THIS WEEK'S BIGGEST BARGAIN

Brussels Airlines: How About a Free Five-Day Belgian Stopover?
Airlines move in packs and, in this case, that's good news. The latest carrier to add a free-stopover package to tickets: Brussels Airlines, the often-overlooked runt of the Lufthansa Group. Although it only has four North American gateways--New York/JFK, Washington/Dulles, Toronto and Montreal--the airline has a good network throughout Europe and some prime routes to Africa. The latter is especially useful since U.S. and Canadian carriers serve so few African destinations. If you're headed to Africa, might as well take a nice five-day break in Belgium before you go. The stayover deal also includes up to 50 freebies around Belgium. You know, chocolate, tours, museum visits, that kind of stuff. Information: the Brussels Airlines BELGIUM STAYOVER page.

THIS WEEK'S OTHER BIG DEALS

Oxford: Many 2020 Summer 'Scholar' Programs Are Still Open
Never got to be a Rhodes Scholar? Do not fear. There is always The Oxford Experience, the popular summer sessions at the famed British institution. They offer dozens of week-long courses to travelers of all ages, social classes, intelligence levels and interests. One-week packages include tuition and lectures; lodging in Christ Church College dorms; and three meals daily. Courses are held in the morning, which leaves afternoons free for touring and optional excursions and evenings for additional learning--or just goofing off like a college kid again. All-inclusive prices this year start at about US$1,900 a person, cheaper than last year thanks to the Brexit-addled British pound. The six weekly sessions in 2020 take place from July 5 to August 15. After an almost immediate sellout in 2019, there remain courses available for booking during all six sessions in the summer of 2020. Information: The OXFORD EXPERIENCE page.

Hawaiian Airlines: 60,000- to 70,000-Mile Bonuses Are Back
Big credit card acquisition bonuses aren't just for the big airlines and the big banks. Hawaiian Airlines partners with Bank of Hawaii to promote the Hawaiian credit cards and the numbers are huge. You will earn 60,000 miles for taking a personal card and spending $2,000 in the first 90 days. The business card offers 60,000 miles if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. You'll earn another 10,000 miles if you also acquire an employee card and make a purchase on it. The annual fee for each card is $99. The offers sound familiar? No surprise. These 60,000-point solicitations disappeared right after Labor Day but now have been revived--although the earlier deal did offer a fee-waived first year on the personal card.

HOTEL POINTS & PRICE PROMOTIONS

InterContinental Hotels: Up to 25 Percent Off to Jump Through Hoops
I generally find InterContinental Hotels overpriced. (Exception: some Holiday Inn Express properties in European cities.) So a rate sale that offers 25 percent off nightly rates is much appreciated considering InterContinental's geographic ubiquity. Still, the 25 percent Cyber Sale has drawbacks: It requires advance purchase, the rates aren't guaranteed to be 25 percent off and there are some annoying blackout dates. That said, peck around and there may be some surprising bargains. You muust book and pay by December 17 for travel before May 31. Information: the CYBER SALE page.

Red Roof: Two Stays Earn a Free Night Until March
If your lodging budget--or personal taste--runs to the lower end of the hotel scale, you'll surely like this one: Stay twice at Red Roof hotels by February 29 and you'll earn 7,000 points in the RediRewards plan. That's enough to earn a free night at virtually all of the chain's locations. You must be a RediRewards member and enroll to play the game. Information: the STAY 2 page.

Sonesta Hotels: 60,000 Points Via Bank of America Acquisition Bonus
The under-the-radar Sonesta chain is out with its first card and the offer from Bank of America is rich: 60,000 points for spending just $1,000 in the first 90 days. You can also earn 5,000 more points for adding an authorized user in the first 90 days and a 30,000-point bonus if you spend $7,500 over the course of the first year. The $75 annual fee is waived in the first year. What do Sonesta points buy? Some of its limited-service extended-stay hotels are available for as little as 15,000 points. It has excellent resorts in sun zones (Arizona, the Caribbean, Texas, Hilton Head, Latin America) and prices are mostly in the 25,000-to-50,000 points nightly range. (Sonesta also has hotels in Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco and Philadelphia.) Information: the Bank of America SONESTA WORLD MASTERCARD page.

