If you’re interested only in evading the main cabin, you won’t find any deal alert services that don’t charge a fee. A bunch of free information sources can help you hunt down your own deal, but no premium airfare service is as automatic as Airfarewatchdog.

Why Are Premium Airfare Deals Difficult to Find?

One reason for the lack of a simple premium airfare system is that, for many travelers, premium flying is inextricably bound to frequent flyer programs. The best way to get into a front cabin is often by using frequent flyer miles. And for some, the game is to apply for a bunch of credit cards that offer huge initial bonuses if you meet an exorbitantly large monthly charge threshold for the first few months. So the problem of finding outright premium airfare deals isn’t easy, but it’s not insurmountable, either.

Where to Find Premium Airfare Deals

Still, premium deals are available. Airlines offer flash sales and special promotions in premium cabins just as they do in economy. A few years ago, I found (and bought) a round-trip business class ticket to Asia for just $1,500—which was less than half the nominal first-class rate.

How to Find Premium Airfare Deals

First, set yourself up for success on your hunt for the best premium airfare deals by following these booking tips.

Set Up Fare Alerts

Ideally, you’d be able to monitor every booking site at all hours of the day, ready to pounce on the best deal as soon as it goes live. Unfortunately, few of us have the time to spend hours sifting through fares. This is where airfare deal alerts come in handy. Many top flight search sites allow you to track certain itineraries and will send you alerts when fares drop on your preferred travel dates. Expedia’s “Price Tracking” and AirfareWatchdog’s “Deal Alerts” are among the best options. Setting up multiple alerts on multiple travel dates increases your chance of scoring a great rate.

How to Set Up Flight Price Alerts: Flight search sites make it easy to set up fare alerts. Oftentimes it’s as easy as searching for the route you want and toggling a switch on the flight results page. From there, you’ll be prompted to enter your email or create an account so the site can send you the latest fares. On our sister site, Airfarewatchog, all you have to do is click “track this route” to be alerted to price drops and great deals to your destination. 

Listen to the Data

Some flight search sites use predictive analysis and historical booking data to let travelers know when the best time to book a certain route may be. Momondo’s “Our Advice” section on their flight search results page offers recommendations for when travelers should buy and predictions for future price changes. On a flight search for business and first class fares from Los Angeles to New York, Momondo let me know that I should buy now and that “prices [were] unlikely to decrease within 7 days.”

Travel on Tuesdays

While there is some debate about whether Tuesday remains the peak day to fly, it can’t hurt to take into consideration. According to NerdWallet, airfare can be roughly 24% lower for flights departing on a Tuesday. This applies across fare classes, so try snagging a business or first class airfare deal.

Book on Off Days and During Off Season

If traveling during a high air traffic season, like around Christmas or spring break, booking flights on less popular travel dates can lead to better fare deals. According to Hopper, international flights that departing on Christmas Day this past holiday season saw airfare up to 17% lower than flights departing the previous Friday. Additionally, travel during your destination’s off season will see cheaper fares across the board.

Shoot for an Upgrade

Gone are the days when free upgrades were (relatively) easy to obtain. However, for those willing to do their due diligence there’s still hope. Follow our guide on how to really get an airline upgrade to try your luck.

Expand Your Horizons

Traditionally, the most luxe fares were business and first class and the rest of the cabin was stuck in coach. But recently, the emergence of fares like premium economy have made it possible for a budget traveler to fly in comparative style. Expand your search to include these alternate classes to get the same benefits at a much lower price.

Paid Services to Find Premium Airfare Deals

If managing your own fare alerts and flight searches sounds daunting, don’t worry. There are services dedicated to doing the legwork for you.

First Class Flyer

First Class Flyer is the gold standard for finding deals on premium airfare, for both performance and membership price. The minimum Silver level costs $97 per year, and gets you a daily bulletin that covers special deals for both cash payments and use of miles. Higher levels of membership cost $197 and $297 per year and add on a bunch of additional information that’s useful, but not essential, if you’re just looking for flash sales.

