler programs will also work towards NEXUS, which is essentially the Canadian version of Global Entry.

Read more: Global Entry vs Nexus, Which is Better For You?

Either way, the credit will cover up to $100 once every four years.

Pay Yourself Back

Earlier this year, The *aeroplan credit card* officially added a new – yet familiar – benefit. It's called Pay Yourself Back and it is a potentially very lucrative way to use your Aeroplan points to pay for travel.

If you hold the Aeroplan Credit Card, you can redeem Aeroplan points at a rate of 1.25 cents each towards any purchase that codes as travel. That's on par with an excellent benefit that cards like the *csp* offered throughout much of the pandemic, though it's since been drastically downgraded.

So as long as you pay for your travel purchase with your Aeroplan card – whether it's a purchase with Delta, Hyatt, Marriott, Airbnb, United, or any other travel company, you'll have the ability to reimburse yourself for that purchase within 90 days of making the purchase. For example, if you booked a Hyatt hotel for two nights that cost a total of $500, you could use your Aeroplan points to remove that charge. And since they are worth 1.25 cents each when used this way, it would cost you only 40,000 Aeroplan points.

Eligible travel purchases include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds, passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages, and there is no limited to the number of Aeroplan points you can use this way.

Assuming you earn the full 100,000-point welcome offer bonus, you'd have $1,250 to redeem towards travel with the Pay Yourself Back benefit.

Other Perks

Beyond these headline items, the Aeroplan Credit Card carries a host of other benefits that add up.

• First free checked bag for you and up to eight additional companions booked on the same reservation for any Air Canada flight.
• Travel insurance policies like trip delay, baggage delay reimbursement, trip cancellation, and interruption coverage, and more.
• It's a World Elite Mastercard product, which opens up even more benefits like cell phone insurance, earning free Lyft credits, discounts on Postmates deliveries, and more. See all the World Elite Mastercard benefits.
• No foreign transaction fees

What to Make of The Aeroplan Credit Card

We have to give Air Canada some credit here. They've managed to put together a truly unique travel credit card – and one that should appeal even to U.S. travelers who have no plans to fly Air Canada. This bigger bonus makes it even better.

Aeroplan points are incredibly valuable whether you're booking Air Canada or one of its 40-plus airline partners in the Star Alliance. Whether you're looking to fly United short-haul in the U.S. from just 12,000 points roundtrip, short hops from the West Coast to Hawaii for 25,000 points roundtrip, or business class to Europe or Asia for 75,000 points or less each way, there are some great sweet spots.
 

Aeroplan no longer passes on exorbitant award surcharges, keeping cash costs when redeeming points low. Plus, Aeroplan has some unique features like the ability to pool points with family members or add a stopover to any award ticket for just 5,000 additional points.

The array of additional perks on this card beyond the usual free baggage benefit is impressive. But there's a lot here to love for travelers who can rack up a lot of spending on their credit cards, too. In short, it's a solid card that could appeal to almost anyone who loves Aeroplan points – whether they're flying a few times a year or a true road warrior with a hefty budget.

One thing to keep in mind is that this card certainly falls under the Chase 5/24 rule. If you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months from any bank (not just Chase cards), it's unlikely you could get approved for the Chase Aeroplan credit card.

Bottom Line

The Aeroplan Chase credit card is out with a a new welcome offer bonus, allowing travelers to earn up to 100,000 points. You'll earn 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of card membership, then another 25,000 points after spending a total of $20,000 points on your card in your first year of card membership.

Don't let the Air Canada branding fool you. Thanks to the value and versatility of Aeroplan points, there's a lot to like about this card even if you never set foot on an Air Canada plane.

Learn more about the *aeroplan credit card*

First introduced a few years back, Capital One allows you to transfer your miles straight to nearly 20 specific airline and hotel programs. That means you can turn your Venture Miles into points with Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, and many more. And in most cases, these miles transfer transfer on a 1:1 basis.

That adds some very valuable ways to use your Capital One miles beyond the easy-to-use feature for covering travel purchases with miles. But sending miles to Capital One transfer partners also comes with confusion. Are these transfers really worth it? How do they work? And when should you transfer Capital One miles?

Let's take a look.
 

18 Capital One Transfer Partners at Your Fingertips

Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of transferring points, here's how it works.

Currently, you can transfer points from your *capone venture*, *venture x*, and several other cards from your account straight to 18 airline and hotel programs.

Best of all, all but two transfer on a 1:1 basis, meaning transferring 1,000 Venture miles gets you 1,000 airline miles in your account. Transfers to EVA move on a poorer, 2:1.5 basis. Transfers to Accor are a worse deal yet, with a transfer ratio of 2:1.

But for the vast majority of the options at your disposal, transferring miles is an even trade. If you've got 60,000 miles stashed away from your Venture Card, you can easily get 60,00 miles with British Airways. Or 60,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points. Or 60,000 Turkish Airlines miles.

Where Can I Find a List of All Capital One Transfer Partner Options?

