THE BIG TRAVEL DEAL

La Compagnie: Couples Get Another $500 Off All-Business-Class Nonstops
La Compagnie, the French all-business-class carrier, has set the transatlantic bar this winter with nonstops to Paris/Orly or Milan/Malpensa at $2,400 roundtrip. But its new Valentine's Day promotion knocks another $500 off the fare--if you can book for two traveling together. (Hey, it is a Valentine's Day deal, after all.) Specifically, you will pay as little as $3,800 roundtrip for two flying from Newark to Orly or Milan on select days in February, March, July and August. And, since this is a V-Day promo, you must purchase tickets by February 14. Information: the La Compagnie VALENTINE'S DAY OFFER page.

OTHER NOTABLE NEW DEALS & DISCOUNTS

Best Western: Two Hotel Stays Earn a Free Night
The dear, departed "faster free night" promotion at dear, departed Hyatt Gold Passport occasionally pops up elsewhere. Not nearly often enough, of course, but occasionally. Latest occurrence: Two stays through May 5 at Best Western properties in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean earn a free night. There are some quirks. You can only earn one free night during the promo period. Best Western says it'll take as many as 14 days to E-mail your award voucher. Then you will have until August 25 to use the free night. Still, two stays for a freebie seems like a no-brainer. And there is an additional perk: After you earn a free night, you'll be able to opt into a promotion offering double or triple points on additional stays until May 5. Advance registration required, of course. Information: the Best Western GET A FREE NIGHT page.

Marriott Bonvoy: A Few Bonus Points--and Elite Perks
Marriott's first big promotion of the year is skimpy on instant gratification--just 1,000 bonus Bonvoy points per night--and for a rather limited time (February 13 through April 29.). But there is one very useful additional perk: a bonus elite night of credit for each paid night. And there are no limits to the amount of bonus elite nights you can snag during the promotion. So if you're interested in boosting your future elite status in Bonvoy, this turns out to be a nifty offer. Advance registration is required and you must do it by April 15. Information: the Marriott NEW PROMOTIONS page.

Hainan Airlines: Humbled Carrier Still Offers (Some Coach) Deals
Before the Covid pandemic, privately owned Hainan Airlines was losing billions of dollars annually, expanding vigorously in the United States and China and discounting lustily to fill its aircraft. Business class U.S.-China roundtrips would often sell for as little as $2,500. But how times have changed. Hainan's parent, the gluttonous HNA Group, collapsed into bankruptcy, was propped up by the Chinese government and eventually broken up into pieces. The Hainan Airlines division is still seeking new private investors and the post-pandemic flight regimen between the United States and China remains heavily restricted. That means many fewer flights, dozens weekly now compared to around 300 in 2019--and rapacious prices for the few business class seats still in the skies. But you can find a few coach discounts if you're looking to go to China now. Humbled Hainan, for example, is selling Boston-Beijing roundtrips in coach for as little as $1,169. New York/JFK-Beijing roundtrips can be had for only $1,135 roundtrip. (The flights make a technical/refueling stop in Seattle, by the way.) Boston-Shanghai roundtrips in coach are available for as little as $1,153, but require a Beijing connection as well as the Seattle stop. Information: the Hainan OFFERS page.

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THE DISCOUNTS UP THERE

Singapore Airlines: Big Bargains on Long Flights in Premium Economy
Singapore Airlines may be a premium airline, but its premium economy cabin lags in sales. It constantly needs to discount--and discount heavily--to fill the cabin. That means great deals on long-haul flights across the Pacific. On its San Francisco-Singapore nonstops, for example, its premium economy cabin sells for as little as $1,397 roundtrip from mid-August to mid-September. On Los Angeles-Tokyo nonstops, premium economy goes for $1,696 roundtrip for travel on select dates between May and October. And the big bargain of all: New York/JFK-Singapore/Changi for as little as $1,198 roundtrip during most of August. That's an incredibly cheap price for what is literally the longest nonstop in the world. (Will Allen has flown and reviewed it over the years.) Information: the Singapore Airlines COMPARE FLIGHTS page.

