Hello from NYC!

My daughter and I just wrapped up our fun solo weekend together, while my wife enjoys her girls’ trip to Amsterdam.

She's promised to put together an Amsterdam guide when she gets back, which I'll share once it's ready. (Her highlight so far: a meal at De Kas.)

In the meantime, here's the latest. Hope you had a good weekend!

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I often get asked how this newsletter makes money. Right now, it's one of two ways: paid advertising and affiliate links.

When you buy a product or sign up for a credit card using one of my links, you're supporting me and this work — and I sincerely appreciate it. (As always, I only share offers, deals, and picks I genuinely recommend.)

And even if you never click a link, I still appreciate you reading and engaging. Truly.

Nothing about what you see and receive today is changing.

That said, if I want to keep doing this full-time, the math has to work. So I've been toying with the idea of a paid subscription option — in addition to everything I already send for free.

In the interest of building in public, here's what I've been kicking around:

You're a savvy bunch, so if you have thoughts — what you'd pay for, what you wouldn't, what's missing — I'm all ears. Just hit reply.

It’s been about six months since Bilt revamped its credit card lineup and rolled out three new cards.

I've already shared my biggest frustrations with the revamp, including the confusion around Bilt Cash and the still-primitive tech and online service options.

Now, here's an update on what I'm thinking of doing with my card.

For starters, I added the Bilt Palladium Card when it launched in February. I earned the 50,000-point sign-up bonus, but the card hasn't earned its keep.

For one, I haven't been able to use the $400 hotel credit (split into two $200 semi-annual increments) because it requires a two-night stay. Many of my hotel stays this year have been for a single night. (For longer stays, I've been redeeming points.)

The card carries a $495 annual fee — steep for a card with no other blockbuster benefit.

It does earn 2x points on every purchase, but so do a handful of other cards.

Unless you're spending thousands of dollars a month, the Palladium probably isn't worth it. (Plus, you won't earn points on rent unless you're putting real everyday spend on your Bilt card.)

I'm leaning toward closing or downgrading my card when the annual fee is due. Feel free to convince me otherwise.

The question I'm getting most often these days: is it worth booking a concierge to whiz you through European immigration?

The honest answer, in most cases, is probably not.

The lines can stretch long, but that's the outlier, even during some of the busiest travel times.

You're better off getting familiar with the process (here's my guide) and understanding what the crowds will look like when you arrive (here's my predictor tool).

That said, I've been telling some people to splurge. Namely, travelers with the tightest connections and those who want VIP handling because they don't want to worry about the uncertainty.

Unless you're comfortable spending a few hundred dollars for peace of mind, I don't think it's worth it.

For what it's worth, the only company I've used in the past (and would recommend based on my experience) is Royal Airport Concierge.

Delta was the first airline to report second-quarter results, and here are three things that stood out to me.

Meanwhile, the rumor mill is swirling with news that Delta is imminently going to announce flights between Los Angeles and Manila.

That'd be a big shift from Delta's relatively conservative transpacific network strategy, but given the airline's LAX growth plans, I'd call this a done deal.

A few of you have noticed I haven't been doing much family travel over the past few weeks.

Turns out, that's intentional. I've been trading planes for cars on our recent trips.

We spent weekends in Philly and the Hamptons, but I've opted out of longer flights because I'm not sure the experience would be pleasant for anyone (us or our neighbors).

Before 18 months, flying during her nap or after bedtime was a breeze.

But she's been fighting her naps and won't fall asleep at night unless she's in her crib. And she can't sit still for long during the day.

Other parents tell me it'll get better. For now, especially with nice weather in the Northeast, I'm happy with longer car rides.

I just donated a stack of airline PJs that had been sitting in my closet. Which is saying something — I wear airline PJs (or these from Magnetic Me) to bed most nights.

The reason? I've figured out the four things that make a pair worth keeping.

Without them, they get donated — or I don't bring them home in the first place. (Airline product designers reading this: take note.)

What did I miss?

Ever since SeatGuru shut down, I've turned to a newer site to find the best seat on the plane.

It's called Aerolopa, and it does a good job visualizing seat maps to help you find the best spot.

The free site shares recommendations too — not as robust as SeatGuru's once were — but this is the site to bookmark when it’s time to pick a seat.

It was another quiet weekend without much travel news. I promise there will be more in Wednesday’s edition. Stay tuned!

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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.