How to get 2,500 extra SkyMiles when you fly Delta, the TSA situation across America and United’s fanciest airplane yet
The point of it all: A weekly recap of travel, rewards and everything in between.
Another week of the partial government shutdown, another week of woes at TSA all over the country.
To quote a frustrated girl I saw interviewed on CNN at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, “I could punch through a wall right now.” (I’ll admit I laughed, but I’m allowed to as someone who has also been personally afflicted by TSA lines at Hartsfield–Jackson.)
If you are traveling this coming week and the shutdown is still in effect, this is another opportunity for me to remind you of a few things.
1 ) Get to the airport early. I’m talking hours earlier than usual. Annoying? Yes. Less annoying than missing your flight? Also yes.
2) If you don’t have Clear+, think about becoming a Clear+ member. There is usually a free trial if you don’t want to fully take the plunge. Some credit cards also offer a Clear+ membership as a perk.
3) TSA PreCheck, of course! This one is a bit harder to do in real time as it requires scheduling an interview. However, if you already have PreCheck, opt in to the Touchless ID program ahead of your flight. Brian Kelly bypassed huge lines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport by going the Touchless ID route.
4) TSA is doing the best it can with the circumstances, which remain out of its control. Seriously.
Good luck out there, fellow flyers. I’m headed to Florida this week for a family visit and there is nothing I’m looking forward to less than going through Orlando’s usually chaotic airport on the way back to New York.
I sighed very deeply in relief after confirming that Orlando International Airport has Clear+. Fun fact: you can actually enroll in PreCheck through your Clear+ membership — it’s even a little cheaper than it would be normally. Here in Brooklyn, I learned you can make your appointment at a Staples, which means I get to buy new pens and sticky notes at the same time. (Yes, astrology people, I have a Virgo placement in my big three.)
In other travel news you may have missed: Delta Air Lines updated its baggage guarantee rules, adding a deadline to submit your SkyMiles request if it takes longer than 20 minutes for your checked luggage to make its way to you on the baggage carousel.
I didn’t know this policy existed in the first place. 2,500 SkyMiles! I will be shouting this from the rooftops!
Here’s the updated part of the policy: your request for SkyMiles must be sent “no later than two hours after [your] flight,” according to a Delta spokesperson. Set those timers, because if your wait time hits the 20-minute threshold and you forget about it, you’re basically walking away from free miles.
Finally, the first flight with United Airlines’ brand new United Elevated interior will take off a month from today, on April 22!
The fresh and fancy Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will fly from San Francisco International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport and features United’s much-anticipated Polaris Studio suites. If you want to be on this flight, find everything you need to know right here.
Mercury retrograde ended Friday, so I’m hoping that means the partial government shutdown will also end soon. If not, at least you know you can find all the updates you need about your travel on The Points Guy.
I guess for now, in this confusing time, that’s the point of it all: keeping yourself in-the-know as best as you can.
Stay safe out there and have a peaceful week!
Love Talking Points with TPG? Share it with a friend. If three people subscribe using your link, we’ll send you our Transfer Partner Cheat Sheet — a quick guide to maximizing airline and hotel transfer partners.
 | A guest post by
|
Whoa touchless ID, thanks for the tip!
United's setup looks a lot like modern Delta One. Are there any noteworthy differences? Just asking out of curiosity. I "focus fire" on Delta, so I wouldn't be all that interested in actually booking with United to find out.