TAP Air Portugal: Europe Business Class for Substantially Less
Deals on business class to Europe have been rare since the end of the pandemic. But TAP Air Portugal regularly has stepped up with offers to its Lisbon hub and beyond. Some current samples: Nonstop from Boston to Lisbon for $2,397 roundtrip from late March to early September. Or Boston to Praia, capital of the Portuguese-speaking Cape Verde Islands, for just $2,206 roundtrip from mid-July to mid-August. Also available: Newark-Paris/Orly via Lisbon for $2,496 roundtrip in mid-May. Chicago-Lisbon nonstop is $2,824 roundtrip for a few weeks in mid-Spring. Information: the TAP Air Portugal CHEAPEST FLIGHTS page.

Zipair: Business Class to Tokyo Below $3,000 Roundtrip
Zipair, the Japan Airlines subsidiary, had a tortured birth. But the Japanese-discounter is up and running now and flying nonstop to Tokyo/Narita from four U.S. gateways: San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and Honolulu. And the stripped-down business class is an astounding value. One-way prices up front are as low as $1,300 from San Francisco or San Jose until well into the spring. LAX prices start at $100 more. From Honolulu, business class fares start at just $882 one-way. These fares are available on select days, of course, but other days are priced at around $1,500 one-way. The best part of the deal? Zipair business class offers full-flat beds on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The so-called Zipair Full-Flat pods are on the narrow side (seats are 20 inches wide between the armrests) and pitched at a comparatively tight 42 inches, but look at the price. Zipair makes other "compromises"--you'll pay for seat assignments, checked bags and meals--but, again, look at those prices for a flat-bed transpacific ride! Information: the ZIPAIR HOME PAGE.

Africa: If You Can Handle Coach, Some Great Deals
Even now, in the dead of a slow(er) international winter travel season, business class deals are nearly impossible to find. Except for Africa, where they are impossible to find. (In fact, business class deals to Africa are always impossible.) But if you can rough it in coach (or buy several seats to create a "poor man's business class"), there are some interesting deals to be found. KLM, for example, is selling flights between Minneapolis and Casablanca for as little as $725 roundtrip. It's $805 roundtrip from Atlanta to Nairobi and $893 from New York/Kennedy to Entebbe. Speaking of New York, it's $843 roundtrip to Cairo on Brussels Airlines or $728 to Casablanca on Air France. The French carrier is also selling roundtrips between Los Angeles and Lagos for $1,017. If flying through a European hub--and all those routes are via Europe--doesn't cut it, try Ethiopian Airlines. The carrier, aligned with the Star Alliance, flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners between Washington/Dulles and its Nairobi hub. Roundtrips are as low as $1,128. Rather fly a SkyTeam carrier? Kenya Airways offers New York/JFK-Kinshasa roundtrips via Nairobi for $852. It's $903 roundtrip to Kigali.

British Airways: AARP Deal Is Back (Again), Save $200 in Business
British Airways has a long-standing partnership with the AARP and its discount deal is back again. BA once offered AARP members $400 off roundtrips. Now it's less compelling: $200 roundtrip off business class and $65 off standard coach or premium economy fares. Still, it's never wise to look a gift fare discount in the mouth. The current deal is valid for travel until March 31, an extension from the original January 31 date. You must be an AARP member, of course, which offers great travel value for the $12 annual rate. Information: the EXCLUSIVE AARP MEMBERS page.

Air Tahiti Nui: Secret Nonstops to Paris, Surprisingly Cheap
Once upon a time, before ultra-long-haul flights were a thing, airlines overcame the daunting distances by flying between third countries en route to their destination. They were often permitted to carry passengers between those nations in order to fill their aircraft. A few of these "secret flights" still exist today. One example: Air Tahiti Nui, which connects its Polynesian home to Paris via the United States. The surprisingly good island carrier can fly you nonstop from Los Angeles or Seattle and Paris/CDG for notably inexpensive fares in coach or premium economy. The roundtrip coach fare starts at $927, a great West Coast bargain. Premium economy--38 inches of legroom at seats configured 2x3x2 on Boeing 787s, 13-inch monitors and amenity kits--runs about $1,700 roundtrip. Information: the Air Tahiti Nui FLIGHTS TO PARIS page.

STAY ON THE WAY/STAYOVER OFFERS

Qatar Airways: Stay on the Way With Doha Discounts
Qatar Airways has grown its Doha home into a global megahub and it carries many American travelers onward to Africa and Asia. But if you're interested in spending some time in the ultra-modern Qatari capital along the way, Qatar Air offers a raft of on-the-ground discounts. For stayovers as long as four nights, hotel rates start as low as $28 a day per couple for four-star properties. Beachfront hotels start as low as $60 a couple a night. There are also substantial discounts on city tours and attractions. One caveat: You'll need a visa to overnight in Qatar, but the airline can help handle that, too. Information: the Qatar Airways EXPERIENCE MORE page.