Here's the full list of options:

Program	Type	Ratio	Transfer Time
Aeromexico	Airline	1:1	Instant
Air Canada Aeroplan	Airline	1:1	Instant
Air France/KLM	Airline	1:1	Instant
Avianca LifeMiles	Airline	1:1	Instant
British Airways	Airline	1:1	Instant
Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles	Airline	1:1	Up to five business days
Emirates	Airline	1:1	Instant
Etihad	Airline	1:1	Up to 1 day
EVA Air	Airline	2:1.5	Up to five business days
Finnair	Airline	1:1	Instant
Qantas	Airline	1:1	Instant
Singapore	Airline	1:1	Instant
TAP Air Portugal	Airline	1:1	Same day
Turkish Airlines	Airline	1:1	Same day
Virgin Red	Other	1:1	Same day
Accor	Hotel	2:1	Up to two business days
Wyndham	Hotel	1:1	Same day
Choice Hotels	Hotel	1:1	Same day

There are a few winners here, while others might not be worth considering. We'll go into which Capital One transfer partner options are your best bets in a bit.

Book Direct or Transfer? Do the Math

Now you know where you can transfer those Capital One miles. But when should you, and is it a good deal? That's more complicated.

You can book a flight on any airline by paying with your Capital One Venture card, then using miles to remove that charge from your statement. When you use miles this way, you'll get 1 cent for every mile. That means you can erase a $200 flight purchase with 20,000 Capital One miles.

But these Capital One transfer partners open up another option. And at times, it can be far more valuable.

Read more: Save Points When Booking Flights – Transfer Them to an Airline Partner

Let’s look at a cross-country flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) next spring, when prices were looking quite high.

How Much Can I Save Transferring Points?

Flying nonstop on either Air France or Delta from Minneapolis to Paris, it'd cost you a whopping $1,755 for roundtrip flights next May. Going the traditional route, you could book directly with Air France, charge it to your Capital One card, then go back and remove the charge … but since every mile gets you 1 cent toward travel, it'd take 175,500 Venture Miles.

Or … you could transfer points to Virgin Red to book these exact same Air France flights using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. The cost? Just 30,000 miles and $88 in fees. In this case, transferring miles could save you more than 140,000 Capital One miles! 

It won't always work out so neatly. When cash prices are cheap, you're often better off booking the flight, then going back to erase the purchase. Each transfer partner places different values on different routes and redemptions, so you won't always get such an outstanding deal as above. And you need to find the award availability to actually book these flights with miles through a Capital One transfer partner.

We could do dozens of examples. But it boils down to this: You need to do the math to get the most out of your Capital One Venture miles. It will vary on a case-by-case basis whether it’s better to pay directly or utilize a transfer partner.

If there’s one general rule of thumb: Is the cash fare cheap? Did you find a great deal on Google Flights or from your Thrifty Traveler Premium membership and want to pay with points? Your best bet is probably booking directly with the airline and using your Capital One Venture miles to erase the purchase from your statement.

If not, it’s worth exploring transfer partners to see if you can save some points. That's especially true if you're interested in booking an international flight in first or business class, as Capital One has some partners that really shine for these aspirational redemptions. 

The Best Capital One Transfer Partners

With nearly 20 airline and hotel programs at your disposal, there are plenty of options to use your Capital One miles. Some are far better than others … and some aren't really worth considering at all.

Here's a quick glance at what we consider the best of the best.

• Aeroplan is the airline program for Air Canada with a strong award chart, and it’s a great way to book Star Alliance flights globally. That includes United flights from the West Coast to Hawaii, business class flights from the U.S. to Asia on excellent airlines like EVA Air and ANA for as low as 75,000 miles each way, and many more. Read our guide to Air Canada Aeroplan!
• You can use Avianca Lifemiles to book Star Alliance partners like United, Lufthansa, ANA and many more. It has a good award chart for domestic flights in the U.S. as well as international trips. But better yet, they pass on few fees and no fuel surcharges, so the cash price on an award ticket booked through Avianca will be low. For example, you can book Lufthansa First Class between the U.S. and Europe for just 87,000 miles each way!

• Flying Blue is the combined mileage program for Air France and KLM, and it’s another program worth keeping in mind. FlyingBlue recently followed Delta’s lead and axed its award chart, implementing variable pricing for award flights. Keep an eye out for promo rewards flights, with big discounts on flying between the U.S. and Europe.
• And then there’s Singapore Airlines. The world’s #1 airline, it’s got one of the best business class and first class cabins – and the only way to book them is with Singapore miles.
• Turkish Miles & Smiles is a real hidden gem here – and transferring Capital One miles is one of the few easy ways to earn them. You won't find a cheaper way to get to Hawaii, as the program charges just 15,000 miles roundtrip to fly United out to the islands and back – or 25,000 to do it in business class. It's also got one of the cheapest options to get to Europe in Turkish Airlines business class, with flights that cost just 45,000 miles each way. Just beware: Turkish's website is not so easy to navigate. Booking these stellar rewards may require a phone call.

Other mileage programs like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Red (the new loyalty program that includes Virgin Atlantic), and Emirates have their place, too. Many of the other options – especially the hotel programs Wyndham and Accor – are fairly weak and generally not worth considering except in niche situations.

How to Transfer Capital One Partners' Miles

Luckily, Capital One has made transferring miles easy to navigate.

Start by logging into your Capital One account either on a computer or on the mobile app. On your home page, you'll see the number of miles you've earned listed, with an option to redeem.

Once you've clicked redeem, you'll see a host of options for using your miles. You can book a flight, hotel, or rental car directly through the new and improved Capital One travel portal. You can cover travel purchases with your miles. Or, you can transfer your miles to one of their airline or hotel partners.