Discovery: Double Stay Credits at the Global Hotel Alliance
As a grab bag of upscale and small-chain properties, the Global Hotel Alliance doesn't get much publicity. And since its loyalty program, Discovery, is about offering experience awards rather than free nights, there's even less traction in the North American market. But if you're a free-agent upmarket hotel customer--Omni Hotels is the best-known chain in these parts--Discovery could be worth discovering. Now is a time to do it since the program is offering double-stay credits--Discovery counts loyalty in nights stayed, not points--through the end of the year. Advance registration is required, of course. Information: the Discovery CREDITS page.

Hilton Honors: The Endless Double Points Promo With a Card Twist
Hilton Honors points are among the least valuable currencies around--you're a "winner" if you can score a half-cent of value on awards--so Hilton has been routinely running a double points promotion for the last few years. But even that gimmick is wearing thin, so this promotional period comes with a twist: triple points if pay for your stay with an American Express Hilton card. The Power Up promotion is valid on stays from September 9 through January 5. Advance registration is required, of course. Information: the Hilton POWER UP YOUR POINTS page.

New York Hilton: Arrive Late, Leave Late, Because New York
Hotels have begun experimenting with check-in and check-out hours, but the New York Hilton may have the most unique take. The massive Rockefeller Center hotel--it has almost 1,900 guestrooms--now offers a package with a midnight check-in time and a 3 p.m. check-out time. The City That Never Sleeps package is pitched as a practical alternative for partygoers and visitors to New York who don't need a room until late-night. But it could work for late-arriving business travelers, too. The package includes two beverages at one the hotel's bars or lobby lounge and luggage storage. (Don't laugh, union hotels in Manhattan often charge for luggage storage.) Rates for the package start at $211 a night (day?), but that is misleading because the hotel imposes a destination charge, too. The package is available until December 31. Information: the Hilton ATTENTION NIGHT OWLS page.

Hotels: Maybe You'll Find Rate Savings With a Credit Card
Airline fares have been relatively flat in recent months, but hotel and resort rates continue to rise, precipitously in some destinations. Possible solution: hotel discounts offered by your credit card. Of course, all the specials below come with some caveats. Most hotels in the programs are in the luxury category. You must book directly at the card's special Web site. And you should always check that the rate you're paying is competitive with other offers.
      American Express Platinum Cards feature a Fine Hotels & Resort collection that covers more than 1,000 properties around the world. Bundled with the FHR rates are space-available room upgrades; check-in as early as noon based on availability and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout; breakfast for two; free WiFi; and property-specific food and beverage credit or other amenity.
      Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection from Chase says it offers daily breakfast for two, free WiFi, as-available upgrades and check-in/check-out privileges. The program covers about 900 lodgings worldwide and guests receive a unique additional amenity--free meals, golf or spa treatments, airport transfers--from each property.
      Visa Signature cards claim to offer special rates at more than 900 properties. Perks include space-available upgrade; free WiFi; free breakfast for two; a $25 food and beverage credit; and late checkout.

Omni Hotels: 20-25 Percent Discounts for AAA Members
Like many chains, Omni Hotels offers a discount for AAA members. The saving is usually modest--about 5 or 10 percent--but Omni is now breaking from the pack. Use the chain's prepaid AAA rates and the saving is 20 percent at hotels in San Diego, San Francisco and Atlanta. It's even more--25 percent--in Washington, Chicago, Boston, New York, Dallas, Providence, Montreal and Toronto. INFORMATION: the Omni AAA SPECIAL PROMOTION page.