Icelandair: Add a 7-night Free Stay in Iceland to Your Trip
Icelandair, and before that Icelandic, has survived for decades in the cutthroat transatlantic market by leveraging its position between North America and mainland Europe. It has used Reykjavík as its continent-to-continent connecting hub and regularly promoted stay-along-the-way packages. It's the latter that is of interest now: The airline is permitting stays in Iceland for as long as seven days when you fly between North America and Europe. The so-called Stopover in Iceland program is available at no extra charge on your outbound itinerary. The airline's Web site also does an excellent job helping you book the stop. Information: Icelandair's STOPOVER IN ICELAND page.

Copa Airlines: Up to 7-Day Free Stopover in Panama
Panama's Copa Airlines is one of the few stable and reliable carriers in Latin America. The Star Alliance airline also has developed an efficient hub at its hometown of Panama City that connects destinations in the United States to both Central and South America. And now an added perk: A free stopover of as long as seven days in Panama City. The stay-on-the-way offer can be used on the departing or returning itinerary. The airline also works with Panamanian tourist authorities to offer up a bundle of tours, hotel stays and other add-ons. Information: the PANAMA STOPOVER page.

TAP Air Portugal: Free Portugal Stopover Can Now Be Ten Days
In the early days of transatlantic jet travel, free "stopovers" in the country of arrival were a standard perk. The deal was eventually abandoned as longer-haul nonstops came to dominate flying. But "stay along the way" offers are making a comeback among airlines that depend on connecting traffic to compete with longer nonstops. TAP Air Portugal is probably the best current practitioner of the stopover. The airline originally revived the deal with a free, three-day stopover in Portugal as part of roundtrip, transatlantic nonstops to Lisbon or Porto. It was then upped to five days. Now the offer is 10 days in Portugal before continuing to your next destination. There are other perks attached to the stopover, including a 25% discount on domestic flights, hotel discounts, museum and attraction admissions and freebies with meals. Information: the VISIT PORTUGAL page.

SATA Azores Airlines: Free Stopovers To/From Europe
It's a huge understatement to suggest that SATA Azores Airlines flies under the metaphoric radar. It's one of the least publicized carriers in Europe. But the islands-based carrier serves a number of gateways in the United States (New York, Boston and Oakland) and Canada (Toronto and Montreal). So when it offers free stayovers of as long as seven days en route to and/or returning from Europe, it's worth considering. Among its European destinations are London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan and, of course, Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. The stayover allows you to add in visits to the Azorean islands of São Miguel or Terceira. If your geography fails you, the Azores lie about midway between the United States and the Portuguese mainland. And if your meteorology fails you, the winter months in the Azores are mild (daytime temps in the low 60s, evenings in the mid 50s). Information; the SATA STOPOVER page.

CREDIT CARD ACQUISITION BONUSES

Citibank: Premier Card Offers 60,000 Points--and Plenty of Perks
Once a powerhouse in retail banking, Citibank is only a marginal player in the frequency game with just a fraction of the American Airlines business. But it has its own plan called ThankYou and that plan has its moments. The Citi Premier Mastercard now offers a 60,000-point acquisition bonus when you spend $4,000 in 90 days. Plus Citi has jacked up the earnings possibilities: 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals until June 30 when you book through the Citi Travel portal. Otherwise, you earn three points per dollar on air travel, hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations and supermarkets. Once a year, you also get $100 off a hotel purchase of $500 booked through thankyou.com. What can you do with the points? You can convert them to cashback rewards, claim gift cards or transfer them to Air France/KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue and a slew of other major international frequency plans. Not bad for the $95 annual fee. Information: the Citi PREMIER CARD page.

Chase: 100,000-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 Visa Ink Business Preferred Card. For the $95 annual fee, you'll receive an acquisition bonus of 100,000 points when you spend $8,000 during the first three months. You'll also earn three points per dollar spent on travel; shipping charges; payments for cable, Internet and phone services; and some advertising purchases. Is $8,000 in spend too much to ask for 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points? Chase points out that its previous threshold was $15,000 . I point out that a few years ago it offered 80,000 points for $5,000 in spend. So your call, I guess. Information: the Chase EARN 100,000 BONUS page.

