Happy Friday!
My wife and I just crossed paths at the airport — she's off for a girls' weekend in Amsterdam, and I'm on solo dad duty back home.
With my nonstop travel schedule, I'm thrilled to get some 1:1 time with my daughter (and give my wife a break). I considered traveling with my daughter this weekend, but she’s 20 months old and way too mobile to fly right now.
(I'm a first-time parent, but I'm impressed by anyone who travels with a toddler this age.)
Catch up on the latest below — and have a great weekend.
📋 In this edition
The card that pays for itself
Earlier this week, I asked for feedback on the newsletter.
One thing came through loud and clear: you want more ways to maximize your points, and more direct answers to the questions you're asking.
Fitting, then, that I just opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card myself.
This is just the third time ever the card has offered 100,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first three months.
The annual fee is still just $95, and the new up-to-$100 Chase Travel℠ hotel credit covers it outright. Stack these three enhanced perks on top, and you'll come out ahead.
Reader questions have been rolling in. Here are the ones I keep getting.
Can I get this bonus if I already have a Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
Yes. Chase now lets you hold both Sapphire cards simultaneously. As long as you've never earned a welcome bonus on the Preferred, you're eligible.
Can I downgrade my Reserve and get the bonus?
No. The welcome bonus is only available for new accounts.
Does being an authorized user on someone else's Sapphire Preferred affect my eligibility?
No. If your spouse or partner added you to their Preferred years ago, you're still eligible for this 100,000-point offer as a new primary cardholder.
Can I combine points across Chase accounts?
Yes. You can combine points across Chase cards in your own name, and share points with another household member — so you and your spouse can double up on this offer.
Any other questions? Hit reply.
(Quick reminder: If you apply through my affiliate link, I'll earn a small commission that helps keep this newsletter free. Thanks in advance.)
Boeing's new 737 line
Boeing just found a solution to one of its (good) problems.
The manufacturer has an order backlog of more than 4,300 Boeing 737 jets, and no airline likes extended delivery delays for their shiny new toys.
To boost production, Boeing just opened a new 737 assembly line in the world's largest building (by volume).
That's the Everett production factory, now officially home to the so-called North Line assembly area.
Boeing’s Everett production factory
Boeing repurposed space formerly used to produce 787 Dreamliners — which are now exclusively built in Charleston — and built a new final assembly setup for 737s. Up to 52 MAX 8s, MAX 9s and MAX 10s will roll off the line there each month.
I toured the new assembly line this week and saw a WestJet-bound 737 MAX 10 going through the first final assembly phase.
Watching a 737 get built doesn't have the same wow factor as a Dreamliner, but this seems like a sensible use of space to keep building Boeing's most popular jet.
Rare Delta award space
Last week, I flew Delta One Suites from Los Angeles to New York and said it wouldn't happen again anytime soon.
Turns out, I spoke too soon. Delta has been releasing batches of business-class award space to Europe, starting at 115,000 SkyMiles. A “steal” for Delta One — especially since redemptions don’t book into basic fares.
These "drops" happen every so often, and they're rarely around for more than 24 hours. Unless you're constantly searching, you'll miss them. (They did a drop again this week.)
I subscribe to Thrifty Traveler Premium for the automated award alerts, plus emails on discounted cash fares in economy and business. With fares climbing across the board, it's a smart time to subscribe.
My wife’s EES update
I've tried Europe's new immigration system six times in six weeks, so I figured it was time to send my wife to give it a try (and enjoy some time with her friends in Europe).
She landed in Amsterdam this morning and reported that everything was running smoothly.
My free tracker predicted as much, since she landed on one of the first inbound arrivals of the day.
One of her friends landed at 9 a.m. — during one of the peak banks — and reported a much longer wait.
As I've told anyone who has reached out about EES: prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Delta Basic Business, analyzed
Delta just brought basic fares to business class.
This move has been a long time coming, but it still stings. The cheapest Delta One fare is now fully unbundled — no seat selection, no free changes, no lounge access, no private check-in.
Delta’s new shopping experience
When airlines announce these types of fare adjustments, they never tell you which routes get the new pricing or how much the buy-ups will cost.
That's why you subscribe to this newsletter.
I just searched every long-haul Delta route to get the specifics.
Alaska fumbles twice, then scores
I've already shared plenty of reasons why I've been impressed with Alaska Airlines. (The list is genuinely long.)
But it's only fair to share some criticism. I decided to fly Alaska on my way home from Seattle.
After my first-class upgrade cleared, there was one seat left — with a long list of passengers below me on the upgrade list. But that seat went out empty because the gate agent was "too busy" to process the upgrade.
I turned to some readers who frequently fly Alaska. They shared that this happens regularly, and that there's no real accountability for agents when it does.
I would've been frustrated if my upgrade was the one skipped, but fortunately, it wasn't.
Now for my second gripe.
Alaska's catering is the best you can find in domestic first class.
Breakfast on Alaska Airlines
But why can't the airline stock a vegetarian choice on its standard menu? Because of the last-minute upgrade, I wasn't able to preorder — and none of the onboard picks were vegetarian.
With healthy eating so popular these days, you'd think Alaska would always offer one vegetarian option.
Or maybe I'm just still hangry from yesterday's flight. You tell me.
The silver lining: a Delta flight from Seattle to New York that was supposed to depart after us somehow cut the takeoff line — but then this happened.
💡 Tray Table Tip: How to roam with eSIM
I've been getting tons of reader questions about how to save money on international roaming using eSIMs.
The TL;DR: buy a local eSIM from one of my recommended providers instead of paying the pesky $12/day fee from your home carrier.
(Or use T-Mobile, which offers free international usage. But then you'd need to put up with T-Mobile's network at home.)
But did you know that you can still receive calls and texts on your home line, without triggering the $12 day pass?
I just put together a comprehensive step-by-step guide that outlines exactly what I do to save on roaming while staying connected to my home line.
🗞️ News you can use
It's been a quiet 48 hours since my last edition. Delta did report earnings this morning and expects to keep fares high through the end of the year. Lovely.
🔗 Links to use
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