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Using the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar to Book Cheap Flights

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image credit: southwest.com

The Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar is an easy-to-use widget on the Southwest site that filters your search to find the lowest fares per month for your desired trip. This helpful tool is a favorite among deal hounds, especially those that are already Rapid Rewards members (more on how to use your loyalty status to save even more later).

It’s no secret that Southwest, as one of the nation’s most popular budget airlines, offers great value on its tickets. However, this makes it that much harder to know when you’re getting the absolute lowest price available, and filtering through all search results can be a hassle.

Fortunately, the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar does the work of finding the best deals for you.

Here’s how to use it to book cheap flights year-round with Southwest Airlines. 

How to Use the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar

Using the Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar is very straightforward. Simply select the bubble at the upper righthand corner of the screen for “Dollars” or “Points” to determine what unit ticket values will be shown in. You can then toggle your search to see round trips, one-way, and multi-city prices.

Choose the number of people in your party from the Passengers box and then fill in the departure and arrival destinations as you normally would. It might be worth it to try a few different locations if you are able to.

Please note, that the Low Fare Calendar can only be used for groups of one to nine people. If you are traveling in a group of 10 or more, you will need to book a flight through Southwest’s Group Travel Program. This program gives group discounts and more booking flexibility on flights. For example, no upfront payment is required (except for possibly a per person deposit) and names can be changed as little as 72 hours before departure. This is a good option for business groups, but it does unfortunately mean that you can’t use the Low Fare Calendar. Contact Southwest Airlines directly if you’re interested in making a group booking.

Prices shown on the calendar itself reflect discounted Anytime prices per person. Some flights are available for as little as $49 a piece. Actual prices may not be exactly what is shown on the calendar, as fares are subject to change until you purchase a ticket. If all of the available flights at the calendar’s price have been snagged by other customers, you will be shown the next best prices.

If Southwest is running a sale on flights, and they are just about every week, you’ll find these prices through the Low Fare Calendar. Just keep in mind that promotions like this are often popular and many other people are likely to have the same idea.

Some frequent fliers also like to use the Low Fare Calendar to get an idea of what tickets are going for in general during a given time. Not many airlines have a tool like this, so using the calendar offered by Southwest is a good way to find out roughly what budget airlines may charge for a flight you’re looking to take even if you aren’t necessarily planning to travel with this airline.

Benefits of Using the Low Fare Calendar vs. Booking Online

While there is nothing wrong with booking travel online through the Southwest website or mobile app, the Low Fare Calendar makes it easier to book a flight if your number one priority is finding the best price. The calendar simplifies the process of saving money.

But if you do need to filter your search further and are unwilling or unable to have a little wiggle room with dates or flight types, booking online may be your only option for getting exactly what you’re looking for.

Another advantage to using the Low Fare Calendar is that Southwest flights don’t actually show up on a lot of third-party flight booking websites. So if it’s good deals you’re after, this is very likely is the only way to find them at Southwest.

Can You Earn Rapid Rewards Through Low Fare Calendar Bookings?

Just as you would normally earn points for booking travel online through Southwest, flights booked through the Low Fare Calendar also qualify to earn points when you pay with cash. However, travel booked with points does not qualify to earn points.

And Southwest does have a decent loyalty program. In 2020, a WalletHub study estimated that the Rapid Rewards program awards an average member about $10 per $100 spent, putting it in the top five airline loyalty programs. Plus, points do not expire as long as you complete at least one points-earning activity (through Southwest or a partner) every 24 months.

Rapid Rewards Credit Card

image credit: creditcards.chase.com

Another surefire way to save more on flights is with a travel card. Here is what each Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card offers.

Priority (annual fee of $69)

  • 5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
  • 2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Bonus 3,000 points for every year you are a cardmember

Premier (annual fee of $99)

  • 5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
  • 2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Waived foreign transaction fees
  • 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred for every $10,000 you spend (up to and including $100,000)
  • Bonus 6,000 points for every year you are a cardmember

Plus (annual fee of $149)

  • 5 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases made between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (valid up to $2,000 per month or $8,000 total)
  • 2 points per $1 on all Southwest purchases, including Rapid Rewards hotels and car rentals
  • 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Bonus 7,500 points for every year you are a cardmember (or $75 Southwest annual travel credit)
  • Four upgraded boardings per year (subject to availability)
  • 20% cashback on inflight purchases
  • Waived foreign transaction fees
  • 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred for every $10,000 you spend (up to and including $100,000)

For more information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business credit card, go here.

Currently, all three of the above credit cards are giving cardholders 50,000 points when they spend $2,000 in the first three months of an account being opened, and 30,000 points on top of that (for a total of 80,000 points possible) when they spend $10,000 in the first nine months. 

And of course, all Southwest credit card points can be redeemed for flights—domestic and international—as well as car rentals, hotel stays, cruises, and more with partner companies. You can also use your points to get gift cards.

What Are the Change or Cancellation Fees?

The change or cancellation fees are the same when you book through the Low Fare Calendar as when you book through the Southwest Airlines website.

Southwest Airlines does charge change or cancellation fees. You are only responsible for the difference in fare if you book a new flight that costs more than your previous one. 

You can change or cancel as little as 10 minutes before your flight is scheduled to leave, even if you’ve already checked in for it. As long as you make a change to or cancel a flight 10 minutes or more before its scheduled departure, you will be eligible for a full refund to the original payment method or travel credit worth the same amount. There is no limit to how many times you can alter your itinerary.

What Flights Are Available?

The Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar features all discounted flights. 

In addition, all three fare types—Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select—are available when you book through the calendar. Flights shown on the calendar are Anytime prices, but the next screen shows prices for each class.

The more flexible you are, the better when using the Low Fare Calendar. Cheap flights go fast, and the prices on the Low Fare Calendar are not guaranteed until you purchase a ticket. If you are alright with making more stops or you are not particular about where exactly you depart from and when, you might be more likely to fly at the price you’re looking for.

On Low Fare Calendar flights (and all other Southwest Airlines flights), you can check up to two bags for free. These must weigh no more than 50 pounds or measure more than 62 linear inches. After these two, bags cost $75 each. See the complete Baggage Policies section for information about excess baggage fees.

Right now, customers can book all the way through April 11, 2021, using the Southwest Low Fare Calendar.

COVID-19 Policies

Like most other airlines, Southwest has implemented many new health and safety standards in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested in flying with Southwest at any time soon, you will want to know what they are doing to keep you safe and what their updated cancellation policies are.

As much as possible, the airline requires passengers to distance themselves from each other and has increased their cleaning procedures. Masks are required on all flights and in all airports. 