Barclays: 100,000-Mile Bonus For a Lufthansa Miles & More Card
I'm always skeptical about playing the frequent flyer programs of international airlines--Do you really fly enough on them to win the game?--but there are exceptions. Here's one: a 100,000-mile acquisition bonus from Barclays to take the credit card aligned with Lufthansa's Miles & More plan. The bonus applies if you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days after you receive the World Elite Mastercard. The annual fee is minimal ($89), but so are ongoing earnings: two miles per dollar spent on certain airline purchases (AirDolomiti, Austrian, Brussels, Croatia, Eurowings, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair and Swiss), one mile on everything else. The card includes a pair of Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers annually. Information: the Barclays MILES & MORE page.

Best Western: Slightly Higher Card Fee, Many More Points
FNBO, which issues Best Western's credit cards, has upped the annual fee on the premium version of the Best Western Rewards Mastercard. It's now $89 a year, up from $59. But the paybacks are much larger hauls of Best Western Rewards points. The acquisition bonus is now 80,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three billing cycles. And the nice ongoing perk--bonus points for annual spend--has been hiked to 40,000 points when you spend $5,000 a year. Best Western Rewards isn't a sexy lodging frequency programs, of course, but Best Western represents many excellent mid- to upper-tier hotels in overseas markets. If you're bored of the other chains, now is a good time to give Best Western and the FNBO Premium MasterCard a shot. Information: the FNBO CHOOSE HOW YOU EARN page.

Capital One: Savor Cashback With a $300 Statement Credit
Capital One has come roaring back in the wallet wars with a fine points-transfer option and generous acquisition bonuses on its flagship Venture X card. But I'm convinced the best card offered by Capital One is Savor. It offers 4% cashback on all dining and entertainment spending and 3% on grocery spending. It is a compelling offer for a card with a $95 annual fee. Now there's an additional perk: a $300 statement credit when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Information: the Capital One SAVOR REWARDS page.

Bank of America: 50,000 Points in the Worthy Flying Blue Program
The Air France/KLM World Elite Mastercard from Bank of America is worth getting just for its acquisition bonus: 50,000 Flying Blue points for $2,000 in spend within 90 days. The Air France KLM Flying Blue program is useful for a raft of reasons: While it charges co-pays of as much as $300 one-way on business class tickets, you can often find forward-cabin seats to Europe for as little as 55,000 points one-way. That is substantially cheaper than dealing with Delta's rapacious SkyMiles program. Moreover, you can move American Express, Chase, Capital One and Citibank points into Flying Blue. The annual fee is $89. Information: the Bank of America ONLINE OFFER page.

LODGING BARGAINS TO CONSIDER

Air Canada Aeroplan: Fourth Night Free on Hotel Redemptions
Airline frequency programs stopped offering good deals on hotel redemptions decades ago, but Air Canada Aeroplan (and its related credit card) is a unique frequent-flyer plan. So maybe this isn't as much of a surprise as you might assume: If you are an Aeroplan credit card holder, you'll receive a free fourth night when you book participating hotels using Aeroplan points. Book six nights with points and receive two free nights. The promotion is available for stays through December 31, 2024. Information: the Air Canada EXTEND YOUR REST FOR LESS page.

Hotels: Maybe You'll Find Rate Savings With a Credit Card
Domestic fares have been flat or falling recently, but hotel and resort prices continue to rise, precipitously in many destinations. Possible solution: hotel discounts and perks offered by your credit card. Of course, the specials below come with caveats. Most hotels in the programs are in the luxury category. You must book directly at the card's special Web site, which would eliminate most or all of the perks you get with elite status at your preferred chain. And you should always check that the rate you're paying is competitive with other offers.
      American Express Platinum Cards feature two plans--Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection--that cover more than 2,200 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 4pm checkout; breakfast for two; free WiFi; and property-specific food and beverage credit or other amenity. The Hotel Collection locations offer space-available upgrades and some on-property perks. You'll also receive an annual statement credit of $200 when you book any of the hotels.
      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 1,000 lodgings worldwide and guests receive an additional on-property amenity--free meals, golf or spa treatments, airport transfers--from each hotel or resort.
      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; VIP status; and late checkout.
      Mastercard Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, available to World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard holders, covers 4,000 properties. It offers free daily breakfast for two; as-available room upgrade; "if available" early check-in and late checkout; and on-property amenities.

