Happy Friday!

I’m thrilled that the meteorologists changed their snow forecast for NYC this weekend. It’ll still be cold here, but at least it won’t mean spending the entire weekend indoors.

This is our second winter as parents, and I now fully understand why people say it’s the toughest season with kids.

Not only do we need to bundle our daughter up in multiple layers each time we go outside, but some of her favorite activities — playing on the swings and relaxing in the park with dogs — are off-limits. Plus, don’t forget the random colds and viruses that end up spreading around the house.

These days, we’re planning lots of indoor playdates and adventures. We’re big fans of the nearby American Museum of Natural History — a must-visit on any family NYC trip.

Hopefully you’ve got something fun planned for the weekend!

In the meantime, I’ve got updates on new AirTags, my can’t-miss travel apps, a posh new plane, and much more.

Advertiser and Editorial Disclosure

In my opinion, AirTags are the single-most important travel accessory — and they just became even more indispensable.

On Monday, Apple announced a new generation of AirTags, and I traveled with them before they were announced. Upgrades include better findability, a louder speaker, and a more robust Bluetooth chip.

The best part? The price isn’t changing.

If you’re new to AirTags, it’s definitely time to order some. And if you already have them, I’d upgrade the ones sitting in your most important bags.

Amazon just started selling the new AirTags. Use my affiliate link below if you’re planning to upgrade. (Thanks for supporting my work!)

I’m thinking about creating a recurring section of this newsletter dedicated to answering reader questions. (Like the idea? Have questions you want answered? Just reply to this email.)

In the meantime, one of the most frequent questions I get is what travel apps I use. Well, here goes.

Thrifty Traveler Premium

Some of the best mileage redemptions I’ve ever made are courtesy of Thrifty Traveler Premium, an email (and text) service that finds and sends you the best deals — both in points and cash.

The Premium service costs $99 a year, but using my link gives you $20 off.

Note that Thrifty Traveler offers a few free tools as well, including one that helps you track credit card benefits.

Straight to the Points Premium

This is another award availability alert subscription that’s worth considering. I use it alongside Thrifty Traveler Premium and find that the two services complement each other in the alerts they send.

If you’re looking to monitor award drops for hard-to-book products like Qatar Qsuites or Japan Airlines first class, then you’ll be best suited with both.

Flighty

The best flight-tracking app on the market. Hot take, I still don’t use it as frequently as I use United’s proprietary app, but it’s a no-brainer for most travelers.

Seats.Aero

This is my go-to tool for searching and setting alerts for award availability.

I used to use a mix of sites like ExpertFlyer and Point.me, but Seats.Aero pretty much has everything most travelers need. (And some pro-level tools, like the seat map and fare class viewers.)

Autopilot

Autopilot is an app that tracks your fares and helps you get a credit if the price drops after you book. It supports American, Delta, and United flights, and only charges you if it gets you a savings. Note: I am an advisor to Autopilot.

InKind

InKind is a free dining rewards program that has helped me save more than 20% at lots of restaurants. I open the app before I go out to eat (both in New York and when I’m traveling) to see if my restaurant is on there.

Sign up today for $25 off your first $50+ meal.

CardPointers

One of the hardest parts of having 33 credit cards is maximizing all the benefits. (Even if you have just one or two of my recommended credit cards, you’ll probably still struggle to use all the benefits.)

That’s why I love CardPointers. It’s an app that makes it super easy to track your benefits and auto-enroll in all your Amex, Chase, and Citi offers with just one click.

Use this link for 30% off a premium subscription.

United just teased a new plane configuration, dubbed the Coastliner.

Upon further digging, this new Airbus A321neo will feature lie-flat pods, premium economy recliners, and standard economy seats.

The Coastliner will — as you might’ve surmised — operate on premium coast-to-coast flights from the New York area to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

United supposedly has 40 Coastliners coming, which could be enough for hourly service on the nation’s most premium domestic routes.

No formal announcement is expected imminently, but I’ll have the latest when it drops.

Today is the final day to decide on your Bilt card strategy.

You either need to upgrade your card to one of three new options or keep your existing card, which will be converted to a Wells Fargo Autograph Visa card on Feb. 7. (You can close it post-Feb. 7 and still keep your Bilt points.)

I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’ll let you know what I decide on Monday.

To help with your decision, here’s my analysis of the three new cards, along with my insights on the additional points earning structures and Bilt Cash. (Fair warning: it’s confusing.)

Let me know what you decide by replying to this email.

The fight between American and United for dominance in Chicago is the most interesting travel story right now.

Both airlines keep adding more flights, taking jabs at one another, and trying to convince locals why they’re the better airline.

United just took the fight to the streets with two new ads running on 55 billboards throughout the city.

I assume most of you get the reference, but "AAdvantage” is the name of American’s loyalty program. (And also, I’ll give United creative liberty for incorrectly writing “less canceled flights” when it should be “fewer.”)

Using these links supports my work. I only recommend what I use and love. Thanks!

From the Tray Table is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where links appear. Not all financial companies or all available offers are included. The opinions expressed are mine alone. Content is not reviewed or endorsed by an entity.