As for the thousands of tickets customers have purchased in 2020 and not been able to use, policies have been updated to account for these too. 

For all flights canceled by Southwest, customers are refunded the full cost of their ticket to the original form of payment or in the form of travel funds. For all non-refundable Wanna Get Away tickets—a popular choice for passengers of the biggest budget airline in the world—that have been voluntarily canceled by the passenger, customers are eligible to receive a travel credit worth the full value of their flight that is valid for travel until September 7, 2022.

How to Get in Touch With Customer Support

If you hit a snag in the booking process, want to know whether you’re eligible for a ticket refund, or just have a question that’s not addressed in Southwest’s FAQs section, here’s how to get a hold of someone at the airline.

You can call 1-800-435-9792 to reach the general customer service line, open 24/7. Alternatively, you can tweet @Southwestair or message the airline on Facebook messenger. You can also send a secure message right through the Southwest site, which has a guaranteed response time of 48 hours or less, or send a letter to the following address with non-urgent requests:

Southwest Airlines

P.O. Box 36447-1CR

Dallas, Texas 75235

Final Thoughts

If you are able to compromise on certain aspects of your flight such as flight class and departure date in order to score the best deal on your trip, then the Southwest Low Fare Calendar is for people like you. When paired with a Rapid Rewards account or credit card, customers are sure to save big when they use this calendar to book travel.

This tool ensures that you will always be getting the lowest prices Southwest has to offer on flights, but there is not a bottomless stash of dirt cheap tickets. To make the most of this option, try to get to the Low Fare Calendar as soon as you possibly can when booking and remember to be flexible. This tool most benefits those with wiggle room in their schedule and the foresight to book well in advance.

Volaris Airlines Overview

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Now flying to 36 cities in Mexico and most major U.S. cities!

Volaris Airlines is a Mexican budget airline that makes it easy to fly on the cheap between the United States and Mexico, within Mexico, and to and from Central America. You can also use this airline to travel to Costa Rica, El Salvador, or Guatemala. As the Mexican airline with the most U.S. and domestic routes, it’s a popular choice among tourists and locals alike.

Should your next flight be with Volaris Airlines? To find out everything there is to know about this airline from baggage policies to how to book, keep reading.

Where Can You Fly With Volaris?

Volaris is not a global airline, so you are fairly limited in where you can go when you choose to use this carrier. With that said, you can fly between most major U.S. cities and 36 cities in Mexico including Cancun, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, and Tijuana.

If you’ll be staying in a Mexican resort any time soon, you might want to look into booking with Volaris to spend less money getting there and back.

However, be aware that there are very few nonstop flights available between Mexico and the U.S., and you will more than likely need to touch down in a smaller city of Mexico before making it to your final destination if you’re headed to a more populous area like Cancun or Tijuana.

Volaris also travels to and from San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Guatemala City, Guatemala. Visit this page for a complete list of cities.

Volaris Booking and Check-In

Book flights and Check-in using the Volaris Airlines Mobile App(s)

You can easily book a flight with Volaris online, through the mobile app, or over the phone.

Baggage must be checked at least two hours prior to your flight’s departure time for domestic flights and three hours prior to your flight’s departure time for international flights (between the United States and Central America).

Passengers on international flights can check in as early as 24 hours before their flight and passengers on domestic flights can check in between 72 hours and one hour before their flight.

You may check in online, through the Volaris mobile app, or at an airport counter. Please note that checking in at the airport counter rather than online or through the mobile app will mean paying a small fee.

Volaris Airlines Baggage Policy & Allowances

There are three fare classes with Volaris:

  • Basic
  • Classic
  • Plus

Basic offers the lowest costs but comes with the fewest baggage allowances, and Plus comes with a higher price tag but allows passengers to bring more baggage with them.

See the baggage allowance for each fare class below. 

ClassAllowance
BasicOne personal item
ClassicOne personal item + one carry-on
PlusOne personal item + two carry-ons, and one checked bag

Do not bring any bags containing batteries, gasoline, or other hazardous materials like bleach. And if you’re going to be traveling with firearms, which is only permitted on domestic flights within Mexico, be sure to check in a little earlier so that you can get the weapon fees paid and get through security before it’s time to board. Do not bring smart bags or hoverboards.

Carry-Ons

Personal items may not exceed external dimensions of 14 inches x 18 inches x 8 inches in order to ensure that your item fits under the seat in front of you.

Carry-on bags may not exceed external dimensions of 22 inches x 16 inches x 10 inches

Checked Baggage

Checked baggage, which is only included with Plus tickets but may be added onto any ticket, may not exceed 68 linear inches in size or 55 pounds in weight. This is both slightly larger and slightly heavier than the average airline permits (62 linear inches is a typical size restriction and 50 pounds is a typical weight restriction).

You can expect to pay between roughly $40 and $75 for your first checked bag, depending on where you are flying and whether you are flying during a high or low season. Flights between the U.S. and Central America cost more and fees are lower when you add checked bags while booking versus at the airport or boarding gate.

Additional checked bags after this will cost between $45 and $55 a piece on domestic routes and as high as $140 for international routes (with the highest prices charged when you pay at the gate).

Excess Baggage Fees

If your bags do exceed weight restrictions, the fees are as follows:

  • Bags weighing between 55 and 77 pounds: $25 – 90
  • Bags weighing between 77 and 99 pounds: $50 – 190

Excess baggage fees are also determined based on the route and what time of year you are flying.

Checked baggage can weigh up to 99 pounds. This includes musical instruments and sports equipment.

Please note that, per TSA guidelines, passengers traveling to and from the United States are permitted to carry only two pieces of baggage with them, meaning that you will not be allowed to fly with more than one personal item and one carry-on per person.

Strollers and mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers do not cost extra, but they often need to be checked. Just make sure that if you are flying with an infant or toddler, you purchase the Baby Combo package.

About Volaris Combos

To keep costs low, Volaris requires passengers to purchase combos when they need anything beyond the absolute basics. Here’s what you get with each type of combo.

  • Flexibility combo: unlimited changes to your flight at no additional charge
  • More baggage combo: one extra carry-on, one extra checked bag, and one piece of sports equipment or musical instrument (all must meet standard size restrictions)
  • More speed combo: priority boarding, express security check-ins, and standard seat selection

Some combos can only be added to your flight by calling Volaris.

Volaris Airlines Pet Policy

Volaris allows passengers to fly with their pets as long as their pets—carrier included—do not weigh more than 22 pounds. If your pet and their carrier weigh between 22 and 100 pounds, you will need to check them in when you are checking your luggage.