MightyTravels

MightyTravels’ premium option is $69 per year and offers daily bulletins on economy class deals from your home airport. Their Premium Pro ($199/year) membership includes bulletins on economy, premium economy, and business class deals from your home airport, including unpublished and “mistake fares”, while Premium Max ($159/year) adds on additional tiered benefits, such as Travel Concierge Assistance.

Going

A membership with Going—formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights—works similarly to those listed above, however the first two membership tiers are less expensive than the either MightyTravels or First Class Flyer. A Limited Membership is free and gets you access to economy deals within the continental United States from your home airport. The Premium membership is $5.99 per month ($69 annually) and unlocks both domestic (all 50 states) and international economy deals. The Elite tier is where you’ll find premium economy, business class, and first class airfare deals, for just $16.58 per month ($199 annually). Both Premium and Elite members have access to points and miles deals, mistake fares, and custom destination alerts.

Free Blogs to Find Premium Airfare Deals

A handful of free blogs also cover the full gamut of airfare deals with a minor focus on premium cabin options. All or most of the free blogs often find the same deals—so you’re probably ok finding one you like and sticking with it. Options include AirfareSpot.com, Godsavethepoints, No Mas Coach, One Mile at a Time, The Points Guy, and View from the Wing. There’s a lot about credit cards, hotels, and other stuff in them, too, but they do dig out some good premium deals.

FlyerTalk also has an online forum on premium flying. It’s not organized for easy search, but it’s especially good for deals that originate outside of the U.S.

So unless you spring for the First Class Flyer or MightyTravels paid services, you’ll have to do your own digging through blogs and websites. But that’s a lot easier than spending hours on a metasearch engine, yourself. The amount of money you’ll save warrants a bit of extra effort, anyways.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Where to Find Premium Airfare Deals on First Class and Business Class appeared first on SmarterTravel.

What to Wear When Flying First Class

Dressing for a first-class flight means striking that perfect balance between comfort and style. Luckily, with the trend in athleisure fashion taking off, striking that balance is easier than ever. Here’s the perfect outfit plan for flying first class in a way that looks sophisticated and feels casual.

A Reliable Bottom Layer

Skip the discounted packs of undershirts and tank tops, and invest instead in a bottom layer that has some lasting power. A reliable, durable, and comfortable bottom layer will make all the difference and in first class, you’ll need something that looks chic. For ladies, comfort and style are easily achieved with the high neckline of the soft and flexible tank top from ENIDMIL. For guys, this short-sleeved collared shirt from Todd Snyder completes a casual but put-together look.

A Sleek Top Layer

A good coat can make an outfit and help you pull your look together, but when you’re flying first class, you’ll also need something that will keep you warm in case the plane is chilly. For women, this is the time to embrace athleisure with a coat like the Hoodie Long Tunic Sweatshirt from TheMogan, which stretches past the knees for ultimate coverage and warmth. For men, a short and sturdy coat like the this one from Reigning Champ pulls it together with a baseball collar and keeps it casual with 100 percent cotton material and a two-way zipper.

Dress Pants That You Can Sleep In

Although we can rely on our favorite jeans for just about any other moment in our lives, they don’t always work on airplanes. When your legs get restless, you’re going to want pants that are comfortable enough to move around and sleep in, but when you’re flying first class, they have to look good, too. This is when Betabrand comes to the rescue. With its Dress Pant Yoga Pants for women and the Dress Pant Jogger Pants for men, you can look ready for business and also be ready for bed with these soft terry pants that boast style and pockets for everybody.

Close-Toed Shoes

For the shoes, you’ll need a pair with stand-out style that are also easy to slip off when going through security and settling into your seat. Ladies can add a pop of color and sophistication with the Blondo Villa Waterproof booties, while guys can make a statement with the Kenneth Cole REACTION’s Chukka Boot.