GLOBAL AIRLINE DEALS TO CONSIDER

Finnair: Cheap Business Class, Longish Advance Purchase
Finnair is a niche player with a nifty and compact hub. But that's never enough in these days of mega-carriers and splashy coast-to-coast North American gateways. Finnair's solution? A terrific business class fare sale. Roundtrip prices start as low as $1,976 to its Helsinki hub. Onward fares to elsewhere in Europe are equally notable: Below $2,000 roundtrip to Warsaw and the Baltic capitals Tallinn and Vilnius; just above $2,000 to Copenhagen and Oslo; and below $2,100 to Paris and Barcelona. And if you need to get to Russia, remember that Finnair and Helsinki are the traditional ways to go. Business class prices are as low as $2,286 roundtrip to Moscow and $2,290 to St. Petersburg. The fly in this otherwise lovely ointment? Advance purchase restrictions of as long as 60 days. Information: the Finnair FLIGHT OFFERS page.

La Compagnie: Roundtrip to Paris or Nice for $1,600 in Business Class
Paris-based La Compagnie is the last of the boutique carriers plying the North Atlantic. It even survived the obliteration earlier this year of sister carrier XL Airlines. But competition is on the way with two French airlines--one low fare and one full service--promising flights next summer on the Newark-Orly route, La Compagnie's only year-round run. The airline's instant response: $1,600 roundtrip on its two-daily flights outfitted with 74 angled-flat beds. Also available at $1,600 roundtrip? Advance-purchase seats for the carrier's seasonal Newark-Nice flights. Information: the La Compagnie OUR SPECIAL DEALS page.

KLM: Under-the-Radar Holiday Business Class Sale Rates Worldwide
Even though KLM kicks in most of the profit of the combined Air France/KLM, the Dutch side remains distinctly under the radar when it comes to publicity. In other words, prepare to fly over its Amsterdam/Schiphol hub if you're looking for business class bargains. Although KLM will show you its "sale" fares on a handy bar chart for almost a full year, the focus now--and the cheapest fares--seems to be around the end-of-year holidays. From New York, for example, sample holiday prices include $2,038 roundtrip to Zurich or Budapest; and $2,407 to Prague. From Miami, it's $2,249 to London and $2,411 to Lisbon roundtrip. From Los Angeles, it's a startlingly low $2,025 to Athens and just $2,354 to Prague. There are similar sale prices from all 12 of KLM's U.S. gateways, too. Although the deals are much more spotty, there are also sale prices to Africa and India. The KLM site not only offers that handy month-by-month bar chart of the fares, but also a day-by-day slider of prices. It's a slick way to find the lowest fares. If you prefer to fly over Paris, you should find roughly similar fares at Air France and some matching prices from the carriers' SkyTeam and joint-venture partner Delta Air Lines. A reminder: While KLM's transatlantic business class is competitive and Amsterdam is a good transit hub, the airline's intra-Europe business class is the dreary continental standard: mostly 3x3 on narrowbody jets with the middle seat left empty and skimpy legroom. Happy hunting for those Happy Holidays fares! Information: the KLM BEST OFFERS page. (A note: Prices seem more volatile than usual on this one. Watch for sharp price swings.)

Qatar Airways: Price-Fixed Business Class 'Sale' Fares Rise. Kinda.
Several times this year Qatar Airways has posted putatively price-fixed business class sales to destinations around the world. Either it worked or Qatar Air's marketing team is bereft of ideas because the promotion has apparently become a comparatively permanent part of the carrier's fare structure. However, prices are rising. Qatar Air's original fixed-price structure ranged from $2,450 to $4,450 roundtrip. Now it's $3,210 to $4,710 roundtrip. But, of course, there's always less there than meets the eye. Qatar falls back on "starting at" verbiage that means every ticket is, um, "market price." Still, there's a smattering of seats at each price point. Sample fares: Four India destinations from Atlanta at $3,210 roundtrip; $3,210 from New York/JFK to Chengdu, China, or from Chicago to Manila; $3,342 on Dallas/Fort Worth to Hanoi. The best prices are available for midweek travel via Doha, Qatar Air's hub, and require a seven-day minimum stay. There's still a 90-day advance purchase requirement. One new quirk: You'll find fares below the supposed $3,210 starting price. So basically, this is an elaborate come-on. Information: the Qatar Air BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCE page.