Choose “Convert Rewards” and you'll see the full list of all Capital One transfer partner options. Select which program you'd like to transfer miles to and click “Transfer Miles.”

Oh, and watch for frequent transfer bonuses to select Capital One transfer partners. Every few months, Capital One will roll out a bonus of 15% to 40%, giving you more airline miles when you transfer your Venture Miles to certain programs. For example, Capital One recently offered a 20% bonus to Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

Once you choose your transfer partner, you'll get a prompt to enter your frequent flyer account information. Keep in mind that the name on your Capital One account must match your frequent flyer account. So if you're hoping to immediately transfer points to a friend or family member – even an authorized user on your Venture X account, for example – you're out of luck.

Once you've linked your frequent flyer account, it's time to decide how many points to transfer. Beware that Capital One may automatically enter all of your available miles in that space, so tweak it as needed.

You'll need to transfer at least 1,000 miles at a time … but from there, you can transfer in 100-mile increments. That's quite nice, as it means you can tailor your transfer to almost exactly how many. Other programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards always require you to transfer points in increments of 1,000.

Just remember: These points transfers are a one-way street. Once you send the miles to an airline partner, you cannot get them back to your Capital One account. That makes it critical to make sure the award flight you want to book is available before you transfer points. Read our guide to finding award availability to make sure you know the right tools and tactics.

Once you've hit complete transfer, you're done! Capital One says most miles will deposit into your airline or hotel account within the same day – and perhaps instantaneously. Some others can take up to five business days.

How to Earn Capital One Miles

The Capital One Venture X card might just be the best travel credit card we’ve ever seen.

The *venture x* is the bank’s very first premium travel card. Think of it as a souped-up version of the ever-popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that’s chock full of extra benefits: Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges, a $300 annual travel credit, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, great travel and rental car insurance protection, points and more. The annual fee clocks in at $395 a year, but the benefits can easily outweigh that.

Here’s the best part about the card: You can currently earn 75,000 Venture Miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Considering you earn at least 2x for every dollar you spend on the Venture X Card, you’ll earn a total of at least 83,000 Venture Miles.
 

Learn more about the *venture x*.
 

Meanwhile, the *capone venture* remains truly one of the best travel credit cards for beginners.

You earn 2x points on every purchase and even get a credit that covers the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck – all for a card with a $95 annual fee.

But the true allure for beginners is the ability to cover travel purchases with miles. Just charge any travel expense – flights, hotels, Airbnbs, tours, excursions, and so on – to your Venture Card. Then go back to use points to wipe the cost from your credit card statement.

Or, transfer Capital One miles straight to one of their 19 airline or hotel partners to maximize your miles. Capital One currently offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening. This is equal to $750 in travel purchases or can be transferred for up to 75,000 miles with partner airlines or hotels.
 

Learn more about the *capone venture*.
 

Those still aren't the only cards that can transfer miles. You can also transfer miles from the no-annual-fee *capone ventureone* and the Capital One Spark Miles Select for business cards. The VentureOne card earns 1.25x miles per dollar spent on all purchases and the Spark Miles Select card earns 1.5x miles per dollar on all purchases.

The VentureOne card has no annual fee but offers lower miles-earning opportunities: 1.25X miles on every purchase. You can also currently earn bonus_miles_full
 

Learn more about the card_name

Bottom Line

Capital One has made transferring miles to their 18 airline and hotel partners more valuable, with nearly all transferring at a 1:1 ratio. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Remember to factor in the transfer times, use the right partners, and do the math to make sure you're getting the most out of those points. Do it right, and you can come out far, far ahead by using some of these Capital One transfer partners and points.

That was my takeaway after flying Frontier for the first time on a quick, bleary-eyed morning flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Denver (DEN) recently. The seats certainly won't win any awards for comfort, but the legroom was surprising … and believe it or not, I mean that in a good way. And while you'll pay a hefty price to pick your seat or bring anything bigger than a backpack with you, whether you pay an extra $100 or $0 is up to you.

Will I fly Frontier again? I won't go out of my way to hop onboard one of their animal-emblazoned jets – especially if I need to bring some baggage or work for a few hours from the skies. But unlike many travelers who swear they'll never set foot on this budget carrier, I won't take pains to avoid them, either.

It's all about expectations. So read on for our full Frontier Airlines review.

Booking Frontier Flights

The trip with Frontier started long before getting on the plane. The experience of booking a ticket with Frontier Airlines is an adventure, filled with surprising twists and turns you won't find on many (if any) other airlines.

To be perfectly clear, everything went smoothly while booking my Frontier ticket from Minneapolis to Denver. But during the booking process, how many other airlines will:

• Charge more for a carry-on bag, checking a bag, or even many seat assignments than the cost of the ticket itself?
• Offer you a free, one-time change for an extra 99 cents?
• Try to give you a bunch of coupons for free or discounted razors, Hello Fresh food deliveries, or a Walmart+ subscription after checkout?

Much like any other ultra-low-cost carrier, there's one key thing to keep in mind when booking Frontier: The cost of your ticket might seem cheap at first, but the fees add up – and they add up fast. In fact, Frontier makes more revenue collecting fees on bags, seats, and early boarding than it does actually selling plane tickets.