Pets cost between $58 and $70 when they are checked and between $64 and $85 when they travel with you in your seat.

Your pet’s carrier may not exceed 17.5 inches x 12 inches x 7.5 inches if they are flying with you and 62 linear inches if they are being checked in. 

Both dogs and cats are allowed, with some breed restrictions. Brachycephalic breeds (i.e. Bulldogs, Chow Chows, and Shih Tzus) are not permitted and “dangerous” breeds (i.e. Dobermans and Rottweilers) are permitted only when checked. Pets younger than four months old and pregnant pets are not permitted to fly in the cabin or with luggage.

It’s a good idea to arrive a little earlier than you normally would if you are traveling with a pet. Pets can be added onto a reservation at any time during booking or check in, or over the phone when you call customer service. However, do your best to add your pet to your trip as early as possible. Each Volaris flight travels with up to four checked-in pets and two on-board pets. 

Bring your pet’s up-to-date vaccination card and health certificate to the airport.

Volaris Airlines Customer Service and Contact Info

If you need to get in touch with customer support, here are the numbers you would call from any of the countries that Volaris flies to and from:

CountryCustomer Support Number
United States(55) 1102-8000
Mexico1-855-865-2747
Costa Rica+506-4-0000-229
El Salvador+503-2504-5540
Guatemala+502-2301-3939

The Volaris website does not list the airline’s call center hours. At this time, Volaris recommends contacting support in a different way due to high call volumes.

Their preferred method would be to get in touch with Volaris customer service by submitting a secure message through their website. You should get a response within 24 hours using this service.

Finally, Volaris representatives can answer your questions and help you with your booking through social media and WhatsApp. If you use Facebook messenger or WhatsApp to send a private message, you will get a response from the chatbot immediately and from a human representative within four hours.

Volaris Airlines Loyalty Program

If you like to shop around for the best deal when flying, you are probably a member of more than one airline loyalty program.

Volaris does not have a loyalty or frequent flyer program in the traditional sense, but there is a subscription that passengers can join to save money on regular flights. This program, called v.pass, guarantees that you will always get the best flight price available (e.g. no upcharges during popular times of year for flying) and lets you take one domestic flight a month at no added cost. For a fixed monthly fee, anyone can become a member.

When you are a member of v.pass, you can fly as much as you want, but one flight a month is included in your monthly subscription rate. This allows frequent flyers with the airline to save money during peak travel times when prices are higher.

Only flights within Mexico are eligible to use as a “free” v.pass flight. You will need to pay for all other flights, but you’ll get whatever the lowest price available is every time. V.pass members are automatically added to v.club, which offers preferential pricing and perks like an additional checked baggage weight allowance of 22 pounds.

Volaris Airlines Inflight Accommodations

Volaris offers a fairly stripped down flying experience when compared to other airlines. For example, Volaris planes do not feature inflight WiFi. Food is available for purchase, but inflight meals are not included in the price of any ticket. Beverages are also available for purchase. For a look at what’s on the menu for Volaris flights, go here.

All Volaris flights include only Economy class, so you can forget about roomier Business or First class seats and extra accommodations. There are also very few options for entertainment.

Hotel and Car Rental Bundles

Like many other airlines, Volaris also offers the option of bundling your travel to save. Go to the Ya Vas site to learn more about resort vacation packages, flight and hotel bundles, and promotional car rental rates.

Fees to Watch Out For

The major fee you’re going to want to know about before flying with this airline is the non-resident fee. This is charged to all passengers that are not residents of Mexico, and it’s about $28 on most flights. This charge is not eligible to be waived.

Avoidable fees to be mindful of include the airport check-in fee and higher prices on baggage not added to your trip until you arrive at the airport. Volaris also charges a small fee when you ask them to print out your boarding pass for you.

And of course, check to make sure that your baggage does not exceed size and weight restrictions to avoid excess baggage fees. Avoid paying for any of your baggage at the airport or at your gate to keep costs low.

Final Thoughts

Volaris is a good option for affordable travel between Mexico and the United States, with passengers that plan ahead standing to benefit the most from this airport’s pricing structure. If you’re okay with a no-frills flying experience that is more economical than luxurious, Volaris might be the way to go.

The sooner you complete your booking and check in, the more you can save when you choose this airline. Pre-paying for baggage is another great way to spend less money and traveling light is always a safe bet when you want to keep your flights cheap. 

And if you are going to fly with Volaris Airlines, you will probably get the best prices by booking directly with Volaris rather than with third-party flight booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity.

12 Sleeping Tips for Redeye Flights That Actually Work

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12 helpful tips for surviving your red eye flight (below).

Red eye flights typically depart after 9 PM and arrive at their destination as early as 5 AM and get the name “red eye” from the fact that passengers on them often get little to no sleep and have red eyes by the end. But despite the name and its implications, you can actually sleep on a red eye, and better than you might think. Not all routes offer red eye flights, but many long and/or popular flights (e.g. between big cities, from the eastern to the western side of the country, etc.) do.

A red eye flight might not be your first choice, but there are definitely advantages to flying when most of the western world is sleeping. For one, they are often cheaper, sometimes by quite a bit. Airlines don’t want to fly their planes below capacity if they don’t have to, and they price overnight tickets accordingly. For another, they give you more time at your destination that can be spent on work or leisure. They are also often less crowded because they’re not appealing to as many flyers.

If the idea of saving money and time appeals to you, here are 12 things to do to improve your quality of sleep when you board a plan for a red eye flight.

Don’t Sit in the Aisle

If you can help it, try not to sit in an aisle seat on your red eye flight. As everyone on your plane gets up in the middle of the night to take turns using the claustrophobic bathroom, you’ll be glad you aren’t seated in the highest-traffic part of the plane. Try to avoid sitting right next to the crew too.

A window seat is obviously ideal, but you’ll want to try to get one of these as far in advance as possible—about 50% of people prefer window seats, but there are only so many to go around. You might be able to switch to an open middle seat if your flight isn’t crowded, which is more likely on red eye flights. But whatever you do, don’t sit too close to the restroom.

Bring Noise-Canceling Headphones (or Earplugs)

Noise-canceling headphones or some good old-fashioned earplugs will be your best friend on a red eye. 

If you find yourself traveling through the night often, it would probably be worth investing in a quality pair of headphones that blocks out all outside noise (i.e. crying babies in the row next to you, chatty aisle neighbors, etc.). Then, put on some relaxing classical music or white noise if that’s what helps you fall asleep at home and you’ll almost be able to trick yourself into thinking you’re not on an airplane. Try a free app like Calm for some sleep-friendly soundscapes.