Scarf for Fashion and Comfort

Scarves are a necessity on long-haul flights, whether you’re flying first class or economy. From using it to stay warm to covering up a bad hair day, it’s a must-have, and on a first-class flight, you’ll want something that expresses your personal style. For women looking to brighten up an outfit, the Wild Oasis Cashmere and Silk Scarf can heighten the style of even the most casual outfits. Men looking for a more subdued scarf might like Tie Bar’s two-toned River West Solid scarves.

A Stylish Timepiece

An eye-catching watch can be the perfect way to make a statement when flying first class, but you don’t have to go out and buy the most expensive watch on the market to do that. Recently released by Solgaard, the Hex watches like the women’s edition in stone and the Minimalist in matte black are the perfect way add sophistication to your first-class outfit, without looking like you’re trying too hard.

Accessories for Flying First Class

More from SmarterTravel:

• Athleisure Clothes You Can Wear in First Class or the Gym
• What to Wear in the World’s Chicest Cities This Summer
• 9 Thoughts You Have Your First Time Flying Business Class

Jamie Ditaranto is a writer and photographer who is always looking for her next adventure. Follow her on Twitter @jamieditaranto.

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.

The post What to Wear When Flying First Class appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Opting for Turkish Airlines’ business class is completely worth the money. From enjoying amazing Turkish cuisine to arriving at your destination refreshed and ready to go, here’s why a ticket is worth the splurge.

You Can Actually Sleep

Turkish Airlines’ business-class seats recline flat with the push of a button, and the flight attendants will turn your seat into a bed with a padded cover, pillow, and blanket whenever you’re ready to rest.

You Can Avoid the Reclining Wars

You’re not just pushing a button to jolt your seat back if you’re in business class: The seat is more like a cozy recliner chair. Lean back with your feet up and truly relax—the seat reclines back into its own shell, so you’re not impeding on the space of the person behind you.

You Won’t Arrive Tired and Achy

After a long-haul flight in economy, I always arrive feeling sore and exhausted. But in business class you can lie flat, change positions, and easily access the aisle (even from a window seat), which means more moving around and getting comfortable—thus preventing the aches and pains that usually come with a long-haul flight. After flying in Turkish Airlines’ business class for more than 20 hours, I arrived at 6:00 a.m. pain-free and ready to take on a full day of exploring.

You Can Forget Mediocre Airport Food

Turkish Airlines uses famous chefs to prepare its business-class meals, all of which are delicious. You’ll choose dishes from a menu of options, and you can eat at any time you’d like—not just when the meal cart rolls by.

You Can Enjoy Peace and Quiet

Crying babies or loud seatmates won’t bother you in business class, thanks to the complimentary Bose noise-canceling headphones Turkish Airlines provides at each seat.

You Can Get Off the Plane First

Economy class is held back from leaving until business class deplanes. This was a key advantage for me for two reasons—first, when I had an extremely tight connection, I saved time by being the very first person out the door so I could sprint to my gate in time. Second, when I arrived at Kathmandu airport (known for its long visa lines) I was able to beat everyone else on my flight to the queue, which also saved me a lot of time.

You Can Pack More

Business-class customers can bring a maximum of 66 pounds of luggage onboard, compared to the 44 pounds allowed in economy class.

You Can Skip the Line

Turkish Airlines’ business-class customers get dedicated lines not only at check-in, but also when going through security. This includes the extra security you usually have to go through at the gate before flying to the United States.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 9 Must-Dos Before a Long Flight
• 10 In-Flight Essentials You Should Never Travel Without
• 7 Expert Airplane Seat Hacks to Boost Comfort on Long Flights

Caroline Morse Teel received a complimentary upgrade to Turkish Airlines business class. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for in-flight and other travel photos from around the world. 

The post Is Business Class Worth It? 8 Reasons to Splurge on Turkish Airlines’ Business Class appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Ever gotten a massage, taken a shower, or been served by a butler while flying? These envy-inducing experiences are only for first-class or business-class passengers. For a peek behind the first-class curtain, read on.