That's exactly how they do it. By unbundling things like seat selection, baggage, priority boarding, and even drinks, Frontier can offer cheap fares while making more money on a handful of different fees. Think of it like basic economy fares on the major U.S. airlines, just on steroids.

In my case, it started with a $49 one-way fare from Minneapolis to Denver booked just two weeks before departure – a route that sometimes sinks as low as $29 or even $19 each way. It's easy to search for Frontier flights on Google Flights and click through to begin the checkout process with Frontier.

But right off the bat, Frontier tried to upsell me on various bundles that included bags, free seat assignment, early boarding, and other perks … for double or nearly triple the price of my ticket. I passed and went the a la carte route.

From there, it was time to select seats. Frontier was charging anywhere from $19 for a seat at the back of the plane to as much as $55 for a “Stretch” seat with some extra legroom at the front of the plane. If you need a seat assignment, it's wise to pick one and pay up during the checkout process: Seat fees increase after you book. Otherwise, you can roll the dice and get assigned a seat for free at check-in.

Oddly, Frontier was charging more for middle seats than for those along the windows or aisles … because on many of its planes, those middle seats are actually a bit wider. No matter: I went with an aisle seat in the middle of the plane for an extra $25.

Flying Frontier, the only thing you can bring onboard for free is a personal item – like a backpack or purse – that you can stow underneath the seat in front of you. Adding a checked bag or even a carry-on to your reservation will cost you dearly: In my case, adding any bag to my flight was more than the ticket itself. Paying $69 or more each way for a bag is steep, especially compared to the $30 or $35 standard on major U.S. carriers like American and Delta.

Read our full breakdown of Frontier baggage fees!

I kept things simple and skipped a bag. At every turn, Frontier tries one last time to upsell you on these additional fees, warning that adding a bag after completing the checkout process will cost even more.

The fees don't end there. Frontier also offered a free one-time change for 99 cents – though it may be higher on other flights – as well as the option to add priority boarding for another $7.99.

And there was yet another last-ditch attempt to add something extra, like a rental car and what Frontier calls “Agent Assistance” – a $20 fee for having a Frontier agent check you in and print your boarding pass at the airport. Pass.

I was traveling light and didn't need much, so I was able to book my one-way ticket to Denver with a seat assignment and a one-time free change – why not? – added in for a grand total of just under $75. That's not bad at all … but you have to do the math for yourself. If you need to bring a carry-on bag and pick a seat with extra legroom, those extra fees flying Frontier could easily push the cost of your ticket over the likes of flying Delta, American, United, or Southwest.

At Thrifty Traveler, we don't accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one!

Checking In & Boarding

Don't procrastinate when flying Frontier. And definitely don't get to the airport late.

As of Aug. 16, Frontier will close its check-in counters and bag drop one hour before each flight's departure. That's substantially earlier than most airlines, who give travelers a 30- to 45-minute window before domestic flights. So whether you need a paper boarding pass or just have to check your bag, you'll want to get to the airport earlier before a Frontier flight.

Traveling light or checking in online or via a smartphone app, like me? You should be set. Checking in through Frontier's app and adding my boarding pass to my Apple Wallet was a cinch.

Flying in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), you'll need to pay close attention to the terminal. Frontier now operates out of the airport's smaller Terminal 2, a move it made a few years ago.

Frontier flies a fleet of Airbus A320s and A321s, each emblazoned with an animal on the tail and a corresponding name. Our A321 – dubbed “Joe Bob the Badger” – was ready and waiting at the gate for our bright-and-early departure to Denver.

Frontier handles its boarding process differently than most airlines – and it's all about how the airline enforces its “don't you dare bring a carry-on bag onboard unless you paid for it” policy. Zone 1 boarding is solely for passengers who have paid to bring a carry-on bag. After that, Zone 2 through Zone 5 is for the rest of the passengers bringing just a personal item on board.

There were sizers at the gate for both personal items and full-size carry-ons, and the gate agent did not hesitate to use them to ensure no bags were too big.

With just a handful of passengers boarding in Zone 1 and stowing carry-on bags overhead, boarding went pretty quickly.

Frontier Airlines Cabin & Seats

Like all budget airlines, Frontier Airlines packs a lot of seats on its planes. Maximizing passengers is the name of the game.

In all, there are a whopping 230 seats onboard this Frontier A321. Compare that to the 191 seats Delta installs on the exact same planes, and you can immediately tell that Frontier squeezed in as many seats as it could.

The cabin is about as basic as it gets, with black leather seats, gray seatbacks, and … not much else. But hey, it's a cheap ride to get you where you need to go!

Really, the only differentiation in the cabin is in the “Stretch” seats at the front of the plane and in the exit row, which are in jet-black leather with some patterned cross-stitching to set them apart from the rest of the plane. There are three rows of these extra legroom seats at the front of the cabin and another, single exit row – each sporting a few extra inches of legroom for an additional fee.

The rest of the 200-some seats throughout the plane were largely identical, with plain gray leather and a few details here and there.

The seats themselves are … well, they're there. They exist. They're upright. They have a place to put your butt, a back to lean against, and a seat belt to keep you strapped in.

That's about all you can say about these seats, which are about as unforgiving as it gets. Aside from some leather and a bit of padding, there's not much to separate this from a standard wooden dining chair. It's obvious just how ultra-slim these ultra-slim seats are from the side.

