🏨 Earn 125,000 points for saying “no”

Estimated read time: 4 minutes and 55 seconds

Good morning and happy Monday, friends!

I spent the weekend at the real-life Shaolin temple of Zhengzhou taking Kung Fu lessons, which is something I never thought I’d get to say…

But you don’t need to be a Kung Fu master to understand today’s deals:

• 💺 Business class is going basic

• 🚆 Skip the airport and save 30%

• 🏨 Earn 125,000 Hilton points for saying “no”

💺 Business class is going basic

For years, airlines have been stripping perks out of economy tickets and selling them back one by one.

Now, basic fares have made their way to the front of the plane 😬

Delta has officially introduced “Basic” fares across its premium cabins, including a new Basic Business option for Delta One.

For now, these fares are only available on select routes within North America, but Delta plans to expand them to more flights and regions later this year.

So… what exactly is basic business class?

You’ll still get the important stuff onboard: the same fancy seat, meals, drinks, and overall Delta One experience. But you’ll give up pretty much every other perk to booking a business-class ticket, including:

• Seat selection

• Mileage earnings

• Flexible booking policies

• Priority airport services

• Lounge access

• Checked bags

In other words, you’re largely paying for the comfy seat rather than the entire premium experience.

And understandably, a lot of people hate this idea.

Business class has traditionally been about buying the full package. You pay a premium, and in exchange, the airline makes your entire journey easier from start to finish.

But personally… I’m not sure I hate this.

I never check bags, so that perk means nothing to me. I have multiple credit cards that provide access to Priority Pass lounges, plus this card and this card for their banks’ lounges.

And if you specifically want Delta Sky Club lounge access, this card gives you 10 complimentary visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight, and this Delta co-branded card gives you 15 visits per year when flying Delta (plus, it currently has an elevated offer).

Ultimately, the thing I care about most is having a comfortable seat for a long flight. If giving up some perks I don’t really use saves me a meaningful amount of money, I’d happily consider it.

It’s not all bad news right away

Delta says Basic Business passengers will continue receiving access to Delta Sky Clubs and Delta One Lounges for travel through January 18, 2027.

The airline is temporarily keeping those benefits in place while travelers “adjust to the new fare structure.”

So, for roughly the next six months, you may be able to pay less for Basic Business while still enjoying the fancy lounge before climbing into the exact same fancy seat.

Anyway, how you feel about this probably depends on your travel style.

Some people want the complete premium experience and (understandably) don’t want to be nickel-and-dimed after buying a premium ticket.

Others might happily skip the checked bags and airport perks if it means paying less for the part that matters most: the seat.

So tell me how you feel:

🚆 Skip the airport and save 30%

If you’re like me, you’ll do almost anything to avoid taking the train, including arriving at an airport two hours early to fly somewhere 45 minutes away.

But if you’re traveling around the Northeast, Amtrak can sometimes be the easier option. And right now, it’s also a little cheaper.

Through July 15, Amtrak is offering up to 30% off select Coach and Acela Business Class fares for travel between August 1 and September 30.

The sale covers the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., including popular routes connecting New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and plenty of smaller stops along the way.

For example, you can currently find one-way coach fares like:

• Philadelphia to New York from $36

• Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. from $42

• New York to Washington, D.C. from $60

Sure, flying might occasionally be faster…

But once you add the commute to the airport, security, boarding, waiting for your bag, and another commute into the city… that 60-minute flight suddenly becomes a full-day project.

Meanwhile, Amtrak generally drops you right in the middle of town.

You can bring more luggage, use Wi-Fi, walk around during the journey, and avoid paying $78 for an Uber because your airport isn’t even in the same state as your destination city.

This sale has some pretty attractive fares… and even I’ve been eyeing some of them since I’ll be back in the U.S. next month and will likely be traveling between Boston and New York a couple of times.

I can book this route in business class on the Acela for just $58, which sounds pretty great to me!

And if train journeys, scenic drives, road trips, and creative ways to explore closer to home sound like your thing… we recently launched an entire newsletter dedicated to exactly that 👀

Road Tripper is our new weekly newsletter that covers domestic itineraries, train journeys, overland adventures, and plenty of inspiration for trips that don’t require crossing an ocean or running 14 award searches.

It’s written by the incredibly talented Katie Begnoche, and you’ll love it.

Daily Drop will always help you use points and miles to fly farther. But sometimes the best trip is just a train or car ride away.

🏨 Earn 125,000 Hilton points for saying “no”

How confident are you in your ability to say “no” for two consecutive hours?

Because Hilton may be willing to give you 125,000 points to find out 👀

Through tomorrow, July 14, Hilton Grand Vacations (the timeshare side of Hilton) is offering discounted hotel packages in destinations around the U.S. that come with a massive points bonus.

One of the best options is Las Vegas, where you can pay just $229 plus tax for three nights and earn 125,000 Hilton points after completing your trip.

Three nights in Vegas for $229 is already pretty solid. Throw in 125,000 Hilton points, and this starts looking more like a credit card welcome offer… without opening a credit card.

Vegas isn’t the only option, either.

Packages are available in destinations like Orlando, Washington, D.C., Park City, Scottsdale, Myrtle Beach, and more.

You can even choose four-night packages in Hawaii, including Honolulu from $899 or Maui from $1,099.

To receive the discounted stay and 125,000-point bonus, you’ll be required to attend an approximately two-hour Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare presentation during your trip. 💀

And this is where we need to sit down and have a little talky.

Timeshare presentations are designed to sell timeshares… and the sales tactics can get aggressive.

You may face multiple salespeople, limited-time offers, rapidly changing prices, and plenty of pressure to make a very expensive financial decision before leaving the room.

If you know you can sit through two hours of sales pressure, politely decline everything, collect your points, and walk away, this could be an incredible deal.

But if you’re easily persuaded, uncomfortable saying no, or think there’s even a small chance you’ll leave owning something you never intended to buy… skip this one.

Although you need to purchase your package by tomorrow, you can travel within 12 months of making the purchase.

So if you regularly visit any of the destinations on the list, it could be worth locking in the package now without any firm travel plans, especially for the cheaper deals.

That’s all for today, friends! Take care and see you tomorrow for more points and miles fun times.

Ciao,

6.9175° S, 107.6191° E

With contributions by Sam Anthony and Katie Begnoche.