Air France: A Chaotic Premium Economy Sale
Air France's premium economy cabin is generally well-regarded, primarily because its shell seat offers a little more privacy and more personal space than traditional reclining chairs. The airline also has been fairly consistent in offering excellent pricing. But the chaos of Air France's current sale pricing shows exactly how bizarre fares really are. One example: San Francisco-Paris is an extremely attractive $1,465 roundtrip. But San Francisco-Barcelona is $2,088. In other words, a $600+ premium for the Paris-Barcelona segments. Even weirder: Washington/Dulles-Paris is pricing at an insanely high $2,434 roundtrip. But Dulles-Madrid is $2,285, less than simply flying to Paris. Because crazy ... The star of the current sale is Houston-Paris, a route where SkyTeam member Air France gets no feed from a partner since Houston/Intercontinental is a fortress hub for Star Alliance member United Airlines. The IAH-CDG fare is only $1,309 roundtrip, a genuine bargain. Yet flying Houston-Paris-Florence will cost more than $1,000 more and Copenhagen flights are literally more than double ($2,723) the IAH-CDG run. Because, of course you want to pay $1,400+ roundtrip to fly between Paris and Copenhagen. Why the chaos? Competition--or lack of it--drives how airlines price nonstops to their hubs and the connecting flights that compete with other carriers' nonstops and other airlines offering connecting flights over their hubs. That's why a Boston-Paris/CDG premium economy nonstop prices at $1,555 nonstop, but Air France thinks you will pay almost $900 more ($2,411) for the onward connection to Nice. Bottom line: Ignore the chaos. Look for a price that works for you. If the fare is great, grab it. If it stinks, shrug your shoulders and book elsewhere. Midweek fares are listed here and require a five-day minimum stay and a 28-day advance purchase. Information: Air France PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS page.

Air Canada: Free Stopovers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver
Air Canada tested free stopovers in Toronto several years ago and now it seems to have institutionalized the concept at three of its international hubs. If you're spending at least six hours in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver en route to Europe or Asia, Air Canada will give you a free or discounted hotel night. This should especially appeal to U.S. travelers using Air Canada's excellent business class on transatlantic or transpacific flights. Prices are as low as $49 a night for discounted coach travelers and free for business class flyers. Information: the AIR CANADA STOPOVER page.

Finnair: A Free, Five-Day Stayover in Helsinki
As nice as Helsinki's airport in Vantaa is, Finnair can't rely solely on O&D traffic to the Finnish capital. It needs to operate Vantaa as an international hub and thus it offers extensive connections from the United States to Russia, Europe and even the Far East. And to bump up the airport's appeal as a connecting facility, Finnair has revamped and reintroduced its stay-along-the-way promotion. The new offer allows up to five days stayover in Finland. The airline has also collected a series of optional Finland travel experiences to help you fill your layover time. They include urban getaways, tours and trips in Finland's three largest cities (Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa) as well as Lapland-related options. Prices for the add-ons start at 12 euros. One caveat: You can only claim a stayover in one direction of a roundtrip, so plan carefully. Information: the STOP & BREATHE page.

Etihad: Two-Day Free Stay in Abu Dhabi Through the End of the Year
Etihad Airways doesn't seem to have much of a future. It is dwarfed by its Dubai-based neighbor Emirates, its strategy of buying into weakened European airlines collapsed and the royal family that owns the carrier is losing patience with endless losses. Which is a long-winded way of explaining why Etihad is desperate to figure out an angle to get Americans to fly over Abu Dhabi. The current angle: free two-night stopover in Abu Dhabi, including lodging at several of the city's excellent hotels. The stayover needs to be booked by December 1 for travel until December 31. That offer is for coach flyers, by the way. Business and first class travelers and customers in Etihad's The Residence, the over-the-top private double cabin, have their own offer. Information: the Etihad STOPOVER IN 2019 page.