And that's not a complaint! I'm a 30-something-year-old in good health, so spending two hours flying in these Frontier Airlines seats was more than fine – especially for the price. A three hour-flight would probably be OK, too. But much longer than that and I'm not sure I'd walk off a Frontier flight feeling that way. And travelers who have back or mobility issues might wind up paying a steeper price for the discomfort.

The lack of padding is most obvious with the headrest: There really isn't one. And it might be just me, but these seats also feel a bit shorter than your average airplane seat.

But the legroom was a surprise … and a pleasant one, at that! On paper, Frontier offers just 28 inches of seat pitch – the standard aviation measurement of legroom from the back of one seat to the next. Compared to the standard of 31 inches or so on most major carriers (and even more on Southwest or JetBlue economy), you might assume your knees would be crunched.

But that's not the case. The lack of padding, seatback extras, and the scalloped shape of the back of each seat makes the legroom pretty manageable. In fact, I'd say it's close to on par with any major U.S. airline.

Read more: The Airlines with the Best Legroom (& How to Find Them!)

The under-seat storage, however, is another matter. With how compact each seat is, there's just not much room for a bag underneath without eating into valuable foot space. My normal-sized backpack clearly stuck out.

While the padding and seat pitch might feel tight, at least there are still just six seats in each row – the same as any other airline flying these narrowbody planes. That means each seat is about as wide as you'd expect – though Frontier makes middle seats in each row a tad wider. That's not enough for me to take a spot between two strangers, but you do you!

What's that on the seatback? Pretty much nothing. Don't expect a seatback screen to stay entertained flying Frontier Airlines. And Frontier doesn't currently offer inflight Wi-Fi, so there's no way to get connected to work in flight. There are also no power outlets or USB sockets to keep your devices charged.

Each seat does have a tray that folds down, though it's almost comically small – enough to set down a drink and not much else. There's also a small pouch for literature and anything else you might want to store.

Fortunately, there are air vents overhead if you need to cool off.

There were just three lavatories on the plane: One at the front and two all the way at the back. With our departure before dawn, passengers were slumbering rather than getting up to use the bathroom. But during a daytime flight, I'd probably worry about lines forming outside each lavatory.

Service, Food & Drinks Flying Frontier Airlines

Forget about morning blues: The five flight attendants working this Frontier Airlines flight were cheery for our 5:30 a.m. flight.

A pair of flight attendants buzzed down the aisle shortly after leveling off with a drink cart – and given the early hour, there weren't many takers. But if you want something, prepare to pay for it: Aside from a cup of water, Frontier Airlines charges for everything.

A soda, juice, full bottle of water, or coffee all cost $3.99. Beer, wine, and liquor each cost $9.99 while Buzzballz cocktails clock in at $10.99 and a small bottle of sparkling wine will cost you $11.99. There are also some snacks like candy, chips, and even cheese trays available for purchase.

I settled on a cup of coffee, which was brewed and served a few minutes later in a cute cup with the claim that Frontier is “America's Greenest Airline.” Refills were free, which was an unexpected touch.

Bottom Line

Above all, the price was right.

At $49 for a one-way flight, Frontier was substantially cheaper than my other options for getting to Denver – even after adding a seat assignment for $25. But add in bag fees and all the other extras, and the math would have quickly changed. And that's the entire point: Frontier and fellow ultra-low-cost carriers are banking on drawing in travelers with dirt-cheap fares, then collecting much more in additional fees.

If you can travel light and survive a stiff seat for a few hours, flying Frontier Airlines is just fine if you ask me.

Unprecedented wildfires triggered by Hurricane Dora broke out earlier this week, closing roads and prompting evacuations as fires burned through “hundreds of acres,” according to a proclamation from the state's lieutenant governor issued Wednesday. The toll was greatest in Maui and the historic town of Lahaina, a tourist haven on the island's northwest coast: Its downtown district was largely destroyed, according to Hawaii News Now. Maui County officials said at least 36 people were killed in the fires.

As firefighters battled the blazes, the state activated the Hawaii National Guard to help and officially declared that “nonessential travel to the Island of Maui is strongly discouraged.” The state's emergency declaration continues through at least Aug. 15.
 

Travelers and residents alike were left scrambling to leave the island, including ongoing evacuations from several pockets of Maui where the fires were burning worst. The island's airport in Kahului (OGG) is still open, but Maui County warned that the the airport was sheltering 2,000 travelers from canceled departures and arrivals as of Wednesday morning.

While the fires were largely under control by Thursday, many organizations throughout Hawaii warned travelers to steer clear of Maui – especially western Maui – for the foreseeable future.

“Visitors who have travel plans to West Maui in the coming weeks are encouraged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a statement.

From American Airlines to Hawaiian to United, all the major U.S. carriers have issued waivers allowing customers with Maui travel plans to rebook without penalties or fare differences.

• Alaska Airlines' Maui waiver
• American Airlines' Maui waiver
• Delta Air Lines' Maui waiver
• Hawaiian Airlines' Maui waiver
• Southwest Airlines' Maui waiver
• United's Maui waiver

Delta's policy, for example, allows anyone scheduled to fly in or out of Maui until Aug. 13 to rebook their trip as far out as Aug. 16 without paying substantial fare differences. Other airlines like Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian have gone much further, giving travelers until the end of August to rebook without paying more. And most airlines are allowing travelers a free change to their final destination to neighboring islands.
 