Fly in a Suite (Etihad Airways)

The Etihad Airways’ Residence might be bigger than your hotel room, but I’d say if you’re paying approximately $30,000 for a one-way ticket, you’re probably not booking a tiny motel room on the ground. Book this flying suite for yourself and a guest, and you two can enjoy your own personal living room, divided bedroom, and ensuite shower room. The living room has a leather sofa and two dining tables for relaxing or eating in front of your 32-inch flat-screen television, and the bedroom has a 6-foot 10-inch double bed that’s made up with designer Italian linens. The bedroom also has its own 27-inch flat-screen television so you can watch a movie as you fall asleep.

Get Chauffeured to & from the Airport for Free (Turkish Airlines)

Cancel your rideshare—if you’re flying Business Class on Turkish Airlines, the airline will send a luxury car and driver to come pick you up and take you to the airport or your destination after landing. Just tell them your flight details and they will get you there on time and in style.

Have an Intense Business Meeting (Qatar)

At a few thousand dollars per seat, you have no excuse not to work if your company is financing your business-class ticket on Qatar Airways. The airline’s Business Class Q-Suites offer groups of four seats (two forward-facing and two aft-facing) that can be combined into a flying conference room, with media panels in between to display your exciting PowerPoint presentations.

Take a Shower (Etihad & Emirates)

Taking a shower while flying through the clouds has got to be a pretty bizarre feeling, but you can enjoy it on either Etihad Airways or Emirates Airline if you’re flying in First Class. Briefly. Both airlines only allocate approximately five minutes of hot water per person, so you’ll have to soap up quickly unless you like cold showers.

Control the Temperature (Emirates)

If you’ve ever been on a plane that’s too hot or too cold, you know that the tiny airflow vent above your seat isn’t worth much when it comes to changing the temperature. If you had your own suite in Emirates’ First Class, you’d be able to set the temperature to be exactly to your liking. Each suite is fully enclosed with floor-to-ceiling doors, and comes with its own climate control capabilities.

Get a Massage (Turkish Airlines)

Worn out by the rigors of travel? The fully lie-flat chairs in Turkish Airlines’ Business Class have a built-in massage feature, so you can work out those knots at 35,000 feet. And if you want to take your massage on your back, the chairs fully recline into a lie-flat bed.

Dine on Wedgwood China (Singapore Airlines)

When you fly coach, you don’t even get real silverware, but in Singapore Airlines’ upper classes, gourmet meals are served on bone china that was specifically designed for the airline by Wedgwood (a world-famous fine china company). As for the food served on those expensive dishes, it’s been cooked fresh by the onboard chef.

Be Catered to By a Savoy-Trained Butler (Etihad Airways)

Flight attendants can be great, but they haven’t undergone an intense weeks-long training course with the world-famous Savoy Hotel. Etihad Airways employs a fleet of trained, white-glove-wearing butlers to cater to first-class fliers staying in Etihad Airways’ The Residence class, who will work with the flight attendants to help arrange anything guests could possibly want while on the plane.

Drive a Porsche on Your Layover (Lufthansa)

Instead of killing time in the airport lounge on a long layover, First Class guests flying Lufthansa can book the Porsche First Class Excitement experience. For just 99 euros, you’ll get a three-hour rental of a Porsche 911, gas, and insurance so you can explore the city at top speed and make it back for your connecting flight.

More from SmarterTravel:

• First Class for Free: How to Get an Airline Upgrade
• 11 Epic Hotels Worth Planning Your Whole Trip Around
• 9 Epic Luxury Hotels We’d Book If We Won the Lottery

Caroline Morse Teel would love to fly in first class someday. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for photos from around the world.

The post 9 Amazing Things You Can Only Do in First Class or Business Class appeared first on SmarterTravel.