Just be careful not to abuse the headphones by watching movies or videos when you could be sleeping. If possible, get this out of your system before you board your plane.

Hit the Gym

If you’re lucky enough to have a gym at your airport and you have an hour to spare before your flight, don’t be afraid to use it. Quality of sleep improves when you tire your body out with a good workout session. Moderate exercise done at least an hour before sleeping has been proven to help you sleep more deeply and wake less often. 

Just don’t overdo it—for some, working out too intensely—e.g. cardio, weightlifting, etc.—shortly before going to bed actually has a negative impact on quality of sleep. 

But if you’re gym-less, don’t sweat it. Even a long walk around the airport is great for getting your body ready to shut down. 

Save the Caffeine for the Morning

If you normally go for a second (or third) cup of coffee in the afternoon to power through the rest of the workday, try to refrain on the day of your flight. Experts recommend drinking caffeinated beverages no fewer than four to six hours before you plan to sleep. By depriving your body of the caffeine it expects, you force it to become tired and you’ll easily fall asleep right away when you board your plane.

Try some caffeinated black or green tea instead of coffee if you don’t want to deal with total caffeine withdrawal symptoms, and some hot chamomile or peppermint tea right before bed to promote sleep. 

Be Mindful of What You Eat

Likewise, be careful not to eat anything that’s going to hinder your ability to get some shut-eye on your red eye. You may be fine to eat whatever you want for dinner when you’re sleeping at home, but when you’re sleeping on a plane, your body can use all the help it can get resting.

Avoid heavy foods like cheese and carbs, acidic fruits and veggies, and anything with a lot of added sugar for the best quality sleep. And if you’re eating dinner at the airport, try to grab a bite to eat as early as possible. Many people sleep better after giving their stomachs a few hours to digest a meal.

Clean Up

Part of the reason sleeping on a plane is so uncomfortable is because you often feel dirty. When you don’t get a chance to shower before your flight and then have to board a plane that has seen hundreds of passengers, it’s easy to feel a little—grimy. This is why it’s smart to bring personal hygiene products for red eye flights.

Even if you’re taking a short trip and don’t plan to stay at a hotel, it’s a good idea to pack a small bag of toiletries for your flight. Facial cleansing wipes, a toothbrush, and mouthwash can go a long way in making you feel more comfortable. Mimic your typical nightly routine as best as you can in the airport bathroom.

Change into Something Comfortable

Don’t make the mistake of boarding a late-night flight in your work clothes. Restrictive suits and scratchy tights won’t do you any favors when it comes time to try to sleep through your route because your body won’t be able to differentiate between day and night, work and rest. Bring pajamas or sweats and anything else that makes you feel cozy at home.

You never know how warm or cold a plane will be. Layer up and bring more than you think you’ll need. And make sure your feet are comfortable too—red eye veterans can often be seen sliding on a pair of slippers or thick socks before bed. 

If you have an important meeting or work event to attend shortly after arriving at your destination, it would be a good idea to arrive at the airport in your comfortable clothes and keep your professional clothes nicely packed away in a separate, wrinkle-proof bag. That way, you’re only changing your clothes at the airport once and you lower your risk of losing any articles of clothing in the bathroom.

Bring a Blanket

Many airplanes provide blankets to passengers on red eyes, but why use one of these when you can pack one of your own? Travel blankets fold up to occupy very little space and they are lightweight. Plus, they’re usually more inviting than what the airline has to offer. Try one of these affordable options from TripSavvy’s best of 2020 travel blankets lineup.

You could even try using your travel blanket to sleep at home for a week before your red eye flight. This way, the blanket will feel familiar and your body will associate it with sleep. After all, as you’re probably noticing, getting quality sleep on an airplane is really all about convincing your body that you’re somewhere other than an airplane.

There is also no guarantee that your plane will have enough blankets for everyone. Unless you’re one of the first passengers to board, there is a very good chance that you won’t even get a blanket before they’re gone.

Arrive Early

Still, you should try to be one of the first to board for other reasons.

Give yourself plenty of time to check in and get on your plane. If you cut it close to your departure time, you’ll be rushing to get on the plane and get your luggage put away, and the adrenaline this fills your body with is not exactly ideal for sleeping. Keep the process as frustration-free as possible and avoid potential mishaps by playing it safe and getting there with time to spare. 

Pack Light

Aside from the sleep-friendly items on this list like pajamas and a travel blanket, try to pack as light as possible. By not bringing a bulky carry-on, you’ll give yourself more room to stretch your legs. And by not traveling with too many suitcases, you’ll be able to easily grab your stuff when it’s time to get off your plane and get to a coffee shop as quickly as possible.

Prioritize bringing the things that are going to help you sleep and whatever you must have with you at your destination. Everything else can stay at home.

Put Technology Away

Electronic devices like laptops and e-readers are usually great for long flights, but they have no place on red eyes.

Research has shown that using technology before bed reduces the amount of melatonin in your body. This hormone helps to regulate your sleep-wake cycle and having less of it in your body at night makes it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep because your body thinks that you’re supposed to be awake. The blue light emitted by smartphones, laptops, and tablets has been linked with melatonin suppression.

If possible, put all electronic devices away 30 minutes to an hour before you hope to fall asleep. Reducing your stress levels before bed and avoiding artificial light can also help to increase your melatonin levels.

Don’t Forget the Neck Pillow!

Everyone who’s ever flown knows what a difference a neck pillow can make when sleeping. Even if you don’t take many red eye flights, you need a good neck pillow.

Shop around to find the right neck pillow for you. If you like memory foam at home, find one that’s memory foam. Maybe you’d prefer something microfiber that’s soft to the touch, a pillow that wraps around to provide support for your chin, or an inflatable pillow that takes up less space when you’re not using it. Neck pillows are inexpensive and easy to find, but it’s worth taking the time to pick a great one.

If having trouble falling asleep is normal for you, bring an over-the-counter sleep aid for good measure in addition to doing these 12 things. There are plenty of natural options available including melatonin supplements and valerian, a flower that can be taken in low doses to help you relax. You can also take a medication like Tylenol PM or ZzzQuil, but these should be used sparingly as a rule so that you don’t develop a dependence on them. 

Final Thoughts

Getting decent sleep on even a short red eye flight is possible when you take the necessary steps to get comfortable and feel rested before your flight. Doing even just a few of the things on this list is sure to improve your inflight sleeping experience and hopefully reduce some of the apprehension you may feel about flying at night.