Alaska Airlines: Double Miles on Coast-to-Coast Flights Through 2019
Alaska Airlines continues to try to forge a new identity on the coast-to-coast flights it assumed in the Virgin America buy. Shorn of their white seats with 55-inch pitch and mood lighting, Alaska's flights are relying on a more-than-generous 41-inch pitch and lots of upgrades. Now another tactic: double miles on transcontinental flights until the end of the year. The only restriction: advance registration before your first transcon run. The double-miles offer is valid between San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco and East Coast airports from Boston to Fort Lauderdale. That includes New York (Kennedy and Newark) and Washington (BWI, Dulles and National) airports. The deal is also offered on routes where Alaska Air had flights before it purchased Virgin America. Information: the DOUBLE MILES COAST2COAST page.

British Airways: AARP Deal, Reduced Again, Extended Through 2020
British Airways isn't only hacking away at the quality of its in-flight product and its reputation as a premium carrier. It's also reducing the classic deals you can use to get discounts. Take its long-standing AARP deal. BA once offered as much as $400 off roundtrip. Now first and premium economy class discounts have been axed and we're left with $200 roundtrip off BA's outdated business class and $65 off its newly "densified" coach class. Also gone: the opportunity to twin the AARP discount with other BA promotions. Still, $65 or $200 off is better than a stick upside your head. And the current deal is now valid for travel until the end of 2020 if you book by January 31, 2020. The cost of entry: the $12 fee required to join AARP. And you must enter through the AARP portal to score the discounts. Information: the EXCLUSIVE AARP MEMBERS page.

GROUND TRANSPORT BARGAINS

Hertz: One-Way 'Drive-In Rates' to Florida as Low as $15 a Day
Car-rental firms need mules to get cars to Florida for snowbird season. So Hertz hopes you'll be enticed by rates as low as $15 a day to pick up a car in several Northeast or MidAtlantic cities and drop it at select Florida locations. Cars are available as far north as Portland, Maine, and as far south as Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, until December 9. You can rent for as long as 10 days. Prices start at $14.99 a day for economy-class to full-size vehicles. No specialty vehicles--SUVs, vans, convertibles--are offered. Information: the SAVE BIG page.

American/Avis/Budget: 500 Advantage Miles for Three-Day Rentals
Depending on the season, American Airlines and Avis/Budget are awarding either a piker's purse of bonus miles (500 per rental) or treasure trove of as many as 5,000 miles. We've just veered back into piker territory. Until January 31, Avis and Budget will award you 500 AAdvantage miles for a three-day rental. Use code AWD #K817165 on Avis rentals and BCD #U072411 for Budget rentals. This is essentially the same offer the firms have offered during this time period in the last three or four years. Information: the American 5,000 BONUS MILES page.

Enterprise: The Return of the $10-a-Day Weekend Rental, Now $3 More
Even thought it sits atop of the car-rental heap, Enterprise continues to do things differently. For starters, all locations are company owned, astonishing in this era of franchised everything. It has expanded rapidly at airports, but its roots remain in the we'll-pick-you-up local station. And many of those local stations close on Sunday with short hours on Saturday. The result: a ridiculously wonderful weekend promotion. For years, the buy-in price was $9.99 a day. This year, however, the lowest rate is $12.99 so long as you return the car on Monday. The $12.99 rate covers economy or compact cars. Larger cars are $14.99 (for intermediates) to $19.99 a day (full-size). Those prices are unchanged from previous years. All rates include 100 miles per day and are valid for rentals that start on Fridays. Best of all, prices are valid at participating local stations until May 20. You'll find some holiday blackouts, but, otherwise, it's open season for cheap cars for a weekend jaunt. The promo code is WEEKEND SPECIAL X. Information: the Enterprise GREAT WEEKEND CAR RENTAL RATES page.