United Airlines is testing a new boarding procedure that it hopes will provide a better customer experience, with less crowding and more efficient boarding. According to the company’s website:

We’re dedicated to providing convenience and comfort throughout your journey with United and are always looking for ways to improve your overall experience. Our customers have told us they want a better experience when boarding, so we’re working to improve the process by testing a new boarding method at various airports across our network.

So what is the new boarding process?

As always, passengers will be assigned to five different groups, depending on their seat location, ticket type, frequent-flyer status, and so on. But instead of the current five boarding lanes, the new scheme uses only two lanes.

Group 1 and Group 2 passengers will board first, through Lane 1 and Lane 2. When they’re onboard, the remaining groups will be boarded, in order, through Lane 2. Lane 1 will be left open, to accommodate late arrivals from Groups 1 and 2.

The trick here is keeping passengers seated until their group numbers are called, thereby reducing the congestion that inevitably chokes off the entrance to the jetway. If United can successfully encourage or enforce that behavior, the result should be a calmer, less stressful boarding experience. Problem: solved.

On the other hand, it seems to be human nature to want to be first in line, and it’s easy to imagine members of Groups 3 through 5 ignoring gate agents’ requests to remain seated and loitering at the entrance to Lane 2, long before they’ve been called to board. Problem: unsolved.

Reader Reality Check

Does this seem like a tenable solution, or not?

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• Wallet Watch: Parking Fees Rise at 12 MGM Las Vegas Hotels
• An Airline Denied Her ‘Emotional Support Hamster’—So She Flushed It
• New Wyndham Hotels Promotion: 1 Free Night After 2 Paid Stays

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

The post Can United’s New Procedure Fix the Boarding Crunch? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

It’s often said that data, sufficiently tortured, can lead to any conclusion. Along those lines, sometimes poll results leave you convinced that the data must have been screaming in agony.

Case in point: the results of the 24th World Travel Awards, self-described by the sponsor as “the ultimate travel accolade.”

The same company operates the World Golf Awards, the World Ski Awards, and the World Spa Awards, so presumably they know something about polling. And the results at first blush seem to accord with those of other more prestigious polls. Among them:

• World’s leading airline: Singapore Airlines
• World’s leading airline – first class: Emirates
• World’s leading airline alliance: oneworld
• World’s leading airport: Singapore Changi
• World’s leading business travel agency: American Express

No qualms with those picks. They might differ somewhat from mine, but I wouldn’t discount them as out of hand. They’re reasonable, and don’t leave me questioning the reliability of the award survey itself.

But other picks are more likely to raise eyebrows: Hainan Airlines appears on the list five times (best business class, best inflight entertainment, best business-class lounge, best cabin crew, best inflight service) more than any other carrier. Really?

Emirates’ Skywards is the world’s best loyalty program. Huh?

And what for me was the strangest: Russian carrier Aeroflot was picked as the World’s Leading Airline Brand. That goes beyond questionable; it’s downright laughable.

This all raises the question: According to whom? World Travel Awards says that “the votes come from qualified executives working within travel and tourism and the consumer travel buyer.” There’s no information about the number of voters participating or the number of votes received. Where the voters come from. How often they travel.

These seem to be outlier results, and there’s a lack of transparency regarding methodology: Two big red flags.

The takeaway: Always consider the source of information before you use it to choose your travel.

Reader Reality Check

Is there a case to be made that Aeroflot is the world’s leading airline brand? Comment below.

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• 2017 Was the Safest-Ever Year to Fly
• New Disney Policy Puts Security Over Privacy
• EU Court Calls Uber a Taxi Company. Will Rates Rise?

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

The post And the World’s Leading Airline Brand Is … Aeroflot? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Travel agents aren’t like the rest of us. We occasionally consume travel; they sell it every day. We’re amateurs; they’re pros.

When it comes to opinions about travel services and suppliers, we have our own, based on our limited experience; they have their opinions, based on their experience, plus feedback from thousands of customers.