So while you are unlikely to get the best sleep of your life on a red eye flight and still might touch down with bags under your eyes, consider purchasing a red eye ticket the next time you fly. And don’t forget to follow these 12 tips for getting to sleep and staying asleep on an airplane.

United Airlines Baggage Policy, Exceptions and Fees [2020]

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image credit: united.com

If you’re planning on flying with United Airlines in the near future, you’ll want to know what to expect in terms of potential fees and luggage restrictions for both your carry-on items and checked bags. So for your convenience, whether you’re traveling with carry-ons, checked bags, or both, here’s a comprehensive list of every important United baggage policy all passengers should be aware of in 2020.

United Airlines Carry-On Allowance

Don’t risk arriving at the airport for your flight and having your carry-on luggage turned away or unexpectedly checked. United Airlines lets most passengers travel with one carry-on bag and one personal item each, free of charge, as long as the items do not go over the airline’s size and weight restrictions.

Basic Economy tickets allow for one personal item only and do not include free carry-on luggage. If you do bring a full-sized carry-on bag when flying economy, you will be required to check the bag and pay the checked bag fee (whatever it is for your flight) and a $25 gate handling charge on top of that. All other flight classes include one free carry-on and one personal item.

Your carry-on bag technically has no weight restrictions, but it is expected to fit in the overhead bin. This means it must not exceed 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 22 centimeters x 35 centimeters x 56 centimeters. This includes all exterior hardware such as handles and straps. Your personal item, which is expected to fit under the seat in front of you, must not exceed 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches or 22 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 43 centimeters.

Other items that all passengers may bring in addition to their carry-ons include standard “special” items such as umbrellas, FAA-approved child restraint systems and safety seats, assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers, and pet carriers.

Carry-On Allowances for Toddlers and Children

Bring the essentials free of charge! Details below.

If you are going to be traveling with an infant or young child, there are a number of necessary items you can bring that United Airlines will not charge you for. These include: 

  • A diaper bag
  • A breast pump and milk
  • An FAA-approved child or infant restraint seat
  • A compact folding stroller that meets carry-on size restrictions (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches)

All children under the age of two may travel with one car seat and one stroller. This allowance is included in all flight classes and on all flights. Strollers usually need to be checked at the gate but if they do not collapse, you’ll need to check them at the ticket counter.

Bringing Pets Onboard

Small dogs and cats are allowed on most domestic and international flights, but you will, of course, need to pay for your pet to travel with you in the cabin. A service charge of $125 is charged each way for a pet, and an additional charge of the same amount is assessed for every stopover of greater than four hours.

Service animals are not under the same restrictions as pets. See this page for information on traveling with service animals.

Pit Bull breeds are not permitted on the airplane at all.

The requirements for traveling with pets are as follows:

  • Puppies and kittens must not be younger than 16 weeks old
  • Unaccompanied minors are not permitted to fly with pets
  • Additional pets require an extra ticket and an additional $125 each way
  • Pets that don’t fit in kennels may not accompany you in the cabin and will need to travel in a separate compartment of the plane through United Airlines’ PetSafe transport program
  • You and your pet must be on the same flight
  • Oxygen services are not available for pets in the event of an emergency

Your pet will need to be up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and you must bring a health certificate showing that they are to the airport. Some states, like Hawaii, have their own restrictions in place that you need to research.

Musical Instruments

Small instruments such as violins and guitars are permitted as long as they are in a hard case. If they are placed in the overhead bin, they’ll count as your carry-on. If they are placed beneath the seat in front of you, they’ll count as your personal item.

Prohibited Items

Certain items are strictly prohibited on United Airlines flights. These restrictions are put in place by the federal government and there are no exceptions.

Items never allowed on a flight include:

  • Self-balancing or self-riding bags
  • Camping equipment that contains fuel of any kind
  • Defense sprays such as pepper spray, tear gas, or mace
  • Explosives including but not limited to fireworks, flares, and gunpowder
  • MREs containing flameless heaters
  • Shock absorbers
  • Smart bags with batteries that cannot be removed
  • Tasers
  • Select electronic devices
  • Perishable items

Items allowed on flights with restrictions include:

  • Batteries
  • Power tools
  • Mobility devices
  • Firearms

United Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

How many bags you can check for a United flight and how much each of those bags will cost to check depends on your loyalty status with the airline and the flight class you’ve chosen. Size and weight restrictions are also dependent on flight class and loyalty status.

Here’s a Visual Breakdown:

For United Economy flyers, checked baggage may weigh up to 50 pounds or 23 kilograms. United Business, United First, and United Polaris checked baggage may weigh up to 70 pounds. The latter is also the restriction for passengers with Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Star Alliance Gold (First, Business, or Polaris) MileagePlus status. 

No bag may exceed a combined total of 62 inches (length + width + height) unless checked by an active-duty U.S. military member traveling for official business.

You can pay for your checked baggage, provided that it meets size and weight requirements, online before your flight or at check-in.

How Much Do Checked Bags Cost at United?

To get the most accurate cost breakdown on how much it will cost to check your bags on your next United flight, use their baggage cost calculator.

The cost varies not only by route but also by which cabin you’re sitting in (economy, premium economy, business or first) as well as your membership and status. Your membership and status are determined by the credit cards you hold and whether or not you are active in the U.S. military.

In general, for North American economy flights you can expect to pay $30-$35 per bag depending on whether you prepay or not. If you need to carry a second bag this will cost an additional $40-$45.

For flights to Europe the first checked bag is free even for those in the economy cabin, however second bags will cost up to $100 to check.

If you’re flying any level above economy both your first and second bag will be checked free of charge. Same goes for acting U.S. military members. You can read more about this in our “Exceptions and Waivers” section further below.

Checked Baggage for Children

The same checked baggage policies apply to children with purchased tickets and infants flying internationally on 10% of adult fare as for adult passengers. Should a child’s baggage exceed their personal allowance, the fare-paying adult accompanying them will need to assume the excess baggage as part of their own allowance.

Excessive Baggage Fees

If you must bring a bag that exceeds the above size and weight restrictions or you want to bring an additional bag, you may do so for a fee. Some flights do not allow oversized or overweight bags at all, so be sure to look into this every time you fly.

Checked baggage may never exceed 115 linear inches. Most baggage may never exceed 100 pounds. Musical instruments and mobility devices, however, may weigh up to 165 pounds. Overweight bags (weighing over 70 pounds but less than 100) can cost up to $200 each. Oversized bags measuring more than 62 linear inches also incur a fee, which is dependent on the flight destination and subject to change.

Please note that if a bag is more than one of these things—extra, overweight, or oversized—you’ll be charged more than one service fee. Extra bags are permitted only when there is space available on the plane.

