Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...

Dear Lounged Out, Centurion Lounges went from being peaceful havens to resembling Times Square at New Year's Eve. You’d think they were giving out free Taylor Swift tickets with every cocktail. The reality? Crowding is inevitable when you hand out lounge passes like Oprah hands out cars.

Here’s the thing: if you love fighting over the last soggy salad and battling toddlers for power outlets, by all means, dive in. Otherwise, grab yourself Priority Pass (via Capital One Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve). Sure, the quality varies, but at least you won’t need riot gear to grab a seat.

Centurion Lounges aren’t bad—they’re just victims of their own Instagram popularity. Approach with caution and keep your expectations in check. And remember: lounge status doesn’t mean squat if you’re still forced to sit on the floor.

Dear Hesitant, Hilton Honors is like your ex who promises change but still texts “u up?” at midnight. Sure, they lure you with double-point promos, but when it’s redemption time, suddenly a basic Hampton Inn costs 95,000 points per night. Inflation? More like robbery.

Hilton Diamond status used to mean something. Now, it’s just a shiny badge that earns you a coupon for a breakfast sandwich and a lukewarm coffee. If you truly value loyalty perks—like upgrades that actually upgrade you—run, don’t walk, to Hyatt. Fewer properties, yes, but they treat elites like royalty, not like someone trying to scam them out of waffles.

Hilton’s okay for casual stays, but if your hotel status matters to you, it's time to move on. Hyatt awaits—tell them Ohad sent you.

Dear Confused, Choosing credit cards in 2025 feels like browsing Netflix—you scroll for hours but end up rewatching The Office again. Let’s simplify:

• Capital One Venture X Business: Lounge access, straightforward perks, and no drama. It's the Ryan Gosling of credit cards—attractive, reliable, and doesn’t complicate your life.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Refresh: Enhanced earning categories (5X on travel, anyone?) and reliable transfer partners. It’s a safe, smart pick without hidden nonsense.
• Amex Green (updated): Slept-on, affordable annual fee, generous dining and travel multipliers. Think of it as the hipster cousin who knows all the cool spots without breaking the bank.

Stop chasing shiny objects and pick a card that actually fits your travel style. No need to carry the financial equivalent of a Swiss Army knife if you only ever use the corkscrew.

Dear Dilemma, Transferring your Amex points to Delta is like trading Bitcoin for Beanie Babies—it might feel good at the moment, but regret is inevitable. Delta SkyMiles is notorious for devaluations more frequent than Kardashian breakups.

Instead, here’s the tea: transfer those Amex points to ANA for round-trip business class tickets to Asia or Virgin Atlantic for ANA first class. Both options offer way better value (and champagne) than Delta ever will. Remember, your Amex points are precious—don’t settle for SkyMiles when luxury is just a transfer away.

Dear Gem Hunter, Absolutely, and let’s spill:

• Hyatt’s Small Luxury Hotels (SLH): Incredible boutique properties for just 12,000–25,000 points per night.
• Choice Privileges points via Citi transfers: Sounds sketchy, but hear me out—some high-end European hotels are ridiculously cheap (think: 8,000 points/night in Rome).
• IHG’s PointBreaks: Yes, they still exist, and yes, you can snag InterContinental stays for 10K points if you’re quick.

Forget chasing Instagram-famous hotels. Sometimes, the most underrated redemptions give you bragging rights nobody saw coming. Go forth and surprise yourself.

Dear Mess, You’re not alone—this is the traveler’s equivalent of that random drawer filled with chargers for gadgets you no longer own.

Here’s your plan:

• Consolidate small balances via Points.com (even if the conversion isn’t amazing, better used than orphaned).
• Use your tiny balances for magazines or short-haul economy flights; not glamorous, but better than nothing.
• Prioritize one or two airlines going forward. Spread too thin, your miles are as useful as expired coupons.

Clean up your digital clutter. Your mental health (and your travel budget) will thank you.

Dear Skeptical, Buying points during a promo is like shopping a designer sample sale—great deals exist, but so does overpriced garbage.

When to buy:

• Hyatt at 40% bonus: Killer deal for upscale redemptions.
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Only when planning premium cabin partner redemptions (hello, Cathay Pacific).

When to run away:

• Hilton and Marriott: Unless you need just a few thousand points, buying is usually terrible.

Do the math. If buying points saves you hundreds versus cash rates, you’ve won. If not, just book directly and avoid the point-buying hype.

Until next time...

Stop letting airlines and hotels dictate your worth. Earn strategically, redeem generously, and always remember—points have no loyalty to you, so don't hoard them like collectibles. Travel smarter, sassier, and spend those miles before another airline devalues them overnight.

Got a travel dilemma? Send it to ohad@upnonstop.com and let's get sassy.