Hotels and resorts are bound to be affected, too. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, located just north of Lahaina, posted on its website that it is not accepting arriving guests through at least Aug. 11. All stays – including those with prepaid, nonrefundable rates – are being refunded.
 

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

But what if you're already carrying a balance on an existing card?

In that case … let's talk about balance transfers. The name pretty much says it all: Balance transfers are a financial tool that allows you to move your balance from one credit card to another, usually in an effort to reduce your monthly payment by paying less interest. Most banks have credit cards that offer an introductory annual percentage rate (APR) on both purchases and balance transfers as part of their new card welcome offers.

While we spend most of our time dreaming about big points and miles sign-up bonuses that can help fuel our travels, these 0% intro APR welcome offers can be equally (or more) valuable to someone who is currently saddled with credit card debt. That low rate means you won't accrue any new interest for a period of time which can help you pay off your balance faster.

Let's take a closer look at what exactly balance transfers are and some of the best new card options for completing one.

Benefits of a Balance Transfer

With APRs on many cards approaching 30%, more and more Americans are finding themselves buried in an endless pile of credit card debt. It can be a truly helpless feeling.

Even if you're making more than the card's minimum payment each month, that high interest rate can make it tough to gain ground on any credit card debt you owe.

To illustrate how high-interest credit card debt can weigh down your monthly budget, let's take a look at someone with a $10,000 credit card balance at a 20% interest rate – and that's conservative given how high rates have gotten. In this example, if you planned to pay off that $10,000 balance over the next 18 months, you'd need to pay nearly $650 each month on your card and it would end up costing you around $1,650 in interest.

If you instead moved that $10,000 balance to a new credit card with a 0% introductory APR for balance transfers, you'd only need to pay about $550 each month to have it entirely paid off in the same 18-month timeframe. Without being on the hook for the bank's high interest rates, you'd save nearly $100 each month on your payment.

One thing to note: Balance transfers aren't free. Most banks charge a fee for completing the transaction – usually somewhere in the 3% to 5% range. So in the example above, if you saved the $1,650 in interest but paid a $300 (3% of $10,000) fee upfront for completing the transfer, your total savings with this offer would be $1,350. Not too shabby!

And while credit card debt has been a problem in our country for decades, it's gotten especially troubling over the past few years as the Federal Reserve has methodically raised banks' borrowing rates in an attempt to slow inflation. When banks' borrowing costs go up, they pass that burden on to their customers by charging higher interest rates on all types of loans – mortgages, installment loans, auto loans, and of course, credit cards.

All these interest rate hikes have made banks' introductory APR offers on balance transfers more valuable than ever.

Best Cards for Completing a Balance Transfer

When looking for a new card to move your existing credit card balance to, focus on those that offer a low introductory APR. There are several solid credit cards on the market that offer 0% introductory APR offers so anything above that isn't worth it in this case.

You'll also want to look for a card issued by a different bank than the one you're currently carrying a balance on. In most cases, banks won't allow you to move the balance from one of their cards to another in order to take advantage of an introductory balance transfer offer. Once they've got you on the hook at a high interest rate there simply isn't any financial incentive for them to do so.

Beyond getting a low introductory APR, it's important to find a card that's going to fit your needs in the long term. Once you have your balance paid off, you'll ideally be able to use the card to earn rewards for new purchases and then pay the balance in full each month in order to avoid that sky-high interest. Getting a card that provides solid rewards and benefits for your future spending would be an added bonus.

In deciding which card is best for completing a balance transfer you should first look at how long the offer lasts – the longer the better. This will give you more time to pay down the debt at a 0% APR and therefore lower your monthly payment amount. And consider what fees the card charges – annual fees, balance transfer fees, late fees, etc. You'll find that most banks will charge 3% for balance transfers as part of the introductory offer, but that rate often goes up to 5% after a few months so you'll want to transfer your balance as soon as you can. If you're able to combine a longer-term intro APR with a low transfer fee, that will be your best bet.

Keep in mind: The whole purpose of opening a new credit card and completing a balance transfer is to improve your financial picture. If the temptation of having more available credit is too much for you to handle, you'll be far better off sticking with your current card and working to pay it off as quickly as possible.

Worried about your credit score? Read our guide to understanding your credit score before applying for your next card.

Citi Simplicity® Card

• Introductory balance transfer APR: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration
• Introductory purchase APR: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
• Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type
• Introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater for balance transfers completed within four months of account opening.
• Regular balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of the transfer, which ever is greater for balance transfers beyond the introductory period.
• Sign-up bonus: None
• Rewards: None
• Annual fee: None

Learn more about the *citi simplicity*

Citi® Double Cash Card

• Introductory balance transfer APR: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration
• Introductory purchase APR: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
• Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type
• Introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater for balance transfers completed within four months of account opening.
• Regular balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of the transfer, which ever is greater for balance transfers beyond the introductory period.
• Sign-up bonus: None
• Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay for your purchases.
• Annual fee: None

Learn more about the *citi double cash*

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Introductory balance transfer APR: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration
• Introductory purchase APR: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
• Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type
• Introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater for balance transfers completed within 60 days of account opening.
• Regular balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of the transfer, which ever is greater for balance transfers beyond the introductory period.
• Sign-up bonus: bonus_miles_full
• Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchases through the Chase Travel portal, 5% cash back on Lyft purchases, 3% cash back on dining and drug store purchases, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• Annual fee: None

Learn more about the *chase freedom unlimited*

Check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card! 