Exceptions and Waivers

Both active-duty U.S. military personnel and their dependents and MileagePlus Premier members and their travel companions can have checked baggage fees waived. For these flyers, a maximum weight of 70 pounds is enforced rather than the standard 50 pounds.

Active-duty military personnel and their dependents receive 3 complimentary checked bags for personal travel, 2 for travel orders, and 5 for official business travel. MileagePlus Premier Silver members receive 1 complimentary checked bag on most domestic and select international economy flights, Gold receive 2 complimentary checked bags on economy flights, and Platinum and 1K members receive 3 complimentary checked bags on economy flights. All premium cabin travel permits 3 complimentary checked bags for those with Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1K status.

Some destinations such as flights to San Salvador and Havana have additional restrictions in place when it comes to complimentary checked baggage. See these here.

Credit Cards That Give You a Free Checked Bag With United Airlines

As you can see, United Airlines does not offer free checked baggage to just any customer, as some budget airlines do, but there are a couple of ways to check a bag for free when you’re a United passenger. 

Not a member of the military or a United Airlines favorite customer? A United Airlines credit card might be the way to go for you. United offers five different credit cards through Chase bank and all cardholders receive at least one checked bag for free.

Here’s how many free bags you can check when you’re a United cardholder:

  • United Explorer Card: 1
  • Club Card: 2
  • Presidential Plus Card: 2
  • United Business Card: 1
  • United Club Business Card: 2

Costco Car Rental Program: 12 Things You Must Know

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Use Costco Travel to rent a car with Avis or Budget and receive a $20 Costco Shop Card! Good through March 2021.

Costco has a reputation for always coming through for its members with discounts and exclusive bulk buys, and the Costco car rental program is no exception. Costco Travel, an offshoot program of the warehouse started in 2000, allows members to book discounted flights, cruises, hotel stays, and even car rentals through the massive retailer. 

Access to the Costco car rental program through Costco Travel is just one of many perks of a Costco membership, and it might be your new favorite way to save money on car rentals. This program is not as popular as you might think, but it’s a cult favorite among members that know about it for good reason: most car rental prices through Costco Travel are lower than through other agencies and platforms.

Think you might want to use Costco the next time you need to leave your vehicle behind for a trip? Keep reading to find out 12 things you must know about renting a car through Costco.

You Must Have a Costco Membership to Use This Program

You probably already guessed it, but only Costco members are eligible to use the Costco Travel program to make car rental reservations. In order to rent a car, the primary driver needs to verify their membership with a membership number at the time of booking whether they are booking online, in-person, or over the phone. There is no way to get around this requirement. 

In 2020, a base level Costco membership, the Gold Star membership, costs $60 per year, so you’ll have to decide for yourself whether the price is worth it if you’re not already a part of the Costco fan club. However, most Costco members know that the savings you can get shopping through this warehouse far more than make up for the membership price. 

You Can Book for Someone Else (If They’re a Member)

Yes, you can conveniently book a car rental reservation for someone else through Costco Travel.

But on top of requiring the adult making the booking to be a member, Costco requires that all drivers of a rental vehicle have a Costco membership. That means that if you want to reserve a car for a friend or family member, you can do so only if they themselves are a Costco member. 

However, if you do choose to go this route, the person making the booking does not need to be there to pick up the car.

You Can Add Additional Drivers for Free

Costco Travel bookings allow for one additional driver to be added to a rental at no extra cost, no matter what car rental company you choose. So if you already know that you and one other person will be sharing driving responsibility, use Costco Travel to cash in on considerable savings.

For reference, most car rental companies charge a daily fee of $10 for every extra driver. 

But keep in mind that while this fee is waived for the first additional driver when you reserve a rental using your Costco membership, extra drivers beyond that will cost you and you will want to make sure that the car rental company you’ve chosen allows more than one additional driver.

You Won’t Be Renting a Costco Car

Costco Travel does not actually hand over the keys to its members when reservations are made but instead facilitates discounted rentals through other companies. You can do everything through Costco from searching for options to making reservations and even canceling reservations, but these are not Costco cars that you’re renting.

From the moment you choose a car rental company from Costco’s list of options and make a call, you will be passed off to a third-party agency. But although you’ll be speaking with a representative from whichever agency you’ve chosen, calls are directed through a dedicated line for Costco members. 

Costco will still be there if you need to make changes to your reservation (more on this soon).

You Can Choose From 4 Rental Car Companies

Costco’s four rental car partners.

When you book a rental car through Costco Travel, you can choose four car rental companies: 

  • Alamo
  • Avis
  • Budget
  • Enterprise

The fact that Costco Travel offers four options allows you to shop around without having to visit multiple sites or make multiple calls. One search shows you results for each car rental agency and organizes your options for you, taking the stress out of price comparisons.

This lineup represents some of the best car rental companies this year has to offer in terms of prices, customer satisfaction, and geographic availability—Business Insider has called Enterprise the best overall car rental agency of 2020—, but if there’s a company you prefer that’s not on this list, Costco Travel is not the way to go. 

You Can Qualify to Rent If You Are Under the Age of 25

If you are younger than 25, you can still book a car rental through Costco even though the Low Price Finder asks you to check a box stating that you are older than 25 before populating results. However, you will not be able to take advantage of the Costco Member Discount even though you are a Costco member. You also might be charged an Underage Driver Fee. But, it can be done. Just call 1-866-921-7925 and choose option 1.

Costco members under the age of 25 need to make car rental reservations through car rental agencies directly rather than Costco Travel. Since Costco has no control over the Underage Driver Fees and can’t help with reservations for underage drivers, it might not benefit you much (or at all) to go through Costco if you’re in this situation.

Restricting under-25 drivers from making reservations is not a policy specific to Costco. Though the legal age to rent a car is technically 21, insurance premiums are higher for young drivers because young drivers are statistically more risky than older drivers. Exceptions are typically only made for government employees and U.S. military personnel.

You Can Book Easily Online

Login to your Costco Travel account. This is separate from your Costco account.

All car rental reservations can be made right through your Costco Travel account. 

Please note that a Costco account is not the same as a Costco Travel account and registrations for each must be made separately.

To make a reservation, log in to your Costco Travel account and enter your preferences into the search parameters. Specify your ideal pick-up location, drop-off location, and departure date, as well as the times that work best for you. The Low Price Finder tool will automatically generate results by locations nearest to you and you can select up to four of these to compare at once.

