Spring cleaning (but for your wallet)

This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.

Howdy, friends — and happy Tuesday!

This newsletter is coming to you from Nashville, Tennessee, where the spring humidity is strong and the sweet tea is even stronger.

While Mike’s off gallivanting around the Middle East, I (McKay 🙋‍♀️) am holding down the fort with today’s best travel happenings. Let’s get jiggy with it!

• 🌷 Spring cleaning (but for your wallet)

• 🇯🇵 Book Japan Airlines flights with JetBlue Points

• ✈️ Travel Trivia Tuesday

🌷 Spring cleaning (but for your wallet)

Sure, cleaning out your closet is great… but have you ever decluttered your credit card lineup?

Now that we’re somehow almost halfway through the year, it’s the perfect time for a little points-and-miles spring cleaning.

Ask yourself:

• Am I using the right card for my spending habits?

• Am I earning the right points?

• Have I used up my airline credits, hotel free-night certificates, or monthly Uber/Instacart/whatever credits that tend to hide until they expire in silence?

• And as for elite status… Am I on track to requalify? Or should I start plotting a plan B (or a cheeky lil status match)?

Personally, I like to spend a few minutes this time of year making sure:

1. I’ve hit all my spending thresholds for bonus categories

2. My annual fee cards are pulling their weight (like with the The Platinum Card® from American Express) 🙃

3. I’m not letting any statement credits go to waste

4. I know exactly how many nights or flights I still need for status renewal

And if any card isn’t earning its keep? Into the sock drawer it goes.

Or, more likely… I downgrade it and use the annual fee savings on a flight somewhere fun and new and sorta free (because girl math) 😎

So, before you go full summer mode, take a few minutes to dust off your apps, check your balances, and make sure your wallet is working for you and not the other way around.

🇯🇵 Book Japan Airlines flights with JetBlue points

JetBlue’s TrueBlue points just got waaaaay sweeter — you can now redeem them for flights on Japan Airlines (JAL)!

That means you can fly to spots like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and other amazing cities using your JetBlue stash... and you can book it all directly on JetBlue’s website.

This is a big deal because:

• Japan Airlines has an incredible reputation for service (even in economy)

• Flights to Asia usually cost a decent amount of points through other programs

• It’s JetBlue’s first major East Asia partner for redemptions

If you’ve got TrueBlue points ready to go, awesome. 

If not, remember that you can transfer points from Ultimate Rewards points and ThankYou points (1:1 ratio, easy peasy).

Membership Rewards points and Capital One miles also transfer, but the ratios aren’t as good, so that’s not your best option — unless there’s a bonus.

You can book economy, premium economy, or business class — and while first class isn’t an option yet, scoring a comfy business seat to Japan with JetBlue points?

Are you kidding??? Major win.

The bottom line is… you’re getting more options and more value. And, this is another very good reason to dust off your JetBlue points before your next big trip.

✈️ Travel Trivia Tuesday

And the correct answer is… Singapore Airlines!

If turbulence, delays, and random seating make you sweat mid-flight, Singapore Airlines might just be your new BFF.

It scored 8.94 out of 10 in Bounce’s new “stress-free travel” ranking — the highest of any airline in the world.

What actually sets them apart, you ask? The airline has roomy economy seats (18.5 inches wide — the biggest in the top 10), top safety ratings, and calming in-flight meditation playlists.

Ooooh. Aaaah.

Other airlines rounding out the top three include Korean Air and Cathay Pacific, both of which also offer spacious seats and zen-friendly features.

And if you’re wondering — yes, screaming kids beat turbulence (barely) as the number one reason people feel uneasy in the air.

But what can you do? It happens. 🙃

So if you’re an anxious flyer, maybe skip the red-eye on budget airlines and treat yourself to something with a little more legroom… and a lot more chill vibes.

Check out this study to see what exactly sets these airlines apart from the rest.

Have you stopped by to hang out in the Daily Drop Lounge?

If you don’t know, it’s our exclusive Facebook community, where like-minded travelers can come together (digitally) to ask questions, encourage one another, and share their own travel wins! 👇

That’s gonna do it for today, friends! As always, thanks for spending this little piece of your day with us. If we haven’t told you recently, we couldn’t do all of this without ya!

Hasta mañana,

52°22'35.4"N 52°15'17.4"W