National: Best Car Rent Bonus Ever Returns With New Twists
Sometimes the classics are the best and that's certainly true for National's iconic ONE TWO FREE promotion. Even though car rentals aren't the force they once were and even though National has added complicating bells and whistles over the years, the core of the promotion remains the same: Two rentals of a midsize car (this year by February 29) earn a free rental day that you can use by June 15. The points-based system offers 300 points per qualifying rental. It takes 600 points for a freebie. This year's wrinkles: You'll receive 25 points for downloading the app and 75 more points when you book using the app. Renting in Europe or Latin America will each garner a one-time 300-point bonus. There's a 300-point bonus if you rent in three countries during this year's promo period. You'll even get a one-time bonus of 300 points for adding SiriusXM to your rental. There are plenty of other points-adding touchstones this year, too. A perk missing this year: Rentals from Enterprise, National's parent company, do not earn points. Advance registration is required. Information: the EARN TO THE MAX page.

Marriott/Hertz: 2,000 Bonvoy Points for Multi-Day Rentals
With car rentals sagging in the face of widespread adoption of ride-sharing services, rental firms have been partnering up with airlines and hotels for big bonus offers. That's especially true of Hertz, which these days has a mediocre reputation thanks to repeated service glitches. If you can handle Hertz, it has teamed up with Marriott for a bushel of Bonvoy bonus points. On two-day rentals, you can earn 2,000 points. The deal is valid through the end of the year on rentals in North America, Puerto Rico, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Use discount codes CDP#154080 and PC#204918. The offer is valid through December 31.

National/Southwest: Quadruple Rapid Rewards for Weekly Rentals
Southwest Airlines and National Car Rental have teamed up to offer a bigger payoff for rentals if you need a vehicle. Instead of the standard 600 Rapid Rewards points, a two- or three-day National rental will earn 1,200 points. Rentals of 4-6 days will earn 1,800 points. Weekly or longer rentals will score 2,400 points. To score the points, use Contract ID code 5030510. Bonus points are valid on rentals until January 31, 2020, with one-day advance reservation. By the way, if this sounds familiar, it is exactly the same deal that ran all of last year. Information: the RAPID REWARDS PROMOTIONS page.

TOURS AND PACKAGES

2020 Tours: Hang With The Travel Advisor in France and Scotland
I have just one regret about Travel Insider David Rowell's customized, handmade tours: I haven't had the time to do more of them. David is a gracious host who enjoys being the host and sharing his favorite places with guests. He's also the kind of host frequent travelers love: You make your own flight arrangements so you can use miles to book transportation; the touring is intelligent and relaxed; and he even rents oversized buses so everyone is extra-comfortable. There are pre- and post-tour options if you want to extend your stay and mix-and-match experiences. Best of all, I've never heard from a Joe Sent Me member who has been unhappy traveling with David. Here's what he has on tap for the first half of 2020.
      Bordeaux and Beyond: Enjoy a week in France's Bordeaux wine region. You'll stay in Bordeaux itself and tour beautiful towns, villages and wineries. The pre-tour option is on the Riviera and the post-tour opportunity is a visit to chateaux in the Loire Valley. The trip is in May. Full details and prices are here.
      Four Corners of Scotland: This tour takes you places that most Scots haven't even visited. You experience the four geographic extremes of mainland Scotland and get some islands and mid-country Scotland, too. The optional pre-tour around Glasgow includes a castle stay. The post-tour option around Edinburgh includes mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, featured in The Da Vinci Code. This trip is in June--for the best weather before the summer crowds. Full details and prices are here.

CREDIT CARD ACQUISITION BONUSES

American Express: Hey, Big Spender: Get 100,000 Points for Platinum
If you're paying attention to the smash-and-grab strategy of beating airlines and their credit cards at their increasingly rigged frequent flyer game, you jump on 100,000-point offers when they come along. American Express currently has one for its best perks card--but you've got to be a big spender to score it. The Amex offer is for 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points for a Business Platinum Card. You'll get 50,000 points for spending $10,000 in the first three months and 50,000 more points for an additional $15,000 in spend. And remember: Amex Platinum is great for perks and airline spend (quintuple points), but weak for everything else. The annual fee is $595, higher even than the personal Platinum. That card currently offers a smaller (60,000-point) acquisition bonus.