Types of vehicles to choose from at most agency locations include: 

  • Economy car
  • Compact car
  • Intermediate car
  • Standard car
  • Full size car
  • Intermediate SUV
  • Standard SUV
  • Mini Van
  • Full size SUV
  • Premium SUV

Check with locations in your area for premium car, standard convertible, luxury car, and full size van availability as these are more limited.

If you have a loyalty number with the car rental company you’ve chosen, be sure to enter this when you’re completing your booking to earn points for use on future reservations.

You Can Modify or Cancel Your Booking Easily Online

You can also modify or cancel a car rental reservation just as easily through the Costco Travel website, and you won’t be charged anything to tweak your booking or cancel your reservation completely. This perk is certainly worth noting as many car rental agencies do charge cancellation fees, especially when you cancel close to your scheduled departure date.

Costco Travel car rental reservations are incredibly flexible. Still, play it safe and cancel or change a reservation as far in advance as possible to avoid losing any deposits or having to pay fees enforced by rental car agencies on reservations made with prepay rates.

You Might Qualify for a Discount With Your Membership

Much of the Costco Travel car rental program’s appeal is the potential to save, but how much money you save and in what manner you save it varies and discounts are set by car rental agencies, not Costco.

Even though you are making a booking through a third-party company, your Costco membership automatically qualifies you for a discounted price—however, Costco does not guarantee that this is the lowest price available for your booking with the car rental company you’ve chosen. It wouldn’t hurt to browse some third-party discount agencies like Hotwire or Priceline if getting the best price is your number one priority.

But in cases where your discount as a Costco member is taken as a percentage of the total cost, the Costco Member Discount is not a set percentage but determined separately by each car rental company. For example, Budget offers up to 30% on reservations made through Costco Travel while Avis offers up to 25%.

For even more discounts through Costco, look into bundling other travel bookings with your car rental. You might be able to rack up more savings this way.

You Might Qualify for Upgrades With Your Membership

Keep in mind that a lower booking price is not the only way to save. Rather than discounts, some of the car rental companies you can book through with Costco Travel offer free upgrades and built-in add-ons on reservations made by members instead of price deductions.

For example, many Costco bookings include unlimited miles, which might save you serious cash on longer trips. Remember also that you can also add an additional driver to your reservation for free. 

You Can Compare Prices With the Costco Low Price Finder

Find the best price in seconds!

The Costco Travel Low Price Finder compares all of your options in one place by price, and this handy little feature may be your new best friend. Just input the details of your trip and use this tool to see what the price would be on each type of car rental—compact, sedan, SUV, etc.—as well as where your nearest pick-up and drop-off location would be.

Depending on the terms of your booking and what promotions are going on, booking through Costco Travel may or may not be the cheapest, but this tool will not compare prices outside of what’s offered through Costco. To know for certain that you are getting the best possible deal, compare prices not only through Costco Travel but also through the third-party website for whichever rental company you think you’ll go with.

You Can Get Free Insurance Coverage With a Costco Credit Card

The Costco Anywhere Card qualifies you for up to $50,000 worth of protection on car rentals at no added cost. Secondary car rental insurance is optional for all members, but it’s not a bad idea to add it to your reservation in the event of a worst-case scenario.

This credit card by Citi Bank is popular with Costco members because it lets them rack up points on Costco purchases including grocery, travel, and gas. This rewards card is perfect for anyone that frequents their local Costco store and even better for anyone that uses Costco to book car rentals.

But if you do not have a Costco credit card and still want to purchase insurance on your reservation, call the rental agency directly to arrange this.

Final Thoughts

The Costco car rental program is probably not worth getting a Costco membership for if you don’t live near a retail location, but otherwise, it’s a great program overall. At just $60 a year, a Costco membership is a good investment for anyone that is able to do bulk shopping or likes to know they’re getting warehouse prices. And if you have a Costco membership, it only makes sense to register for Costco Travel.

On average, Costco car rentals are cheaper, even if by only a small margin. But for all the flexibility that booking with Costco provides, this program is worth looking into. And for comparison shopping alone, using Costco Travel to find car rentals is a great way to go.

Wyndham Rewards and Member Level Perks

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image credit: wyndhamhotels.com

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts boasts more than 9,000 hotel locations in over 80 different countries. Within this chain, there are 20 different brands for every type of lifestyle. The Wyndham Hotels & Resorts corporation includes upscale stays like Dolce, modest stays like La Quinta and Baymont, and popular budget stays like Super 8 and Days Inn. 

For a look at what this hotel chain’s rewards program is all about and how to fully take advantage of its perks, take a look at this complete guide to qualifying for elite status with Wyndham Rewards.

What is Wyndham Rewards?

Wyndham Rewards is a points program that rewards members for loyalty. By staying at Wyndham properties and making purchases with a Wyndham credit card, loyalty members receive points that can be redeemed for free bookings, rate discounts, and other perks and freebies.

Within the Wyndham loyalty program, there are four member levels: Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

All members are assigned Blue status upon enrollment. Members are bumped up to Gold after staying three nights at participating Wyndham locations, to Platinum after nine nights, and to Diamond after 24 nights. These minimum numbers have been lowered for the rest of 2020 due to travel restrictions earlier this year. Gold previously required at least five nights, Platinum 15, and Diamond 40.

Here’s a breakdown of the perks and advantages associated with each membership tier:

PerksBlueGoldPlatinumDiamond
Best available rate guarantee✓✓✓✓
Earn 10 points per dollar or 1,000 points (or more) per qualifying booking✓✓✓✓
Use points to book free or discounted nights✓✓✓✓
No expiration date on rollover nights/awards bookings✓✓✓✓
Local experience discount for awards bookings✓($5)✓($10)✓($10)✓ (*)
Access to a dedicated member services phone line✓✓✓
Preferred room choice✓✓✓
Accelerated earning✓(10%)✓(15%)✓(20%)
Late checkout upon request✓✓✓
Early check-in upon request✓✓
Caesars Rewards status match✓✓
Avis and Budget car rental upgrades✓✓
Suite upgrades✓ (every stay)
Complimentary snack or beverage at check-in✓
Give GOLD**✓

*2 free tickets to a local Experience per year.
**With the Give GOLD perk you can instantly upgrade one friend or family member to Gold level membership per year.

Preferred rooms are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Members that qualify for Accelerated Earning Points get these at a percentage of their Base points, or the points collected at a rate of 10 points per dollar of 1,000 points for every stay. All members earn at least 1,000 points per stay.

Wyndman Rewards Member Rate

Just being a Wyndham Rewards member qualifies you for the Best Available Rate on qualifying Wyndham hotel bookings. This discounted rate will show up when you book a stay with a participating Wyndham hotel online through your Rewards account or over the phone.