BACK HERE ON EARTH

Cambridge: Learning This Summer Because, You Know, Cambridge
There's a certain appeal to going to the seats of British learning and spending a week or so in the summer pretending our brains are still flexible enough to absorb new information. (Kidding, I'm kidding...) Oxford's summer programs are the best-known (see below), but Cambridge offers even more intensive one- and two-week summer sessions. The Cambridge courses are lighter on pop-culture stuff than Oxford, but much stronger in deep-dive topics such as Shakespeare, modern art, British law, literature, astronomy, physics, creative writing and Medieval history. Tuition fees start at 995 pounds a week and about 1,900 pounds for two-week versions. You can stay in lodgings located in Cambridge's historic colleges--fees start at 525 pounds for a room with shared bath--or you can arrange your own lodging elsewhere. Courses are available from July 7 to August 3. The class sizes are limited to a maximum of 25 students. Information and details: the University of Cambridge INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION page.

Amtrak: Three Winter Trips in the East Mean a Summer Freebie
Government-owned and bureaucratically marketed Amtrak isn't at the pinnacle of promotional activity. Still, its annual version of BOGO (okay, buy three, get one) isn't too bad. If you take six Acela one-way trips (or three roundtrips) by February 29, Amtrak will buy you back a roundtrip (or two one-ways) between July 1 and August 31. It also offers a buy three (or six), get one (or two) promo for trips on the slower Northeast Regional runs. You must register in advance for both offers, of course. There are some modest blackout dates on the freebies and minimum-spend rules for the winter trains. Information: the Amtrak 123FREE page.

Uber/Marriott: Link Accounts for 1,000 Bonvoy Points
Uber and Marriott have been cooperating for several years. If you didn't know, you can and should link accounts and Marriott has an offer: 1,000 bonus points on your first qualifying Uber ride or Uber Eats order. Once linked, you'll receive three Bonvoy points with every dollar spent on Uber Premium rides; six points per dollar when you use Uber Eats at a Marriott property; and two points per dollar whenever you use Uber Eats. The bonus was originally due to expire at the end of 2023, but has been extended to June 30. Information: the GO FURTHER page.

Oxford University: A Summer of Learning, A Week at a Time
It's silly to say I have a "favorite" deal, but nothing gives me more pleasure each year than writing this: Oxford University's Summer Schools have opened for registration. If you're not familiar with the program, the iconic English University uses its campus in the summer months and sponsors dozens of one-week courses that span the gamut from pop culture to deep historical dives and from hands-on experiences to high-art reflections. The courses include meals on campus and, if you wish, accommodations, too. In 2024, courses are held from June 30 to August 17 and include some distinctly non-academic extras: welcome drinks, pub visits, croquet, Morris dancing and a gala dinner to finish the week. Some of this year's classes: "From Edward to Elizabeth," which covers the five British monarchs crowned in the 20th century; "Genre and Modes of Comedy;" macroeconomics through the lens of John Maynard Keynes; play-writing, travel writing and creative writing courses; the operas of Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi; British pop music from 1965 to 2000; the British Raj in India; a survey of the three Bronte sisters; plus dozens more. Prices for the week start at 1,500 pounds and include the course, lunch and dinner. Accommodations for the week start at 500 pounds. Information: the THE OXFORD EXPERIENCE page.

Burj Al Arab: Would You Pay for a Tour of a Glitzy Fantasy?
Burj Al Arab in Dubai was designed to be a glitzy, over-the-top fantasy as well as an outrageously expensive lodging and dining venue. It's built on its own island, is designed to look like the sail of an Arabic dhow and makes the ludicrous claim that it is a 7-star hotel. (They never quite say who awarded the seven stars, of course.) But the place is something to behold. And now they'll sell you a 90-minute tour--ahem, "exclusive" tour--that covers some regional history, the design and creation of the gigantic property, a visit to the wacky atrium and a peek into the hotel's huge Royal Suite. Whether you think such a thing is worth AED299--that's about US$82--may depend on how much free time you have in Dubai and whether you're interested in how the 2% of the 2% live on the road. Information: the Burj Al Arab TOUR OF AN ICON page.