Until November 17, 2015, the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card is offering 50,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $2,000 in the first three months, and a $50 statement credit after your first Delta purchase during the same period.

The normal bonus is 30,000 miles and no statement credit.

Contents of this article:

Offer details
My valuation of the offer
Are you eligible for the bonus?
Best uses of SkyMiles

Offer Details
The Gold card is the “standard” airline credit card.

50,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $2,000 in the first three months
2 miles per dollar on

Hawaiian Airlines will install fully flat beds in First Class on its A330s in 2016 and 2017. This is fantastic news for people who want to get to Hawaii in style with miles.

Here's the layout of the new Hawaiian F cabin, call it the reverse Lufthansa #HAGlobalMediaDay pic.twitter.com/NA57ivlhaq
— Brett Snyder (@crankyflier) October 19, 2015

The A330 currently features First Class in a 2-2-2 configuration of recliners with 8" more legroom than domestic First Class on United, Delta, and American. It will soon feature 6'4" beds in a 2-2-2 configuration.

If you live at an airport served by Southwest, the Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel. Every time you fly Southwest--whether on a cash or award ticket--your designated companion flies for free plus taxes: $5.60 one way in the United States and a little more internationally.

Here's how to open two credit cards and get the Southwest Companion Pass for almost all of 2016 and 2017.

The Southwest Companion Pass previously allowed three changes to your designation of the companion. Now you get three changes per calendar year.

Last month I flew from Houston to Honolulu in United First Class. I had booked the award with 30,000 Singapore miles because Singapore miles have access to the same Saver award space on United flights as United miles do, but Singapore charges fewer miles.

Update 2/12/16: United brought back the nonstop calendar. The single column for Saver and Standard economy space remains.

I covered two months ago why the new united.com stinks for award searching. My biggest complaint is that even if you specify a "nonstop only" search, the search calendar does not show you nonstop only results.

I used to be able to see space on a route for two months at a time on united.com, now I can see it one day a time.

Since July 2nd, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® has offered 75,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months.

The offer expires October 27, 2015. The previous offer was 50,000 bonus miles.

American Airlines miles are the best for super-cheap economy redemptions and ultra-luxury redemptions. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® also offers Admirals Club lounge membership, meaning you can access over 90 American Airlines Clubs in airports around the world whenever you’re flying–even if you’re not flying on American.

Someone at the Chicago Seminars (maybe he'll float through here and claim his hat tip) pointed out that all American Airlines off peak award windows are happening right now!

American Airlines offers discounted economy awards to the regions above on the dates above.

17,500 miles one way from North America to Hawaii
12,500 to Caribbean and Mexico
15,000 to Central America and Northern South America
20,000 to Southern South America
20,000 to Europe
25,000 to Japan and South Korea

The discounts to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America are only valid

Someone at the Chicago Seminars (maybe he'll float through here and claim his hat tip) pointed out that all American Airlines off peak award windows are happening right now!

American Airlines offers discounted economy awards to the regions above on the dates above.

17,500 miles one way from North America to Hawaii
12,500 to Caribbean and Mexico
15,000 to Central America and Northern South America
20,000 to Southern South America
20,000 to Europe
25,000 to Japan and South Korea

The discounts to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America are only valid

The Citi Prestige offer mentioned in this post is expired. See the new offer and analysis here.

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ThankYou Points are easy to earn because both the Citi Prestige® Card and the Citi ThankYou® Premier Card offer 50,000 and 40,000 bonus points respectively after spending $3,000 in the first three months and big category bonuses.

Trip Report Index

Emirates Lounge Zurich
Emirates A380 First Class from Zurich to Dubai
Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai
Emirates A380 First Class from Dubai to Houston: Seat, Suite, Entertainment Amenity Kit, Pajamas, Bed, Sleeping
Emirates A380 First Class from Dubai to Houston: Onboard Bars
Emirates A380 First Class from Dubai to Houston: Food
Emirates A380 First Class from Dubai to Houston: Shower Spa

I have broken my 16 hour flight from Dubai to Houston into four parts because I had over 200 photos and several videos from the flight.