Please note that La Quinta hotels and Caesars Entertainment properties do not participate in this rate discount program at this time.

Caesars Rewards

Caesars Entertainment and Wyndham Hotels are in partnership with each other, which means more perks for rewards members of both brands. 

Wyndham Rewards members that stay at one of over 30 Caesars Entertainment casinos can earn points for their booking and cash these in for discounts and free stays through Wyndham.

How Wyndham Rewards Compares

According to WalletHub Study, the Wyndham Rewards program offers the highest rewards value and ranks as the best hotel rewards program overall for 2020. Rewards for elite members/frequent travelers are valued at an estimated $13.36 for every $100 spent and for all other members at about $12.87/$100.

Additionally, this brand is one of the best in terms of global geographic coverage as there are over 9,000 participating locations across the world.

Wyndham also stands out for offering high-value rewards for all membership tiers, so you don’t need to be an elite member that does a lot of traveling to benefit from membership. You can be a Blue member and still do well.

All in all, you don’t have much to lose by being a reward member with Wyndham, and there’s no reason you can’t be a member of multiple hotel loyalty programs at once.

How do I Join Wyndham Rewards?

To work your way up the ladder to elite status, you need to start earning points or open a credit card. All points you earn are referred to as “Go Get ‘Em” rewards.

Go Get ‘Em

It probably goes without saying, but staying at Wyndham hotels, resorts, and rental properties is a great way to earn points. Members receive points per stay at a percentage determined by their rewards status (see the chart in “What Is Wyndham Rewards?”).

All members earn whichever results in more points: 10 points per dollar or 1,000 points on every stay. In some cases, only payments toward the room rate itself (not service fees and additional amenities) are counted. Bookings made through third-party sites do not qualify. A reservation is not required to earn points on a stay.

You can also choose to earn Travel Partner Currency—airline or train points—instead of Wyndham Rewards points by selecting this preference in your member profile. Travel points can be redeemed at American Airlines, United Airlines, and others. Just know that Travel points may not be redeemed for Wyndham Rewards.

Making purchases with qualifying credit cards is another easy way to rack up points. Here’s more on what each Wyndham-branded credit card offers.

Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards

Wyndham offers 3 rewards credit cards. The Earner, Earner Plus and Earner Business.

The Wyndham Reward Earner card is the most basic card this brand offers and can help you earn Wyndham points on everyday purchases.

Currently, this card comes with a promotional offer that qualifies new members for 30,000 bonus points when they spend at least $1,000 within 90 days of issuance. This card has no annual fee.

After that, cardholders earn two points per dollar spent on grocery and dining purchases (not including purchases made at Target or Walmart stores), five points per dollar on Wyndham hotel and gas purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases made with this card.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card is the next card up. This card qualifies new members for 45,000 bonus points when they spend at least $1,000 within 90 days of issuance. This card has a $75 annual fee.

Then, cardholders earn four points per dollar on grocery and dining, six points per dollar on Wyndham hotel and gas purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases made with this card.

Finally, there is the Wyndham Earner Business card. This card also qualifies new members for 45,000 bonus points when they spend at least $1,000 within 90 days of issuance. This card has a $95 annual fee.

After that, cardholders earn four points per dollar on marketing, advertising, and utilities; eight points per dollar on Wyndham and gas; and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

The Wyndham Earner card qualifies you for Gold status, the Earner Plus card qualifies you for Platinum status, and the Earner Business card qualifies you for Diamond status.

How to Use Wyndham Rewards Points

Within the Wyndham Rewards program, there are basically three ways to redeem your points. You can “Go Free,” or cash in on free hotel stays; “Go Fast,” and receive discounts at select hotels; or “Go For It,” and shop with your points for gift cards and other goodies.

Go Free

Wyndham points can be used to book free stays at thousands of Wyndham hotels and resorts.

Awards nights cost 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points. The cost of awards bookings varies by location. To successfully use rewards points to book a stay, you are required to make a reservation in advance. For most Wyndham Hotels, this can be done online through your Wyndham Rewards account or over the phone at 866-996-7937. All Go Free reservations are subject to availability and restricted by blackout dates/rates.

Do not try to contact a hotel property to redeem awards for bookings—this will not work.

The phone numbers for other Wyndham properties are listed below:

Wyndham Vacation Clubs: 1-866-370-8548

Wyndham Vacation Rentals: 1-866-996-7937

Cottages.com: 1-866-232-8628 (Go Fast awards are not available at cottages)

Landal GreenParks: 1-888-862-8053

7,500 points are enough for a free standard rate room at many locations, but rooms at resort locations cost a minimum of 15,000 points and up to 30,000.

Go Fast

If you don’t want to wait until you have enough points to book a stay for free, you can “Go Fast” and just use your points for a discounted rate. You will need between 1,500 and 6,000 points for a room discount at a participating Wyndham hotel and between 3,000 and 6,000 points for a discounted rate at a resort or rental property.

Each hotel, resort, and rental property location decides for themselves how many points a rate discount is worth. More expensive stays typically require more points for a discount.

Go Fast rewards are also subject to blackout dates/rates and some properties do not participate in the Go Fast program.

Go For It

Finally, you can use your points to shop freebies, including:

  • Online merchandise
  • Marathon gas discounts
  • Over 100,000 local tours and activities (you can what’s currently available here.)
  • Gift cards to participating stores (Amazon, Starbucks, Macy’s, American Eagle, etc.)
  • Donations to select charities (Operation Homefront, National Parks Conservation Association, YMCA, etc.)

You may also exchange Wyndham Rewards points for Travel points or Caesars Rewards credits (just remember that Travel points may not be exchanged for Wyndham Rewards points).

How to Redeem Points

To cash in your points, log in to your Wyndham Rewards account. You should be able to see how many points you have earned on the dashboard.

If you are redeeming your points for a free or discounted booking, call Wyndham customer support and they will redeem your points for you. If you are using your points to “Go For It,” just visit the Wyndham Rewards site and pay with points.

Final Thoughts

The Wyndham Rewards program is an excellent way for fans of the hotel chain—and you are likely a fan already, as this franchise operates many big brands—to get more for their money when they book stays.

There are certainly better credit cards than the Wyndham Earner cards, but the rewards program is great overall. Members of every tier can cash in on savings on nearly any booking, and Platinum and Diamond members enjoy VIP treatment and even more discounts. Qualifying for Diamond status requires a lot of travel, but you’d do well to seek out Wyndham locations whether you stay at hotels frequently and qualify for elite status or not.

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