Balance Transfer FAQs

How Much Does a Balance Transfer Cost?

Most credit card issuers don't offer balance transfers for free. In general, you'll be charged a flat fee or a percentage – usually 3% to 5% of the total amount transferred. But the amount of money you'll save in interest through your new introductory rate should more than make up for that balance transfer fee.

Will I Earn Points on a Balance Transfer?

No. Balance transfers don't count as purchases so you won't earn points on it nor will it get you any closer to meeting a  welcome offer on a new card. The benefit of a balance transfer is solely to lower your interest rate.

What's the Difference Between a Balance Transfer APR and Purchase APR?

The balance transfer APR only applies to the amount of debt you're moving over from an existing card. The purchase APR will apply to anything new that you buy with your card.

What Happens After My Introductory Period Ends?

If your promotional balance transfer APR period ends and you still have a remaining balance owed, you'll be charged interest on what's left at the standard APR.

Since credit card interest rates have risen dramatically in the last couple of years, it's best to pay off as much of your balance as possible before the introductory offer is over. If you're unable to pay the balance in full, you may want to revamp your payment plan or even consider applying for a different card with another introductory balance transfer offer.

Can I Do a Balance Transfer With the Same Bank?

No. While there aren't any laws preventing this sort of thing, you're unlikely to find a bank that will allow you to move a balance from one of their credit cards to another in order to take advantage of an introductory interest rate.

The reason is pretty simple: Much like the eye-popping welcome offers we see on the top travel rewards credit cards, banks are using promotional interest rates as a way to lure in new customers. If you're already carrying a balance on one of their cards, they're currently making money off of you and have no financial motivation to allow you to move that balance to a different card at a lower rate.

What Happens to My Card?

After you transfer your balance to your new card, your old card should have a zero balance – assuming you moved the full amount over – and you won't need to make any further payments on it. In most cases, it's a good idea to keep that card open in order to help your total credit utilization and the average age of accounts. But if the card charges an annual fee or simply doesn't fit your needs anymore you can also close it.

When Shouldn't I Do a Balance Transfer?

If your outstanding balance is relatively low and you anticipate being able to pay it off in the next few months, a balance transfer likely isn't a good idea for your situation. What you'd pay in fees to complete the balance transfer probably wouldn't be worth the amount of interest you'd save over such a short period of time.

Bottom Line

Credit card debt can be more than just a financial burden, it can also take a toll on your mental and physical health as well. In most cases there's no easy (or quick) way out – but with an introductory balance transfer offer, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel.

If you're wondering whether to do a balance transfer, this guide can help you decide when it makes sense and which card you should open to complete it.

Bandon Dunes in Oregon has practically become golf mecca over the last few years, and it's been high on my golf bucket list for years. And for good reason: Five of the resort's six golf courses cracked the latest list of Golf Digest's 100 greatest public courses in America. No other place in the world plays host to so many top-rated courses.

Pulling it off is easier said than done. For starters, you need to plan far ahead: This ultra-popular golf resort is notoriously hard to book, with the remainder of 2023 fully sold out and even dates throughout 2024 hard to nail down. Oh, and then there's the cost: When we booked, our group of four had to immediately put down a deposit for one night's lodging and one round of golf … putting us on the hook for $1,980.

Points and miles can help you cover the cost of flights to Oregon or some hotels near a course, but this expense was different. And it's an area where Capital One Venture Miles from cards like the *capital one venture x* or the *capital one venture card* really shine.

Here's how I used Capital One miles to make a bucket list golf trip far more affordable.

Step 1: Pay for Your Bandon Dunes Trip with Your Venture Card

Among all of the ways to use Capital One Venture Miles – like transferring them to Capital One transfer partners – one option stands out for its simplicity. It's the ability to use Venture Miles to cover travel purchases. And that's the key to pulling this off.

Charge any travel expense to your Capital One card, and you can go back and cover the cost using Venture Miles, with every Venture mile covering 1 cent. It's easy and incredibly flexible, as Capital One considers “travel costs” to include a multitude of things: Airbnb stays, Uber rides, parking ramps, flights and hotels, cruises, and – you guessed it – even golf trips to Bandon Dunes.

Since Bandon Dunes is technically a resort, I had a feeling that the $1,980 deposit that was due at the time of booking would code on my card statement as lodging or travel. Lucky for me, I was right. 

Whether you've got the Capital One Venture X or the regular Capital One Venture the process works the same. Charge it to your Capital One card, then wait a few days for the purchase to finalize and formally post to your account.

One note: It's totally fine to make non-travel purchases on your card. You just won't be able to redeem your miles by “erasing” them. On the plus side, you'll still earn 2x miles for every dollar you spend on all purchases.

Step 2: ‘Remove' the Bandon Dunes Purchase

The second (and final) step in this process is to redeem your miles to cover the travel purchase.

A few days after paying the deposit on my Capital One Venture X card, I noticed that the purchase had officially been posted to my account. As expected, the Bandon Dunes deposit had been coded as travel, making it eligible to use my Venture miles. Just log into your Capital One account and click the “View Rewards” button on your homepage.