Travel Weekly, a trade publication for travel agents, has just published results of its 2017 Readers Choice Awards, with the top vote-getters in 77 categories, including best airline, best hotel, best cruise line, best travel insurance, and so forth.

Here are some of the more consumer-relevant picks:

• Best domestic airline: Delta
• Best international airline: Virgin Atlantic
• Best first/business class: Emirates
• Best global network: United
• Best airline overall: Delta
• Best car rental: Hertz (both domestic and international)
• Best domestic hotel chain: Marriott
• Best luxury chain: Ritz-Carlton
• Best upscale chain: Hilton
• Best mid-priced chain: Hampton Inn
• Best boutique chain: W Hotels
• Best hotel chain overall: Marriott
• Best domestic cruise line: Carnival
• Best Caribbean line: Royal Caribbean
• Best Europe line: Celebrity
• Best luxury line: Crystal
• Best cruise cuisine: Oceania
• Best cruise line overall: Royal Caribbean

No doubt you have opinions on some of the above “best of” categories, as do I. Always room for a second opinion, right?

Reader Reality Check

Any strong disagreements with the travel agents’ opinions?

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• The Airlines That Serve the Healthiest (and Unhealthiest) Meals
• These Are the 10 Busiest North American Air Routes
• How to Minimize the Stress of Holiday Travel

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

The post Travel Agents’ Favorite Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Lines appeared first on SmarterTravel.

To airline managers, an airplane sitting on the ground is a horror: an expensive asset failing to justify its expense. The goal is full utilization, which means keeping planes airborne as many hours as possible, with as many passengers on board as possible.

One key to maximizing utilization is timely turn-arounds, which require quick, orderly boarding. That would seem to be among an airline’s easiest tasks. Yet after more than a century of commercial air travel, there’s still no consensus on the best way to quickly fill a plane with passengers.

Some airlines board passengers by row; others board by cabin; and still others use a hybrid scheme that combines considerations of row and cabin and other factors.

While there’s no consistency among different airlines, travelers can at least expect consistency from flight to flight when flying the same carrier. Until, that is, the airline changes schemes.

That’s just what JetBlue did recently, replacing its row-by-row boarding with a new group-based approach, which boards passengers in the following order:

• Pre-boarding for disabled passengers
• Mosaic elite and Mint passengers
• Even More Space passengers (Group A)
• Active military and passengers with children in strollers or car seats
• Group B
• Group C
• Group D
• Group E
• Everyone else

Naturally, JetBlue paints a rosy picture of the new process, touting its supposed benefits to passengers. In response to a request for more information regarding the reasons for the change and its effects, a JetBlue representative claimed the new procedure was designed to “reduce congestion on the jet bridge and in the aisles—and get customers on their way faster than ever.” As for its effects, “While the process is still new, we have been quite pleased with the results. Many customers and crewmembers have remarked on the ease and speed of boarding.”

Is it really any faster than the old way? JetBlue customers commenting on FlyerTalk, a discussion board for frequent flyers, gave the new scheme mixed reviews.

According to one commenter:

I was on BOS -> ORD round trip yesterday morning/night, maybe it was just a predominantly business crowd, but it seemed really quick and easy boarding each way.

But another’s experience was less positive:

I can’t accurately say if there was a change in boarding time, as this was my first A321 flight, but both boardings (particularly outbound from BOS) seemed to take forever. Flight back wasn’t full, so that helped, but boarding was pretty slow, and gate agents seemed to be allowing long pauses between boarding groups (presumably to let the aisle clear out).

And there was at least one conspiracy theorist, who divined ulterior motives in the switch:

This won’t affect me but I would like to know the impetus for the switch. Seems needless unless they are going to upsell the boarding groups to nickel and dime people.

Indeed, for what’s being characterized as a customer benefit, the airline has been notably mum on the subject. Aside from an email to JetBlue’s elite Mosaic members, there has been suspiciously little communication about the change. No news release. No social media buzz. Nothing.