Marriott Bonvoy: So Many Cards, So Many Acquisition Points
Marriott Bonvoy now has so many credit cards spread out between Chase and American Express that even I've lost track of which one is which. (It certainly doesn't help that all the card names seem to start with the letter "B" because, I guess, someone at Marriott is into alliteration.) But if you don't have this one--the Boundless Visa issued by Chase--now's the time to grab it. Why? The acquisition bonus has been bumped to 100,000 points if you spend $5,000 in the first three months. The annual fee is reasonable ($95) and, if you hold on to it, you receive an annual free night certificate valid at any hotel up to the 35,000-point level. Information: the Chase BONVOY BOUNDLESS page.

Chase/British Airways: 100,000 Points and a Break on Reward Fees
I've never found Avios points--the currency for British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus--to be a particularly good value. But some do. If you're one of those flyers, pay heed to the revised Chase British Airways Visa Signature charge. It now will kick back up to $600 a year against BA's insanely high reward fees that top the $1,000 mark on transatlantic premium class awards. You'll receive a $100 statement credit for a coach or premium economy award and $200 for a business or first class award. You can earn the statement credit three times in a year. The card's other benefits haven't changed: a 10 percent discount when you book BA paid tickets through a Chase portal and the huge 100,000-point acquisition bonus. The bonus is 50,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months and 50,000 additional points when you spend a total of $20,000 in the first 12 months. The annual fee is $95 and you receive three points for spend on BA, Iberia or Aer Lingus, two points on hotel spending and one point on all other purchases. Information: the WORLD IS YOURS page.

Chase/Southwest: The Bonus Alone Gets You Close to a Companion Pass
The most prized "win" in the current frequent travel landscape is a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass. But it's not an easy win because only flying miles and credit card spend count toward the required 110,000 Rapids Rewards points. Which is why the Performance Business Credit Card, introduced this week by Chase Bank, is such an extraordinary "get." The acquisition bonus of 80,000 points counts toward the pass. To score the bonus, you'll need to spend $5,000 in the first 90 days you have the card. That's not a big hurdle, of course, but this might be: You don't qualify for the card if you have Chase's other Southwest business card or have received a bonus for that card in the last 24 months. The annual fee is $199, for which you'll also receive 9,000 points each additional year you have the card, triple points for Southwest spend and double points for charges on various social media and communications services. You'll also earn some WiFi and boarding privileges. Information: the Chase EARN 80,000 POINTS page.

Chase: Honest, Sapphire Preferred Is Better Than Capital One Venture
The decision of Capital One to get into the points-to-airline transfer game has rattled Chase Bank, whose Ultimate Rewards points are the gold standard of bank currency. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has suddenly upped its acquisition bonus to 60,000 points and it is clear that Chase wants to make sure you don't defect to the Capital One Venture card. How do we know? The promotion page for the acquisition bonus is literally a comparison chart between Chase and Capital One. You should have a Sapphire Preferred card, so grab one now if you don't have one. Sixty thousand points is too good to pass up. The annual fee is $95, which Chase's chart admits isn't as good as Capital One's first-year fee waiver. Information: the EARN 60,000 BONUS POINTS page.

Chase: 80,000-Point Bonus to Take an Ink Business Card
As airline frequent flyer programs get less generous, smart travelers are banking miles with banks. Chase Ultimate Rewards points, for example, offer a 1:1 transfer to United, Southwest, several international airlines and some hotel chains, too. There seems to be less risk by banking points with Chase and moving them to your programs as the good deals--or award availability--warrant. One of the current stars in the wide Chase portfolio? The Ink Business Preferred Card. For the $95 annual fee, you'll receive an acquisition bonus of 80,000 points if you spend $5,000 during the first three months. You'll also earn three points per dollar spent on travel expenditures; shipping charges; payments for cable, Internet and phone services; and some advertising purchases. Information: the 80,000 BONUS POINTS page.