Next, you'll land on a screen that shows you the different options for your miles. You can book flights or hotels directly through Capital One, get gift cards, redeem for cash, or transfer Capital One miles to one of their partner airline or hotel programs. Still, the easiest way to redeem Capital One miles is the “Cover Travel Purchases” function. That's what you'll need to select to remove the Bandon Dunes deposit.

Once you've selected to cover your travel purchases, you'll be taken to a page where you can select which of your travel-related purchases you've made on your Capital One Venture card you'd like to “erase.” This includes all travel transactions from the last 90 days.

As you can see below, the deposit paid for our 2024 Bandon Dunes trip shows up as an eligible option. Since it was $1,980, I could have used 198,000 miles to cover the entire charge: Remember, each Capital One mile is worth 1 cent when you redeem them this way.

Don't have enough miles – or don't want to spend them all? Capital One allows you to redeem miles to cover just part of a purchase. In this case, I could have simply covered my portion of the deposit using 49,500 Venture Miles.

But Capital one offers a little-known option to combine miles that allowed everyone to chip in.

Transfer & Combine Capital One Venture Miles

As much as I like my friends, I'm not wiping out my balance of Capital One miles to foot the bill for their trip. Since our bill was $1,980, each of us was on the hook for $495 – or 49,500 miles. Here's where Capital One Venture miles really help out.

With many banks, transferring and combining miles is either a major hassle or not even possible. But not Capital One. In fact, no bank makes it easier to transfer and combine your credit card points with other cardholders than Capital One, whether they're family or spouses, friends, or even complete strangers.

There's no limit to how many miles you can transfer between Capital One accounts. There's not even a requirement that the person you are sharing miles with lives at your address or is related in any way.

Here are the basics:

• You can transfer Capital One miles to other members as long as they have a credit card that earns Venture Miles or Spark Miles (Spark Miles are the same points currency, just earned from Capital One's business cards).
• There is no requirement that the person you are transferring miles to lives at the same address or is related to you in any way.
• There is no cap on the number of miles that can be shared with other Capital One Venture or Spark Miles cardholders.
• There are no expiration dates or other major restrictions on miles that are transferred to other cardholders.

To make these transfers, all you need to do is call the number on the back of your Capital One Card. There isn't a way to do this in your online account currently: You'll just need the name and card number of the person's account you are transferring to.

Since two of my three friends had a stash of Venture Miles they wanted to use to cover the deposit, they called Capital One to transfer their share to my account. The entire process took each of them about five to 10 minutes. Their Venture miles were immediately available in my account.

I quickly used 70,000 miles to cover $700 of the total $1,980 charge from my account. Plus, since I have 90 days from the date the transaction posted to redeem miles to cover it, I've got more time to cover the remainder if I want.

How to Earn Capital One Venture Miles

To spend Capital One Venture miles on a trip to Bandon Dunes, you've first got to earn them. There are a few cards that can help you bolster your balance of Venture miles.

The Capital One Venture X Card

The *capital one venture x* might just be the best travel credit card we've ever seen.

It's the bank's very first premium travel card that launched back in November 2021. Think of it as a souped-up version of the ever-popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that’s chock full of extra benefits: Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges, a $300 annual travel credit, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, great travel and rental car insurance protection, and more.

The annual fee clocks in at $395 a year, but the benefits can easily outweigh that. You could even use that annual $300 travel credit to help cover the cost of your flights to Oregon. Admittedly, Bandon Dunes isn't the easiest place to get to. You'll need to fly into Eugene (EUG) or Portland (PDX). Those airports are a 2.5-hour and 4-hour drive to the resort, respectively.

Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Since you'll earn at least 2x miles on every dollar you spend, you'll end up with 83,000 Venture miles once you complete the initial spending requirement.

Read More: A Full Review of the Capital One Venture X Card

Learn more about the *capital one venture x*

Capital One Venture Card

The *capital one venture card* has been a fan favorite among travelers for years – and for good reason. It's truly one of the best travel credit cards for beginners.

Like the Venture X discussed above, you earn 2x points on every purchase and even get a credit that covers the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck – all for a card with a $95 annual fee.

Capital One currently offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening. That's the same offer as the Venture X, so if it's just the miles you are after, this is a cheaper route for getting them.

Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Learn more about the *capital one venture card*

Capital One VentureOne Card

Finally, there's the *capital one ventureone card*.

It's a no-annual-fee card that will earn you 1.25x miles per dollar you spend. The welcome bonus is smaller too, so if your goal is to use these points to cover a Bandon Dunes trip, you'll likely be better served by one of the options above.

Welcome Offer Bonus: bonus_miles_full

Learn more about the *capital one ventureone card*

Bottom Line

Did I get maximum value for my Venture Miles on this trip? Absolutely not. But I don't regret it for a second.

It's unorthodox, but this easy redemption allowed me to cover my initial lodging and greens fees at one of the best golf destinations in the world. And when we actually make it to Bandon Dunes next year, my friends and I will be able to redeem more Venture miles to cover the final bill, including more rounds of golf and even food and beverages. We've got just over a year to keep adding to our stash.

There isn't another credit card points program that would allow you to cover the cost of this kind of trip easily. Redemptions like this are what make Capital One Venture miles unique, and why I always try and have a stash of them on hand. From Airbnbs to bucket list golf trips, they're a great option for travel expenses you can't use traditional points and miles to cover.

Lead photo courtesy of Chris Babcock via Getty Images