As a result, many JetBlue travelers have been taken by surprise when faced with the new boarding rules. Whether it’s ultimately deemed a pleasant surprise or not remains to be seen.

Reader Reality Check

Upgrade or downgrade: What’s your assessment of JetBlue’s new boarding process?

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• How to Make Your Dream Vacation an Affordable Vacation
• Free Companion Pass Makes Southwest Credit Card Offer the Best Ever
• The Top 25 Travel Apps to Upgrade Your Smartphone

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

The post JetBlue Has a New Boarding Scheme. It’s Complicated appeared first on SmarterTravel.

There’s a school of thought that suggests that loyalty points are best used for high-end travel: first-class flights and stays at ritzy hotels.

That strategy is inherently dangerous, because for most travelers, it requires accumulating points over many years. And during that time, the value of those points will inevitably decline, as award prices rise. Devaluation is the name of the loyalty-program game.

Award discounts, like this one from Starwood, in effect restore some of points’ lost value, and make once-in-a-lifetime trips a bit more accessible to average travelers.

Offer Details

Through March 5, 2018, Starwood Preferred Guest members can redeem 35 percent fewer points for award stays in suites at 11 participating hotels and resorts:

• The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket
• Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
• The St. Regis Punta Mita
• Le Meridien Bora Bora
• The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort
• Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui
• W Retreat Koh Samui
• Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
• W Retreat & Spa – Maldives
• The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
• The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

The discounted rates may be used in conjunction with Starwood’s 5th Night Free offer.

Bookings at the discounted rates must be made by phone, direct with the Starwood customer contact center.

Deal or No Deal

The participating properties are mostly very high-end resorts, with very high-end award prices to match. So even with the discount, the award rates are pricey.

For example, a night at the Bora Bora Le Meridien, in French Polynesia, normally costs a whopping 60,000 points. The discounted rate of 39,000 points is better, but still a stretch.

On the other hand, the prices will probably never be lower than they are now, with the discount. So if a suite stay in an exotic locale is on your bucket list, and you’ve been accumulating points in the Starwood program, this might be the time to cash in those points.

Don’t forget to pack the sun screen.

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• Spirit, the Airline Everyone Loves to Hate, Is the Future of Flying
• Here Are the 10 Airlines that Charge the Most Fees
• You Can Borrow Delta Miles to Fly Today and Pay Them Back Later. Should You?

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

The post Save 35% on Award Nights at Starwood Resorts appeared first on SmarterTravel.

La Compagnie, an all-business-class airline based in France, is selling round-trip flights from Newark to Paris for just $1,300. And because it’s called the Family Trip Offer, the airline has cut the fare for kids ages 2 to 11 to $1,000.

This is a terrific deal for anyone who hates flying in sardine-can economy seats. Typical economy nonstops from the New York area in mid-July start at $1,063; the cheapest business-class seats on other lines start at around $4,600, and the La Compagnie business-class fare is actually $87 less than premium economy on Air France.

Granted, La Compagnie’s version of business class is not fully competitive with what you get on most of the giant airlines these days: The seats are “angle flat,” not “flat bed,” so you sleep on a flat surface that’s tilted a bit. Also, the meal service is a lot less elaborate. But La Compagnie’s business class is far better than anyone else’s premium economy, to say nothing of regular economy. For the price, this sale fare is a hard value proposition to resist.

The airline has indicated a sale end date of August 27, 2017; for travel between July 10 and September 3, but seats are limited. If you’re headed to France this summer, take a good look at La Compagnie; you aren’t likely to find a comparable deal anywhere.

More from SmarterTravel:

• La Compagnie: One-of-a-Kind Boutique Airline
• La Compagnie: Hot Airline, Tepid Loyalty Scheme
• 8 Neck Pillows That Won’t Embarrass You on the Plane

The post Paris Business-Class Flights for Just $1,300 Round-Trip appeared first on SmarterTravel.